Jubilee on Earth

I Support Ron Paul for President!

2011-11-06T16:33:00.002-05:00

New End Times Novel!

2011-10-29T17:23:00.003-04:00

Greetings, readers! Long time no write. Well, maybe not here. But over the past several months, I've been putting together an outline and idea for a new novel. Since November is the official National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), I decided now is as good a time as any to begin.

I have a new website dedicated solely to my new book. You can find it here:

THE REVELATION

Go explore the different links and tabs, and get a start on reading! So far I've only written the prologue, but if you keep checking back, I'll post more chapters as I go.

And as always, feedback is welcome.

Philippians 4:13

Maranatha!

What Do the Jewish New Year, Embryonic Stem Cell Research and Hitler All Have in Common?

2011-09-28T21:13:00.006-04:00

It's all about a video that has gone 180 around the internet. But let's back up a bit.

Happy Rosh Hashanah to all of my Jewish friends! I've learned today that this week, President Obama signed into law an amendment that permanently prohibits patents involving human embryos. This is a major victory for our country, as we should never, ever allow profit or a price tag on human life. It's a step in the right direction in outlawing all science -- including stem-cell research -- that involves human embryos. It seems as if the desensitization of human life is occurring at a rapid rate, by the same people who condone and support abortion. Ironically, one of the biggest opponents of embryonic stem-cell research who also greatly opposes abortion is Eric Cantor -- currently the only Jewish Republican serving in Congress. He's the House Majority Leader and U.S. Representative for Virginia's 7th congressional district. Our Congress could definitely use many more Eric Cantors, and I highly commend him for his unwavering stance on his moral and ethical views on human life.

On this New Year of the Jewish calendar, I want to share with you one of THE most viral videos out on the 'net right now. Everyone I know is talking about this video. I challenge you to watch the whole thing and not be affected by it. Several years ago, I became a "180'er." If you didn't know that Hitler and abortions have a lot in common, then you have to watch this. And then I've got to ask, will YOU do a 180? Please pass this on...

...and God bless!

End Times Novel

2010-08-27T19:54:00.006-04:00

My apologies, readers, for my long absence. I'm so sorry for not posting more, but God has given me a new job that has taken up much of my time! I am writing a new book -- an End Times novel about the Tribulation and the Apocalypse. I'm co-writing this book with a good friend of mine that God put right in my path this past spring. My absence has been the result of my good fortune in meeting this talented author. Think you've read every book or seen every movie on the end times? Think again. Forget cheesy special effects, inaccurate science, mystical theology and cliche action scenes. We guarantee this novel will blow your mind.

Please stay tuned!!! Chapters will be available free of charge here on this site, with a target date of Thanksgiving to begin posting. If anyone has any comments or feedback, please so share.

God bless!

Maria

Hi, My Name is Maria...

2010-04-21T20:21:00.013-04:00

And I used to be an atheist.

Why do I mention that? Because today someone posted my blog on the atheist community tab of a website, and mocked the heck out of it. In addition to that, it sparked commentary both on the website and here on my blog. As a matter of fact, I've had the most hits yesterday here on my blog than I've ever had in the past 3+ years of owning it. Who knew that atheists were so interested in what we Christians think and feel? I find that so fascinating. I mean, I have a friend who's totally into being a vegetarian. She does not like meat, and doesn't think that it's right to kill animals for food. She's passionate about her stance, and participates in many pro-vegetarian events and websites. I don't agree with that view, and if asked for my opinion or if I'm out on the web, I'm going to be pro-meat. I'm not going to hide it, and if the opportune time comes up where I can talk to a vegetarian and convince them that meat was intended for human consumption, I will. But I'm not going to take the time to seek out vegetarian websites to debate with them and argue with them.

Actually, that's not even a good analogy, because very few of the thousands of readers that stopped by today even came close to eloquently and convincingly debating and arguing with me. I was absolutely stunned by that. I guess I expected people of "reason" and "science" to be more forthcoming about their argument, providing sources of info and carefully thought-out arguments. Instead, I got dozens upon dozens of misspelled, half-written comments containing more four-letter words than I've seen/heard in five years. In fact, some of those four-letter words were so unbelievably crude and vile that I can't even consider reposting them here.

All I can say is that I'm really grateful to that guy/girl who originally mentioned my blog, because thousands came here to read. Okay, I can see that most didn't even stick around long enough to read my profile and see that A) I'm not someone who was brainwashed since I was a child (did you catch the fact that I grew up Muslim??) B) I'm not a guy C) I'm not some old southern fattie. But some did. Several stayed and read for 15-20 minutes. I can see they checked out other posts. Would someone do that if in fact they hated everything I was? Maybe some. But definitely not all.

In fact, I was an atheist five years ago. I was such a profound atheist that I laughed and scoffed right along with all these other guys and gals. I voted Democrat. I made fun of church people. I listened to Air America. I thought that anyone who believed in something like God was an idiot and totally ignorant. I drank. I did drugs. I smoked. Porn was no big deal, abortions were a woman's right and I believed in science. I believed in me. I believed in the world. But that was it.

To be honest, I wasn't happy as an atheist. I can look back now and see that was the very beginning of the nudgings I had to seek something bigger. I hated it that I felt lonely. I was a big partier, always loving good times and friends at the bar. But I didn't like never feeling as if I could trust my boyfriend. Truthfully, none of the guys I dated were men that I felt truly loved me, cherished me and believed in me. My girlfriends were superficial and only cared about their popularity and looks, not caring who they stabbed in the back to get where they wanted. And I wasn't thrilled about my job. It kinda sucked, and I was irritated by so many things there at the office. I even hated some things about myself. I hated the stupid mistakes I made, I hated the insecurity I felt, I hated the way other people always seemed to have more than me. I hated that I was always broke and could never make the kind of money I needed to be comfortable. And why in the world was I not ever able to sleep peacefully at night???

I began to question things. First of all, why did I "hate" so many things? Secondly, death kinda freaked me out, even though I'd never admit it. If I got really sick with cancer, would anyone care? Would I ever feel real purpose, or true contentment? I knew that if I stayed on the same path, my anger, frustration and loneliness would just continue to snowball. Something had to change.

I began questioning my stance on a godless existence -- I just planted the tiniest seed of doubt. It turns out that's all God needed. He took that seed and made it grow.

Five years later -- if that, really -- things have changed and turned around 180 degrees. Here I am. I sleep soundly and peacefully every single night. I adore my job, I have amazing friends, and I know that if I needed help I could count on a huge flock of people to be by my side. I've got more money in the bank than I ever could've thought possible, and that's not counting how much I'm able to donate and give to charity. I have purpose. I have true happiness. And best of all, death and loneliness don't even cross my mind anymore.

People can stop by this blog all they want, and they can call me every nasty word there is. But that doesn't change my stance, my resolve, my peace. I am 35 years old and if I died today, I would die with a huge grin on my face. I have loved and been loved for the past few years in a way I didn't think could be possible. Life isn't just good -- it's amazing. Now I'm not saying that once you become a Christian, all of the problems and issues go away. That's not the case. But it's different. Handling those issues is a breeze, and they don't weigh on me like they used to. I just give my problems to God, and let Him handle them.

So here I am. I used to be an atheist, and now I'm a devout Christian. I believe in small government, big hugs, men marrying women, and women realizing that no one can take away life but God. Don't agree with me? That's ok. But nothing you can say will make me change who I am or what I stand for. I stand for God -- plain and simple.

God loves me back, and has given me an inheritance. Because of my faith, I have eternal life and the best bodyguard a girl could ask for.

“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one.”- John 10:28-30

Stay, go, read, laugh... whatever. It's not my job to save people. It's just my job to show them the way. It's my job to fight for Him, to be on His side and fight for His cause. I'm His eyes, ears and mouth here on earth.

What about you? You're here, aren't you? Maybe God wants you on His side, too. Did you feel the nudge?

Believe me, I'm praying that you did. I am praying for all of you. Reach out if you want to and leave a comment.

The Icelandic Volcano Eruption... Is It a Sign?

2010-04-17T15:29:00.027-04:00

As many of you are aware, there's been a major disruption in Europe this past week, extending here into the weekend and probably into next week. A small volcano in Iceland called Eyjafjallajokull (try pronouncing THAT one!) had erupted. Now this is by no means a devastating, sudden volcano that dumped mountains of ash and lava on neighboring towns like the one that instantly killed the people of Pompeii in AD 79 (Mount Vesuvius). Instead, this little ol' volcano is wreaking havoc on the travelers in Europe because planes can't fly. The large and constant ash plume that billows into the air is so thick because the volcano is below a glacial layer of ice. When the hot magma and steam push through, the cooling of the magma/melting of the ice is creating a big plume of smoke and ash. Some of that ash, grit and rock that explodes into the air with the smoke can get caught in the airplane jet engines and cause failure. It's extremely risky, and therefore those countries that are caught in the drift of the ash clouds had to halt all air traffic and cancel flights.

Now it appeared to most of the authorities and scientists that the ash cloud would begin waning on Friday, but as a stunner to many, activity actually increased over night. Pair that up with a stagnant low-pressure air mass over much of Europe, and the grim forecast is that this thing is not going anywhere. In fact, even if the volcano stops erupting, no one really knows how long the hazardous cloud cover will linger.

By the way, have you ever read the book Earth Winter by Richard Moran? If not, get your hands on a copy. It's hard to find, but I have it and have read it several times. The plot is about a volcano that spews a significant amount of ash over Europe, and life is completely changed. It alters the atmosphere and ecosystems, and lowers the temperature of the northern hemisphere, altering the growing seasons and disrupting food sources. Essentially, a permanent winter sets in over much of the world.

Now it's not like that severe with this volcano, but certainly this is nothing to ignore. I don't think scientists know anything at this point -- not when it will end, or how it will affect our climate, or when air transportation will get back on track. It's possible that if this goes on for a week or so, fresh fruit and vegetable deliveries to countries in Europe could be halted as well. And if it goes on longer... well, things could get ugly. I think first and foremost, we all need to remember that man is NOT the most powerful being on the planet. There's a false sense of security that humans can contain and fix any problem that occurs in our world. It's simply not true. If this volcano goes away with nothing more than a few days worth of annoying flight cancellations, then I think everyone over there needs to count their blessings.

Is it a sign? I'm a Christian, and I believe that there are many signs these days. The increase in earthquakes... the rising tensions between Israel and Iran... the economic collapse of the United States... all of these things are slowly building up to a crescendo. I would be very, very surprised if something else "unusual" or even devastating doesn't occur in the next six months. The Bible tells us the End Times are like birth pains -- getting closer together and more intense.

Jesus explained what to look for in our world in the End Times:

Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and great earthquakes shall be in diverse places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. (Luke 21:10-11)

"And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken." (Luke 21:25-26)

Obviously the signs signaling the beginning of the End Times will be natural ones: earthquakes, famines, roaring of the sea, fearful sights from Heaven. On one of the news-boards discussing the volcano, a person commented underneath, "Mother Nature is pissed!"

Sorry, but they have it wrong. There's no such thing as "Mother Nature." That's just a cutesy name that non-believers gave to natural things that occur on this earth. But we Christians know that God is in control of everything, most especially the weather and natural elements. All throughout the Bible He used fire and floods and earthquakes and plagues for various purposes. It's no different now.

If you think this is just harmless, coincidental science, stay tuned. I'm sure there will be several more events in the near future to convince you otherwise...

The Day of the LORD

"And afterward,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.

Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days.

I will show wonders in the heavens
and on the earth,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.

The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.

And everyone who calls
on the name of the LORD will be saved;
for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
there will be deliverance,
as the LORD has said,
among the survivors
whom the LORD calls.

(Joel 2:28-32)

Anyone else in the world think that it's just more than mere coincidence that most of what was known as the old "Roman Empire" will be covered in dark, sulfurous ash cloud on Tuesday, when Israel will be celebrating their Independence Day?

Scoff all you want, my friends. God is not something to mock and laugh at. I assure you this is real. If you're not abiding in Christ and on his side, you'd better get there in a hurry.

(Click HERE to read more about the possible disruptions in food and medicine across the European continent.)

More articles about the eruption disruption:

CNN: European Air Travel Paralyzed...

Experts: No End to Volcano Ash In Sight

Let me assure you that it's no coincidence that I very recently had to write a post called Why Are There So Many Earthquakes Lately?

With that in mind, I strongly urge you to read these posts I wrote a while back:

In These Times We Must Prepare, Part 1

In These Times We Must Prepare, Part 2

Why Are There So Many Earthquakes Lately???

2010-04-13T18:42:00.027-04:00

I think it's obvious to everyone that there has been a strong increase in earthquakes lately -- especially the big ones. Are they a sign? Are there really more earthquakes now than in the past? Some may argue that there's been an increase in awareness since the 2004 quake that sparked the tsunami in Indonesia. That may be true, but that doesn't distract from the simple fact that there has been a lot more activity in these past ten years than there has been in any other ten-year period prior to this new millennium. Don't believe me? It's true. It's shockingly true. Especially with regard to the "big" earthquakes, registering 6.0 on the Richter scale or higher.

You can see it for yourself. Click on this link, which takes you to the USGS list of earthquakes around the world that were over 6.0: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/world/historical_mag_big.php

Okay, now... very clearly the USGS states on their "About us" link that they've installed over 300 new monitoring systems over the past few years. This helps them to detect smaller tremors and earthquakes. I get that. But it doesn't take high-tech, ultra-modern equipment to detect a 6.0 (or larger) earthquake. Scientists have been detecting and recording large earthquakes for centuries. And certainly in the past fifty years or so, the readings of 6.0 or larger earthquakes have been pretty accurate across the board.

So I took the list from the link above and copied it. Then I pasted it into Excel. Once I had it i a spreadsheet, I broke up the list into decades, focusing solely on the 20th and 21st century. Here's how that list breaks down:

1900's
1900 10 09 - Kodiak Island, Alaska - M 7.7
1901 03 03 - Parkfield, California - M 6.4
1901 12 31 - Cook Inlet, Alaska - M 7.1
1902 04 19 - Guatemala - M 7.5
1902 12 16 - eastern Uzbekistan (Turkestan) - M 6.4
1903 04 28 - Turkey - M 7.0
1903 08 11 - Southern Greece - M 8.3
1904 08 11 - Samos, Greece - M 6.2
1904 08 27 - Fairbanks, Alaska - M 7.3
1905 04 04 - Kangra, India - M 7.5
1905 07 09 - Mongolia - M 8.4
1905 09 08 - Calabria, Italy - M 7.9
1906 01 31 - Off the Coast of Esmeraldas, Ecuador - M 8.8
1906 03 16 - Chia-i, Taiwan - M 6.8
1906 04 18 - San Francisco, California - M 7.8
1906 08 17 - Valparaiso, Chile - M 8.2
1907 01 14 - Kingston, Jamaica - M 6.5
1907 04 15 - Guerrero, Mexico - M 7.7
1907 10 21 - Qaratog, Tajikistan - M 8.0
1908 05 15 - Gulf of Alaska - M 7.0
1908 12 12 - Off the Coast of Central Peru - M 8.2
1908 12 28 - Messina, Italy - M 7.2
1909 01 23 - Silakhor, Iran (Persia) - M 7.3

1910's
1910 04 12 - Taiwan region - M 7.6
1910 05 04 - Cartago, Costa Rica - M 6.4
1910 08 05 - Oregon - M 6.8
1910 09 09 - Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska - M 7.0
1911 01 03 - Chong-Kemin, Kyrgyzstan - M 7.8
1911 02 18 - Sarez, Tajikistan - M 7.4
1911 06 07 - Off Guerrero, Mexico - M 7.7
1911 07 01 - Calaveras fault, California - M 6.5
1912 07 07 - Paxson, Alaska - M 7.2
1912 08 09 - Murefte, Turkey (Ottoman Empire) - M 7.8
1914 10 03 - Burdur, Turkey (Ottoman Empire) - M 7.0
1915 01 13 - Avezzano, Italy - M 7.0
1915 06 23 - Imperial Valley, California - M 6.3
1915 10 03 - Pleasant Valley, Nevada - M 7.1
1917 07 30 - Yunnan, China - M 7.5
1918 02 13 - Nan'ao, Guangdong, (Kwangtung), China - M 7.3
1918 04 21 - San Jacinto, California - M 6.8
1918 10 11 - Mona Passage - M 7.5
1918 12 06 - Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada - M 7.0
1919 06 29 - Mugello, Tuscany - M 6.3

1920's
1920 06 05 - Taiwan region - M 8.0
1920 09 07 - Toscana, Italy - M 6.4
1920 12 16 - Haiyuan, Ningxia, China - M 7.8
1922 01 31 - Eureka, California - M 7.3
1922 03 10 - Parkfield, California - M 6.1
1922 11 11 - Chile-Argentina Border - M 8.5
1923 01 22 - Humbolt County, California - M 7.2
1923 02 03 - Kamchatka - M 8.5
1923 03 24 - Near Luhuo, Sichuan, China - M 7.3
1923 09 01 - Kanto (Kwanto), Japan - M 7.9
1925 03 01 - Charlevoix, Quebec, Canada - M 6.3
1925 03 16 - Yunnan, China - M 7.1
1925 06 28 - Clarkston Valley, Montana - M 6.6
1925 06 29 - Santa Barbara, California - M 6.8
1926 10 22 - Monterey Bay, California - M 6.1
1927 03 07 - Tango, Japan - M 7.6
1927 05 22 - Tsinghai, China - M 7.6
1927 10 24 - Southeast Alaska - M 7.1
1927 11 04 - Lompoc, California - M 7.1
1928 12 01 - Talca, Chile - M 7.6
1929 03 07 - Fox Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska - M 7.8
1929 05 01 - Koppeh Dagh, Iran (Persia) - M 7.4
1929 05 26 - South of Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia, Canada - M 7.0
1929 10 06 - Holualoa, Hawaii - M 6.5
1929 11 18 - Grand Banks, Nova Scotia, Canada - M 7.3

1930's
1930 05 06 - Salmas, Iran (Persia) - M 7.2
1930 07 23 - Irpinia, Italy - M 6.5
1931 01 15 - Oaxaca, Mexico - M 7.8
1931 02 02 - Hawke's Bay, New Zealand - M 7.9
1931 03 31 - Managua, Nicaragua - M 6.0
1931 08 10 - Xinjiang, China - M 8.0
1932 06 03 - Jalisco, Mexico - M 8.1
1932 06 06 - Eureka, California - M 6.4
1932 06 18 - Colima, Mexico - M 7.8
1932 12 21 - Cedar Mountain, Nevada - M 7.2
1932 12 25 - Gansu, China - M 7.6
1933 03 02 - Sanriku, Japan - M 8.4
1933 03 11 - Long Beach, California - M 6.4
1933 08 25 - Sichuan, China - M 7.4
1933 11 20 - Baffin Bay, Canada - M 7.4
1934 01 15 - Bihar, India - Nepal - M 8.1
1934 01 30 - Excelsior Mountains, Nevada - M 6.5
1934 03 12 - Kosmo, Utah - M 6.6
1934 05 04 - Chugach Mountains, Alaska - M 7.1
1934 06 08 - Parkfield, California - M 6.1
1935 04 20 - Taiwan (Formosa) - M 7.1
1935 05 30 - Quetta, Pakistan - M 7.5
1935 07 16 - Taiwan (Formosa) - M 6.5
1935 10 19 - Helena, Montana - M 6.3
1935 10 31 - Helena, Montana - M 6.0
1935 11 01 - Timiskaming, Quebec, Canada - M 6.2
1937 07 22 - Central Alaska - M 7.3
1938 01 23 - Maui, Hawaii - M 6.8
1938 02 01 - Banda Sea, Indonesia - M 8.5
1938 11 10 - Shumagin Islands, Alaska - M 8.2
1939 01 25 - Chillan, Chile - M 7.8
1939 12 26 - Erzincan, Turkey - M 7.8

1940's
1940 05 19 - Imperial Valley, California - M 7.1
1940 05 24 - Callao, Peru - M 8.2
1940 11 10 - Vrancea, Romania - M 7.3
1941 04 29 - Meeberrie, Australia - M 7.2
1942 08 06 - Guatemala - M 7.9
1942 08 24 - Off the coast of central Peru - M 8.2
1942 11 26 - Turkey - M 7.6
1942 12 20 - Erbaa, Turkey - M 7.3
1943 04 06 - Illapel - Salamanca, Chile - M 8.2
1943 09 10 - Tottori, Japan - M 7.4
1943 11 03 - Skwenta, Alaska - M 7.4
1943 11 26 - Ladik, Turkey - M 7.6
1944 01 15 - San Juan, Argentina - M 7.4
1944 02 01 - Gerede, Turkey - M 7.4
1944 07 12 - Sheep Mountain, Idaho - M 6.1
1944 12 07 - Tonankai, Japan - M 8.1
1945 01 12 - Mikawa, Japan - M 7.1
1945 11 27 - Makran Coast, Pakistan - M 8.0
1946 04 01 - Unimak Island, Alaska - M 8.1
1946 06 23 - Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada - M 7.3
1946 08 04 - Samana, Dominican Republic - M 8.0
1946 08 08 - Samana, Dominican Republic - M 7.6
1946 11 10 - Ancash, Peru - M 7.3
1946 12 20 - Nankaido, Japan - M 8.1
1947 08 05 - Pasni, Iran - M 7.3
1947 10 16 - Wood River, Alaska - M 7.2
1947 11 01 - Satipo, Peru - M 7.3
1947 11 23 - Southwest Montana - M 6.3
1948 05 11 - Moquegua, Peru - M 7.4
1948 05 25 - Sichuan, China - M 7.3
1948 06 28 - Fukui, Japan - M 7.3
1948 10 05 - Ashgabat, Turkmenistan - M 7.3
1949 04 13 - Puget Sound, Washington - M 7.1
1949 07 10 - Khait, Tajikistan - M 7.5
1949 08 05 - Ambato, Ecuador - M 6.8
1949 08 17 - Erzurum, Turkey - M 6.8
1949 08 22 - Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia, Canada - M 8.1

1950's
1950 05 21 - Cusco, Peru - M 6.0
1950 08 15 - Assam - Tibet - M 8.6
1951 05 06 - Jucuapa, El Salvador - M 6.2
1951 08 13 - Kursunlu, Turkey - M 6.7
1951 08 21 - Kona, Hawaii - M 6.9
1952 07 21 - Kern County, California - M 7.3
1952 11 04 - Kamchatka - M 9.0
1953 01 05 - Near Islands, Alaska - M 7.1
1953 02 12 - Torud, Iran - M 6.5
1953 03 18 - Yenice-Gonen, Turkey - M 7.3
1953 08 12 - Kefallinia, Greece - M 7.1
1953 12 12 - Tumbes, Peru - M 7.4
1954 03 29 - Spain - M 7.9
1954 04 30 - Greece - M 7.1
1954 07 06 - Fallon-Stillwater area, Nevada - M 6.6
1954 08 24 - Stillwater, Nevada - M 6.8
1954 09 09 - Orleansville, Algeria - M 6.8
1954 12 16 - Dixie Valley, Nevada - M 6.8
1954 12 16 - Fairview Peak, Nevada - M 7.1
1954 12 21 - Eureka, California - M 6.5
1957 03 09 - Andreanof Islands, Alaska - M 8.6
1957 03 09 - Fox Islands, Alaska - M 7.1
1957 03 12 - Andreanof Islands, Alaska - M 7.0
1957 03 14 - Andreanof Islands, Alaska - M 7.1
1957 03 16 - Andreanof Islands, Alaska - M 7.0
1957 04 25 - Fethiye, Turkey - M 7.1
1957 05 26 - Bolu Province, Turkey - M 7.1
1957 06 27 - Stanovoy Mountains, Russia (USSR) - M 7.6
1957 07 02 - Mazandaran, Iran - M 7.1
1957 07 28 - Guerrero, Mexico - M 7.9
1957 12 04 - Gobi-Altay, Mongolia - M 8.1
1957 12 13 - Sahneh, Iran - M 7.1
1958 01 15 - Arequipa, Peru - M 7.3
1958 04 07 - Huslia, Alaska - M 7.3
1958 07 10 - Lituya Bay, Alaska - M 7.7
1958 11 06 - Kuril Islands - M 8.3
1959 04 26 - Taiwan region - M 7.5
1959 08 18 - Hebgen Lake, Montana - M 7.3
1959 08 18 - Wyoming - M 6.5
1959 08 26 - Vera Cruz, Mexico - M 6.8

1960's
1960 01 13 - Arequipa, Peru - M 7.5
1960 05 21 - Arauco Peninsula, Chile - M 7.9
1960 05 22 - Chile - M 9.5
1962 05 11 - Guerrero, Mexico - M 7.0
1962 05 19 - Guerrero, Mexico - M 7.1
1962 09 01 - Qazvin, Iran - M 7.1
1963 07 26 - Skopje, Former Yugoslav Rep. of Macedonia - M 6.0
1963 10 13 - Kuril Islands - M 8.5
1964 03 28 - Prince William Sound, Alaska - M 9.2
1964 06 16 - Niigata, Japan - M 7.5
1964 07 06 - Guerrero, Mexico - M 6.9
1964 10 06 - Western Turkey - M 7.0
1965 01 24 - Sanana, Indonesia (Ceram Sea) - M 7.6
1965 02 04 - Rat Islands, Alaska - M 8.7
1965 02 23 - Taltal, Chile - M 7.0
1965 03 09 - Northern Sporades, Greece - M 6.3
1965 03 14 - Hindu Kush, Afghanistan - M 7.8
1965 03 28 - La Ligua, Chile - M 7.4
1965 03 30 - Rat Islands, Alaska - M 7.3
1965 03 31 - Central Greece - M 7.1
1965 04 05 - Peloponnisos, Greece - M 6.2
1965 04 29 - Puget Sound, Washington - M 6.5
1965 05 03 - La Libertad, El Salvador - M 6.3
1965 07 06 - Central Greece - M 6.3
1965 08 23 - Oaxaca, Mexico - M 7.3
1966 03 07 - Hebei, China - M 7.0
1966 03 22 - Hebei, China - M 6.9
1966 06 28 - Parkfield, California - M 6.1
1966 08 07 - Rat Islands, Alaska - M 7.0
1966 08 19 - Varto, Turkey - M 6.8
1966 10 17 - Near the Coast of Peru - M 8.1
1967 07 22 - Mudurnu Valley, Turkey - M 7.3
1967 07 29 - Near the Coast of Venezuela - M 6.5
1967 12 10 - Koyna, India - M 6.3
1968 01 15 - Western Sicily - M 6.5
1968 05 23 - Inangahua, New Zealand - M 7.1
1968 06 19 - Moyobamba, Peru - M 6.9
1968 08 02 - Oaxaca, Mexico - M 7.1
1968 08 31 - Dasht-e Bayaz, Iran - M 7.3
1968 09 03 - Bartin, Turkey - M 6.6
1968 10 14 - Meckering, Australia - M 6.9
1969 02 28 - Portugal-Morocco area - M 7.8
1969 03 28 - Alasehir, Turkey - M 6.4
1969 10 01 - Comas region, Chile - M 6.4
1969 12 25 - Guadeloupe, Leeward Islands - M 7.2

1970's
1971 02 09 - San Fernando, California - M 6.6
1971 05 12 - Western Turkey - M 6.3
1971 05 22 - Eastern Turkey - M 6.9
1971 07 09 - Valparaiso region, Chile - M 7.5
1972 01 25 - Taiwain region - M 7.0
1972 01 25 - Taiwain region - M 7.5
1972 04 10 - southern Iran - M 7.1
1972 04 24 - Taiwain region - M 7.2
1972 07 30 - Sitka, Alaska - M 7.6
1972 12 23 - Nicaragua - M 6.2
1973 04 26 - Island of Hawaii, Hawaii - M 6.2
1974 05 10 - China - M 6.8
1974 07 13 - Panama-Colombia border region - M 7.3
1974 10 03 - Near the Coast of Central Peru - M 8.1
1974 10 08 - Leeward Islands - M 7.5
1974 12 28 - Northern Pakistan - M 6.2
1975 02 02 - Near Islands, Alaska - M 7.6
1975 02 04 - Haicheng, China - M 7.0
1975 03 02 - Eastern Idaho - M 6.2
1975 06 30 - Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming - M 6.1
1975 09 06 - Turkey - M 6.7
1975 11 29 - Kalapana, Hawaii - M 7.2
1976 02 04 - Guatemala - M 7.5
1976 05 06 - Northeastern Italy - M 6.5
1976 06 25 - Papua, Indonesia - M 7.1
1976 07 27 - Tangshan, China - M 7.5
1976 08 16 - Mindanao, Philippines - M 7.9
1976 11 24 - Turkey-Iran border region - M 7.3
1977 03 04 - Romania - M 7.2
1977 11 23 - San Juan, Argentina - M 7.4
1978 06 20 - Greece - M 6.6
1978 09 16 - Iran - M 7.8
1979 02 28 - Mt. St. Elias, Alaska - M 7.5
1979 10 15 - Imperial Valley, Mexico - California Border - M 6.4

1980's
1980 01 01 - Azores Islands, Portugal - M 7.2
1980 05 25 - Mammoth Lakes, California - M 6.2
1980 05 27 - Mammoth Lakes, California - M 6.0
1980 10 10 - El Asnam (formerly Orleansville), Algeria - M 7.7
1980 11 08 - Humboldt County, California - M 7.2
1980 11 23 - Southern Italy - M 6.5
1981 02 24 - Greece - M 6.8
1981 06 11 - southern Iran - M 6.9
1981 07 28 - southern Iran - M 7.3
1982 12 13 - Yemen - M 6.0
1983 05 02 - Coalinga, California - M 6.4
1983 10 28 - Borah Peak, Idaho - M 6.9
1983 10 30 - Turkey - M 6.9
1983 11 16 - Kaoiki, Hawaii - M 6.7
1984 04 24 - Morgan Hill, California - M 6.2
1985 01 26 - Mendoza, Argentina - M 6.0
1985 03 03 - offshore Valparaiso, Chile - M 7.8
1985 09 19 - Michoacan, Mexico - M 8.0
1985 12 23 - Nahanni region, Northwest Territories, Canada - M 6.8
1986 05 07 - Andreanof Islands, Alaska - M 7.9
1986 07 08 - North Palm Springs, California - M 6.1
1986 07 21 - Chalfant Valley, California - M 6.2
1987 03 06 - Colombia-Ecuador - M 7.0
1987 11 24 - Superstition Hills, California - M 6.5
1987 11 24 - Superstition Hills, California - M 6.7
1987 11 30 - Gulf of Alaska - M 7.8
1988 01 22 - Tennant Creek, Australia - M 6.6
1988 03 06 - Gulf of Alaska - M 7.7
1988 08 20 - Nepal-India border region - M 6.8
1988 12 07 - Spitak, Armenia - M 6.8
1989 10 18 - Loma Prieta, California - M 6.9
1989 12 25 - Ungava, Quebec, Canada - M 6.0

1990's
1990 06 20 - Western Iran - M 7.4
1990 07 16 - Luzon, Philippine Islands - M 7.7
1991 04 22 - Costa Rica - M 7.6
1991 08 17 - Honeydew, California - M 7.0
1991 10 19 - Northern India - M 6.8
1992 04 23 - Joshua Tree - M 6.2
1992 04 25 - Cape Mendocino, California - M 7.2
1992 06 28 - Big Bear, California - M 6.5
1992 06 28 - Landers, California - M 7.3
1992 09 02 - Nicaragua - M 7.6
1992 12 12 - Flores Region, Indonesia - M 7.8
1993 08 08 - South of the Mariana Islands - M 7.8
1993 09 21 - Klamath Falls, Oregon - M 6.0
1993 09 29 - Latur-Killari, India - M 6.2
1994 01 17 - Northridge, California - M 6.7
1994 06 09 - Bolivia - M 8.2
1994 09 01 - Cape Mendocino, California - M 7.0
1995 01 16 - Kobe, Japan - M 6.9
1995 05 13 - Greece - M 6.6
1995 05 27 - Sakhalin Island - M 7.1
1995 06 15 - Greece - M 6.5
1996 06 10 - Andreanof Islands, Alaska - M 7.9
1997 05 10 - Northern Iran - M 7.3
1997 07 09 - Near Coast of Venezuela - M 7.0
1997 09 26 - Central Italy - M 6.4
1997 10 14 - South of Fiji Islands - M 7.8
1997 12 05 - Near East Coast of Kamchatka - M 7.8
1998 01 04 - Loyalty Islands Region - M 7.5
1998 01 30 - Near Coast of Northern Chile - M 7.1
1998 03 14 - Northern Iran - M 6.6
1998 03 25 - Balleny Islands Region - M 8.1
1998 05 03 - Southeast of Taiwan - M 7.5
1998 05 30 - Afghanistan-Tajikistan Border Region - M 6.6
1998 07 17 - Near North Coast of New Guinea, Papua New Guinea - M 7.0
1998 08 04 - Near Coast of Ecuador - M 7.2
1999 01 25 - Colombia - M 6.1
1999 02 06 - Santa Cruz Islands - M 7.3
1999 05 10 - New Britain region, Papua New Guinea - M 7.1
1999 05 16 - New Britain region, Papua New Guinea - M 7.1
1999 06 15 - Central Mexico - M 7.0
1999 07 11 - Honduras - M 6.7
1999 08 17 - Izmit, Turkey - M 7.6
1999 08 20 - Costa Rica - M 6.9
1999 09 07 - Greece - M 6.0
1999 09 20 - Taiwan - M 7.6
1999 09 30 - Oaxaca, Mexico - M 7.5
1999 10 16 - Hector Mine, California - M 7.1
1999 11 12 - Duzce, Turkey - M 7.2

2000's
2000 06 04 - Southern Sumatera, Indonesia - M 7.9
2000 06 18 - South Indian Ocean - M 7.9
2000 10 06 - Western Honshu, Japan - M 6.7
2000 11 16 - New Ireland Region, Papua New Guinea - M 7.8
2000 11 16 - New Ireland Region, Papua New Guinea - M 8.0
2000 11 17 - New Britain region, Papua New Guinea - M 7.6
2001 01 01 - Mindanao, Philippines - M 7.5
2001 01 13 - El Salvador - M 7.7
2001 01 26 - Gujarat, India - M 7.6
2001 02 13 - El Salvador - M 6.6
2001 02 28 - Nisqually, Washington - M 6.8
2001 06 23 - Near the Coast of Peru - M 8.4
2001 07 07 - Near the Coast of Peru - M 7.6
2002 01 02 - Vanuatu Islands - M 7.2
2002 02 03 - Turkey - M 6.5
2002 03 03 - Hindu Kush Region, Afghanistan - M 7.4
2002 03 05 - Mindanao, Philippines - M 7.5
2002 03 25 - Hindu Kush Region, Afghanistan - M 6.1
2002 03 31 - Taiwan region - M 7.1
2002 04 26 - Mariana Islands - M 7.1
2002 05 15 - Taiwan - M 6.2
2002 06 18 - Chile-Argentina Border Region - M 6.6
2002 06 22 - Western Iran - M 6.5
2002 06 28 - Priamurye-Northeastern China border region - M 7.3
2002 08 19 - Fiji Islands - M 7.7
2002 08 19 - Fiji Islands - M 7.7
2002 09 06 - Southern Italy - M 6.0
2002 09 08 - New Guinea, Papua New Guinea - M 7.6
2002 10 10 - Irian Jaya, Indonesia - M 7.6
2002 10 12 - Peru-Brazil border region - M 6.9
2002 10 23 - Denali, Alaska - M 6.7
2002 10 24 - Lake Tanganyika region - M 6.2
2002 11 02 - Northern Sumatera, Indonesia - M 7.4
2002 11 03 - Denali Fault, Alaska - M 7.9
2002 11 17 - Kuril Islands, Russia - M 7.3
2002 11 20 - Northwestern Kashmir - M 6.3
2003 01 10 - New Ireland, Papua New Guinea, region - M 6.7
2003 01 16 - Blanco Fracture Zone - Offshore Oregon, - M 6.3
2003 01 20 - Solomon Islands - M 7.3
2003 01 22 - Offshore Colima, Mexico - M 7.6
2003 01 27 - Turkey - M 6.1
2003 02 19 - Unimak Island Region, Alaska - M 6.6
2003 02 24 - Southern Xinjiang, China - M 6.3
2003 03 11 - New Ireland Region, Papua New Guinea - M 6.8
2003 03 17 - Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska - M 7.1
2003 05 01 - Eastern Turkey - M 6.4
2003 05 04 - Kermadec Islands, New Zealand - M 6.7
2003 05 21 - Northern Algeria - M 6.8
2003 05 26 - Halmahera, Indonesia - M 7.0
2003 05 26 - Near the East Coast of Honshu, Japan - M 7.0
2003 06 07 - New Britain region, Papua New Guinea - M 6.6
2003 06 20 - Amazonas, Brazil - M 7.1
2003 06 20 - Near the Coast of Central Chile - M 6.8
2003 06 23 - Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands - M 6.9
2003 07 15 - Carlsberg Ridge - M 7.6
2003 07 21 - Yunnan, China - M 6.0
2003 07 27 - Primor'ye, Russia - M 6.8
2003 08 04 - Scotia Sea - M 7.6
2003 08 14 - Greece - M 6.3
2003 08 21 - South Island of New Zealand - M 7.2
2003 09 21 - Myanmar - M 6.6
2003 09 22 - Dominican Republic Region - M 6.4
2003 09 25 - Hokkaido, Japan Region - M 8.3
2003 09 27 - Southwestern Siberia, Russia - M 7.3
2003 10 01 - Southwestern Siberia, Russia - M 6.7
2003 10 08 - Hokkaido, Japan Region - M 6.7
2003 10 31 - Off the East Coast of Honshu, Japan - M 7.0
2003 11 06 - Vanuatu Islands - M 6.6
2003 11 17 - Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska - M 7.8
2003 11 18 - Samar, Philippines - M 6.5
2003 12 05 - Komandorskiye Ostrova, Russia Region - M 6.7
2003 12 10 - Taiwan - M 6.8
2003 12 22 - San Simeon, California - M 6.6
2003 12 26 - Southeastern Iran - M 6.6
2003 12 27 - Southeast of the Loyalty Islands - M 7.3
2004 01 28 - Seram, Indonesia - M 6.7
2004 02 05 - Irian Jaya, Indonesia - M 7.0
2004 02 07 - Irian Jaya, Indonesia - M 7.3
2004 02 24 - Strait of Gibraltar - M 6.4
2004 04 05 - Hindu Kush Region, Afghanistan - M 6.6
2004 05 03 - Bio-Bio, Chile - M 6.6
2004 05 28 - Northern Iran - M 6.3
2004 05 29 - Off the East Coast of Honshu, Japan - M 6.5
2004 06 10 - Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia - M 6.9
2004 06 28 - Southeastern Alaska - M 6.8
2004 07 25 - Southern Sumatra, Indonesia - M 7.3
2004 09 05 - Near the South Coast of Honshu, Japan - M 7.4
2004 09 05 - Near the South Coast of Western Honshu, Japan - M 7.2
2004 09 06 - Near the South Coast of Honshu, Japan - M 6.6
2004 09 28 - Central California - M 6.0
2004 10 08 - Mindoro, Philippines - M 6.5
2004 10 08 - Solomon Islands - M 6.8
2004 10 09 - Near the Coast of Nicaragua - M 7.0
2004 10 15 - Taiwan region - M 6.7
2004 10 23 - Near the West Coast of Honshu, Japan - M 6.6
2004 11 02 - Vancouver Island, Canada Region - M 6.7
2004 11 08 - Taiwan region - M 6.3
2004 11 09 - Solomon Islands - M 6.9
2004 11 11 - Kepulauan Alor, Indonesia - M 7.5
2004 11 11 - Solomon Islands - M 6.7
2004 11 15 - Near the West Coast of Colombia - M 7.2
2004 11 20 - Costa Rica - M 6.4
2004 11 21 - Leeward Islands - M 6.3
2004 11 22 - Off West Coast of South Island, N.Z. - M 7.1
2004 11 26 - Papua, Indonesia - M 7.1
2004 11 28 - Hokkaido, Japan Region - M 7.0
2004 12 06 - Hokkaido, Japan Region - M 6.8
2004 12 14 - Cayman Islands Region - M 6.8
2004 12 23 - North of Macquarie Island - M 8.1
2004 12 26 - Sumatra-Andaman Islands - M 9.1
2005 01 01 - Off the West Coast of Northern Sumatra - M 6.7
2005 01 16 - State of Yap, Fed. States of Micronesia - M 6.6
2005 02 05 - Celebes Sea - M 7.1
2005 02 08 - Vanuatu - M 6.7
2005 02 19 - Sulawesi, Indonesia - M 6.5
2005 02 22 - Central Iran - M 6.4
2005 02 26 - Simeulue, Indonesia - M 6.8
2005 03 02 - Banda Sea - M 7.1
2005 03 20 - Kyushu, Japan - M 6.6
2005 03 28 - Northern Sumatra, Indonesia - M 8.6
2005 04 10 - Kepulauan Mentawai Region, Indonesia - M 6.7
2005 04 11 - Southeast of the Loyalty Islands - M 6.7
2005 05 14 - Nias Region, Indonesia - M 6.7
2005 05 19 - Nias Region, Indonesia - M 6.9
2005 06 13 - Tarapaca, Chile - M 7.8
2005 06 14 - Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska - M 6.8
2005 06 15 - Off the Coast of Northern California - M 7.2
2005 06 17 - Off the Coast of Northern California - M 6.6
2005 07 02 - Near the Coast of Nicaragua - M 6.6
2005 07 05 - Nias Region, Indonesia - M 6.7
2005 07 24 - Nicobar Islands, India Region - M 7.2
2005 08 16 - Near the East Coast of Honshu, Japan - M 7.2
2005 09 09 - New Ireland Region, Papua New Guinea - M 7.6
2005 09 26 - Northern Peru - M 7.5
2005 09 29 - New Britain region, Papua New Guinea - M 6.6
2005 10 08 - Pakistan - M 7.6
2005 10 19 - Near the East Coast of Honshu, Japan - M 6.3
2005 11 14 - Off the East Coast of Honshu, Japan - M 7.0
2005 11 17 - Potosi, Bolivia - M 6.9
2005 11 19 - Simeulue, Indonesia - M 6.5
2005 11 27 - Southern Iran - M 6.0
2005 12 02 - Near the East Coast of Honshu, Japan - M 6.5
2005 12 05 - Lake Tanganyika Region, Congo-Tanzania - M 6.8
2005 12 11 - New Britain region, Papua New Guinea - M 6.6
2005 12 12 - Hindu Kush Region, Afghanistan - M 6.5
2006 01 02 - East of South Sandwich Islands - M 7.4
2006 01 04 - Gulf of California - M 6.6
2006 01 08 - Southern Greece - M 6.7
2006 01 27 - Banda Sea - M 7.6
2006 02 22 - Mozambique - M 7.0
2006 02 26 - South of the Fiji Islands - M 6.4
2006 03 14 - Seram, Indonesia - M 6.7
2006 03 31 - Western Iran - M 6.1
2006 04 20 - Koryakia, Russia - M 7.6
2006 05 03 - Tonga - M 8.0
2006 05 16 - Kermadec Islands region - M 7.4
2006 05 16 - Nias Region, Indonesia - M 6.8
2006 05 26 - Java, Indonesia - M 6.3
2006 06 11 - Kyushu, Japan - M 6.3
2006 07 17 - South of Java, Indonesia - M 7.7
2006 08 20 - Scotia Sea - M 7.0
2006 09 01 - Bougainville Region, Papua New Guinea - M 6.8
2006 09 28 - Samoa Islands Region - M 6.9
2006 10 15 - Hawaii region, Hawaii - M 6.7
2006 10 17 - New Britain region, Papua New Guinea - M 6.7
2006 10 20 - Near the Coast of Central Peru - M 6.7
2006 11 13 - Santiago del Estero, Argentina - M 6.8
2006 11 15 - Kuril Islands - M 8.3
2006 12 26 - Taiwan region - M 6.9
2006 12 26 - Taiwan region - M 7.1
2007 01 13 - East of the Kuril Islands - M 8.1
2007 01 21 - Molucca Sea - M 7.5
2007 01 30 - West of Macquarie Island - M 6.9
2007 01 31 - Kermadec Islands, New Zealand - M 6.5
2007 03 06 - Southern Sumatra, Indonesia - M 6.4
2007 03 25 - Near the West Coast of Honshu,Japan - M 6.7
2007 03 25 - Vanuatu - M 7.1
2007 04 01 - Solomon Islands - M 8.1
2007 06 13 - Offshore Guatemala - M 6.7
2007 06 28 - Bougainville region, Papua New Guinea - M 6.7
2007 07 16 - Near the west coast of Honshu, Japan - M 6.6
2007 07 16 - Sea of Japan - M 6.8
2007 07 26 - Molucca Sea - M 6.9
2007 08 01 - Vanuatu - M 7.2
2007 08 02 - Andreanof Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska - M 6.7
2007 08 08 - Java, Indonesia - M 7.5
2007 08 15 - Andreanof Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska - M 6.5
2007 08 15 - Near the Coast of Central Peru - M 8.0
2007 08 16 - Solomon Islands - M 6.5
2007 08 20 - Philippine Islands region - M 6.4
2007 09 02 - Santa Cruz Islands - M 7.2
2007 09 06 - Taiwan region - M 6.2
2007 09 10 - Near the west coast of Colombia - M 6.8
2007 09 12 - Kepulauan Mentawai region, Indonesia - M 7.9
2007 09 12 - Southern Sumatra, Indonesia - M 8.5
2007 09 20 - Southern Sumatra, Indonesia - M 6.7
2007 09 26 - New Ireland Region, Papua New Guinea - M 6.8
2007 09 28 - Mariana Islands region - M 7.5
2007 09 28 - Southeast of Loyalty Islands - M 6.5
2007 09 30 - Auckland Islands, New Zealand region - M 6.6
2007 09 30 - Auckland Islands, New Zealand region - M 7.4
2007 09 30 - South of the Mariana Islands - M 6.9
2007 10 15 - South Island of New Zealand - M 6.8
2007 10 24 - Southern Sumatra, Indonesia - M 6.8
2007 10 31 - Pagan Region, Northern Mariana Islands - M 7.2
2007 11 10 - North of Macquarie Island - M 6.6
2007 11 14 - Antofagasta, Chile - M 7.7
2007 11 16 - Peru-Ecuador border region - M 6.8
2007 11 22 - Eastern New Guinea Region, Papua New Guinea - M 6.8
2007 11 25 - Sumbawa Region, Indonesia - M 6.5
2007 11 27 - Solomon Islands - M 6.6
2007 11 29 - Martinique Region, Windward Islands - M 7.4
2007 12 09 - South of the Fiji Islands - M 7.8
2007 12 16 - Antofagasta, Chile - M 6.7
2007 12 19 - Andreanof Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska - M 7.2
2007 12 20 - Off east coast of the North Island, New Zealand - M 6.6
2007 12 26 - Fox Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska - M 6.4
2008 01 05 - Queen Charlotte Islands region - M 6.6
2008 02 04 - Tarapaca, Chile - M 6.3
2008 02 08 - Northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge - M 6.9
2008 02 10 - South Sandwich Islands region - M 6.6
2008 02 12 - Oaxaca, Mexico - M 6.5
2008 02 14 - Southern Greece - M 6.9
2008 02 20 - Simeulue, Indonesia - M 7.4
2008 02 21 - Nevada - M 6.0
2008 02 23 - South Sandwich Islands region - M 6.8
2008 02 25 - Kepulauan Mentawai region, Indonesia - M 7.2
2008 03 03 - Philippine Islands region - M 6.9
2008 03 12 - Vanuatu - M 6.4
2008 03 20 - Xinjiang-Xizang border region - M 7.2
2008 04 09 - Loyalty Islands - M 7.3
2008 04 12 - Macquarie Island region - M 7.1
2008 04 16 - Andreanof Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska - M 6.6
2008 05 02 - Andreanof Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska - M 6.6
2008 05 07 - Near the East Coast of Honshu, Japan - M 6.8
2008 05 09 - Guam region - M 6.8
2008 05 12 - Eastern Sichuan, China - M 7.9
2008 06 08 - Greece - M 6.4
2008 06 13 - Eastern Honshu, Japan - M 6.9
2008 06 30 - South Sandwich Islands region - M 7.0
2008 07 05 - Sea of Okhotsk - M 7.7
2008 07 19 - Off the East Coast of Honshu, Japan - M 7.0
2008 07 23 - Eastern Honshu, Japan - M 6.8
2008 09 08 - Vanuatu - M 6.9
2008 09 11 - Hokkaido, Japan region - M 6.8
2008 09 29 - Kermadec Islands, New Zealand - M 7.0
2008 10 05 - Kyrgyzstan - M 6.6
2008 10 06 - Eastern Xizang - M 6.3
2008 10 28 - Pakistan - M 6.4
2008 11 16 - Minahasa, Sulawesi, Indonesia - M 7.4
2008 11 24 - Sea of Okhotsk - M 7.3
2008 12 09 - Kermadec Islands region - M 6.8
2009 01 03 - Near the North Coast of Papua, Indonesia - M 7.4
2009 01 03 - Near the North Coast of Papua, Indonesia - M 7.7
2009 01 08 - Costa Rica - M 6.1
2009 01 15 - East of the Kuril Islands - M 7.4
2009 01 15 - Southeast of the Loyalty Islands - M 6.7
2009 01 18 - Kermadec Islands, New Zealand - M 6.4
2009 01 19 - Southeast of the Loyalty Islands - M 6.6
2009 02 11 - Kepulauan Talaud, Indonesia - M 7.2
2009 02 18 - Kermadec Islands region - M 7.0
2009 03 19 - Tonga region - M 7.6
2009 04 06 - Central Italy - M 6.3
2009 04 07 - Kuril Islands - M 6.9
2009 04 16 - South Sandwich Islands region - M 6.7
2009 04 18 - Kuril Islands - M 6.6
2009 05 16 - Kermadec Islands :egion - M 6.5
2009 05 28 - Offshore Honduras - M 7.3
2009 06 02 - Vanuatu - M 6.3
2009 06 23 - New Ireland region, Papua New Guinea - M 6.7
2009 07 01 - Crete, Greece - M 6.4
2009 07 15 - Off West Coast of the South Island, New Zealand - M 7.8
2009 08 03 - Gulf of California - M 6.9
2009 08 09 - Near the South Coast of Honshu, Japan - M 7.1
2009 08 10 - Andaman Islands, India region - M 7.5
2009 08 10 - Near the South Coast of Honshu, Japan - M 6.1
2009 08 10 - Santa Cruz Islands - M 6.6
2009 08 12 - Izu Islands, Japan region - M 6.6
2009 08 16 - Kepulauan Mentawai region, Indonesia - M 6.7
2009 08 17 - Southwestern Ryukyu Islands, Japan - M 6.7
2009 08 28 - Banda Sea - M 6.9
2009 08 30 - Samoa Islands region - M 6.6
2009 09 02 - Java, Indonesia - M 7.0
2009 09 12 - Offshore Carabobo, Venezuela - M 6.3
2009 09 21 - Bhutan - M 6.1
2009 09 29 - Samoa Islands region - M 8.1
2009 09 30 - Southern Sumatra, Indonesia - M 7.5
2009 10 01 - Southern Sumatra, Indonesia - M 6.6
2009 10 04 - Moro Gulf, Mindanao, Philippines - M 6.6
2009 10 07 - Celebes Sea - M 6.8
2009 10 07 - Santa Cruz Islands - M 7.8
2009 10 07 - Vanuatu - M 7.4
2009 10 07 - Vanuatu - M 7.7
2009 10 08 - Santa Cruz Islands - M 6.6
2009 10 08 - Vanuatu - M 6.8
2009 10 24 - Banda Sea - M 6.9
2009 10 29 - Hindu Kush region, Afghanistan - M 6.2
2009 10 30 - Ryukyu Islands, Japan - M 6.8
2009 11 08 - Sumbawa region, Indonesia - M 6.6
2009 11 09 - Fiji - M 7.3
2009 11 13 - Offshore Tarapaca, Chile - M 6.5
2009 11 17 - Queen Charlotte Islands region - M 6.6
2009 11 24 - Tonga - M 6.8
2009 12 19 - Taiwan - M 6.4

2010's

7.3 VANUATU REGION December 25, 2010

7.4 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION December 21, 2010

6.5 SOUTHEASTERN IRAN December 20, 2010

6.5 SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS REGION December 08, 2010

6.7 NEW BRITAIN REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA December 02, 2010

6.8 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION November 30, 2010

7.7 KEPULAUAN MENTAWAI REGION, INDONESIA October 25, 2010

6.7 GULF OF CALIFORNIA October 21, 2010

7.2 NEAR THE SOUTH COAST OF PAPUA, INDONESIA September 29, 2010

6.2 NEAR THE SOUTH COAST OF PAPUA, INDONESIA September 29, 2010

7.0 SOUTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND September 03, 2010

6.6 MARIANA ISLANDS REGION August 14, 2010

6.9 MARIANA ISLANDS REGION August 13, 2010

7.1 ECUADOR August 12, 2010

7.3 VANUATU August 10, 2010

7.0 NEW BRITAIN REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA August 04, 2010

6.5 MORO GULF, MINDANAO, PHILIPPINES July 24, 2010

7.4 MORO GULF, MINDANAO, PHILIPPINES July 23, 2010

7.6 MORO GULF, MINDANAO, PHILIPPINES July 23, 2010

7.3 MORO GULF, MINDANAO, PHILIPPINES July 23, 2010

7.3 NEW BRITAIN REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA July 18, 2010

6.9 NEW BRITAIN REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA July 18, 2010

6.6 FOX ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, ALASKA July 18, 2010

6.5 BIO-BIO, CHILE July 14, 2010

6.2 OAXACA, MEXICO June 30, 2010

6.7 SOLOMON ISLANDS June 26, 2010

7.0 NEAR THE NORTH COAST OF PAPUA, INDONESIA June 16, 2010

7.5 NICOBAR ISLANDS, INDIA REGION June 12, 2010

7.1 VANUATU May 27, 2010

7.2 NORTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA May 09, 2010

6.5 SOUTHEAST OF TAIWAN April 26, 2010

6.9 SOUTHERN QINGHAI, CHINA April 13, 2010

6.3 SPAIN April 11, 2010

6.8 SOLOMON ISLANDS April 11, 2010

7.8 NORTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA April 06, 2010

7.2 BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO April 04, 2010

6.7 OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE March 16, 2010

6.5 NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN March 14, 2010

6.9 LIBERTADOR O HIGGINS, CHILE March 11, 2010

6.1 EASTERN TURKEY March 08, 2010

6.8 SOUTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA March 05, 2010

6.6 OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE March 05, 2010

8.8 OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE February 27, 2010

7.0 RYUKYU ISLANDS, JAPAN February 26, 2010

6.9 CHINA-RUSSIA-NORTH KOREA BORDER REGION February 18, 2010

5.9 OFFSHORE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA February 04, 2010

6.2 BOUGAINVILLE REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA February 01, 2010

7.0 HAITI REGION January 12, 2010

6.5 OFFSHORE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA January 10, 2010

6.8 SOLOMON ISLANDS January 05, 2010

7.1 SOLOMON ISLANDS January 03, 2010

6.6 SOLOMON ISLANDS January 03, 2010

6.3 REVILLA GIGEDO ISLANDS REGION November 01, 2011

6.9 NEAR THE COAST OF CENTRAL PERU October 28, 2011

7.1 EASTERN TURKEY October 23, 2011

7.4 KERMADEC ISLANDS REGION October 21, 2011

6.5 EASTERN NEW GUINEA REG, PAPUA NEW GUINEA October 14, 2011

6.1 SOUTH OF THE KERMADEC ISLANDS October 07, 2011

6.9 INDIA-NEPAL BORDER REGION September 18, 2011

6.7 NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN September 16, 2011

7.3 FIJI REGION September 15, 2011

6.4 VANCOUVER ISLAND, CANADA REGION September 09, 2011

6.6 NORTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA September 05, 2011

7.0 VANUATU September 03, 2011

6.7 SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO, ARGENTINA September 02, 2011

6.8 FOX ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, ALASKA September 02, 2011

6.8 BANDA SEA August 30, 2011

6.8 NORTHERN PERU August 24, 2011

7.0 VANUATU August 20, 2011

7.1 VANUATU August 20, 2011

6.3 NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN August 19, 2011

6.8 NEAR NORTH COAST OF NEW GUINEA, P.N.G. July 31, 2011

6.7 SOUTH OF THE FIJI ISLANDS July 29, 2011

6.1 KYRGYZSTAN July 19, 2011

7.0 OFF THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN July 10, 2011

7.6 KERMADEC ISLANDS REGION July 06, 2011

7.2 FOX ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, ALASKA June 24, 2011

6.0 SOUTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND June 13, 2011

6.8 LOYALTY ISLANDS May 10, 2011

6.9 SOLOMON ISLANDS April 23, 2011

7.1 EASTERN HONSHU, JAPAN April 11, 2011

7.1 NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN April 07, 2011

6.5 VERACRUZ, MEXICO April 07, 2011

6.7 SOUTH OF JAVA, INDONESIA April 03, 2011

6.9 MYANMAR March 24, 2011

6.6 OFF THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN March 22, 2011

6.3 VANUATU March 17, 2011

9.0 NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN March 11, 2011

6.5 NEW BRITAIN REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA March 09, 2011

7.3 NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN March 09, 2011

6.6 SOLOMON ISLANDS March 07, 2011

6.5 SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS REGION March 06, 2011

6.1 SOUTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND February 21, 2011

6.6 OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE February 14, 2011

6.8 OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE February 11, 2011

6.5 CELEBES SEA February 10, 2011

7.2 SOUTHWESTERN PAKISTAN January 18, 2011

7.0 LOYALTY ISLANDS January 13, 2011

6.6 VANUATU January 09, 2011

7.1 ARAUCANIA, CHILE January 02, 2011

7.0 SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO, ARGENTINA January 01, 2011

Now if that doesn't rattle your core, then you just aren't human. Trust me, folks. The USGS technology to detect 6.0 and higher earthquakes around the world was just as reliable back in the 1980's as it is today. And it's not like there are simply a "few" more of these in the past ten years than in last century's history -- there are A LOT more.

Some people have come forward and said that due to the high-level of human effect on the earth these past ten years, earthquakes have increased in both size and frequency. Some studies show things like nuclear testing, offshore drilling, mine blasting, geo-thermal exploration, etc. have all contributed to an increase in earthquakes. Okay... that might be true. But the Bible doesn't tell us where they come from or why they happen. Scripture simply points out that in the end times, there will be a lot of them in various places. Plain and simple. It doesn't matter why or how. All that matters is that they're occurring.

"Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains." (Matthew 24:7-8)

The Bible uses "birth pains" or "birth pangs" as an analogy to the signs and events of the End Times. Think about a woman giving birth. Her pains, also called contractions, come slowly and sporadically at first. Often those first pains are mild, and don't cause too much hurt. But then they start to get stronger and more frequent, and they increase in intensity, causing more pain. Next thing you know, at the very crescendo of labor, the pains are almost unbearable and constant. And then with a quick rush and final massive shudder, the baby is born and a new life has come.

It will be the same way with the End Times, which I wholeheartedly believe we're in. The earthquakes and famines and geo-political/economic stress will increase. Nations will rise against nation. Teeth will be bared, threats will fly (Anyone watching the news lately over Iran? Or keeping an eye on the terrorism threats to the people of Israel?). Famines and hardships will increase, as will earthquakes. Sounds a lot like our times, doesn't it? And then at the very height of it all, there will be a final blow. The Bible describes it clearly:

"Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since man has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. The great city split into three parts and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath. Every Island fled away and the mountains could not be found." (Revelation 16:18-20)

After that, there comes life. Jesus comes back to the earth in a fury, ready to capture the beast (Satan) who will deceive so many people in the End Times. Many, many on this earth will worship that beast and take his mark. But Christ comes ready for war, and defeats him.

"I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. 'He will rule them with an iron scepter.' He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, "Come, gather together for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and great." Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh." (Revelation 19:11-21)

And this begins the peaceful thousand-year reign of Christ.

It may sound like a story, but I assure you that it's true. Prophecy does not lie in the Bible. Where do you think all the stories of "good vs. evil" come from???? Since the beginning of time - -from the days of Adam and Eve (and even before) -- there has been a continuous and constant battle of Christ versus Satan. Christ ultimately wins. And every single person on this earth takes a side. If you don't knowingly choose to side with Christ, then you are by default on Satan's side. That's how it works.

Time is running out, and God gave us signs to look for in the Scriptures. To ignore them now would be a very costly mistake. Eternity is a very, very long time. Believe me when I say that you want to be with Christ, and not against him.

And for that reader who left me the anonymous comment and stated that they were "saddened that I believe the ridiculous tripe of religion"... let me say this: God directed you to my blog for a reason. You typed those search terms into Google because something was nagging at you. And then you came across my blog, which gives you hundreds of posts to read about Christianity -- including my introduction that states I was once an atheist before becoming a believer. That, my friend, is the work of the Holy Spirit. He is basically rapping His knuckles against your forehead, urging you to open your mind and listen up. You came here... you read... you commented. Still your mind and listen to your heart, because you won't get many more chances. Take this opportunity and side with good. Because while you might think it could be "fun" to be against God, I absolutely assure you with the utmost confidence that you'll be singing a different tune when you're on your knees in the end, realizing the very grave mistake you made.

May God continue to show you mercy and bless you -- I'll keep you in my prayers.

Easter: The Story of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ -- From a First-Hand Witness

2010-04-04T08:36:00.014-04:00

What is the Easter holiday about, you might ask? What does Easter mean to those who celebrate? To some it's about the "Easter Bunny" coming in the middle of the night like Santa, leaving candy and eggs for the little kids. For those families who celebrate in that way and nothing more, they are fools. Easter is NOT about the chocolate bunnies and colored eggs and baskets filled with jelly beans. It's about the fact that God realized we needed help. We weren't making it on our own -- we were unable to keep the Ten Commandments and abstain from sin. Because God loved us and wanted us to live forever in His eternal Kingdom, He provided the ultimate and final sacrifice: His son. He sent Jesus down to earth as a man, to live and teach, and then to die on the cross. That death took away our death. As a result, we who accept that sacrifice will live forever in God's eternal Kingdom. He is risen, so that we may rise as well!!!! This is a holiday to celebrate God's love for us, and recognize that Jesus is Lord. God's power overcame death, so that we who believe and accept the gift of sacrifice might overcome death. Plain and simple.

The Story of the Resurrection:

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'" Then they remembered his words.

When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.

He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?"

They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?"

"What things?" he asked.

"About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."

He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them.

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"

They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."

They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence.

He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."

When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

(Luke 24)
The NIV Bible

What Happens When You Die?

2010-03-31T09:04:00.020-04:00

A lot of people won't admit this, but I think everyone has thought about it at some point in their lives: "What happens when you die?" What exactly occurs upon the moment of death? Is there a soul? What happens to it? Is there truth to the flash of light or the bright tunnel that some people see in near death experiences?" The truth is, no one has proof of what actually happens the moment a human being expires, but based on my Christian faith, I can give you a pretty good picture of what I believe happens, according to Jesus.

The Bible tells us that there will be a very dramatic end to our earth. A final battle between Satan and Jesus will occur (called the Battle of Armageddon) and after that, Jesus reigns on the earth for 1,000 years. After THAT, comes Judgment Day, when God opens the Book of Life. If you're name is in it, then you move on to live in His kingdom. If it's not, then you live in Hell for all eternity. The Book of Life is mentioned several times in the Bible, mostly at the end in Revelation. It clearly describes those names in the Book of Life as being those who "belong to the lamb" or in other words, belong to Jesus. A simple way to put it is that if you're a strong, true Christian, then your name will be in the Book of Life.

Revelation 20:16 states very clearly and simply: "If anyone's name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." (It's in past-tense, because John was given a vision, and he's retelling it here in this part of the Bible.)

After that judgment day, God will make new the Earth and the Heavens. Revelation states to us that this is what John saw and heard in his vision that came from Jesus: "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." (Revelation 21:1-5)

After that Judgment Day when God will send those whose names were not in the Book of Life into the lake of fire, He will make new the Earth and all the Heavens. And that's where those will live whose names were in the Book of Life. If you read the entire Book of Revelation along with the Gospels, you'll see that we all will get new resurrected bodies. Therefore, to make a long story short, we'll all have new bodies and live on a new Earth. The new Earth I imagine will be pretty cool. No crime or graffiti or decay or falling down ghettos. No dried up farm fields or flooded coastal towns or devastating hurricanes. The world will be similar to how it is now, probably with familiar land-masses, mountains and seas -- but it will be ten times better. My favorite description about that what that experience will be like comes from the book titled "Heaven" by Randy Alcorn. I don't have copyright privileges to quote exact passages, but on pages 238 and 239 of his book, he uses the example of the Chronicles of Narnia series as an analogy. Alcorn describes the scene in C.S. Lewis' The Last Battle where Lucy and her friends morn Narnia -- the world they've always known and loved. As they head over to the Asland's world and home, they're a bit excited but they mourn their old home. In our hearts, there is no place like home. You can move to a new country and enjoy the change of scenery, but your heart belongs to the place you know and love as home. The promise of a new Earth sounds exciting, but isn't there a little piece of you who will miss and love the old Earth? Sure there is. In C.S. Lewis' novel, Lucy and her friends look back at their old Narnia with longing. But as Randy Alcorn shows us, when they venture deeper into Asland's home territory, they begin to notice that things look very much like the Narnia they left. The hills, the mountains, the passes -- they all look like land features from the old home they left. And yet, it's more vivid. More beautiful. More perfect. More "real", one of the characters says. Even though their "old" Narnia was gone and demolished, this "new" Narnia was the same, and yet even better. And they realized that the old Narnia was an imperfect shadow of the beautiful new Narnia, and that THIS was really their home, where they were meant to live. Alcorn goes on to explain that on the New Earth, many things will remain the same. It will be familiar, and we can experience it in even better ways than we can now. It will be amazing, fantastic and downright indescribable.

So that's what happens after judgment day. Those who were believers of Christ and who had their names written in the book of life get a New Earth, along with New Heavens (perhaps planets and stars we can visit???). But those whose were NOT followers of Christ and whose names were not written in the book of life get thrown into the Lake of Fire. What is the Lake of Fire, exactly? The Bible describes it clearly. In fact, Jesus talks about it as a fire that cannot be quenched. It's permanent, eternal and forever. Here's a great article on the web about it: The Lake of Fire.

Some people say that "bad people" or those who aren't Christian just cease to exist. That they're bodies and souls just stop being. I think it's pretty clear that everyone will have "resurrected bodies" at this point -- even the wicked. If we look at John's vision, he says that he saw this:

"Then I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:11-15)

If we all (or even just the non-believers) became vaporous souls of mist and ghost, then I'm guessing John wouldn't have seen all the dead STANDING before the throne of God. Right? In fact, the Bible explains this in a verse right above that one:

"I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years." (Revelation 20:4-6)

I know it's getting confusing for some, but let me break it down simply. After the battle of Armageddon where Jesus Christ fights Satan and wins, he binds up Satan for 1,000 years. Somewhere around that time at the end of the battle, there is a resurrection, in which those who died as Christians will come alive and reign with Jesus on this earth for that 1,000 years. After that 1,000 years is over, everyone else is resurrected and receives a new body. So at this point, everyone is alive with a new body. It doesn't matter if you were cremated or disintegrated or newly buried or whatever. Every human soul will get a new body. And then we will all stand before Christ's throne and be judged according to our lives. He will look into the Book of Life, and if our name is there we will be allowed to pass onto the next life and live on the brand new Earth with God and Jesus for all of eternity. This "eternal" life with God on the new earth is the true and everlasting word we call "Heaven." The Scriptures tell us that "Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life." (Revelation 21:27)

At that time of judgment, if those people were found to NOT be in the book of life, they get sent into the Lake of Fire. I'm pretty confident the Lake of Fire is an eternal place as well. The Book of Daniel is one of prophecy -- Daniel was an exceptional prophet who received messages from Jesus. In one small but poignant passage, he tells us what happens in the end: "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." (Daniel 12:2) The Bible often used the word "sleep" to mean death. In today's society, we use the word death to mean something final, permanent, ending. But the Bible assures us that death is not the end, therefore the word for "sleep" is used instead. Jesus comes right to the point and tells John what happens to those who are unbelievers: "But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars -- their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."

So that all explains what happens at the very end -- after the Judgment Day. But what about now??

Randy Alcorn in his book does a fantastic job of describing that (if you haven't read it, I really encourage you to!). Basically, there is a "temporary" Heaven and Hell. They're not our permanent homes. Simply a "hotel room" if you will, keeping us in an appropriate setting until the time comes to move to our permanent homes. You have to note, though, that these "temporary Heaven and Hell" places are not one and the same. Again, the unbelievers go to one place, and the believers to another. This is described in great detail with one of the stories Jesus told his followers:

"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'

"But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'

"He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'

"Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.'

"'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'

"He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"

So here's the modern-day recap of that story. Lazarus was a poor beggar person who died. It doesn't say that he was a believer, but other places in the Bible clearly tell you that you have to be -- IF you have heard the Gospel of Jesus and the message of God. I personally think this kind of answers the question that atheists love to throw my way, regarding the 3rd world countries and people who have never heard of Jesus. Of course God's main purpose is not to condemn mankind and make innocent people suffer. He knows the heart and soul of every human being. There are going to be those who have never heard of Jesus Christ, and who died without knowing the gift of salvation he offers us. The ones that go to hell are either those who purposely chose to follow someone/something other than Christ (and that includes atheists who choose science or themselves over God), AND/OR those who have wicked and darkened hearts.

Anyway, in that story Jesus told, there was a poor beggar. Someone who was down and out, and who lived on the streets in agony. There was also a rich man, who ignored that beggar and refused to help him. They both died. The beggar was sent up to Heaven to be with Abraham and the other saints, whereas the rich man was sent to hell. Now this is a real story that Jesus told. He didn't use a pronoun or a generic term for the beggar. He used a real name. This was a real person, as was the rich man. Since the End Times and judgment day haven't happened yet, they are both in the "temporary" Heaven and Hell. The Bible refers to this temporary hell as "Hades." (As you may have noticed in the passage from Revelation up above.) As you can see, both Heaven and Hell -- the temporary AND the permanent -- are clearly different places. With regard to Hell (Hades) in this story, it's not some dark, opaque oblivion. Each clearly is very aware of their surroundings, and can comprehend what's going on. The rich guy, who is hot, thirsty and tormented, realizes that his situation sucks. He asks Abraham to send Lazarus down to bring him water. Abraham denied him, saying that the fiery bad place was down there, and the comfortable good place is up here, and there is no way to bridge the gap or travel between the two. The rich man, realizing what a crappy and awful place that was, then asked Abraham if he could go warn his five brothers, to keep them away from that hell. Abraham basically said, "Sorry, dude. I know it sucks and you want them to stay away, but they have the Scriptures and Jesus and the message of those who believe." Lazarus replied back, saying, "No, no... you don't get it. They're hard headed. They're stubborn. They need something big like a ghost or a dead person to warn them." Abraham pretty much tells him, "Sorry. No can do. Believe me, if they're not going to believe in all that other stuff, a ghost or dead person isn't going to change them."

All of that is the same here today. Atheists and non-believers want proof. I'm always getting asked for proof. "Prove to me that Hell is real." Or "Prove to me Christ is the way to salvation." I always shake my head at that. I have no proof. If there was proof, then faith would be meaningless. For having faith means to put your trust and belief into something you can't see with your own eyes. And I know that even if I did manage to find some type of proof, they wouldn't believe that either.

So after all of this information, let's go back to the original question. What happens when you die? Well, if you're a believer, you'll go to that comfortable place, that nice, temporary "hotel" where you'll hang out with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the other believers and saints, waiting for Armageddon and Judgment Day. You'll know and see what goes on here on Earth. Do you have a body? I'm guessing you'll have a temporary one. The rich man in the story was able to recognize Lazarus and Abraham, so there has to be some "form" of physical identity.

Contrary to that, if you weren't a believer, then you'll go to that hot, fiery place of torment. The other hotel. Which is probably more like a big, ugly dark pit. Remember, the rich man's tongue was burning. Which tells me that there IS some form of temporary body for those people, too. Maybe those in hell keep those temporary bodies, even when going to the next step in the permanent place in the Lake of Fire. Perhaps only the believers get brand new bodies that they can keep here on the new earth. I don't know -- I guess we'll find out. But the bottom line is, when you die, immediately afterward you go to one place or the other. A common question is: do you see Jesus when you die? I have no idea. I would venture to guess that you don't if you're going to Hell. And I'd feel pretty comfortable assuming that those in Heaven do.

If you're any one of those people who have ever believed in ghosts, spirits, the afterlife, channeling, etc., I'm telling you right now. None of it is real. If you or someone you know claims to speak to the dead or channel a spirit or talk to someone on the other side, let me assure you that it's not who you (or they) think it is. Those spirits are evil spirits -- the minions and workers of Satan. They're having fun with you, delighted to be steering you away from the doctrine of the gospel. I can tell you right now that Uncle John or Aunt Sally or Grandfather Bob are not hovering around some unseen plane of existence, drooling over Burger King Whoppers and wishing they could go swimming in a pool. They don't hang out and follow people around or come visit. They are either in Heaven, or they are in Hell. There is no in-between. And there is no transport system that allows some of them to travel back here. Those are places. Real places. And if you claim to be talking to ghosts or having conversations with spirits and you aren't deeply rooted/abiding strongly in Christ, you'd better be careful. You're messing with fire. Literally.

It's all I can do to urge you to BE SURE that your name is written in that Book of Life. Eternity is a very long time, my friends.

Why Isn't The United States in Biblical Prophecy?

2010-03-27T23:15:00.021-04:00

I know, I know... I'm supposed to be writing a blog post about what happens when we die. I promise that will come soon. But something caught my eye today that had to be discussed. It gave me a clear inclination as to why the U.S. -- or anyone in America for that matter -- is not mentioned anywhere in Biblical prophecy. There was just recently a horrific article on CNN.com. The headline of this article read:

"Philosopher: Why We Should Ditch Religion"

This article starts out saying this:

For the world to tackle truly important problems, people have to stop looking to religion to guide their moral compasses, the philosopher Sam Harris told CNN.

"We should be talking about real problems, like nuclear proliferation and genocide and poverty and the crisis in education," Harris said in a recent interview at the TED Conference in Long Beach, California. TED is a nonprofit group dedicated to "ideas worth spreading."

"These are issues which tremendous swings in human well-being depend on. And it's not at the center of our moral concern."

Religion causes people to fixate on issues of less moral importance, said Harris, a well-known secularist, philosopher and neuroscientist who is the author of the books "The End of Faith" and "Letter to a Christian Nation."

"Religion has convinced us that there's something else entirely other than concerns about suffering. There's concerns about what God wants, there's concerns about what's going to happen in the afterlife," he said.

"And, therefore, we talk about things like gay marriage as if it's the greatest problem of the 21st century. We even have a liberal president who ostensibly is against gay marriage because his faith tells him it's an abomination.

"It's completely insane."

Can you believe that? Let me restate that again: "People have to stop looking to religion to guide their moral compasses."

I am just in shock over that. Let me state this loud and clear to anyone who might be reading this blog: THERE IS NO OTHER PLACE TO GO. Ever watch a movie? Read a book? Lived life? Studied history? There are only two sides, my friends. Good and evil. That's it. In any contest, war or battle, there is only one winner, and one loser. It's light versus dark, black versus white, Heaven and Hell. God IS your moral compass. If you choose anything else to guide you in this life, you're choosing Satan.

"Religion causes people to fixate on issues of less moral importance." I have to disagree. One-by-one that sneaky prince of this earth who is known as Satan is taking those issues out of our Christian hands. Throughout history we have focused on all kinds of issues. In the old days Christians focused on drinking, and the fact that being drunk takes away your ability to stay focused and grounded. But people laughed at that and began drinking. Then they focused on sex, stating that teenagers were exposed to it too much and it was desensitizing them to the consequences of having an active sex life (i.e. pregnancy, STDs, etc.). But the masses smirked at them and said, "Hey. they're having it anyway, so let's just make sure they're doing it safely!" Then the Christians focused on issues closer to home, like disciplining children and homeschooling to keep them out in grounded, moral environments. But then society said that it's not good to discipline kids too hard, and that parents should be like "friends" to them. And that exposure to diversity and culture and the kind of life that comes with public schooling would be good for them. Then the Christians went after assisted suicide, stating that only God had the right to take away lives and we shouldn't be messing with it. But society got mad and said that it's not fair that people stay in pain, and that we should be able to do what we want. Next Christians began to try to implement more Christian principals in schools and public places, but society cried foul over that, insisting that there was no right to have religion in anything public, citing the whole "Separation of Church and State" defense. Then Christians began to stand up to the rising abortion rates, stating again that no one had the right to take away life but God, and that it's murder. But society got angry and said again that it's a person's right to do with their body whatever they choose. Finally here Christians are opposing homosexuality, standing firm in the fact that they don't want it flaunted in their streets and that their children shouldn't be exposed to homosexual lifestyles. And the masses all have come back and said that it's a person's right to be whatever they want and that we have an obligation to support that and perhaps even teach that.

"Issues of less moral importance." Every time the Christian conservative movement feels the obligation to tackle and fight a growing issue, society immediately opposes it... fights back... and paints the conservatives to be bad guys for not having tolerance. Less moral importance? What it comes down to is upholding God's law. It's breaking down society to the very foundation for which this human race was created. We were given instructions and rules, and it is our duty as followers of Christ to stand up for those rules.

One of the very first pages of the Bible sums it up perfectly: "If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." (Genesis 4:7)

Will you not be accepted? The Bible isn't talking about man's acceptance. The Scriptures are referring to God's. If you do what is right, you will be accepted into the Kingdom of Heaven. If you do not, then sin crouches at your door. Sin and evil are very real.

"Religion has convinced us that there's something else entirely other than concerns about suffering. There's concerns about what God wants, there's concerns about what's going to happen in the afterlife," he said.

Uh, YEAH. That's the point! I have to say, after reading this article, I just stared at my screen completely dumbfounded. Satan is getting stronger by the day. People are coming out and saying ridiculous things, mocking and scoffing the truth. YES!!! There IS something else entirely other than concerns about suffering. People have been suffering for centuries. For thousands and thousands of years. It's unstoppable. This earth is cursed, and suffering is going to be a part of it until the curse is lifted, Christ comes to rule and the earth is made new. Until then, we just have to do the best we can and give people hope in Jesus. Anyone who has read the Bible and knows the story of Job can understand what it means to suffer -- and also what it doesn't mean to suffer. Job lost all of his family, his belongings, his home, his money, his wealth. All of it. He suffered greatly after his family died violent deaths. But for his great reward and faith, he not only gained back more than he lost, but he also received eternal life with all of them in a place where has been jubilantly rewarded.

Romans 5:3-4 tells us: "And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." No one knows suffering more so than Jesus Christ. And he suffered for something that he knew would be so worth it in the end. We cannot change the suffering and circumstances of this world. No matter how hard we try, we cannot eliminate every single person's suffering. There will always be disease, death, war, famine, heartache.

For anyone to place their faith and their "compass" in anything else is being swayed by the devil. I would love for anyone to tell me in what or in whom we should put our faith besides God. Anyone??? I know that it's impossible to have faith in myself, because I cannot rely my own self. How many times have you done something stupid? Something you regretted? Something that you wish you hadn't done? How many times did you do something -- even something small -- that you knew was wrong, but yet you did it anyway? That, my friend, is what the Bible calls "the flesh." The flesh is your body and your sin. It's the tent that houses the curse that's upon this earth right now. We are told outright that this is how it is, and that we are not supposed to put our confidence in our flesh. Instead, we are supposed to put our confidence in Christ. If we rely on our flesh to guide us, we will fail. Because sometimes we let ourselves down. And ultimately, we cannot save ourselves. The Bible tells us that there IS an afterlife. We don't get there by being a good person or doing good things. Our "flesh" and what we do with it does nothing to earn us a place in God's Kingdom. Nothing "earns" us that place. We are there because of Christ, and his sacrifice for us on the cross.

If you do not believe that, then your eyes are blinded. It's just that simple. Either you are completely blinded, or you do not believe the truth and you're making up lies to turn everyone else away from it, too. By not believing the truth and listening to Scripture, you are either willingly or unwillingly a follower of Satan. It's quite clear -- there is no in between. Everyone has to take a side, whether you think you are or not. It's good versus evil. And if you haven't diligently chosen the "good" side with God, then that lack of action automatically chooses the side of Satan. Jesus himself said it that way: "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." (John 8:44)

There is a lot of Biblical prophecy. A lot of it. I think I remember reading once that almost a third of the Bible is prophecy. Some of it tells us about the End Times, and what will happen when that time comes. Many countries are mentioned, from Syria and Turkey to Israel and Russia (using their ancient names for their countries, because obviously they've changed over the years). But never is there any mention of the United States or anything that even resembles it. No "new nation between the large seas" or any type of reference to a melting pot or "free nation" far away. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. Scholars have been scratching their heads over that one for decades, assuming that they just missed it. Or they think perhaps we don't have anything to do with the End Times.

That's wrong. Our country houses a large population of Christians. And when the Rapture happens and we're taken up to Heaven to be removed from the final battle between good and evil, or Jesus versus Satan, we're going to be gone. The Bible tells us that God will snatch us from the earth and bring us up to Heaven to save us from earth's final wrath. And if you picture America, think for a minute what it would be like to have a country with no Christians. Liberals might joke about that, but in reality there will be nobody left but a bunch of people like that guy Sam Harris who made those ridiculous statements above. It will be a world of atheists. A world of people who decided against being on God's team. A world that unknowingly chose to side with Satan.

A world that within a short period of time will become completely annihilated. There is no way our country will remain viable or thriving if all of its citizens look towards outward ideologies or inward abilities and knowledge to be their guiding compass. Our country's reign as a powerful, thriving, prosperous nation has ended. And worse than that, it will someday soon even cease to exist. It's decaying, and will continue to decay because we took God out of the equation. Those Christians who fought for all of the "problems that weren't real" were actually fighting for the one single problem that IS real: eternal life. For decades we Christian conservatives have been doing all we can -- issue after issue -- to save as many as we can. Liberals can continue to focus on nuclear egos and greenhouse gasses, but we're focusing on the salvation of human souls. I think it's safe to say that it just doesn't get any bigger than that.

I'll tell you, Mr. Harris, what's really insane. Thinking that we have the power or ability to eliminate suffering here on this earth. And to believe that this time here on earth is all there is. I don't know how anyone can believe that. Think of all those poor children and babies starving in Africa. This is it? This is their one shot, their only chance, their one gift? No way. There's more. There IS life after life. Just like in the Chronicles of Narnia series, this is just a small taste, a broken glimpse of the beauty that will be ours. What's insane is to pretend it doesn't exist, and not to live for it. It's insane to take away people's hope who have lived a hard life on this earth and steer them into thinking that this is all they get.

Jesus tells us otherwise, Mr. Harris. And I choose to believe in him as my compass:

Jesus said, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." (John 14:1-3)

If You're Angry Over Obamacare...

2010-03-22T08:24:00.014-04:00

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The House of Representatives gave final approval to a sweeping healthcare overhaul on Sunday, expanding insurance coverage to nearly all Americans and handing President Barack Obama a landmark victory. Last night -- on a Sunday, the House of Representatives voted on and approved the largest healthcare overhaul in decades. This bill took over a year to pass. Do you know why? Because the American people didn't want it. This is a very historic event that is a crucial turning point in American history. It's no secret that conservatives think this is a bad thing. It's no secret that liberals think it's a good thing. The vast majority of conservatives are Christian, and we see this country going down. Our eyes are open, and the light is illuminating the decay of our country. What the liberals have to remember is that this is God's country. And the more and more our president/leader makes decisions without God, the harder we're going to fall.

Most Democrats voted for it, and most Republicans voted against it. This bill would require Americans to have health coverage, and help lower-income workers and those who are unemployed pay for coverage. Now I am NOT against a government-run healthcare program for people (Meaning citizens!!! Not illegal immigrants!) who don't have health insurance. What I am against is forcing Americans to have healthcare. I think it's ridiculous for a government to FORCE its people to purchase a product or service -- and that I will be breaking the law if I don't. To me, that's nothing short of communism. I am against creating a program that requires taking even more money from successful workers and giving it to those who are low income, poverty-level or unemployed. I am against passing a 2,000 page bill that's one of the most complicated documents out there, pretty much guaranteeing that most of our House Representatives and Senators didn't read it (or didn't read it thoroughly). I am against offering abortions at no charge, paid for by working Americans. I am against putting higher taxes and regulations on businesses, which is going to run them into the ground even further than they are now in this recession. Finally, what I am against the most is the fact that Congress was strong-armed into signing this, and basically the vast number of American people who opposed this were pretty much told to go take a flying leap.

Don't get me wrong -- as a Christian, I feel compassion to those who are less fortunate. I love helping those in need, and my husband and I do a lot to donate our time and money. We're often giving to different charities or providing food/clothing/funds to charitable organizations. What I don't like is being told how/when/where to do it. Last year we paid almost $40,000 in taxes. That's a lot of money. It's tough enough to give up that much of your income to the government, and now we're being told that they need more. And in addition to them sticking their hands in our pocket-book to take that additional money, they're also going to tell us that we have to subscribe-to/buy into their program or else we'll be fined and in big trouble. THEN on top of that they're going to tell my employer that they need more money from them, and that THEY have to comply with their new rules about this new product/service.

See why we're so ticked? What's next? The Bible tells us. There WILL be a time when we people of this earth -- probably starting in our country first -- will be forced to have a mark or a barcode without which we won't be able to buy/sell/eat/work/pay our bills. This is just a step in that direction.

For those of you who aren't in the healthcare industry and don't know what's been happening recently with Medicare, this is going to kill the high-quality and high-level of technology that we offer in our healthcare system. (Right now, Medicare has decided that they're reducing payments to doctors, offices and clinics. Many high-quality, high-tech medical facilities around the country are losing good doctors, not to mention the quality of services, tests and equipment will begin to suffer due to the shortfall in payments.) Again, I'm not opposed to finding ways to regulate costs or overhaul Medicare and Medicaid. But to force the entire country into a government regulated plan is just unbelievable. I understand that many people think that this is necessary, because so many Americans are in need of healthcare. I understand that. But we are a country that elected officials to represent the American people. And this clearly showed that it does not matter what the American people want. It's not the government's business to regulate healthcare or create a healthcare plan. This is not what a government is supposed to do. I guarantee you that the number of quality doctors and nurses in our country will plummet. Sure, healthcare will be more affordable, but the quality of care will be be lowered as well.

In the end, we have to remember this: It's not about Obama. It's not about healthcare. Christ is king of this nation, and He will reign forever. Not Obama.

"Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is Yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all." (1 Chronicles 29:11)

God is in control, and this is just another crack in a society that once was favored and blessed. When this country's government was first formed, our forefathers based it on God and the scripture in the Bible. Now, with Obama as supreme leader forcing regulation and laws down our throats, people will be divided. Debt will climb higher. Finances will be more precarious. And our nation will continue to crack and split, until it can hold together no more. It will decay, my friends. It's inevitable. Sit back, hold tight and enjoy the ride.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down." (Revelation 12:10)

For more reading on the continuing state of decline in America, check out these earlier posts:

The Decline and Fall of the American Empire

America's Economic Crisis... What should We Do?

My Letter to a Prisoner

2010-02-22T09:04:00.004-05:00

So I'm going to postpone the post I had intended to write for something a little more poignant. I am going to share my letter that I wrote to a prisoner. I knew this person from my past (only as a vague acquaintance), but when I saw that he was in jail, I felt instantly compelled to reach out. Little did I know that God had a purpose and was nudging me to do this. Conversations with a liaison of his showed me that this is more than just a coincidence. I have x'd out all the names for privacy's sake. But in this letter I bare my soul and get right to the heart of it all... to what really counts. Life is an amazing thing, and I intend to make the most of it. Boldness and a love for others is a very powerful gift. I take no credit for it -- it all comes from God:

Hi, XXXXX!

I don't know if you remember me or not. My Facebook has me as XXXXX XXXXX, but I was XXXXX XXXXX back in high school. I don't think I had you in any of my classes, but I saw you around here and there. I probably wouldn't recognize you on the street, but I'm guessing you might have known some of the people I hung out with. I dated XXXXX XXXXX for about 8 years, and then married him for 2. Unfortunately, things didn't work out and we split back in 2003. I'm remarried now, and doing very well.

I became a Christian two years ago. (I'll share my testimony of how that happened some other day.) I was born and raised as a strict Muslim, and then when I left home I was basically an atheist. XXXXX's family was very liberal -- his parents were ex-hippies and were all about having fun. I honestly gave not one single thought to Jesus in my 20s. But I hit rock bottom in 2005 (another story for another time). Not as bad as some people hit rock bottom, but I guess each person has their own version of what that is. I'll never forget the feeling of hopelessness and despair I felt back then. I was even to the point where I thought life wasn't much worth living. Not for attention or to get back at anyone, but simply because I thought my life was a total failure and I didn't see one ounce of purpose. I had no job, my heat/electricity had been turned off, my car got repossessed, I was so far in debt, and I had just broken up with a boyfriend who couldn't seem to break away from his ex-wife. I had no where to go, no one to lean on, and no direction whatsoever. I was done. (Or so I thought.)

Flash forward to today, and I can honestly say that my life has done a complete 180. I'm happily married. I'm completely out of debt. I have a great job that I love, making good money. I have amazing friends, and I have a blog that 30,000 people a year look at and read. I support two children via Compassion International -- one in Peru and one in Indonesia. I have true joy and contentment and purpose. And it's all because of God and Christ. All of it.

Anyway, I'm on Facebook a lot and one day I happened to see your picture over on the side in the little sidebar that offers friend-suggestions. I looked at your name... pondered it for a minute... and then clicked on your profile. I noticed right away that you were in prison, and saw from your info that you like to write. All of a sudden, in that moment, I knew that I was suppose to befriend you and talk with you. I didn't know how or why, but I knew that all I had to do is send you a friend invitation and that somehow we'd start talking. I didn't feel that I needed to send anything at that moment --- I knew that I simply had to wait, and understood that God would make it work. To be honest, I did not even know that people in correctional facilities even had access in any way to the internet or social networking sites, so I was a bit confused. But I didn't worry too much about it. I knew that it all would be making itself known shortly.

Sure enough, it happened just like that. Literally about two weeks later, XXXXX sent me a message out of the blue. I don't recall exactly what it said, but it was something about him liking the fact that I was a strong Christian (I often post quotes and scripture on my wall). He explained briefly that he was your friend and helped you stay connected to the outside world. I couldn't help but to smile when I first saw that message. If that wasn't the work of God and the Holy Spirit, I don't know what was.

Anyway, I want to first let you know that I'm praying for you. You are by far waaaay ahead of a lot of people out there. I know it's probably been a tough time for you. But I told XXXXX that our pastor describes things like this: imagine a fishing line stretched out from the Sun to Pluto (I think that's close to 3.5 billion miles). Then imagine a small bead on one end of it. That bead is your life here on earth. The rest of the line is eternity. And all that truly matters on earth -- the equivalent of that little bead -- is to find Christ, believe in the Gospel and teaching of the Bible, and repent/turn away from your sins. Those of us who do that get to spend the rest of eternity in Heaven with God. The others that don't, unfortunately, spend eternity apart from God. And the "apart from God" means hell.

I've always looked at it like this: God is building Heaven for us believers. He's spent the past 2,000+ years getting Heaven ready for us. The Bible calls it "the New Heavens and the New Earth." Basically God is going to restore and rebuild the whole thing for us. It's going to be perfect, amazing, renewed and forever. It's going to last for all eternity. And He's choosing the people to live there with Him in His Kingdom. And He's making sure that those who live there are on His side. Think about it this way: In a very bad analogy, it's like an explorer going off to start a new colony. The explorer, who would be the leader of the new land, is not going to bring with him people who hate him, or don't believe in him. He's not going to bring along people who scoff at him or sneer at him or ignore him or try to usurp his authority. That would be just crazy. He's going to bring along the people he knows and trusts the most, who respect him and trust him so that their new home will be peaceful, fruitful, enjoyable and purposeful. God is going to rebuild a new world that's far beyond what we know here on this earth. And He wants all of mankind to be there to enjoy it with him. But He's not going to take the people that ignore Him, scoff at Him or laugh at Him.

I say all of that because I know tons of people who have nothing to do with God. They get irritated or laugh at the idea that they need to be "saved." They scoff at the idea that Christ paid the penalty for their sins, so that they can be transformed into perfection to live with God in the afterlife. They don't believe they sin, or that they do wrong, or that they should glorify God. Yet they live in big houses, have executive jobs, buy brand-name things and have the perfect two-car, two kids, two-pet family that so many tend to envy. Some of them walk around all high and mighty, and think that they're upstanding citizens and good people. Sure, they might be. But they've got the definition of "good" and "upstanding" wrong. They're using their own standards of good and upstanding, not God's. What they completely don't understand is that someone who is incarcerated in prison like you has a higher -- MUCH higher -- place in God's mind. In fact, you will be the one who gets to live with God and Jesus in Heaven, and they won't. It will blow their minds. And as an extension of that, there are a lot of really good, honorable, loving, compassionate, altruistic people out there who just don't know the Gospel of Christ. They maybe go to church, or have as a child. But they just don't "get it." They see no need or understanding for salvation. They don't know that Jesus is the only bridge to God. Either they aren't interested, or no one has told them. Many of those people I know are my friends, and it breaks my heart. It's my hope that one day they WILL hear and they WILL know, but for some it just won't happen. The Bible tells us that their hearts are hardened and that they won't listen. I continue to pray for them, but I can only do so much. It's not my job to save them... only to tell them how it is. If they choose not to listen, I can't force them. God wants no one to perish, and everyone to come to repentance so that everyone can accept this amazing gift and offer of eternal life in His kingdom. But we all have free will. He's not going to force people. If He did that, then we would be nothing more than puppets. He created man as free thinkers, free-willed creatures. And for as sad as it makes God, He isn't going to force anyone down the right path. We each have to choose it for ourselves.

So my first message to you is a big hug and a big prayer: "Stay strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stance against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:10-12)

That is my all-time favorite verse in the Bible. The devil and his minions are very real, and they continue to try over and over to keep people from staying strong in Christ. He's got a "team" too, and will stop at nothing to manipulate and convince us to join his side versus God's. The Bible says: "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matthew 7:13-14) I can definitely understand that, as I look around at my friends and family who put more importance on Obama, Oprah and Michael Jackson then they do on Christ or God. Heck, I think more of them believe the Superbowl or American Idol are more important than Jesus. A lot of them think I'm a little nuts for turning around and becoming such a devout Christian. But I know that their opinion doesn't honestly matter. It hurts, and it's frustrating. But it doesn't matter in the end. One day every knee will bow and confess that Christ is the King and Messiah. At that time, I know they'll regret their feelings and thoughts. Again, Satan loves it when we Christians feel like outcasts for our beliefs. But the Bible tells us to stay strong, and to endure it. Those of us who go through particularly hard trials will get Crowns of reward in Heaven. I don't know what those reward Crowns will do, but I'm sure they'll be cool and bring much glory to God.

I know how easy it is to get caught up in the bad stuff. XXXXX said that drugs got you to be where you are. I don't doubt it. For several years, I hung out with XXXXX, XXXXX, XXXXX, XXXXX, XXXXX and XXXXX. While I didn't touch any of the hard core drugs that a couple of them did, I smoke a lot of pot. I spent pretty much all of the mid-to-late 1990s being a lazy, fun-loving partier. Literally, from the time I was 21 to about 27 or so, we did nothing but drink, get stoned and have a good time. It's a wonder any of us made it this far without a drunk driving accident or a complete loss of viable brain cells. I had no direction, no future, no way of making something of myself. I didn't stay in college and get a degree or have an interest in a purposeful job, or do anything meaningful with my life. I left XXXXX not because he was a bad guy -- he was actually a really great guy. I left because I saw us going nowhere. He wouldn't stop smoking, and I didn't see one ounce of motivation or direction in our future. I felt old, tired and worn out by the time I was 28. Only after hitting the bottom in 2005 and then meeting my current husband did I discover that the only real way you find purpose and direction is through Christ, and by seeing your life through God's eyes.

Anyway, I wanted to share that all with you because XXXXX told me that he speaks with you often about salvation, Jesus and the Bible. There's a verse in there that states, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13) I keep that in my head as a mantra and say it over and over to myself. Because it's true. XXXXX said that you know you're right where God wants you. That, my friend, is far more than most people understand in a lifetime. He loves you, and will do anything to keep you on your feet. I knew that from the first minute I saw your profile.

I'm open to talking/writing about anything and everything. XXXXX says that you write, too. I'd love to to read that -- I'm a big writer (and reader) myself. I have two blogs. One is a Christian one, and the other is a personal one. I told XXXXX that my favorite book (besides the Bible) is "Heaven" by Randy Alcorn. Can you receive books? Or do you have a library service? If you can accept packages from the outside, let me know and I'll send it to you. Or I can scan images and send them through Jpay. You need to read it. I know that many people need comfort and support to endure life here on earth right now, but for some reason, reading and knowing all about what Heaven is going to be like and how great life on the New Earth will be sure as heck keeps me going. The author even says that God created the Heavens and the Earth for us, so it's very likely -- if not probable -- that we'll be able to travel to distant planets and solar systems in the after life. How cool is that? The Bible also tells us that the lion will lie down with the lamb, and that animals will be tame and friendly. Therefore, I'm declaring right now that I want a pet tiger in Heaven. ;o)

Hugs and blessings to you. Let me know if I can help you in any way. Right now the biggest things I have to offer are words, support, guidance, teaching and prayer. It's possible that we may not ever meet in this life, but it will be cool to give you a giant hug and a high-five in the next. I don't know about you, but it feels really good to me to know that I'm on God's team.

In His service,
XXXXX

Every Knee Shall Bow...

2010-02-01T22:51:00.011-05:00

For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. It is written:
"As surely as I live,' says the Lord,
every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will confess to God." So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. (Romans 14:11-12)

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)

There are several very strong passages in the Bible that state very clearly that "every knee shall bow" before Jesus and confess that he is our Lord and Savior. In fact, one of my favorite worship songs uses those words in its lyrics:

One day every tongue will confess
You are God
One day every knee will bow
Still the greatest treasure remains for those
Who gladly choose you now...
(Lyrics from "Come Now is the Time to Worship)

That is probably one of the messages in the Bible that I love most. But to some, it may be one of the scariest. You see, it's basically telling us that one day -- at the end of time when Jesus returns -- there will be no doubt. At that time, people will be judged according to their faith. And those who were believers will rejoice and be thrilled at his return. But those who mocked and scoffed and chose not to be believers will have a true "Ohhhhhh, fuudddggge" moment.

In fact, those who pass away on this earth now before the End Times when Jesus return will each discover that on their own, individually. Stay tuned, because my next post will talk more about that in an entry I'll be calling "What Happens When We Die?"

The Bible tells us that like it or not, EVERY knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is the son of God and Lord over all. All of the people who thought that Jesus was just some guy... or just a prophet... or didn't even exist at all... every one of them will be kneeling before Jesus. Why? Because he will come to earth not as the lowly, poor peasant man from Nazareth, but as a glorious, mighty king and holy Son of God. You know how some people these days would be completely in awe in Obama's presence, or in one of the Twilight actors' presence or in Simon Cowell's presence? Yeah. Kinda like that. Imagine what the world would think if Michael Jackson came down from the sky with supernatural powers. Picture their faces. Their jaws dropping open. The cameras, the crying, the screaming. Now magnify that by 1,000,000. Plain and simple, Jesus coming back to earth is going to be huge. No one is going to be able to deny his awesomeness, nor his holiness.

Unfortunately, though, at that point it will be too late. The Bible tells us over and over again that the reward of eternal life is specifically for those who chose Christ in this life. There is no opportunity to choose to believe once he is visible and seen. Salvation is based on faith -- meaning that which we can't see. People who didn't believe in Christ on this world won't get to hurry up and change their minds once they see proof.

Funny how people here on this earth put their faith in so much that offers no proof. People invest their savings in the stock market -- with no proof that it will make them money. People put faith in daycares that watch their children, with no proof that they'll be safe. They eat food that others make in restaurants. They fly in airplanes that others pilot. People put their faith in other people all the time. ALL THE TIME. Yet when it comes to their eternal life and salvation, they cross their arms and demand proof. How bizarre is that?

An author of a book I just read used the analogy of a swimming pool. Imagine that the swimming pool has been drained, and acid the same color as water has been put in instead. The acid is so dangerous that one little toe in could mean devastation and complete melting and burning of the skin. So you know the pool is filled with acid, but along comes some dude in his swim trunks, ready to dive in. You stop him, and tell him that the pool is dangerous. The obvious and most expected thing would be to hear that guy express his thanks for being warned, and then back off. But that's not what most people do. They stand there... laugh... scoff a little... and demand proof of what you just said.

It saddens me that there is so little trust in God. The Bible tells us that every knee will bow whether they believe or not. Every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is the savior, whether or not they say that right now. Every Muslim, every Jew, every atheist, every president and prince and king. Even Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Even Oprah. Even Paris Hilton. (Man, I'd actually get a kick out of seeing that one.) But for those of us who have faith now and acknowledge this here while we're still on this earth, there will be a great reward.

Will that be you?

Chemtrails -- An Attempt to Play God

2010-01-17T08:41:00.021-05:00

You know, every now and then I come across a topic that I feel so compelled to write about, even if it might be a little out of the ordinary. Right now one of those topics is nagging me. Do you know what chemtrails are? Some people don't believe they exist. They think it's a figment of a "right-wing, nut-case, conspiracy theorist's" imagination. Others believe and know that they're very real, because they've seen them first hand. I am one of those people. Chemtrails, very simply, are the white, vaporous trails that come from behind a jet airplane that contain chemicals. While I don't know what the chemicals consist of, I think it's common consensus to believe that someone is trying to alter our weather pattern with them.

Now, when I first heard of chemtrails, I blew them off thinking much the same thing -- that people are mistaking "contrails" for chemtrails. Contrails the harmless water vapor that resembles clouds, which come from jets and contain nothing more than condensation and maybe a few by-products. Think of it as the exhaust from the jet planes in the sky. But then one day I witnessed something that convinced me something else was going on.

One day when I was at work (which was at an office in a large metropolitan city), I noticed white streaks in the sky. I got up from my desk and looked out the window and I saw several small, white jet planes in the sky. They were going back and forth, back and forth, leaving white trails behind them. At one point, I noticed six planes flying in a very distinct and organized pattern. It dawned on me right then and there -- these were chemtrails in the making. It was pretty clear that the white trails left behind were substantial. They just didn't dissipate in an hour or so. They lasted several hours. I kid you not, the hair on the back of my neck stood up. Here are some photos I took with my camera:

Notice in the second picture the large band of hazy, thin cloud that had formed as a result of one of those white streaks, and yet the plane goes right back over the same spot with another application.

Here's another photo taken by a friend of mine, who lives in a completely different part of the country -- this was taken in the morning:

And this is what the sky looked like a few hours after they left, by mid-afternoon:

Have you ever seen anything so chilling? I don't know about you, but alarm bells immediately rang off in my head. Who are these people? Seriously... who are flying those planes? Are they government-endorsed? State-endorsed? Are they private contractors? Surely they have to get fly-approval by the FAA. So that means people in the towers have to know who they are. What is it exactly that they're dispensing in our air? Could this be a major contributor to increased number of cases of Autism? Cancer? Allergies? Asthma? What's the purpose of these chemicals? Is it to bring rain? Slow global warming? Lengthen the growing season? What??? WHAT???? Don't you think the American people have a right to know? It absolutely ticks me off. The world can get so mad and frustrated over the killing of animals or the cutting down of trees. There are hundreds of protests over all kinds of animal, earth and environmental cruelty, yet no one feels compelled to investigate this pollution of the air we breathe. I mean, is this stuff a heavy particulate that falls onto our skin and clothes? Does it penetrate our skin and get into our blood? Does it cause lung cancer?

The part that absolutely chills me to the bone is that someone -- some entity -- feels that they can play God. They are taking a beautiful, crystal clear blue sky and turning it into haze in an attempt to change our weather patterns. Does anyone else see the making of a sci-fi movie gone very wrong? Weather happens for a reason. Global warming occurs because of natural cycles in the sun and Earth, not because of greenhouse gasses. Droughts occur as a cyclical event, and dry areas like the deserts of Arizona and New Mexico are supposed to be that way because THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE. Irrigation is one thing, but trying to create clouds or block out the sun is a whole other thing.

God is in control of mother nature. We can adapt to climate and weather... we can brainstorm ways to use it to our advantage... we can think industriously to circumvent the negatives... we can bring water to places that water is scarce... and we can build greenhouses to use solar and forced energy to bring warmth in an otherwise cold environment in which to grow food. All of those things use human intelligence and creativity to work WITH the Earth while still respecting God's given resources.

But the minute we start fooling around with stuff like this, trying to change weather patterns and control the rains and temperatures, it's nothing more than a recipe for disaster. Whoever is doing this may find a way to bring more rain to a particular area, but have studies been done to determine the effect of the changed climate on the trees? The wildlife? The ecosystem? Are there studies to prove that the chemicals are safe for humans? What about babies and pets? Are we the only country doing this? How does it affect Canada or Mexico? Does it affect other countries across the globe, and don't they have a say in it????

GOD and God alone controls the weather. The Bible says that "He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth; He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from His storehouses." (Psalm 135:7)

He has a reason and a purpose for this. And for someone (or a group of someones) here on our planet or in our country decided to usurp His authority and rise above His status to take over that role -- without considering the consequences to the creatures of this world. How do you think God is going to feel about that?

God's rule over weather is specifically noted several times in the Bible, as is the ignorance and arrogance of man:

God made the earth by His power;
He founded the world by His wisdom
and stretched out the heavens by His understanding.

When He thunders, the waters in the heavens roar;
He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth.
He sends lightning with the rain
and brings out the wind from His storehouses.

Everyone is senseless and without knowledge; (Jeremiah 10:12-14)

God gave us this Earth to look after. To take care of. To love, to live, to use and to respect. All that is in it or on it is ours to use, but it belongs to God. The very minute we decide that it's ours to mess with is the very minute we're literally shoving God out of the picture, saying, "Sorry. We don't trust you to take care of it, and you don't know what you're doing. Let us handle it."

I truly give warning to the inhabitants of this Earth. If we as a whole do not acknowledge His power and mightiness... His Lordship and control over all... His reign and rule as the supreme leader and one who knows exactly what He's doing... then it will be destruction for us. The only way to save yourself from sure punishment and wrath will be to praise Him, and stay close in your faith in Christ. The others will not be so lucky, because they purposely choose to be haughty and disobey. The Lord is Almighty... not man. We are playing with fire.

God commands us to fear Him. He does not mean "be scared of Him" or live in worry of His anger. Not at all. To "fear" Him means to "respect" Him. Honor Him. Glorify Him. People of this country are so quick to judge the word "fear." They think that it's wrong to fear God. What they don't realize is that He is the one who controls everything. Like a parent, He runs the household. Isn't it important that your children fear you some so that they don't blatantly disobey and do stupid, harmful things? There needs to be an element of respect, of honor, to a parent.

Ahhh... but in these times, no one thinks that anymore. Spanking and punishment are considered cruel. Parents are supposed to be "friends" with their kids. It's not cool to be a strict parent who enforces rules. In today's society, everything is permitted and nothing is outlawed.

Not even messing with our atmosphere.

He determines the number of the stars
and calls them each by name.

Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
His understanding has no limit.

The LORD sustains the humble
but casts the wicked to the ground.

Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving;
make music to our God on the harp.

He covers the sky with clouds;
He supplies the earth with rain
and makes grass grow on the hills.

He provides food for the cattle
and for the young ravens when they call.

His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse,
nor His delight in the legs of a man;

the LORD delights in those who fear Him,
who put their hope in His unfailing love.

Extol the LORD, O Jerusalem;
praise your God, O Zion,

for He strengthens the bars of your gates
and blesses your people within you.

He grants peace to your borders
and satisfies you with the finest of wheat.

He sends His command to the earth;
His word runs swiftly.

He spreads the snow like wool
and scatters the frost like ashes.

He hurls down His hail like pebbles.
Who can withstand His icy blast?

He sends His word and melts them;
He stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.

He has revealed His word to Jacob,
His laws and decrees to Israel.

He has done this for no other nation;
they do not know His laws.
Praise the LORD. (Psalm 147:4:20)

That verse tells us plainly that God will bless those and delight in those who respect Him, fear Him and trust Him. Let God handle the big stuff, and trust that He knows what He's doing. He will take of us, if we just let Him. If we're obedient and thankful and appreciative and respect all that He's given us, then we will be just fine. The Earth will be alright, and the land will continue to produce sustenance.

Pray for us, friends. Pray for our Earth, and for those who are disobedient and defiant to God. May the good and merciful Lord help us all...

Prayers to Haiti

2010-01-12T22:02:00.003-05:00

A major earthquake struck the country of Haiti today, in what was undeniably a horrific and devastating event. A 7.0 earthquake with several strong aftershocks rocked the fragile communities of the poorest country in the western hemisphere. Why did this happen? Truly this sort of thing will be catastrophic. If you aren't familiar with the infrastructure in Haiti... well, there isn't much of one. Most of the people there work small, poor farms. Literacy rate is about 65%. The housing of the bulk of the population consists of mostly shacks. Literally it is one of the most oppressed countries on the planet.

I immediately said prayers for the safety and strength for the people of Haiti. I'm sure many people are wondering, why did God do this?

We don't know for sure, but we can speculate. There's a reason for everything -- ALL of what happens here with regard to "Mother Nature" comes from God. Satan rules the earth and its people. But ultimately, God rules everything, including Satan. In the Old Testament, the Lord often used earthquakes to show His anger to those who blatantly disobey or ignore His word and His instruction. He used earthquakes to show power, to displace kingdoms, to scare people so that they would turn to Him. He is almighty, He is powerful. And what many "love and prosperity" pastors don't teach is that He gets mad. Very mad. When people rob from the poor and oppress different groups and keep aid from those who need it, they typically suffer no consequences from those here on Earth. Who left to punish them, then? Just God.

But many still scratch their heads and ask, "But why an earthquake? Why? When something like that occurs, it affects the poorest the most. The ones who are hurting live in the grass huts and stick shacks and the cinderblock rooms. They will be the ones trapped, lost, homeless. What does an earthquake do?"

I honestly don't know. They have a purpose. We have to trust that. We have to believe that some non-believers may turn to God during this crisis, and perhaps their eternal salvation is more important than their comfort here on earth. Maybe their plight frees a whole nation from dictatorships and greedy government. This could be Satan's doing, and God just has to let him do it because it's his reign on earth right now until Jesus returns. Or perhaps this is a signal of the End Times, like those mentioned in the prophecies. Who knows????

It's quite possible that God simply heard the prayers and the cries and the sadness from the people of Haiti over decades and decades. The leadership of that oppressed country was not about to step down unless something drastic happened. The people of North America and Europe were not about to take notice and step up the help unless something drastic happened. Perhaps this was what it is going to take to stomp down the current regime and rebuild Haiti as a place of dignity, of courage, of freedom and of prosperity. God works in mysterious ways, and sometimes you have to be patient and endure the rubble and destruction. When the smoke clears, there will be light.

All we can do is pray for them. Psalm 23:4 says: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." It DOES NOT MATTER what happens here on Earth. People can get through tragedy, heartache, pain, loss, devastation. Everyone can. Whether it's an earthquake or a diagnosis of cancer or the loss of a loved one -- we can ALL get through the really hard stuff. You just give it to God. Let Jesus deal with it. Always know in the deepest pit of your soul that everything will be made right in the end. We live in a broken world. It's cursed. I remind people of that all the time. I've been at the bottom. It stinks. But it's just the way it is until Jesus comes back and rules his people.

Be strong, have faith and endure...

And God bless.

Patience is a Virtue

2010-01-11T22:16:00.003-05:00

I used to pray all the time for patience. Yep. I was one of those gals who was (and still am) impatient about everything. When I decide I want to move, then I want to move right then and there. I start looking at houses, checking out mortgage rates, and fixing up our current home so that we can list it.

If I decide that I want a pet, I run out that day and get one. If I think that it's beautiful outside and I need a walk, I drop everything and go. I even start to chew my nails and tap my foot if my internet page loads slower than 5 seconds. I know that I'm impatient. I make quick decisions, and then I'm onto the next thing. I'm always thinking about five different things at a time, and never linger for more than a few minutes on anything. When people tell stories about how they lie awake at night pondering a decision, I chuckle. Because what keeps ME awake at night is my imagination running wild as I picture my life after having already made that decision.

As you can imagine, a lot of times I get into trouble. Not big trouble. But more like "Oh, crap" trouble. I don't weigh out the pros and cons very well. I don't consider the consequences of making my decisions. I jump in feet first without testing the waters, and then shiver uncontrollably when I realize it's freezing and uncomfortable. I know this about myself. I know it's a flaw, and I know that I need to work on it.

Therefore, I have prayed for patience a zillion times. Okay, maybe not a zillion. But a lot. Hundreds at least. I wanted God to help me relax. To think things through, and to learn to sleep on things and reflect on the paths in front of me. I am so often reminded of the passage from Psalm 46:10 -- "Be still, and know that I am God." That verse means more to me than most people. It reminds me that I cannot hear God speaking to my heart or directing my head or navigating my soul unless I remain still. Instead of jumping all over the place, getting ahead of myself regarding the decisions I quickly made, I force myself now to just be still. To meditate on the thing that looms over me, and to ask God first what He wants me to do.

Believe me, the answers don't come quickly. I have a running joke with my husband that God is definitely answering my prayers to His fullest capacity. I have been praying for 3 years now about where we're going to go with regard to our home/location. Every time that I get impatient and decide to make my own plans, they inevitably backfire on me. My husband just sits back and chuckles. It's very clear to us that God has a plan, and that at some point we will know exactly where we're supposed to go. But for right now, we just have to stay put. It doesn't matter if our condo is getting too small or if I'm getting fed up with the traffic or if people around us are taking advantage of the market and buying houses. We are meant to stay right now. Period. And that drives me crazy.

But God is in control. "Jesus The Wheel" is not just a song -- it's a mentality. It's a form of action. You just have to let go of the steering wheel and scoot over into the passenger side of the car. Recently God moved in an amazing way to provide me with a new job that allows me to work from a home office. Suddenly... one of the things I hated most in my life (my commute) was taken away. Also, I'm now mobile. Meaning, I can live anywhere and move to any locale and still be able to work in my same position. What a rare and fantastic thing! I have no doubt that it was God moving in His mysterious ways to alleviate some of my stress, and move us into position for whatever He has in store for us next.

Be still. And know that He is God. If you're quiet and prayerful and wait for Him to move -- no matter how long it takes -- you will find yourself doing exactly what you've always wanted to do, in exactly the place you've always wanted to be. It's those times when I decide that I know what's best for myself that messes up my life and creates confusion.

A wise gal once told me that you should just float downstream, and let the waters take you where they take you. If you paddle too hard up stream, you won't move much and you'll just wear yourself out.

Being patience is hard, and praying for it is even harder. But in the end, you can sleep comfortably and soundly, knowing that the right decision is made. After all, who better to make it than God??????

Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

2009-12-30T19:52:00.005-05:00

I used to know a guy who would constantly say, "Bad things happen to bad people." He said it meaning that only good things happen to good people (or should happen to good people). And also that bad people got what they deserve. I always thought that was strange, because he didn't really believe in God. But wouldn't that kind of thinking somehow hint to the fact that there's some greater power out there, distributing the good things to the good people and the bad things to the bad people? So let's ask the question again -- why do bad things happen to good people? Why do really good people lose loved ones? Lose their jobs? Get cancer? Why do they die in accidents or sink into depression or have money troubles? If they were so good, why did those things happen?

The truth is, bad things AND good things happen to both bad people and good people. And good things happen to both bad and good people. But I think the thing that really confounds and confuses the average "good person" is why bad things might happen to them.

I can say up front that it's one of three reasons:

1) God is trying to get your attention, because right now He's not first in your life. He's not even second or third. He's way down on the list.

or

2) Maybe at one time God was # 1 on your list, but you've strayed and began drifting off in a different direction.

For both reason # 1 and #2, sometimes God has to use "hard" things to bring you closer to him. Believe me, there have been times when he used good things, too. But often that doesn't work as well. Think about all the times in your life that something really awesome happened. Did you thank God right away? Did you give Him the credit? Did that awesome thing draw you closer to Him? Probably not. But I can guarantee that if something awful and scary happened, then it might make you want to draw nearer to him.

Let's take this example: Pretend for a minute that you're a parent of a 3 year old toddler. And let's pretend that your toddler is a very adventurous one, who loves to go off on their own. They run out in the streets, they don't listen, they do whatever they want, and you're constantly chasing after them in stores and parking lots. You know that this kind of behavior is not only disobedient, but it could potentially be dangerous. You'd much prefer that your toddler stick close to you and hold your hand.

But nothing's worked, and your little one has had several close calls. You decide to try a couple of tactics. The first one is to lavish them with explanations and hugs and try to get them to understand the importance of sticking close to you and listening to you. You even throw in a present or piece of candy for good measure. Not a bribe, but just something to make the little one remember. But even though you thought maybe you struck a nerve and got through, the very next day your toddler does the same thing and acts out again, running out into the street into oncoming traffic. What's the next tactic? Yep... you got it. A spanking. Or grabbing them by the shoulders and yelling at them. Or putting them in time out with no TV or games until they stop.

Guess what? Betcha they'll react more strongly to the spanking or the time out. And after a few times of that, the toddler will most likely think twice before running ahead or darting out into the street. And as they get older, they may even begin to understand that you simply love them, and didn't want them to get hurt. You just wanted them to stick close to you because you would guide them and protect them. And as much as you might hate having to spank or yell or punish them, you have to do it. It's the only way to get the message across.

God does the same thing with His children. Most of us just run off in life, doing our own thing and not caring about what kind of "traffic" we might be darting out in. We ignore God, and think that we're "big people" and can handle life just fine, when in fact the truth is that only God can see the future, and only He knows best how to guide us. He loves us, and if He finds that we're endangering ourselves by making rash or bad decisions... or if He sees us straying too far off path... or if we get too big for our own britches... He's going to spank us a little, grab us by the shoulders and give us a big shake. Since God isn't literally here on earth with us to do that, He does it in the way that He can. A job loss could be the equivalent of God's time out. Or perhaps a financial problem or a bad day or a frustrating week is what He gives us to help us pause for a moment, and remember to turn around and go back to hold His hand. Whether we like it or not, we're just like children. We think we don't need Him, but we do.

I mentioned there are three reasons that bad things happen to good people, and the third one is simply this: We live in a cursed, broken world that is ruled by Satan. Even though there are so many wonderful things in this world, we are cursed. There is sadness and pain and loneliness and disease. There are plagues and pestilences and disasters. Not until Jesus comes back and the Earth is recreated will there be perfection and true peace. I say all the time that some things cannot be helped, and that's the truth of it. Crappy things happen, and we just have to make the best of it. What keeps me going is simply knowing that the world will one day be fixed. All that is good will stay good, and all that is bad will go away. There will be no more pain, no more suffering, no more heartache. As long as we stay close to Christ and trust in Him, we are guaranteed to have that at the very end.

So don't lose heart over the things that happen to you in life. Know that God simply loves you, and doesn't want you to get hurt. In the old days before Jesus, God used to test the faith of His believers. But in these days, that's just not necessary. We have the Holy Spirit within us that speaks to God and shares the secrets of our soul. He knows. And if we're not near Him, He pulls us near him. Sometimes by good things in life... sometimes by bad things in life. But always He has His eye on us.

Make it easy on yourself, and go hold His hand. Walk with Him, and make Him smile. No one likes punishing those they love. Not even God.

Christmas -- Why Was He Born in a Manger?

2009-12-23T20:53:00.006-05:00

Tomorrow is the celebrated birth of Jesus Christ. (Most experts agree that Jesus was not born on December 25th, but rather sometime in the fall.) As people around the world celebrate the holiday of Christmas, many will go the entire day and not give Jesus Christ even a second thought. For them, it's strictly a secular holiday. They'll celebrate friends and family... good food... giving/receiving presents... pretty lights... good times... etc, etc., etc. But for those of us to are Christians, this is a time to meditate, reflect and celebrate the birth of our King and Savior, Jesus Christ.

We all know the story of Jesus' birth. He was born to the a Virgin named Mary and her husband Joseph. Mary was told by an angel that she would conceive a baby from the Holy Spirit, and that she should name him Jesus and that he would be Emmanuel -- God With Us. The angel explained that he was the son of God. Joseph was also told about the baby in a dream, so that he wouldn't feel shamed and betrayed by Mary. Her pregnancy was not an act of betrayal, but rather a miracle.

Now at that time, Caesar Augustus decreed that a census be taken, and every person in the entire Roman world had to go to his own town to register. Joseph, being of the line of David, had to return to Bethlehem. When they arrived, there was no where for them to stay. They ended camping out in a stable, and Mary gave birth there amongst the animals. Jesus was born in a manger -- in a literal feeding trough for the animals. The wise magi of Persia who knew the prophecies of the Old Testament saw the star and was led to the baby, who was King of the Jews. The Messiah.

But both Christians and non-Christians alike seem to always ask the same thing: Why was he born in a manger? If God sent us His son to save us, why didn't He send someone of higher status? Like the son of a real king, or a prince, or one of the wise men? Why was he born into a really poor family, swaddled in dirty clothes and forced to grow up the son of a poor handyman?

In fact, some of the Jews do not believe that Christ is the true Messiah for this very reason. Despite the fact that his birth fulfills all of the Old Testament prophecy, they refuse to believe that Jesus is in fact the true Christ because he was born as a lowly, poor man in a lowly, poor family. To the Jews, the King and Savior of their people should be one born of wealth, influence, power. He should have lived in a palace with robes and a crown. He should've lived a glorious, powerful, rich life with an honorable death -- not wandered the lands in sandals, sleeping here and there with no home to call his own.

So looking at the big picture, why didn't Jesus come into the world born into a family of wealth and power and circumstance? The reason is this: He is a savior. He lifts his people from the depths of the evil curse, and gives them life. First of all, the reason God had him born to a poor family was so that Jesus could know and understand what it means to be hungry or cold or lonely. Jesus knows what it's like to have to work hard, and deal with drudgery. When the people of this world pray to him because they are stuck, or because they're in debt, or because they're lonely and feel rejected, Jesus is up in Heaven saying, "I understand. I know your pain. Let me help you." What do you think it would be like worshiping and praying to someone who only lived a rich and easy life? Jesus himself worked hard. He had very little. He knew pain -- real physical pain. He knew rejection. He knew betrayal. He knew hunger. He knew cold. He saw first hand by walking the streets of those towns what the afflicted and outcasts looked like and felt. He touched them, spoke to them, loved them. He healed them. He was right there in the mix with them, feeling their sadness and worry and fear. There's no way Jesus could've helped any of us if he sat up on a gold throne high in a palace somewhere, being waited on by servants.

Secondly, Jesus had to die on the cross in the most awful, most undignified, most inhumane death there was because he literally took it from us. He was born to die. God sent him here specifically for that purpose, so that he could look the devil straight on and say something like, "By doing this, I am going to save my people and give them life. I will take their punishment by going through the absolute worst kind of death. And I will meet you in hell for three days. And at the end, when I go back up to be with my Father, I will have set a new rule for those who believe in me. From here on out, my flock will have eternal life with me and my Father. Not with you."

So basically Jesus took our punishment. Since he obviously couldn't do it 15 billion times over (or how ever many people have lived on this earth since then), God allowed him to go through it just once, but in the worst kind of way with the hardest of torture and the cruelest of deaths. And by doing so, he took away our punishment. He went to Hell and back for us. Now we don't have to. For those who are believers of Christ, we get pass -- we're exempt -- from any of that. Think about the saying, "Nothing is guaranteed but death and taxes." Pretend someone came along and said, "I'm going to pay a big payment to the government on your behalf, so that you would never have to pay taxes again." It's like that. Jesus took a payment of death and time in Hell so that we wouldn't have to. Sure, we physically die. But that's just our earthly bodies. Now that Jesus did that for us, we're guaranteed new bodies, and our souls will live on in those new bodies in Heaven.

Therefore, think about his death. He had to take that for us. If he died a nice, peaceful, honorable death in a palace with lots of pomp and circumstance, how could he possibly be our savior? How could he have taken our punishment from us? He couldn't have.

It all had to be this way. He was born to die, and he died for us so that we would have a guaranteed place in Heaven in our new bodies. You just have to believe in him, thank him, live with him in your heart, and walk with him in your life. Just accept Christ's gift of the "free pass" and that's it.

We celebrate Christmas because we celebrate his amazing and unselfish gift. He sacrificed his life so that we could have ours. It's a joyful time, but also a solemn time. May peace be with you this Christmas, and may you know in your heart what it really means to celebrate this holiday.

God bless!!

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." (Luke 2:9-14)

God -- Is He the Same God of the Jews, Muslims and Christians?

2009-12-06T09:35:00.022-05:00

"Do Muslims, Jews and Christians worship the same God?" I hear this question all the time -- people are curious to know whether the God Muslims worship is the same that the Christians worship. Or if the God of Jews is the same as the God of Muslims. Is there just one God, or are there three? Judaism, Christianity and Islam are called the three main "Abrahamic religions" because they all three have the same foundation and basis for faith. There's a common vein of theology that runs through all three of them, all starting with God and the promise of things through Abraham. All three of these religions share several of the same stories, people and events, but perhaps with different twists on details or purpose. Wikipedia states that, "Today, there are an estimated 3.8 billion followers of the three largest Abrahamic religions, accounting for more than half of the world's population. By some measurements, Islam is the fastest growing."

Okay, so we all acknowledge that perhaps these three religions started out in much of the same way. But they all three ended up vastly different. Many people these days say that it really doesn't matter which of the three religions you are, because everyone is worshiping and believing in the same God.

Let's give a quick background on each. For the Jews, their belief is that through Abraham, God promised to bless the people through his sons Isaac and Jacob:

"I will make you into a great nation
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.

I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you." (Genesis 12:2-3)

Later, through the prophets Isaiah, Daniel and others, God promises a savior -- a messiah. However, whereas the Christians believe that Christ is/was the messiah, the Jews do not believe that. They have no problem believing that Jesus Christ existed, but not that he is the messiah or savor of whom the Old Testament speaks.

Now Christians have the same Old Testament background as the Jews, but they DO believe that the messiah has come -- that is, Jesus Christ. Therefore Christians also base their doctrine on the "New Testament" teachings and gospel, which in a nutshell state that salvation and eternal life is achieved through the belief in Jesus Christ. In the Bible, Jesus tells his people:

"I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:12-17)

Now for Muslims, they believe that Abraham was the first Muslim, and ancestor to Mohammad to whom Allah (God) gave revelations and enlightenment. Muslims also don't have any problem with believing that Jesus Christ existed, but they only see him as a prophet -- not as the son of God that brings salvation and eternal life to those who believe in him.

So in a sense, all three religions started out believing in the same God. But over time, their beliefs morphed into something quite different. So in answer to the question: Do Muslims, Christians and Jews worship the same God? I would have to say both yes and no.

I say "yes" for the obvious reasons -- all three religions started out believing in, and worshiping the God of Abraham, who promised to bless him and all the nations through his sons.

But I also say "no" because at this modern-day point in time, clearly their beliefs have morphed the worship of three different entities. Take this example. Let's say there are three women scattered across the country who claim to have the same brother. They all know his name and call him the same thing. They all know what he looks like, acts like, and does for a living. They know his beliefs and they know things about him. At that point, no one would doubt that their brother is the same man. But then suppose one of them steps up and says, "And my brother has a son." Yet one of the other women comes forward and argues that, saying, "He absolutely does NOT have a son." At that point, if the two are insistent about what they know to be true, wouldn't you begin to doubt that it's the same man to whom they're both referring?

The Bible continually warns us of the error of worshiping a false God. And I truly believe that Allah, the God of the Muslims, is a false God. Same thing with the God of the Jews. Think of this analogy: Say you became separated from you father at a young age. People told you things about your father at first, but then you stopped listening. And over time, you began to make up your own perception of what your father was really like. Even though you had members of your family tell you what/who your father was as a person, your own version of reality became what your preferred to believe.

Think about it: Which religion provides us with a sure way of knowing what will happen to us when we die? The Jewish religion is a bit vague on that, not really teaching much about what Heaven/Hell is like, or how to ensure which one you'll be going to. The Muslim religion sees Allah as merciful and kind, but also just. They believe in heaven (Paradise) as well as Hell. But where you end up depends on your virtues and sins. There are different levels of paradise, but no clear scoring system as to how to get there. If you asked any Muslim now whether or not they were confident they'd be in Paradise, or what level they should expect, I'd bet you get a bunch of blank stares. I mean, do good deeds cancel out sins? To sins cancel out good deeds? Do good deeds that are done by a wealthy, well-to-do person count for less than a good deed done by a poor, sickly person? What's the grading scale? One of the required "Pillars" (requirements) of Islam is to go to Mecca for the Haj pilgrimage. Sure, that might be super easy for a wealthy Muslim here in the U.S. But what about a very poor one? Doesn't that put Paradise within easier reach of the well-to-do Muslims? Does that seem very fair?

Yet in Christianity, it's extremely clear. If you love/worship/believe in Jesus Christ as the son of God, then you get Heaven. If not, then you don't. It's that simple, and it's easy for anyone of any status, class, background or circumstance. John the Baptist, who was a man who lived in Jesus' time who was clearly touched by God as a prophet, said this:

"The one who comes from above (Jesus) is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. The man who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." John 3:31-36

There are several passages in the Bible written by different authors who say that without belief that God sent us His son to take punishment for our sins so that we can get into Heaven, then the path for those disbelievers is Hell.

Christ even explained this to us very clearly:

Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one."

Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?"

"We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God."

Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I have said you are gods'? If he called them 'gods,' to whom the word of God came—and the Scripture cannot be broken — what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, 'I am God's Son'? Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father."

What do I think? I think that those people of Judaism and Islam who are denying Christ are simply not his sheep. They refuse to have anything to do with him, therefore Jesus concerns himself only with his flock. Even back 2,000 years ago, Jesus talked about those who refused to believe that he is God. And unfortunately, those who refuse to believe that are growing in numbers.

Many may think that it matters not to which God they worship, and in which religion. But I say this: those two other religions have it wrong. I'm sorry if some say that's ignorant or close-minded. I speak the truth. Think about it. You have three distinctly different religions that may have some characteristics that are similar, but are clearly very different. How is it possible that they are all three right? Imaging asking someone what 2+2 is, and getting three different answers. One person answers "4." Another one answers "5" and another answers "3." They all claim to be right, and they can all three believe with every fiber of their being that they are right. And I'm sure they might have loyal friends and family who insist right along with them that they are right.

Yet the truth is -- the REALITY is -- only one of them is really right.

WHY do I know without a shadow of a doubt, with that same kind of certainty, that Christianity is the right religion? Let me show you a few reasons:

1) Christianity is the ONLY religion that teaches us that God gives us salvation... not humans who give it to themselves by earning it. The Jews believe that by doing certain things (observing sacred holidays, providing offerings and serving God, for example) you can earn your way to salvation. Muslims also believe that by behavior (following the seven Pillars of Islam) one can gain entry to paradise. In both of those religions, it's up to the human to be "good enough" for life with God. What happens when one stumbles, falls short, loses their way? Again I say, what is the grading scale? How does one know that they're doing it right? It's a lot of pressure for a flawed human to take. In Christianity, God offers us salvation. We just have to accept it.

2) Christianity is the only religion where God gave us humans a distinct bridge to connect us with Him. The Old Testament Bible tells us clearly that there will be someone who will help us -- a savior. Even early on in Genesis, God tells Satan after convincing Eve to eat the apple, "I will put enmity between you and the woman, between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel." (Genesis 3:15) In a nutshell, that passage is saying, "I'm declaring war between you and the Woman, between your offspring and hers. He (her offspring) will wound your head, and you will wound his heel." Right there God tells Satan that some descendant of Eve will deliver him a big blow. But He also eludes to the fact that Satan will deliver him a blow as well. However, severe blows to the head can be fatal. Severe blows to the heel just hurt, but aren't deadly. Obviously the wound Eve's descendant will inflict on Satan will be much more serious, if not fatal. But God promises it will happen, and that one will come that will side with the humans and help fend of Satan. Sounds a lot like Jesus, doesn't it?

3) Jesus IS the one who fulfilled Old Testament prophecy -- whether the Jews believe it or not. Whether Muslims choose to acknowledge it or not. It's true. Right now, the Jews believe that the Messiah hasn't come yet. They don't believe that the man who was born in a manger could be King and Messiah. He was poor. He didn't have riches or a palace. He didn't have horses and servants and robes. Despite the fact that the New Testament is FILLED with descriptions of Jesus as King, the Jews to this day refuse to believe it.

From his very birth, when the wise men knew of his arrival by the prophesied star in the sky, said to King Herod, "Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews? We saw his star and have come to worship him." (Matthew 2:2)

There are hundreds of references to Jesus being the King in the New Testament, and he himself even states it matter-of-factly. See this passage when Pontius Pilate is stunned that Jesus is admitting that he is a king: "You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." (John 18:37)

Sadly, though, the Jews of that time and the Jews of today still refuse to see past the material things and realize that indeed Jesus was the King, and still IS the King. Think about it. Every second of every hour of every day, someone on this earth is praising or praying to Jesus. What other man on earth -- what other KING on earth -- has had his legacy still remain so strong that millions every Sunday are singing and worshiping his name? Not the Kings of England. Nor any Kings of Spain or Italy or Germany. Not King George or King Henry or King Edward. Still to this day the Kingdom of Christ is strong and sure. To this day people are willing to die for this man, this King. What other person in our earth's entire history had a legacy of 2,000 years (and counting) where multitudes of his followers were willing to die on his behalf???? Yet the Jews still don't think he's the one. They base their beliefs that the messiah has to come from certain criteria discussed in the Old Testament. But yet if we looked at that criteria, it's quite clear that it was fulfilled. This photo is small, but you can click on it to enhance it.

(Click here for more information about the dozens of Old Testament prophecies that Jesus fulfilled: http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/prophchr.html#mT6IOM4UfBDp)

Even after all of that, the Jewish people are still waiting and looking for a messiah to come, not seeing that he has ALREADY come. Sadly, this religion of people will believe one day that a very real person who lives on this earth is their messiah. But that person will not be their messiah -- he will be the Anti-Christ. That person will fool them into thinking that he is the messiah because he will have the things Jesus didn't care about: prestige, power, wealth, influence, political clout and fame.

4) Another reason why I think that Christianity is the one true religion by which people can find salvation and eternity with God is the fact that Jesus not only died, but was resurrected. There is ample historical evidence that shows us Jesus did indeed rise from the grave on the third day of his death. The empty tomb made the teachings of Christ true.

"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God -- the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith." (Romans 1:1-5)

There is no other instance, in any other story or recollection or historical text, that tells of one man coming back from the dead. Regardless of all the people in these modern times who claim to be able to talk and visit with "ghosts," there has never been one who actually came back from the grave. Except Jesus. And there were witnesses. The Bible tells us (and historical proofs back that up) that over 500 people walked/talked with Jesus for 40 days after his resurrection. It's understood that during this time, he really taught his disciples and others what the death on the cross meant. It was during this time that he explained that he was tortured and crucified in order to take our punishment from us, so that we might be able to have entry into the Kingdom of Heaven upon our deaths.

5) Finally, the fifth reason why I have no doubt that Christianity is the right religion is that too many things don't add up or make sense in the religion of Islam. Muslims started off from the bloodlines of Ishmael, not Isaac like the Christians and Jews. God's promises to Abraham and to Isaac are all based on the twelve tribes of Jacob. Since Jacob was Isaac's son, not Ishmael, that messes up the puzzle quite a bit. Same thing with prophecy. Mohammad is considered by Muslims to be the one true messenger and # 1 prophet of God. Wikipedia tells us this about Mohammad (also spelled Muhammad): "Born in 570 in the Arabian city of Mecca, he was orphaned at a young age and brought up under the care of his uncle Abu Talib. He later worked mostly as a merchant, as well as a shepherd, and was first married by age 25. Discontented with life in Mecca, he retreated to a cave in the surrounding mountains for meditation and reflection. According to Islamic beliefs it was here, at age 40, in the month of Ramadan, where he claimed to receive his first revelation from God. Three years after this event Muhammad started preaching these revelations publicly, proclaiming that "God is One."

First of all, Mohammad wasn't even born until almost 600 years after the birth of Christ. Second of all, he really was just some guy who didn't like his life and went to go live in a cave for a while. In that cave, he had visions from "God" via the angel Gabriel. Wikipedia also tells us this: "According to some traditions, upon receiving his first revelations Muhammad was deeply distressed and contemplated throwing himself off the top of a mountain but the spirit moved closer and told him that he has been chosen as a messenger of God. Muhammad returned home and was consoled and reassured by his wife."

So the angel Gabriel visited the Muhammad many times over a period of twenty-three years. Mohammad's mission was to restore the worship of the One True God, the creator and ruler of the universe, as taught by the prophet Abraham and all prophets of God, and to demonstrate the laws of moral, ethical, legal, and social conduct. Islam means "peace by submission and obedience to the will and commandments of God." Therefore, all we have is a man who didn't have any direct messages from God -- just from the angel Gabriel. This man did not perform miracles to prove his connection with God. He didn't heal the sick or feed 5,000 people with one loaf of bread. He didn't walk on water. And most importantly, he didn't rise from death. There were no witnesses hearing the Voice of God proclaim that Mohammad was his son, like there were with Jesus. Mohammad confronted the Jews and told them that they were mis-reading and falsely believing the Scriptures. He was supposedly trying to "re-teach" the right teachings of God that took place back in Abraham's time. But how could he be teaching the message of God to Abraham, when the message of God to Abraham said that the descendants of Isaac and Jacob would be blessed? And yet here was a descendant of Ishmael trying to start up a new religious movement apart from the Christians and Jews. I'm totally scratching my head over that one.

Let's just throw a theory out there, shall we? If Satan can take the form of a snake in man's early history and convince Eve to eat an apple, what are the chances that upon seeing centuries of growing belief in Jesus Christ, Satan got mad and tried the deception route yet again? Don't you think that it's entirely plausible that Satan took the form of an angel, and spoke to Mohammad to convince him that there's a "different" and "right" way to God? Funny how with Christ, there were 12 disciples who witnessed the miracles and had the power revealed to them by God. Yet in Islam, there were no such witnesses.

Dr. Ernest L. Martin once said that, "The greatest deception of Satan is to prompt you, me and everyone in the world to believe that he is not Satan."

In fact, the Bible tells us outright -- hundreds of years before Mohammad was even born -- that Satan is capable of such things. To the people in Corinth, Paul writes:

And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve." (2 Corinthians 11:12-14)

It is my belief that Satan is clapping his hands in glee over the fact that he was able to use this orphan man from Arabia to deceive millions of people into thinking that Christianity is false, and that worshiping "Allah" is the right way to go.

All of this was my really long way of saying that while some may claim that Jews, Muslims and Christians all worship the same God, the fact is that they really only started out that way. But over time, the Jews and the Muslims chose to not believe the truth that God gave us. It's no different than Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve chose to ignore God's teachings and be deceived by Satan. And now, Jews and Muslims choose to ignore God's teachings and be deceived by Satan.

Let's pray for those around us who do not believe. Prayer is powerful, and the Holy Spirit may yet work within their hearts to open their eyes. We must have compassion on them, and do our best to share the Gospel and bring them to Christ. But as we all know, there are many who scoff and scorn the Gospel and sneer at us with distaste in their mouths. No matter what, they refuse to see that there is only one true God, and Jesus is our King and Lord.

"How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people."

It is true that we are all God's people. No one can deny that, or escape that. But how we choose to worship, praise and acknowledge God is dire. Faith comes not from having all the questions cleared up, and all the proofs given to us. That's isn't living by faith -- that's living by evidence. Faith is knowing deep in your gut what is true, and living by it. Living by it even though you cannot see it.

"Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." (2 Corinthians 5:6-10)

The Decline and Fall of the American Empire

2009-11-27T08:21:00.011-05:00

As I sat yesterday relaxing and reflecting on this Thanksgiving holiday, one thing became very, very clear to me: this country is sinking fast. No one can deny that even as little as a decade ago, we were the superpower of the world. Since the Industrial Revolution in the mid-to-late 19th century, America began to rise up as a nation of wealth, power, influence, integrity, notoriety and brilliant minds. 100 years later, it was undeniable that we were the biggest, richest, most powerful, most admired country in the world. Our citizens were fruitful and wealthy. We were free. We had our own businesses and investments. Sure, the automobile and manufacturing industries were declining, but we had technology. We had goods to export. We had patriotism, and a sense of purpose. We even had God. Back when I was in elementary school (in the early 80s) we would gather up all the classes every day during the last hour of school and sing Christmas carols every day during December. I distinctly remember construction paper murals of baby Jesus and the three wise men. I remember singing "Oh, Come All Ye Faithful." Christmas was not a "bad word" back then like it is now. God and Christ were not forbidden then in our public schools and offices like they are now.

Somewhere along the lines, it became taboo to mention Christ and God outside of our private homes. The whole "separation of Church and State" phrase had morphed to mean something it wasn't supposed to mean. If you ever want a really great history lesson on our founding fathers and how the Constitution of the United States was intended to PROTECT our right to religious freedom in all public places, watch this great video. It's a Sunday sermon from pastor Steve Hadley of Harvest Family Fellowship, about Thanksgiving and how it's truly a "Christian" holiday. But it also has a great history lesson -- perfect for a cold morning with a cup of coffee, or for home-schooled children who could use a good lesson on what it meant to our patriot forefathers to create a new nation "under God." It's about an hour or so, but well worth every minute (you'll even love the Thanksgiving joke at the beginning): America's Christian Founding -- the Lie of Separation of Church and State

But to paraphrase, the whole statement of "Separation of Church and State" was intended to PROTECT all instances of religious worship and expression in all public areas. So if a school wanted to put a nativity scene out front, that was protected under the constitution. If a courthouse wanted to put the Ten Commandments up on the entry way, they could. It basically meant that the "state" (government) could not stick its nose in anyone's "church" (expression of religion). But somewhere along the line (and the video tells specifically who/when/where) a court ruling used that "Separation of Church and State" statement to flip things around and define it in a backwards sort of way. Meaning now, NO example of religious freedom, worship or expression may be permitted in public areas that are touched by government.

Over this past decade -- and in the last few years in particular -- it has just completely morphed into an ugly thing. Now "Christmas" and "Christ" have become profanity to most companies and governments. No one is permitted to use either word. The "C" word, it's become. Business owners and employers now call it a "winter holiday" -- not "Christmas" vacation. President Obama has a "holiday" tree in the White House. Schools are no longer allowed to sing the religious Christmas carols, or depict any artwork or scenes involving Jesus. Advertising and TV commercials are careful not to say "Christmas" during the holiday season.

I understand that these entities are not going to come out and say that the holiday is about the birth of our savior, and that it's a holiday celebrating salvation through Christ. Okay, I get that. But is it really so taboo to call something for what it really is? I know that there is Kwanzaa and the Eid that (can) fall around the same time. I know Hanukkah is around the same time. I get that, too. But this season of giving... the shopping... the dinners... the time off of work... the music... the decorating... ALL of that came from a very specific holiday: The Birth of Jesus Christ.

What completely baffles me is the fact that our country nonchalantly shrugs off things like gay pride parades... or lesbian scenes on TV... the government turning our backs on Israel... or bailouts for every corrupt bank and financial organization... or Adam Lambert doing obscene gestures and kissing another guy on a music awards show... or covering the cost of abortions in our public health care bill... or President Obama wishing all of the Muslims a happy Eid, and commemorating their religious holiday and the Hajj pilgrimage when he won't even personally thank God or Christ when giving his national Thanksgiving speech...

What completely DISGUSTS me is the fact that Obama had no problem bringing religious discussion/people/expression into his campaign when he knew he had to in order to win over certain parts of the American public, but now that he's in office he makes no reference to Christianity whatsoever. It also disgusts me that he makes such open displays of support and endorsement of Muslim holidays and events.

Bottom like is this, folks... without Christ and God, we are doomed. And anyone who can look at our country now and think that one day we'll know prosperity, success and power again is completely blind. Our country is sinking downhill at such a fast pace that I suspect it won't be long before something very drastic and devastating happens. Remember, America is not mentioned figuratively or specifically in any Bible prophecy regarding the End Times. Why is that? I would assume because we're just not going to be around.

Why would our country be punished so severely over others, you ask? Well, to put it simply, God gave us something special and unique and wonderful. And we threw it back in His face. About 300 or so years ago, people came to this country to seek a better life. God gave this country to people as a safe haven for religious -- Christian religious -- expression. England wasn't letting them read the Bible in their own language, and the rulers were forcing them to conform to rules that weren't legitimate Christian rules. Therefore He provided them with a new land that was fertile, beautiful, fruitful. Here was a new Christian nation born, rising up in power, prestige, wealth and prosperity under the blessed laws and worship of God and Christ. It was a very good thing. Not that our country didn't have problems -- nothing in this world is perfect. But we were undeniably a very blessed nation. Over the past 4 or 5 decades, we basically turned our backs on the one thing that made this nation so rich, powerful and prosperous. And so here we are. Because of our disobedience, our scoffing, our refusal to acknowledge God and Christ, we WILL be destroyed. I can absolutely assure you of that. Even Christians will be destroyed in the devastation that is to come. The difference is, though, that Christians will immediately have peace, love and God at the end of their lives when they meet Jesus in Heaven. They are saved from eternal punishment and destruction, by faith in Christ.

There are so many verses in the Bible that show us how God does not look favorably on countries and governments who not only just ignore Him, but also completely turn away from Him. There are many, many verses in the Bible that talk about wealthy, deceitful people who think only of themselves and care only about their parties and fun. There are verses upon versus about corruption, pride, arrogance, selfishness, drunkenness, lewd behavior.

I challenge you to read the book of Isaiah. No, those passages aren't referring to the United States. But I assure you that if God felt a certain way about ancient Assyria or Israel or Moab or Damascus, that He would feel the exact same way about our country in this day/age/time.

Let me pull out just a few verses for you to think about, but read Isaiah. Read the book of Isaiah and substitute the word "America" whenever you see a country or region's name. And if after that you think our country still has a chance, then may God bless you and protect you from your naivete and denial.

We are in trouble, and the only way you can save yourself from true and sure impending destruction is to keep yourselves close to God, and strong in Christ. For there is life for those who believe in Christ. He came to die for our sins so that we could have eternal life when we die. It matters not to us what happens to our earth, because we know we'll have a new Earth to live on, and to love. But for those who are not in Christ, they only have darkness, destruction and death. Reach out to God, and be saved. To be "saved" means that no matter what happens here, you will have life.

Let's try it. Here are some passages -- take out the names of the countries or cities, and replace them with "America" or "United States" or "Washington, DC."

From the Book of Isaiah:

"Come now, let us reason together,"
says the LORD.
"Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.

If you are willing and obedient,
you will eat the best from the land;

but if you resist and rebel,
you will be devoured by the sword."
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

See how the faithful city
has become a harlot!
She once was full of justice;
righteousness used to dwell in her—
but now murderers!

Your silver has become dross,
your choice wine is diluted with water.

Your rulers are rebels,
companions of thieves;
they all love bribes
and chase after gifts.
They do not defend the cause of the fatherless;
the widow's case does not come before them.

Therefore the Lord, the LORD Almighty,
the Mighty One of Israel, declares:
"Ah, I will get relief from my foes
and avenge myself on my enemies.

I will turn my hand against you;
I will thoroughly purge away your dross
and remove all your impurities.

I will restore your judges as in days of old,
your counselors as at the beginning.
Afterward you will be called
the City of Righteousness,
the Faithful City."

Zion will be redeemed with justice,
her penitent ones with righteousness.

But rebels and sinners will both be broken,
and those who forsake the LORD will perish. (1:18-28)

Jerusalem staggers,
Judah is falling;
their words and deeds are against the LORD,
defying his glorious presence.

The look on their faces testifies against them;
they parade their sin like Sodom;
they do not hide it.
Woe to them!
They have brought disaster upon themselves.

Tell the righteous it will be well with them,
for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds.

Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them!
They will be paid back for what their hands have done.

Youths oppress my people,
women rule over them.
O my people, your guides lead you astray;
they turn you from the path.

The LORD takes his place in court;
he rises to judge the people.

The LORD enters into judgment
against the elders and leaders of his people:
"It is you who have ruined my vineyard;
the plunder from the poor is in your houses.

What do you mean by crushing my people
and grinding the faces of the poor?"
declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty. (3:8-15)

Woe to you who add house to house
and join field to field
till no space is left
and you live alone in the land.

The LORD Almighty has declared in my hearing:
"Surely the great houses will become desolate,
the fine mansions left without occupants.

A ten-acre vineyard will produce only a bath of wine,
a homer of seed only an ephah of grain."

Woe to those who rise early in the morning
to run after their drinks,
who stay up late at night
till they are inflamed with wine.

They have harps and lyres at their banquets,
tambourines and flutes and wine,
but they have no regard for the deeds of the LORD,
no respect for the work of his hands.

Therefore my people will go into exile
for lack of understanding;
their men of rank will die of hunger
and their masses will be parched with thirst.

Therefore the grave enlarges its appetite
and opens its mouth without limit;
into it will descend their nobles and masses
with all their brawlers and revelers.

So man will be brought low
and mankind humbled,
the eyes of the arrogant humbled. (5:8-15)

Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who put darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter.

Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
and clever in their own sight.

Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine
and champions at mixing drinks,

who acquit the guilty for a bribe,
but deny justice to the innocent.

Therefore, as tongues of fire lick up straw
and as dry grass sinks down in the flames,
so their roots will decay
and their flowers blow away like dust;
for they have rejected the law of the LORD Almighty
and spurned the word of the Holy One of Israel.

Therefore the LORD's anger burns against his people;
his hand is raised and he strikes them down.
The mountains shake,
and the dead bodies are like refuse in the streets. (5:20-25)

The LORD spoke to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people. He said:

"Do not call conspiracy
everything that these people call conspiracy;
do not fear what they fear,
and do not dread it.

The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy,
he is the one you are to fear,
he is the one you are to dread,

and he will be a sanctuary;
but for both houses of Israel he will be
a stone that causes men to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall.
And for the people of Jerusalem he will be
a trap and a snare.

Many of them will stumble;
they will fall and be broken,
they will be snared and captured." (8:11-15)

You have abandoned your people,
the house of Jacob.
They are full of superstitions from the East;
they practice divination like the Philistines
and clasp hands with pagans.

Their land is full of silver and gold;
there is no end to their treasures.
Their land is full of horses;
there is no end to their chariots.

Their land is full of idols;
they bow down to the work of their hands,
to what their fingers have made.

So man will be brought low
and mankind humbled—
do not forgive them.

Go into the rocks,
hide in the ground
from dread of the LORD
and the splendor of his majesty!

The eyes of the arrogant man will be humbled
and the pride of men brought low;
the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.

The LORD Almighty has a day in store
for all the proud and lofty,
for all that is exalted
(and they will be humbled),

for all the cedars of Lebanon, tall and lofty,
and all the oaks of Bashan,

for all the towering mountains
and all the high hills,

for every lofty tower
and every fortified wall,

for every trading ship
and every stately vessel.

The arrogance of man will be brought low
and the pride of men humbled;
the LORD alone will be exalted in that day,

and the idols will totally disappear.

Men will flee to caves in the rocks
and to holes in the ground
from dread of the LORD
and the splendor of his majesty,
when he rises to shake the earth.

In that day men will throw away
to the rodents and bats
their idols of silver and idols of gold,
which they made to worship.

They will flee to caverns in the rocks
and to the overhanging crags
from dread of the LORD
and the splendor of his majesty,
when he rises to shake the earth.

Stop trusting in man,
who has but a breath in his nostrils.
Of what account is he? (2:6-22)

Setting the Scene for the Antichrist

2009-11-22T07:39:00.033-05:00

The other day the European Union (EU) elected its first President. And that is a significant piece of news regarding the last days. For those of you who aren't familiar with Bible prophecy, let me share with you a bit of it. The Bible says that in the End Times, one man will rise up -- kind of an unknown guy, it's suspected -- and enforce a peace treaty that will be like no other. This will be the "peace of the Middle East" kind of treaty that the world has been trying to accomplish for centuries. It's also suspected that this treaty may address the volatile situation in Jerusalem/West Bank/Gaza Strip and put an end to the "it's our land, not your land" conflict that's been raging for centuries between the Israelis and the Palestinians. There are a few passages in this part of the Bible prophecy that talk about things that occur with the new Temple, so it's also implied that perhaps this new leader will somehow allow Israel to build a new Temple. At the moment, they can't -- because there is a mosque standing on the Temple Mount where the Jewish Temple should go.

This leader will enforce or sign the treaty for a period of about 7 years, and it sounds as if initially the entire world will be at peace and will revere this person. But about half-way through, the Bible tells us that Satan finally overtakes this man's soul, and his evil is not hidden anymore. He becomes the most frightening thing on the planet, coming up with the "Mark of the Beast" idea, which is nothing more than a microchip or tattoo of sorts that all humans would have to have on their hand or forehead in order to buy and sell anything. If at that point you take this mark, you will be acknowledging that your allegiance lies with the Antichrist. At some point after that, this evil leader who is the one true opponent of Christ (Satan's son, if you will... just like Jesus is God's son) will behead anyone who refuses to take the mark. The Bible clearly tells us that those who refuse the mark and who die for their faith and allegiance with Christ will have great reward in Heaven. And those who choose the mark will have great punishment.

Look at the world today. Think of your friends and family and co-workers. How many people would be willing to die and have their head chopped off for the name of Christ? Not many, I'd be willing to bet. This will be a very sad time in the eyes of all those who are in Heaven. Because even though every person here on earth thinks that they're saving their life, they're really losing it -- for all of eternity.

Now this leader who is to be the Antichrist has a few descriptive qualities that are found in Bible prophecy. We are told that he will come from the new Roman Empire. What is that, you ask? Well, here's a map of what the "old" Roman Empire looked like back in the time of Jesus:

Now, here's what the European Union looks like today:

It's pretty obvious to anyone looking at that map that most of the "countries" and areas that were part of the old Roman Empire overlap with the countries and areas of today's European Union -- the New Roman Empire.

So that could mean that this man is born from one of the countries of the European Union, but since the Antichrist will be considered an emerging world leader, it would make more sense that this man is an important, high up guy of the new "Roman Empire."

Well, with all of that being said, allow me to share with you something that occurred on November 19, 2009 (just a few days ago) that barely made the news, and that no one paid much attention to.

The European Union elected their very first president (note: it was not a "popular vote" election, but one that occurred only within the group of EU leaders). If you want to simplify it, this man is the president of the entire continent of Europe. The man who was elected was the Belgium Prime Minister Herman van Rompuy. Now, I'm quite sure you have never heard of the guy. I have never heard of the guy. You can read more about his bizarre, unanimous win here at Joel Rosenberg's blog: http://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/

What's he like, you ask? I can tell you that he's older, a bit sneaky and seems to get his way all the time. If ever there was someone who was interested in making the EU into a raging superpower, it would be this person. However, I'm guessing he's not the Antichrist. It's described that the Antichrist will be someone charismatic. Perhaps someone young, who will sweep the world off of his feet with energy and talks of world peace. Because most of the western world is fixated on celebrities, popularity and the superficial persona of those who are in the limelight, I'd venture to guess that this person will probably be good looking, "sexy" and will capture the attention of the vast majority of young women who are apathetic towards politics. Remember how Obama captivated the entire world before the 2008 elections at the height of his popularity? The Antichrist will be like that. I figured that Obama wasn't the Antichrist, but certainly his rise from being an unknown person to the most admired man in the world was a definite dress rehearsal for the real thing. This Herman van Rompuy who won the election is described as boring, cunning, older, a tad sinister and definitely not uber charismatic. It still makes me wonder, though, WHY he was chosen. Why would they pick someone cunning, sinister and determined to get his way? Maybe it's because that their one goal in mind is to have the EU be the most powerful entity in the world???

Anyway, while this guy may not be the Antichrist, it definitely brings us one step closer and sets the stage for the real Antichrist. Some have suggested that the EU Foreign Minister -- who will be announced very shortly -- will be the one to watch. This is the man who will assume the role of that position:

That's British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who is a surprise candidate for the European Union Foreign Minister. He is also a virtual unknown who rose quickly in popularity. The "Foreign Minister" post along with the EU Presidential post are the two new positions created under the recently signed Lisbon Treaty. It appears as if Miliband has accepted this position, but it has yet to be announced formally. The interesting thing about David Miliband is that his father was Ralph Miliband, who was a notable, active Marxist political theorist and a former member of Soviet Red Army. But the most notable thing to me about David Miliband is the fact that in answer to the question, "Do you believe in God?" raised in a 2007 Mail on Sunday survey, he stated clearly and definitively that he in fact did NOT believe in God.

Is Miliband the Antichrist? I honestly don't know. None of us will until that time is right and that person sets the timer on the 7 year tribulation by enforcing that significant peace treaty. Who knows? It's possible that he's not. But it's also possible that he is. In these End Times, anything is possible. This is definitely something to watch.

I welcome your comments, and will keep you posted.

How God Answers Prayers

2009-11-18T07:48:00.004-05:00

I have always been one of those people who have always felt left out when others say things like, "God spoke to me." Or, "God immediately answered my prayer." I'm a strong believer and I pray as often as I can. Even if it's not a formal, verbal prayer, I frequently say little, silent inward prayers that I know God hears. Yet sometimes I can't help but to be a little envious of those who say, "God speaks to me." Because even though my life shows definite evidence that God loves me, He just doesn't speak to me. My prayers seem to go unanswered. But then something happened today that caused me to realize that I simply wasn't listening.

Yesterday, He DID speak to me. He did answer my questions, and He did respond to my prayers. For those of you who are praying and who aren't getting answers, I want you to read this account of events and think about your situation. Then I want you to listen for your answer.

The story can be found on my other, more personal blog here at this link: http://mi-ennui.blogspot.com/

(Don't worry -- I'm not shifting this blog over to that one. It just seemed more appropriate to write that story there at first. But then after thinking about it, I thought that perhaps I should share it here as well.)

Do YOU have a story that tells of how God answered your prayers in such a distinct way? Or are you someone who is asking over and over and isn't getting answers?

I'd love to read your comments. God bless!! And keep your eyes and ears open. My mistake was thinking that I knew what the answer was going to sound and look like, so I ignored everything else except what I was expecting.

God does indeed work in mysterious ways...

Abortion is wrong. Period.

2009-11-04T07:43:00.011-05:00

Thou shalt not kill. It's the 6th commandment in the list of "Ten Commandments." For those of you who don't know much about the Ten Commandments, allow me to quote the definition from a casual source we all know quite well -- Wikipedia.

The Ten Commandments, or Decalogue, are a list of religious and moral imperatives that, according to Judeo-Christian tradition, were authored by God and given to Moses on the mountain referred to as "Mount Sinai" (Exodus 19:23) or "Horeb" (Deuteronomy 5:2) in the form of two stone tablets. They are recognized as a moral foundation in Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Thou shall not kill is a pretty easy and clear statement. Yet it baffles me that pro-choice supporters in our world don't get it. I can't tell you how many countless times I hear a pro-choice supporter say, "The Bible says nothing about abortion -- I know that for a fact." You know what? They're absolutely right. Nevermind, though, that 2,000 years ago people didn't even have running water. The ability and technology to safely perform an abortion on a pregnant woman did not exist back then. And so I'm sad to say that the concept and common process of aborting a fetus is pretty much a modern thing. It was probably as foreign a concept as taking a hot shower -- they just didn't do it, because they didn't have the capability.

It's also quite heartbreaking to think about how many times I hear, "Well, it's a woman's choice, and it's her body. I support that she has a right to do whatever she wants with it." It's a pretty hypocritical statement. What about the baby's body? The baby's choice? Why are none of the people who condone abortions giving the same "respectful courtesy of choice" to the baby? I have a friend who supports abortion and considers herself to be pro-choice. She's also a HUGE dog lover and adores animals. One day I tried to give her a different viewpoint. "What if in the effort to keep the unwanted animal population down, veterinary clinics began to perform abortions on unborn puppy fetuses in the womb?"

"They would never do that," she said. I asked her why, and she said, "Because it's just not done. They don't do that."

"But what if they did? Would you support that?" I asked.

"It's different," she replied. "The dogs can't make their own choice -- someone is choosing for them. They don't have the ability to think or make decisions, so it's unethical to do that to them."

"But how is that any different than doing that to a baby who doesn't have the ability to think or make decisions yet? The difference being that one day that baby WILL."

She wouldn't continue the conversation, because she knew the answer. If indeed vets across the country began to abort puppy or kitten fetuses, you bet there would be protests all over the place -- from every kind of activist group. Most of them liberal ones, I'm sure. In fact, I'll never forget the bizarre and unbelievable protests coming from the left during the 2008 presidential campaign, when they were trashing Sarah Palin for the "unethical and inhumane killing of wolves" in Alaska. I remember the sheer idiocy of those protests. Systematic killing of an overpopulated, dangerous predatory animal is inhumane and unethical, but the killing of millions of human babies is perfectly humane and ethical? Give me a break.

Did you know that babies are capable of feeling pain by the 7th week after conception? By this time their heart is beating and nerves are growing. A few weeks later the genitalia begin to grow and form, creating male or a female organs. And by the 18th week, pads on the fingers begin to emerge with little swirlies -- the beginning stages of fingerprints.

I write this all because I have a story that I want to share with you. It's a story of a director of a Planned Parenthood clinic (where they perform abortions) in southeast Texas. This director said that she had a change of heart after watching an abortion last month — and she quit her job and joined a pro-life group in praying outside the facility.

Can you believe that? This person was a DIRECTOR of a Planned Parenthood facility. Allow me to post a little excerpt of the article (you can read the rest of it here: Abortion News Story)

Abby Johnson, 29, used to escort women from their cars to the clinic in the eight years she volunteered and worked for Planned Parenthood in Bryan, Texas. But she says she knew it was time to leave after she watched a fetus "crumple" as it was vacuumed out of a patient's uterus in September.

'When I was working at Planned Parenthood I was extremely pro-choice," Johnson told FoxNews.com. But after seeing the internal workings of the procedure for the first time on an ultrasound monitor, "I would say there was a definite conversion in my heart ... a spiritual conversion."

Johnson said she became disillusioned with her job after her bosses pressured her for months to increase profits by performing more and more abortions, which cost patients between $505 and $695.

"Every meeting that we had was, 'We don't have enough money, we don't have enough money — we've got to keep these abortions coming,'" Johnson told FoxNews.com. "It's a very lucrative business and that's why they want to increase numbers."

Isn't that something? Guess what, folks. If you haven't figured it out by now, the modern-day procedure of getting rid of babies that people don't want has turned into a lucrative business. As with most things in our era, human life has become disposable. If you don't want it, throw it out. Get rid of it. And then let greedy people take advantage of that growing trend and find ways to make money off of it.

Let's imagine for a bit here, shall we? I have to imagine what God is feeling about the sheer ugliness of it all. How disappointed He must be that we have no regard for life. I also have to imagine what Heaven must be like -- there has to be hundreds of millions of babies up there that weren't wanted. And I can't help but to think that there must be SO many people down here who don't even give them a second thought. I can so appreciate that that the images that woman saw and the things she felt in her heart were overwhelming -- I just don't understand how someone can perform those procedures 40 times a day and still have a soul. Her "change of heart" undeniably came from deep within... from the Holy Spirit and her (at the time) unknown connection to God.

Thou Shalt Not Kill. It's a pretty simple commandment. But in our world today, we've morphed it into, "Thou Shall Not Kill... unless it's in self-defense. Or unless you accidentally got pregnant with a baby you don't really want right now."

Somewhere along the line the word "choice" became synonymous with "convenience." Satan must be pretty happy, rubbing his hands together in sinister glee. Because he has managed to penetrate the hearts and souls of the American public, convincing them that God's word can be interpreted differently to better suit their needs. "Don't worry about the fetus -- it's not even a real baby yet," the devil whispers into the subconscious of our nation. "It's perfectly okay because you have the choice to do whatever you want -- it's a free country..." he whispers again. Over and over they fall for it. They nod their heads in agreement.

It's unbelievable and completely inconceivable to me that it's "WRONG" to have Christmas in schools. But it's perfectly fine to kill unborn babies and suck the life out of them with a vacuum.

What happened????? How on this earth did things get so messed up? And how is it that the majority of our citizens don't see that things are so messed up? How in the world did something as powerful, ugly and evil become justifiable to the average American simply to suit their selfish needs?

Christians know that it's not a surprise -- the Bible warns us of this:

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God -- having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. (2 Timothy 3:1-7)

Continue to pray, my friends. For our war is not with mankind, but with evil and Satan himself.

Blood Moon, Black Sun

2009-11-01T18:44:00.005-05:00

I agree with many out there who frown upon "date setting" with regard to the day that Jesus will come back for us. Matthew 24 clearly tells us that "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." (Matthew 24:36)

But Jesus DID tell us to watch for signs of his coming. Jesus specifically tells his disciples "There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars." (Luke 21:25)

Then he told them this parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near." (Luke 21:29-30)

I did some studying of works researched by a few different pastors, and found some very interesting things about the signs of today. It may or may not mean anything, but it's interesting, and a bit too coincidental to not be of any significance. By the time you finish reading this, the hair on the back of your neck will be standing up.

To begin, let's look at the Book of Genesis -- at the very beginning. In Genesis 1:14-15, the New King James Version scripture says, "Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so."

Notice that the very first and most important purpose for the "firmament of the heavens" (lights in the sky) is for signs and seasons, and then the for counting days/years, and then for light on the earth. God made it very clear that one of the reasons for the sun/moon was to mark signs and seasons. What are signs? The word used in the original Hebrew scriptures is "oth" which means "signal" or "beacon." The word "seasons" in Hebrew is "moade" which literally means "appointed times." Old Testament Hebrews used this word to mean "religious holidays". Therefore, when studying the original Hebrew words of the Bible, it is easily understood that Genesis 1:14-15 means that God has given us the sun not only for light/heat, and for marking the days and years, but also (and more importantly) to signal the appointed times (or holidays/feasts) of God.

Remember the most recent total solar eclipse we had back in July? Remember the one we had last year as well? Some who study Biblical prophecy did a little digging, and they found some very, very interesting things:

1st total solar eclipse: 07-31-2008
2nd total solar eclipse: 07-22-2009
3rd total solar eclipse: 07-11-2010
2011? No solar eclipse.

3 total solar eclipses in a row.

Interestingly enough, in the year that there is NO solar eclipse (2011) the Jewish New Year (called Rosh Hashana) begins on September 29th. This year is the new beginning of what the Jewish call a "Shabua" or "week of years." Jews of the Old Testament used a "week" of years to mean a period of "7 years." Just like there is a week of days, there was a week of years called a Shabua. (Every seven years begins a new Shabua or "week."). Now, it's too complicated to get into here, but Biblical scholars study the very cryptic prophecy of Daniel: "Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven 'sevens,' and sixty-two 'sevens.'" (Daniel 9:25). Without getting into it too deeply (it's pretty complicated to understand), it's simply stating that a prophecy has been revealed that there will be a period of 7-sevens, or seven weeks (49 years) and then a period of 62-sevens, or 62 weeks (439 years). Therefore, this prophecy is saying that there will be 69 "weeks" total, or 69 x 7 years. Which works out to be 483 years.

Now, the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem was given by Artaxerxes Longimanus on March 14, 445 B.C. The triumphal entry of Jesus into the city of Jerusalem riding on a donkey occurred on April 6th, 32 A.D.

Now this is a very mathematical prophecy that takes a little bit of figuring. The Jewish (and Babylonian) calendars used a 360-day year, not a 365 day year like we do now. 69 "weeks" (or 483 years) of 360-day years totals 173,880 days. (483x360) In effect, Gabriel told Daniel that the interval between the commandment to rebuild Jerusalem until the presentation of the Messiah as King would be 173,880 days.

When we examine the period between March 14, 445 B.C. and April 6, 32 A.D., and correct for leap years, we discover that it is 173,880 days exactly, to the very day! How could Daniel have known this in advance? How could anyone have contrived to have this detailed prediction documented over three centuries in advance? Very simply, God illuminated him to this information. But there's more.

Let's not forget that Daniel's prophecy also states: Seventy 'sevens' are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy.(Daniel 9:24)

So if we have figured out 69 of the 70 "sevens", where is the last "seven" *(or week)? This is commonly known as "The 70th Week of Daniel". This is a gap between the first 69 weeks and the final 70th week. The same prophecy of Daniel explains what that last week is: The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him. (Daniel 9:26-27) This clearly states that at the beginning of the final week in prophecy, the Antichrist will confirm a covenant/treaty for 7 years, but in the middle of it he will put an end to Jewish worship and sacrifice. And he will desecrate the 3rd and final temple.

Could it be that the new beginning of the "Shabua" or "week" on September 29, 2011 (Rosh Hashana) marks the start of the 70th Week of Daniel? Some think it's possible. Why? Well, let's look further at the clues and signs that God may be giving us.

If you count 1,260 days from that Rosh Hashana (September 29) in 2011, you land on a Jewish holiday called "Purim" (on March 14, 2014). In the Jewish culture, Purim is holiday of gift giving. A fun, lively celebration of gift-giving, feasting and rejoicing (in celebration of past defeats over enemies). This holiday has been held in high esteem in Judaism throughout all of history, and is still very widely practiced today.

Note that in Revelation 11:3-10, there describes a celebration of "gift-giving" after the two witnesses are killed: And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth." These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. These men have power to shut up the sky so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. For three and a half days men from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial.The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth. (Revelation 11:3-10)

But the signs of these three solar eclipses don't end there. From that day of the Purim holiday on March 14, 2014 -- if you count exactly 1,290 days -- you land on the Jewish Holiday of Yom Kippur, otherwise known as the Day of Atonement. This is the most holy of all the Jewish holidays, with the theme of atonement and repentance. That falls on September 30, 2017. The Day of Atonement was known, recognized, and observed by early Christians. In modern Christianity, the phrase Day of Atonement is usually used by theologians to mean "Day of Judgment".

From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. (Daniel 12:11)

The original rites and practices for the Day of Atonement are set forth in the sixteenth chapter of Leviticus (cf. Exodus 30:10; Leviticus 23:27-31, 25:9; Numbers 29:7-11). It is considered to be a time for fasting, on which no food or drink are be consumed. Leviticus 16:9-10,20-22 states:

And Aaron shall bring the goat on which the LORD's lot fell, and offer it as a sin offering. But the goat on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make atonement upon it, and to let it go as the scapegoat into the wilderness... And when he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place, the tabernacle of meeting, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat. Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, concerning all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a suitable man. The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to an uninhabited land; and he shall release the goat in the wilderness.

Christians who currently observe this holiday interpret the parallels between the first of the two goats in Leviticus with Jesus, and the second of the two goats with Satan (the Azazel goat). Specifically, regarding Satan, they recognize similarities in the following passage from Revelation 20:1-3:

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished.

Modern-day Messianic Jews (Jews who believe Christ is the Messiah) believe that the suitable man in Leviticus 16 is a parallel to the angel that binds Satan and casts him away in Revelation 20. In Leviticus chapter 16, the High Priest once a year goes into the Temple – into the Holy of Holies – and cleanses it. This, too, is a direct parallel to Jesus coming back and cleansing the temple that the Antichrist desecrates.

Now, do you think it just a coincidence that the sun aligns with the dates and provides us signs that point to the exact amount of days mentioned in the Bible regarding the two witnesses and the End Times?

If you're not convinced, let's look at one last sign that ties all of this together:

The saddest, most mournful Jewish Holiday is the 9th of Av. This is the holiday that originally commemorated the destruction of both the first and second Temple, which were destroyed on the very same day, 656 years apart. This holiday actually lasts for 9 days -- a period of mourning that begins with the 1st of Av and ends with the 9th of Av, but which is more commonly known these days as simply "The 9th of Av." During this 9-day mourning period, Jews do not wash their clothes, take baths, shave or cut their hair, or eat warm foods. They do nothing to invoke comfort or warmth, for it is a dark and cold holiday, Since the destruction of the two Temples, this day has come to bring more destruction and sadness to the Jewish people:

--The bulldozing of Jerusalem and the creation of the nation of Palestine occurred on the 9th of Av, in the year 134 A.D.

--On the 9th of Av in 1095, Pope Urban II issued the Declaration of the Crusades against the Muslims.

--in 1492, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella expelled all of the Jews from Spain.

--Germany declared War against Russia, on the 9th of Av in 1914, sparking World War I which set the stage for World War II decades later.

--On the 9th of Av in 1942, mass deportation of the Jews began in Poland, igniting the climax of the Holocaust.

So what's the "Av holiday" have to do with the three total solar eclipses that occur in 2008, 2009 and 2010??

Each one occurs on the 1st day of Av!!

Now Jesus said, "There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars." So are there signs in the moon as well? Note this interesting coincidence:

In the years 2014 and 2015, there are four total eclipses in a row, which is extremely rare (usually there is a partial lunar eclipse somewhere in the mix):

April 15, 2014
October 8, 2014
April 4, 2015
September 28, 2015

And believe it or not, those lunar eclipse dates coincide perfectly with the two most important Jewish holidays of the year:

Passover: The Jewish holiday of the Holy Sacrifice, and celebrates the Exodus and freedom from slavery. Also recognized as the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The crucifixion and resurrection of Christ is celebrated by Christians in modern times as Easter.

Feast of Tabernacles: The Feast of Tabernacles was the final and most important holiday of the year. The importance of this festival is indicated by the statement, “This is to be a lasting ordinance.” The divine pronouncement, “I am the Lord your God.”

And if we look at the dates of those 4 total lunar eclipses in a row, they fall on:

Passover, April 15, 2014
The Feast of Tabernacles, October 8, 2014
Passover, April 4, 2015 and
The Feast of Tabernacles, September 28, 2015

This event of lunar eclipses on the same corresponding Jewish calendar dates only happens once in this century. In the last century, it happened twice. It happened in the year before Israel became a nation in 1948. And it also occurred in the year before Israel captured and regained the city of Jerusalem. This pattern of lunar eclipses did not happen in the 1800s, or the 1700s, or the 1600s or even 1500s.

Final thoughts:

1) What happens when there's a total solar eclipse of the sun? Answer: The sun turns black.
2) What happens when there's a total lunar eclipse? Answer: The moon turns red.

The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.(Joel 2:31)

The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. (Acts 2:20)

TIMELINE:

*July 31, 2008: 1st total solar eclipse (The 1st of Av)
*July 22, 2009: 2nd total solar eclipse (The 1st of Av)
*July 11, 2010: 3rd total solar eclipse (The 1st of Av)

*September 29th, 2011: Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year (also the start of a new "week" of years, known as a Shabua)

*April 15, 2014: 1st total lunar eclipse (Passover)
*October 8, 2014: 2nd total lunar eclipse (The Feast of Tabernacles)
*April 4, 2015: 3rd total lunar eclipse (Passover)
*September 28, 2015: 4th total lunar eclipse (Feast of Tabernacles)

(Number of Holy eclipses? 7. God’s perfect number? 7.)

*March 14, 2014:
--It’s exactly 1,260 days from September 29, 2011 (the Jewish New Year) and equates to 3 ½ years into the “week” (using the Jewish calendar year of 360 days) also obviously the middle or half-way point of that “week”
--It’s also the Jewish holiday of Purim, in which people give gifts
(And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth. ~Revelation 11:3) (The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth. ~Revelation 11:10)

*September 30, 2017:
--It is Yom Kippur, or The Day of Atonement
--It’s exactly 1,290 days from March 14, 2014 (the half-way point of the “week” and also the Jewish holiday of Purim as noted above
(In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.~ Daniel 9:27) (From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. ~Daniel 12:11)

(This lesson is courtesy of Harvest Family Fellowship and Pastor Steve Hadley -- you can visit his website and learn more by listening to his recorded Sunday message. Simply click here: http://harvestreno.org/messages.asp)

Now, is this proof that we're close to the end? That the Rapture will be soon, and the Tribulation only days away? No, not at all. But like all things related to God and Christ, we have not one shred of hard-core proof in our hands that can convince anyone of anything.

My friends, we simply live on faith. Even if these coincidences mean nothing, at the very least it reminds us to always have our lamps lit, and always be ready and watching.

Christ is coming -- there is no doubt about that. And in the end, that's all that really matters.

The Holy Spirit

2009-10-30T22:53:00.012-04:00

The Lord did a very funny thing just now...

...and no, it's not "funny" as in "ha-ha" funny. Certainly God has a sense of humor. I mean, have you seen what a duck-billed platypus looks like? But no -- I mean that God just did a funny thing to me. Right now. Just a few minutes ago. The Holy Spirit guided me, and it took me completely by surprise.

See, I've never been one who has heard God or seen God or felt God. I mean, sure... I absolutely feel God when my hubby embraces me in a big bear hug, or when I feel a sense of peace after praying, or when I see a gorgeous sunset on a particularly quiet ride home from work (which is rare). I definitely feel the amazing glory of God when the whole congregation sings at church, or when I see something truly heartwarming. But you know those people who say, "Oh, I've seen Jesus!" Or "I felt a presence with me" or "I heard Him loud and clear!"????

Uh, yeah -- that's never been me. Which is what makes this whole thing that much more meaningful.

You see, I had just written a post on here to say my good-byes. I started a new blog, which is not a Christian blog. It's just me venting out some of my irritations and frustrations. No one wants to read about that, right? I mean, I write Christian posts. How could I possibly expect people to want to read about all that's wrong with the world today? Yet I believe that some of you might actually take comfort in knowing that someone else is really struggling with this broken earth right now.

And besides, I didn't really have much more to say on this blog. I thought I was done. So I was going to redirect you all to my new blog -- which I can still do, of course. You can visit it here, at this link: http://mi-ennui.blogspot.com

So I had this nice good-bye post all written out, thanking you all for your readership. I said that it was the end of an era, and I was moving on. Then I published it.

And with all of my posts, I went to go view it to double-check it for spelling errors or grammatical mistakes that might make people cringe, and then I heard a voice in my head -- which sounded just like my own voice -- say, "NO. Go back and delete it. You're not done."

Now any other point in time, if I would've heard my own voice telling me I did something wrong, I would've just shrugged and thought it was my own conscience yelling at me. You know, my inner thoughts -- the same voice in my head that gets AM Golden Oldies stuck in there some how, singing the same line over and over. But this time around I knew without a shadow of a doubt that it was the Holy Spirit within me. I mean, I was done. I had written my good-bye... I was mentally prepared to delve head-first into my other blog... and I had hit the "publish post" button to seal the deal. But immediately something -- make that SOMEONE -- stopped me.

The Holy Spirit is an amazing thing. How many of you really know what the Holy Spirit really is? For those of you who don't know, the Holy Spirit is a real, living God that is around you. The Holy Spirit is around all of us, all the time. Just like the demons are. Don't ask me how or why. It's obviously a different realm -- a spiritual realm -- than one we can see/hear/feel. And when someone accepts Christ as their Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit goes to be within them.

It might sound like a very bizarre concept, but it's really quite simple. First let's take the concept of God being three different entities. The analogy most easy to use is water. You can have ice cubes, you can have steam, and you can have liquid water. They are all the exact same thing, just in three different forms. No one would deny that steam is exactly the same make up as ice, only slightly different in form. The same concept occurs with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. They are each the same entity, but in different forms.

So now let's talk about the Holy Spirit being around us, and inside of us. See, the Holy Spirit is constantly at work -- it's the age old story of good versus evil. The Holy Spirit works here on earth to work in the heart of churches... to influence individuals... to guide groups of people and facilitate the belief in Christ. Yet the Holy Spirit is also in each and every person who has accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior. How, you ask? Well, it's like air. Think abut it. Air is all around us, working in different ways. Sometimes it blows as wind, sometimes it's still, and other times it's actually in our lungs. God gives us this amazing gift to not only guide us, help us and keep us strong... but also as a deposit guaranteeing our place in Heaven when we die. When you ask for Jesus to come into your life, be sure to also ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit. It's a truly awesome thing to be filled with the Holy Spirit, as I discovered above.

I suppose the same could easily be said about demons. They are all around us, messing with us, trying to get us to do evil, and I would feel pretty confident to say that even some people have demons inside of them. Thankfully, it's not as many as those of us who have the Holy Spirit, but still it's frightening to think about. It's also pretty mind-boggling to know that there's a whole war of good versus evil that we can't even see. That's why in Ephesians, we are told to put on the "armour of God". Because our fight is not against man... our fight is against evil.

It's amazing to me how many times the Holy Spirit is mentioned in the Bible, especially in the book of Acts. Just do a search on "Holy Spirit" in Bible Gateway (which is here: http://www.biblegateway.com/) There are 105 results in the New International Version. (Be sure to click the "more results" link to see all the pages.)

But here's a sampling of the amazing work God does as the Holy Spirit within us:

Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. (Mark 13:11)

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (John 14:26)

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. (Acts 4:31)

And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. (Romans 5:5)

I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit—(Romans 9:1)

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; (1 Corinthians 6:19)

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 1:13)

But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. (Jude 1:20)

My dearest friends and readers, my plan is to continue on with this blog. Pray for me that I find the vein of writing again, and that I continue to be the eyes and ears and fingertips of Christ, to write what he would want me to write.

And of course, feel free to come visit me over in my other blog as well. I am really enjoying that one (even though I just started it) and love the way I have the uniqueness and freedom of each to write in two very distinct and separate ways.

God bless you all -- see you soon!

Stay tuned!

2009-08-01T21:23:00.003-04:00

I'll be coming off of hiatus and resurrect this blog again on September 1st.

Thank you all for your support and prayers. All is well -- I just needed a little break to recoup, and to reconnect with Christ.

May the LORD bless you all, and enjoy the rest of your summer!

On Hiatus...

2009-06-05T08:19:00.004-04:00

Thank you friends and readers who have expressed a concern for my absence recently. All is well -- the past few months have simply been very, very busy and I've been shifting my focus to other things at the moment. I have no plans to abandon this blog... I just need a bit of R&R to catch up with my backlog.

Feel free to look around and read some of the most popular blog entries over to the right.

God bless!

When Up is Down and Wrong is Right...

2009-05-11T07:02:00.013-04:00

Have you heard recently about the bizarre scandal involving Michael Savage? Michael Savage is a well-known, independent conservative talk-show host. I listen to him often. I have to admit at times he's rude, arrogant and cuts off many of his callers in mid-sentence, but his social, political and government views are spot on. I agree with most everything he believes, and he's one of the very few radio (or TV for that matter) talk show hosts not bullied by the main-stream media. It's no secret that he completely dislikes Obama, and believes him to be a socialist, Marxist, narcissistic control-freak who is going to turn this country into an Islamic-supporting, Christian-hating society. Unfortunately, he's right and I agree with that view whole-heartedly.

Apparently, every year the U.K. government comes out with a list of people that they're banning from their country due to violence, danger, extremism or hate-mongering. Most often it's a list of Muslim terrorists with names we can't pronounce from the Arab countries. This year, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said she decided to make public the names of 16 people banned since October so others could better understand what sort of behavior Britain was not prepared to tolerate. That list looked pretty much the same as the list in years past -- with one exception. Michael Savage's name was on that list.

"I think it's important that people understand the sorts of values and sorts of standards that we have here, the fact that it's a privilege to come and the sort of things that mean you won't be welcome in this country," Ms. Smith told GMTV.

"Coming to this country is a privilege. If you can't live by the rules that we live by, the standards and the values that we live by, we should exclude you from this country and, what's more, now we will make public those people that we have excluded.

"We are publishing the names of 16 of those that we have excluded since October. We are telling people who they are and why it is we don't want them in this country."

About Michael Savage, Ms. Smith said this: "This is someone who has fallen into the category of fomenting hatred, of such extreme views and expressing them in such a way that it is actually likely to cause inter-community tension or even violence if that person were allowed into the country."

Also named are American Baptist pastor Fred Waldron Phelps Snr and his daughter Shirley Phelps-Roper, who have picketed the funerals of AIDS victims and claimed the deaths of U.S. soldiers are a punishment for U.S. tolerance of homosexuality.

"If people have so clearly overstepped the mark in terms of the way not just that they are talking but the sort of attitudes that they are expressing to the extent that we think that this is likely to cause or have the potential to cause violence or inter-community tension in this country, then actually I think the right thing is not to let them into the country in the first place. Not to open the stable door then try to close it later," Ms. Smith said.

Let's look at that line again: "If people have so clearly overstepped the mark in terms of the way not just that they are talking but the sort of attitudes that they are expressing..."

"Overstepped the mark..." "talking..." "expressing attitudes..."

WHEN did we suddenly come to the point where free speech and expression were not allowed? The thing is, I'm willing to bet any money that this came directly from the Obama administration. The U.S. and the U.K. have such a close relationship and such close communication that one doesn't do something significant to national security without the other knowing. And I'll bet you even more that Ms. Smith had no idea who Michael Savage even was. It's my suspicion that our government handed Savage's name over to the U.K. and told them something like, "Make sure he's on your list -- we're not prepared to go down that road just yet, but let's start here and see what the pushback looks like. If the uproar over this isn't too bad, then we'll continue moving forward in a similar fashion on our end." Can't you just imagine that taking place? I've been listening to Michael Savage for well over a year now, and I can't recall anything significant or extremist ever being said on his show regarding the U.K. The whole thing is truly suspicious. Michael Savage himself is just as shocked by it.

I can't tell you when we got to this point, but I can tell you why: It's because the speech of those individuals and the attitudes they have were ones of Judeo-Christian principles.

Here is an example of Michael Savage's words, which he said brilliantly on his show during the second hour on May 7th:

"Make no mistake about it... anyone can be moderate, anyone can be tolerant. That means that you don't have the guts to stand up for what you really believe in. What does it really mean, does it mean you're a nice guy? It means that you don't have the guts to stand by your principles and stand up for your own nation... or for your own country, your own borders/language/culture."

He goes on to say:

"The House of Representatives just passed the so-called 'Hate Crimes Bill' just the other day, that if it's not amended, could put preachers in prison if they quote the Bible..."

"It's unbelievable? Would you ever think that one day I'd be banned from England for saying what I believe in? I never thought that day would come. The day will come in this country, unless the people wake up and act out, that the preachers will be put in prison for teaching you what they believe to be truths from the Bible..."

"I'm putting myself on the line, I'm paying the price for it right now, and it can get a lot worse, too! There could be a day tomorrow where I get arrested for this. That could happen..."

"He (Obama) is mistaken. The majority of Americans are Christians. It doesn't mean that there aren't Jews and Hindus and Buddhists, of course... and agnostics and witches and warlocks. We understand that. But the nation was founded on Judeo-Christian principles, not upon Hindu or Muslim or witchcraft principals. And so Obama was 100% wrong when he went out and said 'we are not a Christian nation.' I thought that was one of the gravest insults to this nation I've ever heard. The entire founding of this country was built on Christian principals. Period, end of story..."

"The word of God was intimately involved in the shaping of America. Some of the darkest days of this nation... in those dark days, it was 'One Nation Under God' -- and those who served this nation, did so because not only were they serving this nation, but God. And for Obama to say that we are not a Christian nation is a furtherance of my premise that he is a Neo-Marxist. Because I must remind you that Karl Marx said that religion is the opiate of the masses, and tried to do away with religion in the Soviet Union... and attack churches... and burned icons of the Christian churches... and when the Bolsheviks took over Russia, they attacked the church viciously. They burned the icons, they killed priests. When Hitler came to power, not only did he kill six-million to seven-million Jews, but he also tried to wipe out Christianity in Germany -- you don't know this, you don't want to accept this. This is a story that needs to be told. Many priests who stood with the Jews and stood against Hitler were persecuted, tortured and killed as well. And so you have to understand that the whole basis of America was built upon morality, moral strength, a turning towards -- not a turning away from -- God. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies. Joshua 7:12. The loss of virtue... Samuel Adams, the great American patriot, accused by King George III of being "The chief rabble-rouser." Does that sound familiar to you?"

"Don't you see here what's going on in this country? Don't you see the danger you are in? The danger of losing not only your independence, but your very individuality and freedom itself."

Now, I hope I am forgiven for typing this out without copyright permission, but it's impossible to find an email or day-time phone number for Michael Savage. Yet I did not want those words to get lost out there on the internet or in the radio archives. They speak the things that Holy Spirit whispers to us in these tumultuous times. Did that sound violent to you? Was that hate-mongering, extremist, terrorist-type of talk? My Lord -- and I mean that literally -- NO.

We knew this was coming, didn't we? Whether Michael knows it or not, God has just thrust him into the fight of what's to come.

Jesus said to his disciples: "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved." (Matthew 24:9-13)

I think anyone who has read those words shook their heads at the incredulity of it all. Who would ever imagine a time where Christians are hated and people betray their faith for the false prophets? I can't help but to think of the folks who grew up in the Bible belt or the Laura Ingalls-type pioneers of the 19th century prairie days. Did they every come close to imagining what that kind of world would be like? And yet here we are -- we are living in it. "You will be hated by all nations because of me," Jesus said. It's not just imaginary anymore, as Michael Savage has learned. This is real, this is now. Jesus Christ knew that this day would come, and he spoke of it almost 2,000 years ago. To hear the words of this man on the radio -- who is defending Christian principles and conservative politics -- it is clear to me that we must be ready to stand up and fight. I know that not all of us have a public reach through blogs, radio and TV. But at the very least, stand up for our Christian principles in your community... amongst your friends and family... on MySpace or Facebook... at the water-cooler at work... in whatever way you can.

Alan Keyes did. Do you know who Alan Keyes is? He's a former Illinois U.S. Senate candidate who partook in an anti-abortion protest at Notre Dame last week where President Obama was scheduled to give a commencements speech. The premise behind their protest was that this president -- who without any doubt is the most "pro-abortion" president we've ever had -- was a guest motivational speaker at what is undeniably a Catholic university. The protesters felt that Obama's stance on abortion should disqualify him from speaking at a Catholic institution.

The protest was non-violent, non-threatening, and completely peaceful. So what Keyes and the others gets arrested for? Trespassing. That's right. Did you ever hear of such a thing? Trespassing on a university campus. It's absurd. With all the protests that take place all over the country (or all over the world, for that matter), people never get arrested unless they get dangerous, violent and completely out of hand. Remember the protesters in London at the G20 summit? Those people were ANGRY. Yet the only ones who got arrested were the few that began to fight and get violent.

That wasn't the case of Alan Keyes and his fellow protesters. Theirs was simply a case where they were 1) upholding Christian values and principles and 2) opposing Obama. The problem is, this president's administration is like the old New York mafia. You oppose him and say things about him? You're going to get yours. One way or another, he's going to make sure you get his message. Whether it's jail time for trespassing or banishment from the U.K., this man is going after anyone and everyone who opposes him and his beliefs.

If you think abortion is wrong... if you think the Bible is the truth... if you believe that homosexual marriage should be outlawed... if you feel that we should be upholding Christian values and people, not Islamic values and people... then you have now become an enemy of the state, and one day soon the entire world.

The Old Testament prophet Isaiah warns us of this:

Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who put darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter.

Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
and clever in their own sight.

Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine
and champions at mixing drinks,

who acquit the guilty for a bribe,
but deny justice to the innocent.
(Isaiah 5:20-23)

Watch out, those who try to convince the world that right is wrong, and good is bad. Or that bad is good, and wrong is right. Long before even the birth of Christ, God showed the profits how it will be. Whether Michael Savage knows it or not... whether Alan Keyes knows it or not, the Lord has chosen them for His team, because the battle is beginning. Won't you step up and join them? Lucky for us, we know how the war ends.

Jerusalem staggers,
Judah is falling;
their words and deeds are against the LORD,
defying his glorious presence.

The look on their faces testifies against them;
they parade their sin like Sodom;
they do not hide it.
Woe to them!
They have brought disaster upon themselves.

Tell the righteous it will be well with them,
for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds.

Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them!
They will be paid back for what their hands have done.
(Isaiah 3:8-11)

Obama may not be the Anti-Christ, but certainly -- at the very least -- he is setting the stage for the appropriate circumstances and events. The line is being drawn, and teams are being chosen. Whose side are you on? As Michael Savage and Alan Keyes know, it's not an easy fight, and it could very well get ugly. But this is not the time to betray your faith and your principles. Open your eyes to the things that are happening around you, and stand strong in your beliefs. It might be the most difficult thing that you've ever done, but I assure you -- it will be worth it. You do not want to be on the wrong side. In God we trust.

A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name." This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.

Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on."

"Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them." (Revelation 14:9-13)

Michael Savage might think he's in this all on his own, but he's not. One day, the Lord will reward him for standing up for the truth, the way and the life. Pray for us, readers. Pray for all of us who stand for Christian principles, and who are hanging on by a thread. Pray for this country -- not that it may prosper and thrive -- for those days are long gone. Pray that we stay strong in this battle against the enemy. This is much, much bigger than it looks. Stay tuned... if you want to know about other battles playing out in this war of Good vs. Evil, just listen to the radio.

May God bless the USA.

Everyday is Exactly the Same...

2009-05-06T08:00:00.044-04:00

There's a song by Nine Inch Nails that was in the recent movie "Wanted" called "Everyday is Exactly the Same". The main plot revolved around this one guy whose life is dull, dreary, mundane and completely unexciting. In that man's life, everyday is exactly the same. But one day, it changes into something he never, ever dreamed it would be. The movie was pretty good -- lots of action (lots of harsh language, too, unfortunately). It's not the most wholesome movie, since it's about assassins. But I loved the premise of it.

The NIN song runs through the first portion of the movie, and I couldn't help but to be moved by it. Sometimes, life is so very much like that. Many people describe life as a roller coaster with lots of ups and downs. To me, that's not a good enough analogy. I would prefer to describe life as a road trip. At certain times the trip is scenic and beautiful. Sometimes it's full of adventure. Now and then your trip might take take you smack dab in the mix of excitement and activity. Other times, it possible you completely break down and come to a standstill.

What's the worst part of a road trip, though? You got it -- the boring parts. The parts where you're driving through Ohio and staring at nothing but farm fields. Back when I was with my ex-husband, we used to drive up to his family's cottage taking M-57 in Michigan from Clio to I-127. It was a horrifically dull stretch of road, and eventually we learned to take a back-road route. Even though it took longer, it at least gave us more to look at. I'll never forget reading once that one of the Detroit newspapers voted that very same stretch of road the "Second Most Boring Highway in Michigan", ranking it only behind a desolate stretch of M-28 in the central UP. Basically, M-57 was considered the most boring state highway in the entire Lower Peninsula. I definitely believed it.

Our road trip of life can be like that sometimes. A straight stretch of road, where every single thing looks/feels/acts the same. Those stretches are hard. I'm going through one of those right now, and it's really disturbing. Why? Well, for one thing it creates a distinct dichotomy of frustration and guilt in my psyche. On one hand I am irritated by the drudgery of each day. Get up, make the long drive into work, sit in a cubicle, make the long drive home, eat dinner, check email, go to bed. Get up the next morning and do it all over again.

On the other hand, another part of me is knocking myself upside the head saying, "Hey, quit feeling sorry for yourself! What the heck? You are very blessed. You just heard first-hand stories about the poor children of the Dominican Republic who live in shacks and use outhouses. You've seen on the news all the people who are losing their jobs in the auto industry mess. One of your good friends at work's best buddy is dying of lung cancer. Your cousin has brain cancer. And you're frustrated because life is boring? YOU should be grateful, not irritated!"

And so then I sigh, and I keep plugging away, getting up every morning and doing it again and again. Some days, as I try hard to be disciplined in my faith, I realize that it would just be so easy to say, "Forget it!!!!" It would be pretty simple to decide to live a little more foolishly. Why not party and spend money on a shopping spree? At least it will be fun! Why not skip church this Sunday so that we can take a day trip to the Soaring Eagle Casino... I'm bored! I know life doesn't HAVE to be dull, but sometimes it just is. So why can't I just throw all the boring stuff out the window and live it up??? I'm getting older and years are flying by, yet I'm too young to just be... well, settled. Shouldn't I shake it up because "you only live once"????

Did you ever feel like God made you for more than what you are right now? Do you sit back at times and wonder, "Is this all there is?" I know I sure do. But immediately I know what the answer to that is...

"No. It's not all there is. This is just an appetizer. Stay tuned for more..."

Our pastor just finished up a series about Heaven. One of the things that I can definitely say about Christianity is this: It's not so much about what's in THIS life as what's in the NEXT life.

Our pastor reminded us that as a Christian, you get so many amazing things as part of the package. You get strength, power, mercy, grace, direction, guidance and love through your belief in Christ. You know that your sins are washed away and that you have become one of God's children. You have an amazing family of "brothers and sisters" who pray for you, learn with you, talk to you, walk with you. You have Scripture which illuminates itself as being the ultimate life guidebook, with lessons, prophecies, stories and directions. You have the Holy Spirit within you, that helps guide you and prays for you when you need it most. You have the protection of God from Satan, which in these days is so essential for staying on the right path. You get the blessings from God, which each day show you the little ways in which He loves you.

But that is all just an appetizer. For the real gift from God for our faith is the great reward of Heaven. Have you ever read what the Bible says about Heaven? It says that God will create a new Earth for us. And on this earth we will live in new bodies for all eternity. And our new, eternal lives will be glorious, with no pain, no fear, no sadness, no disappointment, no fatigue, no aches, no death, no darkness. The Bible also describes the "New Jerusalem" as being the capital city of this New Earth, with commerce and activity like we've never been able to imagine. And outside of that city, we will live -- eating our own fruits and vegetables from our own land. No taxes. No worries about money. No toxins or salmonella. No one hurting your feelings or taking advantage of you. No failures. No bumps in the road. Not one ounce of feeling that you've made a mess of things. No getting up and having to sit in a cubicle every day while staring wistfully out the window at the blue sky and sun.

Sure, we all love this world and things in it. Sometimes we love this world so much we ache. You know those snippets of your day that make you pause and smile for a moment? It might be playing with your kids... or the sight of a beautiful sunset... or dinner amongst good friends... or a great song on the radio...

But there's a lot we don't like, as well. All of those wonderful little snippets of happiness that you catch throughout your day are overshadowed by the other things that happen: the guy that cuts you off on the freeway... the extra workload at the office... the sick kids... the checking account balance that is getting precariously low... the burden of an elderly parent...

But imagine for just a moment a world where it's ALL good things and none of the bad. Where there is no boredom. Where you aren't feeling tired and insignificant. Where your body is alive and feeling more exhilarated than ever before. Where each and every moment of your day is better than the one before.

Let's put on our creative-thinking hats for a minute and imagine how amazing "Heaven" here on earth will be:

You get up in the morning to a glorious sunrise and a perfectly blue sky filled with sunshine. Birds are singing outside your window as you put on a pot of coffee and reach for that day's paper outside your door. Good news in every article -- nothing but fun events scheduled at the capital city of New Jerusalem. As you sit outside on your deck overlooking your vineyards and orchards, your eye scans down the list of new events that you can participate in that day: A local farmers market... a day trip to one of the distant planets... a sporting event in the capital where the championship game has been the talk for weeks... a big golf tournament on the sky-rise course of Augusta II... a rafting trip down the Amazon river... hang-gliding down Victoria Falls... a rock concert at planet Mercury's new arena... skiing in the Alps...

There's so much to do, and yet you're not obligated to do any of it. In fact, you might decide to garden a bit... check on your wine barrels... and go visit some friends. You remembered that you received an invitation from Timmy Tebow that he's having a bonfire that night, and you think you'd like to go to that -- especially since your great-great grandfather promised that Elvis Presley would bring along his guitar. Your house is already clean and you have no chores, so you're thinking about going to the farmers market for lobster tails to barbecue at the bonfire. Should you ride your horse, or take the Ferrari? Before leaving your home, you check in the mirror. Still you're amazed at how wonderfully fabulous your new resurrected body is -- not one blemish, one wrinkle, one ache or pain. Your hair is thick and lustrous... your skin is young and tanned... you're toned and feeling great in every way... and you thank the Lord once again for no cavities, no glasses, no arthritis and no allergies. Life is blissfully fun, relaxing, peaceful and exciting. Sure, everyone all has jobs. But each has a job that they absolutely love. (I'm hoping my job in Heaven will be as a columnist -- maybe writing up all of those fun event articles -- for the "New Jerusalem Post." :o) What would YOUR dream job be???

So after getting dressed and finishing up your breakfast, you climb into the front seat of your cherry red sports car and contemplate taking the scenic route through Rome. And as you pull around the circle driveway waving good-bye to your pet tigers, you glance back at the stunning home you live in thinking once again, "I had NO idea Heaven would be like this -- what an amazing, eternal gift just for being faithful for my small life back on the old earth. I never understood what it really meant to know that 'God loves us and is full of grace and mercy' until now. I'm SO glad He helped me stay on the right path. To say this was worth it is an understatement."

So with that very realistic possibility of Heaven in mind, think again about that phrase "you only live once." The problem with that is the very fact that you DON'T only live once. You live twice. Once here on this earth for a short period of time -- about 70 or 80 years on average. And then you get to live AGAIN, in Heaven for all eternity. That is, if you've remained faithful and disciplined in this life, living it in the name of Christ.

I understand why now there is such a great reward for those who are faithful -- and stay faithful -- to Christ in this life. It's hard. It's really hard. There are so many temptations to live it up and party in this life. There are so many opportunities to find excuses for why you don't need to go to church or confess that Christ is your savior or even be religious at all. It takes a strong personality to be a Christian. Sometimes you get knocked down in life and it's so easy to blame God or to walk away completely. It's also very easy to pretend that He doesn't exist or that you don't need Him.

80 years is a very short time compared to all of eternity. I use this analogy often, which came from our pastor at church: imagine a fishing line stretching from Mercury all the way to Pluto. And then imagine one little tiny bead at one end of the fishing line. That little bead is your life here on earth, and the rest of the line is your life in eternity. Our earth that we have now is just a preview of the real thing. You might think that this life is what's important, but trust me -- this life is just a shadow. The real thing is yet to come.

Remember that God gives us a choice -- we have free will here in this life to choose where we're going and what we'll get in the next life. So for each and every one of you who forces themselves up in the morning and who sighs on the way home from work every night, fix your thoughts on the amazing and fantastic reward waiting for you in Heaven. Chances are you probably won't win the lotto in this life. Chances are, you'll never have your dream home or dream vacation or dream job. It's unlikely that you'll have a life now where you can do exactly what you want all day every day. But one day you can. Adam and Eve had it in the Garden of Eden before they ate the apple.

Every single day in this life, Satan tempts you with that same apple, and it is solely your choice whether or not you're going to ignore him. What are you choosing right now? Listen to God, or don't listen to Him? Acknowledge the Bible, or insist that it's meaningless? Side with Christ, or think that there are many ways to Heaven? Believe that you can do what you want in this life, or recognize that it's what's in the next life that is more important?

What you DO have in this life is the ability to drive your own car, stay on the right road, and not be swayed by the boring parts or break-downs of your trip. Be sure that when you finally get to your destination, you're in the right place that leads to the grand entrance of Heaven, which will be the new Earth that God will create for us. Many will make wrong turns along the way, and that is why Jesus tells us:

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matthew 7:13-15)

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

Proof of the ultimate promise:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. (Revelation 21:1-7)

Plague and Pestilences.... the Swine Flu From Mexico

2009-04-29T19:59:00.003-04:00

I'm sorry that I've been so absent lately. All is perfectly well on my home-front. The Good LORD has continued to bless me and my household. I suppose you could just say that I've had a bit of writer's block lately. I've got three different blog posts that are half-written, and it just seemed as if every time I got half way through a post, I'd turn around and want to write something different. I also must say that the events of the week have been very distracting as well. The news of the swine/Mexican flu pandemic has taken over all of my RSS feeds, newswires, blog subscriptions and more. What in the world is going on? Is this a plague or pestilence like the old days of the Bible? What do we do about it?

Personally, I have no idea what's going on or if it's Biblical. It's too soon to tell just how bad things are going to get. It's possible that it's nothing more than a disease gone wrong that has mutated over time. It's also possible that it's something that was purposely manufactured by humans. It's also very possible that this is something that has been designed by Satan, or even sent by God. The truth is, we just don't know.

What we do know is that we need to be prepared for what may come. The WHO (World Health Organization) raised the pandemic level to 5 out of 6. That's pretty serious. That essentially means that they are fully expecting this thing to spread far, wide and fast. Members of the WHO have also stated quite clearly that they expect this disease to be even more deadly, and quite severe. That leads me to believe that they're seeing things that most of us aren't privvy to.

What do we do?

Three things, my friends:

1) Stay close to God. Pray consistently, and stay strong in His word. Seek refuge in The LORD. The most popular Psalm going around these days is the "plague" Psalm number 91. This is what it says:

Psalm 91

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."

Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare
and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,

nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.

A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.

You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.

If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-

then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;

they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

"Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.

With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation."

2) Be prudent with your hygiene and proximity to others. As the news has consistently been saying, constantly sanitize and wash your hand. Cover your sneezes and coughs, and if you begin to feel ill, stay home. I'm even taking it a step further to protect myself. I've stopped eating out (do you know if the person making your sandwich or pizza is washing their hands and covering their sneezes?). I'm also avoiding large crowds like the malls or grocery stores. If I have to go somewhere, I try to go early in the morning or late in the evening when less people are out. Be smart, and don't go to concerts or sporting events. Watch what you touch, and be conscious of what you might be breathing in. Limit your travel until this thing dies down.

3) Keep enough food/toiletries/paper products (and even water) on hand for at least a few weeks, if not longer. If for some reason things shut down like they did in Mexico City, are you prepared to not have stores available to you? Or if you have to quarantine yourself in, do you have enough medications and things so that you don't have to go out? Be smart about this, too. If you find that you're getting sick, the responsible thing to do would be to stay put and not come in contact with others. Having the appropriate amount of supplies at home will allow you more control over whatever may come down the road.

Pray that God protects you and your family. Blessings to you all...

The Tea Parties -- From a Christian Perspective

2009-04-15T20:00:00.011-04:00

(Click here for a history of: The Gadsden Flag)

If you aren't familiar with your American History, the Boston Tea Party was an act of Patriotism -- led by Samuel Adams (yep... the beer guy) -- to oppose taxes on tea that was imported from the East India Company into the Boston Harbor. Today, on April 15th 2009, there have been hundreds of "Tax Tea Parties" held in various cities across our county. These Tax Tea Parties were attended by conservative "right-wing" Americans who not only oppose the high taxes and bailout programs, but also the Obama administration itself. This truly has been an historic event, as it is by far one of the largest organized gatherings of conservative Americans ever. What is the significance of it, and what does it have to do with Christians and the Bible?

First of all, let me proudly and loudly declare my support for those Tea Partiers. Largely, the crowds were not just conservative right-wing, but also Christian. Ironically, on this same day, the Department of Homeland Security issued a 9-page report that targeted U.S. Veterans as possible domestic terrorist suspects for future militant uprisings. Are the two related? And again, what's the significance?

The people that these two events are referring to are a growing mass of "Patriots" who are standing up and making themselves heard. An article about the statement from the DHS in the USA TODAY said this:

In a report made public today, the Department of Homeland Security warns that the recession and the election of President Obama are "fueling resurgence" of right-wing extremist groups that are seeking new recruits, especially returning veterans.

The intelligence assessment suggests that veterans make attractive recruits because of "combat skills and experience" that could boost the "violent capabilities" of radical right groups. Further, it says that any possible new restrictions on gun ownership, combined with vets' trouble reintegrating into their communities during a bad economy, "could lead to the potential emergence of terrorist groups or lone wolf extremists capable of carrying out violent attacks."

"The high volume of purchases and stockpiling of weapons and ammunition by right-wing extremists in anticipation of restrictions and bans in some parts of the country continue to be a primary concern to law enforcement," the report states.

But DHS "has no specific information that domestic right-wing terrorists are currently planning acts of violence," spokeswoman Sara Kuban told Fox News.

It saddens me and disappoints me that our government is seeing our vets as possible "radical" extremists. Those men and women who stood up and volunteered to serve our country should be honored... respected... commended! Not targeted and profiled.

It's true that gun sales have risen exponentially since the Obama administration. Why do you think that is? It's not to start an uprising, or to lash out in acts of gun violence. It's to protect themselves. Why others don't see this is beyond me. The right-wing conservative groups in our country see the rapid and horrific decline of our country's priorities, values and morals. Suddenly, we are in a world where the government ignores massive drug cartels right across the border. Suddenly we're faced with Islamic infiltration and acceptance with regard to our laws and constitution. We see ads for a "Civilian National Security Force" with messages to teens and young adults on the street. We watch gay pride parades, and see hostile movements by North Korea and Somalia. And yet we also see a government whose socialist/Marxist activities ignore -- and in some cases endorse -- all of that. And at the end of it all, we are no longer allowed to bring God and Christ into any of it.

Is it any wonder???? Do we really want to see street thugs in uniforms with power in our city streets? Do we want to accept Islamic Sharia law to govern our court systems? Are we okay with the subservient talks and soft actions towards Arab countries? No, no, no, no, no!

Top all of that off with gay pride parades... large corporation bailouts... plummeting home values but increased property taxes... a false sense of urgency regarding global warming while our middle class dissolves into poverty...

And suddenly you have a bunch of really ticked off people.

Now why is is mostly conservative right-wingers, you ask? Well, in all honesty, most liberals are either A) minorities B) immigrants C) homosexuals D) teenagers/young adults E) ex-hippies F) live in very large cities/metropolitan areas or G) are either very poor or very wealthy.

Most right-wing conservatives are simply either A) white middle age people B) Christians C) live outside of large cities or in the country or D) are middle class.

And almost all of the directives, laws and policies that Obama has signed these past few months in office benefit the first bunch of categories much more so than the second set. And taking that a step further, most of the directives, laws and policies which benefit that first group are literally being funded by the taxes paid by the second group.

Understanding that, one can easily see why right-wing conservatives have had enough and decided to stand up and be heard. Slowly, bit by bit, their money and their freedoms are being taken away and instead being given to the left-wing liberals.

As a result, protesting Tea Parties have sprung up in massive numbers today. And also as a result, the government senses the anger and confusion of this group and is concerned that they'll take it a step further and lash out in violence. In all reality, the conservatives are feeling like caged animals that have been backed into the corner, with the government-zoo keeper wielding a large taser gun that is poking, prodding and conditioning them into silent, oppressed, controlled creatures. It's heartbreaking. And very scary.

So how does the Bible tie into all of this? Well, it may surprise you to know that the Bible predicts the persecution of Christ's entire church. The very first signs of the End Times is this:

Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. (Matthew 24:7-8)

But the very next sign is this: "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved."(Matthew 24:9-13)

It can't happen over night. The U.S. can't go from the nation we were back in 2000 to all of a sudden hating all the Christians. It just doesn't work that way. There has to be a movement... a shifting of the thought processes and belief system. It's going to be a gradual process that escalates. There will have to be a division of sorts at first, and unfortunately the Bible predicts that Christians will end up being the underdog. It's all orchestrated by Satan himself, and he knows the absolute very best way to create the beginnings of that division: government, politics and money. He's a smart, conniving, deceiving fellow who is turning up the heat and setting the stage for his uprising. I believe that this year, under the Obama administration, that division is growing stronger. We are all going to have to choose, and there are only two sides: with God, or against God.

The Christians sense it. They feel it. The Holy Spirit is preparing them for the upcoming battle, and now it's time to choose sides. A big turning point occurred today with the finger-pointing at conservatives and veterans. It will escalate from here, until we get to the point where we are literally under fire for our faith. The lines will blur between government and God, and every single American will be on one side or the other. Our patriotic guns and steadfast stance are not held to induce terror, but to prevent it. It's a futile effort with regard to a win, but a valiant effort with regard to Christ.

There's more on the way, and it will become more intense. Our bodies and minds might get beaten down, but our souls and spirit will remain strong. We know how the story ends. We know.

Pray for all the patriots of our nation who stood up on this day, and for the thousands more who wish that they could've been there. Lift up your brothers and sisters in Christ, so that they see the true enemy and retaliate by putting on the armor of God as they stand up and fight.

My favorite verse of the Bible is this one, which I've quoted before:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. (Ephesians 6:10-18)

Remember... He who stands firm to the end will be saved.

It's "In God We Trust..."

A Vision of What's to Come...

2009-04-14T11:29:00.009-04:00

Brother Maurice Sklar is a Messianic Jew and a top concert violinist
who ministers in psalms. Maurice was a featured soloist on the popular
Shalom Jerusalem music video a few years ago with Paul Wilbur done in
Jerusalem. Maurice Sklar is of Russian descent and as was prophesied,
“In the last days, young men will see visions…”

The Closing of the Gates of Grace
Maurice Sklar
Mar 30, 2009

“Tonight I watched as the Holy Spirit gave me a vision.
I saw two massive gate doors – both on the right and the left of the
earth. They were made out of gold with precious gems embedded in
them. They were positioned over the earth in the spirit realm. On
the other side of the gates was heaven. On our side of the gates was
the earth suspended in space. Then I saw a mighty angel on each side
of the two gates. They were standing as sentries guarding the
doorway or portal from the two realms. They each had a large sword
in their hands that was on fire and it seemed to spin around
perpetually in every direction and it shot these flames out all
around them. I was amazed and awed at their glory and size. They
seemed as large as the earth below them. The gates were even larger
in size than they were! Both the angels and the gates were glowing
as bright as the sun, it seemed. On the heavenly side – light was
streaming like a river flowing toward the earth. As I looked into
the glorious light, I saw the Lord sitting on His throne in great
majesty with many crowns on His head. He had an iron/bronze-looking
scepter in his right hand and an old-fashioned-looking harvesting
sickle in the other.

Suddenly, I heard His voice. It sounded like a roaring ocean of
water and wind as He spoke. I have never heard such a sound before.
He said,

“The time has come to close the gates of grace upon the earth. The
nations have rejected Me and My Father long enough. Lift the
coverings of protection off of those nations that have chosen
Babylon over my Kingdom. I will no longer protect them from reaping
what they have sown.”

Then the two angels on each side of the golden gate leaves began to
move slowly to shut the giant doorway/portal. I noticed that this
was a slow process, because I saw the seasons change on earth and
some years pass before it was fully closed. As it was closing, I was
able to look closer at the river of light that was pouring upon the
earth. In it was every blessing and healing grace, forgiveness,
unconditional agape love, and the constant flow of angels carrying
all these wonderful blessings to the earth. Right before the gates
shut, I heard the Voice of the Lord say,

“Come up here, my Bride, and escape the wrath that is about to be
poured out upon the earth.”

I heard a nearly deafeningly loud blast of heavenly trumpets from
both those angels at the same time, and suddenly, I saw multitudes
of souls – millions and millions of them – ascending out of the
earth very fast in a flash of light. The river of light coming
through the gates met them in the upper atmosphere of the earth and
then reversed itself and all the souls and the river of light went
back up out of the earth and into the closing gates back into heaven.

Then I saw the gates finish shutting completely – at a much faster
rate now after the souls from earth had finished going into heaven.
Then, it became so dark that I could no longer see the stars even.
There was no more river of light flowing down upon the earth. The
earth was covered in what looked like white neon hexagon shapes in a
web above the earth (please see my teaching “Visions from the Dallas
Revival 1985” on my websight) It rapidly became opaque where I could
no longer see the earth underneath. I just saw a brownish looking
color –like a stagnant pond - where the oceans and land could be
seen only a few moments before. Then, nearly just as fast, the whole
earth seemed to be swallowed up in the thickest black darkness I had
ever seen. It was like a black hole in the universe. It made the
rest of the universe look light in comparison, if I could describe
it that way.

I felt so sick and hopeless as I saw this. Then, just like I had
heard back in the vision in 1985, I began hearing the screams of
millions upon millions of souls that I knew were trapped in that
darkness below in the earth. The Holy Spirit then spoke to me and said,

“This is now coming upon the whole earth as a snare and a trap. This
is what the nations have chosen. As they have done, so shall it be
done to them. As they have cursed, so shall they be cursed. As they
have condemned, so shall they be condemned. The time of My wrath
shall surely come. The nations shall drink of the wine of the wrath
of My cup that I have mixed for them. Woe! Woe! Woe to the earth for
the hour of her judgment has surely come! Babylon shall now fall and
be consumed by the fire of my wrath.”

Then I realized that these were still events to come in the future.
But I also somehow knew that it was imminent. Once again, I saw the
doors of the gates of grace still remained partially open. I knew
that this was our present time now. I was so relieved to see the
river of light flowing into the earth again. But, the doors were
closing fast! They weren’t fully opened as they were even a few
years ago. I knew that we didn’t have much more time. The Lord spoke
again so loudly and powerfully:

“Warn them! Time is very short! You must preach the gospel and work
while it is still daylight. The night comes very soon, and no man
can then harvest in the time of grace ever again. The doors of grace
are beginning to close. REPENT! REPENT! REPENT O Earth before the
river of light stops flowing! Then you will face Me, not as Merciful
Savior, but as the Judge of all the earth. Who will hear and heed
the final call of the silver trumpet’s clarion of Grace, Grace! My
Spirit will not strive with sinful man forever. Come to Me now while
there is still a little time left. I am coming soon for My
overcoming Bride. Keep your lamps burning…
Watch and Pray…

I AM AT THE DOORS OF GRACE! They are closing quickly….
Come into My ark of safety…
Come into the Bridal chamber and the doors will SHUT…
I AM COMING FOR YOU, MY BELOVED!!!”

I pray that we all take heed to God’s prophetic warning and be ready
when he appears for His glorious, waiting Bride.

Love in our Messiah,
Maurice Sklar
http://www.mauricesklar.com/

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T18:04:00.004-04:00

What a glorious day of celebration. I wish that I had more time today to write about the amazing and significant event of Christ's resurrection. Alas, I spent the day at church and visiting family, and still have chores to do.

Simply know that above all, God gave His son for us, so that we may have life with Him for all eternity when we die. The resurrection of Christ was proof of what we'll have at the end of days.

He is risen... Amen and blessings to all!

I Love This Country... But I Love God More

2009-04-09T22:19:00.011-04:00

I absolutely love being an American. I love every single thing about our country. I love the land and the climates. I love the freedom and the history. I love the people. The cultures. Maybe not so much baseball, but I sure do love apple pie.

Yet at this moment in time, I just do not like what's been happening with our country. It's just blowing my mind. I don't know what I'm in awe over more -- the fact that President Obama is blatantly acting like someone who completely disregards the fundamental, historical morals and values that we once had in our great country... or the fact that most people don't seem to care. Actually, let me rephrase that. "Or the fact that people don't care and still think he's the best thing to come along in centuries."

My heart aches, and my soul groans. I am officially standing up and declaring that my country -- as I once knew and loved it -- is gone.

First let's take Obama's visit to Turkey. The Washington Post wrote this about the visit:

ANKARA, Turkey, April 6 -- President Obama made his most direct outreach to Muslims around the world Monday, telling Turkey's Grand National Assembly that the United States "is not and never will be at war with Islam."

"Our partnership with the Muslim world is critical in rolling back a violent ideology that people of all faiths reject," Obama told the assembly. "The future must belong to those who create, not those who destroy. That is the future we must work for, and we must work for it together."

Obama's speech focused primarily on the U.S. relationship with Turkey. But he also used it as a chance to continue his outreach to Muslims and to signal an approach to the region based more on pragmatism than ideology. He sidestepped a campaign pledge to label as genocide the 1915 mass killing of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire and promised the Turks a broader relationship than one focused solely on combating terrorism.

During his campaign, Obama consistently played down connections to Islam, rarely mentioning his middle name, Hussein, or his childhood years in an Indonesian state school. The tactic helped fuel false Internet-driven rumors that Obama, a Christian, had once been Muslim. But in his appearance Monday, the president noted the contributions that Muslim Americans have made to the United States, saying that many Americans "have Muslims in their family, or have lived in a Muslim-majority country."

"I know," Obama said, drawing applause from the lawmakers, "because I am one of them."

Is it just me, or does this bother you, too? Okay, I'm sure that he meant that he's one who has Muslims in his family. But still... it's disconcerting to know he's playing so nice in such a comfortable way, telling them what they want to hear.

But then Obama goes on to say this: "We will listen carefully, bridge misunderstanding, and seek common ground," he added. "We will be respectful, even when we do not agree. And we will convey our deep appreciation for the Islamic faith, which has done so much over so many centuries to shape the world for the better -- including my own country."

HUH? Sure, one might be able to explain away the first snippet... but what about that last one? Since when has Islam shaped the world -- or our country, for that matter -- for better???

How is it, and WHY is it that President Obama visited two mosques while in Turkey?

In his book, Dreams of my Father, Obama states that he only met his dad for two weeks. If that's the case, then why did he also say at one point that "My father's Muslim faith had a profound influence on my life,"?

Here are some other things that stand out as un-kosher to me (no pun intended):

--Let's not forget the first call after being in office was to the president of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas. A simple hand outstretched for peace? Or is it something more? The VERY FIRST call????

--After strong messages of US reconciliation with the Islamic world on trip to Turkey (a primarily Muslim country), he visited a part of the mosque allowed only for Muslims. NOT the area provided for tourists. Several reports state the following: Taking off his shoes as tradition requires, Obama stepped into the 17th-century Sultanahmet Mosque in the ancient heart of Istanbul, accompanied by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan amid tight security in the area.

Two Muslim preachers guided Obama inside the grandiose edifice -- better known as the Blue Mosque for its blue tileworks -- and the president smiled when they showed him a dome scripture mentioning the Prophet Mohammed's grandson Hussein, Obama's middle name, Anatolia news agency reported.

--Does anyone else think it's a little odd that this Christian president who so prominently participated in his church before the election has not been back to church one time since he's been in office???

--Obama clearly stated that he supports a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He doesn't seem to be warming up to the new right-wing government of Benjamin Netanyahu. As a Christian, he should be a strong ally and supporter of Israel. However, is actions these days are looking more Muslim than Christian, in which case his phone call/support/visits to Palestine and neighboring Islamic countries don't surprise me one bit.

--What in the world is up with this Somali/Islamic pirate thing? Reuters states that President George H.W. Bush, describing it as "God's work," sent U.S. combat troops to the east African nation in late 1992 to lead an international U.N. force to secure the environment for relief operations. The Obama administration, however, is calling it an "annoying distraction" and is tip-toeing around the situation. Somalia is a very dangerous place. Foreign Policy magazine called it "The Most Dangerous Place in the World." Where are the guts of our country? Why haven't we used warships and submarines to kill these pirates? Michael Savage did a great show today on this topic. He's the one of very few who have spoken up and said that it's a complete disgrace that we haven't seriously went after -- meaning bombed, shot or killed -- those pirates. Where is our sense of military pride? Our defense? Our offense? What's the use of warships and submarines if we aren't going to use them except to sail around in foreign oceans, ramming into each other? One smart caller said that even if we did "capture" those pirates, our silly judicial system would be forced to give them a fair trial and use tax-payer money to prosecute them. How ridiculous is that???

--And let's take the gun issue. How's this for a headline? "In recognition of the unprecedented demand for firearms by nervous consumers, The Outdoor Wire, the nation’s largest daily electronic news service for the outdoor industry, has named President-elect Barack Obama its “Gun Salesman of the Year”. With the selection, Outdoor Wire publisher Jim Shepherd says it is time the firearms industry recognizes the fact that without President-elect Obama’s frightening consumers into action, the firearms industry might be suffering the same sort of business slumps that have befallen the automotive and housing industries."

The publisher of that magazine goes on to write: Manufacturers are months behind on orders for semi-automatic pistols, AR-style rifles, and anything with so-called ‘high-capacity magazines’,” Shepherd says, “buyers we’ve surveyed across the country seem to have a single explanation for their rush to purchase firearms – Obama.”

“The buying panic is not limited to people you might be described as aficionados or even ‘gun nuts’. Recently, I was in a gun store when a gentleman came and said he’d never wanted to own a gun before, but wanted to get one while he still could.”

Since the November Presidential election, firearms sales have been at unprecedented levels. For December 2008 the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) recorded a twenty-four percent increase in background checks for 2008 (1,523,426) over December 2007 (1,230,525).

This follows a forty-two percent (42%) increase in November 2008, the highest number of NICS checks in the system’s history. Those FBI background checks are required under federal law for all individuals purchasing firearms from federally licensed firearms retailers. In other words, gun sales have never been better.

Sales are so good that on Tuesday, January 6, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) issued a notice to all federal firearms licensees that “an unprecedented increase in demand for ATF Form 4473” had run supplies low enough that dealers were temporarily given permission to photocopy the form until supplies caught up with demand. Completion of a form 4473 is required whenever a federal firearms licensee sells a firearm. As a journalist with more than two decades of national newsgathering experience, Shepherd says he’s never seen anything approaching what he calls the “Obama effect”. (You can read more about that here: Gun Salesman of the Year)

--Or how about this recent headline?: The president's new science adviser said Wednesday that global warming is so dire, the Obama administration is discussing radical technologies to cool Earth's air. John Holdren told The Associated Press in his first interview since being confirmed last month that the idea of geoengineering the climate is being discussed. One such extreme option includes shooting pollution particles into the upper atmosphere to reflect the sun's rays. Holdren said such an experimental measure would only be used as a last resort.

I can write dozens more, but I'll stop there. If you are like me, you are frustrated. Irritated. Disheartened. Sad. Angry. Confused.

What in the world is going on? I can answer that very easily.

Satan is stepping up his game.

Now I'm not saying that Obama is the Anti-Christ. But I am saying that he is a strong figure with the desire to be a "peacemaker." If he isn't the real thing, then the stage is set for a pretty intense dress rehearsal. America is a big, strong country with delicate ties to other nations and a big foundation for the world's economy. I can almost guarantee you that Satan is using our country as a pawn in his attempts to unseat the Church of Christ.

This is all written in the Bible, my friends. Allow me to cut/paste some snippets from a letter I just wrote today to a friend and fellow Christian:

Satan's uprising HAS to take place for this world to end according to Scripture. The playbook is written... we're in the 4th quarter... and everyone is on pins and needles. We know that the Evil One and his minions need to get ahead of the game for a bit, but that just means that we have got to stay on, play hard, endure and stick it out. It's going to get ugly, and it's going to get brutal. It's going to mess us up both mentally and physically. We are going to get bruised, bloody, beaten up and completely worn down. But we also know how the game ends. WE KNOW.

Yet we all must remember who controls our government. That's right... Satan. He is the prince of this world, the ruler of earth. He's got really strong deceptions in place within our government, and his blinders are on everyone.

If you are like the rest of us, and you are feeling frustrated, discouraged and disheartened by our president and government, then that simply means that the Good Lord is choosing you to be on His team. Your heart and soul are alerting you to the swelling rise of good vs. evil, and it is time now that you choose your side. I know that you're probably like me, and you very much love your country. But right now, it's about what you love more. Do you love God? Or do you love your country? God rules our hearts, our souls, the Church and our Universe. Satan rules this earth, the nations, and our country. It's Christ or Satan. Good vs. Evil. It's time now to take your stance.

I know it's heartbreaking and gut-wrenching. But the Bible tells us how to stand strong and stay in the game as a fighter:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. (Ephesians 6:10-18)

I see it everywhere. It's so much bigger than just America's government and military. The forces are brewing, and the winds are picking up. Just two years ago I wasn't even a Christian, and now I am in contact with a small but growing network of Christians who are getting clear signals that the puzzle pieces are all swiftly moving into place.

I do believe that the time has passed for hope that this will all go away and we'll return to the "normal" life we've had for the past 20 years or so. Do you feel it? Can you sense it?

Did you see the "Crown of Thorns" galaxy photographed in space yesterday? This photograph made the rounds on the very day Passover began in Israel. Coincidence? I assure you, it's not.

"There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars..."

May God bless you, and keep you strong in His words. Pray now not for our country, but for the believers who are gathering together for the fight that is to come...

Stay tuned for my next post, which will be on the "Great Deception."

Does Hell Really Exist?

2009-04-08T21:36:00.004-04:00

Is Hell real? Does it really exist? Why did God make it, and who will end up there????

Since I've become a Christian, I have talked almost non-stop about Heaven. I love knowing that at the end of my life, within a few seconds, I'll be face-to-face with Jesus in the glorious Kingdom of Heaven. Right now, Heaven is in a place not of this earthly realm. But far into the future, when Satan has been defeated and the time of this earth is done, Heaven will be here on the New Earth. I can't wait for that. It truly takes away all fear or trepidation about death.

Jesus told his disciples: Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
(John 14:1-3)

I love daydreaming about what my "room" will be like. Since God's "house" is Heaven itself, I can't help but to think that maybe I'll have my own home in Heaven. With acreage of land, and beautiful flowers, and my own orchard. Why not? In the Old Testament, a small description of that Heaven on the New Earth is written:

Never again will there be in it
an infant who lives but a few days,
or an old man who does not live out his years;
he who dies at a hundred
will be thought a mere youth;
he who fails to reach a hundred
will be considered accursed.

They will build houses and dwell in them;
they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

No longer will they build houses and others live in them,
or plant and others eat.
For as the days of a tree,
so will be the days of my people;
my chosen ones will long enjoy
the works of their hands. (Isaiah 65:20-22)

But for all that talk and day dreaming about Heaven... what about Hell? Is it real? Again, if that's the case, why would God make Hell to begin with? And is it true that He is sending anyone and everyone who doesn't believe in Christ?

I rarely do this, but I'm going to do it this time. I'm going to leave you hanging. Yep... instead of answering those questions for you, I'm going to hand it over to someone who can answer them far better than I can.

If you have any questions whatsoever about Hell and want to know the truth, go to the bookstore (or library) and get a copy of the book called "Hell" by Bill Wiese. I have just finished reading this book, and by far it's one of the best books that I have read this year. His first book came out in 2006, and it was called "23 Minutes in Hell". In that book, Mr. Wiese tells the story about a profound and life-changing vision The Lord gave him of Hell. That book was raw, unfiltered, full of emotions and undeniably real. It's a good place to start, because it gives a very clear and descriptive picture of what Hell really is.

But even better than that is his newest follow-up book, called "Hell: Separate Truth From Fiction and Get Your Toughest Questions Answered."

I absolutely love this book. It's not all just about Hell -- in my humble opinion, this book answers several of those really tough questions about Christianity, like:

--How can a loving God send people to Hell?
--Why did God create such a horrible place?
--What do sins have to do with Hell, and why can't God just overlook them?
--Is the fire real or metaphorical?
--Who/what are the demons and fallen angels?
--Does the Devil really rule over hell?
--How bad is it really???
--Do people in hell just cease to exist, or are they alive?

Those questions, and so many more, are answered in an easy-to-read book with small, easy chapters. It wasn't awful or horribly scary. It was just clear to me that this man was indeed touched by the Lord to bring us the truth about Hell. And the truth was startling. I don't even have to quote any Scripture, because there is enough of it in there to back up what the author writes.

If you've found this post by doing a web search, then you must have some questions about Hell. Get your hands on this book, because I assure you, it will answer every single one of your questions... and it will linger in your mind for days. I don't often endorse a book, but this is a must-read if you have the slightest curiosity about Hell.

(And for your better knowing pleasure, I highly endorse the book "Heaven" by Randy Alcorn for questions about that.)

God bless!

Are We A Christian Nation?

2009-04-06T20:16:00.010-04:00

President Obama says "no."

I can write all day about how this country was founded on Christianity, but I won't. I'll simply say this: When one turns his back on Christ -- whether it's you, me or the President of the United States -- that person will have to answer to God. If Mr. Obama wants to turn this country into one that is identified by Muslim, Buddhist, Jewish or Atheist beliefs versus our fundamental Christian beliefs, then he can take credit as the leader who brought down judgment on our country.

If the words in the Bible are true, and I believe them to be with all of my heart, we are going to be in for it, for two reasons:

1) Judgment for our lack of faith and outright disobedience. As in the days of Noah and Lot, the people of our country are ruled by the flesh. Collectively, they are a proud, wicked nation of people who do not pray and give thanks to our Lord. In fact, most of them would deny that there even IS a God, let alone offer their humble thanks and accept the salvation of Jesus Christ. In this day and age, it is not PC or polite to be a true, conservative Christian. The masses feel as if we're close-minded and shallow to follow the teachings of the Bible. We know that Jesus said it -- not us. The "citizens" of this country can condemn Christians all they want, but it matters not to me. Why? Because Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." (John 3:16-21)

Yet I, along with my other Christian brothers and sisters, live in this nation of unbelievers. And like in the days of Noah and Lot, God will bring down judgment upon the people of this country for their lack of faith.

2) But more importantly, He will do this to get the attention of the people of the United States. Simply read the book of Amos in the Old Testament (you can read it here, at Biblegateway: Book of Amos Just be sure to continue onto the next chapters -- don't just read chapter 1). God says over and over and over, "Yet you have not returned to me." He is trying to get the attention of the people with famines and pestilences and earthquakes, yet still they have not returned to Him. This isn't arrogance or narcissism, as some atheists would say. This is God giving people a chance at salvation. As we spiral out of control and deny Christ as a nation, we will see this happen.

Burn leavened bread as a thank offering
and brag about your freewill offerings—
boast about them, you Israelites,
for this is what you love to do,"
declares the Sovereign LORD.

"I gave you empty stomachs in every city
and lack of bread in every town,
yet you have not returned to me,"
declares the LORD.

"I also withheld rain from you
when the harvest was still three months away.
I sent rain on one town,
but withheld it from another.
One field had rain;
another had none and dried up.

People staggered from town to town for water
but did not get enough to drink,
yet you have not returned to me,"
declares the LORD.

"Many times I struck your gardens and vineyards,
I struck them with blight and mildew.
Locusts devoured your fig and olive trees,
yet you have not returned to me,"
declares the LORD.

"I sent plagues among you
as I did to Egypt.
I killed your young men with the sword,
along with your captured horses.
I filled your nostrils with the stench of your camps,
yet you have not returned to me,"
declares the LORD.

"I overthrew some of you
as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
You were like a burning stick snatched from the fire,
yet you have not returned to me,"
declares the LORD.

"Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel,
and because I will do this to you,
prepare to meet your God, O Israel."

He who forms the mountains,
creates the wind,
and reveals his thoughts to man,
he who turns dawn to darkness,
and treads the high places of the earth—
the LORD God Almighty is his name. (Amos 4:5-13)

God did things to get their attention, yet they refused to turn to God. In this day and age, things are happening to get our attention: the economic crisis... earthquakes... volcanos... famines... disease... and yet still we deny Him. Right up until the very end, many people will laugh at the idea of God and Christ -- and we will be the minority. Even now it's unlawful to mention Easter or Christ or prayer in public schools. UNLAWFUL. Can you believe that? By America's rules. By the President's eyes. By the words of the scoffers who mock us and our beliefs. By those who think that we are close-minded and shallow.

First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
(2 Peter 3:3-13)

God doesn't want anyone to perish, but the way it looks now, there will be many. That's why Jesus said "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matthew 7:12-14)

Just because what President Obama said might be true does not mean that it's right. And just because Obama thinks it's right, doesn't mean it's true to God.

Let's pray for our country...