NO WINNERS ONLY LOSERS

ISAIAH 

6 (11-12)

Then I said, Lord how long? And He answered,

Until the cities are laid waste and without inhabitant,

The houses are without a man,

The land is utterly desolate,

The Lord has removed men far away,

And the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land.

You could be forgiven for thinking this was just another day.   Those who worship the God "football" cheered their little darlings from the touchline.   The referee bawled his instructions and the "mini Beckham hopefuls" screamed at each other as their adoring parents considered there might just be a talent scout in their midst.   

The racket permeated an otherwise pleasant autumn morning.   This was just another Sunday and it would continue throughout the football season.   Hard to realise that hours earlier a young aid worker, someone whose life commitment was helping others in war torn countries around the globe had been so cruelly decapitated at the hand of an insane butcher.   

People are seemingly unaware that this unholy war by the sons of Satan could soon stalk the streets of their town.   Now is a good time to pick up the bible, the end game is written.

Prophecy is an uncomfortable gifting.   When so called western civilization started its killing spree in the middle east there could only be one outcome.   Early in the new millenium I blessed my relatives with a rather sombre Christmas card with a short comment on the enemy within.  No doubt they considered I was quite mad and had lost the plot.

As the population geared up for another gluttonous binge christian aid had been withdrawn in Afganistan.   Half naked, half starved children standing in the rubble of their homes filled the T.V. screens.   Poverty and injustice always the breeding ground of future radicals.

The Enemy Within

War Lords arise, politicians loudly proclaim the western world as civilized,

yet we produce and sell the weapons of mass destruction.

Megalomaniacs hot wire the idealistic fervour of young men and women educated in the west take aim and the innocent die in the mayhem.

Yet in our darkest hour there are heroes, those who regardless of personal risk die in an attempt to save 

others.

Men of power move quickly to the safety of their underground bunkers and worried citizens rush to buy gas masks and protective clothing in a frenzy of self-preservation as the world press reports retribution.

An innocent child stands against the single wall all that is left of the broken shell that was his home. Christian aid has been withdrawn; cold and hungry he listens as his parents talk of the coming winter. 

The western child sits in a room crammed with the trappings of over indulgence, watching his television, proudly waving the national flag, cheering as the war machine rolls out.   Just another video, another computer war game.

There can be no winners here, only losers.

Father forgive.

Perhaps my family could be forgiven for thinking that was hardly appropriate as a christmas card, after all it was the season of goodwill, peace to all men.   Hardly, it was just the beginning of the mass slaughter of thousands of people and as usual western interference would only make matters worse. 

On the opposite page of this cheery salutation it was noted that whatever political or religious persuasion leaders held they were all guilty of the bloody mayhem that followed.   Not in my name.

Killing for Love

Lord we fight over you,

Christian, Muslim, Gentile, Jew.

Through many wars and endless years

your message falls on deafened ears.

Forgive us Lord,

don't turn away,

we might just get it right one day.

Desperate people question why?

and watch as little children die.

Rising prophets lead your sheep,

through troubled times with weary feet.

Your Holy word "thou shalt no kill"  *

we do not listen to your will.

Through falsehood and hypocrisy,

truth adrift in a troubled sea.

Wounded souls and doubting sheep

that come to worship at your feet.

Help us shine

Help us reach

for those who cannot see your light

who cannot love and live to fight.

Talitha Hills.

2003

* Correct translation from scripture - slay

The platitudes and promises made by the leaders of the western world are sickening.   Perhaps they should remember the words of Christ and later Ghandi.     The conflict in Ireland a stunning example that terrorism wins until both sides talk peace and reconcilliation.  It is not conventional warfare, it is foul and cowardly hardly ever reaching the men whose actions ignite the horror. 

Three generations have followed the Pied Piper of this world and he is surely taking them down the road to hell.   Small wonder our creator God is silently watching and waiting.     The middle east is the  boiling pot.

It really highlights the mindset of this psychopathic killer when he picks off aid workers.    This isn't face to face combat, it's dirty and deadly, be it a snipers bullet or a bomb in a crowded shopping centre.

Like a snake they select their prey, strike then slither down the nearest hole in the sand.  Fully masked they ensure their features are concealed obviously intending hanging on to their heads as long as possible.

The blood of their victims falls on the hands of the western leaders who hide behind their private armies of protection.

Leaders can spout as many patronising platitudes as they wish with all the solemnity they can muster. They intend dealing with ISIS before it reaches our shores, nevertheless they have caused the hell that is the middle east and WE ALL REAP WHAT THEY SOW.

Perhaps they need a gentle reminder from the ordinary men and women on the streets of the U.K.  it's too little, too late, they are already slowly spreading their black stain albeit under a very different manifesto but their goal remains the same.   To take over, they do not integrate.

Why are their children being radicalised from a very early age and what mother other than from hell would strap bombs to the body of her precious child?   They serve the dark Lord.

Its a wake-up call for every man, woman and child.  We can only stand amazed at the sheer arrogance of leaders who consider its just a question of carpet bombing.  Now finally they reach their goal, intervention in Syria.    It's time to get down on your knees and pray.

Sadly for many the end game is written but those who know the Lord also know His promise.   Man can kill the body, but he cannot touch the soul.   Heaven waits and hears her martyrs.

Revelation 6 - (10-11)

And they cried with a loud voice saying

"How long, O Lord, holy and true,

until you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth.

Then a white robe was given to each of them;

and it was said to them that they should rest a little longer,

until both the number of their fellow servants,

and their brethren who would be killed as they were was completed.

One might ask where are the peacemakers, obviously the sons of God are thin on the ground at the moment.   I don't see any of the religious leaders rushing to get their hands dirty.  Matthew 5 - 10 

but blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Don't ask to see with the eyes of Yeshua unless you really mean it.   Sound advice offered to a young Christian.   If we truly know our Saviour we will weep for this world and extend His love at every opportunity.   There is much work to be done.   Time is short.  

Hebrews 13 - 5-6

Let your conduct be without covetousness;

be content with such things as you have

For He Himself has said

I will never leave you nor forsake you.

So we may boldly say

The Lord is my helper;

I will not fear.

What can man do to me.

Baruch ha ba b'shem Adonai.
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.

SHALOM

Recommended:

Jacob Prasch - You Tube - correct translation from hebrew scripture of Psalm 23.
Jacob Prasch - Thou shalt not ask.   Jacob is a zealous drama student - but the arrow hits the mark as he simply asks the question.

   

STRANGE

JOHN 10 - 19 - 20

Therefore there was division again among the Jews because of these sayings.

And many of them said, He has a demon and is mad.

Why do you listen to Him?

When you come up against the leaders of any religious persuasion expect confrontation.   Demons were popular in biblical times, today madness is just another label for mental illness.

The only other listing in the concordance against the word "mad" is in Acts 26.25    Festus accused Paul of being beside himself.  "Much learning is driving you mad".    But of course when anyone speaks their Truth into any situation it is usually not appreciated, often causes offence, but hardly a justification for calling someone mad.

Festus wasn't appreciating the words of truth or reason expressed by Paul so he retaliated by suggesting Paul was mad.   

A dear sister in Christ recently suggested that even Yeshua's family thought He was mad.    "Where is that written" I enquired.   She appeared flustered "it's in the bible" she replied "but where" I enquired. "Oh I don't know but I will look it up."   I gently reminded this good and faithful servant of the Lord that I doubt Miriam His mother considered He was mad having received divine revelation from the Most High God that she would carry His son.    His brothers and sisters would also have been raised in scripture and would have known He taught in the temple from an early age.   They would have known He was different.   

It's rather like the church zealot who having raised him/herself into a position of superiority decides to inform a subordinate "God told me to tell you"   Hello - I usually reply "God is perfectly capable of speaking into my life.   He has my ear 24/7.  At which point the offended one blushes and moves on to his/her next victim muttering "critical spirit"

Strange is a label they attach to people they don't understand.   They appear different, odd, dreamers, whatever.   Petra was just one such case.   As a tiny child she appeared to be holding conversations with invisible friends.   There was nothing evil or malicious in her nature.   All was sunshine.  When she was two years old she would sing and laugh, that precious contagious laughter of a little child.

Her friends disappeared with knowledge of self but still the concept of right or wrong in the eyes of her lost friends survived.  Like most tiny hearts race, colour, class and religion just didn't exist.

Every child is the product of their environment, prejudices are slowly introduced by parents along with religious persuasion and education.   This little girl knew it was wrong to kill or hurt another human or creature and of course her God "said so" she frequently informed her younger siblings.

As a teenager the strange girl struggled with her own imperfections.   Litter preference, physical and mental abuse gave hatred a foothold, the crushing pain of parental rejection along with the previously hidden wicked crimes committed by her birth church in the name of a Holy God resulted in rebellion, she wanted answers.

"Shout to the Lord" is a common hymn,  this girl was shouting WHY?    How could He allow people called by His name to inflict murder and suffering on the defenceless.   Her birth church did not promote circulation of any creed other than their own.   The bible was not allowed.

A thick impenetrable fog settled around her and she faced a cold black void of nothing.   Perhaps if she had picked up a bible at that point she would have noticed the words of Solomon the wise as he pondered the cycle of life.    

  Ecclesiastes 3 - 8

A time to love,

And a time to hate;

A time of war,

And a time of peace.

Then she knew the pure innocence of first love that lasted until death parted and the miracle of new life in her own precious children.   God was filed under G.   Perhaps one day Jesus would return from his place behind the stars but for now her little family was enough. 

The years rolled by and the green fields of plenty slowly turned to burnt wasteland.   Her heavenly Father perhaps considered "it is time"   Yeshua the Shepherd King walked into her wilderness and lifted the bruised and broken lamb high on His shoulders and carried her home.   

His touch, powerful and life changing was unforgettable but her battle was far from over.   At every given opportunity temptation came.   The refining fires of her Holy God were burning away the dross, renewing, perfecting until the day she would finally be worthy to stand before His Holy presence.

Now she saw in dreams the consequences of man's agenda and the Sheol that is now the Middle East.   The arms and munition dealers resplendent in their leafy suburb homes far from the blood filled gutters and mutilated corpses.   Blood money filling their coffers.  Business booming.

Babies, innocents, blown to smithereens without a shred of remorse.   Dark armies hot wired by religious zealots in the killing fields of Iraq, Libya and Syria.   Once again the ordinary man, woman and child caught in the fire of their dangerous war games.   Small wonder the God of creation ignores the chants and incense of the hypocrites in their tidy parishes. 

Genesis

4 - 10-11

And He (the Lord) said "What have you done?

The voice of your brother's blood cries out to Me from the ground.

So now you are cursed from the earth which has opened its mouth to receive

your brother's blood from your hand.

The children of Abraham continue to slay.  Innocent blood covers the hands of every leader and war lord.    Those responsible surely haunted their every hour until Yeshua returns and justice reigns then they will receive their reward.   She knew the end would be terrible.   The Day of the Lord - purification of evil from the land.

   

Then man will see His creator and at last understand the little knowledge he had was God given.   He remained in part blinded by his own understanding of time and all that his five simple senses could comprehend the special powers (sight, hearing, smell, taste touch) by which a living thing becomes aware of the external world.   She was sensitive - conscious of the eternal - considered strange.

Now the world is preoccupied by self and celebrity.  Even the most stoic personalities sinking in gloom and despair.  The Lord has touched His children throughout the ages and through their witness and gifting has brought hope and peace.

One American singer song writer is a just the tonic for battle weary souls.   Her album "Greatest Hits" and the track "Stubborn Love" proclaims the forgiveness and patience we receive as we stumble along the highway to heaven and perhaps my favourite track on her album "Sounds of Heaven - I am gonna fight for You" reminds every battered soul we are not alone and dear to our Father in heaven.   Gifted and blessed long may she continue to write, compose and sing for His glory. 

The guardians are busy pulling damaged souls back from the precipice.   Protecting and lifting the souls of the martyrs.   Their trial is over, death has no hold over them, they live and walk in His courts.

Perhaps we should all consider ourselves blessed to be seen as strange by the children of this world.   Our Shepherd King approaches and all His lambs are precious and preferred.

John 10 - 27

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; 

neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

Baruch ha ba b'shem Adonai

SHALOM.

Recommendation:

Kathy Troccoli - Greatest Hits album - Stubborn Love and Psalm 23

Kathy Troccoli - Sounds of Heaven album - I'm Gonna fight for you.

Downloads available via various internet providers.