Author: Valerie Cullers

“Whatcha gonna do?”

Valerie Cullers 18 Comments

For over a month, I have been shocked at the level of antisemitism I have seen in this country. As a child of a father who was in WWII, I have been aware of the Jewish Holocaust. I have seen the pictures and read much about what the Nazis did to them. The level of suffering is almost incomprehensible, and those who perpetrated it were pure evil. Full stop…end of sentence.

I have no problem with people protesting a war they do not agree with, but those who carry signs that say “Gas the Jews” or “Hitler was Right” are either ignorant of history or evil themselves. I will bet that yes, some of those who carry those signs are evil, but for the most part, when I see the students, I believe they are historically ignorant.

Do they know, for example, that Hitler killed about fourteen million people? Yes, he came for the Jews, but he also came for many Christians, political dissenters, the physically and mentally handicapped, the gypsies, Slavic people, Poles, and the gays. No one was exempt if they were considered an enemy of the Reich. Many who started out in Hitler’s good graces were “retired” when his paranoia got the better of him.

You see, when the killing starts, no one is exempt. Ask those in Russia, where Stalin is purported to have killed about forty million in his purges. And what about the Cultural Revolution in China during which between five hundred thousand and two million people were killed? You may think you will be spared but in truth, no one is safe once a pogrom has started.

So to quote the theme song from Cops, “Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?” Please think about it, because eventually they will and you who are approving of the genocide of others may become a victim yourself.

Photo of Auschwitz by Carl S. Courtesy of Pixabay

Prophetic

Valerie Cullers 12 Comments

On Sunday morning, October 8th, I woke up and looked at the news feed on my phone. I read about the Hamas attack on Jewish settlements on the border of Gaza. This attack looked much different from the attacks Israel has faced from Hamas in the last 15 years. I then thought about Bill Salus and how he had written a book about Psalm 83 and a future war Israel would be fighting with the diverse ethnic groups around its borders. Bill just happened to be at a prophecy conference that morning and was giving an impromptu talk that I listened to. He said we must wait and see how it will develop to see if this war fits Psalm 83 in the Scriptures. Since then, I have listened to Amir Tsarfati, a Messianic Jew who is also an Israeli. He is convinced that the Psalm 83 war happened in 1948 when Israel fought its War of Independence. He feels the current events might possibly be a prelude to the war of Gog and Magog in Ezekiel 38 and 39.

So who is right? Well, we must all wait and see if this particular war has any prophetic implications or not. You see, when thinking about prophecy, we don’t make Biblical prophecy fit the events that are happening. The events must fit the prophecy exactly in order to be true. Also, many times, prophecies have more than one fulfillment, one closer to the time it was written and one further down the timeline.

Recently, Jack Hibbs said, “The world is catching up to the Bible.” Thousands of years ago, a couple of hundred prophecies were written about the return of Christ. Others were written about Israel and what would happen to it in the last days. I believe that just as over three hundred prophecies were fulfilled about Jesus’ first coming, so the remaining prophecies will be fulfilled about what will happen to Israel in the last days. But they will all be fulfilled in God’s good time and not our own.

In the gospels, Jesus talked about what the world would look like immediately before his return. We see that the world does look very close to what He said it would be like. We were also instructed to watch and pray. What we can know is that time is getting short. As we watch nations aligning against Israel, we know it will have to defend itself against a larger host of armies at some point in the future.

So does this particular war fulfill any prophecies in the Bible? At the moment, we must wait and see and not jump to any conclusions.

Contagion

Valerie Cullers 14 Comments

When I first saw the images of the attack on Israel, the first thing I thought was, “Hatred.” Yes, hatred is the contagion that drives these acts of violence. I have since watched the protests against Israel, many were carrying signs and slogans with horrible sayings on them against the Jewish people. Again, I thought, “Hatred.”

You see, every murder, every act of violence, every war springs from evil within the human heart. The motivation could be hatred, jealousy or greed but all of these acts spring from emotions hiding in the heart. In the case of the Israeli – Hamas War being conducted now, hatred is at the center of it all. People are taught to hate from the time they are little, and hatred pervades some people like a sick evil.

Like every other contagion, hatred is easy to assimilate into our bodies and souls. It is natural to pick up an offense and let it fester in our souls until it spews out of our mouths in some form of a derogatory comment. As a believer in Jesus Christ, I must fight the temptation to pick up this hatred in any form it comes to me. It could be in the aerosol of a newscast or in the germ of an article I read in the news.

I’ve thought a lot about what Jesus would have me do in relation to this conflict. Yes, I can choose sides, but I must choose not to hate. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5: 43-45.

How do I do this? I can pray for mercy on the non-military population. I can pray that innocent civilians will not get hurt. I can pray for aid to reach those who need it. There are lots of things I can pray for those I believe are in the wrong. I can pray for a lasting peace and an end to hostilities. I can pray for good leadership. The list goes on. And most importantly, I can pray that the contagion of hate will not permeate my own heart and soul.

Image by Astral Ember. Courtesy of PIxabay.

H+ TRANSHUMANISM

Valerie Cullers 36 Comments

Several years ago, I realized I needed to learn more about the field of Artificial Intelligence and so I decided to do some research on the subject. I read Hugo De Garis’s book “The Artilect War – Cosmists vs. Terrans.” It was written for the general public and was a great place to start learning the language and concepts being used in the AI field today. Because I read it, now when I read articles about AI written by Bill Gates or Elon Musk, I am more able to assimilate the information and contextualize it.  

Another area that overlaps with part of the AI field is the field of Transhumanism. So, what exactly is Transhumanism? Transhumanism is the enhancement of the human body through technological, genetic, mechanical or synthetic means. It is a broad field with scientists and researchers moving forward to actualize their goals to move human beings past their biological limitations and create a “new and improved human.” This human will not be fully human but will have enhancements in one form or another in their bodies, brains, or genetic makeup. It will literally be a Human 2.0.

If we have an artificial hip or shoulder, have we become Transhuman? Technically, no. Anything we do to our bodies to bring them back to a normal functioning level is not Transhumanism. Although, while reading this book,  I did call my husband a Cyborg because he had an artificial hip. Needless to say, he was not amused! In other words, just replacing worn-out body parts is not Transhumanism. A person is still a Human 1.0 who has had this kind of surgery.

Just as I needed a primer on AI, I needed a primer on Transhumanism to begin to understand the concepts and where the scientific research is taking us. I chose the book, “The Milieu,” by Dr. Thomas R. Horn, for my initial introduction to the subject. 

This book has nine other contributing authors who tackle the bioethical concerns relating to this subject. The authors give the reader the historical context of where the idea of Transhumanism originated and how the scientists got where they are today. They each take a different area of this vast subject and share their view of how this research will affect us in the future. When does a person move from being a human to being a Transhuman? If we allow animal DNA to be implanted in our bodies, have we ceased being human? Will an animal/human hybrid still have a soul? What are the societal implications of Transhumanism? These and many more questions are explored in the book.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in this emerging field. As many in our society are discussing this subject, the leading nations of the earth are moving forward with their research in this area. The hope of producing a “super soldier” through genetic mutation, mechanical augmentation, and brain implantation is no longer in the realm of science fiction. It is being played out in laboratories throughout the world every day of the week.

When I started this book, I was concerned that I wouldn’t understand it and that it would be too technical for me. Yes, I did have to look up several words to understand the initial concepts in the first few chapters, but after that, it was pretty much smooth sailing. By the time I was about page 80, I had moved from being concerned that I wouldn’t understand it to being concerned that I did understand it, as I was becoming more aware of where scientific research is taking us as a human race.

Transhumanism is quickly moving from the realm of science fiction to real science, and I would hope we would all become educated about the biological, societal, and spiritual implications that come with it. Better to begin to be aware of what is coming than wake up one day and have to try to form some sort of bioethical groundwork for how this will affect us societally. After all, most of us are still  Humans 1.0.

Note: This is an updated version of a post I wrote a few years ago. I wanted to give you a few resources in case you wanted to investigate this field further!

The Brain Chip

Valerie Cullers 16 Comments

A few weeks ago, it was announced that the FDA had approved clinical trials for the medical use of Elon Musk’s Neuralink brain chip. At the moment, the FDA has not approved clinical trials for Neuralink’s brain chip that would connect the brain to the internet. Since then, I have been reading a book on transhumanism in order to write a blog that would inform you about the dangers of such a chip.

I was halfway through the book “The Milieu, Welcome to the Transhuman Resistance” by Dr. Tom Horn et al, when I came upon an article this morning in the news. It is from The Daily Mail dated 7-19-23, and entitled “UN warns unregulated AI brain chips threaten democracy, mental privacy” by Matthew Phelan. I will quote from this article for the next five paragraphs. The information is self-explanatory and will provide you the reader with a cursory understanding of the subject.

“IBC advised that engineers and programmers in neurotech should swear an oath like ‘the Hippocratic oath ‘ sworn to by doctors and other medical professionals.“

“A United Nations panel has warned that brain chip technology being pioneered by Elon Musk could be abused for ‘neurosurveillance’ violating ‘mental privacy,’ or ‘even to implement forms of forced re-education, threatening human rights worldwide.”

“The UN’s agency for science and culture (UNESCO) said neurotechnology like Musk’s Neuralink, if left unregulated, will lead to new possibilities of monitoring and manipulating the human mind through neuroimaging and personality-altering tech.”

“We are on a path to a world in which algorithms will able us to decode people’s mental processes,” said UNESCO’s assistant director-general for social and human sciences, Gabriela Ramos. “The implications are far-reaching and potentially harmful,” Ramos said, “given breakthroughs in neurotechnology that could directly manipulate the brain mechanisms in humans, underlying their intentions, emotions and decisions.”

“Neurotechnology like Musk’s Neuralink implants will connect the brain to computing power via thread-like electrodes sewn into certain areas of the brain. Because neuron signals become directly translated into motor controls, Neuralink could allow humans to control external technologies such as computers or smartphones, or lost bodily functions or muscle movements, with their mind. “

If you think that AI or neurotechnology is a subject that you don’t need to be aware of, please think again. These enhancements to the human brain will be available in the near future. Many will want them as they will enhance their brain’s power to learn. However, there is a dark side to this technology and we must make ourselves aware before we submit to it. Mass mind control of humans is not out of the question if this technology is used with malicious intent.

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

The Fourth Quarter

Valerie Cullers 22 Comments

In the past ten months, five acquaintances of mine have passed. Four out of the five were just living their lives, had pain in a certain area, and went to the doctor. They were immediately put on hospice, and lasted between two and ten weeks. To say that it was a bit surprising is an understatement. Here were these perfectly “healthy” individuals going about their daily routines, and suddenly they were in the process of getting their affairs in order.

My friends and I were in shock at the suddenness of it all. There was not a lot of time to mentally prepare for the loss of these individuals. After thinking about it for a while, I asked the Lord to give me a different perspective on these losses. As I was walking by the television, I caught a reference to being in “the fourth quarter of life.” I was busy and didn’t stop and listen to what the woman was saying but I have thought about that phrase a lot since then.

When we watch a football game that is in the fourth quarter, there is only so much time left for the players to play. A lot of injuries happen in the fourth quarter and players are taken out of the game. They have given their all and their bodies can only cope with so much trauma. It is the same for humans. By the time we get to the fourth quarter, our bodies have served us for decades. They took us to work for forty years, helped us bear and raise children, and allowed us to wake up and live each day.

In the fourth quarter, the game is about to end. Similarly, our lives are about to end at some point. We should not be shocked that some will be leaving the game of life early. After all, some have already left in the first, second, and third quarters. By the fourth quarter, we are all going to be facing the end of the game.

Thinking about “the fourth quarter” has given me a peace about the losses. I should not live life with the idea that I will live forever in this earth suit I have been given and neither will my friends and family. I need to prepare for the end of the game and not be taken by surprise.

James 4: 14 says: “For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” When I was in my twenties, I didn’t really relate to this verse. Now that I am older and people are passing around me, I am forced to consider this statement. No matter how long we live, our years will be brief in light of eternity. I guess we all have to ask ourselves, “Are we prepared for the end of the game? Are we prepared if we are taken out earlier than expected by some illness or misfortune?“

Professional football players have great coaches that prepare them for the game and help train them to last until the end of each game. We have a chance to choose a Coach that will prepare us for the game of life. His name is Jesus and all we have to do is turn to Him and ask Him to help train us and show us how to play the game. He will be there until our final moments in the game and will be with us when we shed our earth suits and leave for the next phase of our spiritual journey.

Image by Chepalos, Courtesy of Pixabay

Unmasked

Valerie Cullers 14 Comments

Last Friday in New York City, the Annual Drag Queen Parade was held. According to The Daily Signal, the marchers chanted, “We’re here. We’re queer, and we’re coming for your children.” Shocking to say the least. My first reaction was outrage, but then I thought, “Do they not fear God?” Surely, they must realize they are shaking their fist in the face of God when they are talking about sexualizing children.

Jesus was pretty clear about how He felt about those who mistreated children. “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes.” Matthew 18: 6-7

Before Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed, the Lord said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me, and if not, I will know.” Genesis 18:20-21 Where do you think the outcry came from in Sodom and Gomorrah? I am convinced that the outcry that came to the Lord’s ears was from innocent children who were being sexually assaulted in those cities, i.e., those that did not desire to participate in the sexual perversion that was going on.

When it comes to the sexualization of children by adults, the judgement will be very severe indeed. Those that cannot defend themselves will ultimately be vindicated by a loving and just God.

For those marchers in the parade, their motives have been unmasked. It is up to us as parents and grandparents to realize that there is a war going on against the innocence of our children. We must not be naive about it and pretend it doesn’t exist. We must protect them from the forces that would destroy them.

For those who would like to listen to the marchers in the parade, the video is available on Youtube.

Image by Antobellam. Courtesy of Pixabay

Woke, Awake, Aware or Sleeping?

Valerie Cullers 10 Comments

When you think of yourself in relation to the changes happening in our society, would you consider yourself Woke, Awake, Aware or Sleeping? As you might expect, there are benefits and dangers in each category.

Take Woke, for example. If you consider yourself Woke, you might strongly align with the current opinions of the Woke culture. If we are talking about climate change, you could be for moving to a fully green society on the quickest possible timetable. And you might want to get rid of those 70,000 cows producing methane. You might believe gender dysphoria is a huge issue and agree that everyone has a right to gender-altering surgery starting at a very young age. You might work for monetary reparations for those whose ancestors were slaves. These are only a few examples of the platform of the Woke culture. One of the biggest benefits of agreeing with them is that you will receive very little pushback in academia or in the corporate boardroom when expressing your opinion. The danger of aligning with these ideas is that the consequences of these policies will strain the financial stability of our society and cause irreparable damage to those affected by them. Where would you be if fossil fuels were outlawed in five years? Could you afford an electric vehicle? What if you had gender-altering surgery at 13 and, at 21, decided to change your mind? Does your city or state have the financial resources to pay reparations to those deserving them?

Do you consider yourself Awake? If so, have you done your homework and sought out varying opinions on the current topics of the day? Have you listened to more than one news outlet and studied the issues from different sides? The benefit of being Awake is that you will not get swept up in current popular opinion and will not fall for whatever is being hyped at the moment. The danger of being Awake is that it is easy to be overwhelmed with so much information. It takes real mental energy and time to have informed, objective opinions after sorting through the available facts.

How about being Aware? If you consider yourself Aware, you know what is going on around you, but you are too busy or distracted to educate yourself on what is happening. Life might be good, and you don’t want to rock the boat in your own little pool of water. Or perhaps, life is bad and you just can’t think outside of the circumstances enveloping you. One benefit of being Aware is that you don’t have to deal with the stress of the cacophony of the news. The danger of being Aware but not Awake is that changes will be coming down the pike, either legislatively or culturally, and when they do, you might wish you had been more engaged before policies are made that might negatively affect you.

And what about those who are Asleep? Do you go about your day so self-absorbed that you have no time or energy to engage in anything outside of your own egocentric circle? If so, you are the one who is in the most danger. Changes will happen in our society, and you will just have to deal with them with little or no forethought or preparation. That will be scary indeed. It may feel like a comfortable place to be if you are Asleep, but what would you do if your country went to a digital currency next year? Would you even know what is happening or why?

So many changes are on the verge of taking place in our society, socially, culturally and economically. We should take the time to be Awake as to what the changes will mean for each one of us. Yes, it takes a certain amount of mental energy to get informed but it will certainly be worth it in the long run.

Image by CPP20. Courtesy of Pixabay.

Home

Valerie Cullers 20 Comments

This past week, my husband and I were house/dog sitting for our kids. Each day we would return to our own house to check our mail, etc. When it was about time to return to our kids’ house, I would say, “It’s time to go home.” He would try to correct me and say, “No, this is our home.” I would then say to him, “My home is wherever we are.”

You see, my house, or home, used to be important to me, but all of that changed when he was in the hospital. He spent about three weeks there, and I stayed at my son and daughter-in-law’s. When I would return “home” to get supplies, I would look around, and it was nothing but a structure without him. I would only feel “at home” when we were together. It didn’t matter if he was at the hospital or rehab center; wherever we were was “home.” My emotional attachment to our physical house has now changed; it is no longer our home, just where we are staying. This newfound freedom only adds to my sense of well-being.

Spiritually, my perspective on my eternal home changed years ago. When I first became a believer in Jesus Christ, I learned that Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world.” That meant that He was King of another kingdom, a spiritual kingdom if you will. I quit looking at myself as a citizen of this world and began to see myself as a citizen of His Kingdom, with His priorities in mind. I didn’t quit caring about the people and events taking place around me, but I did view them differently. For example, I certainly wasn’t going to make myself miserable with all the political machinations taking place in the news. I care about what’s going on, but I prefer to take the long view when it comes to them. I care about things from an eternal perspective now. You see, my eventual home will be with Jesus wherever He is. I want to promote His kingdom and be concerned with the things He is concerned about, and I do know one thing. He cares about people. He wants people to come to know Him and spend eternity with Him in His home.

What about you? On an emotional level, where do you consider your home to be? And what about on a spiritual level, where do you think your eternal home will be? If you are not sure, check out Jesus and what He has to say about it. He will gladly point you in the right direction.

Photo courtesy of PIxabay.