Footnote to interview with Asiya Nasir MP

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“The Christian Church is very fast growing in Pakistan. Pentecostals are growing more. Churches are full. There are not enough places to put people. People are trying to set up new churches. People are bringing their friends, giving room for prayer in houses.” Asiya Nasir

The above closing remarks in Asiya’s interview in the previous post are of personal interest because of what I learned several years ago about the fruit of the ‘Toronto Blessing’ in bringing Muslims to Christ in Africa and Asia. In an email a couple years ago I mentioned the work of Iris Ministries and ‘LH’ in this regard.  The Baker’s well-known ministry was radically changed for Mozambique, but Randy Clark also cited a Norwegian’s secret missions to Pakistan as ‘fruit’.

There Is MoreAside: Randy is one of the most humble men of God we’ve been blessed to meet and hear several times. The Lord had promised to open Randy’s eyes when he preached in Toronto Airport Church in January 1994 – the Lord showed up too!  This Baptist pastor from St Louis stayed to preach for the first 42 days of renewal and refreshing that lasted about twelve years. Dubbed as ‘The Toronto Blessing’ it was a powerful, joyous visitation that revealed the Father’s heart of love. However, it perplexed those Christians who think Holy Spirit’s power and gifts ceased after the First Century! (Randy’s personal account is in: There Is More: Reclaiming the Power of Impartation)

In May 1994, young Norwegian Baptist pastor Leif Hetland met pastors who’d returned from Canada at Holy Trinity Brompton in London (home of renowned Alpha Course). On page 164 of There Is More, Randy writes,

“Leif was very skeptical (sic). What he was hearing about Toronto seemed weird. (Upon return) to Norway they were shocked to find that the anointing had been imparted to them. Renewal immediately broke out in their church and many people experienced dramatic healings…etc”.

Regrettably, a leading elder quenched the Holy Spirit’s move. However, a year later the paths of Leif and Randy crossed by ‘divine appointment’ and the latter delivered a powerful prophetic word, of which the gist was, “You are a bulldozer…going into areas that have been untouched”. (See Global Mission Awareness site for fuller words.)

However, this got overlooked until a year or so later during a long recovery from a car accident. In the book, Leif describes what soon happened:

I began to sense a tremendous, supernatural burden for the unreached in the world. There are over 70 million people in Arab nations who have never heard the name of Jesus! I knew I was supposed to be going where no one else was going…

At the end of ’96 a friend of mine invited me to go to Pakistan with him. I realized this was confirmation of Randy’s word. That was the start of many trips to Pakistan where we’ve seen thousands upon thousands healed and saved. By the grace of God, I’ve now been to over 72 countries, many of them Muslim and some of them Communist…

I’ve seen every kind of miracle you can imagine – tumours dropping off, creative miracles where missing parts are restored, blind eyes seeing, everything. God is revealing His glory! Through the revelation of His glory, His goodness and compassion, hundreds of thousands are coming to Christ in areas that are officially closed to the gospel.

Praise the Lord – and Leif isn’t the only anointed evangelist who’s been to those closed countries.

An interview with Pakistan’s only Christian MP

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“Whenever I was in the company of my party colleagues – most of whom were rigid Muslims with long beards – they urged me to tell them about my religion. If I did not tell them it would be too unfair to my religion, my Christ.” Asiya Nasir

I was immediately struck upon reading the above remark in the Evangelical Alliance’s magazine Idea because we’d returned from Hull where a Muslim man had demanded of his Christian friends, “Why have churches kept quiet about knowing Jesus?” (brief report here). These are only a couple of the increasing reports of Jesus Christ revealing Himself to Muslims and conveying His love for them (see Footnote 3).

The following EA interview is thus most significant and encouraging news in view of the rising severity of persecutions and murders of Christians across most Muslim nations.

60 seconds with Asiya Nasir MP

Asiya nasir_dave landrum

Asiya Nasir is the only Christian MP in Pakistan. Dr Dave Landrum, director of advocacy at the Alliance, met her to talk about what’s going on in her country.

DL: How did you get into politics?

AN: My great, great grandfather settled in the province of Balochistan before independence before. I was educated there, a teacher there, and wanted to be a professor, but God had His own plan. I never thought of becoming a politician, though my father was in the House and twice contested elections there. It was not a decent thing for women in Pakistan. In the 2002 elections he asked me to replace him. It wasn’t an easy decision for me; I had three children. But my husband supported me. I thought that somebody had to enter politics, if we wanted to bring change to the system, change in the rule of politicians. The party I joined was a right-wing Muslim Islamic party, right wing. Many of my community criticised me for joining that party. It was seen as anti-Christian or anti-minority, but I was really surprised firstly when I met my party leader as he really warmly welcomed me.

Was it difficult being a Christian in this context?

I knew I was in Christ, and knew my foundation was really strong. I felt I needed to identify myself with Christ, and felt I should never hide myself from people. Whenever I was in the company of my party colleagues – most of whom were rigid Muslims with long beards – they urged me to tell them about my religion. If I did not tell them it would be too unfair to my religion, my Christ. I told them. And slowly and gradually people became interested in it. Many of my ministers asked me and my husband to get some Bibles for them.

Many Christians go into politics, but break under the pressure as they do not have the foundations of a personal relationship with Christ. But, for you it was the opposite?

Yes, because in all difficult situations I realised he was the only anchor for me. I cannot find shelter anywhere else except him. I know eventually everything will perish, but one will remain. His name will remain, so we have to glorify His name. I will not be an MP forever. I will be here until He wants me to be here – no one can denounce me or remove me.

Shahbaz Bhatti was a Pakistani politician and a Christian who was killed for his outspoken criticism of the country’s blasphemy laws. Do you fear for your life?

No, I don’t fear. I have no fears. I do not fear death because I know He has given us everlasting life, life after death, so why should I fear? Each one of us has to die some day, with the tablet in the hospital or with a bullet. So why not die for His name? ) Someone once asked me how many bodyguards I have. I said only one – my Lord Jesus. I don’t have any bodyguards because I have never received any threats. Jesus says you are not called for this, you are called to be bold, courageous and truthful, honest, so I am only afraid of that threat, not of anything else. But I have never ever received any threat.

Pakistan seems to need more secular government and civil society whereas the UK may need less. Any comment on the difference between the two countries?

We need balance, not religious extremism. There is debate in Pakistan about how we can segregate state and religion. Many think religion does not affect affairs of state, but I say no, you cannot segregate for a long time. To some extent religion needs to be involved in the affairs of state. I don’t think you can ever really separate. My party always appreciates me because I don’t have secular ideas. The debate in Pakistan is whether we are going to be a secular state not theocratic. I say no, it should not be theocratic but also not a secular state. We need a pluralistic culture, need freedom. I believe in freedom of religion and don’t want to impose religion on me or others, everyone should be free. I don’t want to go and preach my religion but not practise, I want to practise first and want others to learn from my life. If they are impressed with my life they will convert or learn from my religion. Even in Pakistan we have a lot of diversity, religions should not want to impose. My party is religious but does not believe in imposing on others, they have never asked me to convert or put on a veil.

Is the gospel spreading in Pakistan?

The Christian Church is very fast growing in Pakistan. Pentecostals are growing more. Churches are full. There are not enough places to put people. People are trying to set up new churches. People are bringing their friends, giving room for prayer in houses.

Footnotes

  1. Photo credit and original post re-published by permission of Idea (visit here).
  2. Those stirred by this courageous lady’s faith through adversity may wish to visit Wilson Chowdhry’s website and blog at British Pakistani Christian Association.
  3. For more about Muslims meeting Jesus see closing part of All Hail The Lamb.
  4. The next post explains my interest in this important interview.

EA reports “There’s fresh air blowing through Wales”

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Chine Mbubaegbu, Head of Media with the Evangelical Alliance and editor of their magazine IDEA has kindly permitted me to copy a couple of its current issue’s excellent articles. The magazine is always replete with informative 1-2 page articles on contemporary topics; eg. singles in church; inside a Chinese church in London;  projects for inner city young people; male suicide; the changing face of worship music; and even asks, do babies go to heaven? Click on the magazine’s image for much more information >

Following previous items in this blog, here’s EA’s Gethin Russell-Jones look at exciting news coming out of the United Kingdom.:

An outpouring in Wales

Finding the correct word is virtually impossible. In living memory Christians have resorted to blessing, refreshing, renewal and of course revival to describe a sustained and unusual period of intense communal Christian experience characterised by rapid growth. Where hundreds if not thousands of people are affected. Where a dormant and largely hidden church seemingly erupts into the public domain.

Such periods are often evidenced by mass conversions, healings, the return of backslidden believers and rapid church growth.

These phenomena may not happen simultaneously but when they do we are lost for words.  In recent months a town in the county borough of Torfaen, an area famed for heavy industry and radical politics, has witnessed powerful and strange occurrences. Since 10 April Victory Church in Cwmbran has seen more than 200 people become Christians, baptised nearly 80 new believers, received news of multiple healings and is gathering in excess of 500 people every evening for worship and prayer.

Dubbed the Welsh Outpouring, it all began on 10 April during a midweek prayer meeting in this independent Pentecostal church. A man who had been wheelchair-bound for 10 years received prayer, began to move muscles long since wasted and ran around the hall.

This was not the norm for this church. But it is now. At every meeting first-hand accounts are read out about transformed lives. A sceptic might conclude that this is an isolated example and not representative of mainstream evangelical Christianity. Allow me to puncture that comfortable myth. Nestling in the Berwyn range of hills in north Wales lies Coleg y Bala (The Bala College). With an historic pedigree stretching back to the foundation of the British and Foreign Bible Society, it now serves as the Presbyterian Church of Wales’ youth centre. In the last 12 months there have been numerous reports of many Welsh and English-speaking teenagers becoming Christians at various events and conferences. Coleg y Bala has also had a profound influence on a now annual event called Llanw (Fill). The nearest equivalent in England would be Spring Harvest.

Although this gathers tens of thousands, Llanw also aspires to model contemporary Christian through the medium of Welsh. Such an event would have been unthinkable 20 years ago. In fact it was the received wisdom until recent times that the game was up for Welsh-speaking Christianity.  The last taffy should turn the lights out. And all the surveys and statistics indicated that Europe’s oldest surviving language would soon cease to witness to Christ in this ancient tongue. There are many who still hold to this view. But there’s fresh air blowing among the Camry.

“It’s beginning to feel like a new day for the Gospel in Wales.”

In addition to Llanw and Coleg y Bala, Capel Gomer in Swansea is the first Welsh language church plant in generations. Furthermore the church planting network, Waleswide (Cymrugyfan in Welsh) is facilitating a number of new church plants in the nation through the medium of both Welsh and English. It’s beginning to feel like a new day for the gospel in Wales. Less than 20 miles from Cwmbran is the old steel town of Ebbw Vale. Famed for its heavy industry and hard men it has also bred legendary preachers, long since forgotten. But here again there are spiritual stirrings.

Church on the Rise is a Baptist church in the Beaufort district of the town. A few years ago the church was stirred by a sense that God was asking them a question:  “Are you thirsty for me?” This resulted in a weekly pattern of prayer and fasting that is still continuing.  Another major consequence was the establishment of a CAP (Christians Against Poverty) Centre in the church, reaching out to dozens of financially-distressed families in the area. Four families have now become debt free through this programme and the church has doubled in size. Twelve months ago, its Sunday gatherings numbered 35. Today there are more than 70 and the church is looking to relocate to larger premises. Fresh air from heaven is blowing across Wales. All the examples cited are different to each other and yet they all point to the timeless power of the gospel to change lives and communities.

NOTE: for further information and latest update click on image below:

Churches that reflect God’s open-ness

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Richard in Dartmouth, DevonRebecca’s poignant thought reflects what I spotted yesterday. On our day out in the Emsworth-Chichester area I spotted a billboard leaning on a wall by steps up to a church. It read, ‘We are NOW open for prayer and reflection’. Whilst focussing upon traffic I briefly thought, “Why ‘now’?” – it implies a welcome change and encouraging invitation for passers-by to drop in. And there was a similar one a few miles back!

Note on Christian prophecy and The Apocalypse

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Digging into the difference of opinion noted in the re-post from Joel Rosenberg unearthed an interesting find – one connecting into what I wrote ten weeks ago today about the origin of this blog. I’ll say more about that later.

Some readers may have queried my covering comment to Joel’s post; (it) “includes opinions of a Bible teacher who thinks its prophecies have happened“.  This merely reflects the actual content of The Blaze interviews.

As Hank Hanegraaff’s online radio show is called ‘Bible Answer Man’, my remark may seem to question that title. Those reading the linked article would note journalist Billy Holloway’s statement that Hanegraaff has “a wildly different take on the matter” to that of Rosenberg for he, “rejected the notion that Revelation and other alleged prophecies apply to today’s world”.

How come? Aren’t both men Christians? A little elucidation is called for…

Doubtless both men meet the basic criterion for a born-again believer, as in the Spirit-inspired instruction of the apostles Paul and John:

…9 if you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord”, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. (Chapter 10 of Paul’s letter to the Romans; New International Version)

16 For God so loved the world (that’s you, my reader) that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (Chpt 3 of the Gospel according to John; NIV)

So, to have faith in Christ it isn’t absolutely necessary to believe everything in the Bible. In fact, some believers disregard prophecy and scholars have various opinions upon this topic and when, if at all, predicted events will occur. Also, are such things to be taken figuratively?  The widest divergence in opinion is over the Bible’s closing book – ‘The Apocalypse’, or ‘Book of Revelation’. In the original Greek this Book opens as follows.:

‘Apocalupsis iEsou christou…’

‘The unveiling of Jesus Christ (anointed one)’, per the Greek Interlinear Bible, or as the New King James Version translates it:

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John,  2 who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. (Revelation 1)

John is thought to have been the closest disciple of Jesus, and could thereby personally attest to Jesus’ awesome origin, as in the first of three short letters to believers:

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us…(1 John 1)

The Apocalypse opens by stating its purpose: an unveiling of God’s plans that He gave to Jesus Christ, for sharing through his surviving first disciple several decades after he witnessed Jesus’ resurrection from death. This account tells how John acquired this information. He became Jesus’ amanuensis in writing exactly what Jesus dictated as personal letters to seven churches in Asia as a result of His having visited them.

White Door in SkyNext, John was caught up to God’s Throne Room in heaven where he heard and saw visions about what was going to happen shortly and in the distant future when the Age will be drawn to a close with the bodily return of Jesus Christ to rule and reign upon earth. John had to be reminded to write it all down!

NB: It is the only Book in the Bible to open with a blessing for all who read it and ‘keep’, or observe, what’s written therein, and closes with a curse (of loss of inheritance in the Kingdom) for anyone who tampers with its text and changes its message. The Book of Revelation is primarily for believers, not unbelievers.

In Unlocking The Bible, David Pawson defines this genre of literature as follows:

Unlocking The Bible‘Apocalyptic’ is history written from God’s point of view.  It gives the total picture.  It enlarges our understanding of world events by seeing them in the light of what is above and beyond our limited perception.  This gives us both insight and foresight…far beyond that of the normal historian.

He also gives this snippet:

God is working out his plans and purposes within time…He is the Lord of History.  But it is his pattern, which can only be discerned when he has revealed the missing pieces of the jigsaw. (Emphasis added)

(Now where did we come across that notion before?  See Invisible Jigsaw.)

He points out that the first characteristic of the ‘apocalyptic’ genre is that it’s basically moral. Secondly, that it’s often symbolical so the unknown can be communicated in terms of what is familiar, as in analogy or parable, because it involves not only information but also imagination. 

Interpretation of The Revelation

Thus, this complex ‘end-times’ revelation can only be understood with God’s overall purpose for humanity in mind. So, it’s not surprising that scholars are divided over the Book’s meaning and predictions for the end of 1st Century and any later events it may forecast for the world and the Church.

There are four main ‘schools’ of exposition based upon interpretations of when these predictions would be fulfilled, as below:

  1. Preterist  – during the first centuries AD with the decline/fall of Roman Empire
  2. Historicist – all centuries between the First and Second Advent of Jesus Christ
  3. Futurist – end of final century AD (held by early Church and evangelicals today)
  4. Idealist – any century AD, none in particular (treats the Book as spiritual ‘myth’).

We can now appreciate Hank Hanegraaff’s ‘preterist’ position that Revelation refers only to John’s days 1900 years ago and the persecutions that took place. But he fails to take the whole account into consideration because its closing chapters clearly refer to things that have not happened yet. For example, unprecedented global catastrophes, return of millions of deceased Christians alongside Jesus to overthrow Satan and rule upon earth, Satan’s final rebellion with many nations and demise in the lake of fire, the arrival of the ‘holy city’ and ‘wedding of the Lamb’!

So how are we to understand The Apocalypse? David Pawson suggests using the four ‘schools’  in conjunction for each of the three main time periods, the present, the near future and the far future (not ignoring the switching between earth and heaven).  Yet,

..the fundamental question is not ‘when?’ but WHY?

Pawson’s answer:

Not just to tell us what is going to happen but to get us ready for what is going to happen…Revelation is a ‘manual for martyrdom’…which is why this book becomes so meaningful to Christians under persecution. Maybe this is also why Western Christians in comfortable churches fail to find it relevant.

Structure of The Revelation

 “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.  18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. 19 Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.  (Rev 1:17-19 NKJV)

  • The Present:
  • chpt 1. Vision of the Son of Man, the one ascended Lord
  • chpt 2-3. Letters to seven churches (and for all churches)
  • chpt 4-5. Vision of heaven, the Lion of Judah and the Lamb
  • The Near Future:
  • chpt 6-11. Judgements, great tribulation, martyrs and two witnesses
  • chpt 12-16. Woman, child, dragon, beast 666, antichrist, false prophet
  • chpt 17-19. Fall of Babylon, Messianic judgement of Armageddon
  • THE RETURN OF ‘THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS’ 
  • The Far Future:
  • chpt 20. The Millennium, Satan rebels/defeated, Judgement, lake of fire
  • chpt 21. New heaven and new earth, the Bride, the New Jerusalem
  • chpt 22. River of Life from God’s throne, Tree of Life for healing the nations.

David Pawson explains that each future period has bad news and things get much worse, but the good news is that things will get very much better afterwards. Through it all Jesus encourages his people to ‘endure’ and ‘overcome’ until He returns.

First, Jesus tells the churches they must deal with internal problems if they are to face external pressures. Compromise in belief of behaviour, tolerance of idolatry or immorality, weaken the Church from within. (LESSON FOR TODAY!)

For the 2nd period He shows the worst that can happen but believers will not have to go through anything worse! “And the very worst time ahead will be at most a few years”.

Then, Jesus reveals the wonders that will follow in the 3rd period when all believers will be with Him.

Conclusion

On a personal note, what impresses me is the comparison of this closing book with the Bible’s first book, Genesis.  Revelation promises a full restoration not only for those who believe in God, to life with Him, but also and because of that for the earth too. The Tree of Life is a main feature in the garden of Eden, in the beginning, but through it Satan perverted Adam and Eve’s relationship with their fatherly Creator and so they lost and fell from their glory. In the end that usurper gets his just desserts, the saved return to living in the glory of God in the New Jerusalem and the Tree’s leaves bring healing to all people, as it is written.:

But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. 24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honour into it. 25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). 26 And they shall bring the glory and the honour of the nations into it. 27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. (Revelation 21 NKJV)

This short blog can never hope to do justice to the Book of Revelation. It is an awesome subject but you may wish to meditate upon it yourself along with suitable aids such as in the links below.

Acknowledgements – thank you to:

  • David Pawson, for Unlocking the Bible and books & audio series here and here.
  • Neil MacKereth, for several in-depth courses at Winchester Vineyard church using Chuck Missler’s and David Pawson’s extensive teachings.

PS – click to read about what happened after writing the above post!

Watch the Rain

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So simply stunning and brilliant. Thank you anon. brother/sister, and Kenny.

morningstoryanddilbert's avatarMorning Story and Dilbert

Note for the MS&D Side Bar: If you enjoy Morning Story and Dilbert
 you will like "Suspended Coffee".  It is full of uplifting stories.... 
  Kenny  T

One rainy afternoon I was driving along one of the main streets of town, taking those extra precautions necessary when the roads are wet and slick.

Suddenly, my daughter, Aspen, spoke up from her relaxed position in her seat. “Dad, I’m thinking of something.”

This announcement usually meant she had been pondering some fact for a while, and was now ready to expound all that her six-year-old mind had discovered. I was eager to hear.

“What are you thinking?” I asked.

“The rain! ;” she began, “is like sin, and the windshield wipers are like God wiping our sins away.”

After the chill bumps raced up my arms I was able to respond. “That’s really good, Aspen.”
Then my curiosity broke in. How…

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Does the Bible Predict God’s End-Times Destruction of Syria? My interview with The Blaze.

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Courtesy Watcharakun at Freedigitalphotos.comAn interesting, albeit brief, reference in this media interview to Joel Rosenberg’s prophetical novels and includes opinions of a Bible teacher who thinks its prophecies have already happened!

joelcrosenberg's avatarJoel C. Rosenberg's Blog

blaze-logo(Jerusalem, Israel) — In light of the horrific carnage in Syria and warnings the country could completely implode, TheBlaze has published an interview with me about the prophecies of Isaiah 17 and Jeremiah 49 and the general topic of Bible prophecy and events in the Middle East. Here are excerpts from the story by reporter Billy Hallowell:

As the situation in Syria intensifies and the United Nations reports that 93,000 civilians have been killed since 2011, the United States is taking increased action. With the deadly drama continuing to progress, it’s likely that some — especially considering Syria’s Biblical and geographical significance — will see End Times prophecy unfolding.

A silly suggestion to non-believers and others who disagree with conservative views on the Bible and an undeniable reality to others, the debate over signs and symbols associated with Jesus’ return presents ever-fascinating discussions. But while author Joel C. Rosenberg embraces…

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Does extraterrestrial intelligence exist? Part 2

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Science is catching up with scripture, I speculated in Part 1 and readers may have thereby realised I’m not into any normal notion of aliens in outer space. A hint is also provided by this image > (courtesy of Victor Habbick at Free Digital Photos, click image for info).

Last year I concluded that science is catching up with what God is doing. I read scientists had found electrical stimulation of paralyzed rats’ spines had brought spectacular recovery of mobility (see New Scientist). Their description, “It was incredible to look at”, and explanation reminded me of how a lady paralysed for 22 years was healed the previous year. A powerful surge of invisible energy was tangibly felt in a worship-charged atmosphere. For details read under ‘Delia Knox’ in God heals today – video clip testimonies.

A bit more background – personal and scientific

Allow a little nostalgia…this scientific topic reminds me of sitting on tall stools alongside a solid oak workbench bedecked with Bunsen burners, equipment and sink. This main lab was a square room with tall Georgian-style windows filling two adjacent walls that cornered the upper storey of my grammar school. Our chemistry master, donned in his constant robe of long white coat, was wont to make this amusing aside when teaching about atomic and molecular structure:

We can talk and talk about electrons and ionisation, and theorise about their orbits, but the fact remains we never actually know where they are – it’s very possible some in this room have just returned from a trip around the North Pole!

[‘Traditional’ orbital notions are now thought incorrect as sub-atomic matter is in a state of frenzied flux.]  The main physics lab at the opposite front corner of the building was where we studied heat, matter, electricity, light and mechanics of classical Newtonian science. 17th Century physicist and mathematician Sir Isaac Newton is widely regarded as one of the most influential scientists of all time and as a key figure in the scientific revolution.

interfrc-waves.jpgNewton formulated the laws of motion and universal gravitation, and made seminal contributions in optics. He thought of light as a stream of extremely fine corpuscles, or particles (also known as photons). About a century later, however, physicists were finding light could behave like ripples or waves in water (see Young’s Interference Experiment and Wave Propagation).

Yet, any attempt to pin down light as being definitely a wave or a particle failed. This dual nature of light became known as the ‘wave-particle duality’.  Phil Mason explains on page 63 of Quantum Glory,

The best that could be said was that light acts like a wave when one type of experiment is performed, but it acts like a stream of particles when a different type of experiment is being performed. Light travels as a wave, but departs and arrives like a particle. (…but) how can something be simultaneously a wave or a particle?

In ordinary scientific investigation, even in the small-scale microscopic world, we accept something as one of the other – but not both at the same time!  And at the much smaller atomic level of matter that’s what was discovered to be happening for streams of electrons. It was a huge shock to the scientific world

In early 20th Century Max Planck investigated heated bodies and found energy was  radiating in discrete measures or packets, which he called ‘quanta’. Soon, Loius de Broglie postulated there’s no fundamental difference between energy and matter at, or below, the atomic level because both behave as though they’re composed of either particles or waves. Then a father and son, Joseph and George Thomson, received Nobel Prizes 30 years apart for their experiments proving electrons are particles (father) as well as waves (son)!  The evidence for wave-particle duality has since become overwhelming.

Over lunch

Coffee BreakWanting something a bit lighter to read over lunch after writing thus far, I opened up one of the 3 Favourites tabs on my PC taskbar. Each list is the depth of my monitor screen and I spotted an unfamiliar link of an item I thought worth reading sometime and clicked on it. S-p-o-o-k-y, it happens to be on quantum mechanics and had sat unread as just a link since New Year – and one of that blogger’s latest posts refers to Newton! Therefore, for anyone whose taste buds have been tickled and fancy some more fascinating food, dip into Dr Ruth Bancewicz’s Science and Belief posts:

In part 3 I’d like to consider how these fundamental discoveries may reveal a deeper understanding of God and possibly about extraterrestrial communication.

Does extraterrestrial intelligence exist? Part 1

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The answer may lie in the answer to a question raised in a recent musing – a question that got answered within the hour. I was dumbfounded!

Some will ask what’s this doing on a Christian blog?  My interest in the ‘cutting edge’ of Christian teaching and ministry keeps me open-minded on a number of things, yet they are always checked against the ‘plumb-line’ of holy scripture. So I invite fellow believers to bear with me for I’ve not jumped on a wacky bus to nowhere.

Definitions

First, let’s clarify terminology. The Oxford Dictionary definition of ‘extraterrestrial’ gives:

  • adjective –  of or from outside the earth or its atmosphere: (eg. searches for extraterrestrial intelligence)
  • noun – a hypothetical or fictional being from outer space.

It has two definitions for ‘intelligence’ as nouns, of which one refers to information of military or political value, but the prime definition is:

  • a person or being with the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills: extraterrestrial intelligences

It’s noteworthy that this famous dictionary combines both words to use as an example in two completely separate definitions!

The question

Detail from Morning Stars_Blakes Book of JobIn Where were you when? I mused about what the Biblical characters Job and king David had learned and perceived through divine revelation about the formation of the heavens. I’d spotted that the ancient Aramaic had used an intriguing and revealing term to describe an inherent function of the heavens. So I penned my own thoughts on this, as below. Logically, they led into the sentence shown in bold, but of which I’d had no fore-thought whatsoever::

‘This revelation of the Lord to David clearly ascribes not only a poetic description (as in sound/voice/language – NB. not light) but also a knowledge, or rather, an operational  intelligence or ‘business’!  That is, a supra-natural function. Furthermore, this sets the rationale, or tenor, for all subsequent verses. These first verses clearly state a case for ‘intelligent design’ of the universe. But more than that – they imply a distinct intelligence implanted within that design’s tangible manifestation, do they not? Or maybe not so?’

After proof-reading the draft, I took literary licence and inserted, ‘IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE? ANYONE WHO KNOWS THE ANSWER?’ as though calling out to the heavens for information.

A book

Quantum Glory - coverI’d run off a hardcopy of the draft for checking over lunch and then carried on where I’d left off reading in Quantum Glory. This book explores the intersection between the two realities of quantum mechanics and the glory of God. In his highly recommended book Phil Mason opens by briefly considering the hype over quantum physics and how it’s been hijacked by New Age metaphysics. This is because this post-Einstein science of investigating the dynamics of the energy of light and of sub-atomic particles has boggled the best brains! Mathematicians as well as scientists had to think ‘outside’ the box’ in order to comprehend how it could all work – the maths was solid and got confirmed experimentally, BUT it was all so weird. By ordinary, ‘classical’ scientific laws and principles it was just illogical!

Phil Mason explains some scientists presumed the concepts of Eastern mysticism were relevant to quantum dynamics, and New Agers were quite ready to presume that it was indeed so. His discussion quotes many scientists and he draws this conclusion:

The presence of trained quantum physicists who have not embraced any elements of quantum mysticism is itself a clear indicator that the real issue is a predetermined worldview.

His second chapter is an easy-to-read introduction to the world of quantum science. It takes me back to my schooldays of maths, physics and chemistry ‘A’ levels – and to the hippy hey-day of the late 1960s. In those days I was searching for any common thread between science, philosophy and religions and thus this conjunction of quantum theory and New Age beliefs and ideas seemed to hold a key.

An answer

Upon continuing from where I’d read to, Phil’s commentary astounded me because it matches the logical conclusion I’d drawn only an hour beforehand. On page 66 he refers to experiments that make electrons change their behaviour depending on how they will be detected (!!) and explains :

It is a unique property of the quantum world that sub-atomic particles have the capacity of being in two places at the same time. In our macroscopic world of classical physics the last thing we would expect is to see someone bilocate right before our eyes so that suddenly they can be in two places at the same time. Yet in the counter intuitive world of the quantum universe this is exactly what is going on all the time…(emphases added)

Now, here’s what smacked me right between the eyes:

The question is: How does the electron intuitively know it is being observed?  Does it have its own internal intelligence? How does it know when a detector is hidden behind the double-slot? How does it know  when the detector is not switched on so that it can pass through both slits without being observed?

Scientist have devised all sorts of interesting experiments to try and figure out what is going on, but it seems the mystery of the quantum world is still largely impenetrable to rational explanation.

Hmmm…baffling, but methinks science is catching up with scripture!

An instance of that in connection with divine healing is given in Part 2 along with a brief, high-level introduction to the theory of quantum mechanics based upon this book.

[ALSO see Richard’s Watch: On Engaging Time]

Hassan Rouhani is no “moderate.” He was endorsed by the only Iranian leader ever to publicly call for Israel to be destroyed by nuclear weapons.

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Joel RosenbergIn view of recently concluded elections in Iran am re-posting another of Joel Rosenberg’s well-informed pieces. Readers will want to read his follow-up which includes insights from one of his contacts, an Iranian Christian leader. This may be accessed at the foot of Joel’s post or via this link.  PLUS THIS from BBC Watch > ‘Over the past few days my Twitter timeline has been dominated by Iranian ex-pats tearing out their virtual hair at the portrayal of the new Iranian president-elect  by much of the Western media (including the BBC) as a “moderate” and a “reformer”.  This might be a good time to remember that not too long ago various talking heads were using the same terms to describe Bashar al Assad.’

joelcrosenberg's avatarJoel C. Rosenberg's Blog

You’ve really got to hand it to Iranian Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The man is one of the most evil tyrants on the face of the earth. He is pursuing nuclear weapons to wipe Israel and the U.S. off the map. He wants to usher in the caliphate of the Twelfth Imam and bring about the apocalyptic End of Days. Yet he is desperately trying to prevent Israel — or any other country — from launching preemptive military strikes and neutralizing Iran’s nuclear weapons program. Thus, Khamenei is trying to use the rigged current presidential elections to recast Iran as suddenly moving in a more “moderate” direction, and thus persuading the West to ease up on economic sanctions and pressure Israel to back off.

And the Western media is totally buying it.

Consider the headlines this morning, all of which are declaring Hassan Rouhani (also spelled “Rowhani”) as the frontrunner and a “moderate” who could be the best answer…

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Tonight in Cwmbran, after Hull and Wolverhampton…

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“WHY HAVE CHURCHES KEPT QUIET ABOUT KNOWING JESUS?” a Muslim wants to know.

Nathan_banner-390x238This man explained to a packed Hull City Hall last Saturday night that he’d been trying to find out more about God. As a result, he had a divine encounter and found out who Jesus Christ really is. But he didn’t know how to worship or pray to Him, so had to seek the help of Christian friends. Hence his complaint to them, and now he wants to share his good news with fellow Muslims.  His was one of the most touching personal testimonies at last week’s  ‘Days of Wonder…’ 

Here are a few more.:

A testimony that started the three days was a ‘follow-up’ from a lady who’d suffered the same severely debilitating handicap but had been healed on Nathan’s previous visit 15 months ago. (Her smile features on the video clip at the foot of this invitation.) This time we found ourselves sitting behind her, and her friend told us how she herself had been healed from an allergy after last March. Upon accompanying her friend to tell Nathan, it became another occasion for thanking Jesus for what He’d done.

Nathan-Morris at CwmbranAmongst many testimonies of healing, we heard a Polish-Welsh lady excitedly welcome Nathan Morris in advance for speaking tonight at Victory Church in Cwmbran, Wales. She wasn’t the first we’d heard claiming they’d watched  The Bay Revival on God TV ‘ by chance’, but were amazed when Nathan immediately addressed them direct – over the airwaves – about their need for repentance/healing, with which Jesus then blessed them!

After a prolonged time in the presence of the Lord during the final night’s exceptionally high praise, everyone was in tears upon seeing a 4-year old walking across the stage – at the far left of the stage were his leg braces and wheeled walking frame!  In tears, his (then) non-believing father told Nathan the boy was born with cerebral palsy. However, his son was now grinning as he walked freely and properly – completely unaided!

In a different vein, we were saddened to hear from a young man of his fathers’ suicide. In the first conference session he attended this man couldn’t tolerate being there and simply had to get out – possibly with suicidal thoughts. But he just couldn’t get out of the building!  Then he met Jesus – as was clearly evident from his radiant recounting what had happened. Praise you Lord for your saving grace.

As an aside, it was a pleasant surprise to meet Nathan’s wife Rachel and his supporting team: two more Nathan’s and Jordan. Nathan Marrow keeps tabs on testimonies as well as introduces folk to Nathan for recounting their healing. (Evangelist Nathan’s Facebook page has more news of healings.)

Latest update of the Outpouring in Wales

Read latest brief report of saved souls and healings and watch this short video:

PS: I pray readers who long for a touch from the Lord to help them through the turmoil of physical and emotional hardships may find encouragement in the above accounts.  Those who are really struggling may find Why Me? helpful, as have so many folk – the Lord bless you and keep each of you.

“Where were you when…

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I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements?
Surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?
6 To what were its foundations fastened?
Or who laid its cornerstone,
7 When the morning stars sang together,
And all the sons of God shouted for joy?…”

Morning_Stars_Sang_Together_Book_of_JobThus spoke the Lord God to his servant Job, as recorded in one of the oldest books of the Bible. Job didn’t know why severe strokes of ill-fortune (loss of all children, property and health) had  beset him. When struck all over his body with painful boils, his wife chided him for holding fast to his integrity, and advised, “Curse God and die!” Then along came three ‘friends’. Overwhelmed by his dire condition they ‘comforted’ him with their conclusions about the cause of his suffering: it’s all the result of his sinfulness. Together with a solid commentary, this instructive book helps us to grasp why bad things happen to good people.

A fourth ‘comforter’ explains it’s a matter of faith and attitude towards God. Then God addresses Job from a whirlwind and in great depth (as above; see Job 38-41). From this, Job wasn’t meant to know the cause of his condition (being Satanic strategy) and we learn God is involved in our lives and deeply moved by our grief and wants us all to come to an end of self-reliance so God becomes ‘all-in-all’. Then God blessed Job even more than previously!

This brief, incomplete overview of the story is for information only because my purpose is to refer to the creation of the stars (as splendidly illustrated by William Blake, courtesy Wikipedia).:

Psalm 19 – the perfect revelation of the Lord

The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament shows His handiwork.
2 Day unto day utters speech,
And night unto night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language
Where their voice is not heard.
4 Their line[a] has gone out through all the earth,
And their words to the end of the world.

After breakfast Sunday morning before last I quickly dipped into the above Psalm in my NKJV Study Bible (entitled as shown above). I noted the marginalia cross-reference on translation differences in other texts. But AHA!  There’s something profound in the last one, as here with my emphasis.:

[a] Psalm 19:4 Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read sound; Targum reads business.

REVELATION – wow! Thank you Lord ! The Targum, or ancient Aramaic, for the usual Hebrew term ‘qu-m’ (measuring tape of them) renders it not as ‘line’ but as ‘business’.  This seems a far more fitting and effective description of the function of the firmament and its stars, as described in the psalmist’s ecstatic praise.

This revelation of the Lord to David clearly ascribes not only a poetic description (as in sound/voice/language – NB. not light) but also a knowledge; or rather, an operational  intelligence or ‘business’!  That is, a supra-natural function. Furthermore, this sets the rationale, or tenor, for all subsequent verses. These first verses clearly state a case for ‘intelligent design’ of the universe. But more than that – they imply a distinct intelligence implanted within that design’s tangible manifestation, do they not? Or maybe not so?

IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE ? ANYONE WHO KNOWS THE ANSWER ?

Moreover, could a deep knowledge of this wisdom have been possessed by the ancient prophet Daniel, whose book is written in Aramaic as well as Hebrew? Could it possibly have been handed down from his personal school to a group of ‘magi’ who, therefore, were watching for an especially significant star ‘saying’ they should set off to Judea for the birth of a particular person from God? I wonder…

Worship in a school cafe

Later that morning, I ‘sensed’ several golden angels come through the entrance doors of the hall where we attend church. As we all focussed upon the Lord in worship our band’s vocalist-guitarist, Daniel McDermott, broke into a chorus he’d penned.:

Steal me away to where the morning stars first sang,

and the angels cry with joy, “Worthy is He, Worthy is He!”

Consequently, I later read aloud those opening verses of David’s psalm, and referred to the margin’s note.  At house group later in the week, our pastor recommended a video on this subject!

SO, here’s Louie Gigglio’s demonstration of a ‘song’ from what’s in the heavens and on earth. May this bless you and leave you awestruck…

An answer to my above questions came rapidly and unexpectedly, as revealed in the next post on this main theme.

Prophets call for protective prayers for President Obama

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Folks will be aware of my reservations on President Obama’s policies and decisions. I’m not a fan but it is important to respect him in his role. So Ire-posted Wendy Alec’s call for intercession after the re-election, followed by news of related developments. Another call comes from elsewhere and possibly connects into one of my readers’ dreams. After careful consideration, therefore, I’m posting this short video.

The following ‘alarm calls’ to pray for the United States and its president come from four prophets who are recognised by my church leadership here in England. I’m familiar with Bobby Conner’s standing and our pastor is aware of Neville Johnson’s ministry. So, you may wish to hear and weigh their comments on this video. (NB: please watch before reading the comments section, where you’ll find our reaction.)

In and out, and all about

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Richard in Dartmouth, DevonA brief note to say last week and this are very busy with minimal time spent on-line. My blogging focus has been on something special but it remains in draft for automatic posting later. This is because a more pressing matter needs priority attention as the next posting (click to read). NB: my schedule may delay moderating comments from new contributors.

More about revival in Wales…

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Welsh Revival DWRobertsIt’s wonderful to hear about the increasing impact the current Outpouring in Wales is having upon many newly saved, as well as mature Christians, for churches and communities across the UK.

Thank you Dyfed for your comments received today. I’d like to draw the attention of readers interested in my reports on Cwmbran and wanting more, to your research into The Welsh Revival and its aftermath.  Looks an informative read.

It is important, however, not to assume an exact replay of that revival because the Lord’s given us many encouraging promises of an entirely ‘new season’ in these days, as recounted herein.

In fact, only last Saturday a pastor told me of his recent visit to Cwmbran and how it may match his understanding of what God’s about to do in Britain.  I was stirred with the similarity between the open vision he’d received and the one that had astounded and troubled me back in 2004. It seems his may forecast the next, or a later, phase of what’s been happening in Britain as a result of having turned away from our heavenly Father, to where He graciously turns the tide to bless us and bring full revival to our ‘walking dead’.

We shall soon see…

Update on Iranian earthquakes

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This updates the information about earth disturbance cycles affecting Iran as posted on  22 April in my article on America’s ‘Date Of Infamy’. On Tuesday The Times of Israel reported:

Diplomats say countries monitoring Iran’s nuclear program have picked up information that the country’s only power-producing nuclear reactor was damaged by one or more recent earthquakes. Two diplomats say long cracks have appeared in at least one section of the structure. They demanded anonymity Tuesday, because they are not authorized to divulge confidential information….continue reading.

On the evidence of 2 or 3 witnesses a matter shall be confirmed…

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Detail from Eagle-eyed by John Mark LongThus states Deuteronomy 19:15 (NASB) about testifying at an inquiry, or any other situation. This principle was also used at the first church council in Jerusalem, whereof Dr Luke recorded the decision to allow Gentile (non-Jewish) believers in Jesus Christ to be in fellowship with Jewish believers:

28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29 You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. [Acts 15]

Are there times when the Lord draws your attention to certain scriptures and principles by their repetition, even through another person or something else?  For me this can happen one day after another, or even during a church service. My latest should be shared but first, if you’ve not read the previous post’s comments, please let me explain.:

PS to previous post

After publishing that last post I had some reservations about its tone and how it had grown beyond a brief ‘roundup’ of the first two press sources, with my remarks of 2011, into a piece with more depth. I’d run off a hardcopy of the draft to check over lunch and the idea dropped into mind it would be better to start with scripture, specifically verses from the closing chapter of Paul’s earliest letter (to the church in Galatia).

Having done that I also included a bit from Bill Koenig before some of Walid Shoebat’s  main piece.  To clarify it all a conclusion was needed but, devoid of any earlier thought whatsoever, I found myself referring to Obama’s LGBT agenda. And this flowed straight into revisiting Galatians 6 with a pointer for this month as, ‘God is not mocked month’!

I wasn’t sure about it. Could I unwittingly have put a prophetical timing on this issue?

The next morning I read Beth’s contribution to that post and in which she referred to Dutch Sheets’ Reaction to the Election.  I’ve quoted him occasionally but was unaware of this, which he concludes with Holy Spirit’s reply about unanswered prayers, as follows:

“Your prayers and worship did prevail…though not in the way you wanted. Because of them, however, I will now deal with this man who has mocked Me and My laws.”

Two more friends of mine had dreams in which Barack Obama was named Belshazzar (see Daniel 5). This was the ruler in Babylon who saw a hand writing on the wall of his palace—as he and his friends were mocking God. The ominous message written by the hand of God was, “You have been weighed on the scales and found deficient.” The writing went on to say Belshazzar’s reign would end.
I don’t know what form the judgment of the Lord will take, but I am quite confident that God has put up with all of the mocking He intends to from Barack Obama, and that Daniel 5 is now his passage. I say this without malice or ill will, but nonetheless, confidently.

Also in my email was advice of Gillan Scott’s latest on the voting for same-sex marriage in the House of Lords. I opened up his webpage to scan its full content and at the close was reader Hazel’s brief comment, which closes,

If you replace the word gay with sodomite, the Bible is quite clear about it. God is not mocked.

WOW – two sisters and myself witnessing independently to a specific theme that the renowned intercessor and prophetical prayer warrior had received of the Lord. Ancient scripture attests that this is one way a matter is confirmed, or as in some translations, ‘established’.

Therefore, I can only conclude He is about to move in a significant way, AND we were prophetically informed only last week of the “coming great clash between the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light”, as reported herein. Most interesting times…

SO, WATCH OUT!

Let’s lift up our heads for our redemption draws nigh…the Lord bless you and keep you.

Is Obama’s impeachment now on the cards?

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Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside.) [He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God.] For whatever a man sows, that and that only is what he will reap. 8 For he who sows to his own flesh (lower nature, sensuality) will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. [Galatians 6:7-8 Amplified Bible]

Lots of national news and personal thoughts fill my mind in getting back into the swing of blogging. And where did May go? There was lots happening and I want to write on the ‘new season’, especially on the Lion of Judah, as well as the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty’s Coronation on 2nd June 1953.

shoebatAfter dealing with email, however, maybe I ‘sense’ someone’s got something significant and open my ‘Favourites – Blog’ and click at the foot of its long list. This opens to Walid Shoebat’s  site (ex-member of PLO and Muslim Brotherhood, now born-again Christian). I found his Barack Obama’s Blue Dress? is a good summary of posts about the ‘Uber-Scandal’ gathering around the US President.

I beg indulgence of my American readers familiar with their administration’s failures, and of readers elsewhere for not recounting the full background. A couple of pre-blog emails (The Gravity of Current Events and Revelation on Israel) of 2011 refer to the possibility of Obama’s impeachment.  Other issues, especially many unanswered questions about Benghazi, gave rise to my reservations over the 2012 election, as outlined in If I were an American citizen…

In commenting upon my short post on its results, Tony asked for my ‘take’ on Obama’s re-election. I replied, “Maybe it’s (God’s) intention a 2nd term will either enable Obama to repent or make corrections?”  (The latter seems to have happened regarding Israel, but I kept a tight rein on my thoughts that re-election may allow time for Gal 6:7-8 to be applied with its consequential outcome – it’s better to bless and be gracious, for the Lord will work out the detail.)

New York Times’ Jonathan Weisman summarises what’s facing Capitol Hill this week after a week’s recess and Congress’ ability to balance its twin responsibilities of legislating and of investigating.  How that works out may make the difference between landmark legislation for Obama, or his being consumed by charges relating to several scandals:

…House leaders and committee chairmen appear to be giving themselves over to an expanding and aggressive oversight effort — on the I.R.S., the Justice Department’s targeting of reporters, Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr.’s statements to Congress on that targeting and the Sept. 11 attack on the United States Mission in Benghazi, Libya.

The previous week, Bill Koenig had opened his Inside The White House briefing with, Obama’s slow-coming judgment is picking up steam:

The judgment against Barack Obama and our nation — which elected him — has been exceedingly slow in unfolding, but does have deep foundational consequences. Many of us were surprised that there weren’t more major judgment-type events in his first year in office and through his first four-year term. In many ways, events and activities seemed to go smoothly with no apparent bumps in the road, even his re-election efforts went very smoothly, but the damage to infrastructure being done daily was considerable.

williamkoenig-web[1]Koenig briefly recaps upon Obama’s immediate implementation of an LGBT agenda whilst taking his oath of office on January 19 2009 and his appointment of numerous activists to key positions. He briefly covers financial and diplomatic issues and what the Lord put on his heart about national accountability for having elected this leader. Then he closes with a brief summary, Acceleration of events:

The recent acceleration of pressure on Israel — both overt and covert; Obama’s defiant support of Planned Parenthood; his public support of the Morning-After Pill for young women 15 years old and up; his continued and active public endorsement of LGBT; have been followed by the Benghazi debacle which has ensnared the White House, the National Security Council, the State Department, the Pentagon and the CIA; the public disclosure that the US Justice Department was wire-tapping media figures; and the discriminatory actions of the IRS against certain Christian and conservative groups and the revealing of the extreme bias of those responsible… (emphases added)

I understand there may be a connection between the two emphasised matters. The IRS took inordinately longer than normal to grant tax-exemption approval to many Biblically based opponents to Obama’s policies. Eg. Billy Graham’s evangelical association and its humanitarian aid associate Samaritan’s Purse (see Politico). His son Franklin sent a strong letter direct to the President and concluded,

‘I believe someone in the Administration was targeting and attempting to intimidate us. This is morally wrong and unethical – indeed some would call it ‘un-American’.

That’s extremely irregular in any leading democracy but it suggests deep corruption lies at the heart of US federal government!

Yet more

Today, Walid Shoebat adds yet another indictment to the pile in what could be the straw to break the camel’s back.:

The signature of senior IRS official Lois Lerner sits at the bottom of a letter addressed to the Barack H. Obama Foundation (BHOF) in general, Malik Obama in particular. The letter – dated June 26, 2011 – not only granted the BHOF tax-exempt status in record time but did so retroactively to April 30, 2008.

In back-dating the tax-exempt status of Malik’s organization more than 27 months, Lerner committed a crime – a serious one.

However, she didn’t just commit a bureaucratic snafu. Lois didn’t just cross a line of legality by back-dating Malik’s tax-exempt status to a point in time that violated the law. You see, the issue for Lois involves the matter of whom she granted that status to. (Click to read full article)

Just who is this Malik Obama – none other than Barack Hussein Obama’s brother. AND what does he do? In drawing to a close, Shoebat claims.:

We now know that Malik is in bed with a government – Sudan – that has been identified by the U.S. State Department as a State Sponsor of Terrorism and that President Omar al-Bashir is a genocidal maniac; Malik works with him. (Click for detailed account)

With Nixon, it was the tapes. With Clinton, it was his own DNA. With Obama, will it be a letter that implicates his own flesh and blood?

A recent radio show discussed all these very serious issues and stressed that Sudan is, globally, one of the four worst terrorist states. As Shoebat comments about the show.:

If we had one critique, …it’s just so difficult to wrap your head around just how big this Uber-Scandal is (even if you don’t factor the president into the equation).

Conclusion

My coverage of these disreputable matters may seem a tad gross but it is important for my readers to appreciate what’s happening and it’s relevance to Biblical understanding. I’m aware of details known to White House press circle about Obama’s proclamation in his first term of officially designating every June as ‘LGBT Pride Month’. To say the very least, those details are unsettling.

As the Word of God is alive and active and does not return to Him void of accomplishing His purpose, perhaps He’s designated June 2013 as God Is Not Mocked Month ??

Footnote: Galatians 6:8 uses ‘phthoron’ meaning ‘corruption’ for ‘decay’ – how apposite! (Scripture4All Greek Interlinear Bible)

Prophetic praise and worship

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Courtesy of James Mark Long, www.propheticartists.comSomething ‘weird’ happened after writing that last piece. In fact, I’d intended tackling a higher priority of fulfilling a promise to respond to comments I’d made on another blog.  But I thought – or maybe was reminded!  – it was more important to cover  the prophetic word Lydia delivered in worship. So I blogged about that instead and finished by midday in time for lunch and our preparing for a church group meeting here that afternoon.

When all assembled were refreshed and had chatted, pastor circulated a hand-out that she wanted us to consider – Prophetic Praise and Worship….what a ‘God-incident’!

In my opinion, its following fast on the heels of the morning’s matter underscores and confirms the accuracy and importance of the prophetic word I’d only just written about.

Here, with permission, are some of that paper’s pertinent points for your edification:

First, for any believer who’s uneasy with prophecy, here’s the scriptural warrant for its incorporation into worship – NIV quotations:

The Prophetic Nature of Praise and Worship

1 Samuel 10:5-6 “After that you will go to Gibeah of God, where there is a Philistine outpost. As you approach the town, you will meet a procession of prophets coming down from the high place with lyres, timbrels, pipes and harps being played before them, and they will be prophesying. 6 The Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person.

2 Chron 29:5 He stationed the Levites in the temple of the Lord with cymbals, harps and lyres in the way prescribed by David and Gad the king’s seer and Nathan the prophet; this was commanded by the Lord through his prophets.

Revelation 19:9-10 Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.” 10 At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.”

Therefore:

  1. The word of God that testifies about Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy,
  2. The testimony that Jesus gave through His life style is in the Spirit of prophecy,
  3. The testimony we give of Him in praise and worship is in the Spirit of prophecy,
  4. As we testify about Him in praise and worship the Spirit of prophecy is released.

Characteristics of Praise and Worship

  1. It is vital in the preparation of the Bride for the great day,
  2. We must be willing to go with the flow of the prophetic anointing and expect it in our worship services,
  3. Prophecy means: communicating under divine inspiration by…
  4. speaking/singing out what Holy Spirit is saying to the Church – listen!
  5. scripture exhorts us to desire the prophetic gifting:

1 Cor 14:1-3  Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.  2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.

Num 11: 26-29 … Yet the Spirit also rested on (Eldad and Medad), and they prophesied in the camp.  27 A young man ran and told Moses, ‘Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.’ 28 Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses’ assistant since youth, spoke up and said, ‘Moses, my lord, stop them!’ 29 But Moses replied, ‘Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!’

The Language of Prophetic Praise and Worship

  • The language of love; the Bridegroom wooing the Bride and her response to Him
  • The song of the LORD, the Bridegroom and the Bride
  • Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs
  • Flowing in the gifts of Holy Spirit
  • Proclamation of salvation, redemption, victory, glory, power etc of the Trinity
  • Proclamation of judgement and victory over Satan
  • Proclamation of future events – as by Lydia on Sunday; Julie Meyer in October.

[Courtesy of Heart After God Ministries, Rev Ron and Lindi Masters, South Africa. Lindi moved into international ministry some time after Ron went home to the Lord.]

Prophetic word in worship: ” …a great shaking and great clash…”

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An event during worship on TV on Sunday took us by surprise when we came indoors from finishing a bit of gardening.  Immediately, Nina got a ‘shot’ from Holy Spirit as a reaction to what the worship leader was declaring. The lounge TV had been hooked up for streaming live morning worship from Alabama at 4.30pm our time, which we could hear out in the garden. (By the way, a visiting speaker at our morning service had told us about the positive response observed in plants to worshipful sounds!)

Ten minutes into the live streaming from Church Of his Presence we heard it go quiet. After praising the Lord, Lydia Stanley Morrow had just led through a song about God’s fire burning in our souls and the congregation went into personal worship in tongues…  Everyone went quiet for a couple of minutes and an anointing came upon Lydia as she declared, “The Lord says,

“There is coming a great shaking, there is coming a great shaking, and now will be the great clash between the kingdom of darkness and the Kingdom of Light. Nations will fall, kingdoms will rise – and you are not to panic”, says the Lord, “because I have got you. You are my people. You will shine like the stars in the heaven for I will pour out my favour on you, I will pour out my signs, I will pour out my wonders”, says the Lord, “and in the midst of the shaking you will stand firm upon the solid Rock. Peace, be still”, says the Lord.”

Yesterday we had opportunity to listen to the whole worship from the beginning. Again, the physical stirring of Holy Spirit was immediately felt as a distinct and lengthy reaction.

To check it out for yourself click here; worship starts after John Michael’s welcome. Thirty minutes later pastor Kilpatrick acknowledges the presence of the Lord and for all to continue worshipping and brings another prophetic word. Lydia and team break into the praise song Lion of Judah.

[At the beginning of May a visitor and a regular at our home church saw the Lion of Judah enter the service during worship. His head was a few feet above mine!]