David C. Alves's Blog, page 4
March 27, 2015
Mounting evidence suggests President Obama preparing to “divorce” Israel. What are the implications if he does?
We are at a historic tipping point. Our future and fate are almost sealed. I disagree with Joel about one thing: Joel thinks we are NOT YET under God’s judgment. I believe we are ALREADY under the abandonment wrath of God. He has ALREADY judged America for abandoning Him and for our decadence and unwillingness to pay attention to His many warnings to turn from our ways and repent. Many Christians align with the unsaved and think our solutions are political. The solutions are not political! They are spiritual. That’s why I don’t believe we can turn the corner back to a safer place. Few are listening anymore. But we’ll continue to sound a clear call for those who will “hear what the Spirit is saying to the Churches.
Originally posted on Joel C. Rosenberg's Blog:
UPDATED: (Central Israel) — Is a divorce coming between the President of the United States and the State of Israel?
Once, it would have been almost preposterous even to ask such a question. Today, however, it feels like it’s a matter of “when,” not “if” Mr. Obama will formally abandon American support for the Jewish State. And the situation is rapidly going from bad to worse.
Readers of this blog may recall that I posted this column on January 14, 2015: “Will President Obama abandon or fully turn against Israel in last two years in office, amidst ISIS & Iran threats? Exclusive poll results.” According an exclusive poll I commissioned late last year, a remarkable 47.4% of Americans fear the President will turn against Israel soon given that he won’t ever face the voters again. I suspect the number would be much higher today
As I traveled through the U.S. in January and February on The Third Target
View original 937 more words
Filed under: ON THE JOURNEY
March 13, 2015
Warning to Tall People OR 3 Reasons NOT to Stand Up Straight
STAND UP STRAIGHT!When I was young, I was tall for my age. But I always slumped my shoulders (more on this later). So adults were always saying “stand up straight; throw your shoulders back.” Aside from the fact that it was painful to do (Reason one), I had a greater concern.
No one tall has ever told me to stand up straight. That made me suspicious. It’s always been short-people-who-WANT-to-be-tall who told me to straighten up.
Like my company commander in boot camp. He was 4′ 1” and always bounced on his toes trying to be 4’4″, yelling at the top of his lungs for us to stand up straight when we stood at attention (here we go again). Then he’d come to you, nose to belly-button and looking straight up at me ask, “Are you looking DOWN ON ME maggot?.” Believe me, it’s nothing but pure hell to tell the truth in that situation.
But worse yet, standing straight causes you to be attentive. When you’re more attentive and you’re tall, you increase your “command presence.” This is very dangerous because . . . When you increase your command presence, you’re usually asked to LEAD something. Once you’re asked to lead something you have only two choices:
Make believe you can lead. We all know what that looks like (except for those trying to make believe they can lead). When you make believe you can lead, people catch on to you really quickly. And you either get promoted or you are disliked. In either place you’re always waiting for the shoe to drop. Knowing that you’ll soon be out of a job.
Make believe you can’t lead. When you make believe you can’t lead, you’re always hoping that the shoe will drop and you’ll escape from that job. In either situation, you’re not likely to have gained anything by standing up straight for the short people.
DANGERS OF GOING VIRAL
Inevitably, you will be encouraged by tall friends to write a blog post of your experiences as a tall leader that will go viral. If you write a blog post that goes viral you will be asked to speak places. Once you’re asked to speak places, you’ll have to write a book. Your book will open doors for you to speak more places and then you’ll be expected to be an “expert” on the topic. Unfortunately, the only thing you’re an expert on is resisting the temptation to stand up straight only you’ve already failed at that by now. Plus nobody likes a tall expert. Now that nobody likes you . . .
You’ll be asked to join a panel on FOX business news and your new writing, speaking, and interviewing schedule will have you totally stressed out. So Dr. Phil hears about you and invites you to tell the world the answer to the question “How’s that working for you?”
You go around now telling tall kids not to stand up straight and their parents are ripping mad. So they contact Bill O’Reilly. He sends Jesse Waters out to interview you. Wait till you get on O’Reilly’s show and see how tall he is. He won’t be happy with the example you’re living for America’s youth and you’ll be persona-non-grata at Fox. Now you’ll be embraced by the left. If you’re left, that’s good. If you’re right, then you’ll be wrong.
BACK WHERE YOU STARTED
Oh, another reason not to lead is that you delegate. And when you delegate it’s easy to avoid. And when you avoid, you’re considered conceited. Then you lose more friends. You become distracted from your focus as a leader. Then you start to digress in thought and conversations. People notice your digression and you’re no longer invited to speak anywhere. So you slump over in discouragement. Now you’re right back where you started with your short mother telling you “stand up straight.”
Unfortunately, you’ve long ago resigned from your day job to pursue your career of being a viral blogger, speaker, and expert. And who knows where that will end up.
You get my point . . .
© 2015 by David C Alves
iStock photo used by permission
Filed under: Bits and Pieces, Consider It, Entertainment, humor
January 21, 2015
Kindle Countdown Deal–A Sabbatical Primer for Churches on SALE Soon
A Sabbatical Primer for Churches
In the UK, A Sabbatical Primer for Churches: How to Love and Honor the Pastor God Has Given You will be on SALE as a “Kindle Countdown Deal” for only £.99. The Deal will be available from Midnight, January 25, through February 1, 2015–for 160 hours.
So the time to purchase this primer on spiritual renewal leave or ministry sabbaticals at the most significant discount is during the upcoming “Kindle Countdown Deal.”
Please share this info with those you know in the UK. Here’s the link for the book:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00RFDZNTS
Filed under: FOR READERS, Health and Wellness, LIFE COACHING, ON THE JOURNEY
January 19, 2015
2014 in review . . . at David’s Place
Thank you readers of “David’s Place” last year. The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog. Here’s 2014 in review . . .
Here’s an excerpt:
The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 18,000 times in 2014. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 7 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.
Click here to see the complete report.
Filed under: ON THE JOURNEY
January 9, 2015
My Goodreads Author-Page
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4095917.David_C_Alves
Stay tuned for a special sale of our NEWEST book coming at the end of January. Also planning a “give away” at Goodreads. Go to my author page and “Like” or “Friend” so that you can participate in the give away.
Looking forward for you to a blessed New Year in 2015. [Yes, I pray for my readers].
Filed under: FOR READERS
January 8, 2015
Our NEWEST Book is HERE
Pastors and leaders tell me that A Sabbatical Primer for Churches: How to Love and Honor the Pastor God Has Given You is an important and empowering book for the Church. This primer is the partner book to my previous A Sabbatical Primer for Pastors: How to Initiate and Navigate and Spiritual Renewal Leave.
The first primer has already impacted pastoral leaders and churches in New England and the UK. The Newest book is aimed at church leaders desiring to help their pastor(s) and pastoral family to be refreshed and renewed for greater and longer ministry.
For more details visit: www.sabbaticalprimers.com
December 20, 2014
Rev. Franklin Graham: ‘Christians Are Being Slaughtered’ But Obama Called ISIS ‘Junior League’ | CNS News
Rev. Franklin Graham
This President sides with ISIS in their onslaught against Christians through his inaction and incompetence. The beheadings of these children are on his head. And on the heads of all those who voted for this failed messiah to lead the American people. Rev. Graham’s voice is not his alone. He speaks for tens of thousands of us who do not have the microphone.
Please read about the legacy Barak Hussein Obama is leaving:
Filed under: In the News, Islamization, Signs of the Times
December 7, 2014
Larry McMurtry’s New Myth of the Old West
Found this excellent interview of Larry McMurtry, buster of old west history and myth.
Originally posted on Books: A Documentary:
(Reblog of ALEXANDRA ALTER’s article for wsj.com)
Larry McMurtry at his bookstore in Archer City, Texas Brandon Thibodeaux for The Wall Street Journal
by Alexandra Alter for wsj.com
It’s sort of surprising that it took Larry McMurtry this long to write a novel about the shootout at the O.K. Corral. The famous 30-second gunfight that broke out on Oct. 26, 1881, in Tombstone, Ariz., has become short hand for roughly delivered, vigilante-style justice.
Mr. McMurtry, author of the 1985 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “Lonesome Dove,” has tackled just about every other major myth about the Old West in the course of his 53-year literary career. He’s taken on revered 19th-century American figures including Billy the Kid, Calamity Jane, Crazy Horse, Annie Oakley, Buffalo Bill Cody and George Custer, and has often made it his mission to brush off the romanticism and mythology that clings to the Old West.
In his…
View original 1,225 more words
Filed under: ON THE JOURNEY
October 16, 2014
The Non-religious Meaning of Christmas
Yes, I know it’s not Christmas yet. But I want to get you thinking about its non-religious meaning before all the commercial and religious huppla makes you numb to the topic. And I want you to have a whole new experience this year. So forget everything you’ve ever heard “Christians” and atheists say regarding Jesus and read to the end.
Etymology of “Holiday”
The word “Holiday” came from the phrase “Holy Day.” (Ought Oh . . . you ARE talking religion. NO I’m NOT! Keep reading!) “Holy Day” meant “a day set aside” for a special purpose or remembrance. It was a day set aside specifically to think about and commemorate a theme which or person who impacted history. And to enjoy related discussions and remembrances with friends and family. On Memorial Day, we not only have the day off, but we have it off because brave men and women died to preserve our freedom and liberty. Martin Luther King Day commemorates the ministry and life of Dr. King and his valiant stand for civil rights against bigotry and oppression.
So why is Christmas a “Holy day”?
The One whose birthday we celebrate every December 25–though that was not the actual date when he was born–has so impacted the world you and I live in, that time itself is classified as A.D. “Anno Dei”–“the year of our Lord.” The celebration of that birth–the birth of God’s Messiah (or “anointed One”) divides old history (B.C.) from new history (A.D). The coming or “advent” of the Messiah not only did that, but it ushered in a new Kingdom. A Kingdom far different from the Kingdoms of men. It divided of an Old Covenant with God and ushered in a New Covenant (that’s where believers get the tern “New Testament” even though it’s origin is thousands of years old). When Messiah Jesus came, He inaugurated the prophesied “Kingdom of God.” What’s more, He claimed that Kingship. And God backed Him up, proving His claims by raising Him from the dead. NO OTHER HISTORIC WORLDVIEW CLAIMS A RESURRECTED SAVIOR AS ITS LIVING LEADER. Yes, Jesus is Alive! This is not religion. This is HISTORY.
The Supernatural Kingdom of God
People have always mistaken that Kingdom God for a human, political/religious Kingdom. Yet, that Kingdom has been expanding and growing quietly, secretly just as Jesus said it would. Most often, the Royal Reign of God is totally missed . . . even by so-called “Christians.” But those who are truly included in that Kingdom understand and expand it joyfully. We recognize its supernatural origins and ultimate natural manifestation.
“he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’” (Luke 8:10)
“Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly I say to you, unless someone is born from above, he is not able to see the kingdom of God.”” (John 3:3)
“for through him [Jesus] God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.” (Colossians 1:16)
The Shepherd-King Knows Us
We aren’t necessarily recognized by the world or even by the church, but we know that we know the King and–more importantly–He knows us personally. He communicates with us and we with Him (Gospel of John 10:14, 23). Those who say that they are followers of Christ or know Him are quite mistaken if they have never heard Him call them by name. Hear what Jesus himself says regarding this:
“To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.” (John 10:3–4)
“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.” (John 10:14–15)(emphasis mine)
Jesus–the Shepherd King–is the reason for the season. He is the center-point of human history. It is from His life that both western and eastern Christianity were birthed. Granted, Christian orthodoxy has swung wide from it’s original intent and founder, but that does not mean that His was a life to be ashamed of or relegated to “religion.” Jesus is King of the Royal Reign of God–the Kingdom of God. He is God’s best and final WORD to hurting, distressed, and broken world.
Here and Coming Kingdom
The horrors converging upon this world in the forms of Ebola, ISIS, weather anomalies, kingdom rising up against kingdom, decadence and dissolution are evidences of the second-coming of the King:
“Then he [Jesus] gave them this illustration: “Notice the fig tree, or any other tree. When the leaves come out, you know without being told that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things taking place, you can know that the Kingdom of God is near. I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear. “Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.”” (Luke 21:29–36)
You are Invited IF you Hear His Voice
This Christmas, perhaps you might think about topics worthy of the season, you will give and receive gifts, but if you don’t know the Shepherd-King’s voice or have fellowship and great joy from knowing Him (especially if He doesn’t know you), you have a hopeful word from Him. He said:
And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock and one shepherd.” (John 10:16)(emphasis mine)
If you don’t know Him. If you’ve never asked Him to call you by name . . . Don’t waste a moment. Get alone and in all seriousness call upon Him with a sincere heart and watch the miracle unfold over the next few hours, days or weeks. He has another promise:
“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” (John 6:37)(emphasis mine)
Celebrate a Messiah-centered Christmas this year as a follower of the Shepherd-King whose Kingdom is Just, good, compassionate, supernatural, and everlasting!
DISCLAIMER: We don’t behead those who don’t want the Royal Reign of our God. We grieve that they have missed out on the Kingdom and our most wonderful Shepherd and have never heard His voice.
Related Posts you May want to Consider:
Churhcianity Versus Christianity
Filed under: Bits and Pieces, Consider It, Signs of the Times
September 14, 2014
The Seven Biggest Myths About ISIS – YouTube
If you really want to know the TRUTH about ISIS, Jihad, and Islam; this video is MUST VIEWING to correct mistaken notions that believers spread through ignorance of what’s really going on behind the myths we hold.
Filed under: In the News, Islamization, Signs of the Times, Videos
