A Knight's Blog

Jesus on mountaintop, Brazil Our spiritual walk soars when we ascend the mountain tops. When the Lord is speaking to us and we have clear direction, our faith is like a flame. That fire is like a great pyre that can be seen for miles. But then as we descend into the Valley of Temptation and Death, our brazier quickly becomes a torch and in turn that torch a tea light candle. We could hear Christ on the mountain, there everything was clear. But in the valley, His voice seems vague and even altogether absent. This is the struggle of the Christian life, we have the dew seasons and the dry seasons. For many new believers this is the great testing. Those who have recently been saved experience the profound presence of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The description is often called "on fire," and the resolve of a new believer is inspiring as well as their impact. Those new to the faith are fearless! But in time the dry spell comes and the true test of their determination. In this

    The Holidays are upon us. During this time of year there are two celebrations that could not be more polar opposite. There is Halloween, which honors death and darkness, and Christmas which celebrates life and light. Halloween traditionally pays tribute to the devil and is an occult and ancient pagan solstice that involves human sacrifice (death). Christmas in stark contrast is the day we as Christians around the world celebrate the Birth (life) of Jesus Christ and involves honoring Him with light. Halloween is a time when people erect ghouls, ghosts, and skeletons. Death permeates everywhere and the griminess of the season is found in grave stones. The object of Halloween is to dress up as favorite character and demand candy at the doors of strangers. If chocolate is not received, traditionally trick-o-treaters are sanctioned to play a trick on the house ranging from toilet paper to rotten eggs. Christmas is the time when people erect trees, lights, and Nativities. Life

  What constitutes backsliding? The term is well known in Church circles. Typically it means going back to a sin you once practiced or sliding back to the person you once were prior to becoming a Christian. Backsliding also means to go back on the new position you have take in your faith. So what becomes of backsliders? Are they the lukewarm who Jesus says he never knew? Back sliding does not remove the love of God. As Romans 8 clearly illustrates, "nothing can separate you from the love of God." (Romans 8:31-39). However, to back slide can mean losing the ground you have taken in the Lord. For those who have conquered in Christ addictions and vices, going back means to fall into the despondency and the detrimental nature you once abandoned. Jesus does not leave you, but it might feel that He is distant. The reason for feeling separated is that you have violated your conscience which is the Holy Spirit and decided to do what your flesh desires instead. The effect of

I recently saw a film about Rich Mullins called Ragamuffin. I grew up listening to Mullins on the radio and via casettes in my mum's car. His music was unique. It was catchy and easy to learn. Songs like "Awesome God," "Step by Step," "Hold Me Jesus," and many others transformed worship. Make no mistake Ragamuffin is heart wretching and heart breaking movie about what it means to follow Jesus. In short, to follow Jesus to have your heart broken by this world. But before I get into that I want to emphasis God's Love. So often as Christian we get caught up in piety and religious ritual. We feel condemned while we try to keep up with being good. The truth, God loves us. He sent his Son, His Son loved us and died for us. The most dangerious doctrine in the Church is perferomance. The idea that if we just dance the right way, talk the right way, listen to the right music, and live perfectly, God will look down and approve of us. Such an idea  h

Often in the West we think of prayer as a petition. A petition to get something we desire or need from the Almighty. While the Good Lord does not turn a deaf ear to our needs; sometimes the answer or what we asked for does not come. We pray for provision, for protection, and for purpose. All noble supplications to our Savior, but what about praying for praying? What if our desperate cries and quiet thoughts are for us? Our soul endures much suffering on this earth. We find dreams dashed and hopes hewn in two. Plans seem to perish when it seemed before us was open doors. In that hour of frustration we can find ourselves praying and asking God "Why?!" This is healthy. In that moment of prayer you purge the soul of It's pain. Yes, making supplication is more than just a request or communicia to Christ. THe very act of uttering words, chanting words, singing, and speaking directly does us spiritual solace. Sometimes it is not important what the answer from Above is, but

Since Tim Layhaye and Jerry Jekins started their books series Left Behind, there has been a resurgency of interest in the Rapture. The term Rapture is never found in the Bible. It was coined by a prophetess who said that Jesus Christ will have a First and Second Return. According to this woman Jesus comes back for the elect first and then those left behind must merit the Second Return and survive the Tribulation in the process. Layhaye and Jekins have expounded upon this mythos with their celebrated legacy of books and adaptations. Recently, the fourth Left Behind film was released in theaters, staring Nicholas Cage. I imagine Mr. Cage feels comfortable in his role, for he did a similar film called KNOWING several years ago that has relatively the same plot. So what is the Biblical basis for being Left Behind? As I mentioned already, there is none. If we examin Matthew Chapter 24, you get the chronological account of the End of Days from Jesus Christ himself. Let us take a look at

Prayer of Salvation/Jesus Prayer Lord Jesus, forgive me for all my sins (wicked deeds). I ask you into my heart, I ask you to be my Savior and to be the Lord of my life. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord. I believe in my heart God raised Him from dead. For by confessing with the mouth and believing in your heart one is saved. (Romans 10:9-10) Amen. I f you prayed that prayer, you are Born Again (Jesus now dwells within you). The next step is to get Baptized in the Holy Spirit. You can do this in same manner, but it helps to have Spirit Filled believers assists in the baptism. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is asking the Holy Spirit Power to come upon as it did in ACTS 1 with the Apostles. You can recieve many gifts: The Gift of Foreign Tongues, The Gift of Healing, The Gift of Prophecy, The Gift of Discernment, and etc. Simply ask for the Holy Spirit to come upon you and ask for the gifts you desire (1 Corinthians 12). They may come immediatly, they

The Second Coming is coming. This what has been said for two thousand years. At this point many believers have become jaded and the emphasis on the Return of Christ is downplayed in public for fear of ridicule. So many false prophets and false teachers have claimed that Judgement Day is around the corner and even fixed a date in October. Masses of people have sold all their belongings and gone to a hillside to be picked up. Then nothing happens and it is explained away with some esoteric pontification. So when is Jesus coming back? What is taking so long? These questions are no blasphemies from believers, but from a state of esaperation. Often the response to this desperate query of the weary is Matthew 24:36: "Only the Father knows the hour and day that the end shall take place."  That leaves many in limbo and unable to really center on why there is a delay. Thankfully, the Lord told St. Peter why the Second Coming is postponed in his second letter: " First I wan

  Recently I was watching a rather engrossing series called, "Call The Midwife" from BBC. The series tells the story of different midwives during 1950's who are working alongside Nuns to help poverty stricken people in East England give birth. During one of the episodes, the narrator, Vanessa Redgrave said something quite melancholric. She said, "Christmas is the one constant, it is always the same, we can find comfort in It's truths and legends and be reassured that everything will go one as it always has done." We live in a world of perpetual changes. Cultures, technologies, the workforce, families, and everything else is swept under the tide of change. For those who had old souls or God gave the love for the ancient world and the beauty and majestic nature of things that predate our times; it can be hard to weather the changes. Just when something seems to become familiar, it fades or is forsaken for something claiming to be the next step towards

  The Ebola Virus has returned. It is sweeping across the world at swift pace. The Outbreaks began in Africa. Then the spread to The United Kingdom. Just yesterday, it was confirmed that Ebola has reached The United States of America. In Texas a person was infected by Ebola and died. Panic will invitably follow and people will be seeking means to survive a potential outbreak. I myself have been briefed via ISIF on what will happen during a Qarantine and I have some resources to share. The first step I suggest everyone one follow is to trust in the Savior, Jesus Christ. The Lord is in control of all things and He will guide you and keep you in his Name! Do not be confounded by fear and chaos, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind in Christ Jesus (Romans 12:2). The information I am going to share is merely to help, but you will need The Helper (The Holy Spirit). In the following paragraphs I will disclose how this Ebola Epedemic (Pandemic) is a fulfillment of Scriptu