Month: April 2010

An American success story…


Meet Samuel Moore “Sam” Walton

(March 29, 1918 – April 5, 1992)

An American businessman and entrepreneur born in Kingfisher,

Oklahoma, he was the founder of Sam’s Club and Wal-Mart, which is one of the world’s

largest general retail chain stores. By 2001, Wal-Mart had over 4500 stores worldwide.


I think the attached email that was forwarded to me today, about the success of this giant retail store, is very interesting (see below), especially when you consider the man behind the store, who founded it.

How many of you knew that Sam Walton was a committed Christian?

Could this be the reason behind the success of Wal-Mart? I think so.

Here is a little history behind the man:

Sam began his retail career working for another Christian business man, JC Penney, where he began as a management trainee in Des Moines, Iowa; and he got that position only three days after graduating from college. His starting salary was $75 a month.

He resigned J.C. Penny in 1942 in anticipation of being inducted into the military, for service in World War II.

In the meantime, he worked at a DuPont munitions plant near Tulsa, Oklahoma; and soon afterwards he joined the military, and worked in the U.S. Army Intelligence Corps, supervising security at aircraft plants and prisoner of war camps. In this position he served at Fort Douglas in Salt Lake City, Utah; and eventually he earned the rank as captain.

After leaving the Army, in 1945, Sam opened a variety store; with help from his father-in-law, who loaned him $20,000; and with the $5,000 he had saved from his time in the Army, he purchased a Ben Franklin variety store in Newport, Arkansas. The store was a franchise of the Butler Brothers chain.

It was in this first story that Sam Walton pioneered many concepts that would prove to be crucial to his success.

Walton made sure the shelves were consistently stocked with a wide range of goods at low prices.

His store also stayed open later than most other stores, especially during the Christmas season.

He also pioneered the practice of discount merchandising by buying wholesale goods from the lowest priced supplier.

This allowed him to pass on savings to his customers, which drove up his sales volume.

These higher volumes allowed him to negotiate even lower purchase prices with the wholesaler on subsequent purchases.

Walton’s store led in sales and profits in the Butler Brothers’ six-state region.

Another factor that made this store successful was its central location, making it accessible to a wide range of customers.

In an attempt to limit the expansion of his main competitor, the Sterling Store, Walton leased a nearby Kroger store and opened it in 1950 as the “Eagle” department store, but it didn’t fare as well.

However, due to the variety store’s enormous success, the landlord who owned the property, P.K. Holmes, refused to renew Sam Walton’s lease when it expired; desiring rather to pass the store along to his son.

The lack of having the option to renew his lease, together with the fact that he was being charged an outrageous rent of 5% of his sales, all of this served as an invaluable lesson in business to young Sam Walton.

Despite his forcing Sam Walton out of business, his former landlord agreed to purchase the store’s inventory and fixtures for $50,000, which Walton called “a fair price”.

From there, Sam Walton arranged to open another store; but since he was unable to find a place in Newport, the location of his first store, he instead moved to Bentonville, Arkansas, where he opened “Walton’s Five and Dime.”

Incidentally, the original store, now called the Wal-Mart Visitor’s Center, is located at 105 North Main Street, Bentonville, Arkansas.

In Bentonville, the Waltons also became involved in numerous civic activities; and Sam Walton served as president of the Rotary Club and the Chamber of Commerce.

From there, Sam Walton went on to open more Ben Franklin Stores with the help of his brother, his father-in-law, and his brother-in-law.

In 1954, he opened a store with his brother James “Bud” Walton in a shopping center in Ruskin Heights, a suburb of Kansas City.

He later opened another store in Arkansas, but it failed to be as successful as his other stores.

Sam then decided to concentrate on the retail business instead of the shopping centers, and opened even larger stores which were called “Walton’s Family Center.”

Sam Walton also offered managers the opportunity to become limited partners, if they would invest in the store they oversaw and managed, and would invest a maximum of $1,000 in new outlets as they opened.

This motivated the managers to always try to maximize profits and improve their managerial skills; and by 1962, Sam Walton and his brother Bud owned sixteen variety stores in Arkansas, Missouri, and Kansas (fifteen Ben Franklin and one independent Fayetteville store).

The first true Wal-Mart opened on July 2, 1962 in Rogers, Arkansas; and it was called the Wal-Mart Discount City store; and it was located at 719 West Walnut Street.

Soon after the opening of that first Wal-Mart, the Walton brothers teamed up with another business man, Stefan Dasbach, which to the purchase of many stores to come.

It is interesting also that Sam Walton had a goal and a determination to market American-made products, in his stores; and also, along with that determination, he also had a willingness to find American manufacturers who would supply merchandise for the entire Wal-Mart chain at a price low enough to meet the foreign competition.

Regarding Sam Walton’s family, he married Helen Robson in 1943. They had four children: S. Robson “Rob” Walton, John T. Walton, Jim Walton, and Alice Walton.

He also supported various charitable causes, including those of his church, the Presbyterian Church (USA)’

He also established The Sam and Helen R. Walton Award, which was created in 1991; when the Waltons made a gift of $6 million which included an endowment in the amount of $3 million to provide annual awards to new church developments that are working in creative ways to share the Christian faith in local communities.

Sam Walton died on Sunday April 5, 1992, of multiple myeloma, a type of a bone cancer, in Little Rock, Arkansas. The news of his death was relayed by satellite to all 1,960 Wal-Mart stores.

He left his ownership in Wal-Mart to his wife and their children: Rob Walton succeeded his father as the Chairman of the Board of Wal-Mart, and John was a director until his death in a 2005 plane crash.

The others are not directly involved in the company (except through their voting power as shareholders). The Walton family held five spots in the top ten richest people in the United States until 2005.

Here are a few other interesting facts:

In 1985, Sam Walton began a program designed to stem the ‘tide of communism’ in Central America by promoting capitalism and privatization.

In 1998, Walton was included in Time’s list of 100 most influential people of the 20th Century.

Sam Walton was honored for all his pioneering efforts in retail in March 1992, when he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George H. W. Bush.

Also that year, the Jiangsu province of the People’s Republic of China awarded him the Golden Star Foreigner’s Award for “tireless assistance in the development of People’s owned factories in the Suzhou area”.

Forbes ranked Sam Walton as the richest man in the United States from 1982 to 1988, ceding the top spot to John Kluge in 1989 when the editors began to credit Walton’s fortune jointly to him and his four children. (Note: Bill Gates first headed the list in 1992, the year Walton died).

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. also runs Sam’s Club warehouse stores.

Wal-Mart stores also operate in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

At the University of Arkansas, the Business College (Sam M. Walton College of Business) is named in his honor.

Mr. Walton was also inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame in 1992.

(Please note most of the information and history used in this article, was found at Wikipedia)

I don’t think that it is by accident that this store chain is as successful as it is.

As I read my Bible I find that it has always been God’s will to prosper His children, as truly any loving earthly father would also want for his kids; but it doesn’t end there, because my Bible also says that it is also God’s will that we be in good health too, but it says, “even as our soul prospers” (see 3 John 1:2).

I thought this article might be an encouragement to all of us, particularly in these times.

We all know the enormous success of the Wal-Mart chain, but how many of us knew the man behind that success?

I think it is very interesting to note that he was a Christian brother.

As for the suggestion that all we have to do is elect, or hire, the man who runs Wal-Mart, to run our government, I don’t think it is as easy as that.

Whereas I certainly admit, having someone at the helm of our government, in the office of President, who does have some real business savvy and experience is certainly is certainly perferred; or in lieu of that, as the book of Proverbs says, at the very least, our president should have wise councilors around him, on staff, of men and women to advise him, who do have that experience and knowledge.

As it is, the Obama Administration is hiring anything but experienced people!

The next point why I don’t think the suggestion that we merely elect the head of Wal-Mart, or someone like him, to run our country, is viable solution to our nation’s problems, is because our problems go much deeper than that!

Barack Obama, as much as I dislike his policies, and what he is doing to our country, he is just one man; and he was elected to that office by a majority vote of the people who voted for him; and so as I see it, he is but a reflection of the values of our society at large!

No, what I see as our ONLY solution, is a grassroots movement of God, that effects our nation from the bottom up… where we focus our attention primarily on the reestablishment of Godly families, where the family altar, and studying and teaching our children from the Bible is common place again, in most every American family; where God and prayer, and teaching from the Bible is brought back again into our public education system.

Unless we can have this sort of grassroots change, that affects our nation from the bottom up, then anything that comes out of Washington DC, without that change at the grassroots level, will be only more of the same; and I can tell you this for sure… we can’t go much further in this direction, because we are just about at the end of our rope.

Either we turn back to God, or we will be history, as a free nation… and it is as simple as that!

Again, this is my soapbox speech for today… please do let me know how you feel, and what your opinions are?

Shalom,

Skip Barland


From: Bob
Sent: Friday, April 30, 2010 2:31 PM
To: Skip Barland
Subject: WAL-MART

I knew Wal-Mart was doing well , this is interesting…



Wal-Mart Facts:

  1. Americans spend $36,000,000 at Wal-Mart Every hour of every day.
  2. This works out to $20,928 profit every minute!
  3. Wal-Mart will sell more from January 1 to St. Patrick’s Day (March
    17th) than Target sells all year.
  4. Wal-Mart is bigger than Home Depot + Kroger + Target + Sears + Costco + K-Mart combined.
  5. Wal-Mart employs 1.6 million people and is the largest private Employer, and most speak English.
  6. Wal-Mart is the largest company in the history of the World.
  7. Wal-Mart now sells more food than Kroger & Safeway combined, and keep in mind they did this in only 15 years.
  8. During this same period, 31 supermarket chains sought bankruptcy.
  9. Wal-Mart now sells more food than any other store in the world.
  10. Wal-Mart has approx 3,900 stores in the USA of which 1,906 are Super Centers; this is 1,000 more than it had 5 Years ago.
  11. This year 7.2 billion different purchasing experiences will occur At a Wal-Mart store. (Earth’s population is approximately 6.5 Billion).
  12. 90% of all Americans live within 15 miles of a Wal-Mart.

You may think that I am complaining, but I am really laying the ground work for suggesting that MAYBE we should elect, or hire the guys who run Wal-Mart to Fix the economy.

This should be read and understood by all Americans Democrats, Republicans, EVERYONE!!!

Please consider these facts:

  • The U.S. Post Service was established in 1775. You have had 235 years to get it right and it is broke.
  • Social Security was established in 1935. You have had 75 years to get it right and it is broke.
  • Fannie Mae was established in 1938. You have had 72 years to get it right and it is broke.
  • War on Poverty started in 1964. You have had 46 years to get it right; $1 trillion of our money is confiscated each year and transferred to “the poor” and they only want more.
  • Medicare and Medicaid were established in 1965. You have had 45 years to get it right and they are broke.
  • Freddie Mac was established in 1970. You have had 40 years to get it right and it is broke.
  • The Department of Energy was created in 1977 to lessen our dependence on foreign oil. It has ballooned to 16,000 employees with a budget of $24 billion a year and we import more oil than ever before. You had 33 years to get it right and it is an abysmal failure.

The truth is our Federal Government has FAILED in every “government service program” it has ever attempted; and yet this present Obama administration is increasing the size and cost to run our already over extended government, beyond all reason… and the truth is, we just don’t have the money to pay for it!

Yet and still, this president expects us to believe that after this dismal track record, that our Federal Government, and his administration, can now be trusted to take over and manage our nation’s Health Care system?

Who do they think they are fooling?

Folks, keep this circulating. It is very well stated. Maybe it will end up in the e-mails of some of our “duly elected’ and their staff (they never read anything) will clue them in on how Americans feel.

For I am the clay, and God is the Master Potter!


For I am the clay, and God is the Master Potter!

VISION & REALITY

“And the parched ground shall become a pool” Isaiah 35:7

We always have visions, before a thing is made real. When we realize that although the vision is real, it is not real in us, then this is the time that Satan comes in with his temptations and we are apt to say “it is no use to go on” Instead of the vision becoming real, there has come the valley of humiliation.

Life is not as idle ore

But iron dug from central gloom,

And battered by the shocks of doom

To shape and use

God gives us the vision, then He takes us down into the valley to get us into the shape of the vision and it is in the valley that so many of us faint and give way. Every vision will be made real if we have the patience. Think of the enormous leisure of God! He is never in a hurry. We are always in such a frantic hurry. In the light of the glory of the vision we go forth and do things, but the vision is not real in us yet; and God has to take us into the valley and put us through fires and through floods to get us into shape until we get to the place where He can trust us with the true reality. Ever since we had the vision, God has been at work getting us into the shape of the ideal, and over and over again, we escape from His hand and try to get us into our own shape.

The vision is not a castle in the air, but a vision of what God wants you to be. Let Him put you on His potter’s wheel and spin you as He likes, and sure as God is God, and you are you, you will turn out exactly in accordance with the vision. Don’t lose heart in the process. If you have ever had the vision of God, you may try as you like to be satisfied on a lower level, but God will never let you.

~from Oswald Chambers’ daily devotional – My Utmost For His Highest

I’m always being reminded of late that God has a rhyme and reason for everything He does… and nothing is ever wasted!

This also applies to the trials and tribulations that we face; and really it matters not the reason why, or the cause of the trials, whether they are a normal part of the trip, or whether they are disciplinary and corrective; God uses both, and nothing is wasted.

God has promised that He would complete the work that He has begun in us; and also that He is with us ALWAYS, just as He promised He would be; and it is all important that we understand that from God’s perspective all of the training that we are going through, is about developing our faith and trust in Him; and it is most important in these times, in our wilderness experiences and feelings of isolation and aloneness, in those times when we feel as though God has left us, and/or forgotten about us, it is especially important during these times that we know, by faith, that truly He is closest to us; and it is during these times that very often he is carrying us.

So even in those times when we are tempted to think that God is a far off, quite the opposite is true; and in fact God is rather inviting us to come in a little closer, and experience His presence in even greater intimacy; and it is during these times when we are not conscious of being taught, that God is very active in our lives molding and shaping, and stripping away from us the flesh and the world.

The challenge for us during these times is to find our rest in Him, despite what may be going on around us; and in the midst of our earth shaking storms, and the whirlwinds of our life, in the midst of all of that turmoil and confusion, to find our place of quite rest in Him, and there to be still, and know that I AM is still God, and that He has our situation well in hand! Selah

We must remember that God’s purpose, in all of this, is always to work out of us the world and the flesh; and work into us the likeness of His Son, and cause us to be conformed into the image of Jesus Christ, in order that we may be more fit for His service.

The process is not fun; and often it is filled with dangerous pitfalls, and times of heightened anxiety, discouragement, along with those feelings of aloneness.

However, that is exactly the point; and it’s in these times that we learn to disengage our reasoning abilities, our understanding, and all our earth based perspectives and rationalizations; and instead revert to God’s Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), where we are now navigating totally under the leading, inspiration, and direction of the Holy Spirit; as He illuminates and applies His perspective, His understanding, and His direction, in the midst of our circumstances; and this happens through our mediation and study of God’s Word!

This is the process we signed up for, whether we realized it or not, at the time of our conversion, when we were born-again; and we may rest assured that this process will continue for the rest of our lives, until we graduate to Glory. Selah

Below is an interesting perspective about this process, from Chuck Pierce.

Shalom,

Skip Barland

From: The ElijahList [mailto:propheticword@elijahlist.com]
Sent: Friday, April 30, 2010 12:30 AM
To: Skip Barland
Subject: Chuck Pierce: A River is Rising!

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Chuck Pierce:

A River is Rising! Keep Moving Toward Pentecost!

A River is Rising!

“There is a river within My people that I am bubbling up now. There is a river within My people that will bubble up and pour out now. Many of your rivers have been filled up with debris. Therefore, over the next several weeks, I will be cleansing you. There is a grace to be cleansed. There is a window to be cleansed. There is a moment that I will cleanse you. Because bacterium like E. coli has been down in your intestines, I will begin to produce clear colons. I will begin to cause your stomachs to be able to digest what I have for the future. My cleansing stream will come forth.”

Keep Moving Toward Pentecost!

As we approach Pentecost we must continue to shift our minds and thinking processes toward HARVEST. Watch for NEW DOORS to FORM! To “form” means to develop or mold the shape or outline of something or to give meaning, character or nature to something.

Another way of looking at a forming time is when something is becoming what it will be in days ahead. This includes the conditioning of our mind and body in regard to its mental performance ahead. A forming season includes conceiving, training, and disciplining. This phase denotes the arrangement of the part of a thing that gives its distinctive appearance.

A key Scripture reference about Pentecost time is 1 Corinthians 16:8. Paul purposed to stay at Ephesus until Pentecost, because an effectual door was opened to him for his ministry. Many enemies are behind this forming door, but the Lord says:

“Do not focus on your enemies during this season, but watch the door form and be ready to enter into this new opportunity. I will give you grace over your enemies. I am releasing your new assignment and you will go forth into new mission fields.”

Do Not Fear Darkness

God will be sending some of His people into dark structures. Do not fear the darkness. He will give you “night vision” to see a path of righteousness through any unrighteous structure. This will be like moving in the Gulf Stream through normal ocean currents. The Gulf Stream is a warm stream that originates in the Gulf of Mexico, goes through the Florida Straits and then moves into the colder waters of the Atlantic Ocean. God is parting waters! Dark spirits that have stopped us from advancing in certain areas to bring forth the harvest commission of the Son will now let go of harvest gates.

1 Corinthians 16:9 which says, “For a great and effective door has been opened to me, and there are many adversaries,” and will become a reality in this season. The Word of God will enter places and groups of people that have been closed or resisted freedom. Demon forces will part like the Red Sea and will be held back while God’s children go into their new assignments.

Time for Harvest!

Most of us do not understand harvest time. We’re in the days of waving the omer. Biblically, you wave your best offering daily and then by Pentecost you enter into a new harvest release. Because of our complex life, we are far removed from the actual production of our food supplies and the origination of the source of our provision. The harvest was a most important season (Genesis 8:22; 45:6). Events were reckoned from harvests (Genesis 30:14; Joshua 3:15; Judges 15:1; Ruth 1:22; 2:23; 1 Samuel 6:13; 2 Samuel 21:9; 23:13).

We must understand that harvest has a process:

1. The seed is broadcast and plowed under in late winter.

2. The prayer for rain–the early and the latter rain (Zechariah 10).

3. The grain was grasped and cut with the sickle (Deuteronomy 16:9 and Mark 4:29).

4. The grain was gathered into sheaves.

5. The grain was taken to the threshing floor.

6. Tools were used for threshing. You have tools for harvest.

7. The grain was winnowed (tossed in the air). Let the wind blow away your chaff.

8. The remaining grain was shaken into a sieve (Amos 9:9). Some of you are in this process.

9. The grain was brought into the storehouse. Find your storehouse.

Now, the harvest must be protected because harvest has major enemies:

1. Drought. Ask the Lord to identify and break all your dryness.

2. Locust invasion. Ask the Lord to remove any devouring in your harvest.

3. Plant diseases (mold, mildew). Ask the Lord to remove any mold in your life.

4. Hot, scorching winds. Ask the Lord to turn any adverse winds.

5. War. The enemy wanted to live off the land. Declare that any enemy that has eaten your harvest will run out of your land.

Firstfruits: A Key to Blessing

This feast was called the “Day of Firstfruits” (Numbers 28:26) because it marked the beginning of the time in which people were to bring offerings of firstfruits. It was a feast of joy and thanksgiving for the completion of the harvest season. Then these offerings were presented as a “wave offering” for the people. The first ripe of fruit, grapes, grain, oil, wine and the first of fleece were required as an offering (Exodus 22:29; Leviticus 2:12-16; Numbers 18:12; Deuteronomy 18:4; 2 Chronicles 31:5; Nehemiah 10:35, 37, 39; Proverbs 3:9; Jeremiah 2:3; Romans 11:16).

At this time, the Lord was credited as the source of rain and fertility (Jeremiah 5:24). In the New Testament the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4), at the festive time when Jews from different countries were in Jerusalem to celebrate this annual feast. The interval between Pentecost and tabernacles was the time for offering firstfruits.

Ask the Lord for your firstfruit offerings.

The Power of Redemptive Multiplication

Here are some keys to prayer to bring an increase to your thinking processes and to help you learn the power of redemptive multiplication:

• Read Proverbs 10:5. “He who gathers in summer is a wise son; he who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.” Break a spirit of slumber. Ask the Lord if you have slumbered when you should have gathered.

• Repent and Don’t Look Back! Ask the Lord to forgive you for any sins that you have made. In this passage you see how the people continually questioned the Lord’s power and protection. They had no faith that He would deliver them out of their present distress so they began building and worshipping false gods. The Word says when God saw this He was “Provoked to anger.” The Scripture says, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved!” Know that God is willing to save you out of every situation, but you must make the choice to fully surrender to Him and understand that His timing is perfect. Read Jeremiah 8:20.

• Thank Him for Your Inheritance! Thank Him that He has an inheritance for you. Here you see that David describes the inheritance that he has been given from the Lord as a good inheritance. Thank God for what He has given you to steward over and bless Him in all you do. The inheritance that God has given you is better than anything you could ever ask or dream of. God gives you nothing but the best. It is your decision to accept it and move into all the blessings that He has available for you. Read Psalm 16.

• The Greater Dimension of Faith! Let Faith arise in your heart – “the greater dimension of faith.” Whenever I read the stories about healing in the Bible, I always seem to be baffled at the amount of faith displayed by these people. Now, as I view our culture, everyone seems to place all their faith into things they know. Many things, without a doubt, will give them some sort of return. Faith has an object. These people had found an object, Jesus, the Messiah, to place their faith. If we all would just fully let go and come into the understanding that God wants to heal and move into a new level of faith. We just have to have the faith.

In Matthew 8, I love when the centurion came to Jesus and pleaded with Him to heal his servant. Jesus was more than willing to go out of His way to personally visit the man’s place and heal the servant. However, the soldier knew all that was needed was for Jesus to SPEAK or SAY that the servant was healed and he would be healed. This man understood authority and command. That is the kind of faith that I desire to see!

Ask the Lord for a new level of faith to arise in you! Read Matthew 7 and 8.

• Be A Laborer in His Kingdom! Ask the Lord for laborers. Let Him show you where you are to labor in His Kingdom. At the end of this chapter Jesus tell His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” The Gospel says that Jesus was moved with compassion when He saw the people for they were weary and scattered.

God has a harvest that He is bringing that will be too much for us to anticipate. We must pray and ask for the wisdom to have all the proper “laborers” in place so we don’t get beat down in the process. Thank God for the harvest that He is bringing! Be ready to be a laborer in this next harvest move! Read Matthew 9.

• Freely You Have Received!
“Freely you have received, freely give.” Prepare an offering. We have received so much, as a matter of fact all the Father had—His only Son. Do not be afraid to give. In Matthew 10 you see that Jesus charged the disciples to go to the Israelites and preach to them saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” Jesus said that His disciples could not take gold or silver with them. He told them to preach and stay with those who would receive them.

In verse 14 Jesus says, “And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.” We must become more sensitive to the presence of Holy Spirit in our midst. Ask the Lord to open your eyes to His presence and pray that you would see Him in every situation you are in! Be patient in your job or your city so that you do not leave prematurely. Do not be afraid to witness. Read Matthew 10

Blessings,

Chuck D. Pierce

Glory of Zion International Ministries
Email: chuckp@glory-of-zion.org


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Jesus warned: “Beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing!!!”


Can you believe anything he says?

(click above link to see video)

Below is my response to a forwarded message that I received today, from a friend and sister in the Lord, along with some very nice pictures of Barack Obama’s children.

I maintained that the reason why Bill Clinton was so dangerous, was because in the eyes of many Americans, they were so enthralled with his looks and his obvious charisma and charm, that they failed to note, or think important, the many flaws that are in his character; with the result that he was caught lying on national TV, under oath no less, and the American people still gave him a pass, for having sex with a White House intern, inside the Oval Office; and when he was caught in his lie, the comment was made by many Americans that “Character was not important.”

I have always said that it is pure insanity and very ignorant for anyone to judge another person over something as unimportant and inconsequential, which they have no control over, such as to the amount of pigmentation in a person’s skin; but certainly as Christians we are always to judge people by the color of their character… are we not? That’s why my Bible says… and also by their fruit!

It is very disturbing, to me, that so many in our country are saying otherwise; and to me, it is really a sad commentary on where the minds of so many Americans are today.

Well the same kind of thing that was going on with former President Bill Clinton is also going on today with Barack Obama, in my opinion, because as happened with Bill Clinton, people are so caught up with his looks, his personality, and his charisma, that they are forgetting his character, and the really dishonest and dangerous changes he is making to our country, and how he is unraveling and undermining our U.S. Constitution in the process.

Barack Obama, in my opinion, is very dangerous, and he is every bit as effective at lying as was Bill Clinton; with the added feature of having the additional pigmentation in his skin; though his bloodline and ethnicity have been proven not to be NOT Black at all, but he is of Arabic descent; as that was his father’s bloodline and nationality.

A white person, I don’t think, would ever get away with half the things this man is doing, and saying; but in the interest of not appearing as racists, and also wanting to celebrate the fact that he is the first so called “Black” President, but as I pointed out before that too is another lie, there are so many people who are reluctant to say anything negative about the man.

With all of that said, nevertheless, I am quite sure that he is doing an excellent job, at least in the minds of his handlers, who I maintain are the Globalist International Bankers.

I also maintain that all of these aforementioned qualities, his personality, his charisma, and his supposed ethnicity, even though it is a lie, nevertheless, these are the very reasons why he was chosen for this position… and he is very dangerous, because again in my opinion, Barack Obama is every bit a Trojan Horse, to our nation! And he is doing his job very well!

It seems to me that the Bible says that the Antichrist will also be charismatic, and well liked, and that will be his power to fool so many people!

All I can say is, Christians… do not be fooled!!!

Anyway, this is my soapbox and opinion for today; why don’t you read on and let me know what your views are?

Shalom,

Skip Barland



—-Forwarded Message—-

From: Skip Barland [mailto:theskipper@cox.net]
Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2010 4:32 PM
To: Ruth
Subject: RE: Waiting for Daddy to come home

Hi Ruth,
Thank you for sharing these pictures with me. It is an important reminder, I think, for us to pray for the man; but also, I think it is also important that we shouldn’t be fooled by appearances.
I do realize that Obama has a beautiful family, and I too pray for his children; as I pray also for all our children.

I know you are originally from another country, and were not originally born and raised here in the states, and whereas I’m not sure how long you have lived here in American; I have to say this, that what this man is doing to this country is very harmful; in that he is undoing everything we fought two world worlds, and a cold war, with the former Soviet Union, to preserve, and that is our individual liberty and our freedom.

Socialism, or Communism (by whatever name you call it) is demonic, and the reason it is demonic is because it denies the individual his or her basic freedoms, among which is the freedom to worship God, as we choose; and instead it puts the state in the position of being all knowing, and omnipotent… and how dumb is that?

Have you ever read our U.S. Constitution? It is the highest law of our land, and the problem I have with this man, as I am having with most of our politicians today, is that they are no longer abiding by what it says.

That alone, according to our Constitution, disqualifies them from holding public office… as they swore they would uphold and defend our Constitution.

I pray for Obama, and I truly hope, for his children’s, and really for all of our children’s sake, that he gets saved; but I cannot ever support his policies, and nor do I agree with what he is doing to our country.

In fact, I’ll be honest with you, until he proves differently, and is willing to publishes his long form birth certificate, which has the name of the hospital he was born in, the doctor who delivered him, and the names of witnesses who were present at his birth… as I might add, I and every other citizen have had to show, on any number of occasion, then as far a I’m concerned, the man isn’t even a citizen, let along be natural born; and he is therefore not even qualified to be president.

Now I ask you, if this weren’t true, and if he were born here, why would he not want to show it? Why all the stonewalling and why all the legal battles? The answer to me is obvious… it’s because he doesn’t have a real birth certificate.

You can believe what you want, Ruth, and I respect your right to do so; but I would not be fooled by anything this man says. His whole political career has been one lie after another. Also, based on his words and actions (which I have sent you before) I don’t for a moment believe that he is a Christian, as he claims to be; but rather I believe he is Islamic, and is posing as a Christian, for obvious reasons.

Check these sites out, and you decide… are these the words of someone who is serving Jesus Christ?

  • Obama Suggests Jesus Christ Not the Only Way to Heaven
  • Listen to Obama as he mocks the Bible
    – clearly, from what he is saying in this video, he does not know the God of the Bible, and nor does he know or understand what the Bible truly teaches, on the subjects he is speaking about.

    Obama also says we are no longer a Christian nation, and though I’d hate to agree with him; but I’d have to say certainly a nation that has authorized the extermination of over 50 million unborn babies cannot be a Christian nation; but certainly that is both our heritage and our history, and it is my prayer that we can be a Christian nation again; but for that to happen we are going to have to see some radical changes in our country; changes that I don’t believe will happen without God’s intervention, and our having a Spiritual Awakening.

    I’d also have to say that to the extent Christians have abdicated their responsibility, and have allowed this secular humanistic mindset, as expressed through this man, and those like him, to take over the reins of power in our country, that truly Obama is a reflection of the mindset of the people who elected him to office; and this is a very serious and poor commentary on the a good many of our citizens, that they could not see through this man, and all of his lies.

    I would add also, as the Bible said would happen in the last days, that people would be very religious, but that they would show by their actions and their fruit, that their hearts are far from God, and that also they would deny the Power… in other words, having not established a relationship with God, for them, Obama says is the case, all roads lead to heaven, with or without Christ!
    I maintain you cannot be a Christian and believe, nor say these things!

  • Listen to Obama as he admits his Muslim heritage and faith
    – remember
    how he refused to celebrate our National Day of Prayer, last year, because he said he didn’t want to offend the Muslim community; and then later in the year he participates in the Muslim day of prayer, without hesitation… not concerned at all, I guess, that he in doing so is offending the Christian community.
  • In Obama’s own words, he admits that he is a Socialist

Jesus said clearly that we have to be very wise and discerning in the last days, as he said there would be many people who would come in His name, who would represent themselves as Christians, but are not; but rather they are wolves in sheep’s clothing. We have a lot of people, I think, who meet this description in politics, as well as in the church… and I maintain that Obama is one of them.

I think clearly, Obama is such a person, as even his followers have said as much, as it was heard over MSNBC, when Newsweek’s Evan Thomas announced over nationwide TV that Obama is like a god; and some of his followers have even called him the messiah.

What about teaching our children to sing praises to his name, as is happening in our schools; with them even using versus from old hymns to do so?

Listen to these young Black kids give their praises to Obama, and again I have to say there is no place for this nonsense in our public schools.

Stalin and Hitler did these same things, in their efforts to win the minds of the youth, in their time; and clearly Obama is today doing the same.

What Obama doesn’t know about Christianity is extraordinary, and when he says things like Jesus is not the only way; and that atheists and even Muslims, as long as they are good people, can get into heaven, there is just no way that a Christians would ever say these things!

I have to say also, that I was also fooled by former President Bush too, as I voted for him both times he ran for office.

He also claims to be a Christian and yet has expressed these same views, just as does Obama as: Listen to George W. Bush’s views about the Bible and faith in Christ.

All I can say is, may God help us, in this country, to wake up? I don’t know exactly where you are with this man, but I would urge caution. I have to say for my part, and respectfully so, as I don’t want to offend you, or anybody else, at least on this one point, I think we both are in agreement, that we both want to see the man saved; but beyond that, I also have to say, I want him out of the White House!

Bless you,

Skip Barland


—-Original Message—-

From: ruth
Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2010 12:12 PM
To: SKIP
Subject: FW: Fwd(2): FW: Waiting for Daddy to come home

Peace


Sweet pictures

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet!


Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet!

(Psalms 119:105)

The Bible happens to be our operation’s manual for life. In it we can find sound and wise instructions, from our Creator, on any number of subjects, necessary for life, and also for eternity.

I’m reminded of a testimony I once heard from an old Texas preacher, of how he said that he had always owned a Volkswagen bug, and how he thought that was God’s chosen car for him.

He went on to say that in every Volkswagen vehicle he had ever owned, the method for starting it was always the same, “You mashed down on the accelerator, and crank the engine, until it starts.”

He said this one year, back in the late sixties (I think it was) that he had bought himself a brand new Volkswagen, and was having nothing but problems. He said he thought for the first time, he had gotten a lemon.

As it happened, he was scheduled to do a retreat up in the mountains, and was afraid of having car problems and getting stuck; so he broke down, and for the very first time, he opened the glove compartment, and took out the owner’s manual for this car.

He said the very first thing he read was, “DO NOT ‘MASH’ DOWN ON THE ACCELORATER TO START THIS CAR; this car has been equipped with an automatic choke, and to start, merely press once on the accelerator to the floor, and then turn the key and start the car!”

Like most guys, myself included, we don’t like to read instruction manuals; and the reason is, we always figure that we can figure it our ourselves; but in this case, this guy had suffered needlessly, because he didn’t know what he didn’t know.

He went to say, “You know, the manufacturer of this vehicle wrote an operations manual for its proper operation and maintenance; and in order to get the maximum life and efficiency from the vehicle, it would have been wise for him to have started by first reading the manual; and he would have then avoided lots of problems.”

He went on to say that our manufacturer, and Creator, who is God, also wrote an Operations Manual, and it is found in the Holy Bible (Book of Information Before Leaving Earth)!

The same thing applies to our life, as it was with that Volkswagen, if we would just follow the Operations Manual, we’d avoid a lot of heartache and pain; but being the dumb clucks that most of us are, who think we already know it all; we most always end up learning the hard way.

One thing we all will learn eventually, that is if we live long enough, and if we are smart enough to seek out a relationship with God, and that is, just as the Bible instructs, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Prov 9:10)

So here are our marching orders today, for all who have an ear to hear what the Spirit is saying to the church, in these days:

Proverbs 3:1-7

Further Benefits of Wisdom

1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,

2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.

3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.

4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.

To quote a commonly used blessing, that was often spoken by one of my favorite characters in an old television series that I used to watch: “Live long and prosper!” But even before we can even begin to hope to do that,
if we are not operating in Wisdom, according to the our Operations Manual, then our chances of living long, and of our prospering at anything, are slim to none.

Our life is a gift and a choice; and God has given each of us a free will, and the opportunity to choose on whom, or what, we will spend it?

It has always been God’s purpose that we, who are part of His creation, who are also created in His image, and after His likeness, that we of our own free will and volition, would choose to spend our lives on Him; as that has been His plan all along, and His reason for creating us, to begin with.

To the extent we don’t operate in this way, is what SIN is all about, were all of us like dumb sheep have gone astray, and the Lord has laid upon Him, Jesus, the inequity of us all!

However, being the gentleman that He is, He will never force Himself upon us, but He leaves it for us to decide?

It’s my pray that more and more this message will get out, for it is the ONLY hope, not just for our nation, but also for the entire world; that people will begin to take God’s warnings seriously, and that more people would listen to His instructions, and start by being born-again, and being saved! Selah

Shalom,

Skip Barland




From: Express Email Marketing [mailto:mailer_response@emailcounts.com] On Behalf Of Two Listeners
Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2010 2:32 AM
To: theskipper@cox.net
Subject: GE – April 29 – No Message, But –

No Message, But –

My child, wait before Me.

You may receive no message, but in this waiting time, even if you are not conscious of being taught, you are being changed.

The eye of your soul will be focused upon Me and the insight gained will be calming, remedial, strengthening.

www.twolisteners.org


Now to Him who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.  Jude 1:24-25

This email was sent by Two Listeners, 4140 Oceanside Blvd, Suite 159 – PMB 112, Oceanside, CA 92056, using Express Email Marketing. You subscribed to this permission-based list on 1/5/2009.

© 2006 Two Listeners


Let us not forget our men and women in uniform!


Let us not forget our men and women in uniform!

Won’t you say a pray for them tonight?


 

These photos were forwarded to me by a retired Navy Admiral; and they are pretty telling of what life is like these days over in Iraq, and in Afghanistan.

I’m unsure how old these  photos are, or when they were taken; but the message still needs to be told; and we need to be grateful that we have men and women who are standing in harm’s way for our protection; defending our freedom!

Let’s not forget them, and let’s not ever take their sacrifice for granted!!!

Shalom,

Skip Barland

   

From: Norman
Sent: Wednesday, April 28, 2010 10:04 PM
To: Skip Barland
Subject: Fw: Do Not Delete Photo

 

—– Forwarded Message —-

This came from a Marine unit over in Iraq  … Their wish is to send it 

to as many people in the country as possible. 

(Be sure to read their note at the end of the e-mail)…

Hopefully we can help them achieve their goal.) 




I HOPE I DO NOT HEAR OF ANYONE   

BREAKING THIS   

ONE OR SEE   

DELETED 

This is a ribbon for   

soldiers fighting in Iraq.

Pass it on to everyone   

and pray.   

SLEEP LAST   

NIGHT?   

Bed a   

little lumpy… 

Toss and   

turn any…. 

Wish the heat was higher… 

Maybe the a/c !   

Wasn’t on… 

Had to go to the john……< I> 

Need a drink of   

water…. 

?   

?   

Scroll   

down 

Yes.. It is like that! 

Count your blessings, pray for them, 

Talk to your Creator   

And 

The next time when… 

The other car cuts you off and you must hit the brakes,   

Or you have to park a little further

from Wal-Mart than you want to be, 

Or   

you’re served slightly warm food at the restaurant, 

Or you’re sitting and cursing the traffic in front of you, 

Or   

the shower runs out of hot water, Think of them… 

Protecting your freedom!   

DO   NOT DELETE-PLS PASS ON   

-Message from Iraq   

The proud warriors of Baker Company wanted to do   

Something to pay tribute   

To our fallen comrades so since we are part of the only   

Marine Infantry Battalion left in Iraq  the one way that we could 

Think of doing that is by taking a picture of   

Baker Company saying the way we feel.   

It would be awesome if you could find a way to share   

This with our fellow countrymen.   

I was wondering if there was any way to get this into your   

Papers to let the world know that   

‘WE HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN’   

And are proud to serve our country.   

Semper Fi 1st Sgt Dave Jobe. 

The attached photo   

was forwarded from one of the last U.S. Marine companies in Iraq   

They would like to have it passed to as many people as possible, to let the   

folks back home know that they remember why they’re there and 

that they remember those who’ve been lost…..   

Send this to   

13 people in the next 15 minutes. Go.

  

Attention all hands… battle stations!!!

Attention all hands…

battle stations!!!


Prepare for attack!

In these days and times in which we live, it is very important that we keep our heads, and not panic. Jesus warned us that what is about to befall this world, will be a “Time of Sorrows“ (see Matthew 24:7-8; 21-22; and Mark 13:7-9), the likes of which, Jesus said, we have never experienced in the past, and nor will we ever again experience anything like it, in the future.

Our battle strategy and tactics, for these last days, in order to prepare for what is coming upon the world, start by our battening down the hatches, lock and loading, and keeping our powder dry, if you know what I mean.

Think of yourself as if you were an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician), working in an emergency, or say a cop, or really any sort of job that you might be working at, where you are working under any kind of pressure; in most cases, out of necessity, in order to do your job, you have to disengage your emotions, because you cannot allow yourself to be distracted, you have to focus; and this is especially true if you are working, as I said, under pressure, or are dealing with an emergency.

It would be much the same as a skipper on a nuclear submarine (as you can see in the above picture), if say they were engaging the enemy in a fire fight; he can’t afford to panic and lose his composure, because to do so would mean certain death for him, and his crew.

It’s the same with us, folks, and that is the reason why God has us go through these obstacle courses, called our trials and tribulations.

It’s much the same as what our young recruits go through in boot camp, or Special Forces, or in Navy Seal Training, all of it is to prepare these people for the battle that lies ahead!

To use this analogy of the soldier, or Seal Team, if you can’t even make it through the training, or in our case, in the little battles, trials and tribulations of everyday life, without getting beat-up and defeated, and becoming depressed; and if you haven’t yet learned the necessity of trusting God, applying His Word, relying upon it, and then confessing His Word, in order to overcome and defeat the enemy’s strategy, in even the small trials, then how can you expect to survive what is coming?

The answer is, you can’t, and you won’t! That is why what I am saying is so important; because it certainly appears, from everything I can see, that for much of the church today, at least here in America, and I dare say also in Western Europe, most of the so called Christians are totally oblivious and don’t have even a clue as to what is going on, and the danger our country is in today.

Now mind you, I’m not talking about your eternal salvation here, not at all; because if you are born-again, then your eternal salvation is secure in Jesus Christ; but what I am talking about is your temporal salvation, in how you maintain and survive while still in this world.

We are in a war, folks, the Bible makes that very clear, and as the Apostle Paul said, if we are going to win this war, we have to learn how to use our Spiritual Weapons!

Fear is natural, and it is never a matter of eliminating it all together; that won’t ever happen, and fear will always be present; and sometimes even it is healthy to have a measure of it, to keep us on our toes; but the sort of fear that we are to resist is the kind that paralyzes us, and causes us to want to flee.

The famous lines, spoken by John Wayne, in one of his war movies, which I think is very apropos here, is when he said: “All
wars are filled with brave men, who are afraid, and would rather be somewhere us;” and so it is with us.

The issue never about avoiding fear all together, because, as I said, that won’t happen; but rather it is to train ourselves how to manage it, so that we control it, and not let it control us!

We have been fortunate, here in the U.S, because we have yet to experienced anything like what happened in Europe, during WWI and II, at least not yet. Where it was our cities being bombed, and our citizens killed.

I think that is about to change, however; especially if this administration continues to meddle in Israel’s affairs, and pressures them to compromise there security, and give more land for peace.

How many of you have read George Washington’s prophecy for the United States? There are three parts to it, the first covered the Revolutionary War; the second, the Civil War; and the last part covers a way we haven’t seen yet; where Washington was told by an angle that we would lose our sovereignty for a time; but would regain it back.

WASHINGTON’S OWN WORDS

“And again I heard the mysterious voice saying `Son of the Republic, look and learn.’ At this the dark, shadowy angel placed a trumpet to his mouth, and blew three distinct blasts; and taking water from the ocean, he sprinkled it upon Europe, Asia and Africa. Then my eyes beheld a fearful scene: From each of these countries arose thick, black clouds that were soon joined into one.

Throughout this mass there gleamed a dark red light by which I saw hordes of armed men, who, moving with the cloud, marched by land and sailed by sea to America. Our country was enveloped in this volume of cloud, and I saw these vast armies devastate the whole county and burn the villages, towns and cities that I beheld springing up.

As my ears listened to the thundering of the cannon, clashing of sword, and the shouts and cries of millions in mortal combat, I heard again the mysterious voice saying, `Son of the Republic, look and learn.’ When the voice had ceased, the dark shadowy angel placed his trumpet once more to his mouth, and blew a long and fearful blast.

“Instantly a light as of a thousand suns shone down from above me, and pierced and broke into fragments the dark cloud which enveloped America. At the same moment the angel upon whose head still shone the word Union, and who bore our national flag in one hand and a sword in the other, descended from the heavens attended by legions of white spirits. These immediately joined the inhabitants of America, who I perceived were well nigh overcome, but who immediately taking courage again, closed up their broken ranks and renewed the battle.

“Again, amid the fearful noise of the conflict, I heard the mysterious voice saying, `Son of the Republic, look and learn.’ As the voice ceased, the shadowy angel for the last time dipped water from the ocean and sprinkled it upon America. Instantly the dark cloud rolled back, together with the armies it had brought, leaving the inhabitants of the land victorious!

“Then once more I beheld the villages, towns and cities springing up where I had seen them before, while the bright angel, planting the azure standard he had brought in the midst of them, cried with a loud voice: `While the stars remain, and the heavens send down dew upon the earth, so long shall the Union last.’ And taking from his brow the crown on which blazoned the word `Union,’ he placed it upon the Standard while the people, kneeling down, said, `Amen.’

In any case, what follows I think is worth remembering. It was written by two lone women, during the bombing blitz gred in London, during WWII, when they were living movement by moment, not knowing whether the next bomb might fall on them.

Read, and commit it to memory, so that when the time comes, and you are tempted to panic and lose it… you’ll know better.

“Keep your Spirit-Life calm and unruffled.”

Keep your Spirit-Life calm and unruffled. Nothing else matters. Leave all to Me. This is your great task, to get calm in My Presence, not to let one ruffled feeling stay for one moment. Years of blessing may be checked in one moment by that.

No matter who frets you or what, yours is the task to stop all else until absolute calm comes. Any block means My Power diverted into other channels.

Pour forth – pour forth – pour forth – I cannot bless a life that does not act as a channel. My Spirit brooks no stagnation, not even in rest. Its Power must flow on. Pass on everything, every blessing. Abide in Me.

See how many you can bless each day. Dwell much in My Presence.

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” – Proverbs 4:23

(from; God Calling, January 26 – Keep Calm)

You have your orders… now go and Do it!!!

Shalom,

Skip Barland


From: FullnessOnLine [mailto:fcm@fullnessonline.ccsend.com] On Behalf Of FullnessOnLine
Sent: Wednesday, April 28, 2010 4:05 AM
To: theskipper@cox.net
Subject: What The Lord Is Saying Today


What The Lord Is Saying Today

April 28, 2010. You have been experiencing some unusual fatigue.  You do not feel it in your body but in your soul, especially in your emotions.

Those in the same condition as you have caught your attention.  You do not want to be like them but rather desire to be free and clear in mind, will and emotions.

Learn this.  My will for you is that you allow the Holy Spirit to lead you in all things.  In this way you will avoid getting burned out and frustrated, not to mention avoid becoming emotionally and mentally tired and weary in your work.

Seek to be strong in Me and not in yourself.  You are striving in areas I have never given you to control, nor for which I have made you responsible.  Trust  Me.

2 Thessalonians 3:13 (AMP) “And as for you, brethren, do not become weary or lose heart in doing right [but continue in well-doing without weakening].”

Ras Robinson

www.fullnessonline.or

So you are saying lighten up Lord, “My cross is too heavy!”


“My cross is too heavy”


Jesus said:

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny

himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me”

(Matthew 16:24)

The following devotion speaks to a very important point in the life of every Christian. It seems we all eventually come to the place in our life where we feel the load that we bear is too heavy!

Not so, because the promise of God’s Word is:

1 Corinthians 10:13 (The Message)

13No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.

It certainly would seem that from God’s perspective, even though the Bible makes it clear that as any loving father is towards his children, God also desires that we prosper and be in health; but only as our soul prospers. This is what the Bible says is God’s desire for us (see 3 John 1:2), but only as we are maturing and growing in faith!

Also we can learn from scripture that it is said that even our Lord had to learn obedience through the things which he suffered (see Hebrews 5:8)… and so how is it that we figure it will be any different with us?

No, you see God’s priority is not to make us comfortable in this life; but rather it is to prepare us for eternity, and for our future ministry, and assignment in the earth, and fulfill our destiny.

So let us understand that these trials and tribulations, which we try so hard to avoid, are God’s training ground to prepare us for what lies ahead. They are not to defeat us, but rather they are to teach us how to overcome the obstacles that the enemy will place in front of us.

This pattern is seen all throughout the Bible.

  • Did not God tell Abraham to leave the comfort and security of his home and family, and go to a place he knew not; and when he finally arrived in the Promised Land, he found he had to live in tents, as a stranger; and that he was right in the middle of a famine.
  • What about Joseph? After receiving his prophetic dream, and God’s promise for his future, he spends the next 13 years of his life in the toilet; first almost being killed by his brothers; then he is sold as a slave; then he is framed for something he didn’t do; and finally he is thrown into prison!

    Joseph was 17 when this ordeal began, and it wasn’t until age 30 that he understood why. Joseph had no idea that God was fulfilling his dream and his destiny, and that all of this was in training for him to become the Prime Minister of Egypt, and thereby save his family from the coming famine. (read Psalms 105:16-19).

  • What about the Children of Israel having to wander in the desert for forty years? Listen to what God said the reason was: “He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD” (Deuteronomy 8:2-3).
  • Then we read the Hall of Fame chapter in the Bible, in Hebrews 11; where each one of these individuals were tested severely, and it was not because God didn’t care about them, but it was because He had prepared something better. But that something better comes only after having our faith muscles tested, in preparation for the assignment which God has foreordained for each of our lives.
  • Look to Jesus in the New Testament, did He not send his disciples into the storm; and then came walking out to them on the water? This was also a test.

It was President John F. Kennedy, who brought this to our attention, during the Cuban missile crisis (in 1960), about how in the Chinese language the word for crisis (“Wei Ji 危机“) is made up of two characters “Wei 危” and “Ji 机“, where “Wei 危” means “danger,” and “Ji 机“, means “opportunity.”

Now if we could only learn to see our trials and tribulations, which we are facing, in this same way; as opportunities for us to grow, in order that we might exercise our faith muscles, and learn to overcome our obstacles.

Let us also remember that the Bible says (in Hebrews 11:6) that without faith it is impossible to please God!

These are the mountains that the Bible says we can speak to, which are those material, financial, emotional, or physical obstacles that Satan places in our path, just like he did with Job.

The Bible teaches us that we can speak to these mountains, as Jesus has instructed us to do, and cast them out of our way!

Let us think about these things, in whatever it is that we are facing today; and let us begin today to see our trials and tribulations also as opportunities, and as the Bible says: “Let us glory in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:3-5) Selah

Shalom,

Skip Barland


—–Original Message—–
From: HEARTLIGHT [mailto:editor@heartlight.org]
Sent: Wednesday, April 28, 2010 1:30 AM
To: myutmost@maillists.heartlight.org
Subject: My Utmost For His Highest : “What You Will Get”


April 28, 2010

“I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go.” —Jeremiah 45:5

This is the firm and immovable secret of the Lord to those who trust Him— “I will give your life to you . . . .” What more does a man want than his life?

It is the essential thing. “. . . your life . . . as a prize . . .” means that wherever you may go, even if it is into hell, you will come out with your life and nothing can harm it.

So many of us are caught up in exhibiting things for others to see, not showing off property and possessions, but our blessings. All these things that we so proudly show have to go. But there is something greater that can never go—the life that “is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3).

Are you prepared to let God take you into total oneness with Himself, paying no more attention to what you call the great things of life?

Are you prepared to surrender totally and let go?

The true test of abandonment or surrender is in refusing to say, “Well, what about this?”

Beware of your own ideas and speculations. The moment you allow yourself to think, “What about this?” you show that you have not surrendered and that you do not really trust God. But once you do surrender, you will no longer think about what God is going to do.

Abandonment means to refuse yourself the luxury of asking any questions.

If you totally abandon yourself to God, He immediately says to you, “I will give your life to you as a prize . . . .”

The reason people are tired of life is that God has not given them anything— they have not been given their life “as a prize.”

The way to get out of that condition is to abandon yourself to God. And once you do get to the point of total surrender to Him, you will be the most surprised and delighted person on earth.

God will have you absolutely, without any limitations, and He will have given you your life. If you are not there, it is either because of disobedience in your life or your refusal to be simple enough


So how are you with this thing called “Change?”

Change Happens!!!

More and more we find ourselves living in a world where everything around us is changing, and most often, these days anyway, these changes are not for the good.

One obvious case in point, the man currently sitting in the White House got elected using “CHANGE” as his campaign motto and mantra; and look how that is working out so far.

I don’t know about you, but I typically don’t always do so well with change, myself; and I would even go so far as to say I bet that most of you are the very same way.

I think it is human nature to be this way, and to resist change, at least it is most often among the older generation, say forty and above.

Howbeit, it wasn’t always that way for most people; and that was the point I believe Jesus was making about the children, whom His disciples had been trying to keep away from the Master.

Jesus merely told them not to do that; and He went on to say that unless we become as they are, then we can’t even experience the Kingdom of Heaven!

What I think Jesus was saying is that for God to use us, whomever we are, we must first of all be teachable, and open to change, not afraid do fail.

Most kids are like that naturally, and are sponges, always looking for new experiences, and always wanting to do and learn new things.

Most of us were also that way, ourselves, once upon a time… and if we are going to be used of God, as adults, then we had better learn to be that way again!

I think the older we get the more we tend to like only the status quo, as long as our emotional and physical needs are being met, and we are comfortable. But I’m discovering, having read the Bible, that our being comfortable is just not a priority on God’s list; but our being conformed into the image of His Son, our elder brother, Jesus Christ is.

I am finding that this process of our always being transformed and changed, into the image of our Lord, cannot happen unless we get use to change, and begin to accept it.

The Bible teaches us about old and new wineskins to make this point, and John Paul Jackson, in his e-letter (below) makes that same point.

There is a certain fluidness that is necessary if we are going to be used of the Holy Spirit, that requires our being use to change, on a moment’s notice; that is if we are to go with the flow of the Holy Spirit, and what He is doing in any one time or place; and the truth is, He is always doing a new thing; as we can readily see in the Bible.

John 3:8 (The Message)

7-8″So don’t be so surprised when I tell you that you have to be ‘born from above’—out of this world, so to speak.

You know well enough how the wind blows this way and that. You hear it rustling through the trees, but you have no idea where it comes from or where it’s headed next.

That’s the way it is with everyone ‘born from above’ by the wind of God, the Spirit of God.”

Even though the Bible says clearly that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever; nevertheless, one of the great paradoxes we find in the Bible is that, though He changes not, He is also a God of change, in that He never does the same thing twice, in the same way!

We can see this all throughout the Bible, that God always was doing something new; as evident in the fact that He never does a miracle twice, in the same way.

We see that in Jesus’ ministry, and also we see it all throughout the Tanakh (Jewish Old Testament).

Sometimes I think change is necessary because God is trying to introduce Himself to a new culture, or a younger generation; and in those situations it is of paramount importance that we adapt, and are pliable to whatever changes are required, so as not to be a hindrance to the move of the Spirit.

We are very wrong if we think God uses our comfort level and our life experiences as His standard for everyone else, as a plum line or reference marker… because He doesn’t!

In fact that has never been the case in any generation.

Every fisherman knows well that if he is going to catch fish, he must always adapt his bait to the taste of the fish, and not his own.

Consequently in history, because of most people’s resistance to CHANGE, in every revival in history, instead of the next move of God being able to build upon the last, and the last move being the ceiling for the next; rather what typically happens is, the ones who are most resisting the next move of God are the participants of the last move.

This is what normally happens; you have people saying things like, “This can’t be God, because it is so different from what I’m used to and what I experienced!”

It is a huge mistake for us to think this way; and really when you think about it, for us to even think that any move of God, before we can accept it, it must pass muster with us, and have our approval first… I mean how myopic and small minded is that?

For us to think that God only likes the sort of music and things that we have grown accustomed to, things that agree with our particular culture, our taste, and our life experience, is to try and keep God in a very small box; which He will not allow anyone to do.

If the Bible has anyone message that we need to learn from, it is that if we are to be used of the Lord, and are to be in the flow of the Holy Spirit is doing in the world, at any one time, or in any location, are our being fluid and malleable, and accustom to change, is an absolute necessity!

Let’s take Caleb as our example:

  • Caleb’s courage was first displayed after his return from his spy mission into the Promised Land. He was willing to take a stand with God when the crowd was more than willing to oppose God’s will. As we recall, ten of the spies returned with “bad news”. They stated that taking the land was beyond their ability (Numbers 13:31).
  • Joshua and Caleb reported just the opposite. In fact Caleb, “quieted the people before Moses”, and said, “Let us go up at once, and occupy it; for we are well able to overcome it” (Numbers 13:30).
  • He also said, “If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us” (Numbers 14:8).
  • Caleb was simply trying to motivate the people to go up and possess the land which God had promised (Genesis 17:8). They in turn desired to kill him (Numbers 14:10).
  • Think about it! These people would rather have killed Caleb than listen to his words of exhortation.
  • As the Bible says of Caleb: “So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the Lord, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly.” Joshua 14:14

As Christians grow older, we should grow in faith. The classic example of persevering faith is that of the eighty-five year-old Caleb ben-Jephunneh.

God himself certified Caleb to be a man of great faith, one who obeyed God fully. He is an inspiration to all true believers—not just older people, but everyone who is maturing in Christ.

The only caveat I would add is that God never contradicts Himself, and that whatever God does always lines up with His Word; but the sort of things we have been talking about here are more in line with the subjective preferences and tastes of the individual; which has to do more with the culture they are from, than it does anything else.

We need to understand that God is always adapting to new cultures and new generations of kids; just as He once did with us, and our parents most likely resisted us as well, in the same way; and then for us to think it ends with us… well, I don’t think I have to tell you how foolish that is.

Read on and see what John Paul Jackson has to say on this subject.

Shalom,

Skip Barland

From: Streams Ministries [mailto:eletter@streamsministries.com]
Sent: Sunday, April 25, 2010 7:01 PM
To: theskipper@cox.net
Subject: What has God put on your heart to do? by John Paul Jackson
What has God put on your heart to do? April 2010
by John Paul Jackson

Is there something you’ve been considering doing lately? Do you have a thought rolling around in your head that maybe you should be paying more attention to? What has God put on your heart to do?

You are probably familiar with Jesus’ metaphor of new wine and new wineskins (Matthew 9:17). The general explanation is that when God is doing something new, we need to be open to it. Many of us rightly equate this metaphor to moves of God that seem large and obvious, such as church wide or citywide revival. But it can also apply to our lives on a more individual, everyday scale.

Some of us have been Christians for so long that we have become rather set in our ways. Perhaps we’ve even adopted a type of spiritual atrophy and aren’t doing anything other than what we have done in the past. However, throughout Scripture, the people of God who are known for their great faith had to bend with the Holy Spirit. They had to leave behind their normal schedules and typical behavior in order to follow the plan of God for their lives. They accepted the “new wine” when it was presented to them, and they were open to the often radical change it had on their plans and life goals.

New wine — the new thing God is doing — requires new wineskins: people who are willing to be soft and pliable in God’s hands. They change shape as God pours into them, and they listen when He speaks.

What is God asking you to do that may require a bit of bending on your part? What have you been considering doing that maybe you should just go ahead and do? Is it getting up earlier to spend time with Him? Is it exercising regularly? Is it being kind to someone? Is it writing the book you’ve been thinking about writing or applying for a different job? Perhaps this recurring thought you’ve been having is something you should listen to.

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 2:10, “God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.” The Holy Spirit is the Great Communicator who searches the very deepest parts of God and then reveals them to us. The Spirit of the Living God dwells in, empowers, prepares and equips us so that we can get where we need to go and do what God has called us to do — so we reach the purpose for which He created us. Our next step could be as simple as paying attention to the idea that keeps coming up, the thought that keeps returning to us.

What is God telling your heart to do? Are you doing it? Whatever it is, it is sure to be a grand adventure, and it is sure to produce change.

http://www.streamsministries.us/ss/display.php?M=307857&C=3de8374a24f90d8fbf1dde4015041573&S=707&L=2&N=764

_

America, let’s take back our country!

America is fed up!!!

America Rising: An Open Letter to Democrat Politicians!

(click above link to see video)

This video was forwarded to me this morning by David; and it is an open letter written to the Democratic Politicians.

There is also another encouraging movement that has gotten my attention, of late, which I believe is an absolute necessity if we ever are to take our country back. It’s called: “The Restore America Plan” (click link to see video).

It is a grassroots movement where all 50 states of the Union, have already reorganized as a Constitutional Republic, and are taking our country back to the original plan, as it was originally intended by our founding fathers, where once again the U.S. Constitution is the highest law of the land!

We have a very serious situation in our country, and it is because of this that everything is upside down.

No longer is our country operating as a Constitutional Republic; that was changed over 100 years ago, when the District of Columbia was established.

After the Civil War, our nation was bankrupt; and in order to avoid defaulting, these certain stipulations and requirements were put in place at the demand of the international bankers.

In 1913, after the Federal Reserve Act was passed, these stipulations where made permanent.

The result of all of this has caused our entire Banking system, our monetary policies, and our U.S Dollar, to all be under the control of private businessmen, 70% of whom are foreign nationals.

These private businessmen operate without oversight, and are accountable to no one, but to themselves.

Actually, they are the sole owners of the Federal Reserve itself, which is not at all Federal; but it is rather a privately held corporation!

If you’d like to know how it operates, here is a very good video for you to watch; that I think will answer most of your questions:

Money, Banking and the Federal Reserve

Today we are operating under something called the “United States Corporation;” and our so called representatives are serving, not as Public Servants; but rather they are officers of the Corporation.

That is why our politicians are no longer responding to the will of the people; and are instead implementing policies and are passing legislation which will only serve to further weaken our economy, as the laws of economics have not been repealed; and as much as they would like you to believe differently, contrary to what the current administration has been telling you, you still can’t get multiplication through division, as Obama continues to spreads the wealth around.

All of this will only serve to bankrupt our nation, and force us into a position where we can either submit to the demands of these very same International Bankers, and accept their currency and New World Order, or our money will be worthless!

We cannot just go back to putting another Republican Administration back in power either, let us not make that mistake again!

We need to get away from this idea that we can only have a Two-Party system; because both Democratic and Republican parties, when it comes to the Globalist agenda, patrician politics and differences aside, both parties are on the same page… and in fact are two sides of the same coin.

Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, it makes no difference, because on the subject of the establishment of a “New World Order” (click link to see video), they are ALL on the same page.

Not only that, but these same bankers today have not only corrupted our two-party political system; but they have also dominated and have controlled our News Media, and also our entertainment industry, as well, for years!

Speaking of the media, I had this article forwarded to me today, from a Canadian Newspaper, regarding the Obama’s eligibility issue, and I thought you might find it interesting: http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/22221.

Folks, please note that the Bible already has predicted these things would happen; and we are today seeing Bible prophecy unfold right before our eyes.

Where will the United States be in all of this, in this New World Order?

I think that depends on the Christians, and whether we implement 2 Chronicles 7:14 or not.

I don’t think it is written in stone that the United States has to be on the side of the Antichrist; and it is my hope and prayer that we wake up in time to take back our country!

Wake up America… and let every Christian be praying!

Shalom,

Skip Barland


Warning… what you don’t know could be killing you!!!

I was sent this warning today, on how a slow Poison, called MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) is hidden behind 25 or more names, such as “Natural Flavoring,” and I’m passing it along FYI (for your information).

I can remember early on, when I was teenager, I could never figure out why such lame brain decisions were coming out of Washington DC. Even as a kid, I knew even I could do a much better of a job, than what they were doing.

I have since learned that everything is not as it appears; and that truly, though our political leaders would like us always to believe that they are always doing everything with only our best interest at heart, on closer examination we find that is not always the case.

As just one case in point: George W. Bush (who also says that he is a Christian), back in March of 2004, he and his corporate supporters were pushing a Bill through Congress. Called the “Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act” also known as the “Cheeseburger Bill“.

This sweeping law, had it passed, would have banned anyone from suing food manufacturers, sellers and distributors. Even if it came out that they purposely added an addictive and/or harmful chemical to their foods.

As it turns out, much of the decisions that are being made today, and in the past, by the FDA, are made more to benefit pharmaceutical companies, and large corporate interests, than they are to benefit us, the general public; and truly what you don’t know could kill you!

On closer examination, you will find that the FDA is actually run by people who have come out of the pharmaceutical industry.

Here’s just one example of what I’m talking about:

The FDA made a law that says only a drug can cure a disease. They then go on and define all kinds of diseases (which is why you always seeing all kinds of new diseases that are being discovered). So let’s say you were to develop a disease because you are lacking in vitamin C; and some medical professional were to tell you to take vitamin C; or say a natural foods company comes up with a natural product, and even suggests that vitamin C is the cure for your disease, both the medical professional and the company are actually breaking the law… and can be prosecuted, with the risk of having large fines and even jail time.

This is just another example of why we need a thorough house cleaning in Washington DC, and “We the People” need to take back our government for ourselves… and through the bums out!

That’s just my opinion; but you read on, and you let me know what you think?.

Shalom,

Skip Barland


From: Ed
Sent: Monday, April 26, 2010 2:05 AM
To: Skip Barland;
Subject: FW: MSG poisoning

—-ORIGINAL MESSAGE—-

Slow Poisoning MSG (Monosodium Glutamate.) hides behind 25 or more names, such as “Natural Flavoring”

author unknown

MSG hides behind 25 or more names, such as Natural Flavoring.’ MSG is even in your favorite coffee from Tim Horton’s and Starbucks coffee shops!   I wondered if there could be an actual chemical causing the massive obesity epidemic, and so did  John Erb. He was a research assistant at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, and spent years working for the government.  He made an amazing discovery while going through scientific journals for a book he was writing called The Slow Poisoning of America.

In hundreds of studies around the world, scientists were creating obese mice and rats to use in diet or diabetes test studies.  No strain of rat or mice is naturally obese, so scientists have to create them.  They make these creatures morbidly obese by injecting them with MSG when they are first born.

The MSG triples the amount of insulin the pancreas creates, causing rats (and perhaps humans) to become obese.  They even have a name for the fat rodents they create:  ‘MSG-Treated Rats.’

When I heard this, I was shocked.  I went into my kitchen and checked the cupboards and the refrigerator.  MSG was in everything — the  Campbell ‘s soups, the Hostess Doritos, the Lays  flavored potato chips, Top Ramen, Betty Crocker Hamburger Helper,  Heinz canned gravy, Swanson frozen prepared meals, and Kraft salad  dressings,
Especially the ‘healthy low-fat’  ones.

The items that didn’t have MSG marked on the product label had something called ‘Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein,’ which is just another name for Monosodium Glutamate.

It was shocking to see just how many of the foods we feed our children everyday are filled with this stuff.  MSG is hidden under many different names in order to fool those who read the ingredient list, so that they don’t catch on.  (Other names for MSG are  ‘Accent,  ‘Aginomoto,’ ‘Natural Meat Tenderizer,’  etc.)

But it didn’t stop there.

When our family went out to eat, we started asking at the restaurants what menu items contained MSG.  Many employees, even the managers, swore they didn’t use MSG.

But when we ask for the ingredient list, which they grudgingly provided, sure enough, MSG and Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein were everywhere.

Burger King,  McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Taco Bell, every restaurant — even the  sit-down eateries like TGIF, Chili’s, Applebee’s, and Denny’s — use  MSG in abundance.  Kentucky Fried Chicken seemed to be the WORST offender:
MSG was in every chicken dish, salad dressing and gravy.  No wonder I loved to eat that coating on the skin — their secret spice was MSG!

So why is MSG in so many of the foods we eat? Is it a preservative, or a vitamin?

Not according to my friend John Erb.  In his book The Slow Poisoning of America, he said that MSG is added to food for the addictive effect it has on the human body.

Even the propaganda website sponsored by the food manufacturers lobby group supporting MSG explains that the reason they add it to food is to make people eat more.

A study of the elderly showed that older people eat more of the foods that it is added to.  The Glutamate Association lobbying group says eating more is a benefit to the elderly, but what does it do to the rest of us?

‘Betcha can’t eat [just] one,’ takes on a whole new meaning where MSG is concerned!  And we wonder why the nation is overweight!

MSG manufacturers themselves admit that it addicts people to their products.  It makes people choose their product over others, and makes people eat more of it than they would if MSG wasn’t added.

Not only is MSG scientifically proven to cause obesity, it is an addictive substance.  Since its introduction into the American food supply fifty years ago, MSG has been added in larger and larger doses to the pre-packaged meals, soups, snacks, and fast foods we are tempted to eat every day.

The FDA has set no limits on how much of it can be added to food. They claim it’s safe to eat in any amount.  But how can they claim it’s safe when there are hundreds of scientific studies with titles like these:

‘The monosodium glutamate (MSG) obese rat as a model for the study of exercise in obesity.’  Gobatto CA, Mello MA, Souza CT, Ribeiro IA.  Res Commun Mol Pathol Pharmacol.  2002.

‘Adrenalectomy abolishes the food-induced hypothalamic serotonin release in both normal and monosodium glutamate-obese rats.’  Guimaraes RB, Telles MM, Coelho VB, Mori C,  Nascimento CM, Ribeiro.  Brain Res Bull. 2002 Aug.

‘Obesity induced by neonatal monosodium glutamate treatment in spontaneously hypertensive rats:  An animal model of multiple risk factors.’
Iwase M, Yamamoto  M, Iino K, Ichikawa K, Shinohara N, Yoshinari Fujishima.
Hypertens  Res. 1998  Mar.

‘Hypothalamic lesion induced by injection of monosodium glutamate in suckling period and subsequent development of obesity.’  Tanaka K, Shimada M,  Nakao K Kusunoki.  Exp Neurol.  1978 Oct.

No, the date of that last study was not a typo; it was published in 1978…  Both the ‘medical research community’ and ‘food manufacturers’ have known about the side effects of MSG for decades.

Many more of the  studies mentioned in John Erb’s book link MSG to diabetes,  migraines and headaches, autism, ADHD, and even  Alzheimer’s.

So what can we do to stop the food manufactures from dumping this fattening and addictive MSG into our food supply and causing the obesity epidemic we now see?

Several months ago, John Erb took his book and his concerns to one of the highest government health officials in Canada   While he was sitting in the government office,
the official told him, ‘Sure, I know how bad MSG is.  I wouldn’t touch the stuff.’ But this
top-level government official refuses to tell the public what he knows.

The big media doesn’t want to tell the public either, fearing issues with their advertisers.  It seems that the fallout on the fast food industry may hurt their profit margin.  The food producers and restaurants have been addicting us to their products for years, and now we are paying the price for it.  Our children should not be cursed with obesity caused by an addictive food additive.

But what can I do about it?  I’m just one voice!  What can I do to stop the poisoning of our children, while our governments are insuring financial protection for the industry that is poisoning us?

This message is going out to everyone I know in an attempt to tell you the truth that the corporate-owned politicians and media won’t tell you.

The best way you can help to save yourself and your children from this drug-induced epidemic is to forward this article to everyone.   With any luck, it will circle the globe before politicians can pass the legislation protecting those who are poisoning us.

The food industry learned a lot from the tobacco industry. Imagine if big tobacco had a bill like this in place before someone blew the whistle on nicotine?

If you are one of the few who can still believe that MSG is good for us and you don’t believe what John Erb has to say, see for yourself.  Go to the National Library of Medicine at http://www.pubmed.com . Type in the words ‘MSG Obese’ and read a few of the 115 medical studies that appear.

We the public do not want to be rats in one giant experiment, and we do not approve of food that makes us into a nation of obese, lethargic, addicted sheep, feeding the food industry’s bottom line while waiting for the heart transplant, the diabetic-induced amputation, blindness, or other obesity-induced, life-threatening disorders.

With your help we can put an end to this poison.  Do your part in sending this message out by word of mouth, e-mail, or by distribution of this printout to your friends all over the world and stop this ‘Slow Poisoning of Mankind’ by the packaged food industry.

Blowing the whistle on MSG is our responsibility, so get the word out!