a song i'm attached to
Thou God of truth and love,
We seek thy perfect way
Ready thy choice to approve,
Thy providence to obey
But why hast Thou cast our lot
In the same age and place
And why has Thou together brought
To see each other’s face
And why has Thou together brought
To see each other’s face
Chorus:
Didst Thou not make us one,
That we might one remain
Together travel on, and share our joy and pain
You join with loving sympathy
And mix our needy souls in Thee
Till all Thy goodness prove
And we rise renewed in perfect love.
Bridge:
So let us bear the end in view
And join with care to fight our passage through
And kindly help each other on
Till we both receive the crown
Till we both receive the crown
Chorus:
Didst Thou not make us one
That we might one remain
Together travel on, and share our joy and pain
O may Thy Spirit seal our souls
Till that day with all thy fullness fill
Till we lose our wills in Thee
Till we lose our wills in Thee
O Lord keep our footsteps
Till we reach eternal rest
Till we reach our Redeemer’s breast.
The Plague & Cure for 21st Century Apathy & Malaise
Jan Markell
Olive Tree Ministries, Inc
www.olivetreeviews.org
Semi-Weekly Review of the News -June 23, 2005
"USA Today" had an interesting article yesterday titled, "Poll Shows Americans are in a Funk." Right now they don't care about anything. Future terrorist attack in America--not a chance even though Bush/Cheney call it a "sure thing." Besides, it's summer so off goes the brain, curiosity, attention span, and exploration of new ideas and issues. Thankfully the remnant holds out for truth and solid information and hasn't parked brain and love of learning truth in neutral.
I honestly don't need "USA Today" to give me the above headlined story. I get feedback daily from folks who tell their friends and family about the current issues of the day that are significant and the importance of matching events with the Bible to help "discern the times." The response? "Lighten up." "Don't take life so seriously." "You're so negative." "Why don't you take time to not just smell the roses but the whole flower shop and get your eyes off negativity (translate that reality)."
Those who are getting insight only from the mainstream media are going to fall into this trap readily as they focus on the wrong issues, major in minors, and have a disturbing agenda. The alternative media provides some relief, and truth, including talk radio and the Internet. Even Fox News obsessed and overdosed on Michael Jackson, baseball steroids, and kids lost in the woods which further put people into the apathy zone and gave them the freedom to park their brains for a long season.
Nobody, least of all believers, should be in the dark as it concerns the issues of the day and the "discerning of the times." From the Middle East to the decline of the culture, to the antics of the ACLU to weaken America, to out-of-control judges, political correctness, border/immigration problems, the threat to the world from Iran, Russia, and China, to the "Islamic bomb," this is no time to zone out. And the jihadists have called no truce with the Western world and particularly America. God's incredible patience has spared the world a major catastrophe since 9/11.
The reliable "Alliance Defense Fund" suggests that the "gay agenda" in America gains ground daily due to American and Christian apathy. Very few in any country understand the Middle East "muddle" because apathy doesn't allow them to find the truth in that arena. America's capital is adrift with mischief and deceit because too many Americans will not challenge our leaders and their policies, behavior, ethics, and voting record, all due to apathy and the sentiment that "it won't do any good anyway." Wrong! Almost all stick their finger in the wind to monitor public sentiment and hire pollsters to guide their actions, though admittedly some ignore the facts.
I had an email from England today which said, "I find it very sad that the church is dying here and being allowed to die for the sake of materialism on the one hand and apathy on the other." This is a global dilemma.
Believers have the best news of all and are the last ones who should be apathetic! We are about the only source left on the planet who have good news. But our "don't rock my comfort zone boat" applies to some believers today as well. How can we be salt and bring light to a dark world if we are caught in the apathy tar pits? It will also stifle evangelistic efforts. However, I have heard that attendance at Christian conferences has plunged to 50% of what it was just a few years ago. Event fatigue? Perhaps. Or learning fatigue? I think it's just plain apathy.
The Bible says that a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways (James 1:8). If believers aren't going to be single-minded enough to focus on Kingdom issues and instead drown in a malaise, everything and everyone suffers. Slumbering spirits embolden only one entity--the kingdom of darkness who will take advantage of it all.
The Bible characterizes a last days' generation to that of Noah's day. Back in those days, they were carrying on with life, having a grand old time, eating, drinking, and marrying. They likely didn't have a serious thought as they enjoyed the "feel good" atmosphere of that day. Noah pleaded with them for over one hundred years to get out of their comfort zone or they would find themselves unbelievably uncomfortable! We don't know for sure if we're the generation to be compared to Noah's time, but somehow I think we could be.
I thank God daily for the remnant who is as troubled by the malaise as I am. Don't give up even if you are rebuffed! Keep your mind of the glorious future God has for us in Eternity and what He's done for us. If you remain Bible-focused, you can't possibly be neutral, apathetic, or a victim to 21st Century malaise.
Quiz
You are Romans.
Which book of the Bible are you? brought to you by Quizilla
The East Seduces the West
The East Seduces the West--Jan Markell
Olive Tree Ministries, Inc
Proponents of so-called "Christian yoga" are multiplying and becoming more vocal. The current "Christianity Today" on line, which is fast-becoming the organ of the "religious Left," has an article by author Agnieszka Tennant who says in her praise of "Christian yoga," "Christ in, stress out. Holy Spirit in, fear out. God the Father in, carbon dioxide out." She says that in her gym class near Chicago, "I use unhurried cadences of the air filling and leaving my lungs to lull my muslces and joints into daring postures. My body becomes a mountain. An eagle. A warrior. A cobra (oh really?). And at the end of the exercise, I lie down and become a corpse."
She should be writing for a science fiction magazine and not "Christianity Today."
But Tennant says, "I'm an evangelical and proud of it." She lauds Mark Noll of Wheaton College who has "pried open the collective evangelical mind" to such practices.
Tennant goes on to say that, "It bothers me that people demonize healthful exercise regimens and engage in fear-mongering among evangelicals. Leave that to "The New York Times." (NOTE: They love yoga, too!). She says, "Yoga has never had a negative influence on me. The three hours a week I spend doing yoga not only make me more flexible. It draws me closer to Christ. It's bodily-kinetic prayer. Give me five minutes of yoga and my mind immediately goes to the metaphor of God's spirit being omnipresent and as necessary as air."
She insists the Hindu gods behind yoga will never make it on to her mat. Maybe not, but they will make it to millions of others who follow her glowing praise. She says yoga cannot snatch her away from God who has adopted her as a child.
There is an alarm over the rapidly-growing popularity of yoga, and "Christian yoga", that is spreading around the world. A popular video is propelling it titled, "Outstretched in Worship." Disciples of it say there is much to be gained from yoga even if some concepts are at odds with Christianity.
Daniel Akin, dean of the school of theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, says "Yoga is rooted in Eastern mysticism and is incompatible with Christianity." He says the Bible holds ample opportunities for meditation.
A Christian who got out of that scene, Laurette Willis, said it left her vulnerable to "psychic influences" and opened the door to 20 years of involvement in the New Age movement. She says you cannot put a Christian spin on yoga and that "Christian yoga" is an oxymoron. And I suspect “Christian yoga†is coming to a church in your neighborhood.
Clearly the East has seduced the West, even in some Christian circles. Eastern influences are entering all branches of Christianity: Mainline Protestant, evangelical denominations, and Catholicism. It is an "equal-opportunity deceiver," the title of my latest video/DVD available at the Web site, www.olivetreeviews.org, then to "Our Products." You will also find Brian Flynn's new book, "Running Against the Wind: A Former New Age Medium's Warnings to the Church" and Ray Yungen's book, "A Time of Departing." All sound an alarm here.
Such deception is but another "sign of the times" and discerning people should have a red flag appear. However, in today's climate which accentuates the death of discernment, many in the church are falling prey to all manner of seducing spirits. And when you see these things BEGIN to appear, "Look up and know your Redemption draws nigh" (Luke 21:28).
Awating His return,
Jan Markell
