taking the strongholds

What if things are actually very different than what we have always supposed them to be?  In the above image, for example, who are the "good" guys?  The more colorful figures coming from the right-hand side of the image, with the "lions" and "crosses" depicted on their shield and banner, leads one to think that those are the "good" guys.  If we allow that to be the case with respect to the above image, then, may we not presume that the opposing army represents the "bad" guys?  And since the "bad" guys appear to be defending the castle, may we not further suppose that the castle belongs to the "bad" guys?

But what if that's not the case at all?

what is love?

Do you - Christian, know what love is?

In my considerable experience, I will say that less than five in one-hundred professing Christians know what love is.  And NOT ONE unsaved person knows what love is.

an evil time

"They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly.  Forasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them.  For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right.  Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time."  Amos 5:10-13

"And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil."  Zephaniah 1:12

"Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, against this family do I devise an evil, from which ye shall not remove your necks; neither shall ye go haughtily: for this time is evil."  Micah 2:3

"Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."  Ephesians 5:16

"They [the godly] shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied."  Psalm 37:19