Category: Uncategorized

Although he did as much as he could to undermine and discredit the warnings of Micah the prophet. For some strange reason, Ahab took some clandestine safety measures to protect himself and augment his own security. However, he placed the righteous but naive, King Jehosophat of Judah in great danger. Clearly demonstrating that the only person he really cared about was himself. He didn’t give one iota about anyone else. The king of Judah, nevertheless, was under divine protection.

Now the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the former ways of his father David; he did not seek the Baals, but sought the God of his father, and walked in His commandments and not according to the acts of Israel. Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah gave presents to Jehoshaphat, and he had riches and honor in abundance. And his heart took delight in the ways of the Lord; moreover he removed the high places and wooden images from Judah. 2 Chronicles 17: 3-6 (NKJV).

The fact that divine blessings attended Jehoshaphat was not the result of blind coincidence or chance. He loved The Lord Almighty and ordered the affairs of his life according to God’s revealed will. That was the reality in ancient times and that is the same reality today. In God’s economy, we all reap what we sow.

“Eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God.” Romans 2: 7-11 (NKJV).

Absolutely none of his desperate acts of self-preservation, however, benefited him in the slightest particular. The ultimate computer programmer had placed a search and destroy virus upon the chip of Ahab’s life, therefore his days were numbered and just like Ashley Babbitt. There was absolutely nothing that he could do to prolong his own existence. Since he had been predestined to die that day.

Please get this friends, it’s not the amount of money in your bank account, the State in which you live, the size of your investment portfolio on the Stock Market, or the amount or quality of physical exercise you engage in. The length of your life depends on the quality of your relationship with The Lord Almighty. Because EVERYTHING is under His control. He is the Supreme TECHNO. He writes the computer program for your life. The same advice he gave to his servant Solomon approximately three thousand years ago he is attempting to pass on to you today.

So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.” 1 Kings 3:14 (NKJV).

The wise King Solomon attempted to impart this same gem of wisdom to his fellow men.

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12: 13-14 (NKJV).

Incidentally, judgment is not some remote possibility or development in the distant future. It’s an ever-present and ongoing reality. Since God is merciful, His desire is to do everything possible to save us from the ultimate destiny of the impenitent wicked, Hell. Accordingly, when we are screwing up He communicates His displeasure to us in some unmistakeable way. My sincere hope and prayer is that we pay attention and take the necessary corrective measures.

“Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:6-7 (NKJV).

But why were supernatural forces marshaled against Ahab? The prophet Elijah tells us

Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, “Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who lives in Samaria. There he is, in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone down to take possession of it. You shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Have you murdered and also taken possession?” ’ And you shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs shall lick your blood, even yours.” ’ ” So Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, O my enemy?” And he answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the Lord: ‘Behold, I will bring calamity on you. I will take away your posterity, and will cut off from Ahab every male in Israel, both bond and free. I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, because of the provocation with which you have provoked Me to anger, and made Israel sin.’ And concerning Jezebel the Lord also spoke, saying, ‘The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’ The dogs shall eat whoever belongs to Ahab and dies in the city, and the birds of the air shall eat whoever dies in the field.” But there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the Lord because Jezebel his wife stirred him up. And he behaved very abominably in following idols, according to all that the Amorites had done, whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel. 1Kings 21:17-26 (NKJV).

Tragically, Ahab was not the only person to become victimized by his own acts of wickedness. His wife, Jezebel, and all of his male offspring would be caught up in the web of his own perfidy. Because the chief computer programmer had decreed their complete extermination. Yes, friends The Lord Almighty has that kind of authority and power. He really needs to be feared, worshipped, and revered.

There were many lying prophets in Ahab’s day. All of them were on the king’s payroll. They had been hired to tell the reprobate ruler of Israel exactly what he wanted to hear. But the lies that they told him and which he also believed led to his destruction. That’s the great irony of life on planet Earth. There are many things that are supposedly beneath our control. But in the end, we have no control over the outcome. The Republican Party struggles and writhes today to define itself. Unfortunately, most of its public announcements are lies. At least that’s What Mr. William Barr thinks.

Former Attorney General Bill Barr called arguments being made by Republicans attempting to compare former President Trump’s handling of classified documents to previous president’s “big lies.” “So, there are two big lies, I think, that are out there right now,” Barr said. “One is all these other presidents took all these documents. Those were situations where they arranged with the archives to set up special space under the management, control, and security provided by the archivists to temporarily put documents until the libraries were ready. These were not people just putting them in their basement, OK.” The second lie, according to Barr, is the notion that a president has “complete authority” to declare any document “personal.” “It’s facially ridiculous. That opinion had to do with the distinction between official records, which are records prepared by government agencies for the purpose of government action, and personal documents, as opposed to official documents, which are things prepared by the President, such as a diary or notes, which are not used in the government’s deliberations,” Barr said.

Predictably, there are also many other political lies in circulation. But how will all these lies benefit those who employ them? Since The Lord Almighty who is a God of TRUTH, controls the outcome.

“He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice,
A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.” Deuteronomy 32:4 (NKJV).

“The weaponization of federal law enforcement represents a mortal threat to a free society,” DeSantis tweeted. “We have for years witnessed an uneven application of the law depending upon political affiliation. Why so zealous in pursuing Trump yet so passive about Hillary or Hunter? The DeSantis administration will bring accountability to the DOJ, excise political bias and end weaponization once and for all.”

“One thing that makes America the city on the hill is confidence in our justice system,” Scott said on Fox News Thursday night. “And today what we see is a justice system where the scales are weighted. That seems to be the outcome of where we are today. As president of the United States I would purge all the injustices and impurities in our system so that every American can have confidence that they will be seen by the Lady of Justice with a blindfold on. That is what we need in this nation.”

Hawley: If the president in power can jail his political opponents, which is what Joe Biden is trying to do tonight, we don’t have a republic anymore. We don’t have the rule of law or constitution.

In an interview with “CBS Mornings,” Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and author of the new book “Decades of Decadence: How Our Spoiled Elites Blew America’s Inheritance of Liberty, Security, and Prosperity,” expressed concern about the impact of the indictment on the country — and said it is “political in nature.”

(TO BE CONTINUED)

The recipients of a lie believe it because they are convinced they will gain some benefit by accepting it. One of the most notorious lies of all time was the one told in the Garden of Eden, by the Serpent, to Eve. She bought into that lie wholeheartedly since she already aspired to Self-actualization. One of the human goals identified by Abraham Maslow’s 1943 Pyramid of Needs. Everything that she needed to facilitate her happiness already existed in great abundance. To satisfy all her physiological, safety, love/belonging, and esteem needs.

“And a mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground, then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” Genesis 2: 6-9 (NKJV).

One piece of self-evident truth is that The Creator is the only legitimate mover and shaker in this story and in all human history. He alone called everything into existence. This is a vital piece of revelation that all nations need to grasp and fully understand. Although there are a number of supporting actors. Including the new anthropogenic creatures that He has just made. Apparently, everyone else on earth earnestly wants to dethrone Him and take over. That is their ultimate objective and for that sole reason, they have bought into the lie. The Serpent who formulates this lie is also a significant part of this whole conspiracy. The Bible labors and strives to remind the world’s inhabitants repeatedly of who God really is. Because due to our mortal, finite, and sinful condition, we are prone to misperceive, ignore, or forget. That God is infinite, omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent. These are realities that we will never be able to fully understand. Nevertheless, we need to appreciate them.

“By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host. He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap; he puts the deeps in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!
For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.” Psalm 33: 6-9 (ESV)

There are theologians who have argued that Adam was never deceived. But rather that he acted out of love for Eve and that he ate the forbidden fruit because he treasured her and was afraid of losing her to death. A condition concerning which the Creator had warned him in consequence of disobedience. This argument may seem at first to be meritorious of some consideration. However, upon closer examination, it would become abundantly clear that even if Adam entertained this thought it would be an act of outright rebellion against divine authority. Because it clearly indicates that he was attempting to develop his own agenda, thereby, challenging God’s sovereignty.

“The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Genesis 2:15-17 (NKJV).

Our first father’s ultimate death, was by no means coincidental. Although he was subsequently permitted to live for 930 years. Witnessing the misery and tragedies that his act of infidelity had brought upon the world. He was warned in advance of his act of transgression, of what the consequences of sin would be. What our first parents did was reject Christ. They made that decision by relying on their own limited physical senses, their own misconception of reality, and their own imperfect erotic love. Things are never what they seem to be. Because we are severely limited in every particular. As the years rolled by Adam witnessed Eve’s fading beauty, the death and decay of the natural world in its entirety, and the depraved and exceedingly sinful nature of his own descendants. Only then did he fully understand that instead of life he had chosen only dust and ashes. He had chosen death.

Certain my resolution is to Die;
How can I live without thee, how forgoe
Thy sweet Converse and Love so dearly joyn’d,
To live again in these wilde Woods forlorn?

John Milton’s Narrative Re: Eve (Lines 990-993)

… she embrac’d him and for joy Tenderly wept,

much won that he his Love Had so enobl’d,

as of choice to incur Divine displeasure for her sake, or Death.

Is it any surprise therefore that The Creator warns us repeatedly in scripture and throughout history to carefully ‘watch ourselves’ Since we are only human creatures and actually don’t run or even fully understand anything? Little did Ashli Babbit and all the incarcerated Maga Maniacs know that their every move was being watched and recorded by the infinite eye. If she only had conducted her life appropriately within the context of those sobering facts. If they only understood that everything they did on January 6, was being recorded by supernatural agencies. Maybe they would have behaved differently. Then maybe they would be with their family and loved ones today instead of being held behind bars.

“Therefore you shall be careful to do as the Lord your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. You shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess.” Deuteronomy 5:32-33 (NKJV)

Was it really merely coincidental that Ashli Babbitt was shot to death on January 6? Was she at that location by blind accident or chance? Or was she predestined to die on that day and under those circumstances? Because of who she was. Are all the convicted MAGA maniacs behind bars, imprisoned, because they were accidentally in the wrong place at the wrong time? Or is there a vast cosmic computer program/network tracking every member of the human race? Does such a program know at all times the location of everyone and the precise geographical situation of every malefactor?

Then Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by, on His right hand and on His left. And the Lord said, ‘Who will persuade Ahab to go up, that he may die at Ramoth Gilead?’ So one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner. Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, and said, ‘I will persuade him.’ The Lord said to him, ‘In what way?’ So he said, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And the Lord said, ‘You shall persuade him, and also prevail. Go out and do so.’ Therefore look! The Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the Lord has declared disaster against you.” 1 Kings 22:19-23 (NKJV).

(TO BE CONTINUED)

The person who refers to Ashli Babbitt’s death most frequently is our repeatedly discredited former president Mr. Donald Trump. He has been doing his best to make her into a 21st-century American martyr. He probably thinks he can accomplish this impossible fete by desperately attempting to conveniently reconstruct history. What he has failed to do, however, is separate who she actually was before the insurrection. From the actions consistent with her past conduct, on the day of the rebellion. There are certain indisputable facts about her. She was young, white, attractive, violent, and deluded. Those realities are undeniable.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The first time Celeste Norris laid eyes on Ashli Babbitt, the future insurrectionist had just rammed her vehicle three times with an SUV and was pounding on the window, challenging her to a fight. Norris says the bad blood between them began in 2015 when Babbitt engaged in a months-long extramarital affair with Norris’ longtime live-in boyfriend. When she learned of the relationship, Norris called Babbitt’s husband and told him she was cheating. “She pulls up yelling and screaming,” Norris said in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press, recounting the July 29, 2016, road-rage incident in Prince Frederick, Maryland. “It took me a good 30 seconds to figure out who she was. … Just all sorts of expletives, telling me to get out of the car, that she was going to beat my ass.” Terrified and confused, Norris dialed 911 and waited for law enforcement. Babbitt was later charged with numerous misdemeanors. The attack on Norris is an example of erratic and sometimes threatening behavior by Babbitt, who was shot by a police officer while at the vanguard of the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. Former President Donald Trump and his supporters have sought to portray her as a righteous martyr who was unjustly killed. (AP NEWS: Ashli Babbitt A Martyr? Her Past Tells A More Complex Story By Michael Biesecker January 3, 2022.)

From the very beginning when Trump commenced to claim that he was defrauded of an election victory by his opponents, The Attorney General of The United States of America, Mr. William Barr. Unequivocally stated that there was no fraud that was of such magnitude. Which could have overturned the results of a free and fair election within this country. Furthermore, Mr. William Krebs The Homeland Security Director of Elections, asserted emphatically that the 2020 General Elections were the most secure in the history of the United States. These two people are not perfect. Nor am I aware of any reason that they need to be within that category of moral classification to be believable. I do know, however, that they command enough experience and gravitas within their various professional fields to be credible. I chose to believe them. Moreover, Trump’s reckless claims had been tested in American Courts over 60 times and none of these lawsuits had prevailed. All of them were thrown out by seasoned judges. The above developments should have been a sobering warning to Trump’s supporters.

^{“One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses,} the matter shall be established. Deuteronomy 19:15 (NKJV).

Three American authoritative bodies had spoken Ex-Cathedra and issued Encyclicals as it were on the state of US democracy. Yet well over one thousand antinomians, nihilists, anarchists, maniacs, and revolutionaries. Invaded The Capitol. Most of them were armed and intent on murdering, destroying, and looting anyone or anything in their path. Just because they had made the conscious decision to believe a lie. Although the truth was staring them in the face. I have relatives in the USA and friends right here in Ghana who are also deeply invested in Trump’s falsehood. Although up to this blessed day they are unable to produce one factual, substantial, reason for their irrational belief. America has been practicing the principles of democracy since 1776. Never before in its history has any defeated American presidential candidate, claimed that his opponent won by widespread fraud. By his claim alleging universal electoral malfeasance, Trump projected onto his political opponents the very same, and well-documented lifestyle of fraud and criminal conduct. That he had been practicing in his personal and business life for decades.

On January 6, 2021, following the defeat of U.S. President Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election, a mob of his supporters attacked the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. The mob sought to keep Trump in power by preventing a joint session of Congress from counting the electoral college votes to formalize the victory of President-elect Joe Biden. According to the House select committee investigating the incident, the attack was the culmination of a seven-part plan by Trump to overturn the election. Five people died either shortly before, during, or following the event: one was shot by Capitol Police, another died of a drug overdose, and three died of natural causes. Many people were injured, including 138 police officers. Four officers who responded to the attack died by suicide within seven months. As of July 7, 2022, monetary damages caused by attackers exceed $2.7 million. Called to action by Trump, thousands of his supporters gathered in Washington, D.C., on January 5 and 6 to support his false claim that the 2020 election had been “stolen by emboldened radical-left Democrats” and to demand that Vice President Mike Pence and the Congress reject Biden’s victory. Starting at noon on January 6, at a “Save America” rally on the Ellipse, Trump repeated false claims of election irregularities and said, “If you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore”. (WIKIPEDIA: The Free Encyclopedia, January 6 United States Capital Attack).

All I can declare is that this unfortunate occurrence, seemingly premeditated, was a terrible disgrace unbecoming America’s democracy. However, it was an event completely occasioned by the amoral leader of a major political party. At no time in any of their public tirades against law enforcement officers. Do Ashli Babbitt’s supporters acknowledge that she was at the wrong place, at the wrong time, engaging in some blatantly violent and criminal, conduct. Because of her extremely poor judgment, she had to pay with her life. Invariably, there are consequences for such flagrant, high-handed belligerence. Whether they know it or not what they are really trying to claim is that right is wrong and wrong is right.

Fox’s out-of-court Settlement with Dominion Voting Systems proves beyond the shadow of a doubt that LIES are far-reaching and have terrible consequences.

Fox News agreed to settle a voting machine maker’s defamation lawsuit alleging the network aired false claims that it rigged the 2020 presidential election against former President Donald Trump. The network reached the settlement with Dominion Voting Systems just after a jury for the trial in Wilmington, Delaware, was selected on Tuesday and just before opening statements. Dominion attorney Justin Nelson said the settlement was just over $787 million, according to a press conference. FOX NEWS SANCTIONED IN DOMINION DEFAMATION CASE, WITH JUDGE LIKELY TO APPOINT SPECIAL MASTER. Before 4 p.m., the judge called the jury into a courtroom after a long day of delay to tell them they were dismissed. “The case has been resolved, and it’s been resolved because of you,” Judge Eric Davis told the jury Tuesday. (WASHINGTON EXAMINER: Fox Reaches 787 Million Settlement With Dominion Moments Before Opening Of Defamation Trial By Kaelan Deese, Supreme Court Reporter, April 18, 2023).

(TO BE CONTINUED)

After giving me many excellent reasons to seriously doubt and question his credibility. I finally asked my Ghanaian male friend who claimed that he had a Bachelor’s degree in Physics to brush me up on Boyle’s Law of Pressure, Temperature, and Volume. Or merely remind me of Isaac Newton’s Laws of Motion. First, he pretended not to hear me and then he glared at me with his mouth wide open as if I was a supernatural apparition attempting to scare him out of his wits. I got the message. He was a complete fake trying to use me to facilitate his entry into a foreign university to pursue a Master’s degree in Physics. What a complete moron? But his relationship with me was a fitting commentary upon a large part of Ghanaian culture of deception, misrepresentation, pretense, and con artistry. He was about thirty years of age and worked in the market selling fish and other flesh proteins. I had heard no complaints about him so I assumed that he was honest and straightforward in his trade, like most other independent traders plying their wares in the market. This brings me to another salient point. A great deal of Ghanaian chicanery is aimed directly at foreigners. Primarily because over the years Ghanaians learn never to trust each other.

My male friend claimed to be a Christian and advanced many theological ideas to me that had absolutely no foundation in scripture. One of them is the belief that based on Peter’s vision in Acts 10: 9-15, Christians can eat just about anything as long as thy first bless it.

“The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance and saw heaven open and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.” Acts 10:9-15 (NKJV).

My male friend is certainly not unique in this regard. I’ve met many proponents of this view. Unfortunately, however, they base this belief upon a single vision that Peter had. Let me hasten to assert that all New Testament teachings are first found within the confines of The Old Testament. Nowhere in The Old Testament are we taught that four-footed beasts are capable of sin. Which transgression would render them needful of moral cleansing? That is a quality possessed only by humans. This sobering reality places Peter’s explanation of his vision to Cornelius, right on the money.

“As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.” And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. Then he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.“ Acts 10:25-28 (NKJV).

A careful review of the appropriate literature reveals that since ancient times China has had a long history of severe epidemics such as plagues. Which have killed hundreds of thousands of people. In modern times such plagues have rapidly spread to other parts of the globe and their effects have been no less devastating to humanity.

The brutal fact is that the Chinese in general have no dietary guidelines, but virtually eat everything. With the exception of course of some Chinese sub-groups who belong to religious organizations that observe dietary or kosher rules. This fundamental fact is exactly why the world has been cursed with many plagues emanating directly from China during the course of the last 100 years. COVID-19 and its multiple mutations are no exception.

China is the second most populous country in Asia as well as the second most populous country in the world with a population of 1,425,671,352. The demographics of China show an enormous population with a relatively small youth component, partially a result of China’s one-child policy. China is the world’s most populous country since at least 1950, briefly surpassed by India in April 2023. However, India is expected to once again surpass China in population before 2024. (WIKIPEDIA: The Free Encyclopedia, Demographics of China).

‘You shall therefore keep all My statutes and all My judgments, and perform them, that the land where I am bringing you to dwell may not vomit you out. And you shall not walk in the statutes of the nation which I am casting out before you; for they commit all these things, and therefore I abhor them. But I have said to you, “You shall inherit their land, and I will give it to you to possess, a land flowing with milk and honey.” I am the Lord your God, who has separated you from the people. You shall therefore distinguish between clean animals and unclean, between unclean birds and clean, and you shall not make yourselves abominable by beast or by bird, or by any kind of living thing that creeps on the ground, which I have separated from you as unclean.  And you shall be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine. Leviticus 20:22-26 (NKJV).

This counsel should seem appropriate, cogent, and timely to any reasonable person, living in these times; and acquainted with the ravages of disease that threaten all human life on planet Earth today.

I decided to get my friend a book. Good books are silent teachers, they never argue with you and only communicate with you when you decide to open them just to hear what they have to say. I explained to him that the book would greatly enhance his English-speaking skills, and if he wanted to go abroad to study then such an acquisition would be a step in the right direction. He quickly agreed. The book Patriarchs and Prophets by Ellen G. White is one of the best Theological treatises that I have ever read. It contains a treasury of vital spiritual information essential to salvation. I proceeded online to locate the nearest Adventist Book and Bible Center in Sunyani, the Capital City of The Brong Ahafo Region. The name of the facility and its address were all online but there was only a partial telephone number. How does one accomplish such a fete I wondered? How exactly does someone get away with posting a partial telephone number on the web? Since I couldn’t call anyone to listen to a live voice on the other end of the telephone line, I decided to personally visit the listed office in Sunyani. When I finally arrived, I came to the realization that chaos reigned everywhere. There were no secretaries, no air conditioning, and the offices were disheveled and empty. This is serious I concluded. Finally, I arrived at one of the offices on the ground floor and there was a gentleman there. Who assured me that the book desired was available.

I requested a paperback copy. But was disappointed to be informed that they only had cloth-bound copies in stock. Which were considerably more expensive. At that point, he opened a small cardboard box exposing five cloth-bound copies of what is known as The Conflict of The Ages Series. Then, it finally dawned upon me why only an incomplete telephone number was listed online. This was merely part and parcel of an extensive, countrywide, disinformation campaign. Being practiced throughout the Republic of Ghana. Call a business or government agency most times you won’t be lucky enough to get anyone to answer that phone. Because no one wants to talk to you over the telephone and thereby give you information that will result in their losing money or profits. Thereby forcing you to make a trip by coming into the office. An act of social retrogression and backwardness. The more they move forward into the 21st Century then the more they cling to the darkness and stupidity of 18th Century times. The paperback copy would have only cost me 10.00 GHS (US$0.80) at the most. The cloth-bound copy cost me 100.00 GHS (US$8.00). Although I paid for it because I considered it a valuable investment in the salvation of another soul. I clearly realized that I was the unwitting victim of just another scam. Most Ghanaians are just too poor to spend that kind of money to purchase a book.

The country of Ghana is an exciting place to reside. Recently, the IMF ordered the Bank of Ghana to eliminate the multiple foreign exchange rates it had instituted to make life easier for many beneficiaries. Presumably, some are corrupt government officials who wish to line their pockets at the expense of the public purse, after the country received a US$3 billion foreign exchange bailout.

“Achieving these goals will be underpinned by efforts to ensure a unified and flexible exchange rate and to create the conditions for FX market deepening. At times, the BoG has provided FX support at rates other than those prevailing in the market, leading to the emergence of multiple exchange rates. Going forward the BoG will ensure its FX liquidity is provided at prevailing market exchange rates and implement measures to further support unifying the exchange rates. In this respect, the staff welcomes the authorities’ commitment not to introduce measures that give rise to Multiple Currency Practices (MCPs). To support price discovery and efficient allocation, the BoG will employ auctions as the primary channel for any FX intervention. Any bilateral trades will be conducted at the market rate. The BoG will gradually phase out the special FX auctions for fuel distributors introduced in March 2022 and enhance the design of the regular FX auctions with the support of Fund technical assistance. The BoG will also gradually reverse the recently imposed surrender requirement on gold exports to BoG. These measures will help bolster FX liquidity in the banking sector and encourage price discovery and FX market deepening.” (INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND: Ghana’s Request For An Extended Fund Facility, May 2023)

A major part of Ghana’s economic problem is that government ministers have been attempting to run the country like a privately owned plantation. Many of the fiscal measures imposed on the nation by politicians were just plainly contrary to common sense. We sincerely hope that going forward the positive international measures required by the Fund’s managers. Won’t be sabotaged by the bloody-minded actions of the country’s elected leaders. It now appears that for the foreseeable future, Ghana has been shut out of obtaining any new loans from the International Money Market.

The problems of Ghana on the international stage are not far removed from the conduct of many of its private citizens. Recently I hired a very attractive, immaculately dressed, and dignified, young woman to work in my home. She accepted the job and assured me that she knew how to cook delicious food, iron clothes, and keep a clean and charming house. To my disappointment, I soon discovered that she used too much heat while cooking. Since the food was always boiling over the sides of the pot and soiling the surface of my gas range. The amount of salt she used in the food was extravagant. Even after she swept and mopped the floors there was a blatant cloud on the surface of the tiles. Finally, my clothes weren’t being properly ironed. After thirty days I had no choice but to bid her farewell. What really amazes me is that she thought that she could bluff/con her way through this assignment. An observant employer would have soon discovered that she knew nothing about the importance of cooking vegetables at a low temperature. Or destroying the nutrients that over-cooking them facilitates. She also didn’t understand that using too much salt would shut down the kidneys. She certainly knew how to dress up and look beautiful but that was the full extent of her achievements.

Hopefully, the Ghanaian technocrats and politicians will understand that good marketing skills. Being employed to secure international loans. Are no substitute for fulfilling the performance criteria clearly and specifically outlined in the agreements. Spelling out the onerous conditions under which such loans are approved and granted. Everything we do in life has consequences. There is absolutely no free lunch. If a country borrows other people’s money to take care of all of their current expenses legitimate or illegitimate. Then at some point in time, all of the chickens will eventually come home to roost. There are many warnings in Scripture about the consequences of wrong decisions. For example “The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower is a servant to the lender.” Proverbs 22:7.

“A report by the IMF on Ghana’s external debts shows that should Ghana fail to honor obligations under the loan agreement with China, it could lose revenue from its mineral resource and electricity sales. Details of Ghana’s collateralized loans from China show that the Asian country could have the right to use proceeds from Ghana’s oil, cocoa, bauxite, or even the sales from electricity to settle the debt. China owns about two-thirds of all of Ghana’s external loans, making the Asian superpower an important party in discussions about Ghana’s loans.” (YEN: China To Take Over Ghana’s Mineral Revenue And Electricity Sales In Default Of 4 Loans, Says IMF Report Read By George Nyavor, Tuesday, May 23, 2023).

Unfortunately, China has had a great deal of previous experience with how exactly to rip off other less suspecting and more trusting people and they have employed such methodology for their own benefit.

“The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission this month finalized rules to implement a law that would allow the market regulator to ban foreign companies listed in the U.S. from trading if their auditors do not comply with requests for information from American regulators. The law was passed in 2020 after Chinese regulators repeatedly denied requests from the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board to inspect the audits of Chinese firms that list and trade in the United States. Given the current level of distrust between the U.S. and Chinese governments, and with the bilateral relationship unlikely to improve anytime soon, there is “no way we are going to solve this in the next few years,” Loevinger said. “So the reality is, I think, by 2024, most Chinese companies listed on U.S. exchanges are no longer going to be listed in the United States. Most are going to gravitate back to Hong Kong or Shanghai,” he told CNBC’s “Street Signs Asia.” Less than six months after going public, Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi said it will start delisting from the New York Stock Exchange, and make plans to list in Hong Kong instead. When a company delists from an exchange like the Nasdaq or the New York Stock Exchange, it loses access to a broad pool of buyers, sellers, and intermediaries.” (CNBC FINANCIAL ADVISOR SUMMIT: Game Over For U.S. Listed Chinese Companies Published Wednesday, December 15, 2021.)

For several years, Chinese State-owned companies have been finding clandestine ways to shepherd money out of the USA and into China. Therefore, they certainly know how to protect themselves. When African countries like Ghana borrow large sums of money which they have no intention of ever repaying. Then announcing at some, self-serving, opportune time that their foreign exchange liquidity is so severely limited. That it is impossible for them to repay such loans. A fitting and revealing commentary upon the pervasive African Anancy mentality.

I recently ran into a Ghanaian male, who claimed to have a Bachelor’s degree in Physics and expressed great interest in traveling to the USA to obtain an advanced degree there. I subsequently sent him many pieces of information regarding available university scholarships. That could easily be obtained merely by applying for them. I noticed however that his command of the English Language was fragile. Consequently, I asked him to present me with a copy of his diploma. He was never able to show it to me. But instead sent me a scanned copy of some document through his phone which he claimed belonged to him. During the course of our many conversations, I discovered that he could hardly decipher the difference between 0.8, 8.0, and 80 grams. Ghanaian gold dealers routinely sell 8.0 grams of gold at the world market price. Most of them, however, because of numerical illiteracy claim that they are selling you 80.0 grams.

They barely understand the difference. Even though Ghana’s gold is neither stamped nor certified. In fact, there are only eleven countries in the world where gold can be stamped or certified and Ghana is certainly not one of them. Primarily because of widespread, uncontrollable, indigenous, and insidious fraud. Part of their problem is that in most countries throughout Europe and North America, 1 pound consists of 16 ounces. Here in Ghana, 1 pound of gold is 28 grams or 1 ounce. Predictably, if you are attempting to purchase gold anywhere in Ghana. Unless you are armed with a digital scale and have intricate knowledge of the culture, you will invariably be robbed.

(TO BE CONTINUED)

All Prince Adonijah knew was that he wanted to be king. Nothing else mattered to him. His unholy desire filled his universe of I, me, and myself. The fact that being the king of Israel at that specific time in the history of the nation, was the result of a spiritual call from The Lord Almighty was a fact, to which he was completely oblivious. But why exactly did the King of Kings choose Solomon? We are counseled: “And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David.” 1 Kings 3:3 (NKJV).

Now Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they finished eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the horn, he said“Why is the city in such a noisy uproar?” While he was still speaking, there came Jonathan, the son of Abiathar the priest. And Adonijah said to him, “Come in, for you are a prominent man, and bring good news.” Then Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, “No! Our lord King David has made Solomon king. The king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites; and they have made him ride on the king’s mule. So Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him, king at Gihon, and they have gone up from there rejoicing so that the city is in an uproar. This is the noise that you have heard. Also, Solomon sits on the throne of the kingdom. And moreover, the king’s servants have gone to bless our lord, King David, saying, ‘May God make the name of Solomon better than your name, and may He make his throne greater than your throne.’ Then the king bowed himself on the bed. Also, the king said thus, ‘Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who has given one to sit on my throne this day, while my eyes see it!’ ”So all the guests who were with Adonijah were afraid, and arose, and each one went his way. 1Kings 1: 41-49 (NKJV).

One of the great lessons of life is to make sure that you have something to celebrate before you throw a fiesta. What an enormous letdown for Jonathan to announce to the gathering there assembled. That all of their eating and drinking were really nothing burgers, just afternoon tea. That the real party had just begun and the real celebrants were feasting and rejoicing because “Our Lord King David has made Solomon King.” Many guests had been invited to Adonijah’s party. They all started to wonder upon what premise or assurances the young prince had extended such an invitation to them, to assemble at such a highly political gathering. Gradually it started to dawn upon them that either he was extremely mischievous or insane. Humbly and quietly but with their minds filled with a multitude of misgivings, they all departed to their various places of abode.

Predictably, he seemed to be filled with fear as a consequence of his own great folly. Accordingly, he rushed to the Outer Court of the Sanctuary and clung to the horns of The Brazen Altar. Hoping thereby to mitigate the revulsion and anger that his own illegitimate and presumptuous actions had aroused.

Now Adonijah was afraid of Solomon; so he arose and went and took hold of the horns of the altar. And it was told Solomon, saying, “Indeed Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon; for he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.’ “Then Solomon said, “If he proves himself a worthy man, not one hair of him shall fall to the earth; but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.” So King Solomon sent them to bring him down from the altar. And he came and fell down before King Solomon; and Solomon said to him, “Go to your house.” 1 Kings 1:50-53. (NKJV).

That is one of the enduring characteristics of most malefactors. They never want to be held responsible for their egregious behaviors when they screw up. Unfortunately however just like a recurring decimal, soon and very soon they return to their hateful conduct. The new king had good reasons to order severe punishment for his brother. But he declined to do so preferring to exercise mercy instead. He hoped that his clemency would engender gratitude and restraint from his wayward family member. This author is of the opinion that Prince Adonijah was a sociopathic deviate. Such people invariably possess outstanding characteristics that they use to the detriment of others. They are charming, intelligent, deceptive, manipulative, and narcissistic (i.e. having a very high opinion of themselves). Their relationships are short-term, they are usually spontaneous (doing everything on the spur of the moment), they have no genuine love, they lack remorse, and they are highly competitive. All of the above-mentioned traits seem to point unerringly to Prince Adonijah.

It is interesting to note that he ran and took hold of God’s Altar when he got himself into trouble. Thereby throwing himself upon the manifold mercies of the divine Potentate. Nowhere is it ever mentioned in scripture, however, that Adonijah at any time offered any personal sacrifices of penitence? Or participated in any act of private worship. Like the majority in the world today who claim to be Christians. He wanted to enjoy all the benefits of the cross without ever coming to Christ. This secular/pagan attitude is nothing new. In fact, it is an age-old problem. On the contrary, however, God yearns for an intensely personal relationship with His people. “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17:3. (NKJV). Such knowledge is progressive. It cannot be gained by merely reading a book. It is a gradual revelation and is the work of eternity. Because God is infinite and we are merely finite. The book of Revelation gives us a glimpse, “And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.” Revelation 22:3-4

One would have thought that with all of the embarrassing moments that he had been forced to endure, Prince Adonijah would have quietly desisted from his attempts to be king. But no such luck.

“Now Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. So she said, “Do you come peaceably?” And he said, “Peaceably.” Moreover, he said, “I have something to say to you.” And she said, “Say it.” Then he said, “You know that the kingdom was mine, and all Israel had set their expectations on me, that I should reign. However, the kingdom has been turned over, and has become my brother’s; for it was his from the Lord.  Now I ask one petition of you; do not deny me.” And she said to him, “Say it.” Then he said, “Please speak to King Solomon, for he will not refuse you, that he may give me Abishag the Shunammite as wife.” So Bathsheba said, “Very well, I will speak for you to the king.” Bathsheba therefore went to King Solomon, to speak to him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her and bowed down to her, and sat down on his throne and had a throne set for the king’s mother; so she sat at his right hand. Then she said, “I desire one small petition of you; do not refuse me.” And the king said to her, “Ask it, my mother, for I will not refuse you.” And King Solomon answered and said to his mother, “Now why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also—for he is my older brother—for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.” Then King Solomon swore by the Lord, saying, “May God do so to me, and more also if Adonijah has not spoken this word against his own life!  Now therefore, as the Lord lives, who has confirmed me and set me on the throne of David my father, and who has established a house for me, as He promised, Adonijah shall be put to death today!” So King Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he struck him down, and he died. 1 Kings 2:13-20. (NKJV).

Interestingly enough he acknowledges that the kingdom was Solomon’s from The Lord. That admission, however, does not prevail upon him sufficiently to cause him to abandon his endeavor to rule. Now he demands a token of peace. Such a demand, however, was nothing more than a plot. When the king dies all of his surviving wives become the wives of the new king. Attempting to overthrow Solomon by force would have been futile. Therefore, Adonijah resorts to subterfuge, intrigue, and passive aggression to spread chaos and confusion. Solomon’s mother yearns for peace and seems willing to acquiesce to her son’s rival’s demands, in her desperate attempts to mollify him. King David’s family had a history of infighting and bloodshed. The grandiose demeanor and political brazenness of Adonijah had attracted the attention and apprehensions of the political party that supported Solomon. It is inconceivable that Solomon would have acted unilaterally, without first seeking the wisdom and experience of his advisers. When they heard of Adonijah’s demand (for that’s how they saw it) they all remembered Prince Absolom’s rebellion and the advice he received from Ahitophel,

‘Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give advice as to what we should do.” And Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go into your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that you are abhorred by your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be strong.” So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the top of the house, and Absalom went into his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.” 2 Samuel 16:20-22 (NKJV).

Whatever Adonijah’s seemingly mischievous plan was, they were not about to countenance it. All of the winning cards were in their hands and now they were going to play them. The only thing Prince Adonijah would get from the newly enthroned king was the fatally sharp edge of a sword because he had worked tirelessly for it.

 

 

Another colorful and intriguing character of sacred lore. That jumps into mind within this context is Adonijah, one of King David’s many sons. He must have been extremely ambitious since he was actually younger than his brother Solomon. History is replete with the many exploits and failures of extremely ambitious but unsuccessful people. During David’s waning years Adonijah gathered horses, chariots, and an entourage. Although he was not the most senior royal offspring. He aspired to be Israel’s next ruler and opined upon the possibility of being crowned the new King of Israel. Unfortunately, however, someone else who was far more powerful had other plans. Many years before, Jehovah, had revealed that it was His will that Solomon, the son of David and Bathsheba, should succeed his father King David upon Israel’s throne.

Now King David was old, advanced in years; and they put covers on him, but he could not get warm. Therefore his servants said to him, “Let a young woman, a virgin, be sought for our lord the king, and let her stand before the king, and let her care for him; and let her lie in your bosom, that our lord the king may be warm.” So they sought for a lovely young woman throughout all the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king. The young woman was very lovely, and she cared for the king and served him, but the king did not know her. Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king”; and he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. (And his father had not rebuked him at any time by saying, “Why have you done so?” He was also very good-looking. His mother had borne him after Absalom.) Then he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they followed and helped Adonijah. But Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and the mighty men who belonged to David were not with Adonijah. And Adonijah sacrificed sheep and oxen and fattened cattle by the stone of  Zoheleth, which is by En Rogel; he also invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah, the king’s servants. But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or Solomon his brother. 1 Kings 1:1-10 (NKJV).

It’s hard to believe that so many prominent men in Israel were ignorant of the Divine Will. Whether they were aware of it or not, it was contrary to their many human ambitions, and they did all they could to oppose its fulfillment. The Lord Almighty had His servants strategically placed in Israel during the closing period of David’s reign, and they were predictably alarmed by Adonijah’s pretensions and assumptions. The very fact that neither Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, David’s mighty men, nor Solomon his senior brother was even invited to Adonijah’s party was ominous. We should never forget that all of us are under the supervision of supernatural agencies. Accordingly, it’s prudent to avoid taking ourselves too seriously or attempting to take our human plans too far. It is our duty never to try and run ahead of The Lord. Because He always has a plan, which supersedes all other plans because He is God. Predictably, many prominent people in David’s royal court were suddenly extremely nervous. Consequently, a great deal of intrigue and behind-the-scenes wrangling ensued.

So Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, “Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith has become king, and David our lord does not know it? Come, please, let me now give you advice, that you may save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. Go immediately to King David and say to him, ‘Did you not, my lord, O king, swear to your maidservant, saying, “Assuredly your son Solomon shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’ Then, while you are still talking there with the king, I also will come in after you and confirm your words.” So Bathsheba went into the chamber to the king. (Now the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king.)  And Bathsheba bowed and did homage to the king. Then the king said, “What is your wish?” Then she said to him, “My lord, you swore by the Lord your God to your maidservant, saying, ‘Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne.’ So now, look! Adonijah has become king; and now, my lord the king, you do not know about it. He has sacrificed oxen and fattened cattle and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the sons of the king, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the commander of the army; but Solomon your servant he has not invited. And as for you, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, that you should tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. Otherwise, it will happen, when my lord the king rests with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be counted as offenders.” 1 Kings 1:11-21

God’s chosen successor to the Davidic royal line, Prince Solomon, must have known that he was the crown prince. Nevertheless, he exercised great caution. Choosing instead to remain in the shadows of obscurity. Shunning all opportunities for public exposure or self-promotion. He concealed himself as it were. Preferring to wait until his father the king, saw fit to present him to the nation. Or until providence pointed to the moment of divine appointment. When he would be called to take within his own hands the reins of government. All that Prince Adonijah accomplished by his hustling and bustling. Was to clearly and recklessly expose himself and his friends. As an inconvenient and unwelcome opposing political party. Earning for himself and his crowd of sympathizers, some extremely powerful enemies within the royal court. His desperate and furtive public maneuvers, designed to isolate his older sibling were about to backfire in the worst and most spectacular way. It’s instructive to observe that at his very public and vainglorious party, he offered sacrifices in great abundance. Such oblations would have been burnt offerings, sin offerings, peace offerings, grains offerings, drink offerings et cetera. All of which were representations of Christ the coming Saviour. They would also represent salvation, joy, and fellowship with God. Experienced by accepting and surrendering to His divine will. How paradoxical? The will of God was being celebrated in worship. But in reality, it was being adamantly rejected and opposed.

“And King David said, “Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada.” So they came before the king. The king also said to them, “Take with you the servants of your lord, and have Solomon my son ride on my own mule, and take him down to Gihon. There let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel; and blow the horn, and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ Then you shall come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne, and he shall be king in my place. For I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah.” Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king and said, “Amen! May the Lord God of my lord the king say so too. As the Lord has been with my lord the king, even so may He be with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David.” So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon ride on King David’s mule, and took him to Gihon. Then Zadok the priest took a horn of oil from the tabernacle and anointed Solomon. And they blew the horn, and all the people said, “Long live King Solomon!” And all the people went up after him; and the people played the flutes and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth seemed to split with their sound.” 1 Kings 1:32-40 (NKJV)

(TO BE CONTINUED)

“Solomon was anointed and proclaimed king in the closing years of his father David, who abdicated in his favor. His early life was bright with promise and it was God’s purpose that he should go on from strength to strength, from glory to glory, ever approaching nearer the similitude of the character of God and thus inspiring His people to fulfill their sacred trust as the depositaries of divine truth.” Prophets and Kings, By Ellen G. White

Throughout the course of history, the Roman Governor of Judea, Pontious Pilate. Has been repeatedly criticized and even condemned for doing the wrong thing. Which under the circumstances he knew to be immoral. But chose nevertheless to do what he did. Because at the time, he considered his course of action, to be politically expedient. Although he knew that Christ was innocent of all the false accusations being leveled against Him. He nevertheless ordered the execution of The Saviour, presumably to save himself, from the disguised and clearly implied charge of treason, being hurled at him by the Jews. From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.” John 19:12. (NKJV). This chapter of John’s Gospel clearly describes the fierce mortal struggle being waged within the soul of a ruler. Who above all else valued his position, status, title, and standing within the galaxy of the Roman Empire. Above all godly considerations such as mercy, truth, nobility of character, courage, and unselfishness. Although he initially resisted, ultimately he succumbed to the predator’s yearnings for self-preservation at all costs, and all else can be damned.

When Pilate, therefore, heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!” Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. Then they took Jesus and led Him away. John 19:13-16 (NKJV). Knowing full well from prophetic study and experience. That this development was foretold thousands of years in advance. It would be only logical to conclude that Pontious Pilate was the perfect joker to fill this position. He was not Governor of Judea at that crucial moment in history, for nothing. He had been placed there by divine decree. Because he was supposed to do everything that he did.

“He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth;
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep, before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation?
For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.” Isaiah 53:8-9 (NKJV).

Although Pilate is the best-attested governor of Judaea, few sources regarding his rule have survived. Nothing is known about his life before he became governor of Judaea, and nothing is known about the circumstances that led to his appointment to the governorship. Coins that he minted have survived from Pilate’s governorship, as well as a single inscription, the so-called Pilate stone. The Jewish historian Josephus, the philosopher Philo of Alexandria and the Gospel of Luke all mention incidents of tension and violence between the Jewish population and Pilate’s administration. Many of these incidents involve Pilate acting in ways that offended the religious sensibilities of the Jews. The Christian Gospels, record, that Pilate ordered the crucifixion of Jesus at some point during his time in office; Josephus and the Roman historian Tacitus also record this information. According to Josephus, Pilate’s removal from office occurred because he violently suppressed an armed Samaritan movement at Mount Gerizim. He was sent back to Rome by the legate of Syria to answer for this incident before Tiberius, but the emperor died before Pilate arrived in Rome. Nothing is known about what happened to him after this event. On the basis of events that were documented by the second-century pagan philosopher Celsus and the Christian apologist, Origen. Most modern historians believe that Pilate simply retired after his dismissal.(PONTIUS PILATE: From Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia)

Another infamous character from sacred history who just didn’t seem to be able to do the right thing was King Saul. He was given his marching orders by Samuel the prophet, twice. In the first instance, he was required to simply go down to Gilgal and wait patiently for the arrival of God’s Messenger to come and offer sacrifice. But that very simple challenge was burdensome to the impatient and self-absorbed King. Who had not learned one of the most important lessons in life, to simply wait on The Lord? To permit The King of Kings to exercise His sovereignty. Because under all circumstances the only thing that can really happen is what God does. Nothing moves or changes without Him. It takes some people a lifetime to learn that all-important lesson. Unfortunately, it’s a lesson that some people never learn at all.

“As for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. Then he waited seven days, according to the time set by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattered from him. So Saul said, “Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me.” And he offered the burnt offering. Now it happened, as soon as he had finished presenting the burnt offering, that Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him. And Samuel said, “What have you done?” Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattered from me and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash,  then I said, ‘The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the Lord.’ Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering.” And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you. For now, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.” 1 Samuel 13:7-14 (NKJV).

By divine decree, only the priests, the sons of Aaron, were permitted to offer sacrifices upon any Altar of Burnt Offering. Samuel was God’s appointed priest, by virtue of the rules governing the lives of priests, God would accept sacrifices from them exclusively. Because they were the divinely sanctioned leaders of worship. Saul’s intervention in this regard was an act of presumption and was appropriately rejected. Because it was sin upon sin. First, he failed to wait patiently for the arrival of God’s chosen instrument of salvation. Thereafter, he relegated the act of intercession delegated to be performed only by a priest, to himself.

“If his offering is a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish; he shall offer it of his own free will at the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the Lord. Then he shall put his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him. He shall kill the bull before the Lord; and the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall bring the blood and sprinkle the blood all around on the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of meeting. And he shall skin the burnt offering and cut it into its pieces. The sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire on the altar and lay the wood in order on the fire. Then the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat in order on the wood that is on the fire upon the altar; but he shall wash its entrails and its legs with water. And the priest shall burn all on the altar as a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord.” Leviticus 1:3-9 (NKJV).

The penitent sinner (regardless of the status of the worshipper), brought an animal to be sacrificed. He was authorized to confess his sins upon the head of the animal to be killed, skin it, divide it into several pieces to be conveniently placed on the Altar, and then wash it. The officiating priest did everything else. By his sacrilegious act, Saul rejected God’s great plan of Salvation and was thereafter rejected from being King.

(TO BE CONTINUED)

Anyone who believes, even for a moment. That the indictment and arraignment of the MAGA KING on criminal charges. Is politically motivated or the product of some strange coincidence or blind chance. Is simply naive or willingly ignorant of the forces of karma or providence. For many years Donald J. Trump has been committing a plethora of crimes for which he has never been held responsible.

“As of November 2022, Donald Trump has been credibly accused of committing at least 56 criminal offenses since he launched his campaign for president in 2015. That total only reflects allegations relating to his time in or running for office and omits, for instance, Trump’s criminal exposure for fraudulent business dealings. The eight offenses we have added since we published the first version of this table in March 2022 include three criminal offenses relating to the investigation of election fraud and related crimes in Fulton County, Georgia; one offense relating to potential wire fraud stemming from fraudulent representations made to solicit PAC contributions after the 2020 election; one perjury offense relating to Trump’s legal efforts to overturn the 2020 election; and three offenses relating to Trump’s unlawful possession of government records at Mar-a-Lago after leaving office. The updated tracker likely understates Trump’s legal exposure because the high volume of sensitive records discovered at Mar-A-Lago suggests that he could be indicted for multiple counts of willfully retaining without authorization government records containing national defense information, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 793(e)), even though it is only listed once on CREW’s tracker.” (CREW: President Trump’s Staggering Record Of Uncharged Crimes, by Conor Shaw, September 27, 2022).

Nevertheless, the revelation by Donald Trump himself, that he is likely to be indicted and arrested, in New York this week. Has drawn the usual coterie of MAGA MANIAC political sympathizers and apologists. They include Mr. Kevin McCarty the present Speaker of The House of Representatives, Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida, Governor Chris Sununu of New Hampshire, Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Green, Senator J.D. Vance, Congressman Jim Jordan, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. Who even purportedly sent a threatening letter to The Manhattan Prosecutor Mr. Alvin Braggs. Critics have described the letter as essentially a nothing burger. Why are all of these people rising, as it were to Trump’s defense? Everyone knows that the property magnate is a scoundrel. He has had a long history of business malfeasance in New York and elsewhere. He is even suspected of being some kind of Russian asset. Why therefore this apparent outpouring of support? It’s all very simple and straightforward, really. All of this sound and fury amount to a futile attempt to brainwash the American people into thinking that Trump is innocent. I predict with utmost confidence that their ploy will fail. Because the better Trump looks and smells then the better The Grand Old Party will fare in the upcoming 2024 elections.

Reminisce for a few moments upon the monumental January 6 Congressional Investigation. Think of all the public witnesses and the convincing testimony that they gave against Donald Trump. Including all of his criminal maneuverings leading up to January 6, 2021, and the violent rebellion that climaxed his activities. The unfolding carnage, the bloodshed, and all the police officers that died during the siege of the Capitol. It was all extremely powerful. What should have been a shellacking for the democrats because of the many social negatives transpiring in the American economy just before the 2022 midterm elections? Incredulously resulted in only a majority of 9 seats for the Republicans. This development is of historic significance. Republican leaders now fully understand that all the upcoming Indictments and prosecutions against Mr. Donald Trump will be extremely bad optics for the Republican Party. That will lead to large-scale electoral losses in 2024. Accordingly, The MAGA MANIACS and their sympathizers. Will be doing their utmost to paint any attempts by law enforcement agencies. To hold Donald Trump responsible for his past criminal activities, as ‘political weaponization’ of the judicial system. Unfortunately, however, in the process of misrepresenting RIGHT as WRONG; MISCARICATURING light as DARKNESS; and describing the NORMAL, as ABNORMAL. They will completely lose any remaining credibility that they might have. As we read in scripture,

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight! Isaiah 5:20-21 (NKJV)

Why is it though that the fulminations and frothings of all these Republican spokesmen against a black prosecutor situated in The State of New York? Over whom Congress has absolutely no jurisdiction. Sound like a throwback to the days succeeding slavery in America? The way it came across to me was, “Hey you, black nigger, how dare you to presume to indict a white man? How dare you pretend to know that you understand the law? How dare you accuse our MAGA KING? We want to arrange things so that he is completely above the law. What exactly are Messers McCarthy and Jordan attempting to accomplish anyway? Because their efforts appear to me to be an attempted lynching. What are they going to do next, summon The Ku Klux Klan? Thanks be to God because the days of Bukra Massah and the white overlords of the sugar plantation ended a long time ago. Furthermore, it’s futile to attempt to drag the nation back to such a tortuous historical experience. It is especially interesting to note that Mr. Braggs released a statement to the nation,

“Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office responded to demands from House Republicans for documents related to its probe of former President Donald Trump, saying it “will not be intimidated by attempts to undermine the justice process, nor will we let baseless accusations deter us from fairly applying the law.” “In a statement Tuesday, a spokesperson for Bragg said that “in every prosecution, we follow the law without fear or favor to uncover the truth. Our skilled, honest, and dedicated lawyers remain hard at work.” (THE WEEK: Manhattan DA’s Office Says It Won’t Be Intimidated By Attempts To Undermine The Justice Process By Catherine Garcia, March 21, 2022).

Any opposition to truth and righteousness is an opposition to Christ Himself. Anyone who makes war against the principles of goodness and decency is attempting to fight against God. Any politician who doesn’t understand those elementary facts as yet. Will soon be rudely awakened to the indomitable truth that there is an invisible moral order in our universe.

Over the course of the last three weeks, FOX NEWS and its star surrogates have been receiving a great deal of negative coverage. For all the lies that they’ve been spewing about the 2020 General Elections. However, we should never forget that, according to them, they were providing a valuable service for which they were handsomely paid. At least that is the consolation that they have been trying to give themselves. Unfortunately, however, others aren’t so sympathetic to their cause. Sensible and rational people knew the true outcome of the U.S. elections. The majority of the country understood that President Joseph Biden had won fair and square. But the MAGA maniacs found this piece of truth to be unpalatable. Accordingly, they paid FOX NEWS hundreds of millions of dollars to provide them with a constant diet of ‘alternative facts.’ With which they were comfortable. As they worked vigorously to manufacture, as it were, their own reality. They treasured the delusion that their MAGA king, Donald Trump was in fact the true winner. This false belief enabled them to whip themselves into a frenzy. That led to violence and many deaths. Most of these violent actors are now behind bars. Which is where they belong. Because they all had the opportunity to know the truth, but they rather chose to believe a lie.

This phenomenon is nothing new. Let’s not forget that Lucifer pulled this very same stunt in heaven. He wanted to be worshipped as God.

“You were the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper,
sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created. You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you. Ezekiel 28:13-15 (NKJV). The original exalted position of the one who became the Prince of Darkness. Was to stand before God’s throne and shield with his outstretched wings, the eyes of the assembled angelic throng. From the overwhelming light which is even brighter that the resplendence of the noon-day sun. Emanating from the aura of God’s glorious presence. Moreover, in addition to all the jewels he wore. He also had magnificent pipes and timbrels constructed within his chest. That enabled him to produce the most exquisite music. While he led heaven’s angelic choir in their worship sessions, designed to glorify God. His status was great and his destiny was grand. But for the fact that he forgot his great benefactor. The One who bestowed upon him every wonderful gift that he enjoyed.

“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king.” 1 Samuel 15:23 (NKJV). Lucifer was repeatedly warned not only by other angelic commanders but by Christ Himself. The Son of The Highest; the only being in the universe who was equal to God. He was Lucifer’s Maker. But this prince of angels blinded himself to the good counsel of others. He was convinced that his course was wrong but his pride would not permit him to yield.

Just like the Maga Maniacs Lucifer’s undoing was his unsanctified ambition. They wanted to set up an enduring kingdom under Trump, whom they worshipped as a god. The arch deceiver aspired to establish a kingdom based upon lies. The Maga Maniacs attempted to do likewise. But the problem with every form of falsehood is that it ultimately unravels. Because The Lord Almighty runs the universe and His kingdom is established upon TRUTH. Every deceptive delusion will be ultimately exposed for exactly what it is. Nothing more than an inglorious, dangerous, and destructive fib. The bitter truth, unfortunately, is that MAGA MANIACISM is a cult. A CULT is defined as “A relatively small group that excessively controls its members, whom share a set of acts and practices which require unwavering devotion, and are considered deviant (outside the norms of society), and typically led by a charismatic and often self-appointed leader.” (Open Education Sociology Dictionary). The brutal truth is that in my opinion, a major political party (The GOP) within the USA has been captured. Its leaders and most influential people have been supplanted by a CULT. They feel no gratitude to the American people who gave them their positions.

All they are interested in is consolidating and extending their power. Which, they embrace every opportunity to abuse. Vis a vis Jim Jordan’s so-called committee to investigate the politicization of the Department of Justice and Congressman Perry’s attempt to roll back the hard-won achievements accomplished during the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act. Which was passed by both houses of Congress and signed into law by President Joseph Biden on August 16, 2022. He, Mr. Perry, demands the unraveling of this piece of legislation in order to support a resolution to raise the debt limit.

“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations!
For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north;
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Highest.’Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.” Isaiah 14:12-15 (NKJV).

Therefore he went around with false rumors. Telling other angels that The Creator was selfish, unjust, tyrannical, and despotic. Predictably this led to conflict and he and all those who believed his lies were thrown out of the Capital of the universe. “And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Revelation 12:7-9 (NKJV). The fact that even angels bought into this delusion is profoundly instructive. Apparently, deception is a psychic phenomenon to which all creatures are susceptible. But no one has to succumb to it unless he wants to. Because at all times ample evidence of the truth surrounds us. Unless of course we choose not to believe it.

(TO BE CONTINUED).