The Bible predicts that bad will become good and good bad in these last days. After the rapture things will really get bad. Can you even believe that we will have a choice between voting for a black muslim or a cult leader for president. Look what our officials have done for us. Removed prayer from the schools, brought in a radical homosexual agenda, made abortion legal, got government into gambling, opened our borders to illegals, exported our jobs overseas. If Satan was running our nation things couldn’t be much worse.

This word has special meaning for we who endured boot camp. Others also experience rigorous civilian training designed to challenge them such as police academies. Some organizations feel the need for such training because of great job related stress. Rigorous training is designed to stay below where more fail than pass for safety reasons. But training must be rigorous enough so the less disciplined among us who lack the will power to succeed drop out voluntarily. While they might have a great heart we can’t have them breaking down in combat. The enemy is tough enough without teammates failing. Those who are not up to such challenges and quit do others a favor. VFW members proved themselves in their younger years by graduating. As we age we undergo new challenges not faced before. Earlier success should convince us we can endure again though our bodies are less reliable. Also maybe we have experienced the failure of a key relationship with its setbacks. That “I can make it through today” attitude that sustained us in earlier trials can be a great memory to fall back on. Knowing one is not a quitter when things go sour is important to future success. “Endure” is found 44 times in the Bible. There is a God in Heaven who has promised believers he is with us and will keep us in the midst of our many trials in life. It is difficult to suffer and remain patient. But that is what organizations and families expect of us. It is certainly what God desires. learn to trust him in the midst of all difficulties. There are many scriptures on this subject: Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” I Corinthians 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.” II Timothy 1:12 “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” My question: The thing you are facing now: Have you committed it to God?

382 times scripture tells us about God’s enemies, ours and those who hate us. There is constant warfare across the earth. Yet the cry of most hearts for peace. What is prophesied in Revelation does come to pass. Probably soon! So believers need to know that God takes sides in adversarial disputes. All killings are not murders. It is folly for liberals to think they can bring a utopia to earth without God’s help. People that are against all wars we name conscientious objectors. Christians with such beliefs in my view are deceived. The Bible is a primer for Christians on how to become overcomers in this hostile climate we see and live in. We must know how to protect ourselves. Our major foe, the devil is out to kill, capture and destroy. He does so by taking over people who then war against those God loves. The first use of this study word in scripture is: “And I will put enmity (form of enemy) between thee and the women, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” Genesis 3:15. Why is this word used only 34 times in the New Testament? Good question! First, I would say because Jesus defeated all our enemies at the Cross. Secondly, I would tell you he has given us all spiritual tools we need to subdue our enemies: His Word, and His Name! If you are defeated it is not because God does not love you. But because you don’t know how to fight spiritually. He has declared all true believers to be overcomers So learn to fight God’s way. James 4:7 says to “Submit ourselves to God, resist the devil, and he will flee.” If we don’t think God takes the side of the righteous, look at the last two verses in Revelation (11:5, 12) or the 105 instances in Psalms or the 34 times in the New Testament. If you seem to be a punching bag for others meditate on Ephesians 6:11-18, or Psalms 91. God has designed us to be overcomers. That means we must learn to fight. Physical skills are of some use, but it is the spiritual skills that make all the difference in this life. Take up the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God and go forth in His mighty Name. Saints be encouraged!

This is a vital leadership quality indicator. The better the leadership the better the unit morale. Organizations that have it overcome units that don’t in times of great trial. What is It? It’s a lot of things being done right! It can be described as a combination of qualities like pride, loyalty and integrity that when present cause men to rise above their own personal inclinations in the face of overwhelming odds to excel. Have you ever due to present circumstances wanted to give up? Some task just becomes too hard. What keeps an individual going at such a time? It is not wanting to disappoint his fellow team mates expectations by giving up. This quality explains why some organizations defeat larger, better equipped organizations. It explains why some outfits overcome against all odds. It is a critical component for an army to have. How does a leader spot when a unit lacks this dynamic quality? Certainly factors like tardiness, unit ineffectiveness, desertion, lack of joy in subordinates are clear indicators that this important quality is missing. One Republican candidate’s comment that under the current national leadership we aren’t winning anymore points out this lack. He says if he gets the nomination and is elected president; he will bring back a winning spirit. It shows that someone in the large field of candidates running sees this vital quality is absent. He blames the current administration for its lack. Some leaders have the ability to create esprit de corps. Others don’t! We need a different kind of leadership than the one currently guiding our nation to bring back our national exceptionalism if you think it is lacking. I believe the key component in this combination of qualities he thinks is missing is integrity. Behind this vital component stands a belief greater than yourself, usually a divine confidence in God. I believe we are now in a time where travailing prayer is a necessity. Without God’s divine help America is finished as a great power. This coming year, 2016 with its upcoming national election is critical. It ranks in importance with only two other periods in America’s history: 1775-1812 and 1861-1865. In these two periods our very existence was threatened. The American War for independence and the American Civil War. I believe we are in such a time right now. Who we choose to lead is critical. Will it be the God of the Bible or just a human figure?
We all must pray, pray, pray…for divine help.

This word can invoke dramatic mental images of a past rescue from certain death. I like Miriam-Webster’s simple definition. To remove (someone) from a dangerous place. When a military commander orders subordinates to conduct a dangerous mission inside enemy controlled territory he plans for a rescue in case things don’t go as planned. Civilians sometimes find themselves in trouble from fires, floods, avalanches, terrible storms, hostage situations and such. Local fire departments, police, sheriff’s departments and the national guard have evacuation plans for such situations. Sometimes there are no human systems in place. What then? Sometimes the only option is to cry out to God. Will he turn a deaf ear? Not if you have a close on going relationship with him. If you have ignored him all your life and turned away can you really expect his help in a time of desperation? Atheists and agnostics deep down know God is real. So why do they and others live their lives as if God doesn’t exist? With the growing trouble and evil in this world it isn’t a logical decision. The answer is this: They want to live their lives without rules. This is not possible for those who fear God. Those who attempt to go it alone without God, at some point, will need rescuing from their folly. But at that juncture, based on the habits they have set in place and their sinful lifestyle, God’s help will not be available. Their fate is sealed by their unbelief and faithlessness. We see in II Corinthians 4:4 that Satan is called the god of this world, and has blinded the minds of them that believe not. Philippians 2:15 speaks of our role as believers in this fallen world: “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.” The Bible uses the word, world, 260 times. If the world is your primary focus you are in trouble. Morally the world grows darker and darker. This is the reality. Very soon God will come to rescue his people through an evacuation called the rapture. His plan is laid out in the Bible. Following this rapture will come seven years of Tribulation to give those left behind a chance to repent (see Revelation chapters 6-19). Then he will return to establish his Kingdom on this earth. Are you living for him? You should be. Things are going from bad to worse. I Thessalonians 5:3-11 shows us the present situation: “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape….” Read this whole paragraph and be blessed. We who believe are not subject to the coming wrath.

Goggle defines evil as: “profound immorality, wickedness, and depravity, especially when regarded as a supernatural force. It lists synonyms such as: wickedness, badness, wrongdoing, sin, immorality, iniquity, corruption, depravity, villainy, devil, etc.. War photos and films capture the horrors of evil manifesting in the open. In civil society evil is forced to stay hidden by darkness. But pure evil is alive in America. The Bible uses evil 581 times. Eighteen times in Genesis alone. There are personalities that are pure evil. The book of Proverbs uses this word 48 times. Here is a sampling beginning in 1:16 “For their feet run to evil and make haste to shed blood.” The innocent if not careful are easy prey because most can’t imagine the depth of evil that exists. Readers of the Bible are comforted. Proverbs 1:33 “But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.” Many can’t imagine there are people who rejoice to do evil (2:14). The Bible is full of good advice (4:14). Proverbs 8:13 tells us: “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.” Proverbs 11:19 goes on to say: “As righteousness tendeth to life: so is he that pursueth evil, pursueth it to his own death.” Proverbs 12:21 promises: “There shall no evil happen to the just, but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.” There is a reason we should be good. 13:21 says: “Evil purseth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.” Proverbs 14:16 tells us: “A wise man feareth and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.” It is comforting to know God has complete control over evil. Proverbs 15:4“The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.” Proverbs 16:6 “By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.” The final end of evil men is sure. Proverbs 17:11 “An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.” 17:13 “Whoso rewarded evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.” 19:23 “The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.” Do you fear evil? Read the Bible.