Shadow Truth: The Ultimate Deception

Shadow Truth is a frank depiction of societal and political evolution. Everywhere we look, we find customs, laws, policies and other conditions that cause us scratch our heads and ask, “How did we as a society get to where we are now?”

All one has to do, is open the morning paper or listen to the news on any given day. The headlines are filled with events that just don’t seem right. Long standing traditions, laws and policies are falling to the wayside like autumn tree leaves. Political Correctness has become a worthy goal of our rapidly evolving society.

Instead of wishing a person, “Merry Christmas,” we are now being indoctrinated to offer a more politically-correct, “Happy Holidays.” Prayer and Bible reading on school property is becoming taboo. Prayer at public gatherings can no longer include references to Jesus Christ. Lawsuits are being filed regarding the phrase, “Under God” in our Pledge of Allegiance because such words violate children’s rights to be free from a coercive requirement to affirm God. “Separation of Church and State” has become a never-ending issue of contention.

It seems that without warning, we as a society came to celebrate lifestyles that we once considered to be very wrong. Today, homosexuality is honored and promoted. We see headlines about step-parents losing their rights to nurture children in their care because of their refusal to indoctrinate the children into the pro-homosexuality lifestyle. We hear on the news that some of our schools are now providing birth control to eleven year olds without parental knowledge or consent. Respect for life is losing favor among the people. Abortion and euthanasia are now considered to be an individual’s choice.

Much of the world has embraced the concept of Socialism. Surprisingly, the United States appears to be chomping at the bit to travel down that same road. Every day it seems that our society is increasingly creating an environment that encourages people not to work. The desire to excel is being eliminated from our schools. Playground activities that result in winners and losers are being curtailed. Valedictorian honors that go to just one student are now considered as unhealthy competition. Entitlement seems to be the new philosophy of society. Young mothers are encouraged to stay single so that they can be paid to have children. The concept of re-distribution of wealth is rapidly gaining support. The Global Warming agenda is causing the world to re-examine the “benefits” of Globalism and One World Government.

We have been seduced into falling for the most cunning deception known to man. We got to where we are through a seemingly logical progression of societal change. This change is being brought about through a particular development of policies and beliefs. There is a common thread of deceit passing through seemingly unrelated issues affecting our society today. This thread of deceit is called Shadow Truth. Our great land is now locked in the firm grip of Shadow Truth Deception. How is it that so many people in our society are falling for, and accepting such obviously wrong policies? How is it that we find ourselves obligated to comply with, and be subjected to such policies? How is it that we can be threatened by lawsuits if we refuse to comply with some of Shadow Truth’s newly implemented policies? How can these deceptive things be accepted by the mainstream of today’s society without so much as a whimper? How is it that we can wake up and realize that we have completely lost control of the world we live in? Are we so blind that we can allow this to happen to us?

Read Shadow Truth: The Ultimate Deception, and discover the common thread of deceit traversing the seemingly unrelated evolutionary changes that are occurring every day before our very eyes.

To Order: Go to http://www.tatebook.com/ or order directly from Amazon by going to: http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Truth-Larry-Tate/dp/0881440124/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261958242&sr=1-1

The Journey: Searching for the Promised Land

We’ve all heard the story of the Exodus journey. It is one of the most often-told stories from the Bible. We can practically recite it word for word. But, do we really know what the Exodus story is about?

"The Journey" is a novel which paints a vivid picture of the Exodus Journey from a vantage point not often visualized. Most discussions of the Exodus story are based on Moses’ perspective, what Moses did, and what Moses thought about the unruly and unbelieving Hebrew people he was asked to guide to the Promised Land.

This book is focused on one Hebrew family out of several million people who actually followed Moses out of Egypt and on to the Promised Land. The reader is drawn into the mindset of the common Hebrew, as the basis for the people’s lack of faith and their resulting rebellion unfolds before your eyes.

One day, an un-adored and distrusted man named Moses appeared in the land of Goshen. He announced that he had great plans for the Hebrew nation. On the surface, his plans sounded great, but in practice the people felt that Moses caused more and more hardships as he brought down plague upon plague on the land of Egypt. Finally allowed to leave Egypt behind, the Hebrews encountered difficulties and conflicts at every turn. What should have been a ten-day journey turned into forty years of meager existence in a barren wilderness.

Who was this man named Moses who managed to convince an entire nation to follow him? This is the story of a Hebrew family that journeyed from Egypt to the Promised Land. Without the advantage of radio, TV or newspapers, the typical Hebrew person probably never had a chance to hear Moses speak. Many of the millions of Hebrew people may not have even had the opportunity to see Moses as they made their way across the vast wilderness between Egypt and the Promised Land. Most everyone had to rely on messengers, hearsay and rumors for news and information regarding their seemingly unending journey.

Hunger, thirst, discouragement, doubt and fear permeated the weary traveling Hebrew nation like an uncontrollable plague. Shai was a confused Hebrew boy who was subjected to a host of unending grumbling and complaining from his father, his uncle and most everyone else he knew.

On the other hand, his grandmother was a beacon of light, teaching faith, hope and responsibility to her confused grandson. What could she possibly tell her grandson that would counteract the overwhelming and unending series of negative events that rolled over the Hebrews like a hurricane? What did she tell him that propelled him to the right hand of Joshua, the future leader of Israel? What did his grandmother know, that cultivated Shai’s life into that of an overcomer? Shai’s grandmother knew something profound. She imparted knowledge and wisdom that many of today’s Christians may have forgotten.

The reader soon realizes that The Journey is not a story about a people’s journey to another land; and it is not a story about a great man of God named Moses. It is a story about you and me. It is a story about our journey to the realization of the many gifts that God has promised us. Read The Journey and understand it in the way God wanted you to know it: a story about you; and the problems you face every day. The Journey is about your unpaid bills. It is about your struggling business. It’s about that elusive pay raise you’ve been wanting. It is about the difficulties you’ve been having with your family. After reading The Journey, you may find yourself with a vastly different viewpoint on life, and the many obstacles you face every day. Any study of exodus or study on exodus should include this insightful view of the wilderness journey.

Order at http://www.tatebook.com/. This book is also offered at http://www.amazon.com/.

Conversations with a Stranger

Is there a God? Can God's existence be proven? Larry Tate has written a novel entitled Conversations With A Stranger. More information can be found at http://www.tatebook.com/. His book has been an effort to make philosophical teachings more understandable. Many people often wonder: Is there a God? What is God? Where is God? Did God create the universe? How do I fit in? Does God care about me? Is there life after death? Can I have a relationship with God? How do I know that God loves me? Can the existence of God be proven?

Questions about God seem to never end.There have been many philosophers who have attempted to prove God's existence. Blaise Pascal put forth Pascal's Wager. St. Thomas Aquinas' Five Ways and his Summa Theologiae attempts to prove that God exists in a variety of arguments. William Paley is known for Paley's Teleological Argument which suggests that the world exhibits an intelligent purpose. St. Anselm's Ontological Argument is based on reason alone. St. Augustine's Argument from Causality suggests that everything that exists was caused by something else. Pascal's Wager is also known as Pascal's Gambit. Blaise Pascal was a French philosopher in the 1600's. St. Thomas Aquinas was a Dominican Priest, theologian and philosopher in the 1200's. St. Anselm was a teacher in the 1100's.

Larry Tate probes these age-old questions in Conversations with a Stranger, a quest to find proof that God exists. Through a coincidental encounter with a stranger in a coffee shop, one man has the courage to ask daunting life questings that would shape the course of his future. Finding their first meeting so compelling, the two now-friends continued their dialogue with discussions to follow, slowly unearthing proofs implying God's existence. However, what they ultimately stumbled upon was far beyond anything they could have ever imagined. Eavesdrop on these choice encounters for yourself and find out what is birthed from Conversations with a Stranger.

Reviews:

The plot of Conversations with a Stranger is at once both simple and difficult to describe. Two men meet; one utterly unconcerned with the question of whether God exists. The other dedicated to proving His existence. An age-old dance played out in a coffee shop between two nameless men, previously unknown to one another. Without names these individuals are difficult to describe. The first could be Anyman, unconcerned with the larger questions of life, thriving on work and routine. It is he who shares this story with us. The second offers to meet the challenge of the first, and provide proofs drawn from notable Christian thinkers and apologists throughout the ages.
Generally speaking I approach books that scream “teaching fiction” very cautiously. Many notable titles in the vein are filled with fluff and nonsense, not to mention being poorly written. Think The Celestine Prophecy and you’ll understand my ambivalence for the genre. Thankfully Conversations with a Stranger is an entirely different kettle of fish.
Debut novelist Larry Tate has penned a brief work that is nevertheless densely written with a firm foundation based upon biblical truths. Tate isn’t swilling snake oil; he presents us instead with useful tools for evangelism while inspiring and re-focusing our eyes on the commission Jesus left His followers with. I rarely re-read fiction, but the comprehensive notes to the text provide detailed explanations of each of the proofs for God’s existence allowing for further study. This one is a keeper and I intend to dig deeper in order to make them my own and to use them myself.
The arguments presented are drawn from the work of Blaise Pascal, St. Thomas Aquinas, Henri Frederic Ameil, St. Anselm and scripture itself. Presented both conversationally during the casual and friendly debates of the two men, and in greater detail in the notes, the mental work required to engage the proofs are cushioned with the mundane details of life. Rather than devolving into an ongoing My Dinner with Andre tableau, taking place at a single table, Tate thankfully interjects changes of scene that inevitably lead back to the table for another round of civil verbal sparring.
Highly cohesive, the single-pointed message flows smoothly throughout all shifts in location as our Anyman continues the debate internally. His thought processes ring with doubt and conflict, a nearly universal experience during the transition from disbelief to belief. Having come to Christ in a violent fit of surrender, I found his extraordinarily rational and polite dealings with matters of faith surprising.
Perhaps there are such collected individuals living amongst us, I’m not certain I’ve ever met one. In fact our Everyman is a rather bland fellow and lacking a full complement of emotions and depth of character. This isn’t too concerning however, considering the fact that he simply serves as a placeholder for you, or me, the neighbour down the road or the stranger in line ahead of you at Starbucks.
While the apologetics angle is certainly a drawing card, the heart of the novel is faith. Our standing with God is not determined by our intellectual assent to arguments for His existence, or even in mentally acknowledging the claims of Christ. Rather it is that elusive gift, bestowed by God Himself, that effects the transformation. Still we must ever labour in the harvest, planting seeds, stirring up questions and encouraging conversation – let’s get busy!

Jennifer Bogart

"In Conversations with a Stranger, Larry Tate has brilliantly created a unique Christian evangelistic technique that, like a good mystery, lures the reader to seek the outcome".

Jim Head, Patent, Trademark & Copyright Attorney

"Larry Tate has written a provocative novel. He uses an encounter between two people to explore how a 'doubting Thomas' might deal with questions about God's place in his life. In this time of exploding information, a technically trained person may think he needs logical proof, but Larry shows us that answers maybe found in other ways and in other places."

Otis Winters, Chairman, Oriole Oil Company

"Quite simply put, Conversations with a Stranger, lets us know without any doubt that God exists, and the only way to Heaven is through His Son Jesus. In a world of unpredictability and uncertaintly, Larry Tate brings comfort, assurance, and peace of mind in knowing in who we put our belief and trust in."

Raj Patel, DDS, JD

A Word From Our Enemy

An excerpt from Shadow Truth: The Ultimate Deception.

My name is Satan, which means adversary. I also have a number of titles, such as the Prince of this World and the Angel of Light. I am on a mission of utmost importance to me. My objective is to conquer, and gain possession of, the kingdom of God.

I have already initiated a variety of plans, tactics, and strategies in order to accomplish this daunting task. In the beginning, I even made an overt attempt to overthrow God, Himself. Through cunning and craftiness, I was able to recruit a significant number of His angels to assist me in that planned coup. To my disappointment however, I found myself, and my army of renegade angels, unable to fight against God.

Not one to easily give up, I redirected my efforts to overthrow God by seeking to influence his most cherished creation—mankind. Since I was unable to conquer God face-to-face, I decided that winning the allegiance of human beings would be the best way to infiltrate and destroy God’s kingdom. I determined that if I could persuade men and women to follow me, I would effectively conquer God’s empire. What else is there other than the sun, the moon, and the stars? God doesn’t care about those material objects. Mankind is His only passion. With them on my side, God’s kingdom will finally be mine.

I have devised a number of methods of deception. I once developed a plan that involved sharing falsehoods about God, His creation, and the purpose of human existence. However, I eventually had to discard that tactic. I discovered that most people would not follow me if I tell them outright lies. Then one day I stumbled upon the ideal way to lure mankind over to my way of thinking. I have created a very effective tactic which involves ever-so-gradually moving the bar of truth into something that is nowhere near the truth.

To my delight, humans have become clay in the potter’s hand, but now I am the potter. They now follow me wherever I choose to lead them. They are like a flock of sheep going to slaughter. I have finally settled on the ultimate and foolproof plan for overthrowing the kingdom of God.

My plan is very effective. It is the ultimate deceit. Mankind won’t realize what is happening to them. They won’t even have the ability to comprehend that I am fooling them into following me. By the time they finally do figure out what is happening, I will have already conquered the kingdom of God and they will have no way of reversing the damage I have done.

What is my plan? My plan goes far beyond just fooling the average human being. My plan is so devious that it is capable of ensnaring even the most devout of Christians. I have learned that God’s followers won’t easily believe a lie, but they are always eager to embrace truth. How can I deceive God’s followers with truth? It is easy. It is sure. It is devious. Like a grand chess master, I will trap them and leave them with no possible move—no way of escape.

I’ve found that the most effective form of deception is to base it on truth. Even Christians will often accept my manipulations because of their eagerness to embrace God’s truth. Starting with God’s truth as my foundation, I have built an operation of deceit. Building on that first foundation, I can easily entice mankind to believe another version of truth. On top of that, I will convince them to believe yet another truth. My plan is so clever; I should receive a prize. Oh, that’s right, I will receive a prize! I will have the entire kingdom of God handed over to me. Without even realizing it, God’s own followers will hand me the kingdom of God on a silver platter. What do I call my ultimate plan of deception? I call it Shadow Truth.

Copyright by Larry Tate