We have all just witnessed the inauguration of President Bush in a ceremony that appeared to glorify the Lord but was, in actual fact fraught with compromise. Christians may rejoice that the move all the way to the Supreme Court to stop prayer at the inauguration did not succeed but if the Church was truly the living epistle that we are meant to be, such a motion would never ever have materialized in the first place. Moslems amount to only 10 million in a nation of 280 million and yet, President Bush and every speaker and everyone who prayed paid homage to them directly by mentioning them or indirectly acquiescing by referring to “GOD” instead of calling Him by His correct name, “LORD JESUS CHRIST.” Even the benedictory prayer ended apologetically declaring something like "in the name of the God of this prayer, Lord Jesus Christ." How disgustingly politically correct everyone was and it was proved by the fact that there was no ANOINTING on the entire proceeding. And so, while most are compromising and playing the right games, the wooden horse is right in the city. What a tragedy and travesty that we can no longer call the United States a “Christian” nation because the Christians are full of compromise and have ceased to stand for the absolute truth and shine for Christ. AND, this applies not only to USA but to all of WESTERN Christendom. Sad to say, that the same Christians who applauded at this inauguration that President Bush is, without doubt, born again and loves Jesus Christ and shouted, “Hurrah! Hurrah!” will vote Hilary Clinton in 2008 because the vast majority of the Body of Christ have no discernment, do not know what is happening in the spiritual realm and are so bound to the things of the flesh that they would rather pamper their flesh than experience any hardships by means of standing for the TRUTH.  Hilary Clinton, like her Ahab husband before her, will offer the pampering of the flesh. This Presidency is going to firmly polarize Americans and sort the sheep from the goats, light and darkness, truth and compromise, holy and profane. President Bush’s re-election was certainly of God and he IS God’s man for this hour not only for USA but the whole world. President Bush stands to offer the USA a choice: blessings or cursing. Unless the church firmly gets behind this leader and gets on their face to seriously pray for him and the nation, then there will only be cursing and the nation will end up cursing their President whom the LORD has chosen. And, even sadder, many Christians and Christian leaders will be in the forefront of that cursing.

 

The Bible clearly declares, “Righteousness exalteth a nation but sin is a reproach to any people." That a nation can get excited at such blasphemous books as “Da Vinci Code,” ordain homosexuals, endorse gay marriages, continue with wholesale murder through abortion and flout and corrupt the Constitution through Supreme Court decisions is a violation of the highest codes of morality and ethical behavior. Why is the nation taking a beating in Iraq? Listen to what the often misquoted Word declares. “How should one chase a thousand and two put ten thousand to flight except their Rock had sold them and the Lord had shut them up?” What a verse concerning the Lord’s judgment upon His people. When His people forsake HIM, HE will cause one enemy to put a thousand to flight and two enemies to put 10,000 to flight. It is no wonder that Islam has the nation terrorized and therefore compromising. I have really had enough of seeing Mecca and the Hajj pilgrimage depicted by CNN.  I am tired of adverts lauding the tributes of the Moslem nations when their development was entirely by western engineers and expertise or they would still be riding camels in the deserts of the Middle East. I am tired of watching powerful adverts in which the catchy tunes to WESTERN MUSIC mind you, the hated "GREAT SATAN," is nothing other than "Allah Akbar" being subliminally chanted. No matter how sophisticated the weapons at America’s disposal, they will never protect the nation or win the battle in Iraq as long as the covering of the Lord has been lifted over the nation because sin has become a reproach. Israel learned that the Ark could just as easily be captured by the enemy and yet still be protected in their hands by the Lord as if it were in the Holiest place.

 

 “If my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways…” Unless the Church changes and becomes the Church that the Lord purposed her to be, the President will have little real strength. President Bush has been called not only to USA but to the World for such a time as this. I am sorry to say that He will not be able to build the nation for the nation does not want to be built. Rather, I see the beginning of the demise of USA and the real rise of China and Europe. The stage is being set for the greatest drama of the nations of all ages to be played out before our very eyes. The miracle of his re-election is proof that he is God's choice for God's purposes whether anybody likes it or not. The Bush "haters" are nothing less than venomous in their opposition to him. In the final analysis, that venom is simply for one reason and one reason alone: his uncompromising stand and declaration of his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the polarizing factor in this election. This is the Lord at work but most are too blind to see it or accept it. That God still works in the destiny of nations is an anathema to most who do not even believe in His existence. Sadly and unfortunately, the venom of the Jesus hating world is not being offset by a church that is a red hot firebrand in full support of God's choice. The proof of this fact is that few will ever pray even once for God's choice during this presidency. If every Christian who voted for Bush would get on their face and seriously pray for him and the nation, the solution in Iraq would be swiftly and victoriously concluded. There would be no more car bombs. There would be no more 9/11. There would be no fear of suicide bombers and death squads and Islamic terrorism. He is a fool who cannot see and will not accept that, indeed, this IS light versus darkness; Christ versus Allah and indeed, in the President's own words, "freedom versus slavery." 

 

REPORT ON MY TRIP TO MALAWI      

          

How could Michael Howard improve on what he’s done in Southern Sudan, where, for several years, Kalibu Academy trained up pastors for the war-torn areas and for the SPLA, in a Bible college built under the worst conditions right under the nose of the moon god, Allah?

 

Well, now, the action is in Blantyre, Malawi, where an educational complex is on the rise that will handle upwards of a thousand high school students, the future leaders of Africa. Later on, a Bible college will rise on an adjacent hill.

 

 

I saw this first hand. Walls and roofs, plumbing systems, even sidewalks and tasteful landscaping are in place. And it’s being done largely with indigenous Malawi labor, not by tractors and ditching machines.

 

During my late November and early December visit, we filmed on site. You’ll see as Pastor Mike unfolds the vision for us. It’s a grand and glorious one, worthy of our prayer and support. This is a HUGE project. Your support will see it through to completion and an on-time startup.

 

A long overland trip into Mozambique took us back centuries in time, to a land filled with primitive mud huts, anorexic goats and scrawny chickens. This country is struggling to rebuild following communist devastation. The heart-breaking scenes are endless.

 

There, in Morrumbala, missionaries Jim and Eileen Kirt have invested their lives into leading these simple people to our Lord Jesus, while building a native timber business to provide employment for locals and sustain the work of the ministry.

 

Pastor Mike, on a fast of seemingly endless duration, drove for hundreds of miles, then piled out and preached once, twice, three times a day helping to equip native pastors for their ministries. I’ve never seen anyone quite so tireless, a man of steel (without the cape and boots) fueled only by black tea.

 

Pastor Frank and Pastor Paisley, along with Pastor Navayah were helping at every turn as were the other obedient staff members. It’s hard to recall ever being treated so respectfully. They wouldn’t let me carry a bag. Even doors were opened for me. Ever wondered what a Christian community is all about? Come to Pastor Mike’s work in Malawi and find out.

 

From Mozambique, our flight on board the Toyota landcruiser was piloted by Michael over suspension-busting runways leading to a hand-cranked river ferry, from there to Malawi for a three-day crusade in a larger village where running water was dripping and restaurant workers took hour-long breaks. Without Coca Cola, a drought may have been declared. Pastor Frank and I absolutely marveled at the plumbing design.

 

Several thousand found their way into the dusty space in front of the stage as Pastor Mike preached through the afternoon sun and then later on into the late night hours by the light of three dim bulbs. But few went home. Crowds came forward for salvation, some for recommitment, and many for healing. Demons were cast out; the baptism of the Holy Spirit was in evidence. Friends, Pastor Mike preaches as furiously and with as much Holy Ghost fire here as anywhere. The amp, the speakers were smoking.

 

Then, we were on to the local church assembly. The drums were wash-tubs covered with skins. The cymbals were two bike sprockets on a metal rod. But could they keep time, and the worship was real. We struggled for breath in this mid-day sauna, but it was worth it.

 

You’ll see these things and more when our video production is complete. And, oh, the lizards… you learn to live with them. Especially the psychedelic purple-colored ones.

 

TESTIMONY FROM A SOLDIER'S MOTHER

 

One of my sons serves in the military. He is still Stateside, here in California. He called me yesterday to let me know how warm and welcoming people were to him and his troops everywhere he goes, telling me how people shake their hands, and thank them for being willing to serve and fight, for not only our own freedoms but so that others may have them also.

 

But he also told me about an incident in the grocery store he stopped at yesterday on his way home from the base.

 

He said that ahead of several people in front of him stood a woman dressed in a burkha. He said when she got to the cashier she loudly remarked about the US flag lapel pin the cashier wore on her smock.

 

The cashier reached up and touched the pin, and said proudly,   "Yes, I always wear it and I probably always will."
The woman in the burkha then asked the cashier when she was going to stop bombing her countrymen, explaining that she was Iraqi.

 

A gentleman standing behind my son stepped forward, putting his arm around my son's shoulders, and nodding towards my son, said in a calm and gentle voice to the Iraqi woman: "Lady, hundreds of thousands of men and women like this young man have fought and died so that YOU could stand here, in MY country and accuse a check-out cashier of bombing YOUR countrymen. It is my belief that had you been this outspoken in YOUR own country, we wouldn't need to be there today. But, hey, if you have now learned how to speak out so loudly and clearly, I'll gladly buy you a ticket and pay your way back to Iraq so you can straighten out the mess in YOUR country that you are obviously here in MY country to avoid."

 

Everyone within hearing distance cheered.

 

CONTAINER

 

We are working on the probability of sending a container to Malawi sometime in March.  Items needed are educational materials, stationery (all types) for the school and anything with which to furnish a house/cottage—for bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms as we have fifteen cottages on the school property for staff. 

 

Please make sure that everything is in good condition and is something that you would be proud to use if someone were to give it to you.  Jesus gave His best for us and we should do the same for Him in every area of our lives.  All donations to go to: 

 

SHEKINAH MINISTRIES,

C/O MAIL IT, 

305 MORRIS ST,

TOLEDO  OH 43602.

 

 

COWS

Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that our government can track a cow born in Canada almost three years ago, right to the stall where she sleeps in the state of Washington, and they can track her  calves to their stalls.  However, they are unable to locate 11 million illegal aliens wandering aimlessly around our country.

 

Maybe we should give them all a cow.

 

 

*************

 

CONSTITUTION

 

They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq. Why don't we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it's worked for over 200 years and we're not using it anymore.