The following is a part of the Man Cave Mentoring Lesson at the Sunshine Rescue Mission on 3/16/21.

          The devil loves to keep us busy doing the wrong things to keep our minds off of focusing on the God things in our lives. B.U.S.Y is an acronym for "Being Under Satan's Yoke." We're not sure who used it first, but we heard about it from our friend Christos Terzan. For the first part of our class today we read the devil's letter to his demon followers. 

The following was taken from Full Circle Refuge.
Satan called a worldwide convention of demons.
In his opening address he said,
“We can’t keep Christians from going to church.”
“We can’t keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth.”
“We can’t even keep them from forming an intimate relationship with their Savior.”
“Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken.”
“So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered dish dinners; BUT, steal their time, so they don’t have time to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ.”
“This is what I want you to do,” said the devil:
“Distract them from gaining hold of their Savior and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!”
“How shall we do this?” his demons shouted.
“Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds,” he answered.
“Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow.”
“Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty lifestyles.”
“Keep them from spending time with their children.”
“As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work!”
“Over-stimulate their minds so they cannot hear that still, small voice.”
“Entice them to play the radio or CD player whenever they drive.” To keep the TV, VCR, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their home and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-Biblical music constantly.”
“This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ.”
“Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers.”
“Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day.”
“Invade their driving moments with billboards.”
“Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter, and promotional offering free products, services and false hopes..”
“Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their husbands will believe that outward beauty is what’s important, and they’ll become dissatisfied with their wives.”
“Keep the wives too tired to love their husbands at night. Give them headaches too! ”
“If they don’t give their husbands the love they need, they will begin to look elsewhere. That will fragment their families quickly!”
“Give them Santa Claus to distract them from teaching their children the real meaning of Christmas.”
“Give them an Easter bunny so they won’t talk about His resurrection and power over sin and death.”
“Even in their recreation, let them be excessive. Have them return from their recreation exhausted.”
“Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on God’s creation. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies instead.”
“Keep them busy, busy, busy!”
“And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so they leave with troubled consciences.”
“Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Jesus.”
“Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause.”
“It will work!”
“It will work!”
It was quite a plan!
The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get busier and more rushed, going here and there, having little time for their God or their families.
Having no time to tell others about the power of Jesus to change lives.
I guess the question is, has the devil been successful in his schemes?
You be the judge!!!!!
Does “BUSY” mean:
B-eing U-nder S-atan’s Y-oke?
If it does, it’s not normal.
In His love and service,
Jeff Myers
A servant of Jesus Christ

          Spend time with God. Spend time with family. Spend time with friends. Don't take any relationship for granted. Life passes too quickly. Don't hold back on revealing your belief in Christ. being too busy for Christ will mean He's too busy for you.
          Plan time to spend with God. Plan time to spend with God. Plan time to spend with God.
​Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we.

The following is a partial recollection of our Man Cave discussion at the Sunshine Rescue Mission on March 9, 2021.

          When hiking on a mountain trail with a lot of rocks in your path, you may have a tendency to walk with your head down to keep from tripping. When our heads are down, we miss the mule deer, elk, coyote, javelina or the many different kinds of birds in the forest. We miss the beauty of clouds on a horizon or a brilliant clue sky. It's okay to trip once in awhile and take your eyes off the obstacles to see opportunities.
          On March 9, 1841, the US Supreme Court voted to release from an American prison a group of folks who'd been called slaves. Slavery was still legal in many parts of the world including America. Transporting people with the intent on enslaving them was a violation of international law. The order was given to release 35 people (the original number was 53, but while on the voyage or in prison, 18 of them perished.) Funds were donated by compassionate folks to finance their return trip to Sierra Leone.
          On July 2, 1839, a group of 53 Africans were forced to board a slave ship bound for Cuba. Some had been kidnapped, others sold to pay family debts and a few were captured in war. After being sold to a couple of Cuban plantation owners, they boarded a ship bound for the other side of Cuba. A few days after leaving shore, the group mutinied and took control of the ship. They ordered the plantation owners to take them back to Africa. Eventually the wandering ship was overtaken by the US Navy in waters off of Long Island, NY - a long way from Sierra Leone. The name of the ship was "Amistad." which is Spanish for "Friendship."
          Upon their release, the Africans were accompanied by American Missionaries on their return voyage. After arriving in Freetown, Sierra Leone many of the freed people went back to their families. Some stayed with the Missionaries as they established the Komende Mission. Komende in Afrikaans means "forthcoming,  approaching,  coming,  nearing,  imminent,  future,  impending,  oncoming,  near,  prospective,  advancing,  progressing,  at hand,  close,  docking,  looming,  next,  rising,  in the cards,  in the offing," It's used to mean: "The upcoming generation is expected to be well-informed."
          One of the abducted children was named Margru which meant "black snake" in her language. The missionaries gave her a new name, Sarah Kinson. Sarah in the Bible means "lady, princess, noblewoman" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of Abraham's wife, considered the matriarch of the Jewish people. She was barren until she unexpectedly became pregnant with Isaac at the age of 90. Her name was originally Sarai, but God changed it at the same time Abraham's name was changed (see Genesis 17:15). Sara Kinson was educated in America and returned to Africa in November 1849 as the "schoolmistress" of the Komende Mission's new girls' school.
          We found that to be a fascinating story. Before we move on to make some deep observations, lets look at two other small, seemingly low impact stories.

1. ​Everyday I walk the grounds where I live to check the status of the spring bulbs that I planted last fall. Slowly they're popping up through slowly thawing ground after a long winter Shabbatt (Hebrew word for rest." 
2. My last failure happened on March 2, 2021 when I failed to meet my daily goal of 10,000 steps. I marked the day on my calendar as I resolved to begin again and correct the reasons that lead to my failure. My day of new beginnings was March 4th. I gave myself one day of rest to grieve my failure before beginning again.

Some valuable points:

• Rocks in our path can trip us or become stepping stones. Fear of tripping can cause missed opportunities. Michael Jordan was one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He missed more shots than he made, but he was never afraid to shot again.
• Abducted people became slaves on a ship called Friendship. They fought back and appeared to lose as they were put in prison. After two years they were freed and were shipped back to Africa to Freetown. Bad things turn into good things when they're given to God. Romans 8:28 AMP "And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose."
• Planting and planning both have a preparation process that requires patience. Fall is a time of letting go (put bulbs in the ground for future growth. Winter is a time of rest. Let God do His perfect work in you. Spring is a time of new beginnings and fresh starts. Summer is the celebration that reveals God's glory.
• People do things that may not be in the will of God, but all things that happen are allowed by God. Allow Him to do His work in you, and His will is revealed through you - regardless of what others do to you.

           Scripturally we examined a ruthless story in 2 Samuel 13 about the Rape of Tamar. It's a nasty story about an innocent young virgin who is taken advantage of by an immoral man. She was victimized and re-victimized by her brother. Too often we re-victimize people by telling them they should have done something to avoid being victimized. Go overboard with compassion and empathy.
          One of our main learning points today was "Don't Compare Yourself To Others." We will not measure up as a basketball player with someone like Michael Jordan. God wants you to be the best you He created you to be. Don't cheat God by trying to be someone else.
          There's another way we compare ourselves to others - we expect them to be like us. Just because we've been successful at conquering a problem like addiction, doesn't mean other folks can use the same method. Encourage people with your successes, but leave room for people to own their own stuff. The Bible is a life plan for all people, but it's also written to us as individuals. Having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ means He knows us all uniquely. 
          Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we.

Phnom Penh Killing Field Skull.JPG Created: 29 October 2011 Used under Creative Commons License,  
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phnom_Penh_Killing_Field_Skull.JPG
The following story is a partial representation of material shared during a mentoring class at the Sunshine Rescue Mission on 3-2-21

           In the four years between 1975-79 after I graduated from high school, I don't remember thinking about millions of people being slaughtered in Cambodia. The Killing Fields were named after the discovery of millions of executed Cambodians found in mass graves in about 300 sites throughout the country. Pol Pot was a genocidal despot who lead the murderous regime of the Khmer Rouge in wiping out almost one quarter of the population of Cambodia in only four years. Is it possible for a genocide to happen in America?
          You might think that seems like a ridiculous question, but how does a genocide happen in the first place? While  reading some of the survivor accounts and thinking about events in America today, I started to feel an extreme heaviness push down on my heart. As the sadness gripped me, a dismal thought came to mind, "Is it I, Lord?"
          In light of my life with many mistakes, that's a question I've often asked myself. It comes from a question the Disciples asked Jesus in Matthew 26:21-22. "Now as they were eating, He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, “Lord, is it I?” A guy named Judas was the one. He betrayed Jesus for some money and became part of the crucifixion story as Christ was murdered in unspeakable horror.
          Now the seemingly ridiculous question of genocide in America enters into an even more ridiculous thought process. How does a good friend betray somebody so special who healed people and came to save others? Why do all of His good friends even have to ask if they're the one capable of betraying Jesus? 
          Nobody believes that genocide will happen to them in the land of freedom, but why do guys who've been walking with Jesus, His close friends, actually think they could become betrayers? Because they are, and so are we. As human beings we're all capable of loving like Mother Teresa, killing like Pol Pot and betraying like Judas.
          The Khmer Rouge engaged in a sadistic genocide with the goal of returning Cambodia to the "golden age." The poor would farm the land in a quest for self sustenance and all capitalistic influences would be banned. Their methods to force people to comply were barbaric, ruthless and inhuman. How does a human commit inhuman atrocities? How are people convinced that it's in their best interests to betray friends, neighbors and family members?
          I was never personally a first hand witness to a holocaust, genocide or slavery, but I have witnessed the barbarity of gangland executions. Here's one thing I've learned, the first killing is the hardest and the second is easier and then it becomes easily accepted. After a young gang member is convinced that he has to join a gang, he tries to convince gang leaders that he's worthy of becoming a gangster. He's given a task which many times means killing somebody. The young, immature mind is convinced. that this act of murder is necessary. Misguided adrenaline helps him conquer fear and nervousness to put courage in his trigger finger. The only failure is not making sure the victim is dead. Usually the adrenaline makes him empty his weapon to make sure the execution is complete. Killing the first victim is the hard, but evil has a way of growing on you. Eventually the youngster develops a sociopathic mindset and kills without any trace of a guilty conscience. 
          What happened in Cambodia can happen again in any country. All it takes is spreading the bait of half-truths, combining them with fear and wrapping them up as hope for the hopeless; and you have a ready made hungry audience. Once the naked truth of Marxist control becomes known, it's often too late. Young people are taken from their families and brainwashed into committing atrocities. Friends, relatives and neighbors turn on each other for fear of becoming the next target of torture and execution. Slowly the insidious fear takes over neighborhoods, cities and then a country.
          The destruction of normal social structures is one of the main weapons of Communistic ideologies. The government is in charge of everything and controls the population in many ways including:

• Dictating the number of children you can have.(Forced abortions.)
• Taking away rights like business and property ownership (Fostering communal ownership.) 
• Discrimination against religious beliefs.
• Forced acceptance of political ideologies.
• Censorship of any opinion contrary to government control.

          Those who are instrumental in sowing the destructive seeds of genocide start by classifying people as enemies or followers. In the worst case scenarios, enemies are either imprisoned with the intention of brainwashing them or exterminated.
          Where is America today? It's easy to see the influence of big companies, social media censorship and foreign influence. The political parties have many members who cater to special interests who fund their political campaigns. The current President has signed executive orders allowing taxpayer monies to support the killing of children through abortion in this country and overseas. Cities have experienced destruction at the hands of angry mobs. Organizations claim to stand up for victims of racism and oppression while hiding their true mission of destroying nuclear families.  They act much like the wolf who dressed up as Grandma. 
          I read about a Rwandan Genocide survivor who said what's happening in America is eerily similar to what happened in his country before the Genocide. When a group or groups of people are treated as second class citizens, the process of dehumanization begins. Differences of opinion are turned into accusations of bigotry and hatred. Separating people by classes can lead to inhuman treatment. When enough folks engage in mistreating a class of people over an extended period of time, inhumanity becomes the norm and is no longer viewed as inhuman.
          In America, many people who identify as Christians or other religions have become targets of government legislation. If you have a Biblical mindset as a Christian, that means you wouldn't support the passage of the Equality Act. It doesn't mean that you don't love folks who do support the Act. We believe what God wrote in the Bible. God created man and women in His image. Changing the image of who He created to be is like telling God He made a mistake. Personally I'd never want to do that. Nations fall when God is replaced by idols. Pursuing self-fulfillment outside of the will of God is pursuing an idol of destruction.

• "For the nations that refuse to serve you will be destroyed." Isaiah 60:12 NLT 
• "Some find their strength in their weapons and wisdom, but my miracle deliverance can never be won by men. Our boast is in the Lord our God, who makes us strong and gives us victory!" Psalm 20:7 TP
• Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image and likeness. And let them rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky. Let them rule over the tame animals, over all the earth and over all the small crawling animals on the earth.” So God created human beings in his image. In the image of God he created them. He created them male and female." Genesis 1:26-27 ICB

          Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we.