What’s at Stake Next Week...

Thanks, Michael, D. James Kennedy was my Mom's fav. Now they's both enjoying the Lord! I am as conflicted as you with this election--do we want pure socialism right off the bat, or do we want it drip-fed to us in always wanting to 'reach across the isle\" and appease? When I co-founded the National Association of Busness Coaches in 1997 (sold it in 2002), I was struck by the number of solid professionals, as members, who did not shy away from the fact that they were Christians. They did little 'bending' to get clients contrary to other members. As I found in my own consulting and coaching career in helping others marketing their professional services, and in my own clients, Christian business owners who demanded the best from me and wanted no 'off days' BECAUSE I was also a Christian, were always the best clients. I always have wondered if I shouldn't come back and create a market just for Christian consultants and business coaches and help them publish and market their own content to fellow believers in business. I would imagine there would be a huge braintrust--just in your list, Michael. But then I would be afraid that you would run across the same issues on both sides of the desk that I did when I first started in 1973. Their attitude has been repeated by many others since then. At that time I was working with a large printing and fulfillment firm. The owner, not a believer, and I got along very well. So when a pastor friend of mine was looking for a printer of integrity to manage their large list, I took it to my client-friend--I thought also to win some brownie points in rainmaking. About a day after I had mentioned the potential business to him, we were coming out of his office onto the shop floor and he stopped me and put his hand on my shoulder and said, \"Steve, on that church opportunity you mentioned yesterday, I didn't have the heart to tell you then, but I told our salespeople last year to quit taking any 'church' business of any kind. I've got a file full of unpaid bills from pastors and churches I can show you if you want. Church groups always want special favors anyway and think they shouldn't have to pay any bills because they're special.\" That hurt. That was in 1973. The thing was, I was told in 2003 by a believer in business who has saved our church members literally hundreds of thousands of dollars in new construction projects almost the same thing--about other churches he has dealt with in giving them special deals and then having a terrible time collecting. Saying the above to say that the election is about us as a society--we DO get the kind of leaders we actually deserve in many cases. I don't know if Diogenes (the guy in Greek lore with a lamp who was looking for an honest person) was a beleiver, but our Lord told us to \"Let your light so SHINE...\" and that is by our excellence AND INFLUENCE in our marketplace is my interpretation. We do desperately need to encourage and support each other--especially in trade. This is why I am known as a people integrator in matching up firms with similar but non-competing products and/or marketplaces. Encouragement is our mandate and to come along side of one another. I am a recovering political junkie so I know the best of the worst options to vote for. The sun will still shine in our hearts and our Lord still reigns no matter what November 5 brings us in the US. In Him, Steve

I have come to realize that the only way to fully comprehebd what is going on today is within the context of what Jesus is doing spiritually (in secret) to cast out Satan and to throughly destroy his works for the sake of restoring God' s kingdom on earth. The Judeo-Christian View and Ann Coulter's book, \"The Church of Liberalism, Godless!\" have done a good job in exposing, defining and isolating the works and influence of the devil in the thinking of liberal humanists, like Barack Obama and his ardent supporters. But I feel there is must more that Jesus is now revealing as to exactly how he is casting out Satan and destroying his works to restore God's kingdom on earth. I have written two books about this entitled, \"Casting Out the Prince of Darkness\"and \"The Ultimate New World Order\". I would be happy to email these books to anyone free of charge for the time being. Just email request these books at my email address: DThomp6161@aol.com In His Majesty' s Secret Service, David Thompson

I wept this a.m. as I read this website and realized our nation has been an \"obama-nation\" before YAH for awhile now. I had to go ride my bike and pray, and pray and pray some more to focus on HIM. Thank you Michael, for sharing some things people need to see, \"MY people perish for a lack of knowing...\" KLH version of Hosea. I want to revert to my childhood some times, cover my eyes and say, \"you can't see me,\" or better yet, \"I don't want to look,\" but know we have to be wise and see with HIS eyes. Blessings in HIM and keep up HIS plans for you, Kara

Steve; I would like to know more about your coaching background. We will be launching a coaching program by year's end (Lord willing) connected to the www.RainforestStrategy.com material. Maybe there's a fit? Just drop a line to admin@rainforeststrategy.com if you have any interest. Blessings, Michael

It's not that hard -- if you take yourself out of the picture. We can be at peace when we pray for His will to be done. We may not understand or even like God's ways -- His ways are far above ours. He has His hand in the kingdoms of this world. He chooses. If you pray and ask God what to do or not to do (in everything), He will direct your path. I am very much opposed to God's people becoming entangled in the things of this world. Entangling causes strife and there is no peace in being worldly minded. May you find peace in doing what God tells you to do when you pray. That choice should not be hard when you don't lean to your own understanding. “Blocking� what you believe is not faith. All of us have to give an account of what we choose to do. If you do not have an assurance in your heart that you are walking by faith, then whoever you vote for will be an act against that principle. If you can't vote for either candidate in faith, then it would be better for you not to vote. That is a choice that most Americans still have. Whatever is not from faith is sin. You wrote, \"I find myself in the position of once again of having to choose between blocking what I believe to be the worst of the two leading choices instead of voting for who I really want to see in office.\" Something else to remember: we cannot legislate salvation. There is no law in this world that will be able to mandate righteousness. As God's people, we should know very well that it is not by might, nor by power, and certainly not by the man who gets in office -- for he will not be able to eradicate abortion or homosexuality. I don't care who is in office -- that person does not have the power to change the hearts of people or wipe out sin. It is our great commission to lift up Jesus. If we do that, He will draw, He will change hearts, He will change minds. It is a shame for us to put confidence in the arm of flesh - woe to those who do. If Obama is your \"faith\" choice, someone you believe God has instructed you to support with your vote, then vote for him. If McCain is your \"faith\" choice, someone you believe God has instructed you to support with your vote, then vote for him. Neither are without sin and both major parties are seriously flawed. If you don't have faith in either, then write in your candidate or don't vote. In any event, do your Christian duty and pray, \"God, Your will be done\" and meditate on 1 Timothy 2:1-4.

I just read your comments on What's At Stake, and reviewed the referenced website. Frankly, I'm disappointed. It is very slanted to influencing voters to vote for John McCain, a man who is clearly unprepared to lead this country. Talk about immorality...this is a man who continues to support an unjust war, which the President of the US clearly lied to the American people and Congress to gain support, and in which over 100, 000 people have been killed. While I am very much pro-life, I recognize that the situation is so far gone that simply outlawing abortion now is not going to solve the problems. The Church of America continues to fail the Kingdom of God, and is part of the problem that contributes to the immorality in the earth. Instead of driving further division, we need to focus on how we can come together in Psalms 133 unity and restore the church to what God intended. How can we reduce unwanted preganancies? How can we REALLY take a stand against the demonic force of homosexuality? I will say I would have found it laughable, if it wasn't so profoundly untrue, this line in the opening paragraph: \"The high road upholds America's peaceful tradition of Judeo-Christian tolerance and morality.\" This country has done anything put uphold a peaceful tradition of tolerance and morality. That is why we are in the state we are in, and again a big part is the failure of the church which is focused on greed, self-gratification, quick fix approaches...everything but worshipping God. My question to you, Michael, is \"who would you like to see lead this country\"?

Hi All.... First of all, just a heads up on something... When you post a comment, sometimes, using criteria I do not understand, the blog will hold your comment until it is reviewed and approved. Some of you posted on this subject and it was not put on the blog right away. Today I discovered that and of course approved all comments. I don't just approve comments I agree with. I approve just about all. Exceptions are profane, obscene or blatant self promotion. OK I agree that we cannot depend on the arm of the flesh, but that does not exempt us from our responsibility to engage in the process and make the best choices we can. You absolutely can legislate morality from the top down. Or immorality for that matter. Read the book of Kings and see the effect when the top legislated morality and when they did the opposite. A more recent case in point was president Clinton finally admitting to oral sex in the Oval Office... Following his presidency was and is a tidal wave of young people (very young people) treating oral sex as casually as a hand shake. Sexually transmitted disease in the mouth is incredibly prevalent in schools today. I believe the lax attitude at the top in the 90's threw the door even more wide open and our culture became even more polluted. Flip side. When leaders of society in government made immoral conduct something to be shunned, it didn't fix anyone's heart, but it definitely slowed the tide considerably. Now to CV's comments... I agree that America has not taken the high road in many things. One only has to read Confessions of an Economic Hit Man to get a glimpse into the dark underbelly of what lurks behind the facade. I believe if we elect McCain, we will be in a world of trouble. I believe if we elect Obama, it will be a different kind of world of trouble. Both choices for me are disturbing. I cannot with a clear conscience voter for a man who is a voice for Planned Parenthood and supports infanctide. That is unthinkable to me. I would rather take my chances with a man who at least on some fronts values what I value. Albeit, he gives us socialism on a slow drip compared to being a high speed transition with Obama. Who would I like to see lead this country? Ron Paul. Which party would I like to see in power? The Constitution Party Thanks for asking.

Let me first say, I am voting for Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Not every Christian believes that the movement emerging from certain corners of the Judeo-Christian community is unequivocally the work of the Holy Spirit or that Sarah Palin is God’s choice for the next Vice President. It is clearly evident, “some certainly do�. Many of Senator Obama’s Christian supporters believe that he is not only called by GOD to serve our great country; but also chosen by GOD to lead in this time of crisis. The proof of course, will be Barack Obama winning the election on Tuesday. Or will it? Can winning an election convince those who have already made up their minds that Sarah Palin is Gods choice? Will Barack Obama winning the election (for those Christians who voted for him) become the “confirmation� they hope for? Will they (Obama Christian supporters) be judged by those who believe in Sarah Palin’s pro-life position? Well let me give you a hint, Obama supporters are already being judged by the Palin supporters, and they are taking a hard hit primarily due to Palin’s pro-life stand. In order to understand what this election is about, what role God is playing in it, and what the stakes truly are, we need to first and foremost understand America is voting for a President, yet there are some in the Judeo-Christian community who stand ready with stones in hands, not to defend their beliefs, but rather to “judge� those Christians (and non-Christians) who do support Senator Obama. The stone throwing started when Sarah Palin announced her “pro-life� position. What is rather peculiar about the essence of “their� beliefs can only be answered in the form of a question, that being; what did Jesus say about the right to life? Certainly, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ’s opinion matters in this, and if we are true “Christians� we would trust in His judgments, as they are the precepts of GOD our Father, the creator of heaven and earth. This is what Jesus said, Matthew 5:21-22 “Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.� We can all argue when life begins… but what does the bible say? Genesis 2:7 “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.� Are the unborn partakers of the Holy Spirit is another question? John 20:22 “And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.� The “premature extraction of the fetus� commonly referred to as abortion, (whatever the motivation maybe for performing such operation) is a judgment that should be left only to GOD which He will judge in time. The problem some in the Judeo-Christian community are having is they choose to be judges rather than followers of Jesus. Did Jesus not also say, “judge yet not…�? All true Judeo-Christians would rather not see the senseless taking of an unborn life, but not all believe taking life is against the commandments of GOD? When you are supporting a candidate that professes to be “pro-life� how can one conclude that the commandment of Jesus can be stretched to - “but it’s ok to kill convicted felons�? Did I miss something about Sarah Palin? Thou shall not kill…….! Rest easy and don’t get caught up in the belief that one can pick and choose what level of Christian behavior to follow. You are voting for a President. Good, bad or indifferent and no matter how you vote, God searches the minds and the hearts of his believers and he will judge all of us in the last day. Whatever you do or however you vote; after the votes are tallied and we have a new President; be sure to consider learning and applying Matthew 5:21-22 before you judge your fellow brothers and sisters when is comes to their Presidential hopefuls stand on the abortion issue. And please don’t get caught up in the words “conservative judges will change the Roe v. Wade decision.�….. when the Consititution changes, ROE v. Wade will change, and not until. (IMO) In conclusion let us hear the prophetic words of old: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.�

Dear Robin; Thank you for your thoughtful response to this post and the respectful tone with which you disagree. In that same spirit, I would like to respond… I begin by saying that I do not support Senator Obama for many reasons… The fact that he supports the slaying of unborn infants or even at the moment of birth by injecting the base of the infant’s skull with scissors so as to suck the brains out of a living child is no small thing and in no way (IMHO) can be considered compatible with any part of the Christian faith. You site Sarah Palin’s support for capital punishment as somehow hypocritical because she is a pro-life candidate. But slaying an innocent unborn child is not the same thing. To understand the difference, one must understand that the Bible very clearly states “Thou shall not murder�. It does not say, “Thou shall not kill.� Until you know the difference between those two words, you miss the point of the Scripture. Murder is the taking of innocent life. The Hebrew word for “murder� is different from the Hebrew word for “kill�. That’s because as Solomon said in Ecclesiastes, “there is a time to kill and a time to heal�. At times, Scripture clearly directs the taking of life. This is not a contradiction as there is a difference between murdering an innocent person and taking the life of a convicted murderer. I didn’t make that distinction. God did. You can check it out with any Hebrew scholar. I don’t know of any Sarah Palin supporters judging Obama supporters but I would not be surprised. I’m sure it goes both ways. However, Obama supporters aren’t taking a hit because of Sarah Palin’s stand, but rather because of Senator Obama’s blatant disregard for the sanctity of life, particularly the most vulnerable among us. An unborn baby (fetus) is still a baby. Fetus is merely latin for “baby� but is used to make people think it is something other than a baby. We don’t need to throw stones at each other. I agree with that. But we sure don’t need someone in office who sanctions the taking of millions of innocent lives in the name of women’s rights. But child killing, (as the New York Times called abortion back in the 1850’s when it was owned by Evangelical Christians), as horrendous as that is, is not the only reason to fear an Obama presidency. He has never earned a paycheck in his life that didn’t come from the government. He has never had to meet a payroll, run even a small business, let alone a big business. His lack of executive experience does not make him a bad person, but quite likely an unqualified person. Furthermore, his own racist pastor (Jeremiah Wright) that he eventually denounced when it became politically expedient, was someone he sat under for twenty years. He claims he only attended church about twice a month, but in 20 years, that means he heard Jeremiah Wright preach 500 times. And Obama expects us to believe that he never heard the vile hatred that the rest of us heard? You are right that Adam didn’t become a living soul until God breathed into his nostrils. Since then however, the spark of life has been continuously passed down at conception. We can watch a child in the womb react to stimuli, sneeze, suck it’s thumb, etc all the while developing in its mother’s womb and waiting for the day to emerge safely into its mother’s arms. I have no need to judge the motivation of a mother’s heart for ending the life of her unborn child. I do have the responsibility to make a judgment of the action itself. If I came across you on the street and a man was sexually assaulting you, would it be wrong for me to judge his action and intervene? Of course not! I would make every effort possible to intervene on your behalf. Why would I not do the same for a child whose scream is muffled by the mother’s own womb? I judge not the mother, but I do judge the situation and can plainly see a murder is taking place, regardless of whether it is done in ignorance or for some lame excuse of a reason. By the way, it was liberal judges that made Roe v Wade and conservative judges, God helping, will overturn that bloody decision. The killing of innocent, unborn children in the mother’s womb is not protected by the Constitution. You and I can agree on your closing comment… “In conclusion let us hear the prophetic words of old: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.�

Before I begin, abortion is wrong, but so is judging others, condemning others, adultery, fornication, lying, and being a racist. Adultery isn't any less a sin than murder. Just for the record (and every one can do a little research at the library -- ask your librarian to point you in the right direction), President Bush never intended to overturn Roe/Wade. His wife has spoken loudly in his ears. Our first lady believes in abortion, \"Barbara Bush supports abortion in the first trimester. And Laura Bush wasted no time after taking on the mantle of First Lady to announce she believes Roe v. Wade should not be overturned.\" Just for the record, John and Cindy McCain also believe in abortion for females who are victims of rape and incest (unlike Mrs. Palin). Neither of them are in favor of reversing Roe/Wade - (you can get a transcript at the library). Just for the record, Jesus did not support capital punishment in a very demonstrative way when he told the stone throwing mob, he who is without sin, go ahead and kill this adulterous woman. (Lynching was a sin that a lot of people sort of ignored -- for many years there were living breathing humans {although at times they were only counted 3/4} being lynched -- kids, too, and babies drowned, right here in the States). Where were the Christians then? Just for the record, do the research, check the facts, don't believe the smears and hype. Some of what was written about Sen. Obama's stand on abortion on this post is just not true. As Kim Clement prophesied (April 2008), there is an element of righteousness in Obama. Of course, only God sees our hearts (yours and mine). Remember -- we live in America. This is not heaven. This is not a theocracy (we're not Israel). God is not going to MAKE anyone choose Him. We cannot FORCE anyone to be saved. We cannot force anyone to live in righteousness. To believe that our elected officials have some power to make everything so holy and righteous, and make everyone a Christian is not good -- God doesn't even do that, otherwise He would. Instead, it is by His lovingkindness that He draws us to repentance. Not by beating us over the head. We have to love people into the kingdom, not judge and condemn them. We have to stop blaming the ills of society on people. We do not war against flesh and blood. Remember that? We are ministers of reconciliation, aren't we? Where's the love that covers? God can use whoever He wants to do His will. He could have used Ron Paul as president if He wanted, but He didn't want to do that this time. Our job is to pray, \"Your will be done.\" Why should we kick against the goads? Please folks, only God can overturn Roe v. Wade -- not man -- please do not put your hope in some Supreme Court Justices. Even then, that won't stop abortion unless God gets in the hearts of people. I've counseled women who were desperate and only found a very few number of Christians who were even willing to help them keep their babies. Most turned their backs and wouldn't give a dime or their time -- they only wanted to condemn. Open your home, open your pocketbook, open your schedule (for a few years) to help some of these people who look to abortion as their only way out. When you've done that, then you've spared life.

Last night I came in from our banquet for the Care Net Pregnancy Center to find the two newest blogs here. Michael, what you said is so important and I fear many have missed this whole concept. Just as the Germans were entranced by Hitler's promises, failing to see his rhetoric concerning the annihilation of a people (Jews), so they fail to see Obama's agenda and the affect on (Supreme/federal) court appointments. My most compelling problem with Obama is the his willingness to annihilate a population, a population of the unborn. When people tell me, \"You cannot focus on one issue,\" I must respond without this \"issue\" there would be no life/argument. For too long believers who have voiced their defense of life have been muzzled. Please keep speaking it. I have lost a very good friend over her unwillingness to speak for those who cannot (the unborn). GOD forgive Germany for the murder of many people, just as HE needs to forgive America for the sacrifice of the unborn at the expense (altar) of \"convenience\" or better put SELFISHNESS. Bless you and your staff, Kara

Hi Michael, I respect your choice and your need to \"not\" vote for Senator Obama. I'll stand behind the church and do my part as a Christian, but will not stand behind those who exploit Christian values, as a means of getting elected to the highest office in our land, knowing full well; without disclosing to thier voters, the truth in their hearts that they can not as VP or President change anything concerning abortion rights. They know this, but want your vote. Their motive I will not question, but their integrity I most certainly do. My \"wife\" legally terminated her pregnancy, without my consent and when I learned of the event... the first and only words (as her husband) out of my mouth were - I told her I loved her. I still love her and will for all eternity. If it were illegal for a woman to choose to terminate pregnancy, we can agree that it would certainly be a deterrent only, but such a law would not prevent women from seeking an abortion. There are many reasons for early pregnancy terminations and while I do not personally agree with nearly all of them, there are a few medically necessary times. My wife’s choice, was certainly not one of those times (IMO), but clearly she chose to not have the child. (yes I wrote child) I will say too, during this time in her life and to this day, she has become closer to God than I, whom forgave her. I forgave her, for her “sin�…..which is the scriptural thing to do. What kind of penalty does the Christian nation propose to apply upon those who terminate unwanted pregnancy, if Roe v. Wade were overturned? Is not God’s forgiveness enough for them? Can we in our legal chambers legislate “forgiveness� for those who fall short of God’s glory? God forgives us freely. Would my wifes living children, family, friends and I now be visiting her in prison? The answer – “probably� and that is what certain Judeo-Christian community members are seeking. They certainly wish to stop senseless abortions as do I and Senator Obama, but they also want these woman taken from their families and put into prison. Forgiveness and church instruction is not enough for certain Judeo-Christian community members approach the abortion issue and it is an easy way out to think that our Constitution or Presidential pick will change the law of our land to meet their secular belief. “Religions such as Judaism and Islam for example both allow abortions under certain circumstances, as their main view is that life begins with birth rather than conception. On the other hand, religions such as Catholicism and many other sections of Christianity believe that life begins with conception, and therefore abortion is an act of murder. This is important because creating the a law banning abortions would be in the best interest of the specific religious groups who feel that way, while damaging to those who see otherwise.� Quote from Alan S. Lustig Pennsylvania State University It is because of our Constitution that Senator Obama stated and I agree, the matter needs to be left between the woman, the clergy (emphasis on clergy) and the doctor; the STATES have every right to enact legislation to insure the protection of the unborn, but have failed thus far to convince the court. The effect of Roe v. Wade which is now thirty-five years old has yet to be overturned. Why? The matter instinctively belongs to the church – not our nation’s government, yet the church would rather fight to change the unchangeable rather than do what it has been called to do, preach the Gospel. If we can agree on this scripture: Psalm 127:3 “Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.� we can also agree, as intelligent individuals; that our founding fathers prevented the States from legislating laws respecting the establishment of a religion. Our constitution is flawed, can we agree on that? The problem is in the church, not our government or its declaration that only Congress can change. Does that mean the church has to be? Can we be a nation free of aborting unwanted pregnancy without a national law? Can the church effectively change our social climate? “If my people (my people), which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.� The answer is not one of due process that has yet to be discovered, it’s up to the church. So we choose to support pro-life candidates and attack leaders who understand our governments requirement to support pro-choice, yet; we should also understand there are many issues which need to be addressed as well, and that a choice however difficult as it may seem, it is equally important to know the limitations of our constitution as well as the limitations of the candidates. We do have a forgiving Father and his judgments will fall heavily upon our knowing Him and Him knowing us. God Bless you…and the church. Perhaps our paths will someday cross. Sincerely, Yours in Christ Robin

I feel that these responses on the issue of abortion have been excellent and insightful on both sides. I would add that while Jesus said to judge not, lest you be judged, he also said judge righteous judgment. I have come to understand over just these past few years, that judgment in the Bible is a decision that identifies Satan and his works/influences and then removes these evil works/influences from the consciousness of mankind. In Jesus' s parable of the wheat and tares, he told his disciples that the field in which the enemy has planted his tares is the world (the consciousness of mankind). Jesus says that God sends angels to indentify and remove the tares (evil influences) from the wheat (God' s influences) that are both growing side by side in the world (the consciousness of mankind). We, his human servants, are instructed not to even try to root out the tares lest we pull up the wheat also. Thus, in this scenario that represents the mental conflicts of our lives on earth, we are not to even try to judge or to discern between the influences/works of the devil and the influences of God that operate in the consciousness of OTHER human beings. God has appointed angels to carry out this judgment of God. But, it is very important that we understand that this judgment process of God in no way condemns a human being to everlasting punishment in hell. Instead, it removes only the tares, the influences and works of the devil and binds them up and casts them into the lake of fire to be burned up as farmers burn the chaff of a grain harvest. In another metaphor that concerns fire, we are tried as by fire as a refiner puts gold, silver and precious jewels into a fire to remove the dross (tares, sin). In this way God purifies us and makes us fit to live in His righteous kingdom on earth. With respect to our own individual consciousness, God has given every human being the ability to JUDGE RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT at the doors (portals) of our mind to judge between the influences of God and those of Satan. Otherwise we would not be able to choose to walk in the spirit so as not to fulfill and fall prey to the lusts and the temptations of the flesh (Satan). Jesus said, \"Now is the judgment of this world; now is the prince of this world cast out. And I, if I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me.\" I know for sure that these words of Jesus reveal the only true context through which we may fully be able to comprehend and to make sense of what is going on in the world today. The words of the prophet Joel expand upon this context of the judgment and casting out of Satan and vividly and metaphorically depict these times in which we now live as a battle, a harvest and a judgment. Before God revealed to me the nature and operation of His great judgment that is prophetically set forth in Joel' s prophecy, I used to think that Joel' s imagery of \"Multitutdes, multitudes in the valley of decision\" was referring to people who were trying to make a decision for Christ. I think Billy Graham's \"Decision\" magazine may have influenced my thinking. But ever since God has revealed His kingdom in me, I now understand that the valley of decision is the judgment seat of Christ where Jesus and his angels decide between the influences (tares) of satan and the wheat (good influnces) of God. The scenario in Joel is depicted as a battle, a harvest and a judgment just as Jesus' s parable of the wheat and tares depicts. As Satan is judged and cast out of the earth, his kingdoms become the kingdoms of the Lord and of His Christ and He shall reign forever and ever Amen! See Revelation 10:7 and 11:15 The zeal of the Lord of Hosts is performing this. We should all rejoice and shout hallelujah and jump down turn around and pick a bale of cotton--if we ae able. I wish you all a good and profitable fruit- bearing day--That is, unless you have already made other plans. Ha ha, so funny I forgot to laugh. In His Majesty' s Secret Service, David Thompson

Dear Kim… Thank you for your thoughtful discourse and respectful tone. Let’s look a little closer at the council of God when it comes to judging… Jesus said in Matthew 7:1-2 “Do not judge and criticize and condemn others, so that you may not be judged and criticized and condemned yourselves. For just as you judge and criticize and condemn others, you will be judged and criticized and condemned, and in accordance with the measure you [use to] deal out to others, it will be dealt out again to you.� (Amplified Translation) I quote from two commentaries I find helpful in this… “This command refers to rash, censorious, and unjust judgment. Christ does not condemn judging as a magistrate, for that, when according to justice, is lawful and necessary. Nor does he condemn our forming an opinion of the conduct of others, for it is impossible not to form an opinion of conduct that we know to be evil. But what he refers to is a habit of forming a judgment hastily, harshly, and without an allowance for every palliating circumstance, and of expressing such an opinion harshly and unnecessarily when formed.� And a second… “Nor does he forbid one Christian to pass a judgment on the notorious actions of another, seeing the duty of reproof cannot be performed without it; but it is such a rash and censorious judging our brother, as is void of charity towards him, as is accompanied with contempt of him, especially if we have been guilty of the same or greater sins before him.� My point is that there is a place for judging, albeit in a spirit of love, well recognizing our own propensity for sin. The Apostle Paul does it in 1 Corinthians 5 and was upset that the church had not already judged a man who was having sexual relations with his father’s wife. It is a grave error not to judge and it is wrong to judge from a superior, “better than the other guy� mindset. We are all made of clay and are capable of every manner of evil. When someone uses racist slurs and expresses strong disdain, even hatred toward a race of people, I can judge that person to be racist. I know also that if I am not careful, I may find myself responding in kind and be guilty of the same. Furthermore, when a person gives consent to the taking of innocent life such as murdering the unborn, I have a duty to make a judgment on that. As for Bush Sr. or Bush Jr. being pro-life, I think they gave us lip service. Christians are to the Republican Party what Black America is to the Democratic Party… Both parties use their base to get the power they want. Obviously many Christians are in the Democratic ranks and many blacks are in the Republican ranks, but as a voting block, they tend to group more in one party or the other. I have no confidence that John McCain will do any more than Bush did in 8 years, which was very little. Capital punishment is another very serious discussion, but suffice it to say, lynching was and is an egregious sin and never condoned by followers of Christ, but no doubt condoned by some who claimed to be His followers. Should Christians have spoken up or stood by silent? Should Christians have intervened when a lynching was occurring or resign themselves to the notion that if God wanted to save him, He would have? Of course not. Christians then and Christians now have a duty to judge rightly and take appropriate action. While Christians have stood on the sidelines on many issues for too long, it was Christians who eventually abolished many evils from common practice in society, from the abolishment of the gladiator, to the burning of the wives when their husbands died in India to the very act of slavery, beginning with Wilberforce in England. Christians have a history of standing on the sidelines for too long, but eventually a brave Christian soul comes along and actually does something physical about it. They take action. Including political action. Watch the movie, Amazing Grace. They were fighting against spiritual forces indeed but they also got physically and politically involved and won the battle, abolishing slavery in the British Empire. Saying that Ron Paul or any other candidate of our private choosing not getting elected is proof of God’s will is flawed in many ways. If it were true, then we must accept that Hitler was God’s man of the hour in his time. Indeed, many foolish Christians accepted Hitler as just that and Hitler used Romans 13 against Christians whose understanding of Scripture was limited at best. I could speak of Mussolini or Stalin or Pol Pot in Cambodia or Kim Jong Il in North Korea who are among the most murderous leaders of the 20th century. Would you have me believe that they were God’s choice? God forbid! When tyranny seizes power, it is our duty and obligation to not only tear down the very wood the goads are fastened to but to replace that rotten structure with something righteous. That is love. Inaction is not love. (Not saying you believe in inaction). You say “only God can overturn Roe v. Wade – not man – please do not put your hope in some Supreme Court Justices.� While our hope is certainly not in the judges, God consistently works His will through the agency of man. If we who believe sit on the sidelines waiting for God to overturn Roe v. Wade, we will sit on the sidelines when other atrocities are done by the State. Stacking the court with righteous judges is a good strategy, but not the only one. You seem upset at people who you suspect (or perhaps judge) only want to condemn while the bigger crime of child sacrifice continues unabated everyday in this country. A practice I might add that was championed by the founder of Planned Parenthood for the purpose of ethnic cleansing. She encouraged abortion among the poor and the black population of America because as she said, “Negro’s continue to breed carelessly and recklessly in the South.� Where is the outrage over that? Opening your home, your time, your pocketbook are all very positive and very good things to do. I agree. We should also go another step and not elect someone who makes those charitable acts necessary nor serves as an endorser of the very agency that wants to destroy specific people groups.

Robin; While we may disagree on a few points, I appreciate the spirit you demonstrate and admire the love you have shown your wife. What would happen if we legalized infanticide or euthanasia? Wouldn't it lead to more? What if we legalized honor killings as in some muslim countries? Wouldn't it lead to more? I say, we need to close the door. How we treat offenders is another topic worthy of discussion. But we need to close the door on abortion on demand. Blessings, Michael

Dearest Michael, I belong to a predominately white church in Ohio. There are a sprinkling of minorities, very few. Political views and platforms are not discussed in our church. We have mostly white republicans and white democrats. Instead, there is an enormous amount of prayer and service. We've seen God heal the sick, set the captives free, and miracles to make the ardent doubter believe. Our pastor had everyone pray for each other today. He also had everyone to shake hands and release any condemnation or judgment they held for their brother or sister based on what they think concerning the elections. We prayed for God's will to be done, for whoever God wants to put in the government: president, congress people, senate, governors, etc. I encourage everyone to pray 1 Timothy 2:1-4 all the time. God can change hearts and save the most aggravating of sinners. I've seen Him do it. Why do we ask for God's will to be done? He said that's how we are to pray. Also, remember, nobody gets to world power unless God puts them there. My Bible says He rules in the kingdom of men and that He puts one up and takes down another (see Nebuchadnezzar's adventure with God's decree Daniel 4:17 and Psalm 75:6-7). Isaiah wrote that God created the blacksmith and the spoiler (Isaiah 54:16). We could talk to Israel about how God used the Assyrians and the Babylonians. I never have been able to understand the annihilations of women and children, whole societies (Jericho, to name one)-- but then, God's ways and thoughts are not on my level. Then, there is this whole thing called sowing and reaping. Some of the bad crops people are experiencing are because of the bad seeds they sowed a few years ago -- and let's not start talking about generational sowing and reaping -- and curses. That's it. Father, Your will be done. What's so hard about that? Because it can be quite hard - we don't want His will, we want our will, based on our reasoning, our evaluation, and our ideas. Jesus didn't fit the mold of His day. The religious community crucified him in more ways than one. We cannot (and I will not) put God in a box and say what He's going to do or define why He did what He did or didn't do. People's opinions, whether they are from scholars, theologians, commentators, in Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic, French or Spanish, are still people's opinions. God will always surprise us because He is God. His thoughts are WAY above ours. I praise Him when things go my way and I praise Him when they don't. Win or lose, up or down, sick or well, rich or poor, He still gets my adoration (and I've been all of those). If McCain gets elected, I'll praise God and pray for the man to be an instrument for God. If Obama gets elected, I'll praise God and pray for the man to be an instrument of God. Before the election process started this year, the Lord directed me to pray for His will to be done. I cast only one vote this year, and that is for Jesus. So I am not biased and my emotions are not involved. Sometimes He has me to go out and vote and sometimes He has me to stay home. It's a matter of obedience, and I fear God more than man. I pray for you Michael and I thank God for you, and what you're doing through Selling Among Wolves -- it's a blessing. I pray for everyone who has contributed to this discussion -- you are all so loved and very precious. Your comments are respectful and thoughtful. God bless you all on your journeys. This is the most I've ever posted in your blog. My heart aches for Christians who get so entangled in the things of this world, including politics. Be free. Jesus is Lord, everyday, no matter what. His Word is true and all of it, all of it, is going to come to pass (Matthew 24:3-14).

Dear Kim; Thank you for your warm and kind expression of Christian love. I agree with your sentiments expressed in this post. You are a blessing! Michael

Michael, Michael, With you I also agree with most everything Kim has said and the loving manner in which she has said it. I say \"most everything\" because some things she has said I am not quite sure that I fully understand why she said them and her basis for saying them. But as the dialogue continues, and as the Holy Spirit illuminates my mind and heart with the truth, I expect to get a better understanding of these things. This, I believe is the beauty and value of the dialogue we are having. It is far more effective in developing our comradry and unity in spirit and doctrine than a one-way sermon delivered from a pulpit to a congregation because it allows for rich two-way exchange of the thougts and intents that make up our unique mindsets. Because of the ineffectiveness and corruption of pulpit ministeries, I beleive God is now allowing pulpit ministeries to die and fade away. As God has directed my independent study of scripture, other books, cultures and ethnic backgorunds, I have become more and more familiar with and knowledgeable of the many and varied doctrines, thoughts and intents that fill the minds and imaginations of mankind all over the world. As God has renewed my mind, He has shown me, as he has shown Kim, the vast difference between my own understanding and His understanding. God has shown me and distinguished for me certain doctines of devils and seducing spirits that St. Paul talks about in his discourse to Timothy about the end times. Some of these doctrines of devils have become the cherished fundamental doctrines of many so-called Christian denominations. So much so that the word denomination should be changed to demonizations. One of the most pervasive of these doctrines of devils is the underlying premise of all religious fundamentalism that holds that man' s salvation is conditioned and dependent upon what a man believes in his heart and mind. Christian fundamentalism lists several doctrines that a person must believe to be saved to go to heaven when they die. Among these are the virgin birth and the vicarious sacrifice of Christ. For forty years I held such a Fundamentalist mindset. But about eight years ago God renewed my mind and revealed to me that what man may believe or not believe has no bearing upon mankind' s eternal destiny. It may affect his temporal destiny but not his eternal destiny in the kingdom of God on earth. A corallary to the doctrine of the right belief required for salvation is the erroneous idea that God judges us and holds us accountable for the sins that we commit. But the true doctrine of God is not that God judges us but rather that He forgives us because of our ignorance and stupidy in allowing ourselves to be deceived by the devil. We may suffer dire consequences for our sin but these consequences are not the same as God' s judgment upon us for our sin. In God' s judgment He holds only Satan accountable for sin because Satan is the author and father of sin. And in God' s judgment, Satan is cast out. As Kim says, we may not understand why God does what He does but we must not in our ignorance charge God foolishly and predict what He will or will not do. Michael has implied that we should not believe that God has orchestrated what happened under Hitler, Stalin, Mao and other ruthless dictators of history. But I would respond, \"Why not?\" God has shown me that He shrouds in mystery much of what he is doing in the \"the big picture\". But God has revealed in the book of Job that He orchestrated that Satan try to deceive and test Job. God' s purpose in so doing is revealed in the rest of the story of Job and his interactions with his wife and his friends. I laugh when I read that Job' s wife chided him, \"Dost thou still retain thy integrity? \"Curse God and die.\" Satan must have entered into her big time but in the end, God will cast the devil out of her and she will be resurrected and saved and come to the knowledge of the truth along with all mankind. Who would anticipate that God would tell Abraham to kill his only son? But we understand why He did so when we read the rest of the story. In the Garden of Eden, when Eve confessed the truth that the serpent deceived her, I have heard evangelical pastors teach that she was just making excuses. The comedian, Flip Wilson made a big joke out of people saying, \"The devil made me do it.\" But this is also a sublte work of the devil because the devil wants people who he deceives to go on guilt trips believing that they were at fault for allowing themselves to be deceived. In the school district where I teach and in the juvenile justice system here in Palm Beach County, the prevailing attitude of teachers and administrators is to hold kids acountable for the choices they make when in most cases the kids were just tempted by the devil's deceptions and did not know how to resist these temptations. But we school teachers are no permitted to talk about God and the devil to instruct our students how to submit to God so they can resist and overcome the devil. This also a great work of the devil. God has called me to work with Jesus to destroy this work of the devil. And like him, I do it in secret, when Satan' s emmissaries are not looking. But I could not do this unless I too am submitted to God and not leaning toward my own understanding and my former fundamentalist midset. In this campaign, I think I see many Christians who think they are doing the right thing when they are actually leaning toward their own understanding and not submitted to God. But I would not say or do anything about it unless God directs to do so lest I also be tempted to lean toward my own understanding. David Thompson

Kim, Your position that John 8:6-7 demonstrates that Jesus did not support capital punishment fails to take in the totality of scripture. Verse 6 says that they brought the woman to \"test him\". Old testament law (which Jesus was still subject to clearly states that anyone caught in adultery should be stoned. AS LONG AS THERE ARE TWO CREDIBLE WITNESSES. Since there weren't two witnesses (all left in shame) Jesus pronounced her judicial innocence. From THE SINAI STRATEGY \"The biblical view of the State unquestionably and irrefutably affirms the right and obligation of the State to execute men, for the Bible sets forth God’s law. God has delegated this authority to the State. This assignment cannot lawfully be neglected – certainly not in the name of a “higher, more compassionate� interpretation of God’s holy law. To deny the legitimate, derived, and ministerial sovereignty of the State in this regard is to deny the original sovereignty of God. It is to call into question (1) God’s Bible-revealed law, (2) man as the image of God, (3) the protection this image is entitled to, and (4) the responsibility of State officials under God.\" Genesis 9:6 Whoever sheds man's blood, By man his blood shall be shed, For in the image of God He made man. Isaiah warned the people regarding the nation: “None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity� (Isa. 59:4) From Bahnsen - \"The fundamental principle of biblical civil justice is victim’s rights. The victim has the right to prosecute. He also has the right to show mercy. But, in the case of murder, the victim did not survive. The civil government must therefore act on behalf of the deceased victim. It must assume that the victim would have prosecuted.\" The reality is that if you commit a capital offense you should forfeit your life by the actions of the civil government. This includes a woman who kills her baby. Even if the person repents and receives forgiveness there is a demand in space and time for civil justice. Remember that our lives are but a vapor and your eternal soul is more important than your temporal body. This doesn't mean that grace and mercy shouldn't be continually offered. The church needs to bring the answers and provide support to unplanned and difficult pregnancies. We need to bring solutions which may include a lot of physical discomfort (opening our homes and check books, sacrificing our time, etc). Saying that a baby killer is a murderer is a statement of fact, not one of eternal judgement. Civil government has the jurisdictional authority given by God to judge citizen's physical bodies. God will judge our eternity by our acceptance or rejection of His Son's atoning work on our behalf.

Dearest Michael B, The wages of sin is death. You deserve it, I deserve it ... but for Jesus. Mercy triumphs. Jesus triumphs. If we walk by the Spirit . . . What is the Sinai Strategy? A book? An author's opinion of God's Word? What matters ia all of God's Word and all of what Jesus did. For all have sinned ... the wages of sin ... but for Jesus. Remember \"as far as the east is from the west . . . the Blood of Jesus . . . cleanses from all . . .\" Jesus did pay for it ALL. Peace. -- Kim

Kim, You are right. The death we are talking about with capital punishment is physical death not eternal spiritual death. But for the grace of God. Justice as a biblical concept is routinely ignored when dealing with difficult topics. The book the Sinai Strategy demonstrates the need for justice based upon scripture. I did not quote chapter and verse from the Bible but Moses five books is replete with support. All laws are based on someones concept of morality. Though I am not supporting a Theocracy, our country was founded on mainly Biblical concepts (with a dash of Greek philosophy). Would to God that we as a nation would return our laws to ones modeled after Biblical principles and examples. One of the posters in this thread said you can't legislate salvation. I agree but when you legislate morality based on God's Laws you create an environment more conducive to Kingdom expansion. This is at the heart of my comments about capital punishment and Jesus's response to the woman caught in adultery. We need a Godly civil government following biblical principles. Hearts will not automatically be changed when this occurs. God is more concerned with the condition of our heart first. I thank God for you Kim. Michael

Michael, For forty years, I used to believe like you and most all Evangelical Christians that \"God will judge our eternity by our acceptance or rejection of his atoning work on our behalf.\" But eight years ago God began to reveal to me the truth of Jesus' s words that with man, salvation is impossibe, but with God all things are possible. The flesh-nature of man, which is the seed of Satan in all men, cannot be saved. The God-nature or seed of God is also in all mankind. It is the image of God, which is the DNA of Christ. The God nature in all mankind cannot sin because it is of God. Therefore, the God-nature in mankind does not require a sacrifice or atonement for sin. Thus the death of Jesus on the cross was NOT a vicarious sacrifice for souls of mankind. Jesus' s sinless soul that hung on the cross consisted of his flesh-man, his physical body, and his God spirit-man that he commended to the Father when he died on the cross. His flesh-man remained nailed to the cross. But because his soul had not sinned, his flesh did not belong to Satan as the flesh-man of all mankind does. In the mystery of God' s eternal justice that was manifested on the cross, God transposed/replaced the sinless flesh of Jesus into the sinful flesh of mankind, which is the seed of Satan. Thus, when we now view the cross we see the seed of Satan (the head of the satanic serpent) nailed to the cross. Moses' s bronze serpent on a pole is symbolic of the head/body of Satan nailed to the cross of Jesus. When St. Paul saw this he said, \"I (his sinful flesh) am crucified with Christ but, nevertheless I (the seed of God, Paul's inward man) live, but it is not I (his sinful flesh) but Christ (his God-man) that lives in me. When the bible says it is appointed unto men once to die but after that the judgment\" it means that every man will die because of his sin. But all sin of all men has been caused by Satan the father of sin through Satan' s deception when we were immature and ignorant. With this understanding, Jesus asked the Father to forgive them for they know not what they do. It is our souls that sin and die but all human spirits that are of God return to God when we di. But after that we will all be resurrected. In this great mystery of God' s salvation, His immortal spirit in every man is saved or preserved from its mortal flesh body which is the seed of Satan. Again, this is a very great mystery that can only be understood through God' s revelation. No man has the ability within his flesh-man to even see and understand who Jesus is, much less to accept him into their heart as savior. In all reality, Jesus is already in every man' s heart but God must reveal this to every man. There is nothing, no conditions, no accepting, no believing that mankind can do be saved. Again the flesh man cannot be saved. But the good news is that it is God' s will that all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. He is not willing that any perish in hell forever. There is no eternal hell of torment for unbelieving mankind. Moreover, unbelief is a work of the devil that Jesus is destroying. The only hell we ever experience is here on earth while our souls are living with an immortal spirit inside a mortal body. I know this is hard to understand but eventually all men will come to the knowledge of this truth because of the erroneous doctrines we have been taught and believed for so long. But it is God's good pleasure to give us His kingdom whether we receive it or not. When Satan is cast out we will not have the choice to not receive it. Hallelujah! David Thompson

David, You said \"There is no eternal hell of torment for unbelieving mankind. Moreover, unbelief is a work of the devil that Jesus is destroying. The only hell we ever experience is here on earth while our souls are living with an immortal spirit inside a mortal body.\" This in not consistent with Christian Orthodoxy. There will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works. Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 19:20; 20:11-15; 21:8).

Michael, Christian Orthodoxy is also a work of the devil. It has distorted Jesus' s message from the kingdom of God being at hand to the kingdom of God being in the after-life in heaven in the sweet bye and bye. With this doctrine of the devil, modern day apostles, pastors, teachers and evangelists \"shut up the kingdom of God\" to people just as Jesus said the Jewish religious leaders did. Jesus said these orthodox evangelists compass sea and land to make one convert and then they make him two-fold more the child of hell as they are. Christian Orthodoxy holds that to be \"born again\" is the same as being \"written in the book of life\" and to be \"born again\" and \"written in the book of life\", one must accept Jesus as his personal savior. But this is not correct. Every human being created in the image (Christ) of God was written in the book of life when he was conceived in the mind of God. Jesus is already in all men' s hearts. Most don' t know it but nevertheless its true. Most Muslims love Jesus as do most people of the world. However, the devil and his minions (influences) have never been written in the book of life because they have never had life. They are the same as viruses that cause disease. Such viruses do not have life. They do not have the signs of life of either respiration or matabolism as living cells in living organisms have. Moreover, Christian Ortodoxy does not understand what \"born again\" means. It actually means to \"be enlightened spiritually\" so a man can spiritually see the kingdom of God. In the analogy of being \"born\", a baby passes from the darkness of its mother' s womb into the light of the world. But as you know and teach, a baby becomes a new creature with life on earth when it was physically conceived in its mother' s womb. But it was first spiritually conceived in the mind of God. God has orchestrated that the devil use the distorted docrines of fundamentalist orthodoxy to steal the kingdom word from people' s hearts. Please ask the Holy Spirit to confirm if what I am saying is true. I have learned over eight years ago that is pretty much a waste of my time to refer to Christian Orhodoxy to support my doctrines and beliefs. For forty years I was led astray by the teaching of Christian Orthodoxy and hermeneutical studies. When God began to renew my mind, He opened the scriptures to me so I could understand the fullness of His kingdom word. I have recently come to understand that the first century Christians understood and preached the unconditional universal message of God' s kingdom through which all men will be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. The first century Christians knew there was no hell in the afterlife for human beings who have all been created in the image (Christ) of God. But for now, most Christians have not yet been \"born again\" to have their spiritual eyes opened so they can see the kingdom of God. Jesus prophesied that everything hidden will be revealed and very soon all mankind will be enlightened to see the kingdom of God. And the divisions of religions based upon differing beliefs will vanish away. In His Majesty' s Secret Service, David Thompson

Michael, When we read that God will judge the living and the dead, we might ask, who are the dead? In the Christian Othrodoxy mindset, this would be a stupid question because the dead are thought to obviously be deceased human beings who have led wicked lives on earth. But how can the dead be deceased human beings when Jesus taught that Abraham, Moses and the fathers are still alive. He taught that God is the God of the living not of the dead. He startled the orthodox Scribes and Pharisees by telling them, \"Before Abraham was, I am. After Jesus' s \"death\" on the cross, he decended into the domain of the deceased and he released the captive spirits who were sometimes disobedient even before the flood. And he took the keys of death and hell from Satan. Thus Jesus and the these spirits were very much alive. So who are the dead? They must be only Satan and his party. This is consistent with God' s kingdom truth that in the judgment of God, humans are not judged to be punished for sin, but rather Satan and his influences are judged, identified and removed from influencing the thinking of all human beings who have ever been conceived in the mind of God with the eternal life of God. In view of this kingdom truth, the idea that eternal life is a matter of choice for mankind is as absurd as saying we had in choice in being born of our mother' s womb. At the Economic Kingdom Summit in Austin, I was very happy to see Lance Wallnau make a distinction between the gospel of the kingdom and the so-called gospel of savation of Christian Orthodoxy. As you know, such teaching does not sit well with those who still subscribe to the distorted doctrines of Christian Orthodoxy. Lance was kind in saying the so-called gospel of salvation was included in the gospel of the kingdom. But I don't see how this can be true. I see that the only gospel that Jesus and his disciples ever preached is the gospel of the kingdom, \"Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand.\" David Thompson