Author: Valerie Cullers

Manipulated

Valerie Cullers 9 Comments

“Go ahead and hate your neighbor. Go ahead and cheat a friend. Do it in the name of heaven, you can justify it in the end.” (From the song, “One Tin Soldier”)

Last evening, I went for a walk with my neighbor. She was talking about how she was cornered by a person at a gathering. This person asked who she was going to vote for. My neighbor said, “That’s my business.” We can all agree the person asked an impertinent question. Who we vote for is entirely our own business, but my neighbor felt pressured by this woman/ who is rabid about her politics. My neighbor is not a party person. She votes for the person she thinks will best do the job. She does not want to be intimidated by people or put into a box to be checked about which party she belongs to.

I think we can all relate to how my neighbor feels. We live in a climate where the media and influencers like to cause a rift or division among people because of their political views. You see, if people are busy hating their neighbor because of their political views, they will not look up and really evaluate what is happening in the government. A good, hard look at the activity or inactivity in Congress is a real eye-opener.

As citizens in this society, we must not fall for this manipulation. I grew up in a time when Democrats and Republicans worked together to pass bills in the House and Senate. The good of the country or state was more important than taking a hard line on issues and refusing to work for a compromise that would get the problems solved. We now live in a time where political gridlock is par for the course, and citizens are supposed to accept this inaction as normative.

Let’s wake up to this societal manipulation. Quit listening to media influencers who denigrate the people in the opposing political party. The majority of Americans have similar concerns about most of the important issues. How we address those concerns should include both sides of the political equation having a say in the solution.

Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” And yes, that includes the neighbor who has a Trump – Vance or Harris – Walz sign up on their lawn. Don’t fall prey to the notion that we should denigrate those who hold a different political view than we do.

Photo by Beasternchen. Courtesy of Pixabay.

A Safe Haven

Valerie Cullers 8 Comments

I had a dream a few nights ago. My husband and I had moved to the coast, and we were standing on the shore. I looked up and there was a thirty-foot wave coming towards the beach. Someone yelled, “Everyone get to higher ground!” People started running. My hubby and I walked as fast as we could up the hill, and when we got there, the people had gone into a church. It was getting dark, and the lights were on.

Certainly all of my dreams don’t have a deeper meaning, but I think this one did. I have thought about it a lot. I believe difficult times are coming. They may be economic, viral, or environmental; I don’t know, but I think the best thing we can do to prepare for them is to get closer to the Lord and his people. So many people quit attending services during the pandemic because they just got out of the habit of going. They feel like they are doing fine and are watching the services from home, but it isn’t the same as participating in the body life of the church.

My hubby and I know about this firsthand. After his strokes, we didn’t attend church for at least a year. Like others, we watched the services from home but felt very disconnected from the body of Christ. Now that we have started going again, we feel much closer to the Lord and to his people.

Scripture tells us in Hebrews 10:25 to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together and even more as we see the day approaching. What day would that be? He is talking about the return of the Lord. Even those who are not believers can see that the earth is on a collision course with disaster. Nations are at war with each other, and the Middle East is at a boiling point that could spill over, affecting many nations. The economies of several countries are barely holding onto their monetary systems, and others have already imploded. It just takes one EMP to detonate in the atmosphere to paralyze any country in the world. The viral labs are again working on gain of function, and who knows what virus will escape, causing yet another pandemic. I am not a pessimist, but the future does not look bright and rosy to me.

If any of these disasters do pan out in the future, we will need a large support group. What better place to find one than in the church where people will love you, pray for you and help you when you need it. Now is the time to get connected so that when difficulties come, you are fully supported by the body of Christ.

Image by PortSundries. Courtesy of Pixabay

A Sack Lunch

Valerie Cullers 9 Comments

One day a young boy went out to the countryside to hear a man talk about the kingdom of heaven. He came prepared for a long day, and so he brought a sack lunch. Many people came out that day; in fact, there were about 5,000 men, not counting the women and children. They listened all afternoon, and it grew late. The people were getting hungry and there was no place to purchase food, so the teacher’s followers asked him to send the people away so they could go into the nearby towns and villages and buy what they needed. The teacher looked at them and said, “You give them something to eat.”

I’m sure his followers looked at him like he was joking. Finally, one of them took him seriously and found a boy who had a sack lunch. He said, “There’s a little boy who has five barley loaves and two fish. But that’s a drop in the bucket for a crowd like this.” The boy gave up his lunch, the teacher took the food, blessed it, broke it, and his followers passed it around. Miraculously, there was enough to feed everyone.

This is a well known story about Jesus and his disciples. There’s a lot we can unpack here but I would like to talk about one aspect of it. Our God is God of multiplication…not just simple multiplication but exponential multiplication. Knowing that, where does that leave us, and what do we do with the little we have?

So many times, a need arises and we think, “I don’t have much. The little I could give wouldn’t make much difference.” But is that really true? If we serve a God of multiplication, can’t he take what we give and make it go much further? I believe he can. In fact, I have seen it myself.

I have seen him take a bag of clothes and bless several families with them. I have seen him multiply food at dinner so that it served more people than it was prepared for. I have seen him take a box full of canned food and help feed multiple people. Why and how can it work this way?

The key is offering what we have to God, letting him bless it and then multiply it. Don’t be afraid to give five or ten dollars to a worthy cause. It can go a lot further than you think. This principle not only happens in the earthly realm but also in the heavenly one. One ministry I know of, “The Jesus Film Project,” goes around the world showing The Jesus Film in remote locations. Many places are hostile to Christianity, but it doesn’t stop the people from sharing the film. For every dollar a person donates, one person comes to the Lord. These are the statistics, and I believe they are true. Many times, a whole village will come to the Lord after seeing the film. So with just a small donation, people’s lives can be changed for eternity.

What do you have that you could share? Don’t be put off by the size of your offering. Believe in the God of exponential multiplication and let him take your gift, bless it, and bring physical or spiritual life to those in need.

Image Courtesy of Matthias Bockel – Pixabay

Apotheosis

Valerie Cullers 18 Comments

“Apotheosis, also called deification or divinization, is the glorification of a subject to divine levels and, commonly, the treatment of a human being, or any other living thing, or an abstract idea in the likeness of a deity.” Wikipedia

In other words, apotheosis is when we elevate a human or any other thing to the level of a god. Above is an 1865 painting by Constantino Brumidi, that is in the eye of the rotunda of the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. It is called “The Apotheosis of George Washington,” and shows Washington rising in glory, flanked by Liberty and Victory/Fame.

Apotheosis is a subject of many an art painting, but it certainly doesn’t belong in our political landscape. When I listen to people talk about the candidates that are running for office this electoral season, I am amazed that some people sound like they are elevating them to an almost god-like status. Many view Donald Trump as a would-be savior of the nation. I heard one pundit say that when he walked into the Republican National Convention, there was almost a “religious” quality to the atmosphere. On the other side of the political spectrum, many Democrats are speaking of Kamala Harris as the one who can “save our democracy.” It is amusing to see how a person who was discounted by her own party for so long has now risen within weeks to be the one who can save our nation from the supposed fascism of those on the right.

I know that political rhetoric gets hyped during an election season, but let’s please not get caught up in it. Both candidates are only human, and their frailties are on full display. One cannot stick to a subject without disrespecting his opponent, and the other changes her policy views depending on which way the political wind is blowing. Let’s get a grip and tell it like it really is. The electorate will again have to choose between two bad choices in an effort to find the best person to lead this country. My hope is that someday we may be able to find people to run who have personal and political integrity and are fully committed to this nation. We may then have better choices when it comes time to cast our ballots.

The Last Laugh

Valerie Cullers 3 Comments

“He who laughs last, laughs best.”

Most of us are aware of the pushback that came after the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics. People were especially outraged at the parody of Da Vinci’s Last Supper. To paraphrase the Art Director of the ceremony the day after, he basically said that we should all just have a good laugh and move on. The pushback continues, and now he has come out and said it wasn’t a parody of The Last Supper at all. It was supposed to represent a 17th century Dutch painting, The Feast of the Gods by Jan Harmensz van Biljert. Really? It only took him four days to come up with that explanation. If it was the truth, why didn’t he set the record straight initially instead of talking about how he accomplished his goal of inclusivity at the Opening Ceremony?

I’ve thought a lot about it and to say I was disappointed at the display is an understatement. My spirit was grieved that again Christian symbolism has been upended to make a point for those who wish to display their sexuality in a public in-your-face performance.

Those who put on that performance probably had a good laugh that night and several good laughs since then. But how do you think the Lord felt about the performance? Was he up in heaven wringing his hands and saying, “Oh dear, Oh dear!”?

I don’t think so. He knows those who oppose him and his moral laws, and he knows what their end will be. To quote Psalm 2, verses 1-5, “Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One. “Let us break their chains, they say, and throw off their fetters.” The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. Then He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath.”

Take comfort, there is coming a day when those who oppose the Lord will have to face him and it will be a very sad day indeed. Better to come to him now while it is possible and the Days of Mercy and Grace are still before us. His hands are always held out for those who will turn from their wicked ways and come to him. No sin is too great for him to forgive. Come while there is still time.

The Ultimate Gaslighter

Valerie Cullers 13 Comments

Last week I wrote a post about the gaslighting that has been going on by the press and government officials. As bad as it is, did you know that there will be a person that will come upon the world scene who will be The Ultimate Gaslighter? Many refer to this man as the Antichrist or the Beast. He will take the world by storm and have solutions for its problems. Initially, he will come upon the scene as a peacemaker, and people will think he is The Answer. In time, they will come to know who he really is.

Here are a few descriptions of him from Daniel 8:23 – 25 and 9:27. He will have fierce features, understand sinister schemes, and will have power, but it will not come from himself. He will destroy fearfully, he will destroy the mighty and also the holy people. He will cause deceit to prosper. He will destroy many in their prosperity. He will rise against the Prince of princes (Jesus). He will ultimately be broken without human means (supernaturally).

He will confirm a covenant for one week (7 years) with Israel. After 3 1/2 years, he will bring an end to sacrifice and offering (in their temple). He will magnify himself above every god and speak blasphemies against God.

How can he do all of this? Where does he get his power? Revelation 13 gives us some insights. The dragon (Satan) will give him his power, throne, and great authority. He will have a mortal head wound and will be (miraculously) healed. This will cause the world to marvel and follow after him. The people will worship him and say, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war against him?”

Do you wonder how the world will be duped into accepting this man? According to 2 Thessalonians 2:9, “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

This is not the time to freak out because we have been gaslit by the press and politicians. This is just an example of how easy it is to dupe the unsuspecting public. We must make it a priority to seek out the truth and get right with the Lord. The Ultimate Gaslighter could be alive today and waiting in the wings to make his appearance. DO NOT be taken in my him. He will not be the man of peace he pretends to be, but will be just the opposite.

Note: words in parenthesis are mine for clarification. Image courtesy of Pixabay.

Gaslighting

Valerie Cullers 20 Comments

“Gaslighting is a colloquialism, defined as manipulating someone into questioning their own perception of reality.” Wikipedia

Watching the presidential debate on Thursday was a clear example of how the press has been gaslighting the American public. Everyone has seen the cognitive decline of Joe Biden over the last three years, and yet the press has been gaslighting the public with a “nothing to see here” mentality.

If there has been a clearer case of gaslighting, I would like to see it. As egregious as this case is , there seems to have been no acknowledgment or apology coming from those perpetuating the lie. I feel for those poor souls who actually believed what the press was peddling. They seem to be in shock when asked about their feelings, and yet how could they have believed the press over their own eyes?

We live in a society where those in power (no matter which political party it is) will attempt to gaslight the public into going along with their policies. They will use the press that is sympathetic to them to accomplish their purposes. The citizens must not be fooled by the psychological manipulation that is going on.

We must have a healthy distrust of politicians and the press, especially if it is slanted in one direction or the other. No political party has all of the truth, answers or solutions to the problems we face today. They are too complex and the world is too interconnected to assume there is only one way to solve its problems.

We must be wary of those who would attempt to gaslight us. The press believes that perception is reality, but that is not true; reality is reality. We must not be swayed into believing something that is absolutely a lie in order to keep someone in power or propagate a policy that would be bad for our society.

It’s time to wake up if you are not awake…we’re being gaslighted, people, and the lies we’ve been told, “the border is secure,” the economy is fine,” “we must social distance at 6 feet apart,” are just a few of the many. They’re just not true, none of it. Let’s stop being gaslighted by the politicians, the press, and even our own government officials. They don’t have the answers. Some of them won’t even acknowledge the problems. Don’t be deceived by those who would tell you that the reality you’re seeing and feeling is just not true.

Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

Rejections

Valerie Cullers 23 Comments

During the last two decades, I have been blessed to have several articles and a few books published. It was certainly encouraging when a piece was published, but that is not the whole story. For every article published, I am sure I received three rejections on another piece. Why? Because rejections are part and parcel of the writing experience.

Not only are rejections part of the writing experience, they are an essential part of it. I remember the first rejection I received. To say I was devastated is an understatement. I had thought about the piece, worked on it, refined it, etc…but no go. After I nurtured my bruised ego, I picked myself up off the floor (metaphorically) and went on.

You see, I had never intended to be a writer. Words just started coming to me and I believed the Lord was giving them to me so they could be published for others to read. No matter what my motivation was, I still had to go through the process that every writer needs to go through. I had to read, research, go to writing seminars, and connect with others in the process. I had to write, learn more, get rejected, learn more, and keep on trying. There is no way to shortcut the process, one has to write, send out their work, possibly get rejected, and continue on.

For those who are in the process, I have a few suggestions. First, educate yourself on the craft of writing. Read what you can and follow the advice given by others who have succeeded. I can’t tell you how many books I read on writing and the process of publication.

Second, write and rewrite your piece if needed. Usually, a first draft is only the beginning point, not the final product. Walk away from it for a few days or a week and pick it up again. Make any necessary corrections and read it out loud so you can get the sound of it in your ears. That is what the readers will be hearing as they read your work.

Third, know your audience. Pick up a Writer’s Market Guide or Christian Writer’s Market Guide so you send your work to the right publisher. Every publication has its own niche and you need to follow the submission guidelines for each publication. They may be similar to the last place you sent your piece but you have a better chance of getting published if you follow their guidelines to the letter.

Fourth, learn from your rejections. Most rejection letters are standard, but every now and again, an editor will give you personal feedback on your work. Take it to heart and learn from it. If they encourage you to rewrite your piece and submit it again, then by all means rewrite it. Remember, you are unique, and someone somewhere needs to hear what you are saying.

Fifth, be flexible. If an editor wants your piece but needs some modifications then, by all means, be accommodating if their suggestions don’t violate your principles. I figure there is only one Book whose words are not open to change, and that book is not mine. My work can be modified to fit a publication, whether it needs to be shortened or lengthened. If a paragraph I wrote doesn’t fit, then fine, let’s take it out.

Finally, don’t give up because of rejections. Everyone who has written for any period of time has a drawer or inbox full of them. Most of us could wallpaper at least one wall in our offices with them. I consider them my personal badge of courage because I tried and sent my work out to a publisher. I know many writers give up after their first rejection. That is like giving up if you don’t get the first job you apply for. Stay at it, sooner or later you will get your first piece published and you will be so glad you did not give up.

Image by M. from Pixabay.