Swine Won't Stop The True Gospel or The Real Church!

The "Swine Flu" or now the H1N1 Virus has placed a scare into the country because of the virulence of the disease. Our current pandemic alert level in the US is 5, set by the World Health Organization. The H1N1 virus is a hybrid of swine, avian and human strain virus. The two anti-influenza drugs on the market, amantadine (Symmetrel) and rimantadine (Flumadine) are ineffective in treatment. And there's no other current and effective vaccine made by any Rx company in the world as of today. In recent days it's been reported that shipments of influenza vaccine have been sent out to various locations, however any vaccine sent could not be to combat this particular strain of H1N1 as one does not currently exist. So the question is what was shipped and why?

According to CNN as of today there have been 331 confirmed cases of the disease worldwide, 109 confirmed US cases resulting in 1 US death and 156 deaths in Mexico, the suspected origin of the disease. Additionally CNN reports that known cases worldwide are as follows:

• Austria (1), Canada (34), Germany (3), Israel (2), Netherlands (1), New Zealand (3), Spain (13), Switzerland (1) and the United Kingdom (8) An additional 230 cases are being investigated in the United Kingdom, and Spain has 84 suspected cases. Australia, which has had no confirmed cases, was investigating 114.
  
  

Could This Be A Biological Terrorist Attack?

There are a number of theories regarding the nature of this flu epidemic. Most of it comes as a result of a post 9/11 mindset.

Drug Cartels Working With Terrorist Groups Theory:
One thing is for sure is that the Mexican drug cartels and terrorist groups have seemed to "hook up" in recent times and this has been noted by the US Government. The cartels have more money and weapons than the Mexican Government and Army and are not afraid to engage the US law enforcement of any kind. This has led to a great suspicion that either Hezbollah or another Jihadist group, working through Iran, has either assisted or at the very least been resourceful in this venture. This theory overlooks the fact that the true Jihadist also views drugs as being not honorific to Allah and the West in general, including Mexico, as being inspired of Satan. Not to mention that the drug cartels wouldn't want to eliminate their clients right away. They would loos whatever money that have accumulated.

One point of interest regarding this is that Islam yet teaches against consumption of pork, and none of the countries known as "Islamic countries" are on the list. This is especially intriguing since the disease is said to easily spread by human to human contact past one generation, which, up until this point, is highly unusual so far as influenza viruses and illnesses are concerned.

Terrorist Test Theory:
Another argument is that this whole situation is only a warm-up much like a Beta-Test to see how far this could spread and to see the reaction of the world community. In other words a testing of the waters by the international community be they "terrorists" or other "string pullers" who need to know about our emergency preparedness systems. While this may be plausible, terrorists usually study and know procedures of countries and governmental agencies long before those procedures are implemented. The object of terrorism is death and absolute fear, and as sicknesses go this one within the US has not caused the death or fear that a genetically engineered virus would seem to aim for. So upon evaluation, it becomes a rather uncompelling argument to say that any terrorist was just trying to find out what would happen IF...

Drug Company Conspiracy:

Another theory is that this has somehow been structured and layered by the Rx companies in efforts to bolster need for their products and consequently allowing them to make more money. Although every company has to create a need for their particular products and services, I find this one kind of hard to swallow from a humanistic standpoint. Maybe that's just my hope that even the pharmaceutical industry would hold to better standards than that.

Population Control Theory:

Another theory (that goes in conjunction with the next one) is that this is the beginning of a population control measure. Many atheists, humanists and Christians and otherwise are so worried about the depletion of natural resources. There is a push for countries such as the US to adopt measures to stifle the growing population trends. Some have invoked ideas such as China's population control standards as a means to relive the earth of the growing threat of human expansion and resource depletion. In other words people need to die so that others won't be inconvenienced. I guess for them who hold this view, it's more a process of natural selection of survival of the fittest.

A Final Conspiracy Theory???

Government Control Theory:

A Final theory, and one that is much more malicious in its intent, is that the US Government had something to do with it. More specifically that President Obama, hid or is hiding information regarding it, or that former President Bush made some deals at the very least set the stage for this...

Well, the government's record hasn't been good historically. Look at Tuskegee and the controversial suspicion about AIDS. Sorry, but truth is what it is...However, since Katrina and Kanye West's statements that "Bush doesn't care about black people!" We've seen that everything that seems to go on in this country is somehow now part of a conspiratous governmental scam or theory...Since I'm in no position to investigate every claim, I can only say that I've been around the block a few times in these 45 years of mine and heard a lot of suspicion raised on many issues only to live and find out first hand that much of what people go to elaborate means to claim is garbage, and garbage is just what it is...GARBAGE...Take it out, throw it away and it'll eventually all fade away...One thing is certain, what's hidden will come to the light.

The More Than Likely Scenario:

More than likely the H1N1 virus is a reassortment of existing human virus which is a relatively new type of viral path as these sort of viruses are concerned. The sustained transmission from human to human means that this virus is not based on the standard or traditional norms that were previously understood. In other words, no conspiracy theory needed just an understanding of basic evolutionary science which most Christians agree that occurs on a micro evolutionary basis such as this. In fact, this just may be a micro evolutionary observation within our day and age that adds significant value scientific understanding...we'll see.

With All Of That Said, What's The Church's Response?

The most disturbing thing that I've heard during this course of days is that Saints (ie: Christians) are saying, they "ain't going nowhere", because of this flu pandemic. I've even heard them say they were changing and cancelling vacation plans and even church attendance plans. In other words church folk are afraid that they will catch the Swine Flu and die as a result. I've even had folk call us about our upcoming conference, asking questions about cancellation or the safety and health of our guests who are flying to the event. Some have even asked if I think it would be a "safe idea" to continue...

I can only respond by asking and saying, when did PIGS ever stop the preaching of the gospel or the blessing of God's people? WE ARE SHO-NUFF GONNA HAVE OUR CONFERENCE! Lay Hands on folk too! Jesus is Lord over swine flu and what we don't know that is yet to come, and HIS church won't be overcome by any of this.

Mt. 16:18 ~ "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

The Word of God has made it through multiple historic wars, 2 modern World Wars, at least one Great Depression, extreme persecution throughout history worldwide, a host of ungodly and godless world leaders and dictators who souught to stop Christianity, a series of plagues and unfavorable weather patterns, and horrible natural events. Not even the swine flu will defeat God's church or stop the message of Christ from being preached or stop the real Siants from fellowshipping.

With the exclusion of Vice-President Joe "Open Mouth Insert Foot Here"Biden, (and we probably all feel about like how Senator Leahy appears whenever Biden speaks) even the World Health Organization continues to encourage people to travel and do what they do. They say what they say based on their own humanistic understandings of things. What about the church that says it knows God? Where is our confidence in our redeemer?

What Have We Lost?

As a church we seem to have lost insights into the whole idea of a supernatural God. Another one of the principles that seems missing is a biblical understanding of the Israel/Egypt concept, and our inheritance as believers in Jesus. I mean yes, I agree that we may get sick like anyone else, however, our lives, as believers, ARE NOT in the hands of a virus, especially not one related to a pig.

Ps. 31:14-16 ~ "14-But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God. 15-My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. 16-Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies’ sake."

Our lives (times) are in the hands of God. In other words, God always made a difference between HIS people and the people of the world. There is nothin NEW under the sun, (Ecc.1:9) simply a variation of what's already here:

1 Cor. 10:13 ~ "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

We all should remember the Passover. When the death came saw the "blood" and kept on movin'. What were we to say and how were we to respond?

Ex.12:27 ~ "That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD’S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.

Who was that "passover" for us that are now hid in HIM?

Jn. 1:29 ~ "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."

Jn. 1:35 ~ "Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; 36And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!"

It wasn't because death didn't come to Israel that they lived, it was because the blood was there and the power of God was upon them that were obedient to HIS word. Does this mean that we should be foolish and uncaring about where we go and who we are around...absolutely not. We should however exercise the biblical faith the God has given us and expect that we will not be let down...As they say, We've come this far by faith and HE's never failed us yet...By the way, HE never will fail. I cheated a little bit and read the END of the book to find out how it all comes out and WE GOOD!

Jn. 16:33 ~ "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

Blessed!