NOTES ON DIVINE PROMOTION: THE ROYAL CHARGE OF MESSIAH TO THE REMNANT OF GOD FOR THE LAST DAYS PART II: “THE MAGNFICENT PROMISE”

NOTES ON DIVINE PROMOTION: THE ROYAL CHARGE OF MESSIAH TO THE REMNANT OF GOD FOR THE LAST DAYS

PART II: “THE MAGNFICENT PROMISE”

SCRIPTURE. “And the Angel of the Lord [solemnly and earnestly] admonished Joshua, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, If you will walk in My ways [that is, remain faithful] and perform My service, then you will also govern My house and have charge of My courts, and I will give you free access [to My presence] among these who are standing here.’” – ZECHARAIAH 3:6-7, AMP

QUOTATIONS

UNPRINCIPLED PROMOTION. “But in the Military you don't get trusted positions just because of your ability. You also have to attract the notice of superior officers. You have to be liked. You have to fit in with the system. You have to look like what the officers above you think that officers should look like. You have to think in ways that they are comfortable with … The result was that you ended up with a Command Structure that was top-heavy with guys who looked good in uniform and talked right and did well enough not to embarrass themselves.” – ORSON SCOTT CARD, ‘Ender’s Shadow,’ 1999; edited

PRACTICAL PROMOTION. “I determine to render more and better service, each day, than I am being paid to render. Those that reach the top are the ones who are not content with doing only what is required of them.” – OG MANDINO, ‘The Greatest Salesman in the World,’ 1968; edited

BIBLICAL PROMOTION. “God had to break Jacob to make him useful. In the breaking process, Jacob—the deceiving ‘heel-catcher’—became Israel, a ‘prince with God’ who purposed to serve God rather than himself. Natural leaders often need to be broken. Consider your natural ability to lead a gift from God, but your character a gift to present back to God. Remember: Every time you stand up under the weight of adversity, you are being Prepared, as Jacob was, to better serve God and lead people.” – JOHN C. MAXWELL, ‘Maxwell Leadership Bible,’ 2019; edited

Selah.

FIRST THOUGHTS

Whenever anyone dares to broach the subject of Promotion of any Leader, especially in the present context of America’s rather fluid Post-Trump, Post January 6 Revisionism about what that looks like, I run to a single Biblical passage fairly quickly.

“For not from the east nor from the west nor from the south come promotion and lifting up. But God is the Judge! He puts down one and lifts up another.” – PSALM 75:6-7, AMPC

• PROMOTION. This important idea is taken from the Hebrew word, ‘Rum’ [????], translated thus: “To be high or exalted, rise; figurative of hand, symbol of might; to set up, make taller; advancement; encouragement; as the promotion of virtue or morals; the promotion of peace or of discord; exaltation in rank or honor; preferment.”
• ILLUSTRATION. “You shall teach them the decrees and laws. You shall show them the way they are to live and the work they are to do. Furthermore, you shall select from all the people competent men who [reverently] fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; you shall place these over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens.” – JETHRO THE MIDIANITE, Moses’ father-in-law, Exodus 18:20-21, Amplified

Note. One should consider several important teachings from this. ONE, God is the one who Promotes or Demotes as Sovereign over all matters. TWO, whether for good or for judgment, it is entirely up to Him to raise or put down. With one important CAVEAT: He does consider the hearts of the people, and will often give them ‘the king that they desire or deserve.’– cf. 1 Samuel 8

THE AMERICAN CONDITION

Our country is presently in a somewhat shell-shocked position of Cautious Optimism surrounded by Confusion and Uncertainty about just what kind of Leadership America needs. I think most of us are pulling for President Biden and Vice-President Harris – or we should be.

But there is that gnawing sense of Not Knowing just what comes next.

THE TRUMP VACUUM. With the exit of former President Donald Trump, many Americans are indeed in an Historic Lurch about what to realistically expect in the Days Ahead.

Some are excited or relieved that Trump is gone. Others are reluctant to jump fully on board, forced to support a Liberal leader. But third, there is a furious, demonstratively violent, severely disaffected Trump Base that is outraged that “The election was stolen” from their intrepid leader.

Here is what the News and Surveys report as of mid-January, 2021.

• THE HARD CORE: ANGER. As ‘fresh off the griddle’ reports by the New York Times, News Hub, and several other sources show, this is what’s happening on the Hard Right. “Members of the PROUD BOYS are now reportedly turning against former US President Donald Trump and are welcoming President Joe Biden. The Far-Right group have previously been loyal supporters of Donald Trump and rose to prominence after the 2020 presidential debates … [But now] They believe the former President's decision to leave office somewhat peacefully to allow for Biden's inauguration on Thursday was ‘extraordinarily weak. Trump will go down as a total failure,’ the Proud Boys reportedly wrote. They also saw his denial of responsibility for the Capitol protest as an act of betrayal. Now members are urged to stop attending rallies and protests held for Trump or the Republican Party.” – HANNAH KRONAST, ‘News Hub,’ February 1, 2021; edited
•  THE BASE: CONFUSION. The best I can ascertain is that the solid Trump Base, consisting of a cross section of Christian and Secular Americans, is summed up in an excellent piece by reporters, TINA NGUYEN AND MARK SCOTT, writing for ‘Yahoo News’ on January 20, 2021: “‘There's a lot of grief and confusion in Q-World over ‘The Plan’ [of Overthrow] seeming to fizzle out, and feeling as if Q abandoned them,’ Mike Rothschild, a disinformation researcher working on a book about QAnon, told ‘Politico.’ ‘But I think that will very quickly turn into Determination to Continue down the path they've committed to’ … ‘Let this be a wake-up call for QAnon followers and Normies,” one post read just ahead of the Inauguration. ‘No one is coming to save you. No one man can defeat this evil Marxist machine.’”
• THE CHURCH: DENIAL. Silence. Period, full stop, end of story of God’s House. Silence. Or worse, much worse. As of January 13, 2021, here is what a Lead Dog of the ‘Trump Christians’ had to say about January 6: “DR. ROBERT JEFFRESS, senior pastor of the 14,000-member First Baptist Church of Dallas, said Tuesday he had ‘absolutely no regrets’ over his ‘enthusiastic support’ of Trump over the past four years. ‘He is without doubt the most pro-life and pro-religious president in history,’ Jeffress said in an e-mail. ‘The president has every right to hold the view that the election was fraudulent and to invite those who share that belief to peacefully protest. He neither called for nor condoned the despicable actions of those who invaded our Capitol and assaulted the police.’” – JERVIS, RAMIREZ & RUIZ-GOIRIENA, ‘USA Today,’ Updated January 13, 2021; edited

CHURCH COLLAPSE. So, while both the Hard Right and the Majority Middle are reconsidering, to some degree, their support for the former president, the still seditious, massively significant irony here is that American ‘Christians’ remain stubbornly Apologetic for their beloved ‘Cyrus,’ Donald Trump, sent by God to Rescue the Church from:

Um, from, from. I’ll let you finish that thought.

THE QUESTION. I am fearfully reminded of a Primordial Question from Yahweh to an equally compromised, weak and fleeing Adam and Eve in the Garden that day so long ago. It is painfully appropriate to the present Hour in the shameless conduct of American Church.

“And the Lord God said to the woman, ‘What is this you have done?’ And the woman said, ‘The serpent beguiled (cheated, outwitted, and deceived) me, and I ate.’” – GENESIS 3:13, AMPC

This the same burning Question God put to Cain after he slew his brother: “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries to Me from the ground.” – GENESIS 4:10, NKJV

SUZETTE’S EPIPHANY. Sometime in 2017, my wife came up to me with a startled expression on her face, asking me: “What does God mean by the Question, ‘What have you done?’” My sense is that it was related to nothing less than the Election of Donald John Trump as our Leader – both secular and religious.

Selah.

CALL OF THE REMNANT

Historically, whenever God’s participated willingly in the venal Sin of Betrayal, God has always called to Himself, ‘A Remnant,’ out of the much larger Apostate Congregation. Always. I flatly declare to you all that we are Right Now in such a Time.

THE TEMPLATE. For example, when the Prophet Elijah was complaining about the Apostasy of Israel in his day, proposing that he was the “only one” left faithful in the entire land, God responded this way:

“Yet I will leave 7,000 [survivors] in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed down to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.” – 1 KINGS 18:19, AMP

This Comparison may be difficult for many of you to read - especially Pastors and Leaders - but it’s what the Scriptures unquestionably declare. And, again, it explains why all this ‘Shaking, Sifting and Smelting’ is going on, as the Lord ‘assays’ our willingness and genuineness for such High Calling for these Last Days.

PAUL TO THE ROMANS. “So too at the present time there is A REMNANT (a small believing minority), selected (chosen) by grace (by God’s unmerited favor and graciousness).” – 11:5, AMPC, emphasis my own

• THE REMNANT. From the Greek word, ‘Leimma’ [λε?μμα]: “The Remainder [absent from the larger portion]; Residue; that which is left after the separation, removal or destruction of a part; that which remains after a part is done, performed, told or passed; a usually small part, member, or ‘trace’ remaining. A Remnant of people is what is left of a community following a Catastrophe (e.g., Noah's family after the flood, Genesis 6:5-8, 22).”
• DAVID WILKERSON SPEAKS. “Certainly, the Church in America is far from what God has envisioned it to be. In fact, most of what we see going on today in the name of Christ is an abomination. Yet, there are Remnant Churches scattered throughout this Nation and around the world that live up to God's Holy Standards. They lead holy lives, preach righteousness, believe in supernatural works. These churches are alive, full of the Spirit of God, and are impacting lives and entire communities for Jesus. But, for the most part, entire denominations today operate without the Holy Spirit. They are devoid of the presence of Jesus, bankrupt of all spiritual gifts. They practice a form of religion without any power, conviction or saving message. They are cozy with the World and are more political than spiritual … Right Now, the Lord is Preparing a powerful yet humble Army of Shepherds after His own heart. And He also is preparing a Remnant Congregation of hungry sheep who have turned away from the deadness and sin of the modern Church Establishment. The scene is being set for that Church against which the Gates of Hell shall not prevail. It will be hot, not lukewarm -- and it will rock the very foundations of Hell. No power on earth will be able to ignore or despise it!” - “God’s Vision for the Last Days Church,” May 23, 1994, edited

DO YOU QUALIFY? It is truly and doctrinally more up to YOU than it is to God. He has already “Appointed” you to this high honor, but as Jesus said so precisely: “For many are called (invited, summoned), but few are chosen.” – MATTHEW 22:14, AMP

The Doctrines of the Church clearly teach that not everyone who calls themselves ‘Christian,’ and are, in fact, ‘Called of God,’ do not, as I often say in relation to the Rapture of the Church at His ‘Parousia,’ “Get to go.” No, they do not, beloved. It remains, as with everything about true discipleship: A CHOICE.

Ponder that long and hard, beloved. Your life depends on it.

THE TEACHING

“And the Angel of the Lord [solemnly and earnestly] admonished Joshua, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, If you will walk in My ways [that is, remain faithful] and perform My service, then you will also govern My house and have charge of My courts, and I will give you free access [to My presence] among these who are standing here.’” – ZECHARAIAH 3:6-7, AMP

When I first read this some three years ago, I wasn’t at all sure about what it meant, Nor how it possibly related to me. But I did instantly appreciate its obvious honor bestowed upon the one for whom it was intended. Three years later, however, I am convinced down to my old bones of the following.

PROMISE TO THE REMNANT. Without any doubt in my mind and soul, this is an Exclusive Promise conferred only upon members of our King’s True Bride, the Faithful Remnant, who shall serve Him in the days ahead, with courage, honor and moral distinction – with persecutions - as a Light to all the Darkness, in THREE WAYS.

• IF YOU WALK IN HIS WAYS. This First Requisite is non-negotiable: Obedience to the Doctrines of God. From the Hebrew, ‘Yalak’ [??????], meaning: “To lead forth; bear, bring, carry away, come away [from worldly unrighteousness], flow [in the Ways of God]; to march, prosper and grow (in strength and maturity); to journey with Him only, keeping all His Ordinances.”
• WILL GOVERN. Here is the “Magnificent” part of this exceptional Promise. From the Hebrew, ‘Din’ [?????]: “To judge; requite, compensate, or rule [on God’s behalf; cf. 1 Cor. 6:3]; vindicate, charge or plead one’s cause; to row or sail a straight course; to regulate or sway; defend or punish; litigate, contend with strife or controversy (in order to resolve differences or conflicts based on God’s Word and ways).”
• HAVE CHARGE. Similarly, the true disciple of Christ shall, in the vernacular of the Hebrew, ‘Shamar’ [??????], “Keep watch, preserve, maintain, guard as with a sacred garden, as with the discharge of high office.” Over God’s inner chambers of His House, as a high priest appointed to the most significant ministry possible: Protecting Truth on behalf of the sheep of His pasture, abstaining oneself from the world in all significant matters.
• FREEDOM OF ACCESS. Now here is perhaps the most extraordinary of all. From the Hebrew, ‘Mahlet’ [????????], meaning “To have free access to all God’s courts and His presence; to journey (intimately) with God; having authority to stand with the Heavenly host and counsels.” Also, by implication as I understand it, to travel freely throughout His Cosmos, as assigned by Him to do so for Duty we know not yet.

ALEXANDER MACLAREN INTERPRETS. “‘A Vision of Judgment and Cleansing; The Right of Entry.’ The Prophet has just been describing a Vision of Judgment which he saw, in which the high priest, as representative of the Nation, stood before the Angel of the Lord as an unclean person. He is cleansed and clothed, his foul raiment stripped off him, and a fair priestly garment, with ‘Holiness to the Lord’ written on the front of it, put upon him. And then follow a series of Promises, of which the Climax is the one that I have read. ‘I will give thee a place of access,’ says the Revised Version, instead of ‘places to walk’; ‘I will give thee Places of Access among those that stand by’; the attendant angels are dimly seen surrounding their Lord. And so, the Promise of my text, in highly figurative fashion, is that of free and unrestrained Approach to God, of a Life that is like that of the angels that stand before His Face.’” – ‘Expositions of the Holy Scripture,’ 30 vols., 1900; edited

Now this, beloved, is Privilege Writ Large indeed, far beyond what mere mortals can envision or express. Further, this Divine Favor shall be bestowed in part Now, and more magnificently fully, in the Eschaton.

Selah. Selah.

THE EXECUTION

Having outlined the Honor bestowed upon the Remnant in considerable detail, we shall finish with the Specific Instructions we are to carry forth as ‘The Last Days Burden of the Lord.’

Here is the way PAUL THE APOSTLE spelled it out to his young charge, Titus the Gentile.

“But [as for] you, teach what is fitting and becoming to sound (wholesome) doctrine [the character and right living that identify true Christians] … Tell [them all] these things. Urge (advise, encourage, warn) and rebuke with full authority. Let no one despise or disregard or think little of you [conduct yourself and your teaching so as to command respect].” – TITUS 2:1, 15, AMPC

• SOUND DOCTRINE. Yes, beloved, yes. Once again, for the zillionth time, do you see what Paul was mainly commanded to do for God? As. Are. We. From the Greek, ‘Hugiainó’ [?για?νω]: “[Teaching] that is whole, sound, complete, healthy; right, reasonable, sound, pure, uncorrupted; in sound condition, in proper balance, all of its parts working together [without contradiction]; leads to salvation and safety.”
• TELL THEM! From the root word, ‘Laleó’ [λαλ?ω]: “To speak or say (chatter, converse); to utter or give voice to; metaphorically, to either crave pardon for sins, or call for vengeance [imprecatory]; to use words in order to declare one's mind and disclose one's thoughts; to preach; in stark contrast to silence or speechlessness; to teach others the doctrines of God in pure and uncorrupted form.”
• EXHORT. From the Greek, ‘Parakaleó’ [παρακαλ?ω]: “Tell to or for, to encourage; send for, summon, invite; beseech, entreat, beg; admonish; comfort, console; offering up evidence that stands up in God's court; strengthen by consolation; to instruct [in the truth]; to offer wise counsel (with force when required); to incite by words or advice; to animate or urge by arguments to a good deed or to any laudable conduct or course of action; to warn, to caution.”
• REBUKE. Now we continue to deconstruct the ‘polite gospel’ to replace with the Truth of The Gospel. From the Greek term, ‘Elegchó’ [?λ?γχω]: “To expose, convict, reprove; discipline, show to be guilty; to reprove with conviction upon the offender; implies not only the charge but the proof of the charge, and the acknowledgement of its truth by the accused [as with repentance]; to refute or confute; to find fault with, correct; to chasten, punish.”
• WITH ALL AUTHORITY. The bottom line to effectiveness is found right here: To speak with ‘Epitagé’ [?πιταγ?], or: “[By God’s] Instruction, command, order, authority; a command ‘fitting’ to the situation, i.e. an order that arranges things so they build (or rebuild) on it; to give order to [an untenable set of circumstances]; to take charge; to appoint over or put in command; l egal power, or a right to command or to act; as the authority of a prince over subjects, and of parents over children.”

DR. JACK HAYFORD. “Difficulties in the Church are compounded when there are problems with the Leadership [Selah]. This Letter teaches that the supreme aim of Church Government is the Preservation of revealed Truth and the Safeguarding of Ethical Standards. Therefore, Church Leaders must be Exemplary in lifestyle and sound in doctrine. This Letter also stresses the close connection between Sound Doctrine and Morals. Truth is always intended to determine life and promote godliness.” – ‘The Spirit Filled Life Bible,’ 2000, pp. 1718-1719; edited

• EXEMPLARY. “From ‘exemplar.’ Serving for a pattern or model for imitation; worthy of imitation. The true Christian should be exemplary in his Life, as well as correct in his Doctrines; such as may serve for a warning to others; such as may deter from crimes or vices.” – NOAH WEBSTER, ‘American Dictionary of the English Language,’ 1828; edited
• UNDEFILED. “Pure and unblemished religion [as it is expressed in outward acts] in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit and look after the fatherless and the widows in their distress, and to keep oneself uncontaminated by the [secular] world.” – JAMES 1:27, AMP

THE LESSONS. I have observed in previous teachings, based on the Biblical literature and commentary, that Apostasy Begins at the Top! That’s right. Whether dealing with the Religious Elites of Jesus’ Day – Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, Rabbis, Money Lenders – or as with Today’s Elites – Evangelicals, Charismatics, Pentecostals – we are faced with the Same Crisis:

The worship of Power and Position, rather than the Defense of God’s Truth, and prioritized Service to the poor, the oppressed, the broken, widow, the orphan, and to the humble and contrite among us. As I have said for months now:

Jehovah shall not strive much longer with an increasingly Apostate American Church and her Apostate Leaders. His Reckoning has begun. It has already started, as you see from the headlines.

FROM TIMIDITY TO BOLDNESS

In my many years of studying Scripture, history and theological commentaries, it has becme crystal clear to me that the American Church has taken The Easy Road of ‘Accommodation to the World Spirit,’ as DR. FRANCIS SCHAEFFER used to often describe it.

Here is an excellent Summary of Dr. Schaeffer’s Vision of the Modern, or Postmodern Church, excerpted from his powerful broadside published as he lay dying of cancer in 1984: ‘The Great Evangelical Disaster.’

“One of Francis Schaeffer’s greatest strengths was his resolve to Battle for Truth and Morality as an Evangelical Christian in the midst of our secular culture. But Schaeffer also was not hesitant to Confront fellow Evangelicals who failed to do so. Schaeffer refused to rest content but instead called Evangelicals out of their cultural ghettos in order to Engage others with the Christian Worldview. He felt unsettled as he observed that Evangelicals had not been on the front lines, contending for the Faith and confronting the moral breakdown of the twentieth century.

Schaeffer was confident that the Battle for Truth had to result in Confrontation. ‘If the Truth of the Christian Faith,’ said Schaeffer in ‘The Great Evangelical Disaster,’ ‘is in fact Truth, then it stands in Antithesis to the ideas and the immorality of our Age, and it must be Practiced both in teaching and practical action. ‘Truth demands confrontation.’ It must be loving confrontation, but there must be confrontation nonetheless.’

Schaeffer argued that the ‘Great Evangelical Disaster’ was ‘the Failure of the Evangelical world to stand for Truth as Truth.’ Schaeffer’s words were more on target than we could have imagined: ‘There is only one word for this—namely Accommodation: The Evangelical Church has accommodated to the World Spirit of the Age.’” – DR. MATTHEW BARRETT, “The Great Evangelical Disaster,” ‘Credo Magazine,’ October 9, 2012; edited

A CHURCH ON FIRE. The Apostle Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy defines in laser-like accuracy the kind of Last Days Remnant Church we must become, in order to overcome that ‘Spirit of the Age.’ Most of you know this passage well.

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.” – 2 TIMOTHY 1:7, AMPC

I believe wholeheartedly that God Loathes Timidity! As any military commander will tell you about this, sustained violation of the Rules and Regs governing such collapse on the field of battle is grounds for anything ranging from loss of pay or rank, to dishonorable discharge, to time in prison, to execution if treason were implicated. – cf. ‘Uniform Code of Military Justice,’ Revised 1948

The Greek word used to define Timidity is, ‘Deilia’ [δειλ?α], or, in a single incendiary term: “Cowardice.” The idea here refers to those Lukewarm or Misinformed believers who literally Flee from the Battle by hiding from it, ignoring it entirely. Or vastly worse: Fighting on the side of the Enemy, the ultimate expression of Accommodation and Compromise.

The APOSTLE PETER waged a fierce battle against the Gnostic heresies of his day, capturing the heart of this Last Days treachery.

“But [in those days] false prophets arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will subtly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways, and because of them the way of truth will be maligned.” – 2 PETER 2:1-2, AMP

Truth, once again, back then and now today and forevermore, is The Bulwark against all that assails Christ, His True Church and all that is Good.

THE REMNANT. In dramatic contrast to those ‘Pretenders to the Faith,’ Paul instructs Timothy that the Remnant Church is to manifest at least THREE CHARACTERISTICS by which they are known.

1.  POWER. The Remnant is not self-sufficient. On the contrary, they are defined in part by ‘Dunamis’ [δ?ναμι?], meaning: “Miraculous (or supernatural) might, strength; physical power, force, ability, efficacy, energy, for the execution of powerful deeds, manifesting marvelous works; i.e, the very power of God; through which one exercises dominion over the kingdom of darkness; inherent power drawn from the ‘Ruach ha Kodesh,’ the Holy Spirit of the Lord who indwells every true believer in the Messiah.”

2.  LOVE. Here is the second ingredient that is necessary to engage the Last Days Fight for Truth. From the Greek, ‘Agape’ [?γ?πη], intended manifest only within the confines of God’s Remnant, the true community of disciples of the Messiah. That is, the ‘World’ cannot generate this Divine Affection, but can receive it if open to the things of God. This is a crucially important doctrinal distinction that is nearly fully lost on today’s Church of Accommodation, that tosses it around like a cheap trinket. Rendered as: “Benevolence, good will, esteem; sincere charity; significantly, a love not shown by doing what the person loved desires, but what the one who loves deems as needed by the one loved.” Selah.

3.  SOUND MIND. Here we have the necessary discipline of mind, mouth and action necessary to, again, defeat the Spirit of the Age. From the Greek, ‘Sóphronismos’ [σωφρονισμ?], it translates as: “Self-control, self-discipline, prudence; sober or ‘safe-minded;’ denotes good judgment, disciplined thought patterns, and the ability to understand and make right choices and decisions.” That is, such a person has constructed a solid Biblical Framework, a Simulacrum of the very Mind of God, based on the comprehension of and life based upon – wait for it – Truth!

Can you see it now, beloved, the Chief Cornerstone IS Jesus Christ, ‘the only Way, the only Truth, and the only Life worth living. Especially in an Era of Darkness and Death and Deception.

His Light of Truth is the only element that Overcomes all of it.

“In Him was life [and the power to bestow life], and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness did not understand it or overpower it or appropriate it or absorb it [and is unreceptive to it].” – JOHN 1:4-5, AMP

LAST THOUGHTS

I have little to add to that, beloved, except for this brief Rejoinder that the Remnant of God offers to a lost and dying Church, Nation and World. And I dare to do so through an Allegory eloquently composed by the brilliant Catholic novelist, and close companion to C. S. Lewis, the Anglican, J.R.R. TOLKIEN.

It’s all about Bringing Light to the Darkness that engulfs us more and more, beloved.

“And you, Ring-bearer,’ she said, turning to Frodo. ‘I come to you last who are not last in my thoughts. For you I have prepared this.’ She held up a small crystal phial: It glittered as she moved it, and Rays of White Light sprang from her hand. ‘In this phial,’ she said, ‘is caught the Light of E?rendil’s Star, set amid the waters of my fountain.

It will shine still brighter when Night is about you. May it be a Light to you in Dark Places, when all other lights go out.’” – ‘The Two Towers,’ 1954; edited

CODA. So, there it is, you Called of the Lord, members to the Lord’s Last Days Remnant – or those who humbly and courageously aspire to be. Sent to Uphold the blaze of God’s Truth, and to boldly Offend and Scatter the Darkness, showing to those who will listen, The Answer to all of it. Every single bit of it.

Ever your servant, DK