As we watch for the Lord’s return, we see more of the signs Jesus spoke of being fulfilled. Matthew 24:3-5 (KJV) “And as He sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them; Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.”

Spiritual deception is more rampant than ever. There have been various cults popping up for some time now. Most of us are aware of the Mormons (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), Church of Scientology, Christian Science, and Jehovah’s Witnesses. We recall the heinousness of the Jim Jones mass suicide in 1978 in Guyana, The David Koresh Davidians who were killed by government agents in Texas in 1993, and Heaven’s Gate suicides in California in 1997. As I shared in Watch for the Lord-Part 1, we now have a new group showing its face under the guise of revival through a new emerging church.  All of these impostors are a catalyst to the revelation of the last deceiver of all, the Antichrist.

The majority of our Christian churches are turning away from God’s Word and going the way of the world. Since the beginning of time, people have felt a void before finding that Jesus is the answer to that void. Today, they are trying to fill their emptiness with whatever feels good to them. We see such abominations as homosexuals filling the pulpits of feel-good churches and leading people astray. It is obvious that they are not preaching God’s true Word. They will answer to God for lying to their followers and telling them that it is okay that they are ‘gay’, and that they cannot help it. Yes, God does love us all, but He hates our sin, and He calls homosexuality an abomination. The sin of homosexuality is as bad now as it was in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Everywhere we look, we can see the New Age movement and some turning to mysticism for their euphoria. They want to be spiritual, but they do not want to be part of God’s true church because they do not want to follow God’s rules. They want to make up their own rules as they go. There are plenty of deceivers coming out of the woodwork every day to help them along their way.

Another sign is the persecution of God’s church. Jesus said in Mark 13:9, 10 “But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. And the Gospel must first be published among all nations.”

Christians have been persecuted for centuries. For over 200 years after Jesus died there were many thousands martyred by people like Nero and Diocletian. The bloody Romans fed them to wild animals and watched them torn to pieces for their entertainment. There are Christians being persecuted around the world as I write this; Burma, Iraq, Iran, Malaysia, Algeria, to name a few. You can go read about those and more at Persecution.Com which is the Voice of the Martyrs.

It is important that those of us who are true born-again followers of Jesus realize that we will also be persecuted for our beliefs. 2 Timothy 3:12 (KJV) says, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” Remember also John 15:18-21 (KJV) “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not Him that sent me.”

We see people in our country attacked daily for taking a stand for what they believe in. The unbelievers recoil in anger when we try to share God’s truths with them. Brit Hume was excoriated terribly for his recent suggestion that Tiger Woods turn to Christ and the Christian faith in order to receive the forgiveness that he assuredly will not receive from his Hindu faith.

The lost especially do not like the truth that there is ONLY ONE WAY to God and that one way is JESUS CHRIST. They would rather be told that there are many ways to salvation and they can just pick whichever way they think fits them best. Moral relativism is very big in our society these days. It is the theory that all points of view are equally valid, and that all truth is relative to the individual. There are no absolute truths – “that may be true for you, but not for me”. This, in turn, leads to turning away from God and tolerance of sin.

The Holy Bible tells us that this persecution will get much worse in the last days.

Next – Why we need to keep our eyes on what is happening around Jerusalem

As I was driving to do my Curves workout early this morning, I was listening to my favorite radio station KTLF (Keeping the Lord First). They were sharing a bit of news that in China more people are moving from the rural areas into the cities to find jobs. They are seeing great growth in the churches there because of this. I wonder if that is part of a true revival.

I know that the Bible says there will be a great “falling away” in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, then it states, “that man of sin be revealed”. My heart pleads for people on this earth to turn from their sin and turn to God before it is too late. I just am not convinced that we are going to see the needed revival, especially in this great United States, before the Rapture of God’s church.

I do not believe that the “Emerging Church” that Rick Warren, Dan Kimball, and Dr. Robert Webber are so excited about is offering true revival either. I rather agree with Roger Oakland from Understanding the Times:

“It appears to me the “Emerging Church” of the present era and the church that emerged after the New Testament was written are one and the same. Remember the words of Paul as recorded in the book of Acts: “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them” (Acts 20: 29-30).” Click here to read more. It would appear that these ‘modern’ church leaders are actually wolves in sheep’s clothing.

As Christians we are told to ‘Watch for the Lord’. If we  listen to the daily news and compare it to what God’s Word tells us to watch for, we can see that the world is poised perfectly for the Rapture of the Church, the days of great tribulation, and Jesus’ return to fight and end the Battle of Armageddon.

Not only are we to be observing the times, but we are told to be ready for the Lord’s return. Luke 12:35-40 (KJV) “Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.”

“Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.”

“And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.”

What signs are we to look for? Jesus said in Luke 21:10, 11 “Then said He unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:” (Over the years we have seen World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, and the latest in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and pending Iran as well as the situation with Israel.)

“and great earthquakes shall be in divers places” (in 2004 Southeast Asia was hit by a great tsunami, then another one hit Samoa in 2009, California is always experiencing earthquakes, and the recent one in Haiti will claim hundreds of thousands of lives.)

“and famines (the UN’s World Food Program says that more than 800 million people are starving every day, and tens of thousands die from hunger), and pestilences (HIV pandemic in Africa, SARS, Bird Flu, Swine flu); and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from Heaven.”

“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:20 (KJV).  Only God knows for sure when Jesus will return, but if we pay attention to what is happening in the world today, we can expect for Jesus to return at any moment.

Next time – Spiritual Deception, Persecution of God’s Church

If you cannot join them in Washington, D.C. for the March for Life, you can join the virtual march and be counted.

It has been brought to our attention that our liberal leaders are working on healthcare reform deals for votes behind closed doors. How many of us are aware of the deals that are being struck, also behind closed doors, with union bosses? They want paid back, and they want it badly!

From the Workforce Fairness Institute:

Friend,

Even though Union Bosses weren’t able to get the job-killing Employee ‘Forced’ Choice Act enacted into law last year, that does not mean the small business community can rest on its laurels.  After spending half a billion dollars to get pro-labor candidates elected, union bosses expect “payback”.

We saw that just yesterday when Richard Trumka, president of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) called for EFCA’s passage.

The simple truth is that union bosses will not rest until they receive what they believe their political benefactors owe them.  And we cannot rest or they will find a way to use backroom deals to make the Employee ‘Forced’ Choice Act the law of the land.

EFCA would eliminate the right to vote by secret ballot during union-organizing elections, and force workers to give-up their voice in contract negotiations dealing with their own workplace rules, salaries, and benefits.

Who would replace the voices of workers?  A government bureaucrat clueless about an industry would impose contracts on workers and employers alike without their consent.

Big Labor’s motivation here is pretty simple.  They stand to gain BILLIONS if EFCA becomes law.  It is estimated that EFCA would bring in 1.5 million new dues-paying members, equating to about $35 billion in union dues in the first 10 years alone.  These additional dollars would be used to reward supporters and punish opponents.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is mapping out a strategy to ram the Employee ‘Forced’ Choice Act through the Senate in an attempt to silence any dissenting voices and in the process, keep the American people from seeing the backroom agreements that are made.

Help us work to inform the public and send a message to our Members of Congress. Sign up today and forward this email to others.  Thank you.

Jason McBride
Workforce Fairness Institute

P.S. EFCA is job-killing legislation and we need you to make sure it never passes. Please share this message with family and friends so their voices are heard as well.

Leave it to Ray Stevens to tell it like it is!

God Job portraying what the majority of America feels about Obamacare Ray!

Could it be possible that some of those in Washington are finally hearing what the American people are saying? In this final push for healthcare reform, several of them are resigning their positions and stating that they will not run for re-election.

My husband and I recently received an email from our Colorado Senator Bennett stating proudly that he voted for the Bill. We immediately responded our disappointment in his support of this atrocity. I am sure that he heard the same disgust from many others in the state of Colorado. I wonder if perhaps he will follow our Governor Ritter in “quitting” before the next election. He is certainly at risk of not being re-elected. Also, I am wondering if we will hear the lame-stream media call him “Ritter the Quitter” as they did Governer Sarah Palin?

This informative video just in from Focus Action Alert at Citizenlink helps understand what is happening:

Key Democrat Incumbents Are Dropping Out of Races

Sens. Byron Dorgan and Chris Dodd along with Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter say they won’t be running for re-election. Meanwhile, Sen. Ben Nelson is telling Nebraskans that his support for the unpopular pro-abortion health care bill has been distorted. Stuart Shepard asks Ashley Horne to place it all in context in the Focus Action Update.

I remember when AARP was an organization that actually was good for our senior citizens. My how things have changed. I will not join them because I do not agree with the leftist organizations that they are affiliated with. I will not let my money contribute to them.

I admire this woman who wrote a letter to Mr. Rand, the Executive Director of AARP. She not only has a grasp of ‘the situation’, but she also has an incredible command of the English language! I would say she pretty well summed things up!

Dear Mr. Rand,

Recently you sent us a letter encouraging us to renew our lapsed membership in AARP by the requested date. I know it is not what you were looking for, but this is the most honest response I can give you.

Our gap in coverage is merely a microscopic symptom of the real problem, a deepening lack of faith. While we have proudly maintained our membership for several years and have long admired the AARP goals and principles, regrettably, we can no longer endorse it’s abdication of our values.

Your letter specifically stated that we can count on AARP to speak up for our rights, yet the voice we hear is not ours. Your offer of being kept up to date on important issues through DIVIDED WE FAIL presents neither an impartial view nor the one we have come to embrace.

We do believe that when two parties agree all the time on everything presented to them, one is probably not necessary. But, when the opinions and long term goals are diametrically opposed, the divorce is imminent. This is the philosophy which spawned our 200 years of government.

Once upon a time, we looked forward to being part of the senior demographic. We also looked to AARP to provide certain benefits and give our voice a power we could not possibly hope to achieve on our own. AARP gave us a sense of belonging which we no longer enjoy. The Socialist politics practiced by the Obama administration and empowered by AARP serves only to raise the blood pressure my medical insurance strives to contain. Clearly a conflict of interest there!

We do not understand the AARP posture, feel greatly betrayed by the guiding forces that we expected to map out our senior years, and leave your ranks with a great sense of regret. We mitigate that disappointment with the relief of knowing that we are not contributing to the problem anymore by renewing our membership. There are numerous other organizations which offer discounts without threatening our way of life or offending our sensibilities.

This Presidential Administration scares the living daylights out of us. Not just for ourselves, but for our proud and bloodstained heritage. But even more importantly for our children and grandchildren. Washington has rendered Soylent Green a prophetic cautionary tale rather than a nonfiction scare tactic.

I have never in my life endorsed any militant or radical groups, yet now I find myself listening to them. I don’t have to agree with them to appreciate the fear which birthed their existence. Their borderline insanity presents little more than a balance to the voice of the Socialist mindset in power.

Perhaps I became American by a great stroke of luck in some cosmic uterine lottery, but in my adulthood I CHOOSE to embrace it and nurture the freedoms it represents as well as the responsibilities it requires.

Your website generously offers us the opportunity to receive all communication in Spanish. ARE YOU KIDDING??? Someone has broken into our ‘house’, invaded our home without our invitation or consent. The President has insisted we keep the perpetrator in comfort and learn the perp language so we can communicate our reluctant welcome to them.

I DON’T choose to welcome them.

I DON’T choose to support them.

I DON’T choose to educate them.

I DON’T choose to medicate them, pay for their food or clothing.

American home invaders get arrested.

Please explain to me why foreign lawbreakers can enjoy privileges on American soil that Americans do not get?

Why do some immigrants have to play the game to be welcomed and others only have to break & enter to be welcomed?

We travel for a living. Walt hauls horses all over this great country, averaging over 10,000 miles a month when he is out there. He meets more people than a politician on caffeine overdose. Of all the many good folks he enjoyed on this last 10,000 miles, this trip yielded only ONE supporter of the current administration. One of us is out of touch with mainstream America. Since our poll is conducted without funding, I have more faith in it than one which is power driven.

We have decided to forward this to everyone on our mailing list, and will encourage them to do the same. With several hundred in my address book, I have every faith that the eventual exponential factor will make a credible statement to you.

I am disappointed as hell.

I am scared as hell.

I am MAD as hell, and I’m NOT gonna take it anymore!

Walt & Cyndy

Miller Farms Equine Transport

Thank you, Sunni, for sharing this.

This poem was written by a Marine.  The following is his request. I think it is reasonable….If not for them, we would not have the freedoms that we enjoy in this great country. I pray God will keep them safe until they return home.

PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our U.S. service men, women, and Canadian Forces for our being able to celebrate these festivities. Let’s try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us. Please, do your  small part to plant this small seed.

New Christmas Poem

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT, A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS, NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE, JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES, AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT, IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER, ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING, SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE, THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I’D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO, THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.

SOON ROUND THE WORLD, THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS, LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN’T HELP WONDER HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES AND STARTED TO CRY.

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
‘SANTA DON’T CRY, THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE.’

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, I DON’T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD, MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS.

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN’T CONTROL IT, I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS, SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED FROM THE COLD NIGHT’S CHILL.

I DIDN’T WANT TO LEAVE ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER, WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, ‘CARRY ON SANTA, IT’S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE.’

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH, AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
‘MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND! AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!’

It is very doubtful that we will hear anything that even closely resembles what this great man had to say in one of his Christmas Addresses from our current president. Obama could take some lessons from this man on what our country was founded on and what the American people really want. Instead Mr. O is “putting off” his vacation in Hawaii until he pressures our Legislators to pass a bill that will be the beginning of the end of a free United States of America.

Christians: get on our knees and pray in earnest and leave things in God’s hands. He is in control and He has a purpose.

Enjoy the video:

No matter how many times I am reminded of this wonderful Christmas Miracle, I am more deeply touched by it each time. My heart and soul would love to see this attitude every day, not just for one day out of the year. Since that is unrealistic, I enthusiastically look forward to it in Heaven. God Bless, Anna

“The Christmas Miracle”
By Jerry Stewart

It has been said that peace is harder to make than war, and in 1914, when the world sought peace, instead it found itself in the first world war – a war so devastating that it came to be known as “The War to end all Wars”. But what happens when in the middle of a war, the soldiers just quit fighting?

Of all the war stories I’ve ever read or hear, this Christmas story is surely the most amazing.

In December of 1914 World War I was still only getting started. But already it had claimed hundreds of thousands of killed, wounded, missing. As Christmas approached, an appeal came from Pope Benedict to cease firing – but the killing continued.

On the front line, hundreds of thousands of soldiers from many countries had taken their positions, dug their trenches, and in between the two armies lay a no man’s land that stretched across almost the entire border between Belgium and France. There would be no Christmas truce; instead there would be only death and devastation.

As the cold rain fell, soaking the soldiers to the bone, it caused a sort of river in that no man’s land that separated the two armies – and the dead bodies in the middle began to float to either side.

But then, as the night fell that Christmas Eve, it happened – there was silence, pure silence – and the soldiers entrenched on each side began to ponder just what this night was, the Eve of Christmas, the Birth of our Savior, The Prince of Peace.

Then, the silence was broken – not by gunfire, but by the sound of voices, German voices, singing a song familiar in tune – but the words were foreign. All who heard knew the song, “Silent Night”. The words were compelling, so compelling that up and down the battle lines, unbelievably, hand made signs began to pop up, signs made of scraps of board and paper, “Merry Christmas”, “You no fight, we no fight”.

As a group of Belgium soldiers cautiously popped their heads out of their trench to read the signs, what they saw was surely not possible – German soldiers coming out of the safety of their trenches, laying down their weapons, walking toward their enemy, in full view, shouting “comrade”. The Belgium soldiers were shocked and puzzled, but miraculously they too laid down their weapons.

All of that Christmas Eve night, as the word spread up and down the battle line, soldiers from both sides put down their weapons, came out of the safety of their trenches, and met together in that deadly no man’s land where bodies from both sides lay dead. If pictures had not been taken, surely no one today would believe that it really happened.

As daylight came on Christmas Day, this amazing Christmas truce became even more amazing – soldiers began to exchange food and trinkets, each side even worked together to help bury the dead. It was truly a sight you’d think you would never see anywhere this side of Heaven, but it was happening.

For that entire Christmas day the dream continued. As word came to the higher command of each side that soldiers had laid down their weapons and refused to fight, they ordered the men to fire – but they would not.

And then, just as unexplainably as the truce had all begun – it just ended. Soldiers began to make their way back to their trenches. And to make sure that this did not, somehow, happen again, fresh troops were sent on the front line by the higher commands – after all, this was war.

That World War I went on for four more years. Many who had participated in that Christmas truce were killed in battle and never made it home. Sadly that war, that “War to end all wars” did not end all wars – and the world continues to fight even today.

But here’s the question – “Is true peace possible, or is it absurd? And just which is more absurd – peace or war?”

Sadly, we all pray for peace, but as long as some make wars, others must fight to stop wars.

One soldier that was there that Christmas, 1914, wrote these words:

“O Ye who read this truthful rhyme from Flanders, kneel and pray, God speed the time when every day is seen as Christmas Day”.

Merry Christmas!

May God Bless America

Jerry Stewart

P.S. email me with your own thoughts and ideas regarding our America at stewartreport@onemomentinamerica.com

JS