Avalon Chronicles #215: Order vs Chaos

 References: Cox, Everett. Doing the Supernatural Works of Jesus. Xulon Elite. 2010.

                      Burke, John. Imagine Heaven. Bker Books. Grand Rapids, Michigan. 2015. 

     As a background for this writing, originally I had planned to write about the larger big picture of the chaos in the world situation today: the wars, the conflicts, the murders, the greed, the political intrigue, the betrayals, the hunger, the plagues, the terrorism and all the chaos on the world scene. Secular order is interminably unattainable and never has been achieved.

     Decided to narrow my focus down to a more personal level. As some of you readers of my blog, begun in 2011, will recall, in Vietnam on June 17, 1967 three days before my 25th birthday, my Green Beret Special Forces camp at Dak To, came under an intense enemy mortar barrage. A round landed just to my left rear and it was required that both my legs be amputated below the knees. By the grace of God I was healed from the major elements of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder within about seven years and have enjoyed a blessed and more ordered life since then, because I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and found increased spiritual and emotional peace from all the chaos I endured.

     All that for background sets the scene for a personal and individualized life for each of us for seeking order in our lives amid all the elements of personal chaos. Life is, as one wrote in an autobiography decades ago, "Life is one d___ thing after another." At 84 my life is significantly simpler as I have recognized the shadows are lengthening in my life. On a more basic level of my life, my studies,  experiences and Bible study have led me to attain greater order in my life by addressing three elements: confession of sin, forgiveness of all others plus myself and becoming informed about the potential joys and peace in achieving eternity in Heaven with God.

    My blog #213: refers to Heaven and the book above by John Burke is an amazing study of individuals relating their episodes in Heaven and back through Near Death Experiences they personally witnessed. Once I read this book (which Linda has read three times), I have achieved a peace about death and I do not fear it. I am assured that my final residence in Heaven will be my release from the chaos of this planet. 

     Ephesians 6: 10-17 covers "Putting on the Full Armor of God." I pray most mornings that I would arm myself with that Armor. The most important part to me (paraphrased) is "I confess my thoughts, words and deeds, repent in the Name of Jesus and ask for forgiveness. I know that you are faithful and just to forgive me my sins. I know that, if I do not forgive others, that I will not be forgiven." This prayer adds much order to my life. Be aware one cannot confess sins and keep on sinning. Blessings come from adherence to this obedience.

    Life Application Study Bible KJV Tyndale House. Wheaton, Illinois.1989/1990. A sidebar entry in this Bible on page 2080 states: "God's Armor For Us. We are engaged in a spiritual battle--all believers find themselves subject to Satan's attacks because they are no longer on Satan's side. Paul tells to use every piece of God's armor to resist Satan's attacks and to stand true to God in the midst of them."

     Everett Cox, referenced above, is a dear friend of mine and has been a guest in our home. His book is an absolute treasure! I have read it twice and the background of his Deliverance Ministry (delmin.org) is an absolute complete introduction to addressing many issues in our lives as a result of Spiritual Warfare in our lives and how to be equipped to win over the chaos in so many of our lives. 

combatfaith.blogspot.com

      

      

Avalon Chronicles #214: More Happiness Equals Better Health

 

     One of our favorite web personalities is Jerry Wills. If you do a search and learn about him, you will discover an incredible gentleman, who has been blessed with the gift of healing. We have viewed several interviews by him and have been fascinated by his life, talents and experiences in business. He declared in a recent interview, "If you are happy, your health will be better!"

     I have thought recently often about that declaration by him. I am truly happy today. But, I have not always been happy due to my war wounding, which required amputation of both legs below the knees, hospitalization for Post Traumatic Stress twice, divorce, kidney decease and cancer in remission and various and sundry spiritual challenges as I have matured in my Chritian faith.

     It is my belief after 84 years of "living" that several hurdles must be addressed by us and jumped over with knowledge, commitment and determination to be able to achieve "Happiness." They are recognition of Sin in our lives, the need for Repentance and acceptance of God's Forgiveness. There is a requirement that we Forgive all others of all Hurts, Antagonisms and Anger directed to us and impacting each of us. At the end of this writing I will suggest some behavioral issues and attitudes that will assist us to be Happy. Recognition and demonstration of these truths in our attitudes and actions should add to our "Happiness." If we are Happy or Happier in our life, perhaps the peace achieved in our soul, spirit and bodily parts will be demonstrated in improvement and Healing of our various and sundry pains, hurts and diseases troubling us. 

     If you do not believe in God and Jesus, whom God sent to reflect in his earthly existence and example for 33 years as a real human on earth, then, what I am writing about the Supernatural will not be real to you. Perhaps, you might pull up my Blog number 213 to discover what it would take for you to accept the greatest gift you have ever received, far exceeding all your favorite Christmas or birthday gifts.

     If you believe you definitely need and could achieve more "Happiness," less chaos, less discord and better health then keep going. If not, go ahead, close this message and go back to reading novels, watching mindless videos and getting current on the cultural/secular reports in the news and Youtube. 

     A friend of mine Robert McAnally Adams has written The Authentic BOOK OF CHRISTIAN QUOTATIONS. Published in 2006 by Authentic Media/World Vision.His book is a veritable treasure of over 1000 Quotations. For each one he has sourced them extensively. Please forgive me if I shorten my following scripture references et al by omitting some of his original sourcing of his work. 

    Sin:

 "Sin is nothing else than that the creature willeth otherwise than God willeth and contrary to him." Theologia Germanica [1518].

 "...it is inspiring to consider an Almightiness that transforms the works of evil into the hand-maidens of righteousness and converts the sinner into the saint." Charles H. Brent, With God in the World [1899]

 "It is characteristic of the thinking of our time that the problem of guilt and forgiveness has been pushed into the background and seems to disappear more and more....There are, even today, a great many people who understand that man needs salvation, but there are very few who are convinced that he needs forgiveness and redemption ...Sin is understood as imperfection, sensuality, worldliness ---but not as guilt." Emil Brunner, The Word and the World [1931]

"God does not change; it is man's moral state that changes. The wrath of God is a figure of speech to denote God's unchanging opposition to sin." R.J. Campbell, The Call of Christ [1932]

The most destructive sin     "The peculiarity of ill temper is that it is the vice of the virtuous. It is often the one blot on an otherwise noble character. You know men who are all but perfect , and women who would be entirely perfect, but for an easily ruffled , quick-tempered, or 'touchy' disposition....For embittering life, for breaking up communities, for destroying the most sacred relationships, for devastating homes, for withering up men and women, for taking the bloom off of childhood---in short, for sheer, gratuitous misery-producing power-this influence stands alone." Henry Dummond, "The Greatest Thing in the World" [1892]

 Offenses     "It is the best sorrow in a Christian soul when his sins are loathsome and offensive unto him-a happy token that there hath not been of late in him any insensible supply of heinous offenses, because his stale sins are still his new and daily sorrow." Thomas Fuller, Good Thoughts in Bad Times [1898]

      Cleanse me from my sin. Psalms 51:2

     Confession: Be not ashamed to confess thy sins. Ecclesiasticus 4:26

I am come not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Matthew 9:13

Whosoever committeth sin: is the servant of sin. John 8:34

     Clark: "I confess my sins of thought, word and deed, known and unknown in the Name of Jesus and I ask forgiveness. I know that you are faithful and just to forgive me my sins. I know that if I do not forgive others, that I will not be forgiven.

HOW SHOULD WE THEN LIVE?

      Clark: I bind myself to the control by the Holy Spirit and reflect the fruit of the Holy Spirit love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, kindness, faithfulness and self-control. I add graciousness!

MEDITATE AND PRAY ON THE ABOVE AND PERHAPS YOUR HAPPINESS WILL BE INCREASED AND THEREFORE BETTER PHYSICAL, SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH WILL BE ENHANCED!

              

 

Avalon Chronicles #213: "Will You Be Going to Heaven?"

 One of my dearest friends is a successful businessman, but, is dedicated to evangelism. He fulfills his personal mission of introducing individuals to eternity. 

I am grateful he has developed and committed to writing his approach to individuals in literal street evangelism, visiting apartment buildings and setting up a booth at State Fairs. This is his approach.

If you were to die today-or anytime in the next 50 years-and you find yourself standing before God, and He asks you, "Why should I receive you into Heaven?"-what would you say?

God says there is only one way to get to Heaven. It happens to be very easy, but if we don't know what it is, how can we do it? Here are 4 simple verses that show us what the one way is:

                    "For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard." (Romans 3:23)

We all break the 10 commandments, go against our conscience, and fail to do good when we know we should. God is loving and merciful, but he is also a righteous judge. 

                     "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

In Heaven, the streets will be made of gold. There will be no more sorrow, pain, or death. We will have new bodies like angels. It will be only good with nothing bad. And it is a gift!

                     "But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." (Romans 5:8)

That is amazing1 We have so much to be thankful for! God loves us and redeems us! Now, when aomeone offers us a gift, we simply have to be willing to receive it! There is a way to express our willingness to receive God's free gift of eternal life in Heaven:

                      "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved." (Romans 10:9-10)

Do you believe that? Do you believe that Jesus Christ died for you and for all people? Are you willing to receive eternal life?

Pray: Dear God, thank you for sending Jesus to die on the cross for my sins. I believe in you Jesus as my Savior and Lord. Thank you for the free gift of eternal life in Heaven. Amen."

SOMETHING FOR OURSELVES AND FOR SHARING WITH OTHERS!

MAY GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU AND MAY HIS FACE SHINE UPON YOU!

MAY THE DESIRES OF YOUR HEART BE FULFILLED!

Avalon Chronicles #212: Spiritual Preparation for America's Freedom in 1776-Part One

                                       The Great Awakenings of America in the 1700s.

     In scrolling through Amazon Prime movies recently an incredible movie popped up. Fandango Overview described it: "A GREAT AWAKENING tells the true story of an unlikely friendship between the Reverend George Whitefield and Benjamin Franklin that resulted in one of the most defining moments in American history. With the colonies on the brink of collapse, the Reverend George Whitefield ignited the first Great Awakening, uniting an entire generation with his thundering and faithful sermons and proclamations of history. In a miraculous turn of events, one of Whitefield's closest friends and greatest promoters becomes none other than Benjamin Franklin. With the nation's freedom hanging in the balance, the founders discover true liberty cannot only be written into law-it must be awakened in the hearts of the people." The film was released April 3, 2026. Viewing of the movie reawakened my immense interest in this evangelist George Whitefield, born on 1714 in Gloucester, England. My wife and I went to this town and visited Whitefield's childhood home, Bell's Inn. The church where he preached the first time is just down the street. He was at Oxford with John and Charles Wesley. 

     Actually, my initial interest in Whitefield was derived in a morning walk in 2010 at Exeter, NH at my 50th reunion of class of 1960 at the Phillips Exeter Academy. On that walk  I noted a simple monument that marked the spot where Whitefield preached on Saturday September 29, 1770. It was his last sermon! The monument has inscribed "George Whitefield Here preached His Last Sermon Sept 29, 1770." On that day he was passing through Exeter on his way to Newburyport, MA to preach the next morning. Details are at website:

 (https://www.cocdiscipleship.org/middle-ages/facing-death-george-whitefield-preached-one-last-time."

"As he passed through Exeter, a large crowd assembled, pleading with him to give them a sermon. Whitefield had led revival in their town some years earlier." He had climbed up on a make-shift spot and preached for two hours. Then rode on to Newburyport, where he died that night. 

Source: Forgotten Founding Father The Heroic Legacy of George Whitefield by Stephen Mansfield. Highland Books Cumberland House Nashville, TN 2001.

Mansfield wrote of Whitefield beginning page 213 in the chapter titled JESUS, "The wealth and the worldliness, the disinterest and the pride, gnarled his inner being....but his one true love was always the person of Jesus. The risen Christ was the fixed star of his life's voyage, the sole object of his affections. It was Jesus for whom he lived, Jesus whom he sought to please,..."

(19) "Through him, nations were transformed, revolutions were refashioned and millions of lives were reclaimed for a higher call..."

In an American Minute with Bill Federer, "He spread the Great Awakening Revival, which helped unite the colonies prior to the Revolutionary War."

Mansfield (255): George Washington said: "Upon his lips the Gospel appears even to the coarsest of men as sweet and as true as, in fact, it is." ..Mansfield; "Whitefield was the most beloved man in the colonies." ...(256) "So now the forerunner of the revival that made them become one became the forerunner of the war that set them free."

Mansfield: "It is why they pledged to God their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. It is also why George Whitefield must be remembered as a founding father of the American cause."

As we approach July 4, 2026 and the 250th anniversary of our Declaration of Independence, we will hear quotes from many of our patriots, but in my opinion the sermons of George Whitefield laid the foundation for our freedom firmly set by a belief of the eternal verities of Jesus the Christ!

  

Avalon Chronicles #211: The Barbary Pirates, The Treaty of Tripoli and the War on America by the Islamists

 References: The Founders Bible The Origin of the Dream of Freedom. Signature Historian David Barton.

Shiloh Road Publishers. 2013.

                     (By way of a personal conversation with David Barton on 11 May 2026 I am authorized to quote from his writings on this subject in pages 19-26 of his Founders Bible). This incredible Bible is worth obtaining by everyone, who is interested in Bible study and the history of the evolution of freedom in America.

The American Story a Book Series by David and Tim Barton

Both available at wallbuilders.com    (Also a searchable link to Islam is available).

DISCLAIMER: "Islamism is not a form of the Muslim faith or an expression of Muslim piety; it is, rather a political ideology that strives to derive legitimacy from Islam...Islamism is anti-Semitic...anti-Israeli, and it is also anti-American....Islamism is therefore not about the Islamic faith. Rather, it is a dystopian ideology that distorts religion and reality...Islamists distort their very own religious texts...Consider the various annotations of the Muslim sacred book, the Koran. I came across an English-language Koran printed in Saudi Arabia, the main purveyor of Islamist texts worldwide.In its man-made annotations, this Koran preached violence and hatred towards Jews, Christians, the West...The future of many countries in the world, and the future of the West, will be determined by this battle between Muslims and Islamists. Islamists want to convert Muslims to their hateful ideology. God knows the world needs more Muslims and fewer Islamists." July 8, 2016. Soner Cagaptay is a senior fellow and director of the Turkish Research Program at the Washington Institute. 

    In the interest of the Biblical origins of the Muslim faith as a religion and the Islamist threats to the Western World, it is helpful in the New American Standard Bible to study Genesis 17:12. Abraham fathered the child of Sarah's maidservant Hagar, Ishmael. It is written "He will be a wild donkey of a man, His hand will be against everyone, And everyone's hand will be against him;" You THINK that DNA has carried through all these centuries to the current world of Islamists and their warrior/terrorists?

     As soon as my Founders Bible was received, I delved into this valuable resource and discovered the history of the Barbary Pirates. One of the funniest lines ever spoken by Johnny Carson in his late night show was, "I did not know that!" As I delved into a study of the article. I was enlightened on every page beginning to recognize that the September 11, 2001 attacks on our homeland were perpetrated by descendants of Biblical Ishmael. These descendants first raised their ugly heads after our American Revolution and became America's first war in the 1780s. "Five different Islamic nations (Tunis, Morocco, Algiers, Tripoli , and Turkey) began making indiscriminate, ferocious attacks against the property and interests of what they claimed were Christian nations (America, England, France, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, etc.). The pirates operated primarily in the Mediterranean Sea, but those along the Moroccan Atlantic coast and western parts of the of the Mediterranean coast also sent ships up along the European Atlantic coast, reaching the British Isles, Norway and even Iceland."(19).

     "They captured Christian nation ships wherever they found them, seized their cargo as loot, and killed or enslaved their seaman....It is estimated that from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century , pirates captured one million Europeans as slaves....The payment of blackmail, disguised as presents or ransoms, did not always secure safety with these faithless barbarians. (20). (Author's note;) Makes me wonder about the monies transferred by President Barack Hussein Obama to Iran during his administration. What would be the nature of these monies? Blackmail or ransom? In 1784 the first American ship was seized by Moroccan pirates. This same year, "Congress authorized American diplomats John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson to negotiate with the Muslim terrorists." (20). America was spending one-sixth of our annual budget in payment to these criminals. 

     President George Washington was disgusted with this annual extortion drain on the budet of this new nation and he lamented, "Would to Heaven we had a navy able to reform these enemies to mankind-or crush them into nonexistence." (22). Nonexistence? Sound familiar in the spring of 2026, when there is a threat of Iran proceeding on to their goal of nuclear weapon development, which has been deemed as an "existential threat to the free world." You think that history has a way of repeating itself? 

     A very significant fact became evident from the mission of the three American negotiators. If individuals pay attention to this, it will add greatly to our understanding of modern day Islamists, who still adhere to what our negotiators were told by the ambassador in Tripoli in 1784 as to the motivation behind  the unprovoked attacks against Americans. The following is critical to understand what we were and are up against from "these wild men." SURPRISE SURPRISE SURPRISE! From another popular show "Gomer Pyle."

     That it was founded on the laws of their Prophet [Mohammed}---that it was written in their Koran that all nations who should not have acknowledged their authority were sinners; that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found and to make slaves of all they could take as prisoners; and that every Musselman [Muslim] who should be slain in battle was sure to go to Paradise. (20).

     I rest my case! The modern day Islamists are reading the same Koran. President George Washington moved forward to have our own Navy. We did initiate a Navy and unleashed our Marines on the Barbary Pirates (1801-1805). Now we sing in the Marine Hymn "To the shores of Tripoli.     

     

Avalon Chronicles #210 "Put on the Full Armor of God"

This is an amplified version of my own rendition of "Putting on the Full Armor of God."

Most days of each week I recall and speak the following by memory. I give thanks to Liberty Savard many years ago for assisting me in an elaborated version from Ephesians 6:10-18.

"The helmet of salvation. The breastplate of righteousness. The belt of truth.

I shod my feet in preparation to proclaim the Gospel of Peace. I hold up the shield of faith to ward off the fiery attacks of the evil one. I take up the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew in me a right spirit. I will make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts therof. I will bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

I praise you Lord for your grace, mercy and love. I know that my prayers are answered, because I obey your commandments and do the things that are pleasing in your sight. But, I say to you that for every idle word one may speak, you shall give account of it in the Day of Judgment. 

I confess my thoughts, words and deeds, repent in the Name of Jesus and ask for forgiveness. I know that you are faithful and just to forgive me my sins. I know that, if I do not forgive others, that I will not be forgiven.

I bind myself to the Character and Attributes of God: Righteousness, Holiness, Integrity and Purity and to the will, purposes, timing and truth of God.

I bind myself to the Mind of Christ and have imparted to me His wisdom, insight, discernment, knowledge and maturity.

I bind myself to the control by the Holy Spirit and reflect the fruit of the Holy Spirit love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, kindness, faithfulness and self-control. I add graciousness!

Vaya Con Dios

www.combatfaith.blogspot.com

 

Avalon Chronicles #209: "Heaven or Hell: Your Choice. Which Will it Be?"

 Reference: Heaven by Randy Alcorn. Nonfiction imprint of Tyndale House Publisher, Carol Stream, Illinois. Copyright 2004, New International Version. 535 pages.

"But Jesus made it clear that most people are not going to Heaven: 'Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it.'...We shouldn't just cross our fingers and hope that our names are written in the Book of Life (Revelation 21:27)." (23). "Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve (Joshua 24:15)." (24). What?  Not going to Heaven? Is that not a wakeup call to all of us not believing in a supreme God, Who sent His Son to earth to die on the cross at Calvary 2000 years ago, so that, if we believe that actually happened, proclaim it verbally and follow it in our lives, we have a chance to go to Heaven. But there is a catch! See my blog #206 to learn about confession of sins. 

"Hell will be inhabited by people who haven't received God's gift of redemption in Christ (Revelation 20:12-15). After Christ returns there will be a resurrection of believers for eternal life in Heaven and a resurrection of unbelievers for eternal existence in Hell (John 5:28-29). The unsaved-everyone whose name is not written in the Lamb's Book of Life---will be judged by God according to the works they have done, which have been recorded in Heaven's books (Revelation 20:12-15). Because those works include sin, people on their own, without Christ, cannot enter the presence of a holy and just God and will be consigned to a place of everlasting destruction (Matthew 13; 40-42). Christ will say to those who are not covered by his blood, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels' (Matthew 5:41)." (24). There will be many fellow prisoners down there, all with singed eye brows, red hair and a perpetual sunburn!

"Hell will be a place of utter misery (Matthew 13:42; 13:50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30; Luke 13;28). It will be a place of conscious punishment for sins, with no hope of relief. This is why Dante, in the Inferno, envisioned this chiseled above Hell's gate: 'Abandon every hope, you who enter.'" (24).

Pay attention, all, who ignore the above. You cannot put God over on side of your desk and go out into the Satan-controlled world and assume God will understand, when we sin and do not confess, repent and ask forgiveness. The secular world has many fleshly pleasures, but it is all fleeting. As the Scouts proclaim 'Be prepared."