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"Feed My Lambs"

3/11/2016

The bedside clock read 4:24 am last time I looked. I had lain awake for quite some time. When I awakened again, just after 7:00 it was with these words: "Feed My Lambs." The words somehow evoked images of a dream that visited me just before waking. I dreamed of a lamb. It was not a healthy, fluffy lamb like "Pepper," in the photo, left. Rather it was still wet, evidently abandoned at birth. There was no ewe in sight. Hungry and too weak to stand, I could see the life ebbing from her. I madly searched for something to feed her. In the absence of commercial milk-replacement, I blended some ingredients together, desperate to offer life-giving nourishment. At last I held a bottle to her little muzzle and she drank, frail but eagerly.

Then came the words, "Feed My Lambs," (John 21:15) as well as two other verses:

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." (Hosea 4:6)
and
"Where there is no vision, the people perish." (Proverbs 29:18)

I reflect and realize it is far too easy to be drawn into the rabid and ruthless mayhem of political jousting, while the real battle rages around us, unseen:

            "We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against
               the authorities,   against the cosmic powers over this present darkness,
                           against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."
                                                                (Ephesians 6:12)

                                                                          *******

                                                      "Feed My Lambs!"
He has my attention now. I turn to John, chapter 21...

We see the disciples at daybreak, by the Sea of Tiberias, bewildered and discouraged. They had stepped out in faith, responding to these simple words:

                                    "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."

These fishermen had left their nets, spending the next three years walking with Jesus, learning from Him, trusting Him. Then an unimaginable nightmare overshadowed their hopes and dreams...this Innocent One they loved was falsely accused and put to death.

                                          "I'm going fishing." Peter said, disillusioned.

The others followed, but now it is morning and their nets are empty. Sad and sleepy, they are startled by a familiar Voice:

"Cast the net on the right side of the boat and you will find some!"

Hearing His voice, Peter took off his outer garments and threw himself into the sea. The rest of the disciples followed in the boat, dragging the net full of fish. When they had finished breakfast (fresh fish?), Jesus said to Simon Peter:
                                     "Do you love me more than these?"

Peter responded:
                                           "Yes Lord, you know that I love you!"

Jesus said to him,
                                     "Feed my lambs."

Peter took the Shepherd's challenge seriously. It would earn him the privilege of imprisonment, torture, and eventual death by crucifixion on an upside-down cross...Though grieved by various trials, he celebrated rebirth into a living hope and looked forward to an unfading, imperishable inheritance. Peter did not shrink from speaking the Truth. He knew the eternal fate of countless souls was at stake. He spoke of Jesus being both a 'Cornerstone' and a 'Stumbling Block.' Jesus is a 'stumbling block' for all who refuse to believe and/or disobey the word. (1 Peter 2:8)

This morning I was reminded to take seriously these words: "Feed My Lambs." People are
going to their destruction for lack of knowledge...perishing for the lack of vision. In my studies of the first verses in John Chapter One this week, the Lord gave me two 'parables.'

                                 "In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.
         The Light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not comprehended it."
                                                                   (John 1:4)

I offer these two simple parables in hope that they might offer sustenance to a few hungry lambs. Soli Deo Gloria.

The Parable of a Man Born Blind

There was once a man who had been blind from birth. He lived his entire life, from daybreak to daybreak, in complete darkness. Though many tried to describe the beauty of his surroundings (for he lived in part of the world known for its spectacular beauty), he simply could not comprehend or imagine what was described to him. He had heard it said that the sky was blue...but he could not picture 'sky'...and had no frame of reference for 'blue' or any other color for that matter. One day he visits his doctor for a routine examination. The kind, old physician was bubbling with excitement! It seems a surgical procedure has been developed which is proving 100% successful in curing the patient's form of blindness! The blind man's heart soars at the thought! He considers the possibilities...but fearing the unknown, refuses the treatment,
choosing to live out his days in utter darkness.

The Parable of Lechuguilla Cave

There was once was a young woman who was born destitute. She was certainly loved, and usually had enough to eat, but as the family struggled, there were very few material blessings to enjoy. She learned to read at a young age, and soon enjoyed travelling beyond her humble surroundings in her imagination, as she read of far away places. As fate would have it, the death of a distant, and childless relative brought an unexpected inheritance! The fortune would allow her to visit those places she had only seen in her mind's eye! Quick to make travel plans, she soon arrived at her first destination, Lechuguilla Cave, in New Mexico. It is the seventh longest cave in the world, known for its rare and beautiful geological features. She knew there to be twenty-foot 'gypsum chandeliers', fifteen foot 'soda straws,'
'cave pearls,' 'hydromagnesite balloons'...incredible, subterranean wonders unseen by most. She arrived at the entrance of the cave. While she was filled with anticipation, she was suddenly terrified at the prospect of entering.

"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few."
(Matthew 7:14)

1 Comment

A Different Voice

3/3/2016

3 Comments

There is no underestimating the tumult in my spirit these days. Most days I manage to walk in faith and confidence...but my jumbled-jigsaw dreams at night expose the deeper reality...

I feel like this little boat, adrift in a sea of uncertainty. When my guard is down, when I have set aside my shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit, the enemy takes aim. He knows my soft underbelly...and takes advantage of my weakness. Doubts begin to emerge from the shadows of my consciousness. Remarks of well-meaning friends and family haunt me...'It's not NORMAL to pack up and move to another country at your age!'

Lord, have we heard you incorrectly? Have we misunderstood? Did we distort Your Word??? Have we left everyone and everything we have ever known because of some sinister deception?

I could go on. I purpose to take comfort in remembering our story, reminding myself that we did not initiate this move, and that 'ALL things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.' He knows our hearts...that our only goal has been obedience to His voice...

How full of grace and mercy He is! The Lord knew that I needed reassurance this morning. I needed to know that we are not the only ones hearing the message. I hope and pray that this letter (addressed to Steve Quayle) from a 'Different Voice', a retired Brigadier General will speak to you as well.
Soli Deo Gloria

Hi Steve,

Please put this in the “I need to get his off my chest” category. I know you know most (if not all) of this, but I believe, as a somewhat recently retired US Army General, I have an obligation to put this out there.

We have all heard it said that generals are always fighting the last war. I did not find that true during my military career. In fact, I found the opposite. There were many exceptionally smart men and women who strained to look through fog, into the future, in anticipation of what would come next. The problem is, this is extremely difficult to do.

Do you think post-World War II (and to some extent post-Korean War) planners could have envisioned the Viet Nam War?

Do you think the post-Vietnam planners could have foreseen kicking in doors in Afghanistan and Iraq?

What do you think post Afghanistan/Iraq planners are envisioning next?

As you know, the Pentagon has war plans for multiple contingencies….along with concomitant branches and sequels. Some predict total war, but those plans rarely see the public eye. With today’s technologies and weaponry, it is too difficult to fathom that any nation would go down this path. Besides, anyone in a position of power, who publicly predicted such a war--- and urged immediate preparation-- would likely see his/her career end rather quickly.

Yet sadly, history would indicate total war is the most likely next outcome.

Those who fought the last total war, (World War II) have mostly passed. Those who remain have seen their voices grow dim. We are now in the fourth generation from World War II…and all current US generations have come to believe the following about war:

· Wars are protracted affairs that can last a decade or more.
· Wars are low-level conflicts.
· Wars do not affect the general populace of the US. (We bomb others, they don’t bomb us.)
· Only a few are needed to prosecute a war. (Currently, less than one half of one percent of our population have served in the military.)
· War is good for economy.
· The status quo is maintained regardless of war’s outcome.
· God is on our side.

If history is any guide, all of the above beliefs will be shattered during the next war.

Steve, there are historical “war cycles.” Not every war can be total (WW II), or a stand-off (Korea), or swiftly-victorious-but-without change (Desert Storm), or indecisive (Vietnam/Iraq/Afghanistan). There is a rhyme and rhythm to human conflict and we are on course for total war. Strauss and Howe to an excellent job of explaining such cycles in their 1997 classic book, The Fourth Turning.

With that said, I believe the next war will:

· Last only 2-3 weeks.
· Be a high-level conflict where more people will die than in all previous wars combined.
· See the general US population targeted (and stunned) at the devastation.
· Affect everyone—not just those in uniform.
· Decimate the economy. Those not killed directly will struggle to survive post-hostilities.
· Destroy the status quo and usher in a new order.
· Make manifest that God is no longer on our side. We chose to abandon Him, so He honored our free will.

The reality is, Americans have not fared well at the beginning of most wars. We get caught off-guard, stumble, and suffer casualties we should not suffer. Our strength is in our ability to recover and adapt. As a people---and as a military—we have proven ourselves able to adjust “on the fly” and overcome overwhelming odds.

This trait is not lost on our enemies. Their solution? Win before we can adjust. Attack so hard and so fast, we cannot get up. The Japanese had this idea at Pearl Harbor, but did not have the means to execute the strategy. Today’s weapons/technology allow for such a strategy to be successful.

The difficulty for most American leaders is that they have been brought up to believe there is a linear path to things such as civilization’s progress, economic growth, cultural achievement, technological advancement, military improvement, and so on. Yet, this has never been the case. Things cycle. The ancients knew this. Our founding fathers knew this.

Linear thinking is a relatively new mindset…fueled and reinforced in large part by the industrial and technological revolutions. And, while the material achievements have been amazing, and seemingly straight up, the human condition has not changed. Like everything in nature, human behavior cycles.

(As an aside, the Romans also believed technological advances were linear and destined to grow to the sky. Yet, after the Empire fell, Europe forgot how to make concrete for over 700 years. When Rome fell, knowledge was lost in the areas of health care, architecture, hygiene, plumbing, engineering, etc. This knowledge was not recovered until centuries later. Thus, even technology cycles, if you look back far enough.)

The point is, among other things, industrial and technological advances have reinforced a false belief-system that past is prologue….despite overwhelming historical evidence to the contrary. The result is, we are careening down a destructive path that many Americans can “feel”, but cannot articulate.

This is not intended as fear mongering…there is plenty of non-substantiated nonsense out there. As hard as this is to write, however, there is substantial evidence to indicate total war is on the horizon. I believe future historians will look back and say, “How could they have not seen the path they were on?”

Your website has offered many solutions re what people should do. Your recent prepper articles have been outstanding. Of course, the best way to live through total war is to not participate. Given this, what can the average American do?

· Leave the battlefield, which in total war, is the entire nation. Go south of the equator.
· If you can’t leave the country, leave the urban areas.
· Prepare as best you can for the war and its aftermath.
· Get right with God.
· Be attuned to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. The early Christians were told via visions, dreams, & prophets to flee before the Romans sacked the city in 70 AD.

There is another issue. Your readers are going to have to make a judgment call as to whether the next war is a “God’s judgment war”. If you determine in the affirmative, then your bravery, good intentions, self-sacrifice, and noble deeds will be in vain. You will not be fighting a foreign foe. You will be fighting His will. You will lose. And please, do not fall into the trap that “at least we are better than the other guys”. The Egyptians, Assyrians, and Babylonians were not saints, yet God use them to judge ancient Israel and Judah.

Thankfully Steve, you get it…and have gotten it for a long time. You are trying to save lives, both in the physical and the eternal. I am merely adding my voice to yours. I hope this small contribution will convince those who are on the fence to recognize the current situation and take appropriate action.

Is there hope? Of course…but it would require repentance and revival on scale we have not seen for a long time in the US. Fast and pray.

Your friend in Christ

Greg
BG, Retired

3 Comments

"Feed My Lambs"

A Different Voice

Anne Reitzug

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