Signs of The Coming Storm - A Rise in Crime

By Ray Gano

New Braunfels Police Make Arrest In Violent Stabbing

NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas -- A 46-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a violent stabbing at a New Braunfels Wal-Mart. Police have charged Juan Leandro Villareal with aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony. New Braunfels police said Villareal stabbed a 64-year-old woman several times at the store's parking lot around 11 a.m. Sunday.

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Layoffs to gut East St. Louis police force

EAST ST. LOUIS • The Rev. Joseph Tracy said he’s tired of going to funerals. And now, he suspects he’ll be going to more of them.

"It’s open field day now," said Tracy, the pastor of Straightway Baptist Church here. "The criminals are going to run wild."

Gang activity. Drug dealing. Cold-blooded killing. Tracy worries that a decision to shrink the police force by almost 30 percent will bring more of everything.

The pastor voiced his concern on Friday at a raucous special City Council meeting at which East St. Louis Mayor Alvin Parks announced that the city will layoff 37 employees, including 19 of its 62 police officers, 11 firefighters, four public works employees, and three administrators. The layoffs take effect on Sunday.

It is already a zoo out there and it is going to get a whole lot worse before it gets any better.

I am going to say some things here that many people will probably not agree with me on. If you are one of those, I  pray that you open your eyes to what is taking place around you.

Now you may be shielded from the effect that are taking place in the world, but sooner or later you will have to deal with the issues at  hand.

Christ  said…

Luke 22:36 (KJV)  Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.

1 Timothy 5:8 (KJV)  But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

Sheep, Wolves and The Sheepdog

I am seeing a movement take place.

One that I agree with, support and even consider myself one of them.

What is that movement?

The rise of the sheepdogs?

"What? You have got to be kidding me. Sheepdogs? "

We are seeing a rise of just  men and women answering a call. That call is to defend the weak, the innocent,  the helpless, the frail… these are the sheep. Those answering the call are the sheepdogs.

There is also a rapidly growing number of  those we call the wolves.

Wolves - There has always been the wolf. They prey on the weak, the sick, the feeble, the injured, etc. In the wild they serve the purpose to keep the herd strong.  Thus ensuring a strong future generation.

But when we talk about humans being the wolves, they are those who prey up on the weak, frail, the injured and the helpless. These are usually the deviants of society. Resorting to theft, murder, kidnapping as a means to survive. They are the predators and they prey upon the sheep.

In most cases the wolves of this world are cowards, even when hunting in a pack. Stand and fight against them, give a show of force stronger than they and often they will seek out a weaker form of prey and be done with you.

The Sheepdog - are those who stand at the ready to protect the sheep if that time comes.

The sheepdog mentality is not about carrying a gun or some other form of weapon. It isn't about being some 5th degree black belt either. Criminals have guns, weapons and know martial arts.

The sheepdog are also not better than the sheep, they  realize their calling to be ready as well as have the courage to back it up. They have taken the time to read the writing on the wall. But where the sheep have read the same thing, the sheepdogs have done something about it and have taken action.

Here in Texas one is able to have a carry and conceal license. Because one may have a C& C does not make them  tough, a bigger man or give them super strong muscles. In fact look at me,  I am not taller, more handsome, nor leap from tall buildings and I still can't stop trains with my bare hands.

But I am a sheepdog.

A sheepdog can be anyone prepared to protect the sheep.

But that is just one aspect of the Sheepdog.

Maybe you are a sheepdog and you do not realize it.

Sheepdogs…

- They have provided means to protect themselves, their family, and their home with as many means as possible.

- They prepared knowing that this situation was coming not only because they have learned from history, but they have studied God's Word, understanding what the future holds.

- They care for their family and are willing to do what it takes to ensure their health and welfare is secure.

- They blend into the crowd, walk with a purpose and completely alert to their surroundings before they even step outside their front door.

- They have prepared for the coming storm and have ensured their family is provided for.  One example is they have  a well stocked pantry - they see food as an investment and also a means to help their fellow man.

- The sheepdog knows how the end plays out. He or she knows that they are on the winning team and that in the end, it is Jesus Christ whom they serve. They know it is Him who they represent because it is their reasonable service to Christ dying on the cross and shedding His blood for our sins. They have submitted to Christ living a holy and acceptable life unto Him.

- They have a strong mental fortitude and have chosen to be the "sheepdog" when the calling was issued instead of just standing by being the "sheep."

Scripture tells us that there is nothing new under the sun. There will be good times and bad. Man will always repeat himself because he never pays attention to his past. There will also be sheep, wolves and sheepdogs.

Sheepdogs also understand fully when Christ said .. " he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one."

I am going to touch upon something here that again, people may not agree with me.

Folks, it is time for the sheepdogs to recognize who they are, to stand and start picking up the sword.

The wolves are growing in numbers to the point that they have outnumbered the sheep, and it is going to get worse.

Folks the Bible couldn't be clearer on the right – even the duty – we have as Christians to defend ourselves as well as the sheep.

I live in New Braunfels where that  predator wolf stabbed that elderly woman in the Walmart parking lot. Reading that story infuriated both my wife and I. Had I been there, I would have instantly and without hesitation gone to her aid. I will protect the sheep.  Interestingly enough, in talking to my wife she would have gone to her aid also given the ability.

Scripture says…

Exodus 22:2 (KJV)  If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him.

In other words if a thief breaks into your house,  you have the right to defend yourself, your  family and your property.  It doesn't matter whether the thief is threatening your life or not. You have the right to protect your home, your family and your property as well as using deadly force to do so.

Do you know that our founding fathers based the second amendment on scripture?

During the times of the Israelites it was expected that every man to have their own personal weapons.  There were no police in those times. If an enemy was at bay, every man would be able to defend himself, his house and family. If there were bands of enemy, they could  be called to arms to defend the town if need be. They didn't have an army to call upon, the people defended themselves.

Scripture says..

1 Samuel 25:13(KJV)  And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.

Note here that "every man" had a sword and when called upon, every man picked it up when it was required.

Psalms  144:1 (KJV)  A Psalm of David. Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:

Folks, we do not serve some limp wristed pacifist God like the one being taught about today. Over and over again we read in scripture that we are to defend not only ourselves,  but to defend the weak, the innocent, the frail, and the helpless.

They didn't have firearms in the bible, but they kept their arms at their side and at the ready.

As I have stated earlier, Jesus commanded His disciples to buy swords and equip them, strap them on.

Luke 22:36 (KJV)  Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.

Now I know that there are some out there who are stating how Jesus told Peter to put his sword up after cutting off the ear of the servant as well as living and dying by the sword and all.

Let's read what took place…

Matthew 26:52-54 (KJV)  Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

53  Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

54  But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

Often these verses are taken out of context. But when we do in fact read what is  taking place here in context, we can clearly see what is taking place.

What  Jesus was telling Peter is that he, Peter, would be committing suicide if he chose to fight.

Here were Roman soldiers and temple guards, both able and ready to dispatch all of the disciples if need be and in a moment's notice. Not only was this a foolish fight,  doing something like this was also undermining God's appointment for Jesus' death on the cross, burial and resurrection.  

What Christ did at that moment was defuse a very volatile situation by picking up the servant's ear and healing him by reattaching the ear again.

Please also note that Jesus told Peter to put his sword "into his place," which was back at his side. Christ didn't tell Peter to throw it away, hand it over or give it up.  I mean why would He after He just told his disciples to sell a coat if one had to so that they could purchase a sword?

The reason for the arms was obviously to protect the lives of the disciples, not the life of the Son of God.

But more than that, it was to ensure that they could protect themselves as well as the right to spread the gospel freely. Not only did Christ arm the disciples with knowledge of the ways of the Lord, He taught them to protect those ways, the ways of God,  and to defend them.

We are living in the last days of the last days. We know that our battle is not with flesh and blood, but with principalities.

But we as sheepdogs need to recognize that the time is now to stand and be willing to defend the weak, feeble, innocent and helpless because the wolves are beginning to outnumber the sheep. If we do not stand and be ready, not only will the weak, feeble, innocent and helpless lose, so will go our ability to freely share the gospel as well.

Finally, I want to share with you one of my favorite verses in scripture.

Ephesians  6:13(KJV)  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

That evil day that scripture is speaking about is upon the horizon. The time to prepare, to train, to "do all that we can" is here. We need to heed those words.

Because knowing that we have prepared, trained, studied  and know God's Word as well as have it anchored in our hearts. Knowing that we have prepared  the physical, the mental, the spiritual…

In other words " and in having done all…"

"To Stand."

What is your calling…. Sheep or Sheepdog?