STARTING OVER...

(I wrote this two years ago, after much failure, disappointment and sorrow in my life. Since that time my oldest son died of an accidental overdose in April of 2009. I have personally struggled with the feelings that my life has been a perpetual trail of sadness and disappointment. I have not only failed in life, but with God. But as I read this today, I realized that starting over is something that believers are given the opportunity to do again and again. Forgiveness is never withheld, and though we may fall over and over, through His love and mercy we can get up and begin again. So I thought I would post this for you to read and hopefully be inspired and find hope. If God can do it for me who has failed, sinned, and hurt the Lover of my soul; He will do it for you.)

When I think about starting over, I think it begins by having a right perspective as to why we are doing what we are doing, and for Whom we are doing it. This helps keep us in check. There are many ways, many concepts, and many possibilities that appear to be ‘right’ or ‘successful’, but God has His way… an Ancient Path that was left long ago for a way that “seemed right”.  

I am convinced that so much is done out of a deep subconscious need for the approval of men.  So then… bigger is better! The more you can show off, the more successful you appear to be.  And the more successful you appear to be; it is a sure sign that you have the approval of God Himself.  Right? Wrong! If we are to truly be people that reflect the nature and character of Y’shua Himself, then it should not be about the need for approval or self-exaltation, which can come in the most insidiously deceptive ways that look humble… but it must be selfless… and without guile.  It should reflect only the desire to collectively be a people with one heart and one mind, in one accord… continually seeking; aggressively listening, all the while, patiently waiting. 

All things should be birthed in prayer… fasting if need be. But with the idea that God is more than able to speak to us, comes the idea that He has made us more than capable of hearing Him… if we will listen!  So then it is imperative that we, as a group, press into Him on all matters; asking, seeking, and knocking… and NOT MOVING until the answer comes… confident the answer WILL come when it’s time, and that answer, no matter what it is, is right! 

What then shall we look like? What shall we reflect? Hasn’t it all been done before? The question gets asked, “But what about the way we have done it in the past?  What about the things that have seemed to work so well?  After all, everyone else is doing it!” I can hear the voice of my father saying, “And if everybody jumps off the bridge, are you going to jump too?”

I believe that we are to reflect, without sounding too religious or pat, His image, which is His character, His love and His truth!  But this can only happen through a deep awareness that we are ALREADY transformed in the here and now, and that the Kingdom of God is not just something we are waiting to enter into at death; but that it’s HERE, and NOW… and WHEREVER WE GO, THERE IT IS! It requires a change in our perspective. This means putting to death the things we thought to be right and entering into the WORDS OF LIFE themselves! To ENGAGE! What do I mean? It takes intimacy most of all to inspire and continually re-inspire our relationship with God, as well as our mental transformation to occur in order to grow. This is a daily willingness, moment by moment, to ENGAGE God every step of the way! I took the word ENGAGE and made it into an acronym and wrote this sentence with it:  “My continual EFFORT to stay NEAR promotes intimacy with Him, helping me to GROW, which keeps my heart and mind ALIGNED with GOD, which ENERGIZES every fiber of my being... every single moment, of every single day.”

I am reminded of God’s word to Isaiah over and over lately where He says, “Your ears will hear a word behind you saying, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right or to the left.” Is. 30:21. If we are to be a people that walk on the edge with the Lord; who are radical for His kingdom and aggressive for His will to be done, hungering to see Him do what He has promised and see His power and His presence… then we need to press in and in and in!  We need to not settle! God is capable of showing us His agenda and will for any given moment, in any situation, and for every single need. Nothing is impossible for Him! Nothing!

I am also reminded of God’s word in Isaiah when He says in chapter 42, “Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.” And again in chapter 43, “Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” There is the implication here that as it manifests itself right before your eyes, we could possibly miss it!  Is it because we could be so caught up in what has been that we can’t even see that God has a new and better way, and that His creative mind and energy are spontaneously combustive and limitless? Yet somehow, mysteriously, it can appear wrong to our way of thinking! Like God’s word to Israel through Jeremiah, “This is what the LORD says: 'Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, 'We will not walk in it.'” Jeremiah 6:16



If I may paraphrase, “If you stay close to Me and sharpen your hearing so that you HEAR/SHEMA when I speak, then you will HEAR/SHEMA Me tell you what I want you to do, what would be best moment by moment; so that when I AM about to do something, you will know it. The way will be clear, your eyes will see and your heart will know that you are in the center of My will.”  Make sense? So maybe it’s time we ask for the Ancient Paths and the Good Way… and with expectant hearts, settle for nothing less.

What would this look like? It would be individuals; families; congregations; ministries and outreaches (verses in-reaches) moment-by-moment doing the will of God! Where the Kingdom of God manifests itself continually, and the Presence of God is not something just spoken about, but experienced? Where Living Water flows! Where healing takes place! Where souls are saved and transformed. Where the poor, the widows and orphans are truly cared for… and not just because the Bible says we’re supposed to, but because the heart of God is beating so strongly in us that we act out of our love for Him because we see ourselves as Beulah – MARRIED to Him! In this place there will never be lack or want. Hanging onto Him, looking into His eyes as our ears press against His chest listening to His heart beat for us!  This is what I feel. This is what has been stirring in my heart and mind ever since I tried and failed so miserably at building a “church”. 

It is never about us, or a man. It’s not even about a great plan for that matter. It’s about God, and His agenda. It’s not for any of us to hold on to… but keeping our hearts and hands continually open, we give away what He gives to us… knowing that all we will ever need is ours in abundance!  If He builds His house… our labor won’t be in vain!

Today, let’s light the torch in the dark and find our way back to the Ancient Path.

© 2008 Steven Bliss
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WHAT IF?

What if today you were brought face to face with something that would be, for you, considered life or death? But what if the decision as to whether it was life, or death, was based solely upon a choice or response that you made? And what if you were presented with the idea that your “good” was not good enough, and that your own personal justification had no bearing upon the outcome of the judgment whatsoever because the actual passing of that judgment would come from a Source outside of your control? And what if you were told that unless you allow yourself, and the Judge, to look into the depth of who you really are, to discover your wretchedness and brokenness, as well as all your hidden things being opened up and laid to bear, things you want no one to ever see, as the requirement for your deliverance from the absolute consequences that would come should you not let it happen?

What if your surrender meant total absolution, wholeness and eternal joy as a result? Would you do it? Would you risk it all? What if there was no other way to be set free? And what if you were being presented with that choice every single moment, of every single day? What would think, and what would your decision be?

The Spirit of God says this: 

“Today, 

if you hear His voice, 

do not harden your heart…” 

Hebrews 3:7-8

© Steven Bliss

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3 THINGS 2 LIVE BY

Over the last months I have come to realize there is, as the old saying goes, a lot more than what meets the eye going on around us. I’ve been challenged in every category concerning what I have imagined certain things to be regarding spiritual matters. As I’ve pondered the data I’ve been accumulating over the last four months from around the world, I’ve come to realize that we are a lot further along, as far as end-times realities are concerned, than I had previously thought.

Not to be an alarmist, but I have uncovered in my journey to create a compelling story, information that has not only blown my categories, but caused me enough distress that I felt compelled to communicate something I believe will be manna to those who are willing to open their minds to the vastness of God’s word and His admonitions to us as to how to overcome what is surely on it’s way and coming very soon.

There is a dearth of information and understanding in the Body of Messiah. Wool over the eyes shall we say. Most believers are ill informed and unprepared for the coming days ahead. To make things worse, the rise of the pretribulation rapture theory has added unbelievable confusion as well as present an escapist mentality for all those have not only bought into it, but will be overcome when the disappointment of it not happening throws cold water in their face. Y'shua/Jesus Himself said in Matthew 24:30-31, “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” This is only one of many passages that speaks to a specific event we have all come to know as “the rapture”. But this is from the mouth the Lord Himself, my friends. Don’t be deceived!

What is coming on the earth is beyond human comprehension and reason. Science fiction, horror movies, books and stories cannot capture the sheer terror that the end will produce. Y’shua/Jesus said in Matthew 24:21-22 “For then there shall be great tribulation, such has not been seen since the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever shall be. If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.” It’s going to be worse than the days of Noah! How bad was it? It wasn’t just sin, it was fallen angels doing genetic abominations… so God destroyed everything!

            So how will we “overcome till the end”, especially in light of the fact that, based on what’s coming, it seems no one would be able to endure it?

I believe one needs to first understand “who” it is they will be overcoming. The end will be like a science fiction/outer space/genetic reengineering abomination horror movie rolled up into one. But it won’t be a harmless film made of special effects that you can either leave the theater or turn off your television and walk away from unharmed and unaffected. It will be living and breathing, and it will be everywhere. No one will be unaffected. The “who” that we will be dealing with will be fallen angels, along with the dispossessed spirits from the flood known as the demonic world, run amok. When the restrainer who keeps the lid on all evil is removed, they will have full liberty to do whatever wicked and evil thing they desire. In other words, ALL HELL WILL BREAK LOOSE! But there is one thing they do know… it’s that Y’shua/Jesus is God and that His blood can bring their most wicked schemes to not and render them powerless.

Revelations 12:11 says, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives unto the death.” The Hebrews in the time of Moses in Egypt were commanded to put the blood of a spotless lamb over the doorposts of their homes. The angel of death passed over those whose homes were sealed with that blood. Those whose weren’t, paid the price… death! Y’shua’s/Jesus’ is THE PASSOVER LAMB that was slain! The angelic and demonic world recognizes the Blood of Y’shua/Jesus. It knows its power. And the word of our testimony… it’s not our personal how we got saved testimony. No one is going to sit around in those days singing Kumbaya listening to how you overcame your vices. It is our corporate allegiance and dependence upon THE Sacrifice of God, Y’shua/Jesus! In other words, who’s side are you on.

And the final of the three, and maybe most important thing to “live by” will be, “not loving your life unto the death.” What does that mean? Well, it means you are so secure in Who is it you belong to that if it meant laying your life down, you would be FEARLESS!

If you’re not there yet, now is the time to put all things in perspective. Talk to the Lord! Tell Him where you’re at… He knows already, but now would be a good time to have that heart to heart with the One who fearlessly laid down His life for you.

The good news is: HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD… AND SO WILL YOU!

© 2010 Steven Bliss
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THE MINARETS OF ALLAH

 (I wrote this as a web article for a close friend of mine. It was the result of spending two weeks in Israel in November of 2006. It is even more relevant today.)

In every city throughout the Muslim world, five times a day a cry goes out from the Muezzin in the minarets of the Mosques. It’s a call to prayer. This is nothing new as it has been going on for 13 centuries. But these days, the insidious deception that weaves its intoxicating aroma from the towers of allah no longer is just a simple call to prayer… it is a call to action for all those who pledge allegiance to the dark lord to deliver death blows to all those who will not bow in submission to their demon king; the awakening blast for the day has come for the “Great Jihad”.

I read an editorial not long ago by Sherrie Gossett who wrote, “The Dutch melting pot has turned into a boiling pot as public indignation rises over the murder of Amsterdam filmmaker Theo Van Gogh by a young Islamic radical. The morning of November 2, the killer emptied his clip into Van Gogh who was riding his bike, and then used a knife to all but sever his head.  The killer also left a letter stabbed into Van Gogh's chest declaring Jihad on unbelievers, and Dutch politicians specifically.”

Van Gogh was under a death threat after producing a 10-minute film called "Submission" how Muslim women are victims of sever domestic abuse. Brought to the forefront of the film are issues of race, immigration and integration, radical Islam, and freedom of speech as well as honor killings. The question begs to be asked, 'should Islamist immigrants be allowed the freedom to practice the tenets of Shari’a law in non-Islamic countries which states, "The penalty for contempt of the Holy Prophet… is death and nothing else?” The clear answer is ABSOLUTELY NOT!

Who would have ever believed we would see the rise of such evil? Who would have imagined Islamic extremists hijacking airplanes to attack and undermine the West?  Yet every day before our eyes thousands of innocents are killed somewhere in the world without defense as they boldly carry out their master plan.  And yes, it is a Master Plan! But their enmity is not just directed against us. They are bred with irreverence and the willingness to take life without remorse. This is an ancient war of the unseen world using human flesh as its agents of doom and obedience. This is a war between a fallen arch-angel and his Creator; the God of all creation! For us, the day fast approaches when it all be bow or die, and we can see by their willingness to brutally slaughter innocent people that there are no holds barred.

"Islamofascists are hard at work here as well, seeking to dominate their co-religionists as the prerequisite for forcing the rest of us to submit to a new, global Caliphate under an unforgiving religious law called Shari'a..." writes Frank Gaffney of the Jewish World Review.

What we have to understand is... we are not waging a war against terrorism. Nor is this a war against Al-Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah or the other factions rising from the pit of hell; this is a war against the movements and ideologies of the jihadists under the influence of principalities and dark angles that have ruled that land since the fall of man. They will stop at nothing and will not be contained. It is not about Iran or Iraq, or any other middle eastern country... this is an army whose sole aim is to destroy the Western world and bring the rest of the world to its knees in submission to its fallen god. If we don’t recognize it now... if we don't do something more radical than them now… the worst is yet to come. This is not a game; it’s an agenda from Lucifer himself with one intent: the destruction of all the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve. We are facing a foe whose ancient ideology is from a different place and time and whose god is the god of war, not peace. As we sleep in our safe houses at night it plots and plans in the war room of hell devising wicked schemes, strategizing its next move. Lurking in darkness, it waits to enforce terror and fear upon its next victim. Nothing is off limits as it will use women and children as part of its insidious plan. Life has no meaning. Hope has no chance.

Israel is not ignorant of this foe. It has lived next door and within her walls for over 61 years now and is unafraid to deal fiercely with it. Israel knows the truth. Benjamin Netanyahu said in his address to US Congress on September 20th in 2001, “Each one of us today understands that we are all targets, that our cities are vulnerable, and that our values are hated with an unmatched fanaticism that seeks to destroy our societies and our way of life. We have received a wake up call from Hell.”

These dark forces have two agendas: world domination and the total annihilation of all Jewry and Israel itself from the face of the earth. Its propaganda platform makes that of Adolf Hitler seem elementary. Its deception permeates and controls the media around the globe; its nostrils are inflamed with the smell of blood and violence. It lulls us into complacency. It swears allah is the same god of Christians and Jews. It pleads with the world to believe Israel’s retaliation against the unwarranted attacks of her enemies is no different than that of the Nazi wolves they barely escaped.

And like the Wicked Witch of the West in the Wizard of Oz, as she gazed into her crystal ball casting a spell on Dorothy and her friends saying, “Sleep my pretties, sleep…”, so the spell from the minarets of Allah blow their intoxicating aroma around the globe recruiting mindless souls from the nations of the earth. Will we become numb and succumb to its lies? Will we be like Europe in the 1920’s and 30’s? Will the whole world be deceived?

May the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob grant us sober minds and uncompromising hearts that hold fast to truth. And like Israel who remembers the Holocaust… " May We Never Forget".

Benjamin Netanyahu concluded his speech to the US Congress that day by saying this, “It is within our power. Let us now make sure that it is within our will.” God help us all.
As an update, on February 15th, 2015 with the escalation of ISIS and its purest mentality when it comes to executing the Mohammed's original ideology and it's threat to Jews around the world, Benjamin Netanyahu said in his speech, "To the Jews of Europe and to the Jews of the world I say that Israel is waiting for you with open arms." We are now witnessing the call to all who will hear, "COME HOME!" We are closer than anyone wants to think to the return of Messiah Y'shua and end of all things. 

May our ears be open to what the Spirit is saying! Come Lord Y'shua!

© 2007-2015 Steven Bliss
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CONSUMING FIRE

Sometimes I forget that GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE! Hebrews 12:29 

It says in the epistle of James that "God opposes the proud"! Meaning He hates pride, and those who are prideful are in direct opposition to Him. 

I never really considered the idea that to befriend the world, as it were, was in essence to become an enemy of God! How can that be? I've read those verses a thousand times in James, but I think I saw them more metaphorically, which diminishes their meaning and impact. I believe James is giving a clue when he says that "the Spirit He caused to live in us yearns jealously." Yearns jealousy for what? Our heart's! He doesn’t want us being pulled away and distracted from out relationship with the Life Giver Himself. Why? Because the truth is, there is no God but YHVH and the world presents us with other gods! The Hebrew word used for idolatry means to place something between you and the object of your focus (in this case God), thus blocking it from sight and causing something else to take it's place of importance. Simple, yet powerful!

Thank God James said "He gives us MORE grace!" He follows that thought with something from Proverbs. "... but He gives grace to the humble." 

So how do we humble ourselves to receive this grace? 

I think I'll sum it up this way... recognize the pride and then ache for the break. King David said, "a broken and contrite heart He will never turn away." 

This is the only confidence I have... what about you?

As the month of Elul is upon us and pushes us ever closer towards Rosh haShanah and Yom Teruah (Feast of Trumpets), in Judaism it is a time one is to take into account the last year of life, a soul search as it were, in preparation for Yom Kippur. It's probably not a bad thing to not only join into the process, but to ask God to show us how it is we have forgotten who He is and how the simplicity of our actions cause us to be at odds with Him, and His Spirit in us. Don't you?

Thanks for reading and shalom!

© 2010 Steven Bliss

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RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

(Several months ago a 7 year old boy was murdered by Taliban thugs in retaliation for the boys Grandfathers instructions to stand against the Taliban to the people of their small village in Afghanistan. A spokesperson for the Taliban accused the boy of spying for the US. The child was apprehended as he was playing and later found hanging from a tree not far from the village. In truth, it was clearly an act meant to instill fear and terror in the hearts of his family, and anyone influenced by the words of his Grandfather.) 

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/06/11/afghan-taliban-hang-year-old-boy-punish-family/ 


            We now live in an age of neo-barbarianism. Unlike its early predecessors, this age has arrived in a time when civilization has evolved and devolved at the exact same time. There are no excuses for insanity other than insanity itself, but the great big world we live in has gotten very small over the last twenty years. Whether it’s because of computers or travel, or the constant up to the nanosecond global information barrage from the media; as citizens of the world we are living in very tight quarters. What we were sheltered from in the past now stares us in the face. Good or bad, it forces us to look, and demands that we respond. 



In my opinion, the earthshaking event of a 7 year old boy being snatched from the safety of innocent play to be hung from a tree in order to terrorize all who see; as well as those of us who discover this horrific story, requires an aggressive, yet honest immediate response. 



In the ancient world, there were no rules of engagement. It was common practice to strike fear in the hearts of an enemy by cutting off the heads of those who oppose you and hang their bodies from the city walls and plant their heads on stakes for all to see. There was no civilized or humane sense about it. The point was, “This will happen to anyone who defies or comes against us. Be forewarned!” More often than not, it worked. Those who were struck with fear retreated into submission. But these are different times… right? We are no longer barbarians… right? 



Unfortunately the answers to these questions are being rapidly redefined. 



Sophisticated and intellectual warfare fought with fierce and formidable weapons are no real match for the ancient ways of war. Though the power of the weapons seems more apt to inflict greater casualty, it pales in comparison to the demon-like ferocity of those who wield the weapons of psychological terror. Strike fear into the heart and you control the mind. Even more insidious and greater still… those who are promised reward for their sacrifice willingly participate without fear of reprisal. 



Without exception, the use of children is at its least, criminal. At its highest it is unconscionable and requires a re-think of just how we are dealing with our enemy. If you are a parent, put yourself for one moment in the place of the parents and relatives of this child. 



In this present climate where even the terminology is being changed to dull the senses, we have been lulled into the hands of our enemy by disconnecting with just who it is we are fighting. We assume the posture of sophistication and intelligence against and enemy whose sole purpose is world domination through a “bow or die” mentality. They are drunk with the blood of their martyrs and as deceived as they are wicked. They are a consuming force making their way into the peaceful un-walled villages of our minds. Ours is to reason, theirs is to conquer. We seek to be civilized, compassionate, and help; they live to kill. It is an ancient foe... one that has ruled more than once on this planet, and seeks to rule again. 



The rules of engagement do not exist for those under such ancient influence. To engage this enemy with any mindset other than the one they employ is like trying to keep oil from slipping through your fingers. In these cases, an eye for eye is an acceptable position. Most will say this is nothing more than a barbaric approach to an ineffectual end. But when dealing with those who have no compunction in hanging a 7 year old child from a tree to terrorize the hearts of all who see, fire must be returned with fire… but not with the same fire used by the enemy… rather with fire that will char the palate of the demons within.



Thanks for reading. 



© 2010 Steven Bliss
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