The Cuba Edition ~ Mark

Our Family in a Havana Street Scene with 1957 Ford Fairlane ~ March 2018

...The Cuba Edition
This week Andrea and I got back from our March-break vacation with two of our boys.  We had so much fun together in our adventures in this tropical country!  Besides enjoying tanning on beautiful palm-lined beaches, we swam, snorkeled, and jet-skied across the waves.  We dodged bats while exploring natural caves, rode bikes, ate lots of good food and even tried to learn to Salsa. What warm and beautiful people live there and as well it's a geographically-pleasing place!  Little wonder Columbus reported that it was the most "beautiful place human eyes have seen".

From it's early tribal history to Spanish Colonialism and later it's subsequent transition from an American Mafia-ruled stronghold into Castro's Revolution, Cuba's place in history and turbulent geopolitical happenstance has always been an enigma to me.  This country has been characterized by conflict and ever-agitated by outside influences. Throughout it's history, various entities have sought to excerpt their control and influence over Cuba's residents. Cuba has for centuries often been exploited economically for it's commodities.  It's history bears many human scars during the years it took to break from it's ugly African slavery past.  To date, it's citizens are "island-prisoners", prohibited from freely exiting this island, except for special state-approved circumstances.

It was through the Cuban Church that much needed medicine and sometimes food for Cuba's population was obtained!

In the weeks prior to travelling there, I studied Cuba's fascinating history.  Early in Cuba's colonization, it embraced Roman Catholicism through the Spaniards, yet this faith appeared to fade to the preferences of Castro's atheistic socialism. The first irony I found, was that Castro was raised "very-Catholic" under the influence of the Jesuits.  In post-Cold War times, Cuba was embraced, then later dismissed by Russia during the diminishing Soviet-era, particularly during the 90s,  As the Soviet system began it's decline, Russia was forced to distance themselves from their outposts, leaving Cuba in a world of great pain.  There was little love left for their former dependent ally.  The other irony I learned about, was that in this sad Godless state-sponsored atheist system, it was through the Cuban Church that much needed medicine and sometimes food for Cuba's population was obtained to sustain them until they found alternate ways of sustaining themselves.  It seems God was keeping an eye on them when they just couldn't help themselves!  Today they have found a new dance partner in Venezuela, who supplies them with much needed oil in exchange for diplomatic services that Cuba provides in return.

It seems God was keeping an eye on them when they just couldn't help themselves!

Isn't that just like God!  When we have exhausted ourselves and are seemingly at the end of ourselves, He steps in only like He can!

Pray with me for Cuba and the christians there who are not free there to do whatever they want.  The government wants to tear their buildings down.  Attached here is a news report from CBN news about christian's freedom in Cuba.

 "Ask of me, and I will give the nations as an inheritance for you" ~Psalms 2:8 

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No More Religious Freedom: 

The Crisis Threatening Cuba's Christians

Cuba's communist regime is cracking down on Christians by destroying churches, stealing property, and imprisoning pastors.

According to a Christian Solidarity Worldwide report, the Cuban government has launched a major crackdown against churches and has seized and demolished at least 1,400 church buildings. The government claims the churches are unregistered, and therefore, illegal.

The government regime's war on religious freedom has intensified over the last year.

The report cites more than 1,000 cases of religious freedom violations, including the "destruction of church property, arbitrary detention and other forms of harassment, in particular seizure of religious leaders' personal belongings."

More than 1,000 churches were officially confiscated between January and July of this year, with 100 of those churches under the threat of demolition.

Christians are often "violently dragged away by security agents as they leave their homes or upon arriving at church services."

So far, CSW has documented at least nine incidents this year where pastors were harassed and detained as government officials demolished their church buildings.

In one of the most serious cases, Rev. Marion Felix Lleonart Barroso was arrested on March 20, just hours before U.S. President Barack Obama arrived in Cuba on an official visit.

When government demolition teams leave Christian churches in ruin, often Christians will continue to worship in the piles of rubble.

"CSW is alarmed by the escalation of freedom of religion or belief violations throughout Cuba, but humbled by the courage and perseverance of the many religious communities who continue to peacefully resist government pressure," CSW Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said.

Thomas urges the United States and other Western countries to pressure Cuba to stop violating human rights.

Meanwhile CSW says Christians around the world should pray for the protection of Cuba's pastors, the health of the ones who are already locked up in Cuba's prisons, and that Christians would be treated fairly at the hands of their government.

3 ~ ...To the Church in Pergamum

Related:

To the Church in Ephesus   To the Church in Smyrna

"...He that has ears, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches" ~ Rev. 2:17

 Revelation 2 begins a series of brief letters to seven churches that existed during the apostle John’s time in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). Each of these messages includes information apropos to each church, and from these messages we can draw lessons applicable to our own lives today. 

 Revelation 2:12-17 continues with the third of seven messages to the churches of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) during the apostle John’s time. Each of these messages includes a specific word to a specific church, but there are also lessons applicable to the lives of believers today. This third letter is to the believers in Pergamum (or Pergamos), which was a beautiful and art-filled city in the province of Asia built along two tributaries of the Caicus River. Pergamum was a center for the worship of Dionysus, Zeus, and other pagan gods.

The message to the Pergamene church was from the Lord Jesus Christ, specifically addressed to the “angel” (or “messenger”) of the church: “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword’” (Revelation 2:12). This was not John’s message to the believers at Pergamum; it was a message from Jesus Christ. The depiction of Jesus holding a sharp, two-edged sword refers to the Lord’s readiness to bring judgment (cf. Revelation 1:16).

First, Jesus affirms the church’s positive actions: 

“I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives” (Revelation 2:13). 

The Pergamene believers lived in a difficult place, surrounded by pagan influences, yet they held fast to Christ’s name and did not deny Him during difficult times.

One Christian in Pergamum named Antipas is mentioned as a “faithful witness.” Church tradition says that Antipas was a physician suspected of secretly propagating Christianity. The Aesculapians (members of the medical guild) accused Antipas of disloyalty to Caesar. Upon being condemned to death, Antipas was placed inside a copper bull, which was then heated over a fire until it was red-hot.

The church was not perfect, however, and Jesus took note of their sin: 

“Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans” (Revelation 2:14-15). 

The “teaching of Balaam” is explained in the context, as Christians were eating food that had been sacrificed to idols (religious compromise) and committing sexual immorality (moral compromise). The original Balaam’s deceitful work is described in Numbers 25:1-3 and Numbers 31:15-16. The Nicolaitans are mentioned only in this letter and in the letter to the Ephesian church (Revelation 2:6). They were likely a group similar to those who held the teachings of Balaam, though the exact nature of their doctrine and practice is unknown.

Jesus then issues a clarion call to repent of their sin: “Repent therefore!” (Revelation 2:16). Our Lord hates religious and moral compromise. He calls His people to live differently.

Jesus notes the judgment that would take place if the church of Pergamum did not repent: “I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth” (Revelation 2:16b). The Nicolaitans and those who were teaching Balaam’s error would be destroyed, along with their followers, from the congregation at Pergamum. Jesus desires purity among His people, and we have a responsibility to remove false teachers from the church.

Jesus makes a final promise to the believers in Pergamum: “To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it” (Revelation 2:17). The three blessings are hidden manna, a white stone, and a new name. The precise explanation of these three items is disputed; however, all three blessings must concern the believer’s victorious reign with Christ, consistent with the blessings bestowed on the other six churches of Revelation 2–3. The “hidden manna” is likely an allusion to the manna hidden in the Ark of the Covenant, representative of God’s faithful presence and sustenance. The “white stone” could be a reference to the stones used for entrance into temple events in ancient times or to one of the stones on the high priest’s breastplate (Exodus 28:21), although the exact meaning of the stone is uncertain.

What A Saviour ~ Ernie Haase & Signature Sound

The Pew

He Will Not Remember ~ Robin Mark

This Is Why Women Live Longer Than Men ~ #61

Winston Churchill Statement 5 years BEFORE Hitler's Fall ~ DETERMINATION!

How Do You Deal With Painful Truths? LEFT v.s. RIGHT #4 ~ Dennis Prager

Editor's Note:     As a Follower of Christ and a disciple, it is critical how you think on a variety of societal issues. The Bible tells us that we as Christians are "ARE IN THE WORLD", but "NOT OF THE WORLD", yet still we are astounded by our culture's rapid LEFT-Wing agenda that threatens to challenge and change everything we know to be Good and True as presented in scripture.  How can two people-groups so culturally similar have such radically-different and opposing viewpoints?  You may be wondering where exactly some of your Conservative viewpoints as a christian were formed?   ... or more likely ask yourself after years of observing our country (and world) and it's continually progressive Liberal drift, "Why am I so frustrated with those liberal/left-wing thinkers who always get it so wrong?   

Talk Show host Dennis Prager has a series of thought-provoking videos discussing LEFT VS. RIGHT viewpoints.  I challenge you as a christian to objectively listen to each of his presentations which give us some clues into origins of our typically Christian Conservative viewpoints readily opposed by Liberal thinkers. 

In 2009, Prager started a website, Prager University, offering five-minute videos on various subjects such as the Ten Commandments, the minimum wage, the Middle East, Global warming, and happiness with a conservative perspective.  To be very clear, Mr. Prager is NOT a Christian, but has his roots as an Orthodox Jew, thus his videos do not necessarily view scripture exactly as Christians view scripture, nonetheless there are many general parallels between.  Here is another video in this series:

The Left and Right perceive the world differently. One side sees it as it exists, accepts fundamental truths and facts--even if they are painful--and then adopts a worldview. The other side adopts a vision, and then views the world through that prism. Which side sees the world as reality? And which as it imagines?

April Fools Joke

2 ~ ...To the Church in Smyrna

Related:  1).  To The Church In Ephesus

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17 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. ~ Rev 2:17

Revelation 2 begins a series of brief letters to seven churches that existed during the apostle John’s time in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). Each of these messages includes information apropos to each church, and from these messages we can draw lessons applicable to our own lives today. 

 "What was Jesus’ message to the church in Smyrna in Revelation?"

Smyrna was a large, important city on the western coast of Asia Minor, famed for its schools of medicine and science. The words of Jesus to the church in Smyrna in Revelation 2:8-11 offer insight into the life of a first-century congregation, and there are many applications for today’s believers.

The message was from the Lord Jesus Christ: “These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again” (Revelation 2:8). The identity of the first and the last and the resurrected one could only be Jesus Christ (see Revelation 22:13).

Jesus starts by acknowledging their trials: 

“I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan” (Revelation 2:9). 

In their physical poverty, however, the church of Smyrna was “rich”; that is, they had spiritual wealth that no one could take away (Matthew 6:20).

As for the identity of the “synagogue of Satan,” there are a couple of views. One is that this was a group of Gentiles who called themselves “Jews” (i.e., the chosen people of God). Instead of following Judaism, however, these self-proclaimed “people of God” worshiped the Roman emperor and spoke out against the Christians in Smyrna.

Another view is that the “synagogue of Satan” was a group of physical Jews who followed tradition and the Mosaic Law yet in reality did not know God. They were “not” Jews in the sense that they did not have the faith of their father Abraham (Luke 3:8; John 8:40), and they were “of Satan” in that they had rejected Jesus Christ (John 8:44). Jesus dealt with many such religious leaders, as did the apostle Paul (Matthew 23; Acts 18:6). In fact, Paul differentiates “true” (spiritual) Jews from those who can only claim a physical connection to Abraham: “A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code” (Romans 2:28-29).

Adding weight to the latter view is the fact that Polycarp was martyred in Smyrna around A.D. 155. At Polycarp’s trial, the unbelieving Jews of Smyrna joined with the pagans in condemning him to death. Eusebius writes that “the Jews, being especially zealous . . . ran to procure fuel” for the burning (The Ecclesiastical History 4:15).

After commending the church in Smyrna for their spiritual victories, Jesus warned of coming persecution: “You are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days” (Revelation 2:10). Some of the church members would be imprisoned, and this wave of persecution would last for ten days. However, Jesus gives hope to His church: “Do not be afraid,” He says. The Smyrnan believers would have the courage to face the trial (Matthew 5:11-12).

Jesus calls them to remain faithful in their suffering: “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). Here, a specific crown is mentioned for those who die as a result of suffering for Christ. This same “martyr’s crown” is also mentioned in James 1:12: “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”

Jesus makes a final promise to the believers in Smyrna: “He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death” (Revelation 2:11). The overcomers, or “conquerors,” refer to all believers (1 John 5:4-5). The second death is a reference to the final judgment of the wicked (Revelation 20:6, 14; 21:8). Believers will not be hurt “at all” by that judgment; their sin was judged at the cross, and, in Christ, there is no more condemnation (Romans 8:1).

Lot's of Sabre-rattling by Russia

Ed's Note:  There a sense of recent heightened awareness in the Middle East power struggle exacerbated by Russian sabre-rattling.  Last week (March 2018),  Russia announced their nuclear-powered and nuclear-bomb-capable cruise missile which they feel can always reach it's target.  They've recently installed new jet fighters in the Syrian area right next door to Israel and have announced that any neighbors (Israel & USA?) flying in the area may be shot down. Putin is poised for re-election, (isn't it inevitable that Putin will get "re-elected" ) and Russia has allied itself with Iran and a number of dubious Israel-provoking Middle East countries.

Hmmm.... did they not know?  ...have they not heard?   The mighty God of Israel has already spoken his word of protection FOR Israel.  While they are promised affliction because of turning their backs on the Living God and rejecting his Messiah, ...They will NEVER be uprooted from the land of Israel.

13 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord,

“when the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman
    and the planter by the one treading grapes.
New wine will drip from the mountains
    and flow from all the hills,
14     and I will bring my people Israel back from exile.[f]

“They will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them.
    They will plant vineyards and drink their wine;
    they will make gardens and eat their fruit.
15 I will plant Israel in their own land,
    never again to be uprooted    from the land I have given them,”

says the Lord your God.~AMOS Chapter 9

I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. ~ Psalm 91

Psalm 91

1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a]
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”

3 Surely he will save you
    from the fowler’s snare
    and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
    nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand,
    but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
    and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
    and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
    no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
    you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 “Because he[b] loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
    I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble,
    I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
    and show him my salvation.”

He Hideth My Soul ~ Cleveland Baptist Church

This Little Light of Mine

Things That Get You To Heaven

This Is Why Women Live Longer Than Men ~ #60

Courage ~ Winston Churchill