Local Sheriffs Deputies Lost to Evil

On Friday, Deputy Michael David Davis, Jr. of the Placer County Sheriffs Department and Deputy Danny Oliver of the Sacramento Sheriffs Department were both shot and killed by two suspects. Both officers were responding to calls about the suspects when they were shot and killed by the male suspect, who gave his name as Marquez. He had a female companion and she is also in custody. Marquez is an illegal alien who has been deported by the United States twice!!!!!! The name he gave officers "Marquez" isn't even his real name. His fingerprints came up in the Immigration and Custom's Service data base with a completely different name and history. He has a lot of crime in his past and on Friday when someone at the Motel 6 in Sacramento called to report a suspicious vehicle in their parking lot. Deputy Oliver and his partner were sent to the scene, where Marquez fired at Officer Oliver and his partner. Oliver was struck in the face with the blow of a shotgun and later died.

After this, the suspect and his companion, a woman, went on a car jacking spree. First a Mustang, and after dumping that car, they tried to car jack another man who refused to give them his keys. Marquez shot him in the face, but after surgeries yesterday, he is expected to make a full recovery as is one other Deputy who was wounded. Next Marquez and his companion found a man with a red F-150 and asked the driver for a favor. He was also Mexican in descent, so he asked Marquez "What do you need? Do you need money?" Marquez said he needed the truck and even helped the man unhitch the trailer from the truck so that the owner of the truck could continue to work as he told the suspect. Marquez told him "Don't call the cops right away." The man of course, immediately called police. The F-150 was then spotted by Deputy Michael Davis, Jr. and his partner, Deputy Jeff Davis, no relation. 42 year old Deputy Davis was shot and killed by the suspect when they caught up to him in Auburn.  

It's always sad to lose a member of the law enforcement community, but this loss is particularly sad because twenty six years ago to the day, Deputy Michael Davis's father, Riverside County Sheriff's Deputy Michael Davis Sr., went down in a helicopter crash while working with a drug enforcement task force. The accident occurred when the helicopter struck a power line and went down. All aboard were killed including Deputy Davis's father. He was just 16 years old. While I'm sure his wife, kids, siblings and his mother never expected this to happen, I'm sure Davis and members of his family were thinking of his dad on Friday. How bizarre is it that he and his dad died on the exact same day of the year 26 years apart? Also, how cruel that he would have been 43 this week? This must be horrific for both families. Deputy Danny Oliver of the Sacramento Sheriffs Department leaves a wife and two children and Deputy Davis leaves a wife and four children.  

Please pray for these Officer's families at this time and please say a prayer for all law enforcement and for all of our military members. Since ISIS pushed it's intifada against law enforcement and our military, more and more incidences of attacks by lone wolf terrorists are occurring as we just saw last week, so please lift them up in your prayers. 

It is said of Davis that he had a "golden heart." The shrines in Sacramento and Placer County are growing out of respect and true grief. Many people who knew Davis and Oliver say they were both wonderful father's, husbands and Deputy's. It is truly sad to hear of this incident and I have been praying for their families since this occurred on Friday. I cannot imagine their heartbreak. I cannot even think about the kind of pain they must be feeling.

There will be no peace on earth until Jesus comes to rule and reign for 1,000 years. I pray that these two Deputies are livin' it up with Jesus right now. The lone processionals of both Deputy's hearses's on the freeway's here yesterday were very somber. Roseville Fire Department gave a lovely tribute to Deputy Davis by way of a ladder truck on an overpass with a huge American flag hanging down as the processional passed.

It was a tribute fitting for two such brave souls who tried to keep us safe during their 15 year careers. God bless them, their families, their friends and fellow Deputies, and all of law enforcement. Next time you see a cop car, please pray for the men/women inside? And the next time you meet a member of law enforcement or our military, please thank them for their service and pray for them, that God would put a special hedge of protection around all of them and keep them safe. They need our prayers now more than ever. 

May God Bless these Deputies and their families with a peace that surpasses all understanding. May justice be served against this perpetrator and his companion to the fullest extent of the law. May God forgive them for what they have done and may He hold both families close to Himself at this time.

Persecution of the Church: In Texas?

Just last week, the City of Houston, Texas subpoenaed 5 local Pastors and told them to turn over all sermons having to do with homosexuality or gender issues. Why? Because of Houston's Mayor Annise Parker. She is openly gay and is pro gay rights. These five Pastor's have made her life a bit difficult of late and she is using her power to intimidate them in what is basically just one more attack on religious freedom in a Nation founded on Judeo Christian values. 

In June, the Houston City Council passed an ordinance allowing their transgendered population  to walk into any public bathroom in town. If the bathroom is a single use, one at a time type of bathroom, no big deal, but a public restroom, say in a restaurant where a man could walk in, possibly exposing himself in front of women and possibly young girls? THAT, I WOULD HAVE A HUGE PROBLEM WITH! Well, many Houston residents agreed with that train of thought so they did exactly what is called for in a situation like this. They put together a petition to get the ordinance put on the ballot in November so that all the citizen's of Houston could vote on the matter, but because Parker knew she would lose that vote, the certification of the 55,000 signatures collected were decertified. 

Those who had gathered the signatures hired a lawyer and sued. Parker responded by intimidating these Pastors through discovery which is absolutely shameful! Instead of a normal discovery process they asked for all sermons, emails, etc., that had to do with anything about homosexuality or gender issues, proving it was a political move. If you're smart you ask for everything, not just the sermons on homosexuality! I think it's the blatant subtlety of it all that infuriates me. The liberal left has watched our President get away with lawless act after lawless act, which has obviously emboldened them, so it's an "in your face," fight between Parker and the Pastors, but she's going to lose. All they wanted is to have the ordinance voted on by the citizens of Houston but instead Parker is using her power to intimidate these Pastor's and frankly? If I lived in Houston? I would be helping whoever mounted a RECALL campaign against her! Not because she's gay, but because she is using the power of her office to openly and shamelessly intimidate these Pastors! She needs to LOSE HER JOB! 

When it's all said and done, this case will end up in an appeals court, possibly the Texas State Supreme Court and possibly all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States who has a habit of upholding the first amendment, so it was really stupid of Parker to start a fight with Christians on this matter. Even if she loses, which she is very likely going to do, she'll move on and bother someone else. Some people aren't happy unless they're fighting with someone?

Every other religion but Christianity has their rights intact. It's only those of us who believe in Jesus Christ that are persecuted anymore. But Jesus himself said,"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first." (John 15:18).

As for the response coming from the Pulpits of America, this particular Pastor really got my attention. Not only did I get a bit of a history lesson on the Baptists and where they come from, but I was very impressed with his entire message. It's making quite the stir out there as well, so if you haven't already seen it, take the time to listen to what he has to say. It's a great message and it needs to make the rounds, far and wide so don't forget to Tweet this post or share it with your FaceBook friends! 

Meet Dr. Randy White, the Pastor of First Baptist Church in Katy Texas. Enjoy the message, please take it to heart and then share it with your friends and especially those you love. We need to pray for our leaders, that God touches their hearts and leads them back to the way everlasting. We need to pray for the Pastor's in our country as well, and for the Church and for America. We have eroded into something not even I recognize anymore.

Jesus is coming soon! Even so ~ Maranatha! 

False Teachers Online

I recently came across a few blogs that argue that the Great White Throne Judgment is a chance for those who didn't trust Christ as Lord and Savior while they were alive to hear the Good News, repent and THEN trust Jesus as Lord and Savior. These bloggers seem to believe that we all are going to go to heaven. BUZZ. WRONG, THANK YOU FOR PLAYING!

If I understand Revelation 20:11-14 correctly, those whose name is not in the Lambs book of Life will be sent to the 2nd death, which is the Lake of Fire, prepared for Satan, his demons and all those who did not believe in God's only Son while they were alive. Why is the Lambs book of life mentioned in this scripture? Because if the Rapture occurs and all believers have been taken into heaven with Jesus, there will still be some on the earth who will find Jesus and commit their lives to Him during the seven year tribulation. This means they will be judged "according to their deeds" at the Great White Throne judgment. They will have been resurrected with all the dead including those who were in the sea, death and hades, etc. If indeed their name is found in the Lambs book of Life, then they will be rewarded with eternal life. Those whose names are not found will be sent to the lake of fire to be separated from God for all eternity. 

Paul speaks about the retribution that will come upon unbelievers in that day. "For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day and to be marveled at among all who have believed, for our testimony to you was believed." (2 Thessalonians 6-10)

There was a comment section on one of the blogs and someone asked how "the earth and the heavens fled from His presence and there was no place for them," (Revelation 20:1). There were some pretty interesting,albeit wrong answers to their question. There will be no place for anyone to hide, much less the earth and the heavens so I think the better question would be "why" would they want to hide? The answers they got from others were absolutely mind boggling! One of the scriptures used to prove the point that God will not allow anyone to go to the lake of fire without giving them a second chance to think about it and repent before God at the Great White Throne judgment was 2 Peter 3:9. "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness, but is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." The answers to their question were blatantly false and the bible warns that this could be deadly! "For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds." (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)..

There are so many scriptures that state that redemption of sin is only found in trusting in Christ and by repentance, meaning that we stop doing the things that are offensive to God and which keep us separated from Him. It happens to me every day! I always BLOW IT! I end up separated the minute I commit a sin and I have to ask His forgiveness immediately because there is nothing I hate more than being separated from Him! 

I let my dissent be known in that comment section big time! This person was just going to be more confused than they already were. The scriptures are pretty clear about heaven and hell aren't they?  "But the cowardly, the UNBELIEVING, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars, they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." (Revelation 21:8). This refers to the fact that those who died without asking Christ to forgive them for their sins and living for Him or at least trying to, will be raised, given up by the sea, death/hades, etc., and they will be judged according to their deeds! If they didn't trust Jesus, it's off to the lake of sulfur with Satan, PERIOD! 

It seems that these bloggers do not believe that God will send anyone to the lake of fire, except for Satan and his demons. How can the truth be met with such perverse apostasy? Well, Jesus warned that in the last days, there would be "false teachers," and that we should be careful not to listen to them. Peter also warned, "But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them, bringing swift destruction on themselves." (2 Peter 2:1). Basically, we all must be careful to not let our ears be tickled by these false teachers, some of whom are preaching lies directly from the pulpit! I know it sounds unbelievable but it's happening! Jesus warned us in Matthew 24 about this, saying that there would be those that would come and not just preach lies, but say that they were Him and that we should be careful to not be deceived! (Matthew 24:4). 

I assume this is because things are going to be so bad, that we will be grasping for hope, in any form it comes to us. What I read on these blogs is what people want to hear! As Paul warned us, "For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear." (2 Timothy 4:3). 

Stay completely surrendered to Christ! Store up treasure where moth and rust cannot destroy! Spread the Good News, no matter how uncomfortable it is to do so and don't let people intimidate you! Trust Christ and He will give you the words! Run to the Cross and be in His word on a daily basis and He will grow you as He is growing me! I'm a nobody, honestly, but God gave me the gift of speech and writing! I'm too ill to leave my home, but I reach out to all of you anyway! It's the only medium I have! I'm completely committed, totally surrendered and I will NEVER QUIT til the whole world hears the truth! That it's by grace that we are saved through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Ephesians 2:8-9).

It won't be hard for people to be deceived. It's already happening. Satan must be laughing, because, seriously? I have met people who don't believe in hell or the Devil! It's a growing movement! Just look around. It's easy to see that people are arrogant, selfish, everything that love isn't! They don't believe in anything anymore, much less the devil! So it's time to get right, read the TRUE Word of God, (John 1:1), and get it together, or you'll find yourself so confused that you'll believe anything!

Religious Persecution in the NFL

It all started with Tim Tebow, but let's start with last Sunday.

In week two of the NFL season, Redskins Quarterback Robert Griffin, III was injured. As he ran towards the sideline trying to pass the ball to a player down field, he took a bad hop and dislocated his ankle. Head Coach Jay Gruden is optimistic about his return, but it's a matter of "wait and see" at this point. Thankfully, their backup quarterback, Kirk Cousins, came in and played very well, taking the Jags to a 41-10 defeat and a 0-2 record. 

Kirk Cousins, out of Michigan State (GO SPARTANS!) is the son of a preacher. His dad is the Sr. Pastor at Discovery Church in Orlando, Florida. RGIII, out of Baylor University, and a Heisman winner, is the son of two US Army Sergeants and is a military brat. Not only are they both quarterbacks, they are both Christians, just like Tebow. 

This past Sunday, however, I think RGIII understood how Tebow must've felt while he was playing in the NFL. Just before giving an interview, he was forced to turn his shirt inside out because it said "Know Jesus, Know Peace" across the front of it. They said he had to be wearing a Nike t-shirt, however fellow Redskin Ryan Kerrigan was wearing a t-shirt that said "Five Four Clothing" on it and they didn't make him flip his shirt inside out, so what's the deal? That's a really stupid lie when you think about it. Peyton, Eli, Tom Brady, Drew Breeze, they all wear suits. No where on their suits does the word NIKE or the Nike "swoosh" appear. I'm sure RGIII didn't like the idea, but they told him to do so, and I'm sure he feels horrible about it, but he had to give the interview, so what was he supposed to do? He's under contract!  

Tebow, who led Florida State to a Championship and then played for Denver, was quickly traded to the Jets after Peyton Manning was released by the Colts and signed by the Bronco's. Tebow is out of the NFL but is now a part of the Good Morning America team and is a co-host for SEC Nation. I saw a greatness in him, that got snuffed out by circumstances that he could not control. In spite of all that, he's making a very good life for himself. His co-hosts say it's like "traveling with a rock star," when they make the rounds covering college football together.

Personally, I believe that Tebow was persecuted, not just because he would take a knee and pray, he was persecuted because he was never supposed to be here in the first place. Tim's mom was pregnant with him when she was diagnosed with cancer, and rather than go through the life saving chemotherapy treatments and having an abortion, which is what her doctors recommended, she decided to have Tim first and then go through chemotherapy. She lived to tell, which says a great deal about her faith. Now this persecution and radical "network Jihad" against Jesus has happened to Robert Griffin, III. I remember watching Ray Lewis after a game on ESPN coming out in a shirt that read "Psalm 91" on it, and he was allowed to sit in with Young, Dilfer and the rest of the guys after the game. No Nike requirement there? So what's the deal? I've watched players from both teams at the end of a game go to the center of the field, take a knee and begin to pray. When that happened on NBC just last season after a Sunday night game, they quickly cut back to an announcer who was upset about a call the refs had made on the field. No, no no, you can't show players actually kneeling and praying! NOT ON NBC! OH NO! LIONS AND TIGERS AND BEARS, OH MY! 

Considering the Ray Rice, Greg Hardy, Ray McDonald and Adrian Peterson incidents, is it so awful to allow a player to sit in an interview wearing a shirt that says "Jesus" across the front of it? If you ask me the NFL could use a little more "Jesus" in it! As role models these guys need to play clean, and live cleaner than other folks. The money they make and the clauses in their contracts about personal behavior say so! Rice, Hardy, McDonald and Peterson should be deactivated until further notice. If they get their acts together, maybe they can come back next year. Michael Vick went to jail for 21 months and he was given a second chance, but he had to do his time first! What's happening in this sport right now is really annoying the crud out of me. We allow wife/fiance/girlfriend beaters and child abusers to do their thing, but oh no, you can't wear a "Jesus" shirt! That's not allowed!

What a joke. Why are they so afraid of Jesus? Are they more afraid of offending people than they are of disciplining their own players?

If you ask me, these guys all deserve a switch to their backsides, along with huge NFL fines, and a year on the bench at home, watching the games with the rest of us. Maybe that will teach them a lesson that they won't forget and instead of acting out badly as they have, perhaps they will find redemption and forgiveness through Christ and then begin to act more like Tebow, RGIII and Kirk Cousins and other players who are faithful to Christ, even if the NFL isn't.

As a side note, there is one player, Devon Still who is a defensive back for the Cincinnati Bengals who's entire family needs our prayers. Devon's little girl Leah just completed 4 rounds of chemotherapy to try to shrink the tumor in her stomach known as "neuroblastoma." The Bengals signed Still to their practice squad so he wouldn't lose his benefits, and Leah's treatment will end up costing them over 1 million most likely. Last week, he got to play and the Bengals scored a victory against the Falcons, 24-10! That must've felt wonderful for Devon because it's been a tough road for him and his family. I should know. Our 26 year old daughter, who is one full year and one month older than Devon, went through stage 4 cancer like Devon's daughter Leah is going through now. She is only 4 years old. Our daughter was 18 months old when she was diagnosed. She relapsed, and became a stage 4 like Leah, Devon's daughter and she's now a college grad, 26 years old and lives on a street called "Devon Way." Weird coincidence huh? I've been praying for his little girl and I hope you will all join me in praying for her too. They were supposed to find out today if the tumor had shrank enough for them to remove it via surgery. Please remember Leah and her family in your prayers? Devon is a great role model for kids, not like these other jerks, and I hope that his daughter comes through with flying colors. God Bless the Bengals for keeping him on and taking care of him through this trying time.  

I've got to say it. I love football, baseball, NASCAR and hockey. However, this horrible persecution of Christian players in the NFL is starting to really tick me off. It should tick off every Christian all across the country. Maybe we need to get loud and proud and let the NFL know exactly how we feel about it! Maybe it will effect change, because in my humble opinion, Jesus should NEVER be sidelined!

Chris Norman, who played with Kirk Cousins at Michigan State is a guy who instead of getting drafted into the NFL, decided to put God first and go to seminary instead. There are a few guys in the NFL who could learn a thing or two from Chris Norman, his journey and his decision to serve God! Heck, we could all learn from his story, so here it is!

Be Born Again!

If you don't know Jesus, or you've read the bible but don't know what to believe, may I suggest that you just trust Him? He died for your sins so that you wouldn't have to suffer an eternity in the Lake of Fire, meant for all unbelievers and those who did not accept the gift of God's grace, shown through Christ's death burial and resurrection from the dead when they had the chance, so please, reach out to Jesus? He wants to save you! 

No matter what your current situation, no matter how awful, desperate or cruel, Jesus can come into your heart, if you'll ask Him to, and He will give you new life. He can heal the sick, make the blind see and raise the dead. Even if you are ill, and are dying, He will give you eternal life if you'll simply trust Him and believe that He lived, was crucified, taking all of your sins upon Himself, died, was buried and then rose from the dead three days later. The Good News is this: All you have to do is believe!

Jesus told us to "take up your cross and follow Me." This means He wants us to take all of our circumstances, everything that has ever happened, good and bad, and read His word, learn how to be like Him and to teach others what we know! He also wants us to go and confess Him to our friends and loved ones, especially if they don't know Him because He wants our lives to reflect change and when people see the joy we have because of His grace, and His gift of salvation, they will want to know what is different and they'll want what we have!

It's very simple. We are all sinners. The bible says, "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." We can't help it. We were born into it, it's not our fault, but we are still sinners none the less. Even Billy Graham says that he is a wretched sinner who needs God's forgiveness every day! (I know the feeling. Sometimes I feel like I'm living on my knees!). 

Listen to the song I've posted. Say a simple prayer, asking God for forgiveness for your sins and ask Jesus to come into your life and to help you live for Him and I promise you, He will!

The days are growing very short. All one must do to understand that is to turn on the news. I don't want anyone left behind when Jesus comes to take us home. He's coming very soon, so please don't wait? Commit your life today, please? You've got nothing to lose and everything to gain! Jesus loves you and so do I and I will pray for you and help you in anyway I can as you begin your new life in Christ.

Please join the family of God? After you do, please email me at beabarnabus@gmail.com to tell me about your decision. I will pray for you as you begin to read His word and find a bible believing church to attend. They will receive you with open arms and if they don't, find a different church! Just be careful, because there is a lot of false teaching going on out there these days? Jesus warned us about it, so let me know so I can pray that God will protect you as you search for a church family!

When you trust in Christ, and ask Him to come into your heart, you will feel joy beyond belief when you let go of your sin and lay it at His feet! 

Please trust in Him. He is calling to you to come Home! He is the "way the truth and the life!" And He wants you to have it to the full so don't wait! Take the leap of faith. I promise, you will never regret doing so! 

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16).