Military training is designed to shake a person loose from what is familiar and comfortable, to prepare him for the uncertainty and chaos of wartime living. It has been cleverly said by someone now forgotten “that one is judged by the quality of his enemies.” Civilian life is about making friends not enemies. Few set out to make enemies to build their reputation. Being liked is the important thing for most. Standing up for what is right comes in a distant second to that pursuit. Maturity should bring the discernment to put aside this powerful need to be liked. Principle requires us to stand up for the truth which many don’t want to do. However, popularity is vastly overrated. Consider the suicide of Robin Williams, a very well liked man! Popularity requires compromise and tolerance of things abhorrent to God. In this age of sweeping change and growing insecurity there are fewer people one can find to rely on to state the truth no matter the cost. Integrity is rare these days. Growing numbers depend on a social structure that no longer works for increasing numbers. Most don’t have the ability to adapt to the  emerging reality that bigger government isn’t better government. Yet too many are OK with increasing its size though it has been proven over and over that larger doesn’t mean better. The Bible tells us to “trust no man.” Political leaders have no understanding of the prophetic picture that tells us where we are headed and is clearly laid out in scripture. The American family lost 40% of its net worth between 2009 and 2012. This trend is worsening yet most are hanging on to the status quo for dear life. The lives of many are growing noticeably worse spiritually. Only the Bible has answers that can be counted upon yet few will turn to its pages. Biblical prophecy is future history. Yet most don’t want to know what is coming. They would rather believe the lie. God is shaking everything that can be shaken to see what each of us will hang on to in times of peril. Will it be perishables? Lies, broken promises, material things, or the most important thing: Jesus Christ? Do you know Him? More importantly does He know you? “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels” Mark 8:38. Without the “blessed hope” of Titus 2:13 there is no true quality of life. That is the truth. Can you adapt to this disappearing reality? Those who don’t will perish. The inability to adapt spiritually should never be true of veterans. Many of us learned the hard way there are no atheists in the foxholes…

When we surrender our life to God; we enlist in the army of God. If this is a heartfelt decision and not just becoming a member of a church then we have become a soldier of Christ. We have joined his army. His is faithful to armor us against our enemy. The Bible is our manual of arms. We learn in this wonderful book inspired by God how to dress for battle. That is what Ephesians 6:11-18 is all about. We are no longer civilians depending on others for our safety and defense. We will be taught by the Holy Spirit how to live the life of a soldier of Christ. If we are faithful in developing the discipline we need for survival than we will learn quickly and satan will have less and less inroads into our life to do us harm. Jesus spoke of the mission of satan. John 10:10 says. “he is out to kill, capture and destroy.” He hates us and looks for ways to do us and our family harm. But God is faithful to protect, but we need to learn God’s ways to take full advantage of his wonderful benefits. The benefits package is listed in Psalm 103: 2-5 and elsewhere in His Word.

“Things we accept as true and certain without proof.” Synonyms: Beliefs, presumptions, expectations, speculations…. Good assumptions simplify lives. Irrational behavior is exploding because of bad assumptions! Wrong assumptions are influencing public decisions. Conservative thinking is being attacked. Political correctness is anti-christian. Publicly promoted policies are often bogus. Intelligent thinkers would be wise to be suspicious of what made sense forty years ago. Such as the annual flu shot. Government is no longer as trustworthy as it was for our parents. False assumptions are behind many bad outcomes today. Divisions grow putting us at odds with more people. How can a real American support an organization like “Antifa?” Or a figure like George Soros? Truth and falsehood each have champions. The mixing of lies and truth is designed to deceive. Some of our simple choices can set one on a wrong path. Leader’s hidden assumptions would change who we trust if revealed. A little research will reveal hidden side effects. Be sure about your basic personal assumptions that drive your choices. We begin our lives with suppositions planted in our minds by authority figures. Not every one in authority is trustworthy all the time. Wrong attitudes are behind the growing inequities we see. Our conclusions as adults guide us. What if some of our basic thoughts take us off course? Many think that in most matters they are right, and those they disagree with are wrong. But we are seeing an increase in road rage and other forms of violence. What if they are right and we are wrong? Whose attitudes really need to change? Basic assumptions are important to get right. Scripture has much to say about this critically important matter of right and wrong. Can you really trust your basic sources? II Corinthians 13:5 challenges us to “Examine ourselves, whether we be in the faith; prove our own selves. Know we not our own selves how that Jesus Christ is in us, except we be reprobates.” The Bible tells us “there is a way that seems right but leads to death.” (II Cor 4:4) Satan is a master deceiver. Those who know history know America became great because enough citizens held the correct assumptions such as the Bible is really God’s Word. Those who hate God are trying to turn culture against Christians. We are in a civil war. Which side are you on in this critical fight?

In a well ordered army everyone is under authority. Even the general or admiral at the top of the chain of military command submits to the nation’s principal civilian leader. Without an appreciation of such authority, angry people become a potential mob. They can not stand for long against a smaller well ordered group under command. Authority is the power to make decisions and command obedience. Synonyms: dominion, power, sovereignty, supremacy, command, leadership, direction, supervision, etc. As we progress in life we soon realize we reach the limit of what we can do by ourselves. To accomplish more we need the help and cooperation of others. That is where authority become essential. Working as a team several individuals can accomplish more together than the sum of what they accomplish going it alone. In this life we all need to be a part of something bigger than just ourselves. That is why we join in with others in organizations. By ourselves in most societies we soon encounter evil, and are overcome by those bent on destruction. So what does the Bible have to say about authority? We find it 46 times. First in Esther 9:29 after she became Queen; a position of power. The only other time in the Old Testament is Proverbs 29:2 “When the righteous are in authority the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.” The other uses are New Testament. 23 times it is found in the gospels. Why? A heavenly authority had come to earth. To save us, and demonstrate how to prevail in rebel controlled territory. Matthew 7:29 says this: “For he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.” The next time we see it used is in Matthew 8:29 by the Roman Centurion. For I am a man under authority having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this and he doeth it.” This man was described by Jesus as having great faith. He did not say this about any of his disciples before his crucifixion. Jesus goes on to say what will happen to those in Israel who lack such faith. The question I have: Are those with problems using their delegated authority as believers to overcome in his mighty Name? Mark 16.17-19 describes our power.