before the sun goes down

"Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in His sight" (I Chronicles 19:13).

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Your Child, Your Friends, Your Call...

Here's a thought. 

What if you knew that your child was going to be taken and brutally murdered tomorrow? 

Let’s say that you know where he or she will be taken, where the crime will happen.  You know the address.  You know the very building.  You know that the child will be gagged so as not to cry out for themselves, and cannot escape on their own. 

Let us also say that due to an evil and corrupt society, this atrocious act is allowed by law.  That no police, no government official can or will stop it.

The only recourse there is in this society, is for someone to be there when the delivery person arrives, and plead for the life of your child before they bring him or her inside to be slaughtered?  If the delivery person is persuaded to turn from their part in this violent crime, your child could be rescued from death.  

What do you do?

You probably are saying, “What do you mean, ‘What do I do?’  I am going to be there.  Nothing could keep me from it!  Lock me in a room, and I will claw through the door, the window, the wall with my bare hands, to get out and be there!  I am going to call out with all my might, and seek to save my child, by reasoning, by pleading.  That is my child we are talking about!”

Let’s add another twist.  Let’s say you can’t go.  You are stuck in bed, a paraplegic, completely immobile.  But you have a phone. And on that phone, you have your friends' numbers listed.  What do you do?

Perhaps you are saying, “If I couldn’t go, I would call every person on that list!  I would beg every one of my friends and ask, urge, even beg them to go for me!  I would plead with them to PLEASE, take time off from their busy schedules, and go to the murder scene, in an effort to speak up for my child!  In the hopes that the delivery person would not carry out their part in the murder, but that my child might be spared!  Like I said, I would contact every person who calls themselves my friend, and say, If you love me at all, go for me, and speak to them on behalf of my child!”

What would you think, if your friend saw you were calling and put his or her phone on vibrate, so they could keep watching the game, or Bachelorettes Got Talent?  What if they answered, but said that they couldn’t go because they were going to be occupied around that time: at work, or going fishing, or endeavoring to beat the next level of Duty's Creed?  So they couldn't respond to your call for help.

What if they said, “The weather doesn’t look good enough for me to go out”, or “That is the only morning I can sleep in”?  What if they said, “I might feel uncomfortable out there.”  

How would you feel?  Your child is slated to be murdered tomorrow, and they are more concerned about their own convenience!

Well, my fellow Christian, let me be crystal clear on a subject.

Every child is made in the image of God.  He is the God that grants conception (Ruth 4:13), Who opens and closes the womb (Genesis 30:2,22).  From the moment of conception, a child is present: “a virgin shall conceive” (Isaiah 7:14). See that same verse quoted in the New Testament: “Behold, a virgin shall be with child” (Matthew 1:23).  Children, we are told, “are the heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward” (Psalm 127:3).  They belong to Him.  This includes preborn children.  He forms them wonderfully in the womb, knows them thoroughly, and thinks much of them (Psalm 139:13-17).  

Those children are God’s: Precious little ones in the womb, image-bearers of the Creator, the most innocent and most vulnerable in our society. 

And over 3,000 of them will be murdered tomorrow in this country.  And another 3,000+ the next day.  And on and on.  Moreover, due to mankind’s rebellion and corrupted state, our culture will not come to the aid of these children.  They will turn a blind eye, and have even made mischief by law to allow their destruction.  There are lurking places across our land where they "murder the innocent" (Psalm 10:8).  These children have no voice, and no hope of escape on their own.  These children, made by God in His image are being sacrificed to the god of Self.  God says concerning the little ones who are sacrificed, "...thou hast slain my children..." (Ezekiel 16:21; see also 23:37).

So what is God doing?  He is the Father of the fatherless (Psalm 68:5), Who will uphold the one who is abandoned even by parents (Psalm 27:10).  But how has He chosen to work in this world?  HE IS CALLING.  He calls on His body, the church (Ephesians 1:22-23).  

WE, who have been saved by the precious blood of the Lamb (I Peter 1:19)!  
WE, who are not our own (I Corinthians 6:19)!  
WE, who say we love Him (I John 4:19)!   
WE, who are called His friends (John 15:15)!

We are to be His feet, His mouth, His hands (I Corinthians 12:27).  We are to go out, to speak out, to hold out our hands in the name of our Saviour Jesus Christ, in the cause of those who cannot plead for themselves.

“Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.  Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.” (Proverbs 31:8-9).  

We are to visit vulnerable children and women in their affliction (James 1:27).  We are to “preach the Gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).      

These children are image-bearers of the God you adore.  He is calling every one who calls himself or herself His friend; for YOU to go and plead for their lives, to lift up YOUR voice to stand for righteousness and against wickedness, to do the work of an ambassador for Christ!  

If His friends are not listening to His call, who will go?  

Will YOU respond to GOD'S CALL?


Isaiah 6:8 “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.”

Abortion must be abolished.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

O Earth, Earth, Earth, Hear the Word of the LORD!

How did you spend your Earth Day?  

I spent the morning standing and preaching publicly against pollution.  WHAT POLLUTION?  One of the worst kinds.  The shedding of the blood of the innocent.

God talks about blood pollution:
 "And shed INNOCENT BLOOD, even the BLOOD of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and THE LAND WAS POLLUTED WITH BLOOD" (Psalm 106:38).

 "Wherefore I poured my fury upon them FOR THE BLOOD that they had shed upon the land, and for their idols wherewith they HAD POLLUTED IT:" (Ezekiel 36:18).

 "Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity, and is POLLUTED WITH BLOOD" (Hosea 6:8).

I was standing at the edge of the property of Planned Parenthood, the site where people sacrifice their sons and their daughters to the god of Self.  

SO there I was on Earth Day, that some parent may not deprive their preborn child of a Birthday.

It was an honour to stand at the gates of death, and use Earth Day as a springboard to speak on behalf of the Maker of Heaven and Earth.  There were so many verses to use.  Here are a few:

To call aloud, "O Earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD!" (Jeremiah 22:29).  

To make it clear that "The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein" (Psalm 24:1).  

That "shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (Genesis 18:25).  

That He "hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness..." (Acts 17:31).  

That "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

"...That the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world" (1 John 4:14). 

"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief" (1 Timothy 1:15).

"For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.
The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.
O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker" (Psalm 95:3-6).

There were a good number of hymns to sing at the mill this morning too.  Here's a favorite verse:

"This is my Father's world
Oh let me ne'er forget
That though the wrong 
Seems oft so strong
God is the Ruler yet

This is my Father's world
The battle is not done
Jesus Who died shall be satisfied
And earth and heaven be one."

The battle is NOT done.  There is STILL time to win a battle before the sun goes down.

Perhaps you are being moved by the Spirit to stand with me, and engage in the battle for lives and souls.  Let me know!  God's people are needed to line the sidewalks outside this mill and speak in the name of Jesus Christ, in the cause of the poor and needy, for the sake of the good of the very souls who pursue their children's demise!   

Sunday, April 5, 2015

According to the Scriptures, HE IS!

The Lord is the Great I AM.  HE IS.  Here are some of the things the Bible reveals that HE IS. 

HE IS
Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." 

HE IS God
Deuteronomy 4:35 "Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him."
Deuteronomy 4:39 "Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else."
Deuteronomy 7:9 "Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;"

Deuteronomy 10:21 "He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen."
Joshua 2:11 "And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath."
Joshua 24:18 "And the LORD drave out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore will we also serve the LORD; for he is our God."
I Kings 18:39 "And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God."
Ezra 1:3 "Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem."
Psalm 95:7 "For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,"

Psalm 96:4 "For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods."
Psalm 100:3 "Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture."
Jeremiah 10:10 "But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation."
Luke 20:38 "For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him."

HE IS thy Life
Deuteronomy 30:20 "That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them."

HE IS King
Psalm 22:28 "For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the governor among the nations."
Psalm 24:10 "Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah."
Psalm 93:1 "The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved."
Psalm 99:2 "The LORD is great in Zion; and he is high above all the people."
Psalm 45:11 "So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him."
Psalm 47:2 "For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth."
Psalm 47:9 "The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted."

HE IS the Rock
Deuteronomy 32:4 "He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he."
Psalm 92:15 "To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him."

HE IS our Strength
Job 36:5 "Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom."
Psalm 37:39 "But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble."
Psalm 28:8 "The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed."

HE IS our Strength, Song, and Salvation
Exodus 15:2 "The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him." [See also Psalm 118:14 & Isaiah 12:2]

HE IS is a Refuge, Defense, Tower, Shield, and Buckler
II Samuel 22:3 "The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence."
II Samuel 22:31 "As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him."
II Samuel 22:51 "He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore."

Psalm 16:8 "I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved."
Psalm 18:30 "As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him."
Psalm 33:20 "Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield."
Psalm 62:2 "He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved."
Psalm 62:6 "He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved."
Psalm 91:2 "I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust."
Psalm 115:9 "O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield."
Psalm 115:10 "O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield."
Psalm 115:11 "Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield."
Proverbs 2:7 "He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly."
Proverbs 30:5 "Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him."

HE IS Judge
Job 37:23 "Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict."
Psalm 58:11 "So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth."
Psalm 105:7 "He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth."
Psalm 66:5 "Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men."
Psalm 76:12 "He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth."

HE IS Holy and Pure
Psalm 99:5 "Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy."
Malachi 3:2 "But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:"

HE IS Good
I Chronicles 16:34 "O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever."
II Chronicles 5:13 "It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;"
II Chronicles 7:3 "And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever."
Ezra 3:11 "And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid."
Psalm 106:1 "Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever."
Psalm 107:1 "O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever."
Psalm 118:1 "O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever."
Psalm 118:29 "O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever."
Psalm 136:1 "O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever."

HE IS altogether Lovely
Song of Songs 5:16 "His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem."

HE IS Gracious and Merciful
Job 33:24 "Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom."
Joel 2:13 "And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil."

HE IS Just
Zechariah 9:9 "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass."

HE IS the Son of Man
John 5:27 "And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man."
Acts 2:25 "For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:"

HE IS the Son of God
Acts 9:20 "And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God."

HE IS the Propitiation for our sins
I John 2:2 "And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."

HE IS Risen!
Matthew 28:6 "He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay."

Mark 16:6 "And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him."
Luke 24:6 "He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,"

HE IS Before all things and the Head of the church
Colossians 1:17 "And he is before all things, and by him all things consist."

Colossians 1:18 "And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence."

HE IS Faithful
Hebrews 10:23 "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)"

HE IS Able
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."
Hebrews 7:25 "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."

HE IS Lord
I Chronicles 16:14 "He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth."
Acts 10:36 "The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)"
Acts 17:24 "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;"
Revelation 17:14 "These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful."

Watch  He Is from Ellerslie

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

The Meaning of a Name - The Ed Word (Edward)

Today is my son Edward's birthday.  He is now 1 year of age.  Though Tirzah and the rest of us often call him "Bubber", Edward's full name is much longer and filled with meaning for us.  


The name of our little guy is Edward Borden Benjamin Myers

Edward comes from the Old English ead meaning "blessed, rich" and weard, meaning "guardian, watcher".  

In Hebrew, Ed is a proper name meaning "witness".  It is the name given to a great altar built by the two and a half tribes (Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh) on the east side of Jordan, as a testimony to future generations that the LORD IS GOD (Numbers 22).  We desire for our son to become a bold witness for Christ, whose life will so given for Christ that it will alter the course of history as those who come after see what God has done!

I also appreciate that in the heart of the name is the word WAR.  We are in a great conflict of spiritual warfare.  I call him my little warrior, and desire him to grow to "be strong in the LORD" (Ephesians 6:10), and "turn the battle to the gate" (Isaiah 28:6).  We love having both our children join us each week at we minister at the abortion mill!  And my prayer for my son/warrior is that he will gain a great desire to defend those who are weak, be a hero for the fatherless and widow, win souls to Christ, do battle in the heavenlies, and that the Lord will mightily use him to "brake the jaws of the wicked, and pluck the spoil out of his teeth" (Job 29:17)!

Edward is the middle name of my father's father, Harold Edward Myers.  His birthday was March 27th, only 5 days earlier than Edward's (in fact, the 27th was one of the possible due dates we were given for Edward'a arrival).  Grandpa Myers taught me so much about life and family, God's creation, hard work, and integrity, and is now in Heaven with his blessed Redeemer.  Grandpa Myers was the one to lead my father to salvation in Jesus, and my father led me.  And I pray daily for Edward to come to saving faith in Christ alone!

Edward is a name that carries a royal weight.

King Alfred the Great's eldest son was named Edward.  In the last hours of Alfred's life, he called for Edward, to give him a last charge as king:

"Thou my dear son, set thee now beside me, and I will deliver thee true instructions.  I feel that my hour is coming.  My strength is gone; my countenance is wasted and pale.  My days are almost ended.  We must now part. I go to another world, and thou art to be left alone in the possession of all that I have thus far held.  I pray thee, my dear child, to be a father to thy people.  Be the children's father and the widow's friend.  Comfort the poor, protect and shelter the weak, and, with all thy might, right that which is wrong.  And, my son, govern thyself by law.  Then shall the Lord love thee, and God Himself shall be thy reward.  Call thou upon Him to advise thee in all thy need, and He shall help thee to compass all thy desires."

History tells us that this son, who succeeded Alfred, became a good and just ruler, and gained such renown, that the name Edward remained in popular use even after the Norman conquest, when Norman names replaced English ones.  In fact, eight other monarchs of England were given the name of Edward in honour of that son of Alfred.

One of those "Edward kings" (and my favorite), was Edward VI, by some called "the British Josiah", whose short life of fifteen years and brief reign of only six years, nevertheless burned brightly for the Scriptures and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and altered the course of England's history.  When preparations for his coronation were being made, it is said that three swords were brought out to be carried in the procession, as emblematic of his three kingdoms.  The young Edward said, "There was one yet wanting."  The nobles inquired what it was and he answered, 

"The Bible.  That book is the sword of the Spirit, and to be preferred before these swords.  That ought in right to govern us, who use them for the people's safety by God's appointment.  Without that sword we are nothing, we can do nothing, we have not power.  From the Bible we are what we are this day.  From it we receive whatsoever it is that we at present do assume.  He that rules without it is not to be called God's minister or king.  Under the Bible, the word of God, we ought to live, to fight, to govern the people and to perform all our affairs.  From it alone we obtain all power, virtue, grace, salvation and whatsoever we have of divine strength."  O, that our son Edward would treasure that Sword, and wield it faithfully!

Edward Ruthledge was a signer of the Declaration of Independence.  Though he was cautious to come to the decision to separate from Britain, Ruthledge, at age 26, became the youngest of the 56 signers, to pledged his life, fortune, and sacred honour to see his fledgling nation free from the tyranny of George III.

Borden means "from the boar valley".  This is interesting, since my dear wife Deana's name means "from the valley".  We desire for our son to take on the challenges and dangers of life with an incorrigible trust in the living God, no matter his outward circumstance.

The father of the Borden family came to England circa the Norman conquest, following King William the Conqueror, and was granted land and named a Baron in recognition of his assistance in the Battle of Hastings. 

We named our son after the stalwart young millionaire, William Whiting Borden (1887-1913), who forsook the world and followed Jesus Christ to the mission field.  Though he died at age 25 in Cairo before ever reaching his beloved China, the incredible life of dogged love for souls and daring givenness of William Borden has caused multitudes of Christians since to be moved to the mission field.  We desire for our son to be ready for God's call to missions, and to "Say No to Self, Yes to Jesus every time."  


It is special to us that in Borden, our son Edward is named after a William, since we lost his older brother, William Livingstone Samuel, before birth.  Each and every child is a blessing to be cherished, welcomed, and valued as the "heritage of the LORD" (Psalm 127:3).

Benjamin is Hebrew, meaning "son of the right hand".  Benjamin was the youngest son of Jacob, and Joseph's brother, whose family became a tribe.  A few of the heroes that came from the tribe of Benjamin are Ehud, Jonathan, Mordecai, and the apostle Paul.  "Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of  man whom thou madest strong for thyself" (Psalm 80:17).  

My mother's father is named Benjamin Russell Markley, Jr.  He too, has taught me an incredible amount about diligence, character, heritage, and service for the Lord.  At 91, he is still with us, and we plan to visit him this weekend.  Both I and my son Edward have the middle name of Benjamin.   

There were three signers of the Declaration of Independence named Benjamin:
Benjamin Franklin - Pennsylvania  
Benjamin Rush - Pennsylvania
Benjamin Harrison - Virginia

   Of these three signers, my favorite is Benjamin Rush, who was a staunch Christian, a passionate patriot, and being an early Abolitionist, he founded the first abolitionist society in America.  Even while King George outlawed such groups.  Rush was also a scientist and dedicated physician, who risked his own life to stay and care for hundreds of patients during an epidemic in Philadelphia, even as many other doctors were fleeing for their own safety. Dr. Rush wrote a powerful defense of the use of the Bible in public schools, which later became a widespread tract.  He served under three U.S. Presidents of different parties.  Benjamin would find a man who followed Biblical principles, and would stand with him.  He said once "People have alternately called me an Aristocract and a Democrat.  I am neither.  I am a Christocrat."

We are humbled and grateful for the honour of receiving and raising this son, and do seek God's wisdom and direction as we train our children to know, fear, love, and serve God with all their hearts!  

Happy Birthday, Edward!  Love you, Bubber!

Abortion must be abolished.

Friday, January 2, 2015

Sons of Amittai, Arise!


Jonah 1:1 "Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,"

This is how the great story of Jonah begins.  This is, very possibly, the most well known, most talked about, and most preached on book of minor prophecy.  There are so many truths, sermons, lessons, and insights that pour out of those four short chapters!  I personally love to study the life of Jonah, and teach others what I have learned.  However, in this post, I want to focus on four words which may be the most overlooked words in the whole book.  Which words?

"...the son of Amittai..."


Jonah was the son of Amittai.  Amittai was his dad.  The Hebrew name of Amittai carries much significance!  It literally means "veracious"!

Before we delve into the full definition let's look at another word: VORACIOUS!  This word has the Latin root, vorax, from voro, which means "to devour, to eat, to clear away, to consume, as food".  We find other English words with this same root, such as "herbivore", and "carnivore".  The picture given by the word VORACIOUS is to be given to EAT!  To be ravenous in appetite!  To be rapacious!  Very hungry!  Eager to devour!  Driven by hunger!  Ready to partake with a fierce desire!

Now just change one little letter, switch the first o for an e, and we have VERACIOUS.  This word comes from another Latin root, verax, from verus, which means "true".  The Latin motto Veritas vincit means "truth conquers".  Other English words that come from this root are "verification", "veracity", and "verily".  So to be VERACIOUS carries the idea of being given to TRUTH, to fix one's gaze on truth, to be disposed to speak truth, to be true, in VERY truth.  How I love language!

To be "given to truth"  is that of taking truth for one's personal life.  Amittai is derived from the Hebrew ameth, which means "stability, certainty, truth, trustworthiness, establishment, faithful, right, and sure."  There is the picture of firmness, reliability, and continuance.  This word is used both for speaking the truth and being true.

Ameth in turn comes from the Hebrew root, aman, meaning "to render firm or faithful, stedfast, trusty, verified, to nurse and build up, to establish, to turn to the right, to support.  A number of Hebrew words are derived from this root, with varied meanings, include:
"believe; faithful, sure"
"right hand (as the firm, the strong)"
"cunning workman, in the sense of training, as an expert"
"verity; truth"
"surely; indeed"
"sure; truly; verily; so be it; truth"

The last of this list is the Hebrew form from which we get the blessed word that has come into common use by believers today, so much so that it is considered an English word and is spoken out in the midst of Bible preaching. "AMEN!"  It is found in our English Bible 78 times, in both Old and New Testaments.  We find that that one of the names of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Alpha and Omega, the faithful and true Witness, the Lord of glory, is "the Amen" (Revelation 3:14).

Almost the only background we have of Jonah is His father's name.  And that name became Jonah's identity.  It was an honourable name.  A name that would have set him apart, and challenged him in his life and ministry.

Beloved brethren, let us consider Who our Father is.  Are we not, in very truth, also "sons of Amittai"?  Are we not to be known as children of Truth?  Have we not, through spiritual birth, become the sons of God (John 1:12; 3:3)?  How should that affect our words (Ephesians 4:25) and our walk (II John 4; III John 4)?

The natural out flowing of being sons of Amittai is to answer God's call to stand and speak His words to the lost in this world.




Jonah 1:2 "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me."
Jonah 3:2 "Arise, go unto Ninevah, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee."

ARISE, AND GO!  Go where?
To the wicked!  To those in danger of judgment!  Even to that which Satan considers HIS turf!

In this country, in our society, we find a culture that tolerates, condones, harbors, and promotes the horror of child sacrifice!  Over 3,000 babies a day are ripped apart in the name of the god of Self. This vile and violent practice is abominable to the LORD of Heaven, and yet nearly all those who are called Christians in this nation are completely silent concerning this evil and absent from the field of battle for life and souls.

"They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them" (Proverbs 28:4).

ARISE, AND SPEAK!  Speak what?
Speak the truth!  "Cry against it"  "Preach unto it"

We are to be those who "sigh and cry" concerning the abominations of our people!
We are to be those who stand for righteousness and against wickedness!
We are to lift our voices when "truth is fallen in the street"!
We are to warn the wicked of the judgment of God!
We are to preach the word!
We are to deliver those that are drawn unto death and those that are ready to be slain!
We are to open our mouths for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction!
We are to judge righteously!
We are to plead the cause of the poor and needy!
We are to call to repentance and declare the Gospel!

We are to be sons of Amittai!  Children who speak the truth.  Do we not desire that our Father could say this about us? "For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour" (Isaiah 63:8).

Did you know that God has said that the upright should use their mouths to deliver from those who lie in wait for blood?  "The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them" (Proverbs 12:6).

Those to whom we are sent may hate us.  In fact, it should be expected. "The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul" (Proverbs 29:10).  Notice that we are to seek souls.  

William Booth said, "Go straight for souls, and go for the worst."

This is also the call to every Christian, to every son of Amittai.

What will YOU do with it?  Will you go?  Will you speak? 

Or will you choose to go the other way?  To run from God's call?  To follow your own agenda?  

To be silent and absent?  

Have you been lolled to sleep in the ship of your own desires, in spiritual slumber, indifferent to the cry of the innocent and the lost and the call of your Father?    Are you interceding for this land of yours?  Standing in the gap between the judgment of God and the wicked (Ezekiel 22:30)?  Have you grown so comfortable, so calloused, so cowardly, that it is nothing to you, that the righteous wrath of God is upon this country, and yes, even upon the lazy, luxurious, lackadaisical church, who will not wear out their designer shoes standing at the devil's doorstep, because they are caught up in enjoying the devil's entertainment, and cannot be bothered with the inconvenience of the fellowship of their Lord's sufferings?    




If you are asleep, you need to hear the hard voice of reality, telling you, "What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not" (Jonah 1:6).

Let us arise, repent of our apathy, arrive to the battle field, and engage in the good fight!  

Let us behave in such a manner that those who see our lives and hear the words on our lips will seek to know, 

"Whose sons are you?"  

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). 

Abortion must be abolished.