Lately, a book I wrote four years ago called The Christ Virus is beginning to look more and more prophetic. Yesterday, the City of Houston issued subpoenas to a group of pastors demanding they turn over any sermons dealing with homosexuality, gender identity or Annise Parker, the city's first openly lesbian mayor. Those ministers who fail to comply could be held in contempt of court. Fox News reported that Attorney Christina Holcomb from the Alliance Defending Freedom said, "The city council and its attorneys are engaging in an inquisition designed to stifle any critique of its actions."1
This scenario is played out on page 8 of The Christ Virus where fictional character, Pastor Luke Chavez, is faced with a decision of whether to preach the whole gospel or to obey a new law requiring religious leaders to abstain from teaching anything that is offensive to anyone. The new law eviscerates much of the Bible leaving it even thinner than Thomas Jefferson's Bible.
It is no longer a stretch of the imagination to wonder when laws restricting what can be taught from the pulpit will impact Americans. In Canada, it is already considered an anti-hate crime for a preacher to teach anything from the Bible considered offensive to homosexuals.
The only question now is how will you respond?
1Fox News October 14, 2014
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/10/14/city-houston-demands-pastors-turn-over-sermons/
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Monday, October 13, 2014
Eerie Parallel Between Ebola Outbreak and The Christ Virus
Mark Twain once said truth is stranger than fiction. We certainly live in times when the unthinkable often becomes reality. But ever once and awhile life and fiction crossover, and it's difficult to tell which came first. It happened 13 years ago when two planes flew into the Twin Towers. Until then, no one had ever thought of using passenger jets as flying bombs. Actually, that's not correct. More than a year before the 9/11 attacks, Joel Rosenberg penned The Last Jihad. In his story terrorists seize a jet with the intent of using it as weapon of mass destruction against the U.S. government. Sound familiar?
The same eerie parallel occurred today when news broke that the nurse in Dallas infected with Ebola received a transfusion from Dr. Kent Brantly, an Ebola survivor. This is ripped right from the pages of The Christ Virus––page 325 to be exact. I had a crazy thought when I wrote this scene more than four years ago: what if in a desperate attempt to save an infected person, a virus survivor donated his blood? In this case, the virus was much deadlier than Ebola. The current Ebola strain has a mortality rate of 60%, but the Zaire strain is fatal 90% of the time.
The theory behind the transfusion treatment is the blood of an Ebola survivor should contain antibodies. By giving an infected patient the blood plasma from a survivor, those antibodies should help fight off Ebola. It's too soon to tell if such an unconventional treatment will work, but it does in my story. You can order The Christ Virus at amazon.com.
The same eerie parallel occurred today when news broke that the nurse in Dallas infected with Ebola received a transfusion from Dr. Kent Brantly, an Ebola survivor. This is ripped right from the pages of The Christ Virus––page 325 to be exact. I had a crazy thought when I wrote this scene more than four years ago: what if in a desperate attempt to save an infected person, a virus survivor donated his blood? In this case, the virus was much deadlier than Ebola. The current Ebola strain has a mortality rate of 60%, but the Zaire strain is fatal 90% of the time.
The theory behind the transfusion treatment is the blood of an Ebola survivor should contain antibodies. By giving an infected patient the blood plasma from a survivor, those antibodies should help fight off Ebola. It's too soon to tell if such an unconventional treatment will work, but it does in my story. You can order The Christ Virus at amazon.com.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
A Chip to Track You
School officials at 13 of Houston's schools are tracking students through Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips imbedded in badges the children are required to wear while at school. Administrators maintain the RFID badges are needed to track daily enrollment which impacts school budgets. The school receives a daily allotment for each student that is present on campus.
The idea sounds harmless enough. There were certainly times when my children were growing up that I would have jumped at the chance to know where they were. But the question looms: are we being conditioned by the government for a broader implementation? Sounds a little paranoid? Perhaps, but consider this: when the federal government passed the 16th amendment to the Constitution in 1913 creating a federal tax, the initial income tax rate was only 1%. The top rate was 7%. Three years later the bottom and top rates had doubled. One year later the top rate had escalated to a whopping 67%. If Americans had any idea what they were in for, they would have never allowed the amendment to pass.
My point is, whatever begins harmlessly with good intentions can become a beast down the road. In my novel, The Christ Virus, the government implements a program known as First Alert. Chips are implanted in American citizens in order to warn health officials if they become infected with a deadly virus so they can be quarantined. But when Christians refuse the implantation program, the government ships them to internment camps for the nation's protection. The program becomes a holocaust when Islamic radicals target the bases with infected terrorists.
The chip in The Christ Virus exists. I didn't make it up. Applied Digital Solutions received approval from the Food and Drug Administration in 2004 for permission to implant the chip in humans. Fortunately, the manufacture and marketing of it were discontinued in 2010, but it could be brought back at any time when demand warrants. The microchip is about the size of a grain of rice. It can be encoded with information and placed under the skin. When scanned, the chip yields data that links to a computer database.
While the thought of our government chipping citizens seems a stretch right now, under the right set of circumstances it could happen––and will happen in the future. The Book of Revelation makes clear that the mark of the beast will be required to buy and sell. Stay tuned for future developments on this story.
The chip in The Christ Virus exists. I didn't make it up. Applied Digital Solutions received approval from the Food and Drug Administration in 2004 for permission to implant the chip in humans. Fortunately, the manufacture and marketing of it were discontinued in 2010, but it could be brought back at any time when demand warrants. The microchip is about the size of a grain of rice. It can be encoded with information and placed under the skin. When scanned, the chip yields data that links to a computer database.
While the thought of our government chipping citizens seems a stretch right now, under the right set of circumstances it could happen––and will happen in the future. The Book of Revelation makes clear that the mark of the beast will be required to buy and sell. Stay tuned for future developments on this story.
Friday, September 14, 2012
America is in the Cross Hairs of Radical Islam
Images of burning cars, crazed rioters, and perplexed politicos have filled our screens the last few days. Arab Spring has disappeared as quickly as it arrived. The reversal has stunned the world. But it shouldn't have.
As radical Muslims stormed the American embassy in Egypt, black flags waved in the background declaring "There is no God but Allah." A militant who attacked the American consulate in Benghazi, Libya shouted, "The Americans are infidels and we are going to finish them."
Why would these Muslims want to harm Americans who supported their quest for freedom? Why would they attack a country that sends billions of dollars in aid to their countries?
The answer lies in the Quran and Hadith. Muslims believe that anyone who rejects Allah as the only true god is an infidel or kaffir. Islam's holiest books, the Quran and Hadith, make clear the punishment for those who refuse Allah.
Sura 9:123 (Quran) "O you who believe, fight those of the unbelievers near you and let them see how harsh you can be. Know that Allah is with the righteous."
Sura 4:89 (Quran) “Seize them (infidels) and slay them wherever you find them: and in any case take no friends or helpers from their ranks.”
And just to be clear about how Mohammed felt about killing infidels he said in the Hadith, a record of his sayings, (vol 9:50), "No Muslim should be killed for killing a Kafir (infidel)."
These three verses are but a small sampling of the admonitions laid down in two of Islam's holiest books. Jesus warned his disciples (Jn 15:18) that "if the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you." And Jn 16:2 says "...yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service."
The fact that the United States and Israel are the target of radical Islam is no accident. Both countries have the largest concentration of Christians and Jews in the world. The Quran paints a bulls eyes on Christianity and Judaism as these verses demonstrate:
Sura 5:51 (Quran) : “O you who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors: they are but friends and protectors to each other. And he among you that turns to them for friendship is of them.”
From the Hadith: "The last hour will not come before the Muslims fight the Jews and the Muslims kill them, so that Jews will hide behind stones and trees and the Stone and the tree will say, O Muslim, O servant of God! There is a Jew behind me; come and kill him. The only exception will be the box-thorn for it is one of the trees of the Jews."
As radical Muslims stormed the American embassy in Egypt, black flags waved in the background declaring "There is no God but Allah." A militant who attacked the American consulate in Benghazi, Libya shouted, "The Americans are infidels and we are going to finish them."
Why would these Muslims want to harm Americans who supported their quest for freedom? Why would they attack a country that sends billions of dollars in aid to their countries?
The answer lies in the Quran and Hadith. Muslims believe that anyone who rejects Allah as the only true god is an infidel or kaffir. Islam's holiest books, the Quran and Hadith, make clear the punishment for those who refuse Allah.
Sura 9:123 (Quran) "O you who believe, fight those of the unbelievers near you and let them see how harsh you can be. Know that Allah is with the righteous."
Sura 4:89 (Quran) “Seize them (infidels) and slay them wherever you find them: and in any case take no friends or helpers from their ranks.”
And just to be clear about how Mohammed felt about killing infidels he said in the Hadith, a record of his sayings, (vol 9:50), "No Muslim should be killed for killing a Kafir (infidel)."
These three verses are but a small sampling of the admonitions laid down in two of Islam's holiest books. Jesus warned his disciples (Jn 15:18) that "if the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you." And Jn 16:2 says "...yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service."
The fact that the United States and Israel are the target of radical Islam is no accident. Both countries have the largest concentration of Christians and Jews in the world. The Quran paints a bulls eyes on Christianity and Judaism as these verses demonstrate:
Sura 5:51 (Quran) : “O you who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors: they are but friends and protectors to each other. And he among you that turns to them for friendship is of them.”
From the Hadith: "The last hour will not come before the Muslims fight the Jews and the Muslims kill them, so that Jews will hide behind stones and trees and the Stone and the tree will say, O Muslim, O servant of God! There is a Jew behind me; come and kill him. The only exception will be the box-thorn for it is one of the trees of the Jews."
Is it any wonder why terrorists who murder Americans and Jews are celebrated as heroes? Granted the majority of Muslims do not share these beliefs. But millions do. And these are the people on your screen who are attacking the embassies, these are the people largely responsible for the approximately 160,000 Christians martyred last year.
My novel, The Christ Virus, is a story set in the near future that asks the question: what if the target of radical Islam became Christians and America's churches? In light of the recent news, it's a question worth asking. You can learn more about The Christ Virus by visiting thechristvirus.com.
Friday, August 3, 2012
When Right is Wrong and Wrong is Right
The Bible forewarned that in the last days perilous times will come, when men will no longer tolerate the truth. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 2 Timothy 4:3-4
My friends that time is upon us.
The headline of a recent editorial in USA Today underscores this fact: Boy Scouts' anti-gay policy teaches wrong lesson. Here's a short excerpt from the article:
Greater acceptance of equal rights for gays and lesbians has been one of the hallmark achievements of recent U.S. history. Most organizations have adopted anti-discrimination policies that include sexual orientation. The public barely blinks an eye at openly gay politicians and entertainers. Just last year, the U.S. military dropped its "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Seven states have legalized same-sex marriage, and the president of the United States has endorsed it.
Standing athwart this trend is the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), which announced this month that it will continue its policy of excluding gay and lesbian members and leaders. An 11-member panel concluded that exclusion is "absolutely the best policy" for the more than century-old organization.
Talk about out of step.
The 2.7 million member BSA preaches kindness, loyalty and bravery, and its oath urges Scouts "to help other people at all times." Yet intolerance of gays and lesbians apparently overrides these values....the Boy Scouts of America has thrown its lot with a dwindling band of groups that place a higher premium on discrimination.
Sadly, the article is correct in stating that the public barely blinks an eye at openly gay politicians and entertainers. A recent Gallup poll revealed that 68% of Americans would vote for a gay president.
Bravo to the BSA organization for being out of step. We should all be out of step and remember that just because our culture declares homosexuality, abortion, and pre-marital sex acceptable, doesn't change the fact that they're sinful. Our values are defined by God, not man.
We need to stand with the BSA and Chick-Fil-A and all people who cherish God's commandments. We have not been given a spirit of fear but of power. Ben Parker in Spiderman said, with great power comes great responsibility. The power of the Holy Spirit in you can accomplish great things, but you must be unafraid to stand for Christ.
Be a strong man of God. And remember, be proud to be a member of the dwindling band called Christians.
My friends that time is upon us.
The headline of a recent editorial in USA Today underscores this fact: Boy Scouts' anti-gay policy teaches wrong lesson. Here's a short excerpt from the article:
Greater acceptance of equal rights for gays and lesbians has been one of the hallmark achievements of recent U.S. history. Most organizations have adopted anti-discrimination policies that include sexual orientation. The public barely blinks an eye at openly gay politicians and entertainers. Just last year, the U.S. military dropped its "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Seven states have legalized same-sex marriage, and the president of the United States has endorsed it.
Standing athwart this trend is the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), which announced this month that it will continue its policy of excluding gay and lesbian members and leaders. An 11-member panel concluded that exclusion is "absolutely the best policy" for the more than century-old organization.
Talk about out of step.
The 2.7 million member BSA preaches kindness, loyalty and bravery, and its oath urges Scouts "to help other people at all times." Yet intolerance of gays and lesbians apparently overrides these values....the Boy Scouts of America has thrown its lot with a dwindling band of groups that place a higher premium on discrimination.
Sadly, the article is correct in stating that the public barely blinks an eye at openly gay politicians and entertainers. A recent Gallup poll revealed that 68% of Americans would vote for a gay president.
Bravo to the BSA organization for being out of step. We should all be out of step and remember that just because our culture declares homosexuality, abortion, and pre-marital sex acceptable, doesn't change the fact that they're sinful. Our values are defined by God, not man.
We need to stand with the BSA and Chick-Fil-A and all people who cherish God's commandments. We have not been given a spirit of fear but of power. Ben Parker in Spiderman said, with great power comes great responsibility. The power of the Holy Spirit in you can accomplish great things, but you must be unafraid to stand for Christ.
Be a strong man of God. And remember, be proud to be a member of the dwindling band called Christians.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Seeds of Second Bowl Judgment Being Sown?
In Revelation 16:3 the Lord discloses that one judgment the world will suffer during the tribulation is the destruction of all aquatic life.
"Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died."
Two catastrophic events to the world's oceans have occurred in less than a year: the BP oil spill and most recently, the release of more than 11,000 tons of radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean. The immediate effects of both are difficult to determine, but scientists are quite certain the long term effects will be devastating.
God created a unique balance of life in the oceans of the world. Destroy part of the food chain and the effects ripple to the top. According to a recent article about the BP oil spill much of the critical life along the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico near the spill was destroyed. Animals such as sea cucumbers, invertebrate worms, and corals to name a few are gone.
No doubt the oceans are resilient. God designed them to be. But how much more of man's abuse can they sustain before the damage is irreversible?
To read more visit the following web sites:
http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110412/full/472145a.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12520630
"Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died."
Two catastrophic events to the world's oceans have occurred in less than a year: the BP oil spill and most recently, the release of more than 11,000 tons of radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean. The immediate effects of both are difficult to determine, but scientists are quite certain the long term effects will be devastating.
God created a unique balance of life in the oceans of the world. Destroy part of the food chain and the effects ripple to the top. According to a recent article about the BP oil spill much of the critical life along the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico near the spill was destroyed. Animals such as sea cucumbers, invertebrate worms, and corals to name a few are gone.
No doubt the oceans are resilient. God designed them to be. But how much more of man's abuse can they sustain before the damage is irreversible?
To read more visit the following web sites:
http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110412/full/472145a.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12520630
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
The Beginning of Sorrows
Jesus warned of a time when the world will be besieged with war, famine, pestilence, and earthquakes. The scripture in Matthew 24:6-8 could have been ripped from today's headlines. Did you know there are currently 27 wars being fought throughout the world, not including the uprisings in the Middle East?
Food prices are at an all-time high which has driven 44 million people into poverty, according to a recent article in The Week.
Several strains of bacteria are penicillin resistant. The world also has little to no defense against the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus.
And four of the last ten largest earthquakes ever recorded have occurred in the last seven years. These disasters combined have killed more than half-a-million people.
But the comforting news is these catastrophes are signs to alert the church of the Lord's return. He is coming soon! They are also a wake-up call to shake the world's complacency.
Food prices are at an all-time high which has driven 44 million people into poverty, according to a recent article in The Week.
Several strains of bacteria are penicillin resistant. The world also has little to no defense against the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus.
And four of the last ten largest earthquakes ever recorded have occurred in the last seven years. These disasters combined have killed more than half-a-million people.
But the comforting news is these catastrophes are signs to alert the church of the Lord's return. He is coming soon! They are also a wake-up call to shake the world's complacency.
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