January 2006

Evil people, pretending to be Christians, crave perverted sex, money to buy stuff, fattening
food to eat and mind-numbing drugs these days.
Religious people, pretending to be Christians,
crave ritualistic traditions, excessive wealth,
eternal life, political power, and popularity.

Stupid people, pretending to be superior,
crave worldly honor, materialistic rewards for
deeds done, self-indulgence and separation from
God. Smart people, pretending to be superior, crave worldly honor, materialistic rewards for deeds
done, self-indulgence and separation from God. Stupid Satan people and smart religious people
are pretending to respect everything they share
in common – like contempt for authority, hatred of President George Bush, support for abortion, mockery of virginity and respect for hypocrisy. Evil people, pretending to be Christians, crave new laws to
enable freedom to do evil without interference
from anyone who loves Lord Jesus. Religious people, pretending to be Christians, crave new laws to enable freedom to selfishly serve any version of the Bible they prefer. In this world where confusion corrupts, Satan and religious people are not easily identified. We learn to develop relationships defensively, not willing to give strangers the benefit of doubt as barriers keep us safe.
No wonder death is desired by people who
make a mess of life!

By Tennessee Elijah
Bankruptcy filings are increasing for
American consumers at an alarming rate.

There were 2,943,535 filed in 2005 which is an increase over the 1,552,967 filed in 2004. The approximate 30 percent rise in filings was largely generated by the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act which was enacted in 2005. Many people felt the need
to take advantage of the previous laws.

As we look forward to 2006 and 2007, it might be prudent to check our own personal use of the flexible “debt machine” that regulates interest rates without serious consideration being given to consumers who are stuck with monthly bills. If we allow ourselves to become victims of greedy bankers, we will probably find ourselves in court just like millions of other debt-ridden Americans. The only recourse for many
of us in these days when survival is too expensive for the poor, we can move out on the street where homeless people dwell as a last resort
and then beg for food until we die of unnatural causes, from hopelessness, or from old age.

The men and women of government who represent us by making and interpreting laws, have probably not taken the Bible very seriously when making decisions over the decades. If they were asked to give an opinion about “usury” from the viewpoint of God, they would be less than cooperative in most instances. Had they been taking note of the Creator’s advice through the years, it would be hard to imagine the current state of our financial institutions. Unless a person is blind, deaf, and dumb, they should be able to predict the economic collapse that is lingering just ahead. The primary reason for anxiety about how bad it might be when it happens is our knowledge of human nature in the throes of regrets, despair, resentment, and anger when greed is seen
as the culprit. 20 to 30 percent interests rates on some credit cards
is 100 percent against the laws of God!

“If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.” Exodus 22:25

Credit card debt has become a burdensome weight on the shoulders of many people who are forced into high-interest debt just to keep their modest lifestyles from going down the tube. When trouble comes in the form of a lost job, medical bills because of health problems, or just regular necessities such as vehicle repair expenses, the “straw that breaks the camels back” will often result in a new bankruptcy.

In my foolishness, I confess to becoming a credit card user. I tried to justify my acceptance of those “free plastic gifts” in the mail as God’s way of helping make it from one month to the next. Eventually, we find it easier not to pay the total amount due, letting a portion slide again and again until the credit limit has been reached.

Most of the time for many of us, it is not the luxury items that entrap us, or needless expenditures that bring us to the point of desperation. We nickel and dime ourselves beyond our capacity to pay the bills because the principle grows faster than our income. High interest rates are the monster that will eventually help us to understand why “the love of money is the root of all evil.”

“But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.”
1 Timothy 6:9-11

Being the pragmatic, common sense thinkers that we are, it isn’t easy
to admit how badly we failed to appreciate those Words of wisdom written hundreds of years ago. Too many power-hungry politicians, greedy bankers, merchants, and we ordinary money-spenders seem less than willing to admit that advice from the Bible could possibly apply to our world of today. Consequently, a day of trouble like we’ve never seen on Wall Street before is looming just over the horizon.

Make no mistake about it, when 2008 is a reality, these words and all the words on this web site will be laughed at no more! Though I hope to be delivered out of this earthly mess, it will be with a grieving heart that I look back at your time of tribulation.

If you have even an ounce of faith in God Almighty, look to Him for your guidance during the coming months. Seek His consultation from a secret place of prayer, acknowledging His authority, and accepting His pardon when you repent of sin.

The Federal Reserve might try to revise the world banking systems in
a last ditch effort to save our sinking ships, but once the roaring seas – clashing lenders and borrowers overcoming stability -- begin to sweep our nation under the swirling waters of debt, it will be much too late to cancel credit cards. New Orleans gave us clear prophetic insight into what is coming.

We need to “flee” out of the financial entanglements that lead only to our personal and national demise! If we are true children of God, we need to care more about “righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness” than about all of these worldly things.

Lessons can be learned by Christians who need to turn loose of their worldly entrapments by simply understanding the instructions that Jesus gave His disciples so long ago:

“Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece. And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart. And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.” Luke 9:1-5

Let today be your day to die to self!