Dear fellow pilgrims and friends in Christ,

We are aliens in this present world system—sojourners just passing through. As we go through our valleys of Baca (trouble) may we make them places of springs (Psalm 84:6). May we transform our environments of fear, terror, and death into refreshing gardens of peace and blessing through the love of Jesus Christ.

Let me refresh our memories with some very fundamental basics. God’s creation was very good. Man, however, flunked his test of obedience and became very bad. God promised to send a Messiah to crush the serpent’s head and set us free, but the wickedness became so bad that God was sorry He made man. He decided to wipe us all out, but Noah found grace in His eyes. After the flood, God was so blessed by Noah, that He made a covenant to never again curse the ground because of man "even though every inclination of man’s heart is evil from childhood." Genesis 9:21 God’s program was and is to give us a new heart because of Jesus. Our natural hearts are desperately wicked and deceitful and irreparable. We humans have always wanted to have God, and His blessings, and His approval on our old hearts and natures. God would not do that, and He will never do that.

After the flood men went to the plain of Shinar (modern Iraq) and said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the earth." Genesis 11:4 You know the story: The Lord confused the languages and did scatter them over the face of the whole earth. The place is called Babylon and we begin the conflict of Babylon vs. Zion; the city of man vs. the city of God; the city of man’s great prowess and glory and independence vs. the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. (Hebrews 11:10)

Modern Babylon is represented or embodied in several cities.

Geographic Babylon is in Iraq where Saddam Hussein has been restoring the ancient city.

Although some suggest Mecca or Salt Lake City or Jerusalem, I believe Religious Babylon is Rome where St. Peter’s and the Vatican testify to the great religion of man together with a forbidden Obelisk to the Sun God set centrally in the square in front of the basilica. Forgive me, but the image that came to me was of an extended middle finger into the face of God.

Economic Babylon is surely New York City with Wall Street and the ultimate testimony to the accomplishments of the worshippers of Mammon: the World Trade Towers. Nothing has ever equaled or rivaled the towers. They were a powerful statement.

The destruction of the towers is an even more powerful statement. No one expected them to come down the way they did. I doubt that even the terrorists thought they could do such damage. The entire world, leaders and people, saw the smoke of her burning and they wept over her. (Revelation 18:9) "Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry:

Woe! Woe, O great city,

O Babylon, city of power!

In one hour your doom has come." (Revelation 18:10)

What does all this mean for us? How does it apply in my life? How do I obey the command of God in Revelation 18:4,5: "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues; for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes." How do we do that?

Every place or part of my life that I see joined to or in agreement with Babylon, I must change -- radically and drastically. If I see that my "religion" is man made, man directed, man controlled, then I need to get out of that part of it as fast as I can. We are still battling our old natures and whenever our eyes are opened to see what is of God and what is of man, get out of the man part and run to Him Who invites us to come. Remember, we are in the world, but not of it; we use money, but we must never serve money; we love our enemies and pray for those who despitefully use us and persecute us; and we refuse to take any mark on the hand or head from any governmental entity.

Do you see the way things are set up for a world-unifying man of peace? Can you hear the logical appeals for personal, permanent, uncounterfeitable identification? Beloved, it appears that we will have the honor of serving Him in this tumultuous day of the birth pangs of the Kingdom Age.

Remember, "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you." (1 Peter 4:12) "Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering." Hebrews 13:3 And the appeal of Paul, "But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life -- not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace." (1 Timothy 1:8,9)

CHANGES

America has changed greatly for the better since 9-11. Much has been said and written about the unity, acceptance of prayer, helping spirit, etc. As real as all this is, I suspect it does not reveal a new heart or new life joined to Jesus, but the phenomenon of Psalm 76:10, "Surely your wrath against men brings you praise, and the survivors of your wrath are restrained."

It is, however, for us an unprecedented in recent times opportunity to lift up Jesus and rejoice as He draws all men unto Himself. Another breath-taking event that we pray will see millions turning to Jesus is the unfolding exodus of the "untouchables" out of Hinduism.

INDIA

November 4 is the scheduled meeting in Delhi, India of one million Dalits who represent up to 300,000,000 Hindu "untouchables." They are gathering to consider converting to Christianity or Buddhism. Their leaders were also going to allow Islam to be presented, but after September 11 that was removed as an option. Please pray that Jesus will be presented in all His love and glory and simplicity and not "religion." Pray for this unprecedented opportunity. This is one of the most exciting things I have ever heard, and the harvest that might come from this is as many people as the population of the United States.

LEADERSHIP MEETINGS

The recent leadership meetings have been a lot like our Crushed Grapes Days of the past. I am committed to holding these sessions monthly from 8:30 to noon on Saturdays. All are invited to come whether they are presently in leadership or not. The upcoming schedule is:

TRAVELS

The most recent trip throughout the mid-west was very fruitful, rewarding and super tiring. I arrived home at the Ranch October 10 after driving over 4,000 miles. I pray that I never drive that far again. I will fly, God willing, to Baltimore on October 31, and to Taiwan around the 20^th of January.

May the blessing of Him Who oversees all worldly events rest on you in confidence and faith. May He, so reveal the truth of His indwelling presence in you that nothing will shake you or draw your attention away from the Shepherd and Bishop of your soul. May it be true in you and in me that "God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though it’s waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah." (Psalm 46:1-3).

May you always bask and bathe in the "river whose streams make glad the city of God." (Psalm 46)