September | 2018 | Paul the Poke

Archive for September, 2018

Our Daily Bread, Be Yourself… Paul Beverly

Posted in Paul Beverly with tags 2 Corinthians 10, comparison, God, individual on September 30, 2018 by paulthepoke

Why is it hard to just be ourselves sometimes? Why do we compare ourselves with others? If you’re busy comparing yourself to others, you’re missing out on the happiness of being you. God made you just as you are & that is how & where he wants you at the time. He didn’t want you to be like somebody else or he would have made you like them. If you’re trying to be like somebody else, you’re missing out on the best you, the you that is loved by God & loved ones.

2 Corinthians 10:12 Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.

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Know Your Worth

Posted in Christine "Clarity" McDonald with tags Genesis 1 on September 28, 2018 by paulthepoke

Featuring Christine Clarity McDonald

Christine is a member of the Missouri State Advisory Council for Behavioral Health & Substance Disorders.

I am Christine McDonald, a formerly prostituted woman. Once upon a time, I was trafficked, bought and sold, tortured, and governed by my possessor as well as my addiction. For over 20 years, my possessor demanded my body to pay for his opulence, while my addiction demanded my body to pay for my survival.

I am also Christine McDonald, a daughter of the King. Once upon a time, I was rescued from my possessor and my addiction by the mercy of a gracious God. I have been on the other side of the biases. I have felt the judgment. I have felt powerless. And I have been redeemed. But I know there are thousands more like me out there, still trafficked, hurting, and as enslaved to the biases of society as they are to their exploiters. They need people like you and me to look beneath the surface and see them for who they really are.

Genesis 1:27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

“Love your neighbor, all of ’em.” -Christine Clarity McDonald

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“One Nation Under God” & Moral Relativism… Phil Kulis

Posted in Phil Kulis with tags 10 Commandments, atheist, Exodus 20, In God we trust, Moral Relativism, Mosaic Law, One nation under God, Ten commandments on September 27, 2018 by paulthepoke

Here’s the problem of moral relativism.

You are subject to the morality of whoever has power over you. You don’t get a choice.

In a dictatorship such as Nazi Germany or a Mexican drug lord, you don’t get the luxury of saying you don’t want to follow the Ten Commandments. And worse than that you don’t get the benefit of others following the Ten Commandments.

If a dictator wants your money, or your labor, or your wife, children and even your life… You don’t have a say so about it.

The Ten Commandments were a gift to mankind. Prior to that, everyone was subject to the whim of a patriarch, or tribal chieftain, or king.

So, the next time an atheist tries to say they think they are moral in themselves, it’s not about your morality. It’s about the morality of whoever has power over you.

So, thank God that this nation chooses to say “One nation under God” and “In God we trust.” Because the morality of God is fair to all.

Exodus 20:1-17 And God spoke all these words, saying,

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

You shall have no other gods before me.

You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates.For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

You shall not murder.

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not steal.

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”

Photo: Heritage Auctions

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Russia Gives S-300 Missile System to Syria

Posted in Burden of Damascus, Ezekiel 38-39, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags Avigdor Liberman, Gog, Il 20 plane, Israel, Magog, Russia, s-300 Missile System, Sergey Shoigu, Syria on September 26, 2018 by paulthepoke

Ezekiel 38:4 And I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great host, all of them with buckler and shield, wielding swords.

The context of the verse God is talking to Gog of Magog. Gog is the leader of what many scholars and historians believe to be modern day Russia. See the link below for detailed analysis.

https://godinanutshell.com/2017/08/04/ezekiel-38-who-is-magog/

September 25, 2018: In a response to the downed Russian plane, Russia has announced it will increase military hardware in Syria.

Currently in Syria, Russian military personnel have their own S-300 and S-400 air defense systems. Now, the Syrians are about to have the S-300 system at their disposal.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu made the following statement. “(The incedent) has pushed us to adopt adequate response measures directed at boosting the security of Russian troops in Syria. (Russia will) transfer the modern S-300 air defense system to the Syrian armed forces within two weeks.”

“In regions near Syria over the Mediterranean Sea, there will be radio-electronic suppression of satellite navigation, on-board radar systems and communication systems of military aviation attacking objects on Syrian territory.” -Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu

Syrian President Assad called Russian President Putin. After the phone call, the Kremlin issued the following, “additional measures to ensure the safety of Russian troops in Syria and to reinforce the country’s air defense system, which includes the delivery of the modern S-300 systems.”

https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-warns-russia-deploying-s-300-in-syria-would-be-major-mistake/

The S-300 Missile system has been a lightning rod of controversy with Israel. In April 2018 the following statement was made by a Russian Defense Spokesman.

“Experts believe that the reaction of the Israeli military to such a move will be predictably negative and do not exclude attacks on their locations. If Israel decides to carry out rocket strikes on the deployment locations of the S-300, the consequences will be catastrophic for all sides.”

Israel issued their statement on the potential deployment of the S-300 System to Syria in April 2018.

“One thing needs to be clear: If someone shoots at our planes, we will destroy them. It doesn’t matter if it’s an S-300 or an S-700,” -Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with the Israeli Security Council on Tuesday, September 25, 2018.

All of the rhetoric is about to be tested.

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Turkey is selling Gold!

Posted in Ezekiel 38-39, Michael Douville, Trend Update with tags Beth Togarmah, credit, Debt, gold, Gomer, interest rates, Meshech, Tubal, Turkey on September 24, 2018 by paulthepoke

Featuring: Michael Douville, Paul Lehr

Ezekiel 38:1-3 The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him and say, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.

Ezekiel 38:6 Gomer and all his hordes; Beth-Togarmah from the uttermost parts of the north with all his hordes—many peoples are with you.

The brothers of Magog (Meshech, Gomer, and Tubal) appear to point to modern day Turkey.

For more evidence pointing to modern day Turkey, see the link below.

https://godinanutshell.com/2017/08/08/ezekiel-38-who-are-meshech-tubal-gomer-beth-togarmah/

https://michaeldouville.com/store/

Economic data provided by Wall Street Geek syndicated columnist Michael Douville.

Turkey loves Gold! Gold is revered as true Wealth; portable and exchangeable worldwide. Turkey is one of the top Sovereign holders of Gold and the Turkish people consume massive amounts in jewelry and bullion. Turkey is selling Gold; over $6 billion US Dollars worth since June of 2018. Reports of up to 20% of Turkish holdings have been liquidated. Turkey loves Gold; there has to be compelling reasons to sell!

Turkey is in Trouble; big Trouble. The Turkish Lira is continuing it’s decline against the Euro and most notably the US Dollar losing over 40% of purchasing power year to date. The 10 year Turkish bond has climbed to unsustainable levels of over 21% and the Bank Rate has been increased to 24%+. The Debt binge that has fueled Prosperity for the last decade is coming to an end; the Credit Line is exhausted! The Day of Reckoning when lenders will no longer extend a financial lifeline and want their money back is upon them. When the obvious loss of confidence in the Government’s credibility becomes apparent, Capital Flees! Not just Foreign Capital, but Domestic as well seeking safer assets. Selling Gold is inevitable and an International Black Swan.

Uncertainty dictates caution. The US will be the Haven of Last Resort; US Assets may still rise as others fall. Capital will search for safety.

Regardless what it is called, when a country can no longer service it’s debt, a Contagion ripples across the Globe. Turkey is connected to the European Banks; particularly fragile are those in Spain and Italy which have very little reserves to handle a default. The Fractional Reserve System on which modern Banking is based is intertwined with the International Monetary System and can destabilize the Banking System as Liquidity from defaults disappears. Turkey has a liquidity problem itself and selling Gold will temporarily ease the problem. Servicing an unsustainable debt load by some reports of up to $330 Billion US Dollars with a currency that is daily losing value. A Herculean task.

Military forays into Iraq and now occupation of areas in North Syria are hugely expensive, not only in the loss of life and the loss of equipment, but the logistics to support the military campaigns; Turkey obviously has a finite capability. Who will provide the fuel, the food, the ammunition? Russia may be funding the incursions to benefit it’s Syrian ally. Russian capability is also limited.

Uncertainty dictates caution. The US will be the Haven of Last Resort; US Assets may still rise as others fall. Capital will search for safety. Prudence also dictates caution. Review asset allocations; pay particular attention to Sovereign Debt Funds and Emerging Markets. Review vulnerabilities, review risk parameters in any new ventures, review debt and reduce negative cash flow, build reserves and personal items such as extra food, water, medicine, and cash. Intrinsically, Real Assets may become more valuable than Financial Assets. Businesses may be vulnerable as commerce slows; first overseas then to Mainland US. Basic rentals (B- or C) with little or no frills should continue to provide an alternate source of consistent positive cash flow that will be hugely valuable during any International or Domestic Economic slowdown.

https://michaeldouville.com/store/

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Our Daily Bread, Let it Go… Paul Beverly

Posted in Paul Beverly with tags Isaiah 43, letting go, Philippians 3 on September 23, 2018 by paulthepoke

You’ll never get to where you are supposed to be if you are carrying yesterday’s baggage. Looking back on what was & holding on to it keeps you stuck where you are. Let go & move forward. Let go & let God.

Philippians 3:12-14 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Isiah 43:18 “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.”

Have a letting go week my friends!!!

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Sukkot/Tabernacles 5779/2018

Posted in Fall Feasts, Prophecy, Temple, Trend Update with tags Exodus 23, Exodus 34, fall, Feast of Booths, Feast of Tabernacles, Festival, Festival of Harvest, Festival of Tents, jerusalem, Leviticus 23, succot, Sukkot, The Feast, Tishri on September 22, 2018 by paulthepoke

Leviticus 23:33-36 Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘On the fifteenth of this seventh month is the Feast of Booths for seven days to the LORD. On the first day is a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work of any kind. For seven days you shall present an offering by fire to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation and present an offering by fire to the LORD; it is an assembly. You shall do no laborious work.’”

In God’s timing, Sukkot is scheduled to run from Tishri 15-21 (Hebrew calendar). Tishri 1 (Hebrew calendar) is declared when the new moon is sighted.

In September 2018 (Gregorian calendar), per the sighting of the new moon, “The Feast” is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, September 25th and proceed through Tuesday, October 2nd. On a secular Gregorian calendar, “The Festival” will begin on Sunday, September 23rd.

Tabernacles is the last of the seven of God’s appointed feasts or festivals. This holiday is known by many names. It is called the Feast of Tabernacles, Sukkot, the Feast of Booths, the Festival of Tents, or the Feast of the Harvest because it was after the harvest in the fall. Simply put, it was also called “the feast” or “the festival”.

Exodus 23:14-17 Three times in the year you shall keep a feast to me. You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread. As I commanded you, you shall eat unleavened bread for seven days at the appointed time in the month of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt. None shall appear before me empty-handed. You shall keep the Feast of Harvest, of the firstfruits of your labor, of what you sow in the field. You shall keep the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in from the field the fruit of your labor. Three times in the year shall all your males appear before the Lord God.

God makes it very clear. The Jewish men are required to come to the Temple three times a year. The Lord tells the Jewish men two times in the verses above, “Come to the Temple three times a year.”

Tabernacles is the last of three festivals where men are required to make a road trip to Jerusalem and go to the Temple. Sukkot is a thanksgiving for the fall harvest.

Photo: VideoBlocks.com

Again, the Lord God makes it crystal clear. He tells the Jewish men twice in Exodus 34. Appear before the Lord three times a year at the Temple.

Exodus 34:23-24 Three times in the year shall all your males appear before the Lord God, the God of Israel. For I will cast out nations before you and enlarge your borders; no one shall covet your land, when you go up to appear before the Lord your God three times in the year.

God does offer three promises when the males are obedient and go to Jerusalem three times per year. This is a window into the future. The verses above in Exodus 34 imply there will be a Temple and the Jewish men will be coming three times a year. God’s promises above mirror later prophecy given in Scripture.

The United Nations is not going to like this. The geographical size of Israel will expand. The nations of the world will be kicked out of Israel.

…no one shall covet your land… We know the desire of the nations that surround Israel in the 21st century. The nations want the Israelis out of the physical geography they occupy. History tells us nations have repeatedly tried to remove Israel as a country and take the land. Prophecy tells us the nations will try again to capture assets and kick out the Jewish people.

To the nations, good luck with removing Israel from their land.

Jeremiah 24:6 I will set my eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up, and not tear them down; I will plant them, and not uproot them. -LORD God

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Prostitution & Oppression

Posted in Christine "Clarity" McDonald, Culture with tags Jesus Christ, Joshua 6, prostitution, Rahab on September 21, 2018 by paulthepoke

Featuring Christine Clarity McDonald

Christine has helped author Federal block grant dollars to states for substance abuse.

Joshua 6:17 And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the Lord for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent.

Prostitution: Is it the oldest profession? Or, perhaps more accurately, the oldest oppression of women? I am very sure that the farmers of the times existed before the prostitutes.

The narrative is age–old: those with power wielding their power over the powerless, taking another human being’s sexuality as a product for the purchasing for their own pleasure, casting them aside when they are done.

Not only do the oppressors, the predators, the purchasers cast these individuals side, but so does the rest of society. They are deemed unwanted. Inferior. Expendable. Forgotten.

Photo: Girls Globe

Such people are the unseen backdrop of our world. They are all around you. In the drugstore. On the street corner. At the abortion clinic. Hurting, pleading, silently begging someone to notice, someone to care, someone to offer hope. But most people don’t see them. And when they do see them, instead of offering hope, they offer judgment. Instead of caring, they look with disdain. Instead of reaching out, they turn away.

It is our judgment of these individuals that gives programs, government, and even churches the power to walk away. People take vocal stances that further stigmatize and bury these individuals beneath labels—yet they do so without understanding the deep complexities of human trafficking. There is a profound disparity between the hopeless and the rest of society. This disparity only perpetuates the cycle and prevents real, impactful intervention.

If we commit to a better understanding of what life can be like for these individuals, maybe we can better connect and embrace people more holistically. Maybe we can look without judgmental eyes and, regardless of age, race, or the form of exploitation suffered, love the hurting with open arms and a mindset that each of us is worthy of safety, hope, love, and grace.

Matthew 1:5-6, 16 and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king… of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.

“Love your neighbor, all of ’em.” -Christine Clarity McDonald

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Adam & the Fall of Man… Phil Kulis

Posted in Creation, Phil Kulis with tags Adam, church, death, Eve, Fall of Man, Genesis, Gospel, Jesus Christ, life, Romans 5, sin on September 20, 2018 by paulthepoke

Genesis 3:6-7 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.

Notice something? Adam and Eve’s eyes were opened at the same time even though Eve ate first.

The command to not eat wasn’t given to Eve. It was given to Adam before Eve was created.

Genesis 2:17-18 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.” Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.”

Photo: Pixabay.com

Eve didn’t disobey a command from God because God didn’t give the command to Eve. Neither was there a command “nor shall you touch it” from God.

Eve’s eyes were opened when Adam disobeyed. Until he ate she was justified by his obedience even though she had sinned.

The Second Adam, Jesus Christ, was obedient to God even until death on a cross. Therefore, His bride the Church is justified by His righteousness in obedience even though the bride has sinned.

It’s not about your unrighteousness because of disobedience, you’re doomed. It’s about His righteousness because of obedience. In Him, we have grace and mercy.

Her sin would be addressed same as the Church’s sin is addressed in Christ.

Sadly, mankind has blamed Eve all this time. The fall of Man was Adam’s fault.

Romans 5:12-21 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned, for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.

But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

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Straight Talk… The Trinity, Baptism and Resurrection, Featuring Rodna Epley

Posted in Gospel, Rodna Epley with tags baptism, God the Father, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, John the Baptist, Jordan River, Matthew 3, Prophecy, Resurrection, Romans, Trinity on September 19, 2018 by paulthepoke

In Matthew’s telling of Jesus’ baptism something amazing happened when Jesus was submerged into the water. Scripture tells that He “came up immediately from the water” as if what they saw was miraculous. It should have taken the normal time to come up after being dunked with the baptizer helping, but in Jesus’ case something supernatural raised Him up, making people take note of it and make record of it. It wasn’t normal. In fact, the heavens opened at the same time, the Spirit of God descended in the form of a dove and the voice of the Father spoke. Have you ever been curious as to what raised Jesus up out of the water so quickly that people wanted to record it? Scripture tells us. Here’s the story as recorded in Matthew 3:13-17…

Matthew 3:13-14 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?”

Matthew 3:15 But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.

Matthew 3:16-17 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

The baptism was more than symbolic of His death because everything Jesus did was prophetic. In fact, the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit the Prophecy.

Revelation 19:10 Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

His baptism was not only a “fulfillment of all righteousness” but it set the prophetic timer on His own death and resurrection. His own words were to later set the alarm clock to be raised from the dead 3 days after He was crucified when He declared…

John 2:19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

But, at His baptism in the Jordan River, 3 years prior to His death, the One’s who were present at His baptism were the same One’s present at Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Scripture tells us who and what that was…

The glory of the Father raised Jesus from the dead. “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4)
The Spirit of God raised Jesus from the dead. “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. (Romans 8:11)
The Power of God raised Jesus from the dead. “I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 1:19-20)
Jesus’ own prophetic words raised Jesus from the dead. “Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” (John 2:19) and “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” (John 10:17-18)

So that which raised Christ from the dead is that which raised Him up out of the water: The glory of the Father, the Spirit of God, the Power of God, and Jesus’ own prophetic words. In the case of His baptism, those words were most likely “Let it be so for now, for it is proper for us to fulfill all righteousness.”

But don’t miss the fact that the baptism and death and resurrection were all initiated by the Father of glory. Through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, we as Sons of the Kingdom are restored to our Father and restored to His glory.

I just think it’s so interesting how all of the Trinity was present and participated at both events, and that the Father bestowed all glory and honor upon His Son. It’s also extremely important to understand and know that Jesus gave us the same glory the Father gave Him before the world was so that we could all become one as the Bride of Christ (John 17:5,22,23) following in His pattern. Just wow! Consider the implications of all that…

God is a Genius isn’t He?! Have a blessed day saints! <3