Re=Invention!

There's this TV commercial about a 70 year-old man who's getting ready to retire from a car racing and restoration business.  He's been at it for most of his life.  As he's departing the business another 70 year-old man enters in.  He's about to begin a new career, the racing and car restoration business.  I love that commercial, as it depicts the old guard leaving, while a new man comes in to find a new re-invented LIFE.

I thought about this as the Lord has actually led me through a couple of times in my life of reinvention.  As a matter of fact, I'm finding myself there, now.  Again.
How many times have you heard about people saying, "I need to reinvent myself."  It's a need.  It's something that some people need to do.  It's a good thing.  Perhaps, you're one person who has lived your life through a mundane, boring and otherwise, uneventful career/life.  You want and need a challenge.  You want excitement.  You want fulfillment.  Or maybe, you just mucked up your whole life and you want to start over.  I'm telling you, right now, YES it's OK to want to start a new life.  It's OK to reinvent yourself. 

I want to give you some examples of how God reinvented some lives.  Take Moses, for instance.  Moses started out being a Hebrew baby, who then was adopted by the Egyptians and then became a Prince.  One day he discovered his true identity.  He killed a man, rather by accident.  He fled the scene.  He left Egypt.  He ended up with Jethro and the Midianites.  So here's Moses becoming a shepherd, a far cry from what he was before.  Soon he has the encounter with the burning bush.  God speaks to him and tells him that he's going to turn him into a Deliverer.  God sends Moses back to Egypt to confront Pharaoh, and tells him, "Let my People go."  In short, you can say that Moses became more than he ever thought he would be, certainly more than he was, a Hebrew.  But today, we look at him as a hero. 
Then, there's the story of Abram.  Abram was hand-picked by God.  God asked him to leave his country and he did.  God began to make all these great and wonderful promises to Abram, told him he would have a son even at a ripe old age.  And God told him he would be, "the father of many nations."  El Shaddai forced Abram into a position of supernatural faith.  How?  He changed his name to Abraham, meaning 'Father of a multitude' or 'Father of many nations'.  So, every time he greeted somebody, he would say, "Hi, I'm the father of many nations." Even though still child-less, he would tell his name to everybody, and hear it from everybody!  In this way, Abraham heard every day the meaning of his name, every single time he spoke his name to somebody.  That powerful concept went down into his spirit and helped build his inner faith.  The "new image" was working on the inside of him, to create his new "self".  This went on for almost a year, the end result being his faith kicked in, amazingly.  Before you knew it, bingo, his wife had a son whom they called, "Laughter" (Isaac). 
Now, let's not forget Simon-Peter, the old salty fisherman that Jesus chose to be one of his disciples and an apostle.  Simon's name means  "he has heard" . . . but Jesus insisted on calling him Peter, instead.  Peter, "The Rock."  Why did Jesus do this?  Well, Peter wasn't exactly what you would call, a super-committed guy.  Jesus knew that he vascillated on things.  By Jesus calling Peter, "the rock," he introduced the character trait of stability into Peter's life, not to mention that he ended up being quite an outstanding apostle as well.

Now back to me!
Jesus saved me in 1974. That's when he came into my life! Pow! It was powerful. I was on fire for Jesus, and wanted to tell the whole world about him.  But through time, religion came to mess with my head and life, and it wasn't so rosy. In 1985, God came to me and spoke to me saying, "I'm sending you far away and starting all over with you."  I ended up going to California. That's about 1987 then . . . the year that "God overhauled my heart". The Lord had to get rid of all the "doctrine-head" I had, and teach me LOVE.  I got filled with the Spirit again, and I had the "divine triangle" fixed in my heart -- I was a changed man.
In 2006, the Lord came to me again and said, "I'm returning you to your 'rock roots'".  I spent years in ministry, including music ministry, and He was trying to show me that I wasn't being 'true to myself', in essence, not really "me". Oh I loved CCM and christian rock, but there was more. Hey, I like Pink Floyd and Deep Purple and Yes and Jethro Tull, and prog rock music too!  That was the time that we developed, with God's help "The Music of DLivahh". Music that Delivers. I wanted to produce real music that also had the element of deliverance in it. I wanted to express the artistry that God had already put in me, that was formerly squelched by others. I also had a prophecy saying that God was going to use me in "the industry".
Lastly, but not final or least, I sense that The Lord Jesus and His Spirit are on the move again, in my life to re=invent me into something ... something I hope is greater than what I have experienced before. To do all that he has laid upon my heart to do, and to utilize ALL the talents that he has bestowed upon me . . . and to operate "outside of the box" as a "radical pastor", teacher, blogger, author, musician, deliverance minister, humorist, voice=over guy, as well as just being plain ol' me … The Eccentric Tony that is a husband and father and friend and lover of Jesus, not limited by opinions or religion or anyone that can't understand this:
I can't just focus on doing ONE THING only!
 I Like doing many things!  I have been blessed with several talents.

I tried "focusing on one thing".  Doesn't work for me.
I have to do ALL the stuff, and I think I do several things "pretty good" … I work at it really hard and I've seen some successes. And so, even while it looks like I'm "all over the map", I'm really just expressing myself the best way I know how, wearing many hats, but enjoying the ride just the same!

How about you? Do you need to "re=invent your self"?
(What's wrong with a little "new improved you", huh?)
Let God Almighty do it … He's really good at it!

Jesus IS King!

"The Kingdom of God is AT HAND."

*and*

"The Kingdom of God is in your midst."

He was called 'King of the Jews'.

"My kingdom is NOT of this world."
Ahhh.  THERE IT IS.

Jesus is not coming back to set up some "earthly kingdom".
He DID come back, through the coming and sending of the
Holy Spirit, who filled the apostles and disciples on earth.
"Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven."  

Right now, not sometime in the future.

(Oh, and by the way, The Holy Spirit is still here on the earth!).

"The kingdoms of this world have become
the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ,
and He shall reign forever and ever!”

King of kings, and Lord of Lords.
JESUS IS KING, right NOW, not in the future someday. 

He's already there! He's already been coronated. Crowned. King!
You don't have to wait for his return,
you can fellowship with him NOW,

you can be close to him NOW,
you can get to know him NOW.

He is the King of Hearts.
He "rules" inside the hearts of men.
He IS The Reigning and Benevolent King AND 

He is The Prince of Peace!

IS HE YOUR KING???

MY DECLARATION

This blog . . . is personal. I have to do it. I cannot go on, and keep writing about this doctrine or that topic, without stating what I believe ABOUT MYSELF! And Here We Go . . .

The Christian singer Carman does a song called "Slam" … in it he lists all the evil attacks that have been hurled at him by the devil. He says stuff like,

"You said that I would stumble
You said I wouldn't last
But you was wrong

You said that I would crumble
From all that's in my past
But you was wrong

You tried to break me, tried to shake me
Tried to take me with your lies
You tried to drop me, tried to stop me
Tried to chop me down to size

You tried to crush me, tried to hush me
Tried to rush me and attack
But Jesus Christ is in my life
And now I'm comin' back 'cause I can

Slam temptation with the Word
I can slam each lie that I have heard
I can slam the devil on his back
The rod of God will stop the attack
…………………………………………….
You tried to drug me, tried to slug me
Tried to plug me up with guilt
You tried to shoot me, tried to loot me
Tried to boot my mind on tilt

You tried to kill me, tried to still me
Tried to bill me for my sin
But the blood has washed me clean"
(From the album Mission 3:16, by Carman)

NOW I must start "My Declaration",
with the above song as inspiration:

YOU TRIED to suppress me, and silence me for years.  You did not understand me, so you rejected me instead. You pretended to love me, but after a while I could feel your hate and disdain. When I won a parade, you brought the rain. When I was going through pain, you were nowhere to be found. When I thought you were behind me, you were plotting against me just like a Benedict Arnold.
You witches, you evil ones, you know who you are! I declare to you THIS DAY . . . that after a long siege of you robbing from me, and ridiculing me, and persecuting me and trying to put on me all kinds of guilt trips and accusations of supposed sins, your attacks against my health and prosperity … I DECLARE TO YOU THIS DAY … THIS DAY … that you will NO LONGER oppress me, rob from me, belittle me, LIE about me and put your guilt and mental mess on me! I rise above all your trickery and evil ways … and I will continue to FOLLOW JESUS and go where he leads, and if I do make mistakes, he will pick me up, brush me off and raise me up again!

You didn't like the pathways I chose . . . you didn't like my "independence" from you, not following your ways and not obeying your programs and family mantras. You wanted just to "rein me in" and control me, like you do with everybody else around you. I ain't playing your games, I ain't succumbing to your curses and I ain't coming back into your fold, because YOU ARE POISON.
I have to follow my heart. I have to follow Jesus, not man. And I most certainly will NOT engage in your witchcraft, be it "charismatic" or "secret" or whatever. You try to manipulate for an advantage and I simply will not go there.

God gave me a directive in 2001:
"Get ALL witches out of your Life!!"
At that time, I didn't even know what witches were, let alone "in my life" … but when he showed me, it all made sense. All the attacks, all the failures, all the pain and heartache, I pin it on all of you WITCHES.  That's right. I am no longer your scape=goat. You are goats.

I HEREBY DECLARE MYSELF IMMUNE to any of your further or possible attacks and curses. I will walk in the grace and love of God, preaching the glorious gospel of The Lord Jesus Christ, whether you like it or not. Whether what I do lines up with your agenda or not. I will not be controlled, by you or your mind-control programming nor any of your words, which are all LIES. I will continue to minister deliverance to folks, who have been under your power, to set them free from the powers of darkness, and your type of kingdom!
I will continue to do my music, inspired by Jesus and The Holy Spirit, for I know that he has anointed to me for JOY and I see how he can use me, and I love to see folks get that joy, and get set free!!!

In the spirit of the song:
"You tried to make me sick
You tried to 'take me out'
You tried to punish me
For every turn-about
You sent your fear & torment
You sent your pain & guilt
But now that I'm onto your works
Your operations will go "on tilt"
Because I CAN SLAM ... "

I will expose the evil deeds of darkness, because that is what I'm called to do!
I refuse to apologize for my actions, as I am not that poor outcast child you once knew.
I am a child/son of the most High God, brother of Jesus, Friend of God, and I intend to see my purpose fulfilled on the earth, and I'm NOT going to let you stand in my way or block me ANYMORE. The Lord God & I are a majority.

I belong to Jesus. I am His Property. NOT yours!
I know you can't stand my creativity, my humor, my joy, my love, but that is TOUGH …  I am not changing for you, to please you or compromise who I am, what God Almighty made me to be. And I will grow stronger and be MORE what he made me to be, and I will excel and be successful, PERIOD.

AND THAT . . . is  My Declaration.

-- TONY PRINCE.

I HAVE A DREAM!

Last week, I posted a "commercial" blog about our ministry.
This week, I'm expanding and expounding on the topic of "ministry",
to include a vision/dream I had about that . . .

ALL = ENCOMPASSING

I want to share with you, my readers, a DREAM. A dream in my mind and heart.  It is about The Churches of America. I see them totally revamped. There are many, many changes, all good. The main thing is, IS that there is a true and powerful dynamic that did not exist before. There are transformed lives and communities. It is like nothing we have seen yet or before.

First, the churches have "walked away" from the OT construct of The Levite ministry, or "the ways of the Temple". No more cajoling or begging or teaching of "the tithe". That has been a real corrupted teaching in many places. People rather, are GIVING from their hearts, and are never coaxed or forced or embarrassed or battered into giving. Money, food, clothing, and other resources just POUR IN. No need is left unmet. No worries about the ministers, your needs are being met too!
No more guilt-tripping people to come "to church", get involved or sit on this or that committee. People are finding their place, and connecting as the Spirit of God leads. Pastors and leaders are sensitive to The Spirit and can "see" differing callings on folks, and encourage the same to follow their heart, their call and gifts.
The "love of money" which has been a stronghold in many churches is a thing of the past. Money is seen as a "tool" and an effective asset to help people. Money in the church takes on a whole new meaning, as the selfishness and hoarding spirits are all gone. The goal is no longer "how big a building we can build", but "How does God Almighty want us to use this surplus of money?" And "How can we be a blessing to our city?"

Next, the pulpit is GONE. Instead, there sits a high-back chair,
like a padded stool, along with boom-mic and possibly a side lectern for a Bible or tablet. The teacher/preacher may also be wearing a wireless, so he can roam whilst teaching/preaching. The "audience" feels more of a connection with the minister up front "on stage", as that big hunk of furniture is gone. Instead of standing "over" the congregation, the leader is "sitting" while he teaches. The need for standing and pacing and theatrics in the pulpit area are no longer "a thing". The leader is free to express himself in God, in his gifts, without the traditions of men limiting him or her to a "pulpit".

After the message is through, the whole gang is adjourned to the "sitting area", where all may discuss and ASK QUESTIONS about the message = and where there can be training of individuals who are eventually being raised up for various ministries. This is a place where there are many ministers, teachers, preachers, helpers, giftings, services, administrators, and various talents.
I see the churches raising up fresh and radical musicians for the Glory of God. Rock bands are being raised up and sent forth. Jazz bands are being trained and raised up. Ministries are being birthed, trained and raised up and SENT FORTH. No more of this, "Well this is your church, and you are part of it, and you have to stay put. Bloom where  you are planted." No more latching upon people who are proven to be effective ministers of the Gospel, and Jesus is raising them up and about to send them Himself.
Church is no longer just about "the pastor" or one man, one woman. Gifts of the Spirit are functioning in order, and there are many who could be "pastors", many who are doing the work of the ministry, the works of Jesus. With -- no jealousy.

The poor, working-poor and homeless are being fed, clothed, and housed. They were being counseled, delivered, taught and brought into their right minds, with the help of The Spirit and proper nutrition/supplements  and cleansing and healthy diet.
There are FREE STORES popping up, where goods are provided to families with very little "red tape". Resources are just pouring in, people are donating their time and talents and treasures to the benefit of all. Similar to the NT model of The Church … The Ekklesia, The Called Out Ones.

I realize that "church" is not the building, not the facility, but THE PEOPLE. These people are going forth with the Love of God and The Glory of Jesus; they're out there in the world, "church without walls", shining with the Light of Jesus.

MY VISION

But I also had … a dream. A dream I woke up from yesterday morning. It was very vivid. And memorable. With the dream came a definite directive from The Spirit of God. I was starting a church!  Now, I have pastored a few churches before, and started and conducted Bible Studies, but never really "started a church" (except for our House Church, which is really a work of the Holy Spirit). 
In this dream, I found a building, a facility for a "meeting house". People started to come. The pulpit there was also moved. There was a high-back padded stool/chair on which I sat, where I did a bulk of teaching. I had a boom-mic on the side. I had a small lectern/stand (lucite, I think) that could hold a Bible or tablet. We had a "sitting room" with nice furniture, where we would "adjourn" and go there for refreshments and Q & A's.  Nobody felt threatened but more at ease in the fact that questions were OK! I told the people that nobody has to take my word for anything, they can come to truth on their own, with the help of the Holy Spirit. I was like a "guide", a teacher, YES, but more than that. A Friend. One who was there also to help, to stand beside and encourage. The prophetic gifts were being utilized and in operation.
A lot of the things I listed above were happening in this new work. I suppose the 2 "dreams" are one, ONE VISION.
From this place, the Glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ was being proclaimed.
The faces & countenances of all were glowing.
Revelation Truth & Knowledge was coming out, and all were
benefitting from the teaching.

I also made it clear, that at no time, would I ever allow any guest speaker to come and unload a message with manipulation, condemnation, hell-fire/brimstone and the like.
Our thrust in this body is GRACE. And there were many revelations in teaching coming forth to destroy the traditions of men and false teaching that has been so rampant in the churches. There has been way too much division.
And … The ministry of deliverance is being brought forth, out of the shadows, back rooms and tents! We desire to have weekly or monthly meetings with real deliverances and healings taking place.

SO NOW … I'm looking for a building. Because . . . it's important to a lot of folks to have a "center" or headquarters of operations, to get a lot of kingdom work going, and done.
It's something we got to believe in, believe for and also believe that God's people want to "come with". I think they will.
I think many will catch my vision, and want to be a part.
Key word: WANT TO.
So I'm okay with having a building. The most important thing here is … all the people we can help, all the transformations that can happen, and The Glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ going forth!!

Welcome To The Prince of Peace Ministries!

I don't usually do "commercials", but I felt the need to describe our ministry to the public, and also, the need to go "light" in this week's blog . . . for several reasons, which I will keep private for now! So now, presenting to you THE PRINCE OF PEACE MINISTRIES.

BRIEF HISTORY

Prince of Peace Ministries was founded in 2001, in Wellington, Kansas. It was at this time that the Holy Spirit dropped upon us his anointing for deliverance, in a very big way. He also gave us a mandate that has since radically changed our lives. Since that time, we have grown in several ways, mostly spiritually, but also in the facets of our ministry.

One of the major things that changed was our move to Phoenix, Arizona.

The best way for me to describe the rest  . . . is to include these jpegs (pictures). These main two pictures I think catch the essence of what we do. And another bonus: A shorter blog.

MAJORING IN GLORY & DELIVERANCE

Of course, the 2nd picture mainly focuses on the Music of DLivahh, an "overflow" that

God gave to me, celebrating rock music, energized with joy and truth.

And with that, I just want to add that everything that we do, we do in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, for His Glory, and utilizing the anointed gifts of deliverance that he has granted to us. We have gained and gleaned so much information and revelation, we desire to share it with the World, and to help as many people as God brings to our path. We do not strive for a following ... we are not trying to "build" some monster ministry, with a copper top that you can see all the way from Dallas ... we just "go" where he sends us, to whom he sends us to, with the glorious gospel of transformation, that which brings grace and glory and REDEEMS folks and RESTORES them and HEALS them. That is our goal, that is what we look for in every case. If you want to know more, or need some help, feel free to contact us.  *Tony & Renee Prince >>> THEORIGPRINCE@YAHOO.COM

We also subsist by the power, blood and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by generous gifts from folks like YOU!  We have a PayPal, I just gave the email address ... and we will gladly accept donations of every kind! Especially money! Sometimes, people have blessed us with "items" and we have had the pleasure of being a "conduit" so that others can be blessed as well.  That is the name of the game, and we are givers and believe that God Almighty, "Yahweh" is the biggest giver of all! MAY GOD BLESS YOU AS YOU SHARE and become a part of something bigger than yourself, whether you join us or some other work.

LAWLESSNESS IN THE LAND!

I don't usually get "political" in my blogs, but I just couldn't
leave this one alone! So, if you want to bow out now, you may
do so … "Really don't mind if you sit this one out!"
I'm going to be very blunt in places here, so watch out!
I am fed-up with all the evil & darkness that has been
running rampant in our great land. Enough is ENOUGH.

Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin (lawlessness) is a disgrace to any people.
(Proverbs 14:34)
Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.(Matthew 24:12)

There is so much going on in our nation TODAY … a Nation
in Distress, mind you. It has to be addressed. Everything
within me says "stand up, speak out" and thus I am doing so.

WHERE DO I START?

It is an election year. The lines have been clearly drawn now.
Yet, there is an inner "unrest" among The People of America …
they are witnessing a government running amok, and a president
acting all "rogue", and nothing seemingly being done about any of
it. To make matters worse, we have a former Secretary of State
who has made a career in LYING, and who was under investigation
by the FBI … which agency "let her go free" when she clearly broke
the law, again and again and again. Where is the rule of law now?
How can any laws in the land mean anything now, if someone like
Hillary Clinton gets off scot-free? Her attitude is "Laws are for poor
people, as for me, I am above it all!" Such is the attitude of many
such "elitists", who are only in power to get more power. Hillary's
agenda? Well, first she believes that she is "entitled" to be the
next president of the United States, but secretly she wants to
"steal" America, and destroy it. We know this by her actions and
her track record, and by what she believes. LAWLESSNESS.

I have a friend who states, "It doesn't matter what party it is (referring
to the main 2 political parties) … they are all corrupt and owned by
private interests, etc." Well, part of me believes that. The other part
disagrees. Hillary would never be part of the Republican party, the
"Grand Old Party" (GOP) as she can't stomach its conservative base.
YES, there are still some that uphold the beliefs, platforms and traditions
of the GOP, and are not RINOS (Repubs in name only). She embraces
the traditions of the Democrats, who have a history of loving slavery,
starting the KKK and supporting it and championing "gun control" and
throwing billions of dollars at every stupid cause they think is important!
It doesn't matter if it bankrupts the whole entire country, and enslaves
the populace, the more the better!  LAWLESSNESS.

MR. OBAMA AND THE SHOOTINGS

Here is a man who won't address an enemy by name!  Rather it
appears that he protects it. And there is already a bundle of evidence
that he is behind the founding of ISIS. But he can't utter the words
"Radical Islam Extremists" or "___ ___ Terrorists" because he has
no intention of ever stopping them! He gets more angry at Trump
for his words, then he does exercising energy to rally the country
together and comforting the afflicted. When there is a mass shooting,
he uses the crisis as an opportunity to promote the idiotic gun control
agenda. At moments when Americans need a comforting word, a
beam of solidarity in the face of terror, the president stumps for political
rhetoric and repeating new world order CRAP.  Lawlessness.

Don't even get me started on all the ways this man has engaged in
lawless acts … they are too numerous to mention. The American people
get duped, "the sheeple", by the lamestream media and voices that water
down the dastardly deeds committed by this Administration.
In his "community organizing" mode, he has instigated and aggravated
racial tensions between blacks & whites, and especially between blacks
& cops. You don't believe it? All you have to do is go to YouTube and pull
up one of the videos where it shows him making incendiary statements
against whites, against cops … it's all out there. Just like the videos that
he doesn't want you to see how he is so enamored with Islam, to the
total ignoring of AMERICA, and what we are really all about. I doubt if
he truly understands, and it appears that he has been programmed to
HATE what America stands for.  LAWLESS.

LIAR!!

How many times would it take you to shun a "friend" or neighbor
or co-worker who lies to you? After a while, you won't accept anything
they say or do as factual. The Truth has long departed.
And how many times has Obama LIED, to the American People??
Lots! And don't say, "Well all politicians lie!" That doesn't excuse
the blatant propaganda and constant spinning and stretching of in
information, all designed to "throw us off" and get us to start fighting
with each other. OH! That's already happening! We should be fighting
THEM!! But, NO. We are too busy distracted by their "crises" and the
news, and by The Kardashians or our favorite reality shows or our
favorite singer on Vevo. And wait …
"We interrupt this story on corruption in government with another mass
shooting!" OOOH AHHHH Ohhhh, what now??? People better wake
up and smell the burnt coffee & donuts because it ain't about what your favorite
newscaster is telling you, it ain't about what the White House is telling
you, it is The Secret Agenda is going forth!  'Take down the Nation.
Subvert the Constitution. Stall the Elections. Time to Create another
Crisis to get folks' minds on what we want to tell them. They'll have to
listen to us when it gets really bad out there. They'll come running to us
because they will want to feel SAFE.'  LAWLESSNESS.
LIES.  All Lies. We can do something about all this.

ANARCHY IS THE WORD.

"We have met the enemy, and he is us!"
Spoken by a famous cartoon long ago.
Have you been programmed enough??
Are you conditioned enough?
Then you can just "Ho-Hum" and roll your eyes at this blog and forget
that any of this is going on … it's just a bad dream, fall asleeeeeeeep.

So … you're hearing all these catch phrases:
"Hate Crimes".
"Racism … All whites are racists".
"Kill the Cops".
"White Privilege".
"Someone has to pay".
And … Others.

You can jump on the bandwagon, join the cause and think you are
bettering the human race. Man, you've been duped. It's a sham-scam, Sam.
The word is ANARCHY. Lawlessness. THAT has been trickling down from
THE TOP … Yes, from The Top. Mr. Obama with his blatant disregard for
Congress and the Supreme Court, and his cavalier position of having a
"pen & a phone" to try to enact his own laws! While breaking several.
NEXT … enter BLM, "Black Lives Matter". A front group that acts like
they care about "black lives" but really is about tearing at the fabric of
unity, all through racism and hate. This is documented. When Martin
Luther King was marching in his peaceful marches, he never promoted
or instigated riots, looting, thuggery or any thing of the like. How anyone
can call this groups' actions "protesting", are gazing through broken glasses.
Who is behind all this? "The Powers That Be" (TPTB), aka "shadow government".
You might also call them The Puppet Masters. Powerful 'invisible' entities.
LAWLESSNESS in Action.

TIME FOR A NEW ACTION

I have sent out the call for intercessors and prophets to RISE UP
and come against this spirit of Lawlessness, and PRAY. These
"warriors" know what to do, I trust. I have seen the great results
of concerted and effective prayer, when properly directed and
energized by The Spirit of God. As for everyone else …
I think people should also "speak up" and stand up and take
a stand against the tide of evil that wants to destroy this nation.
It's TIME.
WE the PEOPLE must once again, RISE UP and be heard!!!
We can bring a "redress of grievances" to our representatives
and senators, those who still care about this nation.
It might look like Congress is doing nothing, and not caring.
But … I believe that God Almighty has people in places we
are not aware, and he has reserved for himself those who will
not bow the knee to the IDOLS of today.
Finally --

PRAY. INTELLIGENTLY. SPIRITUALLY.
UPROOT THIS EVIL SPIRIT OF LAWLESSNESS!
RISE UP. TAKE A STAND.
SPEAK UP, TAKE UP THE RIGHTEOUS CAUSE.

DON'T SIT IDLY BY, AND DO NOTHING!

"The LORD Gives, and He Takes Away"??

"The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord!"

Remember that verse? It's found in the 1st chapter of JOB.

Job is speaking here … it's Old Testament, folks. 
Job was a rich man.

Satan had designs on him, he was looking for a soul to enslave.

Job was tested by Satan; Old "Slew-foot" went to talk to God, and asked

permission to attack Job, God's servant. God said, "OK, but you can't

take his life." So, his oxen and donkeys were stolen. His servants were

slain by the sword. Fire came and burned up his sheep and more servants.

More enemies came and took all his camels. And slew more servants.

His sons and daughters were all killed, due to a house where they were

feasting, collapsed upon them. Only the messengers survived to tell Job.

How many calamities? A bunch. Two enemies, The Sabeans and

the Chaldeans, fire and wind also.

To add insult to injury, Satan came back, wanting to do more damage.

So God allowed satan to attack his physical body with boils. Funny

how God didn't "take" Job's wife, who was not much help then!

And to make things worse, enter "Job's Friends" … 3 wise guys who

thought they knew exactly what Job was going through … and why.

This incredible story unfolds like a many-act play, and too many

"scholars" forget that there is so much prose, so much opinion, and

even so much "spongy-thinking" in the book … It is a faithful record

of what was said. BUT it isn't all what God said! That comes much later

at the end of the book, when God Almighty shows his true nature and

glory to Job. And Job gets restored.  BIG TIME.

I'm sure you have heard sermons … doctrines … and even songs about

"The Lord gives, The Lord takes away". Do you believe them? Is it part

of your 'core belief system'? If so, it will affect everything you do, all that

you read when it comes to God's promises.

You see, Job prided himself in his knowledge of God. What he lacked

was understanding, and some wisdom. God takes him up as an ultimate

example, to purge him of PRIDE. And maybe FEAR. With a mentality

like "If he slays me, yet will I praise him", it all sounds noble and good,

but God Almighty wanted to take Job deeper. Deeper into HIM.

Job wasn't written to give us instruction on how the Lord deals with

his people. It is a lesson on humility … getting to really KNOW the Creator,

not just "hearing about him". Also, it gives a clue on what goes on "behind

the scenes" in the spirit-realm. Job had no clue what was really going on.

It took a little prophet, "Elihu" a wise but  younger one who shows up, just

in time to instruct Job. It's then, and only THEN that God comes to Job

and answers Job in the whirlwind.

YOU MAY KNOW SUFFERING

You may know suffering, or those close to you who have suffered

various things. I have suffered pain, loss and different things in life

that have brought sadness. I can tell you right now … I am sad for

your pain, but God Almighty didn't bring it! No, He is The Giver of Life:

"For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord gives grace and glory;

No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly." (Ps. 84:11)

God Almighty is a Giver … not a Taker. He isn't an "Indian-Giver" either.

There are so many places in the Bible that declares the goodness and

benevolence of God and his desire to really bless his children, to lavish

upon them gifts and even bless them extravagantly! But, you have to

believe that God is like this. You can't listen to reLIEgion and tradition

and what your friends, family, grandma or whoever says, that goes against

what God says about Himself! He ain't lying, and he's no respector of persons. 
What he has done for one, he'll do for another. You can claim

favor with God,  you know.

When I was "found" by The Lord Jesus, I gave my whole heart to him.

Later, there was a time when I gave him some other things, things from

my past. You know, he gave them back to me! I gave up "rock'n'roll" and

then, full circle, I have come, and now I do rock for Jesus. Anything that

I may have had in my past, which was not "evil" he has energized and put

into motion, so that, in a sense, I never really lost anything good. 
He didn't take it! He simply redeemed it and put it to use in His Kingdom. 
Like my talents in editing and graphics … grammar and writing … and music of course. 

All those gifts have been redeemed and greatly improved.

But … I'll tell  you what he HAS taken away from me.

STUFF I NEVER NEEDED

He took away the following:

*Strife

*Confusion

*Separation

*Loneliness

*"SIN"

*Darkness, Wrong Thinking

*Effects of Curses

*Poverty

*Other "things" blocking my spiritual growth!

Anything that didn't belong there, he has taken away!

Why? So I can "walk in the Light, as He is in the Light."

Plus, with the "taking away", he has added so much more.

With the advent of deliverance ministry and anointing, my

world with Him has opened up exponentially … not because

I'm anything "great" but totally because of Him!!
To God Alone Be The Glory.

And so, if you wanna keep singing that song . . .

"You give and take away

You give and take away

My heart will choose to say

Lord, blessed be Your name"

(Blessed Be Your Name by Matt Redmon)

. . . with the Truth of God ringing in your heart . . .

then I would be just OK with that :D