HERE WE GO?

   The Egyptian army has routed the Muslim Brotherhood's Protest Camps in Cairo. Initial reports indicate the use of bulldozers, tear gas, automatic weapons and sharp shooters. As of Wednesday, Noon, The Washington Times was reporting 149 dead, 800 injured. Some of the dead had bullet wounds to the chest and head, indicating intentional killing.

   In a Wall Street Journal Report, Vice President, Mohamed ElBaradei, resigned in protest of the crack down. The Egyptian Initiative For Personal Rights, a human rights group, said the crackdown already had spurred attacks by Brotherhood supporters against Coptic Christian churches in Southern Egypt.  [What did they do?]

   According to American journalist Jeffrey Goldberg, who is close to the Obama Administration, "Kerry, capitalizing on [Israel's] anxiety, has warned Netanyahu…that if the current peace talks bear no fruit, Israel may soon be facing an international delegitimization campaign -- in his words – 'on steroids.'"

   Yesterday, Israel released 26 terrorist murderers from prison in a gesture of peace.
 
   USA Today reports that Syrian rebels outside Damascus said Tuesday that thousands of Hezbollah and Iraqi fighters are massing on the outskirts of the capital in what appears to be a prelude to a large-scale ground invasion against towns they have held for months.

   "Planes are dropping off fully armed fighters from Hezbollah and the Iraqi Fadl Brigades," said opposition activist Abu Yasser.

   Hezbollah is a Lebanon-based terrorist group; the Fadl Brigades are Iranian-trained Shiite Muslim militants from Iraq. Both groups are likely destined for the fight in al-Qusayr, a town near the Lebanese border that is at the center of the rebels' supply routes for ammo and fighters, Yasser said.  [You do know Lebanon is Israel's Northern neighbor!]

   Still worried about what you'll wear to the Prom?

   Who or What can fix the Middle East? The Enemies are miles apart, in terms of agreement. The only agreement is among the Muslims who want Israel gone and Islam established as a World-wide Caliphate. How do you negotiate with that?

    I think we need an International Representative for Peace to come to the Middle East and settle all the issues, don't  you? Where would we find such a person? Maybe the United Nations? Maybe the European Union? Maybe the United States. 

    What would he do? He could start by signing a Non-Aggression Treaty with Israel, for say, 7 years. A commitment from the West that should Israel be attacked we would come to her aid. Would that work? No! But this is exactly what The Bible predicts [Dan 9:27]

    This is what The Bible prophesies as The Beginning of The Great Tribulation. Keep your eyes peeled on the Eastern Sky.

The Economy: Left v. Right? Or Right v. Wrong?

   There is hardly an adult in America who isn't wondering [at least] about where this government's fiscal policy is taking us. According to statistics released Monday [8/12/13], by the Treasury Department, the government has made progress in staunching the spread of red ink, while managing to avoid a double-dip recession.

    Through the first 10 months of 2013, the deficit dropped $607.4 billion, down from $973.8 billion at this same point in 2012. We're also being told [in other news] that businesses are making money, profits are up and the Stock Market is doing well....so far.

    So, what's happening? Is the Socialist-Progressive Fiscal Plan working? Are we being lied to? Is this the Lull-Before-The-Storm?

    Before you go out and have a party, I have one word for you: ObamaCare! This monster kicks into high gear, next year. Along with that are the millions of Americans who cannot and will not find Full Time work, because employers need to get below 50 full-time employees, reducing household incomes by at least a quarter or more.

    It doesn't take a genius to figure out what's happening. Our current economic policy is immoral! Those in government, who have created the present scenario, know full well what they're doing will virtually bankrupt the country and destroy the middle class. What they're doing is deliberate!

    How can I be so definitive? We know these people know what they're doing because the vast majority of them are millionaires! They know how money works. They know how to accumulate wealth. They know that giving away their money to friends and neighbors, even strangers, with no hope that it will help those people become self-sufficient, is foolish! They don't do it in their personal finances, just look at how much Liberals and Progressives give to charity.

    No one gets rich devaluing the currency or increasing the cost of doing business, yet that's exactly what's happening on a broad scale. So what's really going on?

    What's really going on is the world hurling itself toward Armageddon! Everywhere you look you see more and more immorality, crime and moral devastation. We used to be able to list the most current illustrations, but there are more and worse occurring every day! Too many to keep up with.

    Will the Republicans stop the implementation of ObamaCare? Not without a Republican President to sign the Bill. Will the Republicans stop the spending? Not if they want to get elected again. Will we return to The Rule of Law? Probably not. This Administration has refined the art of Government By Decree and no one is calling them on it. I expect they are establishing a new paradigm that succeeding Presidents and Cabinet Officials will follow, with impugnity

    This is not a Republican v. Democrat issue. It's not a political Left v. Right issue. It's a Right v. Wrong issue and The Wrong is winning!

WHO AM I TO JUDGE?

   Ruth Marcus, Washington Post Columnist, writes that a society which is less inclined to moral judgments is, for the most part, a happy development. She believes when one takes the position: "Who Am I Too Judge," it's a good thing for society.

   I think she's wrong! Oops....that's a moral judgment!

   Marcus is responding to the Pope's recent foray into the world of political correctness, to wit: His comments regarding the sexual proclivities of practicing Catholics.

   The pope believes, as long as the person 'searches for The Lord and has good will, what he or she does in the bedroom is none of his business. "Who am I to judge?"

   One can only wonder what the next Papal Bull will be about. It seems to me that these are largely judgmental statements about a host of subjects. Of course, they are spoken 'ex cathedra,' meaning they are authoritative and infallible.

   An infallible judgment is different from an ordinary judgment? Am I being judgmental to say thievery is wrong or dangerous to society? Am I judgmental to say lying is a bad thing? Or am I simply making a moral observation?

   A "happy development" in terms of a society would seem to be a good thing for the society at at large. Is that true of homosexual behavior? Ruth Marcus seems to think it is.

   Isn't that just another judgment? Is your opinion about this a judgment? Am I judging you, now? This is all too confusing for me! 

IT MIGHT ACTUALLY BE OVER!

    What might be over? This Grand Experiment known as The United States of America. You remember it, don't you: A nation of people whose Rights are guaranteed by God, not the Courts. A nation of people dedicated to the principle of Individual Responsibility, not Government largesse (or control). A nation of people who reflect Judeo-Christian morality, that is to say biblical morality. A people who welcome folks from every nation, offering them the benefits of this Great Country, under the banner of E Pluribus Unum -- Out of the Many, One.

    Gone! All of it, gone! Fatalism? Consider a Survey, commissioned by The College Republican National Committee, which advises the Party to radically alter not just its media tactics and grassroots outreach to youth, but the Party's current message on the issues of Planned Parenthood, Same-sex marriage, Anti-gay rhetoric and a host of other bell-weather social issues.

    You see it! Otherwise conservative lawmakers and governors and policy makers, racing to get in front of the culture, in order to get elected. What about Principle? Morality? Decency? Law? Justice? Gone! Sacrificed on the altar of electability. 

    If we have no moral leadership, where are we going? The deists and atheists of 1776 had more respect for God, The Bible and objective morality than do most of today's Christians! Rick Santorum just took a job as head of a Faith-Based Movie Studio. Its strategy is based on the reality that the modern culture is here to stay. Instead of staying away from it, since it is clearly destructive, we need to engage it. His goal is to produce Christian-themed movies "that will have quality and popular appeal." 

    Good for him! Only he's 50 year's late! The Evangelical Church decided to do that in the late 1950's and all it did was bring us the Charismatic Movement, a spate of weak Bible versions, Contemporary music and eventually Contemporary worship forms. The Goal? Appeal to people where they are! The result? A weakened form of Evangelicalism.

    The Culture swallowed these people, whole! They have no message! They have no center! The world sees them for what they are: a Joke! The Christian community? They still think all this is relevant. I have a transcript of a Larry King interview with Joel Osteen. Almost every question was answered with an "I Don't Know." Theology, The Gospel, Biblical Morality -- I Don't Know! This is the King of Evangelical Churchmen.

    Politics is now completely irrelevant. Labels no longer matter. Libertarians are starting to make the most sense and their system can't work! If we give people the Liberty these folks advocate, we'll just need more laws and more controls. Democrats want a Power Base of voters they can count on....whatever that takes. And Republicans? I don't know what they stand for, anymore. There's no cohesive philosophy. They seem to be waiting to see where young people are going, and run to get in front of them.

    I have always been a Patriot. I weep at the Star Bangled Banner. I am emotional when the flag is passing. I am now starting to feel ashamed of my Patriotism. How can I unequivocally support this country, when it cares so little about what really matters? Scores of elected officials, all of whom supported The Defense of Marriage Act, 17 years ago, stood up and cheered it's demise, this week! What changed? Not Marriage. Not Family. Not homosexuality. Not the constitution.

    Stay Tuned! We may live long enough to see the American Flag in a Museum. 

WW III

Experts and observers agree: The Middle East is a powder keg about to explode into a major, world-wide conflagration.

The Players line up along biblically prophetic lines: Russia, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria, all North of Israel, with Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Morrocco, Algeria, The Sudan, along with countries in the Arabian Peninsula, arrayed along the South of Israel.

The Middle Eastern countries, in this list, are generally arranged along sectarian, Islamic lines: Shiite [to the North] and Sunni [in the South].

Right now they are jockeying for position. Russia wants a Middle Eastern presence and views Syria their best bet. Iran wants to dominate the area. This is what their nuclear ambition is all about; something that frightens Sunni Saudi Arabia. Egypt wants to dominate the Sinai and Gaza Strip, having complete control over the Suez. All of them want Israel Gone!

The patented tactics of Islam has always been to foment riots in the streets, against the existing government, topple that government and install their own version of Islamic rule. To this end they have managed to tear down stable Moslem leadership and replace it with radical, unstable, Moslem leadership. Our government calls this The Arab Spring.

This is what's happening in Syria, with Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Russia's help.

Iran has just sent several thousand 'Revolutionary Guards' to Syria. Observers indicate they are orienting toward the Golan Heights, where the U.N. Peace Keepers, threatened with kidnapping or worse, are gradually pulling out.

What's brought us to The Brink? The decision by our Government to take sides with the rebels against the Assad regime, in Syria.

In so doing we have aligned ourselves in a religious, sectarian fight with the Sunnis, against the Shii's. We are sending armament and some troops. The troops, thus far, are "observers" to help the rebels learn how to use the armament.

But, we're also sending several thousand troops to Jordan, for a Training Exercise. When we leave, we will leave behind a dozen or so F-16 fighter jets and untold other materiel.

All this serves to entangle us in this Regional conflict. When it explodes: Hezbollah decides to attack the Golan Heights? We will be right there to intervene.

The biblical End Times scenario has a Western Leader being invited in to settle the tensions and protect Israel [Dan. 9]. He makes a 7-year Pact with Israel, for protection, which is broken after 3 1/2 years. This Western Leader is viewed by Israel as their Messiah. But, following his arrival, all we see is war, famine, pestilence and cosmic cataclysm.

This 7-year Pact is what signals the beginning of the Great Tribulation! An event that envelopes the entire globe! Upwards of 2 billion people will die within a few years. In the next 3 years, another billion or more will die.

Think of the disruption, the disease, the destruction of world systems! It will take a global effort to stave off anarchy and financial collapse. Can you say: 666?

Are we THAT close? No one knows, but it sure feels that way.

WHY RELIGION IS LOSING INFLUENCE IN AMERICA

A recent Gallup Poll found 77% of Americans believe religion is losing its influence on American life. This compares with 1957, when 69% thought religion was increasing its influence on the culture. The highest point was December, 2001, when 71% of the folks thought this way. This was right after 9-11.

Reality? For all it's philosophical stance, as a predominantly Christian culture, America has largely paid lip-service to The Gospel. The rise in public opinion about what Gallup calls "religion,' has been largely emotional. the high-water mark of 71% is a case in point. Patriotism [survival?] was running high and God was on everyone's lips. After WWII, the same religious euphoria prevailed. Foxholes tend to clarify the realities of life and death as little else does. Men, coming home from war, saved in many cases while in the military, were zealous about Christ and the rise in Evangelistic zeal, as illustrated by Crusades and Campaigns, reflected that zeal. Additionally, there was a 'Baby Boom.'

By the late 1950's, teenagers were everywhere, with more wealth and leisure time than any society this world had ever seen. Youth Ministries were popping up all over the world. It looked good! It felt good! God was making inroads on every front, or so it seemed.

The late 1960's brought reality home, as social, political and racial unrest erupted in city after city. Stirred by the idealism of college campuses and an unpopular (and frightening) war, fueled by drugs, sensual music, Free Love and radical political rhetoric, America woke up!

The euphoria of the 1950's was apparently not real! The perception of peace and prosperity masked a systemic reality: Religion [Christianity] was not as dominant as we thought.

Why? In large part because of the Peace & Prosperity. To a greater degree, because of the Evangelistic Campaigns, both in churches and in Colosseums. These evangelistic appeals relied too much on emotionalism.

There is an excitement generated by public meetings. Religious meetings tap into a deeper part of our psyche. The atmosphere, the staging, the music, the 'star power' of some preachers as well as simply preaching, as a technique, are all calculated to bring folks to a climax: The Decision!

Herein lies The Rub! Salvation is NOT, strictly speaking, a Decision! That Americans have assumed as much may be why so many think themselves to be Christians, while their lives speak a very different language.

We see it in the divorce rates among Evangelical Christians, the drug rates, the abortion rates, the fashions, the worldliness and greed. We see it in the theatrics, the music, the carelessness of what is now being called worship. We see it in the gullibility, foolishness and strange behaviors of church-goers, not to mention the preachers. It is not uncommon to hear about a popular preacher involved in some form of immorality: sex, drugs, alcohol, thievery, etc.

It may be Gallup has it right when they speak of Religion, because biblical Christianity is not like any other religion. Christianity has always been about a heart change. In this sense, it has always been a minority influence.

Christian Counseling -- Biblical Counseling: What's The Difference?

    I get phone calls every once in a while from folks asking if I do counseling. I do. I have done biblical counseling for over 30 years. 

    The next question is: What's the difference? Is there a difference? The American Association of Christian Counselors doesn't think so. Most of those doing what they call 'Christian Counseling,' don't think so. 

    I usually answer the question in the simplest way, since most folks don't understand the issues: "If you are being charged for the counseling, it's not biblical!"

    That's a Game-Stopper! The Point? If you're counseling from the Bible, how is it you can charge folks for that instruction? If we should, I want to charge folks on Sunday morning! I think the one's who pay would be more likely to listen and learn, than those who simply come out of habit....don't you?

    I mention this because of the issue at Liberty University [it's in the list (below) for this Sunday Night's Show]. Liberty University opted, at their inception, to embrace what is called 'integration,' where counseling is concerned. Noted psychologists like James Dobson, Gary Collins, Lawrence Crabb, Minerth & Meir, and a host of others have taken secular psychological theory and found biblical words, phrases and concepts that support those principles and declared: All Truth Is God's Truth!

   With this one declaration they have suborned God's Word to mans' opinion, in an area which is of critical importance. The biblical counselor does not start where the secularist starts, does not go where the secularist goes, does not point where the secularist is pointing, does not use the techniques the secularist uses and is not looking for the same result as the secularist.

    I remember reading about a court case [late 1970's] where an unsaved, Jewish woman, was sitting in judgment over the California case of a young man who committed suicide, while having been to Grace Community Church [Jn. MacArthur] for counseling.

   After having heard testimony from secular psychologists and from Pastor John re: counseling philosophy and technique, she declared: If what you men are saying is what you believe, these two systems are not even friends! They are enemies of one another.

   How is it an unregenerate person understands and well-trained Christians can't? Perhaps she was listening for differences [that's her job - she was The Judge] and the Christians weren't. Why else would they seek training in secular philosophy, when they have in their Bibles all anyone needs for "life and peace," through the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ?  God says so!

   What IS the difference between what a trained 'therapist' does and what a pastor [or others] do in dealing with the same issues?

   We're going to be talking about these issues this Sunday Night on The Bible Forum. You can listen, over the internet, at www.portcityradio.com -- or you can watch / listen from this website -- or from our Facebook Page.

   We'll be talking about it during the 9:00 hour.