MOVIE REVIEW: "LITTLE BOY" - BIG FAITH!

ROMA DOWNEY/MARK BURNETT & EDUARDO VERASTEQUI EXCEL IN BRAND NEW JOINT VENTURE.

One of the most warm, inspiring and real movies of early 2015 was the Roma Downey/Mark Burnett (The Bible, AD The Series) with Eduardo Verastegui movie “Little Boy”. Verastequi, who played the youthful Father Crispin in his own movie, is best known for his popular (in evangelical circles) movie “Bella” (2006) and "The Butterfly Circus" (2009).  All his movies have faith and family messages, themes and sub-themes. “Little Boy” had a tremendous amount of humor as well! Set in 1940’s World War II Southern California, Little Boy is the younger of two boys of the all-American male with the white picket fence, beautifully kept middle-class home and lovely wife, who works very hard with his hands  at his own auto mechanic shop. He is drafted and called off to War, during the time in California, when President Franklin Roosevelt had put over 110,000 Japanese-Americans into internment camps. This fact will be significant as the storyline of “Little Boy” progresses.

The amazing and stunning fishing village where this story unfolds is actually in Baja California, an area untouched by all the crazy stuff now associated with mainland California. Someone I know, who was associated with this movie, communicated some of the excitement of the making of this film at the time, as well as afterwards, which I remarked at what a beautiful place it would be to live now! It is that, for sure!. The idyllic setting of this  ocean-front “American” hometown, belies the intense interplay between this lively 8 year old Pepper Flynt Busbee, who is apparently doomed to be vertically challenged and just about a third of the adults and kids in the town. Pepper and his dad James Busbee (Michael Rapaport) spend a huge amount of father/son quality time together, a purposeful statement of times when men were men; family was community and life was much less complicated.

That simple existence actually covered up some of the dark nature of the soul of men: hatred; racism; bullying; greed; adultery and more. The latter came in the form of the town medic – Dr. Fox who was played by Mall Cop himself, Kevin James. Dr. Fox used the occasion of James Busbee being sent off to war to commence intentional flirtation with Mrs. Busbee in order to seek her feminine favor.  Pepper was bullied by the grossly overweight only son of Dr. Fox for just about everything, but especially for being short. Hatred was the soft underbelly of those who hated others who did not look like themselves.  When Pepper and his mother reached out to the hard-crusted, even unlovable Japanese-American Hashimoto (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa), the hatred against this man for the simple crime of being of Japanese descent at the time of Pearl Harbor and Internment Camps, turned to violent racism which ended with the older Busbee boy in jail.

This movie, its beauty, settings, the period clothing and well financed production quality (a $20 million dollar budget),  showed the perfect dichotomy between God’s Creation and perfect condition and man’s sinful nature. Here is where Verastegui shines in all his movies – he introduces Faith. Not just any Faith, but faith in the only God of Heaven – the God of the Christian.  Faith is the only bridge between man’s depraved human nature and the immaculate perfection of God, and as we know, that was fulfilled at the Cross, where Jesus Christ gave His life.  

While “Little Boy” is not a movie for anyone looking for major theology, what the film’s authors did was present the directives of Christ in the form of a list of items which Pepper had to accomplish, in order to show his faith. These good works did not nor do they save anyone, but they do showcase the faith which under-girds the execution of these works to the Glory of God. If there is one major shortcoming it is this - I do not recall the Name of Jesus mentioned once in the entire movie. For me, an evangelical sold-out Disciple of Jesus Christ, that is huge and prevents this movie from a five star rating, in my view. Faith without Christ is no faith at all. The list which Father Oliver gave Pepper IS based on Christ's Sermon on the Mount, which a knowledgeable viewer can figure out, however, as it came from the leader of the local parish.

Some of the best lines though were spoken by Hashimoto who sought to encourage the under-developed Pepper Flynn to not measure how short he was from the (top of his head) to the floor, but from (the top of his head) to the sky! But the biggest encouragement which a persecuted man, could give to a tormented soul was when Hashimoto told the Little Boy that "nothing's more powerful than the will to face one's fear and to act....in the face of the enemy". This is courage. When the viewer of this film combines with this type of courage with the Faith which grows, even from the small mustard seed, there is no stopping such a person in the daily conduct of life! In my opinion, this is a huge sub-theme of the movie as it rises to a wonderful conclusion.

There are some surprising turns in this gorgeous movie. One of them is the surprise reason for Pepper’s dad survival of the brutal Japanese prison camp in the South Pacific. The other was the coming of the town to a realization that “a little child” shall lead them, when it comes to “mountain-moving” faith. Being that it is set in Southern California, the home of so many old Spanish Catholic missions (San Juan Capistrano, Mission Viejo etc.) the classic feel which the producers sought literally came through.  The other actors/actresses in “Little Boy” were just as outstanding. From Kelly Grayson (Tyra) to Ali Landry (Ava) and author Cheri Majors along with a man who started Pepper off on his (at first) misguided journey of faith with unbiblical magic arts – Ben Eagle (Ben Chapin), each contributed mightily to the color and feel of the film.  Even the name of the main production company- Metanoia Films - for “Little Boy” has meaning.  The word “Metanoia” is the biblical Greek word for Repentance! This sort of repentance is the same which leads to a transforming change of heart and mind which, then leads to salvation of the soul!

In sad and seamy horrid times, this cinematic delight of a film  will lift your spirits after the 106 minutes of watching it. It will warm your heart and if your faith needs strengthening, it may even do that as well!

RATING: FOUR OUT OF FIVE STARS

“Little Boy” was co-written and directed by Smithsonian Institute Award winning director Alejandro Monteverde.                                                                                                                 

THIRTY ONE DAYS OF PRAYER AND THE WORD:JANUARY 1-31, 2015 THEME: "ABIDE"

DAY SIX:
VERSE:

But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.  He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked....(1 John 2:5-6)
PRAYER:
Oh Most Holy and Heavenly Father, I think You that Your Word, Oh God, is written in the Heavens. I thank You that Your Word is Truth. I thank You that Your Words will never fade or pass away and therefore, because You keep Your Word, I pledge to do my part and keep Your Word hidden in my heart and shown through my actions and deeds, that Christ lives within me. 

Lord, may Your Holy Spirit, the Spirit of all Truth, Wisdom and Understand Who keeps me permanently connected to the Eternal, fortify my will to keep Your Word of Truth firmly embedded, to keep it from shame and slander, to keep it from dishonor and degradation and to keep and guard it as jealously as You guard Your Holy Name. Your Love commands, compels and gives me confidence in Your Word to remain faithful to it, to obey it and dwell on it as our Savior did. Your Word says in Hebrews 5:7 that our Savior's prayers, cries and petitions were heard because of His piety, obedience and submission to Your Will and Yours alone.

Let us now walk in that Truth, in the Path of Persistent Obedience where He, the Lord Jesus, walked that we may too be found in Him, to the praise and glory of His Name. By this Truth we know we are His, in Him, in His Will and walking in His Ways. Lord we long to be like Jesus, and to live, walk, talk and rest in You as He did and may ALL our worship be Yours and His, throughout our lives, in the Strong and Mighty Name of King Jesus I pray, amen.

REMEMBER IN DECEMBER - PEARL HARBOR DAY, 2018

DECEMBER 7, 2017

He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. (Isaiah 2:4)

The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever (Isaiah 32:17). 
Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other (Psalm 85:10). 

Let the mountains bring peace to the people, And the hills, in righteousness (Psalm 72:3). 
In his days may the righteous flourish, And abundance of peace till the moon is no more (Psalm 72:7).
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13). 

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21).

(Google Images)

PLUMBLINE THE TV SHOW, TRUTH FOR TODAY - SOON ON ROKU TV CHANNEL

The PLUMBLINE bible teaching TV show has switched from the over the air

broadcast TV platform to an expanding by leaps and bounds Internet TV platform, which is available on ROKU and the worldwide web.  Plumbline was over the air (and streaming) on the Decatur, Illinois affiliate of theChristian Television Network- WLCF Channel 45 – for two years before switching to SOON Inspirations (now called barak.TV). 

The word “barak” is not about the current American President’s first name, but is Old Testament Hebrew for “praise”.  The “praise” network is now within the reach of over 19 countries including Israel, a certain other Middle Eastern country, Brazil and elsewhere! This is the barak.TV website, which is still building up. 

The reach of the former SOON Inspirations network, (now barak) is incredible and only a testimony to the Power and the Presence of the LORD in all of this. SOON was only fully launched three months ago, this September as the Bible Teaching side of the SOON Entertainment Network. Soon still exists as the wholesome subscription family entertainment internet TV network it set out to be. PLUMBLINE with Bernie Lutchman is one of the top three programs on the new barak.TV network along with network leader “CONTEMPORARY LIVING with Dr. Tim Henderson” and….. God Culture with John Naphor.

So what does PLUMBLINE really mean?  The word comes from another Hebrew word which means “plumb line”. The foundational Scripture which spoke this name to me was from  Amos 7:7-8 “Thus He showed me: Behold, the LORD stood on a wall made with a  plumb line, with a plumb line in His Hand. And the LORD said to me “Amos, what do you see?” And I said “A plumb line” Then the LORD said: “Behold, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel; I will not pass by them anymore”. The PLUMBLINE video program below goes into more details about this.  The Plumb Line of which the LORD Jesus spoke, was used as an illustration of how he was going to hold the people of that time accountable…i.e. to see how they measured up against the Law of Moses and Prophets.

Today, we have the Word of God as dispensed from Heaven, via the Holy Spirit speaking through over 40 authors through 1500 years, and THAT is the plumbline for the Church Age of the last 2000 years. Every Christian, from the Roman Centurion at the Foot of Cross of Christ to Stephen to Polycarp and Clement; from the Disciples to Athanasius and Boniface; from John Hus and Luther to Wesley and Whitfield; from Peter Muehlenburg and Jonathan Edwards to Peter Cartwright,  Sheffey, DL Moody and Spurgeon; from Billy Sunday to Billy Graham and Franklin,  from  Ray Comfort and Ronnie Floyd and Byron Paulus to the smallest bible teacher in the underground church in the persecuted middle east and Asia …as well as us who put teaching on video across the world on the web – we will ALL be held up and measured just like the wall by Jesus and His Word – the Plumbline of Truth. 

The Word of God is going to convict the World on Judgment Day and the same plumbline of Truth, the Logos – the Bible – will be the measuring line of Divine Justice. While this perishing world does not believe in the God of the Bible and while their minds cannot wrap itself around it, their pretending it does not matter or exist does not change the reality of that Coming Day. Our part, as followers of the Word and the Word Who became flesh (the Lord Jesus) is to learn what it says, so we can do what it says, so when we hear what He says as we stand before Him, at the Bema Seat for Rewards, we will not be ashamed,  but glory in the fact that our works passed the refining fiery test of Christ.

FORTIFIED!

The strong of this world have always over-powered the weak. This is a world, from the fall of mankind into sin, which defines its parameters on Strength, Power and sometimes brute force. This has been so since the dawn of time (as we know it) and the first act of hatred when Cain destroyed his brother Abel. However, for the people of God, it has not always been thus.  The Word of the Lord is full of examples of the people of God, being puny and put upon, yet prevailing under the Power and Provision of victory of God, because they adhered (at the time) to the very Principles of God. There are so many instances, but a main one can be found in Exodus 17 where the Israelites beat the fearsome Amalekites backbecause Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ arms all day long (Verses 8-16).  Who ever heard of such a thing that a man’s arm being held up guaranteed military victory over a superior fighting force? No one has because it is only because of the intervention and the Strength of the Lord.

That same strength is available today for us, the people of God, if we just let Him have Kingdom Authority over our lives…if we just allow Him to be Who He is – Lord and Savior. We cannot “make” Jesus the Lord of our lives, but we can surrender and submit to His Lordship and live our daily lives, even minute by minute, through and in Christ. This is the difference between being “IN” Christ and “OF Christ”. The majority of western Christianity, including Christians we all know and love, are functioning as a body of people “of Christ”, but are not walking in the full and complete calling and election as a child of the Living God. Read what Ephesians 1:11 says: “In Him, we also have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things  according to the counsel of His will.”

There it is right there – God has given us an inheritance so that “IN HIM” we have all that we need – and that includes His Strength. The question is how, when and/or IF we ever access this Strength. Christians everywhere, including professing cultural Christians who are as deep as a thimble, all love to quote Philippians 4:13. I wear  bracelet myself that verse which says that “I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me” (or gives me strength, depending on your translation). But how many of us ever go to Him, surrender our own will, and then say to the Father “Lord, Abba Father, I cannot do this in my own weakness, I need YOU!” It all goes back to the fundamental underlying premise of if we are “IN HIM” or “OF HIM”.

This is NOT a philosophical argument. This is practical Christianity 101 – either you trust Christ, the Creator of the world which is “OF” Him or we, who are called by His Name (Christians) are “IN HIM”. Read therest of Ephesians 1 (click here) if there is any doubt.  

The Lord is our strength when we wake up. 

The Lord is our strength when we lie down. 

The Lord is our strength when we go to the kitchen for breakfast. 

The Lord is our strength when we kiss our spouses and head off to work. The Lord is our strength when we travel on the busy roads and arrive to our destination alive. 

The Lord is our strength to go to the job that HE GOT US. 

The Lord is our strength to help us cope with the tasks involved in that job so we can have the paycheck that is the provision for our very physical existence. The Lord is our strength when you arrive at the lunch hour and even have something to eat. 

The Lord is our strength when we stick out like a sore thumb as the elect in a perishing world of lost co-workers who need HIS strength through us, in those special divine appointments.  

The Lord is our strength when we make it home alive at the end of the day and have a place to rest and refresh. 

The Lord is our strength for all the activities during the rest of that day until our collective heads hits the pillow at night.  

It is the Lord, Who is your strength and mine Who refreshes and renews us every night during those resting hours that we may be able to awake anew every morning. 

It is the Lord, Who is our strength Whose mercies are therefore new every morning, so great is His Faithfulness to us.

Therefore, we have a song.  We must have a song, We should have a song in our heart of praise to Our God. If  we don’t have this song of praise even after all of these truths about the very Strength of the Lord to those who are IN HIM, then we should.  The Joy of the Lord IS our strength. Combine that with HIS Strength, new every morning, and there is no way that the true 100% all-in sold-out, committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, believer should not live, eat, sleep Psalm 40:1 -3 “I waited patiently for the Lord and He inclined to me, and heard my cry . He also brought me out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth – a praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the LORD!”

There it is! Our prayer is we all rise up, day after day, secure in the knowledge of the Holy One, wherein our daily estate enables us to promptly proclaim “the Lord is my Strength and my Song”! He is worthy to be praised! Amen.

BOB WARREN, GOD'S FORWARD - A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS

Everybody has come across that one person in your life who has made a HUGE difference and even changed the direction of where they were heading. One such person, was prime among the very small group of Godly men who mentored me in Ways of the Lord. The Bible – the pure and powerful Word of God – is an integral part of me, now more than ever. It was not always so until I understood – from that same Bible – what victory Christ actually won for me at the Cross….and not just me, but all mankind for all time.

I would not have understood that victory or where the written proof was, were it not for a man named Bob Warren. Bob is my most unforgettable person in life. When he passed from this world on Monday morning, August 25, 2014 – he left behind a legacy which touched thousands of men, women and young people which most American preachers would give their big salaries for (maybe). The last time I saw Bob a couple or so summers ago, he was asking permission to pour his teachings into my oldest son, who showed an interest during camp and stayed up late for Bob’s late night mega bible studies. That was the kind of man he was. He reached into the inner city and the poorer counties and gave youngsters (boys and girls) a chance a summer camp experience they could never otherwise have .

He deeply affected both my sons’ lives because his BASIC (Brothers And Sisters In Christ)

The last leadership training for Summer Camp at
 Bob Warren's THE HILL, this past July 2014

Training was all about the Lord Jesus Christ, the Bible and walking it the Christian life. The sadness I saw in them trumped the deep loss I felt at the passing from the scene, of this hero of the Faith. So who was Bob Warren and why did he mean so much to those who knew him?  The lanky 6 ft. 4 inch athlete from Hardin, KY grew up on his folks hog farm and rose to such prominence in the late 1960’s in the South East Conference (SEC) in basketball, at Vanderbilt University, that he was drafted by both the NBA and the NFL! (Hardin, Kentucky, is just to the east of Paducah and the home of Murray State University). The SEC was well loved at that time, since the New York Jets had scored big with a quarterback named Joe Willie Namath of the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Bob turned down the NFL in New York (Giants) and chose the National Basketball Association, where he ended his career with the San Antonio Spurs, current reigning NBA Champs. To those who knew Bob, his stellar basketball career was not his biggest accomplishment in life.  He always talked more about the Lord than the guy he used to be who "put a round piece of leather through a round piece of iron"!! When the Lord Jesus Christ delivered him from the dominion of darkness and saved him, Bob entire life went straight into a whirlwind. At once, it was both his biggest victory and the most critical time of his life. As he told the intimate groups he spoke to, being born-again into the Kingdom of God cost him his marriage. His unsaved and non-believing wife immediately left him and Bob never dated for 25 years after that. The great athlete spent the next quarter century alone, but he was not alone. (He remarried later in life. His wife is Kimberly and his only son is Benjamin).

Bob Warren (1946-2014)

Bob Warren moved back to his dad’s farm after retiring from the NBA and immersed himself in the Word of God. He studied the Bible so much, he wore out a new Bible every two years. Bob knew the Bible so well, the Lord revealed more and more to him which he selflessly shared and passed on to anyone who asked.  I became acquainted with Bob Warren through a good brother in Christ – Bryan McKenzie, who was also our church youth pastor over a decade ago. He was injured while playing for the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and completely at a loss about what to do next. Being from Kentucky himself, Bryan sought out Bob who was now well known as the premier Bible teacher of the Bluegrass State!  Bob told him to read the Bible four times and then come back and speak with him. Bryan read it once and went back to Bob.  Thus began an association which then spread to Illinois and hundreds of coaches, high school kids and athletes over the past 15 or so years. McKenzie went on to found the Central Illinois Chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) which is now the largest FCA in the state of Illinois.

One year, a long time ago, he handed me a set of cassette tapes of teaching from Romans chapters 1-8, by Bob Warren. Then he told me not to give it back to him until “I got it”. I did not know what that meant…i.e. “got it”. So I listen to the friendly southern preacher Warren explaining every verse of every phrase of eight chapters of Romans. I listened once – did not get it, even though I understood it.  The second time through – I can still remember the moment it hit me! I GOT IT! I got why this Book of Romans was not only the Book that launched the Reformation, but explained my Redemption!  I was free at last, just like Martin Luther! I was saved 13 years before, but I did not understand the Victory until I got through Romans 6 – 8 (twice) and felt myself completely living in the victory! If you think this was good news of the revelation of the Victorious Christian, this same study led a good friend of mine to being born-again just before I had gone through the study.

“PM” grew up in the ritualistic Greek Orthodox tradition and did not Christ as Lord and Savior  - until Bob’s teaching on Romans 1-8 opened his eyes. When he gave that testimony at a men’s breakfast several years ago, there was not a dry eye in the place. These are just a couple of the countless other such testimonies. More and more, Bob’s amazing revolutionary teaching from the Word reformed many, such as the guy who had his light come on while driving and pulled over to the side of the highway after listening to Bob, and knelt by the side of the road to give his life to Christ! My next step was asking myself “what more was I missing”? If I had just gotten the same revelation as Luther, Warren and McKenzie, there had to be more in that Bible – like 64 and ½ books worth more! Sure enough, I discovered Bob had a teaching on how to study the Old Testament!

Like most Christians, we tend to avoid the “Old Testament” as, well, “old”, not knowing that almost ALL the End Times prophesy were delivered from Heaven by the Old Testament prophets! By the time I had spent several weeks almost daily, stopping and playing those old cassettes, I was so familiar with the period of the Kings, their doings and How the Lord moved through human history…I sought out a local Messianic congregation to find out more about Hebrew roots of the Scripture. I am still friends with many in the national messianic Jewish movement, who look to Yeshua as Savior. My hunger and thirst for the Word of God and love for the Savior and Kingdom work, and primarily to connect the dots to such an extent that I can explain it to someone else, is partly the legacy of this great man – Bob Warren….and not just me, but God alone knows how many others!

On learning of the passing of such a great influence and friend in my life, the shock turned to joy once I overcame the grief, knowing that Jesus was giving him the rest and reward he truly deserved. The man who taught kids at his annual weeklong summer camp, the value of not just the Word but application (all kids had to go help a local farmer with his chores or repair projects) was now finally home, in the Abode of the Master.  His last book series, which he never got to finish was called “God’s Heart” and it was on selected topics of the Faith – from predestination to living in Hope. But while he will never finish writing them, he did not really have to – the lives of those whom he influenced and loved to Jesus,  are already living examples of God’s Heart to a perishing world. Thank you, Bob Warren, formerly of Hardin, Kentucky! Walk on, brother – as you always said – walk on in the streets of Gold, where you are now, for all eternity….until we meet again! Amen.

BobWarren’s website: “LIFE ON THE HILL”
Click here to purchase the Life-Changing teaching on Romans 1-8 from Amazon.com
The only known video message from Bob is an amazing testimony to a man whose walk was closer than most! You have to watch this:

LORD, I AM AMAZED BY YOU - SCRIPTURE

Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet, Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD! (Psalm 119:1 ESV)
This torn and tattered book ran with me for my early years as a truly converted and regenerated believer and disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. This old King James Bible is now on my shelf to remind me of those days - so I will never forget what the Lord has done for me. I have since worn out other Bibles...dirty pages which are sanctifying and cleansing my soul, in Spirit and in Truth.

For me, the words of this book and all the others, are not just for comfort and direction. For me, these words are LIFE! They LIVE in me. They SPEAK to me. They FUEL me in everything I say, think and do. They are more than LIFE to me! They are the Eternal Oracles of God. My love for this Word will never die. On the contrary, my love for these Words, which are the LOGOS of God, the Rhema of God and the Ruach Elohim - inspire me to give more of it away in book form, in love and in action.

Lord, Oh, Lord, I am amazed by You and Your Word, which goeth forth from the timeless Halls of Heaven to such a lowly sinner, saved by Grace, such as I.

PSALM 19: 7-10
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
PSALM 119:33-40
Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways. Confirm to your servant your promise, that you may be feared. Turn away the reproach that I dread, for your rules are good. Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life!
Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet

THE REALITY OF THE FLOOD (#NOAH'S ARK, SCIENTIFIC PROOF")

The new Paramount Hollywood version of NOAH, starring a fifty year old man who is supposed to represent an almost 600 year old Noah, is so off based that the real reason the Great Flood ever happened is lost - as was intended. The context of sin, corruption and the evil of man is not mentioned by those who saw the various previews. As a result, we have people like Bill Maher and even Russell Crowe himself (who played Noah in the most recent movie) blaspheming God to the vilest extent. They and those who believe like them do not understand original sin, the Holiness of God or the Fall of man. 

This post looks more at the result of the Flood which legitimate scientists are finding in the fossil record and more, as God reveals more and more of Himself to His people, in these last days! Therefore, we start here briefly with the Biblical context from Bible Gateway (NKJV). 

Genesis 6

The Wickedness and Judgment of Man

6 Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, 2 that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.

3 And the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” 4 There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.
5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 So the Lord said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

Noah Pleases God

9 This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God. 10 And Noah begot three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.

SCIENCE AND THE FLOOD:
Next, here from the Edinburg, Scotland Creation Group is Dr. Marc Surtees who apart from looking at the Fossil Record, disintegrates the various theories of Darwin and others. This is a fancy special effects multi-million dollar production from a man-made studio in California. What Dr. Surtees does is follow some recent historical false concepts before laying bare, the Truth and Reality of the Post-Noahic Flood for the majority of this video.

One theory which is not fully developed here, and which will not be proven in this corrupt age is the air we breathe! There is a theory out there that pure oxygen extends life and was more in existence pre-flood, thus enabling mankind to live to 300, 700 and 900 years old. Post-flood atmosphere reduced the purity of the oxygen due to the present of all that water, which altered it. Oxygen dissolves naturally when it comes into contact with water. The presence of a planet-wide huge flood pulled in and basically sucked in all the pure oxygen which had existed since God created the Heavens and the Earth almost 6000 years ago. All of this will be revealed by the Savior Himself in the Milennial Kingdom as we go up to Mt. Zion to be taught by Him - Isaiah 2:2-3 "Now it will come about that In the last days The mountain of the house of the LORD Will be established as the chief of the mountains, And will be raised above the hills; And all the nations will stream to it.And many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; That He may teach us concerning His ways And that we may walk in His paths." 

ALSO PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE OF POST FLOOD PROOF HERE:

DOES SCIENCE PROVE NOAH'S FLOOD?

Evidence of flood hydroplate theory cited to support biblical account

by Michael F. Haverluck

For decades, science books in America’s schools have taught that the earth is 4.6 billion years old, with the Big Bang bursting the universe into existence 13.7 billion years ago. They teach children that bacteria has been around for a few billion years and that the “Cambrian Explosion” launched some of Earth’s earliest forms of life.

But what if the evidence doesn’t support that? What if scientific observation suggests that the Bible’s literal account of thousands of years is right?

That is the position of Walt Brown, director of the Center for Scientific Creation in Phoenix. His own scientific credentials are impressive. He holds a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Mechanical Engineering, is a West Point graduate and a National Science Foundation fellow, served as a tenured associate professor at the U.S. Air Force Academy and was chief of Science and Technology Studies at the Air War College.

Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2012/06/does-science-prove-noahs-flood/#SAZ25UXgF2FApE0T.99

FAMILY MOVIEGUIDE AWARDS ON THE REELZ CHANNEL THIS SATURDAY

 The 22nd Annual MOVIEGUIDE Awards 
this Saturday March 1  2pm EDT . 1pm CDT . 11am PacTime


LIST OF NOMINEES

• BEST FAMILY FILMS
• Black Nativity
• Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2
• The Croods
• Despicable Me 2
• Frozen (2013)
• Grace Unplugged
• Linsanity
• Monsters University
• Oz, The Great and Powerful
• Turbo

• BEST MATURE AUDIENCE FILMS
• 42
• Captain Phillips
• Gravity
• The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
• The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
• Iron Man 3
• Man of Steel
• Thor: The Dark World
• The Tower

• EPIPHANY PRIZE MOVIES
• 42
• Black Nativity
• Grace Unplugged
• Man of Steel
• The Tower

• EPIPHANY PRIZE TELEVISION
• The Bible
• Blue Bloods: Bad Blood
• The Cross
• Duck Dynasty: Till Duck Do Us Part
• Last Man Standing: Back to School

• FAITH & FREEDOM AWARD MOVIES
• 42
• The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
• The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
• Iron Man 3
• Man of Steel
• Turbo

• FAITH & FREEDOM AWARD TELEVISION
• Blue Bloods: Bad Blood
• Christmas in Conway
• Duck Dynasty: Till Duck Do Us Part
• Last Man Standing: Back to School
• Remember Sunday
• Secret Millionaire: George & Kym Rapier: Oakridge, Oregon

• FREE ENTERPRISE AWARD MOVIES
• The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
• Monsters University
• Turbo

• FREE ENTERPRISE AWARD TELEVISION
• Christmas in Conway
• Last Man Standing: Back to School
• Remember Sunday
• Secret Millionaire: George & Kym Rapier: Oakridge, Oregon
• Shark Tank: Episode 4.20

• GRACE AWARD MOVIES
• 42
• Harrison Ford
• Black Nativity
• Forest Whittaker
• Grace Unplugged
• AJ Michalka
• James Denton
• Gravity
• Sandra Bullock
• Man of Steel
• Henry Cavill
• Russell Crowe

• GRACE AWARD TELEVISION
• The Bible
• Roma Downey
• Diogo Morgado

Last Man Standing; Back to School

Tim Allen

Willie Robertson

The Cross

Billy Graham

Blue Bloods: Bad Blood

Len Cariou

#THE BIBLE SERIES - CRITICS MISSING THE POINT

"But Jesus said to him, "Do not hinder him; for he who is not against you is for you.....Luke 9:50 NASB

In less than 10 days, the new THE BIBLE miniseries has been the most watched program on Television this year! The fact that it is on a cable channel - THE HISTORY CHANNEL - and the subject is the Greatest Book of All time, in a time of corruption and evil - IS INCREDIBLE!

Yet, some of my brothers and sisters persist in not just criticism of this massive worldwide outreach, but downright unChristian language and a complete lack of love and perspective on what is truly happening. Most of the criticism involves what is missing from the narrative. It is difficult to get every morsel of Truth into a 20 hour program, designed to accomodate commercials and it is obvious certain key verses were left out. 

However this series never claimed to be a verse by verse exposition.  In a time where everyone does what is right in their own eyes, and Biblical illiteracy is close to 91% for all adults, what is wrong with bringing back the Story of the Greatest Event on Earth - God coming to the Earth to save mankind - and the Events which preceded it? Why are some self-appointed apologists tagging themselves to the pharisees of the pre-70AD temple in Jerusalem, by nitpicking every single thing out there? Why can't they answer in coherent thought without resorting to profanity and blashemy even, when called on it? Where is the love for the lost?

I am a man who stands on the shoulders of the great Puritans in my theology - Bunyan, Baxter, Owens...and down the line to Whitfield, Edwards, Moody, Tozer, Comfort, Washer and Richard Owen Roberts. Those men preached Gospel Truth with love and righteousness. I have heard Paul Washer up close tell the story of sitting for days with a beatened down old lumberjack in the Pacific Northwest, afraid for the man's soul. Paul reasoned with him from the Scriptures for hours and hours and hours, missing his own flight back to Alabama. This man had never been shown love and this kind of care before. Yet the Spirit of the Lord reached down into Paul Washer and after almost two days, this dying old lumberjack gave his life to the Lord....because somebody cared to show him the Word of the Promise.

Roma Downey and Mark Burnett, Producers of The Bible

This is how I see this Bible Series. I have read more young people and even atheists on social media...and with Twitter exploding each time it's on...with this Bible series than any fluff sermon from American megachurch preachers or hitting over the head with the Bible pharisees on my end of the spectrum. Jesus said the end will not come until the Gospel is preached to the ends of the earth. With satellite TV, tablets, webstreaming and more, this Word of the Lord - with its TV production flaws is doing just that.  Regardless of what critics says, this is bringing back discussion on the Word, the Ten Commandments, Moses, King David, Adultery, Saul, Disobedience, the Red Sea....and even Passover, which is coming up soon!

Those who criticize and insult me, and call my defense of this series "Bovine Scatology" need to repent and search their hearts to see if they are really walking with the Lord. There is no love in there, if they cannot see this for what it is - an open door for they themselves, to reach and love the Lost to Jesus, if they...and we, so care. So I will keep watching and so will you. I can't wait to see how the Lord Jesus is handled and find this to be very exciting - the Gospel - TO INFINITY....AND BEYOND!!

THE NATIONAL CATHEDRAL VS THE BIBLE

EZEKIEL PROPHESIES TO.....AMERICA?

And the word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, say to her, You are a land that is not cleansed or rained upon in the day of indignation. The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing the prey; they have devoured human lives; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst. 

Her priests have done violence to my law and have profaned my holy things. They have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they taught the difference between the unclean and the clean, and they have disregarded my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. 

Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, shedding blood, destroying lives to get dishonest gain.

And her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ when the LORD has not spoken. The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy, and have extorted from the sojourner without justice. And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. Therefore I have poured out my indignation upon them. I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. I have returned their way upon their heads, declares the Lord GOD.” (Ezekiel 22:23-31 ESV)

Of course, this is Old Testament, but to those "enlightened" ones, in their age of "reason", this means nothing? This past week, the official symbol of Faith in America - the National Cathedral - boldly and unapologetically announced they will be conducting same-sex "marriages" inside of the church....and then went on to use the Name of Jesus and God....just as God said of the worthless priests of Judah (Jerusalem etc) in the passage above from Ezekiel! The liberal apostates of the US Episcopal Church (which is out of fellowship from the wider body of the Biblically sound Anglican Church) have been likewise travelling down a road of rebellion against God and the Bible, for decades now.

It is not up to me, however to condemn them...or anyone else for that matter. The Word of God has taken care of that, as we see above and the entire portion of Ezekiel from Chapter 18 onward. By the way, just in case so-called Christians dispute the Old Testament, here in context, is what the Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians why we must heed the Full --- the FULL---Counsel of God, from beginning to end:

"Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. (1 Corinthians 10:6-12 ESV)

On August 23, 2011, just days before there was supposed to be an Inter-Faith "Service" at the National Cathedral (for the 10th Anniversary of 9/11/2001), in Washington DC, a rare and unusual earthquake hit the city and its surroundings. The earthquake registered 5.8 on the Richter Scale and did some serious damage to the Cathedral's structure. The damage was so bad, they needed $20 million to repair everything from the foundation to the spikes at the top. Here they are, less than two years later, shaking their fists at the God of the Bible again. They may wish to reconsider, repent and read His Word again!

GUEST WRITER WEEK - TUESDAY: CARLA

The Parenting Marathon

BY

 Carla McDougal (Author of Reflecting Him: Living for Jesus and Loving it!)

Nearing the mile marker, shock stuns my body. Another benchmark looms ahead. Is this reality or an illusion? Where did the time go? Approaching the goal seems surreal. With each breath I tell myself, I can do it. For twenty-six years I trained for this race. No stopping now!  I feel the need to rehydrate—from a physical and spiritual standpoint. Confusion clouds my mind. My stride weakens with each step. Thoughts of quitting spoil my concentration. Within seconds these words resonate within—Come on, you can do it! I recognize this inner voice of encouragement spurring me forward… the tenderness, the Lord’s perfect timing. All of a sudden, adrenaline kicks in and I pick up the pace. Reaching this mile marker ignites a sense of excitement, accomplishment, and sadness rolled into one emotion.

     

Breathing deeply I realize this leg of The Parenting Marathon is complete. The last of our four children graduated from high school and is moving on to college. Emotions pour in. The memory “recall button” seems stuck on auto play. As a mom, I fight the necessity of letting go. How can I move forward? How will this affect my everyday life? Fear of the unknown captures me like never before.
           

CARLA MCDOUGAL

In the midst of these tangled thoughts comes a soothing whisper… a sweet voice eases my confusion. Remember, my child, to lay aside every weight, and the sin, which so easily ensnares you, run with endurance the race that is set before you. But, God… No excuses, look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and now sits at the right hand of the throne of God. These words wash over me like a cleansing spring rain. In the blink of an eye my vision clears. Refocusing on God’s Word brings clarity to the goal. This drink of living water rehydrates my body, mind, and soul preparing me for what lies ahead.
            
In this moment I stand at a crossroad in the race. Do I hold back in The Parenting Marathon or embrace this new part of the course with excitement?  Without hesitation I cry out, God, I am moving forward! I don’t want to miss a moment of Your plan. I recognize I need to focus my heart, mind and soul on You. Every morning rehydrate me with Your drink of spiritual refreshment. Fuel my soul with the nourishment of Your Word. Strengthen me through the Holy Spirit; for when I am weak You are strong. Thank you for carrying me through the low places and leading me to the high roads. This Parenting Marathon is Your planned race, not mine. May I never try to run the course on my own for I know this only leads to tumbles and falls. To You belongs the glory and honor.


Some call this next leg of The Parenting Marathon—The Empty Nest. But, I choose to call it—The Place of Rest. The days of diapers, bottles, homework, carpool lines, piles of laundry, and family bedtime prayers are only memories locked away in the crevices of my mind. In all honesty, doubt and guilt are big stumbling blocks in this section of the course. Did we teach her enough about Jesus? Is she ready for the real world? How many teachable moments did I miss through the years? Oh, these questions have the potential to ignite a damaging fire if not quenched by God’s Word and prayer.

With all this said, I choose to put my trust and faith in the one who holds the key to my child’s heart—Jesus, the author and finisher of her faith. I find the more I press into prayer, the more excited I become for this next leg of The Parenting Marathon.   A shift in scenery is expected during this next stretch of the course. Rounding this corner brings some unpredictable road hazards mingled with glimpses of God’s splendor. 

At this point my role as mom changes from the Daily Discipline Sprinter to a Long Distance Prayer Runner. This phase requires consistency, a listening ear and minute-by-minute intimate conversations with the head trainer and ultimate life coach—Jesus. Knowing I am not in control releases me to trust God’s plan for her life. A sense of relief soothes my aching muscles as the light of Christ illuminates each step of the way.

Taking a deep breath, I look into my husband’s eyes. Like salve on a wound, my heart is relieved. Linked together eases the pain of change. So, arm-in-arm we embrace this next mile marker. We call upon our Life Coach, Jesus, to train us as Long Distance Prayer Runners. Immediately a spark of excitement burst into flames. Again God’s Word empowers me… Remember, my child, to lay aside every weight, and the sin, which so easily ensnares you, run with endurance the race that is set before you. No excuses, look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and now sits at the right hand of the throne of God.

  

This spiritual nourishment replenishes my weary body. A second wind breathing life into God’s purpose and plan for The Parenting Marathon. Stretching my arms to the heavens I shout with joy… I surrender each one of my children to You, Jesus—The author and finisher of all of our faith. All of a sudden, I see   in the distance a brilliant colorful scene on the horizon. A rainbow connecting heaven to earth. Tears flow. A smile appears. The blessing of God’s promise received.

~ Dedicated to my daughter Carly Jo who recently graduated from Magnolia High School 

From My Heart to Yours,

Carla McDougal 

Mother of Luke, Jake, Tate and Carly Jo. (25, 24, 20, 18) 

CLICK HERE FOR CARLA'S REFLECTIVE LIFE MINISTRIES