Make time to read, contemplate, and "gird up your minds for action" (1 Peter 1:13). The marginalization of Christians is already started and is increasing rapidly. Our normalcy bias tells us that full-blown persecution won't happen here in America, but we are not living in the America of our fathers. Our culture has radically shifted off it's Christian foundation and it being rebuilt upon the sifting sands of atheistic cultural marxism through globalist influence. To stand for Christ and the truths of the Bible will be increasingly costly. We must get our hearts and minds established in the truth of the Word of God.

This book is a deep dive into the Scriptures to lay a solid foundation on what the Bible teaches believers to expect as they live out their faith in a world system opposed to gospel of Jesus Christ. This is not a sit-down-and-read-it-through kind of book. Take time to read and ingest it. To pray about your heart response to its truths. 

Here are two books that deal with the second coming of Christ. The view presented by the authors is post-tribulation rapture, meaning that Jesus will return for the saints at the end of the tribulation, rather than before it starts (pre-tribulation rapture). If you have never studied this view and researched its biblical foundations then these two books will help you be a good "Berean" (Acts 17:11-12).  I recommend reading, Not Afraid Of The Antichrist first, then follow up with Gundry's book, First the Antichrist. Put your Left Behind series books on the shelf, grab your Bible and dig deep.

​Biblical Decision Making
By Chuck Reber

Texts: Psalm 25; Prov. 3:5-6
In every major decision there are some biblical criteria/guidelines that we should follow.  It is not wise to be hasty in making important decisions.  Every major decisions affects the lives of those within the concentric circles of our lives, therefore adequate time should be allotted to seek the counsel of Scripture and spiritual friends.   
Here are four scriptural guidelines to follow as you consider your decision.

1. Will this decision connect me to the will of God for my life? 
     Rom 12:1-2; Eph 5:17; Col 1:9; Jas 1:5-8

1. My calling - Does this decision reflect the gifts and callings on my life? Rom 12:3-8
   Is this decision in line with the prophecies spoken over my life? (I Tim 1:18; 4:14)
2. My family - What will be the long-term impact on my family?  Will it enable them to fulfill the will of God too?
   Jacob – Positive. Gen 33:12-14 -- considerate of his children and his flocks
   Elimelech – Negative. Ruth 1:1-5 -- moved his family away from Bethlehem (house of bread)
3. My church - How will this decision affect my local church community?
   If a move is involved -- Is there a good local church for my family to join?
   I Cor 16:15-18 -- these men left Corinth and moved to Ephesus.  Paul commends their example.

2. Which decision will promote the glory of God in my life? 
     1 Cor 10:31; Col 3:17; Jer 9:23f; 1 Pet 4:11; 2 Cor 10:12-18

• Have I laid my will and ego on the altar?  Gal 2:20
• Have I ‘pulled strings’ to get these opportunities or do these opportunities clearly evidence the leadership of the Holy Spirit?  Gal 1:17; Psalm 32:8-9; 1 Cor 16:8-9

3. Is this decision in the timing of God? Psalm 37:23

• David inquired of the Lord as to when he should go up to battle (1 Sam 23:2,4,6,9)
• Jesus -- "my time has not yet come" (John 7:6; 8:20; 2:4)
• Paul -- before sailing he warns them about wrong timing (Acts 27:9-11; 21)

4. Can I make this decision in a way that reflects the ways of God?  

• In keeping with the character of God -- i.e. the way the Lord would do it.
• Fruit of the Spirit – Gal 5:22-23
• Will I have to compromise my beliefs or values in any way?
• Can I maintain:
  • Integrity – Ps 26; 101; 15
  • Honesty, Truth, Honor
  • Financial integrity/stewardship

5. What do I do after I followed these guidelines and guidance is still unclear?
    Acts 15: 22,25,28,34 – note the apostles and elders use the repeated phrase, “And it seemed good…” 
    Acts 16:6-10 -- Paul's second missionary journey. He is seeking 
             v.6 – ‘forbidden by the Holy Spirit’  [How were they forbidden?]
             v.7 – ‘the spirit of Jesus did not permit them’  [How did they know?]
             v.10 – ‘concluding that..’  [Macedonia is a huge area; go where?]

Conclusion:  The key is a submissive, teachable spirit.  A decision made out of a desire to lovingly obey and follow the will of God delights the heart of our heavenly Father.  If a wrong path is chosen when it 'seems good', then the Lord will make a way to get back on the right path.  Remember our confidence is in His ability to lead us and not in our ability to follow Him.

Biblical Strategy for Training Leaders
Chuck Reber

​We are committed to the biblical pattern of generational transference.
The power to shape the earth is held in the generations. Each generation carries its own particular destiny in the eternal purpose of God.  Isaiah prophesied this very truth: “Who has prepared and done this, calling forth and guiding the destinies of the generations [of the nations] from the beginning?  I, the Lord—the first [existing before history began] and the last [an ever-present, unchanging God]—I am He (Isa.41: 4 AMP). 

In order for generational transference to succeed, there are several critically important tasks required of the “fathering generation”. 
First, the fathering generation must understand that their primary responsibility is to pass on vision to the next generation.  David passed the baton, of his vision of a building a Temple for the Lord, to Solomon.  King David became a resource of both material wealth and spiritual vision for his son Solomon.  

Spiritual fathers must remember Paul’s admonition, “…After all, children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.  And I will gladly spend and be expended for your souls” (2 Cor 12:14b-15a).  Fathers must be willing to invest in the “true riches” of the Kingdom by first giving of themselves, then their finances, their time, talents, and their wisdom and experience.

Secondly, the fathering generation must help the next generation discover its Godgiven destiny.  If an individual wants to discover the will of God for their personal life, they must look and see what God is doing and saying within their generation.  The leaders of tomorrow are among us today, and need to be guided into their callings by spiritual fathers.  As Kingdom leaders, we must teach them to view life as a whole, not as divided into religious and secular.  We must equip them to glorify God and express His Kingdom through whichever career He calls them, that they may effectively "serve the purposes of God in their generation" (Acts 13:36).

The third responsibility of the fathering generation is to disciple each young leader through a mentor-based relationship.   Most truths in the Kingdom are ‘caught’ more than taught, therefore, relationship based teaching/learning is vital to quality leadership development.  This topic is outlined more fully below.

If we would seriously pursue these principles in practice, then the inheritance and the anointing of God would double with each successive generation.  What a mind-boggling prospect!  The “double portion” blessing occurs when the previous generation passes on its blessing to the next generation.  The combining of the two makes a “double portion” (2 Kings 2:9).  The Lord himself is committed to generational transference.  Dare we commit to less?

Our Primary Purpose: Influencing the Influencers.

Here is the proposed strategy:

1. Using Jesus' method of ministry, we will enlist potential leaders of this coming generation, and disciple them in the purposes of God.  We will select a few men who have recognized and embraced God's call and destiny for their lives.  These invitations should be based on their potential for leadership, their desire to fulfill God's destiny for their lives and willingness to face the cost of true discipleship.  
2. We will spend significant time with them, simply sharing life with them.  Discipleship is meant to be naturally supernatural and supernaturally natural.  True, biblical koinonia (fellowship) develops when disciples interact with the Lord and with one another in real life situations on a daily basis.  All of life then becomes a classroom.
3. By modeling the spiritual disciplines in our own lives, we hope to encourage and motivate them to embrace the disciplines as a means to fulfilling the purposes of God in their lives.
4. Discipleship involves learning by doing.  We will provide opportunities to apply what they are learning through practical hands on projects and/or ministry opportunities.        

Specific aims and goals in teaching/training.

• Disciple young leaders into the nature of God, not into the "code" of the religious system.
• Explore our destiny – both as a generation and as individuals.   
• Impart a healthy sense of destiny from a biblical perspective in an interdependent environment.
• To release the inner potential for leadership within each individual as well as within them as a group.
• Focus on developing a sense of biblical vision, perspective, and attitudes toward leadership.
• Instill in young leaders the imperatives of leadership: virtue, integrity, strength of character, stewardship, responsibility, accountability, etc.
• Emphasize the building of relationships through various interactive experiences. Community living, group work projects and adventure activities will all play a part in creating a brotherhood and sense of teamwork.
• We will encourage the young men to develop their critical thinking and problem solving skills through theoretical analysis as well as problem solving applications.
• Study the lives of men who have impacted the world.  We will look for specific leadership qualities, both positive and negative, of various leaders and the impact that their lives have had in history.  Once motivated by seeing how God can use a man to change the world, we will begin to look at what God must do in our lives to prepare us to fulfill our destiny. 

Stand with me as we lean into the grace of God and pray fervently that God will raise up a generation of young leaders that will take a stand for His glory and humbly lead the body of Christ in these tumultuous days. Soli De Gloria! 

Terri Blackstock's series on a a global power outage caused by an EMP and how a family responds to life without electricity and societal breakdown. The series takes you from the initial shock of the event to the end of the world-wide crisis. Written from a Christian perspective with real to life decisions that must be made in a new, dangerous and brutal world.