Author: Valerie Cullers

Vile

Valerie Cullers 7 Comments

“Vile – Loathsome, disgusting,” The American Heritage Dictionary

Have you ever been at a campground and turned on a spigot, and brown water came out? You take one look at it, and you say, “Vile.” There is no way that you want to take that water into your body. It is polluted, and you know if you drink it, you will probably get sick.

It’s the same way with people. We come into contact with someone who is spouting negative and hurtful words, and we react the same way. We recoil and think in our minds, “Vile. That person is saying some very bad things, and I don’t want to take them into my mind. The things the person is saying are polluted.“

I was listening to a man speak, and he shared some videos of people who are openly antisemitic in the public forum. I heard one man deny the veracity of the holocaust and others promote conspiracy theories about the control that Jewish people have in the world. When I heard these people speak, I just thought, “Vile…what these people are saying is downright vile.”

I am from the generation of children whose parents fought in World War II. I remember the pictures of the death camps and the absolute horror of the soldiers who came upon them at the end of the war. The world was shocked, and you can bet that the holocaust was real. If it wasn’t, do you think the UN would have ever partitioned off the land of Israel and given it to the Jews?

What bothers me the most is that this is the kind of rhetoric that was floated in Germany by the Nazis in the 1930s. They used it to poison the minds of the populace against the Jews. The very same thing is being done today in our country. I don’t care if you are on the right or the left. The haters want to make you hate the Jewish race. For those of us who have studied history and seen what it can do, there is no word for it other than vile.

We must learn to not hate any ethnic group of people. When we do, we demean them, make them subhuman, and the next step is to stand by while people try to destroy them. Let us not give credence to those who trumpet this kind of hatred. It is vile, polluted, and it will sicken the soul of anyone who takes it into their hearts and minds.

“Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:23

Photo by Steve Buissine. Courtesy of Pixabay

Heart Check

Valerie Cullers 10 Comments

“Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” 1 John 3:15

When I first read these words in the Bible, I thought they were a bit harsh. If you hate someone, you are a murderer? But I have reflected on these words a lot in the last ten days.

I was deeply saddened by the murder of Charlie Kirk. Let me tell you, I didn’t know who the man was. I had heard his name mentioned a few times, but that’s it. What saddened me was that he was killed because of his political and religious beliefs. I was also distressed by some of the reactions to his murder.

It seems to me there are not too many steps between hatred and murder. When we begin to hate someone, we naturally devalue them in our hearts. Their life matters little to us as we allow that hatred to grow and overtake us. Most of the time, we don’t murder them with a gun, but we can certainly assassinate their character with our words. We look at one person killing another and think, “I would never do that.”

But what is the real truth? Once we begin to hate someone, our heart begins to rot. We may think we are justified when we hate another person or group of people but the Lord doesn’t see it that way. He sees hatred for what it is, the antithesis of who He is and who He wants us to be.

Jesus told us, “to love our enemies” and “to pray for them who persecute you.” It is only love that will break the bondage of hatred in our hearts. As we pray for those we disagree with or have hurt us, we begin to see them for the flawed human beings they are. Their value goes up in our eyes. We also begin to see ourselves for the flawed humans we are.

Let us all do a “heart check.” Do we hate anyone or any group of people? If so, let’s ask the Lord to help us change our attitude. We can hate the things people do or say, but we are not supposed to hate them. We want God’s spirit (eternal life) abiding in us. And surprisingly, it is our willingness to pray for them that will usher in God’s grace and free our hearts from the bondage of hatred.

Photo by Mohamedgado15. Courtesy of Pixabay.

The Mark of the Beast

Valerie Cullers 11 Comments

A few weeks ago, my brother called me. He had just read an MSN article titled, “Bill Gates Declares the End of the Smartphone Era and Unveils its Surprising Replacement.” The article talks about a new kind of electronic tattoo that has been developed. It uses invisible ink and has nanocapacitors that are integrated into the body. “Instead of holding a phone in our hands, these tattoos could allow us to communicate, access the internet, and even monitor our health, all without a screen in sight.” He wanted to know if I thought this new technology was “the mark of the beast.”

At the moment, I don’t believe that it is “the mark of the beast,” but that doesn’t mean that the technology couldn’t be used for it in the future. In fact, several technologies have been in place for well over a decade. A 2018 NPR article, “Thousands of Swedes Are Inserting Microchips Under Their Skin,” informs us that microchips are being used in Sweden to help people “speed up their daily routines and make lives more convenient – accessing their homes, offices and gyms is as easy as swiping their hands against digital readers.” No longer is this kind of biotechnology in the realm of science fiction or wild conspiracy theories. It is here and is being used and tested in several countries. It has been so popular in Sweden that the owner of the firm, Biohax, was “developing training materials so he can hire Swedish doctors and nurses to help take on some of his heavy workload.”

If you want to know if something is “the mark of the beast,” your best bet is first of all to read Chapter 13 in the Book of Revelation in the Bible. It talks about a man who will deceive those who dwell on the earth. He will make an image of the beast, and he “causes as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark of the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”

In my mind, in order for something to be “the mark of the beast,” you first have to have the beast, or the AntiChrist as he is called by many, on the earth and exercising power. This mark is about allegiance to this powerful man. An image will be made of him and “as many as would not worship the image of the beast will be killed.”

Make no mistake, should that person come on the earth, the technology is already here to make these prophecies a reality. In the meantime, what am I going to do? For starters, I am not going to have a microchip implanted in my body. I am also not going to have an invisible tattoo placed on my skin with all of my personal information on it. We should all be very aware as to where this technology could eventually lead and who it could be used by.

On the prophetic timeline, I see us standing at the beginning of chapter six in the book of Revelation. Many significant events are coming in the future, and the Lord’s judgments will come upon the earth before His Second Coming. It’s time to wake up and look around at what is happening in the world. Especially look at what is happening in the realm of technology. The brave new world is already here; it is not waiting in the wings. We need to familiarize ourselves with the scriptures so we are not caught off guard by events that will soon take place.

If you are interested in this subject, one of the most informative books I have read is “Revealing Revelation” by Amir Tsarfati. It is written for everyone and is easy to understand. The book is very well written and the author is humble enough to admit he and other scholars do not know what certain allegorical references mean. I would highly recommend it.

Image by Suj026. Courtesy of Pixabay.

Confirmation Bias

Valerie Cullers 11 Comments

“Confirmation bias is the human tendency to seek, interpret and favor information that confirms or supports one’s preexisting beliefs or values. This cognitive shortcut leads people to overlook or dismiss information that contradicts their views, reinforcing what they already believe to be true.” Google

We all have a tendency to listen to information that confirms what we believe. If you don’t think so, think about the news station you watch. Does it have newscasters that support the political views you already hold? Whether you are on the left or the right, it is easy to find a news source that will reinforce your own particular bias.

While confirmation bias keeps us from opening our minds to information that doesn’t match our political views, my biggest concern is for those who are in the church who hold rigid views on upcoming prophetic events. Many of us have our favorite teachers who expound on the subject…I do too. But if we only listen to those who believe the way we do, we may end up disappointed or worse, losing our faith if future events don’t play out the way we are expecting them to.

The subject that concerns me the most is that of the rapture. So many people in the church believe in a pretribulation rapture. There is nothing wrong with this as long as you know that many legitimate scholars hold different views. In other words, some very learned men (and women) in the church believe in a mid-trib or pre-wrath rapture. Still others favor the view that Christ will only come one time for his church and that will happen at the end of the tribulation.

You see, no one really knows for sure how prophetic events will play out. We all hope that the church will be raptured (taken to heaven to be with Christ) before the seven-year tribulation occurs, but what if it doesn’t? Are you one who is so entrenched in your view that you won’t consider another alternative? If you are, how will you react if the rapture doesn’t happen when you think it should? Will you be in shock, dismayed, and disillusioned? Will you fall away from the faith because events didn’t happen the way you believed they would?

We need to ask ourselves serious questions and be prepared for prophetic events however they play out. Remember, the religious scholars of the day couldn’t accept Jesus because he didn’t come in a way they believed he would. They were so sure He would look a certain way that they missed Him when he was standing right in front of them.

We can take comfort in the fact that Jesus said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” We must remember that he is faithful and will be with us. He will help us navigate whatever circumstances we find ourselves in the future. What is important is that we live in a way that prepares us to be ready to meet him whenever he comes.

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

Beware the Time Robbers

Valerie Cullers 14 Comments

Time Robbers…we all know them. Not only do we know them, we are intimately acquainted with them. Have you ever sat down “just for a moment” to scroll through your phone and then looked up to find you just lost twenty minutes or half an hour?

This has happened to me more times than I can count. I stop to check the headlines on the news, and then an article comes up that looks interesting, so I decide to read it. I finish it only to scroll down the headlines again. The next article looks informative, and then boom, I read it and look up at the clock. Twenty minutes have passed, and I really don’t have much to show for them. The Time Robbers have stolen my time once more.

I love my phone, but it is definitely a Time Robber in my life. Can you relate? Do you spend too much time on your phone checking one type of social media or another? How do you feel when you look up and realize you just lost half an hour? I certainly don’t feel any smarter or better informed. Yes, I have read a lot of information, but will I use it anywhere in my life? Not necessarily. Most of it is just a sort of flotsam that gets tucked away in my brain. It usually gets filed under “D” for detritus.

Lately, I have been trying to limit the time I spend checking the news on my phone. Maybe once in the morning and once at night, and hopefully for not more than fifteen minutes at a time. And speaking of checking my phone at night, I can’t tell you the times I checked it right before bed and read some upsetting headline. So instead of going to sleep peacefully, I was left thinking about something negative as my head hit the pillow. Not only had my time been stolen, but also my peace of mind. Sheesh, what a waste!

Do you have any Time Robbers in your life? Time is the only commodity we can spend and never get back from the Robbers. Have you taken the time to identify yours? If so, how are you dealing with them?

Photo by Alexas. Courtesy of Pixabay

Unrecognizable

Valerie Cullers 14 Comments

Have you ever gone to a town where you had visited and something devastating had happened there? You start to survey the landscape and look for familiar landmarks, but don’t see them. The scale of the devastation is so great that the area is unrecognizable. You aren’t sure exactly which street you are on, and it is impossible to find the features you remember. Has that ever happened to you?

If it has, you know that the first thing you do is get out your phone and call up Google Maps. You hope there is some way to get your bearings and find what you are looking for. You desperately search for something familiar so you can orient yourself to your surroundings.

That is exactly how I feel when I look at the culture around me. I feel I am living in a society that is unrecognizable from the one I grew up in. Almost every social metric has plummeted in a negative direction. Just to name a few: criminal behavior has skyrocketed because it is rewarded with a slap on the wrist and a get out of jail free card. Homelessness is accepted as a normal part of society, and few public officials are able to find a meaningful solution to the problem. The benchmarks on the education of our students are abysmal, and yet billions are thrown in that direction with little or no improvement in literacy or mathematical skills.

Unfortunately, I can’t call up Google Maps for help to try to navigate our culture. How do I, as a believer in Jesus Christ, live in a meaningful way in an unrecognizable society? The only thing I know to do is to go to the Scriptures to help me find my bearings. When I read them, I can somehow get a perspective on what I see taking place. When I look at some of the last words that Jesus spoke to his disciples, they open my eyes and help me see the signposts I am looking for.

Jesus said that the last days would be like the days of Noah. Those days were marked by violence and genetic engineering. He also said they would be like the days of Sodom. Those days were filled with sexual perversion and children being misused by unscrupulous adults. Jesus talked about the love of many growing cold, and if that isn’t one of the primary mileposts of our day, I don’t know what is. Man has stopped caring about his fellow human beings, and meaningful compassion is in short supply.

Rather than walking around dazed and confused, each of us can look to the Scriptures for clear direction. We can ask the Lord to fill us with His Spirit so that we may love our fellow man. We can do whatever is within our capabilities to make a positive difference in the lives of those around us. Then and only then will we make a significant impact and the landscape we see will become more recognizable.

Sub Rosa

Valerie Cullers 23 Comments

Sub Rosa means “under the rose” in New Latin. Since ancient times, the rose has been associated with secrecy. Merriam-Webster Dictionary

When I look at what’s happening in our world today, I see many things that are cause for concern…wars, natural disasters, famine, and disease. All of these problems capture my attention, but the things I am most concerned about are the things that are happening sub rosa. In other words, they do not appear on the surface of society, but they are taking place in secret, unbeknownst to most of us.

Take the dark net, for example. If we knew the things, i.e., weapons, deadly drugs, and people that are being marketed, we would be aghast and unable to sleep at night. My greatest concern is for the people, the living souls, who are being bought and sold. Yes, it is human trafficking that grabs my attention the most.

Human trafficking is happening in most communities in this country. And yet, the only people who know about it directly are the people involved and the police who are trying to put a stop to it. Why, you ask? Because it is happening sub rosa, in secret, under the radar.

What is human trafficking exactly? Oxford Languages defines it as, “the unlawful act of transporting or coercing people in order to benefit from their work or service, typically in the form of forced labor or sexual exploitation.” Most people think that it is not happening in their communities, but it is everywhere. Last week in our community, in one of the most affluent suburbs, three people were arrested for human trafficking and prostitution.

The statistics are staggering. In Texas alone, it is estimated that 313,000 people are being trafficked with 79,000 of the victims being minors involved in sex trafficking. My concern is that many of these minors crossed the border looking for a better life but instead were forced into a life of sexual servitude. This is a huge problem, especially in the states that share a border with Mexico.

Is there anything that we can do? First, we have to be aware that the problem is present in our communities. Just because it is happening sub rosa does not mean it doesn’t exist. In our area, there are three organizations that help people who have been trafficked. All of them could use funding or some other kind of support. Second, we need to keep our eyes open for those who need help. If there is a house in our neighborhood where there is activity that is suspicious, we can report it to the police. Know the universal sign for help: a person puts their thumb in the palm of their hand and closes their fingers over it. If you see someone do this, call the police; that person is probably being trafficked. And third, pray. Pray that these terrible deeds of darkness will be exposed to the light and that the people responsible will be arrested and the victims will be rescued from this form of modern-day slavery.

Photo courtesy of Engin A Kyurt, Pixabay.

A Second Chance

Valerie Cullers 7 Comments

Strangers walk by a cheap prostitute thinking,

“What a poor excuse for humanity.”

I too walk by thinking,

“Where is the Messiah to tell her,

“Go, and sin no more.”

A few blocks later, I realize she could be me

I open my scarlet wallet

And take out two fifties.

I turn, she is gone working.

Will I get a second chance to tell her

God loves her just the way she is?

Please turn from your sin and iniquity

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ

And go, and sin no more.

Copyright 2025 Valerie Cullers

This One Thing

Valerie Cullers 19 Comments

Now that January is almost gone, and all of my so-called resolutions have either been implemented or discarded, I thought about one resolution that I could implement each day that actually might make a difference in my neighborhood. This year, I decided that the one thing I would like to implement was to love my neighbor as myself.

You know, it sounds simple, but it really isn’t. My neighbor has her own catering business, and her garbage is near to overflowing every time she puts it out for the garbage trucks to pick up. Many times, after they dump her garbage, there is some lying on the ground. Sometimes, it blows into our yard. My first response is usually irritation as I look out the window and see it blowing by. I have decided to move from that response to a kinder response. I am thankful she has a good job. I am thankful that once in a while, she brings my husband and me lunch, etc., etc.

This may sound simplistic to you, but it has changed my outlook. Every time one of our neighbors makes a lot of noise or their dogs bark, after my initial irritation, I am choosing to think kindly of them. My neighbors don’t even know that my attitude has changed, but I know. It has made a difference inside of me.

Don’t get me wrong – I like my neighbors. I just want to have a kinder, gentler attitude towards them this year. I know I will be a nicer person inside, and perhaps some of that kindness may even move from an inside attitude to an outward action. You never know, after I pick up some of my neighbor’s trash that has blown into my yard, I may even pick up some of hers. Stranger things have happened!

Photo courtesy of Pixabay