History is Hiring

LAUS DEO

Do you know what it means?

One detail that is never mentioned is that in Washington, D.C. there can never be a building of greater height than the Washington Monument.

With all the uproar about removing the ten commandments, etc., this is worth a moment or two of your time. I was not aware of this amazing historical information.

On the aluminum cap, atop the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., are displayed two words: Laus Deo.

No one can see these words. In fact, most visitors to the monument are totally unaware they are even there and for that matter, probably couldn’t care less.

Once you know Laus Deo’s history, you will want to share this with everyone you know. These words have been there for many years; they are 555 feet, 5.125 inches high, perched atop the monument, facing skyward to the Father of our nation, overlooking the 69 square miles which comprise the District of Columbia, capital of the United States of America.

Laus Deo! Two seemingly insignificant, unnoticed words. Out of sight and, one might think, out of mind, but very meaningfully placed at the highest point over what is the most powerful city in the most successful nation in the world.

So, what do those two words, in Latin, composed of just four syllables and only seven letters, possibly mean? Very simply, they say ‘ Praise be to God!’

Though construction of this giant obelisk began in 1848, when James Polk was President of the United States , it was not until 1888 that the monument was inaugurated and opened to the public. It took twenty-five years to finally cap the memorial with a tribute to the Father of our nation, Laus Deo ‘Praise be to God!’

From atop this magnificent granite and marble structure, visitors may take in the beautiful panoramic view of the city with its division into four major segments. From that vantage point, one can also easily see the original plan of the designer, Pierre Charles l’Enfant…a perfect cross imposed upon the landscape, with the White House to the north. The Jefferson Memorial is to the south, the Capitol to the east and the Lincoln Memorial to the west

A cross you ask? Why a cross? What about separation of church and state? Yes, a cross; separation of church and state was not, is not, in the Constitution. So, read on. How interesting and, no doubt, intended to carry a profound meaning for those who bother to notice.

Praise be to God! Within the monument itself are 898 steps and 50 landings. As one climbs the steps and pauses at the landings the memorial stones share a message.

When the cornerstone of the Washington Monument was laid on July 4th, 1848 deposited within it were many items including the Holy Bible presented by the Bible Society. Praise be to God! Such was the discipline, the moral direction, and the spiritual mood given by the founder and first President of our unique republic ‘One Nation, Under God.‘

I am awed by Washington’s prayer for America. Have you ever read it? Well, now is your unique opportunity, so read on!

‘Almighty God; We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection; that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government; and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large.. And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.‘

Laus Deo!

When one stops to observe the inscriptions found in public places all over our nation’s capitol, he or she will easily find the signature of God, as it is unmistakably inscribed everywhere you look. You may forget the width and height of ‘Laus Deo ‘, its location, or the architects but no one who reads this will be able to forget its meaning, or these words: ‘Unless the Lord builds the house its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.‘ (Psalm 127: 1)

Thanks for reading,

Patrick Judah

p.s. this article was not written by me

Prayer has been a powerful, long lasting belief of our Forefathers and of the people of our Country!

Weather or not a “day of prayer” is nationally recognized by today’s “leaders”, it will always be A WAY OF LIFE for those that truly understand the beginnings of this nation and the favor and grace that have been bestowed to this great nation by our loving Father and Creator.  Prayer is the language that the Lord has blessed His people with to communicate and to receive guidance and wisdom.  The fact that this nation is questioning one day of recognizing the importance of prayer shows us that WE THE PEOPLE need to stand strong in these days and pray for our nation and leaders EVERY DAY!

Let us reflect on some of the days and  words from our founding fathers in regards to the importance of prayer and this nation:

April 15, 1775 John Hancock: A Day of Pubic Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer

“…to confess the sins…to implore the Forgiveness of all our Transgressions…and a blessing on the Husbandry, Manufactures, and other lawful Employments of this People; and especially that the union of the American Colonies in Defense of their Rights (for hitherto we desire to thank Almighty GOD) may be preserved and confirmed….And that AMERICA may soon behold a gracious Interposition of Heaven.”

March 16th, 1776 Continental Congress: Appointed Day of Fasting and Prayer for Colonies

“The Congress….Desirous…to have people of all ranks and degrees duly impressed with a solemn sense of God’s superintending providence, and of their duty, devoutly to rely…on his aid and direction…”

July 9, 1776 Continental Congress: Ringing of the “Liberty Bell” to establish prayer as a daily part of the new nation.

IT’S TIME TO RING THE BELL AGAIN!!!

March 6th 1799 President John Adams: Day of Solemn Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer

“That they call to mind our numerous offenses against the most high God, confess them before Him with the sincerest penitence, implore his pardoning mercy, through the Great Mediator and Redeemer, for our past transgressions, and that through the grace of His Holy Spirit, we may be disposed and enabled to yield a more suitable obedience to his righteous requisitions in time to come.”

October 18th, 1780 Continental Congress: Proclamation for a Day of Public Thanksgiving and Prayer

“That all the people may assemble on that day to celebrate the praises of our Divine Benefactor; to confess our unworthiness of the least of his favours, and to offer our fervent supplications to the God of all grace…to cause the knowledge of Christianity to spread over all the earth.”

March 4, 1805 Thomas Jefferson: A National Prayer for Peace

“…Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way.  Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitude brought hither out of many kindred’s and tongues.  Endow with Thy spirit of wisdom those to whom in Thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that through obedience to Thy law, we may show forth Thy praise among the nations of the earth.  In time of prosperity fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in Thee to fail; all of which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.”

September 26, 1861 Abraham Lincoln: National Day of Prayer and Fasting

“…It is peculiarly fit for us to recognize the hand of God in this terrible visitation, and in sorrowful remembrance of our own faults and crimes as a nation and as individuals, to humble ourselves before Him and to pray for His mercy…that the inestimable boon of civil and religious liberty, earned under His guidance and blessing by the labors and sufferings of our fathers, may be restored.”

March 30, 1863 President Abraham Lincoln: Proclamation Appointing a National Fast day

“We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven.  We have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity.  We have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown.  But we have forgotten God.  We have forgotten the gracious Hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own.  Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us!”

January 25, 1988 Congress of United States: National Day of Prayer

“Let us, young and old, join together, as did the First Continental Congress, in the first step-humble, heartfelt prayer.  Let us do so for the Love of God and His great goodness, in search of His guidance and the grace of repentance, in seeking His blessings, His peace, and the resting of His kind and holy hands on ourselves, our Nation, our friends in the defense of freedom, and all mankind, now and always.” President Reagan

“From General Washington’s struggle at Valley Forge to the present, this Nation has fervently sought and received divine guidance as it pursued the course of history. This occasion provides our Nation with an opportunity to further recognize the source of our blessings, and to seek His help for the challenges we face today and in the future.” President Reagan

We have been called to these days, FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS! May the wrongs of this nation drive us to our knees in prayer for the Will of the Father to be established here on earth as it is in heaven.  One voice, one heart, one spirit; crying out to the Father for His LOVE to breakout and for His LIGHT to breakthrough!


Thanks for reading,


Patrick Judah

p.s. Other related articles:


http://www.ihop.org/Publisher/Article.aspx?ID=1000066807


http://blog.ihop.org/general/national-day-of-prayer-opening-letter-from-mike-bickle-lou-engle-brian-kim/


http://nationaldayofprayer.org/ , http://nationaldayofprayer.org/about/history/


Sources: America’s God and Country: Encyclopedia Of Quotations, Wikipedia

Now that the celebration week of Saint Patrick is over and his name has quickly been forgotten by those that see it as just another day, allow me to finish the third part of my research on the Saint…not the Day.  For those of you that are just tuning in, check out my last two post to get caught up!

http://historyishiring.com/the-saint-not-the-day/

http://historyishiring.com/a-dream-that-changed-history/

The year is 432 A.D. and St. Patrick and his small entourage just landed on the shores of Ireland.  Upon arrival the team of strangers to the land were spotted and confronted by chief master, Dichu.  Not only was Dichu’s Patrick’s first contact, he was his host, FIRST CONVERT, and he also gave Patrick his barn for a church! That should give you an idea of how powerful God was working through Patrick from the start!

Of course this was only the beginning.  Patrick was extremely bold and passionate about his message of the GOSPEL and he took it directly to the top pagans and druids with a daring statement!  It was the eve of Easter (March 24^th according to the calendars of their time) when Laoghaire, High King of Ireland, was also celebrating an ancient druidic ritual and festival with the people from the land.  It was a sacred lighting of a fire said to symbolize the “resurrection of the life-giving sun from the winter’s death”.  So on that eve this WAS to be the first fire lit from the royal hill.  St. Patrick and his team had other plans; they strategically posted up on the hill across from the royal hill and camped out until the darkness came.   It was in this darkness when St. Patrick lit up a flame that challenged and defied all that the druids stood for!  This defying flame was seen by the king and all the druids and enraged them.  The account told by Muirchu (7th Century biographer)

“And St. Patrick was called to the king outside the place where the fire had been kindled.  And the magicians said to their people, “let us not rise up at the approach of this fellow; for whosoever rises up at the approach of this fellow will afterwards believe in him and worship him.”

At last Patrick rose; and when he saw their many chariots and horses, he came to them, singing with voice and heart, very appropriately, the following verse of the Psalmist:  “Some put their trust in chariots and some in horses; but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God.”  They, however, did not rise at his approach.  But only one, helped by the Lord, who willed not to obey the words of the magicians, rose up.  This was Ercc, the son of Daig, whose relics are now venerated in the city called Slane.  And Patrick blessed him; and he believed in the everlasting God.

And when they began to parley with one another, the second magician, named Lochru, was insolent in the Saint’s presence, and had the audacity, with swelling words to disparage the Catholic faith.  As he uttered such things, St. Patrick regarded him with a stern glance, as Peter once looked on Simon; and powerfully, with a loud voice, he confidently addressed the Lord and said, “O Lord, Who canst do all things, and in Whose power all things hold together, and who hast sent me hither-as for this impious man who blasphemes Thy name, let him now be taken out of this and die speedily.”  And when he had spoken thus, the magician was caught up into the air, and then let fall from above, and, his skull striking on a rock, he was dashed to pieces and killed before their faces; and the heathen folk were dismayed.”

St. Patrick knew that he had to bring this message of love and power to the top.  I believe it was displayed in a very eye opening way with this encounter that was just described.  After gaining this type of attention from the head of the land St. Patrick continued to spread the gospel through out the rest of the land.  If the kings or leaders of a tribe were not converted on the spot, he would get access for him and his team to set up camp near the people of the village.  It was here where they were able to organize a “community” center.  The team would then engage with the village people through conversation, ministry, prayer, preaching, as well as the visual arts.  The Irish people are very well known for their visual arts, this was one of the things that Patrick was able to pick up on in his time as a slave.  The ministry team would spend weeks to months in a place until they felt led by the Lord to build a Church.  St. Patrick would baptize and disciple the converts in this time and raise them up.  Patrick and his team would go from tribe to tribe doing this same thing.  They would often leave behind one of his disciples to pastor one of the newly established churches and the cycle would continue!

Mind you in this time, the successors of the bishops that sent St. Patrick on this mission to Ireland were not rejoicing in all the good news that was being shared. No, they were angered that he was spending priority time with the “barbarians”, “sinners”, and “pagans”! Of course this happened to Jesus as well.

(Croagh Patrick, St. Patrick spent 40 days of fasting on this mountain in prayer for the people of Ireland)

The reason St. Patrick was so successful in his mission was because of his apostolic approach, it was more of a movement than an institution. His ministry was set up in a way to convert whole tribe’s not just individuals.  Because of his “mission stations” the faith was more caught than taught.  It is said that he baptized many thousands of people in his time as well as planting nearly 700 churches and ordaining close to 1,000 priests! With his strong mission movement St. Patrick was able to convert about 30-40 if not more, of the 150 tribes in Ireland!  Patrick also preached against slavery and was able to see the end of the Irish slave trade in his time.

Remember these “barbarians” that no one wanted to approach?  Do you have any one in you life that you look at as impossible to reach?  May the life of St. Patrick inspire you and show you that nothing is impossible with the Living God.  His ministry lasted 28 years, but because the model that he left, many were able to be saved years later.

Irish Prayer:

Three folds of the cloth, yet only one napkin is there,

Three joints in the finger, but still only one finger fair;

Three leaves of the shamrock, yet no more than one shamrock to wear,

Frost, snow-flakes and ice, all in water their origin share,

Three Persons in God, to one God alone we make prayer.

Well with that being said, I will be going on my FIRST MISSIONS TRIP TOMORROW!  My wife and I will be going to Mexicali with our church for a week!  I am really excited and can’t wait to serve and minister the good news! Pray for us this week.

God Bless,

Patrick Judah

p.s. check out this IHOP St. Patrick’s celebration! http://www.ihop.org/Articles/1000047198/International_House_of/Resources/IHOP_KC_Video/Home_Page/Misc/St_Patricks_Day.aspx

Source:  The Celtic Way of Evangelism: How Christianity Can Reach the West…Again – George G. Hunter III

Source:  Sixteen Centuries With Ireland’s Patron Saint Patrick- Alice-Boyd Proudfoot

“It was a dream that changed the HISTORY of the man, and with him changed also the HISTORY of a whole people.” Alice-Boyd Proudfoot, Sixteen Centuries with Ireland’s Patron Saint

“And there verily I saw in the night visions a man whose name was Victoricus coming as it were from Ireland with countless letters.  And he gave me one of them, and I read the beginning of the letter, which was entitled, ‘The Voice of the Irish’; and while I was reading aloud the beginning of the letter, I thought that at that very moment I heard the voice of them who lied beside the wood of Foclath which is nigh unto the Western sea.  And thus they cried, as with one mouth, ‘We appeal to you, holy servant boy, to come and walk among us.’  And I was exceedingly broken in heart, and could read no further.  And so I awoke.”

“And another night, weather within me or beside me, I cannot tell, God knoweth, in most admirable words which I heard and could not understand, except that at the end of the prayer he thus affirmed, ‘He Who laid down His life for thee, he it is Who speaketh in thee,’  And so I awoke, rejoicing.”

What a profound and direct dream! This was obviously a call from God.  Patrick received this dream a little while after his return from Ireland, where he was once held captive as a youth.  Now it was clear in this dream that God was calling him back to this same place to spread the Gospel! There is a quote by John W Gardner that says,

“HISTORY never looks like history when you are living through it.”

I couldn’t imagine Patrick, at the age of 16, being able to make any sense of his captivity to a strange land.  I’m sure at the time he was questioning God as to why he was taken from his family and stuck with tending sheep by some taskmaster.  I know that in my last post (The Saint, Not the Day Pt. 1) I stated that Patrick did find God and hear from God in this time, but when you’re stuck being a slave it doesn’t look you’re making HISTORY! After receiving the dream it is obvious that God had Patrick in that season for a reason.  During Patrick’s captivity he was able understand the Irish Celtic people as well as pick up on their language and culture.  Sounds like God knew what He was doing.

It is said that there was a 14 year span between the times Patrick received the dream to the time he landed on the shores of Ireland in 432 AD.  In this time, St. Patrick was trained up in priesthood while studying the scriptures and eventually becoming a parish priest in England.  Eventually the day drew near when St. Patrick knew that it was time to go. He was consecrated as bishop and was sent on a ship with a small ministry team to the shores of Ireland.

I’m going to save his ministry time in Ireland for my next post, but here are some things to look at.  St. Patrick was HISTORY’S first missionary bishop, and his mission was looked upon as impossible! But what was Patrick’s advantage? He had God on his side, but he also understood the people! Think about it, doctors go to college for six or so years to get training, God put Patrick in the middle of the Irish culture for six years to study and to understand.  There is no shortcut to understanding the people.  Patrick graduated and eventually got hired into is “major” so to speak.  Yes, he was blessed by seeing the fruit of his labors on earth, but waiting for him in heaven were the abundant, eternal riches of Heaven!

See you next time,

Patrick Judah

Source:  The Celtic Way of Evangelism: How Christianity Can Reach the West…Again – George G. Hunter III

Source:  Sixteen Centuries With Ireland’s Patron Saint Patrick- Alice-Boyd Proudfoot

“The Lord opened the understanding of my unbelieving heart, so that I should recall my sins.” St. Patrick

Because this week is celebrated in memory of St. Patrick, this will be the first of three articles of the Saint’s life.  Consider this a, “mystic of the month BONUS” for those of you that follow the site.  In this post I will cover Ireland before Saint Patrick and Patrick before his Sainthood. To start I would like to clear up some things related to the day of Saint Patrick that have nothing to do with the man of God or his amazing ministry.

If you think you know all about St. Patrick, let’s get one thing straight…Saint Patrick was not Irish! I know it sounds crazy, so if you thought he was, you might get more out of this article than you expected!

Have you ever thought about why there are no other Saint “days” observed (not counting St. Valentine), what makes Saint Patrick so special as to have his own feast and celebration day? If you can answer that, I would then like to ask why this day is observed in places across the world?  Now, here in a America I’ve “celebrated” St. Patrick’s day just like most Americans…using it as another excuse to get wasted by slamming down “Irish Car Bombs”.  Yes, in the name of a saint that I thought I knew all about!  I thought he was all about: The color green, Guinness n Baileys’ Irish Cream, shamrocks, leprechauns, and casting out snakes…I was wrong!

Let us take a look at Ireland before St. Patrick arrived.  The land was filled with a variety of Celtic “clans” that were very prideful, which caused a 1,000 year war between the clans and kingdoms of that territory.  Each clan was fierce on its own, but they were never able to unify in order to advance against Rome.  One way to look at it came from a zoologist:

“A tiger will defeat a lion in battle; but five lions will defeat five tigers because the lions fight together and the tigers do not, so the five lions take on one tiger at a time.”1

The Celtic clans were “tigers” fighting the Roman “lions” so to speak.  The Roman army eventually pushed the Celtic clans west, close to their current locations.  The clans grew and prospered individually.  The religion at the time was an animistic polytheism, which worshiped sun and moon as well as natural objects.  The leaders were known as druids; they had white robes, magic wands, and sacrificed their firstborns to the idol, Crom Crauch.  Note that each clan was distinct from one another and they did not do everything the same. To the outside “world”, these Celtic people looked like “barbarians”. This is a point as to why Christianity did not impact Ireland until St. Patrick landed there.  The Roman Church in that day thought a people had to be “civilized” enough before they could be “Christianized”.  It is believed that Christians came to evangelize in Ireland before St. Patrick, such as Palladius who was ordained by Pope Celestine to do so; as well as others that may have been taken captive there.  Of course no one was able to spread the Gospel through Ireland like St. Patrick did.

Now, let us glance at Patrick before he was a Saint in Ireland.  Patrick was born in the village of Bannavem Taberniae (exact location unknown), to a Christian family.  It is said that his father was a deacon, and his grandfather a priest.  With this being said, there is not much known about Patrick’s early family life, but I would guess that he grew up knowing a little bit about the Bible.  When Patrick was sixteen years of age, he was captured by Celtic pirates and taken away to Ireland.  He was then sold to a tribal chief named Miliucc, who put him to work tending his flocks.   Remarkably, it was in this time that Patrick drew near to God. He said in his own writings,

“Now, after I came to Ireland, tending flocks was my daily occupation, and constantly I used to pray in the day time.  Love of God and the fear of Him increased more and more, and faith grew, and the spirit was moved, so that in one day I would say as many as a hundred prayers, and at night nearly as many, so that I used to stay even in the woods and on the mountain to this end.  And before daybreak I used to be roused to prayer, in snow, in frost, in rain; and I felt no hurt, nor was there any sluggishness in me.”2

Sounds like day and night prayer to me!  Then one night after his six years of captivity, he heard the voice of God. “Thou fastest to good purpose, thou who art soon to go to thy fatherland.” Again he heard, “Lo, thy ship is ready.” So at daybreak he took off and eventually found the ship!  At first he talked to the Captain, by offering his service, but in reply he got, “On no account seek to go with us.” Patrick, disappointed started to walk away when he heard them call him back.  The sailors received him saying, “Come, for we will receive thee in good faith; make friends with us in any way thou desirest.” Sounds like some favor to me! So the ship took off and Patrick made his way back to his homeland.

Join me next time as I will be continuing the journey of St. Patrick from his time back “home”, to his exciting missionary trip back to his slave land that he ended up making his lifelong mission field and resting place.  I’ll tell you one thing, his time in slavery was not in vain!

Until next time,

Patrick Judah

Source:  The Celtic Way of Evangelism: How Christianity Can Reach the West…Again – George G. Hunter III

Source:  Sixteen Centuries With Ireland’s Patron Saint Patrick- Alice-Boyd Proudfoot

“Because God has made us for Himself, our hearts are restless until they rest in Him.” St. Augustine

Augustine of Hippo is known as one of the main influences of “Western Christianity” today.  He grew up with a father that was a pagan and a mother that was Catholic.  In his early years he pursued ill doctrine until he was radically “converted”!

Augustine found himself broken and crying out to the Lord; his heart was restless and he was looking for answers.  While he was in this state of brokenness he heard what must have been a child near by saying, “Take up and read; Take up and read.” Augustine explained what took place after in his book of “Confessions” as, “Instantly, my countenance altered, I began to think most intently whether children were wont in any kind of play to sing such words: nor could I remember ever to have heard the like. So checking the torrent of my tears, I arose; interpreting it to be no other than a command from God to open the book, and read the first chapter I should find.”

What chapter was this you might ask? Romans 13:13-14

^“Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.  Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”

Continued in his “Confessions”, “No further would I read; nor needed I: for instantly at the end of this sentence, by a light as it were of serenity infused into my heart, all the darkness of doubt vanished away.”

Have you ever had a scripture impact you in this way?  Look at the transformation that it brought to Augustine; it launched him into his new beginnings in Christ.  As believers in Jesus, shouldn’t we always come to His word this way….DAILY?

Augustine once said, “If you believe what you like in the Gospel, and reject what you don’t like, it is not the Gospel you believe, but yourself.”

Not long after this conversion, Augustine was baptized and within 10 years he was the head bishop in Hippo.  His teachings and theology heavily influenced Protestant reformers such as Martin Luther and John Calvin.  His theological ideas and writings were not perfect, but he brought forth truth in many areas.  His thoughts on the trinity were, “Since on account of their ineffable union these three are together one God, why not also one person.” Which I believe as a mysterious truth that will be revealed in all it’s GLORY soon!!!  I believe Augustine also shed some new light on the topic of Grace by saying, “It is also gratuitous and unmerited in that it is unconditionally given only on the ground of God’s infinite mercy and undeserved favor.” We can not earn His Grace!!!

Again, his teachings and theologies were not perfect…but he definitely brought the course of church HISTORY into a new arena!  Where  is the church going today? Are you going to be apart of it?  I would encourage you to continue to root yourself in the WORD while asking the Holy Spirit to reveal what He is truly saying to His Church!

Remember, “There is no saint without a past, no sinner without a future.” Augustine of Hippo

Go Deeper,

Patrick Judah

(sources: http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Augustine_of_Hippo#Works

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustine_of_Hippo

The “New Mystics” – John Crowder)

Would you still be a Christian if every Church got destroyed?

Would you still be a Christian if all copies of Scriptures were burned?

Would you still be a Christian if it meant you could no longer publicly assemble in fellowship to worship?

Would you still be a Christian if it meant you were deprived of honor and public office?

Would you still be a Christian if it meant you were enslaved or forced to go to jail?

Would you still be a Christian if execution through out the body started?

(Execution meaning: being tormented, strangled, scourged, decapitated, burned alive, yes, MARTYRED!)

Would you still be a Christian if this “great persecution” lasted for 10 years?

On this day, February 23, 303 started the “greatest persecution” of the Christian faith under Emperor Diocletian.

When Diocletian first started his rule, Christians, were encouraged because it was rumored that the emperor’s wife and daughter were believers.  Weather that was true or not, Christians, for the most part lived in a state of peace and prosperity for the first nineteen years of his reign.

After those nineteen years, the way of life for all Christians changed drastically.  Emperor Diocletian decided that religious unity would strengthen his empire.  It was said that Diocletian and Galerius (his son in law) sought advice from an “oracle” that said the “just on earth” hindered Apollo to give advice.  So after hearing this; Diocletian, Galerius, and the members of the court concluded that “the just” must be the Christians of his empire. With this new way of thinking and encouragement from his wicked council, he published three edicts in attempts to secure the Roman religion as the only religion.

On February 23, 303 the first edict stated: All copies of scriptures to be burned, all churches destroyed, property confiscated, and Christian worship to be forbidden.

The second and third edicts were pretty much the beginning of the enslavement, imprisonments, and executions of those that resisted sacrificing to the Roman gods. It was said that the jails were filled with Christians and that the real criminals were removed to create space.

It was declared that everyone in the Roman Empire must sacrifice to the Roman gods.  This lasted all the way up till 313 until Constantine declared an edict of toleration.  As church history goes, the martyrdom of many strengthened and encouraged their Christian brothers and sisters. The result ended in Christianity being the preferred religion under the rule of Constantine.

Well it states in Revelation 13:11, 14-15 that there will be a time when all Christians will be faced with this choice again.  To bow down to a statue and worship it, or die!

We are living in a time that has many choices, ways, distractions, and religions.  But there is ONLY ONE way that brings a life of ETERNITY and that is through the accepting of our Savior, Jesus Christ. It does not say it is the easiest way; will you still be a Christian when…YOU HAVE COUNTED THE COST?

Blessings,

Patrick Judah

(Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diocletian#Great_Persecution and “The One Year Book of Christian History” by E. Michael and Sharon Rusten)

Happy Birthday George Washington!

George Washington, a man full of mystery.  There are many “legends” surrounding our first President of this great nation.  Did he really have four bullet holes in his coat and have two horses shot from underneath him during an attack in the French and Indian War?  Did a chief Indian come up to him 15 years later stating that he and his men fired at him 17 times during that attack but could not hit him…then prophecy that he would “become the chief of nations, and a people yet unborn will hail him as the founder of a mighty empire.”? Did he really “pray” in the winter of 1777 at Valley Forge to the Almighty? Did he also receive a “vision” from an angel about the future of America?  Did he even believe in God?  Well, I’ll let you guys look into that.

In my research and study of our first President of the United States, I found it unbelievable how many people have written George Washington off as just another great leader with no belief or faith in the ONE TRUE GOD!  Now, I know it is easy for HISTORY to be changed by those that research it and write it how they want it to sound.  So, instead of listening to those “historians” I am simply going to quote the “Father of our Country” and those that knew him well.

Nelly Custis Lewis (George Washington’s step granddaughter) shared that,

“His life, his writings, prove that he was a Christian. He was not one of those who act or pray, “That they may be seen of men.” He communed with his God in secret.” In response to Jared Sparks, the author of “The Life of Washington”.

Henry “Light Horse Harry” Lee described George Washington as:

“First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen, he was second to none in humble and enduring scenes of private life. Pious, just, humane, temperate, and sincere; uniform, dignified, and commanding; his example was as edifying to all around him as were the effects of that example lasting…Correct throughout, vice shuddered in his presence and virtue always felt his fostering hand. The purity of his private character gave effulgence to his public virtues…Such was the man for whom our nation mourns.”

George Washington himself said that, “It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible.” George Washington, being the first President inaugurated under the Constitution, took oath of office with his hand on a Bible that was opened to Deuteronomy 28 . At the end of his oath he said, “So help me God” and leaned over and kissed the Bible.

Then Washington said in a portion of his Inaugural Address, “It would be peculiarly improper to omit, in this first official act, my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the universe, [and] who presides in the councils of nations…no people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men more than the people of the United States.  Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency… We ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained…”

On October 3, 1789 George Washington issued a national day of Thanksgiving Proclamation stating, “It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God…Also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions, to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually, to render our national government a blessing to all the People, by constantly being a government of wise, just and constitutional laws…to promote the knowledge and practice of the true religion and virtue…”

So from these words directly from the man himself, in my research and in my “freedom of speech”, can truly say that George Washington was a man of God and a man for God.

Be encouraged:
“If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.” But “Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains taken to bring it to light.” George Washington

Happy Birthday Abraham No Middle Name Lincoln!!!

So here’s a brief overview of Lincoln’s beginnings: Abraham Lincoln was born February 12, 1809 in a one room log cabin in Kentucky, Illinois. His parents, Thomas and Nancy, were farmers.  His mother passed away when he was nine and shortly after his father remarried. Lincoln was known for his height, telling stories, wrestling, and wielding an axe. But in search for something greater he ended up leaving home at 22.  Lincoln got his share of odd jobs and was even the Captain of a voluntary company in the Black Hawk war.  Things started to look up for Lincoln as he was elected to the state legislature in 1834 and soon after he received his license to practice law. By 1838 he was elected for the third time to the legislature.  Did I mention that he only had 18 months of schooling?

Then by 1842 Abraham Lincoln was married to Mary Todd.  They had four children: Robert, Edward, William, and Thomas. Unfortunately Robert was the only child to live to adulthood.  It was said that Abraham loved children, and the loss of his sons was very hard for him to endure.  Abraham Lincoln was elected as the Unites States President in 1860 and inaugurated March 4^th 1861, thus the beginning of the Civil War. President Lincoln was re-elected for a second term in 1864 and the war ended April 9, 1865.  Of course 5 days after the freeing of millions of slaves, Lincoln was assassinated in Ford’s Theater.

So now that you have a rough background of our 16^th President, I would like to share some quotes from him that he addressed, that I believe still stand true today!

First I would like to state that Lincoln was voted in as President in a time when slavery was huge in the US and it was considered “normal”.  Lincoln’s stance from the beginning was strongly against slavery and yet he was still elected President.  I do believe God had raised him up for this time in history.  Lincoln was uneducated and a very unlikely candidate, with a message that angered many men.  His whole time in office was challenged with the Civil War, and yet he did not back down on his beliefs.  Because of his moral stance, he was able to weather the storm and live to see the day of the freeing of millions of slaves!

In a speech at Edwardsville, Illinois:

“Familiarize yourselves with the chains of bondage and you prepare your own limbs to wear them.  Accustomed to trample on the rights of others, you have lost the genius of your own independence and become the fit subjects of the first cunning tyrant who rises among you.”

Regardless of what some might say it obvious that Abraham Lincoln was a man of Faith who put His trust in the Lord.  Here are some words exchanged from Lincoln to his pastor, Rev. Byron Sunderland:

“ The ways of God are mysterious and profound beyond all comprehension-“Who by searching can find Him out?”  God only knows the issue of this business.  He has destroyed nations from the map of history for their sins.  Nevertheless, my hopes prevail generally above my fears for our Republic.  The times are dark, the spirits of ruin are abroad in all their power, and the mercy of God alone can save us.”

On March 30, 1863 President Abraham Lincoln issued a historic Proclamation Appointing a National Fast Day:

“It is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon, and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history: that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord…”

I know that today, in America, there is a new breed of slavery that has been rising up.  It has been creeping its way into many US cities.  This is a business for many men and has become a way of life for many innocent women.  It is known as HUMAN TRAFFICKING.  From the past shared here through the story of Lincoln, we know how horrific this issue of slavery can be on a nation.  Lincoln even stated that the Civil War was a punishment in itself for the sins of the nation.  He said, “And, insomuch as we know that, by His divine law, nations like individuals are subjected to punishments and chastisement in this world, may we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war, which now desolates the land may be but a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole people?”

Thankfully there has been a move against this “modern day slavery” that has brought awareness to our nation and others.  But we the people need to take the stand and hold our ground until we see the freeing of millions of those that have been bought into human trafficking.  How can you help? I think Lincoln had it right by declaring a day of fasting and praying, so let’s start there. Then you can know the truth, take action, and raise awareness.

Here are some websites you can go to, to learn more about HUMAN TRAFFICKING

http://www.exoduscry.com/

http://www.notforsalecampaign.org/

For those of you that have more information on this issue of HUMAN TRAFFICKING please share!

(sources:

http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Abraham_Lincoln.aspx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln

America’s God and Country: Encyclopedia of Quotations)

Thank you for reading!

Patrick Judah

“Whoever has not begun the practice of prayer, I beg for the love of the Lord not to go without so great a good. There is nothing here to fear but only something to desire.”

Saint Teresa of Avila desired to seek God at a very young age.  She loved to learn of the Saints while pursuing a life of prayer and blessing the poor.  At the age of 14 her mother passed and in this lose of a loving and encouraging role model she found herself being distracted with things of the world. She was 14 when these distractions started…at what age are American kids distracted by things of this world?

She was encouraged by her father to enter into a local convent in hopes to rekindle her passion for the Lord.  She fell sick and returned home.  After recovering she knew that she wanted to become a nun and left home against her fathers will to enter into the Incarnation of the Carmelite nuns in Avila.  Again she fell ill (malaria) and experienced tremendous pain and suffering.  Through this time of her illness she was in a coma for three days and was not able to use her legs for three years.

It was in this time of pain and suffering when her prayer life increased to phenomenal levels of ecstasy in the Presence of the Lord.  She spent many hours in meditation with what she called, “prayer of quiet” and the “prayer of union”. These encounters continued to take place even though she never sought after these “mystical experiences”, but kept herself to the will of God and counted the experiences as “divine blessings”.

As you could imagine, many of those around her found her, “experiences”, to be bizarre and not from the Lord.  Regardless, her encounters were revealed from the Lord in her passion and pursuit of constantly going deeper in prayer with the Lord.  History has revealed to us that those with lifestyles of prayer often hear and encounter the Lord in mysterious ways, beyond that of the average believer (if there could be such a thing???).

One vision that Teresa had was described as this, “I saw in his hand a long spear of gold, and at the iron’s point there seemed to be a little fire. He appeared to me to be thrusting it at times into my heart, and to pierce my very entrails; when he drew it out, he seemed to draw them out also, and to leave me all on fire with a great love of God. The pain was so great, that it made me moan; and yet so surpassing was the sweetness of this excessive pain, that I could not wish to be rid of it…”

WHOA!!!  Truly incredible and mind blowing!  “So surpassing was the sweetness of this excessive pain, that I could not wish to be rid of it“??? Think about that!

While St. Teresa continued in this way of unceasing prayer she was also founding convents that focused on this same way of life.  She joined with like-minded “mystic”, John of the Cross and they started reforming the order for men as well.  This new “reform” of the Carmelite order became known as the “Discalced” or barefoot, Carmelites.  Of course her radical lifestyle for the Lord and the influence that she brought into the Catholic sphere was eventually persecuted to the point of her being forced to “retire”.  During these times she also wrote some inspiring books that I hope to read soon, “The Way of Perfection”, “Life” (autobiography), and “The Interior Castle”.

In the midst of the persecution she continued to seek after the Lord, all the while being brought into new levels of trances, levitations, visions, and much more.  She knew that prayer is the place to hear and experience the Lord; so she did that continually, not to receive these things but to get closer to Him!

And I will leave you with this, “Let nothing disturb thee; Let nothing dismay thee; All things pass; God never changes Patience attains All that it strives for. He who has God finds he lacks nothing: God alone suffices.” St. Teresa

(sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teresa_of_Ávila

http://www.karmel.at/eng/teresa.htm )

Stay tuned for next months Mystic: Augustine of Hippo

Thanks for reading,

Patrick Judah