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By Rich Vermillion, April 20, 2009 11:30 pm

In the capacity of my calling, I have the honor of being a mentor to other ministers and leaders within the Body of Christ (even as others have been mentors to me). Many of these brethren are actually older than I am—although I am no longer a ’spring chicken’ myself.

One such brother that I will mention here is actually senior to me in age by about a decade and a half. Despite this fact, the Lord has impressed him to emulate and seek counsel from me—who, though younger, am senior to him in ministry. Through the years during our many conversations, this anointed brother has repeatedly asked me, “How is it that you have such wisdom beyond your years?” (Of course, that is his stated observation, not mine.)

Well, I finally told him my “secret” by phone one day…and now I am writing this post to tell it to you too (so please keep it hush-hush, okay? chuckle).

Elihu Speaks

Let’s start by taking a look at a very interesting passage from the Book of Job in the OT, and then we’ll build from there:

So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God. He was also angry with the three friends, because they had found no way to refute Job, and yet had condemned him. Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because they were older than he. But when he saw that the three men had nothing more to say, his anger was aroused. 

So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said: 
       “I am young in years, 
       and you are old; 
       that is why I was fearful, 
       not daring to tell you what I know.

 I thought, ‘Age should speak; 
       advanced years should teach wisdom.’

 But it is the spirit in a man, 
       the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding.

 It is not only the old who are wise, 
       not only the aged who understand what is right. (Job 32:1-9, NIV)

Most Christians are familiar with the story of Job  and his “three comforters,” having heard excerpts in many a Sunday sermon. However, few realize that there were actually FOUR men sitting there with Job in those days.

In fact, Elihu was so quiet that we do not even learn of his presence until chapter thirty-two! What is is even more interesting about this man is the fact that when the Lord Himself shows up, He rebukes Job, then Job’s three “friends”…but He never says one negative word to Elihu.

For six chapters Elihu preached righteousness to Job, Eliphaz, Bildad, and  Zophar. When he was done, God Almighty showed up in chapter thirty-eight and confirmed Elihu’s every word. What a testimony to the wisdom and anointing of that young man—and what a rebuke towards Elihu’s “elders” whose words the Lord denounced:

After the LORD had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.” So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite did what the LORD told them; and the LORD accepted Job’s prayer. (Job 42:7-9, NIV)

So what do we learn from the story of Elihu? Age is not the issue, wisdom is.

Further, that wisdom comes from the Spirit of God to and through the spirit of a man willing to listen to Him. This, then, brings me to the point of revealing my secret, with which people of all ages can attain wisdom “beyond their years” (regardless of their age):

Oh, how I love your law! 
       I meditate on it all day long.

Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, 
       for they [His commandments] are ever with me.

I have more insight than all my teachers, 
       for I meditate on your statutes.

I have more understanding than the elders, 
       for I obey your precepts.

I have kept my feet from every evil path 
       so that I might obey your word.

I have not departed from your laws, 
       for you yourself have taught me.

How sweet are your words to my taste, 
       sweeter than honey to my mouth!

I gain understanding from your precepts; 
       therefore I hate every wrong path. (Psalm 119:97-104, NIV)

My Secret

Psalm 119 happens to be my favorite Psalm. Herein, under the subheading of the Hebrew letter “Mem,” we find my secret. Best of all, this “secret” is applicable to everyone interested in attaining wisdom “beyond their years.”

The key is: Mediation on, and study of, God’s Word.

Biblical “mediation” is not some weird thing where you sit in a painful position and “contemplate nothingness.” No, that is eastern religion poppycock. Biblical mediation is where you ponder the Scriptures, and study them in earnest.

The Hebrew word also carries with it the idea of “muttering to yourself,” meaning you need to speak God’s Word aloud to yourself as you contemplate various passages. Ask yourself, “How does this apply to my life? What is the Lord saying here?” In other words, the Bible actually tells you to talk to yourself! (Just make sure your discussing the Bible when you do…chuckle.)

Prayer is also the KEY part of biblical meditation. The best Person to ask about the Scriptures is the One Who wrote them! So have a good conversation with Jesus about His love-letter to you, and let Him, “Open your eyes that you may behold wonderful things from His law.” (Psalm 119:18)

Now, of course, I do study other sources of information. However, I have learned that I am better-equipped to “rightly judge” those sources—and to properly extract the “precious” wisdom from the “base” material surrounding it—by making the Word of God my primary source of study and meditation (to include the use of good Bible-study resources such as concordances, bible dictionaries, lexicons, and Greek/Hebrew interlinear texts).

Why? Well, notice what mediation on God’s word can do for any man or woman who will take the time to do so:

1 – Make them wiser than their enemies: Such “enemies” (whether Christian or not) obviously do not live by, or meditate on, God’s Word. If they did, they would not choose to be hostile towards a child of God in the first place. (Note: Those who apply biblical church discipline to a sinning Christian are not “enemies” to them. Actually, they are their very best friends—Proverbs 27:5-6.)

2 – Give them greater insight than all their teachers: “Teachers,” if they stop meditating on the Word, will actually regress in their knowledge of God. Meanwhile, their own “students” will surpass them in the knowledge of God and the things of God—but only if they themselves make the Word of God their daily meditation.

3 – Impart to them greater understanding than even their elders: Elihu stated clearly in the passages from Job above, that age alone is not enough to attain bona fide wisdom. A man or woman needs to know God personally, and then also study and apply His Word in their lives with joy. (See also my blog post on The REAL Gospel.)

How is it that I am being used by the Lord to mentor and minister to people who are even older than I? Because, “Oh, how I love God’s law. I meditate on it all day long!” Therefore, whenever I am reviewing non-biblical sources of information, I am comparing it with the Word of God “to see if these things be so” (Acts 17:10-12). Even when I am running errands or playing with the kids, I am often thinking of (and talking about) God’s Word.

So there you have my “secret”…and it was apparently Elihu’s secret a few millennia before I came along.

Honest Mentorship

Let me make some final notes about mentorship before we conclude: Keep in mind that we can all learn from each other in various areas, and thus, mentor each other. Please do not mistake the fact that I mentor others in the things of ministry and the prophetic, as an indication that these same brethren (and a few sisters) do not also teach me as well.

Some of my “protégés” are actually friends of mine.  From them I also learn new things about my Heavenly Father because of their own unique biblical perspective of Him. Others are experts in their fields (e.g. business), and I love to sit and listen to them so I can learn what they know. (I have found that the more I grow in wisdom, the less I talk and the more I listen to others...because I already know what I know.) In short, I may be a particular person’s “protégé” as much as they may be mine.

Too often there has been an overemphasis of “mentor-protégé” relationships in various Christian circles, which often amounts to nothing more than an egocentric minister trying to puff him or herself up. Some ministers are so insecure that they need to surround themselves with “protégés” or “sons in the ministry” in order to make themselves feel important, or to look good (so they think) in other people’s eyes. Avoid such silliness.

Simply make the decision that you can learn from anybody who knows more about any topic than you do. Proverbs has many powerful verses in this regard, but one quick one I’ll direct your attention to for now is this:

Wisdom shouts in the street,
She lifts her voice in the square;
At the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings:
“How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded?
And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing
And fools hate knowledge? (See Proverbs 1:20-33 for the whole passage)

Wisdom is shouting from every quarter. The wise man and woman pays attention, and learns. Learn from your “teachers.” Learn from your “elders.” You can learn from perfect strangers. You can even learn from your “enemies” if you seek the Lord for His counsel in such matters:

Even though princes sit and talk against me, Your servant meditates on Your statutes….
Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for they [His commandments] are ever mine….
Those who love Your law have great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble. I hope for Your salvation, O LORD, and do Your commandments. (Psalm 119:23, 98, 165-166, NASB)

The key is to keep the Word of God as your chief counselor:

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers. (Psalm 1:1-3, NASB)

Your testimonies also are my delight; they are my counselors…. Therefore I love Your commandments above gold, yes, above fine gold. Therefore I esteem right all Your precepts concerning everything, I hate every false way. (Psalm 119:24, 127-129, NASB)

Of Donkeys and Prophets

The prophet Balaam learned wisdom from a donkey—but that animal spoke in line with God’s Word (see 2 Peter 2:15-16 and Numbers 22:21-33). So regardless of the vessel, I advise you to “learn to discern” when Wisdom herself is speaking through them, and when she is not. The more you meditate on God’s Word, the easier it becomes to discern such things…even when reading the writings of a perfect stranger on his ministry blog (chuckle).

In closing, let me suggest that you make my favorite Psalm, one of yours also: Psalm 119. It is the longest chapter in the Bible, but, Oh! what a blessing it is! You will be greatly profited thereby, especially if you make portions of it your daily meditation.

In Jesus,

-Rich

Special Note: The inspiration for me to write this post today was due to the marvelous testimony of a young man, Joshua. His is the first post listed on the new RichVermillion.com Testimonial page. May he—and everyone who reads this article—be encouraged hereby, to continuously live in and by God’s Word. ( 2 Timothy 2:14-26)

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By Rich Vermillion, February 8, 2009 3:13 pm

Monetary Hyper-Inflation Is Already In Progress

I would say that (regrettably) most of the U.S. and global public is blatantly ignorant of the nature and dangers of “hyper-inflation” when it occurs. Worse yet, most have no idea of its cause. This is a dangerous fact, and let me take just a moment to explain what it is, why it is dangerous, illegal, and thus unbiblical, while utilizing both a very alarming chart and video embed in the process. Then I will link you to a few relevant resources that will give you the “big picture” of what is not just going to happen…but what is already in progress in the U.S. monetary system and global economy.

The Term:

First, hyperinflation (which term does NOT always need the hyphen, and from here on will not include it) is defined by Dictionary.com in-part as:

A very high level of inflation that tends to result in the breakdown of the monetary system, the hoarding of goods, and difficulty in achieving real economic growth. The classic case of hyperinflation occurred in Germany during the 1920s. Hyperinflation, which tends to motivate people to own real goods, adversely affects security prices.

However, the above definition—though the common understanding—is VERY misleading. It focuses more on the felt effects or perceived results of monetary hyperinflation and not its true cause. This common “definition” emphasizes the sudden explosion in prices of goods and services as the currency collapses in value. However, a better definition would be:

Hyperinflation: The massive inflation (increase) of the supply (quantity) of a currency by a central bank or government, which debases the per-unit value of the currency.

Or in other words, hyperinflation of the money supply is “turning on the printing presses” and increasing the amount of money in circulation to such a degree, that supply/demand dynamics debase (devalue) each unit of the currency at a hyper-deflationary pace. The more money in circulation, the less each unit of money is worth.

The eventual result of the hyperinflation of the money supply is that the markets begin to realize the flood of currency, and then adapt their prices accordingly. This eventually results in the hyperinflation of prices wherein “street prices” can double and even triple (or more) within a single day for goods and services in the marketplace.   -Rich

As bizzare as the above scenario might sound to the average person unfamiliar with monetary history, the fact is that this very set of circumstances has happened MANY times within the Twentieth Century in localized areas within every major section of the globe (Europe, Asia, the Americas, etc.). It is even occurring NOW in places of the world such as Zimbabwe. (I will give you a few links in a moment to give you some examples.)

Nevertheless, it is a fact that hyperinflation has never occurred before on a GLOBAL scale—but it is about to do so, and the process has already begun.

Broken Laws:

The Bible, of course, condemns such devaluation of the money supply as it causes tremendous harm to both individuals and society as a whole:

You shall not have in your bag true and false weights, a large and a small. (Deuteronomy 25:13, AMP)

Diverse weights are an abomination to the LORD, and dishonest scales are not good. (Proverbs 20:23, NKJV)

Those who are behind this practice are using “false weights” as they perform their crimes. I call these things “crimes” because they are in violation of God’s law, as well as all earthly moral, “natural”, and common laws. In the United States, it is also in violation of the U.S. Constitution—which is the “supreme law of the land”—making it a criminal offense of “constitutional proportions” within that jurisdiction.

I state that they use “false weights” because the ones who get to use the new money FIRST (i.e. those running the proverbial “printing presses”) get to use the money at TODAY’S value. Those who are further down the line find the money has already debased as the market has adjusted to the increase in the money supply, and thus, worth a lower value per unit. So Deuteronomy’s edict above is clearly violated in that the one with “the bag” has “unbalanced” the proverbial scales. There is “one large weight” to the money when they printed the new dollars, and one “small weight” to the dollar’s value once it gets into their hands of the rest of society.

Who are these criminals? Well, you can answer that with another question: Who determines the money supply? Generally, it is the central bankers in cahoots with the government. In the United States, that would be the Federal Reserve (which is really a private institution, and no more a part of the government than the shipping company Federal Express) and the U.S. Federal Government. So then who is to blame for the consequent hyperinflation in prices once the market reacts? The same criminals who caused the monetary supply hyperinflation.

What these criminals do, however is attempt to pass the blame off on the “free market” and “forces beyond their control.” They will even try to convince you that they are trying to “alleviate the crisis” and portray themselves as the proverbial “knights in shinning armor” riding forth to slay the “inflation dragon.” However, the OPPOSITE is actually true—they caused the hyperinflation problem, and its terrible results on society. So their propaganda is no more than “smoke and mirrors” intended to camouflage their guilt and self-serving agendas. The reality is that they used “false weights” for their own profit and gain, and destroyed the U.S. currency in the process.

Most people do not realize how serious a problem this really is. However, when it costs a million dollars or more for a single loaf of bread (as it did in Weimar Germany back in 1923, and does in Zimbabwe today) they will realize only too late what a tragic affect on society the greed of these culprits has caused. But do not fear, my friend, you are NOW being properly forewarned—and that is the first step to becoming properly prepared… so please continue reading…

Honest Scales:

The reality is: In a truly free market, with proper and honest “weights and measures” and a commodity-based monetary system (i.e. physical gold, silver, semi-precious metals like copper, and/or paper-money 100% redeemable for either gold or silver) hyperinflation COULD NOT happen at all:

• The limitation of the money-supply to only the amounts of PURE gold, silver, and semi-precious metal money in circulation, would prevent monetary hyperinflation. (Note: the pure content of the commodity within the coinage would have to be accurately marked, and protected under penalty of law, as well. Otherwise, the government could debase the currency by debasing the coinage with baser metals and reducing their purity, as the ancient Roman government loved to do. Better yet, keep coinage a private industry and get the government out of the money-business completely, except to ensure accuracy of purity claims by private mints and bullion bankers.) Such limitations prevent the government and central bank from “turning on the printing presses” and oversupplying the monetary system. If commodity-backed and fully redeemable paper money is also used (e.g. a gold or silver “standard” monetary system), then the printing of “paper” is limited by the amount of commodity in the warehouse to back it (as long as the laws are enforced, of course).
• The enforcement of the law of “honest weights and measures” throughout society would prevent fraud, and thus further protect the markets from criminal activity that could cause shortages and/or inflationary pressures. This l would include the requirement of 100% bank reserves for customer deposits, because banks can artificially inflate even a commodity-backed monetary system through fractional reserve banking. If we require the banks to keep 100% of their depositor’s money in the vault (since a “demand deposit” is always still the property of the depositor) then the banks cannot expand the effective monetary system through “fiduciary media” in the form of bank loans, checks, and “digital” transactions.

(Note: To learn more about how fractional reserve banking can expand the money supply regardless of the actions of government and central banks, download this chapter from Jesus Huerta de Soto’s outstanding book, Money, Bank Credit, and Economic Cycles. The entire book is available in both English and Spanish at www.jesushuertadesoto.com. For the English version, click “libros” in the left menu, then “money…” when the submenu appears. All chapters are then listed for individual download in PDF format.)

So in effect—though they pass “laws” to try to “legalize” their immoral and unbiblical activities—the actions of the government and central banks are in violation of both God’s laws and all sound legal principles. (Note: Actually, this includes all bankers in general because of credit expansion practices, but most bankers with in society fail to realize the illegal and immoral nature of their daily activities). These criminals “print money” and spend it at the current market value, and thereby increase the money in circulation, which causes the unit value of money to diminish for everyone else in society. Thus, the bankers and government profit at the expense of everyone “lower on the food chain” within the financial system and society as a whole. Thus we can clearly state:

Hyperinflation is a crime propagated upon a nation by its government and bankers (especially the bankers of the central bank), and NOT an accidental or unavoidable consequence of “market forces” as they would have you believe.

Further, the most concerning fact concerning hyperinflation is this: It has already begun in the United States of America, and will soon spread throughout the world. Do you doubt that? Let’s look at the facts…

A Crime in Progress:

Remember in the above definition that hyperinflation begins FIRST in the monetary supply, then when the markets realize what is going on and confidence in the currency erodes, it begins to manifest SECOND in the marketplace by a rapid increase in the prices of goods and services. With that in mind, look at the following chart produced by the St. Louis Federal Reserve concerning the Adjusted Monetary Base (i.e. supply):

Notice the near-prefect vertical line to the far right of the graph. That is the explosion in the money supply since only September, 2008—which exceeds anything that has ever been done in the history of the FED since its inception back in 1913. Also, do you notice any similarity between the above monetary-supply chart and the following monetary-supply chart from the most infamous hyperinflation of the Twentieth Century—Weimar Germany in the 1920s?

To put the above chart into an understandable light, by late 1923 it took 200 BILLION (with a “B”) German marks to buy a single loaf of bread at the bakery.

Now with the above two charts clearly in mind (the first of which I have also included in the Financial Column to the far right on every page of RichVermillion.com), check out Glenn Beck’s excellent explanation within the following short FoxNews video  (using an animated version of this same FED chart):

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So as Glenn explained above, this is a MAJOR issue of concern. Since the monetary supply has ALREADY begun to hyperinflate, it is only a matter of time before the markets loose confidence in the U.S. dollar and prices begin to hyperinflate as well. I also agree with Glenn Beck that hyperinflation may yet manifest within the marketplace’s prices THIS YEAR in 2009, but I would be shocked if it did not begin to happen at least by the 1st or 2nd quarter of 2010.

This is a short-fuse time-bomb ticking within the U.S. and global economy…and about to explode. Moreover, the U.S. government and Federal Reserve (and the individuals running both) are FULLY to blame.

More Research:

Now for more clarity regarding this topic, I recommend the following links where you can find additional data:

• Modern Hyperinflation in Zimbabwe (A very sobering BBC overview from July, 2007. Worse yet, the country’s  alarming economic numbers are actually more extreme today than when this article explained them.)
• The Nightmare German Inflation (An excellent summary of the 1923 German hyperinflation experience in Weimar Germany. Most importantly, it tells you who PROFITED and WHY during that time.)
• Mises.org Articles (A list of various articles found on the Ludwig von Mises Institute website related to this topic.)
• My own RichVermillion.com articles regarding money and the pending U.S. economic collapse

Be informed, avail yourself also of the data within the right-most Financial Column found on every page of this blog, and do NOT be afraid. Rather, keep in mind the following VERY important truth:

This is an economic time for the properly informed and positioned to PROFIT beyond their wildest imaginations, while those who stumble forward without taking these issues to heart will suffer tremendously.

The Bible puts it this way:

A prudent man sees the evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished [with suffering]. (Proverbs 22:3, AMP)

The key is to take these things seriously, to do your due diligence, and get in position to profit rather than to suffer.

Again: Hyperinflation in the United States has already begun in the monetary supply, and will soon begin in the prices of the marketplace. Since the U.S. dollar is the “world’s reserve currency” and sits as reserves backing most of the other paper currencies of the world, hyperinflation is likely to spread rapidly on a global scale. Gold and silver is your best and most secure way of protecting your savings and preparing for the economic tsunami that is soon to come.

Stay informed, and get prepared.

Lastly, please post your comments below.

In Jesus,

-Rich

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By Rich Vermillion, March 13, 2008 9:24 pm

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. (1John 4:8, NIV)    

(Just in case we did not get it the first time, the apostle John then repeated himself in v. 16 saying simply, “God is love” which is literally “God is agapé.”)

Since “God is Love” then we can easily end all argument about how to “walk in love” by simply observing God’s own revealed character in the Bible. Since everything agapé love is God is, then we can “translate and meditate” as one minister often says, and discover the true meaning of our discussion text. Thus, the logical equivalent then of our text in 1Peter is:

“God covers over a multitude of sins.” ( 1Peter4:8 in the light of 1John4:8 )

Can we determine clearly from the Scriptures how God covers the multitude of sins? Yes, we can. Consequently, we can discern how to walk in agapé-love (and cover the multitude of sins) by examining agapé-love in the light of God’s revealed nature and character in the Bible. Too often, we Christians have tried to understand God within the context of our warped opinions about love rather than understanding love by studying the One Who personifies agapé-love—Our Heavenly Father.

Moreover, Jesus (in Hebrew, “Yeshua”) is not only revealed in the Bible as God’s Son but Jesus is also revealed to have been “God manifest in the flesh” (1Timothy 3:16). Therefore, studying the person of Jesus Christ (Yeshua Ha Meshiach) in the Gospels will reveal to us what “love manifest in the flesh” is supposed to look like within our own lives.

In our following installments of this series we will examine HOW God Himself covers the multitude of sins—and consequently, how we should too. We will also examine Jesus and His personality as revealed by the Gospels to see even more clearly how Christians today should look if they are walking in the “perfected love” John discussed in his first epistle.

 [digg=http://digg.com/people/Another_cool_article_about_love_covering_sins]

Related Posts: How Does Love Cover Sins? (Part 1) , The REAL Gospel 

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By Rich Vermillion, February 5, 2008 8:46 pm

In a highly contested race for president in the United States, the Christian vote is playing a powerful role in choosing the next Republican presidential candidate. While many eyes are on the religious give-and-take battle between Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee, a surprising number of Christians are turning to the ONLY true Constitutionalist running in either party, Ron Paul.

Websites such as ChristiansForRonPaul.com and the Christians4Paul blog are already proclaiming the 10-term Republican  Congressman’s biblical stances on issues such as abortion, judicial review, protection of personal liberties (such as freedom of religion and gun owners’ rights), and the such. Now another online Christian voice has added business and economics to the list of biblical issues Christians should consider when choosing their candidate. David G. Johnson of Christian Business Daily announced on February 4th that they are endorsing Ron Paul for president, saying:

Christian Business Daily has long stood for policy that is rooted in solid Biblical principles – sound stewardship of financial and other resources, rewards for fruitfulness and productivity, and environments that allow for enterprise to flourish without undue taxation or public theft masquerading as compassion. This is why our editorial team has chosen to support a presidential candidate in the Republican primaries, Ron Paul.

The reasons for our selection of Congressman Paul are numerous, but can be summarized by what we esteem in his personal character, ethics, integrity, consistent sound economic and monetary policy record, and his grasp of foundational concepts that promote the freedoms that were hard-won by the Founders and codified by the framers of the U.S. Constitution.

We recognize a number of disturbing trends within the ranks of so-called “conservatives” in recent history, including a near-Socialist commitment to furthering the creation of a paternal State promising its people health care and other entitlements traditionally supported by liberals. The field of Republican candidates in the current election cycle is dominated by supporters of unhealthy taxation and wealth redistribution schemes that fund unethical and immoral initiatives, promote dependence over personal responsibility, and contribute to the further degradation of liberty.

We recognize that it is only in a free society that we, as Christians and as businesspeople, will be able to live out our God-given individual purposes without ungodly restraint of over-intrusive government, without having our values and freedoms trampled upon, and without theft of our families’ resources – whether via direct taxation or through the creation of additional burdensome national debt.

Ron Paul, as a physician who has delivered over 4,000 babies, has taken as strong a pro-life stance as has any candidate for public office in the history of the debate over this issue. As a Congressman, he has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the Constitution, to limited government, to individual freedom, to property rights, and to sound economic policy. His positions on issues facing our nation today are most closely aligned with what we believe to be the Biblical positions.

We recognize that there are questions regarding his ability to win the nomination of the Republican Party – particularly in light of the strong media spin which has virtually ignored his candidacy and his record-breaking support. We also recall from history the Presidential election of 1860, in which there were four strong Republican candidates for President. Abraham Lincoln was elected to the highest office in the land in a strongly-contested battle. He won only 39% of the popular vote.

We urge our readers to give thorough consideration to the field of candidates and cast their vote in favor of the liberty that made our nation great. Cast a vote for Ron Paul. 

 

In addition to the above mentioned Christian endorsements, the RonPaul2008.com endorsement page has a growing number of pastors and Christian public figures adding their voices to the choir.

Ron Paul’s religious Conservatives list is also gaining ground in the Jewish community as well. Americans for Israel is strongly promoting his campaign, and others are becoming increasingly aware of his history of pro-Israel voting record. As Dr. Paul’s non-Interventionist foreign policy becomes more widely known, many Jewish and Christian Conservatives alike are switching their endorsements from other so-called ‘Conservative’ candidates. 

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Related articles: Why Ron Paul supporters look familiar, Is Huckabee Honest?, Huckabee: Cozy with the One-World-Government Movement, The ‘Ron Paul Camp’ Marches On, True Character: Highlighting Mike Gravel and Ron Paul

Comments (3)

By Rich Vermillion, January 17, 2008 4:38 pm

(Revised 1/18/2008) As the Ron Paul Revolution has continued to advance and grow, its opponents have redirected their focus. Unable to effectively counter the logic and facts of Ron Paul’s stated positions, they are now increasingly attacking his supporters in a blatant attempt to discredit their humble leader.

Labels such as mavericks, weirdos, freaks, trouble-makers, extremists, idiots, and/or zealots have been thrown at Ron Paul’s supporters… and usually with an obvious tone of hostility or disdain in their voice. Yet, as I look at the broad spectrum of Dr. Paul’s supporters, I see everything from highly educated people to quasi-educated, Liberal to Conservative, young to old, black to white, Christian to secular—Democrats, Republicans, Independents, business people, celebrities, media/authors/artists, other politicians, and even ministers. The diversity is both startling and wonderful.

Sure, there are some rather “fringe” elements in the mix. A few of them have even done some really stupid things. Perhaps that is what Dr. Paul’s opponents are trying to draw attention to, in a “judge a man’s character by those he associates with” type of approach. Nothing else is working for them, so I guess they might as well try this tactic.

Last night I pondered this issue, and thought beyond all the insults and the media’s silly attempts to marginalize Dr. Paul’s supporters. I began to see that there is something truly familiar looking about Ron Paul’s “revolutionaries…” something even biblical:

Ah! Here is one reason why the revolutionaries look so familiar. They look like the people who were attracted to the leadership of David, the son of Jesse… who eventually became the next king of Israel. A ridiculous and ‘motley’ group this must have appeared to those who wondered about this David ‘who would be king.’

Here is a man who was anointed to replace wicked Saul as king by the great prophet Samuel himself. Yet, he is hiding in caves with his relatives, and the many ‘rejects’ of that day’s society. These were people who where in various forms of distress due to the errant decisions made by the nation’s backslidden leader, King Saul. They were people who were in debt up to their eyeballs because of Israel’s struggling economy. These people were severely discontented with the direction their nation had gone as King Saul’s blatant nepotism and militarism threatened the nation’s future. (Does history repeat itself, or what?)

Yet, from among this ‘unlikely’ group arose a troop of “mighty men“—the likes of which the world had never before seen. Likewise, I expect there to arise in the mold of Ron Paul a new generation who will forge beyond even what their patriarch has done to date.

Oh yes, there is something very familiar about Ron Paul’s revolutionaries… something even Christ-like (with regard to the types of people Ron Paul sometimes attracts):

Jesus attracted people of all types during His Own ministry here on the earth—including the “sick” people of society. There were prostitutes, lepers, and even dreaded “tax collectors” among those attracted to His message of hope, salvation, and deliverance (However, I’m not too sure how many of this last group of people Ron Paul’s revolution might attract).

Some of the people Jesus attracted to Himself both alarmed and disgusted His critics. Nevertheless, Yeshua Ha-Meshiach ben David (Hebrew for Jesus Christ, the Son of David) announced to the Pharisees of His day, even as Ron Paul does to the Pharisees of today, “I did not come to simply ‘hang out’ with those you call ’sinners’ but to cure them! Something you were never willing to do yourselves.”

(And NO, I am not saying Ron Paul is Jesus. But I am saying that there are similarities regarding the people they each attracted to themselves, and in their desire to relieve the distresses of those people.)

Moreover, the very thing that Ron Paul is offering today within the political and economic spectra to “whomsoever will” embrace his message has a few similarities to what Jesus still offers today spiritually. (Of course, Jesus offers the most important things: salvation, forgiveness, and deliverance to those who are ravaged by sin and all the curse produced by sin in one’s life.)

Ron Paul’s policies of free markets, a humble ‘Golden-rule‘ foreign policy, and personal liberty, are actually biblical principles applied within the political and economic realms. No wonder the ‘disenfranchised’ of society are drawn to Dr. Paul as they have been similarly drawn to Jesus for 2,000 years—and the Pharisees of today hate it just as much as their ancestors did while Jesus walked the earth. (And for more on the Gospel itself, let me refer you to my article The REAL Gospel.)

Oh my, yes! There is something so familiar with Ron Paul’s revolutionaries…even something so Pauline (pun intended):

The apostle Paul did not seem to be very complimentary to us Christians when he discussed our qualifications in the eyes of society. Sure, there are a few of us who might appear to today’s “elite” as if they had their act together. But, most of us look rather foolish in the eyes of the “wise guys” of this world. Yet, like Daniel did in his day, the Body of Christ has proven to be at least ten-times wiser overall than the world’s “magicians, astrologers, and wise men.”

Regardless of the many attempts by many governments to obliterate the Gospel (and those who preached it), it has spread farther and farther the more it has been attacked. As the ancient Christian leader, Tertullian, once said, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” These foolish, ignoble, weak, base, and despised ‘nothings’ managed to spread the Gospel throughout the world in the face of persecution. Today we number about two billion people.

So, the “wise guys”of the world could not stop us Christians, no matter how hard they tried. Similarly, I do not believe they will overcome the Ron Paul revolution—at least they cannot to the degree that it is also based in truth. Yes, there is something so familiar about Ron Paul’s revolutionaries.

So, Dr. Ron Paul… carry on sir! Continue to hold high the banner of liberty, freedom, and prosperity in the face of all opposition and criticism. You are in good company, following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, King David, the apostle Paul, and Christ’s many martyrs before you.

And please do not fret when your fellow candidates fail to fully embrace your honest policies, and when they mock you at the debates. This is their ‘lot’ in political life, for their true masters and globalist backers demand that they dance only to the ‘tune’ they play for them. Remember the words of Jesus Himself as he explained:

Dr. Paul, nothing will please them…so don’t even try. You have truth, and a growing ‘army’ of peaceful revolutionaries on your side. So, carry on sir!

Revolutionaries, you carry on too! Ignore the abuse, berating, and insults of those opposed to these timeless ideals. The self-serving agendas of such people dictate that they must treat you this way.

Nevertheless, be of good courage! Many who are now “oppressed, distressed, in debt, and discontented” will wake up and join your cause. Moreover, some who formerly opposed you will also repent of their error and fall in among your ranks. Throughout history many have, and this time will not be any different. Truth is on your side…and time always favors truth.

Yes, there is something very familiar about the Ron Paul revolutionaries. We can see their ancestors following David in his journey toward his eventual coronation as king. We can see their predecessors following Jesus in His earthly ministry—hanging on His every word of freedom and deliverance—as He eventually became their Savior through His death on the cross and His subsequent resurrection. We can even see their forefathers in the early Christians, who braved the persecution of their day and proved themselves “more than conquerers through Him Who loved them“—eventually becoming two billion strong today. Yes, there is something so familiar about Ron Paul’s supporters…

Of course, again, there are many credible and esteemed men and women among the “revolutionary” ranks. One look at Ron Paul’s endorsement page quickly reveals a large number of highly respected people who have joined the cause. Even legendary Conservatives Barry Goldwater, Jr. and Richard Viguerie have wholeheartedly supported Ron Paul.

Thus, not all the members of the Ron Paul revolution are “riff raff” in the eyes of the world. But those who are despised in their eyes should wear it like a badge of honor. Hold your head up high! Because you have a powerful procession of heroes who have displayed similar courage before you.

Epilogue: As I pondered this message again this morning upon awaking, I considered how to write about it even as I refreshed myself at the sink. Suddenly, I realized another ‘missing piece’ regarding why Ron Paul’s supporters look so familiar to me. There, looking back at me in my bathroom mirror, was a Ron Paul supporter—a particularly handsome one, who kindly greets me every waking day.

Les Vies de Révolution!

-Rich

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Related articles: The REAL Gospel, The ‘Ron Paul Camp’ Marches On, True Character: Highlighting Mike Gravel and Ron Paul, Is Huckabee Honest?, Huckabee: Cozy with the One-World-Government Movement

Comments (1)

By Rich Vermillion, January 7, 2008 3:30 pm

As I have been searching today’s entire field of candidates, I have found two who have proven long-term track records that indicate they have bona fide integrity with regard to their stances on the issues: Senator Mike Gravel (D-AK), and Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX). Although it also looks like Duncan Hunter may also have a consistent record, I feel the longevity of the careers of these other two men qualifies them for additional examination since they are such fine examples of character within the context of politics. (And yes, I am listing them here alphabetically.)

Senator Mike Gravel is a bona fide national hero. What makes him unique is that his heroism was not demonstrated on some battlefield in a distant land, but in the battlefield of the U.S. Congress while attempting to END the Vietnam War raging overseas. At one point, he went four days with no sleep as he fought singlehandedly in the Senate to end that illegal war during his one-man filibuster. (Note: Let me define that references to an “illegal war” herein refers to a war/military conflict in which the United States participates, but which has NOT been properly authorized by Congress through declaring war as the U.S. Constitution requires. By the way, “authorizing military force” is NOT the same thing as declaring war.)

As Mike Gravel’s brief campaign biography rightly states:

In 1971, he waged a successful one-man filibuster for five months that forced the Nixon administration to cut a deal, effectively ending the draft in the United States. He is most prominently known for his release of the Pentagon Papers, the secret official study that revealed the lies and manipulations of successive U.S. administrations that misled the country into the Vietnam War….From the floor of the senate, Gravel (a junior senator at the time) insisted that his constituents had a right to know the truth behind the war and proceeded to read 4,100 pages of the 7,000 page document into the senate record.

Senator Gravel’s presence in the Democratic debates ensured that his fellow Democratic candidates had to address the hard issues of today. He also held them accountable to their records explaining, “Do not tell me you oppose the Iraq war and yet can do nothing to end it. I know different! I’ll even tell you how to do it!”

Although I would not say I agree with Senator Gravel on every issue, one thing I know for sure: He genuinely means what he says, and will follow it up with passionate action. He is a true example of character being displayed in a public official. I would vote for him even though I do not completely agree with him, simply because I know what I am getting.

Congressman Ron Paul is another man of tremendous consistency and integrity. He began studying Austrian Economics some fifty years ago, and has held strongly to those principles during his twenty years of service in the U.S. Congress. His voting record is so consistent with his beliefs, that he has been nicknamed “Dr. No” by his colleagues due to his propensity to vote against any bill that violated his beliefs in the U.S. Constitution, sound monetary policy, free markets, abolition of the personal income tax, accountability and reduction of the Federal government, and individual liberty.

The only “inconsistency” to date that any reporter has been able to try and pin on Ron Paul is with regard to spending earmarks which he has put on bills he later voted against. In fact, Tim Russert of NBC assailed him hard over this issue on Meet The Press, and barely gave the man time to answer his questions. However, when one actually listens to Congressman Paul’s explanation, he again proves to be consistent to his beliefs. To paraphrase his various public responses to this issue:

I am against the corrupt system in Washington, but I realize I have to work with what we currently have in order to protect the interests of my constituents back home. So, while I am working to change the system, I will also occasionally place earmarks on bills to get my precinct back some of their tax money and help their communities. I consider it no different to a tax credit for my constituents. For example, even though I want to eliminate the IRS, I will still take every tax credit I can get as long as I still have to pay taxes.

Nevertheless, I then vote against that same bill because I have NEVER voted for any bill that contained any earmarks. But until the system is changed—and I am trying to change it—I will also do my duty to get some of the money returned to my district so that it can help the people.

Some still try to argue this point against Congressman Paul, but still it is the only point of contention regarding Ron Paul’s consistency to principle (a much better record than can be said about anyone else). Also, his answer seems to make perfect sense to many, even some media pundits.

Then there is the U.S. Constitution. While virtually all politicians claim to want to uphold the U.S. Constitution (and they swear to do so on a Bible when elected to office), their voting records and conduct typically betray their true anti-Constitutional agendas. But Ron Paul has the consistent voting record necessary to be considered a true Constitutionalist. He can even quote many parts of the Constitution from memory; so he has obviously studied the document extensively in his ongoing quest to see it truly followed as the “Supreme Law of the Land.”

Like Mike Gravel on the Democratic side, Ron Paul has forced his fellow Republican candidates to address issues in economics, the Iraq War (which he alone opposes among the Republican candidates), taxes, and individual liberties, that they might not have otherwise even touched.

Mike Huckabee, in fact, has recently changed some of his economic/tax rhetoric towards something more akin to Ron Paul’s more popular approach. Nevertheless, only Ron Paul has been studying these issues for fifty years. And he has the twenty-year-long voting record to backup what he says he will endeavor to do.

Ron Paul advocates many biblical principles in his approach to the issues. He is a professing Christian. He is also pro-life, giving his experience as a obstetrician as one reason he knows a fetus is a human being with legal rights. He evenly said in the recent ABC/Facebook Debate that he wants to apply the “Golden Rule” to our national foreign policy by treating other nations as we would like them to treat us. In this respect, he is also pro-Israel in that he proposes cutting aid to ALL the Middle-Eastern nations (including Israel, but the Arabs currently get three times more than Israel) and removing the U.S. from Israel’s political and military affairs—thereby allowing them to operate as a truly sovereign nation. Not surprisingly, Ron Paul also has a growing following among Christians. ChristiansforRonPaul.com and the Christians4Paul blog are only two of the growing number of Christian networks supporting his candidacy.

Like I said regarding Senator Gravel, I cannot say that I agree with Ron Paul on every “jot and tittle” of his policy positions (but I have come to agree with him on most of them after studying his positions in detail). However, regardless of how much I agree with him, he also is a person I could vote for just because I KNOW what I am getting when I do.

Interestingly, Mike Gravel and Ron Paul also agree on many points, including immediately ending the illegal Iraqi war, many foreign policy issues, and doing away with the current tax system in some way. Both have strong Conservative and pro-liberty tendencies. Both show true moral fiber within their proven characters—and as a Christian minister myself, let me point out that these two men are better examples of integrity than many of today’s preachers here in the United States. (There are some good ministers, of course… but way too few in my opinion. We should all be examples of righteous living, as Paul admonished Timothy.)

Jesus said:

In the case of these two men, I can certainly see abundant good fruit in the categories of proven character and integrity. Again, we might not agree on every issue…but at least we know what we are getting if either of these two men are elected to the presidency.

Well, that is the way I see it. Digg it if you can.

Also, if any of you want to add to what I shared above, or have strong opinions about other candidates’ also qualifying as examples of true character demonstrated within the context of politics, let me know. The comment field is below.

-Rich

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See also my related article post: Is Huckabee Honest?

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By Rich Vermillion, December 20, 2007 8:51 pm

Hello everyone!

Just a quick post to say “Merry Christmas!” to all of you, and to speak a blessing into your New Year:

God’s richest and best be yours, as you pursue Him with all your heart through His Son, Jesus (in Hebrew, “Yeshua”) the promised Messiah of Scripture and soon-to-return King of Kings. May His Word and love flood your spirit and soul, and may He “satisfy your desire with good things, so that your youth is renewed as the eagle’s.” (Pslam 103)

Of course, my posts to RichVermillion.com will be somewhat sporadic during the holidays. Nevertheless, watch for some very interesting posts that are coming soon…including Part 2 of How Does Love Cover Sins?

Merry Christmas!

—Rich—

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Comments (8)

By Rich Vermillion, December 19, 2007 6:03 am

Update: I was noticing earlier this year the search-engine terms with which people came to my blog from places like Google, and noticed today that somebody had come in using the search phrase, “Is Dan Stratton a Freemason?” The answer to that question is a resounding YES, but what’s more, he is an admitted (and confirmed) member of the ultra-masonic cult known as the Skull and Bones Society (aka, “The Brotherhood of Death”).

This satanic cult is on the “darkest side” of the masonic world, because whereas “standard” Freemasons worship Lucifer as the angel of light (though lower-level masons are ignorant of this fact), the “Bonesmen” knowingly worship the same spirit by his God-given fallen name: satan (lower-case first letter of his name being intentional on my part, for I refuse to capitalize the names of demons and fallen angels). Due to this fact, and the positions of importance its members achieve in various areas of society, the S&B is often considered by researchers as an “ultra-masonic” organization. Regardless, both Freemasons and Skull and Bones members have the same characteristic of being anti-Christ organizations, bent on forming a “New World Order.” Therefore, the unrepentant members of both will end up in the same Lake of Fire into which their ‘master’ is destined to plunge:

Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone….The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever….And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire…. “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (Revelation 19:20; 20:10, 25; 21:8 NKJV)

So in short, Dan Stratton was certainly NEVER a Christian (much less a Christian minister, as he professes himself to be). I have known Dan Stratton personally, and have also researched the S&B fairly extensively. Stratton’s initiation rites into that satanic cult required him to swear total allegiance to the enemy of our souls, satan himself. Thus, unless he repents and renounces that black cult publicly and exposes their hidden secrets, he is to be shunned as a false-brother and false apostle—as I will elaborate concerning even further below. (End update)

Introducing Dan Stratton

Former Paradigm Seed Publishers author Dan Stratton is the founder of the business group called the “ProVision Network” (aka PVN), and also of “Faith Exchange Fellowship” (aka FEF) which purports itself to be a church. He recently stated publicly that he is still and active member of the Skull and Bones, a satanic order he had originally joined as a junior attending Yale University. (To view Stratton’s 700 Club interview where he readily admits his membership therein, click here, or visit the CBN web page about him and click on watch video.) Consequently, the book Divine ProVision formerly published by Paradigm Seed Publishers has been removed from the market indefinitely.

Stratton’s admitted active involvement in what has been well-documented to be a satanic cult is a clear violation of many Biblical precepts and precedents, including most notably:

Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.

Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? Do I mean then that a sacrifice offered to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons. Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy? Are we stronger than he? (1 Corinthians 10:14-22, NIV, emphasis added)

It is a clear Biblical truth that one cannot simultaneously be a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ (i.e. Christian, and especially a Christian minister) and an active member of a demonic organization too. Moreover, ALL researchers agree that the practices of the S&B are clearly demonic, as the following (two from the History Channel) exposés also point out very clearly:

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History Channel Expose’:

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Another History Channel Expose’ (Part 1):

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Another History Channel Expose’ (Part 2):

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FoxNews Story:

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60-Minutes’ Story:

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Let me be very clear in where I stand therefore: I, Rich Vermillion, fully renounce all ties to Dan Stratton. I also strongly repudiate his active involvement in the Skull and Bones satanic secret society.

Please note also that I actually wrote the book Divine ProVision, even solely authoring about 60% of its content—even thought I originally agreed to let Stratton have “top billing” on the cover. Therefore I have a large investment of myself and my time into that project (Stratton’s 40% came primarily from our firm’s transcriptions of his tapes).

Consequently, I also had a very significant financial stake in this book project. But when Stratton “came out of the closet” with his satanic activities (I did NOT know about his active S&B membership when I wrote the book), I no longer wanted to associate with him any more than the Publisher did. I readily agreed with the publisher’s board of directors—of which I was one—that the book should be removed from print, regardless of any financial loss I incurred as a result.

Moreover, in the light of all that I learned about Stratton through our association—and later from other former associates of his and through researching his S&B membership—I have also personally concluded that he is not a Christian (nor probably ever was). In my educated opinion, Stratton qualifies as a “false apostle” in accordance with the Scriptures:

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. (2 Corinthians 11:13-15, NKJV)

If Satan himself can put on a “church face” and “play holy” for a while with an agenda to deceive and ensnare, then it is not very difficult to comprehend that one of his agents can knowingly be an impostor sent to infiltrate the Body of Christ for satanic purposes.

Moreover, I do not care WHO endorses the man…whether nationally-known ministers, government officials, or notable authors—to even include Kenneth Copeland (who I have also personally known) and Doug Wead (who is closely associated with several other S&B cult members as well).

Scripture and significant third-party evidence, added to the “bad fruit” and public professions of Stratton himself, clearly exposes Stratton’s true nature—regardless of his “endorsements.” In fact, I consider all such endorsements “red flags” concerning the supporter’s own spiritual condition, integrity, and personal agenda (and in the case of Kenneth Copeland, I have started a separate blog to confront the sins I am personally aware of within his life and “ministry”). So if anything, I am very wary of Stratton’s “endorsers” and quite suspicious of their judgment and true agendas—but NOT doubtful of the obvious evidence concerning Stratton. The Word of God is to be our anchor of truth, and not the so-called “endorsements” of questionable “Christian celebrities.”

Again, as a minister of the Gospel, I do NOT believe Dan Stratton is a bona fide Christian, but rather what the Bible refers to as a “false brother”:

But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage. But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you. (Galatians 2:4-5, NASB)

See also 2 Corinthians 11:26, and compare with Jude, 2 Peter 2, 1 John 3:4-10; 4:1-6)

But to give you an additional “witness” in this matter, let me also suggest another third-party resource that I think will be very informative regarding this issue of the Skull and Bones (and specifically about Stratton himself):

Meet Evangelical Dan Stratton: Bonesman!

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Comments Have Been Coming In

Of course, comments have begun to come in since Paradigm Seed Publishers posted its announcement about false-apostle Dan Stratton’s professed membership in the satanic cult, the Skull and Bones, and its removal of the book Divine ProVision from the market.

Most comments directed to me to date have been positive, but most were conveyed “offline.” One brother, however, went ahead and posted his comment on my blog here at RichVermillion.com (on the Welcome page, actually) since he did not have anywhere else to express himself. Being a former member of Stratton’s so-called “church” this guy is obviously passionate about this issue. (Note: I had to move John Ramaine’s comment to this post because the Welcome page did not seem an appropriate place to leave it.)

Consequently, I am posting this particular article be a place where other people can post their comments about this important issue.

Once you have reviewed the information within this article, feel free to post an educated comment to this blog about this very alarming issue if you would like.

—Rich—

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Comments (1)

By Rich Vermillion, December 7, 2007 11:03 pm

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. (1Peter 4:8, NIV) 

Have you ever pondered the above Scripture and asked yourself, “How does love cover sins?” I have, because I recognize that this is a SERIOUS matter. Families, marriages, businesses, churches—and sometimes people’s lives—are at stake.

Like you, I have heard this verse quoted many times in many pulpits—and out of the mouths of many believers discussing various issues at hand. To a person, however, it seems that they all have the same concept of how love “covers the multitude of sins.” Although the exact bent of each individual might vary a bit, you could sum up the popular opinion by rephrasing this passage, “Love sweeps things under the rug and refuses to deal with them…except maybe in prayer…but that’s about it.”

However, is that what the Holy Spirit was telling us to do in that verse? Is prayer the only recourse for a Christian when being confronted by the sins of another? Let me cite you a few biblical situations to illustrate the point that at least sometimes, you have to hold people accountable:

• Peter interrupted his church service at two different times to rebuke a Christian couple, Ananias and Sapphira (separately), regarding their lies and hypocrisy. These two believers subsequently dropped dead as God confirmed Peter’s condemnation of each. Ananias was judged for his deceitful actions and hidden agenda…and Sapphira for her misguided submission to her own husband in a wicked scheme. (Acts 5)
• Paul publicly rebuked his elder apostle, Peter (who actually mentored him for a short while during Paul’s own ministry training), when Peter disassociated from the Gentile converts to please religious Jewish converts who recently arrived from Judea. Paul explained why when he stated, “He [Peter] walked not uprightly according to the Gospel.” (Galatians 2:11-21)
• John, the “Apostle of Love” as he is often called, actually wrote a brother (Gaius) a letter that exhorted him to leave Diotrephes’ congregation because of that pastor’s wicked behavior. He then recommended Gaius attend Demetrius’ congregation instead saying, “Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good.” (3John)
• Even the Lord Jesus (love Himself) entered the temple and created havoc as he threw over tables and freed animals, while rebuking the merchandisers for defiling God’s “House of Prayer.” Moreover, He whipped a few of them with a “scourge” he made from some small cords while he chastised them! (John 2:14-16)

There are many, many more examples I could list here—and I realize I kicked over a few extra “sacred cows” while I was listing these (but I’ll save further comments on those issues for other blogs). Nevertheless, with these few examples in mind let me ask you, does love “sweep sins under the rug” or is there something perhaps in our interpretation of 1Peter 4:8 (and similar verses) that has been terribly flawed?

It would seem that neither Paul, Peter, John—nor Jesus Himself—believed sins should be swept aside and ignored. Yet, most believers I have talked to seemed to adhere to an “ostrich” approach regarding walking in love towards others. Concerning this common “ostrich” approach to love: I have noticed (and experienced myself at times) that those who attempt to live this way generally experience failure after failure in their relationships…and bring upon themselves much anguish besides.

Consequently, I have re-examined our commandment from the Lord to “walk in love” in the light of the context of the entire Bible. After many years of study, trial, and error…I am pleased to say that I can now clearly explain from the Scriptures the correct way to apply these verses:

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2Timothy 2:15, NKJV)

In the following articles of this series, I will share what Love Himself (God) has shown us within His Own Word about walking in love towards others. Yes, He—above anybody else—knows what is the proper way to actually “cover the multitude of sins” that we might fulfill the mandate given us in our opening passage from 1Peter 4:8.

Buckle up, stay tuned…and get ready for some eye-opening revelation.

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Related post: How Does Love Cover Sins? (Part 2)