The Roaring Lion

The Roaring Lion in a World of Prey

Sometimes, there are blog posts that are difficult to write. This will be one of those.

I am outraged.

There is an epidemic of child sexual abuse continuing to take place (and often covered up by the leaders) in some churches.

This horrific crime is not specific to any denomination.

Sadly, it is happening in both Protestant and Catholic churches.

The Evil One (the roaring lion) –  is everywhere, and yes, including in churches.

The roaring lion

The terrible news about a Texas mega-church pastor accused of molesting a 12-year-old girl (now a woman) has finally come to light and it is receiving the attention and demands for justice that it deserves.

Like others, I am heartbroken for the victim. 

I’m also sad for that church’s congregation who put their trust, like we all do, in what should be a safe place for the body of Christ.

It sickens me that there are actual cases where a perpetrator was transferred to a different church, or simply removed from the pulpit to “receive counseling”.

The Evil One is the roaring lion in a world of prey.

As Christians, WE are the prey.

Whatever Satan can do to divide the Church, including using members or leadership to do his bidding, he will do it.

The Roaring Lion: We Are The Hunted

Back in my TV reporter days, as wonderful as that career was, sometime I had to cover stories that broke my heart.

Both the TV station and I took a lot of heat when I reported about a sexual abuse case in the local catholic church.

The priest who molested the altar boy was transferred to another church parish – as if THAT was the solution. What about his potential future victims in a new church?

What about that innocent nine year old whom I think about every time I hear about cases like the most recent?

For one week, I sat in a courtroom listening to gut-wrenching testimony.

At the end of the day I had to go “live” outside the courtroom and report the latest court proceedings to our viewers.

And, every night I went home and cried my eyes out.

Surprisingly, many people didn’t want to hear about it.

Maybe they thought if the News didn’t report it, the ugliness would just go away??

It was hard, but I got through it knowing it was the right thing to do – to expose this horrible wrong.

How could anyone abuse a child?

In a church?

In a school?

Do you know what takes real courage?

Real courage is a male or female victim of this horrible crime speaking up and speaking out against the abuse they suffered, and in some cases, the pitiful way some churches handle it.

Parents – please do not stand for any church cover-up, or any proposed solution for a proven perpetrator to just “get counseling”.

Call the police, or sheriff’s office, and demand an investigation.

Sexual abuse – no matter where it happens – is a crime.

When Jesus Reigns

We know that God forgives every sin from a repentant heart.

Along with that repentance, a crime (such as the sexual abuse of a child) must be punished.

Wake up Church, and pray.

There is a great shaking going on in this world right now.

I pray that God will continue to expose these crimes no matter when and where they occur and I pray for the victims as they can face lifelong trauma.

There is no neutral ground in the universe; every square inch, every split second, is claimed by God and counter-claimed by Satan. C.S. Lewis

It’s our responsibility to be discerning and watchful in this evil world while we wait for our Lord’s return.

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1 Quotation by C.S. Lewis, influential theologian, (1898-1963) courtesy of Christian quotes.info.

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Ready To Take On The World

Ready to Take on the World: Graduating Seniors

Ready to take on the worldIs your graduating senior ready to take on the world?

Their futures and a whole new realm of possibilities lie up ahead.

Along with that hope, everything they grew up with and relied on is now about to change.

Doting parents are now a phone call away, instead of right in the next room.

So many changes, but also this . . .

Along with all the preparations for going away to school, it’s also important to prepare your graduating senior for a world that hates Christ.

I think we can all agree that if a soldier were to walk into battle without his or her armor on, they’d be an easy target.

In similar fashion, expecting our sons and daughters, who grew up in a solid biblical church, to simply withstand the anti-God pressures of a secular college is unrealistic.

The Enemy is relentless and, just as he continues to distract or tamper with your faith, he will do so also with your kids.

He is at war with God’s people.

Ready To Take on the World With Eyes Wide Open

Do we really think the Evil One has hit the “pause button?”

This clickable disturbing headline was two years ago.

Don’t think similar kinds of “teaching” only happen in states other than your own.

In many cases, the parents aren’t even aware this is going on.

In some schools and colleges, the pressures on students to reject their Christian faith is incessant.

And, with new mind-blowing technologies on the horizon, such as the increasing power of AI (artificial intelligence), the possibilities just get worse.

Artificial intelligence

Did you ever think you would see a headline like this one below?

Apparently, a fake “digital” god is in the works:

https://answersingenesis.org/technology/google-co-founder-wants-to-build-ai-digital-god/  

What a blasphemous, yet futile, slap in the face to our Holy God.

Call it foolish defiance.

The Lord laughs at these attempts to replace Him.

4He who sits in the heavens laughs,
The Lord scoffs at them.
5Then He will speak to them in His anger
And terrify them in His fury, saying,
6But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain. Psalm 2:4-6, (NASB).1

God is not surprised by these demonic strategies, but we as Christians need to be aware of it.

Can you believe that there are people who will fall for it?

Look at the popularity of influencers on YouTube – the next “big thing.”

Can you imagine when a fake “digital god” sets up shop on every screen?

Undoubtedly, from all sides, our Christian faith is under attack.

The Bible speaks of this.

For example, here’s a sobering and familiar reminder from 1 Peter for Christians of all ages:

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8, (NASB).2

All this to consider, are your graduating seniors ready to take on this strange new world?

Resources for Parents

Pray, and let your children hear and know that you pray for them.

Remind them to pray for the Holy Spirit to give them the right words when their faith is under attack.

Need help with this?

There are several apologetics resources for you to consider, but here are a few in no particular order:

Equipped and Ready To Take On The World

Think of all the possible paths our children might choose – the road to sexual immorality, the avenue of alcohol and drug abuse, the way of ungodly friends. But in Christ, there is an alternative path – a route that will lead our children away from the struggles we know they’ll face on any other road. The right route starts with the Via Dolorosa – the way of the cross. It starts with salvation, It continues with a path that is straight (Prov. 3:5-6) and is directed by God’s Word (Ps. 119:105). It includes Jesus as a traveling companion (Jn. 8:12). That’s the ultimate alternate route. Let’s model it clearly so our children will see the right way.as quoted in Precept Austin.org.

If your graduating senior is confident in the truth of God’s Word and can clearly articulate that truth, they’ll be ready to engage the world around them.

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Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

2 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

3 Precept Austin quotation is from the “Proverbs 13-19 Devotionals & Sermon Illustrations Commentary.” [2016] Courtesy of Precept Austin, Subheading, “Alternate Route.” Web. Accessed 9 May, 2023.

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The Lion’s Roar of Persecution

The Lion’s Roar of Persecution is Getting Louder and Louder

Hello dear friends in Christ  🙂

I saw this post on another friend’s facebook wall and just had to share it.
It’s a quote from C.S. Lewis and the photo originated from the Focus on the Family website.

 

Spiritual warfareAmen, right? “The more savagely will Satan storm its fortress.”

Pretty much hits the nail on the head. I don’t know of one Christian friend of mine who is not going through some kind of spiritual attack right now.  Whether it’s a damaged personal relationship, a bully at work, a friend or family member’s betrayal, or even a church losing its first love.

I will always remember a comment a friend made to me a long time ago. It still makes a lot of sense. “When God is moving, satan attacks.” Ain’t that the truth?

 cross

The Roar of Persecution: Watchful and Alert

Scripture tells us in 1 Peter 5:8, English Standard Version (ESV): 

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.    

(English Standard Version, (ESV) ,The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.)  

I do believe that satan has amped up the attacks on Christians. The worldwide slaughter of Christians is on the rise and equally terrifying to hear about.

The persecution against Christians in America is also increasing. Think about that. In America. And, it’s just going to get worse … for a time.

The roaring lion will not go down easy.

But, he (it) will go down.

Praise the Lord!

Christians know how all of this ends.

Take heart my brothers and sisters in Christ for He has overcome the world!

From Ephesians 6:10-13:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the

 schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic

powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God,

that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

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