Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Istoria Ministries Seeks to Discover Story Origins

I am President of a 501C-3 non-profit called Istoria Ministries. Friends helped me start this non-profit nearly a decade ago. Its purpose is to help people discover how their stories integrate with the Person and work of Jesus Christ so that His Story becomes all of our stories. 

That's a long way of saying I write to promote Christ and His Kingdom.

I like to find out about people - where they come from, why they are the way they are, and what circumstances have contributed to the place they're in right now. Every person's story is unique, for God makes each of us unique, but the story of Christ is for everyone. My goal is to offer some spiritual encouragement to people who need some direction in their marriage, their career, or their life. 

I've been asked before to give a visual of what Istoria Ministries is about. So, here goes. 

Have you ever watched a movie made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM? You know it's an MGM movie because of the 8-second introduction with a lion roaring inside the MGM logo (see below).

via GIPHY

I work through Istoria Ministries to find out the story of the lion (or as is true in my writing, the stories of real people). Who is he/she? What is his/her background? Why has God placed this person in my sphere of influence at this time?

By the way, the lion's name is Jackie.

Below is an MGM photo of the MGM logo of the roaring lion being filmed in 1928. This shoot is the movie clip that you at the beginning of every MGM movie, even 92 years later. 


Jackie was brought to the United States from Sudan. MGM began using a recording of Jackie for the beginning of their "talking" movies - impressing patrons with the roar of Jackie since they had never heard "sound" in the silent movies of the 1920s. Jackie's roar was the first thing heard by moviegoers in the first "sound" movies. The studio actually had to build a sound stage around his cage in order to record his roar.

Now you know the rest of the story!

I tell people about the Lion of the Tribe of Judah and how He can change their lives. 

I want to thank those who have supported Istoria Ministries over the years. I've never drawn a salary from Istoria, but donations have helped with research, travel, and giving books away to those who write to Istoria with a prayer need or a request for spiritual encouragement. One day I will be retiring from pastoring to focus on writing full-time and Istoria Ministries will be my means of support so that I can write books that may not be a commercial success, but will all about the story of Christ and His work on our behalf and how His Story can change the trajectory of our stories!

The Face of Grace, the newest book, was just released this week. I look forward to many more books in the years to come! Thank you for your support!





29 comments:

Victorious said...

...just a bit of trivia...

... impressing patrons with the roar of Jackie since they had never heard "sound" in the silent movies of the 1920s

That brought back memories since my mother used to play the piano for the silent movies. :)

Wade Burleson said...

Cool, Victorious!

Rex Ray said...

Wade,

You wrote: “The studio actually had to build a sound stage around his cage in order to record his roar”.

But the picture on your post doesn’t show the lion in a cage, and I worried about the safety of the men.

I read something today that made me think for once, Democrats are smarter than Republicans; a higher percentage of them plan not to take the COVID-19 vaccine.

Rex Ray said...

JOKE OF THE DAY

“I’m so angry with my mother for voting for Biden; I’ll neve visit her grave again!”

Wade Burleson said...

Rex,

Now that is funny. :)

CM said...

Well Rex,

Here is a cartoon in response:

https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorial-cartoons/article247318339.html

Dan from Georgia said...

Awesome CM!

Rex Ray said...

Sojourner,

Today, “The Leader” newspaper explained why they didn’t print what you wrote about the COVID-19 being a fraud. They decide they couldn’t print what an unknown source said.

Today, they said they’d print what’s below.

Jon Rappoport was a candidate for a US Congressional seat in the 29th District of California. He was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, and has worked as an investigative reporter for 30 years; writing articles on medicine, and health for CBS Healthwatch, LA Weekly, Spin Magazine, Stern, and other newspapers and magazines in the US and Europe. He wrote:

A document of the CDC states: “No quantified virus isolates of the COVID-19 are currently available.” Their words, not mine. The CDC is admitting the virus hasn’t been isolated. In other words, its existence is unproven. Why don’t they have it? Because they can’t isolate it. If they could, they would.

The CDC has no virus. No one has an isolated specimen of the virus. No one has proved it exist. The Pandemic is a fraud! It’s nothing but the flu we have every year.

Anonymous said...

Rex,

I urge readers to visit Massey’s site and read her new article and follow all the links. Her findings are stunning. She and her team have made about 40 FOI requests to public health agencies in various countries, requesting proof that SARS-CoV-2 has been isolated. You’ll see from the responses that not one agency has records demonstrating isolation.

https://blog.nomorefakenews.com/2020/12/18/sars-cov-2-has-not-been-proven-to-exist/

When will honest people quit shooting the messenger and simply deal with the facts?

Anonymous said...

Rex,

I urge readers to visit Massey’s site and read her new article and follow all the links. Her findings are stunning. She and her team have made about 40 FOI requests to public health agencies in various countries, requesting proof that SARS-CoV-2 has been isolated. You’ll see from the responses that not one agency has records demonstrating isolation.

https://blog.nomorefakenews.com/2020/12/18/sars-cov-2-has-not-been-proven-to-exist/

When will honest people quit shooting the messenger and simply deal with the facts?

Rex Ray said...

Wade,
OFF TOPIC

There are several things that bother me about the book of Job being a real event. I believe it’s great reading to teach God’s truth. “Though he slay me, yet will I trust him.” (Job 13:15 KJ)

FIRST PROBLEM
Friends like to be with each other and talk. But people don’t like to be with others that bother them. With that being said, why would God talk with the devil that caused the death of his Son?
SECOND PROBLEM
Jesus said “…I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning.” (Luke 10:19 NLT) I’m sure the power of God cast Satan from heaven. “One day the members of the heavenly court came to present themselves to the Lord, and the Accuser, Satan came with them.” (Job 1:6 and 2:1 NLT)
Did God change his mind and bring him back to heaven?
THIRD PROBLEM
God and Satan played a game in form of a contest. Wade, as a kid, would you rather play games with friends or kids you didn’t like?
THIRD PROBLEM
I don’t believe God would allow Job’s innocent ten children to be killed.
FORTH PROBLEM
I believe Job would mourn all his life for his children that were killed.
FIFTH PROBLE
God rewarded Job by doubling all he’d lost, but not his children. I think it’d be impossible for his wife to have 20 more children even if she wanted to.

Christiane said...

Look up into the western sky just after sunset tonight to see Jupiter and Saturn in a position that is being called 'the Christmas Star'. :) Even the heavens celebrate the Coming of the Light into the world. Hope the skies are clear tonight so we may see this natural phenomenon.


On another note, I must caution that alternate realities and conspiracy theories may be 'entertaining' and provide some escape from the difficulties of our lives;
except when we buy into that which causes us to question reality and to abandon what we know from experience is trust-worthy. It can lead us into abandoning that which is trust-worthy and in doing that which may be harmful to ourselves and to others.

Right now, I've taken a look into some of the 'alternate' thinking and it was like 'falling down the rabbit hole' and encountering the strangest world where 'accountability' for behaviors was set aside in favor of 'alternative truths' . . .

I have to caution people that once you abandon what you know is solid and helpful, in favor of that which 'tickles your ears',
you may encounter ideas that lead you and your beloved dear ones into trouble and sickness.

Try to stay with 'the Good Way' that is found in the teachings of the sacred Scriptures, and trust the knowledge of God that is revealed in Christ. His parables and example are something you can count on.

This advice from St. Paul in the sacred Scriptures says much:
"But I fear lest, as the serpent seduced Eve by his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted, and fall from the simplicity that is in Christ." (2 Cor. 11:3)

You can find shelter in Christ, and peace. If you are 'searching' for other sources of guidance and wisdom that is 'alternative', remember the words of St. Paul and avoid the evils that would lure you away from 'THE SIMPLICITY THAT IS IN CHRIST'.

Even children know this. This time of year, they seem to know this very well:

"Charlie Brown:
'Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?'

Linus Van Pelt:
'Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about.
Lights, please.

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’” (Linus' quote is from the Holy Gospel of St. Luke)

That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.” "


Dear people, forget the gimmicks and 'fun' conspiracy theories,
and instead return to the simplicity that is IN CHRIST.
May the peace of Christ be with all of you this season and may God keep you safe from all harm. :)

Christiane said...

Look up into the western sky just after sunset tonight to see Jupiter and Saturn in a position that is being called 'the Christmas Star'. :) Even the heavens celebrate the Coming of the Light into the world. Hope the skies are clear tonight so we may see this natural phenomenon.


On another note, I must caution that alternate realities and conspiracy theories may be 'entertaining' and provide some escape from the difficulties of our lives;
except when we buy into that which causes us to question reality and to abandon what we know from experience is trust-worthy. It can lead us into abandoning that which is trust-worthy and in doing that which may be harmful to ourselves and to others.

Right now, I've taken a look into some of the 'alternate' thinking and it was like 'falling down the rabbit hole' and encountering the strangest world where 'accountability' for behaviors was set aside in favor of 'alternative truths' . . .

I have to caution people that once you abandon what you know is solid and helpful, in favor of that which 'tickles your ears',
you may encounter ideas that lead you and your beloved dear ones into trouble and sickness.

Try to stay with 'the Good Way' that is found in the teachings of the sacred Scriptures, and trust the knowledge of God that is revealed in Christ. His parables and example are something you can count on.

This advice from St. Paul in the sacred Scriptures says much:
"But I fear lest, as the serpent seduced Eve by his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted, and fall from the simplicity that is in Christ." (2 Cor. 11:3)

You can find shelter in Christ, and peace. If you are 'searching' for other sources of guidance and wisdom that is 'alternative', remember the words of St. Paul and avoid the evils that would lure you away from 'THE SIMPLICITY THAT IS IN CHRIST'.

Even children know this. This time of year, they seem to know this very well:

"Charlie Brown:
'Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?'

Linus Van Pelt:
'Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about.
Lights, please.

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’” (Linus' quote is from the Holy Gospel of St. Luke)

That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.” "


Dear people, forget the gimmicks and 'fun' conspiracy theories,
and instead return to the simplicity that is IN CHRIST.
May the peace of Christ be with all of you this season and may God keep you safe from all harm. :)

Rex Ray said...

Wade,
Thanks for printing my thoughts about Job. Another thought about not being realistic is “Curse God and die.” (2:9) I doubt a wife has ever said that since the world began.

Sojourner, thanks for your link: https://blog.nomorefakenews.com/2020/12/18/sars-cov-2-has-not-been-proven-to-exist/

I took the liberty of condensing it:
COVID-19 has not been proven to exist by Jon Rappoport December 18, 2020
“High praise goes to Christine Massey, for her work in exposing the COVID-19 is a fraud. She wrote: “Freedom of Information reveals Public Health Agency of Canada has no record of COVID-19 isolation!”
She and her team have made about 40 requests to public health agencies in various countries, requesting proof that COVID-19 has been isolated. Not one agency has records of isolation. The virus has not been proven to exist. Lies have stolen the livelihoods from at least a billion people.”

Rex Ray said...

I thought Christiane Massey report on Canada would show Canada had not drank the Kool-Aid, but the link below shows they’ve drowned in it.

The link below states: “Anyone returning to Canada must be quarantined for two weeks. If they don’t, they may be put in prison.”

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/2019-novel-coronavirus-information-sheet.html

Christiane said...

REX RAY,

Canadians are 'realists' for the most part. My father's homeland is known for strong, hardy people who DO THEIR OWN THINKING, you bet !

not to argue, but I AM very proud of my father's beautiful homeland - here's a Canadian song you might enjoy:

https://youtu.be/FIjFpwsXhuI

Christiane said...

interesting views from the BBC (the Brits)
https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-53997203

Rex Ray said...

Wade,

HELP!

The scare of COVID-19 is doing our church much harm. In days passed, before the service began for about five minutes, everyone shook hands and spoke to each other, and there was a warm feeling of fellowship. That’s been eliminated.

Now every other bench has been moved against the bench in front of it so only half the benches are available. However, the people have plenty of seating space because there’s less people.

We’ve only had church on TV because our pastor believes the church is ‘contaminated’ since our song director got sick. (He didn’t get a flu shot!)

We’ve not had a ‘deacon’s meeting’ in about a year. Yesterday, our SS class met at our house.

By TEXT, the pastor said our “Lord’s Supper” would be carried out in our homes, and ‘supplies’ would be available at church from 3 PM to 5 PM.

Usually, people don’t like ‘change’ and I’m one. I didn’t pick them up, and refused to take ‘supplies’ when they were brought by. Pastor announced, there’d be no Christmas Eve service.

“Let us not neglect our meeting together…” (Hebrews 10:25 NLT)

Anonymous said...

Well, Rex, according to Al Mohler everyone in your church ought to get the “safe and effective” vaxx in order to properly love your neighbor.

https://albertmohler.com/2020/12/14/vaccines-and-the-christian-worldview-principles-for-christian-thinking-in-the-context-of-covid

Seems most Christians are totally unaware of the tactics governments use to manipulate the masses into group think (JFK, OK City bombing, 9/11, school shootings, etc).

Ever heard of morgellon’s symptom/disease? Most haven’t though many have the typical symptoms from the result of decades of stratospheric aerosol injections that our government has denied. Those pesky self-replicating nanotubes are impossible to avoid.

Last month I was driving on 29 outside of Brookings, SD on a 75 degree day. Saw only one cloud big bank in the sky ahead that military jets would turn their spray on when they reached the formation, then turn it off when they got on the other side. No less than three planes did the exact same thing.

https://www.morgellonsexposed.com/chemtrails-morgellons-worse-thought/

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pzW5Kb8u0Og

Christiane said...

REX RAY,

I'm not Wade and I would never speak for him; but it sounds like your Pastor loves you all and wants the best for you especially now we are SO CLOSE to receiving the vaccine that may protect the vulnerable. I hope your Church's song director recovers soon, and may God bless him in his illness. My sister-in-law is worse. I've got my brother's family's picture right by my coffee pot in the kitchen and pray everytime I look at it. I'm really worried for them.

Be patient. Pray for those who are ill. Put all upset and anger away, and be thankful for all blessings and the goodness of those who care not just for themselves but for many others, sometimes at their own peril.
You can get mad at me, if you want to get mad. I don't mind. Just calm down afterward and be peaceful again. That's important.

About the Lord's Supper and 'our meeting together', it's about being "in Him, with Him, and through Him, that the Church is one entity joined together in the Body of Christ and sheltered in His Peace. Take comfort in that. Soon things will be better. Take care.
All shall be well in the Kingdom of Our Lord.

Christiane said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Christiane said...

Hello Sojourner,

chem trails? LOL

soon I expect you'll be introducing REX RAY to that 'lizard people' conspiracy theory - but I don't think he will buy into that one

strange times, these, when people are isolated, worried, wanting to get out and meet again and impatient for 'normal' to come - the anxiety and depression opens people up to become victims of conspiracy theories that prey on the ones looking for 'answers' that are convenient,
but in the end,
I think good old American common sense will win out.

Anonymous said...

Christiane, that “chemtrails” are simply contrails is one of the easier conspiracy theories to invalidate as many have with their own observation and research over the past two decades. The person in the first article I referenced put in over 2500 hrs in one year with his own research and data collection.

Care to share what efforts you’ve gone to in order to LOL me away? I hope it’s much more than a thirty second google search that so many bloggers have succumbed to. 🙂

I’m afraid the powers that be have us barking up the wrong tree (as usual) in attempts to coral us into thinking we need something of theirs to keep us safe and healthy, when the exact opposite appears to be in play. We are all part of one grand “scientific” experiment that none of us consented to.

Nothing new - remember the Tower of Babel when man wanted to be like God?

5 But the Lord came down(J) to see the city and the tower the people were building. 6 The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language(K) they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us(L) go down(M) and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.”(N)

Notice what God concluded: “then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them”. Perhaps “science” (artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, etc. funded and controlled by the 1% elite mixed with a bunch of Satan’s lies) is the new language of present day Babel (New World Order).

http://allanturner.com/article17.html

https://smartech.gatech.edu/bitstream/handle/1853/62452/LARGEST_UNETHICAL_MEDICAL_EXPERIMENT_FINAL.pdf?sequence=4&isAllowed=y

Christiane said...

Sojourner, my evaluation of Jon Rappoport following your reference to conspiracy theorist Jon Rappoport led me on a path that went down a rabbit hole to the world of David Icke and Alex Jones,
so the 'lizard people' reference was to the 'reptilian' theories by David Icke, which have thrilled those receptive of 'strange revelations' that tickle their ears and point to the 'annointed one', Donald J. Trump.

So I do find these references to not be credible. But more so, I fear for all of you who buy into these conspiracy theories in ways that may bring you harm;
and in that sense, I do not 'LOL', but stay worried for what might come to you in your vulnerability to such teachings as 'gospel' or 'truth'.

I'd rather you stayed focused on the Holy Gospels of Our Lord in the sacred Scriptures, and pointed people only to Christ-the Revealer of God, to be honest. But I cannot tell you how to think or what to believe:
I can only hope that some of the information out there that you encounter does not bring you into harm's way. In that sense, I appeal to the Good Lord to look after you as we know He is mindful even of the sparrows. I sincerely hope you stay safe. I applaud your 'freedom' to think as you wish. I know that some of the conspiracy theories are harmful to vulnerable people, though. And I have no "LOL" for that. Take care.

Rex Ray said...

Sojourner,

Your saying, “…how governments manipulate masses…JFK…”, got my attention fast.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18527305-lbj-and-the-kennedy-killing

The link above tells of a book by James Tague, Tague was an eye witness and wounded by flying concrete made by a bullet. Wade has read this book and gave it a thumbs-up.

Malcolm E. Wallace worked for LBJ and was killed for wanting more money and bragging he’d killed 17 people for LBJ. Page 406 tells Wallace’s fingerprints were in the ‘Sniper’s window’.

Tague’s book Copyright is 2013. He died less than a year later. He lived in Bonham. We had become friends and I attended his funeral.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Tague

The link above tells more.

Anonymous said...

Sorry, looks like my link above is no longer working. Try this one for now before internet censorship takes it down:

https://everydayconcerned.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/untitled.pdf

Basically, the SAI in the sky via aircraft has been dumping heavy metals and nano particulates on the entire earth's surface for decades (in the name of global warming), all living things absorb and/or inhale making everything more metallic and antenna like so that the extreme amounts of radiation via EMF's and millimeter waves (think 5g) are much more effective in negatively changing all cellar makeup, combine this with the extreme amounts of chemical poisoning and gmo manipulation in our food - anyone honest must conclude this is a recipe for disaster for nature and mankind.

Most governments are obviously very aware of this fact, but don't care one iota to fund studies and warn people, and are instead in collaboration with big tech companies about pushing false narratives (propaganda 24/7) about fake viruses jumping from monkeys and pigs to people to get folks begging for the latest injection (harmful toxic ingredients), while at the same time are complicit in getting them (and their businesses) hooked on the latest I phone and wi-fi. Yet, bees and trees are dying all over the world and we wonder why? Complete cognitive dissonance insanity!

Christiana - Nope, I'm not into any lizard theories. For your encouragement in Christ (do not fear...he will rescue you!):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQTnREEtuNk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYR0xP1j4PY

Anonymous said...

Rex, thanks for the link!

If you want to immerse yourself into a little deeper understanding of proper virus isolation to help your church get back to pre-convid days, then you might want to listen to this fascinating conversation between Jon Rappoport and Dr. Cowan. They also touch on genetic sequencing and how the software is tainted (like Dominion). Wink wink. :)

https://truthcomestolight.com/dr-tom-cowan-w-jon-rappoport-sars-cov-2-has-never-been-isolated-is-only-an-imaginary-or-theoretical-virus-and-therefore-no-test-can-detect-it/

Christiane said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Christiane said...

Sojourner,
I would not encourage you to use the Holy Name of Our Lord in conjunction with the cultic push to deny the ability of covid-19 to kill the most vulnerable in our nation. Honestly, to me it seems more a model based on Jim Jone's 'Jonestown' as Trump’s rhetoric doesn’t matter if people are willing to follow it to their own deaths, or push his ideas encouraging the deaths of others. Drinking the 'kool-aid' results in the willing giving up of life for a Jones or a Trump, but it is forbidden to do evil so that good may come,
and using Our Lord as an 'encouragement' to enter that into the dark realm where some willingly and some unknowingly MUST DIE for the sake of a Jones or a Trump seems more an abrogation of one's faith than an affirmation of it.

I see this from another point of view, both realistically and theologically, so my comment may not 'translate',
but I am hopeful that you are all spared from harm.

Mostly, if there is SOME recognition that decisions are being made that 'others' must die so that your own convenience can continue,
I would abandon that position whole-heartedly and return to the Lord of Life as He was no 'Jim Jones' nor did He ask people to sacrifice others in His Name.

That's the best I can word it. Sorry if confusing. I am grieving. My words reflect that truth. Be safe.