Or perhaps a better question would be: “What are we allowing the world to feed us”. How about: “What are we feeding our children?”

My wife asked the kids in her Sunday school last week “What do you think God looks like?”

“POWERFULL” one kid exclaimed. “Gentle” Said another, and so it went. To her dismay (possibly) one kid said “SPIDERMAN”. “Uhm…no, but God did make spiders” She said in an attempt to swing the vote.

Is it too late? Are we as a world already feeding our children too many visions of heroes in suits with extraordinary abilities? When we talk about God, do our children really know that we are talking about the Awesome Creator God of the Bible? That we mean the God who spoke to Moses in the burning bush? The God who saved Noah and his family from an epic flood? The God who led the Israelites out of Egypt and guided them by day in a Column of Smoke/cloud and at Night in a Column of Fire? The same God, who parted the red sea, gave water from the rocks, picked up Eli in a chariot of fire, and helped David slay Goliath?

The same God who sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to die upon a cross for our transgressions, iniquities and sin?

Do they know who HE is? Do they know he does not need to hide his identity or prance around in a latex suit? Do they know that His power is bestowed unto all who believe and that they ‘will do greater things than this?’…Probably not.

It’s easy to leave our kids for the wolves to raise. It’s easy to leave them with the good old DSTV babysitter and allow them to watch whatever their little hearts desire. Ben 10, Star Wars, Count Ducula, Dragonball Z etc etc etc. It certainly is much easier to allow them to play unsupervised Wii, PlayStation and Xbox games that are, by God’s standards, a whole lot of evil. The fact that innocent looking games, PACKED with occult images, characters and sayings, Voodoo, witchcraft and the like, are in the hands and homes of many professing Christians is troublesome.

Is it any wonder that our teenagers are drawn into the occult so easily? They get softened up and prepared for it while they are still impressionable little kids. Their little hearts wide open. Now as teenagers their young minds are wide open. And they give place in there for Lady Gaga who unashamedly sings about ‘Judas’; (I know much has been said about her but for the purposes of this post – an update)

When he comes to me, I am ready
I’ll wash his feet with my hair if he needs
Forgive him when his tongue lies through his brain
Even after three times, he betrays me

I’ll bring him down, bring him down, down
A king with no crown, king with no crown

(go look at the lyrics yourself)

or songs about Drugs, Sex, Drinking, binging, rebellion and so the list goes on. Katy Perry (who by the way is the daughter of a pastor) loudly proclaims “I kissed a girl and I liked it” and “Don’t mean I’m in love tonight” and “Hope my boyfriend don’t mind it” brings the message that homosexuality is actually ok, love is not something that you have to connect with people you kiss and that cheating is also just ok.

HAVE YOU LISTENED TO SOME OF THE LYRICS OF THE SONGS YOUR CHILDREN ARE LISTING TO?

What are you allowing them to be fed? What are you allowing your little ones to take in? What are you taking in? Are you feeding yourself (and kids) the truth of God’s word on a daily basis? Are you ensuring that your kids learn about God and learns to love and worship Him?

Jesus spoke about ‘Streams of Living Water’ that will flow from us. This is the kind of spiritual nourishment our children (and we) need on a daily basis. Food that will overflow from our hearts and flood the fields of the world.

‘Consider your ways’  says the Lord. Look at what you are getting into, what you watch, what you listen to and what you allow your kids to get into, watch and listen to. The enemy of your soul is at the door! The time is short and the Glorious Return of our Lord Jesus Christ is imminent, and closer then we all think!

Watch and pray and commit your life, wholly devoted to Him. Let the Idols of your heart and the things of this world not influence you to sin.

God bless you as you seek His face.

Let’s first examine what a normal (healthy) mind is supposed to look like. A normal mind can:

1. Focus
2. Resist
3. Choose and sift thoughts

A passive mind, in contrast, struggles to do these things. A passive mind cannot focus on one goal or subject, cannot resist (tempting, evil, vile thoughts) and cannot sift thoughts (as discussed last week – filtering).

Definition of passivity: A condition in where you put your mind in neutral and you are not in control of what comes in. Like the wall of a dam that breaks and thoughts come in like flood waters – no control.

Passivity describes the opposite state of activity. For the believer it implies that you lose self-control (in the sense that a person controls all departments in his personal being) and that he/she loses free will (in the sense that the person exercises his will as the directive principle of personal control, in harmony with the will of God)

What are the causes of a passive mind(a mind out of control):

1. Exhaustion, Stress, Burn-out (too tired to think)
2. Illness – lying in bed with no stimulation
3. Emotional problems (mind gets stuck – focussing on the problem, patterns of worry)
4. Alcohol and drugs – destroys brain cells
5. Certain types of music have a detrimental and hypnotic effect on the sub-conscious
6. T.V. and Films (Narcotic effect that dulls the mind and you cannot resist)

If you have suffered from a passive mind with thoughts that oppress, drive and paralyse, you will have to resist them and do spiritual

warfare before you will be victorious. Remember: it is a process and takes time; it is not just a prayer.

God has created you to control your mind. He wants to bring you to a point where:

a) Your thoughts are under control;

b) You are not driven, but lead by the Spirit of God;

c) Peace reigns in your mind;

d) Your mind is free to focus on God; and

e) You are free to receive the Truth of God

Passivity will:

a) Hinder you from spiritual growth – no victory;

b) Hinder you from receiving the Word of God;

c) Hinder you from hearing from God;

d) Hinder you from meditation and study;

e) (It may) cause deception.

Symptoms of passivity:

a)   Sudden thought flashes interrupting your thoughts or while reading Bible/praying.

b)   Sudden cutting off of thoughts while conversing/witnessing.(Blank out)

c)   Thoughts captivated by patterns of fear, worry, rejection, etc.

d)   Senseless tendencies.

1. 1. (e.g. ‘You must take risks and walk by faith’ or
2. ‘You are more spiritual than anyone else’)

e)   Uncontrolled imagination.

f)    Sleeplessness and disturbing dreams.

g)   Forgetfulness (can be shock), loss of memory, poor memory. (You are always making lists)

h)   Inability to communicate – quiet (too much effort) or persistent talking (Do not think what you say – talk any nonsense.)

i)     Lack of concentration.

j)     Inability to reason. (Nod head; blink eyes but nobody’s home!)

k)   Poor judgement. (Saul – mind out of control. Believed lies, jealous)

l)     Double-mindedness, indecision, wavers.

m) Passivity, when there should be action; procrastination and lingering.

n)   Hyperactivity, out of control. (Cannot be restful.)

o)   Excessive rashness and impulsiveness.

Excerpts from book: Soul Care School (course one) available for download from Kanaan Ministries: www.kanaanministries.org

Do you ever think about what you are thinking about? Up to a few weeks back I certainly didn’t. We think about what we allow our minds to think about and don’t necessarily let these thoughts through an appropriate filter system. This means that in essence we are ‘passive thinkers’ (allowing any thought to come in and forming a stronghold). For years, the world has been preaching about ‘positive thoughts’. You have to literally make yourself think positive in order to stay that way through the day. In order to ‘get through another day’ we have to consciously stay positive – no matter what…? Now I’m not saying the world is wrong, but I’d like to offer a different perspective.

The mind, in all its mystery, is an incredibly powerful tool…if it’s used in the right way. Depression and anxiety originate in the mind and certain physical ailments have been shown to be a direct result of negative though patterns. The same can be said for positive thought patterns – pictures of health. So in order for us to have a positive outlook on life, which will directly influence us spiritually and physically, we need to become ‘Active Thinkers’ (filtering every thought to check its origin, value and impact on our lives).

The mind is the most important place of personal victory for us. Our minds are programmed from family, books, experiences, knowledge etc. What we think influences all our relationships, and if we believe lies, we have been deceived. The mind is a receiver and you must select what you sea and hear.

A quick (and simple) example: John Tucker is a teenager in school. During a mathematics class one Tuesday morning John raises his hand to ask a question. The teacher allows John to ask the question, which is a basic question of understanding and clarification of a difficult new mathematical concept. The teacher laughs at John in front of the class and loudly exclaims: “Have you been sleeping Mr. Tucker? I just explained this! If you keep this up you’ll flunk your math test end of the year and I will be stuck with you next year again.” The passive thinker that John is will allow these thoughts to ‘spin’ around in his head, eventually believing them and believing that he cannot do maths. Come year end, he flunks math. John has believed a lie.

The active thinker would take these thought and evaluate them – ‘are these comments impacting my life in a positive or negative way?’ ‘Is there any truth to these words?’ the active thinker would not allow these thoughts to control the way that he sees himself or how he approaches the problem.

The problem however goes much deeper. Once again, let me explain: A day or two before reading a topic specifically around the issue of being in control of our thoughts, I had the thought of suicide being thrown into my head. Suicide?? I mean, I’m not depressed. Before I realised it I was sitting and thinking about how I would go about it, whom I would write a letter to and how it would impact my loved ones. Writing this down now sounds ludicrous, but it is what happened. Now don’t worry – I’m not suicidal. And that is the point I’m trying to make.

I allowed for a brief second the thought of suicide to ‘ride the waves’ into my mind. I allowed it! I didn’t block it. And these things happen so often don’t they?

What have you allowed into your head today? How about the last week? How about in the month? Now think about all of the rubbish that you have allowed into your mind in your lifetime. Ever wondered why you think about those ‘weird things’ sometimes?

Start today by placing the filter of Jesus Christ into your mind. Evaluate your thoughts constantly and ensure they are from God. Remember, the enemy comes to deceive (lie) and as soon as we believe his lies we loose focus from God. The enemy wants you to sit and ponder that ‘lucrative’ business ‘deal’ that just somehow doesn’t feel right. The enemy wants you to get revenge. The enemy wants you to look at the office secretary for just one second too long. The enemy wants you to jump off that bridge.

A few examples of those thoughts that just ‘pop-up’:

• Fear
• Revenge
• Hate
• Worry
• Divorce
• Suicide
• Murder
• Theft
• Jealousy
• Rage
• Lust
• Rejection
• Addiction
• Failure

Excerpts from book: Soul Care School (course one) available for download from Kanaan Ministries: www.kanaanministries.org

LET HIS LOVE SHINE….

I have just learned that a new movie called ‘legion’ is to be released in January this year. The Synopsis is basically as follows:

“When God loses faith in mankind He sends His angels to bring on the apocalypse. Humanity’s only hope lies in a group of strangers trapped in a desert diner and the Archangel Michael.”

Firstly, these two sentences alone already show red lights. Firsly it talks about God losing faith in Humanity, although God’s word says: “I will never leave you, I will never forsake you” (Heb 13:5). Secondly, the phrase suggests that humanity is fighting back, with the help of Michael the archangel. This would suggest that Michael has turned his back on God and God’s plan….

Some of the dialogue states: The last time God lost faith in Man he sent the flood. This time, he sent angels.”

The name legion on wikipedia is described as follows: “Legion, also known as the Gerasene Demon, is a demon found in the Christian Bible.”

I have seen the trailer of the movie (http://www.legionmovie.com/) and amongst others it depicts:

• Demons taking on human form (very graphic)
• A Depiction of humans fighting (physically) Angels who carry guns & swords ??
• It shows both Archangels Michael and Gabriel fighting each other – because Michael did not ‘obey’
• Michael comes to earth to protect a pregnant woman because her child is the only hope humanity has of survival (depicting the same as Christ)
• Michael says to Gabriel “I knew he would send you Gabriel…You were always so eager to please him” Gabriel replies: “Unlike you” (this would suggest that Michael, like Lucifer (satan) has turned his back on God.)
• Michael and Gabriel engage in an ‘Angelic Battle’.
• Michael says to a human who asks if this is the apocalypse “This is an extermination” – This is in contrast with the word of God that states that God is Love and a God of Love.

The full synopsis basically states that God has lost faith in Human kind and ‘no one’ is safe.

You can view an in depth video pulling apart the movie by Pastor Joe schimmel of Goodfight Ministries here.

We are told in the Bible: “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil…”

We need to protect our families and friends from movies such as this which is against scripture.

I always use the example of: John 1:12 “Yet some people accepted him and put their faith in him. So he gave them the right to be the children of God.“ An older translation states “Yet some people accepted him and put their faith in him. So he gave them the power to be the children of God” Changing one word changes the meaning of that verse altogether.

Here are a few more examples:

A book I once read noted that these changes are purposefully omitted by ‘agents’ of the ‘One world order’ and the Freemasons to eradicate the Truth that the word of God wants to share with all of us.

Worship is a huge thing

We look forward to worship every week

When the worship includes one of our favourites we say “The worship was great!”

When the music stinks we yawn and wonder why the worship wasn’t very good

We leave churches because of the ‘worship style’

Worship is a huge thing

Have you ever wondered if we are more concerned with what worship does FOR us and less concerned with the object of our worship?

It seems that it’s more about what we GET not what we GIVE

It would be like taking a gift to a friend’s birthday party but keeping it for ourselves.

Worship is all about giving our lives (again) to God

Worship is not about the feelings we receive when we sing

Worship is not about convincing God to bless us

Worship is not whether or not the guitar is too loud

Worship is not about what is happening on the stage

Worship is not about entertainment, lighting or sound

Worship is not about us at all

IT’S NOT ABOUT US

IT’S ABOUT HIM.

AND WE ENTER THROUGH THE GATEWAY OF THE CROSS.

AT THE CROSS WE SURRENDER, LOVE, CRY, DREAM, GIVE UP, SHUT UP, KNEEL, CONFESS.

We look at God and place Him above all else…because He is worth it!

Life Get’s crazy and painfull, no one can deny that….

JOB STRESS, DIVORCE, DEATH, ADDICTIONS, PARENTING, LONELINESS.

No one is asking you to pretend that those things aren’t affecting you. Don’t pretend.

You’re just being invited to bring that stuff to the cross, and to simply gaze at Jesus.

And as you look at Him allow your responses to be…Worship.

Did you know – the bible highlights the issue of Sexual Immorality approximately 22 times in the New Testament? It is mentioned in almost every book of the New Testament.

When reading about it we read phrases like ‘not even a hint’ or ‘have noting to do with them’ – obviously, an issue of significance in the church of Acts. Have things changed in 2000 years? If you consider Sexual Immorality to be adultery – then you might think you are ‘ok’. However, Jesus said that if we only look at a woman in lust that we have already committed adultery with her in our hearts. “Whoah! Wait a minute” you say. “I’m not like that”! Consider carefully your words friend…

Consider the following:

• FHM Magazine
• GQ Magazine
• Men’s Health Magazine
• SA Sports Illustrated
• Sunday Times Newspaper
• Die Son – Newspaper
• Fitness Magazines
• Runners World
• Fitness World
• YOUR FAVOURITE RUGBY Team’s CHEERLEADERS??
• The back page of the newspaper with all the ‘escort’ ads.
• Lingerie ads & Catalogues
• Fashion TV

Why do you buy these magazines? Why do you watch rugby cheerleaders? Do you often pause at the FTV channel ‘just to see’? Do you instinctively turn to the back page of the newspaper to see what’s on offer? What do your eyes do when you walk past the lingerie shop in your local mall – aptly named ‘temptations’?

We have been called to live a life of purity – to be Clean and Holy and Blameless in HIS sight. ‘But I’m a man’ you say. ‘It’s Impossible’ you say ‘all guys do it’ you say.

Jesus said that you already have within you all that is required to live a life of Godliness AND no temptation that is too much to bear has overcome you.

Take that step today friend. So that you may stand PURE in His Sight. Spend time with God, reflecting on your habits and asking Him to identify through His spirit where you need to step up. Reach for His hand and get out of the pit.

 Your’s in Christ.

“Wicca is one of the fastest-growing religions in the United States.” —MTV News

Is it true that media blockbusters like Twilight and Harry Potter are playing a decided role in seducing young people into Satanism and witchcraft? As we shall see, even MTV has acknowledged that such movies have played a surprising role in making Wicca [witchcraft] one of the fastest growing religions in America.

Twilight, a series of novels authored by Mormon, Stephenie Meyer, reveals that she may have had some help from at least one “terrifying” spirit guide. With the second novel ready to hit the silver screen, Twilight is now bigger than “Pottermania” and has successfully deceived millions of America’s youth.  The fan base is made up of predominantly young girls, who have been drawn into the dark tale by a romance between a 108-year-old vampire (who appears much younger because he doesn’t show his years) named Edward, and a teenage girl named Bella.  Beyond the apparent pedophilic problems that this “romance” poses, Twilight is riddled with unbiblical themes that glamorize and glorify the occult.

One such theme involves the perverted occult concept of an incubus.  According to Satanists, an incubus is believed to be a dark supernatural entity that is able to manifest itself and engage in sexual relations with a woman. Clearly, these are hardly the kinds of themes that God wants His children fantasizing about or glorifying.

While Edward’s age and nature would seem to raise major red flags, such concerns are thrown to the wind by the undiscerning as Meyer spins Edward’s vampire “coven” in the most positive light. While Edward and his coven are depicted as vampires in every way, from loving darkness and hating the light and possessing various diabolical abilities like extrasensory perception and automatic writing, Meyer portrays them as good-hearted and trustworthy demons, deep down. You see, even though Edward and his vampire “coven” readily drink the blood of animals… purportedly, with some self-control, they are able to resist drinking the blood of humans.  However, God repeatedly forbids the occult practice of drinking any kind of blood, as the following scriptures from both the Old and New Testament attest:

“Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.” –Genesis 9:4

“For as for the life of all flesh, its blood is identified with its life. Therefore I said to the sons of Israel, ‘You are not to eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood; whoever eats it shall be cut off.” –Leviticus 17:14

“Only you shall not eat the blood; you are to pour it out on the ground like water…” –Deuteronomy 12:16

“Only be sure not to eat the blood, for the blood is the life, and you shall not eat the life with the flesh.” –Deuteronomy 12:23

“But that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood.” –Acts 15:20

Throughout the Twilight series, Edward and his coven are portrayed in the most heroic fashion as they fight on behalf of humans and battle their evil, blood sucking counterparts.  There are, however, some complications that Edward and Bella’s relationship pose… beyond their huge age differences, they must deal with Edward’s diabolical nature. Edward must fight and overcome his own perverse and insatiable lust to drain and drink Bella’s blood.  Thus, Edward is depicted as a noble vampire who, though dangerous, loves humanity and wants to overcome his demons. Herein lies the danger, in a time wherein good is being called evil and evil is being called good (Isaiah 5:20), The World is being fed a steady diet of occultism as Satan parades his latest occult fare via the “beautiful side of evil.”

more in depth articles on the above on the column on the right….

(Adapted from “Twilight, Harry Potter, The Wizard of Oz and the Wiccan Revival – www.goodfight.org)

Here are some men and women who mocked God :
 
John Lennon (Singer):
 
Some years before, during his interview with an American Magazine, he said: ‘Christianity will end, it will disappear. I do not have to argue about that. I am certain. Jesus was ok, but His subjects were too simple, today we are more famous than Him’ (1966).

Lennon, after saying that the Beatles were more famous than Jesus Christ, was shot six times.
 
 Tancredo Neves (President of Brazil ):
Cazuza (Bi-sexual Brazilian composer, singer and poet):
The man who built the Titanic
Bon Scott (Singer)Christine Hewitt (Jamaican Journalist and entertainer)
said the Bible (Word of God) was the worst book ever written. In June 2006 she was found burnt beyond recognition in her motor vehicle.

During the Presidential campaign, he said if he got 500,000 votes from his party, not even God would remove him from Presidency.

Sure he got the votes, but he got sick a day before being made President, then he died.
 

During A show in Canecio ( Rio de Janeiro ), while smoking his cigarette, he puffed out some smoke into the air and said:’God, that’s for You.’
 
He died at the age of 32 of LUNG CANCER in a horrible manner.
 

After the construction of Titanic, a reporter asked him how safe the Titanic would be. With an ironic tone he said: ‘Not even God can sink it’

The result: I think you all know what happened to the Titanic
 
 Marilyn Monroe (Actress)
 
She was visited by Billy Graham during a presentation of a show. He said the Spirit of God had sent him to preach to her. After hearing what the Preacher had to say, she said:

‘I don’t need your Jesus’.
 
A week later, she was found dead in her apartment
 

The ex-vocalist of the AC/DC. On one of his 1979 songs he sang: ‘Don’t stop me; I’m going down all the way, down the highway to hell’.
On the 19th of February 1980, Bon Scott was found dead, he had been choked by his own vomit.
 Campinas (IN 2005)

In Campinas , Brazil a group of friends, drunk, went to pick up a friend…..

The mother accompanied her to the car and was so worried about the drunkenness of her friends and she said to the daughter holding her hand, who was already seated in the car:
 
‘My Daughter, Go With God And May He Protect You.’ She responded: ‘Only If He (God) Travels In The Trunk, Cause Inside Here…..It’s Already Full ‘
 
Hours later, news came by that they had been involved in a fatal accident, everyone had died, the car could not be recognized what type of car it had been, but surprisingly, the trunk was intact.
The police said there was no way the trunk could have remained intact. To their surprise, inside the trunk was a crate of eggs, none was broken
 

Many more important people have forgotten that there is no other name that was given so much authority as the name of Jesus. Still today, people abuse and miss use the name of our creator.

The bible says:  “Do not misuse my name. I am the LORD your God, and I will punish anyone who misuses my name. (Exodus 20: 7)

 
Allah or the Lord Jesus Christ? The Muslim religion is by far the fastest  growing religion in the UK . 
  
Last month I attended my annual training session that’s required for  maintaining my prison security clearance. During the training session there was a presentation by three speakers representing the Roman Catholic, Protestant and Muslim faiths, who explained each of their beliefs. 
  
 I was particularly interested in what the Islamic Imam had to say. The Imam gave a great presentation of the basics of Islam, complete with a video. 
  
After the presentations, time was provided for questions and answers. 
  
When it was my turn, I directed my question to the Imam and asked:  ‘Please, correct me if I’m wrong, but I understand that most Imams and clerics of Islam have declared a holy jihad [Holy war] against the infidels of the world and, that by killing an infidel, (which is a command to all Muslims) they are assured of a place in heaven.  If that’s the case, can you give me the definition of an infidel?’ 
  
There was no disagreement with my statements and, without hesitation, he replied, ‘Non-believers!’ 
  
I responded, ‘So, let me make sure I have this straight. All followers of Allah have been commanded to kill everyone who is not of your faith so they can have a place in heaven. Is that correct?’

 The expression on his face changed from one of authority and command  to that of  ’a little boy who had just been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.’ 
  
He sheepishly replied, ‘Yes.’ 
  
I then stated, ‘Well, I have a real problem trying to imagine Pope Benedict commanding all Catholics to kill those of your faith or Dr. Stanley ordering all Protestants to do the same in order to guarantee them a place in heaven!’