I have no other reason or excuse for posting these music video clips than I enjoy them.
This is another one I edited myself.

video- Walking In Your Footsteps by The Police

I am a Christian. I am a blogger. I am someone who grapples with life’s larger questions on a moment to moment basis. In cruising around the Internet and monitoring the ongoing debate between Christians of differing theological interpretations and Christians and scientists and/or Christians and atheists there is one persistent question that just keeps popping up. How old is the earth? some Christian literalists seem to believe that if they don’t do the math just a certain way and give in to the notion that the earth is only about 4-6 thousand years old that they are somehow being heretical… disrespecting God and rejecting his Holy Word, the Bible.

Well, I tell you right now that I am a Christian who believes the Bible and I find the notion that the earth is less than ten thousand years old… well… not very believable. To be fair, I don’t necessarily believe that the earth as we know it is hundreds of millions of years old either.

As for the Christian “literalists“, the literalism seems to be one of convenience… after all the Bible also says to love your enemies and those whom may not agree with you. I know very few Christians who pay much attention to that passage- let alone do intellectual gymnastics to realize and/or internalize it in their everyday lives. “Conservative” and liberal Christians do not even speak civilly to one another for the most part let alone to unbelievers and the lost. I digress.

I don’t think that the account of origins as it is given in Genesis is meant to be an encyclopedia like telling of exactly what, when and how things began. Neither is it a totally figurative allegory. The plain fact of the matter is that it only tells us about God as Creator and the original purposes and intentions for mankind. It also tells about the entry of evil into the world and sets the stage for the battle of evermore between the Spirit of Truth and the Father of Lies.
You can take those items to the bank. As far as the exact chronology or timeline… who knows?
Anyone that claims they do know is mightily conceited. The bible does NOT give us that information.

Science gives us a spotty, incomplete and often biased opinion on these matters as well. The academic system works a lot like the media, organized religion or any other institution… anomalous evidence and/or dissenting opinion is squelched as much as possible in the interests of the corporate survival of the institution. Objectivity and truth often take a back seat to the god of money and agenda.

Let me just say this by way of offering my own thoughts on how old the earth might be. I have been to a place where on a raggedy, rocky knoll in Utah, near the Dinosaur National Monument there is a giant fossilized squid. My rational mind tells me that this as well as the rest of the fossil record and all the fossil fuels under the ground did not form in 6,000 years or less. In fact, I find such an idea absurd. I could be wrong of course. Yet, I find this idea almost as absurd as the idea that all the harmony, complexity, order, life and intelligence in the cosmos just happened by sheer mathematical chance and accident… but not quite. If one then insists that life and such came from God- this of course leads to the question of where God came from if there be such a thing. Once again, no man can really answer questions like that. I suppose theorizing on it is a worthy enough enterprise.

But, a lot of people… indigenous people Like Native Americans and/or Christians un-indoctrinated or unaffected by the western mindset and the desire to categorize, master and explain everything surrender questions and desires concerning exactly when, where and why. Instead they worry themselves with another question… perhaps the only one that really matters after all…HOW or WHAT is the right way to live… or what is one’s proper relationship to all things? I stand with those who grapple mostly with that question. Now, as a Christian let me say this… those answers can be found in Christ and I believe nowhere else. That is the only reason I am still a Christian. Believe me I know what a monumental task it is to try and convince someone of this if they do not first accept the Bible as a reliable source of information. The truth is no person can ever talk somebody into something they do not want to be true. Real understanding of these matters comes by spiritual means… in fact they are considered as a gift.
Again… if one does not allow for spiritual reality, then there is no sense trying to speak spiritual language to one who does not or will not hear it.

Well… I started writing this with but one question to pose and then got into the stream of consciousness. Anyway…. how old do you think the earth is? Maybe the better question is… does it really matter to how you will live your life?

Or Hear it HERE

Unreal World Lyrics:

I heard women crying everywhere
Babies born and no one cares
People sleeping on the ground
See the rain come falling down
There’s decisions to be made
There has to be some give and take
For this the road we walk along
Is not the road we started on
Have you heard the full time score
We’re living under Murphy’s Law

I’ve been walking ‘cross vast empty spaces I feel
I’ve been looking for one face I know that is real
I’ve been walking ‘cross vast empty spaces

Let’s talk about the way I feel
The whole wide world’s become unreal

Time’s like money it’ll soon be spent
Let’s talk about the government
They’re selling England by the gram
We’re stranded in the strangest land
There’s not enough to go around
No one knows what’s going down
Nothing ventured nothing gained
Why should we feel so ashamed
‘Cause every dog must have it’s day
And I refuse to be your slave

I’ve been walking ‘cross vast empty spaces I feel
I’ve been looking for one face I know that is real
I’ve been walking ‘cross vast empty spaces

Let’s talk about the way I feel
The whole wide world’s become unreal
Let’s talk about the way I feel
The whole wide world’s become unreal

London’s mourning skies turned black
They’ve gone too far we can’t turn back
Free the ravens from the tower
We’ve yet to have our finest hour
Don’t believe the news at ten
That happy days are here again
Where’s the Union Jack and Jill
‘Cause we should not be standing still
Listen to me- understand
A hungry man’s an angry man

Let’s talk about the way I feel
The whole wide world’s become unreal
Let’s talk about the way I feel
The whole wide world’s become unreal

Click the small arrow in the corner to stay on this page while watching.

Also check out this vid:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khK2a7ANYKI

Its the American Indian version of essentially the same song. It makes the hair on my neck stand. We can tune in something like what’s portrayed here if we just will.

My understanding of spiritual warfare is growing in every moment.

Thank You for This Earth

If you never read any other post read this one!!!

“Just acting like a normal Christian is an extremely radical thing to do”
- Harry R. Jackson, Jr.

I have been reading another new book of late. I know it must seem like every book I read is dynamite in my view… but I give this one my highest recommendation. The Book is called
“The Warrior’s Heart: Rules of Engagement For The Spiritual War Zone”
by Harry R. Jackson Jr.

So far this is the finest book on the topic implied in the title that I have read. It has some very practical and pragmatic advice about faith, conscience and the power or lack thereof in religion and/or a believers perception of such.

Here I will paraphrase what I deem to be the most important paragraph I personally have ever read concerning the concept of faith:

One of the problems with the concept of faith, as it is conceived of by many, is there is no clear distinction between attitude management techniques and what is purely Biblical faith or supernatural thinking if you will. Managing our attitudes is in fact very important- even essential to be an effective Christian, spiritual warrior or even just a good person. “Be positive” motivational techniques , however, are not in themselves keys to releasing the supernatural power of God. The supernatural peace of God which comes from his tangible presence is able to do FAR more than a peace that comes from attitude management.

The Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 3, a prayer:

14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Jackson goes on to write about the ways we can detect God’s unction in our lives. Here he cites what is called “twofold assurance”:

1. Our hearts assure us (conscience)

2. The Holy Spirit within us

James Madison once stated;

” Conscience is the most sacred of all property”

Jackson explains;

The word conscience is not found in the Old Testament. The closest reference is found in Proverbs 20:27

“27 The lamp of the LORD searches the spirit of a man ; it searches out his inmost being.”

Conversely, in the New Testament there are 30 references to conscience. The Greek word for conscience is suneidesis which is defined as an abiding consciousness whose nature it is to bear inner witness to one’s own conduct in a moral sense. It is self awareness.

Speaking for myself I can state unequivocally that when I have not listened to that small still voice that has said to me “don’t do this” or “you ought to do that” trouble has ensued more times than not… sometimes BIG trouble. Judging by this acknowledgement alone I think it is safe to say that being out of touch with one’s conscience can carry a heavy cost… perhaps even a lethal cost.

Jackson explains that you do not have to be a Christian or even a believer to have a conscience. It is something that is installed in every person because every person, whether they believe or acknowledge it or not, is made in the image of God. Conscience is the RULE of God imparted to every man and woman. In fact, those who have never heard the Gospel of Christ will in the end be judged by how they have responded to their own consciences.

On this Romans 2:14-16 says (Amplified Bible):

14 When Gentiles who have not the [divine] Law do instinctively what the Law requires, they are a law to themselves, since they do not have the Law.

15 They show that the essential requirements of the Law are written in their hearts and are operating there, with which their consciences (sense of right and wrong) also bear witness; and their [moral] decisions (their arguments of reason, their condemning or approving thoughts) will accuse or perhaps defend and excuse [them]

16 On that day when, as my Gospel proclaims, God by Jesus Christ will judge men in regard to the things which they conceal (their hidden thoughts).

Often people think of conscience as an afterthought, a twinge of guilt or remorse after the fact. However, conscience is a moral compass that is designed primarily for PREVENTION. As stated, in this sense, being out of touch with conscience and/or God can be disastrous for people, people groups or entire societies or civilizations.

The goal then is to harmonize, inasmuch as we are able, our consciences according to what God ordains as right and/or wrong. Jackson goes on to explain three ways in which this is accomplished:

1. reproof and correction- we have to learn to receive correction from trusted, spiritual, strategic relationships.

2. sincere repentance- we must embrace a re calibrated, redefined consciousness and lifestyle of repentance.

3. Faith and comprehension- in the saving power of Christ and the raw power and genius of modeling our lives on his example. This includes understanding the aforementioned distinction between attitude management and or psychological crutches and the supernatural peace and tangible presence of God in one’s life and/or mind.

Jackson then goes into six ways for a spiritual warrior to find or tap into supernatural inner strength and wisdom by FINE TUNING THE CONSCIENCE:

1. Fight your way out of a siege- don’t lose heart.

2. Find the joy of camaraderie- cultivate strategic relationships.

3. Maintain ranks in the face of battle- in the midst of trials and triumphs alike, continue to keep the commandments of God.

4. Remember the BIG picture- focus on the glory of God even during hardships and always remember that the real enemy is not flesh but the forces of darkness in the spiritual realm.

5. Use the power of consistent focus- always remember the goal… to maintain righteousness and make it to the Heavenly Kingdom of God.

6. Stay connected to the source of joy- maintain an intense prayer life and communion with God… without this the vision and all the rest begins to fade.

The rest of “The Warrior’s Heart: Rules of Engagement For The Spiritual War Zone”
only gets deeper and better from there.

I personally count this as extremely valuable insight and information. I hope you do too.

Lastly mark this:

2 Timothy 3

Godlessness in the Last Days

1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

I just awoke from a dream and decided to set this all down in a post:

Ecclesiastes 3 (King James Version)

Ecclesiastes 3

1To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

2A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

3A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

9What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?

10I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

11He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

12I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.

13And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

14I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

15That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

16And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.

17I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

18I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

19For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.

20All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

21Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?

22Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

_______________________________

These are some heavy thoughts with heavy implications. There are many great theological points and observations and even spiritual dynamics in this one passage. It tells us a good deal about freewill and God’s “purpose” for us as individuals. But it also tells us a great deal about theological truth and the sovereignty of God.

Contemplate this:

“yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast”

Ruach (Ruah) is Hebrew for ‘breath,’ and represents spirit- literally, the breath of God, synonymous with life. The root of the word is related to words meaning voice, thunder, and wind.

(hmmm this sounds very much like the American Indian concept of “The Great Spirit” or the spirit/medicine power that emantes from and/or is synonymous with the Creator. It is the power and presence called for in prayers.)

“The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.”
(Job 33:4)

The Great Spirit is a conception of a supreme being prevalent among Native American and First Nations cultures. Also called Wakan Tanka in Lakota, The Creator, or The Great Maker in English and Gitchi Manitou in Algonquian and Provider in Cherokee. In Cherokee, the personal name of God was often rendered as Yehowa. Does that sound familiar? Some claim that this name is a syncretistic corruption. Others claim that this is an ancient usage that came with the Cherokees from the beginning.

The Great Spirit is generally considered equivalent in description to God of the main monotheistic religions (such as Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism). These main religions often describe a being who is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving. They believe that God speaks through human intermediaries and issues spiritual laws that human beings are to follow, and an afterlife is promised. However the Great Spirit differs in that his panentheistic nature is especially emphasised; he is embodied in everything. This “embodiment in everything” IS actually a Biblical concept as well- as understood in the Hebrew term ruach. This term, ruach, can actually be thought of to include everything, in that afterall everything originates from the creative power of God. In American Indian thought, the concept of ruach is expanded a bit to allow for not only intelligent life, but all life and all matter which afterall does have at least the intelligence of an acknowledgment of the sovereignty of God… because the abscence of God is NOTHINGNESS… no matter would exist… one atom would not be formed. Creation itself gives testimony and witness from its existence, its order, its balance, its nurturing quality, the fact that it contains intelligence and the existence of morality and/or moral order such as it is:

Romans 1:20
20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse (for not seeing and/or acknowledging the sovereignty of God).

The only thing missing from American Indian theology was the Christ. History could have been much different for them if the people “evangelizing” them had generally been better living examples with better theological understanding themselves and also better understanding of those whom they sought to teach about God.

The Spirit of YHVH is YHVH Himself…

In the Tanakh, the word ruach generally means wind, breath, mind, spirit. In a living creature (nephesh chayah), the ruach is the breath, whether of animals (Gen 7:15; Psa 104:25, 29) or mankind (Isa 42:5; Ezek 37:5). God is the creator of ruach: “The ruach of God (from God) is in my nostrils” (Job 27:3). In God’s hand is the ruach of all mankind (Job 12:10; Isa 42:5). In mankind, ruach further denotes the principle of life that possesses reason, will, and conscience. The ruach imparts the divine image to man, and constitutes the animating dynamic which results in man’s nephesh as the subject of personal life.

When applied to God, the word Ruach indicates creative activity (Gen 1:2) and active power (Isa 40:13). The Spirit of God also works in providence (Job 33:4; Psa 104:30), in redemption (Ezek 11:19; Ezek 36:26-27), in upholding and guiding his chosen ones (Neh 9:20; Psa 143:10; Hag 2:5), and in the empowering of the Messiah (Isa 11:2; Isa 42:1; Isa 61:1).

In short, as the ruach is to the created nephesh, so the Ruach Elohim is to God Himself, part of God and identified with God. Ruach may be understood as the Author of the animating dynamic of the created order, the underlying Principle of creation, and the One that imparts the nephesh to the entire universe.

Ancient Israelite Concepts of Soul

The Bible gives few clues to the ancient Israelite idea of the soul or spirit. Three words which over time developed the meaning of “soul” are present in Tanakh: Neshamah, Nefesh, and Ruah. Tracing the evolution of these terms gives us some idea of the ancient Israelites’ beliefs regarding the soul.

In the Creation story, we read of God blowing a “breath of life” into the man of earth and dust (Genesis 2:7). The word used is a form of the Hebrew root indicating breath. Although this “neshamah” later becomes associated with the soul, the word here only describes the element that animates a body. This animating element is not, in early biblical tradition, separate from the body in life, nor does it possess any personality.

Similarly, ruah is the animating force from God. Most often used as “wind,” ruahmay also be used as “breath.” “God said, ‘My breath [ruhi] will not govern man forever, since he is flesh…’” (Genesis 6:3). Here, we see the added element of transience: The ruah ends its association with the mortal body at death.

The word nefesh is often used to mean “person” or “living being”. In the Torah, however, animals may also possess this life force–a “nefesh behemah.” The term nefesh is particularly associated with blood, as in “the life [nefesh] of the flesh is in the blood” (Leviticus 17:11).

Nefesh does reflect a personal dimension. It may be used in the sense of “self” (including “himself”). Nefesh is also associated with personal desire or attraction. One’s nefesh may cleave to someone (as in the case of Shehem’s yearning for Dinah, Jacob’s daughter), or to evil (see Proverbs 21:10). In a later example of this usage, a person of considerable appetite is called “ba’al [possessor of] nefesh” (Proverbs 23:2). In all of these usages, the nefesh is connected to the body and its material wants.

In later books of the Bible, the soul (using all three terms) is mentioned apart from the body and as more than just an animating spirit. This subtle evolution of meaning reflects the growth of the idea of what we call the soul–the unique, everlasting, intangible part of a person. In the stunning poem that serves as the centerpiece of the last chapter of Ecclesiastes, the death of a person is described as occurring when “… the dust returns to the ground where it had been and the ruah returns to the God who had given it” (12:7). While previously we saw the life-breath leaving the body at death, here we see it as a separate entity that returns to God, rather than simply disappearing.

Nephesh

Appendix 13 to The Companion Bible

The word nephesh occurs 754 times in the Hebrew Old Testament.

In the A.V. and R.V. it is translated “soul” 472 times, while in the other 282 places it is represented by forty-four different words or phrases. In fifty-three of these places there is a marginal rendering which calls attention to the fact that the word is “nephesh“, while in 229 passages the English reader has hitherto been left in ignorance of the fact. The English word “soul” is in every occurrence the rendering of the Hebrew nephesh, except in Job 30:15 and Isa. 57:16.

Though, with these two exceptions, the English word “soul” always represents the Hebrew nephesh, nephesh is not always translated “soul”.

This Appendix will exhibit all the varieties of translation; and, while it is not intended to teach either Theology or Psychology, it will give such information as will enable every Bible reader to form his own views and come to his own conclusions on an important subject, about which there is such great controversy.

This can be done only by giving every occurrence of the Hebrew word nephesh.

The usage of the word nephesh by the Holy Spirit in the Word of God is the only guide to the true understanding of it.

It will be seen that the word “soul”, in its theological sense, does not cover all the ground, or properly represent the Hebrew word “nephesh“. The English word “soul” is from the Latin solus = alone or sole, because the maintenance of man as a living organism, and all that affects his health and well-being, is the one sole or main thing in common with every living thing which the LORD God has made. The correct Latin word for the theological term “soul” (or nephesh) is anima; and this is from the Greek anemos = air or breath, because it is this which keeps the whole in life and in being.

The first occurrence of nephesh is in Gen. 1:20, “the moving creature that hath life (nephesh)”. (*1)

The following are twelve classifications of nephesh :

I. Nephesh is used of the lower animals only, in twenty-two passages, and is rendered in nine different ways :–

II. Nephesh is used of the Lower Animals and Man in seven passages, and rendered in three different ways :–

III. Nephesh is used of Man, as an individual person, in 53 passages, and is rendered in six different ways :–

IV. Nephesh is used of Man, as exercising certain powers, or performing certain acts (may be often well rendered by emphatic pronouns), in ninety-six passages, and with eleven different renderings :–

V. Nephesh is used of Man, as possessing animal appetites and desires, in twenty-two passages, rendered in five different ways :–

VI. Nephesh is used of Man, as exercising mental faculties, and manifesting certain feelings and affections and passions, in 231 passages, and rendered in twenty different ways :–

VII. Nephesh is used of Man, (a) as being “cut off” by God; (b) and as being slain of killed by man, in fifty-four passages : and is rendered in eight different ways :–

VIII. Nephesh is used of Man as being mortal, subject to death of various kinds, from which it can be saved and delivered and life prolonged, in 243 passages, rendered in eleven different ways :–

IX. Nephesh is used of man, as actually dead, in thirteen passages, and is rendered in three different ways :–

X. Nephesh, in thirteen passages (all rendered “soul”), is spoken of as going to a place described by four different words, rendered as shown below :–

i. “sheol” = THE grave (as distinct from keber, A grave), gravedom (or the dominion of death), in five passages, rendered in this connection in two different ways :–

1. “grave”. Ps. 30:3 (R.V. “Sheol”); 89:48 (R.V. “Sheol”, marg. grave). (Cp. Ps. 49:15). (2)
2. “hell”. Ps. 16:10 (R.V. “Sheol”); 86:13 (marg. grave. R.V. “pit”, marg. lowest Sheol). Prov. 23:14 (R.V. “Sheol”, marg. the grave). (3)

ii. “shachath” = a pit (for taking wild beasts); hence, a grave. The Septuagint and New Testament take it in the sense of corruption; but, if so, not implying putridity, but destruction. Occurs in six passages, and is rendered in two different ways :–

1. “pit”. Job 33:18, 28, 30. Ps. 35:7. Isa. 38:17. (5)
2. “grave”. Job 33:22 (R.V. “pit”). (1)

iii. “shuchah” = a deep pit (cp. all the occurrences, Prov. 22:14; 23:27. Jer. 2:6; 18:20, 22). In one passage only :–

1. Pit. Jer. 18:20. (1)

iv. “dumah” = silence. Ps. 94:17. (1)

Total = 754

(*1) It is used of the lower animals four times before it is used of man; and out of the first thirteen times in Genesis, it is used ten times of the lower animals.

1 Corinthians 2:14-15

14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment.

That means we are supposed to discern of all things- hold to that which is good and true and beautiful and helpful and throw out the rest. On that note… here is useful information:

Native American Religious and Cultural Freedom: an Introductory Essay (2005)
© Michael D. McNally

Full article found HERE.

Excerpt:

In all their diversity, people from different Native nations hasten to point out that their respective languages include no word for “religion”, and maintain an emphatic distinction between ways of life in which economy, politics, medicine, art, agriculture, etc., are ideally integrated into a spiritually-informed whole. As Native communities try to continue their traditions in the context of a modern American society that conceives of these as discrete segments of human thought and activity, it has not been easy for Native communities to accomplish this kind of integration. Nor has it been easy to to persuade others of, for example, the spiritual importance of what could be construed as an economic activity, such as fishing or whaling.

I believe that Christianity is supposed to be a holistic spiritual relationship rather than a religion per se.

Linked HERE is a page and program that is running a spiritual warfare boot camp that I am very interested in attending.

The curriculum is as listed below:

An Issue of War-The Nature of Spiritual Dynamics on Earth
Overcoming the Greek Mindset/Greek and Hebrew Biblical Word Search
God’s Order in Our Life-Healing Our Personal Wounds
Spiritual Mapping-God’s Geography
Dominion-Spiritual Implications of Weather/Wind
Water Spirits and the Realm of the Deep
Incarnational Intercession
Kingdom-Bringing Through the Exercise of Righteousness, Justice, Mercy, Prayer and Fasting.
Cherokee History-Woodland Tribal Culture, Tribal Government
Treaties Present and Past
Tribal Casinos-How To Pray Over Tribal Land
Cherokee Prophecies

Needless to say these topics are right in line with some of the experience, knowledge and wisdom that I already have some understanding of. Note that I am not claiming to be anything but exposed to some of these concepts- the dynamics and understanding of the reality that goes with them. These are topics that I have been working towards opening up about every since I began writing about my testimony in the early nineties. This is where I have been subtly coaxing them that know me towards for many moons. These are topics that are ponderous, deep and carry a heavy responsibility and an inherent admonition to caution. Still, I am willing to engage on these things at a certain level with those who have questions or comments. In Indian communities these things are simply not discussed publicly. That is why I inserted the caveat “to a certain level”. My willingness to engage on this to ANY degree is dictated by the security of life in Christ as well as the desire to develop right relationship with the right people.

This is a door that I have been reluctant to open for a long time. The time has come.

My forefathers were memebers of this society. Well known former spiritual leader Redbird Smith was my Great Great Grandfather. He had eight Sons and two daughters. One of the daughters was my great Grandmother.

REDBIRD SMITH’S FAMILY

(4) John Redbird Smith. (5) Sam Smith. (6) Mrs. Susie Starr, daughter.

(8) Thomas Smith. (9) George Smith. (10) Mose Smith. (11) Kiah Smith.

This link is about the Keetoowah Nighthawk Society:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keetoowah_Nighthawk_Society#Redbird_Smith

Excerpt:

Redbird Smith was an influential Nighthawk member and revitalized traditional spirituality among Cherokees, beginning in the mid 19th century. Today there are seven ceremonial dance grounds in Oklahoma and these either belong to the Keetoowah tradition or the Four Mothers Society. In Redbird Smith’s time, there with well over twenty Cherokee Stomp Grounds.

Redbird Smith (Great Grandfather to Chadwick “Corntassel” Smith, current Principle Chief of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma) stated in the early 1900s:

“I have always believed that the Great Creator had a great design for my people, the Cherokees. I have been taught that from my childhood up and now in my mature manhood I recognize it as a great truth. Our forces have been dissipated by the external forces, perhaps it has been just a training, but we must now get together as a race and render our contribution to mankind. We are endowed with intelligence, we are industrious, we are loyal and we are spiritual but we are overlooking the Cherokee mission on earth, for no man nor race is endowed with these qualifications without a designed purpose… Our pride in our ancestral heritage is our great incentive for handing something worth while to our posterity. It is this pride in ancestry that makes men strong and loyal for their principal in life. It is this same pride that makes men give up their all for their Government.”