Not at Conception, 24 Weeks, or at Birth, BUT from Eternity!

Debate on when a human is actually considered to be human rages on endlessly with each person who addresses the issue considering his/her word to be the "authority" as to the time we do "become" human.

Recently I got into an intense discussion with an individual over the issue of abortion. This person adamantly claimed that the child in the stages of formation in his/her mother's womb is not to be regarded as human until 24 weeks into the pregnancy. According to this person it is at that time that development has reached the point where pain can be experienced, etc. It appears that somewhere in the distant past scientific research has vainly attempted to arbitrarily set the time at 24 weeks as to when one graduates from being a simple mass of tissue and blood to that of becoming a full blown human being!

Others insist that one becomes human at the moment conception takes place with the uniting of a sperm and an egg cell which originate with a human male and a human female. Then there are those who radically insist that one is not human until birth has taken place and the new born individual is able to survive outside the womb through the process of breathing, eating, and drinking.

In order to avoid disturbing thoughts about the human aspect being applied to the unborn, abortion devotees employ the term "fetus." You know, this is so impersonal when making reference to that growing mass of blood and tissue inside the female! Instead of a living human being in the stages of formation, we are merely dealing with a thing, which can be treated as casually and indifferently as one would treat the contents of a garbage can!

The real issue in this, however, is how Almighty God views the unborn child. No question on this -- we each have a personal ID that spans the limitations of time and earth into the countless eons of eternity! Consider statements from God's special revelation to the members of the human race:

Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; and I ordained you a prophet to the nations." (Jeremiah 1:4, 5).

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You. (Psalm 139:14-18).

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved. (Ephesians 1:3-6).

The above is more than enough to reveal a very clear picture as to God's view of humans and when they are considered to be human.

First, notice that God claims to be involved in the formation of each human -- "I formed you..." does not leave anything to the imagination -- the only exception are those who stumble in their blindness and refuse to acknowledge the reality of God's involvement when it comes to persons such as we.

Second, notice that our identity exists prior to conception in the womb. God knows us before this all takes place and further He has a plan for our lives -- "the days fashioned for me." But the plan was in place before the days came to pass!

Third, this marvelous plan is centered in God's own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ -- "..He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world.." The plan and purpose God has for each human life existed prior to the creation of this mighty universe and the earth which is a minute particle of that universe! Since Jesus sacrificed His life on behalf of every human being, that means God has something special for each human being by way of purpose.

Since we are not fashioned to be robots, God has given us the power to choose how it will be with us in this world as we move steadily toward eternity and giving an account to Him when life has ended for us on this earth. We can choose to respond to His gift of eternal life given through His Son, or reject it -- which is the choice of the vast majority living in this world at the present time.

A lot of horrible things take place in this world on a 24/7 basis. But at the top of the list of horrible things taking place what can match the intentional mutilation and murder of an unborn child? It ultimately comes down to direct destruction and the nullifying of God's plan for that child in the stages of formation in its mother's womb!

A wise and thinking person would quickly conclude that when you interfere with what God wants to do by way of a deliberate plan -- that is, you demolish that plan, then you are in more trouble than the human mind is capable of comprehending! But in today's world -- wise and thinking people we have too few and foolish unthinking people we have flooding the earth.

A final "confession" on my part -- I get to wondering about this issue in a republic that claims all persons should have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Our "trail of blood" has become a river from nearly 59 million victims (as of 12-01-27). I wonder if God is going to have those unrepentant persons, who were in one way or another involved in this "holocaust," see their victims in eternity in that paradise into which all those victims have entered -- and that while the persons responsible for the deaths of the unborn exist in indescribable torment -- Luke 16 in the New Testament would suggest such a possibility! Anyway, just wondering.

At this stage in time there is no real regret concerning this abomination expressed throughout the nation on the part of elected officials, beginning with the president. Not a few church leaders are rather silent too when it comes to facing the reality of the United States' version of "holocaust!" None of us will want to be within the borders of this republic when God chooses to make His response to this, the greatest of tragedies to take place in our nation's history!

"The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it." --- Jeremiah 18:7-10

Jesus Is More Than Just Another Slice of Pizza in the Box!

"There are many paths to the top of the mountain!" and "There are many ships that cross the ocean!" are ancient oft quoted statements that claim all religions are equal and no one superior to any other.

I and my family enjoy eating pizza. We have done our share in helping pizza establishments in our area stay in business over time. We have patronized different pizza outlets within a radius of about 10 miles. The common pizza we usually get is one with pepperoni. Once in a while Jean and I will take advantage of Pizza Hut's buffet where you can get a wide variety of stuff for one price and really pig out by choice!

Enough of our personal experiences with pizza and on to the subject at hand. Never has there been a time in which there has been more intense insistence that all religions are legitimate in the claims which each makes in addressing the issues of human life, responsibility, morality, death, and destiny.

It is as if one said that Jesus is just another slice of pizza in the box. I have noticed that when we get pizza in a box that there are some minor differences -- some pieces are a little larger than others and some may have more pepperoni on than others. So you can choose a bigger or smaller piece and if you are really into pepperoni, you pick the piece that has more on it than others.

There are those, including persons within the ranks of professing Christianity, who say that it is up to you to decide the "religion" with which you want to identify -- one is as good as another. And that, of course, includes Christianity. Just pick and choose and should you become dissatisfied, just come back to the religion box and choose another one!

There are still a few of us around who are quite radical on this issue. We maintain that true Christianity is distinctly separate from and far superior to all other religious expressions found in today's world. Another way of saying it is that only Christianity is the true faith and all the others, whether the devotees number but a few dozen or into the millions, are totally false!

The determining factor making the difference is none other than Jesus Christ Himself! While His uniqueness is mentioned repeatedly throughout the New Testament Scriptures, it is in the Gospel of John that His absolute claims concerning Himself are made known and the fact that either He is genuine or if not, then He qualifies as a first class candidate for admission to the nearest institution for those who are mentally deranged!

All the claims He made are very well summed up in two: first, the claim that He is the way, the truth and the life and that no one can come to the Father except through Him and second, the claim that He is the resurrection and the life and those who believe in Him will not die but will live. Critics will jump on that by saying that even Christians die, so Jesus is wrong. The fact is that Christians do not die -- it is a simple experience of moving out of their earthly bodies (described elsewhere in Scripture as a tent) and going into the presence of God. In some cases God has permitted some Christians to tarry a bit at that moment when they are leaving and speak some words of what they see -- past departed loved ones, angels, and even the Lord Jesus Himself! Those two claims of Jesus can be read at John 14 and John 11. But as you go through the Gospel of John, note every statement of Jesus which is preceded with the words, "I am...."

Christianity in its purest expression is uncompromising in stating that Jesus is God revealed in human form Who demonstrated the perfect life lived on earth. But the most significant act in His visit to the planet which He created a long time ago is seen in His sacrificial death on a Roman cross. His death was on behalf of every human born into this world as He paid the penalty for every sin committed by every human being (yes, even for those who follow the many false religions of this world) and made possible total forgiveness and acceptance in the presence of a holy God!

Three days after the crucifixion Jesus was resurrected from the dead and appeared to many people over a 40 day period. Some of His followers saw Him ascend back to Heaven and heard angels declare that this same Jesus Who had been taken from them would return in like manner at some point in the future. We are now a little over 2,000 years closer to His return than when that statement was first made!

No other religion outside of Christianity has anything that even begins to remotely resemble what the Christian faith is all about and the One in Whom it is centered -- a Savior Who paid the price of the sins of the entire human race through the sacrifice of Himself willingly ("No man takes my life from me -- I lay it down and I take it up again!" - also found in Gospel of John) and His subsequent victory in resurrection from the dead!

Becoming a Christian is, however, a conditional experience. We are called to repent of our sins -- that is, to abandon our sinful ways, and to receive Jesus into our lives by invitation with the intent that we seek to be obedient to Him for the rest of our lives here on earth. This results in being "born again" as mentioned in John 3 of the Gospel. It is a new and transformed life that results. One has moved from concentrating on self and the "What I want" way of life to what is it that Jesus wants of me -- how might I please Him each day that I live?

Again, no other religion in the world has anything that begins to compare to this -- it is only experienced in Jesus Christ and nowhere else!

One can be choosy when it comes to the pizza in the box -- you can pick a big slice, or a smaller slice -- one with lots of pepperoni or one with not so much, or even choose to remove all the pepperoni as certain members in our family choose to do. But when it comes to the religion issue -- be sure to choose the one that is centered in Jesus Christ and be assured of a place in His Kingdom forever -- choosing any other is a sure guarantee of ending up in a Devil's Hell! And that is not an opinion on my part, but what Jesus Himself said about the destiny of those who reject Him! Yes, Jesus is more than just another slice of pizza in the box -- He is Savior, Lord, and our soon returning King!

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. Now everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." --- Jesus speaking in Matthew 7:21-27

Jerry Sandusky Forgiven?

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. --- Psalm 32:1, 2

By this time the name, Jerry Sandusky, is familiar to a major segment of our population. Not only is he the primary subject in a sex scandal centered in a very high profile educational institution known as Penn State University, but he is also the focus of ongoing investigation concerning his sexual activities with young boys. Sandusky is also the concentrated focus of mass media news outlets and a hoard of talk shows.

Expressions of outrage have taken many forms, with persons yielding to the temptation to be prosecutor, jury, judge, and delightfully, the executioner! To be sure the allegations against Sandusky, if proven to be true, are abominable to say the least. With a number of victims now on record as having been involved with Sandusky's aggressive homosexuality, it remains for all this to be thrashed out in proper court proceedings.

Notice, I said "aggressive homosexuality" which goes beyond being simply a "predator!" Those who are pushing a sodomite/lesbian agenda in our culture would not want it to be spread around that Sandusky is a sodomite! But what is the definition of a male being involved sexually with other males, no matter what the ages are? If you haven't read the definition lately, look it up for yourself and see what it says.

Is it possible for Jerry Sandusky to experience true forgiveness? There will be those who will adamantly insist that for him forgiveness is not possible, and that he should not be forgiven -- further, he should be consigned to the region of Hell where the temperature is at the highest level possible and the agony the most intense possible!

OK, be that as it may, what about God and being forgiven by Him? There is but one sin that the Bible reveals to be impossible for forgiveness -- it is described as the sin against the Holy Spirit of God which is unpardonable. But what is it? In context in which it is identified, there were those who said Jesus was casting out demons by Beelzebub, the prince of demons. So Jesus mentions this issue and while elaborating on the fact that if He is casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom has come unto them. A bit later Jesus says this: "Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men." (Matthew 12:31).

It is the Holy Spirit Who convicts us of our sin, opens our eyes to see that Jesus Christ is the One Who took our sins upon Himself, paid the penalty of those sins by His sacrificial death on the cross, and through Him one can be totally forgiven of all sins upon the condition of repenting of those sins!

But to reject the promptings and conviction brought on by the Holy Spirit is to be guilty of rejecting the only possible way to be forgiven and entrance into God's Heaven when our earthly journey comes to its conclusion! The only other destination is a Hell which was originally designed for Satan and his angels.

Yes, Jerry Sandusky can experience forgiveness from a God Who loved us all so much that He gave His only begotten Son Who was sacrificed on a cross for the sins of the entire human race. But the condition for him is the same as for every sinner who desires to be forgiven of all transgressions -- remorse, regret, seeking forgiveness of those offended, and true repentance in seeking mercy from God. One MUST turn from all known sin and God will grant forgiveness with a miracle taking place -- that of the sinner being reconciled to and accepted by a holy God Who will not tolerate sin in any form!

Forgiveness is always a conditional experience -- if I want God to forgive me, then I must forgive others who have offended me. For those so very directly involved in the Sandusky tragedy, being willing to forgive him will perhaps be the most difficult action some have taken in their entire lives. And it may be that some will say they cannot and will not ever forgive him for such offenses as he allegedly was guilty of doing.

Two statements remind us of the critical nature of experiencing forgiveness:

1. When we pray the Lord's prayer, we come to that part of where we express the desire to be forgiven and we say, "Forgive us our trespasses..." Most agree that we are guilty of committing "trespasses." But then we go on and say, "...as we forgive those who trespass against us." Do you see an explicit condition here?

2. Jesus was extremely clear on this subject when He said, "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matthew 6:14, 15).

The fall out in regard to the scandal involving Jerry Sandusky and other Penn State personalities will continue for some time. The trial will be extremely high profile with the mass media milking it for all it is worth. A big bunch of those in mass media work seem to take great delight in sensationalizing such happenings. This is a disaster of the first magnitude.

But the main issue the mass media will not at all discuss will be the issue of forgiveness. Forgiveness as it applies to Jerry Sandusky and all who have been impacted by his past behavior patterns.

"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." --- Matthew 6:14, 15

Outlaw Professional Lobbying!

Facebook extends tentacles into D.C., forms political action committee --- recent internet news headline

For quite some time organized lobbying has become a devastating curse in our republic. All PACs (Political Action Committees) should be outlawed. It ought to be considered a criminal act for a person to be paid high wages plus outlandish perks for engaging in activity which attempts to influence elected officials to vote on matters that are highly favorable to a certain group of individuals but not so to others.

There are solid reasons why professional lobbying and persons paid for engaging in such should be charged with committing criminal acts.

1. Professional lobbying is basically a very selfish activity and cannot qualify as being highly ethical in nature. A group pays one or more individuals to influence congressional members' votes in their favor. The view is simply this: "We should have top priority and be given first consideration when it comes to legislation that will affect us one way or another. Other people outside our group do not matter - we do not care in the least what happens to them -- we are first in line and our cause should be given first consideration before anything else!"

2. Many persons who have served in the Congress have ended up in intense lobbying activity. There was effort to restrict how soon a person after leaving office could engage in professional lobbying activity. But who knows how much money has gone under the table as one waits out the time limits until being able to become a professional lobbyist with all the advantages and connections such a position offers!

3. Professional lobbying blunts and often obliterates entirely the efforts of private citizens to make appeals to their elected representatives regarding impending legislation. The "group" (in whatever form it may exist) becomes the priority due to influence and financial support. The private citizen does not have that kind of clout when it comes to influencing an elected official.

Lobbying should be strictly limited to the private citizen and his/her personal appeals to elected officials by phone, letter, email, personal visit to the official's office, etc. Citizens certainly have the right to unite in their efforts in exerting influence in regard to legislation but the line is drawn at paying huge sums of money to individuals whose only job is to run up and down the halls of buildings containing offices of elected officials and seek to influence the outcome of pending legislation!

It is very obvious that in the realm of lobbying activity there has been an intentional rejection of what is required for government to function at its greatest and very best for the health and ongoing survival of our republic. Jesus Christ, Who created this world a long, long time ago, said it this way:

"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what advantage is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels." --- Luke 9:23-25

Will there come a time when professional lobbying will cease to exist? Will there be a time when not one person is paid lavish wages and "perks" for the sole purpose of influencing the votes of elected officials in favor of certain organized groups? Highly unlikely so long as present conditions continue politically -- money is the name of this game and the stakes are very high! It is best viewed as one views a patient with cancer in its terminal stages! There will eventually be an end to it, but it will require God's direct intervention to bring about such a desired result as that!

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! --- 2 Timothy 3:1-5

When Cross and Crescent Meet???

"....let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.' Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." --- Apostle Peter speaking in Acts 4:10-12

"When Cross and Crescent Meet" is the title of a recent article in The Interpreter, a United Methodist Church publication. The cover featured a photo of a group of Muslim women having prayers at Heartsong United Methodist Church in Cordova TN. Imposed on the photo was the title of the article which details how United Methodists and Muslims in some areas have been getting together.

The central issue is whether a United Methodist Church is to permit any kind of activity whatsoever to take place within its walls, or is there a line to be drawn and a "No!" to be addressed to certain individuals or groups wanting to use the premises?

We pretty well know what the response would be if a group wanted to use the church for a beer party or someone wanted to turn the church into a brothel for an evening with some prostitutes on site doing business! Then again, with changing standards the past few years and the unthinkable now being acceptable, who knows what might happen further down the road?

The United Methodist Church Book of Discipline does contain information as to how a United Methodist Church is to be used. The basic standard is that no individual or group which advocates doctrines and teachings that conflict with the doctrines of the Christian faith should be permitted to use the premises of a local United Methodist Church.

The trust clause of each UMC underscores the fact that the property is to be used in such a manner as to honor God through His Son, Jesus Christ, as Savior and Lord. This is basic in our faith. Those who practice a lifestyle and adopt doctrines contrary to the mission and purpose of The United Methodist Church forfeit the right to make use of UMC property.

The picture of Muslim women having a prayer time in a United Methodist Church is in violation of stated use and purpose of a United Methodist Church. It is highly doubtful that they are praying to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob through the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is God revealed in human form!

This is not to say that they are not welcome to attend a United Methodist Church worship service or other functions taking place within the church. The view must always be that these are people for whom Jesus Christ died on a cross to make forgiveness of sin possible. The motive must be to reach out in love to these folk in the name of our Lord Jesus but at same time not to convey the idea that their "religion" is as valid as Christianity. It definitely is not.

However, there are those who take the position that other religious expressions in the world are legitimate when it comes to addressing the issues of life, its purpose, and its eternal destiny. So, in that view, bring in whoever has some kind of deity or combination of deities (Hindu) and let them worship the same in a United Methodist Church, in spite of violating the standards for proper use of United Methodist Church property!

Christianity is a very radical faith when honestly viewed in light of Jesus' statements about Who He is and why He came into the world. The Gospel of John lists a number of His statements that begin with "I am..." In examining these claims one is forced to admit that Jesus allows for no other person or deity to do for us humans what He does. It is quite well summed up in His statement in John 14:6 -- "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Not even Allah is given consideration here.

But equally radical is Jesus' statement about honoring God. Think a bit upon this one: "For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life." (John 5:22-24).

Only God is to be honored -- but when you honor Jesus, you are honoring God. On the other hand, if Jesus is merely a human being and nothing more, then to worship and honor Him is a vain and deadly act in which to engage.

All who claim to be Christian in faith also have to settle the issue of Jesus' parting commandment to go into all the world and preach the Gospel. Those who respond are to be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. That commandment has not been rescinded. That means that all citizens in this world are to be confronted with the call to repent of sin and receive Jesus as Savior and Lord of their lives. There are Muslims who have become Christian in faith, though in many instances at a very high price. Likewise it is so with other religious expressions. I have a pastor friend in India who was a Hindu before becoming a Christian. In his congregation are persons who formerly were Hindus and Muslims, but are now dedicated Christians.

Muslims acknowledge the fact that historically, Jesus did really exist. They regard Him as a prophet but that is it. In fact He does not rank as high as Mohammed in their list of prominent persons in the world of Islam.

What to expect in the future? There are and will be the efforts to sit down to the table and "dialog" about religious issues. Again, the assumption will be that all participants have a legitimate claim to addressing the issues of life, its purpose and its eternal destiny.

So that leaves one who professes to be Christian in faith with a very critical question -- are these who are traveling the road of "dialog" right, or is Jesus Christ correct when He claims to be the exclusive way of salvation and hope -- absolutely the one and only, thus shutting out Allah, Vishnu, Shiva, and all other deities in whatever form they exist?

The Crescent must bow down before the Cross -- that is, if there is to be any hope for time and eternity! And why is this? Consider seriously and honestly the following statement and then do the same with Jesus' parting commandment when He left the surface of this planet 2,000 years ago........

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. --- Philippians 2:9-11

Then Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. --- Matthew 28:18-20

Shaking Things Up a Bit!

"Earthquake Rattles Parts of Eastern US -- The magnitude 5.9 quake was centered some 90 miles from the nation's capital. Parts of the Pentagon, White House & Capitol were among the areas evacuated." --- Headline as it appeared on MSN.com during the afternoon of August 23, 2011

I got home from a doctor's appointment about 3:30 PM. Jean said the weirdest thing had happened around 2 PM -- for a little bit the house "quivered" as she described it in her words. But while at the doctor's office I noticed nothing as I was going through some testing of my eyes.

The news began to flow about the quake being centered in VA and as the headline mentioned, Washington DC is about 90 miles north of the center. But other places located some distance away also felt the quake's activity.

Cable news channels will be saturated about this recent happening and may even crowd out for a time at least what is happening in Libya as the rebels take over Tripoli, Gadafi's "stronghold."

Again, a most appropriate question can be asked -- God has been speaking in a wide variety of ways, but is anyone really listening? More importantly, to what extent is real honest soul-searching taking place and thoughts such as "We need to repent of our wickedness and seek God through His Son, Jesus Christ!"

Jesus, the foremost Authority on human behavior and how to properly relate to God in a positive manner, gave a detailed body of information as to how things would go in the latter times of human history as we see it being presently played out.

Our nation and the entire world are in for a shocking and dramatic change at some point in the future. Before that happens, it will seem that the entire world is in a state of convulsions on a repeat basis. The very structure of the earth will come under great pressure and strain. When the pressure is relieved at certain places, earthquakes will be the result. They may be rather large in magnitude or barely noticable.

Jesus mentioned earthquakes as being one of the indicators that His personal return to this world is drawing near. As He stated it, the earthquakes will be in many different places. This allows for such happenings to take place beyond the traditional "ring of fire" where earthquakes are more common. The "ring of fire" takes in the western coastal areas of South and North America, extending up toward Alaska and then curving down along the eastern coastal areas of the Asian continent into the southern Pacific area. In fact, there is an allowance for an earthquake to take place in areas that have not recorded one in recent memory!

Are you ready for more shake-ups in the days ahead? Perhaps one way of looking at this is to remember that God is just warming up -- we haven't seen anything yet!

When was the last time you had a good talk with God about things over which you are deeply concerned, including what the future holds?

And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows." --- Matthew 24:4-8

Will the "Plan" Really Work?

"Obama's plan: New Jobs proposals" --- headline for news article on August 18, 2011

One report mentions about "unemployment north of 9 percent" and the fact that there has been no incumbent president in recent times who has won a second term with the jobless rate near such a level as that. But with election fraud a very real and powerful possibility due to use of electronic voting machines it may not really matter if there is even a 10 or 11 percent rate or more in unemployment!

Will the O "plan" really work is the question. The answer is an obvious "No!"

First, a significant reason is that our republic is exhibiting a high level of defiance against the laws and principles which Almighty God has revealed to be absolutely necessary for peace, prosperity, power, prestige, and positive prospects for the future.

Elected officials, beginning with the president, have provided no evidence that they are seriously concerned about seeking the will of God not just in regard to their personal lives, but also in regard to the health and future survival of our republic. Anyone with a bit of sensitivity to God's special revelation is aware that the will of God must always be a top priority issue -- to ignore it is to invite furture disaster of unprecedented dimensions. The ruins and remnants of past civilizations provide explicit testimony of this fundamental truth!

However, the primary reason the "plan" is doomed from the beginning is the fact that the president with a good degree of support from members of the Congress is an aggressive advocate of the destruction of unborn children. His track record dating back to years in the Illinois legislature is unmistakably clear beyond question on this issue.

No nation with leadership such as that provided by Barack Obama and his supporters will experience the blessing of God nor will that nation have a secure and hopeful future.

The prophet Jeremiah was inspired to make a statement that is largely ignored in personal experience as well as in collective experience such as in the affairs of government. It likewise is too often ignored in church issues as well. Jeremiah said:

"O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps." --- Jeremiah 10:23

We shall be hearing a lot about the "plan" in times ahead. But mark it down -- it is doomed to fail UNLESS there is genuine repentance from our national shedding of innocent blood, entrenched idolatry, pandemic sexual immorality, intentional and widespread profaning of the day of worship, deadly indoctrination of the young in regard to our origins, etc.

At this point in time the prevailing spirit is quite similar to a time of long ago in which a nation of people shared a common viewpoint as graphically described by the prophet Isaiah:

And in that day the Lord GOD of hosts called for weeping and for mourning, for baldness and for girding with sackcloth. But instead, joy and gladness, slaying oxen and killing sheep, eating meat and drinking wine: "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!" Then it was revealed in my hearing by the LORD of hosts, "Surely for this iniquity there will be no atonement for you, even to your death," says the Lord GOD of hosts. --- Isaiah 22:12-14

A line from the works of the poet, Robert Burns, reads: "The best-laid schemes o' mice an 'men / Gang aft agley," An American translation words it like this: "The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry." Keep that in mind in the times ahead as the "plan" is implemented!

Moreover Manasseh shed very much innocent blood, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another, besides his sin with which he made Judah sin, in doing evil in the sight of the LORD. --- 2 Kings 21:16