I received certified mail not to long ago. Today, I signed and set in a Page 13 for non-compliance for my Medical Retention Review (MRR) for the Navy Reserves.
Above is what a Page 13 looks like. I just thought I would share it here. They want an update from my provider to go with my MRR. I have an appointment with the VA on January 18, Tuesday at 11 AM. So, I will try and get a note from my provider, that day.
I also asked about relocating. My NOSC Medical told me that my MRR will need a signature from the gaining Naval Operational Support Command (NOSC) Commanding Officer (CO). So, I would still be in an MRR status. But who knows, maybe they would still let me drill. My MMR would remain in effect.
Yesterday, it came to my mind again. Something I need to give over to God. There is something I want to write about. It happened over twenty years ago. I admit that I thought I was in love. But it is hard to tell now. I think I have finally gotten to where I can communicate about the “Why” it is important to me.
I often hear that, “The why is not important”. I disagree, the why is important. To me and to God. An example of the “why” being important. Is Mount Saint Helens. May 14, 1980 Mount Saint Helens suddenly erupted. They did not know why. Originally, it was thought that the volcano was dormant. Then, suddenly, on that day, the volcano erupted. There were people living on the mountain when it erupted. Now, they want to know why Mount Sint Helens erupted, because this might help the geologists predict future eruptions with increased accuracy. The eruption if Mount Saint Helens is an example from history of where the “Why” is important.
I recently read an article in the news on Facebook about Mount Saint Helens. So, that is partly why I am writing about it. Also, to make the point, that the “Why” is important.
We all have a purpose before God. James 1:26 says “If anyone seems to be religious, not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his heart, the religion of this one is worthless.”
I think this verse fits. It is important not to be deceived. Which is why it is important to give this matter over to God. Mr. Hogan says that this chapter of my life is not yet closed. After I have written about it, I will give this matter over to God. Time and time again, He has brought the matter to the forefront, in unusual ways, as you will see. In my mind, it involves kind of a mystery. I kind of think, because this person is missing, my purpose from God cannot be fulfilled. So, it is with this in mind that I am going to be moving.
At first, I thought I would move to San Diego. But, I have decided against that, because it is expensive. I have also already been to San Diego. A friend of mine, Scott, wants to try Tuscon, Arizona. But at this point, I would rather stay in Texas. Still, it sounds interesting, he said there is a place where they store old military planes. Now, THAT would be neat to see. It is kind of in between Arlington and San Diego.
Well, anyways, I am going to look at the news.
Persecution Against The Church and Christians
Long ago, my Mom used to subscribe to Voice of Martyrs. It is a free publication, still around today. It highlights stories of persecution around the world. According to some, the persecution has increased all around the world. Some say, it is even headed here to the United States. Here are some stories I found about the persecution. Because of my Mom, this is an important topic to me.
This image is from The Voice of Martyrs:
As can be seen, Iraq continues to make headlines. It is not just Iraq, but also Kurdistan.
Here is a map of Kurdistan:
“Iraq Kurdistan gained official autonomous status from the Republic of Iraq in 2007. Its capital city is Erbil which has a population of around a million people from all around the Kurdistan region.”
Sion of https://www.youngpioneertours.com/maps-iraqi-kurdistan/
The map of Kurdistan overlaps with a lot of different countries. Including Syria, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and a little bit into Armenia.
Another story from Voice of the Martyrs
I tried to look up more information on this person. Allegedly, he is the son of a martyr killed in Iran. Iran has increased its persecution against the church at the same time as it ramps up against Israel. Imagine that. They seem to go hand in hand.
Our government continues to minimize the persecution of Christians in well known places of persecution:
here is an article by Hedieh Mirahmadi that highlights this very fact. Secretary of State Bilken went to Nigeria, and within weeks removed Nigeria as a “country of concern”, when in fact defenseless Christians continue to be killed by “ethnic Fulani”. This is according to Hedieh Mirahmadi at https://www.christianpost.com/news/religious-freedom-in-crisis-under-biden-admin.html?fbclid=IwAR38H3JSfG9su0te34apsqKF8_XfXsSBkYJx6E9VkTlmejl-16GNviscZNU.
Here is an image:
Yet another place, listed in the same article, where Christians are facing increased persecution is Armenia, where Turkey and Azerbaijan have carried out military attacks against Christians in that country. President Biden is listed, in this article, as being the first US President to recognize the genocide carried out in the early twentieth century by Turkey, known as the “Armenian Genocide”.
Thousands of Christians remain stuck in Afghanistan, and the US is said to be hampering the ability to rescue them.
Christians have even been executed on Public Transportation for owning a Bible. They were eye-witness accounts.
This ignoring of persecution by our Government, and even aiding of it in some cases, is increasing the burden of persecution against Christians in these other countries, where the United States has an impact. Our country, as stated in the article, we founded so we could worship God freely, yet we are not defending this right for other people. Where much is given, much is required. Maybe we take religious freedom for granted. Then someday, we will lose our religious freedom. Our freedom to worship God.
In Another article by the Christian post, it list India. India has been a country where religious freedom has been upheld mostly. But, this year India was added to the list of countries persecuting Christians.
For India’s Christians, 2021 was the “most violent year” in the country’s history, according to a report, which says at least 486 violent incidents of Christian persecution were reported in the year.
Anugrah Kumar, Christian Post
In India, the article went on to list a rise in Hindu Nationalism as a reason for the increase of persecution. Also, accusations of monetary gain for conversion is listed. This has to do with the Mother Teresa Foundation.
Christians in India are a minority. The Christians are said to bring bad luck. That they follow a foreign faith. The report was given by the United Christian Forum and published by the Christian Post.
Here is what Franklin Graham had to say on Facebook:
had to say:In the early morning hours on Monday, six Kenyan Christians were brutally killed—burned, shot, and beheaded. Their horrific deaths were the result of an attack by Muslim terrorists linked to al-Shabaab, a militant group that has perpetrated numerous attacks against Christians and civilians for years. Local pastor Stephen Sila said, “It is an ugly sight of people’s bodies lying dead and houses smoking with fire. This is undeniably an awful terrorist attack. I counted seven houses that were torched down, four bodies of people burned beyond recognition inside the houses. A body shot dead right outside a burned house and another beheaded body next to it. Other villagers escaped into the dark and the police are still looking for them.”Christians in Sub-Saharan Africa have seen a dramatic increase in persecution by radical Muslims. Join me in praying for these families and for our brothers and sisters in Christ as they face persecution in Africa and around the world.
This was in response to an article from Premier Christian News, where they described a story in Kenya of Somali militants causing persecution in that country. By the al-Shabaab militant group. They randomly went in and killed six Christians in a village in Kenya.
The Coming Persecution in America
The United States formed beginning in 1776. It formed on the foundation set by the Pilgrims and the Puritans. These groups came to America to worship God, and serve Christ unhindered by the Church of England, which regards as its head, the King of England. The Church of England formed during the English Reformation beginning with King Henry VIII.
After war with England, the American states gained independence. In 1776 the Declaration of Independence was declared. In 1791, the United States Constitution was completed, along with the Bill of Rights. Before the Constitution and the Bill of Rights the American states were regarded as a lose Confederation of states aligned for mutual defense. Many believe that the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, including the Bill of Rights, are documents which were inspired by God, even though they were put together by men. Over time, rulings and legislation were even given which regarded America being founded as a nation to worship God.
Today, all of this is being increasingly undermined. Worshipping God is not yet restricted in this country. But following His laws is being openly challenged with in the Government and Society.
So far, all the persecution I have listed, is us looking in on. But the persecution in America will be different from the persecution in other countries. First is the infiltration of our government by people, from those countries where persecution is so prevalent. Already, people who strive to follow God’s laws are hampered by the government in some ways. For example, sexual sin is being laid out as an example of “inclusion and tolerance”. The examples are down played, sometimes they do not make it into the news. They seem insignificant, but yet, they are so important to the people they affect that some of them have made it to the Supreme Court. Here and there they mock the word of God, or try to prevent its display in some cases. But, this is not really an example of how the persecution will go in America. In America, they will use the theologies, and doctrines in reverse to to humiliate the catholic (universal) in America for being unable to follow the laws of God. To undermine peoples faith, and set up the American church as a mockery to the other 461 million Christians living faithfully for God, and enduring harsh treatment for it. There are over 800 million Christians in the world, and over half of the visible body of Christ is suffering for obeying God’s word. They want to form the American church as a church that contradicts the constitution in the first place. But then, begins to contradict the Bible all while claiming to be faithful and pious, undermining itself as the rest of the Christian world looks on.
In an article from The Christian Post by Ryan Foley titled: “Monastery cuts ties with Catholic school after hiring coach in same-sex marriage”, the Bible does not look kindly upon same sex marriage because it does not look kindly on same sex relations. The normalization of such, and the desensitization of the church towards such things, is a current example of how a body of the church is being influenced to go against what is in the Bible, the word of God.
Outward obedience is not the only thing we need. But where works are dead, so is faith. Maybe the school sees this as a way to bring them in, to hear the truth about God, and salvation in Jesus. Or, maybe, it is just another example of a school believing in God, and abandoning His laws, again as a mock obedience to His laws, while all these other Christians are being persecuted for obeying God’s law and following Christ. John 3:16 God loved the world in this way: He gave his only Son that everyone who believes in him will not die but have eternal life”. Do you know who Jesus was speaking to when he said that? Nicodemus who came to see Jesus by night. Do you know what else Jesus said to Nicodemus? John 3:3 Jesus replied to Nicodemus, “I guarantee this truth: No one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above”. Jesus did not say anything about tolerance and inclusion, as it is defined today. The attempt is being done to prevent people from calling on the name of the Lord: Acts 2:21 “Then whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”. That was Peter, speaking after Pentecost. There is another scripture that I like, and I cannot find it. But I will include it “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”. I think it comes from Acts but I could not find it. The Bible, in other places lists sexual sins as being prohibitions towards God because it all goes against the foundation that He set up for the earth, and for us. This is a tough thing to discuss because, we want everyone to be made pure before God. In order to mock the Bible, our government is slowly pushing laws to undermine obedience and integrity within the law of God, and it has been done so for some time.
This is not something in the future, but has been happening for sometime. In another scripture, the Bible says that disobeying God is our natural state. So, to obey God is not natural. In America we are still able to obey God, and we will be able to, but the ability to do so, will be undermined by desensitization and normalization of the things which the Bible says that God does not like. Morality, and God’s law re not the same thing. In Mere Christianity C.S. Lewis said, something to the effect, that there is God’s law, and then there are societal laws which translate as morality. We can be as moral as we want, but with out the Holy Spirit we cannot obey God’s law, and impure living is repulsive to the Holy Spirit. Our current government is headed towards increasing the impure living, while Facebook, and other entities begin the mockery. Noting the irony, to the blinded church, that they are disobeying God, living a dead faith, while claiming to love God, slapping Him in the face. But they will draw back the persecutions at times before it becomes blatant. Eventually, God will call them to account for what they have done. We need to pray for those who persecute us, and remember that our enemies are not really flesh and bones, but are invisible.
The Courier 
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