Katrina is only the eve of destruction!

Thomas Jefferson was moved to remark: “My God! How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy!” NOT until drought, famine, and supernatural disasters strip our cupboards bare, and EMPTY our grocery shelves, will we know how good we’ve had it! Only when America goes hungry, will she remember how full she was!

President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed April 30, 1863, as a NATIONAL DAY OF FASTING, HUMILIATION AND PRAYER, and spoke these words: “We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power, as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us! It behooves us, then to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.”

God heard and answered those prayers! Judgment was forestalled. But where’s a leader today with the moral courage and spiritual vision, to strongly recommend that “We, the People” humble ourselves and pray, let alone fast? We’ve got to have our three meals a day, with plenty of snacks in between! But DROUGHT is going to force us to fast! God’s going to suddenly withhold the rain, in various parts of our countries, destroying our crops. Floods will rot the rest (Amos 4:7-8)!

We’re supposed to enjoy a reciprocal relationship with God, but we haven’t. Since we’ve failed to offer up prayers, God’s not going to send down rain! Both our parched land and lives NEED God’s Holy Spirit! We’ve got to learn the spiritual relationship between the heavens and the earth - they’re interdependent!

We need to fast and pray, now, to be spared from further misery: “if My people who are called by my Name (Christian countries) will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chron. 7:14).

Instead of becoming a model-nation we’ve become a STRIPPER! We’ve taken all the fine things that God’s given us and laid them out before foreigners (Hos. 2:1-13)! We’ve squandered our time and energy in pagan ways and heathen practices! Therefore, God’s going to STRIP AWAY OUR PEACE AND PROSPERITY! We’re going to be left exposed to the elements and stripped bare before NAKED AGGRESSION! Since we refuse to return to God, we’ll be sent back into SLAVERY!

We’re a nation of DRUNKS AND WHORES - so God’s going to let us hit bottom so hard it’ll appear we’ll never bounce back! God’s no longer going to enable us to carry on in our ways, drinking ourselves to death and dying for sex! We’ve gone from bad to worse: “You have stricken them, but they have not grieved; You have consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; they have refused to return” (Jer. 5:3).

We’ve become so hard-hearted, so cold and cruel, nothing seems to faze us anymore, but God’s taking away His protective shield (Isa. 5:5). We’re going to be ravaged by the weather and our enemies! But we don’t attribute the dramatic increase in “natural disasters” and crazy weather to a spiritual upheaval. We fail to see any connection between our land and our lives, even though Solomon was wise enough to know there’s a link (1 Kgs. 8:35-40). We should realize that nature doesn’t have a mind of its own, but can be used by our Creator to get us thinking (Jer. 5:20-25).

God says because He’s called us on many different occasions, and we’ve refused to answer; we’ve broken the olive branch every time He’s extended it; we’ve flatly rejected what He’s advised us to do, and didn’t want to be told we weren’t living right - laughing at God’s people as old-fashioned, and making fun of them for believing the Bible and thinking they’re crazy for warning about Europe (who will deal the death blow to our sick and dying country) instead of taking them seriously: “I also will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your terror comes… When distress and anguish come upon you. Then they will call upon me, but I WILL NOT ANSWER; they will seek me diligently, but they will not find me” (Prov. 1:24-33).

Who likes a fair-weather friend? Who’s willing to play second fiddle to anyone or anything in a right relationship? Does God want us to only look Him up when we’re short on cash or need to get out of jail? Is God impressed with our attention when all our distractions have been stripped away? When we can finally hear Him and listen to what He has to say because we no longer own a loud stereo or television set (because our homes have been blown up, destroyed or looted)? CONCENTRATION CAMPS will help us to learn to THINK again!

As our CREATOR, God’s going to dispatch the forces of nature to bring His Message home! “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken” (Lk. 21: 25-26).

When Earth’s equilibrium’s off and nature appears to have gone off the deep end; terrifying tidal waves crash into cities, batter our coastlands and sweep away towns; unbelievable earthquakes strike that make today’s troubles seem like mere tremors; droughts occur that suck out every ounce of moisture from the air; and on and on with NO RELIEF in sight - people are going to break! Some will be literally scared to death!

We need to WAKE UP and realize this is all symptomatic of our sick condition! Earth reflects our relationship with Heaven. The reason we experience upset weather is because there’s a SPIRITUAL UPHEAVAL in our lives! These bizarre acts of creation warn us we’re out of sync with the Scriptures!

WHAT WILL WE DO ABOUT IT? Will we remain ignorant and indifferent and die, or turn around as a people and nation and save ourselves from suffering further consequences for disobedience?(Dan. 9:11.) God help us to see it’s only going to get worse if we don’t get better. God help us to be spared from national destruction, defeat and deportation!

About the Author

David Ben-Ariel, an American author who has travelled widely and who has lived throughout Israel, shares a special focus on the Middle East and great interest in Jerusalem, reflected in hard-hitting articles that help others improve their understanding of that troubled region. Check out www.benariel.com

Characteristics of Black Preaching

Point 1: Dialog not Monologue

The African American sermon is a part of an event, a preaching event which is created by the interaction between the Spirit, preacher, and the congregation. The congregation is actively involved in the preaching of the Word of God.

There are two components to this insight. First, the congregation does not sit as bystanders to the preaching event. Second, the preacher works towards creating an atmosphere where all can experience the Word. The people interact with the Word and the preacher works to facilitate that interaction. While one must be careful not to over generalize because there are differences between congregations of African Americans, one must also recognize that at the very least the presence of a hearty “amen” from the congregation testifies to the fact that congregations play an important role in the preaching event even in the most unresponsive congregations.

The sermon is not a monologue of preacher to people, also the African American preacher is not trying to present facts to believe as in a lecture, but the preacher seeks to create an event that causes the truth of the word to become incarnate in the hearers. This incarnation of truth in the hearer allows the hearer to be able to live the life that the preaching event points to.

The congregation’s responses of joy as well as at times lack of response can help a preacher who is attuned to the congregation notice what that congregation understands, what is not being understood, and what is really “hitting home.” At times, the Spirit of God may impress the preacher to follow a different line of discussion than originally intended. Thus, the African American preaching event is an interaction between Spirit, congregation, and preacher.

Point 2: Core Belief Strengthened

As the preacher, congregation, and the Spirit interact to create the preaching event the core beliefs of the African American Christian community are reaffirmed. The preacher presents a word that at times calls for radical confrontation with the powers of this world that are against God’s way. The preacher also presents a word that strengthens the resolve of an oppressed people reminding them that God is on their side and they can make it through. Thus the African American preacher is not speaking of “pie in the sky when you die” but empowerment in this world to take whatever the world gives and yet still work for God’s ideal on this earth keeping in mind that there is a judgement to which all must stand.

Point 3: Bible Story = Our Story

A common mode, but not the only mode, of African American preaching is the narrative form. The African American preacher uses stories, primarily from the Bible, to carry the truth of the sermon. The African American preacher seeks to have the people become so identified with the story in the Bible that the story becomes their story. For example, when an African American preacher preaches on the exodus, the preacher is not only telling a story of what happened to the ancient Hebrews. The preacher attempts to have the community drawn into the story where the community is the Hebrew Children of the Bible. It is not just an attempt to understand the story, but an attempt to live the story. The African American congregation will experience the story not as God delivering the Hebrew children, but God delivering them from bondage. God delivers us today this is not just something that happens in the past to other people. God speaks today, God’s speaking is not limited to the past. Our history becomes bound up with the Biblical story and thus God saying he delivers the Hebrews becomes a promise that God will deliver us one day. It is only a matter of time for as the spiritual says, “Didn’t my Lord deliver Daniel than why not every man?”

Conclusion

The African American approach of 3 fold creation of the preaching event from an interaction between the preacher, people, and Spirit provides a strong basis for pulling the people into the story of the Bible. It is therefore not true, as some imply, that only an understanding of the text that is true to the historical understanding of a text is true to the text. The African American approach makes the word of God contemporary. God speaks to the congregation today. While an African American preacher will make use of all methods of interpretation, the basis of understanding of truth will come from the interaction with the spirit and the word and the core beliefs of the preacher. The preacher will not ultimately ask “what Did God say?” Instead, the preacher will ask “What is God saying to God’s people today?” Not what did God do for the Hebrews, but what does what God did for the Hebrews mean for us today? This principle forces African American preachers to take into account the congregation when preaching. Who is preached to changes what and how something is preached. Thus African American preaching is something that can not be considered totally as God centered apart from man, neither man centered apart from God, but centered in the creative encounter between humanity and God.

Sherman Haywood Cox is the editor of HomileticsPortal.com. This is the portal to the web for preachers. He also has a blog at shermancox.com Sherman Cox holds the Master of Science degree and is currently working on a Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt Divinity School.

Why Hinduism is Terrorism

A religion is terrorism when it demands, as a religious duty, to
exterminate the unbeliever/s, as their presence is irreligious.
And Bhagavad-gita, the holy scripture of Hinduism, demands such
extermination.

Bhagavad-gita, also known as Gitopanisad, is the essence of
Vedic knowledge and one of the most important Upanisads in Vedic
literature. ‘It is the conversation between Krishna, who is God
in human form come to guide and protect the righteous, and
Arjuna, who is the rest of us in human form, confused about what
the right course of action in life is and sickened by the horror
we see in the world around us.’ (See Linda Johnsen, The complete
idiot’s guide to Hinduism. Penguin Group: 2002) Krishna advises
Arjuna to fight in the battlefield for he, Arjuna, is Ksatriya.
Krishna tells Arjuna that his enemy is considered to be
irreligious, and, being one from the Ksatriya (i.e. warrior)
cast, it is his religious duty to fight and protect his
religion. Also, through the verses 7 and 8 in Chapter 4 of
Bhagavad-gita, Krishna makes it clear that whenever and wherever
there is a decline in religious practice and a predominant rise
of irreligion - at that time He descends Himself. To deliver the
pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to
reestablish the principles of religion, He Himself appears,
millennium after millennium. (See ‘Bhagavad-gita as it is’ by A.
C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. The Bhaktivedatna Book Trust:
2003).

This implies that the message of Bhagavad-gita is to fight, if
necessary with violent means, for the protection of the
religion, say Hinduism; to annihilate those whose beliefs and
practices are other than Hinduism, which would include atheists,
free thinkers, other religious people like Christians, Muslims,
Jews, etc. That is why Hinduism is terrorism. (For more info
please consult my article ‘The Satanic Verses of
Bhagavad-gita’.)

Preparing the Way

That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.

The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness. He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.

Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged. Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him. For the Lord shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.

Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

~ Cleaning Your Garments ~

(by following)

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.

When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there. So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.

And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.

Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way. And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. And he left all, rose up, and followed him. When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing. And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things. And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?

And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

Glimpses of God © 2004 by Joyce C. Lock
http://our.homewithgod.com/heavenlyinspirations/
This writing may be used in its entirety, with credits in tact,
for non-profit ministering purposes.

About the Author

Joyce C. Lock is a published author, poet, and columnist. In addition, she founded and maintains the e-mail ministries “Heavenly Inspirations” http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HeavenlyInspirations/ and “Share a Smile” http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smilesharing/. Joyce’s writings encourage us in our relationship with God and each other.