Surrounded by Dr. Buzz Aldrin, former astronauts and NASA space flight officials, President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday that restores the National Space Council.

“The future of American space leadership—we’re going to lead again,” he said at the beginning of his remarks at the signing ceremony. “It’s been a long time. It’s over 25 years, and we’re opening up, and we are going to be leading again like we’ve never led before.

“We’re a nation of pioneers, and the next great American frontier is space. And we never completed—we started, but we never completed. We stopped. But now we start again. And we have tremendous spirit, and we’re going to have tremendous spirit from the private sector—maybe in particular from the private sector.”

President George H.W. Bush established the National Space Council in 1989. The council was tasked with advising and assisting the president regarding national space policy and strategy. It ceased operation in 1993, when President Bill Clinton disbanded it.

President Trump’s executive order revives the council and will reinvigorate America’s role as a leader in space, strengthen America’s economy, and advance the security of the American people:

In particular, the council is directed to:

1. review United States government space policy, including long-range goals, and develop a strategy for national space activities;
2. develop recommendations for the president on space policy and space-related issues;
3. monitor and coordinate implementation of the objectives of the president’s national space policy and strategy;
4. foster close coordination, cooperation and technology and information exchange among the civil, national security and commercial space sectors;
5. advise on participation in international space activities conducted by the United States government; and
6. facilitate the resolution of differences concerning major space and space-related policy matters.

Click here to read the entire order.

“The human soul yearns for discovery,” the president said. “By unlocking the mysteries of the universe, we unlock truths within ourselves … Our journey into space will not only make us stronger and more prosperous, but will unite us behind grand ambitions and bring us all closer together.”

The president said he was encouraged to revive the council by Vice President Mike Pence, who as chairman of the council will play an “indispensable role in crafting America’s space policy,” according to the White House. In comments prior to the order signing ceremony, the vice president said he was honored and enthusiastic about the new role he would be assuming, stating the Trump administration’s commitment to space exploration would “strengthen the American spirit” and inspire the American people to “blaze new trails into the unknown.”

“Our vice president cares very deeply about space policy, and for good reason,” the president said. “Space exploration is not only essential to our character as a nation, but also our economy and our great nation’s security.

“Our travels beyond the Earth propel scientific discoveries that improve our lives in countless ways here, right here, at home:  powering vast new industry, spurring incredible new technology, and providing the space security we need to protect the American people. And security is going to be a very big factor with respect to space and space exploration.

“At some point in the future, we’re going to look back and say, ‘How did we do it without space?'”

You can watch the entire signing ceremony in the video clip above. {eoa}

As followers of Jesus Christ, we serve as watchmen for the people of God, whoever they may be—even the ones who do not yet identify themselves as the people of God. God asks volunteer watchmen like you and me to shoulder a burden for the Jewish people and for all of the descendants of Abraham.

God’s plan is to bring Jews alongside Gentiles (non-Jews) into full saving knowledge of Christ. He wants to win over Jews, Arabs, Chaldeans and all residents of the Middle East to His Son. The day will come—and we have a key part in hastening it—”for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the seas” (Hab. 2:14).

A Call to Intercede

Did you know that Jerusalem is the only city named in the Bible that we are supposed to pray for? It is true.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you! Peace be within your walls and security within your towers!’ For my brothers and companions’ sake, I will now say, ‘Peace be within you.’ Because of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good.” (Ps. 122:6-9).

For decades, I have been heavily involved in prayer for Israel and the Jewish people. Millennia of history, biblical prophecies fulfilled and yet to be fulfilled, historical conflicts between people groups in the Middle East that continue to boil over to this day.

Above, I quoted from Psalm 122 because I believe those words capture the heart of God toward the Jewish people, whom He called the apple of His eye in Zechariah 2:8, as well as toward Jerusalem, the beleaguered capital city of the nation of Israel. It may be hard to believe, but God wants peace to prevail in that beautiful and battle-weary city.

Jerusalem and the nation of Israel are like God’s ticking clock; we can set our watchmen’s timers by what we observe there. What is God doing with His people now? Why has this latest conflict erupted? Is nobody safe? Who can discern the right path? How can we pray as we watch?

Discerning the Times

As watchmen-intercessors, we must dedicate ourselves to seeking God’s heart and mind so that we can pray according to His will. We do not hide our heads in the sand and ignore the troubling issues of the times we live in.

In the Old Testament, we read about the sons of Issachar, who were “those having understanding of times and what Israel should do” (1 Chr. 12:32). The sons of Issachar have come to represent all people who seek to discern the times they live in and who make their decisions based on the discerning wisdom that God gives them.

When praying for the Jewish people, we must understand what God is saying from three perspectives:

1. His promise to save all of Israel and bring it into His fullness. (Zech. 12:10-11; Rom. 11:12, 15, 26)
2. The fact that the Jewish people have a temporary “spirit of blindness” regarding Jesus as the Messiah. (Matt. 13:13-15; Rom. 11:7-10, 25-28)
3. The promise that this spirit of blindness will be removed when “the fullness of the Gentiles” occurs. (Luke 21:24; Rom. 11:25-26)

The Jewish people will be won over by the love of the Gentile church (Matt. 25:40). Because we “wild olives” have been grafted into the original tree, we have no excuse for arrogance (Rom. 11:17-22).

Now Satan is not ignorant of this plan; it has been announced by prophets and proclaimed in public places for millennia. Thus he stirs up anti-Semitism and causes destruction. The enemy figures that if he can eliminate the people of Israel from the face of the earth, he will win.

As watchmen, we must be careful not to take all of our cues from the daily news or from political sources. The ever-shifting situation mirrors the malicious advances of Satan’s unseen forces. In the midst of the confusion, only watchmen with spiritual discernment can see well enough in the dark to sound the right alarm at the correct time.

The Church As Watchmen

The apostle Paul—Jewish from birth—wrote to the Roman church, which was almost entirely Gentile, to explain much of God’s plan for the people of Israel. He wanted them and us to know that, even though the Jewish people have refused to acknowledge one of their own, Jesus, as the Son of God and Messiah, there is still hope—and it lies with the Gentiles. As he explained, evidently the Jewish Messiah embraced the Gentiles in part to make the Jews “jealous” (Rom. 11:11). The Gentiles, who have been “grafted” into God’s family tree, need to know that God wants to graft the natural branches back into His family tree; He wants “all Israel to be saved” (Rom. 11:26; Rom. 11:24).

Consequently, the Gentile church has a call to fulfill. The worldwide church must intercede for God’s purposes to be accomplished in Israel and wherever else Jewish people are found. The Gentile church must support the people of Israel with compassion and energy, embracing them as brothers. The Jewish prophet Isaiah wrote, “The Lord God who gathers the outcasts of Israel says, Yet I will gather others to them besides those who already are gathered to him” (Is. 56:8).

The body of Christ on the earth are watchman on the walls as depicted in Isaiah 62:6-7. Historically, the church has failed to fulfill this mission. Just think of the relatively recent horrors of the Holocaust of World War II. In retrospect, we deplore the Spanish Inquisition, but the church still has the bloodstains on her hands. Anti-Semitism still influences critical decisions and derails efforts to introduce the people of God to their Savior. While Jesus is known as the Prince of Peace, the church has too often demonstrated the opposite spirit, trampling on unbelievers in every generation.

Where is our love? Where is our wisdom? What has happened to the grace and mercy of God? Can we rise to the challenge of turning our own body around even as we begin to do a better job of looking out for our Jewish brethren?

Overcoming the Spirit of Haman—Mordecais Needed

It is as if the evil spirit of Haman never left the earth when he met his rightful end on the gallows of King Artaxerxes. We may well be destined to relive the story of Esther in our own generation. So I want to urge all of you as Mordecai-watchmen to watch carefully, and then to act wisely.

You will remember the story as it is told in the book of Esther. Esther’s strategic victory is celebrated to this day by the Jewish people in the feast of Purim. But she would not have been able to do anything without the sage advice of her guardian Mordecai, who was her spiritual authority. He watched in the gate, discovered a plot against the Jews and told Esther about it. In other words, without Mordecai, there would be no book of Esther. An entire population of Jews would have been annihilated.

Mordecai intercepted the intelligence about Haman’s evil scheme, and he revealed it wisely to the right parties. Esther employed all of her courage and charm. God made sure that the king read the right document in the middle of the night. And all was saved.

The connections with current events are clear: The anti-Semitic Haman spirit still roves around, seeking to annihilate the Jews. The church (Esther) may or may not be ready. We need the Mordecai-watchmen to step up with the right words at the right time. Only Mordecai could spot the danger, and only Mordecai-watchmen can inform the church before it is too late for the Jewish people.

Together, Mordecai and Esther are their only hope. Jews today rightly celebrate Purim as a mighty historic victory, but the genocidal anti-Semitic Haman spirit has actually returned—bringing reinforcements. It is time for a corporate Esther to arise for such a time as this.

Watching Together

Most of us are Gentiles—grafted-in as non-Jewish believers. But we can still be watchmen and women on the walls of Jerusalem, praying in conjunction with the “gatekeepers,” those who have the authority to act for good or for evil. No intercessor can tackle this assignment solo. You must watch together with like-minded others, and you must be quick to identify for the leaders on the ground what you see from the top of the wall.

We are living in a time of awakening and activation. Some of us will pray and fast. Some of us will find ourselves engaged in direct evangelism. Others will be tested socially or financially when we decide to identify more fully with our Jewish brethren. But we all must pray without ceasing and proclaim that the ancient prophetic promises will find their fulfillment within our lifetimes.

Remember that the power of prayer does not come from the power of the individual who is praying, but rather from the One who hears the prayers and acts. His power is immeasurable—and it is directed entirely toward good ends: “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; mercy and truth shall go before Your presence” (Ps. 89:14). Our part is to pray and obey, because “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man accomplishes much” (James 5:16).

God has chosen watchmen for different purposes and positions on His Wall. Where are you in God’s purposes as a sacrificial watchman?  Will you be found watching for the apple of God’s eye? {eoa}

 At least 17 people were shot after gunfire erupted at a concert in Little Rock, Arkansas, early Saturday, police said on social media.

At least one person injured in the shooting at a venue called the Power Ultra Lounge was initially listed in critical condition and has since been upgraded to stable, Little Rock police said on Twitter.

It was not immediately clear if anyone was arrested in connection with the shooting.

“We do not believe this incident was an active-shooter or terror-related incident,” police said on Twitter. “It appears to have been a dispute at a concert.”

None of the 17 shooting victims died, added the police.

A police spokesman did not immediately return calls or emails for comment.

Other people were trampled during the rush for the exits, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette newspaper, citing police.

The shooting started at about 2:30 a.m. local time on Saturday, according to local media, which is 30 minutes after the club closes.

Some of the victims are juveniles, according to a Twitter post by a reporter for local television station KATV.

The Power Ultra Lounge hosted a concert by the hip-hop artist Finese 2Tymes on Friday night, according to the club’s Facebook page.

More than one suspect may have been involved in the shooting, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported, citing the police chief. {eoa}

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© 2017 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.

July 4, 1776 was a great day in American history: Independence Day! So historically, July Fourth is a day that is celebrated yearly with family get-togethers, cookouts, parades, watermelon and fireworks. It was a great day but not for all.

While our nation was liberated from British rule in 1776, there was a class of people, slaves, who didn’t enjoy independence along with other Americans until the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. Until then, slaves weren’t considered to be persons.

Actually, slaves only achieved partial personhood in 1787, and then only because slave owners wanted to use them in order to gain a greater voting power. Thus, they were counted as three-fifths of a person in the Three-Fifths Compromise. The slaves didn’t enjoy true independence until 1863. And finally. on June 19, 1885, came Juneteenth Independence Day; a day celebrated in some circles with the same hoopla as many enjoy the Fourth of July.

Another class of Americans, the female suffragettes, waged and in some cases still do wage the battle for equality. Unfortunately, all too many still confuse women’s rights with human rights, and many pre-born persons are being discriminated against and killed as a result.

Yet, the celebrations for this year’s Fourth of July will go on for most Americans. Still, although African-Americans and women will join in the celebrations, there are still segments of Americans who do not enjoy the same freedom as everyone else; they include pre-born persons and victims of human trafficking in America and around the world.

America can never be truly free until the babies in the womb are free to be born, and all victims of abortion and other crimes against humanity are set free.

In America, the unborn are not considered “persons” under the law, and therefore they don’t enjoy the protection of the Fourteenth Amendment assuring ‘Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness,” a right the babies could expect prior to the Supreme Court decision made in Roe v. Wade on  January 22, 1973. Since that date over 60 million babies have not celebrated an Independence Day, have not joined in family celebrations, watched fireworks or a parade.

I dream and pray for a day when all Americans, born and unborn, can enjoy justice for all and independence for all; an “Independence Day from Roe v. Wade” is in order. Otherwise, how can the dream survive abortion?

One day our babies will be free. Until that day, please enjoy this Independence Day, but also say a prayer for those who are unable to celebrate it with us. And please take a moment to say this prayer for Independence Day! {eoa}

A gunman opened fire inside a New York City hospital on Friday in a burst of violence that injured several people and left the suspect dead, police said, as local media reported at least three doctors were among the wounded.

Few details about the shooting at Bronx-Lebanon Hospital were immediately available from official sources.

The assailant was armed with what appeared to be an M16 assault rifle, state Assemblyman Michael Blake, whose district includes the hospital and was informed by state police, told local television station NY1.

The New York Times, citing information furnished by an unnamed city Fire Department official, reported that three physicians had been shot. Their conditions were unknown.

As least one of the wounded doctors was treated by people inside the hospital who fashioned a tourniquet from an emergency fire hose, according to the official, the Times said.

As many as five or six people may have been wounded, the Times said, citing a law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity. It took police some time to secure the area, preventing emergency medical workers from immediately entering, the Times said.

CBS News reported that a gunman, believed to be a former hospital employee, was armed with a rifle and had barricaded himself inside the building.

New York Police Department spokesman Peter Donald posted a message a short time later on Twitter, saying, “One shooter is deceased at the hospital.” The NYPD’s official Twitter feed then posted an update saying, “The shooter is deceased. Several others are injured regarding the shooting at Bronx Lebanon Hospital.”

On Twitter, the New York Police Department told people to avoid the area around the hospital in the borough of the Bronx at 1650 Grand Concourse.

Police conducted a room-by-room search, telling civilians to turn off the lights and remain in place, according to an account posted on Twitter by Felix Puno, who identified himself as patient in the radiology department on the fourth floor of the hospital.

“Building is in complete shut down, I was in the middle of getting an x-ray when security alerted us to the active shooter situation,” Puno tweeted.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio was briefed on the shooting and was on his way to the scene, the mayor’s Twitter account said.

Bronx Lebanon hospital, about one mile (1.6 km) north of Yankee Stadium, describes itself as the largest voluntary, non-profit health care system serving the South and Central Bronx, as well as among the largest providers of outpatient services in New York City.

{eoa}

© 2017 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.

One of the best books I’ve read in a long time is Love Leads by my friend and colleague, Dr. Steve Greene. It’s so good we are promoting it widely and featuring it as the cover story for the July issue of Ministry Today magazine. Dr. Greene invites his readers to think about the question “If God is love and we have not love, how then shall we lead?” The book emphasizes the spiritual connection between relationships and productivity.

To launch the book on July 18 and create traction, my staff has developed a special team of influencers. Please consider this my personal invitation to join our brand-new Momentum Team!

You will discover what it looks like to lead with love and view leadership as you never have before as Dr. Greene dispels the leadership myths and misconceptions many have come to accept.

The real-life principles in Love Leads are fully supported throughout by the actions of God, who “so loved … that He gave” (John 3:16), helping you see with fresh insight that the true essence of leadership is love.

Dr. Greene is the publisher of Charisma, Ministry Today, SpiritLed Woman and Christian Retailing magazines. He received his doctorate in marketing from Memphis State University and has served as the dean of the College of Business and a professor of marketing at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. While in Tulsa, he also served as the senior pastor of Bixby Community Church. Dr. Greene has owned restaurants, a national advertising agency and a syndicated market research firm.

What Is a Momentum Team?

This is a group of devoted readers and fans—anywhere from 10 to 200 select people who gather online—to receive specific missions as on-the-ground ambassadors and help spread the word about the book.

What Is Your Role?

As a Momentum Team member, you will have the opportunity to:

1. Share about the book on your social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat).
2. Share about the book on your blog (this is not a requirement).
3. Post a review on the Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites.
4. Find other creative ways to tell others how the book has impacted you.

What Do You Get Out of This?

All team members will receive:

1. A FREE copy of Love Leads (retail price $).
2. Downloadable video teachings from Dr. Greene.
3. Team membership and the excitement of your mission as an ambassador to spread the word.

Simply visit  and click the Momentum Team tab at the top right. Fill out the easy form and wait for your acceptance email.

We can’t wait to get started! Thanks in advance for your help. Share this with friends. Not only will it help sales of an important book but, more importantly, it may help our society make a shift from authoritarian leadership to leading with love. {eoa}

The Senate’s Republican Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell, has pulled back the promised Obamacare repeal vote until after the Independence Day recess—but has promised a new bill to send to the Congressional Budget Office by Friday.

This may or may not be a sign that McConnell is moving closer to a bill that can garner at least 50 votes in the Senate, but it is certainly a sign that McConnell’s much-vaunted reputation as a master tactician of the Senate Rules is in tatters.

The problem with the whole congressional Obamacare “repeal” effort is that it is based on the arcane Senate budget “reconciliation” rule, which gets around the Democrats’ filibuster threats by allowing a simple majority to pass the bill, rather than the 60 votes it would take to break a filibuster.

However, “reconciliation,” being strictly a budget measure cannot reach many of Obamacare’s biggest problems and cost drivers, such as the regulations that are driving insurance companies out of the Obamacare market in state after state.

All “reconciliation” can do is address budget issues, such as reducing the growth off Medicaid expansion.

Naturally, if you put less money into the Medicaid system that Obamacare bloated beyond all recognition, this causes people to “lose” insurance coverage.

But are they really losing access to health care?

The answer is no.

Many of the people the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) says will “lose” health insurance are people who will simply choose not to buy it if they are not forced to do so by the individual mandate.

So, it is not necessarily the reality of the bill that is the problem for the squishy left of the Senate Republican caucus—it is the way it looks.

So, where is the Senate bill headed?

Not to a repeal of Obamacare, that’s for sure.

We think Laura Ingraham pretty well nailed it in a recent appearance on FOX News Channel:

LAURA INGRAHAM: Republicans promised independence from the Obamacare mandate. They promised repeal of Obamacare and the dirty truth is this is not repeal of Obamacare. There is a lot of the mandate still in there. A lot of the regulations haven’t been lifted. And we can all sit here and say they can do their own ‘Cornhusker kickback.’ And that’s what the Republican Party is. They’re all going to do the horsetrading to make this. There is a reason Big Pharma stocks, insurance stocks and hospital stocks have gone up over the last two weeks. Because very little is changing when it comes to bringing down the cost of health care in this legislation. I think it’s a pig in a poke, and I think it’s a loser for Republicans… {eoa}

This article was originally published at . Used with permission.

Prophecy related to the end of the world is a fascinating subject that interests almost everyone. The question that I am asked most often is, “What is the next big prophetic event?” The reason that question is so relevant is that we are living in unusual days, prophetic days, in which Bible prophecy can be seen unfolding in the daily media reports.

At the same time, it is also important to look back see God’s guiding hand in the establishment of this nation. I believe we can see a prophetic destiny forged in eternity and given evidence in our history and the foundational documents of America.

It was President Woodrow Wilson who reminded us that, “A nation that does not remember what it was yesterday does not know what it is today, nor what it is trying to do.”

God’s prophetic plan will ultimately supersede all human political maneuvering and economic pressure. America’s situation does not depend on luck or fate. A worldview based on the Bible does not allow that possibility. What God has promised will come to pass.

In Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine, Theologian Wayne Grudem writes:

There is no such thing as “luck” or “chance.” All things come to pass by God’s wise providence. This means that we should adopt a much more “personal” understanding of the universe and the events in it. The universe is not governed by impersonal fate or luck, but by a personal God. Nothing “just happens”—we should see God’s hand in events throughout the day, causing all things to work together for good for those who love him.”

In a somewhat unknown book entitled, The Book of Prophecies, Christopher Columbus conveyed his belief that the discovery and purpose of America was anything but accidental. He firmly believed he was fulfilling a divine destiny and attributed his discovery to Almighty God.

In reading Christopher Columbus: His Life and Discovery in the Light of His Prophecies, you will be amazed by Columbus’ understanding of the Holy Spirit, both in guiding him to America and comfort in the midst of skeptics. Columbus when addressing his sovereigns:

“At this time I have seen and put in study to look into all the Scriptures, cosmography, histories, chronicles and philosophy and other arts, which our Lord opened to my understanding (I could sense His hand upon me), so that it became clear to me that it was feasible to navigate from here to the Indies; and He unlocked within me the determination to execute the idea. And I came to your Highnesses with this ardor.

All those who heard about my enterprise rejected it with laughter, scoffing at me. Neither the sciences which I mentioned above, nor the authoritative citations from them, were of any avail. In only your Highnesses remained faith and constancy. Who doubts that this illumination was from the Holy Spirit?

I attest that He (the Spirit), with marvelous rays of light, consoled me through the holy and sacred Scriptures . . . encouraging me to proceed, and, continually, without ceasing for a moment, they inflame me with a sense of great urgency.

One would hard-pressed not to see the powerful moving of the Holy Spirit in Christopher Columbus in fulfilling God’s plan for America. God’s hand established and has guided us as a people.

It is difficult to watch the news these days without some degree of frustration, fear and trepidation. The daily reports of lawless actions in the societies we live in appear not only more widespread but also more intense than ever.

Is nowhere safe? We have experienced terror—from without and within—in our schools, in our workplaces, in our theaters, at major sporting events and in our skies. Even churches are not immune to the pervasive lawlessness that has so thoroughly infected the prevailing culture.

Jesus came to destroy the works of the evil one (1 John 3:8). As Jesus’ trusted servants and representatives on earth, we are to oppose the works of darkness and bring the kingdom message to the world. The more we are in tune with the Holy Spirit, the better equipped we will be to fulfill the mission we have been given. When we do not pray, we fail to hinder the activity of the enemy and we open the door for lawlessness.

Satan is all too eager to advance his cause. Jesus made it clear that Satan “was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it” (John 8:44).

This is not a time to grow weary or to let down our guard. It is a time for conquest and victory. It is a time to lift up the banner of the Lord and proclaim the powerful message of the Gospel of Christ Jesus. Too often we live as though spiritual victory depends on our own strength, ability and power, but that is not sufficient if we are to survive in this world, much less thrive. Yet when we are empowered with the Holy Spirit, we invade and exploit the areas of darkness and release those who are held captive. {eoa}

Phil Hotsenpiller is a pastor and expert in the field of end-time prophecy. His new book, One Nation without Law, is now available nationwide.

First, if overeating and/or unhealthy eating is a sin, did Jesus die for that sin? Did He pay for it in full on the cross? When you confess it to Him as sin and ask for forgiveness, does He wash you clean and forgive you, even if you keep messing up and seeking His mercy? The answer is yes, yes and yes. He forgives the sin of overeating just like He forgives the sin of pornography or the sin of lying.

Perhaps by putting food into a different category, you fail to receive forgiveness from the Father, and your fat is a constant reminder to you that you’re an unclean sinner, whereas if you lie to someone then confess that sin to them and to God, you can walk away feeling forgiven. But you wear your fat 24/7.

Your Fat Does Not Define You

Second, your fat does not define you. I’m aware it’s with you all the time, not just in appearance but in tangible feeling. But being overweight doesn’t define you. Being a child of God defines you. Being a new creation in Jesus defines you. Being in Him—seated with Him in the heavenly places—defines you. So rather than thinking about yourself as a fat person—in a way that defines, describes and delineates you—think of yourself as a beloved child of the Father who has a weight issue to deal with.

I’m not talking about denying reality. I’m not talking about rebuking calories before you eat, and yes, some believers actually do this, or of confessing, “I’m thin in the Spirit!” I know someone who did this too; the fact is that your spirit is not operating in the realm of physical weight. I’m talking about not allowing a negative, destructive, hopeless, harmful self-image to dominate your psyche so that your weight defines the essence of who you are. Instead, let your standing with God fundamentally define you. Then from that point of confidence in the Lord, you can address the very real problem of being overweight.

You Are an Overcomer in Christ

Third, in Jesus, you are an overcomer. In Jesus, you are dead to sin. In Jesus, you are not a slave to the passions and lusts of the flesh. As Paul wrote to the Galatians, “Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts” (Gal. 5:24). That includes you and me, and you need to think in terms of having victory over food just as you have victory over drugs or alcohol or gambling or porn. Tell that food, “My stomach is not my god.” Walk around your house worshipping and praising God, saying, “In Jesus, I can be free from food addictions! In Jesus, I am not a slave! God’s grace is more than enough!”

Spiritual Warfare Regarding Food Is Real

Recognize the reality of spiritual warfare when it comes to food. I don’t want to overly spiritualize things here, but I don’t want to leave out very real spiritual truths. Of course Satan tempts us with food. Of course our bondage is both physical and spiritual. Of course we can break these strongholds in Jesus’ name through prayer, leading to a changed lifestyle. Prayer alone won’t do the trick; it takes prayer and obedience. Why not attack demonic food strongholds the way you would attack a satanic stronghold that was trying to destroy one of your kids? It’s the same devil we’re dealing with and the same Jesus who triumphs over that devil. And we triumph in Him. {eoa}

This article is an excerpt from Breaking the Stronghold of Food by Michael L. Brown with Nancy Brown. Copyright 2017 by Michael L. Brown, Ph.D.

What is it that has so fervently transformed American culture? What is it that has changed our fabric so intensely?

I would argue there is what I call a triangular dominance at play surrounding how members of our society receive their information—a systematic control over educational content that has permeated our minds, our hearts and, perhaps most tragically, our souls. And the situation is only intensifying.

Through the media, entertainment and the university system—the three main information sources that shape the American conscience—people are bombarded with moral codes and messages that are anything but modest, restrained or in line with biblical tenets.

These educational spheres have become overridden with progressive ideals and biases that work against traditional moral understandings. Each sector incubates one worldview while filtering the other out or, more routinely, simply ignoring it all together.

There’s also ignorance and complicity unfolding that, unless it is checked, will only incubate, empower and metastasize this educational conundrum, and tragically many people today are likely too indoctrinated at this point to believe—or even recognize—that there’s anything wrong with the paradigm shift in moral values undoubtedly slated to transform a wide array of institutions, including marriage, the economy and the circumstances surrounding children’s upbringing.

Big changes are already afoot—movements that most certainly carry with them consequences for faith and family structures.

So, what’s the solution?

Famed Christian apologist Josh McDowell presented a series of steps and parameters he believes people must take seriously if they actually wish to understand and come to grips with the problems we face in modern society.

“One, you’ve got to be informed,” he said before quoting Scripture. “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free” (John 8:32). “Second, you need to come to understand what are rational, physical, sound solutions, answers.” McDowell continued, “See, most Christians can tell me what they believe, but 95 percent can’t give me any intelligent reason why they believe it.”

He said this dynamic will no longer suffice because people need to be fully aware and cognizant of not only what their values and beliefs are, but why, in fact, they subscribe to such ideals.

“Then, third, we’ve got to live it,” McDowell said. “If we do not live out our faith in our own personal lives, in our marriages, with our children, in our business, in our ministry, whatever—if we don’t live out Christ in a vibrant way—then no one is going to believe whatever we say, and they shouldn’t.”

The fourth and final solution that McDowell offered up is for people to truly learn to listen without interrupting or being judgmental. It’s after listening to what people think and feel— particularly nonbelievers—that he said it’s possible to more appropriately engage.

Taking these simple steps will help us to live our faith and values, as McDowell said. After all, we need to be the shining examples of what we claim to espouse. We can’t simply say we’re Christians; we need to show it in the way we live, the decisions we make and the content we choose to consume.

We should all think deeper about the media, entertainment and university messages we’re consuming, and ask some key questions: What am I really being told? What do these themes say about the current state of our society and culture? I’d argue, perhaps most importantly, we should ask what information is being left out of the equation. All too often we take in and process messages without considering the information that has perhaps intentionally been left out.

Our lives should speak volumes without needing any actual words to convey the powerful message of what we stand for. Become more aware of what we’re consuming and make a concerted effort to avoid certain forms of negative content; not only are we then protecting our hearts and minds, but we can also send a collective message about what we’re willing to tolerate.

Personally I’ve often fallen in this area, as I’m sure we all have. But the stakes are high. Now more than ever, we must take a stand, regardless of the uphill ideological battle.

We need to listen and engage with others. Rather than battle it out over values, again, show people what it means to live out the truth you espouse. Don’t give up. Make your voices heard, but do so with peace, love and understanding. The future of free speech—and our nation— depends on it. {eoa}

Billy Hallowell is the author of Fault Line.