Fighting for the TRUTH

"But you must realize that in the last days the times will be full of danger. Men will become utterly self-centered, greedy for money, full of big words. They will be proud and abusive, without any regard for what their parents taught them. They will be utterly lacking in gratitude, reverence and normal human affections. They will be remorseless, scandal-mongers, uncontrolled and violent and haters of all that is good. They will be treacherous, reckless and arrogant, loving what gives them pleasure instead of loving GOD. The will maintain a facade of "religion" but their life denies the truth. Keep clear of people like that." II Timothy 3:1-5 Phillips Translation


Dear Friends and Family,

I wanted to give you a quick update on a couple of prayer requests that i asked you to pray about recently. My sister-in-law returned safely home from her mission trip to Japan, just in time for my brother Joe to have hernia surgery and thankfully he is doing remarkably well. He had surgery on Monday and was back at work last Thursday-wow! My doctor returned to work full time this week after having a valve replaced in his heart- Praise the LORD. I do praise HIM and thank GOD for HIS goodness and healing in these lives and for your prayers for them. Thank you so much for your prayers. Please remember our cousins and everyone in the Louisville, Ky area who are in the midst of a huge ice storm. Thousands and thousands are without power and trees are down all over the place they told me yesterday. Bruce and Gloria had a house full of family and friends seeking shelter in their home. Sherry and Curtis you are in our prayers too!


This past Tuesday, we celebrated my son's 19th birthday...Praise the LORD! We actually celebrated on Monday evening, meeting John Mac, my brother-in-law and sister-in- law at Outback Steakhouse in Madison, because Tuesday was packed for him with school and work. It's hard to believe the years have gotten by so very quickly but they have....seems like yesterday when John Mac was potty training. Well, okay, last week:).

When John Mac and Hannah Beth were little, the LORD blessed us with much time together and my "thorn" is one of the reason's we had so much time together. I didn't exactly feel like taking them on a bunch of field trips, like a lot of homeschooling families did and do, but i'm sure thankful for you my dear friends who did pick up the slack and let them go along with your family at times when i wasn't able to. One of the neat things that GOD brought along when they were little that we could do at home was a chart called "The Ten Fingers Way to Remember the Ten Commandments." I don't remember who shared it with us now, but it was one of those things the LORD used then, and continues to use to help me and my kids remember the 10 commandments. It only took about 10 minutes for them to learn the 10 commandments. Here's how it works:

Ten Commandments found in Ex. 20

1. Thou shalt have no other GOD's before ME. GOD FIRST One finger pointing to GOD in heaven-HE is number one.
2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven images. NO IDOLS Two fingers turned sideways to look like scissors cutting out an idol.
3. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy GOD in vain. NO CUSSING Three fingers, looks like "W" and stands for "Watch your Words."
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. WORSHIP GOD Four fingers for 4 people in 4-door car with 4 wheels all going to church.
5. Honor thy father and thy mother. OBEY PARENTS Five fingers-one hand salute to show honor to parents.
6. Thou shalt not kill. DON'T MURDER One finger pointing like gun at other five fingers.
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery. NO ADULTERY Two fingers, looks like "V" stands for Virgin pure and apart from the world (other 5 fingers).
8. Thou shalt not steal. DON'T STEAL In old times, thieves had fingers cut off. A 3-fingered thief was a two-time loser.
9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. DON'T LIE Nine fingers up, all saying one thing; one thumb down, saying something different-a lie.
10. Thou shalt not covet. DON'T COVET All ten fingers up reaching to grab something you covet.

This is really an amazingly easy way for kids to learn the 10 commandments easily. For those more brain challenged, like me, it may take a little longer. I figure John Mac is 19... hum at least 15 years for me, and i'm still working on them:).

These days, my kids are both in college, John Mac is a junior at UAH, and HB is taking dual enrollment classes at our local community college this semester along with her classes at home. When our kids leave for school in the mornings I encourage them to be a witness for CHRIST and look at their colleges as the mission field GOD has for them right now. I am thankful for all those years we had to build GOD's Word in their hearts, and we still encourage them to build GOD's word into their hearts by reading it, memorizing it, studying it and meditating upon it. That "Word of GOD is living and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword," Hebrews 4:12 tells us, and it helps them combat the battle for their minds, their future families and for those their lives will have an impact upon. The false teaching that our kids at 19 and 17 are encountering today is all around us, and we are all in a war, or should be, to fight for the truth of the Bible, and that of a Biblical worldview...the worldview that our country was founded upon by godly men who sought GOD's word for their direction.

This past Sat. evening, the kids and i had the awesome privilege, and it was an awesome privilege to sit inside that church between my two teenagers to attend a Biblical Worldview Conference www.codebluerally.com. Johnny very much wanted to go, but had to work...someone has to work to support my habits and pay our bills:). One of the men who spoke, Norman Geisler, has been a "hero" of my husband for many years since we were baby CHRISTians. Dr. Geisler, www.normangeisler.com, www.internationallegacy.org, has fought to "contend for our faith," as one of the best known apologist for Biblical truth in the world. He has written many, many books, traveling and speaking all over the world, and is currently beginning a new seminary for Biblical truth called Veritas Evangelical Seminary.

I wasn't exactly sure what to expect from this conference, but what i did get was like taking a drink out of a fire hydrant, literally. My mind could not process fast enough what the speakers were saying. There were three speakers, well actually four, at the conference we went to, and there was no charge. They asked for a love offering to help cover the cost of these men who had literally flown from all over the world to be there. One had just returned from Ethiopia, and another had flown across country from Seattle, Wa. and another, Dr. Geisler, from Charlotte, NC. Brandon Howse was from Memphis, Tn and i have included the website here for the ministry...www.worldviewweekend.com. You can go online and see all the great resources they to help you and your family understand a Biblical Worldview, and the other worldviews that are seeking to destroy our faith, family, and freedoms. They covered so much in the short 4 hours we met, but what keeps coming back to me is the similarities between the path our country is going down, and the path that Hitler and Nazi Germany took. I told you it was scary in parts, but "GOD has not give us a spirit of fear but of power, of love, and of a sound mind," II Timothy 1:7. The purpose of these rallies was to open our eyes up to Biblical truth, how we got to where we are in our society today and where to go from here. Brannon Howse spoke on "Political Correctness=Cultural Marxism." He explained how our culture is going more and more towards socialism and Marxism and how though seeds were planted many years ago in our society. It was heartbreaking, hearing of how John Dewey in 1933, best known as the father of modern education, placed German Marxists at leading colleges and universities around our country to indoctrinate their worldview into millions of Americans and eventually into American culture. Many of those today are our college and university presidents, pastors and leaders in key positions influencing our young people and making decisions that are leading our culture farther and farther from a Biblical worldview.

The neat thing about this rally is that it wasn't just for our area, they are having them all over the country and you can attend one in your area and for your convenience- I have listed some of the locations below:). On the websites i listed above you can purchase all of the resources that were available to us at the conference, learn the same things we learned, or tried to:), and gain wisdom and knowledge in how our world events today are fulfilling prophecy in the Bible as we march onward towards a one world government.

One inspiring man who spoke was Robert Cornuke. He is an ex police man, S.W.A.T. team member, PhD. and he is known as a modern day "Indiana Jones." He has searched for Noah's Ark, the Ark of the Covenant, and Mt. Sinai and his website is www.baseinstitute.org. He's the one who had just flown in from an expedition in Ethiopia and was so interesting...funny, humble, intelligent, and adventurous and above all loved the LORD with all his heart and it showed. He was passionate about JESUS and said that since CHRIST had saved him, he has never been the same. He showed us a video of places in Saudi Arabia, i believe where they think Mt. Sinai is located, and showed different artifacts found around the base of the mountain where GOD gave Moses the 10 commandments.

Speaking of the 10 commandments ...another name mentioned at the conference, associated with this team of men defending our faith is Ray Comfort. In fact i mentioned his website www.thewayofthemaster.com a few weeks ago in my email after my friend Michelle Pavlick told me about him and Kirk Cameron, and his powerful witnessing methods. Along about that same time that Michelle mentioned Ray Comfort to me, another friend of mine, Catherine Smith, mentioned him and shared some tracts with me by him. Yesterday I finished listening to a CD Catherine gave me that Ray did several years ago called, "Hell's Best Kept Secret." This is a powerful CD encouraging us to use GOD's law when we talk to people about the eternal destination of their souls. He gave an example of JESUS doing this in the Bible when the rich young ruler came up to him and asked JESUS what must he do to have eternal life.
Jesus replied in Matthew 19:17-22, "...But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." He said to HIM, "Which ones?" JESUS said, "You shall not murder, 'You shall not commit adultery,' You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
The young man said to HIM, "All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?" "Jesus said to him," If you want to be perfect, go sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions."

John MacArthur comments on this passage in his one year devotion Bible and says that JESUS was"exposing this young man's true heart. His refusal to obey here revealed two things: 1) he was not blameless as far as the law was concerned, because he was guilty of loving himself and his possessions more than his neighbors and 2) he lacked true faith, which involves a willingness to surrender all at CHRIST's bidding. JESUS was not teaching salvation by philanthropy; but HE was demanding that this young man give HIM first place. The young man failed the test.
As i read this just now, i remember the struggle that i had when i was dating. The LORD was relentless in HIS pursuit of me and convicting me of my sins...four years relentless. The question He posed to me was not "go and sell all i have to the poor" cause i didn't have much in that area, and that wasn't keeping me from surrendering my life to CHRIST...but it was, "Mitzi, are you going to put ME first and make me LORD of your life or your boyfriend and the "false security" you have in him? Are you going to repent of your sins or keep indulging in them? Thankfully, by GOD's grace, HE helped me repent, and turn to HIM...and "Flee from the wrath that is to come, (Matt.3:7)...eternal judgement and damnation in hell." One of the first things i did after surrendering my life to CHRIST, and i was so full of joy, joy, joy-my sin burden was gone- was to let my boyfriend know that i could not date him anymore because he wasn't a CHRISTian and i wasn't going to continue in the same path i had been walking in. That was not easy, i had failed many time before when i tried in my own strength, but this time, I had a new power living inside of me, and that was the power of the HOLY SPIRIT that came and dwelt in me when I surrendered my life to CHRIST. This time, GOD helped me be strong as i read HIS read voraciously, and got involved in our local church where the CHRISTians there loved me and helped me grow in CHRIST. As i was apart from my boyfriend during this time, except for a zoology class we shared in college, little did i expect for my him to come to know CHRIST a month later, reading his Bible in his bedroom with no encouragement from me, and we have been married for 25 years-to GOD be the glory! "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the thngs which GOD hath prepared for them that love HIM." (I Cor. 2:9).

Your struggle with sin may be different than mine was and is and the rich young ruler, but we all are guilty in our sin before our just GOD and will endure HIS wrath of Hell forever unless we repent of our sins and trust in the LORD JESUS CHRIST for the payment of our sins. That's where the 10 commandments comes in. Mr. Comfort encourages us to use these, as JESUS did on the rich young ruler, 1st to examine ourselves and see if we are in the faith, and as we talk with others about their souls. He encourages us to ask when we are sharing with someone if they have ever told a lie,(thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor) or stolen anything,(thou shalt not steal), or been disobedient or disrespectful to your parents (honor thy father and thy mother) or committed adultery (though shalt not commit adultery), murdered anyone (thou shalt not kill), etc. JESUS said in the Matthew 5:22 that if we are angry with someone it's the same as killing someone because it's the same attitude in our heart. Everyone has sinned against GOD, "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of GOD," Romans 3:23, and "the wages (or payment) for sin is death, but the gift of GOD is eternal life in JESUS CHRIST our LORD." Rom.6:23. Ray Comfort used the verse "The law of the LORD is perfect converting the soul." Psalm 19:7 He kept emphasising how the law, the 10 Commandments, shows us where we are sinners so that we will realize the sin disease we have and cry out to GOD, our GREAT PHYSICIAN, to heal us and forgive us through JESUS CHRIST, "By HIS stripes we are healed," I Peter 2:24. But GOD is also our JUDGE and because HE is just and good HE has to judge sin...HE cannot excuse it or overlook it. That is why HE sent CHRIST to pay for our sins on the Cross. John 3:16, "For GOD so loved the world that HE gave HIS only begotten SON that whosoever believes in HIM shall not perish but have everlasting life." There is no other way to get to heaven except through the blood of our dear LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST..."I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE. No man cometh to the FATHER except through me." John 14:6

I mentioned Norman Geisler above (www.normangeisler.com) and the ministry he has is in the area of apologetics or defending our faith. He explained to us how our Bible was put together, there are over 5700 original manuscripts of the Bible verses 643 of Homer. There are thousands and thousands of archaeological findings that validate the history of the Bible, and the prophecies of the Bible that have already been fulfilled about JESUS just in Psalms alone are amazing.

A few of those include:
1. CHRIST will be resurrected from the grave. Ps.16:10. Fulfilled in Mark 16:6,7, Acts 13:35
2. GOD will forsake CHRIST in HIS moment of agony. Ps.22:1 Fulfilled in Matt. 27:46, Mark 15:34
3. CHRIST will be scorned and ridiculed. Psalm 22:7,8 Fulfilled in Matt. 27:39-43, Luke 23:45
4. CHRIST's hands and feet will be pierced. Ps. 22:16 Fulfilled in John 20:25,27, Acts 2:23
5. Other's will gamble for CHRIST's clothes. Ps. 22:18 Fulfilled in Matt. 27:35,36
6. Not one of CHRIST's bones will be broken. Ps. 22:34:20 Fulfilled in John 19:32,33,36.

These are taken from a chart from John MacArthur's Daily Devotion Bible on page 93. There are numerous other prophecies about CHRIST that have already been fulfilled and are included in the full chart. I have taken just a few to illustrate that Psalms was written from 1410 B.C. (Ps. 90), to the late sixth or early fifth century B.C.-hundreds of years before CHRIST came to earth and they were fulfilled to the exact detail when HE was here on earth. This is part of apologetics, "contending for the faith," as it says in Jude 3. "Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you "to contend earnestly for the faith..."

Our pastor (http://newlife-harvest.org/home/index.php), Andy Wisner, is currently preaching through Jude, a book in the New Testament that warns in the last days that "certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our GOD into lewdness and deny the only LORD GOD and our LORD JESUS CHRIST." Jude 4. This is exactly what Brannon S. Howse was explaining to us at the conference last Sat. night, how these men crept into our educational system, and churches and have quietly deceived the minds of America's youth and led them away from believing the truth of the Gospel of JESUS CHRIST. And this didn't just happen on secular campuses, but even more heartbreaking, CHRISTian schools and churches that were once sound in doctrine, became institutes for teaching false doctrine and leading our young people away from CHRIST. We are seeing in our culture today the results in our society as these young people, influenced by false teachers and other worldviews such as pagan spirituality, and one world spirituality grew up to be teachers, university professors, lawyers, doctors, pastors and and government officials and are leading our culture farther and farther away from CHRIST and a Biblical worldview.

We are in a fight, "a real fight of the faith," as it says in Jude, to "contend for the faith," and make sure that we are building in our hearts and the hearts of our families and those around us a Biblical worldview. As our children are going out in the world, and that world comes into our home through what we allow through TV, the internet, books we read, etc, and there are more and more influences that can "erode" their Biblical worldview and ours, our job as parents is not over but to continue to encourage them in building a "Biblical Worldview" in their own hearts, and influencing their world for CHRIST...being salt and light, as they see us walking with CHRIST, spending time in the Word individually and together, and setting that example for them.

Our kids aren't so little anymore, and it's been a long time since we gathered at the table to learn the "10 Fingers Way to Remember the 10 Commandments." Now they are spending more and more time away from home at college and a university, and we pray that their faith will not be shipwrecked as have so many who have been influenced by worldly philosophies and taught by false teachers. It's not as easy to protect them from the dangers of the world and the battle for their minds as when they were 5 and 7 or even 11 and 13. We have to trust and pray diligently for them that GOD's Word that's been hidden in their hearts will be that sword they can use to help them cut through the false teaching of this world...the lies of Satan that seek to destroy their souls. "For the WORD of GOD is living and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Heb. 4:12.

Through the Worldview Weekend Conference,(www.worldviewweekend.com) our pastor's sound biblical teaching, and my husband's desire to lead his family in the truth of Scripture through the years, GOD is reminding me over and over that we can't let our guard down. In fact all we have do to is look around us and see the changes going around and realize everyday more and more lines are being drawn in the sand. We need to pray for courage and boldness for each other and "contend for the faith." All those who desire to live godly in CHRIST JESUS will be persecuted." II Timothy 3:12.

As i write this, i am convicted as i examine areas in my own life and our family's life that are not consistent with a Biblical Worldview...we struggle with some of the choices we make. Our family is real, and we have the same struggles with our flesh that you do and the choices we make day in and day out what to put into our minds. That's why we need each other, to pray for one another, encourage one another, and build each other up in the faith and hold one another accountable. GOD told us in Hebrews Hebrews 10:25, "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

I am so very thankful for my LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST who loved me enough to "rescue me from the domain of darkness and bring me into the kingdom of HIS glorious light." I Peter 2:9. HE was relentless to convict me of my sins as a teenager, and through that sin burden, HE led me to the foot of Calvary and washed me with HIS blood. I am so very thankful for my husband. GOD has given Johnny such a heart for defending HIS truth ever since he got saved at 25 and protected our family from so many dangers through the years through teaching us true biblical doctrine. I am so thankful for our pastor, Andy Wisner, as he shepherds us at New Life Baptist Church, and leads us in teaching us sound biblical doctrine, our church family, our homeschool family, you our family and friends who have prayed for us and encouraged us down through the years to walk in Biblical truth. One family i want to mention who has made a tremendous impact on our Biblical Worldview and millions of other families is that of Gary and Anne Marie Ezzo (www.gfi.org, www.growingkids.org). Through their parenting discipling ministry, GOD has used them to help shape our worldview, and use that knowledge in helping us to train our children with a Biblical worldview. You can order their resources for your family from their website.

I know i've shared a lot with you here and hopefully you will take time to look up some of the websites and can attend a Code Blue Rally near you. I encourage you to make time to attend one of the rally's when they come to your area...it really served to open my eyes to what's happening around us and how we came to this point...biblical prophecy is being fulfilled right before our eyes.
In closing i wanted to share one more website that gives you an update on the fight against the Freedom of Choice Act. I sent you an email about that a couple of weeks ago and this update reminded to be praying for that battle of our unborn.
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Default.aspx?id=399060.

I love you and i hope i have not burdened you down with too much information. I haven't meant to scare you but wanted to share Biblical truth with you as it's been shared with us. Thanks so much for your love, your prayers and your dear encouragement to me and my family.

With all HIS love,
Mitzi

Martin Luther, that great reformationist who "contended for the faith," to lead CHRISTians away from the false teaching of Catholicism during the Middle Ages, penned these words in his fight for the TRUTH:

A Mighty Fortress is Our GOD by Martin Luther

A mighty fortress is our GOD, A bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood Of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe:
His craft and power are great
And armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be loosing;
Were not the right MAN on our side,
The MAN of GOD's own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be?
CHRIST JESUS, it is HE;
LORD SABAOTH HIS name,
From age to age the same,
And HE must win the battle.

And tho' this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for GOD hath willed
HIS truth to triumph through us
The Prince of Darkness grim,
We tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, For lo his doom is sure
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, No thanks to them, abideth
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Thro HIM who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also;
The body they may kill:
GOD's truth abideth still,
HIS kingdom is forever.






Here is a schedule of some upcoming Code Blue Rally's. (www.codebluerally.com)


Little Rock, Arkansas
February 7, 2009
Jackson, Tennessee
February 8, 2009
Dallas, Texas
February 14, 2009
Ft. Worth, Texas
February 15, 2009
Texarkana, Texas
February 21, 2009
Rogers/Bentonville, Arkansas
February 22, 2009
Macon, Georgia
February 28, 2009
Atlanta, Georgia
March 1, 2009
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
March 7, 2009
St. Louis Code Blue Rally
March 8, 2009
Richmond, Virginia
March 14, 2009
Northern Virginia
March 15, 2009
Cinncinati, Ohio
March 20, 2009
Indianapolis, IN
March 21, 2009
Evansville, Indiana
March 22, 2009
Lexington, Kentucky
April 4, 2009
Louisville, Kentucky
April 5, 2009
Branson, Missouri
April 24, 25 & 26, 2009
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
May 16, 2009
Chicago, Illinois
May 17, 2009
Little Rock, Arkansas
February 7, 2009
Jackson, Tennessee
February 8, 2009
Dallas, Texas
February 14, 2009
Ft. Worth, Texas
February 15, 2009
Texarkana, Texas
February 21, 2009
Rogers/Bentonville, Arkansas
February 22, 2009
Macon, Georgia
February 28, 2009
Atlanta, Georgia
March 1, 2009
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
March 7, 2009
St. Louis Code Blue Rally
March 8, 2009
Richmond, Virginia
March 14, 2009
Northern Virginia
March 15, 2009
Cinncinati, Ohio
March 20, 2009
Indianapolis, IN
March 21, 2009
Evansville, Indiana
March 22, 2009
Lexington, Kentucky
April 4, 2009
Louisville, Kentucky
April 5, 2009
Branson, Missouri
April 24, 25 & 26, 2009
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
May 16, 2009
Chicago, Illinois
May 17, 2009