"Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness....Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!" Isaiah 5:20-21

Stephanie Meyer's popular Twilight series is cashing in to be sure. Her four books which have sold over 17 million copies, and two movies thus far, are setting new records. To those of us who object, they will tell you that the theme of vampirism is just folklore. They aren't in the Bible. Relax.

So the recent Christianity Today review of this phenomenon titles their article, "There's Power in the Blood."

In the article, University of Richmond English professor Elisabeth Rose Gruner notes that both Christianity and vampirism equate blood with life. She states, "Humans instinctively understand that blood is life-giving. But the blood-drinking aspect of vampirism is a 'ghastly parody of Christianity.' While the Christian believer attains eternal life by accepting the blood freely shed on his or her behalf, the vampire achieves immortality by sucking the life out of another.

"So, in spite of what should be obvious, one Christian publishing house after another is turning away solid manuscripts for corrupted ones on this demented topic.

What an example of Isaiah 5:20 with evil being called good and good evil. Vampire fascination makes a mockery of the pure, atoning nature of Christ's blood.

Allen Arnold of Thomas Nelson Publishers states:

"Since the story of Christianity is one of redemption, Christian fiction should depict that redemption regardless of the subject matter. Rather than flee from a genre (like vampirism), we prefer to dive in and try to redeem it through a wholly original take."

Translation - Let's follow the money trail.

Never in my lifetime have we had to contend for the faith 24/7. What was once blatantly evil is suddenly ok. Spiritual applications can be made from worldly scenarios. Up is down, down is up, right is wrong, wrong is right, and we're all drinking tea with the Mad Hatter!

This sounds like what might happen in the last days.

“An astonishing and horrible thing has been committed in the land: The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own power; And My people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end?" Jeremiah 5:30-31

Are you listening for the sound of the trumpet?

It is popular today to live a trivial lifestyle and have a trivial worldview. If you want to maintain a trivial worldview, avoid difficulties, and entertain yourself ~You can. Turn on a sitcom, play a video game. You can go to an arts and crafts fair, play pool or frequent the bars.

You don't have to take life seriously.

If you avoid trying to expose false belief systems for what they are, it's called "tolerance" and "respect" and "sin".

Taking the path of least resistance has never been so popular or so easy.

But ~ as we begin the new year, I pray each of us will, as King David, fall on our face before G-D in recognition of the sins that have so easily beset each of us. NOT the sins of America, not the sins of our spouse or our children, but "our" own, personal sins and like King David cry in anguished sobs:

"I acknowledge my transgressions [ sins], my sins are ever before me. Against You and You only have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight... create in me a clean heart, O G-D, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take your Holy Spirit from me... " Psalm 51

Examine yourselves, see if your faith is really genuine. Test yourselves. If by your lifestyle choices you cannot tell that Jesus the Christ is in you, neither can anyone else. [2 Cornithians 13:5]... and you have failed the test.

2,000 years ago our Lord Jesus came to us as the Suffering Servant. He came as the Bridegroom to the bride, bringing His dowry, His gift, His offer of redemption and hope.

His return will be quite different. He will return as Conquering King, Creator of the Universe and Righteous Judge.

Our L-RD, The long awaited Messiah will return to this earth - Jesus the Christ/Yeshua HaMashiach will bring closure to the holy history of this age.

The 7th seal will follow bringing in the final establishment of His glorious Millennial Kingdom.

Are you ready?

"Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trail which shall come upon the whole world to test those who dwell on the earth."Revelation 3:10

I will preserve you from [ek = from; Strongs 1537], in, through and out of the hour of trial.

""Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28

Which road have you chosen ~

The wide, popular road that pleases the world and brings earthly success -- or the narrow road so despised by the world? Only those who choose the latter will know the wonder of His eternal riches, the joy of His presence, and the peace that surpasses all human understanding.

In a world that has forgotten God's Word, refuses to surrender to God's Will while rejecting God's Way, we can expect intolerance, hostility and persecution. That's why Jesus warned us,

"If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.... If they persecuted Me they will persecute you... for they do not know the One who sent Me." John 15:19-21

Following Him, we have nothing of lasting significance to lose, and we have everything to gain! Walking with Jesus in His lowly path -- never ceasing to demonstrate His love, yet never compromising His truths to win approval -- we enjoy a peace and joy that far surpasses all earthly thrills. Our lives will be full of challenges, but He has promised to provide all the resources we need.

“My grace is sufficient for you," he assures us, "for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

Hopefully, you and I will echo Paul's heartfelt response:

"Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Twilight, Harry Potter and.....

"Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, 'Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?' And the woman said to the serpent, '... God has said, ‘You shall not eat it [the fruit of the tree], nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ "Then the serpent said to the woman, 'You will not surely die.... So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate." Gen. 3:1-6

If my goal were to undermine Christianity, incite rebellion against parents, eradicate Biblical values, and spread moral chaos, I would urge teens to read the Twilight, Harry Potter book series. I would prompt them to immerse their minds and emotions in the dark, emotional whirlpool of sensual occultism. And I would not warn them of the consequences.

If my goal were to expose this assault on Biblical faith then I would equip potential readers with information that enables them to resist the temptation to join the collective journey into the mind-changing realm of the occult, I would expose the raging spiritual war that is intensifying even as I write.

Bella's passionate love for the mysteriously handsome Edward may be fiction, but the obsession felt by teenage readers who "resonate" with Bella is very real! Young super-fans (Twilighters) identify with her plight, sense her fears, and "feel" her passion. They love the story because it arouses strong, unforgettable emotions -- the kind of enchanting thrills that can best be shared within the peer group, not with parents.

Harry Potter's wizardly world is becoming strangely familiar to today's youth. No longer do mystical incantations, transforming potions, dark omens or "the noble art of divination" (as Harry's divination teacher called it) shock or alarm those who call themselves Christians. Popular magic -- real or imagined -- has become a normal part of our postmodern culture.

Whether impulsive or planned, each magical spell performed by Harry Potter is an expression and extension of Harry's will," says a former occultist. "That's a foundational occult reality, and it clashes head on with Biblical truth." God calls His children to trust and submit to Him and His will, not their own. "Not My will, but Thine, be done," prayed Jesus. "I can of Myself do nothing," He told His disciples earlier."... I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me." Luke 22:42, John 5:30

God' Word clearly tells us ~

"...have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret." Ephesians 5:11-12

"For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols?... Therefore 'Come out from among them and be separate,' says the Lord." 2 Corinthians 6:14-17

Popular fantasies, with their boundless thrills and unforgettable images, bypass logical thinking. Their subtle suggestions face little conscious resistance. Designed to stir feelings and produce strong emotional responses, they create new realities in today's "open" minds!

"For as he thinks in his heart, so is he." Proverbs 23:6

God tells us to "abhor what is evil" and "cling to what is good." (Romans 12:9) When today's youth love the emotional thrills of popular occultism, they are desensitizing their hearts and minds to its evil. They are turning God's truth upside down. And they, with a little help from the marketing industry, are turning America's values upside down.

Few Twilighters see their new passion as evil. After all, Edward is a relatively "good" vampire, isn't he? Though he lusts for Bella's blood, he restrains his craving. Other vampires, and some of the werewolves, in the saga are downright murderous, but he's a good guy! Isn't he? Lovers of the Harry Potter series increase daily as parents, grandparents, teachers and friends suggest the series is "harmless."

When we choose to follow the ways of the LORD, He gives us a heart to love Him, spiritual eyes that can know and love His Word, the comfort of His presence, and a confidence in His constant care - no matter what happens around us.

But, when we refuse to follow Biblical teachings...

"...the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you, be watchful in all things..." 2 Timothy 4:2-5

Survivor of Socialism Has Warning for America

The South Dakota Family Policy Council sponsored a speech at First Assembly of God in Rapid City by Kitty Werthmann of Eagle Forum in South Dakota.

Werthmann is the head of the South Dakota chapter of Eagle Forum, and was born in Austria. Werthmann lived for seven years under the Nazi rule of Austria, eventually coming to the United States in 1950 to become a naturalized citizen in 1962. She said conditions in 1930’s Austria were very difficult. Unemployment was high, food was short, and many businesses were going bankrupt. Austrians were looking to Germany where they saw prosperity and law and order, while they had near anarchy in their own country.

With only a border between them, speaking the same language and having a similar culture, they believed the promise of prosperity from Adolf Hitler. Politically in their country, on one side was the National Socialist Party (Nazi) and the other was the Communist Party.

The communists were growing stronger as a party because of their promises, as well. When the country had to decide between Nazis and Communists, most of the people came to the realization they were a country with a Christian background and could not bring themselves to vote for the atheistic communists. Austria voted the Nazi Party in to power. Once the Nazis took control, the people no longer voted for government positions anymore; all positions down to the local level were filled by appointment. In the interest of a supposedly more efficient government, the Nazis decided to centralize all government between Germany and Austria. Hitler nationalized (socialized) the banks, health care, automobile production, education, and more.

Werthmann said they had prayer in school and religious instruction, but “this all stopped overnight” once the Nazis took over. Instead of praying, they started singing praise songs about the state. Children were instructed to report to state education on Sunday morning instead of church. If parents failed to comply with this political education on Sunday, they received a stern warning first, followed by a stiff fine for a second offense. Children were told to listen only to Hitler and not to listen to their parents. The children were allowed to play sports after political education and the boys could do things like ride motorcycles and learn to fly gliders. This resulted in the children enjoying this time, and if their parents didn’t like it, the children would argue with their parents because the state had told them they had many rights beyond what their parents allowed them. Werthmann said her mother eventually took her out of the public school system and enrolled her in a private school. She said at the time she almost hated her mother for doing this, but her mother told her that she hoped someday she would understand. Werthmann said now she thanked her mother 1,000 times over for doing this.

Austria had private health care prior to the Nazis, and the quality was good. But the government took over the health care system, and when health care became “free” the doctors quickly became overloaded by frivolous use of the system. Surgeries of a more important nature, however, had waiting lists of about 18 months because of all the “hypochondriacs” abusing the system. Werthmann said that if a doctor prescribed a medicine not on the government-approved list, the government would take the cost of the medicine out of the doctor’s salary.
Welfare became a “huge apparatus,” said Werthmann. Everyone had access to subsidized housing, food stamps, heating subsidies and many other benefits until everyone–regardless of salary–reached the prescribed standard of living.

Within about five years, Austria had gone from a free country to an absolute dictatorship.

“That’s called socialism,” she said. Werthmann cited the exchange between Joe the Plumber and then Presidential Candidate Obama about “spreading the wealth” as a sign of things to come - and now President Obama works toward those goals.

In examining the attacks from socialists that have come against America, Werthmann recalled an incident in1985 she was invited by President Ronald Reagan to attend the summit between himself and Soviet President Gorbachev in Switzerland. While there, she infiltrated the “peace movement,” which was there just to support Gorbachev. She marched with Bella Abzug, Barbara Boxer and Jesse Jackson while dressed “like a hippie.” She said Abzug greeted a woman who was in the German Parliament and told her there was a private meeting the next day with Gorbachev and she was invited.

Werthmann said she talked to a woman there who told her she and her fellow communists were working their way against the U.S. starting in Nicaragua, Honduras, and eventually with an eye to attack the U.S. through Mexico. The woman told her they would do this by getting massive numbers of illegals into the U.S. and pushing the sanctuary movement. Werthmann said when she saw illegal immigrant marches in California carrying the Mexican flag and trampling the American flag, she knew this was actually happening.

Werthmann said America is the greatest country in the world…if we can keep it.

Werthmann calls herself an optimist, believes that we are still a Christian nation, and knows that God is still on His throne. Werthmann ended her speech by saying:

" when the people fear the government, that’s tyranny, but when the government fears the people, that’s liberty."