Election Year of Choices Both Large and Personal

Has the time come that the third of the hosts of heaven... the fallen... have completely shed their masks of deception?  Perhaps all these thousands of years deception of the legions upon the sons of Adam and the daughters of Eve were a false blueprint, a quiet and subtle road map, for mortals to emulate.  As the world around us crumbles politically, socially, religiously and most of all morally is it not evident, once the mask of deception is removed, that the house of the adversary reigns abundant?  In this, the last dispensation of the fullness of times, we must ask ourselves what strength we have within us.  By what power can we as the end root of our bloodlines stand with shield and sword in hand.

We used to revere and honor the Office of President of the United States.  No more do children proudly show their parents the assignment to show their hero - the President.  No more do children have security of heart as they are drilled at school on what to do if a shooter enters the school.  No more do we look forward to our leaders making wise decisions for the good of the people.  No more do our elected officials see as a visionary through the eyes of our Founding Fathers.  It is a shame that we now come to expect - AND ACCEPT - decisions of folly by those with delusions of grandeur and willful adoption by the public.

The divine hand on the checks and balances among the executive, legislative and judicial branches is losing grip by the pride of those entrusted to uphold them.  The Executive assumes power not given it.  The Legislative rarely votes and acts on true conscience, but overrides it along party lines.  The Judicial acts the same and is used through subterfuge of false prophecy by the other branches.  Planning future outcomes of measures and then plotting to make them so through judicial appointments.

The pursuit of legitimate happiness reigns in the hearts of fewer and fewer immigrants.  Legal prosperity through hard work and integrity with conscience seem so far away for those who cower daily in fear that they will be found.  All the while they take advantage of the amenities of authentic citizenship of the United States.  The dream is alive for so many but lacks among others in growing numbers.  The ability to immigrate and be accepted is a gift.  Yet, for those who do so averting the law, immigration becomes a curse and liability upon the people whom they now mingle.

We've denied our very design - man and woman - and the roles we've beforehand accepted to carry out.  No longer do we strive to perfect our design by endeavoring to align our spirits and control our passions, but instead pervert our design to adjust to our immediate desires.   We've explained and compromised that perversion by throwing our hand up and declaring it's just who we are.

One of the last breakdowns of humanity is the happily skewed view of human life.  Men and women hold themselves unaccountable for the divine gift of manifesting life in this world.  Pride and fear become the ingredients for the clouds of "perceived" clear conscience as they opt for abortion.  It matters not what stage of development the child is.  If one or more parent wants no part of it then the clouds of "perceived" clear conscience opens the ways for gleeful murder.

The proclamation of the family - those basic foundations each family procures as the teachings and arrangements for the raising of their family, are pushed aside in favor of entertainment and other derisions designed only to scar the young and the eternal relationship of husband and wife.  Even upholding religious teachings and values are seen as nonchalant and without substance.  No longer do we dress in our best as our ancestors did for church services, but arrive occasionally in convenient street clothes with our best still in our drawers.

Daily we live in fear of death as the threat of terrorism looms over even our young.  To the coward that hides their face and body in black they have already kissed the adversary and his hosts and willfully become possessed by the distorted in form.  Furthermore, we've lost faith, that evidence of that which is not seen but is true, that bona fide discipleship can keep the buffetings of Satan at bay.

We are surrounded by living examples of the work of imps.  Work that not long ago was disguised in the shadows.  Now the masquerade ball is over and the masks have come off.  The people have already accepted the work and have multiplied its spread among the living.

Yet, that divine spark is still there.  That still small voice still trumpets the heart.  Though the vast of us have all but shushed it to sleep it is still there.  It is that basic light of knowing good and evil that's adopted at birth among all the sons of Adam and the daughters of Eve.  The scepter is there but it is our choice to reach and clasp it's handle.

The bright day is coming when the earth shall be as a sea of glass.  The mountains shall be rolled back into smooth landscape and the lands shall once again be brought back together.  The mountain shall be split for Israel to escape the wolves.  Thus, the next thousand years of unmeasured prosperity and knowledge will reign among the greater portion of us who've chosen to listen to that still small voice.

Will you and I be among them?

Just as our leaders have divided their conscience along party lines we need to choose which side we desire to be on.  If our heart desires the other side which is brighter with wider fields of view than it is worth the painstaking journey to align our lives with that model.

If the journey seems long and full of obstacles then you're probably on the right one.  The road less traveled is the road that will enrich you with experience and knowledge.  We each have our vices, myself especially, but we need to see the distorted works around us for what they are.  They are attempts of the miserable spirits to draw us from the light.  They want us.  They feed off our life which they've been denied by their rebellion in the presence of God the Almighty.

That battle that rivals all the wars and contentions combined on earth continues today.  It began with the rebellion in heaven and rolls on into the winding up scene.  It is our choices that define us.

The line is drawn on the board.  It is the pieces (us) which individually we place on one side or the other.

Amish Mennonite Teacher on My Road to Damascus

The story of Saul and the Road to Damascus deals much with procrastination.  We hold off believing in something until a dramatic event forces the hand.  We tempt God and seemingly hold him hostage until we are struck on our eyes so as to see the truth of what we procrastinated for.  Saul started out a great persecutor of believers until he experienced a dramatic event on the road to Damascus to correct his ways.  Thomas failed to believe in the Resurrection of Christ until the Lord himself invited him to handle his hands and side.  These men and most of us today retract from learning precept upon precept unto a firmer belief in something.  To hide our weakness we declare us strong and shout down those that do believe a certain doctrine or fact of life.  Who is the weaker one?

Lately I've been in my solitude of thought in contemplation of man's nature against his brother.  I've been on the road much of late and have little other company than myself.  On a jovial note it makes arguments awful one-sided.  Anyhow, just last week I've been struck with a significant occurrence to me.  Significant to me but for most quite passive and not so significant.

There is so much death and hate going on.  On the political scene as well as religious man pits his wit against man (for we no longer refer to the other as brother).  Ideology has placed targets on people and marks them for death.  It is easy to allow the canker of hate drown out the peace of compassion and brotherhood.  It can darken one's own thoughts.  When that happens hate is resistance free, and the spread of contempt of heart and intolerance knows no bounds.

On a lonely road in the middle of Iowa I was shown an act of brotherhood without judgement or assumptions.  I love diversity and those opportune moments to come in contact with the Amish or Mennonites.  I think most of us do.  The simplicity of their ways and just the deep contrast from modern living is appealing.  However, I believe it goes deeper.  I believe that seeing a group of people holding on to a foundation of principles and beliefs appeals to our subconscious.  It is a silent reminder that man can lose his way without a foundation to build on.

On a particular hot and sunny afternoon I was traveling Eastbound near Creston, Iowa on Highway 34.  In the distance I noticed on the gravel side of the oncoming road a horse-drawn carriage with an Amish gentleman at the helm.  With plenty of distance he lifted his hand high and with a smile waved at me until I passed.  It was clearly sincere.  It was clearly in acknowledgement that I was his fellow brother under God regardless of my driving a car and blaring "Hotel California" on my radio.  I was greatly affected and this led me to deep contemplation.

Many of the rest of us do happily acknowledge one another.  For drivers, most of us do not wave to another unless the other starts the process first.  Yet..... do we outstretch our arm and wave in pure fellowship?  I am guilty as well and would venture to say that for most, acknowledgement of our kindness on the road is limited to the extending of our fingers over the steering wheel.  When studying the two situations it is amazing the difference how each makes you feel.  Whether as the giver or receiver the greater the effort of kindness the more positive reinforcement of goodwill you'll feel.

My Road to Damascus was in hoping to see greater consideration and love brother-to-brother sister-to-sister.  It is long and continuous.  It is a life journey.  This teaching moment offered that "smack in the head" that it does still exist out there, and that it's the subtle acts of kindness that has that silent but greater affect on the future of man.

He may not be aware of the impact his simple efforts afforded me but that's the point of it all.  True greatness is something not actively sought after.  It is something to be exercised through thousands of simple means.  True greatness is seen by others through your conduct and not something to boast of the self.  I thank God for that Amish dude and will look for him every time I'm on that stretch of road...... my Road to Damascus.