Strange Life

Itching Ear Syndrome

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 12:12:08 -0400

Truth is a strange thing isn't it? Most decent folks teach their children the importance of always speaking the truth. But when it comes to the scriptures, many actually reject the truth contained in the Word of God.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. (2Timothy 4:1-5 KJV)

It amazes me how easily even Christians will reject biblical truth, no matter how plainly it is displayed before them.

The scriptures clearly explain the motivation behind Itching Ear Syndrome. It's stems from the things we desire or don't desire.

When the truth is pleasant to us, we embrace it with joy. But, when the truth makes us uncomfortable, many reject it.

It is not my intention to go into every area in the realm of Christianity where I see this taking place. But, I would like to touch upon a few things as examples.

Many churches and church leaders teach that only part of the gifts and manifestations of the Spirit are in operation in the Church today. The others, they claim, have already passed away, or were only intended for the propogation of the early church.

As logical as they make it sound for those who willfully choose not to believe in those things, their teaching is based partially on speculation, partially on poor interpretation of the scriptures and partially on a lack of knowledge.

This same principle of deviation from the truth runs rampant in the Church today in many areas of doctrine.

Another example is the trend in the modern church not only to act as if homosexuality was an acceptable form of behavior, but to embrace it to the point they deny the bible proclaims it is sin. Then to go as far as to ordain those sinners into the ministry.

I wonder, have they never read Romans 1:18-32 or Leviticus 20:13 ?

No, the truth is not always something people want to hear. But, do we as Christians dare deny the truth of God's word? Are those who do such a thing really in a right relationship with the Lord?

There is another area where truth comes into the picture, and is often denied or discarded. I am speaking of when we are shown the truth, and perhaps don't understand it right away, or it doesn't seem logical to us at the moment. So we automatically reject it, without prayerfully searching out the matter.

This very thing took place in the early church, and you can surely count on the fact that it happens in our time too.

And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. (2Peter 3:15-18)

Paul, in his day, encountered much opposition to the truth. Sometimes even from other believers. The cause according to Peter was that those who didn't perceive the truth were themselves unlearned and unstable.

Itching Ear Syndrome is a deceptive thing. We must exercise great caution not to merely go with the flow. We have a personal responsibility to search the scriptures, pray, and seek God for the truth.

Are you taking the precautionary measures required to prevent it from infecting your life?

Medicinal Madness

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 06:15:08 -0400

This may be a subject of controversy to some readers. But I hope it will cause you to give some thought to the matter. It is my personal belief that most of our modern medicine is evil, satanic, and not at all in the will of God for a believer.

The purpose in presenting my point of view on this issue is not necessarily to sway your opinion. Rather that you might prayerfully consider the facts.

Now before you label me a complete kook, or someone who has wandered off into the fringes of delusion, I have every intention of presenting my argument using the Word of God, and other trusted resources to define the matter more clearly.

But if I may digress for a moment I first want to bring something to everyone's attention, that I believe Satan has caused us to be almost oblivious to.

The other day while visiting a family member's home, a commercial came on the television about some wonder drug that would help you sleep better, feel more at ease, breathe easier, etc. Although it would seem like a very practical solution, it was the end of the commercial that opened my eyes.

Pay close attention the next time you see one of these commercials. They promise you relief, a better life, and all the other things you want to have. But most, if not all of them, are followed with warnings of possible serious side effects.

The one in particular that I am speaking of included at the end a warning that in some cases it could produce kidney failure, blindness, internal bleeding, and a number of lesser bodily discomforts.

My first question was this: Why would anyone be willing to take such a risk as this in hopes of obtaining relief from another problem?

My second question was this: How can anything known to possess the ability to severely and pemanantly cause serious bodily harm be produced, prescribed by the medical community, and passed on to the general public?

Are you paying attention here? This is legalized poisoning!

OK, let's do a word study, from the bible, based upon Galatians 5:19-21.

I'll be using the King James Version, and if you have a Strong's Concordance, you should easily be able to follow along.

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

The word I want to focus on here is witchcraft. As used in the passage above, what does that word actually mean in the Greek? Let's take a look at the Strongs concordance for clarity.

G5331

pharmakeia

far-mak-i'-ah

From G5332; medication ("pharmacy"), that is, (by extension) magic (literal or figurative): - sorcery, witchcraft.

G5332

pharmakeus

far-mak-yoos'

From pharmakon (a drug, that is, spell giving potion); a druggist ("pharmacist") or poisoner, that is, (by extension) a magician: - sorcerer.

Now let's examine what "Thayer's Greek Definitions" has to say in comparison to the Strong's

G5331

pharmakeia

Thayer Definition:

1) the use or the administering of drugs

2) poisoning

3) sorcery, magical arts, often found in connection with idolatry and fostered by it

4) metaphorically the deceptions and seductions of idolatry

Part of Speech: noun feminine

G5332

pharmakeus

Thayer Definition:

1) one who prepares or uses magical remedies

2) sorcerer

Part of Speech: noun masculine

It might suprise you to know that the same word used in Galatians (witchcraft - G5331) is also used in Revelation 9:21 and 18:23. Only in those passages the King James has them rendered as sorceries

Please, take a moment to research this yourself. I'm not making this stuff up!

And while you're at it, read (in their context) the two verses from Revelation I have referred to.

I want to make something else clear at this time. I am not knocking all forms of medicine. There are many things that actually benefit us, without producing dangerous side effects.

My focus is on the fact that our modern medicine is slowly becoming more and more dangerous. Yet we just assume because a doctor prescribes it to us it must be good for us. And that's the big deception.

We have become a society accustomed to taking a pill for this and a prescription for that. We want comfort, we want relief, and we want it fast. Could it be that Satan knowing the weakness of our carnal fleshly nature has gradually, over time, seduced us into placing far too much trust in these pills and potions?

As I see it, Satan has duped the majority of people into a false sense of hope and trust in these things. In biblical times this would have been called witchcraft and sorcery.

The deception didn't just jump out at us all of a sudden. It was a slow process, developed over time, to delude us into thinking these drugs are really scientific miracles. But are they?

Any true believer should know that in most cases Satan isn't going to just throw something out there all of a sudden. No, he is far too cunning for that. He knows a rapid change would create alarm and draw attention to his underlying agenda.

On a more human level, the sad part of this whole mess is that in the United States and other countries, ALL drugs must be approved before they can be manufactured, distrubuted and sold. This means we are being poisoned by the medical community and pharmacutical companies, with the full knowledge of our respective governments.

And here's another point for consideration. Except in rare instances, none of our modern drugs actually cure us. They are merely a treatment, and more often than not a maintenance program. Sure they produce relief as long as you keep taking them, but they don't remove the problem. Instead they cost us greatly and do almost nothing of permanant value.

This should have a familiar ring to anyone who has read the four Gospels. Remember the woman who had the issue of blood for 12 years? (See Matthew 9:20-22, Mark 5:25-34, Luke 8:43-48)

I wish at this point I had a fantastic closing statement to present. Instead the only thing I think would be worthy of saying is, consider the facts, read the scriptures, look up the words in a greek dictionary as I have done, and pray for wisdom.

Fear Factors

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:46:29 -0400

Have you ever taken into serious consideration the depth of fear that exists in the world today? I'm not talking about the fear of nuclear war, terroristic attacks, or anything on that level. Just the basic sense of fear that's visible in everyday life.

Maybe I'm showing my age, but, I remember a time when people were much friendlier than they are today. They would say hello, even to a stranger, or at least nod their head. But, do that today and in many cases you'll receive a very strange look in return.

From a male perspective, just to speak an innocent, friendly, hello to a female, in a public place can often produce a wide range of negative reactions, depending upon how deeply rooted in fear that person might be.

And there seems to be many other basic fears that exist in both genders. So please don't think I'm picking on women.

Aren't all these things a result of the lack of love in the world today? Doesn't the Word of God attest to the fact?

Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. (1John 4:15-18 KJV)

That last verse says it all. Perfect love casts out fear !

This reminds me how important it is that God has chosen for us to live in this day and age. As Christians we are called to be a light in this world of darkness. A witness to the truth. A messenger of the Good News. A living testimony of God's grace and mercy.

As born again believers, God in his divine providence has placed us each upon this earth at precisely this moment in time to share the love of Christ, and the hope of salvation with those around us.

Sure there are many excuses we can make to justify a multiple number of reasons for not sharing our faith. But, in doing so are we really being obedient to that which Christ has commanded us to do?

I remember a song from years past. Although sung by an unbeliever deeply rooted in humanistic beliefs, the message it presented was absolutely on target. "What the world needs now is love, love, love. It's the only thing that there's just too little of."

Do you see the same fear factor in the people around you that I can see? If so, then maybe the Lord is urging you to do something about it, by taking the time to witness to them.

Consider the equation. If each Christian witnessed daily to the people around them caught up in fear, and was able to make a convert of only one person per year. Then disciple that convert to do the same. In just a few short years the majority of fear that exists would vanish.

Of course we know not all will accept Christ, or believe the gospel message. Yet I wonder if that's a realistic excuse for any Christian not to do their part.

While dwelling upon this issue it also made me wonder if our lack of motivation to do what Christ commanded isn't based upon our own fears. If so, we are not really tapped into the perfect love of God. Are we?

According to the Word, fear is nonexistant in a person who walks in the perfect love of God. So, if there's fear in your life, then love is not the prevailing factor.

If we have a fear of speaking out, a fear of being rejected, or a fear of what others might think of us for sharing the gospel, then the evidence leans strongly in the direction that we really are not walking in the perfect love God has made available to us.

Isn't it time we make an honest examination of our own hearts? Didn't Jesus proclaim that if we were ashamed of him in this life, he would be ashamed of us before his Father?

I strongly urge each and every person who calls themself a Christian to think about this.

The Unexpected

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:41:34 -0400

Isn't it strange how life often deals you the unexpected? How do YOU handle things when everything starts to go haywire?

It's been a while since I last made an entry to my blog. Why? Well, the past 6 or 7 months has been a topsy-turvey, roller coaster ride at the amusement park of life.

But, through it all I have seen the power of God, the provision of God, and the faithfulness of God, in spite of the trials and testing I've experienced over the latter part of last year, and the beginning of 2010.

Near financial collapse due to the failing economy was the greatest test of all. There were times I didn't have a clue how I was going to make it through the next week, and sometimes even the next day.

All I could do was hold on the the Word of God, and the record of the Lord's faithfulness declared in Psalm 37:25

I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

So here I am, back on track. A person who has become stronger by the many trials I went through. One who's faith in God's provision is at an all time high, having personally witnessed and experienced the many miraculous ways God can and will provide for those who trust in him.

Could it be that someone reading this post is struggling at the moment? Maybe even you?

Are you in a state of financial ruin?

Trust Him !

Have you been laid off from your place of employment?

Trust Him !

Does it seem like God is nowhere to be found?

Trust Him !

Hate Mail

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 18:22:54 -0400

Isn't it strange how easily people can get offended? It seems my last blog post was mistaken (by some) as racist. Hate mail, in the form of numerous anonymous comments attested to the fact. Fortunately, I'm set up so that ALL comments must be reviewed before they are publicly displayed.

To those who were offended, or just took things in a wrong way, I'm sorry. The intention was to emphasize the ridiculousness of Big Government, self interest groups, etc.

If read from that perspective, even those who took offense just might understand things a little bit better.

Oddly enough in the world today it appears that so many think they are automatically entitled to this or that. Some believe the government, and even life itself owes them. When in fact the godly way is to work for what you need, and be content in whatever situation you are in.

This of course can only come about when an individual has a real relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, and sees God as their provider.

Peace & Love to you all !