God Hears and Answers!

Praise awaits you, O God, in Zion; to you our vows will be fulfilled. O you who hear prayer, to you all men will come. When we were overwhelmed by sins, you atoned for our transgressions. Psalm 65:1–3

We must realize that everything that manifests itself in the physical, emotional, or psychological has its roots in the spiritual. Everyone must consider what they are chasing in life and if it will last. The world offers dry wells from which people seek fulfillment. But Father God who is the fountain of living water offers an oasis in a very dry and desolate world. When we are in a counseling people with some troubled person who has a marital problem or financial problem or some other kind of problem; I have to tell that person very honestly: God is extremely interested in you. However, we must understand that live in a culture where we want instant answers and instant success. We want everything we see on TV and more. We want everything at the speed of a microwave oven. We want instant healing, success, instant discipleship, instant holiness, and instant answers to our prayers. How many people do you know that have many material things but are miserable? When one chooses to follow Christ, this is not an easy road to embark on. We are constantly being pulled way to follow our desires and our will. God wants us to depend upon Him and follow His example. He does not want us to rely on our own strength, wisdom, or how the world wants us to think and act. He wants to lead. He wants us to ask Him for every area in our life. His answer may not what we want to hear but God will definitely answer. Usually, the answer to our questions is in God’s Word. We must also understand that we have an enemy that will resist us drawing near to God at every situation and circumstance in our lives. We need to check our hearts and see if really, we are embracing God and His promises.

That’s what the psalmist says, “O you who hear prayer, to you all men will come.” Ultimately everybody needs God. Everybody needs to know that God hears and answers prayer. That’s what’s going to bring, is the fact that God hears and answers prayer. It may not be the answer we expect or like but it is His answer. And there’s one special prayer that He delights to answer above all others and that is the prayer for forgiveness of our sins. When we’ve sinned and failed God and man we don’t need to turn away in despair, we can turn back to God, cry to Him for forgiveness and then we’ll be able to say, as the psalmist says there, “When we were overwhelmed by sins, You atoned for our transgressions.”

Don’t let fear or guilt or despair keep you from praying. When you are in trouble don’t blame God. Don’t run from the cross, run to the Cross of Calvary. Following Father God and His word is a long road of obedience in the same direction towards the Cross of Calvary. Remember, in the depths of your agony God hears and He answers prayer.

¿Por qué Dos? La diferencia entre el Antiguo y el Nuevo Testamento.

Introducción
Esta será una enseñanza que pondrá en duda muchas de nuestras ideas preconcebidas con respecto al Antiguo Testamento y su relación con el Nuevo Testamento. Les pido que mantengan la mente abierta mientras analizo con ustedes el significado y el propósito de este tema. Quiero preguntarles si el Antiguo Testamento era suficiente ¿por qué Dios Padre necesitaba crear el Nuevo Testamento?
Muchas personas quieren continuar viviendo en el Antiguo Testamento. No me malinterpreten, sé que el Antiguo Testamento es la palabra de Dios, pero su propósito fue presentado por muchas razones diferentes. En el Antiguo Testamento, había un sacerdocio, un lugar de adoración y reglas de adoración. en el Antiguo Testamento, no había cristianos nacidos de nuevo. En el Antiguo Testamento, Dios no habitaba dentro de su pueblo. En el Antiguo Testamento, no hay nuevas creaciones como dice en el Nuevo Testamento. Era una verdad parcial de la vida y misión terrenal del Mesías Cristo Jesús. Recuerde que las Escrituras son de naturaleza progresiva hasta la venida de Jesús y su obra redentora en el calvario.
Debemos entender que el hombre viejo termina con la cruz y el hombre nuevo comienza con la resurrección de Cristo. Dice en la escritura “si alguno está en Cristo, nueva criatura es”. Las cosas viejas pasaron y he aquí son hechas nuevas”.
2 Corintios 5:17. La cruz pone fin a la primera creación y de la muerte ha surgido una nueva creación en Cristo, la persona nacida de nuevo. Realmente creo que no entendemos la nueva creación. En el Antiguo Testamento nunca encontrarás a nadie nacido de nuevo. En el Antiguo Testamento nunca encontrarás a nadie donde Dios habite dentro de ellos. En el Antiguo Testamento el hombre tenía que ir al templo para comunicarse con Dios. En el Nuevo Testamento, Dios está dentro de nosotros. Somos Su templo. Nos comunicamos con Él a través de nuestro espíritu. Si estamos en Cristo, entonces Cristo viene a nosotros por gracia gratuita sin ningún esfuerzo de nuestra parte, sino que está edificado sobre la base sólida de una fe sencilla. ¿Cómo se vuelve esto real en nuestra experiencia? Esta es la esencia de esta enseñanza. Reconocer quiénes somos en Cristo. Entendiendo que nuestro viejo hombre está muerto y nosotros somos nuevos en Cristo. Permanecer en Él es darse cuenta de que Dios ha hecho la obra en Cristo y no en nosotros. Y la muerte todo-inclusiva de Adán es la resurrección todo-inclusiva en Cristo.

Muchas personas quieren vivir en el Antiguo Testamento. El Antiguo Testamento fue un tutor que le indicó a Israel la venida del Mesías. Las leyes de Dios fueron escritas en piedra en el Antiguo Testamento y en el Nuevo Testamento sus leyes están escritas en nuestro corazón. El Nuevo Testamento hace lo que el Antiguo Testamento no pudo hacer. El Antiguo Testamento mostró a los hombres sus pecados, pero no había poder para vencerlos porque Cristo aún no había muerto y resucitado.
¿Por qué no vemos las enseñanzas y los temas presentados en las epístolas del Antiguo Testamento o los evangelios? Una vez más, la razón es que las epístolas fueron escritas a la iglesia de la nueva creación. No hay nuevas creaciones’, personas nacidas de nuevo en el Antiguo Testamento. En los evangelios no se presentan personas nacidas de nuevo. De hecho, encontramos que incluso aquellos que siguieron de cerca a Jesús no entendieron Su propósito. No entendieron su plan de redención, ni la razón por la que tenía que ser crucificado. No fue hasta el final del evangelio de Mateo que Pedro tuvo la revelación del Espíritu Santo Cuando Jesús llegó a las costas de Cesárea de Filipo, preguntó a sus discípulos, diciendo: ¿Quién dicen los hombres que soy el Hijo del hombre? Y dijeron: unos dicen que tú eres Juan el Bautista; otros, Elías; y otros, Jeremías, o uno de los profetas. Él les dijo, pero ¿quién decís que soy yo? Y respondiendo Simón Pedro, dijo: Tú eres el Cristo, el Hijo del Dios viviente. Respondió Jesús y le dijo: Bienaventurado eres, Simón hijo de Jonás, porque no te lo reveló la carne ni la sangre, sino mi Padre que está en los cielos. Y te digo también a ti, que tú eres Pedro, y sobre esta Roca edificaré mi iglesia; y las puertas del infierno no prevalecerán contra ella. Y a ti te daré las llaves del reino de los cielos; y todo lo que ates en la tierra será atado en los cielos; y todo lo que desatares en la tierra será desatado en los cielos. Entonces encargó a sus discípulos que no dijeran a nadie que él era Jesús el Cristo. Y respondiendo Jesús, le dijo: Bienaventurado eres, Simón hijo de Jonás, porque no te lo reveló la carne ni la sangre, sino mi Padre que está en los cielos. Y te digo también a ti, que tú eres Pedro, y sobre esta Roca edificaré mi iglesia; y las puertas del infierno no prevalecerán contra ella. Y a ti te daré las llaves del reino de los cielos; y todo lo que ates en la tierra será atado en los cielos; y todo lo que desatares en la tierra será desatado en los cielos. Entonces encargó a sus discípulos que no dijeran a nadie que él era Jesús el Cristo. Y respondiendo Jesús, le dijo: Bienaventurado eres, Simón hijo de Jonás, porque no te lo reveló la carne ni la sangre, sino mi Padre que está en los cielos. Y te digo también a ti, que tú eres Pedro, y sobre esta Roca edificaré mi iglesia; y las puertas del infierno no prevalecerán contra ella. Y a ti te daré las llaves del reino de los cielos; y todo lo que ates en la tierra será atado en los cielos; y todo lo que desatares en la tierra será desatado en los cielos. Entonces encargó a sus discípulos que no dijeran a nadie que él era Jesús el Cristo. Y a ti te daré las llaves del reino de los cielos; y todo lo que ates en la tierra será atado en los cielos; y todo lo que desatares en la tierra será desatado en los cielos. Entonces encargó a sus discípulos que no dijeran a nadie que él era Jesús el Cristo. Y a ti te daré las llaves del reino de los cielos; y todo lo que ates en la tierra será atado en los cielos; y todo lo que desatares en la tierra será desatado en los cielos. Entonces encargó a sus discípulos que no dijeran a nadie que él era Jesús el Cristo. Mateo. 16:13-20. Entonces, ¿cuándo estuvo completo? No fue sino hasta la obra completa de Jesús en el Calvario con Su muerte, descenso a los infiernos, Su resurrección y glorificación. Ahora Él está sentado a la diestra de Dios Padre y la escritura dice que estamos sentados con Él. Y todo poder nos es dado a nosotros como Su iglesia. Somos los ojos, la boca, las manos y los pies de nuestro Señor Jesús en la tierra.

¡Dios Padre revelando a Su Hijo, Cristo Jesús en los Evangelios!
Podemos ver incluso en los evangelios que vemos a Dios Padre señalando a Jesús.
En Mat. 17:1-7, “Seis días después, tomó Jesús a Pedro, a Santiago ya su hermano Juan, y los llevó solos a un monte alto; y se transfiguró delante de ellos. Su rostro resplandeció como el sol, y sus vestidos se volvieron blancos como la luz. Y he aquí, se les aparecieron Moisés y Elías, hablando con él. Entonces Pedro respondió y dijo a Jesús: “Señor, es bueno para nosotros estar aquí; si quieres, hagamos aquí tres tabernáculos: uno para ti, uno para Moisés (La Ley), y uno para Elías (Los Profetas). “Mientras él aún estaba hablando, he aquí, una nube brillante los cubrió; y de repente salió una voz de la nube, que decía: “Este es mi Hijo amado, en quien tengo complacencia. ¡Escúchalo!” Y cuando los discípulos lo oyeron, cayeron sobre sus rostros y tuvieron mucho miedo. Pero Jesús se acercó y los tocó y les dijo: “Levántense y no tengan miedo”.
Además, nuestro Señor dijo que en la audiencia de la escritura que citó se completó. En Lucas 4:21, “empezó diciéndoles: “Hoy se cumple esta escritura en presencia de ustedes”. Jesús dijo, no penséis que he venido a abolir la ley, sino a cumplir la ley. ¿A qué te refieres con cumplir la ley? El cumplimiento de la ley era completar lo que no podía hacer. La Ley solo mostró al hombre su pecaminosidad, pero no le dio el poder para vencer el pecado y su dominio. En Su muerte y resurrección, Jesús no solo pagó el precio final de su muerte, sino que también creó una nueva raza que nunca existió sobre la faz de la tierra antes de que estos sean llamados cristianos nacidos de nuevo. La iglesia del Nuevo Testamento debe vivir en las epístolas. No ves en los evangelios las verdades bíblicas como se declaran en las epístolas. Los Evangelios narran la vida y la historia de Jesús pero no de la iglesia resucitada. Eso está claramente expresado en las Epístolas. Por eso se escribieron las epístolas. Fue y está escrito para la Iglesia Resucitada. ¡A los que han nacido de nuevo! En
1 Cor. 15:45, “Y así está escrito: El primer hombre, Adán, se convirtió en un ser viviente”. El postrer Adán (Jesús) se hizo espíritu vivificante. Sus palabras son espíritu y vida. Romanos 8:29 . Jesús es el primogénito de muchos hermanos.

Dios Padre habla por medio de su Hijo Jesucristo
Dios, quien en otro tiempo y de diversas maneras (muy diversas vislumbres de la verdad) habló en otro tiempo a los padres por los profetas en las palabras de los profetas), ha hablado en estos últimos días a nosotros por el Hijo, a quien constituyó heredero de todo, por quien también hizo el universo; el cual, siendo el resplandor de su gloria y la misma imagen de su persona, y quien sustenta todas las cosas con la palabra de su poder, habiendo efectuado la limpieza de nuestros pecados por medio de sí mismo, se sentó a la diestra de la Majestad en las alturas, hecho tal mucho mejor que los ángeles, ya que heredó más excelente nombre que ellos. heb. 1:1-4.

El Antiguo Testamento versus el Nuevo Testamento
Por esta razón, Cristo ·trae un nuevo pacto de Dios a su pueblo [L es el mediador de un nuevo pacto/contrato]. Aquellos que son llamados por Dios ahora pueden recibir las bendiciones eternas [herencia] que él ha prometido. Pueden tener esas cosas porque Cristo murió para ·liberarlos [redimirlos] de los ·pecados [transgresiones; violaciones] cometidas en virtud del primer acuerdo [pacto; contrato]. Heb. 9:15
Dios llamó a esto un nuevo · pacto [pacto; contrato], por lo que ha hecho ·el primer acuerdo [el primero] ·viejo [obsoleto; anticuado]. Y todo lo que es ·viejo [obsoleto; anticuado] y gastado está a punto de desaparecer. Heb. 8:13
Entonces Él (Jesús) dijo: “Aquí estoy, oh Dios, para hacer tu voluntad”. Entonces, Dios elimina todos los viejos sacrificios y pone el sacrificio de Cristo en su lugar. Heb. 10:9
[Porque] Cristo no entró ·al Lugar Santísimo [un santuario; cosas sagradas] hechas por [manos] humanas, que es sólo una copia [modelo; o prefiguración] del real. Él fue al cielo mismo y está allí [aparece] ahora ·ante [en la presencia de] Dios para ayudarnos [para nosotros; en nuestro nombre]. El sumo sacerdote entra en el ·Lugar Santísimo [santuario; cosas santas; Lugar Santísimo] una vez al año con sangre ajena. Pero Cristo no se ofreció muchas veces. Entonces [De lo contrario; En tal caso,] habría tenido que sufrir muchas veces ·desde que el mundo fue hecho [desde la fundación/creación del mundo]. Pero Cristo vino [apareció] ·sólo una vez y para siempre [una vez para siempre; 7:27; 9:12, 26; 10:10] al final [culminación; clímax] de la era actual [tiempo; las edades] para ·quitar todo [anular; abolir] el pecado sacrificándose a sí mismo. Heb. 9:24-26.

¡Una vez muerto, ahora vivo!
Este es un momento muy importante para entender que las personas en el Antiguo Testamento estaban muertas espiritualmente. No había nadie nacido de nuevo. Esta es una acción del Nuevo Testamento porque la obra redentora de Cristo en el Calvario aún no se realizó.
Y os dio vida a vosotros, que estabais muertos en vuestros delitos y pecados; en el cual anduvisteis en otro tiempo, siguiendo la corriente de este mundo, conforme al príncipe de la potestad del aire, el espíritu que ahora opera en los hijos de desobediencia, entre los cuales también todos nosotros conversamos en otro tiempo en las concupiscencias de nuestra carne, cumpliendo los deseos de la carne y de la mente; y éramos por naturaleza hijos de ira, lo mismo que los demás. Pero Dios, que es rico en misericordia, por su gran amor con que nos amó, aun estando nosotros muertos en pecados, nos dio vida juntamente con Cristo (por gracia sois salvos), y juntamente nos resucitó, y nos hizo sentémonos juntamente en los lugares celestiales con Cristo Jesús: Ef. 2:1-6
A ti, que estuviste muerto espiritualmente todo el tiempo que te dejaste llevar por la corriente de las ideas de vida de este mundo y obedeciste a su gobernante invisible (que todavía está operando en aquellos que no responden a la verdad de Dios), ¡a ti Cristo ha dado vida! Todos vivimos así en el pasado, y seguimos los impulsos e imaginaciones de nuestra naturaleza malvada, estando de hecho bajo la ira de Dios por naturaleza, como todos los demás. Pero, aunque estábamos muertos en nuestros pecados, Dios, que es rico en misericordia, por el gran amor que nos tuvo, nos dio vida juntamente con Cristo —recordad que por gracia y no por obra sois salvos— y nos ha sacado de la vieja vida para tomar nuestro lugar con él en Cristo en los Cielos. Así, muestra para siempre la tremenda generosidad de la gracia y la bondad que ha manifestado para con nosotros en Cristo Jesús. No fue nada que pudiste o lograste; fue un regalo de Dios para ti. Nadie puede enorgullecerse de ganarse el amor de Dios. El hecho es que lo que somos se lo debemos a la mano de Dios sobre nosotros. Nacemos de nuevo en Cristo, y nacidos para hacer las buenas obras que Dios planeó para nosotros. (Phillips NT).

Y a vosotros [Él os dio vida], cuando estabais muertos (asesinados) a causa de [vuestros] delitos y pecados. En el que en un tiempo andabas [habitualmente]. Seguíais el curso y la moda de este mundo [estabais bajo el dominio de la tendencia de esta era actual], siguiendo al príncipe de la potestad del aire. [Fuiste obediente y bajo el control de] el espíritu [demoníaco] que todavía obra constantemente en los hijos de desobediencia [los descuidados, los rebeldes y los incrédulos, que van en contra de los propósitos de Dios]. Entre estos, tanto nosotros como ustedes una vez vivimos y nos conducimos en las pasiones de nuestra carne [nuestro comportamiento gobernado por nuestra naturaleza corrupta y sensual], obedeciendo los impulsos de la carne y los pensamientos de la mente [nuestros deseos dictados por nuestros sentidos y nuestras oscuras imaginaciones]. Éramos entonces por naturaleza hijos de la ira [de Dios] y herederos de [Su] indignación, como el resto de la humanidad. Pero Dios, ¡tan rico es Él en Su misericordia! Por y para satisfacer el grande, maravilloso e intenso amor con que nos amó, aun cuando estábamos muertos (asesinados) por [nuestras] faltas y pecados, nos dio vida juntamente en comunión y unión con Cristo; [Él nos dio la misma vida de Cristo mismo, la misma vida nueva con la que le dio vida, porque] es por gracia (su favor y misericordia que no merecíais) que sois salvos ([a] librados del juicio y hechos partícipes de la salvación de Cristo). Y nos resucitó juntamente con Él y nos hizo sentar juntos [dándonos un asiento conjunto con Él] en la esfera celestial [en virtud de nuestro ser] en Cristo Jesús (el Mesías, el Ungido). Pero Dios, ¡tan rico es Él en Su misericordia! Por y para satisfacer el grande, maravilloso e intenso amor con que nos amó, aun cuando estábamos muertos (asesinados) por [nuestras] faltas y pecados, nos dio vida juntamente en comunión y unión con Cristo; [Él nos dio la misma vida de Cristo mismo, la misma vida nueva con la que le dio vida, porque] es por gracia (su favor y misericordia que no merecíais) que sois salvos ([a] librados del juicio y hechos partícipes de la salvación de Cristo). Y nos resucitó juntamente con Él y nos hizo sentar juntos [dándonos un asiento conjunto con Él] en la esfera celestial [en virtud de nuestro ser] en Cristo Jesús (el Mesías, el Ungido). Pero Dios, ¡tan rico es Él en Su misericordia! Por y para satisfacer el grande, maravilloso e intenso amor con que nos amó, aun cuando estábamos muertos (asesinados) por [nuestras] faltas y pecados, nos dio vida juntamente en comunión y unión con Cristo; [Él nos dio la misma vida de Cristo mismo, la misma vida nueva con la que le dio vida, porque] es por gracia (su favor y misericordia que no merecíais) que sois salvos ([a] librados del juicio y hechos partícipes de la salvación de Cristo). Y nos resucitó juntamente con Él y nos hizo sentar juntos [dándonos un asiento conjunto con Él] en la esfera celestial [en virtud de nuestro ser] en Cristo Jesús (el Mesías, el Ungido). Por y para satisfacer el grande, maravilloso e intenso amor con que nos amó, aun cuando estábamos muertos (asesinados) por [nuestras] faltas y pecados, nos dio vida juntamente en comunión y unión con Cristo; [Él nos dio la misma vida de Cristo mismo, la misma vida nueva con la que le dio vida, porque] es por gracia (su favor y misericordia que no merecíais) que sois salvos ([a] librados del juicio y hechos partícipes de la salvación de Cristo). Y nos resucitó juntamente con Él y nos hizo sentar juntos [dándonos un asiento conjunto con Él] en la esfera celestial [en virtud de nuestro ser] en Cristo Jesús (el Mesías, el Ungido). Por y para satisfacer el grande, maravilloso e intenso amor con que nos amó, aun cuando estábamos muertos (asesinados) por [nuestras] faltas y pecados, nos dio vida juntamente en comunión y unión con Cristo; [Él nos dio la misma vida de Cristo mismo, la misma vida nueva con la que le dio vida, porque] es por gracia (su favor y misericordia que no merecíais) que sois salvos ([a] librados del juicio y hechos partícipes de la salvación de Cristo). Y nos resucitó juntamente con Él y nos hizo sentar juntos [dándonos un asiento conjunto con Él] en la esfera celestial [en virtud de nuestro ser] en Cristo Jesús (el Mesías, el Ungido). [Él nos dio la misma vida de Cristo mismo, la misma vida nueva con la que le dio vida, porque] es por gracia (su favor y misericordia que no merecíais) que sois salvos ([a] librados del juicio y hechos partícipes de la salvación de Cristo). Y nos resucitó juntamente con Él y nos hizo sentar juntos [dándonos un asiento conjunto con Él] en la esfera celestial [en virtud de nuestro ser] en Cristo Jesús (el Mesías, el Ungido). [Él nos dio la misma vida de Cristo mismo, la misma vida nueva con la que le dio vida, porque] es por gracia (su favor y misericordia que no merecíais) que sois salvos ([a] librados del juicio y hechos partícipes de la salvación de Cristo). Y nos resucitó juntamente con Él y nos hizo sentar juntos [dándonos un asiento conjunto con Él] en la esfera celestial [en virtud de nuestro ser] en Cristo Jesús (el Mesías, el Ungido).Versión Amplificada.

Beneficios del Nuevo Testamento
Sentados con Cristo
“Y juntamente nos resucitó, y juntamente nos hizo sentar en los lugares celestiales con Cristo Jesús, para mostrar en los siglos venideros las abundantes riquezas de su gracia en su bondad para con nosotros en Cristo Jesús. Porque por gracia sois salvos por medio de la fe, y esto no de vosotros; es don de Dios, no por obras, para que nadie se gloríe.” Ef. 2:6-9. La palabra SIT revela sus secretos para tener una vida celestial. Podemos asociar la palabra Sentarse significa Descansar. ¿Cuál es el lugar de descanso? ¿Qué es un lugar de descanso? Para algunos podría ser una fiesta. Para algunos podría ser ir a Las Vegas. Para otros, podría ser un viaje largo. ¿Qué quiere decir Dios con un lugar de descanso? Dios quiere que tengamos una vida abundante sin las cadenas que nos atan. Dios descansa no está luchando con las presiones de la vida que nos llega a todos. El descanso de Dios es larga vida en El. El descanso de Dios es sanidad, liberación, carencia o preocupación, matrimonios pacíficos y felices. Ser amigos y disfrutar de la compañía del otro. Nuestro descanso se basa en Jesús y Su Palabra. No solo oidores sino hacedores.
El cristianismo no comienza con caminar, comienza con sentarse. Dice en Hebreos 1.3 que Jesucristo, quien hizo la purificación de nuestros pecados, SE SENTÓ a la diestra del Padre. Entendiendo igualmente que nuestra vida cristiana individual escondida en Cristo es por la fe y también estamos sentados con Él en los cielos. El cristianismo no comienza con un gran HACER, sino con un gran HECHO . La vida cristiana, de principio a fin, se basa en el principio de la total dependencia del Señor Jesucristo y Su obra en el Calvario.
En otras palabras, nuestra vida, nuestra carga, nuestro futuro, nuestro todo depende del Señor no de nosotros mismos. Nuestra vida cristiana depende totalmente de la obra terminada de Cristo. Nuestra vida cristiana comienza cuando comprendemos lo que Dios Padre nos proveyó en Cristo Jesús.

¡Libres de la ley!
Porque todos los que son de las obras de la ley están bajo maldición; porque está escrito: Maldito todo aquel que no permaneciere en todas las cosas que están escritas en el libro de la ley, para hacerlas. Pero es evidente que nadie es justificado por la ley ante los ojos de Dios, porque “el justo por la fe vivirá”. Sin embargo, la ley no es de fe, sino que “el hombre que las hace vivirá por ellas”. Cristo nos redimió de la maldición de la ley, hecho por nosotros maldición (porque está escrito: Maldito todo el que es colgado en un madero), para que la bendición de Abraham alcanzara a los gentiles en Cristo Jesús, para que podamos recibir la promesa del Espíritu por medio de la fe. Galón. 3:10-14.
• ¿Cuál fue la maldición? Pobreza, enfermedad y muerte espiritual. Deut. 28:15-45.
• ¿Por qué algunas personas aún no caminan en victoria? Desobediencia y falta de fe.
Quiénes somos en Jesús
• En Él vivimos, nos movemos y existimos. Hechos 17:28.
• Somos hechura suya creados en Cristo. Ef. 2:10.
• El que no conoció pecado se hizo pecado por nosotros, para que nosotros fuésemos hechos justicia de Dios EN ÉL. 2 Cor. 5:21.
• Por tanto, ninguna condenación hay para los que están en Cristo Jesús. Jaime. 5:16.
• Pero nosotros estamos en Cristo Jesús hechos para nosotros sabiduría, justicia, santificación y redención. 1 Cor. 1:30.
• En quien tenemos redención por su sangre, el perdón de pecados según las riquezas de su gracia. Ef. 1:7.
• Quien nos ha librado de la potestad de las tinieblas, y trasladado al reino de Su amado Hijo. en quien tenemos redención por su sangre, el
perdón de los pecados. Colosenses 1:13-14.

¡Agárrate fuerte!
Debemos aprender a hablar de éxito y no de fracaso. Debemos entender que cuando “guardamos nuestra lengua para la confesión negativa, evitamos que nuestra vida tenga problemas que nos afecten”. Proverbios 21.23. Cuando no hablamos de confesiones positivas “somos atrapados cautivos por las palabras de su propia boca”. Proverbios 6.2. Dice que somos justificados o condenados por lo que hablamos. Mateo 12:37. Recuerda que lo que no es de fe es pecado. ROM. 14:23
¿Por qué las Escrituras nos dicen que nos aferremos? La verdadera creencia o duda se muestra por la forma en que uno piensa, habla y vive. Desviarse de esto sería desviarse del camino de la derecha o de la izquierda hacia algún error o contradicción. Es porque tenemos un enemigo, Satanás, que luchará contigo en cada paso del camino. Ese es su trabajo y es muy bueno en eso.
¡Cuando las cosas se pongan difíciles, háblale a esa montaña!
Los problemas nos llegan a todos, pero a menos que su casa esté construida sobre una base sólida, no sobrevivirá. Somos llamados vencedores por la palabra de nuestro testimonio. Nuestras palabras y vidas deben declarar consistentemente la palabra de Dios.
• Necesitamos declarar que somos una nueva creación 2 Corintios 5:17
• Necesitamos declarar que somos la justicia de Dios 2 Corintios 5:21
• Necesitamos declarar que hemos sido liberados de las ataduras del infierno. Colosenses 1:12–14
• Necesitamos declarar que no somos inferiores, fracasados o frustrados. 2 Timoteo 1:7
• Necesitamos declarar que redimimos de la maldición de la ley y que no estamos atados por la enfermedad del pecado o la muerte espiritual. Galón. 3: 10-14
• Necesitamos declarar que somos prósperos y tenemos buen éxito. Josué 1:8.
• Y si el Espíritu de aquel que levantó de los muertos a Jesús mora en vosotros, el que levantó de los muertos a Cristo Jesús vivificará también vuestros cuerpos mortales por su Espíritu que mora en vosotros. Romanos 8:11.

Si desea donar al ministerio, puede usar;
aplicación de efectivo con $ DrTimothyEmerick
Zelle; HarvestEvangelisticAssociation@aol.com

Espiritualidad y Trauma Colectivo
Porque mi pueblo ha cometido un doble mal: me han abandonado a mí,
fuente de agua viva, y se han cavado cisternas, cisternas rotas que no retienen agua.
Jeremías 2:13

Introducción
Este tema es un tema muy importante de entender. Debemos darnos cuenta de que todo lo que se manifiesta en lo físico, emocional o psicológico tiene sus raíces en lo espiritual. Todos deben considerar lo que persiguen en la vida y si durará. El mundo ofrece pozos secos en los que la gente busca la realización. Pero Dios Padre que es la fuente de agua viva ofrece un oasis en un mundo muy seco y desolado. Nosotros en términos teológicos somos triunos. Somos un espíritu, que tiene un alma y vive en un cuerpo. Somos espíritu y vivimos para siempre. Viviremos para siempre con Dios Padre o viviremos separados de Él. Esta reconciliación o separación se basa en una premisa. Nuestra libertad de elegir cualquier camino. Nuestras almas son nuestra composición emocional y psicológica. Nuestra alma refleja el tipo de construcción psicosocial de nuestra realidad. El desarrollo de la vida básicamente significa que el curso de la vida de una persona se desarrolla y solidifica a través de diferentes experiencias de vida. Esto es parte de la composición de nuestra alma. Las buenas y malas experiencias se viven y reviven una y otra vez a lo largo de nuestra vida. Esto se considera nuestra “colectividad” de buenas y malas experiencias de vida. Las manifestaciones de nuestras experiencias que conforman nuestra realidad. Esta es nuestra alma compuesta por lo bueno, lo malo y lo feo. La tercera parte de nuestro ser se llama nuestro cuerpo. Nuestro cuerpo alberga nuestro espíritu y nuestra alma. Escrituralmente se le llama templo. Este templo alberga un espíritu que ha nacido de nuevo o se ha perdido eternamente. Una vez más, nuestra espiritualidad o la falta de ella es la forma en que estamos conectados.

Aguas Vivas
Volvemos una vez más al pecado de la idolatría que es la rebelión y la base de la brujería. Dios Padre entregó a Adán y Eva el dominio sobre el mundo. Ellos a su vez se rebelaron contra Dios y entregaron el título de propiedad a Satanás. La rebelión es la base de la brujería. El Señor Dios ofrece una forma nueva y vibrante de liberarnos de todas las cadenas y traumas del pasado en nuestras vidas. Se llama rendición y arrepentimiento. El agua viva prometida por Dios Padre viene cuando nos rendimos a Él a través del arrepentimiento y la fe. Dios Padre quiere que tengamos una vida abundante y fructífera, pero en sus condiciones.

Cisternas Rotas
En 1 Corintios 13:12 dice que “Por ahora vemos solamente un reflejo como en un espejo, pero entonces veremos cara a cara. Ahora sé en parte, pero entonces conoceré plenamente, como soy plenamente conocido”. Lo sabemos en parte. No entendemos todo o incluso cómo nos afecta el trauma que experimentamos o que aún experimentamos. Es a través de la revelación progresiva del espíritu de Dios a nuestra alma que lentamente comenzamos a desentrañar todo lo bueno, lo malo y lo feo en nuestras vidas. Jesús dijo que a través de nuestra relación con Él y a medida que nos rendimos a Él, comenzaremos a comprender la VERDAD a medida que el Padre Dios ve la verdad de nuestra construcción psicosocial de nuestra propia realidad y cómo nos ha afectado a nosotros y a quienes nos rodean en el pasado. y presente Jesús dijo que “conoceréis la verdad, y la verdad os hará libres”. Juan 8:32.
El trauma básicamente es un quebrantamiento que ha resultado en la rebelión de la humanidad contra Dios. Es nuestra historia, tanto personal como colectiva, la que ha quedado enterrada en las sombras de nuestra propia conciencia, y vuelve a jugar el tiempo en nuestras vidas. El trauma crea un caparazón duro sobre nosotros que nos separa de nosotros mismos y de los demás. El trauma consiste en momentos rotos que se disparan y resurgen una y otra vez en la oscuridad de nuestro subconsciente. El trauma crea un vacío y un vacío que solo puede ser sanado a través del poder de Dios.
El trauma como su concepción básica, empuja a convertirse en aquello que ha sido fracturado. Recuerde a la mujer samaritana en el pozo que conoció a Jesús y ella quería hablar de religión. Cristo discutió con su adoración. Ella comenzó a discutir las diferencias entre su fe para desviar la atención de su propio yo fracturado. Aquí hay una mujer que por lo general debería recoger agua en el pozo por la mañana con otras damas, pero debido a que su vida era tan caótica, no había nadie allí para asociarse con ella. Tuvo muchas relaciones rotas. Muchos matrimonios fracasados. Aunque su historia no está completa, mis años de experiencia trabajando con personas que han fracturado sus vidas en relaciones multigeneracionales, sé que su historia interminable se prolongó durante muchas generaciones.
El trauma interrumpe y rompe todas las formas de comunicación y relaciones espirituales, físicas, emocionales y psicológicas que tiene un individuo. Declaré en la primera enseñanza que el trauma nunca es un acto individual, sino un acto que involucra a muchas otras personas trauma generacional, lo que hemos denominado trauma colectivo que se ocupa de cuestiones multigeneracionales de rebelión y separación de Dios.

El proceso de curación.
Debemos entender que cuando hablo de espiritualidad algunos piensan que esta es adicional a la sanación de traumas colectivos. No es adicional, es la base de todo lo demás. El trauma individual y colectivo se basa en que el enemigo frena y destroza nuestras vidas. Como psicóloga, considero que la enfermedad, ya sea física, emocional o psicológica, es de naturaleza espiritual. Hay muchos estudios sobre personas que se han aferrado a un trauma intenso manifestado en sus vidas por la ira y el resentimiento que sufren un mayor riesgo de insuficiencia cardíaca o accidentes cerebrovasculares. Estos individuos se sienten perdidos y solos. El quebrantamiento y la depresión son sus compañeros constantes. Una vez más, afirmo que debemos darnos cuenta de que todo lo que se manifiesta en lo físico, emocional o psicológico tiene sus raíces en lo espiritual. La sanación que tendrá lugar en nuestras vidas no es solo para nosotros, sino para todos los demás involucrados en nuestro trauma colectivo. La curación es de naturaleza social. Sin embargo, cualquier tipo de trauma se resolverá a través de nuestra entrega y arrepentimiento a Jesucristo. Cuando comprendemos la verdad real detrás de nuestro quebrantamiento, podemos comenzar el viaje hacia la sanación a través de la cruz del Calvario. Jesús ha venido para llevarnos a una vida abundante que fue completada por Su redención. Se aseguró la sanidad en el lado divino, pero en el lado experiencial personal se desarrolla en nuestras vidas a través de la santificación progresiva. Pero debemos tomar el control de nuestra mente, emociones y cuerpo. Esto es Santificación Progresiva. La humanidad siempre está tratando de encontrar algún otro camino que no sea el camino de Dios para llegar a la madurez espiritual, al éxito, y victoria sobre el diablo en toda circunstancia. Recuerde que esto viene al someter nuestras vidas a Dios.

Práctica de Entrega, Oración y Estudio
Uno de los más grandes Mandamientos de Dios Padre es amarte a ti mismo y al prójimo. Sin embargo, la mayoría de las personas no se aman a sí mismas y, por lo tanto, no pueden amar a los demás. Debemos entender que seguir a Dios y la vida que Él tiene para nosotros no llegará a su plenitud de la noche a la mañana. Seguir a Dios Padre ya su palabra es un largo camino de obediencia en la misma dirección hacia la Cruz del Calvario.
Dios está muy interesado en ti. Sin embargo, vivimos en una cultura y mentalidad que queremos respuestas y éxito instantáneos. Queremos todo lo que vemos en la televisión y más. Queremos todo a la velocidad de un horno de microondas. Queremos curación instantánea, éxito, discipulado instantáneo, santidad y respuestas instantáneas a nuestras oraciones. ¿Cuántas personas conoces que tienen muchas cosas materiales, pero son miserables? Cuando uno elige seguir a Cristo, este no es un camino fácil de emprender. Constantemente estamos siendo empujados a seguir nuestros deseos y nuestra voluntad. Dios quiere que dependamos de Él y sigamos Su ejemplo. Él no quiere que confiemos en nuestra propia fuerza, sabiduría o en cómo el mundo quiere que pensemos y actuemos. Él quiere liderar. Él quiere que le pidamos por cada área de nuestra vida. Cuando uno está roto y traumatizado, difícilmente puede encontrar sentido a sí mismo y mucho menos ayudar a los demás. Cuando llegué al Señor Jesús, estaba lleno de ira y rabia. Realmente no sabía por qué estaba tan enojado todo el tiempo. Y cuando hablaban de amor por mí mismo, me enfadaba aún más porque me odiaba.
Padre Dios también está muy interesado en lo que hacemos con el trauma colectivo. Jesús dijo que, “Pero yo les digo a ustedes que escuchan (realmente presten atención) Amen a sus enemigos, hagan bien a los que los odian, bendigan a los que los maldicen, oren por los que los maltratan. Lucas 6:27-28. ¿Qué está declarando? Afirma que todos hemos tenido personas, ya sea generacionalmente o en la actualidad, en nuestra contra y nuestro perdón de esas personas y eventos da como resultado la integridad, la salvación y la cordura en nuestras vidas. Este es el camino hacia la paz y la vida abundante. Sí, esta es una batalla constante para nosotros eligiendo entre el bien o el mal. Pero mientras caminamos en amor, podemos ver la mente y el carácter de los demás como Dios los ve. Dios nos mira con ojos eternos. Vemos que a través de nuestra rendición y arrepentimiento la sabiduría de Dios al romper la cadena de oscuridad.
Pablo dijo que necesitamos renovar nuestra mente. “Por tanto, hermanos y hermanas, en vista de las misericordias de Dios, os exhorto a que presentéis vuestros cuerpos como sacrificio vivo, santo y agradable a Dios; esta es tu verdadera adoración. No os conforméis a este siglo, sino transformaos mediante la renovación de vuestro entendimiento, para que podáis discernir cuál sea la buena voluntad de Dios, agradable y perfecta”. ROM. 12:1-2. Entonces, la entrega a Dios, la oración y el estudio de su palabra nos abre una nueva vida.

Vida Nueva en Él
Cristo afirmó que si realmente quieres encontrarte a ti mismo será sirviendo a los demás. Su camino es el camino de la abnegación y el sufrimiento a veces. Servimos a Dios incluso cuando no queremos. Pero se puede encontrar la verdadera felicidad en dar la vida al servicio de Dios sirviendo a los demás. No estoy hablando de ir a un lugar especial para servir a Dios. Justo enfrente de ti hay alguien que necesita ayuda. Hay alguien justo frente a ti que necesita tu perdón y amor. Pregúntale a Dios cómo puedes ser útil y Él dirigirá tus pasos.

A Broken Spirit

You are not pleased by sacrifices, or I would give them. You don’t want burnt offerings.
The sacrifice God wants is a broken spirit. God, you will not reject a heart that is broken and sorry for sin. Psalm 51:16–17.

What is David the psalmist telling us there? Surely, he’s telling us that first and foremost God is not interested in externals. Sacrifice and offerings are not necessarily things that God does not want, but they are things that He does not want first and foremost. And if that’s all there is in our lives – the external practices of religion – then God takes no pleasure in them. He looks below the surface; He looks to the heart; He looks to the motives; He looks to the attitude.

And it says that the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: “A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” Those are strange words to our ears today. What does it mean that God desires a broken spirit? Does He want to crush us? Does He want to beat us down? Does He want to humiliate us? No, I’m sure that’s not it. What is a broken spirit? I think it’s a spirit that has come totally to the end of itself. All independence, all self-will and all self-righteousness have been purged out. We’ve come to the place where we have no hope but in God; we’ve come to the end of our own resources. We have no claims upon God, we simply turn to Him for His mercy and His faithfulness, not trusting our own merits, but clinging only to God.

The Secret of Hidden Wisdom
Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. Psalm 51:6 (NIV).

Those words are addressed by the psalmist David to the Lord Himself. What is it that God really looks for in our lives? First and foremost, it is not the external practices of religion – not necessarily churchgoing or other religious acts. It is sad that so many people equate religiosity with fellowship and communion with God. God looks much deeper than those. He looks right down into the innermost depths of our hearts and our lives.

The Bible tells us that God does not see as man sees because man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart. So, David says, “Surely you desire truth in the inner parts.” What does God want? What is truth in the inner parts? I believe it is absolute sincerity – the opposite of religious externalism, hypocrisy. Those things do not appeal to God. In fact, He does not approve of them. He detests them. He looks beneath all that. He wants to see if we are sincere, open, and transparent in our relationship with Him. Do we say the same thing with our mouths that we are thinking in our minds?

If we come to that place, then we can say, like the psalmist, “You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.” There is a secret place in our innermost being where we can begin to hear the voice of God and learn from Him and He teaches us wisdom there.

Remember how we think is how we speak and how we speak is how we live!

Spiritualty & Collective Trauma
For my people have committed a double evil:
They have abandoned me,
the fountain of living water,
and dug cisterns for themselves—
cracked cisterns that cannot hold water.
Jeremiah 2:13

Introduction
This subject is a very important topic to understand. We must realize that everything that manifests itself in the physical, emotional, or psychological has its roots in the spiritual. Everyone must consider what they are chasing in life and if it will last. The world offers dry wells from which people seek fulfillment. But Father God who is the fountain of living water offers an oasis in a very dry and desolate world. We in theological terms are triune. We are a spirit, which has a soul and lives in a body. We are spirit and we live on forever. We will live forever with Father God or we will live separated from Him. This reconciliation or separation is based on one premise. Our freedom to choose either path. Our souls are our emotional and psychological make-up. Our soul reflects the type of psych-social construction of our reality. Lifespan development basically means that the life course for a person is developed and solidified through different life experiences. This is part of the make-up of our soul. Good and bad experiences are lived and relived again and again over our lifespan. This is considered our “collectiveness” of both good and bad life experiences. The manifestations of our experiences that makeup our reality. This is our soul consists of the good, the bad, and the ugly. The third piece of our being is called our body. Our body houses our spirit and our soul. Scripturally it is called a temple. This temple either hold a spirit that has been born again or a lost eternally. Once again, our spirituality or lack thereof is how we are wired together.

Living Waters
We return once again to the sin of idolatry which is rebellion and the basis of witchcraft. Father God gave over to Adam and Eve dominion over the world. They in turn rebelled against God and turned the title deed over to Satan. Rebellion is the foundation of witchcraft. The Lord God offers a new and vibrant way to be set free from all the past chains and traumas in our lives. It is called surrender and repentance. The living water promised by Father God comes as we surrender to Him through repentance and faith. Father God wants us to have an abundant and fruitful life but on His conditions.

Broken Cisterns
In 1 Corinthians 13:12 states that “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known.” We know in part. We don’t understand all or even how trauma we experienced or still experiencing still affects us. It is through the progressive revelation by God’s spirit to our soul that we slowly begin to unravel all of the good, bad, and ugly in our lives. Jesus stated that through our relationship with Him and as we surrender to Him, we will begin to understand the TRUTH as Father God sees truth of our psych-social construction of our own reality and how it has affected us and those who are around us past and present. Jesus stated that, “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32. It is that truth revealed to us in different stages of our lives that we begin to see how the web of trauma reveals the chains of our own darkness and its manifestations known as traumatic events.

Trauma basically is a brokenness that has resulted for mankind rebellion against God. It’s our story, both personal and collective that has been buried in the shadows of our own consciousness, and it’s plays time it again in our lives. Trauma creates a hard our shell over us separating us from ourselves and others. Trauma consists of broken moments that trigger and resurface time and again in the darkness of our subconscious. Trauma creates a void, and an emptiness that can only be healed through the power of God.

Trauma as its basic conception, pushes one to become that which has been fractured. Remember the Samaritan woman at the well who met Jesus and she wanted to discuss religion. Christ discussed with her worship. She began discussing the differences between her faith to divert attention from her own fractured self. Here’s a woman that usually should collect water at the well in the morning with other ladies but because her life was so chaotic, no one was there to associate with her. She had many broken relationships. Many failed marriages. Even though her story isn’t complete, my years of experience of working with people that have fractured lives in multi-generational relationships I know their unending story that carried over many generations.

Trauma disrupts, and breaks down every spiritual, physical, emotional, and psychological form of communication and relationships that an individual has. I stated in the first teaching that trauma is never an individual act, but an act that involves many other people generational trauma, which we have named collective trauma that deals with multi-generational issues of rebellion and separation from God.

The Process of Healing.
We must understand that when I mention spirituality some think that this is additional to the healing of collective trauma. It is not additional it is the foundation for everything else. Individual and collective trauma is based on the enemy braking down and tearing apart our lives. As a psychologist I seen illness either physical, emotional, or psychological as spiritual in nature. There are many studies on people who have held on to intense trauma manifested in their lives by anger and resentment suffer at a greater risk of heart failure or strokes. These individuals feel lost and alone. Brokenness and depression are their constant companions. Once again, I state that we must realize that everything that manifests itself in the physical, emotional, or psychological has its roots in the spiritual. The healing to take place in our lives it is not just for us for but for all of those others involved in our collective trauma. Healing is social in nature. However, any type of trauma will be resolved through our surrender and repentance to Jesus Christ. When we understand the real truth behind our brokenness can we begin the journey to healing through the cross of Calvary. Jesus has come to bring us into an abundant life that was completed by His redemption. Healing on the divine side was secured but on the personal experiential side it is worked out in our lives through progressive sanctification. But we must take control of our mind, emotions, and body. This is Progressive Sanctification. Mankind is always trying to find some other way than God’s way to arrive to arrive at spiritual maturity, success, and victory over the devil in every circumstance. Remember this comes by submitting our lives to God.

Practice of Surrender, Prayer, and Study
One of the greatest Commandments of Father God is to love yourself and your neighbor. However, most people don’t love themselves and therefore can’t love others. We must understand that following God and the life He has for us will not be come to its fulness overnight. Following Father God and His word is a long road of obedience in the same direction towards the Cross of Calvary.

God is extremely interested in you. However, we live in a culture and mentality that we want instant answers and instant success. We want everything we see on TV and more. We want everything at the speed of a microwave oven. We want instant healing, success, instant discipleship, instant holiness, and instant answers to our prayers. How many people do you know that have many material things but are miserable? When one chooses to follow Christ, this is not an easy road to embark on. We are constantly being pulled way to follow our desires and our will. God wants us to depend upon Him and follow His example. He does not want us to rely on our own strength, wisdom, or how the world wants us to think and act. He wants to lead. He wants us to ask Him for every area in our life. When one is broken and traumatized there hardly can make sense of themselves let alone help others. When I came to the Lord Jesus, I was full of anger and rage. I really didn’t know why I was so angry all the time. And when they spoke of love for myself, I got even more upset because I hated myself.

Father God is also very interested in what we do with collective trauma. Jesus stated that, “But I say to you who listen (really pay attention) Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Luke 6 :27-28. What is He stating? He states that we all have had people either generationally or presently against us and our forgiveness of those people and events results in wholeness, salvation, sanity in our lives. This is the way to peace and abundant living. Yes, this is a constant battle for us choosing between good or evil. But as we walk in love, we can see the mind and character of others as God sees them. God looks at us with eternal eyes. We see that through our surrender and repentance the wisdom of God in breaking the chain of darkness. Love ultimately wins because it harms no one and wants the best for everyone.

Paul stated that we need to renew our mind. “Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” Rom. 12:1-2. So, surrender to God, prayer and study of His word opens a brand-new life to us.

New Life in Him
Christ stated that if you really want to find yourself it will be through serving others. His way is the way of self-denial and suffering at times. We serve God even when we don’t want to. But there is true happiness to be found in giving your life in the service of God serving others. I am not talking about going somewhere special to serve God. Right in front of you there is someone who needs help. There is someone right in front of you who needs your forgiveness and love. Ask God how you can be useful and He will direct your steps.

Monsters Among Us Hiding in Plain Sight
“Deductive Criminal Profiling: Comparing Applied Methodologies Between Inductive and Deductive Criminal Profiling Techniques”
________________________________________

The mental health community christened the first psychological “syndrome” in 1980, when Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was officially recognized by inclusion in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III). Since that time, the investigative term “profile” has slowly become synonymous with the psychological term “syndrome” in the eyes of the legal community. The process of criminal profiling in its original form, as taught by Howard Teten and Pat Mullany at the FBI beginning in 1969, was completely different in origins and methodology from the construct of the psychological syndrome. With time, however, the two terms “profile” and “syndrome” have been wrongfully confederated because of the way some profiles are constructed, and the subsequent litigation [1], [2].
As the above infers, not all profiling methodology is the same, due largely to the fact that not all profilers are equally trained or able. In fact, this author will propose that there are essentially two very different types of profiling being done by criminal investigators and criminologists in the United States. The first profiling method will be termed Inductive Criminal Profiling, and is related conceptually to the construction of psychological syndromes and subsequent syndrome evidence. The second, less common, method of profiling will be termed Deductive Criminal Profiling. The purpose of this work is to overview the nature of Deductive Criminal Profiling, and demonstrate how its origins, assumptions, and methodology are fundamentally different from the origins, assumptions, and methodology of Inductive Criminal Profiling, and by inference syndrome evidence.
________________________________________

Inductive Criminal Profiling & Syndromes
For legal purposes, according to Moenssens et al [3], a syndrome or a profile is “a set of behavioral indicators forming a very characteristic pattern of actions or emotions that tend to point to a particular condition.” (note an emphasis on pointing to a condition, lending itself to purposes of treatment).
A more useful description comes from State of Oregon v. Lawson [4], where the defense tried to introduce expert testimony stating that their client, Mr. Lawson, did not match the profile of a sex offender, and by extension of that logic could not therefore be one. The court in that case found that “Whether it is labeled a ‘syndrome’ or a ‘profile’, the type of evidence…involves comparing an individual’s behavior with the behavior of others in similar circumstances who have been studied in the past.”
An Inductive Criminal Profile is one that is generalized to an individual criminal from initial behavioral and demographic characteristics shared by other criminals who have been studied in the past. It is the product of incomplete, statistical analysis and generalization (very often without comparison to norms), hence the descriptor Inductive. This author takes the descriptor from the phrase Inductive Statistics, which is the branch of statistics involving generalizations, predictions, estimations and decisions from data initially presented [5].

The datasets currently used to compile and statistically generalize Inductive Criminal Profiles are collected largely from three sources:
1. Formal and informal studies of known, incarcerated criminal populations, and the inherent clinical and non-clinical interviews upon which those studies are based.
2. Practical experience, from which isolated anecdotal data is recalled by the profiler; and
3. Public data sources, including the popular media (for example, the FBI readily admits that newspaper articles are collected by its personnel and used to fill out its computerized database of violent criminal offender activity in the United States).
Inductive Criminal Profiling: The process of profiling criminal behavior, crime scenes, and victims from the known behaviors and emotions suggested by other criminals, crime scenes, and/or victims.
In essence, as the term suggests, this is reasoning from initial statistical data to specific criminal offender behavior. In any event, Inductive Criminal Profiling is generally the result of some kind of statistical analysis, or finds it’s reasoning in cases outside of the case at hand.
Example of the logic: 80% of known serial killers that attack college students in parking lots are white males aged 20-35 who live with their mothers and drive Volkswagen Bugs– Our offender has attacked at least three female college students on separate occasions; our offender has attacked all three victims in parking lots.
Therefore, our offender, who is part of this large group who fit this “profile” called “serial killers” is a white male aged 20-35, lives with his mother, and drives a VW Bug.

The advantages of the Inductive Criminal Profiling model are readily apparent. Foremost is that Inductive Profiling is a very easy tool to use, for which no specialized forensic knowledge, education, or training in the study of criminal behavior or criminal investigation is required. Additionally, general profiles can be assembled in a relatively short period of time without any great effort or ability on the part of the profiler. The result is often a one- or two-page list of unqualified characteristics. These generalizations can accurately predict some of the non-distinguishing elements of individual criminal behavior, but not with a great deal of consistency or reliability.
There are currently several separate initiatives under way in both the United States and Canada to automate part or all this process with databasing tools and neural computer networks.
The major disadvantages of the Inductive Criminal Profiling model are equally apparent to the critical thinker. Firstly, the information itself is generalized from limited population samples, and not specifically related to any one case, therefore it is not by its nature intended for reconstructing a “profile” of an individual person. It is a generalized set of representations, averaged from a small group of individuals who may or may not have been appropriately sampled, depending on the knowledge and ability of the person collecting and assembling the data. Secondly, and perhaps most noted, is that Inductive profiles are generalized and averaged from the limited data collected only from known, apprehended offenders. An Inductive Criminal Profile does not fully or accurately consider current offenders who are at large, therefore it is by its very nature missing datasets from the most intelligent or skillful criminal populations; the criminals who are successful in continually avoiding detection by law enforcement. A third major disadvantage is that, as with any such generalization, an Inductive Criminal Profile is going to contain specific inaccuracies that can and have been used to implicate innocent individuals. This occurs when an Inductive Criminal Profile is used as some sort of infallible predictive measure by an unprofessional, trigger-happy profiler. Recent examples include the 1996 case of Richard Jewell in the “Olympic Park Bombing” and, also in 1996, the Colin Stagg profile debacle in Great Britain.

Assumptions of the Inductive Criminal Profiling model include:
• Small groups of known offenders, who commit the same types of crimes as unknown offenders, have commonly shared individual characteristics that can be accurately generalized back to initially similar individual unknown offenders.
• Offenders who have committed crimes in the past are culturally similar to current offenders, being influenced by at least similar environmental conditions and existing with the same general and sometimes specific motivations.
• Individual human behavior and characteristics can be generalized and even predicted from the initial statistical analysis of characteristics and behavior in very small samples.
• Behavior and motivation do not change within an individual over time, being static, predictable characteristics.
Inductive Profilers include the following groups of professionals, who have various backgrounds:
• FBI and ex-FBI profilers. Current FBI profiles are on average less than a page long and offer no explanation for the content of the profile. Most law enforcement agencies that this author has discussed the issue with have had little or no use for those types of profiles. Nor do most courtrooms.
• Forensic Psychologists and Forensic Psychiatrists, who rely solely on clinical personality measurements such as the MMPI, and the interview process, when formulating any kind of criminal personality profile.
• Many of the law enforcement profilers who have received FBI training, including Georgia Bureau of Investigation, ATF, and various state and local detectives.
• Criminologists: a criminologist is defined as someone who studies criminal behavior. It does not imply training, education, or experience. The term criminologist generally refers to someone who does scholarly, scientific and professional study concerning the etiology, prevention, control, and treatment of crime and delinquency, including the measurement and detection of crime, legislation, and the practice of criminal law, the law enforcement, judicial, and correctional systems. It is a category that, despite its ambitious definition, can include almost anyone in actual application.
The professional backgrounds of those listed does not necessarily include forensic training in criminal psychology, abnormal psychology, or psychopathology, and certainly does not imply any kind of experience with investigating violent serial criminals. For example, most people are not aware that FBI agents do not have jurisdiction at any homicide unless it occurs in a federal building or on an Indian Reservation, giving most FBI agents no applied experience investigating this type of crime whatsoever.
________________________________________
Deductive Criminal Profiling

A descriptive, applied definition of the Deductive Criminal Profiling model, according to this author, is: “The process of interpreting forensic evidence, including such inputs as crime scene photographs, autopsy reports, autopsy photographs, and a thorough study of individual offender victimology, to accurately reconstruct specific offender crime scene behavior patterns, and from those specific, individual patterns of behavior, deduce offender characteristics, demographics, emotions, and motivations.”
Note the heavy emphasis on an informed forensic reconstruction, and the exclusion of information from other similar offenders, or other similar offenses.
A Deductive Criminal Profile is one that is deduced from the careful forensic examination and behavioral reconstruction of a single offender’s crime scene(s). After the offender’s behaviors have been reconstructed, the crime scene characteristics are analyzed, and the victim characteristics are analyzed. From those combined characteristics, a profile with the characteristics of the individual who could have committed that specific offense(s), with that specific victim(s) under the conditions present at that specific crime scene(s) is deductively inferred. It is a forensically and behaviorally contained process. The process of deductive profiling is most appropriately termed Behavior Evidence Analysis, and depends on the analyst’s abilities to recognize patterns of behavior within a single offender to deduce meaning. Offender emotions during the offense, individual patterns of offense behavior, and offender personality characteristics are deduced from that particular offender’s crime scene behavior and victimology only.

Deductive Criminal Profiling: The Behavioral Evidence Analysis a specific criminal, crime scene(s), and victim(s) exclusively from forensic evidence relating to the crime scene(s) and victim(s) of that offender alone.
Example of the logic: The body of a female victim is found nude in a remote forest location with 4 shallow, careful incisions on the chest, cutting across the nipples. The victim’s genital areas have all been removed with a sharp instrument. Petechiae are evident in the eyes, neck and face above pattern compression on the neck. No blood is found at the crime scene. No clothes are found at the crime scene. The victim bears ligature furrows around her wrists with abraded contusions but no ligature is present. Fresh tire impressions are found in the mud approximately 20 yards from where the body is located.
Therefore, the offender in this particular offense bound the victim to restrain her while she was still alive indicated by the abrasions around the wrists associated with struggling. Our offender removed the ligature before disposing of the body, indicated by the fact that we didn’t find it at the scene. The victim was likely asphyxiated with a material ligature about the neck, indicated by the pattern compression and the petechiae. The location where the body was found is a disposal site and not the actual location of the offense indicated by the fact that no blood was present at this location. The offender has a vehicle consistent with the tire impressions and is mobile. All of these details together indicate a competent, intelligent offender who is likely able to sustain employment, and is very likely a sexual sadist. This is deductively suggested by the vehicle, the use of a secondary scene to dispose of the body to avoid transfer evidence, the removal of the victim’s genitals, and the deliberate cutting to the victim’s nipples intended to cause pain but not seriously injure.

The data used to infer a Deductive Criminal Profile for a particular criminal includes the following:
1. Forensic Evidence: A full equivocal forensic analysis must be performed before profiling can begin, to ensure the integrity of the behavior and the crime scene characteristics that are to be analyzed. Nothing can be assumed by the profiler.
2. Crime Scene Characteristics: Crime scene characteristics are determined from all forensic reports, all forensic analysis, and all forensic documentation which provides the nature of the interaction between the victim(s), the offender, and the location(s) of the offense during the occasion of a specific offense. In cases involving a related series of offenses, such as in serial rape, or serial homicide, crime scene characteristics are determined individually and analyzed as they evolve, or fail to evolve, over time. An offender’s crime scene characteristics, in a single offense or over multiple offenses, can lend themselves to inferences about offender motive, modus operandi, and the determination of crime scene signature.
3. Victimology: Victimology is the thorough study and analysis of victim characteristics. The characteristics of an individual offender’s victim population of choice, in a single offense or over time, can lend themselves to deductive inferences about offender motive, modus operandi, and the determination of crime scene signature. In Deductive Profiling, almost as much time is spent profiling each victim as the offender responsible for the crime(s).
The Advantages of the Deductive Criminal Profiling
The advantages of the Deductive Criminal Profiling model are very important. This model requires specialized education and training in forensic science, crime scene reconstruction, and wound pattern analysis. Because of this requisite specialized knowledge, Deductive Criminal Profiles tend to be more specific than Inductive Criminal Profiles, assisting greatly in the major goal of the profiling process, which is to move from a universal set of suspect characteristics to a more unique set of suspect characteristics.

Deductive Criminal Profiling is also useful for thoroughly establishing Modus Operandi behavior, as well as offender signature behavior, which assists in the linkage of seemingly unrelated crimes. According to Geberth [6], the Modus Operandi, or MO behavior, or method of operation, is a dynamic, learned behavior, changing over time, as the offender becomes more experienced. It involves only those actions that are necessary to commit the offense.
Signature behavior, or the signature aspect of criminal behavior, as Geberth [7] defines it, is comprised of those behaviors not required to commit the offense. Signature is comprised of significant personality identifiers that distinguish the nature of the offender’s crime scene methodology.
These significant and highly individualized personality identifiers are evident in such things as:
• When an offender repeatedly engages in a specific order of sexual activity;
• When an offender repeatedly uses a specific type of binding;
• When an offender inflicts similar types of injuries to different victims;
• When an offender displays the body in a certain manner for shock value;
• When an offender tortures and/or mutilates his victims, and/or engages in some other form of specific ritualistic behavior.

Another very tangible advantage of the Deductive Criminal Profiling method is that, because it so thoroughly explores victimology, and the nature of the interaction between the victim(s), the crime scene(s), and the offender, it can very pointedly demonstrate an individual offender’s motivations in even the most bizarre or seemingly senseless offenses. As Geberth insightfully reminds us in his foundational work Practical Homicide Investigation, 3rd. Ed., “No one acts without motivation.” Deductive Criminal Profiling techniques explore offender actions through the physical evidence, through the victimology, and through the crime scene as the primary behavioral and motivational documentation, and illuminate that particular offender’s motivation. The whole profile is logic statement, based solidly on the arguments made through an analysis of behavior patterns.
Also, due to this same thoroughness, learned or experiential generalizations can be kept from obscuring or misleading investigations. Investigators with a lot of years on the job, or a lot of experience investigating a particular type of crime, tend to formulate theories about a case early on. Instead of investigating the case, they may instead spend their efforts attempting to prove a theory. Deductive Criminal Profiling precludes theory generation, and subsequent bruised egos, until a full investigative analysis has been done.
The final major advantage of the Deductive Criminal Profiling method is that it examines behaviors of individual offenders as they occur over time. Change and growth are allowed for, analyzed, and recompiled back into the criminal profile. As something like offender MO behavior or motivations change or evolve over the course of multiple offenses in an offender’s career, it is noticed and it used to better understand the offender.
The disadvantages of Deductive Criminal Profiling are somewhat few, but well worth noting. First is that it is not a quick fix or a cure all; it requires a great deal of effort and multi-disciplinary skill on the part of each member of the investigative team. Second, because it is such an intensive process, it can be extremely emotionally exhausting. Investigators that learn to use these techniques should take care to be emotionally grounded individuals and not be afraid to discuss any emotional difficulties with those close to them. And third, a Deductive Criminal Profile cannot not point out a specific known individual and say with confidence that they are likely responsible for a certain crime or series of crimes unless that offender’s unique signature is known and established.

Assumptions of the Deductive Criminal Profiling method include:
• No offender acts without motivation.
• Every single offense should be investigated as its own unique behavioral and motivational existent. Given the nature of human behavior, no two cases are really
ever alike.
• Some offenders have unique motivations and/or behaviors that should be individuated from other similar offenders.
• All human behavior develops uniquely, over time, in response to environmental and biological factors.
• Criminal MO behavior can evolve over time and over the commission of multiple offenses.
• A single offender is capable of multiple motives over the commission of multiple offenses, or even during the commission of a single offense.
• Statistical generalizations and experiential theorizing, while sometimes helpful, are incomplete and can ultimately mislead an investigation, and encourage investigative laziness. When we think that we have all of the answers in a case, not only might we only collect evidence that fits those answers, we might think that a thorough investigation is no longer requisite at all.
________________________________________

Conclusions
The Inductive Profiling model, due largely to the lack of uniform training and education on the part of those who use it, has proven time and time again to be an unreliable source of investigative guidance. No standard terminology exists to describe offender behavior, and no classifications that have been developed have been rigorously validated, such as the crime scene classification efforts in the Crime Classification Manual [8]. Furthermore, those classifications have been developed using the same structure and philosophy as the DSM, despite the intention that the DSM be used for the purposes of treatment, and not being designed for the purposes of criminal investigation. The adoption of this clinical model, then, serves no other real purpose than to lend pseudo-clinical credibility to the classification. The model arguably does not serve the purpose that it was designed for.
Furthermore, initial statistical analysis based on unproven classifications and non-uniform terminology are no replacement for a thorough forensic reconstruction, crime scene analysis, and victimological assessment in either a criminal investigation or in a court of law. Given this fact, and given the extensive liability of police departments in high profile cases involving overzealous investigators armed with Inductive Profile evidence, and the general inadmissibility of Inductive “Profile” evidence in a court of law, the practice of teaching investigators purely Inductive Profiling methods should end.
The multi-disciplinary Deductive Profiling method, though more time consuming in the investigative end, will prove to be more effective because of its usefulness as an investigative guide, its competency at linking crimes, and because of its very high probative value in terms of thoroughly establishing signature and motivation. In short, the Deductive Profiling method encourages deliberation, competency, thoroughness, and requires a high degree of intra- and extra-departmental cohesiveness and communication. The Inductive Profiling method encourages egocentricity, investigative short-cuts, and has been used in the past to replace a competent forensic investigation into fact. In the past, when this author has attempted to explain the Deductive Profiling process to individuals involved in criminal investigations, those investigators have said, “It sounds like you’re trying to trick us into doing more work.” To which this author has always responded, “You’re right.”
________________________________________
ENDNOTES
1. United States v. Banks, 1988
2. United States v. Sokolow, 1989
3. Moenssens, A., Starrs, J., Henderson, C., & Inbau, F., Scientific Evidence in Civil and Criminal Cases, 4th Ed., (New York: Foundation Press, 1995), pp.1146-1147
4. State of Oregon v. Lawson, 1994
5. The American Heritage Dictionary, 2nd Ed., (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1982)
6. Geberth, Vernon “The Signature Aspect in Criminal Investigation,” Law and Order, November, 1995, pp.45-49
7. Ibid.
8. Burgess, A. G., Burgess, A. W., Douglas, J., Ressler, R. Crime Classification Manual, Reprint Ed., (New York: Lexington Books, 1992) pp. 21-22
________________________________________

Criminological Theories and Their Application

Introduction
Criminology is a knowledge body that treats crimes as a social phenomenon. Criminological theories are important in understanding criminality. The latter term encompasses all the issues that involve law breaking, law making and reactions towards the process of breaking these laws. There is a unified sequence that is created by the latter mentioned processes. Criminology may also be defined as the process of studying the etiology, nature and extent of law-breaking behavior. Given all the latter issues, then criminology covers all the societal arrangements, group roles, structural issues in society and other dynamics affecting the group.

History and definition of criminology theories
Classical and choice theories
This school of thought began as early as the eighteenth century. One of the most notable figures associated with the classical schools at that time was Cesare Beccaria. His work and the work of many other criminologists influenced the criminal justice systems as we know it today. Classical theories were set aside for some years but this was later changed after the neo-classical movement began back in the nineteen eighties. At this point, criminologists began adopting positivism in their explanations while others also began embracing structural influences.
There are three main ideas that govern the classical school of thought and they are as follows.
• People’s freedom to choose.
• The ability to control choice.
• Certainty, swiftness, and severity of punishment
The first aspect listed above is because all human beings have the ability to make choices about their lives. This means that they have the free will to become greedy, jealous, thrill seekers, vain, lustful, needy, angry, vengeful etc. Consequently, most of the latter behaviors are mere indications of free will among these persons. (Siegel, 2004).

Secondly, the classical theory is founded upon the premise that all can control those choices. In other words, when individuals fear the risk of punishment, then they are likely to control their criminal tendencies. Human beings can analyze situations about their positive outcomes and their potential negatives. If the risks involved in engaging in certain behavior are much less than the benefits, then an individual is likely to commit that crime.
Thirdly, the classical school of thought is founded on the swiftness severity and certainty of punishment. According to these thinkers, when the latter features are present within any society, then potential criminals are likely to be deterred from proceeding with their criminal intentions. In cases where punishment is conducted fairly, then this is likely to reinforce the latter belief about crime. One can regard punishment as an incentive for obeying the law. Consequently, if it is administered rationally and legitimately, then it can deter crime. (Cook, 2005)
All in all, the interpretation of these three core ideas has brought about different reactions and different results especially when applied to case studies. Consequently, it is important for one to appreciate the context of a particular issue in order to understand crime. In this regard, a number of choice theories exist in the field of criminology. For instance, some people utilize the rational choice theory as a basis for understanding crime. Some prefer using the situational crime prevention theory, the sanctions theory and the deterrence theories all qualify as forms of the classical thought. In the above, the routine activities theory is founded upon the belief that for crime to occur, there must be three aspects that include a suitable target, a potential offender and an absent or incapable guardian.
In the classical school of thought, individuals must be motivated to commit crimes through the availability of an opportunity. In practice, classical theories are important in understanding victimization as well. Demographics and lifestyle are important predictors of victimization (the process by which victims and offenders get in contact with one another). Many researchers have found that aspects such as being male, unmarried, leading an active lifestyle and using bars can have an important influence on the occurrence of crime. It should be noted however, that the classical school of thought is not founded entirely on demographic factors, as these are the important predictors of the occurrence of crime. While some of the latter may not qualify as fully fledged theories, they are still as important as the full theories in understanding crime. (Pearce, 2003).

The Rational Choice Theory
The rational choice theory is founded upon the premise that criminals have the ability to use intelligent thought while committing crimes. In other words, social behavior is an aggregation of a series of behavioral actions that are affected and conducted by rational individuals. This means that potential criminals are actors that are affected by certain values and beliefs within society. Also, these actors usually calculate the benefits or the costs of taking a certain action and then make the decision to commit that act if they are likely to maximize its benefits or its overall utility process. In the rational choice theory, one must also consider the effect that one’s environment has upon their decisions making process.
Here, there is an assumption that all criminals are aware of their value systems and the means required to pursue these courses of action. Consequently, it is necessary for actors or potential criminals to first collect, then organize and finally analyze this information to come up with the most feasible alternatives. The rational choice theory is founded upon the ends and means concept. In other words, the latter theory provides an avenue for describing how criminals are able to achieve certain ends through the means of rational calculus.
It should also be noted that the rational choice theory refers to methodological individualism. In order words, individuals must examine the options available to them. This process of rational thought is what is then translated into the entire society. Consequently, the theory is built up from the individual and then aggregated to the entire society. The rational choice theory presents researchers with a series of challenges. The first is that most of the variables found within this theory are difficult to quantify. One such example is a ‘potential criminal’. This variable is based on the aspect of criminality which is a personality trait yet crime itself is an event. The suitability of targets is yet another difficult term to define because most criminals portray this aspect differently depending on the demographics and their environment.
Other criminologists assert that the theory is best for preventative techniques. This is because it assists in explaining the following three d’s of crime.
• Detect
• Delay
• Deter
When one is interested in finding out details about the exact location of where crime was committed, then it may be increasingly difficult. Additionally, it is also very difficult to understand exactly when a crime had occurred. The aspect of a crime’s conditions can also be difficult to determine through the rational choice theory. (Schmalleger, 2005)
Other experts have also asserted that the rational choice theory may not be suitable in explaining criminal actions because it is more suitable in confirming that an action was committed rather than falsifying it. These critics also claim that the magnitude of effects of the theories’ variables are not well specified. This goes hand in hand with the overdependence on variables that cannot be observed or even measured. Lastly, critics claim that the theory is not particularly useful because it is a post hoc theory type.

The classical school of thought has been very influential in the criminal justice system as some of the policies affecting offenders are founded upon them. Examples of such policies include the get-tough policy, police saturation measures and police crackdown in potential crime zones. Deterrence strategies are largely based on this notion and so are embarrassment rituals conducted upon offenders. (Pearce, 2003)
It should be noted that the choice theory renounces and firmly criticizes the use of rehabilitation as a form of law enforcement. These theorists believe that certain criminals are quite cold and hard such that it would be a waste of resources and time to try and rehabilitate them. Adherents to this principle are likely to understand that the only way to deal with crime is by separating innocent persons from evil ones.

Strain theory
The strain theory is since certain social structures force individuals to commit crime. Strain theories were originally stated by well renowned criminologist Emile Durkheim. Thereafter, they were advanced by Robert Merton in the nineteen thirties who was then followed by Cohen in the mid nineteen fifties. Cloward and Ohlin did some more work on the theory and their efforts were subsequently backed by Rosenfeld and Messner.
According to these theories, strain may either be brought on by the structural institutions. The latter refer to societal level processes that are eventually transmitted down to the actors that make up society. Subsequently, most of them begin perceiving needs based on these structural institutions. A criminal’s perceptions about their opportunities or threats are defined by the level of regulation or circulation of a certain social structure.
The strain theory is also founded upon the premise that an individual is the person who has to undergo a lot of friction and difficulties in trying to meet society’s goals or expectations. Sometimes when these expectations are so important to the individual, then he or she might consider achieving through any route possible without serious consideration of the legitimacy of the means required to achieve it.

In Durkheim’s anomie concept, he tried to explain why certain individuals may choose to commit suicide. In his book, Durkheim states that this occurs when individuals lose their sense of purpose or when they feel sidelined by society. Additionally, this feeling is normally coupled by the lack of values in an individual.
Dubois also did some independent work on the strain theory and found that most people commit crimes as a result of the strain experienced within their environment. He confirmed this through a study of African American crime in the late nineteenth century. At that time, the society had just undergone radical changes in the political system thus heightening the level of expectations amongst this group. Most of them were strained by these and thus found themselves committing crimes to achieve their means. (Schmalleger, 2005) It should also be noted that the strain theory can be analyzed through the functional aspect or through the structural aspect. In the structural aspect, there is more emphasis on the way things work; here one examines the nature of a criminal event or the process of committing the criminal action with a look of the connections between these aspects and their level of interdependence of these variables. On the other hand, the functional explanation is founded upon the premise that certain structural features are parts of an overall system. This is the reason why things occur in the manner that they do. Social systems are mostly founded on the parts that make them up and when one part fails to perform these functions, then it subsequently leads to strain. If this strain continues for a long time, then chances are that the entire system could fail. Robert Merton was very influential in the theory because he provided an avenue for understanding crime through strain. Merton asserted that there are two major pathways within which individuals can be led to crime. The first is a culturally related expectation and the structural possibilities required to achieve this goal. Merton’s study was conducted at a time when people were moving to the United States in pursuance of the American dream. According to this author, many of them found that it was not as easy as they had thought. Merton claimed that there was a disconnection between the culturally related expectations and the socially acceptable methods of achieving it. This disconnect was what was called the anomie. He believed that certain individuals chose to engage in criminal behavior because of the strain created between their aspirations and the opportunities available or meeting these expectations. This is the reason why more crime is prevalent in the lower social classes than in the higher ones because many people lack the opportunities with which to achieve societal goals and they eventually choose to commit it through illegitimate reasons. (Pearce, 2003).

Usually, such persons may lose their sense of motivation and may get frustrated. Also, society creates a situation of anomie when it dwells too much on the winners rather than rewarding all people who had the courage to compete. What this creates is a situation in which members of society has no clear-cut methodology or predictability that can be used to define success and this is what is regarded as anomie or a degree of cultural chaos.

Cultural deviance theory
One of the pioneers who was very instrumental in the process in explain the cultural deviance theory was Albert Cohen. The latter criminologist concentrated on delinquent behavior among boys within eth London society. Through this study, he was able to come up with the delinquent subculture phenomenon. His major concern in the theory was the aspect of innovative adaptation. According to him, young people do not operate in isolation as most of them are influenced by the world around them. Consequently, by identifying and understanding the characteristic of these cultures, it is possible to remember the way one has to deal with certain issues.
The first aspect of a delinquent subculture is the non-utilitarianism aspect of it. In this regard, juvenile delinquents take part in crime just so that they can enjoy themselves or so that they can have fun. Additionally, the delinquent subculture is characterized by a level of maliciousness where such groups just want to cause trouble. Besides these, many delinquent subcultures have a lot of negativisms. In other words, they tend to negate the norms of other cultures such as the middle class and then perceive this defiance as normal. Delinquent subcultures are also characterized by the presence of hedonism as a need for immediate self-gratification. Group autonomy also plays an important part here because most of these delinquents usually regard the authority of the groups as the only one and any other source is defied. (Schmalleger, 2005) It is also important to note that Cohen felt that the delinquent boys were frustrated with the values of the middle class and consequently, rebelled against these sentiments through the use of crime. Walter Miller on the other hand focused on another approach to cultural deviant theory. He did most of his research among lower class males in Boston. According to this author, delinquent behavior was not bought by another class’s values; instead, he saw it as a reflection of the lower-class culture. He believed that middle class values were overestimated in Cohen’s theory. He also asserted that within the middle class, certain values were regarded as more important than others. However, the lower class was governed by different standards. In the end, this brings about clashes between these two groups and may create conflicts between the two categories or classes. In the lower class, values revolve around survival. Consequently, in the process of achieving these values, young males find that they have to engage in criminal behavior in order to achieve them.

Social process theories
In the social process, theory, more emphasis is placed on the micro level aspects than the macro one. This is different form all the latter mentioned theories because here, focus is on the role that the individual plays and how this affects society and not vice versa. One of the social process theories is the Sutherland’s Differential Associations theory. In this theory, learning is assumed to take place as a result of the process of socialization. In other words, individuals have the choice to either accept social norms or to reject them. This is different from the former mentioned theories (structural theories) that center on society’s ability to impose its norms and value upon others without due consideration of their preferences. (Pearce, 2003)
Another distinct feature that emerges in the social process theories is the fact that criminal activities can take part in all social classes and there is little emphasis on one group. Another social process theory that one must consider is the social control theory. Through this theory, one can understand the fact that crime can be imposed through eth process of controlled existence. In the containment theory it is assumed that no single individual is forced to commit crime and that it can be committed by anyone. In the labeling theory, individuals are pushed into committing more crimes when they have been labeled as criminals by society itself.
Another social process theory is the social developmental theory. Here, an individual is part of their interaction with their respective environments and this can only be understand by incorporating all the biological, psychological and sociological factors that come into play within an individual’s life. In the age graded theory, it is asserted that crime is likely to occur when there is a change that has occurred at a certain age within a person’s life. The individual responds to this abnormality through criminal behavior. Lastly, the dual taxonomic theory revolves around the fact that certain neuropsychological factors can make one more predisposed to crime. In this theory, considerations are also given to other causative factors such as poverty as drivers for the occurrence of crime. (Cook, 2005)
All in all, it should be noted that most crimes usually occur because of the specific choices that individuals have to make in the process of either accepting or rejecting societal norm.

Marxist criminology
The Marxist school of thought revolves around the reasons behind change. Additionally, it also dwells on the identification of disruptive forces in any one society. Additionally, it looks for ways in which any given society is divided along forces of wealth, power and also through prestige. Through these mechanisms, it is possible to understand why certain individuals behave the way they do. In Marxist criminology, a lot of consideration is given to the relationships between crime and society i.e. there is a need to look into the structural and immediate social environments that could propagate crime. In this regard, Karl Marx believed that the upper class utilized the law to impose their own rules upon the lower class so that they could stay in those disadvantaged positions. Here, one can understand why certain acts are labeled as crimes and why others are not. This means that the theory is best for understanding state corporate crimes, state crime and political crime.
While the relevance of the Marxist school of thought has reduced over the past decades, one cannot undermine the influence that this theory has upon the field of criminology. In Marxist criminology it is assumed that economic power can be translated into another form of power i.e. political power. Through economic power, the majority members of society i.e. those who do not have economic power are disempowered and causes discourse. (Schmalleger, 2005)
In Marxism, conformity is created through socialization. Conformity is an important part of a society because it ensures social order. Here, law is the methodology utilized to enforce the state’s interests. In other words, since all states operate under their own rules, then it is very possible to impose any kind of rules. It should be noted here that small groups always come out as leaders regardless of whether the system if governance is democratic or autocratic. The reason behind the emergence of groups in any given society is that there is a need for decision making organs everywhere. Consequently, society is forced to contend with the influences made by this ruling class. In other words, the modern state is largely driven and affected by those who control the means of production. Examples of how this can be depicted in colonial law in colonial states such as East Africa. The British created laws that would assist them in the process of securing returns from coffee plantains. Property laws are usually created in such a manner that they would benefit the ruling class, these laws sideline the lower class and they are forced to look for other means of survival other than through the process of understanding these underlying issues. Most of them resort to crime as their last alternative to survival. Adherents to this theory compare two continents i.e. Europe and North America. They claim that in Europe, the law is more socialistic and this is why crime rates are quite low. However, in the US, crime rates have hit all-time highs because of the lack of effective mechanisms that would assist in the process of understanding this problem. The Marxist school of thought centers around the issue of social isolation. Consequently, it has also been used to understand why certain crimes work related crimes occur. When society offers certain individual work that is regarded as demeaning or work that involves no application of creativity or decisions making, then individuals are bound to get bored by it. In the end, some working class members opt to engage in corporate crime in order to defy this kind of oppression within the workplace.

Application of the theories to case studies
The case of the wall street broker
The classical theories can be applied to this situation in order to understand the latter issue. This wall street broker examined the costs of doing insider trading (i.e. engaging in unethical behavior, getting disbarred or being arrested) against the benefits that would emanate from committing the crime. The benefit would be five million dollars in a very short period. Additionally, punishment is not certain because if executed well, corporate crime is difficult to detect. Since punishment was not certain, then this could have propagated the individual in committing the crime. (Schmalleger, 2005).
The strain theory is also very important in understanding this broker’s decisions to commit corporate crime. This individual lives in a society that values winners or people who seem monetarily successful. It is likely that the legal channels for attaining high level of financial success are minimal as they may take too long. Consequently, there was an anomie in meeting societal expectations related to financial success and the legal channels available to achieve this. In the end, he chose to use a short cut to meet these expectations. The cultural deviant theory states that individuals are likely to engage in certain forms of behavior because there are certain norms that society creates with regard to the middle class. Consequently, to defy these norms, then one is likely to engage in criminal behavior. The stockbroker was rebelling against society’s expectations of him. Social processes theories focus on the stockbroker’s ability to decide for himself why he wants to commit a certain crime. The control theory can be applied here in that society’s expectations of monetary gain were able to control his actions and caused him to commit a crime. (Schmalleger, 2005) In the Marxist school of thought, individuals commit crime because they are trying to respond to the demeaning work or the type of work that involves minimal creativity. This theory could be the strongest in trying to understand why this crime occurred. The stock broker could be committing the crime as a way of defying the oppressive nature of his job even after he received qualifications from one of the most reputable learning institutions in the world.

The suburban college girl
The classical choice theories focus on the benefits that one stands to gain against the costs or negatives that they must incur. In this case, the college girl wanted to complete her education and pass; these were the benefits of the crime. On the other hand, the deterrents would be the fact that she can be rejected as a decent member of society. Since the punishment in this case was not that severe, then this could have pushed her there.
The strain theory also assists in understanding her situation. Society expects her to complete her education to get a good job and live comfortably. In order to do this, she must pay her tuition and look for time to read her books. Since the benefits are at stake, then she risks being labeled as an outcast just so that she can meet this expectation. The strain between these two aspects caused her to commit the social misdeed of becoming a call girl.
The cultural deviant theory can also be applied in this situation. The call girls come from a middle class family, but she chooses to rebel against the expectation of this class by engaging in socially unacceptable behavior. This rebellion is propagated by the fact that she cannot meet the expectation of society through the available channels so she decided to rebel by looking for others. (Cook, 2005)
Social process theories also apply to her scenario in that she can decide for herself whether she wants to commit a crime and why she chose this avenue to do so. Marxist criminology can also be applied here because the controllers of capital have provided this girl with very limited routes to meet her obligations. To survive she has to resort to socially inappropriate means such as through the call girl service in order to make it. The most applicable theory in this case study is the strain theory.

The Hispanic boy

The classical school of thought would explain this boy’s decisions to join a gang though the aspect of punishment. In such a neighborhood, law enforcement authorities are not that vigilant, consequently, punishment is not certain, it may be delayed or might not be that severe. The benefits of joining the gang in clued protecting his life and getting money. Sine this boy has very few options that could assist him in meeting hi basic needs, then he weighs the benefits against the deterrents and finds that committing these gang crimes would be more beneficial to him. In close relation to this theory is the strain theory. There is anomie between meeting his basic needs such as food, clothing and the means available to get them. The Hispanic boy probably has little access to education thus making it extremely difficult for him to pursue his dreams through the legal channels. The anomie between these structural aspects cases him to commit crimes.
The cultural deviance theory is the most applicable in this case study because the Hispanic boy could be acting out against the rules of the middle class; that one has to get wealth through certain channels such as working or education. In close relation to this are the social process theories where neutralization theory would be most applicable Marxist theory also applies in this situation because the controllers of wealth have created a situation where this boy has no other mechanism for earning a living since the former groups have limited his choices.

Male college student
Date rape can be explained through the classical theory in that this individual chose to engage in it because there are minimal chances of getting caught if it is covered against the background of a date. He chooses to engage in the act because he may not want to undergo the long process of normal intercourse. The benefits outweigh the punishment and thus prompt him to continue with it. The strain theory explains that society expects certain things from individuals. In this case, one is expected to engage in intercourse only through consent from both parties. However, to do this, the college student may be required to spend a lot of time on a certain lady. Consequently, there is a strain and he chooses to rape such victims to respond to this strain. (Schmalleger, 2005)
The cultural deviant theory may also be applicable in that he may be acting to his peer’s delinquent behavior. These peers may be acting out against their own class through date rape. The social process there is applicable in that the control theory helps to understand this college student’s behavior. Lastly, Marxism is also applicable here because he might be trying to depict sign of power among his partners. But to do that, one has to have status which is only applicable to controllers of capital. In reaction to this situation, he chooses to rebel through date rape.

Conclusion
Criminological theories are all applicable in the latter case sties. However, certain theories seem to stand out against others thus making it relatively easy to deal with the root causes of the crimes through those outstanding ones.
Reference
Siegel, L. (2004): Criminological theories, patterns and typologies, CA, Wadsworth Publishing Company
Pearce, F. (2003): Crimes of the powerful, Peter Lang Publishing company
Cook, D. (2005): Social process theories vs social structural theories, Routledge
Schmalleger, F. (2005): Criminology Today- an integrative approach; McGraw hill publishers

Violent Attachments-Terrorism
Introduction.

In this teaching we’re going to talk about the Making of a Terrorist. Why does terrorism exist? Who are the terrorists? What are the origins of terrorism? What are the psychological components of terrorism? What are the social implications and constructs of terrorism? I have created several courses for different universities on terrorism and the profiling of these types of violence.
Terrorism is not easily defined within social and political contacts. You can have different meanings in different periods of time and have a different purpose even within the same period of time. For this reason, there is no primary definition or single definition that will be successful in determining what is Terrorism. Also, we were looking at the hypocrisy that is concerning the definition of terrorism. Today’s freedom fighter might become tomorrow’s terrorist depending on who’s doing the definition.
Many groups can fall into the category of being labeled as terrorists. We are look through the history of the world and we have seen that once again it is who is defining what is terrorism.

Social Underpinnings
In this section we are going to be looking at the regions terrorists and counterterrorist need to justify the violence. We are going to summarize some studies the way violence is justified. And we are going to describe three different views of profiling in this debate. And we are going to be outlining different points of view regarding radicalization and alienation.
We must remember that social processes influence individual psychological interpretation of how they are responding to and reacting to their psychological and social logical motivators. Violent religious groups and their organizations are rooted in ways of how they view reality. Either lone terrorists or terrorists who belong to organizations take predictable actions and serve certain functions within their groups.

Anthropological and Sociological Approaches
 Two primary factors account for the continued influence of religion:
 First, religion has always been an important influence in the history of humanity.
 Second, modernization tends to break down communities, families, and social orientation.

Terrorism as a Religious Process.
 Strong religious beliefs increase:
 The likelihood of religious conflict.
 The intensity of fighting.
 Violence results when sacred traditions are threatened.
 Eschatology plays a major role:
 Messianic warriors in the end-time correct the heresies of the past and fight for the ideal divine order of a deity.
 Empirical findings demonstrate that terrorism is partially a religious process.

Lone Wolf

 Religion helps to produce the “lone-wolf avenger”:
 A person who has a particular ideology but isn’t part of a group.
 An individual lone-wolf avenger needs to find some type of justification for his or her actions, and religion provides the perfect path.

Terrorism as a Religious Process.

 Despite utilization of sacred stories and cosmic mythologies, there is a very limited official religious basis for terrorism.
 Religious terrorists are lethal – religious terrorist groups killed more people with fewer attacks than secular terrorists.
 Religious terrorists are deadlier than their secular counterparts.

Criminology

 Criminology as applied to terrorism looks at prevention and apprehension.
 Terrorists commit crimes as they struggle for a cause; they set them apart from ordinary street criminals.
 As first responders, law enforcement personnel must recognize the differences between typical criminal behavior and terrorist activity.

Practical Behavioral Differences.

Terrorists

1. Focus their actions toward a
goal
2. Are dedicated to a cause.
3. Rarely cooperate with officials because they do not wish to betray their cause.
4. Tend to attack
5. Strike against targets after careful planning
6. Prepare for and rehearse their operations

Criminals

1. Are unfocused.
2. Are not devoted to crime as a philosophy.
3. Will make deals to avoid punishment.
4. Usually run when confronted with force.
5. Strike when the opportunity to do so is present.
6. Rarely train for crime

Justifying Terrorism

 Deadly force demands the greatest amount of justification.
 Terrorists have the same need for social approval, but they rarely obtain it because their actions are not sanctioned by the governments, they attack.
 Terrorists must look outside normative social channels to gain approval for their acts.
 In order for social acceptance to be gained, the terrorist group must be isolated from mainstream society.
 Processes used by American criminal gangs and suicide bombers are the same.

Profiling the Terrorist Personality

 Research lists four types of personalities:
 Revolutionaries drawn to a cause.
 People who wander among terrorist groups,
 People who have a sudden conversion experience
 People who are attracted by peers.

Paths and Routes for Terrorism

 The psychological processes that lead people to terrorist groups.
 The issues that keep them in the group.
 The support for people who want to leave.

Radicalization & Alienation.

 As with other areas of terrorism, the areas of radicalization and alienation are fraught with differing views and suggestions for research.
 Researchers will obtain more fruitful results by examining militant ideology and finding the concepts that are shown to attract followers.
Racialization

Radicalization is a six-step framework.
 Alienated young man.
 Meets other alienated young men and form bond.
 Groups gravitate toward religion.
 Religion interpreted in militant terms.
 Militant group meets terrorist contact.
 Militants join terrorists as a group decision.

Groups in Prison

 Recent reports suggest that groups are being radicalized in prison.
 A leader often targets selected prisoners or dominate new inmates using intimidation to force intimidating them until they join the group.
 Research maintains recruitment is like procedures used by street gangs.

Conclusion.
There are many reasons why people on the fringes of society decide to strike out and either act out on the own or join terrorists’ groups. In any event we have see that there have and endorse violent attachments to carry out their plans of evil and vengeance.

Sins of the Fathers-Sins of the Children
Collective Trauma.

Do not bow in worship to them, and do not serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, allowing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate (reject) me. Exodus 20:5

Introduction
The above mentioned, scripture is a powerful example of how parents for one reason or another, do not come to the Lord Jesus Christ and their mindsets and lifestyles fall upon their children and grandchildren onto the third and fourth generation. This is a perfect example of Lifespan development. Lifespan development basically means that the life course for a person is developed and solidified through different life experiences.
We can see that Father God identifies that idolatry is a powerful tool of the enemy to distract us from giving of ourselves to the living God. Idolatry can be anything or anyone we place before our obedience to Father God. Parents who neglect their spiritual covering of their children leave the door open for their children to make the same mistakes in their lives. Godless parents mean chaos for themselves and their families. Satan wreaks havoc in the lives of everyone through generational rebellion. And the dysfunctional and sinful lifestyle carry over from one generation to another. We must understand that the cycle can be broken through the Lord Jesus Christ as it states in Colossians, 1:13-14. “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” There’s nothing impossible for God. As we surrender to him, we can be healed of anything that we have gone through and generational chains can be broken. My wife and I have an on-going counseling ministry of working with people who have suffered trauma.

What is Collective Trauma
Trauma does not take place just with one individual, but there are many who are involved in this interaction of pain and injury. It can be physical, emotional, psychological, and even spiritual. Trauma is that event either one time or ongoing experience with a significant impact on one’s survival.
Idolatry is a powerful tool of the enemy to distract us from giving of ourselves to the living God. Idolatry can be anything or anyone we place before our obedience to Father God. As a psychologist, I have seen many people who have gone through many terrible different situations in their lives, and as we surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ, we can overcome them. God has promised us victory. But the victory comes through the redemption of the Lord Jesus Christ. This redemptive work only becomes a reality when we believe it, accept it, and apply it to our lives.

There is a Type 1. Trauma which states that the person experienced a traumatic event in their lives only once. The second is Type 2 Trauma whereby the individual has experienced time and again trauma. Many people have experienced trauma for many years from both primary (parents) and secondary agents (extended family, school, etc.) of socialization. I try to help victims of generational trauma that their parents or other caretakers experienced their own trauma and just carried out the pain and suffering they experienced growing up on others. There is an underlying sense of FEAR if they speak of their trauma whatever it may be what consequences they or their families might suffer. How will others look at them if they share their deep secrets. Will they take away my children? Will I be labeled a as bad person, mother, father, etc.

Failure to Recognize Trauma
When trauma is not recognized, or validated by the family or community, to which one is part of, there is a response that there might be something wrong with him, and everybody else is sane. When trauma is experienced on an ongoing basis, this can’t convert into PTSD, and there are many symptoms of PTSD, which range from hyper villages or arousal, severe anxiety, agitation, irritability, depression, hostility, distrust, fear, poor impulse control, self-destructive behaviors, self-medication, nightmares, etc.
Discuss on my PhD dissertation of the ‘Association of PTSD and Child Abuse in the El Salvadorean Population”.

Victim Blaming
Victim Blaming- Lays the responsibility for the offense committed against them on the victim, instead of the offender.
• Need to assure victims that they are not alone.
• Guard against “blaming the victim.”

Response to Traumatic Events
Our mind is very powerful, and when trauma occurs, automatic signs begin to arise within us, and it may cause fear or aggression, resorting to flight or fight. Murder, rape, physical abuse, sexual abuse, domestic violence, psychological and emotional abuse.
Some people when they are experiencing trauma, and their instinct is to freeze. They freeze because they’re unable to gauge or measure or understand how to defend themselves against violence, and or evil.
• Acute stress experienced in the immediate aftermath of a traumatic event.
• Anxiety, dissociate symptoms, and other manifestations that occur within one month after exposure to trauma.
• Symptoms include victim’s re-experiencing of the traumatic event, avoidance of stimuli associated with the event, numbing of general responsiveness, and
increased agitation.
• Victims may suffer wide variety of mental disorders.
• Depression
• Substance Abuse
• No clear bright line as to the types of mental disorders a victim may suffer.
• Certain events may re-trigger the recollection of the trauma
• Intensity and frequency generally diminish over time.
• Victim must learn to continue to function despite reactions.
• Victims frequently encounter social isolation and invalidation of their efforts to come to terms with their experiences.

Chronic Developmental Exposure to Trauma
• Attachment- intimate relationships suffer.
• Biology-trauma affects emotional regulation, cognitive functioning, ability to learn from past experiences.
• Affect-can’t tolerate stress, hyperactivity, communication skills suffer.
• Dissociation- those who suffer on-going trauma can suffer from amnesia.
• Behavioral-hinders appropriate impulse control, aggression, disrupted sleep.
• Cognitive difficulty in concentration.
• Self-concept-fragmented though patterns, struggle with self-esteem.

Trauma Impacts on Relationships
• Trust- relationships suffer from lack of trust. In this of itself means that there is a lack of attachment and bonding for people with other people. Attachment is the emotional connection between people. Usually, it begins with the primary caregiver and bonding describes the feelings, thoughts, and behaviors of one person to another. If the perpetrator that initiated the trauma with the victim, then this process is hinder or even severed.

Coming Out of Darkness
There is always deliverance from the bondages of darkness that has surrounded our lives. Confession and surrender to Father God delivers us from darkness in our lives. It is through the redemptive act of Jesus Christ that the process of deliverance from these chains can be healed over time.
“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” Col. 1:13-14