July 2005
 People
often asked how someone could follow Manson
to the extreme I once did? My usual reply
is that the crazed Manson we see in interviews
is not the person that misled us in the
'60s. Things that deceive us often do
not appear damaging until later.
Think About It!
The youngster smoking
their first cigarette doesn't see it as
developing into lung cancer. The alcoholic
doesn't see their first drink leading
to a life on skid row. Who could have
seen those seemingly innocent peaks at
pornography leading to divorce? And the
person tempted with illicit sex didn't
see it leading to unwanted pregnancy or
an incurable disease.
People have fallen prey
to unsound and misleading reasoning, since
the fall of man in the Garden of Eden.
Without God's wisdom, mankind was left
with his own reasoning, not able to understand
the wonderful things God has freely given
us. Those who aren't Christians can't
understand these truths. It all sounds
foolish to them because only those who
have the Spirit can understand what God
means. We who have the Spirit understand
these things, but others can't understand
us at all. How could they? 1
The church in Corinth,
Greece was established in 52 A.D. by the
Apostle Paul in the midst of paganism
and false teachings. It was no different
than the world today. He wrote in fear
that someone would lead them away from
the pure and simple devotion to Christ,
just as Eve was deceived by the serpent.
Paul went on to say that such a person
who leads astray is a false apostle. They
have fooled you by disguising themselves
as apostles of Christ. I am not surprised!
Even Satan can disguise himself as an
angel of light. It is no wonder his servants
can also do it by pretending to be godly
ministers. In the end they will get every
bit of punishment that wicked deeds deserve.
2
Who Are You Listening To?
Our belief system is
influenced by those whom we listen to
in life. It starts with our parents, continues
with our teachers and fellow students
who bring to school the beliefs of their
parents. If these beliefs are absent God's
wisdom, we are left to the foolishness
of man. The Word of God says to not let
anyone lead you astray with empty philosophy
and high-sounding nonsense that come from
human thinking and from evil powers of
this world and not from Christ. 3
We are led astray by empty philosophy
and human thinking because we do not know
the Truth that is in the teachings of
Christ. I had no excuse because my parents
tried to show me the way of Christ. I
remember one of my teachers assigning
Psalm 23 for us to memorize, and I remember
it to this day. I had every opportunity
to turn to God, but I chose to serve the
world, the flesh and the devil. 4
The truth about God is
known to us instinctively. God has put
this knowledge in our hearts. From the
time the world was created, people have
seen the earth and sky and all that God
made. They can clearly see His invisible
qualities, His eternal power and divine
nature. We have no excuse whatsoever for
not knowing God. 5
The ancient peoples knew
God, but they wouldn't worship Him as
God or even give Him thanks. They began
to think up foolish ideas of what God
was like. The result was that their minds
became dark and confused. Claiming to
be wise, they became utter fools instead.
And instead of worshiping the glorious
ever-living God, they worshiped idols
made to look like mere people, or birds
and animals, even snakes. 6
What Is Your Excuse?
This is my story. I didn't
have true love and peace in the '60s,
and I knew it was missing in my life.
I worshiped everything except God in my
search for satisfaction. My mind was dark
and confused all because I would not listen
to sound reasoning. I thought I knew it
all, but in reality, I was a fool to have
worshiped Manson and his false philosophy
instead of the true and living God. I
have no excuse, the Lord was chasing after
me, but my ears were closed to the truth.
I had every excuse in
the book for not listening to God. I had
a reason for doing everything I was doing
mostly because of the way it made me feel.
I smoked marijuana because it made me
mellow. I chased girls for sexual gratification.
I was a show-off in many ways to gain
acceptance from my peers. I got into heavier
drugs to help me deal with my emotional
pains. I did it my way, instead of accepting
Christ and allowing faith in God to arise
in my heart.
My prayer is that someone
will say, "I'm doing the same thing.
I need help!" I can't help or fix
anyone, but sometimes we all need direction
when we've lost our way in life. I've
had hundreds tell me how they could identify
with my book Will You Die For Me?
Alex Vanguard is out of jail now,
but just wrote from Iceland telling me
how his life was changed in jail after
receiving my book from a guard. He took
the time to read it and found a new direction.
It is amazing to see how that could happen,
but I've seen over the years, how the
Lord has placed my books in the paths
of many who are in need of help. It is
a humbling experience, but one that I
am always thrilled to hear about.
Where Is Your Vision?
One of my favorite truths
from the Bible is: "where there
is no vision [the redemptive revelation
of God], the people perish [cast
off restraint]." 7
We all have eyes for vision, but here
we are talking about Spiritual vision.
We have ears for physical hearing, but
not all of us hear spiritually. Jesus
said anyone who is willing to hear should
listen and understand! And be sure to
pay attention to what you hear. The more
you do this, the more you will understand.
8
This spiritual vision
that God desires to reveal to us is the
redemptive revelation of God's love. Redemption
is deliverance by payment of a price.
It refers to salvation from sin, death
and the wrath of God by Christ's sacrifice
on the cross. We were a slave to sin,
but God in His great love put all the
judgment that was due us for sin upon
His Son, so that we could become right
with Him. 9 This
is the revelation of God's love for us.
Without this revelation, we run wild,
because true happiness is found within
the constraints of revelation in the counsel
of our Savior.
Remember, God saved you
by His special love and favor when you
believed. And you can't take the credit
for this, it is a gift from God. Salvation
is not a reward for the good things we
have done, so none of us can boast about
it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has
created us anew in the righteousness of
Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good
things he planned for us long ago. 10
In my blindness, I was deceived by Manson,
but now I see.
It is only this vision
of God's love that brings provision for
our life, as the Holy Spirit regenerates
our hearts so we can see God's kingdom
of love. 11 He comforts
us by teaching us all things and bringing
Jesus to our remembrance. 12
He gives us His peace, 13
love and joy that the world can never
give. 14 The Holy
Spirit shows us things to come and guides
us into all truth. 15
He gives us the ability to reflect the
light of His glory. 16
We are the temple of God's love, 17
and everywhere we go we carry Jesus, worshiping
our Heavenly Father and blessing His people.
18
Let Us Rejoice
Let us sing to Jesus
Christ with the elders and the living
beings, with millions of angels around
the throne and with every creature in
heaven and earth: "You are worthy
to take the scroll and break its seals
and open it. For You were killed, and
Your blood has ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people
and nation. And You have caused them to
become God's Kingdom and His priests.
And they will reign on the earth. The
Lamb is worthy--the Lamb who was killed.
He is worthy to receive power and riches
and wisdom and strength and honor and
glory and blessings. Blessing and honor
and glory and power belong to the one
sitting on the throne and to the Lamb
forever and ever." 19
Jesus Christ paid the
sin debt of the whole world, 20
but each individual must accept His payment
for His cleansing blood to count on their
behalf. The Lord says to all who believe
Him and accept Him, He gave the right
to become children of God. They are reborn!
This is not a physical birth resulting
from human passion or plan--this rebirth
comes from God. 21
Won't you believe and accept Him today?
A Prayer For You
Heavenly Father, I sense
You are drawing me by Your love, which
I have never truly experienced. I sense
my eyes and ears opening to know Your
great love for me. I believe that Jesus
died on the cross in my place for sin,
and You raised Him from the dead to give
me eternal Life. I ask You, Jesus, to
come into my heart, regenerate me and
make yourself at home as Savior and Lord.
You are the Way, the Truth and the Life
and no man can come to the Father, but
through You. I thank You for my new life
in Christ and for my freedom from guilt
and shame. Truly, this is my independence
day. Amen!
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