Revelation 1:7 Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of Him. Even so. Amen.
I (Christine McDonald) am representing the “I Will Rise” documentary at the International Christian Film Festival (ICFF) in Orlando, Florida. I have met so many amazing people. The conference starts out with praise and worship and ends the day in praise and worship. It’s amazing! Lots and lots of pictures to come but for tonight early to bed. It’s been a long day.
I already have committed to returning next year. I cannot wait to talk more about all the people and things that go on around here. Everybody’s like family it’s just amazing. And everybody loves Jesus.
I am completely honored to have 2 nominations right out of the gate at our first festival. It is up for Best Documentary and Best Director for a Documentary. -Anita Cordell
For nearly two decades bought and sold, learn how a vulnerable youth was groomed and sold into the world of commercial sex exploitation. As the author of two books, read not only the story of exploitation but the heart wrenching choice between her own eyesight and the life of her unborn child.
International Christian Film and Music Festival, Orlando, Florida
Chief Justice John Roberts has confirmed the leaked “Opinion of the Court” from Justice Samuel Alito is authentic. The majority first draft by Justice Alito sets the stage for each individual state to make a decision on abortion. Currently, the vote appears to be 5 (Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett) to 3 (Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan). Chief Justice John Roberts’ vote has yet to be determined as of the posting of this article.
A fence has been erected around the Supreme Court. Protests from both sides of the issue were taking place throughout the day at the Court.
“We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled,” Justice Alito.
“Roe was egregiously wrong from the start. Its reasoning was exceptionally weak, and the decision has had damaging consequences. And far from bringing about a national settlement of the abortion issue, Roe and Casey have enflamed debate and deepened division.” -Justice Alito
For those who want to read the complete “Opinion of the Court”, click on the link below.
See the YouTube link below for additional analysis.
This topic is an absolute lightning rod. This is an adult conversation. Passions are running hot. Please keep all comments to be thoughtful, respectful and considerate of others even if one disagrees with another. To brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ, be mindful of Who we are representing. We are held to a higher standard.
For those who disagree, file your complaint with the good Lord. He can handle your opinion. You are free to launch your protest. He knows it before you utter your dissent. Keep in mind, His standards are fixed. He is not interested in redefining standards to meet your needs or moral platitudes.
~
What does God think about the act of taking a life inside the womb of a mother? In the 20th and 21st century, this act is called abortion.
In our modern day enlightened culture, we would like to think abortion is a new and progressive issue. It may surprise many that this practice of taking life from the womb, as well as life from the mother, was occurring approximately 2,750 years ago as documented by the prophet Amos and by an unknown author (Jewish tradition suspects the prophet Jeremiah) in 2 Kings. We can’t hide what God says. There is nothing new under the sun.
~
These are the words inspired by the Holy Spirit of God.
2 Kings 8:11-12 Elisha fixed his gaze steadily on him until Hazael became uncomfortable. Then the man of God began to weep. “Why is my lord weeping?” asked Hazael. “Because I know the evil you will do to the Israelites,” Elisha replied. “You will set fire to their fortresses, kill their young men with the sword, dash their little ones to pieces, and rip open their pregnant women.”
We will start with and focus on the Hebrew word for evil. It is ra’. The word means bad, adversity, or evil. The first time this word occurs is in the book of Genesis.
Genesis 2:9b The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
The tree of knowledge of good and evil was the bearer of the forbidden fruit. In essence, God is explaining to humanity. If you want to know about evil, you will experience evil. God’s instructions to Adam were direct and to the point.
God’s way: to trust in God’s provision is everlasting life. And don’t forget, humanity was created eternal. Or humanity’s way: to know good and evil is death. And so it was, a simple choice.
Life or death?
Genesis 2:17 …but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
~
So going back to our verses from 2 Kings 8:11-12. There were four acts of evil Elisha told Hazael he would commit.
set fire to their fortresses
kill their young men with the sword
dash their little ones to pieces
rip open their pregnant women
Taking life from the womb of a pregnant woman is evil. Taking the life of the mother is evil. Dashing and cutting babies to pieces is evil. It is murderous.
Exodus 20:13 You shall not murder.
~
These are the words inspired by the Holy Spirit of God to the prophet Amos.
Amos 1:13 Thus says the LORD: “For three transgressions of the Ammonites, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they have ripped open pregnant women in Gilead, that they might enlarge their border.
The Ammonites are clearly repeat offenders of taking the lives of pregnant women and taking life inside the womb.
Pasha or transgressions can also be translated as rebellious acts.
The transgressions or rebellious acts are defined by God: because they have ripped open pregnant women in Gilead.
God has consequences for Ammonites. And because of these events, God promises fire, a tempest wind storm (this could be translated as a whirlwind or tornado), and leadership into exile in Amos 1:14-15.
Scripture is clear. God does not approve of the act of taking life inside the womb of a mother. And God does not approve of taking the life of the mother. He is pro life.
~
As far as sin goes, there is no sliding scale of severity with God. Abortion is no worse of an iniquity than any other sin. It is humanity who has redefined, ordered and prioritized which sins are worse, not God.
Remember that death, disease, pains, suffering, hard labor and environmental changes came into being because a forbidden piece of fruit was eaten. God takes any sin seriously to the point of death. As God sees it, sin is sin.
James 2:10-11 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
Let’s be real. We are all sinners with many different issues. The end result of sin is the same, death.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
~
The topic of abortion has brought a tremendous amount of pain, suffering and regret to many including unborn victims, moms, dads, grandparents, families and friends. The topic Roe v Wade has been polarizing and divisive for close to 50 years in the United States. It is ripping and tearing the fabric of our society.
To the body of Christ, this is an encouragement for us to offer the grace of Jesus we have been afforded in spite of our sins. Believers in Jesus are accurately accused of pointing fingers in judgment and condescension to those who are suffering in matters regarding the issue of abortion (as well as many others). Please be considerate and sensitive to the hurts of others.
Grace, mercy, and forgiveness…
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.
The Watchmen, just a couple of dudes sitting on the wall watching the world…
In this episode of The Watchmen we look at Jordan wanting full control of the Temple Mount complex. Are we watching Jordan respond to regional pressure with regards to security of the Muslim religious sites? How does this relate to Ezekiel 38-39? Flags are flying on the Temple Mount during Ramadan. Who do these flags represent?
The United Arab Emirates are flying heavy transport planes in and out of Israel. It appears defense contracts are being fulfilled between the Abraham Accord countries. The concern is an increasingly hostile Iran with nuclear intentions.
President Recep Erdogan of Turkey travelled to Saudi Arabia this week for the first time in five years. Erdogan stated, “I see and believe that it is in our joint interest to boost our cooperation with Saudi Arabia in such areas as healthcare, energy, food security, agricultural technologies, defense industry and finance. It seems that we have significant potential particularly in renewable and green energy. We will hopefully discuss and thoroughly evaluate these issues.”
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps allegedly tried to assassinate an Israeli diplomat in Turkey. Iran is reaching out via Hezbollah around the globe including the British Virgin Islands with drug deals.
Russia is cutting off the flow of natural gas to European countries of Poland and Bulgaria who refuse to pay in rubles. However, the Rublezone has manifested with Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary who are agreeable to pay for natural gas in rubles.
Allegedly, Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled for cancer surgery in the near future. Fellow KGB comrade Nikolai Patrushev is picked to assume authority while Putin is under treatment. Putin is suspected to be managing Parkinson’s Disease and symptoms related to the progressive neurological disorder. Check out video and professional analysis of Putin’s physical condition.
Teaser alert… Food processing plants are catching fire around the United States. 18 plants have been affected in the last 6 months. More on this topic to come in future episodes of the Watchmen.
Lastly, nothing like a little Iranian Propaganda gong wrong. In preparation for Jerusalem Day, things don’t go as planned. This section of the Watchmen was brought to you by Beavis and Butthead. Sorry, we could not help ourselves. Deep down, grown men have a teenage boy inside of them!
For all of this and more, check out the link below.
Iran. Practicing for an anti-Israel propaganda video didn’t end up that great for This anti-Israel “Jerusalem day” Iranian propaganda video didn’t end up well. pic.twitter.com/Qrv3XNHdQQ
Psalm 66:18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
God says that one’s attitude towards sin matters. He is talking about the space between the ears. The verse above is conditional, If…
If I had cherished… This is the Hebrew word raah. Strong’s Concordance defines the word as “to see”.
This is the word that is used repeatedly in the creation account in Genesis.
Genesis 1:31a And God saw (raah) all that He had made, and behold, it was very good.
Iniquity or aven in the Hebrew can be defined as trouble, sorrow, or wickedness.
…in my heart… The heart or leb in the Hebrew is known asinner man, mind, will, or heart.
…the Lord would not have listened. This is the Hebrew word shama. Plainly stated, it means to hear.
Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear (shama), O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
We are talking about the fundamental senses of seeing and hearing. God sees what is going on in your heart and mind. There is no tricking God.
Personally, if an individual knows a mental attitude is wrong, if you are sinning (mentally or physically committing) and you know it. God’s not listening to you.
~
Job 35:13 Surely God does not hear an empty cry, nor does the Almighty regard it.
Surely God does not hear an empty cry… This is the Hebrew word shav. It is defined as: emptiness, vanity, or nothingness.
This is the same word utilized in the Third Commandment.
Exodus 20:7 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.
If one does not take God seriously, He does not take you seriously. If one is not listening to God and what He has to say, He’s not listening to you either.
~
Isaiah 59:2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.
…but your iniquities… These are not just sins. These are avon or punished sins (Strong’s). The result is a barrier between the sinner and God. Because of our sin we committed, He does not want to see us or hear from us.
~
John 9:31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, God listens to him.
John understands this is an established fact. We know that God does not listen to sinners…
As sinners, we are not stuck in an eternal state of God closing us out. There are two things we can do to be heard again, worship and obey.
…worshiper of God… In the original Greek, this is the word θεοσεβής/theosebés. The definition is be God-fearing. Worship and respect God.
…does His will…ποιέω/poieó: to make or do.
John 14:15 If you love me, you will keep my commandments. said Jesus.
Do what God says. And we always have a solution in Jesus Christ. He removed the barrier between the Father and us with His death on the cross.
Mark 15:37-38 And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.
