New Babylon Arising ~ "The Knowledge Economy"

Genesis 11:6-9 ~ 6- And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. 7- Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. 8- So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. 9- Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

Jew, and self proclaimed atheist, Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook and one of the wealthiest men on earth, announced his "rough plan" to partnership with nearly every internet provider on the planet to provide internet access to the worlds over 7 billion people.

 "I think that connecting the world will be one of the most important things we all do in our lifetimes, and I’m thankful every day to have the opportunity to work with all of you to make this a reality" ~ Zuckerberg Pg. 10 

According to most statistics, only 1/3rd of the world has internet access. The other 2/3rds, approximately 5 billion people, are without access or at the least very limited access. It is Zuckerberg's purpose to change all of that by claiming that internet access for all humans is a "human right". In a post on his Facebook page entitled "Is connectivity a human right?" Zuckerberg delivered the following:

"Before the internet and the knowledge economy, our economy was primarily industrial and resource-based. Many dynamics of resource-based economies are zero sum. For example, if you own an oil field, then I can’t also own that same oil field. This incentivizes those with resources to hoard rather than share them. But a knowledge economy is different and encourages worldwide prosperity. It’s not zero sum. If you know something, that doesn’t stop me from knowing it too. In fact, the more things we all know, the better ideas, products and services we can all offer and the better all of our lives will be. ~ Zuckerberg Pg. 2 

Now, the first thing that jumps out is the baseline description of communism as it pertains to how this "knowledge based economy" should be. As a reminder Dictionary.com defines communism as follows: ~ a theory or system of social organization based on the holding of all property in common, actual ownership being ascribed to the community as a whole or to the state. It is imminently clear that Zuckerberg ascribes to the communist model to his "knowledge economy" suggesting that knowledge should belong to "all of us" and further stating that the more all of us know the better off all of us will be. The problem here is does any of his statement or aspirations in this hold true? 

Does Knowledge Equate To "Doing Better"?

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Antoinette Tuff: "I Gave It All To God"

Esther 4:13-16 ~ 13-Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews. 14- For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? 15- Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, 16- Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

HERO...Antoinette Tuff, a woman who wasn't even supposed to be where she was. Having just received devastating news herself,  saved countless children and adults from near certain tragedy. How did she do this? it certainly wasn't out of her comforts, nor was it out of some belief that this life is all we have. It was out of her faith in a REAL God. It was out of her love for mankind and it was out of her adversity.

Antoinette, helped some of over 870 children and staff who attend and worked for the Ronald E. McNair Discovery Learning Academy  in Decatur, GA. The Academy educates students from Pre-K to 5th grade. These are our babies. They depend upon Antoinette and people like Antoinette to care for them, to love them, to protect them, while they are away from their families throughout the day. 

Out of her abundant BELIEF IN GOD, this woman faced down death, looking into the eyes of a man, not on his medication and unafraid to use a semi-arsenal of guns and weapons. Afterwards, Antoinette understood that IF it hadn't been for her pain, and IF it had not been for her FAITH, IF she had not been in that place at that particular time, then DEATH would have been certain, if not for herself, then for others. 

Michael Brandon Hill, a man who also suffers from some form of mental illness, had been arrested in March for making threats to the Sheriff's office. Although he was on prescribed medication, he failed to take any that day. In this incident he showed up with over 500 rounds of ammunition and fired shots to let everyone know that he meant business. This was intensely serious and almost anything could happen.

Antoinette recounts:

"He had a look on him that he was willing to kill — matter of fact he said it. He said that he didn't have any reason to live and that he knew he was going to die today,"

In the video caption above, Antoinette said that her pastor's wife had taught a message "Push Past The Pain" which spoke to her that no matter what condition she was in, that life's adversities couldn't hold her down and keep her from the blessings of God. She additionally recounted that her Pastor had just begun a new series of teachings, that she was studying designed to encourage the members that life was not over and that through Christ they could do anything. As she said, "Thank God for the Word!"

Why Me?

There are some legitimate questions as to why we all go through what we go through at times. we don't have full knowledge and have to trust god at times that things will be allright. However, I have watched people present what is called the "problem of evil" for years. Some of them even going so far as to claim that if God was God he wouldn't allow certain pain and adversity in life. That HE would simply rescue us from all of our pains because he loves us. But look at this, a little lady, with no gun, in the face of a gunman, that had just received devastating news, husband left her after 33 years of marriage, tried to commit suicide herself due to that failed marriage just last year, has a multiply disabled son, and no telling what else is going on, steps UP, shows her love for God and man by living out her faith THROUGH adversity and all the pain that she has suffered. 

All those folk complaining about God and telling HIM how comfortable their life should be...This woman puts YOU to shame. I think many of them are A BUNCH OF WHINING BABIES seeking to serve themselves. 

The fact is that life is not only about US individually. We go through some things for and on behalf of others. From the depth of our experience and sometimes even pain, others are blessed, helped and encouraged. In other words, if one can make it through what one has experienced, then others have confidence that they can also make it through what they are going through. 

PURPOSE Placed In The Middle

It was Jesus who placed himself in the middle on the cross between the wrath of God and the destruction of man in order to redeem man. This woman not only placed herself between the gunman and the kids and fellow employees, but placed herself between the gunman and the police...She was in the way for a PURPOSE, which is one thing that many people cannot and do not understand. There is a PURPOSE to it all, and that purpose is not to introvertly fail or fall into obscurity. The purpose of God through ALL adversity is for those who would believe and trust in him to succeed. 

Psalms 118:17 ~I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.

Similar to Esther, who knows if THIS was why she went through what she went through in life? Her experiences could have been what were necessary to prepare her for THIS incident. To give her the necessary temperament to look at death and say, although I am afraid, I know a God who is above ALL people and all things. Her experiences could have been to give her the love for children to stand there pleading for the life of all instead of running, which she initially thought to do. 

911 Call

Antoinette Tuff, YOU are a TOUGH Sistah!!!! Thank God for you and may the LORD continue to bless you and may he restore unto you all that has been lost with some extra and abundant interest!

Blessed!

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"Preachers" Of LA

Don't Worry, More Governmental Hearings On The Way!

OK, I don't mean to advertise this show, but I must say that I am in anticipation of just how much MESS can come on TV in the name of the Lord. I'll be short with this one but look:

The Sisterhood...CANCELLED! Preacher's Wives...CANCELLED!

But that doesn't disturb or sway the preachers from doing what they do. At probably more than $5,000 to $10,000 per episode, the preacher's gladly say It's MY TURN NOW!

Yes, it's their turn to set the record straight. Pastor Deitrick Haddon, Bishop Noel Jones, Bishop Clarence McClendon, Pastor Wayne Cheney, Bishop Ron Gibson and Pastor Jay Haizlip...It's their turn to tell the world why they can be expected to live lavishly while anything from mega to average sized churches sport and support their mega-lifestyles.

In this trailer alone, there is more than enough information for anyone who loves the Lord to be disturbed about. from a Bishop claiming that he should be able to obtain worldly possessions similar to demonic entertainers; to another claiming that he believes in the part of the bible that declares that we should "prosper and be in good health" which was simply a 1st century greeting, salutation and doxology; to another that claims that he is a "prize" that should be "won"...

HOUSTON, We have a PROBLEM! And the problem is not God...it's those who want to make God be and approve all the devilment that they like to do...This "expose" could be just what is necessary for the rest of the world to see these gentleman as they really are. I don't know, but I will certainly be watching...and the COMMENTS will be ON!!!!!

Blessed! 

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Hip-Hop, Idolatry & The Church Pt. 22 ~Satanism On Your TV

Praise the LORD from whom ALL BLESSINGS flow! Taken a break but I'm back for a minute...But you need to read this:

Theurgy (Magic) - The Operation of Moon - Theurgy translates to "The Science or art of Divine Works." There are two different types of magic, according to Giovanni Pico della Mirandola's Apology, completely opposite of one another. The first is Goëtia, black magic reliant upon an alliance with evil spirits (i.e. demons). The second is Theurgy, divine magic reliant upon an alliance with divine spirits (i.e. angels, archangels, gods). In the practice of Hermetic theurgy, these are invoked in order to awaken elemental, planetary, an zodiacal forces in the physical and energetic bodies. Theurgy is the practical aspect of the astrology. Ritual magic and all modern magical traditions ultimately derive from Hermetic theurgy.

Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn ~ website

I haven't visited this topic in a while due to other equally as important and exciting ministerial ventures, topics and programs undertaken. In part, my children, bless their hearts, have kept me informed of some of the latest happenings in the music industry, because I am one of those saints who DO NOT listen to R&B, or it's brother hip-hop except to review it's content and when my attention is called to certain points, lyrics or beats. However, as I turn to focus my eyes once again, I find that the modern music industry and most specifically that associated with modern hip-hop, neo soul and R & B, is in a most desperate and continued need of deliverance.

I will focus on a few points delivering information and focusing on the subject from a slightly different perspective than most do. I will also discuss and reference a couple of websites that I believe you may want to link to and keep up with as they have undertaken to thoroughly examine this particular aspect of modern music. That aspect is satanism and the 'devil' in the music. 

I have talked about this trend in bits and pieces in multiple articles previously. What I have found is that producers and sometimes unwitting artists, are producing more and more "mystically centered" garbage in effort to seduce and cast spells on the minds of our children and those who give themselves to the pursuit of fame, association and attention. The church is impacted because it has taken upon itself to mimic the styles and imaginations of these enemies of the cross. As we will point out, these efforts usually occur in the name of "reaching" children. Needless to say, this is a horrible strategy of evangelization and, in my opinion, must cease as a strategy and be thoroughly denounced through and by biblically centered preaching and teaching.

Side Note:

...And I must say I APPLAUD a Mt. Salem BAPTIST church that undertook to remove their pastor as he  by his actions expressed that supporting hip-hop could be reconciled with faith and purity in Christ...It seems that while many of the so called "Saints" (as we were once exclusively called) are running to and fro to find out how much of a partnership and fellowship with the world that we can have and still "resemble"

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"We Have Refused To Honor God..."

Thursday Aug. 1st Darrell Scott, the father of the first victim in the Columbine school shooting, Rachel Scott, testified before the House Judiciary subcommittee. If you didn't hear it reported on the news, that's OK. This is what he said:

"Since the dawn of creation there has been both good &evil in the hearts of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers. 

"The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used.. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain's heart. 

"In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA - because I don't believe that they are responsible for my daughter's death. Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel's murder I would be their strongest opponent. I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy -- it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. I wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best.

Your laws ignore our deepest needs,

Your words are empty air.

You've stripped away our heritage,

You've outlawed simple prayer.

Now gunshots fill our classrooms,

And precious children die.

You seek for answers everywhere,

And ask the question "Why?"

You regulate restrictive laws,

Through legislative creed.

And yet you fail to understand,

That God is what we need! 

"Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, mind, and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and wreak havoc. Spiritual presences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation's history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact. 

What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs -- politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties. We do not need more restrictive laws. 

Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts.

"As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes, he did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right! I challenge every young person in America , and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation that violates your God-given right to communicate with Him.

To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA -- I give to you a sincere challenge.. Dare to examine your own heart before casting the first stone! My daughter's death will not be in vain! The young people of this country will not allow that to happen!" ~ Darrell Scott

Now I wonder did they really hear what he said? I wonder do the pastors and teachers all across the land hear what he said? May the Lord continue to bless him and the memory of his beloved daughter.   

Blessed!

Link: Dale Yancy blog

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The "Business" Of Church

Matthew 21:12-13 ~ 12- And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13-And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Although there is a healthy debate even among Christians as to whether the "church" as we know it today was ever supposed to be the "church" as we have become used to seeing it, or even whether Jesus came to establish a religion at all, one thing is for sure, whatever the church and religious practice associated with the church once was, it is hard pressed to continue to be that and as a result has lost it's luster in a ever increasing mine-field of church and even secular "alternatives".

In short, the rise of relative moral values, increasing secularism, and the desire for social relevance are among some of the more pervasive issues that the church faces. That doesn't even begin to touch on the ever increasing moral failures of some of the leaders and adherents of the church. All of these things have made the church, the modern physical church, a very difficult landscape for the average person to navigate.

Church, The Business

Then add the "business" of church to the mix. There has always been a business aspect to serving God through the corporate entity called the church. Even within the first church people sold what they had that the needs of the corporate group might be met (Acts 4). Under the Levitical system, sacrifices and offerings cost and had value. In Jesus time, ministry under the Temple System had become big business. Scripture records that Jesus drove out the "moneychanges" at least twice during his ministry (Matt. 21:12-13, John 2:14-15) and reprimanded temple leaders for their excesses. I believe, and have further taught, that Jesus did this at least annually as a symbol of his office and in expectation of what the religious Jew would have understood as the special authority associated with the Messiah who was expected to appear in every generation. By the time of Jesus, to say that the Temple and the people were being abused would have been an understatement. What was being done was not in accordance with what God had commanded and not in line with what he expected from those who would serve HIM. The poor were to be ministered to, not taken advantage of. The very fact that the nickname of the Temple at that time was "Herrod's Temple" indicates that money and evil associations had began to rule the day even in what should have been the most sacred of places.  

Show Me The Money!

From the historical position of Catholic "indulgences" to modern mega church "sacrificial gifts", to $50 million dollar plus places of worship, not to mention $250,000 monthly TV programming budgets. As we already know, on any given Sunday at mini-mega local churches offerings of the faithful can exceed $20,000. Big business exists within and surrounding the modern church. Much of the raised funds are delivered to folk

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