Please pray for my mother-in-law Carmella, who has suffered multiple heart attacks over the last 48 hours, and has endured a surgery in which she died on the operating table and was revived. Right now I am on my way to sit with my wife in the hospital as we pray that she makes it through the night but the doctors have said she has less than a 1% chance of survival. Please pray for His will with her - and for my family - as losing her will be a bigger loss than words can express. Thank you and God bless.

Earlier this month, during the second stage of the  Professional Golfer’s Association Tour qualifying tournament in Texas, JP Hayes discovered that on two shots on one hole, he had unwittingly used a prototype golf ball not approved for competition by the United States Golf Association. No one knew of this transgression. No one would ever know of it either, except that JP decided to do the right thing and disqualify himself from the tournament – which in turn cost him the entire year of playing on the PGA tour.

Think about this. This man gave up his career for a year over an error that no one ever would’ve known about. To me – this is an awesome and inspiring example of how honesty should look – and yet – this is hardly the way of the world – is it?

From the sports world to the business world to life in general we are taught that its only a foul if you’re caught. If you can get away with it – it’s ok. What they don’t know won’t hurt them.

JC Watts once said - Character is doing what’s right when nobody is looking.

How true is this? There’s few things more true. JP Hayes demonstrated this truth – and in turn showed good character. As a Christian the quote serves as a sobering reminder of how much further I need to go with my walk in Christ. I wonder how my brothers and sisters in Christ stack up against the quote. I know when I think about my thoughts and actions when no one is looking I am often falling far short of my own expectations, let alone the Lord’s.

Many times, we see and hear Christians who are quick to lash out at others – they are critical, judgmental, confrontational, and loving every moment of it. Speaking from experience – I have often been that Christian – but I am now coming to realize that those actions are truly the symptoms of a heart that is not yet mature in the Lord. There are issues under the surface that are only known by ourselves and God that have yet to be ironed out. The scriptures support me in this view.

Proverbs 17:27 says He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

Why would a man of knowledge, a man of understanding with an excellent spirit spare his words? Perhaps it is because he is keeping his multitude of opinions at bay knowing they would only incite the wrath of others? If we are truly wise, and truly understanding, we will be slow to speak, and quick to listen – only speaking words that will lift and encourage and edify others. We should be slow to anger, understanding that everyone is in a world that teaches us ways completely contrary to the ways of our Lord.

Am I guilty of having a poor character? I am afraid I am. I recently had a meeting with my family and they filled me in on many of my short-comings that I really didn’t see. Sometimes those who are closest to you can see things the outside world doesn’t and we can’t see ourselves. And just looking back at many of my videos I am seeing that I have said and done things that I really didn’t need to say or do. They weren’t edifying or encouraging, and they were certainly meant to tear someone down somewhere. Still, I hear the catch phrase of an old cartoon I used to watch called GI JOE… “and knowing is half the battle…”

So please pray for me – as I am waking up to another layer within the onion skin that is my soul – and if this article has touched something within you – and you want prayer for God to help you work through a poor character as well – feel free to ask for it – I am ready and willing to pray for you.

Forgive me - but I don’t know where in the Bible we are called to arms as Christians. I find all this talk of fighting the NWO to be a trap of Satan’s and not too many are even considering this.

unless you are a preterist…   we as Christians should have faith in our Father to know that the end times will come and that there will be a terrible government that will rise to power…  and that it will kill the saints - but no where in the prophecies are we told of believers who will fight this government and no where can we possibly find justifications for this in the New Testament.

In the book of Revelation we should be able to find principals to relate to concerning this topic -
The church of Ephesus is told “You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.”

What was their first love? Was it not Jesus Christ and His teachings? Jesus taught us to love our enemies, and turn the other cheek. Even when He told the Apostles to get swords, two were enough for twelve, and no where is there a record of the Apostles ever using those swords short of Peter’s attack on a man who came to arrest Jesus, which Jesus harshly rebuked.

The church of Smyrna was told “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

Yet those Christians who seek to fight this NWO seem to think its their right to fight such persecution. Should we not rejoice that we are worthy to suffer for His names sake as the Apostles did in Acts chapter 5?

To the Church in Pergamum it was written “You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. “ While you might not be eating food sacrificed to idols or even lost in sexual immorality, you will certainly be fighting to save a nation that has given ‘freedom’ to worship any god they wish – and it certainly supports sexual immorality. Is that really the side you want to be fighting for? Even then - Jesus will fight with the sword of His mouth – not weapons forged by man.

Church in Thyatira was told “You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you): Only hold on to what you have until I come. “ If that doesn’t sound like – or even feel like America I don’t know what does. I am not saying America is the church of Thyatira, but we hold to her characteristics in our nation. We have been given time to repent – and refused – and our nation is suffering – it is dying – our children are suffering and dying – we are being repaid according to our deeds, yet Jesus called them to simply hold on to what we have – not meaning the government or the land – but the teachings that He has given us through the Holy Bible and the Holy Spirit. There is nothing ‘Holy’ about a brother in Christ holding an M16 declaring ‘over my dead body’ – that is NOT a reflection of Christ at all!

To the Church in Sardis it was written “I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.  Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.”

What did Jesus give us? What did we hear? No where does He ever tell us to kill – no where does He tell us to fight for our lives in this world – in fact – He calls us to hate our lives in this world – if we love this life we will lose it – if we hate this life we will gain life eternal – so what exactly will Christian fighting the NWO with weapons be gaining? How will your clothes be white if you’re coveredin the blood of your enemies?

The Church of Philadelphia was told “I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. “

How little strength – how little influence do we have today in America as Christians? We are being marginalized daily – yet we are not told to fight – we are again told to hold on. Jesus will make the NWO fall in His time, not ours, and certainly not by our weapons. We are to follow His commands no matter what is going on around us – yet too many seem to ignore this. Fighting the NWO with violence is a trick of Satan’s to make us murders. Its that simple.

To the Church in Laodicea He said “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.”

To those who would kill another person to oppose the evil man – I ask you what part of the teachings of Christ did you not understand? Matthew 5:39 Do not resist an evil person! God’s wrath will get them – not yours! How can you be anything but lukewarm when you declare you love Jesus, yet you seek to kill those who He already prophesied would come to kill the saints? You think your guns make you strong – you think you are rich – and those riches are worth killing over – but you are deceived! We are called to repent these thoughts and deeds and to realize we are naked in our aggressions! We have a choices to make – but they have to be in accordance to His commands! You are so full of zeal to oppose the NWO – but do you approach what He called us to do with equal zeal? Do you clothe and feed the poor? Do you spread the love of Christ? How can you declare the gospel with a pistol in your hand?

Revelation 12 tells us that Satan will lead the whole world astray… Revelation 13 tells us If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints. are you not of the world if you are going to respond to the NWO as the world responds? We are called to be patient – to endure – and to be faithful – we are not called to fight and kill in response. He calls us to come out of her – will you take this leap of faith and abandon your weapons and murderous thoughts – trusting that God will prevail – or will you fall into the secret teachings of Satan which condone killing another man? Think about it my brothers and sisters in Christ – your eternal salvation may rest upon what you do.

This is not preaching a whimpy Christ - Christ is certainly coming to kick butt - but its His fight, not ours. If we want to show true strength we should do it by obeying Him despite the dangers we face. We should kill the murderer within, dying to ourselves in Christ.

This was sent to me in email - and now - I share it with you…

Dear Friends,

For months now my email Inbox has been besieged by nearly hysterical warnings about what will happen if Barack Obama becomes President.  I have been encouraged to be worried, afraid, concerned, prepared for disaster, and a whole host of other maladies if this happens.  I do not deny the importance of this election, but it seems to me that we need a dose of perspective.  So here, on the eve of the election, I would like to start my own email concerning this election.  It’s a “True/False” test.  I’d like for all of us to take it.  Feel free to email it on to whomever:

True/False:  The day after the election, regardless of who wins, Jesus will still be King.
True/False:  The day after the election, regardless of who wins, our responsibilities as Christians will not have changed one iota.
True/False:  The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the greatest agent for social change in America will still be winning the hearts and minds of men and women through the gospel, not legislation.
True/False:  The day after the election, regardless of who wins, my primary citizenship will still be in this order – (1) the Kingdom of God, (2) America, not vice-versa.
True/False:  The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the tomb will still be empty.
True/False:  The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the cross, not the government, will still be our salvation.
True/False:  The day after the election, regardless of who wins, our children will still be more concerned with whether or not we spend time with them than with who is President.
True/False:  The day after the election, regardless of who wins, my neighbor will still be my neighbor, and loving him/her will still be the second greatest commandment.  (Do you know the first?)
True/False:  The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the only way to see abortion ultimately overturned will still be winning men and women to a high view of life through the gospel of Christ.
True/False:  The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the only way to see gay marriage ultimately defeated will still be winning men and women to a biblical view of marriage through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
True/False:  The day after the election, regardless of who wins, my retirement will still not match my treasure in Heaven.
True/False:  The day after the election, regardless of who wins, “Jesus Is Lord” will still be the greatest truth in the Universe.
True/False:  The day after the election, regardless of who wins, we will still know that God is in control.

How did you score?

So be sure to vote, but also remember who you are and who He is.

Civil Unions?

This came up while talking politics – specifically McCain’s position on gay marriage – and that is the concept of civil unions.

A civil union is a legally recognized union similar to marriage. Civil Unions are intended to provide same-sex couples with equal rights, benefits, and responsibilities as straight married couples. Many homosexuals are critical of civil unions because they say they represent separate status unequal to marriage. They want the title marriage over their relationships. Others are critical because they say civil unions allow same-sex marriage by using a different name.

Looking at it from a Christian point of view – there is absolutely no difference between condoning gay-marriage or civil unions for homosexuals. Both cases legally condone homosexuality. Thus, politicians who oppose gay marriage but support civil unions are feeding their constituents a line of crap. They are playing with words to attempt to appease both sides of the argument.

Now many homosexuals may wonder why it is that Christians come down against them on this issue. After all – if we Christians believe that each man is accountable for his own sin unless they are saved under the grace of Christ, why are we so concerned about whether or not our neighbor Jeff is married to a girl named Sue or a guy named Ted? Why do we care?

I think you have a lot of homophobia in American Christianity, but I don’t think it’s fair to claim that to be the exclusive reason for Christian opposition – and I don’t even believe its the number one reason for Christian opposition. I believe the biggest reasons we Christians oppose gay marriage and civil unions comes down to these two points.

The will of God and the response of God to our actions.

First and foremost – no matter how people may try to twist the scriptures – we repeatedly find the Bible is all about straight relationships and it condemns homosexuality.

There  are the prohibitions in Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13, which declare that for a man to “lie with a male as though lying with a woman” is “an abomination” or “detestable act”. While we may not be under the Law in Christ – this certainly reveals God’s view on homosexuality. We know God is consistent about this as Romans 1:24 -27 reveals.

Thus – we do try to save people from this grave and dire sin against God. We warn them with our words, we sometimes rebuke them with our protests, and sometimes – despite the Christian call to be patient and compassionate – we go too far against homosexuality – instead of letting them be we try to force our will on them, which is wrong.

But there is a second reason Christians should oppose gay marriage and civil unions. And in this second reason there is justification for we Christians to take moral stands. Its not something that is completely unknown to anyone – but it is readily denied by many. Ask yourself this, “how much will God bless a disobedient nation?”

America is steeped in sin – abortion, adultery,  drunkenness, fornication, greed, drugs, porn, war mongering… and now – gay marriage and civil unions. Throughout the Bible – nation after nation – including Israel had to deal with the consequences of their sins. America is no different. Make no mistake – if Israel suffered for her transgressions as a nation – so shall the USA!

If you look at our nation – the more sin we’ve accepted into our everyday lives, the worse the nation has gotten. Many would argue that these declines are natural and would happen regardless of what we accepted – but that is a lie.

We are what we live. We are what we put into our society. If we feed the kids captialism – they become capitalists. If we feed them teen movies saying sex and drugs are cool – we get a generation of partiers who made horrible parents. If we tell them abortion is a choice, and not murder – we see abortion as a form of birth control. When society started to accept homosexuals – it became ok to be gay… now that society believes thats ok – the new push is its ok to be gay and get married…

(Can you hear the screeching brakes?!)

America is going to hell in a hand basket – and we’ve got no one but ourselves to blame…

Is it fair we hyper focus on gay marriage? Of course not – we should be fighting against all immorality equally, realizing that there is a point that we should dust off our feet and trust the Lord to do what must be done. With that said – I think most Christians involved in the gay marriage debate realize that we’ve already lost the other battles so gay marriage is almost like our Alamo in American society.

For me – its all a matter of watching America lose whatever blessing she might have left. I have already witnessed much of the grace depart this once great land in my short 40 years on this earth – and it won’t be long before America will be thought of as a fallen empire like Rome…

KasperHauserser4, of Youtube, was really upset with my stance on Jesus for President, and after praying on it I realized he was right in the sense that I would be throwing away my vote. After all, Jesus will come on the day Our Father chooses. We can’t force the issue with our silly elections. So, I put everything aside, and looked at the issues that matter to me that they didn’t seem to agree on, and this is what I came up with.

Abortion - Obama favors abortions – McCain favors them only in the case of incest, rape, or medical danger to the mother… point for McCain (1)

War - Obama is against the War – McCain favors it – point for Obama (1)

Universal Health Care – Obama is for it – McCain is against it – point for Obama (2)

Political Experience - Obama is a lawyer who was a state senator from 1997 to 2004 and is currently a US Senator since 2005 – McCain has been in the House of Representatives and the Senate since 1987 – point McCain (2)

Military Experience – though I hate war – experience in the military is known to promote discipline. McCain is a decorated veteran who survived as a POW for 6 yrs – Obama has no experience – point McCain (3)

Education – McCain graduated from the Naval Academy in 1958 – Obama went to many schools – including one as an indonesian resident -  graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law – point for McCain because I despise laywers McCain (4)

Citizenship – yeah – who would’ve believed this would be an issue in this election? McCain is a US Citizen – Obama is still ducking Phillip Berg who claims Obama was actually born in Kenya and was later registered as born in Hawaii – and when I say ducking – I mean he and the DNC are using legal manuevers to avoid answer questions in court. Due to his laywering about the issue, though poorly covered by the media – this is a point for McCain (5)

Charisma – Lets face it – Obama wins this even with the Covergirl vp candidate opposing him for this one I’ll actually give Obama 2 points giving him (4)

Vice President Candidates – Biden leaves me cold. I didn’t like him when he was running for President against Obama and I don’t like him now. Palin on the other hand is adorable – in a Mary Popins sort of way – not someone I want for president though – still – Biden wins on the merits of experience – Obama (5)

Same Sex Marriage – Obama favors it – McCain opposes it but favors Civil Union – I oppose gay marriage and view McCains position as a political cop out and intellectually dishonest – no points here despite the apparent difference

Religion – this one is HUGE for me… and very difficult to sort through. Ultimately, I find that Obama is very knowledgable about the teachings of Christ – but this is where he fails to win me – in one speech, I heard Obama misuse the Old Testament to say the Bible shouldn’t lead us - Obama spoke of the Sermon on the Mount – and acknowledged that if we followed it – we would likely have to shut down the defense department, yet Obama will not do that – so what I see is a man who says he follows Christ – demonstrates an ability to discern the deeper truth of Christ’s teachings, but ignores them never the less. Meanwhile – you have McCain who opposes gay marriage but supports civil unions? Neither instills that kind of Spiritual strength I want in a president, but I find Obama’s attitude towards it all turns me off further than McCains – McCain barely gets the point here.

And do, those are the issues I look at. I think both will screw up the economy in their own unique ways. I think both will further erode our international relationships in their own ways. I know that both will make history for being the ‘first’ ticket to have a black president or a woman vice president. All those things cancel out each other for me. Its these issues I’ve addressed that really matter to me… and as you can see – its a toss up – McCain edging out Obama 6-5 ….

So who will I vote for in that booth? It really will be a matter of voting for the lesser of two evils in my mind, but knowing all I know, somehow, I can’t see myself voting for Obama – which only leaves McCain…

I am dead set against Christians participating in Halloween. I could argue the many points that are found all over the internet, but instead, I would simply like to share a passage of scripture and offer a brief commentary…

Ephesians 5:1-12
1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children
2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.
4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)
10 and find out what pleases the Lord.
11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.

Is there anything about Halloween that makes us imitators of God? Even the giving of candy simply contributes to the rotting of our children’s teeth. Is there anything loving about scaring each other? In the costumes do we not see sexual immorality? Do we not see impurity of all kinds? Is it not a greedy holiday – trick or treat - give me a treat or I’m going to give you a trick? Is it not an obscene display of murder, strife, and wickedness? Is it not filled with foolish talk and coarse jokes? Its a time dedicated to Satan and all things in his domain!

Will it cost us our salvation? I pray it won’t. I pray that those Christians who justify their participation as enjoyment for the children  are not in danger of hellfire. I pray they are right when they say that Halloween is not evil in their hearts and therefore there’s nothing wrong with it. I pray I am wrong, but to me – it seems like an invitation for demons and darkness to consume not only ourselves, but our youth as well.

When I hear the excuses made, I think of verses six and seven - “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them.”

The New Living Translation puts it in even easier to understand language…  “Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him.  Don’t participate in the things these people do.”

Halloween cannot be pleasing to the Lord. It is a fruitless deed of the dark. It should be rejected by Christians everywhere.

Do I sound too extreme? Maybe I am – then again – maybe you aren’t extreme enough.

GBU and HJD

Some of you might have noticed that I had to remove the video links to Godusesamac (GUAM) and CajunPunk (CP) from my Christian Video section. This isn’t because we are on the outs and there’s no heat between us - this is because my bro’s have left the fold and basically quit the Youtube. It’s heartbreaking I tell you.

Back in the day it was me and GUAM and CP - hanging tight through thick and thin - fighting through all the haters - breaking down all the doubters… but something happened over the last year or so. Satan’s attacks wore us thin I guess. GUAM has closed his channel a few times, and thats cool - I mean - I would never judge him for that - it’s his call… and I feel the same towards CP - but with them both MIA I gotta say - I feel like a sole survivor. We used to affectionately consider ourselves members of a band - particularly after some Youtube nut jobs accused us of being leaders of a cult - but I thought that we would grow in strength over time - instead of weakening and seeing two of our three channels close up. While I’d much rather have my bro’s with me - if they can’t go on - my only prayer is God uses the ministry in great ways… it just kinda hurts right now to see things in such disarray.

For those who care - I still have links to GUAM’s and CP’s blogs - hopefully they will remain active.

GBU and HJD

Chris

Many of you are fully aware of our efforts to bring some attention and prayers to a little boy named Coleman and his battle against brain cancer. Now we are asking you guys to support the battle against childhood cancer on a bigger scale.

There is a group known as Angel Wings located on the web at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Angel_Wings/

The group is looking for people who will ‘adopt’ children to write on a regular basis. Giving support and prayers is always needed with these children and their families - so we are trying to get the word out. I know many of you are looking for ways to help kids like Coleman - and this may very well be it.

Please consider helping - take it up in prayer - and see what God says…

Thanks!

GBU and HJD

Christofer

Watch for a new church web site being designed for my pastor, Pastor Jeff…