The reality of truth in the Middle East

10 January 2001

Mickey & Minnie Mouse, Mighty Mouse,the no longer politically correct Brier Rabbit, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Donald & Daisy Duck, Scrooge, Goofy, Porky Pig, Road Runner, Wiley Coyote, Snoopy, Woodstock, Tweety Bird, Felix the Cat, Bullwinkle& Rocky the Flying Squirrel are just a few of the wonderful animal personalities that are part of our world. Through these cartoon characters, we have conversations and understand the life situations of our animal friends. In a wonderful way cartoons make everyone feel like a kid again.

All of us tend to talk to the animals, and we believe that some of them, if not all of them, understand what we are saying. Not only do we talk to them, they in many ways communicate the truth of God's love for all creation. The friendship and love between a man and his dog lasts many times longer than the friendship and love in many marriages. If all that be true, when the dog, cat, gold fish, canary or other creature comes eagerly for its meal, when the God of the universe summons the animals of His creation for a magnificent feast, they too, in proper time, will enthusiastically respond.

On the twentieth of January, George W. Bush, takes the oath of office and will become the next President of the United States of America. The strongest nation the world has ever known. Some say that this time of celebration of the constitutional change of power will be marred by political dissent, raising an uproar, moaning and bemoaning that the constitution of this great nation no longer meets their unlearned ideals of moral decay. As most Americans of all political persuasions, they believe the acts of civil, or religious disobedience in some way change the reality of God's sovereignty. In that respect they do not in the least understand that the outcome of a cartoon episode, is completely within the story line of the cartoon's producer and staff. The truth is that Road Runner will never be caught, no matter the ACME tools employed.

The "what's in it for me" political campaign and continuing whining, will soon give way to a reality check. Not only in the economy, but more importantly in the Middle East. As all the experts, pundits, and doctors of spin were completely wrong, all the time, during the events following Election Day, they now realize, they really are even more in the dark when it comes to forecasting what the new President and his cabinet will do when it comes to the unfolding events in the Middle East. By the 20th it should be quite apparent that President Clinton's final efforts for a peace settlement will disappear into blackness, without Porky Pig saying, "That's all folks!"

While no man knows the hour, especially those puffed up in their worldly knowledge, the Bible speaks clearly of a time after the nation of Israel is reestablished in her homeland, and the nations of the world turn against her. I strongly suggest that all Christians and especially those within the new Bush Administration, not listen to the words and wisdom of this world, but listen to what God says to His animals in the words of the Prophet Ezekiel, and make sure that America is not part of the substance of that feast. This comes in conjunction with the battle that takes place in Chapters 38 & 39. I personally agree with many dispensational prophecy teachers that believe that this battle takes place before the Great Tribulation. My reasoning is that the seven months mentioned in verses 12 and 14 makes no sense during this Tribulation, during a Millennium after Christ's Second coming, but that is just my reading.

The emphasis should focus on the fact that by their actions,this new President and his Administration may set the course and hold the future of the United States in their hands. No persons outside the Christian and Jewish communities will understand the significance of what God says to the birds and the beasts. But it is easily understood by all who read and understand, that there is a division within the world that will take place at this time. This country, not directly mentioned in these passages, has the potential to be the last bastion of freedom and liberty, or to fall in the Valley of Hamon Gog, with the rest of the world's leadership. The leadership required to stand firm and support Israel when no other country and most of the people in this country do not support that action, will require a strength and determination from God's grace alone. That grace alone is sufficient for the challenge. It is also incumbent upon Christian leadership, as well as the whole Christian community to support the President on this Israel issue. The problem is that many Christians are now so carnal in their religion that they too will think it is just a television cartoon, and do not have the grit to withstand the spiritual pressures that may ensue.

Rocky says, "Bullwinkle you must be one of those beasts the Lord God speaks too in Ezekiel 39 verses 17 through 21. While you are not one of those flesh and blood eaters, you know many who are, for they are sometimes out for your hide, so Bullwinkle shout those words from the housetops, so all can hear:"

"And as for you, son of moose, thus says the Lord God, 'Speak to every sort of bird and to every beast of the field:

"Assemble yourselves and come;
Gather together from all sides to My sacrificial meal
Which I am sacrificing for you,
A great sacrificial meal on the mountains of Israel,
That you may eat flesh and drink blood.
You shall eat the flesh of the mighty,
Drink the blood of the princes of the earth,
Of rams and lambs,
Of goats and bulls,
All of them fatlings of Bashan.
You shall eat fat till you are full,
And drink blood till you are drunk,
At My sacrificial meal
Which I am sacrificing for you.
You shall be filled at My table
With horse and riders,
With mighty men
And with the men of war" says the Lord God.

And so it shall come to pass in a day not too distant from today. For after that triumphant feast for all of God's critters, the Lord God will again bring His glory through the nation of Israel and He will be their God, for all the Gentiles shall see the judgement of the Lord take place.

The famous passage of Proverbs 16:18,19 (Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil, with the proud.), describes what has become of the American nation over the last 20 years and a lesson we shall be called to learn in the years to come. Over the next few weeks we will deal with some of the aspects of that fall, where America abandoned her purpose in the pursuit of materialism. Just as in the destruction of Old Testament Israel, the seeds have been sown and the harvest is sure.

So into Washington D.C. flies George armed with a cape and a prayer, with a big "W" on his chest. Just like Mighty Mouse, he comes to save the day. Unlike Mighty Mouse, he must perform his miracle in the real world. His cape of course is his tax cut message, his prayer, over the duration, shall be much more effective. His cape comes from the legacy of Ronald Reagan, the reason he lost the popular vote, his authority comes from God, W's, faithful prayer, "Help Lord!"

I learned in the military that there is a difference between power and authority. Authority comes from above, power from below. These of course are Biblical terms also, lost on many modern Bible translators and preachers. They are not one and the same. James Dobson teaches this in raising and disciplining children. Parents have the authority to command through love the right behavior, children have the power to do as the parents wish, or to go their own sinful way.

So those who voted for W., what is their responsibility? To pray for W. and his team, that's for sure. But more than that. The arrogance of this country, is that it is mighty in America's own substance, not in God. America, the Mighty Mouse to the rescue of the world. The world is made up of fallen sinners and redeemed sinners. It is time for the authority of the church, yes beginning with leadership, but followed up from the bottom, with power, symbiotic power from God, effecting the common area of our natural landscape. That restoration comes through Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, not the Jesus of our felt needs, or the Jesus needed to build a large and important ministry, or church. To put it in a nut shell that Mighty Mouse, or for that matter any cartoon character can carry with him, as the characters provide the triumph of good over evil, is that the church must preach redemption in Christ alone, and not in the American dream.

This is the real world, not a short cartoon segment, it requires real work, real sacrifice. When much of modern America lives within those news cycles, wireless stock quotes, internet and television escapes, only the true gospel message, will be able to set the ship right, to steer to the safe harbor. Cartoon characters, cannot do that in the real world, only real people can. The power to remain faithful to God and the work He is performing through Israel, can only be done by God, through the church. It is only the church with that Godly power that will keep the United States from being Bullwinkled in the Valley of Hamon Gog.

Seeds for Prayer

For the peace of Israel, and Jerusalem, as God defines that peace, not as is wise in the eyes of man.

For the new president and his administration, that they shall seek the wisdom of God, before the knowledge of man. To stand in that time of trial, and to see the salvation of the Lord.

For the church , throughout the world, to be restored by the authority and the power of the true gospel message, based on the work of Jesus Christ alone, not on wealth, ministry, marketing, or other gods that seek our attention and our praise.

Fruit from Prayer

This last year by Gods grace alone, I have survived and prospered, especially in the spiritual sense, without what seems to be a visible means of support. There is a path ahead, while filled with work, ministry and God's provision, that will require a higher level of support, not only financially, but also in the community sense. That again is a short term opportunity, as well as a long term planting.

Humility is always something that when you think you have, you have lost, but I only know at times how little the Lord had to work with when I sat down to tell these simple stories and write these articles. In that line I have tried to update this interface, including a complete redo of the web site which I discontinued some months ago. I would like to see them reach more people with primarily the gospel of hope but also with hopeful works, as God would desire, and to that end that my desires made subservient to His greater work. Therefore I also ask for your continued prayerful support.