Love Times Six

Love is the topic. The education is partially attributable to Roy H. Williams and his Wizard Academy (Monday Morning Memo, January 22, 2018). Thank you Roy, for your brilliant teaching mind. Here we go people, into this amazing understanding of the six types/definitions of love, three of which are from the New Testament. 

My hope is that you and I have a better understanding of this "crazy little thing called love" (Freddie Mercury, Queen, 1979), once we work through this together. 

Here are the three Biblical words for love:

1. Eros is erotic love. This is the exciting stuff of fireworks, you know, the sparks you chemically (the hormone is adrenaline) feel in the presence of someone that really turns you on. It is pure excitement to be in this persons company. Politely stated, the physical response is… tingly and body awakening (I do believe you know exactly what I mean if you have experienced this before, dear reader?)

2. Philia is friendship.  This is that comfortable love you feel with your besties, the ones you trust and know have your back, your front, your sides, and the up and down of who you are. This is pure connectedness and it is an oxytocin based feeling of love

3. Agape is sacrificial love. Now this one dear reader, this one is the stuff of life and death. This one says I love you so much I would die for you. You know this one well, if you have children or a spouse that you would, take a bullet for. This deep feeling is generated by the hormone oxytocin, and the bond is so strong that to sacrifice oneself is considered worth it for the other.

Next we have three more definitions of love:

1. Ludus is playful love. This is what you and I have when we are with people that make us feel like we are twelve year olds again. There is banter and teasing. There is dancing and being goofy with crazy joking that send us into fits of laughter, and it can be ludicrous, ridiculous, silly, and kind of outrageous. (I describe this one well because I have Ludus with so many friends that I get gleeful at the thought of some of the fun we have together-I hope you have this too?!). Roy lists this as restorative and isn't he so right, because I feel fantastic when I am with my crazy fun friends! This love is a mix of the hormones adrenaline (excitement) and oxytocin (affectionate connectedness).

2. Philautia is self-love.  This is about you. This kind of love presents as confidence, self-connection, liking you, in your own skin. What you wear, where you go, who you spend time with, what you drive, how you carry yourself… these are all statements about this thing called self love, and a desire to belong. It is a self-belonging, and is oxytocin generated, not adrenaline-based. This self confidence stuff is not a bad thing in fact, the self help industry is a great booming business that suggests we all need a little more self love… but as Roy suggests, Philautia is a good thing, but too much of this good thing will make you a narcissist.

3. Pragma is longstanding love. This is the magic stuff we all long for in our relationships. This is what keeps a couple going, past the seven year itch, the mid-life crisis, and into until-death-do-us-part.  In Roy's words, It is the deep understanding that develops between long-married couples. You might think of it as oxytocin that has been aged like fine wine.

The deal

So here is the deal. We humans like excitement and why wouldn’t we? Adrenaline is feisty and fiery and hey, I do not want to do without some of this feel-good-I-am-alive-stuff. I don’t need to jump out of a plane and sky dive, or bust a bronco to get it, because I get to have lots of it when I choose the right people to play with! 

The cool stuff of this education is this: All forms of love and their expression are healthy, and isn't it astounding that we have so many options for being love, having love, showing love, even to the point of self-sacrifice, as extreme as this may sound? I want all of it, every last bit of heart pumping, adrenaline driving oxytocin bonding crazy love there is! And I am designed to have it all! You were designed to have it all dear one! 

Love lesson

This lesson learned me a lot (said with a backwoods intonation, with my ludus and philautia love on display). I hope it did the same for you? 

I part with this: I will dance with you later philia and it won't be too agape. Who knows, there might be some eros mixed with the fine stuff of pragma… love, you can't beat it!

Stop Hey What's That Sound

Note: Originally published February 13th, 2018

I'm happy I'm sad I'm mad I'm laughing I'm crying I'm bubbling up with joy I'm cast down in the corner of my mind in despair... I am alive. So alive that I can't wait to feel more and live more.

For What It Is Worth
A musical memory flooded my heart, and swept me away this morning in a gentle wave of what I know is happening to me, what I feel is becoming in me. Love is a magnificent gift, and love is unity. I embrace it as though for the first time today, with such powerful freedom, that all attachment to striving or accomplishing or endearing myself to others, is a quickly fading and disappearing old set of clothes. I am becoming new. Love is a free flowing without-demands-attached lover, if that makes any sense to you dear reader?

There's something happening here
What it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware

I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound, everybody look what's going down

I was born in 1967. As it turns out, the song For What It Is Worth by Buffalo Springfield, is dated 1967. The song is a call to awareness, a melodic urging to stop and pay attention to what is really going on. 

And I am. I am paying attention to the ever presence of threat, to our freedom of loving expression. The external voice that has us paranoid, has us protecting ourselves from one another: has us set up to believe that we are enemies, to each other. We are not and I will not be, anyones enemy:

But the wisdom that is from heaven above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy (James 3:17)

Another song, by John Paul Young, comes to mind:

Love is in the air, in the whisper of the tree
Love is in the air in the thunder of the sea
And I don't know if I'm just dreaming
Don't know if I feel safe
But it's something that I must believe in
And it's there when you call my name

We are called to love dear one, to the wisdom of pure hearted peace-filled loving! If we stop, hey, and listen for what's that sound, we can actually hear love calling us by name: call me a romantic fool and perhaps I am. I am falling in love today with humanity, all of you, in your godly image

I like this feeling

Addendum: It is December 30th, 2021. I see from this piece of writing, how God is calling us to love, and it is our turn, in this generation. I clearly sensed what was in the global atmosphere, at the time of this writing, without a hint of what was to come just over a year later, in March of 2019. 

Who, except for those that plotted, planned, and co-ordinated a global attack on citizenry, could have anticipated, without insider knowledge, what we have lived for the past, almost two years?

The discerning can detect good and evil, because the Holy Spirit informs us:

Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things (2 Timothy 2:7)

To choose love, is to align with God Almighty: love is Truth and again, this:

But the wisdom that is from heaven above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy (James 3:17)

 

Word Origins

Word Origins

God determines direction

Whether you are a history buff or a modern day go-with-the-flow-and-times kind of guy or gal, you are impacted by the language of the day. Each word we use has an origin, a beginning point. How is language introduced and how do words change meaning over time? We have all experienced word usage transformations, with ugly terms being dressed up to sound compelling (I need not mention the worst of the bunch so prolifically and readily used by young and old in every day obscene and unchallenged expression); and beautiful terms overused so that their meaning is watered down and they carry no power at all: words like authentic, awesome, and a term that particularly pertains to God Almighty, I AM, used by humans without recognition of the glory of God revealed in these, the shortest of words.

News

Yesterday I heard that the word news means north east west and south. I looked up the etymology and while this seems a lovely idea, news derives from the word tidings, which means: announcement of an event. I like this very much, all of it dear reader, because think on when you last heard the words, (glad) tidings and in what context? Need I lead you back in time to origins, to a babe born to a virgin, nestled in a manger two thousand years ago? 

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people (Luke 2:10). This angelic announcement was for all people and this means you, and me: news worthy of being spread, across the world, to the ends of the earth, to the north, the east, the west and the south. The King was about to enter the world

Jesus' words carry undeniable power

Fast forward to this pronouncement from a fully grown man, God incarnate, (incarnate is yet another word that society has debased by adding re to the word, as in re-incarnation) 

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come (Matthew 24:14). 

What did Jesus authoritatively declare? It is this, that the Good News, the Gospel of salvation through Him was to be spread among the nations, to all four corners of the earth: the N (North) E (East) W (West) S (South). Good news, as they say, travels fast, and is it not true that bad news travels even faster dear one? 

Heaven had come down to man, as in Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). Man met God in the flesh, and there is no turning back from His truth once it resounds in your soul. This news has spread, and continues to do so across the world And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God (Luke 13:29). The virgin birth, the Good News.

Some bad news too, take heed
Jesus is Sovereign, King, from babe to fully grown man His "impact", a word in common usage today, has stretched before time and extends beyond eternity (lets not wrap our heads around this one shall we? Who has time to visit a psychiatrist today?). His coming was announced hundreds of years prior to his arrival. His presence was felt and has reverberated throughout the centuries and His warning, His very timely warning, is this and then shall the end come.

This is either good news, bad news, or no news at all, depending on your perceptive. It is good news for those that love Him, and eagerly anticipate being in His presence permanently. It is bad news for those that do not believe, because the end will come and they will be denied a place in His kingdom. It is no news at all, if this message is ineffectual and nonsensical and so, I ask you

Do you believe?
Do you believe Jesus is, was, and always will be, God, the Great I AM? If you feel the least bit of fright as you read, this is good dear one, because this matter is not to be taken at all lightly: 

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure (Philippians 2:12-13)

Time Travel
News has now travelled to you and through you, do you accept it as truth? If news is an acronym for cardinal directions, for the four points represented in N, E, W, S and the kingdom is to be preached across the world unto all nations, do you, dear reader, receive this as good news, and do you take up the banner, and share it with all in your circle of influence? 

God connects our past and our present, and nothing is lost on Him. He uses time, He uses words, and He uses our intellect to connect the dots, when we give ourselves over to His pointing, His direction, His good use of us.

Is it your time, to bow before the King, Immanuel, God, among us?

Is it, dear reader, time?

Spontaneous Synchronization

Wobble

On June 10th, 2000, the Millennium foot bridge was opened to pedestrian traffic to cross the river Thames, in London, England. As crowds filled the bridge, it wobbled dangerously back and forth. This rather expensive bridge, was built to the tune of eighteen million pounds: what could possibly be going wrong, and why the wobble?

Brief history lesson

In 1831, seventy-four men were marching across a suspension bridge in England, and it suddenly collapsed under their synchronized footsteps. Sixty men fell into the water and sustained multiple injuries, AND fortunately, none died. From that point forward, the British army was ordered to break step when crossing bridges. You can look this information up and watch videos on this subject, like I did. There's a logical explanation for this phenomenon, that will satisfy the scientist in you. I am more of a psychosocial kind of scientist, and so I will leave you to your devices, in understanding the physics that I simply, cannot explain! 

Metronomes and humans too

One of my best friends sent me a video of five metronomes set on a board, with a pop can under both ends of the board. Each metronome was activated individually, and they ticked out of time initially, but gradually, they spontaneously synchronized. It is fascinating to watch, and it is delightful to hear the back and forth sounds of the five becoming one unified click click at either side of their range of motion: just like it is some kind of wonderful, to see and hear humans synchronized, in dance, in step, and in song... until of course, their synchronized actions become treacherous?

Recall the bridges

When we consider the bridge of 1831, and then the more modern bridge of 2000, we see what lock stepping with the person in front, in behind, and side to side of us can do: while we synchronize, over what could be troubled waters, we cause a wobble that threatens to drop the bridge out from under our feet. This, dear reader, is what much of the population has done. 

The globalists

Now let us consider the globalists, lock stepping with one another, making demands that the population they propose to own, do as they are bid in unison too: from this view, we see that we are in a precarious position. The desire to synchronize with one another is very strong, and we know intuitively, that there is power in numbers. The drum that has been beaten, that we are all in this together, is exactly what sad and lonely people have been longing to experience, with a sense of community and belonging that has been missing from their lives. It just so happens, that marketing masters have capitalized on this human need, when fear, anxiety, and depression, have been growing like thorny weeds for godless decades. 

The harvest is ripe on two fronts, and the synchronization is also happening, on two fronts:

Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares, among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn (Matthew 13:24-30)

Out of step

If you will recall the remedy for safe passage across a suspension bridge, you will see how necessary being out of step is for preservation of life. While armies are ordered to be synchronized in some circumstances, in others, it is necessary to break step with one another, to maintain the whole. While the wicked rulers ordered deadly lock stepping, and many unwitting souls abided, those that receive instruction from a different Voice, refused to do their bidding. 

Spontaneously synchronize

We cannot help it💘

While we, like metronomes activated at different times, initially clicked at our own
pace, it did not take long for us to spontaneously synchronize with one another. We could not help ourselves dear reader: we are one body, the body of Christ, and we naturally, magnetically, gloriously discover each another, speak our native tongue, which is the Word of God, and we find ourselves miraculously lock stepping without wobble. 

We are out of step with the worldly ones, but in step with our Saviour. We have been preserved for a purpose, and it is not for our own survival, since that has already been secured, it is for the salvation of those that have yet to understand the danger, yet to understand that friendship of the world, is enmity with God. We have been given a ministry of reconciliation, and while we remain, we will do the work assigned us, and share The Good News with those God sends to share the bridge with:

• The two sides are real
• The lock stepping is real
• The wobbly bridge we found ourselves on, is real
• The wheat and the tares, (the sheep and the goats); the metaphors representing humans are real
• The devil is real; his workers of iniquity are real
• God is real; his children by adoption through the saving grace of Jesus Christ, are real

And so, is spontaneous synchronization, praise God. It is so real, that you can choose to break step with those that desire to harm you and yours, and start lock stepping with the many of us, that want only to walk in harmony with the sweet sound of our Saviours voice:

The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing (Zephaniah 3:17)

Carry on, Christian soldier💖

 

Bullies Are Cowards

Perpetrator patterns

We see what you are doing mass media. Perpetrator patterns are easy to spot, especially when savvy people know what to look for. You, sir, have become all too obvious in your grooming techniques.

Reasonable people

I have to admit, that I have a history of rebellion. I don't like being told what to do, or being restricted, especially when I do not respect the source of imposition, or oppression. I am not alone. Reasoning and reasonable people all over the world, are flexing their freedom muscles, and this is not received well by would be captors; would be abusive technocrats that presume they have a right to punish anyone that doesn't play by their rules. 

My ball

I am thinking of the kid on the playground that brings his soccer ball from home, and at recess, he says, my ball, my rules. Now we have grown men, seeing the globe we co-exist on, saying my globe, my rules. Alas, if no one played with the school yard bully grown into adult psychopath. who thinks he owns the world, why, we wouldn't be in such a mess, now would we?

Time outs

I have been in several social media time outs. In time out, a person can see their account, they can see other people participating, via comments, and little jokes, pictures, and videos, whilst the designated naughty person sits on the sidelines, disabled from engaging. There are warnings prior to getting kicked to the curb, and then, depending on the severity of the rule breaking, the restrictions are meted out in days: for instance, my last virtual jail time was three days, and on one social media account, I was removed permanently, despite the hundreds of relationships I had garnered, within the virtual world account. 

Mad hatter type rules

The grooming technique, of punishing a player for violating mad hatter type rules, by excluding them from the pack, while they watch others on the field, is a way of attempting to make grown ups behave, according to the needs and desires of the rule makers. This has worked quite well, when we look about, and see all the people that gave in, and accepted into their bodies poison shots, in order to remain employed, to travel, to participate in life as they used to know it. The thing is, and this is what the majority never realizes, until perhaps it is too late, those of us that do not play by the small mans rules, still have the capability to participate in all of the wonders this world has to offer, minus the oppression. The restrictions are only perceived, and exist virtually, in the minds of those that want us to believe, they have far more control than they actually do.

God owns it all💘

To all the small-minded-psychopathic-abusive-avarice-ridden-too-big-for-your-britches-its-my-globe-and-my-rules men out there, we are on to YOU😀

Trail of real corpses

Bullies are cowards that manipulate, lie, cheat, steal, and kill to get a fiendish fix. They are the seed of the devil, and the evidence of this, is the brokenness of those that closely associate with them. They leave relationship skeletons strewn in their wake, and currently, on a global scale, we are witnessing a trail of real corpses, wherever these men. and their hired henchmen, travel. Far too many of these wicked men and woman, have made human hunting a sport. Using media as a means to ensnare prey, has been very effective in trap setting. 

Selfishness always shows up

Thankfully, there are a great number of us that simply refuse to play by the rules of the bully. We don't like them, their ball, or their nasty inability to relate with understanding, compassion, and love, toward others. When it comes to picking teams, they would be the last to be chosen, because selfishness always shows up when bullies are allowed to participate. Perhaps, this is precisely why they feel the need to attempt to call all the shots in a power grab. They are dishonourable in all their ways, and Lord help them, by their actions, they will ultimately, be excluded from life abundant: 

We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth (1 John 3:14-18).

Take a stand

I highly encourage you, if you see what I see, to take a stand against the bullies of this world. We can no longer hide behind others, hoping and assuming that they will protect, and perhaps rescue us and our children, from the onslaught of the blood thirsty, who feel entitled to take what they see, manipulate, mutilate and destroy for the sheer pleasure they get from toying with the prey they presume are too inept and ignorant to know better. The bully believes others are too stupid to take a stand, but alas, they underestimate Gods children and what we are capable of: 

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest (Joshua 1:9)

The bullies of this world have banded together, in an unholy alliance with their ruler calling the shots. We too, must band together, with the Sovereign ruling and reigning, firstly in our minds, next in our hearts, and finally, in our eternal souls. He is our strength and will equip us in this battle for supremacy... the victory, in Christ, was won long before you or I took our first breath.

Take a stand, God is watching and willing the very best for you and yours💖

Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy

Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy

December 10th, 2021

Inducing or feigning illness

Feigning care is cruel

Munchausen's syndrome by proxy: a mental disorder in which a person seeks attention by inducing or feigning illness in another person, typically a child, a vulnerable person, or the elderly, in their care

Abuser-disguised

Do you know dear reader, that when I first looked up this sick and abusive syndrome, warnings appeared, suggesting the reader cover their research tracks? just in case it is discovered by the abuser-disguised-as-care-giver, that their behaviours are being investigating! Yikes, this is serious stuff: and it brings me to my writing topic and grin, my tongue in cheek eureka moment...

My eureka moment

Eureka! The global governors have a maraudingly massive case of Munchausen's syndrome by proxy, on steroids. I am so glad that you and I are talking about this, because I want you to be reassured, since you may suspect this already, that it is them, and not us, that are sick socially, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and eventually, physically too 

Malignancy of Munchausen

Munchausen syndrome by proxy, according to what I have read, is not motivated by money. While avarice is evident with the global governors, I would have to say, from what I have observed, that this is not their main focus, nor is it the end goal. They have money, what they seem to want, is power over others, and this, in my junior psychologist assessment, aligns with the malignancy of Munchausen 

Mercenary medical system

For decades, we have been groomed by a mercenary medical system, to look for symptoms of sickness, to investigate those symptoms, and to subject ourselves to the so called specialists, for their expert opinions on treatment, when it just so happens, that they find something they can sink their scalpels into 

They call this preventative medicine: I call it radical intrusion, unnecessary tampering and testing, and in some cases, assault (think pap smear, colonoscopies, mammograms... we all know that the cure is often worse than the illness, and recommended "treatment" rarely, if ever, includes diet and lifestyle adaptations to reverse conditions). 

Do note: I am not opposed to warranted medical treatment, I am opposed to the extras the establishment has been quick to add on unnecessarily, as blanket tests and treatments are administered to all, based on their age and sex, rather than the condition of the individual

Soothing somatic drugs

Malpractice, has been the name of the highly ensured medical game. Drug and marijuana stores dot almost every corner in my living area, and the socially anxious maintain emotional status quo, using low grade soothing somatic drugs that smooth out jagged emotions. Honestly dealing with what ails us, the things that cause heart sickness, or soul suffering, has fallen by the wayside, in favour of prescription drugs... 

Now, this has us primed and ready, as a society that surrenders its collective soul, for the sake of a quick unsatisfactory fix, for the villains that get their jollies from toying with the temperament, the physical and psychosocial, and spiritual well being, of those that they purport to care for... they are the Munchausen's of our day, and they are ruthless in their misuses of their victims 

The appalling nature of this mercenary and murderous medicine, is the exact opposite of a healthy and balanced life approach. World governments are acting like wicked step parents:

• injecting citizens with toxins
• repeating illness messages ad nauseam
• sending victims to the hospital once the poison has kicked in
• performing malpractice, and then,
• accusing the strong and well, of being guilty of causing dis ease, because they refuse to lie and say they are sick, refuse to agree with the abusive fraudulent care giver, and remain committed to knowing they are sound... hmmmm, this twisted scenario is disturbing, wouldn't you agree?

Utterly absurd

Those of us that are disinclined to being part of the sickness syndrome fiasco, find all that we are witnessing, to be utterly absurd. We recognize what the abusers are attempting, and we see the wickedness of their ways, and the cruelty that twists their hearts until they are rung out, and devoid of compassion for their fellow man.  

Look dear reader, at the men and women pedalling paranoia... are they the mentally ill? I think not, not yet that is. I think they know exactly what they are doing, and it is their souls that are sick. What I do believe though, over time, is liars become emotionally unhinged, kind of like Nebuchadnezzar. He lied to himself about his own importance, and gave himself credit for all of his accomplishments, neglecting to acknowledge God and all that had been done for him:

The king spake, and said, is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws (Daniel 4;30-33)

Fortunately for Nebuchadnezzar, and for modern day scoundrels and ingrates, and of course us, dear reader, God is merciful and gives us plenty of time to repent and change our ways: 

And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation... (Daniel 4:34)

It took the passing of seven years of living like an animal amongst the beasts of the fields, but eventually, Nebuchadnezzar stopped living like an ass, and came to his senses, and then he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation

When their time runs out

In order for an abuser to stop abusing, they have to admit guilt. This is hard for them to do, since lying is an intricate instrument they utilize to manipulate their victims. This is why we are to pray for our enemies, those that take pleasure in inflicting pain. They know not, that when their time runs out, they are the ones that will eternally suffer, if they do not reform their ways and acknowledge that they too, are subject to forces beyond their control, namely, God Almighty 

Public record shows, that some of these haters of humanity, have been Munchausen's for many ruthless years: I am not sure how much more of a grace period they will be granted. While I pray for them to reconcile themselves to the living God through Jesus the Christ, I pray more often for the victims, to see the terrorists for who and what they are, and to break free from the tyranny. Here are the telltale signs of those that care not, but rather, prefer to inflict torturous pain for their own pleasure:

A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth. He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers; forwardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord. Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy. These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: a proud look, a lying tongue, and  hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren (Proverbs 6:12-19). 

• a naughty person-worthless, good-for-nothing
• a wicked man-evil, morally corrupt
• walketh with a froward mouth-crookedness of speech
• winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers-instead of using straightforward speech, he communicates sinful intentions through signs and gestures with his eyes, feet, and fingers
• frowardness is in his heart-perversion or crookedness
• he deviseth mischief continually-evil or hurtful things
• he soweth discord-controversies, quarrels, contention
• therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy-without healing, no escape from his doom
• these six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him-hate, reject; abomination, disgusting or detestable
• a proud look-arrogance
• a lying tongue-liars
• hands that shed innocent blood-murderers
• an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations-plans or intentions
• feet that be swift in running to mischief-trouble makers
• a false witness that speaketh lies-falsely accusing innocent people
• he that soweth discord among brethren-home wreckers

Trusting in God when the world has gone semi-mad, is wise. Complying with crazy, well, that is the exact opposite of wise... let no mad men, nor Munchausen's, make you sick in the head, in the heart, in your body, or in your very soul

Jesus as Saviour

The heralding of the King

Isaiah 7:14

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field,
keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men (Luke 2:8-14)

This scene is astounding to visualize; it is a vignette from one of the grandest events in all history. It points to theophany; the visible manifestation of God to mankind. 

An angel heralds the arrival of:

1. a Saviour
2. Christ the Lord
3. the babe

To shepherds!!!

Now, I am going to go off on a tangent, extrapolating based on what we have witnessed occurring over the past two, and perhaps many more, years. Shepherding skills have dropped drastically to abysmal lows, with flocks being abandoned all over the world. Note, in the vignette, that the shepherds were keeping watch over their flock by night 

Why? Why wouldn't everyone be sleeping, including the sheep? Why stay awake?

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again (John 10:11-17). 

No shepherds at all

God has this wonderful, weaving way, of foreshadowing, and demonstrating for us, what He wants of us. The announcement to shepherds at night, watching over their flocks, that the Saviour was born, the Good Shepherd, is Gods way of telling His own, who He is. A true shepherd lays down his life for the sheep, and watches over them to ensure their safety and aliveness, to the point of peril... this is what many so called shepherds have not done for their flocks, because clearly, they were no shepherds at all; they were, as described above, merely hirelings, and they sought fit to flee, to save their own furs, rather than stand and bid evil be gone

Pass through 

This Christmas, rather than celebrating the birth of a babe wrapped in swaddling clothing, and declaring with the multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men, there will be a pass through experience in many a household, whose doorposts were not covered in lambs blood. The angel of death will pass through these homes, claiming the lives of those that were not protected, were not shepherded and kept safe from the prowling, snarling, blood thirsty wolves that lurk in the darkness, forever ready to pounce on vulnerable prey 

The birth of Christ was just the beginning of the Saviour/salvation story, of Gods theophany, His manifestation in fleshly form. We have moved further along the timeline, and we continue to march to its conclusion. I love that shepherds of long ago, witnessed what so many of us catch glimpses of in our daydreams  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men

• multitude of the heavenly host
• praising God
• Glory to God in the highest
• and on earth peace
• good will toward men

The arrival of the babe, was Gods way of introducing us to His solution to our major problem: the wolves at our gate, those that devour and are never, satisfied. We are promised peace, in Christ, and Christ alone, and it is God, and God alone, that has good will toward men. The entire Bible points to Him, with us as His little lambs they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Perhaps you are a shepherd, the gate keeping man of your home, and work

Perhaps you are a shepherdess, the gate keeping woman of your home, and work

If so, you are to be like the Good Shepherd, watching over your flock by night, willing to lay down your life to protect the vulnerable lambs God has entrusted you with 

Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again

Murder of babies

Dear reader, how do I tell you, that the parallels of the birth of baby Jesus some 2000 years ago, with the murder of babies ordered by a wicked governor following closely thereafter, is exactly what is happening now? Satan could not kill the King of kings, but he did the next best thing, he used murderous men to do his bidding, and the slaughter of babies two and under was commissioned. As we approach the 25th of this month, demons are frothing at the phantom mouth, stealing lives while the world is in what appears to be a wide awake trance. Parents are handing themselves and their children over for slaughter, and they seem to know not what they do

Rebel against the Almighty

Jesus' birth was not a secret, in fact, it was prophesied numerous times in the Old Testament. Satan was well aware that God had a redemptive plan, and he is just as subject to Gods will as we are. Satan saw the star, he saw the babe, he too, saw the glory of the Lord beaming brightly on earth... but he could do nothing, he was impotent: and the birth of the Christ marked the tick tock clock count down for the adversary. His best work, since the garden of Eden, has always been inciting men to be their own gods, and rebel against The Almighty, turning away from loving Him and humanity, and becoming demonic in their blood lust 

And look now dear one, at where we are... 

Lights twinkle from trees and roof tops

Presents are wrapped and bowed

Turkeys are bought and ready for stuffing

And the lost wait for a day in a month of the year

That marks the beginning, and the end... and they are not clear

They know not the Saviour

They know not the King of kings

They know not the One that came to claim them from the grave

They know not... the One

That fulfilled His promise

I lay down my life, that I might take it again

They know not the Good Shepherd, that died for the sins of the world, was crucified on a cross, and rose on the third day, from a grave that cannot contain the living God 

The world loves baby Jesus, and they don't want Him to ever grow up... that, is a perilous position to be in, in a time such as this