Are We Nearly Done?

Are We Nearly Done?

Gill Rapoza

February 3, 2012

Veritas Vos Liberabit

This will be another of those feedback articles that I write every so often.  This is basically a single reply to some of the emails I get from the members and from others of late.  And you are welcome to continue if you like.  I enjoy the responses to what I post. 

The themes of some of what I get sent my way come in the form of both questions and opinions is often interesting for me too.  It gives me a chance to read more on some subjects and look up stuff I might not have otherwise though about.  It is often educational for me. 

I will sum up an on-again, off-again topic.  The question of what will become of our nation(?) is on again.  Some are fairly concerned, and I include myself in that group.  Some figure we are strong enough of a nation that we will be able to see it through nearly anything.  Some think that we are God’s country, that we are a Christian nation, and He will keep us from all harm. 

Here is my version of what puts me in that concerned group.  It has everything to do with our national relationship with God Almighty. 

I believe America was built upon Christian principles, at least early on.  I also believe that many Americans who are or at least claim the title of Christian have the impression that this is God’s special country and nothing awfully bad is going to happen here.  Really???  If you think that, today is the day you may want to think again. 

Just because we were built upon Godly principles, it does not mean we have kept them.  We did not.  So let that go.  God blessed America when we were (1) sharing and living the Gospel here, AND (2) sending missionaries all over the world to further the Good News. 

The second one first (2), sending missionaries.  We do not do that well so much any more.  Some of you sent me a link or even whole articles on how Wycliff is now publishing a “Bible” where God is called allah, and the word “Son” was removed so they don’t offend Muslims.  This is disgusting.  The One Lord God in Heaven is NOT allah the moon rock.  They need to stop translating Bibles and now and stop sending missionaries anyplace until they get that right.  In the mean time they compromise the work that they should be doing.  I would not send them one nickel so long as they operate as they do. 

There are several groups that have done similar.  They have a “muslimized gospel” so as to “not offend” them.  Jesus said to go out into all of the world teaching what He taught.  Watering it down to call God by a pagan name was not one of those teachings.  Paul, the “Apostle to the Gentiles” never told the Romans or Greeks to use Zeus or Apollo when referring to God or the gospel either. 

Our local church no longer supports at least a couple of the former “mission” groups.  These groups have made it clear enough that the gospel might get preached, but that they were more interested in local and international issues as well as “seeking global change.”  That is nice, but they have forgotten their first love.  We still send out missionaries from this nation.  Not so many who tell of the real gospel as before.  God still blesses those that do the work of the true gospel and for those that support them as they can.  God will change the globe enough to suit Him in time.  We are to speak of the death and resurrection of Christ and what that means in eternity to each individual.  We are to talk of salvation and damnation.  We are not to go out and make them feel better.  That was never the message. 

The nation is not as interested any longer in sending out the gospel.  We now send more in the form of troops to “teach” other nations how to be a good democracy than what the Church used to send to teach the Good News.  I got some news.  America is not and never was a democracy.  Other nations do not change because we want them to be like us and call it democracy.  Troops never make anyone want to be like the ones who sent them.  If we need to fight a good fight with our troops, and that certainly has happened before and may again, then let me do all I can to support that effort, and let us give the enemy all the fire we got.  That means to win, not make friends and change ideologies. 

That brings us back to the first point (1), sharing and living the Gospel here.  When we are a nation that kills 50 million of our own unborn for convenience, we can stop saying this is a Christian nation.  This has been going on for decades now.  Christians do not run this nation.  If it were true, the abortions would be nearly zero annually, not about 50,000,000 in total. 

There may be very many Christians in the nation, and God alone knows how many while the rest of us only guess or estimate.  That does not make us a Christian nation.  When our most populous churches are led by heretics, apostates, and soft spoken ear ticklers, then we should question that so many American people even want true Christianity here.  We have heretics, nitwits, lesbians, effeminate what-evers, and Christ deniers not only in the pulpits, but they teach in what we once thought were many Christian colleges and seminaries.  That means that Scriptural denial is now professionally taught where it should never be.  It is not commonly known, but most of the old universities we have, such as Harvard, were founded as Christian schools and seminaries.  Now you have to watch some that still claim they are too. 

Look at those we as a nation elect to the top offices of our nation.  Look closely and see if you can figure out how many are Christian.  I will make it easier seeing that is not a simple question.  See how many seem to be compatible with Christianity.  How about the guy at the top?  He sure seems to be more of a Muslim sympathizer (or member) and a communist lover than Christian friendly.  In the Senate?  Out of the 100 members, can you name many, or any that have stood up and said we must stop the un-Godly abortions in this nation?  I do no recall any.  How about the 435 members of the House of Representatives?  Have any of them done that there?  None come to my mind there either, though I think there might have been a couple some time back.  Hopefully you did better in naming them.  And who voted these people into office?  It does not seem to be a Christian majority that I can figure.  If it was then we were deceived and perhaps willfully so. 

We can look at other legislative, executive, or judicial events, particularly of late and ask if this is Christian.  A whole group of states are mandating “gay marriage” (there is no such thing BTW), legislatively with Washington being the latest to give it a go.  The present governor of New York and the then governor of Massachusetts both said at different times they were going with this.  One is a Catholic and the other a Mormon, who both say they are Christian.  Actions speak louder than words.  In the states of Hawaii, New Jersey, and Illinois there have been judges who have ruled recently that it matters not that churches there do not sanction any such thing as “gay marriage,” they will be required to do so “under the law” or face consequences. 

Are these the actions of a Christian nation?  We do not even have to go into the latest that the elected president said about the “requirement” of churches and religious groups to provide free abortion and contraceptive insurance to their staff.  All of the above were voted in by somebody, or else they were appointed by those who were elected.  Who are all those people that said all of these things were OK? 

While you ponder all of these things, perhaps you could keep in mind that the Brits once thought similar, that they were God’s people and nation.  Here is some more news.  Britannia no longer rules the waves and the sun does now set on her former empire.  We as a nation are heading down that same path as the rest of the world.  Depending on who is in leadership, or the lack there of, this path will lead to our own ruin.  We may remain here as a nation, but it will likely be a shell of our former self. 

I firmly believe God will use those who do His will for His own glory, and then bless them for it.  We may last 10 or 20 years like this, then wake up and discover we have been downgraded such as the Brits have been, or worse that we became like Greece or Portugal, barely able to hang on and always at the edge of destruction. 

Will God pick another nation?  He surely might.  God can use any nation to further His purposes.  He might surprise all of us and choose one we never expected.  No one ever expected America to become what she once was.  But we did. 

It is time for the bottom line stuff. 

You must be prepared.  I am not talking about just the usual prep stuff you get from me fairly often.  That is important too, but it takes a back seat to what I have next. 

I mean there comes a time where we should less than ever depend on ANY government to save ANYONE.  I love our nation, and long may our stars and stripes wave, but we have a personal responsibility to fix our relationship with God first, if it is lacking.  Then we pray for our nation and ask God to extend His mercy just a little longer.  Remember this.  God sometimes delivers nations, but He only saves individuals! 

Christianity means this: All people, including all individuals have failed to do as God requires.  He requires perfection.  Knowing that we all have been unsuccessful in that, He had Jesus pay the ultimate price for our sake.  He requires a repentant heart, and a new nature.  He provided those too.  That is what Jesus’ death and resurrection were for. 

I encourage you to think on the terms of no matter what happens here to our own nation, that we must be right with God first.  If enough do so in time, and I know it seems doubtful, then perhaps God will extend His time of mercy toward this country.  And if He still says “enough, done,” then we will still be where He would have us. 

So what was that first question, “Are We Nearly Done (and what will become of our nation)?”  Yes, nearly I think, but not necessarily.  Pray for your own salvation if you have not done so, then those around you, and your nation.  Then see what God would have you do next. 

Godspeed,

Gill Rapoza

Veritas Vos Liberabit

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Black Friday Primer for the Future

Black Friday Primer for the Future

Gill Rapoza

Friday, November 25, 2011

Hello All,

After watching the Black Friday shopping videos, I saw a lesson there.  Thus, this short commentary.

I fairly often advise people on this list to be prepared for anything that comes their way.  One of the things I frequently say is to have the things you need in a sufficient amount, just in case.  The things you need are your staples, including food, water, meds, self-protection items, effective clothing, sanitary items, and perhaps a few more.  Assuming you have a safe place to dwell, this is a pretty good short list.  These would be the things you need, with the first two having priority.  When Jesus taught His follower to pray, He used the words, “Give us this day our daily bread” right in the middle of the prayer.  In fact it was the only specific, physical thing He said to ask for.  Daily bread simply means the basics that are essential for our life. 

Here is what I saw on TV and the web today just in the Wal-Mart stores. 

•  In California, a woman peppered sprayed other customers in an alleged attempt to gain an advantage over her competition for Wal-Mart sales in the Porter Ranch area of Los Angeles.
•  In Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, two people suffered injuries in an apparent armed robbery attempt after they left a Wal-Mart store around 1 AM Friday.
•  In Kingston, North Carolina, an off-duty police officer working security at Wal-Mart sprayed shoppers with pepper spray in an attempt to stop a disturbance there.
•  In Kissimmee, Florida near Orlando, a person was arrested after an early morning altercation at the jewelry counter at Wal-Mart.
•  In Rome, New York, a brawl erupted in the electronics department at Wal-Mart shortly after midnight. Two people were taken to the hospital afterwards.
• In Florence, Alabama, police had to use a stun gun twice on a Wal-Mart customer. The target was charged with public intoxication, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest.
• Finally, in Southington, Connecticut, police used a stun gun on a man at the Wal-Mart store for an unknown reason. An iReporter, according to CNN News, witnessed the event.

I got the above just from one web article: http://technorati.com/women/article/black-friday-too-violent-to-shop/ 

This is the supposed cheerful “Christmas shopping.”  The truth is this has nothing to do with either.  These things were not cheerful nor were they Christmas related.  This was greed buying perhaps, but not the other.  I also saws news items where people pulled guns on each other.  And in at least one location thieves did their robbing/shopping at gunpoint outside the store after others shopped and took what was bought. 

Here is your moment to think about it.  If there is a large scale catastrophe, major national weather event, full government failure, attack by a foreign or domestic enemy, failure of essentials to be delivered to the store, total bank crash, or something else detrimental affecting many thousands or millions of people in your area, are you going to have some sort of plan already in place?  Will you have enough of the “daily bread” to sustain your family and self? 

Today was a good lesson for those who watch and work.  If TEOTWAWKI shows up, you should know that the same sort of people who will fight or rob over video games and big screens will kill over that last loaf of bread. 

I hope you are awake and thinking now. 

Godspeed,

Gill Rapoza

Veritas Vos Liberabit

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9-1-1—or—Where Was God? 2011

Hello 92251 List Members & Blog Readers,

This is my annual 9/11 post, which is called a 9-1-1 post for the clear reasons stated below.  This is the ten year anniversary of the day ISLAMIC TERRORISTS attacked America. 

I certainly hope that awful day was a wake up call for you as it was for me.  I became more aware and alert on several fronts.  I spoke out more.  I can recall so much of the day in detail, both what I saw on TV and how I interacted with people at work.  It was a very personal attack, and it still is.  I am no longer an active duty “First Responder,” but much of what I saw and learned is still with me because of my chosen profession, and it will not go away.  It is still something I hold dear in my heart. 

I saw that second plane hit on live TV.  Even though I was not in New York City, I felt it deep inside.  That took me back to the actual deadly plane crash I assisted with in San Diego.  Unlike San Diego, I could not respond to New York or DC, and in part, that very much irritated me.  It is what responders do.  When everyone else is leaving, we go in. 

It irritates me now to see the idiots in charge that now restrict the First Responders and the Christian and Jewish chaplains from praying at the event.  I am irritated that the clowns in charge think more of an “Islamic Center” than our fallen and the rest whom it cost so dearly.  It is irritating that we are being told not to speak of Al Qaeda.  Politicians are back to forgetting the ONE GOD that so blessed this nation.  They barely recall the nation God once blessed.  I will bet none of them will call this Patriot Day. 

Some of the contents of the post have changed, but not so much.  The contents of list changed too after that day, particularly with some of the things I now write or comment on.  I have no issue about saying ISLAMIC TERRORISTS – it is what they were and still are. 

My wife and I have jackets that we wear each winter with portions of this post written on it.  It is very special to me. 

This was one of the posts I got to put up on a then recognized notable blog.  If you click the link you won’t find it any longer.  TownHall bought out The Conservative Voice, and took down the stuff us lesser known writers used to post. 

Today – I am New York.  Today – I am the District of Columbia.  Today – I am Shanksville, Pennsylvania.  Today – I am America.  And it all brings a tear to my eyes.  Can we not also yet be One Nation Under God? 

When all others may falter, you remember!  This is to the many fallen, that we can not ever bring back.  Remember!  לזכור

Godspeed,

Gill Rapoza

Veritas Vos Liberabit 

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9-1-1—or—Where Was God?

By Gill Rapoza

Original post was in 2001

Minor updates in this edition (and the original link no longer works)

http://www.theconservativevoice.com/article/18118.html

http://grapoza.blogspot.com/ 

In every person’s life we will always remember certain days and events.

In the late fall of 1963, as I sat in the 4^th grade classroom of Saint Louis School, our principle, Sister Mary Nathan, came into our class to talk with us.  She said President Kennedy was just shot, and was dying, and we must go to pray for him and our country.  I will never forget that day.  I know where I was that day.  I was part of a group of young students that prayed and remembered God.  Others did the same, but many still questioned God.

In the fall of 1978, I was home one morning, at about 9:00, when the television broke the news; “An airline has crashed in the North Park area of the city, killing everyone onboard, plus others on the ground.”  As a member of the San Diego Police Department, I knew what my job was.  I went to the crash site to help.  It was hot and miserable.  The area stunk of jet fuel and burning buildings.  The place was a horror, like nothing I had personally seen before or after.  Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 182 went down killing 156 people.  I saw pieces of bodies everywhere.  It was hard to cope.

I knew where I was that day.  I was not so sure where God was that day.  I was one of those that sat and wondered.  I did not know why He was not there to help.  My relationship to God was not all that it should have been.  I, as others, questioned God.

This September 11^th marks the ten-year anniversary since the infamous events of September 11^th, 2001.  The same day can rightly be called 9-1-1, the day we called for help as a nation.  Millions of Americans once again have their thoughts drawn to the horrors and heroism of that day and the ensuing aftermath.  For many, the images are as graphic and painful today as they were on that day of the cowardly attacks.

For thousands of Americans who lost family and friends that day, this first anniversary will remind them of the grief over the senseless death of loved ones.  Most all of us will too have grieved today over such a tragic loss.

For many of us, this day is a day of pain and wonder.  This is a day we cannot forget.  We must not forget.

In such a time of grief and struggle, it is most important that we turn to God ... and each other ... for comfort, support and encouragement.  I ask that we would all pray for those who are still grieving and reliving the suffering they experienced 9-1-1.

I was never at ground zero, but I can appreciate what the people saw and thought.  My experience at PSA Flight 182 had taught me much.  My relationship to God has much improved since 1978.

“Where was God that day?” many have asked.  Others asked, “Why did He not do something?”  Many sat and wondered as I once would, “Where was God?”

Job 38 gives us an answer when we think we should question God:

1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.

4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.

5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who hath stretched the line upon it?

6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner stone thereof;

7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?

9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,

10 And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,

11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;

13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?

14 It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.

15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.

16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? Or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?

17 Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? Or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?

18 Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? Declare if thou knowest it all.

A deeper intensity of purpose to proclaim the saving grace of Jesus for the forgiveness of sin and the renewing of the heart, mind and spirit prevails.  The need for the Gospel has never been more pronounced and more urgent.  Speaking to people about the hope of Jesus is the single most important thing I can do.  Events like 9-1-1 remind me of how helpless we are apart from God.

So, Where Was God on 9-1-1?

The above reading of Job will not satisfy everyone, so I will tell you where else was God on that fateful day.

God was with the rescue workers who ran into the burning buildings as most people were running out.  (1)

God was with the flight attendant who called her husband as her plane was being hijacked to tell him that she loved him. (2)

God was with the hundreds of rescue workers, cops, fire, and medical people, who died trying to save others. (3)

God was with the two men who carried a wheelchair-bound woman down 70 flights of stairs to safety. (4)

God was with the strangers in cars, picking up those they did not know, stranded in the city and taking them home to their families. (5)

God was with the people who were begging to volunteer, to do anything to help. (6)

God was with those who perished ... those who cried out to Him in their moment of deep despair and anguish. (7)

God was with the hundreds of thousands of people, sending money, donating blood, saying prayers, from thousands of miles away, for people in New York and Washington D.C., to help people they have never met, living in cities they have never been to. (8)

God is with the people who are comforting someone ... even when they don’t know what to say. (9)

God is with the people who watched and cried for the suffering.  Though they may remain anonymous in name, they will never be in their sacrifice.  God knows them by name! (10)

God is in the neighborhoods where flags wave not just for patriots, but to remember those who are gone. (11)

God was with the rescue workers who looked at 100 million tons of rubble, yet saw hope in finding survivors. (12)

God was with ALL the heroes, most of whom will never be interviewed, never make the news ... whose stories might only be told to their closest friends and family ..., some who died without anyone but God knowing of their braveness and heroism. (13)

God was NOT with the ungodly terrorists that caused these inhumane events. (14)

However, God was indeed there, when and where He was needed most. (15)

If we as a nation would continue to love God and obey His commands as revealed through His Son Jesus, this nation would once again be blessed. (16)

Those who were on my email list in 2002 got the story of Todd Beamer, but for those who did not, this is how God was with him on that terrible day.

The Faith of Todd Beamer – Let’s Roll

“I don’t think we’re going to get out of this thing.  I’m going to have to go out on faith.”

It was the voice of Todd Beamer, the passenger ... and Wheaton College graduate ... who said, “Let’s roll” as he led the charge against the terrorists who had hijacked United Flight 93, the one, you will remember, that crashed in the Pennsylvania countryside.

The whole world knows how brave Beamer and his fellow passengers were on September 11th.  But this week we learned more fully what buttressed that bravery: Faith in Jesus Christ.  Todd died as he lived, a faithful evangelical believer.

In an article titled “The Real Story of Flight 93,” Newsweek reveals gripping new details from the actual transcripts of the now-recovered cockpit voice recorder.  “Todd had been afraid,” Newsweek relates.  “More than once, he cried out for his Savior.”

After passengers were herded to the back of the jet, Beamer called the GTE Customer Center in Oakbrook, Illinois.  He told supervisor Lisa Jefferson about the hijacking.  The passengers were planning to jump the terrorists, he said.  And then he asked her to pray with him.

As Newsweek relates …Beamer kept a Lord’s Prayer bookmark in his Tom Clancy novel, but he didn’t need any prompting.  He began to recite the ancient litany, and Jefferson joined him: “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.”

As they finished, Beamer added, “Jesus, help me.”

And then, Beamer and his fellow passengers prayed a prayer that has comforted millions down through the centuries ... the prayer that David wrote in a time of great anguish:

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want ... Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.”

And then the famous last words:

“Are you guys ready?  Let’s roll.”

We now know from the cockpit voice recorder that Beamer and other passengers wrestled with the hijackers and forced the plane to crash into the ground, killing themselves but foiling what was believed to have been the hijackers’ plan to fly Flight 93 into the Capitol or the White House.

As Christians, we know that God can bring good out of evil.  In Todd Beamer, the world witnesses a faith that held up in the extremity of fear.  A faith that is even now comforting his widow and two young sons.

Lisa Beamer told NBC’s Dateline, “You know, in the Lord’s Prayer, it asks us to forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”  “As Todd prayed this prayer in the last moments of his life, in a way,”  Lisa said, “He was forgiving those people for what they were doing, the most horrible thing you could ever do to someone.”

It wasn’t Todd Beamer’s job to fight terrorists.  He was just a passenger, who along with several others, did what he didn’t have to do but foiled a terrible evil that might have been done to his country.

As Flight 93 hurtled towards destruction, Todd Beamer could not have known that his quiet prayers would ultimately be heard by millions … that the story of his last acts on earth would be a witness to the Lord he loved and served and a lasting example of true heroism.

I’d like to recall the last portion of the speech given by President George W Bush at the National Cathedral on September 14, 2001.

“On this national day of prayer and remembrance, we ask almighty God to watch over our nation, and grant us patience and resolve in all that is to come.  We pray that He will comfort and console those who now walk in sorrow.  We thank Him for each life we now must mourn, and the promise of a life to come.

“As we have been assured, neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, can separate us from God’s love.  May He bless the souls of the departed. May He comfort our own.  And may He always guide our country.

“God bless America.”

Even more so, may we, and America bless God by turning to Him, and doing what is right.

So now, is the time to answer a question with a question.  The next time you are asked, “Where was God.” you will be able to ask a question back.  “Where were you?”  God was there all along, waiting for you to seek Him.

You will also be able to have confidence in the one true God, by your trust in Him.

Psalm 9:10  “And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.”

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Notes:

1.      Psalms 18:29  “For by You I can run upon a troop; And by my God I can leap over a wall.”

2.      Proverbs 31:10  “An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels.” 

3.      John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”

4.      Isaiah 40:31 “Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.”  

5.      3 John 1:5 “Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially for strangers;” 

6.      Isaiah 1:17  “Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow.”

7.      2 Chronicles 20:9  “Should evil come upon us, the sword, or judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before You (for Your name is in this house) and cry to You in our distress, and You will hear and deliver us.”

8.      2 Samuel 10:12  “Be strong, and let us show ourselves courageous for the sake of our people and for the cities of our God; and may the LORD do what is good in His sight.”

9.      Isaiah 57:18 “I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and to his mourners,”

10.  Lamentations 3:48  “My eyes run down with streams of water Because of the destruction of the daughter of my people.”

11.  Romans 13:7  “Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.”

12.  Psalms 9:18  “For the needy will not always be forgotten, Nor the hope of the afflicted perish forever”. 

13.  Hebrews 12:1  “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”

14.  Proverbs 6:16-18  “There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil,”

15.  Deuteronomy 31:6  “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.”

16.  2 Chronicles 7:14  “If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Some of the quotes of Todd Beamer have come from varied sources and were not mine. 

All of the Bible quotes were from the King James Version

As always, if you have comments, questions, and even complaints, send them my way.  I will answer what I can when I can.

The usual Copyright © rules apply with the exception that this writing may be republished, reposted, or emailed providing the person or organization doing so does not charge for subscriptions or advertising and that the column is copied intact and that full credit is given to the writer.  And please let me know if you want to post this someplace. 

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Where Are We Going As A Nation?

Where Are We Going As A Nation? 

By Gill Rapoza

October 12, 2010

I read a lot of material on a daily basis.  I buy good books when I can, as well as read the stuff I see on the net.  I do take a lot of things on the web with a grain of salt.  Several of you on this list send me interesting material sometimes too.  I enjoy reading what I see in Scripture.  Seems I learn things all the time.  A lot of it is a warning, and certainly not that silly “happy all the time talk” some preachers on TV put out.  God tends to give warnings, particularly when things are not right.  He lets thing happen He would not otherwise.  Even Israel, His witness, got warned and knocked about from time to time when they were not paying attention to doing right. 

All of this led me to wonder; where are we going as a nation?  That was not a rhetorical question, I wonder.  We have willingly as a nation, and as many individuals, gone so far down this road away from what is right, that I think maybe God might let just continue on.  It could be to our own national demise if we don’t turn around. 

As nations go, we are still largely free.  But that freedom is slowly eroding.  We let it go, so we should not complain when it is gone.  Who would have ever thought this country would hire a Socialist nut job, who does not like Christianity or Capitalism, who openly bows to the Muslim leader of a country whose citizens caused the greatest single destructive hit on US soil, who has no real experience other than a community agitator, whose only true love seems to be himself, to be president?  Just in case anyone was wondering, we did it ourselves as a nation.  This article is not about Barry, it is about us messing up. 

I don’t think we are done as a nation just yet, but it is not for a lack of effort.  “I want, we want, government give me… gimme, gimme, gimme …”  Those that think that way are praying to the wrong god!  That would be government with a little “g” or goods, with another little “g”.  On this road we travel we will soon enough see most all our freedoms go away.  You will have a right to do what the little g says you can have, and it may change overnight if we get that far. 

What have we lost?  It is forbidden in places if you openly speak out against Muslim terrorist activity on our soil (mosque next to twin towers), gay marriage (no such thing), or abortions (50 million plus killed).  If you peacefully protest against government wrongs, government officials (hello Nancy) will accuse you of being non-tolerant (I hate that word), bigoted, and get this, a “terrorist.”  If you dare say the man living at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is the wrong fellow for the job, you must be hateful, racist, or both according to not only those in high politics, but the shills in the media cheering them on.  The new national health care (phooey on us) will REQUIRE you belong to the government system, as in health insurance, no matter if you want it or not.  That is not freedom!  If you happen to belong to the NRA, are a returning member of the military, say the two party system is corrupt, and/or want to openly preach Jesus Christ as the only way (my personal favorite), then you too will be labeled with the bad guys.  Who would have thought?  That is right here in America! 

People are sort of waking up; but I return to the question of where will we go as a nation?  Perhaps I should also ask; what will the citizens of this sometimes great nation do?

Complete government control over anything is a very bad idea, and people are wondering about what comes next.  I am only speculating as to what others may be thinking.  I sometime think of the one famous line in the movie Network, where one of the main characters tells people to yell out their windows, “I’m as mad as Hell and I’m not going to take this any more.”  <www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMz_RQuTBlI&NR=1>  Some are that mad perhaps, but who will do what?  Where are we going?  Do we have the will to do better? 

There are the Tea Party folks, which I like even though I only went to one event ever.  If they would continue to do what is right while getting bigger, and not go way off track as the big parties have, it would be a great improvement.  But will it be enough?  Is the One God in Scripture included in their overall picture?  Perhaps with some of them.  We may see in time if they can overcome things through the ballot box. 

There might be some open armed rebellion if many are that angry and think they are backed into a corner.  That sort of reaction would certainly mean people get killed.  Not one of the better options.  I have no problem taking up arms, but it would be for the defense of my family or self, and others in some cases.  But I am not looking for a battle.  Open rebellion worked during the American Revolution, with the Colonists against the Brits.  I don’t know if it would work the same now.  Those people on the other end of the anger at are not the Brits from far away, but our own right here.  And it would not be like the Civil War either, with North and South.  The territories and boundaries would not be nearly so clear. 

We could possibly see a break-up of the country into several smaller nation states, and that is not something pleasing to me either.  It could happen by peaceful means or violent means.  I don’t think it would go down too peaceful.  I keep in mind the unpleasant thought that America is not listed in Scripture, and that makes me think she will not be much of a power in the end.  If it happens, it would only be because we rejected God first.  And then He let us go our own way. 

Perhaps some would hold up someplace and see if and when it will all be over.  The survivalist mentality is very alive and well in parts of the nation.  Many of these just want to protect their families and stay away from it all.  To go “off the grid” can be very appealing.  Lots of work would be involved.  Raising your own food and providing for other needs is not all that easy, but it certainly can be done here in America, or even what she may become. 

Some think there will be an over run attempt by other nations, or even parties in agreement with the United Nations.  There are many scenarios involved in this one.  Some peaceful and some not.  The sad part is that we have idiots and traitors in our own ranks that will go along with this one world happy crap.  It will not be happy.  The idiots and traitors would come from both the government and some churches.  Dead Michael Jackson may have gotten a bunch of people to sing with him that they were the world, but not me, not for Christians who are supposed to be in the world but not of it, and not for real American Patriots. 

We as Americans have never seen the likes of what is going on now.  I learned from reading some good articles and books that in Russia, when it was the Soviet Union, the people did a lot of things in an underground economy.  China has an underground economy in their Communist system now.  The people are not free really.  You can not worship freely there.  They have the government approved churches, just as the Russians did, but those were the only ones where the Gospel was preached.  The government approved churches had the social gospel only. 

You may notice that I did not offer a lot of answers just yet.  It is coming.  I am curious as to where you want to go, and what you want to do. 

My plan is simple.  And this is mostly because I think any combination of the above can happen to us as a nation.  I plan to be ready for near anything that comes my way.  I pray regularly for our nation, that our leaders will wake up, do right, or be replaced with ones that will.  I ask that I and others will be ready, awake for what shows up on the horizon.  Most of you know me well enough by now that I am not so good at following instructions when they are wrong.  I don’t believe any of us were called to do that.  Will I, and we, have hard times yet to come?  Probably.  I strongly recommend that you too pray for our nation, or if God has tolerated us long enough, for those who will still be here.  You have got to be right with God first before you can expect any of this to happen. 

So, where are we going as a nation?  What will you do?  Looks like something is coming our way.  I’d love to hear from you on this. 

Godspeed,

Gill Rapoza

Veritas Vos Liberabit

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