Mark Twain said, “If you want to be a good writer, be a good plagiarist. And if you want to be a great writer be a great plagiarist.”
So with that in mind, check this story out at Philippa’s Mental Reflection blog. It is a hoot and a must see.
Category Archives: Election 2008
Cannonball Baptism
Filed under Abortion, African-American, America, black people, Christian Conservative, Christianity, Christians, Church, church planting, Election 2008, Emergent Church, Faith, Gifts of the Spirit, God, Home Church, humor, Inspirational, jesus, Kingdom of God, morality, Politics, Prayer, Pro-Choice, Pro-Life, Prophecy, Race, Red Letter Christians, reformation, Religion, Sarah Palin, Spirituality, vietnam
Swimming Upstream: “Pray For President Obama, But Don’t Bow Your Knees To Him”
First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-4)
Can you imagine what Timothy thought when he read the letter from the Apostle Paul containing the above verses? Maybe something like – Paul, you’ve lost it this time. Emperor Nero needs to be hung from a tree, shot at sunup, knifed in the back, pushed over a cliff and crucified. Prayers! Why waste them on this rogue?
But did you know that historians portray Nero as being extremely popular with the common classes of people? He supported the freedman class by vetoing laws enacted by the Senate. He cut taxes. He removed harsh tax collectors. He removed tariffs on imported food. His public relief effort after the fire consisted of heavy government spending on construction projects. He tried to reform the government. And oh yes, he was a great orator. People loved to hear him speak, especially when he promised them goodies.
Nero had a major downside; he persecuted Christians. Squads of soldiers were dispatched throughout the empire to inquire of people, “Do you swear allegiance to Emperor Nero as your lord?”
Sadly, Christians were backed into a corner with the question. They had one Lord, Jesus. When they answered negatively, they were whisked off to arenas where they were covered with skins of animals and offered as prey for hungry lions. Or they were crucified. Or they were mounted on poles, covered with wax and used as candles for lawn parties.
It was not a good time to be a Christian. And yet, Paul stated that believers needed to pray for Nero and that this was good and acceptable in the sight of God.
So fast forward to 2009, we need to do the same for President Obama. Pray for him in every possible way. For Michelle. For Malia and Sasha. For his mother-in-law. For his aunt. For all of his administration. Why? So that we Christians can lead quiet and tranquil lives in all godliness and dignity.
But if President Obama steps over the line and asks us compromise our Christian principles, don’t bow your knees to him. Grab an animal skin and head for the lions’ den.
Swimming Upstream appears at this blog site on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. It’s a little of this and a little of that, all written to encourage and exhort believers in their Christian jouneys.
Filed under Abortion, African-American, America, black people, Christian Conservative, Christianity, Christians, Church, church planting, Election 2008, Emergent Church, Faith, Gifts of the Spirit, God, Home Church, Inspirational, jesus, Kingdom of God, morality, Politics, Prayer, Pro-Choice, Pro-Life, Prophecy, Race, Red Letter Christians, reformation, Religion, Sarah Palin, Spirituality, vietnam
Are Pulpits At Fault For America’s Present Dilemma?
We are sick, and the pulpits are largely at fault. It is certainly not because we lack great pulpiteers, personalities and promoters. What, then, is the root problem? Or, like the old commercial of a national fast food franchise, “Where’s the beef?”
Pastors must get back to putting the call to make disciples and teach the people “all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:18-20) ahead of church as usual. Preach the unvarnished Word of God rather than telling stories salted with a few Scriptures. Will it empty some pews? Undoubtedly. Will it make you more popular and a pop icon? Most likely not. Will it restore the power of God to the church and bring healing to our land? It always has.
We are at a point where thousands of pastors across America must take the challenge, honestly assess whether we are accepting the full mandate in every area shown above and providing the “offensive” leadership that the church so desperately needs. The cost of not doing so can already be measured in broken lives and a weak nation. (Dave Welch)
Are pulpits at fault for America’s present dilemma? Yes.
Do I agree with the analysis by Dave Welch? No, absolutely not.
What’s my suggestion? Burn the pulpits. Sell the churches. Give the money to charity. Start a reformation. Begin anew.
Filed under Abortion, African-American, America, black people, Christian Conservative, Christianity, Christians, Church, church planting, Election 2008, Emergent Church, Faith, Gifts of the Spirit, God, Inspirational, Kingdom of God, morality, Politics, Prayer, Pro-Choice, Pro-Life, Prophecy, Race, reformation, Religion, Sarah Palin, Spirituality, vietnam
Swimming Upstream “Persecution Brings Power”
Do you want a powerful Church? Most believers would answer, “Amen, brother. Bring on the power.”
Are you willing to pray for the power to fall upon the Church? Once again, most believers would nod their heads and answer, “Amen. Amen. Let’s do it.”
Now, what if I tell you that in order to have a powerful Church, we’ll need heavy persecution; then how many of you are willing to pray for heavy persecution to fall upon the Church? This is probably where most believers head for the doors. Some might even throw a few choice words over their backs as they leave, such as, “Don’t you know that Jesus is the Prince of Peace?”
Well, I have good news for everyone. We don’t have to pray for heavy persecution to fall upon the Church. Why? It’s already here.
“Where? And how?” you ask with a raised, skeptical eyebrow.
President Barack Obama and the Democrat-controlled Senate and Congress are right now in the process of heaping persecution on the Church. It’ll be camouflaged as types of religious fairness doctrines or hate-speech crimes, all to protect innocents from us mean Christians. But understand this, there will be penalties for disobeying these laws and mandates.
So, if you are still wondering why President Obama won the election, think of it like this. Jesus is building His Church. A little of this. A little of that. And whole lot of power to hold it together in unity.
The Church patronized is the Church paralyzed, therefore, the Church in peril. The Church persecuted is the Church prayerful, and therefore powerful. (G. Campbell Morgan)
Swimming Upstream appears at this blog site on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. It’s a little of this and a little of that, all written to encourage and exhort believers in their Christian jouneys.
Filed under Abortion, African-American, America, black people, Christian Conservative, Christianity, Christians, Church, church planting, Election 2008, Emergent Church, Faith, Gifts of the Spirit, God, Home Church, Inspirational, Kingdom of God, morality, Politics, Prayer, Pro-Choice, Pro-Life, Prophecy, Race, reformation, Religion, Spirituality, vietnam
Are There Any Restrooms in Heaven?
Let’s say that we’re at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Mozart and Beethoven are playing duets on Hamburg Seinway Concert Grand pianos. Dancers from the Royal Dutch Ballet and other notable troops are performing their step-ball-change routines amid leaps and pirouettes.
The hors D’oeuvres – onion brie en Croutes, Spanokopita, spinach filo and potato puffs (all Kosher) – are tastier than manna and honey. And the wine, Chateau Lafite Rothschild bordeaux is out of this world.
But because wine has always gone through my urinary system much like water through a sieve, I need to go now! Not later. This is an emergency. Then, it dawns on me. I’m in heaven. Are there any restrooms in heaven?
Okay. Okay. In a world filled with hunger, terrorism and economic woes, this may be a bit of trivial tripe. Who really worries whether or not there are restrooms in heaven, right? Well, maybe nobody else worries, but I do. You know, I’m not big on wearing Depend products throughout eternity. It just doesn’t sound very holy to me.
So, does anyone know for sure if there are restrooms in heaven? Or at the very least, porta potties?
Filed under Abortion, African-American, America, black people, Christian Conservative, Christianity, Christians, Church, church planting, Election 2008, Emergent Church, Faith, Gifts of the Spirit, God, Home Church, humor, Inspirational, Kingdom of God, morality, Politics, Prayer, Pro-Choice, Pro-Life, Prophecy, Race, reformation, Spirituality
The Writing of “New Wind Blowing (Part 3)
Click on following for earlier article: Part 1 and Part 2.
Admittedly, I struggle with writing prophetic articles; I really do. Maybe other writers can breeze right along with what they feel the Lord wants them to say, but I can not. Every word and every sentence is an agonizing experience for me.
As one prophetic teacher stated, “All prophetic revelations have three possible sources: God, Satan or our own creative flesh. And often, prophetic revelations are a mixture of all three.”
Sadly, I struggle with all three sources when I write.
In my first draft of New Wind Blowing which appeared in late October, 2008, on www.larrywho.com. The core revelation of the e-Booklet concerning abortion, the Vietnam War and Governor Sarah Palin remained the same as in the updated version which now appears on the site. But the main difference was that I included a prophetic word stating that John McCain would win the presidency.
When Senator Obama won the election, I rewrote New Wind Blowing. This became draft #2 which omitted the McCain stuff and dealt with abortion, the Vietnam War and Governor Palin.
Draft #2 became obsolete in January, 2009, when the Lord had me study Deuteronomy 28 again. This time, I discovered that illegal aliens, terrorists and our nation’s financial problems are also judgments from God because of our Vietnam War sins. (See New Wind Blowing, Chapter 2.)
Thus, the New Wind Blowing which now appears on www.larrywho.com is in fact Draft #3, not the original version.
So, why even mention all of this, right?
I truly believe that New Wind Blowing has needed revelations for the Body of Christ. And if I am correct, the Lord will open doors for these revelations, despite all of my mistakes. My faith is in His ability to lead me and not in my puny ability to follow Him.
But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God. (John 3:21)
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The Writing of “New Wind Blowing” (Part 2)
Click on following for earlier article: Part 1.
Governor Sarah Palin, the Republican Party’s Vice Presidential candidate, gave her speech at the Republican National Convention on September 3, 2008. Just days after her speech, I had the revelation that a new prophetic wind was blowing out of heaven and across America with new anointing, authority and revelations for the Body of Christ.
I felt that the new wind was triggered by Palin’s arrival on the national scene. It’s not that she is the Grand Poobah of this new spiritual movement, but instead, she is a spiritual sign for all to see. (See New Wind Blowing, chapter 3, page 20).
With the new wind, I received the revelation that abortion is a judgment from God caused by our treacherous handling of the Vietnam War, especially our broken promises and lies to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. (See New Wind Blowing, chapter 4, page 22.)
Maybe, your first thought is, no way! God would not allow 50,000,000 babies to die just because we messed up in Vietnam.You’re nuts!
But remember this: our nation’s sin causes judgment to come upon our nation. It’s our sin that does it. Not God. He is not responsible. We are. We have to take the responsibility for our sins, and then repent of them.
But it shall come about, if you will not obey the Lord your God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes with which I charge you today, that all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you. (Deuteronomy 28:15)
The writer of Deuteronomy used the word curses to describe what would happen if a nation disobeyed God. We would now use the word judgments instead of that word.
Look at verse 18 of Chapter 28:
Cursed shall be the offspring of your body…
The offspring (children, babies, pregnancies) are cursed if we sin against God. Therefore, abortion is a curse, or a judgment of God against a national sin. (See New Wind Blowing, chapter 2.)
I realize that this is the exactly opposite of what you have been taught. You’ve always heard that judgment would fall on America because of our willful sin of abortion; and I’m saying that judgment is already here in the form of abortion. And we need to repent of a different national sin to rid us of abortion.
If I’m correct, then we have been heading in the wrong direction for years. Read the booklet. Download it. It’s free. (New Wind Blowing.)
Tomorrow, I will list my mistakes in the writing of the booklet.
(Continued in Part 3.)
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The Writing of “New Wind Blowing” (Part 1)
I was not seeking it, did not ask for it, and when I received the revelation for New Wind Blowing, I tried to pray it onto someone else. Someone like Billy Graham or Franklin Graham or Rick Warren. A person who had the ears of millions of people rather than an unknown sixty year-old guy like me.
It all began with me having a hair cut in a barber shop just down the street from work. Now to be honest, when it came to barbers, I was not picky. Most winked at my bald pate and asked, “How do you want it cut?”
I usually smiled back at them. “A number two will do,” I’d say. They’d set their trimmers for a quarter inch; and buzz, buzz, I was done and out of there.
So, when I entered the barber shop the first time, there were three barbers working on customers. The first available one was a mid-thirties woman named Belinda. We chatted a little and she told me that she was Vietnamese. I gave no thought to her cultural background as being important to me one way or another. It was a barber shop conversation, just two ships passing each other in the night. But over the next six months – as my hair was being cut – she told me her story.
When Belinda was ten years old, South Vietnam was falling apart. The Americans had left. The Communists were taking over the government. Her dad decided that Belinda, her younger brother and the mother would take a boat to a safer country, Malaysia. At the last second, there was not enough room for all three of them. So, only Belinda and her brother left Vietnam.
Somehow, the boat arrived in Malaysia. There, little Belinda learned that being ashore was not the safest place for a little girl. She had to fight off robbers and rapists, all the while watching over her little brother. They survived by hiding in the jungle forests.
Then, after a few months, the two came to America. But even this had its dark side for her with the problems she suffered in a foster family.
A few years later, Belinda and her brother were reunited with her mother when she arrived in America. Her father was forced to stay in Vietnam.
No matter how hard I tried after hearing her story, I could not get it out of my mind. I could not pray it away. It gripped my heart to think that a little girl had suffered so much. It seemed so unfair.
Out of my struggles, I wrote this article on May 2, 2008.
(Continued in Part 2)
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Is God Judging America’s Newspapers?
From 1950 to 2000, advertising revenue for America’s newspapers had a consistent growth pattern year after year. Then something happened, which changed the whole economic model for newspapers. What was it?
Was it the growth of the internet? Yes, in small part; but this excuse becomes lame when you consider that newspapers could have reaped financial profits by jumping on the internet bandwagon early on. What stopped them from doing so?
Was it the souring of the economy? Yes, in small part; but hey, it was the newspapers who told us day after day after day the economy was bad. Don’t they believe their own words? Why didn’t they make cut-backs?
If it wasn the internet or the economy which has sealed the doom of the newspaper industry, especially the LA Times, Chicago Tribune and the New York Times, then what was it?
The election of George W. Bush as president of the United States. This man was the most lied about, most lambasted and most hated president by the newspaper industry – as a whole – in the history of the United States. The ink on each paper dripped with venom, nothing was too outrageous to print about Bush.
And at the same time, President Bush was the most vocal Christian proponent in the history of the White House. A man whose faith was always apparent for all to see.
So, is God judging America’s newspapers? Of course, He is. He’s a Father who loves His son, George, and knows how to avenge the wrongs done to this man.
Saying, “Do not touch My annointed ones…” (Psalm 105:15)
Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. (Romans 12:19)
Filed under Abortion, African-American, America, black people, Christian Conservative, Christianity, Christians, Church, Election 2008, Emergent Church, Faith, George Bush, Gifts of the Spirit, God, Home Church, Inspirational, Kingdom of God, morality, Politics, Prayer, Pro-Choice, Pro-Life, Prophecy, Race, reformation, Religion, Sarah Palin, Spirituality, vietnam
Larry Who 