Letter to Editor About that Fiscal Cliff!

The letter printed below was sent to editors of the following newspapers: The Indiana Gazette in Indiana PA, The Punxsutawney Spirit in Punxsutawney PA, Mainline Newspapers in Ebensburg PA, and The Tribune-Democrat in Johnstown PA.

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Friday, December 14, 2012

Editor:

At present time the news arena is dominated with one subject that is summarized in the expression “fiscal cliff.” As the president and the Congress attempt to maneuver for positions of great influence in this debacle, the image of a 3-ring circus quickly comes to mind.

The tragedy in this is the failure to realize that the real crisis is not the possibility of falling over a fiscal cliff but the hard reality that we have already fallen over a moral cliff!

Our version of Holocaust has resulted in over 55 million unborn victims. Our idolatry is on a level comparable to the ancient Roman Empire. Our sexual immorality is now pandemic in nature. We continue to brainwash the majority of our young with the deadly doctrine that we have evolved from lower life forms, hence, there is no personal need for God if He really does exist.

Mounting evidence suggests that it is simply a matter of time until Almighty God, Who is calling us to repent of our personal and corporate sins, deals with our nation as He has dealt with others in the past whose ruins now pique the interests of archeologists!

Clayton D. Harriger, Pastor

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"You shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or whether they refuse, for they are rebellious. But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you." --- Ezekiel 2:7, 8

Past Celebrations That Ended in Disaster!

Celebrations That Ended in Disaster in the Past

A great spirit of "celebration" dominates the republic of the United States over the death of Osama bin Laden, who was considered "Public Enemy #1" throughout much of the world. --- media sources are full and overflowing with written and broadcast reports accompanied by a myriad of photos detailing the great "celebration."

On Monday, May 2nd, I posted a blog that suggested a celebration of the death of Osama bin Laden is not good and cited reasons for that position. But who would pay any attention to a country boy farmer whom Jesus Christ redeemed from sin and then called to preach and teach His Word? But for any who have not read it and might consider doing so, it is at Osama bin Laden Dead? Don't Dance in the Streets and Celebrate Just Yet!

But now consider some celebrations in the past that ended in disaster:

1: Hurricane Camille. Camille was a category 5 storm which hit near the mouth of the Mississippi River on the night of August 14, 1969. Sustained winds were at or above 190 MPH! At least 259 people lost their lives. One reported incident reminds us that we need to be careful of what and where we celebrate. A group of younger aged people made a big joke out of the fact that the police urged them to leave the area because of the severity of the hurricane about to strike. No, they refused to leave and were greatly amused when the police took down their names and addresses. They had a big party going in an upper floor apartment -- they called it a "hurricane party" and the celebration moved into high gear. But then Camille came in with devastating power. The apartment building where the big celebration was taking place was totally destroyed and all persons in the building lost their lives. Ah yes, it is wise to be careful what and where you celebrate, is it not?

2: The Great Depression of 1929. There was a very great "party spirit" existing as people were making money by the bushels and the stock market was booming. It was the time of prohibition but alcohol was still flowing like water and often law enforcement simply looked the other way while pocketing bribe money in many instances. Once in a while there might be a "raid" and the party was broken up, but those were more the exception rather than the rule. But just as the "celebration" was in full swing, it happened -- the stock market crashed. People who had gained wealth found themselves wiped out and penniless! The parties and the celebrations were now over for a long, long time. Suicide rates increased dramatically as many could not face the reality of what had happened! Be careful of what and where you celebrate!

3: RMS Titanic. Some referred to it as a ship that was unsinkable. With a lot of hoopla, RMS Titanic set sail on her maiden voyage in April of 1912 from Southhampton, England to New York. Very powerful and very wealthy people were on board who occupied the first class cabins which were very luxurious to say the least. But there was a "party spirit" which was very obvious and is accurately reflected in movies made about the ship and its first voyage to America. It is speculated that the captain, Edward J. Smith, wanted to set a new record for reaching New York in the shortest time yet. The ship was moving along at a good clip in spite of warnings of ice bergs having been sighted. Then it happened -- a collision with a giant berg which tore a deadly gash in the side of the ship. One movie shows a scene of young men frolicking on the deck amidst the ice thrown on to the deck as a result of the collision. Remains of the Titanic now lie at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean along with whatever is left of the remains of 1,517 passengers who lost their lives. Be careful of what and where you celebrate!

4: A Rich Fool. A man owned land and farmed it. He became very prosperous as his crops produced most abundantly. Then a problem confronted him. The crops were so prosperous that he did not have sufficient room to store them all. A decision was made as he engaged in a personal conversation with himself. This is what he said: "What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?" So he said, "I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 'And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.'" Reason to celebrate, right? Wrong -- God interrupted him in the midst of his intended celebration with these words, But God said to him, "You fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?" We know the answer to that, do we not? The money would buy him a fancy casket in which to be buried and the kids would fight over what was left! Jesus told that story in Luke 12:13-21 as a reminder to be careful of what and where you celebrate!

5: The Execution of John the Baptist. He was considered a religious fanatic, but there were those who had listened to him and made a positive response when he called them to repent of their sins and be baptized as a public witness that they had done exactly that. He even rebuked political people for immorality. One of these never forgot that, and likely vowed that she would get him some day in the future. The day came when Herodius' husband, Herod, was throwing a party and the big-wigs were there celebrating his birthday with him. Herodius' daughter did a dance that pleased and excited the crowd immensely. Herod, in the spirit of celebrating, offered his step-daughter anything even up to the half of his kingdom. Instructed by her mother, the daughter asked for the head of John the Baptist on a platter. The execution was carried out and the head of John was delivered to Herodius who very likely had a great celebration over the death of one she vowed "to get!" Comments on this event are found at Staring at a Severed Head Forever! Details of this incident can be found at Mark 6:21-28. We need to always be careful of what and where we celebrate!

6: Belshazzar's Celebration. Beshazzar was a ruler, second in rank to his father, in the mighty kingdom of ancient Babylon. One night he threw a party and in the midst of the revelry he remembered the vessels from the Jewish temple that had been taken when the Babylonians had invaded and destroyed Jerusalem many years before. So the excitement accelerated in the celebration as they drank out of the golden vessels and praised the heathen gods. Suddenly the image of a man's hand appeared and fingers began to write on the palace wall. Belshazzar was so shook up that it is recorded that his knees began to knock together. Eventually the prophet Daniel was called in to interpret the writings. In summary this ruler learned that God was going to put an end to his kingdom and that he, Belshazzar had been weighed in the balances and found wanting. That very night of the celebration his life was taken as the Medes and Persians invaded the city. Details are given in Daniel 5. Belshazzar and his fellow party people found out that you need to be careful of what and where one celebrates!

Many other happenings in regard to celebrations ending in disaster could be noted here. But the foregoing should be enough to remind us that sometimes a celebration is not a smart thing in which to be involved. Such is the lunacy going on at present in the United States and in some other parts of the world -- the festive spirit and ongoing "celebration" of the death of Osama bin Laden. As I heard the "news" about this, I was reminded that here was a man for whom Jesus died on a Roman cross, as He did for me and for you so that our sins could be forgiven. Unfortunately, Osama bin Laden made some very wrong choices including the rejection of God's mercy as shown in His Son, Jesus Christ, and the choice to follow a false religion and become involved in violent acts which he believed would help purge the world of "infidels." Muslims who are true to their faith and the teachings of the Quran view all non-Muslims as infidels and are specifically instructed not to take Jews nor Christians for their friends!

Somewhere down the road in the future we in the republic of the United States will realize that it was very foolish and deadly to have celebrated the death of Osama bin Laden. Almighty God has indicated that He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. So then, who are we that we feel we have the "right" and should do otherwise?

"Say to them: 'As I live,' says the Lord GOD, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?'" --- Ezekiel 33:11

'Tis the Season for Mockery!

"You have become guilty by the blood which you have shed, and have defiled yourself with the idols which you have made. You have caused your days to draw near, and have come to the end of your years; therefore I have made you a reproach to the nations, and a mockery to all countries. Those near and those far from you will mock you as infamous and full of tumult. Look, the princes of Israel: each one has used his power to shed blood in you. In you they have made light of father and mother; in your midst they have oppressed the stranger; in you they have mistreated the fatherless and the widow. You have despised My holy things and profaned My Sabbaths....." --- Ezekiel 22:4-8

The republic of the United States has fallen upon very difficult times. Actually, this has been building up steadily since the early '60's when defiance and giving Almighty God the infamous obscene gesture became quite common occurences throughout our culture. It has been seen through the mass media, the prevailing attitudes in government and court decisions, business and corporation affairs, the entertainment industry, educational institutions, and drastic changes in the basic social building block in our culture that is known as the family.

It has been a negative toboggin slide since those years of the early '60's although there were very negative influences in active play since the early 1900's. It was within the professing Christian church at large that seeds of doubt and skepticism were being sown which would over time impact all segments of U. S. culture. The basic seed of poison was the idea that the Bible is not a totally trustworthy book and using our intelligence coupled with the ability to implement the powers of human reasoning we then could have a correct understanding and interpretation of the holy Scriptures!

Much of the skepticism centered on the Person and accomplished work of Jesus Christ. Satan is very smart and knows that if he can get us to doubt the integrity of the Scriptures with the added bonus of doubt concerning the identity of Jesus, His miracles performed, the purpose of His death, and His victorious resurrection, then he has easily won the battle. The result is a professing Christianity that is as impressive as a fish out of water and flopping helplessly around on land!

And what is God's response to this ongoing defiance that is expressed in countless ways over the decades as time marches on?

First, God will convey messages of warning through a very unpopular group of persons known as prophets. These are people who will never grace the cover of Time magazine as the "person of the year." They will never win a popularity contest. It is not uncommon for these to be ridiculed, mocked, violently persecuted, and at times put to death. Scriptures in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament confirm clearly that this is how it is now and how it was for those through whom God issued warnings and the appeal to repent and return to Him.

Second, God begins to launch a series of calamities of various kinds upon the people who have claimed to be a people "under God," but have chosen to reject His standards which make for a sane, serene, sensible, secure, and sovereign state! As these actions are taking place, it is appropriate to say, "Things are not going well for our nation, its people and their leaders, politically and religiously!"

Third, God works in an unusual way in the world with those people who claim to be His people but who abandon the standards He has put in place that distinguishes the nation as one that truly fears and respects God. God declares that He will make them a mockery in relation to the other nations of the world.

Rodney Dangerfield, the comedian, had a very familiar saying which was used repeatedly in his stand up routines -- "I get no respect!" And so God arranges through events that a nation of people will get absolutely no respect. In the past the United States was a nation highly respected throughout the world and there was a time when the flag of the U.S. was respected wherever it was flown. Perhaps the peak for this was during and at the end of WW II. Such is no longer the case. It is not that unusual any longer to see the flag torn down, trashed and burned!

Will it dawn on our elected officials and our church leaders that the pressing need at this moment in history is for our nation to truly repent of its many sins and abominations and turn back to God? And this has to be done on an individual level as well as at the corporate level? At this point in time there is no indication that repenting is an act to be taken seriously and if anything, masses feel they "haven't done anything wrong!"

Mark it down -- God has much more in His inventory of "chastising tools" -- and if that doesn't work, then He brings out another plan of action - it's called judgment! None of us will want to be anywhere within the boundaries of the 50 states that make up the republic of the United States when that happens!

And a PS - note the claim that the Creator of this mighty universe makes in regard to His authority and power to establish a nation or tear it down and bring it to nothing, depending on critical choices made by the people and their leaders -- it is detailed in Jeremiah 18. And because I am in a very good mood at the moment, I'll let you look it up and read it for yourself! Something to sleep on tonight - pleasant dreams :-)

Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. And I prayed to the LORD my God, and made confession, and said, "O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments. Neither have we heeded Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings and our princes, to our fathers and all the people of the land." --- Daniel 9:3-6

That Gulf Oil Spill - A Certain Fact Commonly and Vigorously Denied!

"Then they will answer, 'Because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and embraced other gods, and worshiped them and served them; therefore He has brought all this calamity on them.'" --- 2 Chronicles 7:22

Therefore thus says the LORD: "Behold, I will surely bring calamity on them which they will not be able to escape; and though they cry out to Me, I will not listen to them. --- Jeremiah 11:11

"Because you have burned incense and because you have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD or walked in His law, in His statutes or in His testimonies, therefore this calamity has happened to you, as at this day." --- Jeremiah 44:23

It is dominating news everywhere on a worldwide basis and the longer the crisis continues, the more the assignment of blame and responsibility escalates! One wonders if President Obama's hatchetman, Rahm Emanuel, continues to play the favorite string on his fiddle which gushes a familiar tune, "Never let a crisis go to waste."

As the president continues to wear out Air Force One (will hundreds of millions have to be spent for a replacement before his term ends?) he is finding out as he walks along beaches with oil penetrating them that things just don't happen automatically when he opens his mouth and gives a command -- you know, like "Fix that ##$$@@%% leak!"

What is really pathetic in this happening is the fact that the president, his administration, the members of the U.S. Congress and the "experts" on deep sea oil drilling fail to realize another dimension in what is termed an environmental disaster of the first magnitude.

Since we have for decades as a nation chosen to give the Creator of the universe an obscene gesture as to our response to His claims and His call that we repent of our sins, receive His Son, Jesus Christ, as Savior and Lord, and commit to seeking His holy will and purpose for us, then we can only expect a series of calamities in our national experience as the blessings of God are withdrawn!

God has clearly established the fact that a sane, sensible, serene, stable, secure, and stellar society is experienced on basis of total obedience to Him. To reject Him is to become the target of unimaginable calamities and ultimately judgment and total destruction if there is refusal to repent. The principles as to how this comes into play are spelled out throughout the Scriptures, but especially in Deuteronomy 28. In that chapter a sharp contrast is drawn as to what happens when a nation obeys God as opposed to what happens when disobedience is chosen by the majority of the citizens and its leaders!

There will be large numbers who will vehemently deny that God has anything to do whatsoever with what happened in the Gulf of Mexico. Granted, there are any number who deny that God even exists, or if He does, He just kind of looks on indifferently as to what is going on in this world. A greater number may claim there is a God and that they "believe" in Him -- but they live day by day as though He doesn't exist -- what some describe as being a "practical atheist" -- insisting there is a God but denying Him by personal lifestyle!

But what if.....?

Yes, the day will likely come that just maybe the leak will be "fixed" but the damage that has taken place up to that moment is impossible to fully and accurately calculate. Plus the fact that for those willing to face the reality, there is the recognition that Almighty God does interact with the members of the human race and the nations into which they are divided. What is on the divine "agenda" so far as the schedule of future calamities are concerned as Jesus Christ tarries in His personal return to this confused and chaotic world?

"And they shall know that I am the LORD, and that I have not said in vain that I would bring this calamity upon them." --- Ezekiel 6:10

Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; their foot shall slip in due time; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things to come hasten upon them.' --- Deuteronomy 32:35

Is Iran Now Shaking in It Boots Because of Obama’s “Warning?”

"Iran is on notice that when we meet with them on Oct. 1 they are going to have to come clean and they are going to have to make a choice" between international isolation and giving up any aspirations to becoming a nuclear power, he (Obama) said. If they refuse to give ground, they will stay on "a path that is going to lead to confrontation." --- Statements by President Obama on Iran, September 25, 2009 in Pittsburgh PA

Did Iranian President Ahmadinejad and his people instantly snap to attention, salute the president of the United States, and loudly respond, “Yes, sir! Yes, sir! Whatever you say, sir! We’ll do it right away, sir! Please don’t hurt us!”

If anything the Iranian response was as some put it, “a thumbing of the nose” kind of attitude and Ahmadinejad’s claim that they had done nothing wrong and further, Obama would regret the accusations made against Iran. So it hardly looks like Iran is running scared, does it not?

Consider why “tough” talk coming from the United States is no longer intimidating.

First, the president has never shown even a trace of concern about how this country stands in relation to the God it claims to be “under” as mentioned in the Pledge of Allegiance. But then, he has lots of company in that regard with the U. S. Congress and the Supreme Court, which rules more against God than in His favor.

Since this nation historically has its roots in the public recognition of God and the truths having to do with the practicing of faith which is centered in God, it is most important to determine just what our present relationship as a nation is to God. The best place to see how we stand is to check out Deuteronomy 28 in the Old Testament – God says He will bless the nation that obeys Him and respects His standards, but on the other hand if the nation chooses the way of disobedience, then unprecedented calamities will be that nation’s fate, leading to eventual collapse! Who would be so idiotic as to claim we are an obedient nation in the sight of God and presently in an acceptable relationship to Him?

Second, it is clear after rejecting repeated warnings and appeals that we as a nation are no longer under the favor and blessing of God. Even worse is the fact that God states that He makes the people who have rejected Him a mockery in the sight of other nations. What could be plainer than the following statements made by the Creator of the heavens and the earth:

"You have become guilty by the blood which you have shed, and have defiled yourself with the idols which you have made. You have caused your days to draw near, and have come to the end of your years; therefore I have made you a reproach to the nations, and a mockery to all countries. Those near and those far from you will mock you as infamous and full of tumult. Look, the princes of Israel: each one has used his power to shed blood in you. In you they have made light of father and mother; in your midst they have oppressed the stranger; in you they have mistreated the fatherless and the widow. You have despised My holy things and profaned My Sabbaths….” --- Ezekiel 22:4-8

So, when Obama speaks and warns, is he taken seriously? Ask Ahmadinejad and the people of Iran if their tremors have settled down after the president of the United States has taken them to task and issued a stern warning!

Then they will cry to the LORD, but He will not hear them; He will even hide His face from them at that time, because they have been evil in their deeds. --- Micah 3:4

A Very Rough Row to Hoe Without God!

Shall the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law, have fellowship with You? They gather together against the life of the righteous, and condemn innocent blood. --- Psalm 94:20, 21

As he goes about his globetrotting and engages in conversation with world dignitaries the president is making the unsettling discovery that things are not well on the home front. He had made tons of promises to the citizens of the United States during his "purchase" of the presidency of the United States. Those failed promises are surfacing so fast it is about impossible to keep up with them all.

In fact it is not all that great as he chalks up high mileage and much expense with Air Force One in those foreign junkets. World leaders are not going to take the “new kid on the block” from the U. S. very seriously. Oh, there will be the photo ops and sound bites that make for good propaganda, but due to the U. S. spiritual “climate” at the present time, God’s blessing is no longer on the nation as it once was in the past! Because of our growing massive rebellion, idolatrous practices and shedding of innocent blood, God has set in motion certain unpleasant happenings. A prophet of long ago provides insight as to how this works:

Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Now, son of man, will you judge, will you judge the bloody city? Yes, show her all her abominations! Then say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "The city sheds blood in her own midst, that her time may come; and she makes idols within herself to defile herself. You have become guilty by the blood which you have shed, and have defiled yourself with the idols which you have made. You have caused your days to draw near, and have come to the end of your years; therefore I have made you a reproach to the nations, and a mockery to all countries. Those near and those far from you will mock you as infamous and full of tumult. Look, the princes of Israel: each one has used his power to shed blood in you. In you they have made light of father and mother; in your midst they have oppressed the stranger; in you they have mistreated the fatherless and the widow. You have despised My holy things and profaned My Sabbaths. In you are men who slander to cause bloodshed; in you are those who eat on the mountains; in your midst they commit lewdness. In you men uncover their fathers' nakedness; in you they violate women who are set apart during their impurity. One commits abomination with his neighbor's wife; another lewdly defiles his daughter-in-law; and another in you violates his sister, his father's daughter. In you they take bribes to shed blood; you take usury and increase; you have made profit from your neighbors by extortion, and have forgotten Me," says the Lord GOD. Behold, therefore, I beat My fists at the dishonest profit which you have made, and at the bloodshed which has been in your midst. Can your heart endure, or can your hands remain strong, in the days when I shall deal with you? I, the LORD, have spoken, and will do it.’” --- Ezekiel 22:1-14

So President Obama and his partners in the U. S. Congress are strictly on their own. And the attitude they have now adopted basically says God doesn’t even exist or if He does, we will run the show as we so determine, relying totally upon ourseves -- no meddling -- not even a suggestion from our Creator is permitted when it comes to the daily "business" of the United States of America!

The day might well come when B.H.O. may even suggest that we citizens, to whom he made oodles of broken promises, should consider praying to God for help and relief from the many calamities we are experiencing. He isn’t inclined to do that now, but the day may come when he will issue that call. It’s happened in the past and the way things are going now, it is very likely that he will change his mind and say that we need to pray. It is also very likely that God’s response at such a time will be the same as He made to a nation of long ago which had treated Him like unwanted garbage, but when intense calamities came and they decided to do some praying and calling on God, He responded:

“Your own wickedness will correct you, and your backslidings will reprove you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing that you have forsaken the LORD your God, and the fear of Me is not in you," says the Lord GOD of hosts……. "As the thief is ashamed when he is found out, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they and their kings and their princes, and their priests and their prophets, saying to a tree, 'You are my father,' and to a stone, 'You gave birth to me.' For they have turned their back to Me, and not their face. But in the time of their trouble they will say, 'Arise and save us.' But where are your gods that you have made for yourselves? Let them arise, if they can save you in the time of your trouble; for according to the number of your cities are your gods, O Judah. Why will you plead with Me? You all have transgressed against Me," says the LORD. --- Jeremiah 2:19, 26-29

To bring the above statement up to date all we need to do is change the names and substitute United States, Washington DC, etc. See how this so accurately describes our situation in the United States at the present moment? It is a tragedy of the first magnitude that we have political leadership which is so blind that they cannot see that we need to do some honest heart searching coupled with genuine repenting of our personal and collective sins.

At this stage we have a president and a gang of elected officials that try to “hoe the row” without the guidance and blessing of Almighty God! Failure is absolutely guaranteed!

"If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free………Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. ‘ --- Jesus Christ speaking in John 8:31, 31; 15:4-6

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Continues to Strive to Set Record for Notoriety!

Your princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; everyone loves bribes, and follows after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, nor does the cause of the widow come before them. Isaiah 1:23

Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain. Ezekiel 22:27

For some of us in Pennsylvania, it came as no surprise that Senator Arlen Specter is switching his party affiliation. A number of us PA residents have known for a long time that Arlen was in reality a closet Democrat. He will fit right in with the Obama crowd without any hindrances. He will support Obama’s pro-abortion agenda and the ongoing destruction of the unborn at all stages of development – from the early weeks to full term. And Arlen was one of three turn-coat “Republicans” supporting the grotesque stimulus bill. Those 2 females from Maine ought to follow Specter’s lead in this matter, and remove their masks for the sake of citizens who have failed to see them as they really are!


And then there is Representative John Murtha who represents the district in which Johnstown PA is located. Local news reports recently indicated that Johnstown may become the “poster child” of pork barrel spending due to Murtha’s manipulating tactics which have resulted in millions and millions of dollars being channeled into the Johnstown area over the years. One interesting project is a radar system at the airport which bears his name. It cost a few million dollars but has never been used – it just sits there, rusting away!

But ask the locals about this Washington DC “pork” landing in Johnstown over time and it is practically unanimous – Big John has done many good things by bringing all that government money into the area and no person should question that. You see, John Murtha holds a status that is at least equal to Almighty God in the Johnstown area – and just maybe in some cases, there are those who hold John Murtha in even higher esteem than God Himself!

In the race for setting a record for notoriety, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is ahead by at least a length or more! There are some of us, however, that feel it isn’t fair that we are saddled with the likes of a Specter or a Murtha and the other 49 states don’t have a taste of them – then the other states would know what we have to endure – maybe a trade could be worked out for a while!

But in spite of having such representation as Specter and Murtha over the years, there is good news which must always be kept in mind – it won’t go on much longer like it is now. The day is coming when all politicians will be removed from office. In fact every nation in the world will be impacted by this dramatic change in governing authority – Jesus Christ is scheduled to return to this world to take full control – He declared that He has all authority in heaven and on earth and promised He would come back. We don’t know the precise time when that will be – His word (and warning) was to watch and be ready, which implies that we are to live and work in anticipation of His return at any possible time. At least a few of us hope that it would be within the next 24 hours – to say the least, it will be a most dramatic change as to how things are done in the world when it comes to government!

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. --- Revelation 20:11-15

Trying to Lead Without the Blessing of God!

Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Now, son of man, will you judge, will you judge the bloody city? Yes, show her all her abominations! Then say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "The city sheds blood in her own midst, that her time may come; and she makes idols within herself to defile herself. You have become guilty by the blood which you have shed, and have defiled yourself with the idols which you have made. You have caused your days to draw near, and have come to the end of your years; therefore I have made you a reproach to the nations, and a mockery to all countries. Those near and those far from you will mock you as infamous and full of tumult.” --- Ezekiel 22:1-5

He’s off to bring many of the prominent nations of the world together and to convince them to work together – according to his idea of how the financial woes of the world ought to be resolved, or will he?

President Obama is totally on his own in this venture and so it is also with his administration as he and his key players attempt to govern a republic known as the United States of America.

Just a few simple things to keep in mind:

• he and his people are totally on their own in all that they do with the main reason being that no longer is the blessing of God upon the nation.
  
  
• rampant disobedience on the part of a majority of our population in part has contributed to the withdrawing of God’s blessing. Our mass shedding of innocent blood, idolatry, immorality, pleasure seeking, and indoctrinating our young with lies about our origins does more than stir the emotions of a holy God just a trifle!
  
  
• B. O. is the first president to aggressively support and further expand the destruction of the unborn at all stages of development from a few weeks (embryo destruction) to a short time away from birth. 50 million dollars has just been channeled to groups that do abortions in foreign countries.
  

Read again the statement from Ezekiel which is posted at the top of these comments – God made clear to a people long ago that because of their persistent disobedience the time would come when the nation would be a mockery among other peoples.

Stop and think for a moment – some of us who are older can remember a time when the United States was not only the most powerful nation on the face of the planet, but it was respected in most all places. Wherever the stars and stripes waved there was reason to pause and give thanks for what the nation stood for and the liberties for which it was well known. It was known to be the “land of the free and the home of the brave.”

That is no longer the case. Increased corruption within the leadership ranks, of both state and church, over the years has taken a heavy toll. Those corrupting influences have had a very negative effect on the citizens. As noted in previous postings, you can see an excellent summary as to how a culture unravels at 2 Chronicles 36, beginning with verse 11. Do some comparing and then remember that the tragedy is this -- the vast majority fail to see what has been happening and the reason behind it all!

We are now experiencing the reality of what was stated by a prophet of long ago by the name of Ezekiel. No longer can we claim to be under the blessing of Almighty God!

"Look, the princes of Israel: each one has used his power to shed blood in you.In you they have made light of father and mother; in your midst they have oppressed the stranger; in you they have mistreated the fatherless and the widow. You have despised My holy things and profaned My Sabbaths. In you are men who slander to cause bloodshed; in you are those who eat on the mountains; in your midst they commit lewdness. In you men uncover their fathers' nakedness; in you they violate women who are set apart during their impurity. One commits abomination with his neighbor's wife; another lewdly defiles his daughter-in-law; and another in you violates his sister, his father's daughter. In you they take bribes to shed blood; you take usury and increase; you have made profit from your neighbors by extortion, and have forgotten Me," says the Lord GOD. "Behold, therefore, I beat My fists at the dishonest profit which you have made, and at the bloodshed which has been in your midst. Can your heart endure, or can your hands remain strong, in the days when I shall deal with you? I, the LORD, have spoken, and will do it.” --- Ezekiel 22:6-14

Letter to President Barack Hussein Obama

And a letter came to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus says the LORD God of your father David..... --- 2 Chronicles 21:12

For years I have been sending letters to presidents and other world leaders. On a regular basis letters were sent to President Bush and President Clinton.

My first to Mr. Obama took place in November shortly after he won the election earlier in the month. My first of many is going out to him today in his capacity as the 44th president to be inaugurated in the history of our republic.

A copy of this letter is found at Letter to President Barack Hussein Obama -- use reverse of your web browser to return here.

The letter to President Bush is found at Mr. President, We Need to Get Our Own House in Order First! -- again, use reverse on web browser to return here.

A number of persons, friends and family, have said, "Why waste your time doing this -- they won't read them anyway, etc." The reasons for doing this are for another time and place!

"For you are not sent to a people of unfamiliar speech and of hard language, but to the house of Israel, not to many people of unfamiliar speech and of hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, had I sent you to them, they would have listened to you. But the house of Israel will not listen to you, because they will not listen to Me; for all the house of Israel are impudent and hard-hearted. Behold, I have made your face strong against their faces, and your forehead strong against their foreheads. Like adamant stone, harder than flint, I have made your forehead; do not be afraid of them, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house." --- Ezekiel 3:5-9

Claw Marks on the Ark!

One artist's view of Noah's ark

Source of image: download-free-pictures.com

And the LORD said, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.".... But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.... The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.... And God said to Noah, "The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch." --- Genesis 6:3, 8, 11, 13, 14

The attempts of artists to portray Noah's ark can be rather interesting, since there are a huge number who have painted/drawn scenes of what is probably the most famous floating vessel in the history of the human race. Titanic is another name which would maybe come in second, but it stands in a class by itself with someone making the wise distinction that "Amateurs built the ark - professionals built the Titanic!"

The artist of the image posted above took rather great liberty in picturing the ark -- sort of looks like a giant hotel from a time long, long ago, does it not? On the positive side, it seems to be rather roomy, so there would not be a crowding problem.

Debate has fiercely raged as to whether there really was an ark built by a man named Noah with assistance by his three sons. Resources abound on the subject both in defense of the Biblical account of the flood event as well as denial that it happened. The Barna research group did release some shocking information not so long ago to the effect that only about 51 per cent of Protestant pastors hold to a Biblical world view in their preaching and teaching ministry! So it figures that among the 49 per cent bunch would be those who would deny and teach that no such thing as judgment by means of a universal flood by God ever happened.

The position of the guy writing this blog is that the flood at the time of Noah did happen. If you have a problem with that then that's your problem, not mine -- further, you'll have to take that issue up with God because He's the One Who reported it and was directly involved in it! Go ahead -- have a little conversation with Him about it.

Now on to the issue of those claw marks on the ark. I have preached on that title a few times. I submit that if we had been able to do a check of the ark once it settled back on solid ground, we would have seen vertical marks all over the outside surface of the vessel. Each would be a few inches long and there would have been quite a number of them. What caused them? Didn't you know? They were made by human fingernails! People in the area where Noah's "project" had been going on for quite a few years and who had heard him giving the warning (he was described by Peter as a "preacher of righteousness) of impending judgment, finally concluded, "Maybe that old coot, Noah, was right after all -- we better hustle down there and get on board before it's too late!"

But it was too late because God had shut Noah and his family inside, which meant that everybody else was shut out. One can say "No!" one too many times and after that the door is permanently closed!

Why those marks as people scraped the sides of the ark with their fingernails in a desperate effort to get inside? It was due to a number of things including:

• Deception -- we are good people -- in fact we are just as good as anyone else and better than some, such as that drunk who lives down the street and better than that hypocrite across the street who goes to church every Sunday!
  
  
• Defiance -- we will determine for ourselves what is right or wrong -- we make our own rules and we don't need some religious fanatic such as that Noah preaching to us all the time about our sins and the need to repent!
  
  
• Delay -- so what if judgment is coming as Noah says -- it won't be for a long time and I'll be long gone from this earth before anything like that happens!
  
  
• Denial -- God is good and He loves all of us -- God would never do anything nasty such as bring judgment -- that would be very cruel and it's not in His nature to act in such a way -- He just doesn't do those horrible things to anybody!
  

Lots more could be added under each point with illustrations as well, but this gives us a picture of what might have been at a very tragic moment in the history of the human race.

The sobering thing is this -- Jesus stated that the conditions which were prevalent at the time of Noah would again take place as human history flows. Such conditions will dominate minds and hearts of the vast majority of human beings prior to Jesus' personal and visible return to this world. They will be preoccupied and so busy about "living" that they give no serious thought about dying and ultimately standing before God to give an accounting as to what they did with their lives on earth!

Among a minority is the recognition that Jesus Christ, the living Son of God, is our "ark of refuge" in times such as these. By repenting of all sin, receiving Him as Savior and Lord into one's personal life, and resolving by choice to be obedient to Him each day, assurance is given and hope for a place in His coming eternal Kingdom.

Have you gotten on board? Or will you do as did a gigantic mass of people a long time ago for reasons cited above and find yourself desperately clawing as you try to enter a place of refuge only to discover too late that the entrance is permanently shut. Remember, the time came when God shut Noah and his family inside and everyone else was shut out!

And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Son of man, what is this proverb that you people have about the land of Israel, which says, 'The days are prolonged, and every vision fails'? "Tell them therefore, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "I will lay this proverb to rest, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel." But say to them, "The days are at hand, and the fulfillment of every vision. For no more shall there be any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel. For I am the LORD. I speak, and the word which I speak will come to pass; it will no more be postponed; for in your days, O rebellious house, I will say the word and perform it," says the Lord GOD.'" Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Son of man, look, the house of Israel is saying, 'The vision that he sees is for many days from now, and he prophesies of times far off.' Therefore say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "None of My words will be postponed any more, but the word which I speak will be done," says the Lord GOD.'" --- Ezekiel 12:21-28

Election 2008 – God’s Intentional Will or Permissive Will? Which?

They soon forgot His works; they did not wait for His counsel, but lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tested God in the desert. And He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul. --- Psalm 106:13-15

At least some (those among the devoted followers of Jesus Christ) have been praying about election 2008 and who shall be our elected leader for the next four years.

What about God’s will in this process? It comes down to this – either God will express His intentional will by intervention or His permissive will by simply letting the nation get what it deserves!

This experience of getting what you think you want and resulting in receiving what you deserve is powerfully exhibited by the ancient Israelites in their wilderness wandering on the way to Canaan, land of promise. Because they were badly confused at one point as to what they desired and what was really best for them in midst of murmuring and complaining, we are informed that God gave them the desire of their hearts BUT sent leanness into their souls!

The primary issue which has the greatest impact on our republic’s future destiny is not the economy, conflict of war, the environment, energy resources or national security – these are all minor compared to the primary issue of the value of human life from the time of conception in the human womb.

Major party candidates in election 2008 are sharply divided on this issue of the value of human life. Two terms indicate where they stand – “pro-life” and “pro-abortion!” The “pro-abortion” candidates and their party will do everything possible to avoid a label which identifies them as supporting abortion on demand and the fact that over one million unborn children a year are mutilated and murdered before birth! It is the stated intent of B.O. and Joe that this policy will continue.

Since polls presently indicate a significant lead on the part of the “pro-abortion” candidates, God may just permit those candidates to take over the leadership of this nation beginning the 3rd week of January 2009. But if that should happen by God’s permissive will, we can be definitely assured of some other things taking place during the next four years of the new administration.

1. As the calamities upon this republic increase in intensity, the time will come when the cry will go out that we need to seek God and pray for help. But the response will come back in words very similar to those spoken centuries ago to a people who found themselves in a crisis and called upon God:

"As the thief is ashamed when he is found out, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they and their kings and their princes, and their priests and their prophets, saying to a tree, 'You are my father,' and to a stone, 'You gave birth to me.' For they have turned their back to Me, and not their face. But in the time of their trouble they will say, 'Arise and save us.' But where are your gods that you have made for yourselves? Let them arise, if they can save you in the time of your trouble; for according to the number of your cities are your gods, O Judah. Why will you plead with Me? You all have transgressed against Me," says the LORD. --- Jeremiah 2:26-29

2. Following the above experience, the few who have remained true in their devotion and service to Jesus Christ under very trying circumstances may be told in words similar to what Jeremiah was told back in about the 6th Century BC:

"Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them, nor make intercession to Me; for I will not hear you.”… "Therefore do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry out to Me because of their trouble.”…..Then the LORD said to me, "Do not pray for this people, for their good. When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence." --- Jeremiah 7:16; 11:14; 14:11, 12

3. And then, the worst of all possible scenarios taking place – when those who govern and those in positions of spiritual leadership discover too late that God is indeed a God of wrath and judgment just as a small number labeled as “extreme right-wing religious fanatics” had so claimed. Note once more the “formula” as to how a culture reaches this devastating climax in its historical journey:

Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He also did evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of the LORD. And he also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear an oath by God; but he stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD God of Israel. Moreover all the leaders of the priests and the people transgressed more and more, according to all the abominations of the nations, and defiled the house of the LORD which He had consecrated in Jerusalem. And the LORD God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, till there was no remedy. Therefore He brought against them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion on young man or virgin, on the aged or the weak; He gave them all into his hand. And all the articles from the house of God, great and small, the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king and of his leaders, all these he took to Babylon. Then they burned the house of God, broke down the wall of Jerusalem, burned all its palaces with fire, and destroyed all its precious possessions. And those who escaped from the sword he carried away to Babylon, where they became servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her Sabbaths. As long as she lay desolate she kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years. --- 2 Chronicles 36:11-21

Be fully aware that no modern “Pied Piper” with his charm, charisma, clever rhetoric and manipulative ways will enable us to escape such a fate because at this point in time God’s intentional will is to bring judgment due to failure to fully repent and comply with His standards of holy living and relationships!

It has been noted that those who fail to learn from the lessons of history are doomed to repeat it. But what has been cited above will be written off by the vast majority as absolutely meaningless and has no bearing on a republic known as the United States whatsoever or does it? We shall soon see, shall we not?

I rest my case!

And He said to me: "Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with My words to them. For you are not sent to a people of unfamiliar speech and of hard language, but to the house of Israel, not to many people of unfamiliar speech and of hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, had I sent you to them, they would have listened to you. But the house of Israel will not listen to you, because they will not listen to Me; for all the house of Israel are impudent and hard-hearted. Behold, I have made your face strong against their faces, and your forehead strong against their foreheads. Like adamant stone, harder than flint, I have made your forehead; do not be afraid of them, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house." --- Ezekiel 3:4-9

Questions About a Very Distinctive Group of Heaven’s Citizens!

When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" --- The Revelation 6:9, 10

There are a lot of them – all we can say is that there are millions upon millions already there and the number keeps expanding hour by hour!

Who are they? Didn’t you know, or have you never thought about them? These are the ones who were put to death before they were born. Actually they come from many nations around the world, including one which makes the hypocritical claim that all persons should have “the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness!”

What’s that? You object not just to the picture above but also to that quote from the book of The Revelation? Why?

But rest assured – you can be comforted in knowing that the little one above who was the victim of a very deliberate violent act does not look like that now with its head in a "pickle" jar of formaldehyde. We can only let our imagination soar to the highest heights as we attempt to picture what he or she looks like at the present time in the very presence of our Lord Jesus Christ!

And what about the statement mentioning the plea for vengeance? In context, the appeal comes from a rather large number who have been put to death for their faith in Jesus Christ. They are assured that eventually vengeance on their behalf will definitely take place.

However, might that great number whose innocent blood was shed before birth also be seeking that vengeance on their behalf likewise be carried out? God does mention the abomination of the “shedding of innocent blood” more than once in the Scriptures and the fact that He responds to such practices in a way that is far from being pleasant!

Another question or two about this matter – what will go through the minds of certain persons who observe this unique group of heavenly citizens as they view them from across a very wide chasm?

First, a history lesson – a rich man died and a beggar by the name of Lazarus who had laid outside the entrance gate of the rich man died at about the same time. In eternity the rich man ended up in the torment of Hell, but could see across a wide chasm and observed Lazarus comforted in the bosom of Abraham. Lazarus was now totally free of all limitations and afflictions of his former earthly life. Complete details and conversation are given in Luke 16.

Now, fast forward in time – what do you suppose will go through the mind of that unrepentant “doctor” who deliberately caused the deaths of a number of those little ones before they were born when he sees them in their perfect bodies in the presence of Jesus Christ?

Likewise, what will go through the mind of that unrepentant “mother” when she looks across that vast chasm and sees that one she chose to have mutilated and murdered, but now is in a glorified body? Or in some cases, some of these “mothers” may see more than one, since it is a matter of record that some females have chosen to have three or even four pregnancies violently “terminated!”

But hold on for a moment – there’s more to this very unpleasant saga – what do you suppose will go through the minds of those unrepentant judges who gaze across the chasm and see that huge number who were prematurely ushered into heaven because of one of the most idiotic and insane decisions ever to take place in a court room – namely, to “legalize” the mass destruction of unborn children!

But we are a nation in a state of tragic denial – even those of us who claim to be “pro-life” aren’t really convinced that there are consequences to decades of the “shedding of innocent blood.”

It may be that if we consider some questions of a different kind and attempt to picture some images in our minds we may just conclude that it is a very serious matter after all, and has a direct bearing on how well a nation fares in regard to its future destiny. We may even be moved to sound a trumpet warning that God always responds to a culture that has made the deadly choice of exterminating a large number of its future citizens!

"Moreover you took your sons and your daughters, whom you bore to Me, and these you sacrificed to them to be devoured. Were your acts of harlotry a small matter, that you have slain My children and offered them up to them by causing them to pass through the fire?" --- Ezekiel 16:20, 21

A Chinese Experience!

Chinese made all terrain tricycle -- the rider chooses to remain anonymous, being willing to only reveal her stylish riding shoes!

"The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower. He shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail. Moreover all these curses shall come upon you and pursue and overtake you, until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you." --- Deuteronomy 28:43-45

I confess -- I am not adjusting easily to the massive change whereby the nation in which I hold my citizenship has been inundated with foreign made products of all varieties. The bulk of this stuff comes from China.

I was born and raised with an ethic that basically said, "If you are doing a job, you give it your best -- you do it right or don't do it at all. If you are making something, you produce the highest quality possible in that object so that the person buying it will have gotten a high value for the money paid."

I was recently reminded again as to how times have so drastically changed when making a purchase.

I saw advertised in the catalog of a company, which handles a wide range of products, what was identified as an "all terrain tricycle." It has large pneumatic tires and the description indicated that children could ride it in areas where traditional tricycles with small hard rubber tires could not go.

So my wife and I decided to get one for the youngest of our grandchildren who now range in age from 1 year all the way up to 27 1/2 years.

UPS delivered the tricycle in a carton that had originally started out in China and by time of arrival at our place it was pretty well beat up! Due to coming partially open a carriage bolt for the rear axle area of the tricycle had been lost. Since no packing material was used, the parts were wrapped a bit with plastic sheeting. This permitted them to bounce against each other in transit and caused chipping of the paint in a number of places. The paint job left a lot to be desired since no primer had been used and due to inferior steel a thing called rust was beginning to appear on some surface areas.

I started the assembly process of this thing which looked like it had been the victim of some body's yard sale for 5 years running.

Hang on now -- the good part is about to happen. The pedals had to be attached to the pedal assembly on each side of the front wheel. I found the one with the "L" which indicated it was left-hand threaded and to be installed on the left side of the wheel.

What's this? The pedal wouldn't screw into the assembly as one would expect. So I got a thought -- maybe the left side assembly was actually put on the right side of the wheel at the factory. So I gave it a try -- and guess what? The pedal screwed right into the assembly without any resistance!

So I then installed the right-hand threaded pedal on the right hand pedal assembly which was on the left side of the front wheel of an all terrain tricycle! Are you confused yet?

But that wasn't the end of it. I detailed all this stuff and fired it off to the company in an email with a couple of attached photos to establish my "case!" I also suggested that they contact the Chinese manufacturer and explain the difference between left hand and right hand.

Finally I mentioned that I was going to repaint the tricycle but the color scheme would be different. I'm going to do it in a John Deere green and yellow -- frame will be green and wheels yellow. I've already located a place where I can get the paint at a very reasonable price. It certainly will be a great improvement over how the Chinese did it!

To the company's credit, it responded with options on my part as to how this might be made right. I accepted one of the offered options.

The larger picture, however, is a frightening one. China doesn't really have to do anything against us militarily to bring us down -- all it has to do is shut off the flow of consumer goods and demand payment on that big chunk of U. S. debt which it now owns!

How well have you been doing at learning the Chinese language these days?

"You have become guilty by the blood which you have shed, and have defiled yourself with the idols which you have made. You have caused your days to draw near, and have come to the end of your years; therefore I have made you a reproach to the nations, and a mockery to all countries. Those near and those far from you will mock you as infamous and full of tumult."
--- Ezekiel 22:4, 5

A Pot Calling the Kettle Black -- D.C. Style!

"I've served with seven presidents. When they come in, they all make mistakes. They all get older...." --- part of press release on John Murtha stating that John McCain is too old to be president, April 17, 2008

Putting big feet into big mouths seems to be a natural with politicans -- it's more common than we realize -- B. O. did it recently in regard to remarks about people in the small towns of Pennsylvania.

Now Big John Murtha who represents a portion of south central PA, including the city of Johnstown, in the U. S. Congress has declared John McCain to be too old to be president of the United States! These words come from a man whose age must be affecting serious thinking on his part due to the fact that Big John is older than McCain!

Says Murtha -- "Let me tell you something, it's no old man's job." That is interesting coming from one who has given no indication that he is going to step down from his position due to age -- he is about 4 years older than McCain!

I have the misfortune of living in Murtha's district, and have communicated with him from time to time. His replies are always typical of a politician -- lots of talk but no real substance on whatever the issue may be.

Murtha is notorious for the practice of "ear-marking" when it comes to spending the tax money we have paid to the federal government -- designatiing millions of dollars here and there within the boundaries of his district with much of it related to defense contracts of some sort. In fact, Big John qualifies for title of "King of All Ear-Markers!"

One of the urgent needs is for Route 219 to be made into a 4-lane highway north from the Ebensburg area to the New York border. What has Murtha done? Well, he was present at the opening of a very short 4-lane extension which is just west of Ebensburg and proceeds north from Rt. 422. They even put a sign along this extension, naming it the John Murtha Highway -- it was but a short time when someone shot the sign full of holes!

But down in the Johnstown area, it appears that God plays second fiddle to Big John in the minds of a lot of Democrats! So, how long will he keep his seat in Congress? It is likely he is very selective on the age issue - he is quick with the lip as to who is too old to be president, but no comment on what the age limit should be to members of the U. S. Congress!

Aren't these pot and kettle episodes exciting, and each one gets better as time passes!

This has been written by a non-affiliated registered voter in Cambria County, Pennsylvania. And I am Clayton D. Harriger and I approved this message!

"Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain." --- Ezekiel 22:27

Dare to Be or Reluctant to Be a Daniel, Which Will It Be?

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and good will of the chief of the eunuchs. --- Daniel 1:8, 9

It has often been a theme in children's Bible school sessions. And sometimes pastors have picked up on it a bit. It's the "Dare to Be a Daniel!" challenge to people of faith of all ages.

Anyone with a measure of exposure to Bible stories has doubtless heard of Daniel, the Hebrew captive in Babylon, who refused to compromise his convictions which were rooted in his upbringing. He was keenly aware of Who the God of Israel was and he was further determined to be obedient to this God. As noted in the statement above, he would not compromise those convictions and three friends chose to join him while a bunch of others probably felt it would not make any difference by eating and drinking whatever was set before them. You also don't read anything more about those compromising Hebrews, do you?

We are clearly living in a time in which there is an embarrassing reluctance to be a Daniel within the ranks of those professing to hold to the Christian faith! This is seen in two ways:

• Conviction to stand faithfully by the standards which God has established for holy living and witness. The common word now is compromise and "don't rock the boat!" Increasing numbers are entering into the "dialog" mode -- various issues on which there is sharp disagreement are resolved through the "dialog" process -- parties with differing positions sit down at a table and discuss these with the understanding that each respects the other and the position which the other side represents. One of the greatest examples of this disaster is the "dialog" sessions taking place on the subject of the practices of sodomy and lesbianism. Those advocating such practices really don't care if you disagree with them so long as you are willing to "dialog" and eventually all work together within the established church for the good of the Kingdom! It's those few of us who are the "homophobes" who refuse to "dialog" that give the church a bad name, right?
  
  
• Honest confession in prayer with unapologetic recognition that political and religious leadership erred and brought about a direction in the life of the people which led to an indescribable disaster. Daniel was thoroughly honest in his assessment as to why he was in Babylon rather than back in the kingdom of his native Judah enjoying freedom as a citizen there. Note some things he said as he prayed:
  

  
  And I prayed to the LORD my God, and made confession, and said, "O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments. Neither have we heeded Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings and our princes, to our fathers and all the people of the land." --- Daniel 9:4-6
  

  
  

Later it is noted by Daniel that he confessed his sin and the sin of his people Israel. It was then that the angel Gabriel appeared to him with some rather startling news about some future happenings!

At this point in time all indications are that this thing of confessing as well as repenting of sin is something to be avoided -- dare to be a Daniel? Well, maybe up to a point -- but to do so wholeheartedly places one in a very difficult position -- it's like being the point man on a military patrol to rout out the enemy -- you're the first one in line and you are the first target of attack!

The majority trend is this -- compromise a bit here and there in order to maintain "peace" and whatever you do, don't bring this subject of sin to our attention -- people don't want to hear about that! Or to put it another way by rephrasing an approach taken by former President Bill Clinton -- "Just what do you mean by sin?"

How many are out there in the republic of the United States who will dare to be a Daniel with the conviction that obedience to God is an absolute must and the conditions under which we presently live demand total honesty in a true spirit of repentance and prayers of confession?

Look -- over there in the distance-- do you see them -- isn't that a majority I see that is holding banners with very large and bold letters saying, "We are most reluctant to be a Daniel -- in fact, we don't want to be like him!"

"Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: 'Because you have forgotten Me and cast Me behind your back, therefore you shall bear the penalty of your lewdness and your harlotry.'" The LORD also said to me: "Son of man, will you judge Oholah and Oholibah? Then declare to them their abominations. For they have committed adultery, and blood is on their hands. They have committed adultery with their idols, and even sacrificed their sons whom they bore to Me, passing them through the fire, to devour them. Moreover they have done this to Me: They have defiled My sanctuary on the same day and profaned My Sabbaths. For after they had slain their children for their idols, on the same day they came into My sanctuary to profane it; and indeed thus they have done in the midst of My house." --- Ezekiel 23:35-39

Will It Be Blessing Prayers or Repenting Prayers?

"God bless America!" --- oft repeated phrase heard throughout the United States on numerous occasions -- i.e. after a presidential address et alii!

Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. And I prayed to the LORD my God, and made confession, and said, "O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments. Neither have we heeded Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings and our princes, to our fathers and all the people of the land." --- Daniel 9:3-6

May 1, 2008 has been designated as the National Day of Prayer in the republic of the United States. It has been something which has taken place for a long time.

How will it go this year as many join together in observance of this event? Will it be dominated mainly by "blessing" prayers -- that is, a chorus of voices beseeching God to bless the nation, its leaders and all the citizens? As noted above, the phrase, "God bless America," has been used again and again and we have a song by that very title as well.

Or will there be praying that reflects the critical matter of repentance at all levels of our nation? A primary example is that of Daniel who was deeply concerned about the issue of repentance on the part of his people. He makes no excuses but honestly admits the heart of the problem -- willful disobedience to God which brought about the destruction of the kingdom in which he was a citizen!

There is little indication at this stage that the spirit of a grieving prophet over his people's sin will be recaptured on May 1 in our nation. There may be a few who recognize the need to repent -- a repentance involving each individual as well repentance at the collective level involving our institutions, including church groups and government!

Lest one is tempted to think that Daniel was a bit "self-righteous" in all this, as you read further through the account you find that he admits to confessing not only the sin of his nation, but also his own sin! We don't have the details on that -- in fact, Daniel is of such a noble character that the Bible does not record one negative thing about him as in the case of a number of others.

So then -- have you been praying for our nation? Not focusing on seeking blessings, but rather expressing grief over how sin is ravaging our culture and the need to repent of all that God finds to be offensive and abominable in His sight?

Far be it from us that we just devote a little attention to this on May 1, but that each day will find us beseeching our heavenly Father to be merciful because we are a sinful and wicked nation and need to repent before He chooses to bring devastating judgments upon us!

And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Son of man, say to her: 'You are a land that is not cleansed or rained on in the day of indignation.' The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing the prey; they have devoured people; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst. Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain. Her prophets plastered them with untempered mortar, seeing false visions, and divining lies for them, saying, 'Thus says the Lord GOD,' when the LORD had not spoken. The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy; and they wrongfully oppress the stranger. So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads," says the Lord GOD. --- Ezekiel 22:23-31

Piracy in State Capitols and the Biggie in Washington DC? What Else Can You Call It?

How about a change in the flags that fly over state capitols and the one over that big building in Washington DC which houses a group of persons known as the United States Congress?

You can easily recognize the one at the very top and it has always been identified with certain unscrupulous persons who go about taking money and valuables from other persons, usually at the point of a pistol or sword!

Yes, I know -- it is bordering on the insane to even suggest such a change! But stop and reason for a bit -- all I am suggesting that we try to have the flag truly reflect what has happened inside the buildings over which it flies.

While there are quite a few things that could build a case for the flag change, let's just cite one notorious instance.

It used to be a long time ago that a couple would marry and have children. They continued to work and accumulate some earthly possessions and get a bank account established -- miracle of miracles, maybe that bank account would build up and amount to a considerable amount of wealth! The time would come that the couple would arrange for drawing up a will that divided all the wealth and property among the children or perhaps they would include their church or a charitable organization in their will.

The day came when the couple exited this earthly life and their estate was divided and dispersed to the parties so designated in their will -- every single cent was passed on to the chosen persons, church or organization as so chosen.

But something happened eventually over time -- politicians, as corruption set in, got the idea that a couple having accumulated an amount of wealth should share a good portion of that with government, at the state level and the federal level. Presto, something called "inheritance tax" was born!

Basically these "pirates" in business suits and claiming to represent the best interests of their "constituents" have pointed the sword at the throats of the citizens and demanded to have a generous share of whatever a couple has accumulated before it is passed on to the selected parties in the will of the couple!

Now in all honesty -- is that right and just? Call it whatever you want, but piracy is a most accurate label to apply to this horrendous practice! We have reached a point where some mention is made of it and once in a while some rumblings may briefly occur in the capitols, but nothing is ever constructively done to correct this mass injustice.

And you'll notice that presidential candidates while professing that they will bring about desired "change" if elected, don't seem to mention this one in addition to the many other critical issues which are causing the nation to capsize!

I admit to being greatly influenced by the prophets of the Old Testament -- if we could resurrect them, the only thing changed in what they said would be names of people and locations -- such as Washington DC instead of Jerusalem!

For those who think this policy is quite acceptable -- that is, government at some level taking a generous portion of the estate of persons who have worked all their lives and want certain parties to receive ALL of that estate after those persons have passed on to the next life -- if this is considered an OK thing, then how about having a good heart to heart talk with God about it? Below you will see His feelings about such activity -- it happened centuries ago -- seems piracy is too often an ongoing thing when it comes to governing officials!

Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain...... Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, to the oppressing city! She has not obeyed His voice, she has not received correction; she has not trusted in the LORD, she has not drawn near to her God. Her princes in her midst are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves that leave not a bone till morning. Her prophets are insolent, treacherous people; her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law. --- Ezekiel 22:27; Zephaniah 3:1-4

JOB DESCRIPTION: Critical Responsibility with Guaranteed Failure!

"Therefore you shall speak all these words to them, but they will not obey you. You shall also call to them, but they will not answer you. So you shall say to them, 'This is a nation that does not obey the voice of the LORD their God nor receive correction. Truth has perished and has been cut off from their mouth.’” --- Jeremiah 7:27, 28

"For you are not sent to a people of unfamiliar speech and of hard language, but to the house of Israel, not to many people of unfamiliar speech and of hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, had I sent you to them, they would have listened to you. But the house of Israel will not listen to you, because they will not listen to Me; for all the house of Israel are impudent and hard-hearted.” --- Ezekiel 3:5-7

How would you like to be told by an employer that your job requires a lot of effort and the best you can give, but you are going to totally fail! That is what happened to men such as Jeremiah, Ezekiel and others a long time ago.

And what was the “job” these persons were supposed to do? They were to call the people of their time to repent of all sin and turn to Almighty God for mercy and forgiveness. That in itself was no easy task – but to make matters worse – they were told in advance that their message would not bring about the desired results. After people have been living in their sin for an extended period of time, they do not want to be reminded of the need to quit their rebellion and they often will turn on the messenger as would a dog infected with rabies!

And what does all that, if anything, have to do with U. S. citizens living in the opening decade of the 21st Century? Didn’t you know, it has everything to do with us – in fact, every bit as much as back in the 6th Century B.C. when God was attempting to bring a nation of people back to Himself – His “employees” were told in advance, however, that the mission would be a failure! In fact, Jeremiah was told 3 times not to pray for the people -- that God would not hear him, nor the people when they cried out in their panic! You don't believe it could happen? How about taking a little side trip into chapters 7, 11 and 14 of the book of Jeremiah and look for those statements!

We in the United States have had full access to God’s total revelation from the beginning in the 18th Century. Therefore we cannot plead ignorance when it comes to our widespread rebellion against His moral and spiritual standards. As a small spot of rottenness begins on a fruit or vegetable and is not removed, it is simply a matter of time before the whole fruit or vegetable becomes completely rotten and good for nothing but to be tossed into the garbage can!

Our national “rotten” condition is due to such things as:

• the increased tolerance within the ranks of those professing to be Christian in faith of many things which are contrary to God’s clear revelation – unbelief is spreading like a plague – that unbelief can simply be refusal to accept certain past actions and works of God as reported or a defiance in practicing a way of life which is explicitly condemned by God
  
• widespread idolatry in a great variety of forms of expression
  
• pandemic sexual immorality
  
• the trashing of the day of worship – less than half our population can make it to worship each week
  
• massive corruption of our young through many avenues of negative influence
  
• the greatest abomination of all – destruction of thousands of unborn children every week of the year!
  

God is calling persons to rise up, boldly bear witness to His truth, issue a clarion call to repent of sin (both individually and collectively) and commit to a life of obedience to His Son, Jesus Christ, as Savior and Lord!

Will you be one of them? A long time ago a man heard God ask, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Instantly Isaiah said, “Here am I. Send me!”

Are you willing to make a similar response? Remember, we are living in a setting that is identical to the ancient kingdom of Judah in terms of ethical, moral and spiritual conditions. So the response in all likelihood will be as you read above at the very beginning!

Remember too that Noah probably holds the record for keeping at it for the longest time with absolutely no success in the proclamation of his warning message beyond his immediate family of wife, 3 sons and their wives! He preached for 120 years while he and his sons prepared the ark. At the end of that time there came the moment when we are informed that “God shut him in.” That means that God had shut everyone else out and all they had to look forward to now was a devastating judgment and no hope of survival!

There will be a large number who will still insist that all of what has been discussed previously doesn’t have anything at all to do with us – this is a Christian nation and so, as the president has said many times over the years, God bless America!

"And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: they ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.” --- Luke 17:26-30