The Declaration of Independence: An American Insurrection?

On By Robert W. PeckIn Blog2 Comments

A couple of days ago, I listened to a special Independence Day edition of the Steve Deace Show. It included a reading of the Declaration of Independence by the show’s producer, Aaron McIntire. I’ve read, and/or heard the declaration read numerous times, yet this time it seemed I was hearing it afresh.

Aaron gave an excellent delivery, but more importantly, his tone and tenor made me feel like I was hearing one of the founders declaring from their own heart the causes which impelled them “to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them.”

Among the many things you might do this Independence Day, I implore you to include a review of America’s founding document. You can hear Aaron’s reading of the declaration here starting at the six-minute mark.

As I heard the words of the declaration being read, I found myself considering how similar many of the charges against King George sounded to things being done by our own government today. While the specifics may differ, the nature of usurpation and the inclination of human leaders toward tyranny remain the same and are quite recognizable both then and now.

Continue reading “The Declaration of Independence: An American Insurrection?” →

Prophetic Word of Increase Fulfilled

On By Robert W. PeckIn Articles, Blog, ChristianLeave a comment

In May of 2020, Pastor Larry Huggins spoke a prophetic word of financial increase over me during a ZChurch service. It was in the early days of ZChurch before we had our online technologies mastered, so we failed to get a recording of that service to use for a transcript. Nevertheless, the message was to the effect that God had been watching my financial giving and seeing that it had been faithful and consistent, in season and out. Pastor Larry announced that a large increase, or a large sum, was coming and that it would be from an unexpected source.

Over the following weeks, I would find myself thinking about where such a financial increase could come from. But then I would remember that the prophetic word said it would be from an “unexpected” source, so, anything I could think of was automatically disqualified.

I’m a landlord and rental income is my primary source of revenue. I could imagine rents increasing, or expenses decreasing and thereby realizing a financial increase over time. However, that didn’t fit the wording of the prophetic message that indicated a more sudden increase from a specific source, and an unexpected source at that, which rental income was not.

Continue reading “Prophetic Word of Increase Fulfilled” →

Having Fellowship With Demons

On By Robert W. PeckIn Articles, Blog5 Comments

I just listened to a message by Pastor Rick Renner addressing the topic of Christians participating in Halloween activities. In “How Did the Early Church Respond?” Pastor Renner referenced the Apostle Paul’s message to the Corinthians in which Paul explained that by hanging around pagan temples and eating meat offered to idols, the Corinthian believers were inadvertently having fellowship with the demons behind the idol worship (1 Corinthians 10:20).

We know that an idol is nothing but a hunk of wood or metal (1 Corinthians 10:19). Yet there were demons inspiring men to worship the idols in those temples, and just like bad company corrupts, hanging around those temples and the demons in them exposed the believers to some seriously bad company. Therefore, Paul’s instruction was to “flee from idolatry” (1 Corinthians 10:14).

Pastor Renner makes the case that if Paul thought we should flee from pagan temples where demons hang out, then Paul would probably urge believers to steer clear of activities with demonic, pagan origins as well. Even if the ghosts and goblins displayed on people’s front lawns are fake, the demons behind the origins of the observance are real, so why would we want to even pretend to have fellowship with them.

Pastor Renner and the Apostle Paul’s comments prompted me to consider another application of the same principle.

Continue reading “Having Fellowship With Demons” →

Take The Cure for the Coronavirus Fear – Works on Current Pandemics and Future Calamities Too

On By Robert W. PeckIn Articles, Blog, Christian3 Comments

Over a decade ago I heard a teaching series titled “Pulling the Plug on Fear.” I listened to the series several times to get the message drilled deep down into me. I have practiced the Biblical precepts of that teaching on fear for so long it has become my primary nature in life to simply give no place to fear. Fear is no longer a factor for consideration in any matter of my life.

The command to “Fear Not” (in its varying forms) is recorded in scripture perhaps more often than any other. It’s as clear as “thou shalt not steal,” or “thou shalt not kill.” Therefore, fear is as clearly sin (i.e., error, or missing the mark) as to lie or commit adultery as it deviates from our maker’s design for us.

Not only is fear a clear violation of a direct command of our king and the laws of his kingdom, but it’s one of the most spiritually dangerous activities we can engage in. Fear is a chief tactic of Satan that he uses to bring people into bondage and subject them to torment (Romans 8:15, Hebrews 2:15, 1 John 4:18). Faith and fear are direct spiritual opposites that are mutually exclusive. Fear negates faith. Therefore, yielding to fear renders the lives of born-again believers spiritually ineffective. Any Christian endeavor impregnated with fear will be stillborn.
Continue reading “Take The Cure for the Coronavirus Fear – Works on Current Pandemics and Future Calamities Too” →

Socialism and a Tale of Two Countries – What Will We Do?

On By Robert W. PeckIn Articles, Blog, Political2 Comments

In his 2019 State of the Union Address, President Donald Trump said, “America was founded on liberty and independence – not government coercion, domination, and control. We are born free, and we will stay free… America will never be a socialist country.” Republicans in the chamber cheered the remarks and the political right lauded the President for weeks after as the confirmed, and now certified, champion of conservative values they had already told us he was.

Around that same time, Americans were being shown pictures of empty store shelves in Venezuela and told it was the result of socialism. Threats of possible military intervention were being made as a means by which the U.S. might rescue the people of Venezuela from the horrors of socialism and the deprivation resulting from its draconian, totalitarian, central control. Continue reading “Socialism and a Tale of Two Countries – What Will We Do?” →

Creating Our Own Crisis

On By Robert W. PeckIn Articles, Blog1 Comment

Last week I was hearing stories of people buying up toilet paper in a coronavirus panic. At first, I thought it was a joke or just another internet hoax that people on social media fall for. But to my astonishment, it turned out to be true.

On the way home from church yesterday, I stopped by my neighborhood grocery store to restock the fridge as I do every week or so. I found about 20 percent of the shelf space empty which is unprecedented.

Last night I read a conversation on a neighborhood social media platform about people who actually need toilet paper for their family but can’t find any. A nice lady on the forum was trying to make arrangements to get a few rolls from her personal supply to the family in need.

While reading through that social media thread, it occurred to me that we’re creating our own crisis. Continue reading “Creating Our Own Crisis” →

Foreign Aid, Usurpation and Treachery: A Real Case for Impeachment

On By Robert W. PeckIn Articles, Blog, Political4 Comments

Though conservatives cheered the recent acquittal of Donald Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, treating him as now fully vindicated of any wrongdoing, we should understand that the President actually did commit what should be deemed an impeachable offense. The President participated, together with Congress, in a usurpation of power not granted to the federal government under the U.S. Constitution, thereby violating his oath to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States,” and committing an act of treachery, a “violation of allegiance.” Of course Congress itself stands equally indicted.

The United States Constitution is not a document whereby limits are placed on an otherwise all-powerful central government. Rather, it is a document whereby specific, enumerated powers are granted to an otherwise powerless central government. Continue reading “Foreign Aid, Usurpation and Treachery: A Real Case for Impeachment” →

Doing What’s Right

On By Robert W. PeckIn Blog, Christian1 Comment

Too often we pause to think before doing what’s right. We know what is right, what is good, what is true, but we stop to consider the consequences. We reason, analyze, or assess the prospective outcome. What will my friends think? What will people say? Will I be popular or will I be persecuted? Will I make money or lose money? What might the political ramifications be?

All of those things have a time and place to be considered, but not in comparison to what we know to be right.

I wonder how different the world might be – I wonder how different the church might be – if every time we knew what was right, we just did, and did it just because it was right.

Qasem Soleimani, Iran, and the Rule of Law

On By Robert W. PeckIn Articles, Blog, Political4 Comments

As with most political issues, there are those who praise the United States assassination of Iranian general, Qasem Soleimani, and those who decry it. And, as per usual, the division is mostly along party lines, with some calling it wise, virtuous, and a necessary act that will prevent war with Iran, while others call it foolish, evil, and an unnecessary act that will lead to war with Iran.

What is also as per usual is the fact that most are merely arguing for or against the act, but few are asking questions and even fewer are discussing matters of principle and the rule of law. My friend, Jake MacAulay, of the Institute on the Constitution, was the first that I’m aware of to actually drag the U.S. Constitution into the debate in his weekly commentary.

The first questions that Christian people committed to honoring God, upholding the U.S. Constitution, and maintaining the rule of law must always ask are, 1) What does the word of God say? 2) What does the U.S. Constitution say? 3) What will limit the power of government and maximize liberty? To fail to ask these three questions is to throw ourselves open to Godlessness, lawlessness, and tyranny. Continue reading “Qasem Soleimani, Iran, and the Rule of Law” →

You Can’t Just Legalize “Some” Forms of Immorality

On By Robert W. PeckIn Blog, Christian, Political2 Comments

My friend, Riley J. Hood, published the following article today. Riley gets to the core of the matter when he says, “The fact is you lost the war when homosexual acts were decriminalized.” The point is that once you decriminalize something on any level whatsoever, you forfeit the moral grounds for criminalizing it on any level at all. Once you decriminalize the camel sticking its nose under the tent, you forfeit the moral grounds for criminalizing any other part of the camel being in the tent and it’s only a matter of time before you’re sleeping with the whole camel. Continue reading “You Can’t Just Legalize “Some” Forms of Immorality” →