“If you strike me down I will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine!” These

famous scripted words were spoken by Obi Wan Kenobi in the original Star Wars. Darth Vader

accepts the gambit, plunging his former friend and mentor into the afterlife, which in the film is a

vague and undefined existence. Kenobi appears to be “at one with the force,” while

simultaneously retaining his individuality and the ability to speak to Luke, appearing in ghost-like

form. Of course, this is just a movie — but the philosophy resembles eastern worldviews that

seek the same goal of “becoming one with the universe.”

How should Christians go about voting in Runoff Elections?

In the Old Testament, many large cities had walls surrounding them to provide protection from enemies. When part of the wall was broken down, the city was vulnerable to attack. Brave soldiers were needed to risk their lives by literally standing in the broken wall’s gap to turn back the enemy.

Today, “standing in the gap” is a term used by people familiar with warfare prayer and intercessory prayer.

Where could it be?

I looked everywhere: the house, the car, my office. It was nowhere to be found. My cellphone charger was missing. I checked the suitcase.

Nope.

I told our daughter, three hours away, to keep an eye out for it. We had spent the weekend with our family and hoped it might turn up at their house.

Two days later, I was getting ready for a business meeting. I slipped my right foot into my loafer. I felt something in the toe. I reached in—and, to my unanticipated joy and relief, pulled out my charger. Then I remembered that, for some reason, I had curled up the cord and stuffed the charger into my shoe.

In the last article, we saw that evil entered our world through the choice of Adam. Adam and Eve’s terrible disobedience brought with it devastating consequences for all mankind and the whole world… It can be difficult to understand why a loving, all-powerful God doesn’t purge the earth of evil.

Christian Newswire Press Release - May 8, 2024 - “Christians Must Stop Seeing Politics as 'Evil' Says Former Congressional Candidate”

Two Different Worldviews: I will start by asserting that the Marxist worldview is incompatible with a Biblical worldview. . . Western civilization is based on the Biblical worldview, that is why cultural Marxists must destroy it. “Western civilization is under fire. That’s the ultimate enemy of the wokeness, of post-modernity, of cultural Marxism, of leftism, of all that stuff. The ultimate enemy is western civilization. They’re trying to deconstruct it.

“I just don’t understand - why did this happen to me??” At some point or another, all of us have had questions to this effect. We all experience suffering, pain, and loss, and sometimes the pain is so great that it can be difficult to understand how God could allow it.

When praying for someone in person, we pray most effectively when we have heard from God through spending time with Him. In that place of intimacy, we receive an overflow of God’s anointing and compassion.

We often speak of “mountaintop” experiences where we spend time alone with God. These encounters bring peace, joy, wisdom and revelation from Him and of Him, sometimes in a profound way. Ascending to the high places to abide with God will often transform us—He knows that. God is always calling out to us to come up higher.

Anticipation lasted for weeks. The event? Barely four minutes. It didn’t change anything.

How can something that’s perfect have a weakness?

We live in a universe created by a moral God. He has expressed Himself through the laws and

moral principles found in Scripture, with which we can know right from wrong. The commands of

the LORD reflect the very nature and character of God. Collectively they instruct us on which

choices are right, and they protect and warn us from making choices that are wrong.

“If you love Me, obey My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads

into all truth. John 14:15-17 NLT

No words could express more simply or more powerfully the inconceivably glorious place

Christ gives to obedience.

He (Jesus) made the things we can see and the things we can't see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through Him and for Him. Colossians 1:16 NLT

Many years ago, God helped me understand, and better comprehend, the unseen world that exists around us. He graciously gave me the privilege to see the workings of the spiritual world through a vision.

I’ll never forget Sociology class in college, especially the day the professor taught the

concept of Mores and Social Relativity. “Mores are rules agreed upon by a social group,

including what people hold to be right and wrong,” she said. She went on to explain that since

ideas, beliefs, and behavior vary according to time and place, nothing is really right or wrong;

instead, each group decides what they think is right or wrong, and for them, it is. Those who

break social mores aren’t doing anything intrinsically wrong or evil, they are just “deviants.”

Furthermore, no social group is allowed to question the mores of another social group,

according to this philosophy.

We are all wounded, and every wound represents the potential to hurt other people. We sometimes do crazy things to try to cope with our wounded hearts. When a person lashes out at you, God wants you to see that person through His eyes, and to realize there is a hurting heart buried in the rubble of pain. Only God can heal a broken heart, no matter the source of the offense, whether self-inflicted or brought about by another person. It does not matter your station in life, whether you are at the pinnacle or the bottom of the heap, God offers His relentless love to heal your aching and wounded heart.

So you’ve experienced spiritual salvation! Wonderful!! There is much rejoicing over you in

heaven! But is that the end? Maybe you’ve read the previous articles and thought to yourself,

“Yes, I became a Christian years ago, so I guess that’s it. There’s nothing left for me to do.”

Actually, your story is just beginning!

I hate to be late.

I don’t mind so much if others are—things come up. That’s understandable and we all have to be gracious and patient.

It’s no big deal.

A family emergency? That’s quite a different thing. We’ll leave immediately and head to the one we love. We’ll get there as soon as we possibly can. We’ll dodge traffic, speed, and might even go through a red light or two to get there.

One thing we wouldn’t do is delay. We wouldn’t get distracted or forget. If it’s urgent and immediate, then it’s the priority. We go. Fast.

“Yes, I am the Vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit.” When we abide with God in prayer, our yielding to Him will bear the fruit we seek. This seems to be a paradox and backward to our finite earthly minds, but the power for the answer comes from laying down our concerns and burdens and choosing to abide in Him.