Just a small collage of the new home, with our background set as the back yard. Thank you Jesus!Click on photo for the larger view, you will have to scroll around the photo to see everything.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
More pictures as we unpack and settle in.
Just a small collage of the new home, with our background set as the back yard. Thank you Jesus!Click on photo for the larger view, you will have to scroll around the photo to see everything.
New home in NC pictures
Our new back yard and deck. What a beautiful area, and we are so grateful to God for seeing us through the last year of trials. Click on photo for larger view.Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Diary of a madman
Here is the speech presented to the UN on Sept 25th 2007
Iranian President Ahmadinejad Delivers Remarks at U.N. General Assembly Meeting
Iranian President Ahmadinejad Delivers Remarks at U.N. General Assembly Meeting
CQ Transcripts Wire
Tuesday, September 25, 2007; 6:27 PM
SPEAKER: IRANIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD
[*]
AHMADINEJAD (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): In the name of God, the compassionate and the merciful, oh, God, hasten the arrival of Imam al-Mahdi and grant him good health and victory and make us his followers and those who attest to his rightfulness.
Mr. President, excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased and grateful to the almighty to have the opportunity once again to attend this important universal forum.
In the present tumultuous world and with the predominance of loud outcries, threats and tensions, and at a time when the big powers are unable to solve present problems, when mistrust in regional and international arenas is on the rise, when the psychological security of societies is being targeted by an onslaught of political and propaganda designs, and disappointment prevails over efficacy of policies and actions of the international organizations in the establishment of a durable peace and security, and the protection of human rights is being weakened, I plan to touch upon and explain the roots of and the ways out of these predicaments and some of the principal challenges facing our world.
I will also speak to you about the need for remedying the present situation, prospects for a brighter and more hopeful future, and about the appearance of the sublime and beauty, compassion and generosity, justice and blossoming of all the God-given human talents and the prominence of faith in God and realization of the promise of God.
I will then submit to your judgment the nuclear issue of Iran as a reality and testing ground for the measurement of honesty, efficacy, steadfastness and accomplishment.
In the closing part of my statement, I will offer my proposals.
AHMADINEJAD (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Dear friends and colleagues, as you are all aware, mankind is currently facing important, numerous and diverse challenges and I will refer to some of them.
One, organized attempts to destroy the institution of family and to weaken the status of women. Family is the most sacred and valuable human institution that serves as the center of the purest mutual love and affection amongst mothers, fathers and children, and as a safe environment for the nurturing of human generations and a fertile ground for the blossoming of talents and compassion.
This institution has always been respected by all peoples, religions and cultures. Today, we are witnessing an organized invasion by the enemies of humanity and plunderers to destroy this noble institution that is targeted by promoting lewdness, violence and by breaking the boundaries of chastity and decency.
The precious existence of women, as the manifestation of divine beauty and as the peak of kindness, affection and purity has been the target of heavy exploitation in recent decades by the holders of power and the owners of media and wealth.
In some societies, this beloved human has been reduced to a mere instrument of publicity and all the boundaries and protective shields of chastity, purity and beauty have been trampled. This is a colossal betrayal of human society, of succeeding generations and an irreparable blow to the pillar of social coherence, the family.
Two, widespread violations of human rights, terrorism and occupation.
AHMADINEJAD (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Unfortunately, human rights are being extensively violated by certain powers, especially by those who pretend to be their exclusive advocates.
Setting up secret prisons, abducting persons, trials and secret punishments, without any regard to due process, extensive tappings of telephone conversations, intercepting private mail, and frequent summons to police and security centers have become commonplace and prevalent.
AHMADINEJAD (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): They use various pretexts to occupy sovereign states and cause insecurity and division, and then use the prevailing situation as an excuse to continue their occupation.
For more than 60 years, Palestine, as compensation for the loss that they incurred during the war in Europe, has been under occupation of the illegal Zionist regime.
The Palestinian people have been displaced or are under heavy military pressure, economic siege, or are incarcerated under abhorrent conditions. The occupiers are protected and praised, while the innocent Palestinians are subjected to political, military, and propaganda onslaught.
The people of Palestine are deprived of water, electricity, and medicine for the sin of asking for freedom. And the government that was freely elected by the people is targeted.
AHMADINEJAD (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Terrorists are being organized to attack the lives and property of the people with the blessings of the politicians and military officials of the big powers. The brutal Zionists carry out targeted assassinations of Palestinians in their homes and cities, and terrorists are decorated with medals of peace and receive support from the big powers.
On the other hand, they gather a number of Jews from different parts of the world through false propaganda and with the promise of providing them with welfare, jobs and food, and settle them in the occupied territories, exposing them to the harshest restrictions, psychological pressures and constant threats.
They prevent these people from returning to their homelands and by coercion and propaganda induce them to malevolence toward the indigenous Palestinian people.
Iraq was occupied under the pretext of overthrowing a dictator and the existence of weapons of mass destruction. The Iraqi dictator, who had been supported by the same occupiers, was disposed of, and no weapons of mass destruction were discovered. But the occupation continues under different excuses. No day passes without people being killed, wounded or displaced. And the occupiers not only refuse to be accountable and ashamed of their adventure, but speak in a report of a new market for their armaments as a result of their military adventure.
They even oppose the constitution the national assembly and the government established by the vote of the people while they do not even have the courage to declare their defeat and exit Iraq.
Unfortunately, we are witnessing the biter truth that some powers do not value any nation or human beings and the only things that matter to them are themselves, their political parties and their groups.
In their view, human rights are tantamount to profits for their companies and their friends. The rights and dignity of the American people are also being sacrificed for the selfish desires of those holding power.
Three, aggressions against indigenous cultures and national values.
Culture is the manifestation of identity and the key to the survival of nations and the foundation for their interaction with others. In an organized movement, indigenous cultures that are messengers of monotheism, love and fraternity are being subjected to broad and destructive aggressions. National customs and values are humiliated, and the self-esteem and character of nations are ridiculed and defamed.
AHMADINEJAD (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): The purpose is to promote blind emulations, consumerism, skepticism toward God and human values, and plundering other people's wealth by big powers.
Fourth: Poverty, illiteracy, health care issues, and the gap between the poor and rich. While a major part of the natural environment in Asia, Africa, and Latin American is being plundered by the political and economic domination of certain powers, the situation of poverty and depravation is very alarming.
Let me draw your attention to some data which was issued by the United Nations. Every day, close to 800 million people go to bed hungry, and about 980 million suffered from absolute poverty with less than $1 a day in purchasing power.
People of 31 countries, equivalent to 9 percent of the world's population, have an average life expectancy of 46 years, which is 32 years less than the average of developed countries.
The gap between the rich and the poor in some parts of the world has increased by 40 times, and many countries, the majority of the people are deprived of access to education and schooling.
In developing countries, the maternal mortality rate during pregnancy is 450 per 100,000. This ratio is seven in the richer nations and the ratio of mortality of new births is 59 for developing countries and six for the richer nations. One-third of the deaths in the world, or 50,000 people daily, result from poverty. I believe this data clearly demonstrates the tragic situation dominating economic interactions in the world.
AHMADINEJAD (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Five: Ignoring noble values and the promotion of deception and lies. Some powers sacrifice all human values, including honesty, purity, and trust for the advancement of their goals.
They propagate skepticism and deception in their relations between states and peoples. They lie openly, level baseless charges against others, act contrary to legal norms and damage the climate of trust and friendship.
They openly abandon morality and noble values in their relations with others and substitute selfishness, supremacy, amnesty and imposition for justice, respect for others, love, affection and honesty. They sacrifice all the good things and the sublime in life for their own greed.
Six: Violations of rules of international law and disrespect of commitments. Some who were themselves the drafters of international law openly and easily violate it and apply discriminatory policies and double standards to others. They drafted disarmament regulations, but every day test and stock pile new generations of lethal weapons.
They frame the Charter of the United Nations, but show disrespect to the right of self-determination and independence of sovereign nations. They conveniently abrogate their (inaudible) and do not yield to laws concerning protection of the environment. Most of the violations of international obligations are committed by a few global powers.
Seven: Escalation of threats and the arms race.
AHMADINEJAD (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Some powers, whenever their logic fails, simply use the language of threat. The huge arms race casts a shadow of threats over the globe. The nations of Europe were the victims of two world wars and a number of other devastating conflicts and were subjected to the consequences of the Cold War for many decades.
Today, they're living under the shadow of the threat and their interests, security and lands are endangered under the shadow of the arms race imposed by certain big powers. A bullying power allows itself the right to set up a missile system, makes the life of the people of the continent bitter and lays the ground for an arms race.
Some rulers, who superficially appear to be powerful, believe the tools they have at hand can be used at any time and for any purpose, and consequently, threaten others and cast a shadow of insecurity over nations and regions.
International organizations and mechanisms clearly lack the capacity to overcome problems and challenges to put in fair -- place fair and just relations of peace, fraternity and security. There is hardly any government or nation that places much hope in these mechanisms to secure its rights or defend its independence, territorial integrity and national interests.
Dear friends and colleagues, there are many more challenges than the ones I have enumerated and I know that one would have introduced more if one had wanted to touch upon them. But I chose to confine myself to the ones I have stated. Now the important and decisive question concerns the roots and causes of these challenges.
AHMADINEJAD (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): A scientific and careful analysis shows that the root of the present situation lies in two fundamental factors.
Without doubt, the first factor lies in the relations arising from the consequences of the Second World War. The victors of the war drew the road map for global domination and formulated their policies not on the basis of justice, but for ensuring the interests of the victors over the vanquished nations.
Therefore, mechanisms arising from this approach and related policies have not been capable of finding just solutions for global solutions since 60 years ago.
Some big powers still behave like the victors of the world war and regard other states and nations, even those that had nothing to do with the war, as the vanquished and humiliate other nations and demand extortion through condescending positions similar to that of the master-servant relationship of the Medieval ages.
They believe that they should have more rights than others and also are not accountable to any international organizations.
Mr. President, among all the ineffective bodies, unfortunately the U.N. Security Council ranks first. They have created circumstances in which some powers with exclusive and special right to veto in the Security Council act as prosecutor, judge and executioner, regardless of being a defendant or respondent.
It is natural for countries have been subjected to those powers' infringements of their rights have no hope in getting what they deserve from the council.
Unfortunately, humanity has witnessed in all long wars, like the Korean and Vietnam wars, the war of the Zionists against the Palestinians and against Lebanon, the war of Saddam against the people of Iran, and the ethnic wards of Europe and Africa, one of the members of the Security Council was one of the belligerents who supported one party against the other, usually the aggressor for the conflict itself.
AHMADINEJAD (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Let's look at Iraq. They first occupied the country and then received authorization from the Security Council, the same council in which the same occupiers have the right to veto.
Who should the people of Iraq complain about? And where should they take their complaints with hopes of securing their rights?
We saw in Lebanon that some powers for a long 33 days prevented the Security Council from taking any action against the Zionist regime with the hope of giving them time to achieve victory.
However, when they became disappointed in seeing their hopes unfulfilled, they decided to cease the hostility by adopting a resolution. But the duty of the Security Council is to prevent the expansion of conflicts, to put in place cease-fires, and to promote peace and safety.
To whom and what organization should the people of Lebanon complain?
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, the presence of some monopolistic powers has prevented the Security Council from performing its main duty which is the maintenance of international peace and security based on justice.
The credibility of the council has been tarnished and its efficacy in defending the rights of the U.N. member states has been undermined. Many nations have lost their confidence in the council.
Some other mechanisms, such as the monetary and banking mechanisms, are in the same undesirable situation and have been turned into tools for the imposition of the wishes of some powers on other nations.
It is evident that these mechanisms are not capable of responding to current needs and solving challenges and establishing fair and sustainable relations.
Dear colleagues, again, there is no doubt that the second and more important factor is some big powers' disregard of morals, divine values, the teachings of the prophets and the instructions by the almighty God, as well as the rule of the (inaudible).
How can the incompetents, who cannot even manage and control themselves, rule humanity and arrange its affairs?
AHMADINEJAD (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Unfortunately, they have put themselves in the position of God. They were in servitude to their own whims and the desire to have everything for themselves.
For them, human dignity and the lives, properties, and territories of others are no longer respected. Humanity has had a deep wound on its tired body, caused by impious powers, for centuries.
Today, the problems that people around the world face are mainly rooted in the disregard of human values and ethics, and also in the rule of the selfish and incompetent.
Friends, ladies, and gentlemen, the only sustainable way to the betterment of mankind is the return to the teachings of the divine prophets, monotheism, respect for the dignity of humans, and the flow of love and affection in all relationships, ties, and regulations, and to reform the present structures on this basis.
To fulfill this objective, I invite everyone -- everybody to form a front of fraternity, amity, and sustainable peace, based on monotheism and justice, under the name of "Coalition for Peace," (ph) to prevent incursions and arrogance and to promote the culture of affection and justice.
I hereby announce that, with the help of all independent, justice-seeking and peace-loving nations, the Islamic Republic of Iran will be heading down this path.
Monotheism, justice, and compassion for humans should dominate all the pillars of the U.N. And this organization should be a forum for justice, and every member should enjoy equal spiritual and legal support.
The general assembly, as the representative of the international community, should be considered the most important pillar of the U.N., in order to, free from any pressure and threats by the powers, take required measures for the reforming of the U.N. structures, and especially change the present status of the Security Council and defined new structures, based on justice and democracy with the purpose of becoming responsive to the present requirements and to be able to settle existing challenges, heading to the establishment of an enduring stability and security.
Mr. President, Excellencies, the nuclear issue of Iran is a clear example of how such mechanisms perform and the prevailing thoughts behind them.
You are all aware that Iran is a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency and has always observed its rules and regulation, and has had the most extensive cooperation with this agency in all areas.
AHMADINEJAD (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): All our nuclear activities have been completely peaceful and transparent. According to the statute of the IAEA, any member has a number of rights and obligations. In fact, all members have to stay on a peaceful path and, under the supervision of the agency, assist other members. And they are entitled to be supported by the agency and have access to the fuel cycle with the help of the agency and its members.
Thus far, Iran has fulfilled all of its obligations but has been deprived of other members' technical assistance and, even at times, of the agency's support.
For about five years, some of the aforementioned powers have, by exerting heavy pressure on the IAEA, attempted to prevent the Iranian nation from exercising its rights. They have derailed Iran's nuclear issue from its legal tracks and have politicized the atmosphere to impose their wishes through taking advantage of all their potentials.
The government of Iran spared no effort to build confidence. But they were not satisfied with anything short of the complete halt of all activities, even those related to research and university fields. They were only after depriving the Iranian people of their inalienable rights, even to the extent that those centers not involved in the fuel cycle or not in need of supervision by the agency were closed.
After three years of negotiations and attempts to build confidence, the Iranian nation came to the firm belief that the main concern of these powers is not the possible deviation of Iran's nuclear activities, but is to prevent its scientific progress under this pretext.
AHMADINEJAD (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): And if this trend continues, there will be no possibility for Iran to enjoy its rights, not even in the next 20 years.
Therefore, Iran decided to pursue the issue through its appropriate, legal path, one that runs through the IAEA, and to disregard unlawful and political impositions by the arrogant powers.
In the last two years, abusing the Security Council, the arrogant powers have repeatedly accused Iran and even made military threats and imposed illegal sanctions against it.
However, by the grace of faith in God and national unity, Iran has moved forward step by step, and now our country is recognized as one with the capacity for industrial-scale fuel cycle production for peaceful purposes.
Unfortunately, the Security Council, in dealing with this obvious legal issue, was influenced by some bullying powers and failed to uphold justice and protect the rights of the Iranian people.
Fortunately, the IAEA has recently tried to regain its legal role as supporter of the rights of its members while supervising nuclear activities. We see this as a correct approach adopted by the agency.
Previously, they illegally insisted on politicizing the Iranian nation's nuclear case, but today, because of the resistance of the Iranian nation, the issue is back to the agency.
And I officially announce that in our opinion the nuclear issue of Iran is now closed and has turned into an ordinary agency matter.
Today, many important questions have been raised about the nuclear activities of certain powers within the IAEA which should be dealt with properly.
Of course, Iran has always been and will be prepared to have constructive talks with all parties. I would like to thank all the nations and countries that during this difficult period defended the legal rights of my nation and motherland. And I also want to appreciate the members of the Non-Aligned Movement, our friends in the Security Council and the IAEA's Board of Governors, the committed and law-abiding experts of the agency, and its director general, for their standing by the law.
AHMADINEJAD (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): I would also like to announce that, unlike the monopolistic powers, the Iranian nation is ready to offer to other members its experiences in the form of educational programs and based on its obligations under the agency's statue and under its supervision.
Now I would like to address those who have shown hostility toward the Iranian nation for about five years, offended and accused my people who have contributed to the history and civilization of the world. And I advise them to learn from history and their recent actions.
They badly mistreated the great Iranian nation, but they should be careful not to inflict the same on other members of international organizations and not to sacrifice the dignity of international organizations for the sake of their unlawful wishes.
Today, the nations of the world are wide awake and resistant. If you reform yourself, the world, the whole world will be reformed. Nations are inherently good and can coexist peacefully. Those powers should endeavor to serve their own people, others do not need them.
Is it not high time for these powers to return from the path of arrogance and obedience to Satan to the path of faith in God? Would they not like to be cleansed of the impurities, submit to the will of God and believe in him?
Faith in God means believing in honesty, purity, justice and compassion for others. They can be certain that they will benefit from purity, honesty, justice, and loving and respecting the human dignity.
They can also be certain that such values are more and more considered appropriate, valuable and beautiful by the nations of the world.
AHMADINEJAD (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): This is the invitation of all the divine prophets, from Adam to Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus Christ, and Mohammed, peace be upon up him. If they accept this invitation, they will be saved. And if they don't, the same calamities that befell the people of distant past will befall them, as well.
According to the Holy Koran, one who does not answer the divine call should not think that he has weakened God on earth. He has no companion but God and he is clearly engulfed by darkness. They have nothing of their own and cannot escape from the dominion of the rule of God and his will.
In this important gathering, I have to remind them of the following words of the almighty which has been mentioned in the Holy Koran. Do they not look at the powers and governments which came before them? If the people of the past had actually possessed something, they would have kept it and would not have let you possess it now.
God destroyed them because of their sins and nobody could protect them against the will of god. These powers have to know that the thoughts and methods based on oppression and injustice are doomed to failure. Do they not see the signs of vigilance and resistance based on monotheism, philanthropy and the justice-seeking spirit of the nations of the world? Do they not notice that we are nearing the sunset of the time of empires? I hope that this invitation will have a practical answer.
Excellencies, peoples and governments are not obliged to obey the injustice of certain powers. These powers, because of the reasons already mentioned, have lost the competence to lead the world. I officially declare that the age of relations arising from the second World War, as well as the era of materialistic thoughts based on arrogance and domination, is well over now.
AHMADINEJAD (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Humanity has passed a perilous precipice, and the age of monotheism, purity, affinity, respecting others, justice and true peace-loving has commenced.
It is a divine promise that the truth will be victorious and the Earth will be inherited by the righteous. You who are free, believers and the people of the world, put your trust in God.
You who crave high values, wherever you are, try to prepare the grounds for the fulfillment of this great divine promise by serving the people and seeking justice.
The era of darkness will end. Prisoners will return home. The occupied lands will be freed. Palestine and Iraq will be liberated from the domination of the occupiers. And the people of America and Europe will be free of the pressures exerted by the Zionists.
The tenderhearted and humanity-loving governments will replace the aggressive and domineering ones. Human dignity will be regained.
The pleasing aroma of justice will permeate the world, and people will live together in a brotherly and affectionate manner.
Striving in this way to surrender rule to the righteous and perfect human, the promised one, is indeed the final cure for the wounds of humanity, the solution of all problems and the establishment of love, beauty, justice and a dignified life all over the world.
This belief and endeavor is the key to unity and the constructive interaction among nations, countries, the people of the world and all the true justice seekers.
Without any doubt, the promised one who is the ultimate savior, along with Jesus Christ and other holy saviors, will come. In the company of all believers, justice seekers and benefactors, he will establish a bright future and fill the world with justice and duty.
This is the promise of God, therefore it will be fulfilled.
Come, let's play a part in the fulfillment of all this glory and duty. I wish for a bright future for all human beings and the dawn of the liberation of and freedom for all humans, and the rule of love and affection all around the world, as well as the elimination of oppression, hatred, and violence, a wish which I expect will be realized in the near future.
Thank you very much.
END
.ETX
Sep 25, 2007 17:45 ET .EOF
Source: CQ Transcriptions
© 2007, Congressional Quarterly Inc., All Rights Reserved
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Psalm for the battles
Psalm 18 (New American Standard Bible)
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Psalm 18
The LORD Praised for Giving Deliverance.
1
For the choir director. A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD, who spoke to the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. And he said,
"I love You, O LORD, my strength."
2The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,
And I am saved from my enemies.
4The cords of death encompassed me,
And the torrents of ungodliness terrified me.
5The cords of Sheol surrounded me;
The snares of death confronted me.
6In my distress I called upon the LORD,
And cried to my God for help;
He heard my voice out of His temple,
And my cry for help before Him came into His ears.
7Then the earth shook and quaked;
And the foundations of the mountains were trembling
And were shaken, because He was angry.
8Smoke went up out of His nostrils,
And fire from His mouth devoured;
Coals were kindled by it.
9He bowed the heavens also, and came down
With thick darkness under His feet.
10He rode upon a cherub and flew;
And He sped upon the wings of the wind.
11He made darkness His hiding place, His canopy around Him,
Darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
12From the brightness before Him passed His thick clouds,
Hailstones and coals of fire.
13The LORD also thundered in the heavens,
And the Most High uttered His voice,
Hailstones and coals of fire.
14He sent out His arrows, and scattered them,
And lightning flashes in abundance, and routed them.
15Then the channels of water appeared,
And the foundations of the world were laid bare
At Your rebuke, O LORD,
At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.
16He sent from on high, He took me;
He drew me out of many waters.
17He delivered me from my strong enemy,
And from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.
18They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
But the LORD was my stay.
19He brought me forth also into a broad place;
He rescued me, because He delighted in me.
20The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness;
According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me.
21For I have kept the ways of the LORD,
And have not wickedly departed from my God.
22For all His ordinances were before me,
And I did not put away His statutes from me.
23I was also blameless with Him,
And I kept myself from my iniquity.
24Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness,
According to the cleanness of my hands in His eyes.
25With the kind You show Yourself kind;
With the blameless You show Yourself blameless;
26With the pure You show Yourself pure,
And with the crooked You show Yourself astute.
27For You save an afflicted people,
But haughty eyes You abase.
28For You light my lamp;
The LORD my God illumines my darkness.
29For by You I can run upon a troop;
And by my God I can )leap over a wall.
30As for God, His way is blameless;
The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
31For who is God, but the LORD?
And who is a rock, except our God,
32The God who girds me with strength
And makes my way blameless?
33He makes my feet like hinds' feet,
And sets me upon my high places.
34He trains my hands for battle,
So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35You have also given me the shield of Your salvation,
And Your right hand upholds me;
And Your gentleness makes me great.
36You enlarge my steps under me,
And my feet have not slipped.
37I pursued my enemies and overtook them,
And I did not turn back until they were consumed.
38I shattered them, so that they were not able to rise;
They fell under my feet.
39For You have girded me with strength for battle;
You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.
40You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me,
And I destroyed those who hated me.
41They cried for help, but there was none to save,
Even to the LORD, but He did not answer them.
42Then I beat them fine as the dust before the wind;
I emptied them out as the mire of the streets.
43You have delivered me from the contentions of the people;
You have placed me as head of the nations;
A people whom I have not known serve me.
44As soon as they hear, they obey me;
Foreigners submit to me.
45Foreigners fade away,
And come trembling out of their fortresses.
46The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock;
And exalted be the God of my salvation,
47The God who executes vengeance for me,
And subdues peoples under me.
48He delivers me from my enemies;
Surely You lift me above those who rise up against me;
You rescue me from the violent man.
49Therefore I will give thanks to You among the nations, O LORD,
And I will sing praises to Your name.
50He gives great deliverance to His king,
And shows lovingkindness to His anointed,
To David and his descendants forever.
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Psalm 18
The LORD Praised for Giving Deliverance.
1
For the choir director. A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD, who spoke to the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. And he said,
"I love You, O LORD, my strength."
2The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,
And I am saved from my enemies.
4The cords of death encompassed me,
And the torrents of ungodliness terrified me.
5The cords of Sheol surrounded me;
The snares of death confronted me.
6In my distress I called upon the LORD,
And cried to my God for help;
He heard my voice out of His temple,
And my cry for help before Him came into His ears.
7Then the earth shook and quaked;
And the foundations of the mountains were trembling
And were shaken, because He was angry.
8Smoke went up out of His nostrils,
And fire from His mouth devoured;
Coals were kindled by it.
9He bowed the heavens also, and came down
With thick darkness under His feet.
10He rode upon a cherub and flew;
And He sped upon the wings of the wind.
11He made darkness His hiding place, His canopy around Him,
Darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
12From the brightness before Him passed His thick clouds,
Hailstones and coals of fire.
13The LORD also thundered in the heavens,
And the Most High uttered His voice,
Hailstones and coals of fire.
14He sent out His arrows, and scattered them,
And lightning flashes in abundance, and routed them.
15Then the channels of water appeared,
And the foundations of the world were laid bare
At Your rebuke, O LORD,
At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.
16He sent from on high, He took me;
He drew me out of many waters.
17He delivered me from my strong enemy,
And from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.
18They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
But the LORD was my stay.
19He brought me forth also into a broad place;
He rescued me, because He delighted in me.
20The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness;
According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me.
21For I have kept the ways of the LORD,
And have not wickedly departed from my God.
22For all His ordinances were before me,
And I did not put away His statutes from me.
23I was also blameless with Him,
And I kept myself from my iniquity.
24Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness,
According to the cleanness of my hands in His eyes.
25With the kind You show Yourself kind;
With the blameless You show Yourself blameless;
26With the pure You show Yourself pure,
And with the crooked You show Yourself astute.
27For You save an afflicted people,
But haughty eyes You abase.
28For You light my lamp;
The LORD my God illumines my darkness.
29For by You I can run upon a troop;
And by my God I can )leap over a wall.
30As for God, His way is blameless;
The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
31For who is God, but the LORD?
And who is a rock, except our God,
32The God who girds me with strength
And makes my way blameless?
33He makes my feet like hinds' feet,
And sets me upon my high places.
34He trains my hands for battle,
So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35You have also given me the shield of Your salvation,
And Your right hand upholds me;
And Your gentleness makes me great.
36You enlarge my steps under me,
And my feet have not slipped.
37I pursued my enemies and overtook them,
And I did not turn back until they were consumed.
38I shattered them, so that they were not able to rise;
They fell under my feet.
39For You have girded me with strength for battle;
You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.
40You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me,
And I destroyed those who hated me.
41They cried for help, but there was none to save,
Even to the LORD, but He did not answer them.
42Then I beat them fine as the dust before the wind;
I emptied them out as the mire of the streets.
43You have delivered me from the contentions of the people;
You have placed me as head of the nations;
A people whom I have not known serve me.
44As soon as they hear, they obey me;
Foreigners submit to me.
45Foreigners fade away,
And come trembling out of their fortresses.
46The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock;
And exalted be the God of my salvation,
47The God who executes vengeance for me,
And subdues peoples under me.
48He delivers me from my enemies;
Surely You lift me above those who rise up against me;
You rescue me from the violent man.
49Therefore I will give thanks to You among the nations, O LORD,
And I will sing praises to Your name.
50He gives great deliverance to His king,
And shows lovingkindness to His anointed,
To David and his descendants forever.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
A dream I had in 1999
I do not know if this means anything, but it shook me up. It was presented on a scroll, and I could not move until it was over. Please do not think that I claim to have prohpetic visions, I just had what I had. I would like to share it just in case.
Vision of Candy on Aug 18,1999
We have all been on a long journey on a great ship over time. We have forgotten who our Captain is. We have forgotten the purpose of our voyage. We have committed mutiny. We have turned our eyes off of the master. We had tried to take control, even persecuting our master of a crime he did not commit. We have rendered him unjust and not of sound mind because we have forgotten the truth. We have listened to the other one. He has stirred up grumbling and caused mistrust between us in order to get us to jump ship. He has even convinced us to Execute our captain and master, accusing him of things. We came to believe things of hearsay. We have become so weary that we have forgotten the truth. We have all felt the weariness of the journey and have been convinced that this is the truth we feel instead of tiredness. Raise up oh crews of the ship Israel. Sounds the horns and return to your posts. The land has been spotted. Pull back into the ship all those you can still save from the raging sea. Bind up the conspirator. That great disturber of the truth and hater of justice. He will be tried for treason and murder when we get to the shore. Beg for your master’s mercy and forgiveness so that even if there are good works at the last minute…they will show him honor and respect. And he will remember your last works instead of when you strayed. You must do this before you see the land, else the events will render you lost in wrath. Turn away from the lies Israel, time is nigh! The master WILL finish the journey as he promised. He has not deceived you, but he brought you with him while you were eager because he loves you. Some of you do not remember the beginning of this journey because you were born along the way, but you have heard the stories and some of you have read the ships log and know! With all that evidence, you still do not believe your captain? See your mistakes now Israel before it is too late, I know you are weary but only the faithful will not be tried for high treason when we get to the shore. The only reason I have not struck you all down is because of your master who hopes you will finish the journey in faith. Yeah I am giving you until you spot the shore to make right, but as soon as the land is seen by all, it will be too late.
Vision of Candy on Aug 18,1999
We have all been on a long journey on a great ship over time. We have forgotten who our Captain is. We have forgotten the purpose of our voyage. We have committed mutiny. We have turned our eyes off of the master. We had tried to take control, even persecuting our master of a crime he did not commit. We have rendered him unjust and not of sound mind because we have forgotten the truth. We have listened to the other one. He has stirred up grumbling and caused mistrust between us in order to get us to jump ship. He has even convinced us to Execute our captain and master, accusing him of things. We came to believe things of hearsay. We have become so weary that we have forgotten the truth. We have all felt the weariness of the journey and have been convinced that this is the truth we feel instead of tiredness. Raise up oh crews of the ship Israel. Sounds the horns and return to your posts. The land has been spotted. Pull back into the ship all those you can still save from the raging sea. Bind up the conspirator. That great disturber of the truth and hater of justice. He will be tried for treason and murder when we get to the shore. Beg for your master’s mercy and forgiveness so that even if there are good works at the last minute…they will show him honor and respect. And he will remember your last works instead of when you strayed. You must do this before you see the land, else the events will render you lost in wrath. Turn away from the lies Israel, time is nigh! The master WILL finish the journey as he promised. He has not deceived you, but he brought you with him while you were eager because he loves you. Some of you do not remember the beginning of this journey because you were born along the way, but you have heard the stories and some of you have read the ships log and know! With all that evidence, you still do not believe your captain? See your mistakes now Israel before it is too late, I know you are weary but only the faithful will not be tried for high treason when we get to the shore. The only reason I have not struck you all down is because of your master who hopes you will finish the journey in faith. Yeah I am giving you until you spot the shore to make right, but as soon as the land is seen by all, it will be too late.
Sunday, September 03, 2006
This is not for everyone to read.
Okay, here it is, my testimony!
I was born in 1957, to a pedophile father in prison, and a mother who came from an abusive home. I was almost born in jail because my father robbed a gas station while my mother was in the car, and my mother went to jail too. Thank goodness they let her out to give birth to me! My mother endured many live- in men in her home growing up. (my grandmother never married then, just did the live-in thing.....4 kids, 4 different fathers) My mother began enduring sexual abuse at a very early age. This was in the 1950’s, when that was shunned and ignored. My grandmother came from a broken home too, stemming from a high 33rd level Mason.. He had a Christian burial, followed by a mason burial with all the demonic rites cited. It is all documented, I have the obit if you would like. He was a member of the Knights of the Templar, and a Big time Shriner. My mother left her home @ 14 yrs and married my father to get out. He went to prison while she was pregnant with me for robbery and raping a 9 yr old girl. My only full blooded sister was born 3 ½ yrs later. My mother divorced him when I was about 3 yrs old. She married my stepfather right away. They had 2 more live girls together (and 8 miscarriages or still borns). He also came from an abusive home, but this was physical beatings
Folks, I got the best of both worlds. Sexual abuse, and physical beatings. Had I been seen in a hospital these days with the strap marks on my back, butt, legs, and face, my parents would have lost parental rights. Had there been someone to recognize a sexually abused child, I may have received help. But that did not happen. I learned to both fear and hate the world.....and all who lived there.
Amazingly enough, I was so intelligent that I sailed through grade school. The teachers did not know what to do with me. They let me study beyond my grade (this was before talented and gifted classes). My mother had my IQ tested, and I scored 165! This went so far, then I became bored.
In the 5th grade, my parents put me in a catholic school (my stepfather was catholic), and I was so unruly and rebellious. I was in fierce fights every day. I played sports. The girls hated my talents. I had been accustomed to playing sports with the local boys, so I had become very tough. The girls did not understand this. I had no understanding of emotional states of girls, and I did not want to. I was the Tomboy your mother had nightmares about!
The Catholic school advised my parents, I should not return for the 6th grade. I went back to public school. The 6th grade teacher I had was very embolden to encourage a few of us to study at our own pace. We did. I was actually enjoying school again. Straight A’s all the way. But like everything else......All good things must end.......
One night, in the middle of the night, while at my grandmother’s house due to the heat in our home being broken, Our home, and everything we had, burnt to the ground. I actually woke up before the phone call to my grandmother, the first clue that I would have dreams. I knew what happened and went back to sleep without being told.
I was never a normal girl. This fire took the life of my only friend.....my Rat. I always had a report with animals, and this actually shook my hardened heart!
My mother, decided to contact my biological father after the fire. She wanted him to know “we were okay”. Since I was so young during his trials, I never knew he was a pedophile. My mother failed to inform me of this before she granted visitation rights.
From the age of 11-14, I endured my real father’s molestations and rapes, and my stepfather’s beatings! Then my mother forced me to testify against my biological father for rape. In those days, the victim was persecuted! I HAD ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!
I ran away, I started stealing, doing drugs, drinking, sleeping around . I will not go into the details, but in 1973 I was sentenced to a reform school in Oregon. I spent 2 yrs in high security there. I was remanded to adult court for attempted murder and several counts of burglary and robbery after an escape from there. The people dealing with me knew that I was intelligent, and they somehow held out hope in me! They went to bat for me. I had already tattooed my body beyond belief, and through the state I had allowed them to try and remove them, leaving hideous scars. Although they are recovered with beautiful art, I still live with them everyday as I write this. Charges were dropped and they paroled me @ 17 yrs old to my biological father! He never tried to touch me again. I was seeking to be emancipated when I met an adult male who I though was for real. I was pregnant with my first child right away. When I refused an abortion, the father tried to beat me to death. I escaped and went to a home for unwed mothers. I met my first husband while I resided there. It was a great home, but not much in way of discipline.....so of course, I took advantage.
I had my daughter in Dec 1975, 4 days before I turned 18. I married the “nice guy” I met when my daughter was 3 weeks old. He was willing to accept her. Of course, when I became pregnant right away.....things changed. I had a medical condition with this one that rendered me bed ridden. If I dared to get up, I would bleed profusely. I felt rejected again when my husband demanded I abort. I refused. I turned to someone I never knew. I begged for mercy. I prayed everyday to Jesus Christ. I had no idea who he was, I only had heard his name when in catholic school. But I was desperate.
When I was 5 weeks from delivering, I had a major bleed. They rushed me into ultrasound because the clots I was passing were the size of your fist. I suddenly stopped.......The ultrasound showed I was normal. The doctors were all saying “it is a miracle” I never grasped the whole scope of it ( I had a Placenta previa). I was released against medical advice due to the fact I was 4 cm dilated. ( my husband refused me to stay) I delivered a healthy baby boy 2 weeks later, (11 1/2 mo. after my first child) although my hemorrhaging afterwards caused me to stay in the hosp, later having my tubes tied (at 18, this was rare) End of child bearing!
Now come in post partum depression, something nobody knew about. I had nightmares every night....they were paralyzing, some demonic. I could not function. I hated my life and after hearing the bitter words of accusations from this man I married. I left. The chief of police took me out of this isolated town.....and of course, tried to seduce me. I WAS SO SICK OF PEOPLE!
I spent the next 3 yrs fighting custody in my divorce (my ex happened to re-marry a freak who worked for child protective services) I could spend a lot of time on what happened here. Bottom line is, I lost custody of my son, but my daughter was not his, so I raised her......and my son grew up thinking I had abandoned him. It bit me later, believe me! I spent 5 yrs with an alcoholic, abusive man who almost beat me to death many times. His ex killed his 2 yr old son, and then blamed me for interfering in her relationship! I was so grief stricken with the loss of this child I helped raise. I left him and started stripping to raise my daughter. Shortly after I started traveling, I had a premonition that something bad happened in my family. Coming home from a dancing contract on the Oregon coast. The closer I got, the worse it got. I had my babysitter go to my door when I got home. There was a note on it. Call my grandmother. My sister’s son had been beaten to death at 18 mo. old! To this day, no one has been charged with that crime.
I almost drank myself into oblivion, I started shooting meth. I met a cook in the “good ole days” when I was stripping for a living. I prostituted myself....but I never really gave myself over. I lived with him for 5 yrs. I was hooked on meth and heroin. I was on stage in Alaska when I looked at the audience and decided I had enough. I went o NA and AA and left everything behind. I was going to get clean or die.....I knew it!
I went back to Oregon and made a few more mistakes. Then I started having revelations and visions. I got scared.
This could become a novel, but I will make it short. I tried to walk right in the eyes of my newly found God. I began having spiritual warfare right away. I remarried a couple times, but my last husband left me for a teenage boy. (guess it is true you marry someone like your father). That all right after I was delivered a death sentence, oh yeah, I have chronic active Hepatitis C from all my drug use. I had 2 full courses of treatment, chemotherapy that failed! Folks, I have been to the pit and back.
I will say this....I love God and Jesus with all my heart, no matter what. I am married now to a man who has a true heart, but he is manic depressive. That is okay, compared to what I have seen, he is truly an honest man who loves God. I love him with all my heart! I endure spiritual warfare every single day of my life. I am used to it by now. God MUST have a purpose for me. The dreams and visions I have are sometimes so intense, I cannot share them. But I have hope and faith. I know for a fact that these are the end times for the world. I may be damaged goods, but I have Love in my heart in spite of all that has happened......that my friends is a miracle. He came to save the broken, there are not many more broken than I. If he can save me, he most certainly can save you.
Amazing grace has a very deep meaning......listen, seek, trust, Jesus is Lord.
Candy
I was born in 1957, to a pedophile father in prison, and a mother who came from an abusive home. I was almost born in jail because my father robbed a gas station while my mother was in the car, and my mother went to jail too. Thank goodness they let her out to give birth to me! My mother endured many live- in men in her home growing up. (my grandmother never married then, just did the live-in thing.....4 kids, 4 different fathers) My mother began enduring sexual abuse at a very early age. This was in the 1950’s, when that was shunned and ignored. My grandmother came from a broken home too, stemming from a high 33rd level Mason.. He had a Christian burial, followed by a mason burial with all the demonic rites cited. It is all documented, I have the obit if you would like. He was a member of the Knights of the Templar, and a Big time Shriner. My mother left her home @ 14 yrs and married my father to get out. He went to prison while she was pregnant with me for robbery and raping a 9 yr old girl. My only full blooded sister was born 3 ½ yrs later. My mother divorced him when I was about 3 yrs old. She married my stepfather right away. They had 2 more live girls together (and 8 miscarriages or still borns). He also came from an abusive home, but this was physical beatings
Folks, I got the best of both worlds. Sexual abuse, and physical beatings. Had I been seen in a hospital these days with the strap marks on my back, butt, legs, and face, my parents would have lost parental rights. Had there been someone to recognize a sexually abused child, I may have received help. But that did not happen. I learned to both fear and hate the world.....and all who lived there.
Amazingly enough, I was so intelligent that I sailed through grade school. The teachers did not know what to do with me. They let me study beyond my grade (this was before talented and gifted classes). My mother had my IQ tested, and I scored 165! This went so far, then I became bored.
In the 5th grade, my parents put me in a catholic school (my stepfather was catholic), and I was so unruly and rebellious. I was in fierce fights every day. I played sports. The girls hated my talents. I had been accustomed to playing sports with the local boys, so I had become very tough. The girls did not understand this. I had no understanding of emotional states of girls, and I did not want to. I was the Tomboy your mother had nightmares about!
The Catholic school advised my parents, I should not return for the 6th grade. I went back to public school. The 6th grade teacher I had was very embolden to encourage a few of us to study at our own pace. We did. I was actually enjoying school again. Straight A’s all the way. But like everything else......All good things must end.......
One night, in the middle of the night, while at my grandmother’s house due to the heat in our home being broken, Our home, and everything we had, burnt to the ground. I actually woke up before the phone call to my grandmother, the first clue that I would have dreams. I knew what happened and went back to sleep without being told.
I was never a normal girl. This fire took the life of my only friend.....my Rat. I always had a report with animals, and this actually shook my hardened heart!
My mother, decided to contact my biological father after the fire. She wanted him to know “we were okay”. Since I was so young during his trials, I never knew he was a pedophile. My mother failed to inform me of this before she granted visitation rights.
From the age of 11-14, I endured my real father’s molestations and rapes, and my stepfather’s beatings! Then my mother forced me to testify against my biological father for rape. In those days, the victim was persecuted! I HAD ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!
I ran away, I started stealing, doing drugs, drinking, sleeping around . I will not go into the details, but in 1973 I was sentenced to a reform school in Oregon. I spent 2 yrs in high security there. I was remanded to adult court for attempted murder and several counts of burglary and robbery after an escape from there. The people dealing with me knew that I was intelligent, and they somehow held out hope in me! They went to bat for me. I had already tattooed my body beyond belief, and through the state I had allowed them to try and remove them, leaving hideous scars. Although they are recovered with beautiful art, I still live with them everyday as I write this. Charges were dropped and they paroled me @ 17 yrs old to my biological father! He never tried to touch me again. I was seeking to be emancipated when I met an adult male who I though was for real. I was pregnant with my first child right away. When I refused an abortion, the father tried to beat me to death. I escaped and went to a home for unwed mothers. I met my first husband while I resided there. It was a great home, but not much in way of discipline.....so of course, I took advantage.
I had my daughter in Dec 1975, 4 days before I turned 18. I married the “nice guy” I met when my daughter was 3 weeks old. He was willing to accept her. Of course, when I became pregnant right away.....things changed. I had a medical condition with this one that rendered me bed ridden. If I dared to get up, I would bleed profusely. I felt rejected again when my husband demanded I abort. I refused. I turned to someone I never knew. I begged for mercy. I prayed everyday to Jesus Christ. I had no idea who he was, I only had heard his name when in catholic school. But I was desperate.
When I was 5 weeks from delivering, I had a major bleed. They rushed me into ultrasound because the clots I was passing were the size of your fist. I suddenly stopped.......The ultrasound showed I was normal. The doctors were all saying “it is a miracle” I never grasped the whole scope of it ( I had a Placenta previa). I was released against medical advice due to the fact I was 4 cm dilated. ( my husband refused me to stay) I delivered a healthy baby boy 2 weeks later, (11 1/2 mo. after my first child) although my hemorrhaging afterwards caused me to stay in the hosp, later having my tubes tied (at 18, this was rare) End of child bearing!
Now come in post partum depression, something nobody knew about. I had nightmares every night....they were paralyzing, some demonic. I could not function. I hated my life and after hearing the bitter words of accusations from this man I married. I left. The chief of police took me out of this isolated town.....and of course, tried to seduce me. I WAS SO SICK OF PEOPLE!
I spent the next 3 yrs fighting custody in my divorce (my ex happened to re-marry a freak who worked for child protective services) I could spend a lot of time on what happened here. Bottom line is, I lost custody of my son, but my daughter was not his, so I raised her......and my son grew up thinking I had abandoned him. It bit me later, believe me! I spent 5 yrs with an alcoholic, abusive man who almost beat me to death many times. His ex killed his 2 yr old son, and then blamed me for interfering in her relationship! I was so grief stricken with the loss of this child I helped raise. I left him and started stripping to raise my daughter. Shortly after I started traveling, I had a premonition that something bad happened in my family. Coming home from a dancing contract on the Oregon coast. The closer I got, the worse it got. I had my babysitter go to my door when I got home. There was a note on it. Call my grandmother. My sister’s son had been beaten to death at 18 mo. old! To this day, no one has been charged with that crime.
I almost drank myself into oblivion, I started shooting meth. I met a cook in the “good ole days” when I was stripping for a living. I prostituted myself....but I never really gave myself over. I lived with him for 5 yrs. I was hooked on meth and heroin. I was on stage in Alaska when I looked at the audience and decided I had enough. I went o NA and AA and left everything behind. I was going to get clean or die.....I knew it!
I went back to Oregon and made a few more mistakes. Then I started having revelations and visions. I got scared.
This could become a novel, but I will make it short. I tried to walk right in the eyes of my newly found God. I began having spiritual warfare right away. I remarried a couple times, but my last husband left me for a teenage boy. (guess it is true you marry someone like your father). That all right after I was delivered a death sentence, oh yeah, I have chronic active Hepatitis C from all my drug use. I had 2 full courses of treatment, chemotherapy that failed! Folks, I have been to the pit and back.
I will say this....I love God and Jesus with all my heart, no matter what. I am married now to a man who has a true heart, but he is manic depressive. That is okay, compared to what I have seen, he is truly an honest man who loves God. I love him with all my heart! I endure spiritual warfare every single day of my life. I am used to it by now. God MUST have a purpose for me. The dreams and visions I have are sometimes so intense, I cannot share them. But I have hope and faith. I know for a fact that these are the end times for the world. I may be damaged goods, but I have Love in my heart in spite of all that has happened......that my friends is a miracle. He came to save the broken, there are not many more broken than I. If he can save me, he most certainly can save you.
Amazing grace has a very deep meaning......listen, seek, trust, Jesus is Lord.
Candy
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Such a time as this
You know, I have been around awhile, been through a very rough life like so many have. My life is not bad at all these days. Since I started seeking truth, and found Christ, a lot has changed since 1991 for me. My journey started well before that, but that year I really stepped up in my faith. In 1999 something shifted deep inside me and I believe I woke up spiritually. From that time on, things became pretty surreal to me. I cannot ever remember feeling the intense tension in the world or my spirit as I have been recently. I have been at the lowest of lows in my life many times, but this is different. These are very confusing and heated times my friends. This is not depression; it is the sick feeling in your stomach one gets when one realizes that it is all true. At the same time, the excitement stirs up in your heart that things are coming to a head and you will watch it all happen! It is almost over, Glory to our King and Savior Jesus Christ. Right now I see many running here and there saying "here he is, there he is". So much division, deception, panic, and most of all.....OBSESSION! Throw in some oppression and possession and you have a giant hodgepodge of confusion......and that is just amongst the believers! Lord come quickly lest even the elect be deceived. Yep, to live right now is bittersweet.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
