Religion or Relation

"Say nothing of my religion. It is known to God and myself alone. Its evidence before the world is to be sought in my life: if it has been honest and dutiful to society the religion which has regulated it cannot be a bad one." - Thomas Jefferson

I frequently quote Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson considered himself a "real Christian" and said as much, but he was more like a Deist, in the classical sense of the word. Such stalwart and knowledgeable Christian scholars as the late Dr. D. James Kennedy considered Jefferson as more of what we would today term an atheist than a deist. Yet many of Thomas Jefferson’s' statements indicated that unlike most deists or atheists, he did believe in the Bible, at least as it referenced morals and general principles, as well as the judgment that surely befalls a nation or people who fail to heed its warnings.

Many of the quotes of our founding fathers seem contradictory when placed side by side, but when taken in the perspective of evolving beliefs, one may track their personal struggles within themselves. Pardon the personal reference, but in my own life there was a time that I wasn't a follower of Christ, didn't believe in the Bible and have on many occasions been highly critical of both. Statements I made prior to my conversion are 180 degrees opposite of what I am, profess and believe today notwithstanding even statements I make today, taken out of context may present themselves as conflicting with my profession of faith. As an example, I don't disagree with atheists in many of their conclusions about 'religion.' That's because virtually every religious label has at one time or another brought with it all manner of bondage, death and destruction on humanity...yet I declare myself a Christian, not based ‘religion,’ but rather on a ‘relationship’ to the risen Christ of the Bible. Therefore, that distinction really highlights the difference between 'religion' and 'relationship.' Receiving Christ as ones Messiah, Savior and Lord actually changes everything about us, "...if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" and that includes our parentage, which includes inheritance: "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." (John 1:12) We’ve been adopted into the Family of God.

For me, and millions of followers of Jesus Christ, that is precisely the distinction. We've been born spiritually (of the Spirit - John 3) in that moment when we invited Jesus Christ into our lives to be our personal Savior and Lord, and are witnessing an extreme change from who we were without Christ, to who we are becoming, in Christ. That is God's desire for you and the very reason that He sent Jesus Christ into this world -

Are you ready for a change? Do you want a new direction, a new vision, and a great outcome for your life? Would you consider inviting Jesus Christ into your life, to be your Messiah, your Savior and your Lord? It may sound cliché, but God really does have a plan for your life - wouldn't it be a shame not to discover that destiny for yourself?
Simply ask Him to forgive your sins and to come into your life, and be your Savior and Lord. Then follow Him and you'll never walk alone.

photo: Sierra Nevada/R. Hoeppner

Christ the Lord is Risen! Music Video

He's Alive - By Don Francisco

Have you hear about all the buzz concerning History Channel's "The Real Face Of Jesus?"
This is clip 9.

This Blood Is For You

"This Blood is For You," Passion Music Video by Carman.

"Too Small A Price" Passion Music Video by Don Francisco

1000 Years B.C. - Psalm 22:1-19: The Crucifixion

Psa 22:1
My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
Psa 22:2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
Psa 22:3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
Psa 22:4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
Psa 22:5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
Psa 22:6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
Psa 22:7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
Psa 22:8 He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
Psa 22:9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.
Psa 22:10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.
Psa 22:11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
Psa 22:12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
Psa 22:13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
Psa 22:14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
Psa 22:15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
Psa 22:16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
Psa 22:17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
Psa 22:18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

Latest News from the Bible

You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!
Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the period of the Gentiles comes to an end. And there will be strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides. People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth, for the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come. (2 Tim. 3:1-5; Lk.21:24b, 25; Matthew 24:6-8; Luke 21:27, 28; NLT)

"Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. 11 And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:9-14 NLT)
"Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud with power and great glory. So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near!- (Luke 21:27, 28 NLT)

Middle Eastern Unrest

As I write, the Arab world is in a great state of upheaval, the likes of what we have seen when the Iranians deposed the Shah, (Mohammed Reza Pahlavi). The power vacuum caused by the Shah's departure was quickly filled by the radical Islamic extremist, Ayatollah Khomeini.

When Daniel (Daniel 7) dreamed about the coming world ruling empires that were going to rise, he saw the political and social upheavals that accompanied their rise likened to a troubled, wind tossed sea caught in a 'perfect storm.' This is how the Amplified version of Daniel 7:2 puts it:

Daniel said, I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of the heavens [political and social agitations] were stirring up the great sea [the nations of the world].

Further reading in Daniel 7 describes the kingdoms to rise and the last one is going to be headed up by the antichrist, (the little horn). We are living in the end of the fourth kingdom that Daniel saw, and the little horn may well be on his way to power now. While people in the Middle East are in a state of turmoil, a number of governments are leaving a power vacuum that somebody is going to fill.

I believe what we are observing in Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, Yemen, and Libya is but one segment of what Daniel saw as the 'four winds.' There is more to come, as this upheaval is only a fraction of what is coming.

Be looking for the little horn to rise up, displacing three other horns, or rulers. He will be readily accepted, as he will appear to have the answers to the distressed and perplexed nations. I hope that those who know Christ as Savior and Lord will be raptured out by then.

Surely, the sea of humanity is troubled - we are living in the last days and Jesus Christ Himself gives us this warning:

Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled (completed).
And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; and upon the earth [there will be] distress (trouble and anguish) of nations in bewilderment and perplexity without resources, left wanting, embarrassed, in doubt, [not knowing which way to turn] at the roaring (the echo) of the tossing of the sea,
Men swooning away or expiring with fear and dread and apprehension and expectation of the things that are coming on the world; for the [very] powers of the heavens will be shaken and caused to totter.

- Luke 21:24b-26, Amplified Bible.

He instructed us as believers (in describing the events in Luke 21)

Now when these things begin to occur, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption (deliverance) is drawing near. Truly I tell you, this generation (those living at that definite period of time) will not perish and pass away until all has taken place. But take heed to yourselves and be on your guard, lest your hearts be overburdened and depressed (weighed down) with the giddiness and headache and nausea of self-indulgence, drunkenness, and worldly worries and cares pertaining to [the business of] this life, and [lest] that day come upon you suddenly like a trap or a noose; For it will come upon all who live upon the face of the entire earth. Keep awake then and watch at all times [be discreet, attentive, and ready], praying that you may have the full strength and ability and be accounted worthy to escape all these things [taken together] that will take place, and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man.

Jerusalem was taken by Israel in the 6 day war in 1967. Jesus said that the generation living at that time would not pass away until all has taken place. We are that generation Daniel and Jesus spoke of.
What is a Biblical generation? Bible scholar, Dr. Jack VanImpe has calculated that a bible generation averages 52 years. Assuming that is correct, 1967 + 52 = 2019 when ALL the prophecies regarding Daniels visions will be fulfilled. In other words, 2019 is post the 7 year tribulation, or 2019 - 7 = 2012 as the year the tribulation will begin.
So pray you will be accounted worthy to escape - and stand before the Son.


Advice from the Lord Himself - can we afford to ignore it?

The day after my dad, brother and I gave our hearts to Jesus, I received a copy of the popular Dave Wilkerson book, 'The Cross And The Switchblade.' After reading that book, Rev. Wilkerson became something of a favorite Christian writer and a hero of the faith to us. Visit his website @: http://www.worldchallenge.org/

If you've ever read his book, 'Racing Towards Judgment,' you would have to say that Dave Wilkerson is a prophet.

School Censored Cheerleaders Christian Belief

Georgia school bans inspirational messages because of one person's complaint who doesn't even have any children at the school.

Bible banned from High School

Another case of a Christian student being persecuted by public school officials.

It Is Well With My Soul

Horatio Spafford wrote one of the most well known songs of the Christian Church - "It Is Well With My Soul."

My wife and I spent two weeks in late December camping along California's Central Coast - at Pismo Beach. We would take walks down to the beach and gaze out over the ocean. Big storms out over the Pacific sent large waves crashing ashore. In the evenings we were cozily nestled away in our motor home each night listening to the pounding surf. Every time we go to Pismo, we attend a different church...this time we went to "New Life Church" where the highlight of the service was when the song leader/pianist told the story behind the song, It Is Well With My Soul.

Horatio Spafford pictured here - Author of

"It is Well With My Soul"

Horatio Spafford was a successful Chicago attorney, abolitionist and devout Christian serving as an elder in the Presbyterian church. He and his wife, Anna were the proud parents of five children - four daughters and a son. As life often twists and turns, so it did in the lives of the Spaffords. In 1870 four year old Horatio Jr. took ill and passed away. It was a devestating blow but life goes on. Later that same year Horatio made some heavy real estate investments along Chicago's Lake Michigan waterfront. Then, in 1871 the Great Chicago fire wiped out those investments.

Anna's health was declining and the family decided that a trip to Europe would be beneficial, so their plans were made. At the last moment, Horatio had some urgent business come up, so rather than disappoint the rest of the family he decided to let them go on ahead and he'd rejoin them in Europe a few days later.

A few days out of port the ship his wife and four daughters were on collided with another vessel and sank. Horatio was already on another ship following when the telegram arrived. The message was the ship his family was on sunk, his four daughters were lost. His wife had rescued out of the sea, unconscious - but alive. As Horatio's ship crossed over the spot where his daughters were lost, and the ship had sunk, the Captain informed him.

If you would like to read more detail about the Horatio Spafford, his triumphs through tragedy and the song, please read Jane Winsteads wonderful article.

Ronald Reagan; Quote of the Week

"We don't have a tillion dollar-debt because we haven't taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much. " - Ronald Reagan

America's Traditional Thanksgiving Day

Washington, D.C.
October 3, 1863

This is the proclamation which set the precedent for America's national day of Thanksgiving. During his administration, President Lincoln issued many orders like this. For example, on November 28, 1861, he ordered government departments closed for a local day of thanksgiving.
Sarah Josepha Hale, a prominent magazine editor, wrote a letter to Lincoln on 28, 1863, urging him to have the "day of our annual Thanksgiving made a National and fixed Union Festival." She wrote, "You may have observed that, for some years past, there has been an increasing interest felt in our land to have the Thanksgiving held on the same day, in all the States; it now needs National recognition and authoritive fixation, only, to become permanently, an American custom and institution." The document below sets apart the last Thursday of November "as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise."
According to an April 1, 1864, letter from John Nicolay, one of President Lincoln's secretaries, this document was written by Secretary of State William Seward, and the original was in his handwriting. On October 3, 1863, fellow Cabinet member Gideon Welles recorded in his diary that he complimented Seward on his work. A year later the manuscript was sold to benefit Union troops.

By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People.

I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.
By the President: Abraham Lincoln
William H. Seward,
Secretary of State

America's JUDEO - Christian Roots

From the Heritage Foundation

"Scholars often mistakenly refer to the god of the Founders as a deist god. But the Founders talked about God in terms that are radically Jewish: Creator, Lawgiver, Governor, Judge, and Providence. These were the names they most commonly used for Him, notably in the Declaration of Independence. For the most part, these are not names that could have come from the Greeks or Romans, but only from the Jewish Testament. Perhaps the Founders avoided Christian language because they didn’t want to divide one another, since different colonies were founded under different Christian inspirations. In any case, all found common language in the language of the Jewish Testament. It is important for citizens today whose main inspiration is the Enlightenment and Reason to grasp the religious elements in the founding, which have been understated for a hundred years."

Faith and the American Founding: Illustrating Religion's Influence
by Michael Novak
First Principles #7

Total Solar Eclipse and the Ninth of Av

Signs in the heavens? This year’s only total solar eclipse occurs today, July 22, 2009 little more than a week before the critical date in the Hebrew calendar called "Tish B’Av." This year's Tish B’Av (July 30, 2009) is the day of fasting and mourning that concludes three weeks of the austere remembrance of (the curse on Israel down through the centuries beginning with) the failure of 10 of the 12 spies Moses sent to spy out the promised land.

It was on this day of the Hebrew Calendar in 586 BC that Solomon’s Temple was destroyed. It was on that day in 70 AD that the second (Herod’s) Temple was destroyed and on it goes.
August 4, 135 AD, the Bar Kochba revolt was crushed by the Roman Emperor Hadrian. Over 100,000 Jews were slaughtered; Jerusalem was plowed under and later rebuilt as a pagan city forbidden to Jews.
Pope Urban II declared the First Crusade. Tens of thousands of Jews were killed, and many Jewish communities were obliterated
July 25, 1290 [9 Av 5050] marked the first nation-wide rejection of Jews when the official decree expelling them from England was signed.
In 1492, [9 Av 5252] King Ferdinand of Spain issued the expulsion decree, setting Tish B’Av as the final date by which not a single Jew would be allowed to walk on Spanish soil.
August 6, 1555 [9 Av, 5315] Jews were first ordered into a ghetto on when the Jews of Rome were ordered to live in a district near the Tiber.
W.W. I broke out on [9 Av, 5674] August 1, 1914 when Germany declared war on Russia. German resentment from the war set the stage for the Holocaust. A total solar eclipse occurred on August 21st of that year. (This agrees with the theory that solar eclipses occurring within the proximity of Tish B’ Av effect gentile nations more than Israel which bases their dates on a lunar calendar).
August 2, 1941 [9 Av 5701] Reinhardt Heydrich was ordered to carry out the “final solution” on European Jewry.
August 14, 2005 [9 Av 5765] 8,000 Jewish settlers were forcefully expelled from their homes in Gush Katif, the Southern Gaza strip.
That brings us up to the current trifecta of TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSES that occur around the 1st of Av on each of the year’s 2008, 2009 and 2010.
August 1, 2008 there was a total solar eclipse. On August 8, 2008 [9th of Av] Russia attacked Georgia.
This year, on July 22, 2009 (Today at this writing) a total solar eclipse will occur. It's the only total Solar Eclipse of the year, anywhere on the globe. The 9th of Av happens about 8 days later as well. In our Gregorian calendar that translates to July 29th and 30th (since Hebrew days begin and end in the evening). We’ll see what happens.
If something does occur, then we can expect another event in 2010 when a total solar eclipse repeats on July 11 (1st of Av) and see what happens on July 19 – 20 (9th of Av).
Why do I think that these three solar eclipses are significant? Because this is the only time in (Hebrew) history, they occur in such a pattern in conjunction with this austere Jewish remembrance.
One skeptic has already accused me of inferring that naturally occurring cosmological events determine events on earth. Not true! My answer is this: The order and magnitude of cosmological events is repeated throughout the Biblical record. The Magi, or wise men from the East for example, knew of the birth of the King of the Jews (Christ) by observing ‘signs’ in the heavens. The motion of heavenly bodies does not govern human events on the earth! I never inferred that it did; but rather an all-wise, all knowing God has pre-determined their motions, like the intricate workings of a grand clock, set from the beginning of creation. God said that the sun, moon and stars were for signs (Hebrew: "oth" – meaning a signal, flag or warning) and seasons (Heb: "mo-ed,"festivals, convocations, appointments). – Genesis 1:14
It’s God’s ‘alarm clock’ set by His infinite foreknowledge untold centuries ago, to alert us of coming events. As for me, I am unashamed in taking this unprecedented 'trinity' of total solar eclipses that precede Tish B’Av as God’s signal to prepare for a coming event. Personally, I hope this year’s Tish B’Av will peacefully pass unnoticed; but since I really believe there is danger ahead to prepare for, would I be less than responsible to keep silent?
Frequent Biblical references to events in the sky permeate both the Old and New Testament – Why did Jesus talk about things like,
“…there will be fearful sights and great signs…from heaven.” - Luke 21:11.
Or the Torah which says, “He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth.” – Daniel 6:27.
Interestingly however, the Bible also says this, “...be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them." This makes a clear distinction between believers and non-believers. Whatever happens, God has promised to be our "Jehovah Jireh," the provider of all our needs.
The Bible speaks of the sun being darkened and the moon turning blood red as ‘signs’ in both the Old and New Testaments. Isn’t that also a description of both solar and lunar eclipses?
From this moment you have six days to prepare. I would at least have extra food and water available, to last a minimum of a week. Frankly, that is not too bad an idea in the world we live in anyway. Fueling up vehicles and propane containers (by July 27th ) as well.
Flashlights, radios extra batteries, lanterns and candles etc. It’s not going to cost any more in the long run whether or not anything actually does happen, but you know the saying – “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” That seems to be the most sensible attitude to have now since nobody knows what and where an event (if any) will happen, on this ‘Tish B’Av.
One should at least consider having emergency supplies on hand in any event. Other suggestions could be found online.
We know the world we live in is becoming more dangerous. Israel is on record affirming that they are not about allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons, and Iran is on record affirming that their intent is to destroy Israel. We know that Iran has been conducting experiments that seem to indicate they are preparing to initiate an EMP attack. Then there’s North Korea, Venezuela etc.
Last year’s eclipse overshadowed Northern Canada, Greenland, Siberia (Russia), Mongolia, and China. Russia invaded Georgia.
This year it overshadows India, Nepal, China and the Central Pacific.
In 2010 it overshadows the South Pacific, Easter Is., Chile and Argentina.
Whatever the future holds, is it written in the sky?

The Hand of Providence - Quote of the Month

"The Hand of providence has been so conspicuous in all this, that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and more than wicked, that has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligations. ... The blessed Religion revealed in the word of God will remain an eternal and awful monument to prove that the best Institution may be abused by human depravity. ... It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favors." --George Washington

Why Thanksgiving in America?

THANKSGIVING

George Washington's 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation

"Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and
Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to "recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to
pardon our national and other transgressions;
to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually;
to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed;
to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord;
to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d day of October, A.D. 1789." Signed - George Washington
God Bless America!

Ancient Bible Passages ahead of Science

Air Pressure in the Bible

Air Pressure is described in
Job 28:23-28 - "For He (God) looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. "When He imparted *weight to the wind and meted out the waters by measure, when He set a limit for the rain and a course for the thunderbolt, then He saw it and declared it; He established it and also searched it out." *Some people have attempted to say that this verse has nothing to do with air pressure. After examining this verse I've found that the reference to the "weight to the wind" can also be translated “how hard the winds should blow.” In view of this it is all the more amazing since the wind velocity, as we well know today is determined by barometric pressures, which is exactly what is indicated in the verse above. So whichever way you want to look at this verse, you can't escape the fact that it does have everything to do with air pressure. The air flows from high pressure to low pressure producing wind.

Over two thousand years after Job, Evangelista Torricelli (1608 – 1647) invented the barometer (1643) while using mercury in a glass tube in an attempt to create a vacuum. He noticed that the mercury level in the tube changed and deduced it was caused by changes in atmospheric pressure. (First called Torricelli’s tube, when working with Galileo in Florence, Italy). Job is considered one of the oldest writings in the Bible. In addition, this verse also mentions 'the course for the thunderbolt.' Today it's common knowledge that electron flow always follows a 'course' or the path of least resistance - but in Job's day, civilization was still over two thousand years away from that knowledge. Torricelli's Barometer:

The Water Cycle :

Job 36:27-29 - "For He draws up the drops of water, they distill rain from the mist, Which the clouds pour down, they drip upon man abundantly. Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds, the thundering of His pavilion? "Psalm 135:7 - He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; Who makes lightnings for the rain, who brings forth the wind from His treasuries.

The Air Currents:

Ecclesiastes 1:6"Blowing toward the south, then turning toward the north, the wind continues swirling along; And on its circular courses the wind returns."
The slow rotation of the earth toward the east causes the air to be deflected toward the right in the northern hemisphere and toward the left in the southern hemisphere. This deflection of the wind by the earth's rotation is known as the Coriolis effect.

Air pressure, air currents, lightning strkes and the water cycle - all revealed by God in the Bible over 2600 years ago! Now Jewish tradition attributes the book Job to Moses. It certainly is a Hebrew writing and predates Christianity by at least 600 years and the discovery of atmospheric pressure by over 2,000 years!

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork." Psalm 19:1

What To Do If You Miss The Rapture

OK, so now you suddenly realize that a bunch of Christians have disappeared, vanished!

The world is in chaos and you understand that the “Rapture” might have happened. What’s coming next? What do you do?

Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s what’s about to happen next: A European world leader is going to rise up. He’s going to confirm a Mideast peace treaty with Israel for seven years will enable the Jews to finally have peace. They will recognize this “peacemaker” as their long awaited Messiah. But for you, it's a tough road ahead. You know by now for certain that the Bible was true and that in the next seven years horrific events will occur on earth. Check this video clip to see what happened to those Christians who’ve vanished!

Listen to Pastor Steve Hadley of Harvest Church, Reno as he explains what’s coming so you'll know how to prepare. I'm not going to sugar coat this. It's going to cost you everything, including your very life. But your destiny is certain and eternal life is certain if you receive Christ and remain faithful to the death. You're in the same boat as millions of others. Remember Jesus said, "be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." Left Behind

The New School Prayer

[written by a teen in Bagdad, Arizona]

Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.

If Scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now.

Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.

For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all.
In silence alone we must meditate,
God's name is prohibited by the state.

We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.
They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.

We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.
It's "inappropriate" to teach right from wrong,
We're taught such "judgments" do not belong.

We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.

It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school's a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!

Amen

We need God in America again!

The Curse of Jeconiah and the Throne of David

In Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus recorded in Matthew 1:12 the name Jeconiah, (aka Jehoiachin and Coniah) appears. Jesus’ ancestry is traced through Jeconiah to Joseph, the stepfather of Jesus Christ. It is through Jeconiah that Jesus Christ rightfully has access to the throne of David. But there is a problem. You see, in Jeremiah 22:24, 30 Jeconiah was cursed by God.
24. “As I live, saith the LORD, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet upon my right hand, yet would I pluck thee thence;” 30.“Thus saith the LORD, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.”

According to Jewish reckoning, no descendant of Jeconiah could ever sit on the throne, therefore Jesus would be disqualified from being the Messiah since He descended through Jeconiah. You can see how this has really become a stumbling block to many of the Jews. I’m going to present three solutions that counter this.

The First Solution:
Most Christians simply ignore the “bloodline” of Joseph, Jesus’ stepfather by simply recognizing that Jesus was born of a virgin. Since the life of the flesh is in the blood and the blood line is passed down through the father, anyone born of Adam or any human male could not redeem himself, let alone humanity and so any curse or stain of sin from either Adam or Jeconiah had no effect on Jesus.

Besides this, Jesus Himself said,
“And think not to say within yourselves, ‘We have Abraham to our father:’ for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham." - problem solved!

That being said, a simple gentile like me has no problem with it but I can see where a Jew would.

As one Jew told me, “If Jesus didn’t come through Jeconiah then he could never sit on the throne of David, end of story!”

So that presents an interesting dilemma, doesn’t it? Only a descendant of Jeconiah could sit on the throne, but because of God’s curse on Jeconiah, none of his descendants can sit on the throne.

The Second Solution:
On the “Jews for Jesus” website [http://jewsforjesus.org/answers/prophecy/jeconiah] this problem is eloquently addressed. The argument is that Jeconiah repented and God accepted his repentance and reversed the curse. The “Jews for Jesus” cite many extra Biblical Hebrew sources showing God reversed the curse which is discussed in great detail on their website. I can see the reasoning, there I only submit to one source I can accept as infallable, and that’s the Bible.

The Third Solution comes to light with the discovery of a tablet at the Ishtar Gate of Babylon that says the seven sons of Jeconiah were castrated. By comparing the the Davidic lineage in 1 Chronicles 3:17-19, Luke 3:27 Jesus' line is traced back to Nathan whose brother was Solomon. The line goes down to Neri to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, son of Pedaiah, brother of Shealtiel.

While Jeconiah's line did end, his adoption of David's descendants through Nathan provided the line that gives Jesus the right to David's Throne where Jeconiah's own sons didn't, and neither did they have children because they were eunichs.