Be Thankful

Here are a few of my favorite Thanksgiving Day thoughts...

"For the Glory of God and the Advancement of the Christian faith, and the honour of our King and Country."
-- The Mayflower Compact

"To All Ye Pilgrims: Inasmuch as the great Father has given us this year an abundant harvest of Indian corn, wheat, beans, squashes, and garden vegetables, and has made the forests to abound with game and the sea with fish and clams, and inasmuch as He has protected us from the ravages of the savages, has spared us from pestilence and disease, has granted us freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience; now, I...do proclaim that all ye Pilgrims, with your wives and little ones, do gather...to listen to ye pastor, and render thanksgiving to ye Almighty God for all His blessings."
-- William Bradford, the Governor of Plymouth Colony

"This one is so simple that we miss it. Why aren’t we more grateful? There are many answers to that question, but this one is central: we aren’t grateful because we’ve never asked God to give us a grateful heart. By nature we are covetous, greedy, grasping and unhappy. Left to ourselves, we will be just like that rich fool. Generosity isn’t our natural impulse. We aren’t born giving; we’re born getting. Gratitude is not the inborn language of the heart."
-- Ray Pritchard

‎"Gratitude is an offering precious in the sight of God, and it is one that the poorest of us can make and be not poorer but richer for having made it."
-- A.W. Tozer

"The art of thanksgiving is thanksliving."
-- Anonymous

"Our favorite attitude should be gratitude."
-- Anonymous

"The things we take for granted are dreams to many people."
-- Anonymous

Then there are several passages of Scripture that exhort us to always be thankful...

Psalms 68:19 (KJV) Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.

Psalms 100:4 (KJV) Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

Hebrews 12:28 (ESV) Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,

Colossians 2:7 (KJV) Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Colossians 3:15 (ESV) And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

Colossians 4:2 (KJV) Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

2 Timothy 1:3 (ESV) I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (KJV) In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

...to name a few.

Revelation 3:17 "For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked." Today is Thanksgiving Day.

Remember, if you feel 'poor' it's only because you want more than you've been blessed with already. The problem today is that we're constantly told we need things we never really wanted in the first place.

The problem with these so-called 'needs' is that there's never any satisfaction even when you meet them. That's because only Jesus Christ truly satisfies.

Yes, it should be a day of thanksgiving. It should be a day of repentance too.

As we in America celebrate Thanksgiving, and all the great freedoms, advancements, and benefits that the exporting of Christianity to this land brought with it, let us never forget about those millions of other people who are trapped in the bondage of their nations who are held captive to false religions and the human wreckage that those false religions bring.

By the same token, let's never ignore the sins of this nation or try to sweep them under the rug to the point where we ignore repentance altogether.

Again, of course, I'm incredibly thankful for all the blessings that the Lord has bestowed upon me and my family throughout the past year. We're all blessed to live in this nation too.

By the way, I'm not just talking about material blessings either. Through all the anxieties, arguments, disagreements, emotional distress, family issues, fear, heartache, sickness, unemployment, and the general ups-and-downs that are a part of life, He has BLESSED ME RICHLY with His grace!

Do you know what it's like -- what it's truly like -- to go through certain experiences in this life responding to them in such a way that's in complete opposition to what the 'wisdom of the world' tells you about how you should be responding?

Do you know what it's like to face unforeseen trials and tribulation with a complete and total sense of peace that defies all logic? I do because I have. His Word is sure and true.

Be content. Be thankful. Thank God.

I heard someone say that "everyone lives in one of two tents -- contentment or discontentment", and thought that such a statement was (sadly) a perfect description of our culture today. Which 'tent' do you spend most of your time living in?

Yes, times are tough, but this Thanksgiving Day let's all be thankful for our blessings that are both material and spiritual.

Give thanks for the many blessings you have been given this past year. No matter how 'bad' things may seem to you right now, it could probably be so much worse.

I bring this up for good reason. See, as 'bad' as things are in the US right now (and for each of us on an individual and personal level perhaps), I hate to say it, but it pales in comparison to what many of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ are experiencing in other parts of the world right now.

Imagine having nothing materially speaking. Imagine not being able to put food on the table today. Worse, imagine being persecuted for your faith; persecution that goes far beyond being merely mocked and ridiculed, but that which often leads to imprisonment, torture, and perhaps even death.

Thank God today (and every day) because a thankful heart is one of the primary identifying characteristics of a true believer in Jesus Christ.

From my family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving Day!

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Posted in: America In Prophecy,Apostasy,Bible Study,Daily Bread,Great Commission,Holidays,Spiritual Growth,Witnessing

Is God Using Tim Tebow To Expose Us?

Don't you just love it whenever God raises up an individual or an issue to top of mind awareness in the public arena simply to bring glory, honor, and praise to Himself?

Don't you just love it whenever God does something like that at the precise time when it seems we're seeing a surge in sinful behavior let alone apostasy among the so-called 'Christian' ranks?

1 Cointhians 1:27 (ESV) But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;

It's interesting because millions of people who call themselves 'Christians' will not celebrate Thanksgiving later today as if that were the case. Instead, they'll be more concerned with anything but God except for perhaps during the annual saying of 'Grace' before they eat.

One of the things they'll prefer to spend more time talking about, instead of recalling God's blessings and provisions over the course of the past year, will be football of the NFL variety.

So, with that in mind, I want to briefly touch upon a subject that continues to grow in the intensity with which the discussion seems to possess those involved.

You've no doubt heard that Denver Broncos Quarterback Tim Tebow is all the rage right now. By 'all the rage' I mean to say that he is an incredibly polarizing figure; more than I've seen in the world of professional sports in quite some time. You either love him, or you hate him.

Those who love him generally cite that it's because of the fact that he's a self-professing Christian who wears his beliefs on his sleeve unashamedly.

If I may, however, I think that far too many of those same people are kidding themselves. What do I mean? Well, I think they just like the fact that they have found someone who's 'cool' by the world's standards (by virtue of the simple fact that he's a celebrity who plays a key position in one of the world's most popular sports), and they desperately want to prove to the lost, non-believing world that Christians can be 'cool' too.

Why do we do that? Be honest. Who among us (myself included) hasn't at one time or another made it a point to let lost family members and friends know that "So-And-So is a Christian!" as if that somehow validates our cherished faith more than a changed life does let's say?

It's ridiculous, isn't it? You bet it is. Yet, this is what a majority of Christians in America do because a majority of Christians in America today are 'Christians-In-Name-Only' I'm afraid, and theirs is a shallow faith, or a faith that knows how to act, look, and sound 'Christian' without having to really get your hands dirty with the day-to-day, moment-by-moment expectations of a genuine Christian life.

Look, we should be examining ourselves on a daily basis already, but even if we are doing what we're supposed to, even if we're already doing that, can we honestly say that our support for Tim Tebow is solely because he's a fellow brother in Christ who's being persecuted for his faith?

Yes, exposing us for who we really are can be tragic, but it's hardly surprising. The holy Scriptures through the New Testament repeatedly warns us to expect rampant apostasy especially as we approach the prophesied end times.

So, the question for us becomes, 'Whose approval do I really crave?'

Galatians 1:10 (ESV) For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Please prayerfully consider that for just a moment.

Those are my thoughts about the people who say they love and support Tim Tebow. Then there are those who hate him, and they generally cite that it's because of the fact that he's not even close to being an 'average' NFL Quarterback based on his mechanics, his skills set, and his statistics.

If I may, however, I think that far too many of those same people are kidding themselves also. What do I mean? Well, I think that's just a cover for the fact that they hate that he's too public in proclaiming to the world that he's a Christian. In other words, they dislike the fact that he wears his beliefs on his sleeve unashamedly.

Let's recall a couple of verses. One of them we already looked at earlier.

1 Cointhians 1:27 (ESV) But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;

1 Corinthians 1:18 (ESV) For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Don't believe me and my assessment?

Check out the latest attack thrown Tebow's way by another former NFL Quarterback named Jake Plummer...

"Tebow, regardless of whether I wish he'd just shut up after a game and go hug his teammates, I think he's a winner and I respect that about him. I think that when he accepts the fact that we know that he loves Jesus Christ, then I think I'll like him a little better. I don't hate him because of that, I just would rather not have to hear that every single time he takes a good snap or makes a good handoff. Like you know, I understand dude where you're coming from ... but he is a baller."

Sorry Plummer, but that's an incomplete pass in my book. Nice try though.

The 'Symbolism Junkie' in me wants to quickly point out that while Tebow is obviously the Christian in this news story, it's uncanny that his accuser not only played for the 'Sun Devils' at Arizona State University but his nickname has always been 'The Snake' too, which calls to my mind the "Serpent" and/or "Accuser" himself (Genesis 3:1; Job 2:1; Revelation 12:10; Revelation 20:2). Isn't that quite telling?

My point in writing this today is to not only chime in on a subject that I've remained silent about until this point, but to also encourage you to examine yourselves my dear friends (2 Corinthians 13:5).

Why? Because I personally believe that God is using Tim Tebow to expose us. In this late and urgent hour of humanity, we find ourselves on the cusp of the prophesied Tribulation and Great Tribulation, and so it's important for us to be mindful of our spiritual condition. I believe things like this Tim Tebow business only help to force us to think about the things (or the One) that we have been ignoring for so long.

I mean, my gosh, have you ever seen so many people get so upset over a professional athlete's celebration? I think there might be another angle to look at here too. Seeing a sports players kneel down to pray, or point to the heavens, or perform the sign of the cross after a big play is nothing new. We even hear them thank God publicly on Live National TV in some cases.

So what gives then? Why does there appear to be more vitriol in response to Tim Tebow doing those types of things that players from previous generations have always done? Again, I think it goes back to the fact that God is using Tim Tebow to expose us. I think we'd all agree that there should be a marked difference between Christians and non-Christians, right? For the Biblical support of such a concept please read Matthew 7:16, Matthew 7:20, James 2:17-18, James 2:20, and James 2:23 to name a few.

With that in mind, I think the response to Tebow is different because we can sense when a person is a genuine Christian, or a Christian-In-Name-Only, or a hypocrite. It's the genuine ones who are a threat to everyone else, right? Satan doesn't have to work hard to get the Christians-In-Name-Only to wave his banner in the world (John 8:44). No, he wants to destroy the ones who aren't already his. That's why I think this case is different from all the rest.

Despite the fact that we are quickly approaching the end times (and it's time to finally make a decision and get off the fence so to speak), Tim Tebow is the real deal and God is using him as His instrument to expose us for who we really are and nor who we think we are.

Even his own response to this latest controversy surrounding him and his faith suggests just that...

Asked about Plummer's remarks in an interview on ESPN's First Take, Tebow said:

"If you're married, and you have a wife, and you really love your wife, is it good enough to only say to your wife 'I love her' the day you get married? Or should you tell her every single day when you wake up and every opportunity?

"And that's how I feel about my relationship with Jesus Christ is that it is the most important thing in my life. So any time I get an opportunity to tell him that I love him or given an opportunity to shout him out on national TV, I'm gonna take that opportunity. And so I look at it as a relationship that I have with him that I want to give him the honor and glory anytime I have the opportunity. And then right after I give him the honor and glory, I always try to give my teammates the honor and glory.

"And that's how it works because Christ comes first in my life, and then my family, and then my teammates. I respect Jake's opinion, and I really appreciate his compliment of calling me a winner. But I feel like anytime I get the opportunity to give the Lord some praise, he is due for it."

Amen brother! It was only yesterday morning when we concluded that Billy Graham-Steve Jobs piece by reminding ourselves that the proper list of priorities is always God, Family, and Everything Else and in that specific order. Tim Tebow understands that already at such a young age.

The point I'm trying to make today is that it's not enough to simply say you believe in Jesus Christ. Ok, well, what does that mean to you? Is there any evidence at all of you being a "new creation" in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15). I know that we are saved by faith through grace alone (Ephesians 2:8-9), but then how do we reconcile and apply all the passages of the Holy Bible that deal with what we read in James 2:17, James 2:20, James 2:23? How do we How do we reconcile salvation with sanctification?

Separation. Of course, the Bible has a lot to say on this subject. The answer I'm always given is to just believe Hebrews 12:2. I certainly do believe what I'm told there, but, as we strive to remind ourselves all the time about the importance of considering the TOTALITY of Scripture (and not just 'cherry-picking' those that make us feel good), and because we know God's Word never contradicts itself (Sola Scriptura, right?), then how do we reconcile Hebrews 12:2 with all the numerous passages throughout the New Testament where we read about the "wheat" and "tares" (Matthew 13), the "sheep" and "goats" (Matthew 25:33), the "false prophets" (Matthew 7:15; mark 13;22; Matthew 24; 2 Peter 2:1), the "false teachers" (2 Peter 2:1; 2 Peter 2:12; 2 Timothy 3; 1 John 4:1), the "false converts" (Titus 1:10; Jude; 1 John), and, most notably, the chilling "depart from me" words of Jesus Himself (Matthew 7:21-23)?

To just think about the reality that God says that there will be people who will go through life thinking they're Christians -- when, in fact, they're not -- is disturbing, but all true! That's what I think all of this Tebow business is about. It's about exposing us for who we really are. It's about separating us into those two distinct groups.

When you couple that reality with the reality of Hell, how can I not at least try to have this discussion with my dear loved ones (or at least get them to also think about such things) particularly on a day when they will spend most of their time watching and talking about football (and maybe even Tim Tebow too)? It goes without saying that I certainly cannot speak for God, but given the truth we find in 2 Peter 3:9, couldn't we conclude that maybe, just maybe, He's using Tim Tebow too in order to get people's attention, and to turn them away from the Idol of the NFL that exists in their lives?

What will you do now that you're armed with this perspective should the topic of Tim Tebow come up at your Thanksgiving Dinner later today? Shouldn't such knowledge not only motivate each and every person who calls themselves a Christian to "examine yourselves regularly" (2 Corinthians 13:5), but to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ with renewed passion?

It motivates me to do that every single day. I say that not in some contemptuous, hateful, self-righteous, Pharisee-like, 'Works-Based-Theology' kind of way, but as a genuine believer in Christ Jesus whose heart breaks for his fellow brothers and sisters each and every time I simply say, "Hey, what do you think about passages like that?", which is always translated by them as me being 'judgmental' and/or 'verbally abusing' them.

I could see if I was bringing this kind of stuff up daily, weekly, or monthly with people. I'm not. I try to pick my spots as God presents me with opportunities to preach the Gospel since we are all called to be His "ambassadors" (2 Corinthians 5;20) as you know.

Still, the 1 or 2 times I try to get a discussion going about God's Word throughout the year is ALWAYS met with fierce resistance even when I don't come at anyone with an accusatory/condemning tone and merely suggest "Why don't we sit down and look at something together?" instead.

This Tim Tebow business gives us an opening so let's walk through it today if given the chance to do so. Just be sure to "speak the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15) at all times during any discussion no matter how fired up anyone else gets.

Gently point out that Christians should be aware of what 2 Timothy 3:16 says, but you yourself should be aware of what Galatians 5:22-23 says. Don't be surprised if God and His Word is the "stumbling block" even to those who call themselves Christians. He told us it would be that way during these last days.

What can we do apart from witnessing to loved ones on a day like today? Prayer for sure, but we cannot remain silent. Again, we should "speak the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15) even if it means 'offending' a dear brother or sister in Christ, and even if it comes at a great personal cost to ourselves.

In the end, I just keep thinking about what Charles Spurgeon once said...

"If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for."

Examine yourselves.

Repent of your sins and ask God for forgiveness.

Walk in the Spirit.

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Posted in: America In Prophecy,Apostasy,How Close Are We?,Media,Religious Persecution,Spiritual Deception,Spiritual Growth,Symbolism,Synchro-Pop,Tim Tebow

Saints & Sinners: Billy Graham, Steve Jobs, And Legacies

We will all leave a legacy behind us. Of that, you can be certain.

The key is to make sure that it's a legacy that is being written by the power of the Holy Spirit working in our lives as God uses us as His divine instrument in this world.

Otherwise, the alternative is to reject God's sovereignty by assuming you can 'write your own destiny' as a 'master of your own fate' and somehow orchestrate your own legacy according to your standards and not God's.

As a result, all you do is make yourself vulnerable to apostasy, to feeding the flesh, to fostering worldly desires. The best advice I can give is that which comes directly from God's Word. Whatever you do, do all things to the glory of God and always be sure to crucify your ministry too.

This entire entry today is built off of the following truth...

Hebrews 9:27-28 (KJV) And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

As Matthew Henry commented on this passage...

It is evident that the sacrifices of Christ are infinitely better than those of the law, which could neither procure pardon for sin, nor impart power against it. Sin would still have been upon us, and have had dominion over us; but Jesus Christ, by one sacrifice, has destroyed the works of the devil, that believers may be made righteous, holy, and happy. As no wisdom, learning, virtue, wealth, or power, can keep one of the human race from death, so nothing can deliver a sinner from being condemned at the day of judgment, except the atoning sacrifice of Christ; nor will one be saved from eternal punishment who despises or neglects this great salvation. The believer knows that his Redeemer liveth, and that he shall see him. Here is the faith and patience of the church, of all sincere believers. Hence is their continual prayer as the fruit and expression of their faith, Even so come, Lord Jesus.

I began with these truths, or what should be gentle reminders to us, for very good reason. That's because I see a distinct and disturbing connection between two stories that were in the news over the past few weeks.

On the surface, it's about the connection between two men who couldn't be any more different than they appear to be to the rest of the world.

I guess you could say that it's a comparison between a well-known 'saint' and a well-known 'sinner' even though most people wouldn't apply such a polarizing label to one of the two. Then again, I should tread lightly because only the Lord knows what awaits each man for all of eternity.

Maybe that's the point because they share much more in common than many people care to realize. Truth is, we are all connected in this same way (Psalm 58:3).

We'll start with the saint.


SAINT? WHAT WILL BE BILLY GRAHAM'S LEGACY?


I recently read that Billy Graham (often referred to as 'America's Most Famous Preacher') turned 93 a couple of weeks ago.

Warranted apostate criticisms aside, there's no denying the impact that Graham has had (continues to have) around the world in the name of Jesus Christ.

Yes, I know that some of us (myself included at times) have tried to point out the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) that perhaps Graham doesn't worship the same Jesus that we read about in the Bible -- at least not on a consistent basis (or not in recent years as evidenced by some of his cringe-worthy remarks on national television on more than one occasion).

At first blush, that might seem incredibly absurd and harsh to some for me to make an accusation like that, but I ask you to prayerfully consider the evidence to the contrary, which is readily available online.

I also learned that Graham has written and published his 30th book. It's titled Nearing Home, and there was something from one article I read that described the book that made me wince a little.

America’s Most Famous Preacher Turns 93

For the Rev. Billy Graham, America’s most famous evangelist across a career that lasted some six decades, the prospect of old age and death was for a long time something he tried not to think about, despite his convictions about the eternity that awaits human beings.

“I fought growing old in every way,” Graham, who turns 93 on Monday, writes in the newly-published “Nearing Home,” a book that ranges from Scripture quotations about the end of life to brass tacks advice on financial planning.

“I faithfully exercised and was careful to pace myself as I began to feel the grasp of Old Man Time. This was not a transition that I welcomed, and I began to dread what I knew would follow.”

Graham’s book, his 30th, comes not only as he reaches another year, but as America’s huge Baby Boom generation moves into old age, its senior members now eligible for Social Security and retirement.

“Billy Graham once said, ‘I had been taught all of my life how to die, but no one had ever taught me how to grow old.’ Now, he wants to offer hard-earned advice for growing old gracefully.

Maybe it's just me, but shouldn't 'America's Most Famous Preacher' pen a book that exhorts people to repent, place their faith in Jesus Christ, and then constantly examine themselves to make sure their faith is genuine?

Perhaps that's a little too harsh too. I mean, in fairness, I haven't read the book so it's possible he does all of those things. A few glowing reviews seem to hint that that's the case. Still, why must religious leaders CONSTANTLY preach a 'Social Gospel' as opposed to the Salvation Gospel that they were called and ordained to preach?

I'm only 32-years-old, but call me a conservative and a traditionalist especially when it comes to matters of the faith. To me, that just seems like a no-brainer.

For goodness sake, could you image Charles Spurgeon writing and publishing a book at 93 -- as he was 'nearing home' himself -- that gave equal time (or any amount of time for that matter!) to things of a cultural/social, or earthly nature?

Christians ought to be about the pursuit of eternal spiritual things, not earthly material things. Sure, some might argue that Graham was just trying to be 'candid' and 'honest' and 'transparent', but at what price? We're talking about legacies in this piece today so I have to wonder what kind of a legacy a book like this could leave especially since it's penned by America's Most Famous Preacher too.

I mean, if we're talking Graham's 'legacy', then might we say that he single-handedly gave birth to 'Poligion' in this country given his close relationships with various US Presidents over the years? If we're talking Graham's 'legacy', then might we say that he did more to help apostasy take root in this nation? After all, his responses in his newest book -- although extremely candid -- reflect a man of the world and not a man of the faith as he responds to life's circumstances and life in general the way the world does and not the way a Christian should.

I know that I could die at any moment, but I pray that if I ever live to be 93, and I know that my time here is short, I don't want to be worrying myself with any of the cares of this life that are fleeting -- car payments, mortgage/rent payments, financial savings, politics, etc. No, that is when I want to shine my brightest for Jesus Christ!

2 Corinthians 4:6 (ESV) For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Just my two cents on the matter. Please prayerfully consider it and pray for Mr. Graham while we still can, my friends.


SINNER? WHAT WILL BE STEVE JOBS' LEGACY?


Now, contrast that with another high-profile individual who was in the news just a week or two prior. While Billy Graham is nearing home, we don't know whether or not Apple mogul Steve Jobs ever arrived there.

Before you conclude that such a statement is 'insensitive', let's look at a couple of items. Namely, one YouTube video that discusses Steve Jobs' view on death and a commentary that addresses Jobs' last words.

Steve Jobs On Death; Billy Graham On Aging



Surprisingly, this video from early October 2011 also mentioned Billy Graham. I suppose that's fitting, isn't it?

Sadly, Graham's words in his new book -- though honest -- reflect a faith that sounds much weaker than the kind you'd expect from 'America's Most Famous Preacher' I think, and it's used by the video's host (as it will unfortunately be used by other lost sinners and/or 'Christians-In-Name-Only') to the point where Christianity is equated with just any other "theme" (as the guy in the video called it) that businesses/marketers have to be aware of and deal with when targeting Baby Boomers and Seniors. How sad and unfortunate indeed.

Back to Steve Jobs. Did you catch the quotes from Steve Jobs that were highlighted in the video? I think they are even more disturbing in the sense that many more people around the world are more likely to hear and read what Steve Jobs had to say about certain things than they are to hear and read what Billy Graham has to say about certain things.

No matter, the message is still the same -- despair and hopelessness. Yet, Jobs' views will stick because he was a brilliant man, and if there's one thing that fallen, sinful man values more than anything else in this life it's his own un-Biblical high view of himself.

In other words, millions will come across this very same quotes and say, "Yes, that makes a lot of sense! It sounds like he understood what so many of us don't. Boy, if a smart guy like Steve Jobs didn't have faith in God, then why should I?" and that's the problem.

Ok, so what did he say again? Everything you'd expect the person who asked us to "Bite That Apple" would say. His comments were from the Commencement Address he delivered at Stanford in 2005.

"No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to Heaven don't want to die to get there, and yet, death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it and that is as it should be because death is very likely the single best invention of life. It's life's change agent. It cleans out the old and makes way for the new."

"Almost everything -- all external expectations, all pride of fear, embarrassment, or failure -- these things just fall away in the face of death leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose."

How very tragic whenever a so-called 'brilliant mind' fails to grasp the realty of God (Romans 1:20). Please take a moment to read this sobering commentary by Tim Challies regarding Steve Jobs' last words before he died...

It had not been deliberately planned that Walter Isaacson’s biography of Steve Jobs would release just days after Jobs died. Not really. Jobs had known for many years that he could not keep his cancer at bay forever and he had specifically asked Isaacson to be his biographer. The book was completed, the publication date set, and then Jobs’ condition worsened and he died. And so it happened that a biography—a real biography, not a quick-to-the-presses tabloid pseud-biography—arrived on store shelves so quickly after the death of its subject.

Over the past several years Isaacson had been given almost unfettered access into Jobs’ life and world. He recorded close to 40 interviews and spoke extensively with family, friends and enemies. This led to a biography that goes deep into the world of its subject and unearths the good, the bad, the shocking and the inspiring. It is an utterly fascinating biography—easily one of the most interesting I’ve read. That may owe, at least in part, to the fact that Jobs impacted my own life through the devices he created—many of which I use every day (and one of which I am using as I type these words). What is undeniable, whether you use Apple products or not, is that Jobs was a fascinating character who had a profound effect on the world in which he lived. Whether his legacy is judged to be good or bad, he certainly left a legacy that has touched the entire world.

I do not intend to write a review of this biography as much as I would like to make a couple of observations about it.

Let’s get one thing out of the way up-front—the thing that has been the subject of thousands of articles and blog posts in the week since the biography was released. Steve Jobs was not a nice person. In fact, he was often downright horrible, bearing lifelong grudges, throwing tantrums and berating the people who worked for him and with him. He seemed to have a binary view of the world where some things were wonderful and other things were horrible; there was little space between. He despised the mediocre or even the merely good. He used his keen intuition about other people to find and then exploit their vulnerabilities in a way that maximized the hurt he could inflict upon them. He was a brutal boss and a brutal man. He was the kind of man who would praise his own parents for adopting him and then pretty much abandon his own daughter.

While examples of his temper and tantrums have been widely discussed and dissected, I think a lot of people have missed the root of it all. Jobs was a lifelong student of Eastern religion and Zen Buddhism in particular. Along the way he became convinced that he was an enlightened being, that he existed on a higher plane than most people. From this exalted position he was able to see and to judge; he had the right to. He was able to stand, if not in the place of God, at least in the place of a judge. He felt that it was his right to speak the truth—the truth as he understood it—to others. After all, he was enlightened and they were not. His arrogance knew no bounds.

A brutal man with a terrible temper and a genuine god complex, he was also a man who drove people to new heights of innovation and creativity. As much as people hated to receive a tongue-lashing from Jobs, they knew that in the end he motivated them and pushed them to do better. And this is a crucial component of the strange legacy of Steve Jobs. He will forever be known as a great innovator and a man who lived at the crossroads between the humanities and the sciences. In his own field and in his own way, he sought to make the world a better place. But he did so at the expense of so many people whom he left abandoned and brutalized. It’s like he cared for humanity but not for humans, for mankind but not for individuals.

As I thought about this, I began to wonder what truly motivated Jobs. What was it that drove him. He was not motivated by accumulating wealth. He died a very rich man, but was not ostentatious, at least when compared to other super-rich people. He was not motivated by philanthropy and, in fact, had little use for it (His wife ran a program for disadvantaged teens and, while he said he was proud of her, he didn’t ever bother to visit). So what was it that drove him and made him so unrelenting in his drive for perfection, in his drive to create things that would stand the test of time?

I think it may be a desire for immortality. Jobs was always convinced that he would die at a relatively young age—a premonition that proved true. This then drove him to create things that would outlast him. Though his body would die, he could leave behind a company. His greatest and proudest creation was not a gadget, but a corporation; he wanted to leave Apple—the essence of the company—as his legacy to future generations. That is what I found as the subtle and perhaps unwitting theme of this biography—Jobs’ knowledge that he was mortal and his desire to be immortal.

That is the biography. Allow me to comment on the biographer. Everyone who knew Jobs spoke of a reality distortion field that surrounded him. This was the way people described his charisma and his way of making people bend to his will. He would demand the impossible and somehow make people achieve it. He existed in this place where the world and everyone in it had to bend to him. It almost seemed to come as a surprise to him that he could not will away the cancer that began to ravage his body (and it was certainly not for lack of trying; one of his cancer treatments involved things as strange as expressing all of his negative feelings). Walter Isaacson documents countless examples of people coming into Jobs’ reality distortion field and then quickly falling under his sway.

The question is, could the biographer avoid the pull of that field, or would he too fall into it? For the biographer to remain objective about his subject, he would need to remain outside that field. Did Isaacson succeed? I am not convinced that he did. It seems that over the course of the book, Isaacson’s writing changes. By the end he is not just describing products, but offering gushing editorials about them. Meanwhile, the negative side of Jobs is downplayed in favor of his innovation. I suppose we cannot know for sure, but it seemed to me like Isaacson may have been yet another person who fell under the mysterious sway of Steve Jobs. This does not lessen the biography, but I guess it does show that the definitive account of the man’s life may need to wait for a future biographer.

As I said from the outset, I found this a particularly compelling biography. Jobs was clearly a very complex individual and Isaacson has succeeded in creating a fascinating character study. I learned a lot from reading it and am still trying to absorb and express those lessons. As is often the case when I read a biography, it will undoubtedly take several weeks or months for it all to settle.

I learned earlier today that Steve Jobs’ last words were, “Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow.” What I wouldn’t give to know what it was that he understood or perceived in those last moments. I wonder if he finally understood futility, that in all of his creativity, in all of his enlightenment, that he had missed the truest light of all.

After reading that, I'm reminded of how the secular and non-saved view death in this life is the 'great equalizer', but to us Christians it is tied to a glorious promise (John 3:16; John 3:36; John 5:24; John 6:47; John 18:36; Galatians 6:8; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 6:23).

I'm also reminded of how it doesn't matter how 'successful' or 'unsuccessful' you are by the world's standards in this life. Why?

Romans 14:11 (KJV) For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

It's that truth that has been burdening my heart as of late. Lately, I've noticed the Lord changing my heart and giving me a deeper sense of empathy for my fellow man.

No longer do I read stories like these two and initially scoff (which used to be my knee-jerk reaction to them), but instead feel a weight, or a sadness out of concern for their spiritual health and perhaps even their eternal fate.

I realize it's a dangerous business to assume you know with 100% certainty whether or not a person is truly "born again" (John 3:3; 1 Peter 1:23) and "saved" (Ephesians 2:8-9).

I also realize it's a dangerous business to assume a fellow family member, friend, co-worker, or stranger is truly "born again" and "saved" despite all the evidence to the contrary (James 2:20; James 2:26), and yet, you never pray for God to use you as His instrument to reach them (2 Timothy 4:2).

It's a delicate balancing act for sure, but a tightrope that can be easily traversed by those who are constantly walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) I think.

Examine yourselves. Walk in the Spirit. Genuinely love others. They may be gone tomorrow at age 56 or age 93. You just never know.

In closing, it's also worth noting another similarity between these two men of renown. From Steve Jobs to Billy Graham, a consistent theme appears -- the far too common tendency to, at times, sacrifice family time for career time all for the sake of leaving a legacy. Every Square Inch wrote an excellent piece on the issue of 'leaving a legacy' by highlighting the lives of these two men.

They also reminded us...

The fact of the matter is that God has chosen the family unit as one of the primary means of spreading the gospel, and in turn, one of the primary means that we can leave a lasting legacy. Deuteronomy 6 doesn't make much sense without this conclusion. Paul's commands to Timothy and Titus regarding qualifications of church leaders don't make much sense unless family life is critically important to God.

We leave legacies, Godly legacies, in various arenas. I'm not making any hard fast declarations. I'm simply discussing what appears to be true of Jobs and Graham, and what I know is true of me, while asking if it may be true of you as well.

So very true. Many spiritual truths being hammered home by God through the lives and and words of Billy Graham and the late Steve Jobs. Are we listening though?

God. Family. Everything Else.

That's the proper order for our lives regardless of your circumstances.


FINAL THOUGHTS


Without going too far off on a tangent, I feel compelled to share some additional Biblical wisdom on aging with grace that I came across recently from another ministry.

Be mindful of the gray areas! Just when we're about to worry about old age, we find there's nothing to worry about. The Lord has taken care of it with a handful of verses sufficient for every passing year. He says...

Proverbs 20:29 (KJV) The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.

Deuteronomy 33:25 (KJV) Your shoes shall be iron and bronze; and as your days, so shall your strength be.

Isaiah 46:4 (ESV) even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.

Psalm 71:18 (KJV) Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.

2 Corinthians 4:16 (ESV) So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.

Psalm 92:12-15 (ESV) The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

So don't worry about aging, my dear brothers and sisters!

If you're 65 years or older, then you're part of a record-breaking group. The US Census Bureau reports there are roughly 23 million Senior Citizens living in America right now -- more than at any time in history. That number is projected to double by 2050, with Seniors making up 21 percent of the American population (assuming the Lord tarries that long).

Wherever you are in life right now, I pray that you don't plan on retiring from the Lord's service. Those of you who have been blessed with years should face the future with vision and faith like our friend Caleb in the Bible.

Caleb's life teaches us some valuable lessons. A Senior can accomplish life's greatest achievements in old age, and we never have to retire from the Lord's service (Joshua 14). How beautiful is that?

Proverbs 16:31 (ESV) Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.

What is the attitude of your heart?

You're 'old' at 40 if you've stopped growing and accepting challenges. God's dimensions in life are not bound to the years of time. Servant opportunities abound for volunteers in churches as well as short-term and career ministry opportunities around the world.

Friends, it's no mistake that the word 'golden' is used for Senior Citizens. Your silver hair qualifies you for the best years in God's service so start acting like you truly believe that.

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Posted in: America In Prophecy,Apostasy,Bible Study,Billy Graham,Media,Spiritual Deception,Spiritual Growth,Steve Jobs

1 Reason To Watch 180? It's The Truth

Many of you have seen this already, but if you're like me and you put it off for whatever reason, then please do yourself a favor and make 30 minutes to watch it now.

By the way, I'm speaking to Christians and non-Christians alike here. I don't particularly see this as a 'religious' film per se, but a film that seeks to shine the light of truth upon history while it also makes a commentary on the sad state of the world today.

It's greatest weapon is that it uses COMMON SENSE and LOGIC to make it's case. In other words, it encourages people to think critically (a skill we've lost over the years as we've drowned ourselves in a culture that is seduced by entertainment). To put it another way, it encourages people to simple use the brain that God gave them.

On the surface, it has to do with Hitler, Nazi Germany, the Holocaust, and the reality that those who forget the past are destined to repeat it.

Ecclesiastes 1:9 (KJV) The thing that has been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

Below the surface, it exposes what our 'correct' views of history (or what we think are our 'correct' views of Hitler, Nazi Germany, and the Holocaust) have done to our so-called cherished 'Biblical worldview' because it demonstrates that far too many of us do not hold on to the moral absolutes that our God commands us to.

It also makes some logical and startling connections between the past and the present. What do I mean exactly? Well, as one viewer commented...

"Wow. I knew where I stood on those issues, but I had never connected them before. Great logic and truth."

Intrigued? Good. Now go watch the movie right now.

Ok, so what is it called? It's called 180 and it's a documentary that seeks to reach the youth in this world with the truth. It seeks to change hearts and minds about what's really important in this life.

This is a new film from Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron (of Living Waters Ministry who created The Evidence Bible) that should be 'Required Viewing' especially for all Christians today. Enough with the formalities. Here's the 30-minute film that will change your life...

180



As some of you know, their ministry has a special place in my heart because it was them that God used to finally get my attention, to minister to me, and to get me to repent and place my faith in Jesus Christ several years ago.

In addition, I cannot begin to tell you how helpful their Evidence Bible was for me as a new believer in Christ. It was so helpful that any time I come across another new believer in need of one I never hesitate to buy them a copy of this Bible.

Needless to say, whenever I see them and their ministry making headlines it serves as a great encouragement to me to remain on the front lines for Christ myself.

Anyway, please watch the film and prepare to be shocked beyond belief. There are a million reasons why you should make the time to do so. The most important?

It's the truth that The Truth Himself would want us to preach and protect.

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Posted in: Abortion,America In Prophecy,Apostasy,Documentaries,Great Commission,How Close Are We?,Media,Moral Decline,Political Signs,Spiritual Deception,Spiritual Growth,Witnessing

H8 4 Jesus

Interesting. Not surprising though.

I remember a time soon after I first repented, was saved, and was born again when the light bulb kept clicking on for me me as the Holy Spirit began proving to me the truth of God's Word.

For instance, throughout the holy Scriptures, we are told over and over again (Matthew 5:10-12; Matthew 5:44; John 15:20; Romans 12:14; 1 Corinthians 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:12) to expect to be persecuted like He was persecuted especially because His name is 'offensive' to those who are lost.

1 Corinthians 1:18 (KJV) For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

I just remember thinking to myself, "Gee, you know, I don't see the same kind of reaction from people to the name 'Buddha' or 'Muhammad' when it comes up in the public arena and there's gotta be a reason for that..." Boy, is there ever!

Today, I was reminded of that experience after seeing a news article about a new law in Pakistan.

Pakistan Bans 'Obscene' Words On Cell Phone Texts

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Texters in Pakistan better start watching their language.
Pakistan's telecommunications authority sent a letter ordering cell phone companies to block text messages containing what it perceives to be obscenities, Anjum Nida Rahman, a spokeswoman for Telenor Pakistan, said Friday.

It also sent a list of more than 1,500 English and Urdu words that were to be blocked.

The order was part of the regulator's attempt to block spam messages, said Rahman. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority refused to comment on the initiative.

Many of the words to be blocked were sexually explicit terms or swear words, according to a copy of the list obtained by The Associated Press.

It also included relatively mild terms like fart and idiot.

The reasons for blocking some words, including Jesus Christ, headlights and tampon, were less clear, raising questions about religious freedom and practicality. Any word could conceivably be part of a spam message.

The letter, which was also obtained by the AP, was dated Nov. 14 and gave cell phone companies seven days to implement the order.

Rahman, the Telenor spokeswoman, said her company first received the letter Thursday and was discussing how to proceed.

"It's a big issue, so it is being examined carefully from all points of view," said Rahman.

The letter said the order was legal under a 1996 law preventing people from sending information through the telecommunications system that is "false, fabricated, indecent or obscene."

It also stated that free speech can be restricted "in the interest of the glory of Islam."

Under pressure from Islamists, Pakistan has blocked pornographic websites and ones deemed anti-Islamic. Last year, it temporarily banned Facebook because of material on the site deemed offensive to Islam.

Pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ in Pakistan. Pray that they will be led by the Spirit to find other more creative ways to preach the Gospel to a nation and a people that desperately needs to hear it.

Look, I understand that we're talking about a different country, with a different culture, and a different predominant religion so this shouldn't come as too much of a surprise to us, but still.

Truth is, I bet there are millions of people in the US -- a so-called 'Christian' nation -- who would love to institute a similar law here as well.

However, I want to come at this story from another angle for a moment if I could.

Isn't it interesting how Islam is forever held up as the paragon of 'acceptance', 'peace', 'tolerance' and 'virtue', and yet, once again, they are the ones exhibiting the epitome of intolerance?

All it is is 'H8 4 Jesus' and it's only going to continue to get worse (and spread!) the closer we get to the end.

Are you willing to suffer persecution for your faith in the Lord and Savior? Cherish Him by cherishing His Word while it's still legal to own a Bible in this country.

Remember, the Lord 'H8s' sin. Remember, we are sinners and enemies of God until we repent of our sins and place our faith in Jesus Christ. Remember, He will 'BRB' as prophesied about His Second Coming to reign as King '4ever' too

'R u' ready for that?

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Posted in: How Close Are We?,Islam,Media,New World Order,Political Signs,Prayer Requests,Prophecy Basics,Religious Persecution,Spiritual Deception

Psalm 9 For November 9, 2011

If anyone's seen the movie The Signal, then you can't help but make a joke about it being tied to some 'Black Awakening' type event today.

As mentioned in a previous post (and because I haven't really heard it mentioned at all by the mainstream news even as late as this morning's national news roundup feature on the local news broadcast here in Western New York), let's not forget the questionable timing of a major and unprecedented event scheduled for later today.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced a national test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) on Wednesday, November 9th, 2011, at 2:00pm EST. That's later this afternoon.

By the way, the federal government has never done this before in the entire 48-year history of the EAS. Naturally, that has led many people to ask, "Why now all of a sudden? Is there something they know that they're not telling us about?" You hate to be so skeptical all the time, but given the times we're living in, and given all the prophetically relevant signs all around us, I think those are fair, valid questions for us to be asking.

Besides, history (recent history I might add) warrants such questions. I hope we're all familiar with the publicly proven various 'government/military drills-exercises' of an unprecedented nature that took place on September 11th, 2001. If anyone still doubts the veracity of such a claim (particularly any Christian who is supposed to be a lover of truth in all things), then I strongly encourage you to do your own research. You might want to check out the documentary Loose Change for starters because the evidence is overwhelming.

It's worth noting that quite a few people have expressed concern to the point where the duration of the test will apparently vary from state to state. Some reports suggest the test could last as long as 3 minutes while others say that it will be the usual 30 seconds. Regardless, questions still remain.

In any event, curious then that my Bible study this morning was Psalm 9...

Psalm 9 (ESV) I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. When my enemies turn back, they stumble and perish before your presence. For you have maintained my just cause; you have sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment. You have rebuked the nations; you have made the wicked perish; you have blotted out their name forever and ever. The enemy came to an end in everlasting ruins; their cities you rooted out; the very memory of them has perished. But the Lord sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for justice, and he judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with uprightness. The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. Sing praises to the Lord, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds! For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; he does not forget the cry of the afflicted. Be gracious to me, O Lord! See my affliction from those who hate me, O you who lift me up from the gates of death, that I may recount all your praises, that in the gates of the daughter of Zion I may rejoice in your salvation. The nations have sunk in the pit that they made; in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught. The Lord has made himself known; he has executed judgment; the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands. Selah The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God. For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever. Arise, O Lord! Let not man prevail; let the nations be judged before you! Put them in fear, O Lord! Let the nations know that they are but men! Selah

In a few hours the national test will commence. I'm sure it will pass without much fanfare. Even so, I had to marvel at the content of Psalm 9 when I read it earlier this morning and how it would closely parallel all the types of scenarios that some people suggest COULD HAPPEN beginning later today.

Whether or not those people are ultimately 'right' or 'wrong' is immaterial. What matters most is that the end times scenarios envisioned by them will come to pass one day. What matters most is that the truth of God's Word (as found in Psalm 9) will remain true even then -- just as it is true yesterday, today, and forever.

Take heed of its dire warnings and its beautiful promises.

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Posted in: America In Prophecy,Black Awakening,FEMA Camps,How Close Are We?,Media,New World Order,Political Signs,Spiritual Deception,Symbolism,Synchro-Pop,Terrorism,Truth From The Fringe

Prophecy Basics -- Notable Quotable

We've spent some time with some heavy subject matter this week, which prompted me to pull out a key reminder for all of us (myself included).

Third-order issues are doctrines over which Christians may disagree and remain in close fellowship, even within local congregations. I would put most debates over eschatology, for example, in this category. Christians who affirm the bodily, historical, and victorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ may differ over timetable and sequence without rupturing the fellowship of the church…Christians should never separate from a church over third-order issues.

-- Albert Mohler

We are all brothers and sisters in Christ even when we disagree about the timing of certain end times prophecies and the manner in which they might be fulfilled.

Grace and peace unto you and yours!

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Posted in: Albert Mohler,Notable Quotables,Prophecy Basics

Asteroid 2005 YU55, EAS, And Bible Prophecy

I just want to call attention to a few things because it might be -- and I stress the words 'might be' -- related to what we read in the prophetic verses of the holy Scriptures.

Besides, there's no harm in believers and non-believers alike putting these kinds of things on their radar let alone having discussions about them because the alternative is willful ignorance that can lead one to anxiety and fear.

I realize that times are tough enough without having to add thoughts about the 'last days' and the 'beginning of Daniel's 70th Week' being literally days or weeks away to the mix, but what's the alternative? Continuing to bury your head in the sand by ignoring the truth in something that right now seems plain as day? That's blatantly irresponsible and behavior not conducive to being a true Christian (2 Thessalonians 2:10; Psalm 27:1).

I suppose the flip side would be to argue that it's equally 'irresponsible' and 'un-Christianlike' even for someone like me to issue such 'dire warnings' akin to what some might classify as 'fear mongering', which I'm sure puts me on par with others like Harold Camping according to some.

I pray that's not the case with you and that you don't feel that way about me or this humble online ministry. This is only about being a watchman and about sounding the alarm to the possibilities (Jeremiah 6:17). Be a Berean and apply Acts 17:11 while taking your concerns to the Lord in prayer at all times please.

Besides, if you're a Christian like you say you are, then you should know what's in store for those who aren't living a life with our Lord and Savior, who aren't actively seeking Jesus' return and praying for it, who would rather call someone like me names and dismiss me entirely for what they believe to be 'false doctrine' despite what the evidence from the holy Scriptures seems to suggest; evidence which is also causing other brothers and sisters in Christ of ours around the world to reach similar conclusions right now. Doesn't that count for something?

My dear friends, it's not about me or LUF. It's about Jesus Christ and preaching His Gospel to a world that desperately needs to hear it. I'm taking the time to write about these end times related news items because I firmly believe that life is about to get tougher in ways many can't even fathom. My sincere hope is that by being as blunt as possible about this you'll clearly understand that the time for spiritual preparation is almost over. We've been living on borrowed time for so long now.

For the believers who have shunned Bible prophecy for whatever reason, now is the time to repent of that sin and to feed on the prophetic verses.

For the lost non-believers in this world, or those 'on the fence' so-to-speak, the time to repent and confess your sins in order to be forgiven and saved by Jesus Christ is almost over. Respond carefully because there are eternal consequences at stake here.

Will it be God and His way, or your way (under Satan's influence as an enemy of God) and the life you want and think you deserve? Don't be foolish! Examine the following for yourself in a serious, intellectual manner. Take your thoughts and feelings to the Lord in deep, sincere prayer and watch Him sort it out for you.

To reiterate, none of this is written to produce or sustain a spirit of fear in your life. Fear is a sin and it is certainly not a fruit of the Spirit (Job 5:21; Psalm 91; Proverbs 3:25; 1 Peter 3:14).

This series has been written to sound the alarm. For all I know, this may be the last time that the Lord gives me the chance to do so.

One of the best statements I ever read about how we Christians should approach each and every study of Bible prophecy comes to us from J.C. Ryle I think...

At the very outset I warn the reader of these pages that he will find here nothing deep or abstruse. I have purposely avoided everything that can be called speculative or conjectural. I have strictly confined myself to a few great prophetical principles, which appear to me written as it were with a sunbeam. I have not attempted to expound such portions of God's Word as Ezekiel's temple or the symbolical visions of Revelation. I have not ventured to fix any dates. I have not tried to settle the precise order or manner in which predictions of things to come are to be fulfilled. There is nothing I dislike so much in prophetical inquiry as dogmatism or positiveness. Much of the discredit which has fallen on prophetical study has arisen from the fact that many students instead of expounding prophecy have turned prophets themselves.

If anyone asks me what my prophetical opinions are, I am quite ready to give him an answer. Cautious and doubtful as I feel on some points, there are certain great principles about which I have fully made up my mind. I have held by them firmly for more than twenty­five years and have never had my opinion shaken about them. I have lived in the belief of them for a quarter of a century, and in the belief of them I hope to die. The older I grow, the more do I feel convinced of their truth, and the more satisfied am I that no other principles can explain the state of the Church and the world.

One thing only I wish to premise before making my statement. The reader must distinctly understand that I do not put forth my prophetical views as articles of faith but only as my private opinions. I do not say that nobody can be saved who does not agree with me about prophecy. I am not infallible. I am very sensible that holier and better men than myself do not see these subjects with my eyes and think me utterly mistaken. I condemn nobody; I judge nobody. I only ask liberty to hold and state distinctly my own views. The day will decide who is right. It is the new heart and faith in Christ's blood which are absolutely necessary to salvation. The man who knows these two things experimentally may be wrong about prophecy, but he will not miss heaven.

It is with that same spirit that I write to all of you today, my dear friends.


2005 YU55, EBS, AND BIBLE PROPHECY


The last time we wrote about a planetary body possibly threatening the planet was back in late September with the whole Comet Elenin/Rosh Hashanah-Feast of Trumpets/Rapture business.

Obviously, there was no apocalyptic or cataclysmic series of events due to its passage through our solar system. However, it definitely served as a 'time marker' of sorts, or gave us another indication of where we are on God's prophetic timeline as opposed to where we think we are on His timeline.

What do I mean by that? Just that we need to be mindful of all the places in prophetic Scripture where we're told to expect signs in the heavens.

Matthew 24:29 (KJV) Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

Mark 13:24-25 (KJV) But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.

Luke 21: 11 (KJV) And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

Luke 21:25 (KJV) 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;

Joel 2:30 (KJV) And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

Revelation 6:13 (KJV) And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

Sure, I get that some of the above verses don't apply to where we are on God's prophetic timeline yet (and may not even be close to being fulfilled when compared to others), but I included them here to simply point out the fact that God's Word explicitly states that various signs "in the heavens" will accompany the last days. Don't let that truth be lost upon you.

So, needless to say, the threat of our planet being hit by an Asteroid or a Comet is more than real -- it's entirely Biblical.

I am continually amazed at people's carefree and relaxed attitude toward the very real risk that these celestial pinballs pose to our way of life.

Look no further than the recent object that slammed into Jupiter in 2009 -- unannounced -- and that left a hole the size of the Earth in Jupiter's atmosphere. No one saw it coming. Period. No one.

So, while our media passes off the entire Asteroid-Comet-Near Earth Object (NEO) threat with condescension (always a mocking sigh of relief after the fact), just as they will the next one that near misses us, the fact is that there IS one out there with our name on it. It's just a matter of time.

In case you've been living under a rock the past few weeks, Comet Elenin wasn't the only rock scheduled to make a near pass by our planet. Another rock the size of 2 aircraft carriers -- named 'Asteroid 2005 YU55' -- is scheduled to swing by on Tuesday, November 8th, to say, "Hello!". Some reports suggest it might not happen until Wednesday, November 9th. Hold that thought please.

The Asteroid 2005 YU55 was discovered in December 2005 by Robert McMillan, head of the NASA-funded Spacewatch Program at the University of Arizona, Tucson. The good news is that it is supposed to miss smashing into Earth. The bad news is that it is going to be close enough to be seen with the naked eye.

Unlike the buzz and hype surrounding Comet Elenin, the buzz and hype surround this Asteroid is actually warranted. That's because NASA Scientists tell us that Asteroid 2005 YU55 will pass the Earth within the orbit of the Moon (according to Don Yeomans, Manager of NASA’s Near-Earth Object Program Office at JPL in California). That means that it will be closer to us than the Moon is tomorrow. In fact, it will be 15 percent closer to the planet than the Moon.

Should we be concerned? I think anytime a planetary body gets that close you have to be somewhat concerned about gravitational forces affecting its trajectory in unexpected ways. I think the fact that it is God Himself who created such things in the first place (Genesis 1:1; Genesis 2:2; Genesis 2:4; Job 38:37; Psalm 89:2) should also give us cause for concern because He could use this Asteroid as a form of judgment upon the world for her unrepentant sins if He so desires (Genesis 8:2; Genesis 19:24; Psalm 19:1; Psalm 50:6; Psalm 97:6).

Plus, it is the first of its kind according to NASA's Yeomans...

"This asteroid is about 400 meters wide, the largest space rock we have identified that will come so close."

That's still quite an understatement though.

This Asteroid is 400 Meters in diameter. That's huge! I said it was about the size of 2 Aircraft Carriers, but 400 Meters is roughly 1,300+ Feet. To put that in perspective for us, that's about 30 percent bigger then the Asteroid Apophis that already has a lot of people freaked out. To put it another way, layout a grid of 16 square football fields each 100 Yards by 100 Yards. Now connect them all in a square and put this Asteroid in the center and you still would not see any of them. Zero. Zip. Zilch. Got it?

Imagine something that size hitting our planet anywhere at a speed of tens of thousands of miles per hour. What if it actually hit us? Well, I think I once read an estimate on the same scenario with Apophis being something like the equivalent of 65,000 Atomic Bombs so let's call this one an even 100,000 Atomic Bombs hitting all in one place at one time. Not pretty.

It makes you wonder why all the hype surrounding Comet Elenin when NASA has known all along that it was this 2005 YU55 that poses the greater threat.

Skeptics could care less either way. Christians who ignore Bible prophecy could care less either way. To both groups, the subject is a conversation non-starter. But does that make it any less worthy of our discussion -- just in case?

If you are still questioning whether or not any of this is true (or even possible), then please bookmark this page so you can come back and learn more, and then click on this link to NASA’s Comet And Impact Hazard site, and read all about what NASA has to say regarding this 'potential' scenario.

Just the fact that they even have a site like that should set off bells and whistles I would hope. Why would that agency (and others) be looking for 'extinction level' type objects in space if there was no risk?

After all, let's not forget the questionable timing of another major and unprecedented event. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced a national test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) on Wednesday, November 9th, 2011, at 2:00pm EST. Remember when I mentioned that some estimates put Asteroid 2005 YU55's arrival on November 9th?

By the way, the federal government has never done this before in the entire 48-year history of the EAS. Naturally, that has led many people to ask, "Why now all of a sudden? And why does it just happen to coincide with the arrival and passage of Asteroid YU55 too?" Those are fair, valid questions I think.

I hope we're all familiar with the publicly proven various 'government/military drills-exercises' of an unprecedented nature that took place on September 11th, 2001. If anyone still doubts the veracity of such a claim (particularly any Christian who is supposed to be a lover of truth in all things), then I strongly encourage you to do your own research. You might want to check out the documentary Loose Change for starters because the evidence is overwhelming.

It's worth noting that quite a few people have expressed concern to the point where the duration of the test will apparently vary from state to state. Some reports suggest the test could last as long as 3 minutes while others say that it will be the usual 30 seconds. Regardless, questions still remain.

Adding further intrigue is the 'Predictive Programming' type stuff courtesy of Hollywood. I mean, my gosh, we have a plausible scenario staring us in the face right now that goes hand-in-hand with a 1998 film called Deep Impact that depicts roughly the very same thing! Oh yeah, that movie also shows an African-American US President -- 10 years before the world witnessed such an historic event. Hmmm...



Others have picked up on that as well, but have tied this Asteroid to Comet Elenin...



Interestingly enough, the corporate Mainstream Media seems to be presently engaged in an Asteroid 2005 YU55 cover-up perhaps while admitting to its possible consequences. Check this out...



How do scientists know with 100% certainly that it will not hit the Earth or Moon especially given its unprecedented nature? Let's not forget that out Sovereign Lord has the final say about such things -- not man.

In any event, it's interesting that the above news clip discusses the possibility of a 70 Foot high Tsunami and that there are 'Tsunami Drills' planned for this time frame also. Another coincidence, huh?

Seriously though, what is the likelihood of all these types of 'random coincidences' we're expecting? A massive Tsunami Drill just happens to coincide with the arrival and passage of an Asteroid that's big enough to wipe out an entire continent. Really? That's odd, don't you think?

Truth is, there are far too many 'drills' and 'exercises' planned for next week that raise suspicions on par with those same types of maneuvers that took place on the morning of September 11th, 2001.

But forget about the Asteroid hitting Earth. I think that the more likely 'impact scenario' is that it could hit the Moon. The Moon is about 239,000 Miles from Earth. Asteroid 2005 YU55 will pass within 201,000 miles of Earth, which means it will only be approximately only 38,000 miles away from the Moon. Others are discussing this too I guess.

So, what could happen if Asteroid 2005 YU55 hits the Moon?



I don't know, I just keep thinking of all the talking heads we've heard and seen in recent months who were talking about the very same scenarios that we're discussing today as if they were right around the corner or something.

And who could forget NASA's strange 'warning' message to all if its personnel, or President Obama's bizzare choice to read Psalm 46 at the memorial to commemorate 9/11?

Yes, we've now officially entered the realm of 'speculation', but one can hardly say is 'baseless' speculation, right? As always, we put these things out there for open discussion and so that you can put them on your 'spiritual radar', but it's up to you to search God's Word (Acts 17:11) and take everything to the Lord in prayer.

Let's move away from any forms of speculation that have their source material mainly rooted in the world. Instead, let's recall what the Lord tells us to expect...

Joel 2:28 (ESV) And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.

Acts 2:17 (ESV) And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;

With that fresh in our minds, let's take a look at one brother in Christ's prophecy about Asteroid 2005 YU55 (as some are claiming it is)...

Prophet Peter Anamoh: Prophecy For Asteroid 2005 YU55?



What do you think about all of that? Much too vague for me. I don't buy it. I tried, but couldn't find any other examples of self-proclaimed Christians making a 'prophecy' of this kind that could be about Asteroid 2005 YU55.

To reiterate, please don't mistake my inclusion of that 'prophet' and 'prophecy' here in this forum as a tacit approval, or belief by me that he and any of it is true. As a Christian forum, I'm just trying to present both sides of this conversation here, and we really don't need 'prophets' when we already have the revealed Word of God, right?

Remember, test all things and everyone -- especially those who claim to speak for God (Acts 17:11). Again, I just want to call attention to it because it might be -- and I stress the words 'might be' -- related to what we just looked at from Joel 2:28 and Acts 2:17. Surely we can all agree on that point, can't we?

I want to throw one more thought out there if I may. What if there is no threat to us at all from this passing Asteroid, but it's passage still heralds the start of the fulfillment of end times Bible prophecy? Perhaps something like the beginning of the Psalm 83 War and/or the Ezekiel 38-39 Attack/Attempted Invasion?

Consider how Israel-Iran have dominated the news headlines lately (Syria too following the murder of Libya's Qaddafi). If we look at the 'big picture' (reading various news headlines at once) instead of merely taking them one-by-one, then it becomes evident that Iran is in the cross-hairs right now.

Now, couple all of that news with all the other news pertaining to a global economy and a global religion that we've been trying to report on and you can see why it's important that we are at least paying attention to these things.

What's the right approach whether we're ultimately 'right' or 'wrong' in our conclusions today? I really like what we're reminded of from Jeremiah...

Jeremiah 10:2-3 (ESV) Thus says the LORD: Learn not the way of the nations, nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens because the nations are dismayed at them, for the customs of the peoples are vanity.

Now, contrast that with the response from the rest of the non-believing world to such things...

Luke 21:26 (KJV) 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.

If you're a Christian and you're fearful about such things as those written about these past few days (those written about here today), then please repent of that sin immediately and seek His face.

Fight fear and trepidation with faith.


ARE YOU READY? MOST IMPORTANTLY, ARE YOU SAVED?


Each of us should be trying to discern what His Word reveals to us about these times and about the future times to come so that He doesn't come upon us like a "thief" (1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10), rather than always trudging through life like it's all one giant fairy tale (2 Peter 3:4).

I once wrote that as this 'unsealing' of knowledge we read about in Daniel 12:4 increases during these last days, we're getting only pieces of the prophetic puzzle at a time.

This is how I see this spiritual journey and effort to better understand our Lord and His Word and plans for us. It's hard work, it takes real effort, but it will be so worth it in the end. Some Christians, believe it or not, want to mock and scoff at someone like me. That's ok though.

I have a tough time believing that on that day when I kneel before my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ He will say to me, "Jeff, you loved me too much, you tried to understand me too much, you tried to understand my holy Word too much, you tried to understand the end times too much! Just way too much and maybe a little obsessive! What were you thinking?" Anyone else with me on that?

Look, I don't know how else to say it except to say emphatically that we are the last generation!

Matthew 24:34 (KJV) Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

Mark 13:30 (KJV) Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.

Luke 21:32 (KJV) Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.

We are the generation that will see the return of His Majesty King Jesus Christ!

For the lost and non-believing world, the question is more profound in that it's not merely, "Are you ready?", but is, "Are you saved?" I'd like to turn to Charles Spurgeon for a brief message of what it means to genuinely repent so that you can be forgiven of your sins and receive God's free gift of salvation at this very moment...

"You must understand that there is only one door to salvation, and that is Christ; there is one way, and that is Christ; one truth, and that is Christ; one life, and that is Christ. Salvation lies in Jesus only; it does not lie in you, in your doings, or your feelings, or your knowings, or your resolutions. In Him all life and light for the sons of men are stored up by the mercy of God the Father. This may be one reason why you have not found the light; because you have sought it in the wrong place. Though the Lord has placed it on record in His Word, in the plainest language, that ‘it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy’ (Rom. 9:16) yet most men in their hearts imagine that everlasting life is tied to duties and earned by service. You must abandon such vainglorious notions; you must come before God as a humble petitioner, pleading the promises of mercy, abhorring all idea of merit, confessing that if the Lord condemns you He has a right to do it, and if He saves you, it will be an act of pure gratuitous mercy, a deed of sovereign grace. Oh, too many of you hold your heads too high; to enter the lowly gate of light you must stoop. On the bended knee is the penitent’s true place. ‘God be merciful to me, a sinner’, is the penitent’s true place. If God should condemn you, you could never complain of injustice, for you could not accuse the Lord, for you have no right to be heard. He could righteously withhold an answer of peace if He so willed. Confess that you are an undeserving, ill-deserving, hell-deserving sinner and begin to pray as you have never prayed before. Cry out of the depth of self-abasement if you want to be heard. Come as a beggar, not as a creditor. Come to crave, not to demand. Use only this argument, ‘Lord, hear me, for you are gracious, and Jesus died; I cry to you as a condemned criminal who seeks pardon. Deliver me from going down into the pit, that I may praise your name.’ This harboring of a proud spirit, I fear, has been a great source of mischief with many, and if it has been so with you, amend it and go now with humble and contrite hearts, in lowliness and brokenness of spirit, to your Father whom you have offended, for he will surely accept you as his children. Your salvation does not depend upon what you do, but upon what Christ did when he offered Himself as a sacrifice for sin. All your salvation takes root in the death throes of Calvary; the great Substitute bore your sin and suffered its penalty. Your sin shall never destroy you if upon that bloody tree the Lord’s chosen High Priest made a full expiation for your sins; they shall not be laid against you any more forever. What you have to do is simply accept what Jesus has finished. I know your idea is that you are to bring something to him; but that vainglorious idea has ruined many, and will ruin many more. When you are brought empty-handed, made willing to accept a free and full salvation from the hand of the Crucified, then, and then only, will you will be saved."

What could I, or anyone else for that matter, say to add to such a beautiful presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ except a bold and loud "AMEN!"?

It's worth repeating here at the end that aside from evangelizing the lost with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we are also instructed to watch and pray for His return. This week, we’ve spent a lot of time attempting to address the connection between end times Bible prophecy and the news and real world events.

In some cases, the connection seems clear. In others, not so much. One thing I know for sure is that even though prophecy has many purposes to it, it was never intended by God to open the future just to idle curiosity.

He has a much higher purpose in furnishing guidance to the heirs of salvation (Hebrews 1:14) in giving comfort, encouragement, and hope to instill confidence and a sense of urgency in them especially during the troubled times that they live in. We are the heirs of salvation! Prophecy was intended for us and for those very reasons.

This is important for us to remember when we study and speak of prophecy. Of course, talking about prophecy will invariably cause some to react in fear. What do we say to loved ones who fit that description?

Well, for starters, we read Romans...

Romans 8:35-39 (KJV) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I also feel led to read Proverbs 3...

Proverbs 3:25-26 (KJV) Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

Here’s the thing though. The only way the Lord can "keep your foot from being taken" is if you actually belong to Him in the first place. The only way to belong to Him is to make atonement for the multitude of sin in your life. The only way to make atonement is to repent for your sins believe in Jesus Christ and the sacrifice He made on the cross at Calvary when He shed His blood for your sake. Then, and only then, will you receive His free gift of salvation.

To summarize again, you need to know what the signs are so that you can be watching for them daily. I'm not suggesting that we should be so preoccupied with the future at the expense of the present, but God wants you to be aware of the signs of the times and the seasons we're living in.

He loves you and He won't come upon you as "a thief in the night"...if you're His and eagerly watching for His return.

Keep looking up!

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