A Christmas Biography

 My parents traveled a lot. One fall, when mom carried me, they determined a trip to their hometown took precedent. In the old days, the journey took several hours. Nowadays I suppose they would make it in thirty minutes, what with the road system improvements and all.

By the time they decided to go, the streets were full of travelers. It slowed them down. Mom’s pregnancy didn’t seem to be an issue. I tossed and turned, but nothing strange for an unborn. When they reached the small farming community, they found an entire village homecoming. Everyone’s cousins showed up.

Dad’s family owned a wonderful house, and he hadn’t mentioned he and mom were coming. It created a bit of a tizzy. It came down to a small area out back in a horse paddock office. It was comfortable under the circumstances. Now and then, a horse snickered. Even the chickens seemed happy to have someone stay the night.

Dad, always the provider, pulled the food out of his go-bag, and they settled in for a quiet evening.

Mom’s water broke in the early morning hours, and not too long after, I slid into a new world. My strong voice complemented my well-proportioned body, small as it was. Dad found some sheets in a closet to help clean up the afterbirth and amniotic fluid. I didn’t know those words back then. Mom suckled me, and I enjoyed my first meal. It wasn’t long before I fell asleep. They laid me in an opened bureau drawer.

News spread quickly. It wasn’t long before all the neighboring farmers and ranchers stopped by to pay their regards. They’d seen the light of the barn glowing. It led them to me. A couple of days later, more visitors from a university showed up. They even brought me birthday presents. Mom and dad were astounded at their generosity.

So many people heard about my arrival that I have newfound brothers and sisters who help me celebrate my birthday, even today. Perhaps you are one. Love, Jesus.

Merry Christmas

A Missing Worldview

 

The enemy of Christianity works tirelessly to counteract the Gospel. Think of all of the things humankind subjects themselves to, and we find a list applicable to us, too. Today’s penetrating worldview demands your confirmation of secular wisdom. Take the Chinese virus, for instance.

Do this. Do that. Don’t show your face. Don’t get together with family. For heaven’s sake, don’t go to church.

Paul points out some principles we should all live by, but Christians especially.

“Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—‘Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,’ which all concern things which perish with the using--according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.” Colossians 2:20-23

Paul continues in Chapter 3:5 (remember the Bible wasn’t written in Chapter/verse, but rather in solid blocks of text) to explain how the Gospel of Jesus relieves us from the burden of things of this earth. “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”

How much better would our health, society, culture, and knowledge be if we focus on our heavenly example given by Jesus Christ?

Good Friday Dogwoods

 

An interesting legend involving the dogwood tree involves Christ crucified on the wood from one. It’s not true because there were no dogwoods in Israel during His time. Still, the legend persists because of the flower characteristics. Four white petals, each with a reddish spot, signify the cross and the nails.

Our dogwood, likely planted in 1958 when our house was constructed, blossoms this time of year in South Carolina. Its maturity ensures a large crown of majesty and this year was to be no different. We looked forward to enjoying the show.

This year it’s different. Last night the temperature dropped to below freezing and all of those little buds about to declare God’s gift to us, perished. Here’s a photo from this morning where the temperature is still not above forty degrees F.

I look at this photo and wonder if God is giving us one last warning. America, the land of the free and home of the brave, seems to have forgotten the greatest gift of a free choice. It wasn’t about being independent. It wasn’t about exhibiting aberrant behavior. It wasn’t about discarding the law. It was about being dependent upon God, Jesus our savior.

Plants show wonderful recovery from atmospheric and natural causes of injury. Trees can survive up to two years of leaf loss, either through drought or infestation. Fire, on the other hand, destroys any possibility of recovery.

I pray on this day of remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice we take the time to acknowledge God’s sovereignty in our lives and recall how our nation was founded on Judeo-Christian principles. Some of those principles found in the Bible include God’s correction for a people wandering far from His love, many times with fire and brimstone. May God grant the United States one more time of reprieve. One more chance to turn the tide. One more opportunity to turn to Jesus and accept the legendary love of God by observing the flowers of the dogwood.

God, repeatedly...

 30 March 1863

"...rest humbly in the hope authorized by the Divine teachings, that the united cry of the nation will be heard on high and answered with blessing no less than the pardon of our national sins and the restoration of our new divided and suffering country to its former happy condition of unity and peace."

There are those who realize history repeats itself. There are those who realize the trials of history stem from a rebellious lot falling away from the Spirit of love, peace, and a sound mind guaranteed by God if only we'd go back to Him.

This passage from Abraham Lincoln should sound like it came from your preacher last Sunday, or yesterday. Read it today and consider how far we've fallen. Then pick yourself back up and get back on the trail of God's love. Never been there? See John 3:16.

Breathing In, Speaking Out

 

After working in emergency medicine in the field for a few years, one begins to obtain finesse in handling various patients. Focusing on equipment and gear can often leave you wondering why the patient deteriorates. Some patients don’t get better no matter what you do. Then there was the lady patient a friend treated years ago. She was having difficulty breathing. He’d done all the correct things; establishing oxygen flow, inquiring about allergies and medicine taken, and listening for abnormal lung sounds. None of which assisted her breathing.

In the process of further examination he found that the bra strap in back was so tight he couldn’t get a finger under it. He deftly withdrew his bandage scissors and clipped it in two. The lady let out a huge sigh of relief and her breathing difficulties ended. To this day, whenever he meets a female with breathing difficulty the first thing he does is cut the bra strap.

Air movement is essential to life. Air must come into our bodies so that air can be discharged or used for voice communication. God tells us to speak His kingdom into this earth and shows us how He spoke creation. Scripture encourages us to pray in the Spirit without ceasing. Yet, when we even think about doing so, it seems impossible for us to take in a breath required to speak those sounds. And, if you’re like Paul and your habit is to pray more than others, it isn’t easy to skip the appointed time because of the lack of air in your lungs.

God gives nine examples in Genesis of how speaking creates results. But speaking without His power creates neither results nor improvement. Some time ago I realized that in all the instances of Jesus’ healing ministry, it required a) the gospel, b) the spoken word of healing and c) the act of faith by the one being healed. Can you wonder if the man lowered through the roof would have been healed if he hadn’t gotten up off that mat? Or if the man who was told to dip seven times in the Jordan had never done that? Or if poor blind Bartimaeus hadn’t walked down the road?

Is something bothering you? Use your words to change it, and step out in faith. It’s God’s way.   

Pray for America's future

I gave the following prayer 09 Nov 2019 for the opening of the Declaration of Restoration rally of Americans in Washington, DC on the National Mall from 1100 to 1600 hours.

Almighty God, I give you praise and lift up your Holy name to these people. You and You alone stand between us and desolation. Your word tells us to be focused not on those around us, but on dark powers and principalities.

     I ask this day for Your light to shine on Capitol Hill. Expose the darkness and make it flee. Open the ears of our Congressional Representatives to hear and understand our grievances. Stir their hearts and minds this Saturday. Convict them of the need to remember it is You, The God of creation, the God of the universe, who ordained and put in place our government. Remind them our rights, our very liberty, isn’t found in the Constitution. It’s found in scripture and protected from government interference by the Constitution. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Freedom.

     Thank you for sending your angels to fight our battles, to protect us from evil, to propel us into all You planned for us, and to provide us the strength, the longsuffering, the intelligence, and the wherewithal to accomplish our task. Time is a constraint on mankind to help establish order, but You have no such constraints. Go before us, before the submission of the redress of grievances. Effect the changes to make Your government unhindered.

     As a child of God I take the responsibility to overcome evil this day. I speak with the authority of a child of God, and I stand in the gap to protect those unwilling or unable to protect themselves. I release here on earth those angels appointed to the people here, as you have already done in Heaven. Let the evil flee and your righteousness descend upon Washington, DC this day in history as you restore the United States of America to its appointed place of truth, justice, and the American way.

    All of this I speak through the glory and resurrection power of Jesus Christ our Lord, and in His name.

Amen           

©Warren A Johnson 2019

When Power Lines are Down

When Power Lines Are Down

“We have this confidence as a sure and strong anchor for our lives.”

(Hebrews 6:19a) God’s Word Translation

Recent weather patterns brought storms with high velocity winds, heavy rain, and hail. They pummeled everything in its path. Utility workers understand it. They deal with the broken trees, blown power fuses and transformers, knocked over telephone poles and thousands of calls for assistance to re-establish critical communication.

One such call involved a downed telephone line. One end hung attached to the pole in proper order. The other ripped from the eve of the house when the limb fell on it. This unusual damage required immediate repair. The occupant of the house struggled with a medical condition monitored through the telephone lines. The responding utility person noted where the cable separated from the home at the point where the anchor clamp tied into the eve. He strung a new cable, attached a new anchor clamp and secured the communication wire. The repair ensured long service even with a forecast of more severe weather.

 God established His communication line the day you and I were saved. The line went up and that which was dead came to life. The Holy Spirit sprang into action. The problem? The storms of our lives knock down that cable. They rip the link right out of us. We forget about listening for God, because our sins disrupt our very souls.

God also knows of these ills in man and sent His Son, Jesus, to be our anchor. Jesus responded to the call. He went to the cross to be nailed in place to forever remind us that our link is anchored by His very being. He spread His arms wide, and nails held them there so we would always have the means to communicate with God, sure and steadfast, no matter our trials.

Remember His act the next time you drive toward your house. See the telephone cable held up to the eves. You can talk to God. He’s on the other end, waiting.

Sheepdogs of the Republic

Throughout the course of history, man suffered under someone else’s dominion. Your worldview presents a perspective on whether or not America benefits from our founding father’s vision, hope, and clarity as concerns our constitution and its applicability today. Yet the problem remains. Others want to force you into subjugation. Who is protecting you?

Take, for example, the First Amendment right to free speech. Up to the date of its establishment, every citizen of other countries rarely spoke up against their government because the quick response left them dead or imprisoned. The First Amendment also guarantees your right to freedom of religion; another instance of protecting the individual’s right to worship God other than the way the government sees fit, without fear of death or imprisonment as both the English and Spanish Inquisitions attested.

In the news across our land, revolutionaries walk the streets decrying the rights of others to speak. Most notably among them are the Antifa, with the Black Lives Matter and the New Black Panthers right behind them. Opposing organizations take the stand no one should be able to say such things, especially in public, and certainly not when carrying sticks and clubs to drive off any who would prevent their free speech right.

What is not often realized, nor reported by main stream media outlets, is there’s an organization working to protect constitutional rights. They do it from the very foundation of the constitution and the Second Amendment. They are known as the constitutional militia. Here in New York State, the New York Light Foot Militia (NYLFM), and other constitution loving groups like them, perform the function of standing between these opposing groups to ensure neither party comes to injury because of the other. This activity by the NYLFM is a neutral stance. It requires the members to lay down their personal opinions and to leave them home. It takes discipline and training to do this.

In the last eight months the NYLFM participated in standing in the gap in Syracuse, NY, Boston, MA, Gettysburg, PA, Harrisburg, PA, and they are headed to Charlottesville, VA. At each of these locations the LFM of various states work hand in hand with local police, sheriffs, state police, national park police, and at times, the FBI and federal marshals. The point here is the Light Foot Militia is doing so at their own expense, at risk to themselves, for the good of the constitutional rights of Americans.

Don’t sit home and decry the violence in our streets. You have been given the voice our founding fathers intended you to have. You have the right to speak about your views of the government. You have the right to speak about how God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit give you life. If you don’t use your God-given rights, you will surely lose them by man’s predisposed actions.

It would be appropriate today to pray for the safety and well being of the NYLFM and their friends as they travel to once again stand in the gap to protect your rights, no matter which side you choose.

Are we a Christian nation?

Are We A Christian Nation?

Nation: 1. a large aggregate (a whole formed by combining several (typically disparate) elements) of people united by common descent, history, culture, or language, inhabiting a particular country or territory. Oxford Dictionary

For other uses, see Nation (disambiguation).

Not to be confused with State (polity) or Country.

A nation (from Latin: natio, "people, tribe, kin, genus, class, flock") is a large group or collective of people with common characteristics attributed to them — including language, traditions, mores (customs), habitus (habits), and ethnicity. By comparison, a nation is more impersonal, abstract, and overtly political than an ethnic group. It is a cultural-political community that has become conscious of its autonomy, unity, and particular interests. Wikipedia

Discussions concerning whether or not the United States of America are a Christian nation always result in opposing worldviews declaring their side holds truth. For instance, be assured the US is not a Christian nation by these words: "The Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion" John Adams. Where in the definition does it say anything about government? It does not. It specifically leaves out government because there are two types of government; those operated by a church, and those not operated by a church. Mr Jefferson adamantly stated the United States federal government proposed under the constitution would not tax the Anabaptists in Connecticut because there would be no state religion. The Wikipedia definition specifically notes nation is not to be confused with State or country, both of which are terms associated with government.

How does one determine if America ever was a Christian nation? One looks at the historical evidence. Start with Columbus because he has been the historical reference since the fifteenth century. Evidence mounts the Scandinavians touched here first by circa 1000 AD. However, they didn’t leave enough of a mark to create a nation of people.

Columbus’ story starts before his trip. He approached Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand six other times. They saw no reason to grant him a charter. On the seventh time of his audience, Queen Isabella decides to grant him his wish because Spain, three days before, successfully cast the Moors out of Spain. “On January 2nd 1492 Los Reyes Católicos marched into Granada and the last stronghold of Moorish Spain came to an end.” (http://www.spanish-fiestas.com/history/moorish-spain/) It is said she saw an opportunity to thank God for the miracle of repelling the Moors. She not only gave Columbus a charter (GIVEN at Granada, on the 30th of April, in the year of our Lord, 1492-I, THE KING, I, THE QUEEN.), but supplied him with a Jesuit to evangelize whatever lands Columbus found and claim them for the Spanish crown. Aside from the Spanish propensity for destroying the wealth of whatever nation it came up against by taking the riches back to Spain, Columbus also failed as a Christian by wrapping himself in greed. He lost all respect and died penniless. Yet the Catholic way continued to expand into the western American continent for another three centuries. For instance, Spanish priests founded San Francisco in 1776.

During the same time period the French took Jesuit priests with them down the St. Lawrence, across the Great Lakes, into the central plains, and down the Mississippi. By 1535 Cartier explored as far as Quebec City. Further penetration into the North American continent established colonies throughout the regions as far south as Louisiana. The Louisiana Purchase handily doubled the size of the United States’ possession in 1803.

The English Crown finally made a move with Roanoke, VA in 1587, but that colony failed when the Catholic Spanish Armada attacked Protestant Britain the following year, prohibiting any supplies or assistance from returning in 1588. Jamestown in 1607 became the first Protestant settlement on the entire east coast of the North American continent in over one hundred years of exploration.

This Christian settlement of the entire North American continent demonstrates how the nation of the United States came into being. The discussion continues with the coming of the Pilgrims in 1624. They were not separatists; they had a charter from the King of England to live “in the northern Virginia colony” as English subjects. They left England because of persecution by the Anglican Church of England. They wanted nothing to do with the Anglican Priest in Jamestown. They wanted to follow the Protestant Reformation practices, not those of King Henry’s church. Still, they were Christians.

So, when I hear comments concerning America and how she’s not, nor has ever been considered to be a Christian nation, I must object. Clearly, by definition, we are a people with a common heritage of Christianity in all its denominations. Were there Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, atheists, and New Age religions represented within the continent. Of course there were. Muslims were primarily the North African slaves without influence at the time in neither government nor culture and the same applies to most other segments of society, especially concerning the Atlantic coastal colonies. This statement does not downplay the atrocities committed against African, Irish, oriental, Hebrew, or native inhabitants. It doesn’t belittle their contributions of hard work or research and development any of them did, voluntarily or involuntarily. It’s simply a statement concerning how a nation is considered to be Christian according to the commonality of the people settling it.

History determines what constitutes a nation. Whether or not a particular people group lived, worked, contributed or grew significant within the concepts of what a nation is or may become, remains to be seen. One might consider hesitating when prone to demand the United States cannot be considered a Christian nation when all of its foundation is laid upon Christ’s Word spread across the continent on which it sits.

Who do you say?

The discussion in politics, especially in light of recent events, often turns to the phrase the lesser of two evils. This implies we have no real choice and either way we go will result in a continuation of the downward spiral of the nation. I have a different view. What the country has been missing for so long is a better choice, as my cousin recently noted on a Facebook post.

When we turn this old saying around and create a positive, we begin to see how our country can regain its place in world politics. Rather than accepting someone is a little less evil to sit in the Office of the President of the United States of America, let us look at the benefits of choosing the better one.

This simple process allows us the opportunity to find the statesmen amongst us. It is the statesman who judges the value of a law according to how it best fulfills the intent of the Constitution. It is a politician who looks at the value of a law relative to his own best interests. Statesmen in today’s world are far and few between. Most of the politicians have never held a job. Yes, it’s a general statement, but you get the drift. If they don’t know what work is or how things work at the ground level, how do they expect to know what’s right for the country?

Now the question remains, how do we find statesmen to run for office? It’s a good question and one requiring more answers than can be placed in this blog. There are, however, a few questions I would ask someone purporting to be a statesman in the United States. The primary one is, “Who do you say Jesus is?” The importance of this question surfaces in the First Amendment. One must understand the context of the founding fathers when they wrote this Constitution of ours. The US was a Protestant Reformation Christian nation. Many of the founders were graduates of the seminaries of the day, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, William and Mary. God stood in the middle of their lives and they made decisions based upon their knowledge and understanding of the scriptures. The public, too, understood these concepts because their reading knowledge and skill came from scriptural lessons in the Bible, Primers and other educational resources.

Until we in the U. S. A. start seeking out statesmen to run for office, we may well have to suffer the lesser of the two evils. When we make the choice to pick the better of the two candidates, we power the move of God in the land where voting is a right established by Biblical principles.