A Knight's Blog

  An Icon (ˈīˌkän, ikon, image) is a two dimensional religious painting of Christ or the saints. Typically an iconographer paints using Tempera, which includes an egg to create the golden halo. While artisan sculpts the image there is deep spiritual prayer, contemplation, and carving into the image. What is  alarming is what Eastern Orthodox believe about icons:  “The Orthodox Church teaches that an icon is a two-way door of communication that not only shows us a person or an event but makes it present. When we stand in front of an icon we are in touch with that person and we take part in that event. The historical event of the Nativity is here and now to us, when we look at a Nativity icon. What we call “our world” and what we call “the spiritual world” are opened to each other.” (Praying with Icons -Ancient Spiritual Disciplines, Linette Martin, 60 of 812)  Icons are time travel devices, and portals to the spiritual world?! For this reason I am greatly disturbed. W...

  When the devil tempted Our Lord Jesus in the wilderness, Christ always responded “it is written.” He used Scripture to combat the devil’s temptations. But the last temptation the evil one used was Scripture, “And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written,        “‘He will command his angels concerning you,           to guard you,’  and    “‘On their hands they will bear you up,           lest you strike your foot against a stone.” (Luke 4:9-11).  The most dangerous deceptions include misquoted or twisted understandings of Scripture. St. Benedict’s Rule is full of erroneous interpretations of Scripture to justify monastic abuses like monks beating a brother monk with rods (disciplinary action). The devil does the most damage when he uses scripture out of context, improperly, ...

  In Rio there is a massive Jesus statue called  Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer). It towers over the city and is a major tourist attraction. There are plans to build a even larger statue of Christ in Brazil. All of this masonry i doesn’t think impresses our Messiah. In Rio during the 2016 Olympics, the Olympians were accosted and threatened with molestation and rape, oh but its ok there is a giant statue of Jesus to make up for it (sarcasm).  It doesn’t matter how many statues you build if your actions ate sinful. King David after having adultery with Bathsheba and murdering Uriah became obsessed with building a temple of stone for God. The Lord told David via the prophet Nathan that he has no desire of a earthen temple, “ When King David was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all the surrounding enemies,   the king summoned Nathan the prophet. “Look,” David said, “I am living in a beautiful cedar palace,[ a ] but the Ark of God is out t...

  Why is it that it was so easy the “hour we first believed?” (Amazing Grace). Often new believers seem to have a greater outpouring of the Spirit, wisdom, and zeal. Then as the tempests of life come our way, and we face more seasons of the cross than Pentecost, the fiery furnace rather than tongues of fire, we become tired. Its not that our faith in Christ wains, but that once excited pilgrim on the way to heaven at the beginning of Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress turns into a tattered paladin in burnt and bloodied armor. What happens? Why must this be?! Is is maturity or is something amiss? God please speak to me as you once did!   The silence can be deafening. Is it a test? Am I moving from a faith of milk to that of meat?, “I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready,” (1 Corinthians 3:2), and    “In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of G...

These are overwhelming times. It feels as if our world has turned upside down. The culture wars and Covid fatigue is enough to crush most of us. It is in times such as these I am inclined to sing this simple song:  “Well,  sometimes  my life just don't make  sense  at all When the  mountains  look so big, And my  faith  just  seems  so  small   So hold me Jesus, Cause I'm  shaking  like a leaf  You have been King of my  glory   Won't You be my  Prince  of Peace And I wake up in the  night  and feel the dark It's so hot  inside  my soul I  swear  there must be  blisters  on my heart So hold me Jesus, Cause I'm  shaking  like a leaf You have been King of my  glory   Won't You be my  Prince  of Peace Surrender don't come  natural  to me  I'd  rather  fight you for something I don't  really ...

  The nation of Hungary is stepping in to help persecuted Christians around the world! The program is called “Hungary Helps!” The State Secretary for the Aid of Persecuted Christians, Tristan Abej, has said “There are 340 million people who are discriminated or threatened or suffering genocidal attacks because of their faith in Christ.” (CBN News,  https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2021/august/hungary-defends-biblical-principles-and-helps-the-persecuted-hungary-is-a-christian-nation ). It is a great relief to know one nation is standing by our brothers and sisters in Christ. More than that they have helped Christians worldwide:  “In four years, Hungary has supported a quarter-million persecuted Christians, helped reconstruct 67 churches in Lebanon, and completely rebuilt the Christian town of Telskuf in Iraq after it was decimated by ISIS.” (CBN News,  https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2021/august/hungary-defends-biblical-principles-and-helps-the-persecuted-hungary...

  I. Father The Roman Catholic Church has all priests addressed as Father, and the Pope means Papa.  Jesus said, “And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.” (Matthew 23:9)  II. Marriage Forbid Since the Investiture Controversy, the Roman Catholic Church forbids clergy to marry, from the lowest priest to the pope, no may marry.  “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared,  who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.” (1 Timothy 4:1-5)  All the Disciples had wives, including Rome’s first pope,...

  Right now in Afghanistan and parts of Iraq, the Taliban are killing Christians. Two hundred and twenty-nine men, women, and children missionaries are to beheaded today. We are asked to pray for these brothers and sisters in Christ. We are inclined to ask the Lord to deliver them with hosts of angels, armed forces, or perhaps clemency from their captors. We shall pray God’s will and for their deliverance; hoping they will be set free. However, In all likelihood they will die, but do not be discouraged, the beheaded brothers and sisters will reign with Christ in the Millennium, “I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection,” (Revelation 20:...