Spoonful of Sugar

When I was talking about knowing and picking your battles the other day, I recalled something about my own life.

I was a true Earth, Wind and Fire fan back in the day. And I mean I was fanatical. By 'back in the day' I mean just up til a few years ago. As a teenager, I was so into this group because I had a big crush on the lead singer, Maurice White. Don't judge me now; that part of my life is over! I also thought the Larry Dunn was the hotter than fried meat grease...

Anyway, one of my favorite EWF songs was one called "All About Love". Pretty melody and very innocent sounding. Who can worry about a song that talks all about love? I didn't, not even after I matured a little and started paying more attention to music that I listened to.

The the song lyrics never did give me pause until I started thinking about all the symbolism that is Earth, Wind and Fire.

Just go and look at some of their album covers and see what they feature. Great looking covers, right? But notice how the elements are celebrated as god ("In the beginning, there was EWF"). I found some interesting bits of information from this source, which includes a quote from a band member:

"Maurice always studied astrology, numerology, astronomy, We introduced Trancendental(sic) Meditation to a lot of the black audience. That was very new for them. Of course, the Beatles had brought TM to the people in the 1960's, but we brought it into the 70's to an audience that was looking for something alternative." (my underline)

And here I'd always thought he was just sharing his hotness with the rest of us.

The band seems fascinated with Egyptology. Not a big deal except that, as a Christian, we have been called "out of Egypt" (or the ways opposing the God of the Bible), right? And then, there are those lyrics:

You know, for instance, we study all kin
kinds of sciences, astrogy(sic), mysticism,
religion, so forth we did.
And like coming from here place, all these things help
because if you're inside your inner self
Have mercy! (source)

Have mercy, indeed. Neither astrology nor mysticism is something a Christian should mess with. (And, yes, I have heard of 'Christian mysticsim'. I've also heard of Yoga being taught in churches.)

Not everything that is contrary to Christianity is blatant and comes labeled with warning signs. Matter of fact, most everything contrary to our Christian lives is often hidden - or else cloaked as something very harmless. Which is what makes me think of the line from "Mary Poppins" ("A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down").

Sometimes I wished that every fattening food tasted like dirt. Just like I sort of wished that everything bad for my spirit came outlined in neon-warning lights. But only 'sometimes' and 'sort of'. If life really worked that way, we'd never have to practice self-control. More importantly, we had the neon warnings back in Eden and still got ourselves in a jam.

If it sounds like I'm just being over-cautious, I'm not. And I'd rather err on the side of caution than not after seeing something else that was brought to my attention (by checking the same source listed above) about another of the EWF songs I liked. The song was called "Jupiter". Catchy song, but I only ever half noticed those (now chilling) lyrics.

By the way, I'm not very  familiar with this site I used as a source and I'm going to be going over to check it out further, but I'm appreciative of this bit of info I could reference for this post.)

This is what that source says about who/what Jupiter is:

Occult research author, William Hutchinson says Jupiter is "painted with horns" and "he is the same as Baal. . ." (William Hutchinson, The Spirit of Masonry, pp. 82-83) Satanist Anton LaVey, writes in The Satanic Bible, "The Phoenicians worshipped a fly god, Baal, from which comes the devil, Beelzebub. . ." (Anton Szandor LaVey, The Satanic Bible, p. 60) Anyone slightly familiar with the Bible recognizes Baal as the devil worshipped in the Old Testament. (source)

I guess what I'm trying to say is that, we always have to be careful. As a Christian, I feel like a little kid still learning not to take candy from strangers. Not all strangers are bad, but some of them are deadly.

Now, understand that I'm not knocking anyone who likes EWF - or the Beatles, or any other performers or form of entertainent. All I'm saying is that, if I had been aware of what these guys believed in and stood for, I would not have been subjecting myself to their music. I wish I had paid more attention sooner to their message because I was certainly allowing it into my mind and heart.

I think I will end with something  have concluded about Satan/Lucifer being a being of 'light': of course he's attractive and appealing. If he came at us with horns and that silly little red tail, we'd run screaming away from him.

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)

We wouldn't (or most of us wouldn't) run and jump into a flaming car headed for a cliff, but offer us a ride to a free giveaway of designer goods in a shiny new car and watch how fast we'd take you up on that.

Peace
--Free

Watch but don't Jump

A lot of people are saying that we are living, if not in the end times, close to the edge of those times. I'm a believer.

The thing is, I don't think that we Christians should get too wrapped up in the mania. We need to be witnessing to others about the Gospel, no matter what times we are living in. Still, it's hard not to take notice of things that are happening around us that seem to signal something.

• There's President Erdogan. People seem to be thinking of him as a god. One quote from that link: “Even touching Erdogan is a form of worship,” (Never mind that I am just now even paying attention to him... BTW, the hologram thing creeped me out.)
• And that Hadron Collider machine that I mentioned before is surely man trying to play God.
• People are probably not any more blasphemous than they were when I was young, but they get so much more attention for it. Since celebrities seem to have more influence than is reasonable, I'm worried about rappers who don't protest when someone publishes a bible replacing the name of God with theirs. (And, though he has says ridiculously egotistical things, the rapper apparently had nothing to do with the publishing.)
• We are seeing strange weather,  

To me the biggest sign of all is that people don't want to hear about any of this. I mentioned the CERN issue to a relative and remarked that this is the kind of thing we should all be discussing more - and not who wore what to the Grammys. The response: crickets.

What do you think? Are any of you experiencing a sense of, I don't know - something? As if we are entering into a greater need for prayer? 

Call me crazy, but I do feel as if time is running short. But I think that we need to be hopeful, not afraid. We need to be more eager than ever to share the Gospel. Are you? I am, I can tell you that.

And because I saw this other video right after... ~sigh~

Peace

--Free

One Way or Many Paths?

A very well-known former daytime talk show host once argued with an audience member about the very core of Christianity.

The host advocated that there are "many ways" to God. The audience member stood by her belief that there is only one way to the Father. The host refused to be budged from her own logic and, when the audience member flat out asked, "What about Jesus?", the host responded, "What about Jesus?"

Wait.
What?

I never did understand why the host couldn't understand the audience member's exasperation. After all, the host grew up being familiar with the Bible and, so I would think, she understands the basic message of the Gospel: "No way to the Father except through Me." Jesus's own words.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 ESV (my emphasis)

If I can remember it correctly, I believe the audience member cited this verse to the talk show host. The host replied (in support of people who believe otherwise) that maybe that was true for some people, but that other people might be on another path to God.

I might not have everything exact as it was said during that show, but you get the drift.


So many people agree with the views of the talk show host. I personally know people who share her view and, no matter how often I share what the Word of God has to say on the subject, they won't budge.

I'm not confused by people who just definitely do not believe in God. What baffles me is how people believe in God in addition to other gods.

(source)

I know one person very well who will, in one breath, speak of God and, in the next breath, speak of some other god. It's as if they don't realize that, if they actually do believe in God, then there is no other "God".  There might be other 'gods', but no other God.

My impulse is always to shout out to them: "PICK A LANE!" 

I can respect someone who 'drives' on one side or the other but, boy, I can't stand it when someone wants to cruise the middle of the road.

It's especially bothersome to me when I hear someone claim to have been "brought up" in a Bible-based church, yet they want to ignore the Gospel. The Bible is very clear about the way to God:

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Matthew 7:13-14 

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. Matthew 7:15

Then there is the verse that even most non-believing football fans know:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

So, how can someone like that host even ask the question: "What about Jesus?"

It's not "What about Jesus?" but that Jesus is what it's about.

Actually, I shouldn't be that surprised or puzzled by people's attitudes. I was just talking about the long con game that the Enemy has been running on us.

(source)

What I have decided is that, yes, there are many paths - they just don't lead to God. Some people are at least honest enough to 'pick a lane', and directly follow either Christ the Enemy. Then there are the folks who follow the Enemy without even realizing where they are going.

(source)

Maybe some people think they are following one god or another while, all along, they are following the Enemy while he is wearing one of his many disguises.

One thing is for sure, we will all end up finding out whether we made the correct choice. I choose Jesus.

Peace
--Free

Distractions & the Long Con

You know how there are no clocks in the Vegas Casinos? Or at least none in view of the patrons feeding their money into slot machines or the games.

The reason for that (or so I've heard) is because the Casino bosses don't want patrons to be aware of how much time is passing. I've been in casinos and I always felt like I had stepped out of real life and into a world of  make believe. You can pretend you are in another country or time period. I visited one casino where all the staff were dressed up in togas and centurion costumes. It was silly and fascinating at the same time.

I've seen other explanations for casino designs, but I still think the moneymakers in Vegas are maybe being a little bit devious. Yeah. Just a little bit...

(source)

For some reason, I was thinking about that just now. Then I started thinking how, sometimes, the best way to distract someone is not by directing their attention to something in particular, but away  from something else.


I was also thinking about something I once heard or read: "The most gainful con is a long con."

Satan is the originator of the long con, and he's certainly the master of distraction and deceit. If we look at our way of life today and compare it to various points in history, we can see how this con has worked. Think about the general mindset a lot of us have about certain things:

(source)

• We believe it's better to "work smarter" instead of working harder. Certain jobs are considered "beneath" us, and some people would rather not work at all than to take one of these jobs.
• It's not enough for most of us that we simply have food, clothing and shelter. We want the best food, expensive clothes and a house that we can show off. 
• Appearance is more important to us than substance or quality. We apply this to people, homes, clothes, cars, etc.
• We rarely see anything as being definitively right or wrong. We shade everything gray by using words and phrases like "choice", "individual rights", "perspective", and so on. And if anyone dares to call something right or wrong, they are labelled as bigots, phobics, prudes, nuts, or as not progressive or "keeping up with the times".
• Having choices only works if the majority of society (those who have kept up with the times) agrees that your choice is politically correct or socially acceptable. This, by the way, is a big part of the Enemy's long con. If something is basically good, but becomes polluted or abused by a few people, the rest of us are willing to throw out the good with the bad.
• People who choose to believe in the Bible are dismissed as being crazy and needing the crutch of faith, while people who put their faith in other things are thought of as steadfast and loyal. 

As for that last point, I'm always frustrated about it. For one example: a science fiction writer wrote a book out of which came a religion, a church, and worldwide admiration for a lot of the followers. My faith didn't come out of the birth of a book but out of the birth of the Messiah Jesus, but I'm the nut? 

All of this makes me consider what Isaiah 5:20 says:

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness, who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.

The Enemy uses anything he can to distract us: our grief, heartache, fear, desire and a need to feel included, plus so many other things. I just went through a struggle with grief, and I know someone who is right now going through a period of heartache. She hasn't accepted Christ yet and you can bet that Satan is working overtime in her situation.

Where I can see us getting lost in those temporary struggles I just mentioned, I can't help but be surprised that so many Christians are falling for Satan's overall con game. It's not like we weren't warned about it in the Bible.

When I used to watch scary teen movies, I could pick out which of the victims of the killer would be first to go. My friends and I would joke that we would never do the stupid things the victims did: walk into the dark woods alone, open the door to strangers when there is a mad killer on the loose.

It just amazes me that fellow Christians who read and believe in the Bible are a lot like those victims in movies. They never spot the signs of a false prophet or they will fall for blatantly unscriptural teachings. Or we will do something that we should know we've been advised not to.

There are people who know the Bible like they know their name, but they will get involved with practices of other religions and never think about it. Christians are even practicing Yoga in churches. Some Christians don't see how it's wrong to practice things like Eastern meditation, visit psychics or mediums, "ghost hunt", and so on. Many people see nothing wrong with combining faiths - Christianity with Hinduism or Scientology or Voodooism.

I know that I have done (and probably still do) things that were advised against in the Bible, but I did/do them out of ignorance. Once I realize my error though, I'm done with whatever it is. This is why it's important for us to fellowship and "exhort" one another in one is right according to the Word of God.



But Satan is a master of deception and where he can't blind us to things, he will surely try to delude us. He's a bit of a illusionist and he can goad us to create excuses and rationalizations for our sins to the point we won't believe we are even sinning.

The main thing he does to keep us blind or deluded? Keeping us turned away from the Bible. If we don't read it and study it and pray on it, we won't ever take the blinders off. I know that I am still blind to some things, and I am praying that God always show me what I need to see for truth.

Peace
--Free