Category Archives: Race

February 25, 2009 · 8:37 am

Swimming Upstream: “Ignore Obama And Politicians; And Build”

I hate tossing in the towel on America. I just hate it.

Every part of my being wants our nation to fulfill the vision that President Ronald Reagan had concerning it:

“I’ve spoken of the Shining City all my political life. …In my mind it was a tall, proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, windswept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace; a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity. And if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here. That’s how I saw it, and see it still.” (Reagan’s farewell speech.)

But now, I don’t foresee our nation ever returning to these lofty ideals. Instead, I see a blind America with a white cane stumbling down a path, bouncing off obstacles and circumstances, always looking for handouts from Big Brother, always searching for the next stimulus, always hoping that government will have the answers.

This does not mean that I don’t see a time of prosperity arising out of our economic crisis because I do. Time will help. But the transient prosperity will insure the reelection of President Obama and his cronies who will then continue to mortgage our children’s and grandchildren’s futures and redistribute wealth to their own voting bases. And of course, this cycle will continue on and on.

There are those who will decry that I am a quitter, a sore loser, but actually, I’m not. Like any good Texas Hold’em card player, I know when to fold a losing hand and wait for the next deal. This is one of those moments.

So, I’m going to ignore President Obama and all of the politicians. I won’t listen to Rush, Sean, Michael, Laura or any talk-radio hosts, not because I necessarily disagree with them, but rather, their insights and opinions will cause me to grieve and be angry over where America is going and what we are losing. And I don’t want to spend time wallowing in anger over the should-have-been’s or maybe will-be’s if only we can get our message out. For me, this is a waste of time.

Instead, I plan on building the kingdom of God because I know – positively and absolutely – that this liberal house of cards will fail. Then, America will be looking for the “change that we can believe in.”

And the church needs to be ready.

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.

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February 23, 2009 · 7:33 am

Swimming Upstream: “Uptight Over Obama Yet? Then What?”

As soon as you jump into your Chevy Suburban, you hit the buttons on the radio. Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity orMichael Savage streams through the Bose speakers loud and clear. Thank God for these purveyors of truth, you think as you drive down the freeway, heading for your cubicle.

Rush’s or Sean’s or Michael’s point of view is so important that you are forced – yes forced – to stay in the Suburban with the engine running fifteen extra minutes to hear it all. Maybe your liberal anti-Prop 8 boss won’t notice. And if he does, you’ll give him your Clint Eastwood glare. The one that reveals a .44 Magnum Special rage held back by a hair trigger, but ready at an instant to be blasted at an Obama supporter, maybe him. Make my day, you think as you walk inside, reflecting on the somber news of the day.

All of this angst is due to President Barack Hussein Obama being elected. If only Christians would have voted according to the tenants of their faith instead of their comforts. If only Governor Sarah Palin had been the Republican candidate instead of John McCain. If only President George Bush had been more conservative. If only the Republicans in the Senate and Congress had not wasted their majority advantage by acting like a bunch of drunk Democrats. If only. If only.

Now yesterday, Alan Keyes states: “He [Obama] is going to destroy this country, and we are either going to stop him or the United States of America is going to cease to exist.”

This the end, you think as you sit down in your chair, staring at the computer. My children, my grandchildren will be forced to grovel on their knees before Big Brother with their hands out begging for bread crumbs. “Alms. Alms for the poor,” they will cry.

Hey, get a grip on yourself, will you?

Father still sits on His throne. Jesus is still Lord. Holy Spirit is still the Helper.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? (Romans 8:31)

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February 20, 2009 · 7:14 am

Swimming Upstream: “What’s Missing In California Prop 8 Battle?”

In case you missed it, on November 4, 2008, Californians voted and passed Ballot Proposition 8 which changed the California Constitution so that valid marriages are defined as only between a man and woman. Thereby overriding a March, 2008, California Supreme Court ruling which allowed same-sex marriages.

As background, the 2008 Supreme Court ruling did away with Proposition 22 which was passed in 2000 by a 63% to 37% margin. This proposition also stated that valid marriages were between men and women, and not same-sexes. But it did not go as far as Prop 8 and change the wording of the state constitution.

Okay, with me so far.

California Governor Arnold Swarzenegger opposed Proposition 8, even after it passed by a 52% -48% margin. He’s sworn to uphold the California constitution, but ho-hum on that, right?

California Attorney General Jerry Brown opposed Prop 8 from the beginning and did his best to write the ballot measure in such a way as to insure confusion. Thus, many may have voted in error against the proposition who may have actually been for it.

Guess what? Who do you think is in charge of defending Prop 8 against the many court challenges offered by the homosexual lobby against Proposition 8? You guessed it! Attorney General Jerry Brown.

This is political comedy at its best! California’s governor, attorney general and Supreme Court are all sworn to uphold the state’s constitution and to follow the mandates of the electorate, but each is trying to do the opposite.

What’s missing in the California Proposition 8 battle? God.

Now, understand that I am not talking about the nice little God worshipped by most evangelical churches, Catholic churches, LDS churches, emergent churches and progressive churches. This God is pretty much harmless and weak, and not expected to intervene into man’s affairs.

I’m talking about the Lord God of Elijah. The Judge. The Lord God of Hosts. The Maker of Heaven and Earth. He’s ready to arrive on the scene. He won’t convene a meeting to have a dialogue with conservative Christians and progressive Christians over gay issues, especially gay marriages. No, not at all. Instead, He will come in power and settle the problem. Period.

So, keep your eyes on California, especially San Francisco, over the next few months.

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February 18, 2009 · 8:19 am

Cannonball Baptism

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.

My Revelation From “Fox’s Book of Martyrs”

Jane at Across Walk wrote the following comment on the last Swimming Upstream:

I’ve been trudging through Fox’s Book of Martyrs. It’s been on the coffee table, the shelf in the bathroom and is currently traveling to and from the place of employment in the back seat. The constant echo as I read on and on is “put a face on it.” The ongoing, endless, bloody tortures, one right after another, risk redundancy and an ultimate emotional shutdown, chilling further reactionary heartbreak over each disembowelment, decapitation, sawing, boiling, broiling, and burning at the stake. The little voice repeats itself over and over in my mind — put a face on her. Put a face on him, someone you know, someone you love.

Jane’s mention of Fox’s Book of Martyrs reminded me of my personal struggle with it many years ago. As I read the book, I became squeamish about being burnt at the stake. It made me nauseous to think that this could happen to me.

It bothered me so much that I prayed to the Lord about it. “Lord, if Your desire for me is to be a martyr, I volunteer for it. Chop off my head. Shoot me. Poison me. Knife me. Drown me. Put me in boiling oil. Stone me. Drop me from the Empire State Building. But please Lord, don’t burn me at the stake. I’m not sure that I will be an effective martyr for You if that method is used on me.”

At the time of this prayer, I was working for a motel chain. Mostly I was a maintenance man, but a couple days a week, I delivered the “Meals on Wheels” for three senior citizen centers.

One day, I was removing a large pan of meat from an oven. As I turned to put it on the counter, the pan shifted in my hand and scalding water poured over my hand. One hundred and seventy-five degrees. Two cooks ran to help. One told me to put my hand under the water; and the other was poised to call an ambulance.

I did not move. I just stood there looking at my dripping wet hand. It was red. There was pain. But yet, the pain was only on the surface of the hand, not on the inner part of the hand. It was bearable. In fact, it did not bother me that much.

Eventually, the cook grabbed me and put my hand under the faucet. I did it more to calm her down than to relieve my pain. Within seconds, my hand was back to normal.

This experience quieted my fears about being burnt at the stake or any form of martydom. I believe there is a special grace placed on martyrs to endure the suffering and still be the effective witness that the Lord needs for the people watching on.

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February 16, 2009 · 7:14 am

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.

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February 10, 2009 · 9:41 am

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.

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February 9, 2009 · 10:05 am

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)

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February 8, 2009 · 10:47 am

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?

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February 5, 2009 · 10:45 am

The Writing of “New Wind Blowing (Part 3)

new-wind2

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.