Sunday, July 31, 2016

Wasserman Schultz’s problems aren’t over yet By Lisa Hagen

Wasserman Schultz’s problems aren’t over yet

By Lisa Hagen

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz's political troubles aren't over yet.

The Florida Democrat is facing the toughest political race of her life after ending her controversial tenure as leader of the Democratic National Committee (DNC).

Her House seat is on the line in a primary race against well-funded challenger Tim Canova, and the battle is heating up amid the fallout from her resignation following the leak of hacked emails that showed DNC officials plotting to undermine Sen. Bernie Sanders's (I-Vt.) presidential campaign in the Democratic primary.

Some think the race has changed after the former chairwoman’s tough week.

“I think this has really shifted the race,” said Kathryn DePalo, a political science professor at Florida International University. “I think she’s going to have a tough fight. I think she’s probably going to win, but it’ll be close.”

She added that a Canova victory would not be a surprise. “I think that’s how devastating these email leaks have been,” DePalo said.

Wasserman Schultz was booed off the stage by Sanders supporters at the Florida delegation breakfast on the first day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia last week.

“The constant refrain that I heard is she can eke it out,” said Susan MacManus, a political science professor at University of South Florida in Tampa.

But MacManus said it won’t be without a fight.

“She’s got to come home and work her constituency,” she said. “She hasn’t had to for years.”

State Sen. Eleanor Sobel, a Clinton delegate whose district overlaps with Wasserman Schultz’s congressional district, also attended the breakfast and brushed off the prospect that this will hurt Wasserman Schultz's reelection bid.

“Most people understand Debbie as someone who is very caring,” Sobel said. “She’s part of the fabric of our community.”

Canova has been trying to build momentum.

He’s already raised an eye-popping $2.3 million since entering the race in January, and his alignment with Sanders has won him attention and an endorsement from the senator himself.

Canova said he’s been nonstop campaigning for the past eight months as he criss-crosses the district to meet as many constituents as possible. The DNC leak exudes her “bad judgment” and has rallied more people to his campaign, he said.

“We’re seeing a lot of energy come our way,” Canova told The Hill. “We built a very good field operation to ride the wave that’s come in now.”

A political consulting firm run by top aides to the Sanders campaign has joined Canova. The firm, run by Tad Devine, Julian Mulvey and Mark Longabaugh, was tasked with handling advertising as well as advising Sanders during the primary.

One big question

Wasserman Schultz’s problems aren’t over yet

By Lisa Hagen

1444

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz's political troubles aren't over yet.

The Florida Democrat is facing the toughest political race of her life after ending her controversial tenure as leader of the Democratic National Committee (DNC).

Some think the race has changed after the former chairwoman’s tough week.

She added that a Canova victory would not be a surprise. “I think that’s how devastating these email leaks have been,” DePalo said.

Wasserman Schultz was booed off the stage by Sanders supporters at the Florida delegation breakfast on the first day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia last week.

“The constant refrain that I heard is she can eke it out,” said Susan MacManus, a political science professor at University of South Florida in Tampa.

But MacManus said it won’t be without a fight.

“She’s got to come home and work her constituency,” she said. “She hasn’t had to for years.”

“Most people understand Debbie as someone who is very caring,” Sobel said. “She’s part of the fabric of our community.”

Canova has been trying to build momentum.

He’s already raised an eye-popping $2.3 million since entering the race in January, and his alignment with Sanders has won him attention and an endorsement from the senator himself.

“We’re seeing a lot of energy come our way,” Canova told The Hill. “We built a very good field operation to ride the wave that’s come in now.”

One big question is whether Sanders will campaign for Canova in Florida.

Canova said he spoke to Sanders’s campaign manager before the convention and that talks will continue, but no plans have been confirmed.

Wasserman Schultz, the state’s first Jewish congresswoman, is a well-known fixture in her predominantly Jewish district. Her campaign did not return a request for comment.

She also appears to have an advantage in that her constituents voted overwhelmingly for Clinton in the March primary.

Those who live in her district describe her as a tireless campaigner who’s well liked and well known.

Some observers are skeptical Canova can win in a summer primary that will likely have low turnout.

“While I’m sure that there is some impact, I don’t think that we should overstate the impacts because I think that the folks in her home district are the ones that know her the most,” said Ashley Walker, a Florida Democratic strategist.

Wasserman Schultz’s main priority will be to engage with constituents and have a constant presence in her district. Her campaign will also have a bit of catching up to do: Canova’s campaign has been running TV and radio ads for the past three weeks.

Secrets of World War II

By MSI

See the Captured Nazi Sub That the U.S. Navy Had To Keep Under Wraps Read More

“I think she needs to get out there face-to-face, get out to the groups all over the district,” DePalo said. “That’s the way I think she can turn things around is being out there.”

Even with all eyes suddenly drawn to the race, it’s still difficult to predict the outcome with no polling currently available. But if someone is able to unseat Wasserman Schultz, observers say it’s Canova.

“If anyone’s going to beat her, it’s a Democrat from her left with $2 million,” said Kevin Hill, a political science professor at Florida International University.

TAGS:Bernie Sanders

is whether Sanders will campaign for Canova in Florida.

Canova said he spoke to Sanders’s campaign manager before the convention and that talks will continue, but no plans have been confirmed.

Wasserman Schultz, the state’s first Jewish congresswoman, is a well-known fixture in her predominantly Jewish district. Her campaign did not return a request for comment.

She also appears to have an advantage in that her constituents voted overwhelmingly for Clinton in the March primary.

Those who live in her district describe her as a tireless campaigner who’s well liked and well known.

Some observers are skeptical Canova can win in a summer primary that will likely have low turnout.

Secrets of World War II

By MSI

See the Captured Nazi Sub That the U.S. Navy Had To Keep Under Wraps Read More

“I think she needs to get out there face-to-face, get out to the groups all over the district,” DePalo said. “That’s the way I think she can turn things around is being out there.”

“If anyone’s going to beat her, it’s a Democrat from her left with $2 million,” said Kevin Hill, a political science professor at Florida International University.

TAGS:Bernie Sanders

Below are seven common approaches to interpreting Bible prophecy

by Todd Strandberg

Below are seven common approaches to interpreting Bible prophecy. Although man has composed a number of positions and definitions regarding prophecy, nearly everyone observes prophecy from one of these seven angles. It should be noted that though people may employ different approaches at different times, each individual's understanding is likely to be dominated by just one of the following perspectives.

LiteralLiteralism involves interpreting a passage in its plainest sense. People who hold to a literal approach to understanding Bible prophecy would agree with this statement: "Simply believe what you read."
Some scholars claim that the Bible's inclusion of a number of symbols, parables, and metaphors to express meaning makes literalism impractical. However, in most cases, every symbolic passage in the Bible is followed by a full explanation.
Despite the claims of some scholars, 2 Timothy seems to indicate that God didn't intend Scripture to be taken subjectively: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Tim. 3:16).
The key to making a literal approach work is not to add individual biases and beliefs to what the Bible says.
Because there are so many schools of thought regarding the same Scriptures, many Bible scholars agree that a strict guideline for interpreting God's Word is the most prudent option to follow.
PROS:
This method has the Rapture Ready seal of approval for the best approach to Bible prophecy.
CONS:
Some folks find that literalism interferes with their personal interpretations of prophecy.

Current EventsThis approach involves using current events to define the meaning of prophetic Scripture. Most current event commentaries are formulated by simply reading the latest news, and then cross-referencing the news with Bible prophecy.
Current event-focused reporting is an effective method of warning people. If we are getting very close to the advent of final end-time events, it is natural to expect these events to begin appearing in the news.
Sometimes a big headline will grab the attention of the prophetic community, even though the event has nothing to do with prophecy. A good example was the death of Princess Diana: It was a big story, but it had zero linkage to Bible prophecy.
PROS:
Referencing current events is an excellent way to make people aware of predicted end-time events.
CONS:
Because adverse situations have occurred many times throughout history, it can be risky to jump the gun by saying a certain news item fulfills Bible prophecy. A particular current event may, for a short period, resemble a predicted end-time prophecy. But because situations can easily change, caution should always be exercised.

NumerologyBy studying the meaning of numbers and their supposed influence on Bible prophecy, numerologists hope to discover dates for key end-time events.
When it comes to predicting the rapture, the second coming, and other end-time dates, numerology is the most widely used method of determining these dates.
Because numerology has no set formulas, and the Bible offers a wealth of numbers with which to work, any year can be determined to be suspect.
Here are some numerology workings for the year 1998: Some observed the fact that 666 X 3 = 1998; others note that America will be 222 years old, and 2+2+2 equals the devil's number 6; and the UN will be 51 next year, 5+1 also equal 6. If you're still not convinced, according to one person, 4003 BC was the starting point for mankind; count off 6 millennia and you come up with 1998.
PROS:
Because numerology-minded people are constantly working with numbers, I'm sure most of them have exceptional math skills.
CONS:
Just about any group of numbers can be made to mathematically predict any predetermined date.

ConspiracyBecause the Antichrist will someday control all world governments, some look for him to come to power by means of a shadow government.
Conspiracy-minded people will tell you all aspects of society are controlled by "the powers that be." Their understanding of prophecy is generally filtered through the notion that secret organizations are guiding and controlling world affairs.
Conspiracy buffs may claim that all aspects of society are controlled by unseen powers. If the mailmen linger too long in front of their homes, they think the postal carriers are spies working for the Illuminati.
Some of the claims by conspiracy seekers are incredibly outlandish: UFOs are abducting people and turning them into mindless robots; every Christian leader in America is part of the conspiracy; concentration camps are being set up for Christians; and all disasters are caused by the government.
PROS:
When the Antichrist takes over, conspiracy buffs will be ready to flee to the mountains.
CONS:
You wouldn't be able to go anywhere because your friends and family already will have had you committed.

Divine KnowledgeSome Christians base their entire understanding of Bible prophecy on messages received supernaturally from God.
A prophetic interpretation can be made very tempting if it's preceded by, "Thus saith the Lord...".
A true test to determine whether one who claims to be a prophet of God really is a prophet of God is found in the 18th chapter of Deuteronomy: "When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him" (Deut. 18:22).
Historically, some Christians have been lacking discernment over the issue of false predictions. Many so-called prophets of God have repeatedly set dates that have failed to come to pass.
PROS:
If God said it would happen, then you can be absolutely sure it will take place.
CONS:
The believer should maintain a healthy skepticism about those who claim divine revelation, and immediately reject those who contradict sound Bible doctrine.

IntellectualThe intellectual approach involves finding deep and often-hidden meanings of prophecy. This approach may also rely heavily on historical writings, which may help counteract modern doctrinal heresies.
Unfortunately, errors can creep in as prideful men strive beyond the "limited" thinking of our early church fathers. The intellectual approach appeals primarily to those who are well educated or very familiar with prophecy.
PROS:
If an intellectual makes an obscure prophetic doctrine claim that is false, most people will never understand the error.
CONS:
Grievous errors in the composition of one's hermeneutics can lead to more arduous discernment of malefactions among adherents of eschatology. Also, it makes it more difficult to understand prophecy. Another problem with this approach: It makes it difficult for the common Joe to understand prophecy.

AllegoricalThe allegorical approach takes the view that frequently expresses or explains one thing while actually referring to another. Those who hold to this approach look for hidden or symbolic meanings in prophetic Scripture. They often say, "It says this, but what it really means is this."
Allegorical interpretations of passages can often be found to conflict with other parts of the Bible. Jehovah's Witnesses allegorically believe the Lord Jesus returned secretly in 1914, yet the Apostle John wrote, "every eye shall see him" (Rev. 1:7).
Many people who view Bible prophecy as a threat use an allegorical interpretation of prophecy to alter it to their liking. Subjects like the Antichrist, the tribulation or the mark of the beast are either eliminated or made harmless by allegorical definitions.
PROS:
Allegorical scholars get to let their imaginations run wild.
CONS:
With no set rules or standards for the interpretation of prophecy, it may be difficult to find two allegorical scholars who agree with each other.

The Quest For Truth

The difficulty in recognizing truth from fiction starts right after birth. From my earliest days, I recall being constantly bombarded with falsehoods. When I was age five, none of my peers questioned the popular belief that some fat guy in a red suit was sneaking into houses annually to deliver name-brand toys made by his worker elves.

I exposed this giant Santa conspiracy when I realized it was impossible for one man to visit all those locations in one single night. I remember encountering some true believers in Old Saint Nick up until the time I reached the higher grades of elementary school.

When I reached the age at which I knew people were telling me things that were full of contradictions, I began my quest for truth. It has not been an easy search. I've gotten off track a number of times, but the Word of God and determination have always quickly led me back to the straight-and-narrow path.

Truth is not something you can hold in your hands. Its existence is based on a process of eliminating every other possibility. In the grand summation of all things, truth will outlast and outweigh all other explanations of reality.

Truth becomes lost or hidden when people fail to diligently seek after it. When the Roman governor, Pilate, was judging Jesus, he asked, "What is truth?" Of course, he said this not knowing the Man of Truth was standing right before him.

In this article, it's not possible for me to tell you what is truth and what is not. You folks would be foolhardy to just blindly trust the words of some guy you located on the internet. My plan is to show some methods you can use to find truth for yourself.

A Strong Conviction Doesn't Make Something True

People have a natural tendency to assume that if you believe in something strongly enough it will become reality. No matter how dedicated people are to an idea, their positive confessions do not produce truth.

In the past decade, many radical terrorists have believed in their twisted ideologies so resolutely that they have been willing to die for their causes. I'm sure the hijackers who crashed the three jets into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were fully convinced that killing all those people was a supremely justified act that had the blessings of some divine being.

I realize the world has lost much of its grasp on morality, but I don't think we've fallen far enough from grace for the average person not to understand that these men were greatly mistaken in their actions. I'm sure the terrorists were quite shocked when they realized they were not in Heaven.

I'm constantly receiving email messages from folks who hold to some rather strange doctrines. In most cases, I can tell right away that their beliefs directly conflict with the Word of God. But nonetheless, they firmly believe that they are right. Sadly, most don't even bother to see whether the Bible agrees with them. It is simply the strength of their own human will that makes them correct.

You simply can't use faith and conviction to make something true. Even a person of great doubt can still be correct. The power of positive thinking is powerless in the real world of hard facts.

In many faith healing circles, many erroneous teachings tell people it's a sin to have a negative thought about your state of health. They're instructed to say goofy things like, "I don't have cancer"; "I'm not sick"; or "I don't have a bad back."

If you have a terminal illness, saying you don't have it isn't going to make it go away. God does not wait until someone is in the perfect state of denial before he heals that person. Until the Lord sees fit to answer your prayers for healing, it's dishonesty to claim a state of health you don't have.

Everyone has the right to have mangled logic. I'm just not sure that was their original intent.

Everything Has An Explanation

I got out of the debate business long ago. I used to argue with people for hours over some major issues, but after years of experience, I've learned it's impossible to corner someone who doesn't wish to be cornered. There is always a counter point to every point, and a counter, counter point to every counter point.

Pride is a huge obstacle to finding the truth by debating. One person has to be willing to admit he's wrong, and it's very unlikely this will happen. And just because someone acquiesces and admits he is wrong, the opposing point isn't necessarily the truth. I try to respond to emails that challenge the views I present on my site, but I rarely engage in a lengthy, back-and-forth discussion with people who are clearly in some other camp.

Any type of lie can be defended to some measure. Most everyone believes the Earth is round. Try putting yourself in the mindset of the members of the Flat Earth Society. Sure, we have pictures of the Earth from space, but any Hollywood graphic artist could dream up similar photos. As for those live images of men walking on the moon... hmmm, those rocks in the background do look suspiciously like foam rubber.

Because everyone you encounter has the potential to be a false witness, you should never completely let down your guard. Computers have firewalls that constantly check for viruses; we need to always have the latest version of common sense loaded in our minds.

Everything does have a potential explanation, but not every explanation makes sense. Some people need to know when to give it a rest. When you've become the only witness to truth, you've then gone too far. I like the slogan, "Don't put a question mark where God puts a period."

Rat Poison

I've always been amazed that the common poisons we use to control rodents are made of 99.995 percent inert ingredients. When you open up a box of Victor Rat/Mouse Bait, only 5 thousandths of a percent of the content is the actual poison that kills the little rascals--the rest is mostly grain. I guess if the mixture were 90 percent grain with 10 percent poison, the vermin wouldn't eat the stuff because it would taste repulsive.

The mixture of lies with truth often works the same way as rat poison. You only need an extremely small amount of falsehood to pollute any given belief, and by using a small dosage, the devil can make lies very palatable.

Adultery presents a very good example of the use of this type of subtle poison. Someone cheating on his wife could possibly detail a long list of reasons to support his affair. He may find the adulterous relationship has several positive benefits: It may give him happiness, companionship, or understanding, but every time he and his lover make their secret rendezvous, the toxin, sin, is also present.

Rodents lack the ability to realize they're eating something that's slowly killing them. In most cases, humans are fully aware they're consuming something that is poisonous. The lack of immediate negative consequences creates a false impression that the poison is manageable.

In John 17, Jesus talked about being in the world but not of the world. Even though we live our lives in this sinful world, we need to constantly be aware that everything of an earthly nature is tainted. We don't need to become monks to retain our faith. Just remember, it's all right for a ship to be in the ocean, but woe unto that ship if the ocean gets into it.

The Greater Truth Principle

In my many years of study, I've had to resolve where I stand on a wide range of issues. During my research, I have often found one source saying one thing and another source saying the opposite. After many years of study, I have come up with a rule that has been very helpful to me.

I call it the "greater truth principle." In all arguments for truth, some facts and statements overrule all others. In a murder case, a mountain of circumstantial evidence may point to the suspect's innocence, but all it takes is one signed confession of guilt to nullify the circumstantial evidence. The suspect may not have initially fit the profile of a killer, but if he admits to the crime and provides a motive, the lack of the profile match becomes irrelevant.

Here's a more in-depth illustration to drive the point home: One might say, "Tom and I are going bass fishing this weekend." Supporting this claim are the following true statements:

Tom and I have gone fishing each weekend during the past month.
Tom just bought a new fishing pole and wants to try it out.
We plan to go fishing this weekend.
Tom's brother is coming along with us.
The weather is going to be great well into next week.

These five points may be true, and they make it highly likely that Tom and the person making the statement are going bass fishing this coming weekend. However, other factors can instantly make them incorrect. Those factors instantly become the dominant truth outranking all other statements. Here are a few examples:

Tom had a heart attack and is now recovering in the hospital.
Tom's Army reserve unit was called up and he had to leave immediately.
Tom had to make an unexpected two-week business trip to Europe.
Tom died in an accident.

These four declarations override each of the first five statements. If Tom is barred by overwhelming circumstances from attending the fishing date, it doesn't matter what his plans were for that weekend.

Some people try to dance around the truth by promoting implausible answers to absolute statements. Here are a few examples of these types of remarks:

Tom Jr. was whom I was talking about.
Tom will be there in spirit.
Tom will rise from the grave.

The key to making the greater truth principle work is to honestly judge which truth outranks another lesser truth. You have to do this without injecting your own personal opinions into the decision-making process.

Examples of Greater Truths

The main purpose for my website is to defend the pre-trib rapture doctrine. I have included on the site dozens of articles that detail why I believe in pretribulationism; however, the greater truth that always puts the issue to rest is Matthew 24:44: "For this reason you be ready too; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will." There simply cannot be a rapture surprise if we already know the event is coming at the mid-point, pre-wrath, or end of the tribulation.

Many liberal scholars will tell you all religions lead to God. They quote passages that talk about God's eternal love for mankind. The greater truth facing universalism has to be Jesus' statement in John 14:6: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

Rev. Sun Myung Moon is the leader of the cult, "The Unification Church." One of his specialties is having a supernatural ability to match up strangers for his mass weddings. People who have never met before are told by Moon that they are perfect matches for each other. The first greater truth would be that Moon's teachings are not found in the Bible. The most pointed greater truth that disputes Moon's claim of being a divine matchmaker is the fact he's been divorced himself.

In the debate between eternal security and responsible living, those who believe in "once saved, always saved" quote John 6:47: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life." In James 2:26, we have one of the clearest examples of the power of a greater truth: "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." In order for James' statement to be correct, John 6:47 has to come with conditional requirements.

Regarding homosexual acts, Leviticus 18:22 makes it very clear where the Bible stands on the subject: "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." I've never read a rebuttal that tried to use Scripture to counter the numerous passages that condemn the gay lifestyle. The most common approach is to say God was talking about the perversion of pure homosexuality, such as homosexual rape, prostitution, and lust. If you stick to the Golden Rule, there is no way you should misunderstand the Bible's view on this matter.

You can always find ads for baldness cures in men's magazines and on late-night cable channels. The hucksters selling these products claim they can restore anyone to a full head of hair. The greater truth disproving these ads is the fact that image-conscious male celebrities continue to suffer from various stages of baldness.

I realize some folks may disagree with me on my examples of greater truths. If that is the case, I challenge you to find in the Bible a greater, greater truth that invalidates any of the ones I've cited.

The Bible: Your Only Dependable Source for Truth

The Berean citizens, of the Book of Acts, are famous for their dedication to biblical truth. When the Apostle Paul was instructing them in the faith, every day they would check the Old Testament to verify the claims Paul was making about Jesus being the promised Messiah.

"And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so" (Acts 17:10-11).

Without the Bible there is no understanding of eternal truth. The truth that man has forever been trying to devise is subject to constant revision. In the final summation, it will have to be said: All truth begins with God and all truth ends with God.

I've searched the internet and book libraries for commentary on truth, and have found very little instruction on how to find it. I had zero trouble locating material that talked about the need for truth. The Bible goes on endlessly about the subject of truth. It boldly and emphatically says, look no further:

"Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth" (Psalm 119:142).

"The sum of thy word is truth" (Psalm 119:160).

"Sanctify them in the truth: thy word is truth" (John 17:17).

"And now, O Lord Jehovah, thou art God, and thy words are truth" (2 Sam. 7:28).

"And that from a babe thou hast known the sacred writings which are able to make thee wise unto salvation" (2 Tim. 3:15).

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15).

"Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32).

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

What Is a Crisis of Faith?

By Todd Strandberg

In a world with few moral champions, Mother Teresa stands as one of the most well regarded religious leader in history. She spent most of her adult life caring for children in the slums ofIndia. It turns out, the missionary who brought light to those in deepest darkness was herself in darkness.

The world recently learned of Mother Teresa’s struggle with doubt when her personal letters were made public in a book. She asked that all her writings and correspondence be destroyed, but the guardians of her earthly estate decided her notes should be preserved for the sake of posterity.

In one of her letters, she wrote an undated address to Jesus, "Where is my Faith -- even deep down right in there is nothing, but emptiness & darkness -- My God -- how painful is this unknown pain -- I have no Faith -- I dare not utter the words & thoughts that crowd in my heart -- & make me suffer untold agony."

She wrote the Rev. Michael van der Peet in September 1979, saying, "Jesus has a very special love for you. As for me, the silence and the emptiness is so great that I look and do not see, listen and do not hear."

Mother Teresa has been beatified but not yet canonized. One reporter mockingly quipped that she should be made the patron saint of doubters.

There is nothing special about Mother Teresa having a struggle with faith. Many great church leaders have had to deal with moments when they questioned their own faith.

What Is a Crisis of Faith?

"Crisis of faith" is a term commonly applied to periods of intense doubt and internal conflict about one's preconceived beliefs or life decisions. This doubt can be triggered by a single event, or it can build up as a general sense of dissatisfaction.

Some people think that any type of uncertainty is a sign of a crisis of faith. I would say the opposite is generally true. Someone who boldly declares that he or she has never had doubts is likely a person who was never a true believer.

True faith is about denying one's self and struggling to reject the sin nature. It is also about feeling like a stranger in a strange land. A person who has perfect peace with the world has never actually separated from it.

A crisis of faith takes place when you reach a dead end, then realize you simply have no faith in your faith.

Game Face

My 20 years of experience in running Rapture Ready has brought me into contact with thousands of Christians. I have learned that you can never be totally sure if someone is a genuine believer.

People know how to act like a Christian. They put on a game face, saying what a Christian should say, yet they lack what it means to be whole in the faith.

Mother Teresa admitted that there was a feigned effort in the to imagine she presented to the world. "The smile," she wrote, "is a mask or a cloak that covers everything. I spoke as if my very heart was in love with God, a tender personal love. If you were there you would have said, ‘What hypocrisy.’"

I’ve seen some examples that go far beyond Mother Teresa's lack of confidence. Some people remove their mask and reject Christianity altogether.

Not too long ago, I talked with someone who operates a site similar to Rapture Ready. During the phone conversation, I was surprised to hear this person openly admit not really being a believer in Christ. I was equally surprised by the endless stream of profanity coming from this person’s mouth.

I have long admired this individual’s articles. The website this person maintains offers Christians some sound scriptural advice, but there is this glaring contradiction.

The only sense I could make of the conflict was that this person's interest had more to do with the satisfaction of running an organization than the desire to serve the Lord. As a result, someone is telling people how to live a Christian life, but that person is following a separate path.

On the Rapture Ready message board, we occasionally have people lose their mask. I remember one woman who wanted to open a thread on wine tasting. When we decided it wasn't a good idea, she had an absolute fit.

Some of her messages were so profane, I wondered if she had switched to the hard stuff and was doing more than just tasting it. Beforehand she had been very sweet to me, but when we butted heads, I could tell she was straining to think of the most vile, hateful things she could throw in the direction of myself and the other moderators.

I understand that conflict and trials do cause people to say things they might later regret. They should never bring us to the point where we renounce our faith.

A Crisis Doesn’t Require a Crisis of Faith

Becoming a Christian does not mean everything will suddenly become a bed of roses. No matter how well isolated someone might be from the world, there are going to be times of difficulty.

For some people, a trial is the point when they doubt or abandon their faith. People assume that God has violated some unwritten contract with them, so they go their own way.

Ted Turner, the founder of CNN, is a very dramatic example of this type of outcome. At one point, Ted intended to be a missionary. He said that he has been "born again" seven times. Ted's sister, Mary Jane, came down with lupus and suffered terribly before dying. Ted had prayed for an hour each day--"for naught". Ever since, Ted has been mad at God and considers himself an "atheist" or an "agnostic" today.

The loss of a loved one is a very traumatic event that can cause anyone to question how a caring deity can impose such pain and suffering on loved ones. It’s often difficult to differentiate “free will” from the “will of God,” and it’s even harder to realize that certain things are simply beyond our control.

There is no broken promise on God’s part. When Adam and Eve fell, the Lord spelled out the consequences of their error right on the spot, and He has been true to His word. Because we live under a curse, hardship should not be a factor in our faith.

Consider the poor folks who lived during the Middle Ages. Their entire lives were spent going from one miserable experience to another. The vast majority of the population existed in abject poverty conditions, and there was a constant threat of war and disease. Someone dying at age 50 would be considered as having lived to a ripe old age.

Despite these miserable conditions, people in the Middle Ages were very solid in their faith. They labored six days a week from sun up to sun down, and packed churches on Sunday.

A cynic might say they were clinging to a false hope, but I don't think that is the root cause. I think the reason adversity causes people to be more devoted in their faith is because it forces people to realize that the Kingdom of God is more valuable than this world. Today, with all the carnal enticements around us, we put more value in this life. Adversity causes people to search their souls, and this is what produces faith.

We should never forget that this world is shadow of the glory that waits in the life to come. Any problem we have along the journey to our true home should not be viewed as something that can damage our faith.

A Crisis of Faith Can Be a Good Thing

There are billions of people on this planet whom I wish would have a crisis of faith. The reason is because the faith they currently have is based on falsehood.

One sad situation is when someone is in bondage to a false religion, then realizes something is not right yet continues to be part of this group because he or she lacks the willpower to break free.

I would rather have someone reject a faith they have no trust in than go through life living a hopeless lie. It is foolish for someone to remain linked to a school of thought just because of some cultural or emotional attachment to it.

A lie doesn’t get better with age. It normally degrades as the light of the truth reveals its true nature.

The followers of Jim Jones could have used a crisis of faith. There was plenty of evidence that he was not the divine savior he claimed to be. People blindly put their trust in him--all the way to the point that they lost their lives.

I think the reason Mother Teresa felt so empty was her reliance on a religious experience that was based on works. It’s sad that her lack of fulfillment didn’t cause her to seek the true meaning of faith.

The Holy Ghost Connection

Most people believe faith is a matter of someone just being presented with the gospel message and deciding to become a believer. The Bible says the Holy Spirit is involved in the process. Without Him, no one would choose to become a believer in Christ.

James said that anyone who lacks understanding should ask God for wisdom. People who are in a state of confusion are often trying solve their doubts through their own ability.

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him" James 1:5.

I’ve been serving the Lord for over 25 years and I can tell how God has guided me. I never had any special revelations of truth, but I’ve never had any crisis with my faith.

I have noticed the sustaining power in God when I reflect back on how many of my Christian friends from my youth have lost their vigor, while I have found strength to keep pressing forward each day.

If you place your trust in God, I am certain that He will also guide you through any obstacle that may come your way.

“By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance, O God of our salvation; you are the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas. By your strength you established the mountains; you are girded with might. You silence the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples. Those who live at earth’s farthest bounds are awed by your signs; you make the gateways of the morning and the evening shout for joy” (Psalm 65:5-8).

What Should Christians Be Doing? - Number One

Despite the fact that over 85 percent of Americans define themselves as Christians, very few of them could answer the simply question, What Should Christians Be Doing? Most people can only come up with very general advice that could be applied to any faith. Because there is an appalling lack of good information on the web about this crucial subject, 13 saints have banned together to each offer a page that would help fill this void.

  What Should Christians Be Doing? - Number One
  What Should Christians Be Doing? - Number Two
  What Should Christians Be Doing? - Number Three
  What Should Christians Be Doing? - Number Four
  What Should Christians Be Doing? - Number Five
  What Should Christians Be Doing? - Number Six
  What Should Christians Be Doing? - Number Seven
  What Should Christians Be Doing? - Number Eight
  What Should Christians Be Doing? - Number Nine
  What Should Christians Be Doing? - Number Ten
  What Should Christians Be Doing? - Number Eleven
  What Should Christians Be Doing? - Number Twelve
  What Should Christians Be Doing? - Number Thirteen

Future Employees of Rapture Ready

By Todd Strandberg

I have always been fascinated when considering the transforming effects the pre-trib rapture will have on the world. The instantaneous removal of the Church will someday render the word "astonishment" insufficient to describe the catastrophic nature of what will have just happened. When the rapture takes place, I am convinced it will be 100 times more stunning than any other moment in history. I've said this before.

In the past, no single event has managed to touch every individual on a personal level. For example, in 1941 very few people had even heard about Pearl Harbor, let alone knew someone involved in the incident. The attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon fall into the same category. Everyone saw the calamity on television, but it's unlikely that more than 1 percent of the US population knew any of the victims who worked in the Twin Towers or the Pentagon, or who were aboard the commercial airliners hijacked by the terrorists. After the rapture takes place, everyone left behind will know someone who will have been mysteriously taken away. It could be a neighbor, a distant cousin, or a person's entire immediate family.

The rapture will bring to an end many theological debates. Everyone who will have lacked the capacity to make the right choice before will, at that time, have overwhelming evidence that should convince them to reset their spiritual priorities. I've invested a lot of time addressing the post-rapture world because I see that future period as the most productive in the history of the Christian faith.

The Great Awakenings of the 1700s and 1800s will have nothing on this time of mass conversion. Multitudes will be saved during the tribulation, and God will use a specific group of Jews to spread the Gospel throughout the world. Before the rapture, the lack of urgency will have caused people to neglect their faith. During the tribulation, there will be no way to avoid having to choose between God and the devil. The threat of death will persuade many people of the urgency of coming to Christ, and it will make soul-winning champions of them.

At first, it is going to be very difficult for new believers to find their footing. Because every born-again believer will be taken in the rapture, the tribulation saints will have an extremely steep learning curve. It is quite ironic that many people who will have loathed the Christian faith before the rapture will become devoted followers during the tribulation hour. Because the tribulation will be hell on earth, there is hope that even the most stubborn of sinners will be forced to admit he or she needs a savior. In the following section, I've selected a group of celebrities who are known to be atheists, or who are hostile toward the Christian faith. The internet is so clogged with information, I don't expect any of these individuals to ever read my comments about them, and I obviously have no way to guarantee that the rapture will cause them to come to the truth. I entitled this article "Future Employees of Rapture Ready" because I hope some of them will undergo a life change similar to what Paul experienced on the road to Damascus.

Richard Dawkins - A biologist by trade, he has written several books that promote evolution and debunk the idea that there is a God. I've read Mr. Dawkins' book, "The God Delusion," and I was surprised to find him mention Rapture Ready. On page 254 of his book, he focused on a comment I made about the site, which is a perfect fit for this article. At the bottom of RR's main page is an announcement that reads, "If the rapture should take place, resulting in my absence, it will be necessary for tribulation saints to mirror or financially support this site." I don't understand why Dawkins found offense in an obligation that he believes will never come his way. Well, Dick, that obligation may soon be upon you, and I think it would be a very fitting end to have the money you earned debunking the idea of a God to someday be used to magnify His glory.Bill Gates - One of the best-known entrepreneurs of the personal computer revolution, he has been listed by Forbes Magazine as the world's richest person from 1995 to 2007, with recent estimates putting his net worth near $56 billion. As the former head of Microsoft, Bill would be very qualified at the task of disseminating the information on RR through various forms of computer technology. The fact that he quit Microsoft to work on a foundation full-time indicates that he has a heart for ministering to people's needs.
Warren Buffett - "The Oracle of Omaha," is famous for his ability to make wise financial investments. Buffett is the head of the holding company Berkshire Hathaway. With an estimated current net worth of around $52 billion, he is the world's third-richest person. He seems like a very down-to-earth man, so it is sad to read that he does not believe in a divine Creator. I hope the rapture will cause Warren and many others to make a mad dash to the Lord's mercy seat, exchanging his earthly wealth for treasures that have a lasting value.
Jon Stewart - In 2006, "The Daily Show" host ran some footage of a CNN program that talked about the end times. In the video footage, a CNN correspondent mentioned the Rapture Index, and it sparked Stewart to make a wisecrack about his own index being out of sync with the one on RR. Seeing as how the rapture event will invalidate the Rapture Index, Jon is more than welcome to revamp it with one that would focus on Jesus Christ's return. It's much easier to forecast the second coming of Christ, so Mr. Stewart should have no trouble retooling the index.
Salman Rushdie - This British-Indian novelist and essayist achieved fame with his fourth novel, The Satanic Verses. His book provoked violent reactions from Muslims in several countries. Rushdie faced death threats and had to go into hiding for several years. The tribulation will require brave men to stand up against the Antichrist. Rushdie has already proved that he can promote an unpopular message in the face of heavy opposition.
Ted Turner - The founder of CNN has never been shy about expressing his views. In the past, he's made some very negative comments about religion, saying, "Christianity is a religion for losers." At one point in his life, Turner intended to become a missionary. All that changed when his younger sister, Mary Jane, contracted a form of lupus and suffered terribly before dying a relatively short time later. All his prayers for her recovery, an hour a day, he said, were for naught. The fact that Ted still has a missionary's zeal, demonstrated by his work with secular causes, leaves hope that the rapture shock will be enough to rekindle his previous desire to serve the Lord.
Penn Jillette & Teller - The team of Penn & Teller are most widely known as professional magicians. They also host a program on the premium cable channel Showtime that debunks pseudoscientific ideas, supernatural beliefs, popular fads and misconceptions. There will be plenty of falsehood in the days that follow the rapture, so Penn & Teller's skills would be very helpful in combating error.
Steve Wozniak - I included Bill Gates from the PC side of the computer world, so thought it would be best to cite someone from the Apple camp. Steve Jobs would probably be the best choice, but I wasn't able to locate any resource material on his spiritual stance. Steve Wozniak is the cofounder of Apple Computer and has a well-documented history of being an atheist. He could be helpful in disseminating biblical truth to the minority of people who own Macintosh computers.

In the aftermath of the rapture, millions of people will read the articles on RR. I challenge anyone who may stumble onto this webpage to find your role in the Kingdom of God.

You may be thinking that you've hopelessly squandered your life. Well, you need to realize you have a huge advantage: you're still in the race. Opportunity will have come to an end for everyone taken in the rapture. While most Christians slowly accumulated rewards over their lifetime, you have the ability to close the gap by sprinting to the finish line.

Rapture Ready will be an "employment agency" at that time, one whose only charge will be the Great Commission.

"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Matt. 28: 18-20).

The New Under Ground Church-THE TRUTH MUST BE TOLD

Sunday, July 31, 2016