My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.
When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.
Refrain:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.
~Keith W. Ward
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157 comments:
Love that hymn.
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did the format get changed? My layout seems different with the comment box right up next to Jim.carroll's name.
Anyway, I have bounced back and I truly do thank you all for your prayers. I didn't know I was going to have a major tooth extracted on Thursday when I went to keep my appointment. My dentist had been studying my xrays and deemed the tooth had to go. In a major way, it was a blessing because I didn't have any time to fuss and get all nervous.
God is so good and even after the decision was made, I didn't hit "Panic" in the least. I cannot believe how calm I was at the news. Wish all of you had the excellent dentist that I have. Didn't hurt at any stage of the procedure and that is the usual way it goes.
Anyway, thanks for your prayers.
Grany
Good to hear, Grany.
The format looks the same now that I clicked onto the site from my favorites. But when I clicked onto Jim's comment from my e-mail it did look different.
Hmmm....I smell a conspiracy!!
There's been a slight format change, but it's only obvious when you're one of the early posters. In my browser (Firefox) the "Choose and identity" stuff below the comment box looks different -- different font and font sizes.
No, please not one more conspiracy! I like the fresh look just wondering if it was my computer again.
Kinda woozy tonight and I think it is because of the degree of infection that was present with the no longer there tooth. I reall am not a sissy in the least but I am having trouble hitting the right keys as I type.
On a better note, we are enjoying 70+ temps right now and it has been a wonderful day, so DJH tells me. Our kitty kat has actually wanted to come into the house a couple of times today and this is a first for her in a long time. I miss my lil furry friend and worried that she will forget me if she stays outside much longer.
Anyway, just wanted to tell you how much you all mean to me.
Grany
Jack Kelly's "The End Times Empire: Rome or Islam or?" Part 1 and 2 were recently posted. Looks interesting!
Love that hymn, too! Thanks for posting it, Mac!
stupid google is insisting on having a phone number for me and I am equally insistent on them not having it.
Grany
glad you are doing somewhat better.
This trip back to Ohio has been somewhat bitter sweet. Had not realized just how far downhill dad had gotten over the last 6 months. Mom says it has just been since his accident. i can't help but feel that this may well be the last section of time with him on this earth. Perhaps not but he has gotten very frail. Would appreciate your prayers.
stupid google is insisting on having a phone number for me and I am equally insistent on them not having it.
Grany
glad you are doing somewhat better.
This trip back to Ohio has been somewhat bitter sweet. Had not realized just how far downhill dad had gotten over the last 6 months. Mom says it has just been since his accident. i can't help but feel that this may well be the last section of time with him on this earth. Perhaps not but he has gotten very frail. Would appreciate your prayers.
Keeping your Daddy in my prayers continually.
I know that feeling about Google but I just keep telling them NO. About every 3 weeks, the same thing pops up and like you, I haven't relented. If you give them your phone number it will only be sold for their vendors. Besides, if it is a cell phone, you know the rest of the story.
We had the nicest little rain this afternoon and the temps are once again in the 70's and it feels so good. Thank you Abba for your wonderful care and provision.s
Maranatha!
Donna, thanks for the Jack Kelly info. I want to go see what he has to say.
I cannot believe some of the prophecy/bible teachers who have swallowed this garbage about an Islamic Beast/Antichrist. Even Perry Stone has written a book "Unleashing The Beast" and with the following subtitle: The Coming Reign of Terror by a Fanatical Islamic Dictator and His Ten-Nation Coalition". I somehow got this book at a local bookstore without reading the subtitle and to say that I am upset with Perry is a mild, understatement.
This is all I am going to say on the subject. For now!!!!
Grany
Am re-reading Footsteps by Frucht and a point that he constantly makes is that the study of prophecy suffers as much from its friends as its detractors because of newspaper exegesis. He reminds frequently that one looks to see what Scripture says first about something and then looks at the newspaper not the other way around.
JIB,
I believe Dr. Frucht is right and even to the point that some blogs will post the news headlines, mainstream media articles and then try to make the case for prophecy that can be squeezed to fit the picture. But it is also true of book authors trying to drum up interest in their latest book.
I recently came across a wee little book that I had forgotten and in it the author remarked that the age was coming to a close for the church but before it was closed completely, Satan would turn up the heat to deceive the body of believers until a vast majority would believe the lie.
I remember being very upset with the author because I just couldn't see that happening in way. The book was written back in the mid 50's and his take was considered radical at that time. However, what he had to say fits our era right now. He said that learned men and women would deny the infallable character and would resort to reducing the sacredness to myths and symbolism.
I am afraid that it has even progressed beyond his imagination. I do believe the bible refers to it as 'Strange Fire' but I haven't heard that expression in a long, long time. Google 'Strange Fire' if you are unaware of the topic's meaning.
I do believe that there is a lot of flesh parading as experts and it is so easy to get caught up in it. But if that person writing a book, holding scripture teaching, Prophetic conferences, etc. isn't being lead by the Holy Spirit then it is a form of 'SF'. Another word for it would be "uncrucified flesh".
The rush for money is most generally the biggest motive but so is a desire to be noted.
Well, time for this ole hen to go to bed and count her blessings.
Adoni, I love you,
Grany
Well Paul told Timothy that in the last days people would not abide sound doctrine and would only want that which would make them feel good so I guess we shouldn't be surprised.
He also said that in the end time God would send a great delusion on all who reject Jesus Christ. In John's gospel, the Holy Spirit inspired John to make this very bold statement: John 1:
The Word Became Flesh
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and THE DARKNESS HAS NOT OVERCOME IT.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. (That is what we are supposed to be doing also).
9 The true light, that gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."
Jesus Christ, the Son of God is the Incarnate WORD of God. The WORDs in the Bible are not man's words, it is Jesus Christ,BY WAY OF THE FATHER. Following what John said by way of the Holy Spirit, and the scripture that tells us "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" 2Tim.3:16. And 2 Peter 1:21 tells us "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
All scripture means ALL and when I see mere men trying to manipulate God's WORD it makes blood shoot out of my eyes. (As JIB often says). When God speaks (scriptures) we need to listen. It isn't our place to dice His word and devise cleaver schemes to corrupt it. This is what I see happening with the Islamic Antichrist. God's WORD says "Revised Roman Empire" not Constantinople.
Daniel 7:7-8;23-24:"After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things." Daniel 7:7-8
"Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings." Daniel. 23-24.
Many bible scholars believe this will be the European Union and if it is, then three of those major countries will pull out of the group before much longer. One thing that I didn't know is only 10 members have full membership and the others do not have any voting rights.
If any of you are interested in reading more about it, TRY THIS SITE
Now I have to get to work on menu plans. Hot dogs, burgers, french fries, ice tea, Pepsi, OH HOW I WISH!
Grany
Great Grany, it is good to know that you won't be getting longer in the tooth, at least not that one.
It is interesting how a few years ago we were all super hyper about the situation in the middle east, yet when war is closer now than ever, these thots are less intensive.
I have not posted much this last while because we are in transition. Great Grany, I hope that I will get a chance to meet you before too long, as we are now in Siloam Springs. The Lord has blessed so far, and I am waiting for him to provide pastoral work for me. One church we feel very comfortable in is checking us out. I am going on faith that this is the one, but it is a major step of faith. The word for today was "nothing wavering".
I visited a church which was also looking for a senior pastor. the first question that the interim pastor asked me was "are you ordained" I am not. So there was no hope for me. The secdond thing that he said to me is that they are not big on the inerrancy thing. In fact he was opposed. I obviously did not leave any info there. It seemed a bit strange that the most important thing to them was the approval of man, but the word of the Lord was unimportant. To tell God what is true and what is false is a bit bold for me.
God bless ya'll eh!
Hey Wayne,
Great news. Siloam Springs is a very interesting place and one of the few towns that my husband and I wouldn't mind living in. Send me an email and I would count it an honor to come up there. It would also give us a chance to get out of our recliners and see the other vistas for a change.
You keep your standards high regarding God's word, and I know that you will because there are other churches there that are of the firm persuasion of God's inerrant truth and putting first things first. But I will keep your need in my prayers before the Lord.
You know that not far up the road is Joplin, MO and that is the town that nearly got wiped off of the map 2 years ago and it is a God fearing, and friendly city. More now than ever before after their brush with total disaster.
Good knowing you are in my neck of the woods.
Grany
I have a couple of sincere questions that I'm hoping some folks here would care to offer some wisdom on.
1.) Under what circumstances is it wise and appropriate to leave one's current fellowship and seek another church to attend? (Assuming the person isn't moving out of the area)
2.) If the circumstances warrant leaving, how should one go about making the break/transition? What should one definitely do and what should one definetly NOT do? (Aside from the obvious which is to speak badly of others.) What can or should someone say if asked why they left?
Jim G
we are facing the same situation with a twist. the church we attend is sound but it is part of an organization that it apostate. We have struggled with this over the last year or so. We wrote a letter to the board of elders listing our concerns. This was of course after we had talked to the Pastor. At this point we are due to talk to some of the elders sometime in the next few weeks or so. We would love to stay in this church but at the same point if the board of elders finds that they are unable to make a recommendation that we leave the national group we will leave the church but the question is a matter of timing. How long should we give them. It has been a year since a rule at the national level passed and 8 months since a presentation was made to the ruling elders and nothing has been done.
As a general rule I would leave over matters of doctrine such as inerrancy, inspiration, virgin birth, the atonement etc. Sometimes it is necessary to leave when the pastoral leadership puts themselves above the members to the point where it is almost a cult of leadership. We have friends that left a church because of that as well as the fact that they felt their spiritual lives had become stagnant and they weren't being fed spiritually like they thought they should.
Further I don't know that you really need to offer an opinion per se but I would keep in generic and vague for the most part unless a more specific answer is warranted. If you are leaving over doctrine I think perhaps you should be more specific.
JIM G.
I agree with JIB in regards to how/why. Letting the Leadership Officers know first and foremost, especially if it is doctrinal. If you just slip away silently nothing is served because it will set in place a nasty custom of "Guessing". Then all of the petty feelings of the Guessers get enlarged and nothing comes from it except hurt feelings.
If you are leaving as a matter of convenience, then I would state that to the Pastor.
When I left the Full Gospel church along with many others, it was a moral issue and a huge one at that. I wasn't the only one that left and as a result, another church was born. This town is full of the "Split Church Syndrome" and it didn't stop with the first group to break away. So, the purpose for which we left the first one, was never resolved and in fact, the very people that were center front in the moral relations area are the leaders of the first church; Pastor and Praise Leader.
A lot of those people that stayed have had nothing but trouble and now their membership has shrunk down to almost nothing. This was a church that was very strong, truly Bible believing, teaching and we thought, living. But the spirit of Jezabel was there from the very beginning and no one dealt with it. It grew and reproduced until it was all out rebellion against the Word of God and against the Pastor and Shepherd and that brought down the membership.
Even the church that formed from that first group has struggled and yes, the wolf dressed like a believer entered in and scattered the sheep. It was almost like a Trojan Horse had been planted in the new church that formed and no one was guarding against it.
So, the seriousness of it all is pretty evident. Letting the truth come out is the only way you can leave without it becoming a curse. Remember when Paul made the trip to Jerusalem to confer with the leaders but especially Peter? He did that to clear up and set straight bible teaching, doctrine and to remove any opening for Satan to walk in and ruin the gospel going forth.
I know that with prayer, you will know what to do. I will be praying for you also.
Grany
Thought y'all might be interested in this:
Is There Scientific Support for the Seven Trumpets of the Book of Revelation?
From the "Comets of God" blog.
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Another web page that landed in my lap, on the process of improving your prayer life:
Saying your prayers versus praying your prayers
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Very interesting MR. Carroll. Indeed!
Good night ya all!
Grany
It is actually 8:39 P.M. here in Okieland and I am sleepy.
Is anyone having trouble signing into Facebook by any chance. The normal sign on screen has looked strange (more like simple html code than the normal sign in web page). It is also much slower. I don't think I have a virus or malware but maybe??? Just wondering if anyone else has experienced FB trouble in the past 24 hours.
I even tried using a different browser and had the same result.
JIM G.
No not today but yesterday I did and just to be sure I ran my malware security app and it found over 46 incursions. I use SuperAntiSpyware and it is free from www.cnet.com.
Had some trouble with getting onto the blog here but it was my fault. Happy fingers need to get a little slower and look before I click.
Grany
Jim G.
GO HERE for a great tech site. A man that used to be a tech with IBM and then Microsoft runs it and the information on it is very good. They have a bunch of techs that keep testing everything and the free security section is basically what I use.
I used to use Norton, Trend Micro, McAfee, etc, etc. but everytime I was trusting them to keep the trojans, worms, bugs, ticks and fleas away from my computer, it took some of the free apps that Gizmo lists to find them, remove them and then I got smart and started using the recommended list of free ones he posted.
One of the best ones to find the malware is the SuperAntiSpyware that I mentioned in my previous comment.
HOpe this helps you and anyone else that wants to give it a try.
Grany
Good tip on the malware, Grany. I'm migrating my data across to a new laptop which has Nortons preloaded. I gave up on Nortons years ago coz it was slow and cumbersome but it seems to have changed. Aledsia has never had a problem with it. I had Microsoft Essentials and Spybot on my other laptop and never had a virus.
Jim G, I'd try run the above free programs on your PC just to be safe.
Jim
While I don't doubt that some of them could be comets let's face it-modern man does not associate comets with anything other than science and they have no omen power anymore. The point of the varying judgments is that by these people will know that God is intervening directly into human affairs. Revelation makes it pretty clear that men will know that these judgments come from God and yet will continue to blaspheme against him and choose evil. To my mind, comets just don't fit that bill.
Grany
regarding the EU etc, I don't think that is the 10 kingdoms prophesied although no doubt it is a test run to see what works best.
The statue in Daniel are the 4 Gentile governments that are over the Jews until the end of the Tribulation in which case we must still be under the 4th form. i like most of what Frucht says about this although I don't know that I buy into the one world government before the 10 kings. i will say he does make a compelling case however that we are under the 4th government seem-he doesn't call it Roman but Imperialistic which did start with the Romans. For those of you who haven't read Footsteps the short version is that up until the time of the Romans when areas were conquered they had governments set up of local people albeit appointed by the conquerors. The conquerors did not replace the people's government with anything other than the brand of government they were used to having over them. With the Romans however this changed. The Romans were the first to impose a Roman form of government on those they conquered. He says this is what makes the 4th form of government so different than the prior ones. His other point is that since the Roman split into the East and West there has always been an East/West balance of power since that time although the centers of power change. He feels that the battle of EZ 38 is what finishes this expression of Imperialism as it destroys the East/West balance of power. Which leads to a unity phase and then a 10 king phase which is what is in power at the start of the Tribulation. interesting stuff
Grany, I can't seem to find your email anywhere, so here is mine. payne.and.wam@gmail.com
Wayne
Thank you Wayne. I have it added to my contacts and will send you a note shortly.
Everyone: I need your prayers again. DJH is having some "Issues" today and it isn't really very pleasant around here right now. Health can become a very precious blessings the older we get and DJH isn't getting old very gracefully.
I do understand how he feels because he has always been very active and loves to walk. Well, walking just took on a whole new meaning today and he is extremely distressed. Didn't fall but sure made people doubt his sobriety.
Until the news improves, Shalom,
Grany
keeping you in prayer, Grany.
Jib, how's your dad?
Grany
sorry to hear that. Dad is going more gracefully than I thought mostly because he doesn't have the energy or oxygen to get worked up much. or at least he didn't while we were there.
Mac
Dad is holding his own at the moment. We haven't seen him in about a week. We will see him briefly tomorrow and then ???? We are thinking about making a shorter visit in March when the cousins are on spring break. That will louse up our school schedule but oh well. Not going to buy the tickets as of yet since quite frankly it will be a hair over 6 months at that time. I don't honestly know if he will even be alive in 6 months given his decline since January of this year so going to wait until after the holidays to buy the tickets and see how he is at that time. I am hoping that if the ramp gets built he might be rejuvenated a bit and perk up some at least mentally and then who knows he might still be with us in a year but I really doubt that. My son has caught on that papa is terminal and he is not handling it well when he thinks about it. I can't imagine how much worse it will be for the grandkids who have been seeing him everyday. Then again maybe it will be less traumatic since they are dealing with his illness everyday. I really am not dealing so well with the realization that this trip might be the last time I see him physically on this earth. I intend to skype much more frequently than we have in the past. Honestly thinking of buying their Christmas gift early just in case. Thinking of a new dvd player or tablet not sure which. Dad has a bad cataract so reading really small print is very hard for him and the font on most websites is difficult to make larger. At least on his NOOK he can adjust the font so he can read his Bible otherwise he wouldn't be able to do that either. He doesn't do much these days mostly because he can't do much.Very sad. He is a shell in some ways of his former self.
JIB,
My heart is so sad at the news of your father. I know what you are going through and I just want you to know that my prayers are with you and lil guy every day, every hour. I will be so glad when death is no longer a factor in life.
I also want to thank you all for your prayers. Hubby is doing a whole lot better but we have to find the reason for these spells. He has had severe stomach pains every night for more than 2 months and refuses to see a doctor. He has always had digestive problems but this is a whole different scene.
Our daily life is all hinged on how bad he feels and that is no way to live. Telling him that by the stripes of Jesus Christ he is healed, means nothing at all to him. So, my level of tolerance is wearing very thin and if I had a pitchfork, I know that I would love to pitch the devil right out of here, pronto. In the meantime, before Lisa reminds me, I rebuke the devil, calmly pet DJH to sooth his ready to fight attitude and thank God for all of His precious and powerful provisions. I have to remember that because Abba has a covenant with me, DJH is covered also.
Boy, that is a lot to remember but it is doable.
I have another dentist appointment this afternoon and I am not looking forward to it. I so appreciate and trust my wonderful dentist but I am weary of foreign fingers and instruments in my mouth.
Take care, going to go pray for JIB and lil fella right now and Big fella (dad) right now.
Shalom,
Grany
Thanks Wilma
I hate the dentist so saying a quickie for you right now. Depends on where the pain is as to what might be wrong. Might just be garden variety heartburn might be more serious.
Listened to a series on death by Frucht yesterday. Much food for thought. He defines all death as separation which is really true.
I find that I almost envy my Dad in some ways.He'll beinthe Presence of Christ and will be reunited with family that has gone before like his son my middle brother. He won't be in pain and he will be whole. While I want that for him I selfishly want him to have it in the here and now to keep him with us. I said something about keeping him with us for awhile but he said wasn't going to happen so I think he is waiting for the end to come and trying to enjoy what time he has left. Certainly wasn't how he expected things to go for his retirement. Ah well.
Have been praying re the dentist, Grany.
Really feel for you, Jib. Last time I saw mum was in the hospital room last September. She was waiting to die and eager to go to the Lord. I said my about 3 times and twice before I could leave, knowing it would be the last time I'd see her pre-rapture or my own death. That lady died with dignity. No fear and witnessing to the end. Still miss her.
That should have read...I said my goodbyes about 3 times....
I know what you meant :-) and I am sure it was really hard. I guess I shouldn't complain since I am only 2000 miles away not the what 8000 that you were?
JIB and Mac,
you both have my prayers and I know the heart hurts but I want to share something with you and hope it brings you some comfort.
While my mother had fought and beat cancer on five different occasions, the 6th one (maligant brain tumor) was heading for a completely different outcome. In 1992 she was diagnosed with cancer of the left sinus and optical nerve. This was her 5th bout with cancer and all of them in different places. We had just lost our wonderful Holy Spirit filled pastor at the United Methodist Church here and for my mother and I, it was a real heartbreak. He was sent to the Texas branch. He hadn't been gone for more than 6 months when a specialist diagnosed the cause of the horrible pain she was in.
Mother was always very quiet and really an introvert through and through. Oh,she would cut up with family and close friends but mostly just very gentle and kind. When we were told that it was cancer, a biopsy was performed to verify it. I had already paid for my first guided managed trip to Israel and her treatment would begin within 3 days of my departure. I told her I was not going to go to Israel and she ordered me to the contrary.
If I didn't go, she was not going to have the treatment. The treatment would involve an incision type shunt that would administer the Chemo. Then radiation would follow. The presupposed outcome of the radiation, according to the young Radiologist, was grim. Loss of total eyesight, unable to function in any manner that we would consider normal, and most of all, it would only be good for a max of 2 years.
HA! That is when the Lord knocked on my momma's heart so loud that she said "come in" and I mean that literally. She thought it was someone outside the patient room where she was waiting for the doctor to return.
Real quick like, we started standing on God's Word "by His stripes you are healed" and no matter what anyone said it was not going to be any thing else.
She recovered beautifully and for 4years, 6 months she was enjoying life to the fullest.
Then on May 26th, 1996 I went to pick my brother and mother up to go to church and mother wasn't ready. My brother was in a wheelchair, waiting for me in the frontroom of their condo, plainly worried.
Mother had not answered him when he called her name and because he couldn't get his wheel chair into her bedroom, didn't know what had happened. I found her collapsed on the floor of her dressing room and the drama took on a whole new atmosphere.
When I took her to Ft. Smith, our next door neighbor was the ER doctor and we found out that she had fractured vertebrae, and later from extensive testing, a brain tumor of unknown classification.
But during all of this time, mother was absolutely enjoying the presence of the Lord. Right there in the hospital.
Now I am not laying it on thick! She told the nurses, the dietician, the nuns who ran the hospital and all of her doctors. Some American, some Hindu, some who didn't want anything to do with an Unknown Being. But she told them wonderous things and each one of them couldn't understand how she knew these things.
But the outcome didn't decease her love of the Lord one little bit. He seemed to be at her bedside the whole time she was ill and even when the nurses would come to attend to her, the first visit always got the same question: "What is this that I FEEL in this home?"
If I had one of them on here with us, she would tell you the very same thing. Even our pastor experienced the very strong presence of the Lord while visiting her. She even had a beautiful dream of heaven and shared it with everyone.
--to be continued--
continued
When mother was breathing her last breath, it was Wednesday night and church services ending if the schedule had been adhered to but it wasn't.
Mother was always fearful of dying alone and that evening, our precious pastor felt the Lord telling him to hasten the ending. So he did. They all started coming to my mother and brothers home, filling the whole place with their prayers, their love and mother recognized each one of them. As the last person came into her room, she smiled, quietly drew her last unlabored breath and passed on to be arm in arm with her beloved Jesus. The tender little smile on her face was still there when we buried her. No more pain, no more tears, no more disappointments but most of all, she was in the presence of the very one she loved the Most.
I thought I would surely break apart but you see, on the way from the Mercy Hospital the evening she was admitted, my car also was filled full of the Presence of the Holy Spirit. I knew that this time was going to be different and yet I didn't want it to be. She was my best friend, my loyal confident, my chief cheerleader, the one who kept my walk straight and would always point me back to the road where I belonged. I didn't want to lose that but Jesus Christ knew that my Mother wanted to come Home to His Abode and she got the desires of her heart.
I can't keep from remembering all of the wonderful things that God did repeatedly in our lives and each morning was a new beginning filled with "wonder what Abba is going to do outstanding today in our life?" sort of thing.
The main thing that we all need to do when this time comes, is just LOVE THEM with every fiber of our being. Love them like you never have before and wash all of those past hurts and disappointments out. Let the tears do it for you if that is what works for you but start praising God for His great mercy, love, and the precious provisions he has poured into your life.
Praising Him will work wonders for all of your healing. Because that is what they are all doing right now. Can't you just hear the
Hallelujahs! Listen, are those the footsteps I hear?
Grany
That was beautiful, Grany. Thanks for sharing.
I have moments when I'm feeling really down because I miss her and missed being by her bedside. Then I get that sudden joyful feeling when I know in my being that God is in His heaven and all will be well for eternity. It's like God taps me on the shoulder and reminds me.
Once, when I was still in Melbourne and feeling a little down, I was sitting at my PC and I got this sudden joyful feeling (don't know why) and I actually laughed with joy. I never laughed with joy before and when it finished I felt embarrassed. I suspect it was God tapping me on the shoulder again.
Mac,
that is what the Holy Spirit is all about. Not the jumping, screaming, yelling or being a Watusi dancer. It is the Joy of the Lord that makes you rich. Now by rich, I am not saying $$$$$. No, I am saying Rich in the Lord and the power of His might. It took great power for Jesus to enter into the very depths of Satan's abode and rescue those who were waiting for His arrival. It took great Might for Jesus to then ascend out of those depths and something that no other being has ever accomplished. Those that Jesus led out (Captivies)hadn't had the benefits of a Savior until then. They believed God but it was not the same as it is now.
So your Joy was paid for by Jesus Christ and no one, and I mean NO ONE has the authority or the right to try to steal it from you. Your Joy is in the Lord and paid for by a tremendous enduring price. You laughed at death and the grave because you KNOW where your momma is.
I think that is a glorious testimony and I really got a blessing from it. If only we could get everyone to really see and know the difference between living in the Love of God and existing in the here and now, this ole world would be turned upside down again and the Angels would have to come down here and join us in our exhaultation of Love and Praise for Abba and His Son.
Hallelujah, dancing, dancing, dancing.
Grany
It is good to read about God's faithfulness. A While ago I was visiting my Mother-in-law in the care home. She has Altzhiemers and often breaks down crying. She can not communicate with words, so it is difficult. Others kept asking her "What's wrong", which of course made it worse for her. The Lord told me to keep telling her "this is a good day to praise the Lord". Every time I told her that, she would quit crying for a while. She does love Jesus deeply.
I find that these days I must also make that proclamation for myself, and then do it. It does something to the attitude when we proclaim.
Watching what is happening in ME, I feel such sadness for the numbers of people who will suffer. I'm so glad I'm not one of the leaders who have to make such awful decisions! So, I took a look at John Kennedy's speech to the American people during the Cuban missile crisis. Eye opening. It doesn't give me an answer about what Israel should do, but his words are worth considering. Here's a snippet:
But this secret, swift, extraordinary buildup of Communist missiles -- in an area well known to have a special and historical relationship to the United States and the nations of the Western Hemisphere, in violation of Soviet assurances, and in defiance of American and hemispheric policy -- this sudden, clandestine decision to station strategic weapons for the first time outside of Soviet soil -- is a deliberately provocative and unjustified change in the status quo which cannot be accepted by this country, if our courage and our commitments are ever to be trusted again by either friend or foe.
The 1930's taught us a clear lesson: aggressive conduct, if allowed to go unchecked and unchallenged, ultimately leads to war. This nation is opposed to war. We are also true to our word. Our unswerving objective, therefore, must be to prevent the use of these missiles against this or any other country, and to secure their withdrawal or elimination from the Western Hemisphere.
Our policy has been one of patience and restraint, as befits a peaceful and powerful nation which leads a worldwide alliance. We have been determined not to be diverted from our central concerns by mere irritants and fanatics. But now further action is required, and it is under way; and these actions may only be the beginning. We will not prematurely or unnecessarily risk the costs of worldwide nuclear war in which even the fruits of victory would be ashes in our mouth; but neither will we shrink from that risk at any time it must be faced.
Thoughts anyone?
Anne
I remember those days VIVIDLY and to say that the whole world held their breath is an understatement. But, without JFK'S determination in the face of this threat and the fact that the highest ruling power in the USSR had bold facedly lied to JFK, no one knew what was going to happen next. On the day of the dreaded showdown between Russia and the USA, we held our breath and tried to pray. Those Russian ships were typically trying to bully the USA's resolve to put a stop to Cuba's being a blasting post for Russia's imperialist assults. Even our own Navy was reluctant to follow the direct orders of Kennedy. McNamara was the only one onboard the lead ship that had the guts to stare down and order the Captain to hold to the High Command's orders. That was one hellish nightmare to say the least. We were within seconds of a nuclear war and everyone with any kind of sense KNEW IT.
One of the things that keeps gnawing at my inner most being, Russia's involvement is beyond anything that we have knowledge of, right now. The one thing that history can prove is Russia desires to rule the world and control more than their realm of influence. I wouldn't want to venture a guess as to our present administration's response in a like situation. Cuban complacency in and with Russia's always mad desire to destroy the USA would cause me more than a little bit of deep concern. Now we add to the equation, Venezuela's Chavez hatred of the USA. Mio mia!
But I really don't think that is next on the platter of hostile actions. If it were, I believe we would all know without a doubt that our prayer life would take on a very drastic change. What does cause me distress is the foolishness of this election season. I know that all of us have this desire to get a massive amount of stability back in our nation's affairs so why do we have the 'Clown Attitude' going on in the MSM (Mindless Stupid Mindset) everytime the "News" is turned on?
Now does anyone have any doubts why the old fashioned word for a deviate was used? Ya know wha I mean Vern? It is more than odd!
Wayne
Neat story
Hubby and I are meeting with some of the elders of our church to defend or something the letter we wrote to them and for them to ask us questions. Asking for your prayers. Meeting is Sept 6th at 6:30pm PDT.
not sure this will post but here goes (and it won't so it will be in multiple parts)
We are writing to express our feelings regarding this church and its relationship to the
PCUSA. We know that you have been presented with a great deal of information about how the PCUSA has been acting in a way contrary to Biblical teachings and to the stated beliefs of this church. We have been disappointed in the seeming lack of response on the part of the session to this information. Except for an initial Q&A session with the church at large several months ago, the appearance is that there has been nothing else said or done on this subject. The silence on the part of those who are to lead us is deafening.
Please do not make the mistake that the media is willfully making by calling this a homosexuality issue. Homosexuality is only part of the issue, but it is the only part that the media chooses to focus on, and for the sole purpose of ridiculing the Church. The real issue is one of authority. Whose authority are we as a church going to submit to-that of the culture , men's words, and traditions or the authority of God? Joel C Rosenberg makes the point in his recent book Implosion that God is not running for the President of a democracy nor is He looking to establish some sort of coalition to rule like a Prime Minister. He is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings and He sets the rules. He isn't running for a popularity contest either. The Bible is plain on what God does and does not tolerate. The current problem with religion, not faith, is that we would rather make people and ourselves feel better about ourselves as opposed to see how God actually sees us. We have lost by and large the ability to call sin sin because people don't believe in moral absolutes anymore. The traditional morality of the faith isn't necessarily a "bunch of religious people" deciding what God does and does not tolerate although I will admit in some cases it is in certain legalistic denominations. With regard to sexual morality, God is clear in both Testaments that the only sexual relationship that is appropriate is one man, one woman and only in marriage. Our culture says anything goes, anytime, anywhere and with anyone. There are other actions that God does not tolerate that we would not even consider in the realm of morality such as gluttony. Our problem within invisible Church is that far too many people refuse to take the plain meaning of scripture as the primary and plain meaning of scripture on moral issues because it makes them or others feel badly about themselves and in many cases is considered backwards by the culture. That isn't to say we should go out of our way to be obnoxious to those in our culture but it isn't loving or Christlike to let them die in their sins either, separated from God for eternity. After all the primary stated purpose of the church is to win souls to Christ and make disciples in all nations. Further Christ already warned us that our culture would not like us because it had not liked him. During His time on earth Christ interacted with his culture in ways that shook his culture to its very foundation. He certainly lacked popularity with the religious leaders of that day but only because they had ceased placing God's words above men's words and traditions. They revered the oral traditions of their Rabbis and their extra Biblical rules above the Word of God. They failed to be what they should have been and were mere professors of faith without actually being true members of the faith. So when we stand before God it is He that we will answer to and not the culture. What answer will you give when God asks-Why did you not stand on my authority? Why did you not submit to my authority?
Why was the opinion of culture and society and men's traditions more important to you than my opinion and words? While our sins are covered and remembered no more, we will according to Paul stand before Christ and have our works measured, tested, and we will be rewarded on that which survives. Jesus said in John 6:38 "For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me." He did not come to do what he thought was right or to get along with the culture but to do God's will. He should be our example.
We would like to express that we feel, as do many of you, that our Church is Biblically
sound and that Ben is preaching the truth. We feel Ben's preaching under the direction of the Holy Spirit has rejuvenated our church and has led to incredible growth. Our concern is with our continued association with what could generously be described as an heretical group but in our opinion more distinctly defined as an apostate group-The PCUSA. An Heretic is defined as one who does not hold to traditional doctrine and an Apostate as one who has fallen away, withdrawn or defected. While the word apostate is not found in the English Versions of the Bible, it is used twice in the New Testament in the original Greek, to express abandonment of the faith. The study group presented multiple instances of the apostasy of the PCUSA in many different areas over an incredibly long period of time. The fundamentals of the Faith are considered the fundamentals of the Faith because without them, we might as well go home and do something else as there is no faith without them. To abandon such doctrines as the inspiration and inerrancy of scripture, the Virgin birth of Christ, the substitutionary atonement of Christ, and Christ as the only way to God is to be apostate not just heretical. Many of these doctrines were abandoned at the beginning of the last century and one is more recent. Has it affected First Presbyterian very much. Overall no with regard to staff. We don't have to call a pastor or have on staff those who do not believe in these doctrines. The effect would be more clearly seen if we were to choose people to be elders and deacons who don't hold to these doctrines. Some of the latest changes such as 10a or even future changes however can and will eventually affect our local church whether we think so or not. Listen to what God says via the Apostle Paul in the following passages: 2Cr 6:14 "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?" 2Cr 6:17 "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you," John says in 1 John 1:6 "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:" We are warned not to walk with unbelievers and those in darkness even if they claim to be brothers and sisters in the faith. In 1Cr 5 Paul chastises the local church for tolerating people who were unrepentant in their sin. He called on them to disassociate from those persisting in sin even to the point of not eating a simple meal with them. He notes that God will judge those out side the faith and church but those within we are to judge and we are to put them out of the fellowship of believers if they persist in sin. We will have to answer to God on why we persisted in our fellowship with an apostate organization.
part three
You, our elders, have more responsibility in this matter before God because you are the chosen leaders of this church and have accepted that responsibility. The elders of any church in any denomination should be the most spiritually mature members of that congregation. They should be in the front of the fight for the faith not leading from behind. There needs to be some sort of visible effort on the part of this session to address people's concerns on this issue. Many comments were made at the one and only informational meeting that show the people of this congregation find the current trends within the PCUSA very concerning. They asked that the study group's findings be made public. We suspect that if they had that information they would be far more than concerned, they would be downright alarmed. Why has that information not been released to the members at large? There needs to be education on what the real issues are, what has happened, and why this is so vitally important before any measures can be taken. Some members and "attenders" have left because they do not want to have to stand before God and explain why they continued to be associated with an organization walking in darkness and others will leave. We have discussed leaving. We don't really want to leave and pray about it frequently. We keep hoping that the session will do something to justify our faith in them that the God honoring thing will be done. Please, lead us.
We also find it somewhat bothersome that one of the issues holding us back is the issue of property. We love and appreciate what we have in property holdings but are we really seriously saying that we would let the potential loss of our property stand in the way of doing what is God honoring? We don't propose that we roll over either but property above the God that blessed us with that property in the first place? Wow.
In the same passage in 1 Cr 5, Paul notes that a little leaven will also leaven the whole lump. Consider apostasy the leaven invading the PCUSA. Our church is sound as are many others but how long can we and they stay sound if there is continued association with the leaven of apostasy? Look what has happened over time since the very beginnings of this apostasy in the 1920's. At first there were many more faithful churches than non faithful churches but with continued fellowship and association what has happened? Many fewer faithful churches. So our feelings mirror what Dr. Michael Youssef said about the PCUSA last year after the passage of 10a : "Today, I’m appealing to all faithful Presbyterians in the PCUSA and Episcopalians to vote with your feet and get out of these churches as fast as you can. There can be no excuse. No, you cannot stay and be a witness. No, you cannot stay and try to change things. No, you cannot stay and hope that you will be a light. These denominations have chosen darkness, and they need to experience what true darkness is all about by not having any believers inside their walls."
This is a complex decision with many facets to consider due to denominational constraints and yet it is the simplest of decisions as well-What is the God honoring thing to do? We pray for you all and for this church.
WOW, JIB!
Now I wonder what kind of a question they could have after really reading your document.
I will be praying for your interview. Sept. 6th, 6:30 your time. That will be 4:30 p.m. CDST
Love the way you presented your concerns.
Grany
I agree with Jib; neat story, Wayne.
And I agree with Grany, Jib. Very well written!
stupid blogger-grr they are NOT going to get my phone number
believe or not we have elders who do not believe in the orthodox definition of sin or at least what activities that constitute sin are. There are some who don't think we need to separate our church from the national group because our church is sound and they just don't think that it will affect us and then there are some who just want to go along to get along. sad that our elders are so spiritually immature.
JIB,
It is always amazing to me that because some people don't 'believe' any certain idea or principle in God's Word, it negates the scripture. Same as the idea that Heaven is the abode of everyone whether or not they believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. But that doesn't mean anything because it is still GOD's word and His rules for living on HIS EARTH or gaining admission into Heaven.
Like I tell my grandkids, you want to have a good life, then live according to the word of God. Oh, there is much to pray for in this old world and everytime anyone utters those famous words, "I don't believe God means, etc" I want to shake some sense into them. My oldest grandson had some of those same ideas about 3 years ago but since that time, God has demonstrated HIS Sovereignty in their lives.
If they really believe their fables about sin, then Jesus Christ would never have needed to be crucified. Pretty simple, isn't it.
Really praying for your well being JIB and asking that a Hedge of protection surround you and all that you hold near and dear. You are not just fighting human frailities, but you are in a real spiritual battle to boot.
Shalom my friend and I mean that in the total meaning of the word.,
Grany
thanks I have a feeling we're going to need it
Looking Unto Him
Frank E Gaebelein
August 31
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love what Thou dost love,
And do what Thou wouldst do.
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Till I am wholly Thine,
Till all this earthly part of me
Glow with Thy fire divine.
two headlines worth noting this morning
Apparently Pastor Youcef is facing new charges, again, so we need to remember to pray for him.
On Breitbart there was a headline with an interesting choice of words regarding Israel vs Iran. John Bolton feels that Israel is alone. While this is certainly not a fulfillment of Ez 38 I think we can begin to see the start of Israel being alone and isolated in the world in his words and explanation of same. While things could change with a Romney win and actually taking the office of POTUS I would look for the situation to get much worse if current occupant of office holds on to win or does a false flag event to declare martial law. Have seen some stirrings that a flag flag event is planned for the DNC in Charlotte.
another headline on Breitbart Peace notes that the Head of the Joint Chiefs, an Obama appointee, has also abandoned Israel. Hmm, you know I think if I were a Christian and lived in Charlotte I might make myself scarce during the DNC.
Hydeho, I love that Breathe on Me by Gaebelein. That is also known as the plea for God's Holy Spirit to come into my whole being and BE!
JIB, I wouldn't even go close to Charlotte for love or money right now. No doubt you have heard about Bibe losing his cool and shouting at the Ambassador from POTUS just this last weekend. I think Friday but not sure. Anyway, I so wish that Bibi would just do what Israel needs to do and quit trusting the one who thinks he is the ONE.
I don't trust any of the current representatives that confer with Israel and wonder often who will prove to be the Brutus of this administration.
When I read the article on Breitbart's website, I felt encouraged about the tenacity of Bibi and yet I also want them to go in God's timing. It is so important and once and for all, demonstrate that Israel has not been forsaken by Abba.
Now to get back to taking care of DJH. Things are getting a little murky for him and this is not a great day as far as he is concerned. I need to be able to keep my cool and not let my brain get cluttered up tooooo much. Help me Lord, I pray; take the dark clouds and send them all away.
Shalom,
Grany
Grany, If I remember right Brutus didn't lead an attack against the Greeks; his claim to fame was leading the conspiracy (and the group) that assassinated his own lord and king, Caesar.
(It had to be a group so that no one person could be blamed and suffer the pain of consequence. Rather like today's Board of Directors in most corporations.)
O Lord, look with mercy and favor upon your servant DHJ. Please send Your Holy Spirit upon him that he might find health and joy, cover him with Your Holy Blood that he might find protection in you, and send your angels to wrap him in their wings so that he might know he is loved. We ask this in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
<><
oh my. We DON'T have Israels back!
Lord
give Grany what she needs for help with DHJ.
JIM,
What a beautiful prayer for DJH. And I am going to read it to him as soon as he resurfaces. He decided to take a nap about 45 minutes ago and it is really quiet here now.
By the way, I know about Brutus' groupy and that is what I really meant to say. I get a little fuzzy wuzzy with all of the turmoil around here lately.
JIB, thinking with my flesh, a ballbat and a long chain would help tremendously right now. Well as soon as DJH gets back up. hehehe
Everyone, please keep Israel in your top level category prayers. The big guns in DC believe that without the USA Israel is a sunk goose if they try anything with Iran. I don't think Boo Hoo has had too much indepth training in just how very powerful Yahwah is and has always been in the past.
I am praying that the hoards of locust settle in Boo Hoo's gray locks and give him some insightful understanding. Oh, I wish it was the first Tuesday in November right now! I really, really do!
Take care, love one another and maybe we will meet this Month at the Cafe Hallelujah!
Grany
so interesting turn of events
Our meeting is cancelled for this evening as the only people able to attend are the two that outright agree with us. Too many of the others are oot. We will now be meeting Sept 27th.
JIB,
That just gives all of us more opportunities to be in prayer regarding the decisions that this body of believers are goin to be making and also, for the Holy Spirit to convict the nonsense out of the board members.
On another note, I found one of Dr. Fruchtenbaum's MP3 disc with his teaching on the Minor Prophets and I was all set to really learn more at the able hand (voice I should say) of this dear man. But after 5 tries I gave up. The problems were not with the record, or the player. It was with the one hearing(Me) going to sleep repeatedly. I am so frustrated about it and now I am just a little hesitant to try listening to it in the car. I don't want to end up in the ditch or a dried up river around here.
But his voice just totally relaxes me and I cannot figure out what to do. I want to learn what he is teaching and so far, the only thing I have learned is why the Jews named these prophets Minor. It is because their individual books are much smaller than the Major prophets. All the time I thought it was because they were of less importance. Geez! that isn't much to gleen from my ordeal so I will try again.
Running to the Espresso machine for a double whamy of caffein...........
oops, forgot the honey!
Grany
Yep, I had a real nice long nap! I didn't need it but I am totally relaxed now. Even that Caffein didn't help! Maybe I need to go get me one of those little bottles of hypersuperduper shots of pure Caffein.
Anyway, I am sure my brain probably picked up some of the important stuff but I would sure like to know what it is. Not healthy for the brain to know more than I do.
Grrany
Did you all enjoy the DNC? I managed to stay awake but I had no intention of taxing myself by participating with DJH's output in contradicting the various talking points. I will be so glad to get this upcoming election over with.
It is very difficult for me to understand how such carnage and ignorance can be taking place on the other side of the world and we are all wrapped up in politics. Now please don't get me wrong. I am very much aware of how important our elections are because it is this nation's future we are actually voting on. But I just watched a very serious video from one of the Associated Press news journalist in Aleepo, Syria and in a minisecond four young men were sent to eternity right in front of the AP journalist. No warning except for a phone call a few seconds before the blast from a armoured tank left one of the worst scenes of death and destruction I have ever seen.
Now, I have seen many, many horrible and hopeless physical evidence of mass destruction and not too long ago. Remember, I live 3 1/2 hours from Oklahoma City's bombing back in 1995 and we had coverage here in Oklahoma that never reached the cable news channels. But this was horrible and how I wanted to find a way to stop the carnage of man against man and couldn't.
What is so terribly bad about Syria is the big difference. It is Syria Muslims against foreign Muslims. It is all about CONTROL & POWER over other humans. It is a show of how murderous one can be over another. Children who are tortured and murdered and no one is trying to put a stop to it. But, HOW in the world would you begin trying to stop it immediately.
I have to admit, I am torn in my prayers about the whole mess and all I can seem to ask my Abba is pretty simple; Please, Abba, send your Son and Our Savior quickly.
My heart hurts for all of these people and I know that only the Love of God and His precious Son can be the solution to all of it.
Maranatha,
creepy article and very interesting. I would say either BOO does coke or more like that he is possessed.
Death from Denver
Interesting stuff, Jib. I tend to think that Obie is an atheist as well.
BTW, I did some digging and it turns out that the Insider's friend is Kam Kuwata. I found the news article via Google and then came across this:
http://theulstermanreport.com/2012/01/22/the-death-of-a-political-operative-the-troubling-timeline/
this one is for Jim C :-).It is an interesting article for certain although I do quibble with his take on some of the things he mentions in the article but still a thought provoking article. Christ the King not Christ the Kitten
Jim C, is he referring to Vatican 2 and what prayer of Leo is he talking about?
oh and PAstor Youcef has been freed and acquitted. We serve a great God!
Jib, Dr. Peter Kreeft is one of the great voices in apologetics, generally Christian and specifically Catholic. Having said that, let me answer the second question first.
On Oct. 13, 1884 Pope Leo XIII had just finished saying Mass when he was struck down by a vision. By that I mean he collapsed and was in a trance. It lasted about 10 minutes, during which none of the people around him could rouse him. When it was over, he immediately went to his study and composed a prayer to be said around the world at the end of every Mass. As he later told his companions, as he was stepping away from the altar, he suddenly heard two voices coming from around the tabernacle. One was kind and gentle, the voice of Jesus. The other was guttural, literally demonic. Leo heard the two voices speaking with each other. As one source described the conversation:
The guttural voice, the voice of Satan in his pride, boasted to Our Lord: "I can destroy your Church."
The gentle voice of Our Lord: "You can? Then go ahead and do so."
Satan: "To do so, I need more time and more power."
Our Lord: "How much time? How much power?
Satan: "75 to 100 years, and a greater power over those who will give themselves over to my service."
Our Lord: "You have the time, you will have the power. Do with them what you will.
The prayer that Leo composed (actually 2 prayers) are the Prayers to St. Michael. There is a long one that was to be said at the end of a High Mass (which was a Mass that had a lot of singing and chanting) and a much shorter one to be said at the end of a Low Mass (a much simpler Mass, no singing, usually said during the weekday). The shorter one is the one people remember and say today:
Saint Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into Hell, Satan and all the other evil spirits, who prowl throughout the world, seeking the ruin of souls. Amen
If you want more information about the vision of Pope Leo, here's a good website: Modern Papal Visions. Normally I'd tell you to do a Google search on the vision of Pope Leo XIII, but I just did that and came up with tons of very bad references. The problem is that if we accept the vision as having occurred and as accurate, then we're left with the question of when the "75 to 100 years" began and ended (or WILL begin and WILL end). There are way, WAY too many sites that try to link the beginning and end of that period with different theological movements, and so move the beginning and ending dates around to match their arguments.
This is most frequently done with those people who are opposed to Vatican 2, and attempt to show that it a) was not a valid Ecumenical Council (it was) and b) was heretical (it wasn't). The interpretations of some theologians, though, WERE heretical -- mostly. I say "mostly" simply because the documents that came out of Vatican 2 have been the most abused and misunderstood documents to ever come out of a church council in the history of the Church. For decades, the words "In the spirit of Vatican 2" were used to justify the most egregious abuses and distortions of practice and doctrine one can imagine. Note that people claimed to be following "the spirit" of Vatican 2, rather than the actual words that came out of the council documents.
So while there are many people who would claim that Satan was talking about the priests and theologians who worked at Vatican 2, I would argue he was mostly talking about those who twisted the words and meanings of an event that was an attempt to bring more of the Holy Spirit into the daily lives of the people.
<><
Jib, my prayers are with you and your family while you struggle with your local church's leaders on this issue. The subject came up recently over on Catholic Answers Forum, where one member is promoting the idea of a Minor Apostasy (which we are entering) and a later Major Apostasy. Some extremely conservative Catholics would make the case that the entire Protestant Reformation would constitute this "Minor Apostasy". I've been making the case against this view, since until recently most Protestants did not reject the idea of Sacred Scripture and the saving power of Christ's Sacrifice on the Cross. In my view the apostasy of the major Protestant denominations did not begin until 1933, when the Lambeth Conference of the Anglican Community declared that married couples could use artificial birth control (which at the time meant condoms) without adverse moral consequences. It was the first time that a major Christian denomination had changed what had been a traditional (as in Sacred Tradition) Christian moral teaching.
I'm glad that the PCUSA voted against allowing gay "marriage" back in July, but I fear that this is only a temporary reprieve, and unless there is a great prayerful return, the motion will pass at the next General Assembly.
(I noted that while the GA had voted in 2004 to divest in Israeli companies, in July the GA voted -- by a 2-vote margin -- not to divest. Again a close margin, and much prayer is required.)
<><
Sorry. That last message should have read, "...did not reject the idea of divinely inspired Sacred Scripture ..."
<><
Those articles about what happened in Denver were interesting, and reminded me of something I read in the past week. I'm sharing it, but I'd have an easier time of believing it if it hadn't been posted on April 1, 2011:
Obama may have a criminal past...
<><
I read all of that Denver article and then I chased the other articles that the Author of the Denver post had up. The one thing that stood out in the whole report was the 'Room' episode and I found it immediately interesting that the source of the report had told his friend 'Insider' that he had heard chanting taking place. There are a lot of realist reasons that could be the explanation but the one that I witnessed quite a few years ago came flashing back at me as I read.
Some racially specific religious groups do practice a form of what could be construed as 'chanting' when they pray. Everyone is praying outloud at the same time and from a fair distance it sounds like chanting. The reason being, they repeat the same phrases over and over again.
I will tell you the very simple truth, when I was eye witness to it, I left immediately. Pronton, forgot my jacket and didn't go back to get it. Can I paint you a word picture of my leaving? Lou Costello when he saw the Mummy walking near him!!!!!!~~~~~~~~
It is also a ritual that is practice in VooDoo! But if that story is true I agree it is far beyond WEIRD!!!!
However, the other facts are supported by other sources that are in the "Know". What makes me want to believe it is the reaction of Hillary when The Other talked to her about releasing her delegates to him. Hillary is a tough woman and I mean really Mad Dog Mean when she is crossed; at other times she could just be mean. The pictures that were posted of that meeting were worth a million words. Someone very Big sent the message to "Step Down" and it was of such command that she did, without a whimper.
Now, whoever did that is the power behind all of this mess that is controlling this nation. I don't want to know who it is, I just want him GONE!
I am voting anyway so it doesn't make much difference what any of them have to say. But it does make me Fighting Mad and nail biting strong. Not my finger nails either!
Grany
Need your prayers. I go to the dentist today and I am working real hard to save 4 crowns from having to be replaced. Seems I am loosing the bony structure that keeps the roots from becoming loose. Yep, they are trying to head south also.
Enough of me has already gone south that it would seem my teeth could be spared. Anyway, really dreading the whole ordeal.
Grany
Praying for you, Wilma. I hate dentists!
Oh, for that glorified body!!
BTW, Grany, I've just come from Sean's site and I'm disappointed with the low level of discussion that has entered there. Chris from Rapture Forums wouldn't carry on like that at "Rapture Forums". I know the other admins would pull him up on the attitude.
Hydeme, in the cleft of the ROCK,
I agree and I went back and really read the comments related to the recent discussion. Then I read the discussions from 2009 and what a difference. Here is what I have gleened from the revisited material.
The attention being given to a false teacher is over the charts. If anything is to be accomplished by all of this, I would venture to say it will only cause other people to 1. visit Joel's blogs and that would erode the visitor of his foundational understanding of what little he or she might have; 2. Cause an increase in the theories that are being diced; 3. Cause Sean to become centrally focused on only one small section of the battle and 4. Lose his ability to love the Lord and all that HE loves.
I know that when Joel Rosenberg's blog was going strong, it became very easy for the Mean Wilma to rise up and strike with venom just like before she came to Jesus Christ. Hatred breeds hatred and like I said before, a bullying attitude will only encourage bigger bullies.
We are not playing a game because the prize is lost relationship with Abba and also, the JOY of THE LORD! No love, no JOY. I really do feel very grieved over the blatant efforts to deceive Christians by such tactics, whether they realize their error or not but my only weapon against this very commercial confrontation is simply, don't drink their water. Don't quit studying GOD'S word and quit seeking someone else's opinion on what ABBA is saying.
Just my thoughts but this whole episode has really bugged me and I have enjoyed the past participation at Sean's because it was at least civil and profoundly insightful.
My prayers are with him daily but I am also praying for Joel's genuine salvation and that means total deliverance. If Joel doesn't ruin his reputation, his life could be such a rich storehouse of God's blessings.
Grany
I also meant to say I have no desire to add to my "LIST" as I stand before Christ and give an account for my words and actions. I want to be greeted in a fellowship of love and to adore the Deliverer of my soul.
By the way, my 'ordeal' at the dentist was in no way an Ordeal. I have the most wonderful dentist that God ever placed on this earth and he is precious. Along with all of his staff. I just dreaded the residual affects of what had to be done. No pain this morning but boy, last night was a doozie. I got through it and I give all the glory and praise to my Heavenly Father.
DJH enjoyed a very quiet evening and I know that he enjoyed that. hehehehe
Grany
I guess, I of all people, know how easy it is to get caught up in eschatological debates. Sean has always been a little highly strung but Chris should know better being the Admin for Rapture Forums. They're bringing themselves to the level of Joels Trumpet people when they began harassing Dave Reagan.
There come a time after you've made your points that it's no longer fruitful to continue the debate.
Very wise and point well taken.
We are scheduled for some very odd weather today (rain, of all things) and the fronts coming from the upper level moving south will converge with the more dominating Gulf of Mexico front to bring some strong talk from Heaven and Hell together. We always have this donut effect over our county but today might prove a little different.
What I am trying to tell you with that attempted Okie forecast is, we are going to have some excitement this afternoon or early evening. I might even take off my shoes, pull up my peddle pushers and play in the rain a little. I haven't done that in a long time and it brings back wonderful memories of years gone by.
Anyone care to join me?
Grany
Hydieho,
I didn't know they were discussing D.R. and that I will not tolerate. I really enjoy Dave Reagan and for the most part agree with him. That that I haven't is simply because the subject is not something I have studied. He has said in times past that he does not believe hell is eternal or something to that degree.
I am still studying Heaven and have no time for Hell. I will leave that subject alone, for now anyway.
If I get washed away by the coming rain, just remember, Jesus is Lord and I will be waiting for you all to get your boots off and come join us.
Grany
@hydieho;
There come a time after you've made your points that it's no longer fruitful to continue the debate.
Oh, YEAH? Well,... well,... well, I think you're a PRETERIST in disguise! So there!
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I'm not a pretzelist. You are. So there!
By the above remarks, I would surmise that you are both a little preterest at heart.hehehe
Well, Mr Carroll started it. Nanananana....
You boys behave and quit that fussing!
by the way, I deliberately misspelled the 'preterist and you didn't catch it. Now for something much more serious. I don't really want to get much more serious because I really do feel this is just the beginning of this saga but FACTS OF BENGHAZI ATTACK FAR WORSE THAN REPORTED . Just reading this made my soul hurt more than I could ever describe.
As I was praying yesterday evening, I began praying for our nation's protection along with the Jews in Israel. But the Holy Spirit laid something on my heart that really sobbered me and made our everyday worries seem very small.
As in the days of Israel, the USA has become very "I" invested to the point that if Jesus would appear in our everyday, earthly life, we would probably have less time for HIM than the Religious Leaders in the days when he walked the earth of Israel. Then it seemed that I suddenly was made aware of the fact that we all are having to take part in reaping the fruit of our own rebellion that has been ongoing for many decades.
The whole crux of that experience is simply this, if we are entering into God's Judgment of the USA, there is only one way that will stay the hand of God. You all know what that is and it isn't about lip service; it is about seeking, repenting and then putting into motion with our whole heart, the Commission that Jesus Christ called all of us too.
What good does getting angry do to the relationship that we are to have with Abba? Anger isn't the sin, but the products that it produces will be. My blood pressure goes out of sight when anger enters into my mind, my heart and my mouth. But when I instead begin to love and worship the Lord, the anger leaves, the blood flows quietly and I don't have to worry about my mouth's utterances.
But it takes all of us seeking God's mercy and forgiveness. I have much to take before the Lord and it is time to get started in ernestness.
Grany
funny Grany I had the same thought about judgement. The world is in flames we just don't know it fully yet. I am firmly convinced that if BOO is elected we are under judgement and we are done as a nation. by 2016 we won't exist as we do now. One wonders what kind of tragedy is coming between now and election day. Yes Christians have much to answer for but even at that those sins were forgiven too on the cross even those we have yet to commit. Since we are under the blood, how can we be judged for sin? Yes the nation of Israel was judged but they were different than the USA so I don't think we can necessarily make the parallels. They were judged because as a nation they had failed to be what God wanted and the righteous remnant suffered with the rest but did not come under special condemnation because they did not stem the tide. All of the calls for repentance in the OT were calls for national not individual repentance. I think the judgement is more for our treatment of Israel which is getting worse every day, the rate of abortion, and Hollywood and it's filth and general acceptance. Having said that the reason we find ourselves in such dire straits is because we as the church failed to be salt and light but I don't think the church will necessarily be punished more than the rest of the people in the nation.
In light of this conversation, here's a link to an article in Omega Letter:
America in Bible Prophecy
(As an aside, I always have to giggle when I find one of my Catholic newsletters linking to him...)
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JIM C.,
I can hear you snickering all the way down here.
JIB,you are right about the Judgment because Jesus took all of our sins to the cross but I think the real judgment is coming onto the world for the sins that you mentioned plus. Our leaders who said they were Christians but were not, our churches that called their social clubs a Church but were not preaching the Word of God and our leaders in those institutions. The Bible tells everyone that we all know when we have sinned and I know that is the truth from the time before I was saved.
But I have no doubt that 4 more years of Boo will cause us more than a few tears. That man is demonic and that is all I am going to say tonight. He gained office by deception and knew what he was doing. He has not been a leader but instead has destroyed the very foundations of our nation and the reputation of this nation.
But the worst part of the whole thing has been the devisive actions the USA has taken with and against Israel. For that God pronounced severe judgment. I really believe that we will be part of the Rapture and I am not spoofing anyone. If this nation does re-elect Boo Hoo and I pray that it does not, then Christians (real ones) will pay the price right along with all of the rest. To know evil and condemn it is justified in Scripture but to know evil and to promote it by voting for it, is EVIL in and of itself.
Those people that claim they did not know what he was are deceived and my patience has throughly run out with them. But I keep remembering the dream I had back in 2007(Mother's Day to be exact) and I am beginning to believe it was symbolic of something far greater than an earthquake. That dream is just as fresh today as it was the minute I woke up.
I pray I am wrong and believe me, I have tried to forget all of it but there is something horribly big coming and I have no idea what it is. I am not fearful because I know that God is able to deliver me from all adversity but my grief is beyond anything I can ever remember.
I don't even understand why I should have a very real sensation of grief, dread, whatever. But I DO!
Grany
As I hit the button to publish my previous comment, this came up inside of me:
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
I looked it up and it is I Peter 4:17
Grany
can you send me the full accounting of your dream. soon to my email please
I have a non cave friend that I need to share it with and I just don;t remember enough of it to tell her the dream
I've never read Ezekiel in its entirety, just chapters here and there. But I got involved in a discussion regarding the Third Temple over at Catholic Answers Forum, so I went to the online version of the New American Bible, Revised Edition to do some research. While I was there I decided to read the commentary at the beginning of the Book of Ezekiel.
I was floored. Coming so soon after the Omega Letter's article... Here it is for you to read and see how much seems like today:
Book of Ezekiel, Introduction
I'm reading a lot of references to Ezekiel's temple being the 3rd temple. However, if there's going to a premillennial temple on the Temple Mount it won't be Ezekiel's. The dimensions are far too great for it to fit.
Here's Lambert Dolphin's article:
http://www.templemount.org/ezektmp.html
JIb,
I will send it to you as soon as I get the hungry Beast (DJH)fixed for the day. He got up horribly hungry and I am taking a few seconds out to calm down some. He hasn't had this kind of energy in a long, long time.
and Hydeiehoho, you is right on about the temple. That Fourth one is the REAL DEAL.
If I don't get busy, DJH is going to turn all of that 84 year old energy onto me.
Grany
Got the info to you JIB. If I left something out, I will send it later. In between answering the call to duty of DJH and the blooming Democrats calling for help, it was a jump around event.
By the way, never in years past has our phone been so busy with DNC calls asking for funds. Well, they really aren't from DNC but from the splinter groups acting on their behalf. It is so much joy to say "NO" and then hang up. If the Gestopo shows up, I WILL deal with them pronto! In the same time period I will tell them a little bit about Israel and the curse/bless details.
Grany
Hello, All! I haven't posted for a while...for lots of reasons...vacation, laziness, busyness, etc. But I read something this morning that was just so precious, that I thought, "This is a good thing to share!" So here are some paragraphs from a book called, "The Desire of Ages," the most beautiful book ever written about the life of Christ:
"We should all become witnesses for Jesus. Social power, sanctified by the grace of Christ, must be improved in winning souls to the Saviour. Let the world see that we are not selfishly absorbed in our own interests, but that we desire others to share our blessings and privileges. Let them see that our religion does not make us unsympathetic or exacting. Let all who profess to have found Christ, minister as He did for the benefit of men.
"We should never give to the world the false impression that Christians are a gloomy, unhappy people. If our eyes are fixed on Jesus, we shall see a compassionate Redeemer, and shall catch light from His countenance. Wherever His Spirit reigns, there peace abides. And there will be joy also, for there is a calm, holy trust in God.
"Christ is pleased with His followers when they show that, though human, they are partakers of the divine nature. They are not statues, but living men and women. Their hearts, refreshed by the dews of divine grace, open and expand to the Sun of Righteousness. The light that shines upon them they reflect upon others in works that are luminous with the love of Christ."
God bless you all as we prepare for the soon coming of our lovely Savior!
Vicki
God bless you too Vicki and good to see your name on here again.
Hope everything is well with you and yours. Getting ready for a beautiful fall season and cooler weather. Ah, yes! The idea of needing a little more covering at night seems very nice.
Grany
I know it is getting close bedtime for a lot of you but I just have to share this link with you. I tried to tag it but it wouldn't take it, but if you will right click on the URL, a menu will come up with the option of opening the link. http://theulstermanreport.com/2012/03/09/wall-street-insider-my-god-my-god-what-has-become-of-america. You might get the shock of your life and then again, you might just scan and then go to bed. Which ever, it was not what I was expecting and I am glad that someone else shared it with me.
Shalom everyone and good night,
Grany
The Bible tells us that the love of money is the root of all evil (or a root of all kinds of evil) depending on the translation you use. If Israel launches a pre-emptive strike against Iran, that could really have an adverse impact on oil supplies. This in turn would almost certainly harm fragile economies of the United States, countries in Europe, Japan, and just about the whole world. Might that be enough to turn the whole world against Israel and make them a scapegoat for any and all economic troubles that might follow?
Vicki,
Great to see you back and thanks for sharing that!
What has become of America
thanks for sending the dream on Grany.
Have a blessed day in the Lord today!
JIM G.
Yep! But the propaganda machine propaganda machine is already Historically loaded against Israel but only the Jews of Israel.
There is a very interesting comment in the Tehillum regarding Ps. 83 and I think I will post here one more time.
"After Jehosphafat had completed his renovation of the judicial system, the land of Judea was attacked by the armies of Ammon, Moab, Aram and Seir (Edom). Malbim (II Chronicles 20:23) proves from this psalm that these nations were bent on annihilating Israel. They hired mercenaries from every prominent nation in the area, so that Israel would be completely overwhelmed by their vast legions.
The psalmist here reveals the deeper intentions of these marauding nations. Their ultimate desire was not merely to destroy Israel, but to obliterate the NAME OF GOD FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH. Therefore, Jehoshafat employed the power of song as his chief weapon against his foes. Through song he was declaring that GOD does indeed reign supreme over all the universe."
So, the full intent of Islam is to eradicate the very name, memory and words of "I AM" and my money is not on their getting it done. A SUDDENLY will happen and whatever financial situation comes upon the whole world will be the part of the stupidity of man's rebellion against God.
However, Jesus said that the last days would be as in the days of Noah. Men would be conducting life as usual, and not even expecting what was about to happen. If they were told, the Goyim would not believe anyway. Just as in the days of Noah.
The Good Ole Gospel Ship is about to sail away and scoffers and rebellious ones don't want to hear about it.
But back to that Tehillum quote; the songs that Jehoshafat was singing were PRAISE SONGS. Worshipping the Great I AM and if you read the rest of the passage, God prevailed.
Do you have a bicycle you can ride? I am seriously considering getting one for my use. Doesn't require gas and new tires would be a great blessing in my needs. I can just see it now, the streets of our communities would begin to look a lot like Indonesia's.
That is a thought to start the first day of the Jewish Feast with.
Shalom
some thoughts after reading the link Grany provided.
I have said that Obama is evil from the very first but to have confirmation from the inside. stunning. for the record I don't know that BOO is the AC but I do think he is the lead up to getting America ready for the NWO. If Romney wins it is because God has deemed the end to be not yet (perhaps there will be a third awakening) and those behind the push for the NWO will allow Romney to win because they may be seeing America is not ready yet. Obviously a false flag could change that though here in the US.
Frucht has said that he believes that the 4th gentile empire never left and shouldn't be considered to be Roman per se as much as Imperialism. Having said that we are still in what he calls the East West division of power. He also believes that a one world government will come about prior to the the 10 kingdoms due to the collapse of east west power. I think that EZ 38 is certainly part of that as there is a wolrd wide earthquake and a destroying of the east side by and large of that equation but what about what destroys the west side of the balance of power. The center of the western balance of power has changed just as the eastern balance of power has changed and it currently resides in the US and not all of the western nations. The re-election of BOO in conjunction with EZ 38 would certainly put the finishing touches on the east west balance of power. Further consider that with EZ38 there is to be a massive WORLD WIDE earthquake. It would start in the west part of the US along the ring of fire and possibly trigger other faults moving east.just a thought.
While I do believe we are to be spared the horrors of the Tribulation, we may not avoid the horrors that come before.
sent you a couple of responses Grany
JIB,
Never thought of it that way. Something big has to happen because there are too many dominoes that have to fall before the AC has the ability to sell his self to be the OWP.
The earthquake would definitely make sense and add in one more factor: Yellowstone National Park. Then when that one goes so will a lot of rather high promitories in the USA. You can't have one without the other. I don't want to be around when that happens and I truly am very concerned with all of my loved ones living out West.
Confession time: Jim C. told me not to be concerned about the AZ area but you see, I am deeply concerned because I saw something that I didn't want to see when I was visiting my daughter and son'inlaw in 2009. I cannot get it out of my mind because it now includes my grandson and his family.
Makes me more than a little radical but I used to be a Dallas Football radical and this radical at least has a wonderful Counsellor. He gives me peace and Jesus gives me great JOY. God has given me wonderful grace, plus the other two. That is a win, win situation.
Now my prayers have to begin covering the people who are deceived by the claims of false religions, plus their teachers.
Gotta scoot but so happy to be here among such wonderful people.
Grany
Some of that Ulsterman material is spooky. I remain an open-minded skeptic (coz I don't know) but see no reason to doubt any of it.
BTW, have any of you watched any of the videos from the 21012 Epicenter Conference. Some really good stuff. Norm Geisler, Michael Rydelnik and Mike Vlach. Joel even got some of the guys from Christ at the CheckPoint to speak. Highly recommended!
http://epicenterconference.com/
Too much nasty news on the Waterfront but this just adds another layer of "what the heck do they think they are doing?"
"SEPTEMBER 14--In remarks stressing that the U.S. government had “absolutely nothing to do with” the anti-Islam film that has touched off violence in the Middle East, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton yesterday sought to quash Arab concerns that the “disgusting and reprehensible” movie was somehow produced or condoned by American officials.
However, Clinton’s attempt to distance the U.S. from “Innocence of Muslims”--and, by extension, its felonious producer--may be complicated by the revelation that Nakoula Basseley Nakoula became a government informant after his 2009 arrest for bank fraud, The Smoking Gun has learned.
Though many key documents from the U.S. District Court case remain sealed, a June 2010 sentencing transcript provides an account of Nakoula’s cooperation with federal investigators in Los Angeles (and how his prison sentence was reduced as a result)."
You can read the rest of the story HERE.
Finding hope in troubled times:
Who Trusts in God Shall Not Be Confounded from "Consoling Thoughts" by Saint Francis de Sales.
Let the heavens combine against me, let the earth and the elements rebel, let every creature declare war against my existence, I fear not; it is enough for me that God is with me, and I with Him.
Thus our good God will never abandon us, unless to hold us better; He will never leave us, unless to guard us better; He will never wrestle with us, unless to yield to us and bless us.
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I like that "it is enough for me that God is with me, and I with Him." Boy, that is a very well put confession of faith in God's great love.
Even if the mountains tumble, the sky becomes the earth's worst enemy (and it won't), the seas roar and won't shut up, our Abba is still that Authority that fills us with the words "Do not fear for I have not given you a spirit of fear but of love and a sound mind!"
Try practicing that in the middle of an Oklahoma tornado or tossed overboard in the middle of the ocean. If you practice it now, on dry land, with a beautiful clear moon lit night, you won't have to wonder how to get there in the worst of times.
It is what I am doing right now!
Grany
Anne says
I'm loving all the discussion right now. Reminds me of the old days. And I don't want to derail the topic, but I need your prayers.
I have a health issue and don't want to go into details, but it includes the word biopsy. I am at peace and know that my Lord is with me, always has been and always will be. I won't know results for a few days. I'll let you know.
I want you to know that several weeks ago (before any hint of this issue) I surrendered my body to the Lord to use as He chooses if that is what is needed for the lives of certain people in my life. So, at this moment I am calm and know that He is in charge and that I am safe with Him. He is in control regardless and always.
Thanks for being there for me, friends.
Praying for you, Anne. Good to hear from you!
Anne,
You have my prayers also. Just seeing your name gave me great joy and I have missed you too.
I hope the day will come that all of the Tribe will regather to share the strength and love of God once again. What has happened to Grumpy and Harold? What about Scott and Jeri from S.A. and all of the others. I know I can't call each name up right at this moment but if you are even just visiting, it would be a wonderful blessing to see your name one more time.
Grany
LISA,
I just read on the San Diego newspaper that the stinking rotten eggs problem you are all having in the San Diego area is actually the result of an underwater volucano that is apt to erupt very shortly. What can you tell us about it?
You have no idea how that news has really messed me up today. I read about it and it didn't register and then I decided to Google the topic of 'rotten egg smell in southern California' and I wish I hadn't done that.
Is there any other official information regarding this new threat?
Grany
What is going on?
I just did a reGoogle for rotten egg smell in Southern California and nothing except Sultan Sea information was displayed. What happened to the link I had before and why?
Lisa can you shed any light on the subject?
Anne, just said a prayer for you. The fact that you had a surrender experience before finding out about your health issue is wonderful. Now you know that God is in perfect control and thus the peace you feel. All these experiences help build our faith, don't they? God's peace certainly does pass all understanding.
Vicki
Volcanic activity world-wide 16 September 2012
Sha-alu Shalom Yirushalayim
Ah, Anonymous I really do thank you for the link to the Volcanic activity. As I suspected, nothing was cooking in the south of California. I now believe I found that link on one of the Facebook postings but the whole thing was unproven. Yippee!
Now I don't have to stay up all night praying for Lisa and her girls to be safely removed from the area.
What a beautiful day this has been and I am so very thankful to our Abba for cooling our weather down some. Isn't He great!!!
Grany
Anne says
Thank you all for the prayers. And yes, Vicki, I think you are right. Had I not so recently made that surrender I'm not sure I would be feeling so calm.
So much happening around the world, I hardly have time to think of my own circumstance.
Good news! No cancer. Thanks again for the prayers.
Awesome and amen Anne! Would you all pray for a man I work with? He has young kids, not a believer in so far as I know and is gravely ill and has been intermittently gravely ill for some time. There is a really good chance that he will not make it and he is in his 30's! his name is Jared
On another note, one of the more religiously hostile people that I work with today said something about seeing a lot of miracles recently so perhaps there is hope for him! His name is Christopher
Very thankful to hear of your good news, Anne. Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow!
Vicki
Thought you might find this interesting:
Do you 'believe in' the devil?
It is the introduction to the book "The Devil You Don't Know: Recognizing and Resisting Evil in Everyday Life, by Father Louis J. Cameli. He's a priest with the Archdiocese of Chicago.
(The answer for a Christian, BTW, is no. "Believe in" means to put your faith and trust in something. We can and do believe in the existence of the Devil and fallen angels, who operate in opposition to G_D's plans and will. But we don't believe IN the Devil.)
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O.M.G. (so to speak) You have GOT to read this! Imagine what it was like for Mary when she and Joseph lost Jesus on their trip to Jerusalem:
Lost and Found
Glory to the One in Whom nothing is lost!
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Howdy from Texas y'all..
I'd like to first apologize for neglecting this online church of my brothers and sisters in Christ, and for all the prayer requests I missed out on.
I found when I missed the Email follow me I simply neglected to check in from time to time, fortunately I see that little check box now.
But enough of excuses, I've managed to catch up on this thread at least and have managed to peruse most of the links you've provided. I have to say I've sorely missed ya'll. It is good to see the faithful children of God still blessing each other.
Wow Wilma, was your dream really that long ago? I still remember it vividly. Mac I'm sorry that I missed your mothers move to her new estate, but I know that you know it's just a hop and skip down the road.
JIB, I understand your frustration with you church, the one I've been attending has some issues as well, but at least the pastor and elders are listening. I've also been struggling personally with whether to being the ordination process. I know that God is the One who ordains but it seems that church's and the government want to have a say in the matter as well.
Anne, great news on the biopsy.
Got to run for now, may the Lord richly bless y'all.
Maranatha
Mike
Sorry I haven't responded to all of your kind words. Further tests have been done and found that yes, I do have cancer after all. Thankfully, it is one of the easier ones to deal with, uterine, and it has not spread to my lungs.
I have some unpleasant surgery ahead of me, but I find that I am still quite calm and amazingly grateful to God for all that I have been blessed with.
It's my family who need prayers now, especially my DH. My daughters are grown but will still have a hard time with this.
But, the prognosis is good and I am very hopeful. Nevertheless, my body is a living sacrifice to Him.
I might not post often, but I appreciate and feel your prayers.
My prayers are still with you Anne and you won't be going through this treatment procedure by yourself. We might not be able to physically be there but we will be there in the Spirit.
Praying for your DH also and of course, your daughters.
MIKE,
good seeing you here again and are you going to be the Joyful Christmas Spirit this year? I loved your pictures last year and saved them. Or was it the year before? Time keeps getting away from me.
September is just about gone and I cannot figure out where it went so fast. Are any of you having trouble keeping up with each day? Seems there are at least 16 huge semi-truck loads of heart break and deception every week and I have decided to leave off the internet disaster strikes again web sites. I got caught up in the Ulsterman Report blog and I have to quit. My blood pressure does not need any type of stimulant and that is one of the most volatile web sites ever.
Have a great Sunday everyone,
Grany
Oh, I'm so sorry, Anne, but I'm glad there isn't any lung involvement. It must have been a shock hearing about it after thinking all was well. I just prayed for you and your family to have the peace that passes all understanding that only God can bring. When I was going through my own cancer ordeal two years ago, I felt the prayers that were ascending for me, and I pray that you feel that as well. Vicki
I do feel the prayers, Vicki, I absolutely do. I know many pray without posting (I do, for others) so thank you to all.
To God be the glory, great things He has done.
well rats message wiped out.
Thanks for the word of encouragement Mike.Good to see you.
Pray for our church. a few people who said they would stay and fight are now seeing that the leadership at the elder level is dragging their feet. We start informational meetings next month for the general membership.
Grany
totally agree about ulsterman. he can be a bit much.
Anne
So sorry to hear that the diagnosis changed. Thankful for the good news that you did have however. Blessings on you as you start any further therapy
i had a passing thought a couple of times. There is no question that the re-election of Obama would be a disaster of Biblical proportions for the country as a whole and for large segments of the population. I had been thinking that the re-election of Obama would spell the end and kill off any chance at a third Awakening. Mitt would certainly be a slower by degrees inching to the NWO. Might give the world some breathing room before the end comes.
But, when people are down and out and under duress to whom to the turn? Maybe a disaster of epic proportions is what this country needs to shake us out of our complacency especially those within our churches? e.g. The elders of my church think they have all the time in the world to get moving on the whole separating from the PCUSA. They don't but there you have it. And honestly, our choices might be somewhat bad and worse. Not to harp overly on the Mormon thing but there is just a chance that Romney is as satanically controlled as Obama just more covertly. If you know anything about Mormons they think they are right because they get a "burning in the bosom" feeling. Many take this to be a mark of Satanic influence at best. We know that Mormons are a cult and not just a branch of Christianity as they don't worship the same Jesus and have many extra Biblical beliefs. Having said that I will probably vote for Romney as he appears to be the better candidate.
food for thought on a Monday.
Good to see you, Mike!
Man, were, up to 140 comments already! So much stuff happening around the world.
Keeping all in prayer.
Someone posted this at Dr Relectant's blog. Very interesting.
Questioning Amillennialism - One Lutheran Woman's Search For Truth
http://www.geocities.ws/questioningamillennialism/index.htm
Here's something that I just read about an event that happened at the White House on Sept. 23. I edited it for length and clarity:
In April, the Lord spoke to my heart and asked me to do a Jericho -walk around the White House with members of Christian Women in Action, but did not give me a date. Then on September 18, 2012 the Lord spoke to me again and said "Go on Sunday September 23 and take the (CWA) board with you," but what I did not know was that a Muslim rally was taking place there.
So last Sunday I took with me fifteen people down to the White House. We took with us nearly one hundred Holy Medals (small medals with different religious symbols on them, usually blessed) and a quart of (blessed) water.
...
As soon as we got there we began to plant the medals all around the White House. We planted and placed the medals in all the cracks around the fence. We sprinkled the (blessed) water all around the White House perimeter. As we circled the White House we prayed... As we prayed we asked to claim our land back and we prayed to take our land away from our enemy. I then prayed that the Lord would make us invisible so the police and guards would not see us ... we were left alone or they did not see us putting all those medals on the fence and washing the place with the (blessed) water and praying in the Spirit one after the other.
In case you didn't know, there have been groups of people from an organization named ActsFive29 that have been kneeling in prayer around the White House carrying signs protesting the HHS Mandate. These people have been arrested for doing so (praying in front of the White House) so what these CWA women did was truly brave.
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Anyone here ever heard of a group in the Chicago area called "Down Low"? News coming out very soon about Boo Hoo's participation and belonging to it. It AIN'T GOOD EITHER!
A dear friend in Missouri sent the info to me and I am of the very firm, solid, concrete, determined, spital oozing from my mouth conviction that there is someone, something, whatever, very evil taking place in our nation. Could we possibly get an 18 wheeler loaded with prayer cloths, saturated in aointing oil, prayed over and taken to the very internal caverns of the WH? I am not joking in the least.
I think that the majority of voters that voted in Obama for President, enmass stepped in some very stinky dodo back in 2008 and if they do it again, well.........
Maranatha!
From today's Omega Letter:
Obama At the Bat:
A Ballad of the Republic Sung in the Year 2012
(with apologies to Ernest Thayer)
The outlook wasn't brilliant for the White House nine that day;
The score stood four to two, with but one inning more to play,
And when Jay Carney died at first, and Dave Plouffe did the same,
A pall-like silence fell upon the patrons of the game.
A straggling few got up to go in deep despair. The rest
Clung to that hope which springs eternal in the human breast;
They thought, "If only Obama could but get a whack at that
We'd put up even money now, with Obama at the bat."
There was ease in Bama's manner as he stepped into his place;
There was pride in Bama's bearing and a smile lit Bama's face.
And when, responding to the cheers, he lightly doffed his hat,
No stranger in the crowd could doubt 'twas Bama at the bat.
Ten thousand eyes were on him as he rubbed his hands with dirt.
Five thousand tongues applauded when he wiped them on his shirt.
Then, while Mitt Romney ground the ball into his hip,
Defiance flashed in Bama's eye, a sneer curled Bama's lip.
The sneer has fled from Bama's lip, the teeth are clenched in hate;
He pounds with cruel violence his bat upon the plate.
And now Mitt Romney holds the ball, and now he lets it go,
And now the air is shattered by the force of Bama's blow.
Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright,
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,
And somewhere men are laughing, and little children shout;
But there is no joy in DC - mighty Bama has struck out.
Oh, yeah, I really like that Ballad! The unbrilliant effects of Wednesday nite TV master piece is just now hitting the Gang of 10 in DC and the wimp is whimpering again. They did it because I am black....as he hangs his head in shock. Then they hear a "smack" as Val gets her bat! A whack here, a whack there and the game is set again.
The dirty deeds and tricks bag is opened and a curl distorts the already uncomely face that has disgraced the USA human race for these 3 years and 9 months. What dastardly evil plans are getting hatched right now.
But God in all of his Wisdom, has seen their hearts of total darkness and His Legions are in their place.
It won't be the same old story because Christians have taken their place. Knees are bending, hearts are in one accord, God is answering pleadings as never he has before.
"14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14". The turning might have just begun but at least it is a start.
it will be interesting to see how this all plays out. I did not watch the debate but it sure sounds like Mitt wiped the floor with BOO. interesting comment on Ulsterman from the White House Insider-"Almost like they had a few pages right out of Obama’s own prep book hand delivered to them about 48 hours earlier." WHI plays a dangerous game as he is in the DNC. he is NOT however a fan of the current occupant of the office.
Need you r prayers greatly. I am having horrible pain in the area of my kidneys and nothing of the home remedy is helping it. To the place of trying to drink the nasty beer stuff. I am believing God's promises for healing by the stipes of Jesus Christ but the pain is bad.
Grany
try cranberry juice and if it doesn't get better soon you best get to the ER! might not be a kidney stone you know
Praying for healing, Grany.
Praying
feeling a little better and drinking cranberry juice like I own stock in the stuff. Hurts a little but only when I laugh or cough.
I know your prayers are being answered and yes, I can truly feel them. When I do exit this earth, I pray it won't be under the duress of pain like I had. Just a slight zip will do the trick when that time comes.
Love you all and again, thanks for your prayers and comments.
Grany
interesting.The Pew poll released today shows that fully 20% of people in the US self id as "atheist, agnostic, or nothing" now in the US as regards religious practice. Evangelical protestant Christians are down to 34%, and overall there is no longer a Protestant majority (about 48%). I would quibble with them not including non denominational community churches in the Protestant category since clearly they are but there you go.
They have found that most of the people who self id as "none" lean far to the left. again go figure.
we live in interesting times. I had thought for a brief time that the reason the US was no longer a player in the end times was indeed the rapture but abandoned that thought long ago. With fewer people having orthodox theology both in Protestant and Catholic denominations it becomes apparent that actual true Christians are slipping into minority status. Really that should give the amillennialists something to think about since they are convinced that society will become gradually better until the kingdom is brought into existence by the Church. I think it does show that there has been a massive falling away from the faith as prophesied by Paul.
Glad you're feeling better, Grany. I thought of you all weekend.
My update: I've had the surgery, the cancer was contained and had not spread, therefore removed. Non-aggressive, and caught early. 1-3% chance of return, and need follow up every 3 months. Doc said, you can put this behind you.
I am amazed. I was given the diagnosis just 10 days ago!
Praise God. Good to hear Anne.
That is great news Anne!
Wilma, how are the kidneys doin.
Jib, saw that article but I haven't been able to find the one on PEW that shows the questions and answers, sometimes the way they word them can be deceptive.
Mike
New post is up.
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