Watching the ceremonies as a former US President is laid to rest -- you can't help notice the contrast between this beautiful fairwell, and the horrible departure of the former head of state of another country, as he is sent away as a man not fit to walk the face of the earth.
It's been a week of death: first the musician James Brown, whose claim to fame is his marvelously popular song, "I Feeeeeeeeeel Good!" -fitting for the way he lived his life. Then right after his death, Gerald Ford dies, a humble and a good man who brought healing to our country during one of our dark times as a nation. And then Saddam Hussein, called "the butcher of Baghdad," who brought horror and grief to countless of his countrymen.
An amazing juxtaposition of three lives, three men departing this earth, each having brought a different kind of influence, and one wonders, probably reaching dissimilar fates.
It can't be overlooked that the year 2006 ends with a stark, three-fold picture of death. It's almost as though the picture is being thrust before us, forcibly being brought to our attention: "here are three men, three lives leaving the earth, three men going to the finality of the eternity that suits them." Isn't it interesting, intriguing, that that's the picture before all of us as this year comes to an end!
I wonder what these three encountered at the moment of their deaths. Two of them lived for themselves, for fame, for power, for wealth. The other inherited the presidency of the United States of America unexpectedly, never having aspired to that position, but taking over during a time of scandal and great dishonor to the office, and turning it around by his mere goodness, and restoring honor to the presidency.
This year is closing with a picture beckoning us: what mark will we make during our lives? Will we leave the earth having been a blessing, or a curse? having attained positions of power and name and wealth, or having never been known, perhaps doers of good without applause, without notice, without payment, or fame, or even desire for it.
I suspect that with the theme of death being so stark, so obvious in the way this year closes, perhaps we're being warned that we're entering perilous times in our world, probably more perilous than most have any idea, and that it's of vital importance to decide where we stand, for good or for evil, for ourselves or for God, for money or for entertainment, or for service to our Creator. For many of us will stand before him in the not distant future, and answer to him for the choices we made, the lifestyles we lived, and the effects we had on the lives of men.
But there's another death which was suffered, suffered willingly by One greater than all these, by one who "endured such contradiction of sinners against himself." The most important thing in life, the most important decision we will EVER make, is our response to this one's gift which offers us the salvation God procured at such a price, and which changed the destinies of men. This death was the most condescending gift of mercy ever conceived, given freely for "whosoever will" receive him, but which most ignore.
Perhaps knowing what is shortly to come upon the earth, God is presenting to us a picture of death in order to bring our attention to the subject, and to persuade us that it is of vital importance, it is crucial, that we consider this picture before us and think on it. Because if one truly ponders the meaning of what's before us, then one can't avoid thinking of his own death, and what his destiny will be. The Messiah, the Christ, the son of God suffered death for us, and our destinies depend on our response to him, which cannot be an approving nod, that's not going to be enough, it has to be an encounter with him resulting in a personal "born again" experience which he died to offer you and me, and said that unless one has this experience he cannot perceive, nor in any way understand the Kingdom of God. (John 3:3) This is one death that men ignore foolishly, because this life is short, and the one to come long. There is nothing more important than making sure of where that will be lived.
"Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision!
For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision."
Joel 3:14
Islam -Little Red Riding Hood In A Burqa?
Why is it that the US doesn't "get it?" It appears to me that the US is like politically-correct sheep being led to the slaughter; being escorted there by none other than the Big Bad Wolf himself, albeit in disguise.
When you have an enemy SWORN to your DESTRUCTION, tolerance and an effort to appease that enemy is a wrong and an insane response. Both the US government and the media insist that the terrorist segment of Islam doesn't represent all of Islam, and that we must practice "tolerance" for the sake of the Muslims in our country who are peaceful. After all, they have "rights" too, don't they! Yes, and believe me, they're going to make the most of them!
This is insanity. First of all, you can't tell who among the Muslims in this country are the "peaceful ones," because the terrorists deliberately live among "peaceful" Muslims, and take on a normal lifestyle while doing everything to conceal their terrorist intents. They blend into society, take ordinary jobs, and you'd never know the insidious plots and plans going on in the secret lives of these base personalities who might be living peacefully right next door to you.
The USA has never been a Muslim country. In fact, Islam has been very lightly represented among us until recent times. Whether "peaceful" or not, they have a culture totally foreign to us. They don't belong here. This country, despite the naysayers, was built and established on the Judeo-Christian ethic, the very people most highly targeted by Islam. Muslims have made it clear, in plain English, that their intent is to destroy Israel, "the little Satan," and then America, "the big Satan." For a long time their motto has been "first the Saturday people, and then the Sunday people." They have minced no words about it, stating it publicly and openly. And nice guys that we are, we just chirp that they have "rights," so they can say what they want -- but they don't mean it of course, they're just voicing their frustrations. See, if we treat them well enough, they'll actually WANT to embrace the freedoms and prosperity and lifestyle of such a lovely people as we. So we let the Big Bad Wolf move right in to mingle happily with us as we go about our business. They can build mosques, and say anything they want in those mosques, after all that's their "right." Rights? Try to build a church or synagogue in ANY of their countries and you'll learn quickly what they think about rights. To them, rights are the craziness of America, and will be used to take us down. And down we'll go, avowing their rights all the way to our destruction.
In the meantime, they're using another insidious tool in their multi-pronged goal of destroying us, and that's the slow taking over of America from within. It is not a stretch to say that one Muslim making his way into our government is not going to be a one-time thing. Just watch!
My question, and this really leaves me scratching my head, is WHY the American people are so naive. It makes no sense, none at all. Little Red Riding Hood is totally content to allow the Big Bad Wolf walk along with her, and would be aghast at the suggestion that he intends to make her his dinner meal. Go along then, America, go ahead and walk with this pernicious stranger in your land. It may be easier, even, for this wolf to take down the Sunday people first -and then take the Saturday people for dessert.
When you have an enemy SWORN to your DESTRUCTION, tolerance and an effort to appease that enemy is a wrong and an insane response. Both the US government and the media insist that the terrorist segment of Islam doesn't represent all of Islam, and that we must practice "tolerance" for the sake of the Muslims in our country who are peaceful. After all, they have "rights" too, don't they! Yes, and believe me, they're going to make the most of them!
This is insanity. First of all, you can't tell who among the Muslims in this country are the "peaceful ones," because the terrorists deliberately live among "peaceful" Muslims, and take on a normal lifestyle while doing everything to conceal their terrorist intents. They blend into society, take ordinary jobs, and you'd never know the insidious plots and plans going on in the secret lives of these base personalities who might be living peacefully right next door to you.
The USA has never been a Muslim country. In fact, Islam has been very lightly represented among us until recent times. Whether "peaceful" or not, they have a culture totally foreign to us. They don't belong here. This country, despite the naysayers, was built and established on the Judeo-Christian ethic, the very people most highly targeted by Islam. Muslims have made it clear, in plain English, that their intent is to destroy Israel, "the little Satan," and then America, "the big Satan." For a long time their motto has been "first the Saturday people, and then the Sunday people." They have minced no words about it, stating it publicly and openly. And nice guys that we are, we just chirp that they have "rights," so they can say what they want -- but they don't mean it of course, they're just voicing their frustrations. See, if we treat them well enough, they'll actually WANT to embrace the freedoms and prosperity and lifestyle of such a lovely people as we. So we let the Big Bad Wolf move right in to mingle happily with us as we go about our business. They can build mosques, and say anything they want in those mosques, after all that's their "right." Rights? Try to build a church or synagogue in ANY of their countries and you'll learn quickly what they think about rights. To them, rights are the craziness of America, and will be used to take us down. And down we'll go, avowing their rights all the way to our destruction.
In the meantime, they're using another insidious tool in their multi-pronged goal of destroying us, and that's the slow taking over of America from within. It is not a stretch to say that one Muslim making his way into our government is not going to be a one-time thing. Just watch!
My question, and this really leaves me scratching my head, is WHY the American people are so naive. It makes no sense, none at all. Little Red Riding Hood is totally content to allow the Big Bad Wolf walk along with her, and would be aghast at the suggestion that he intends to make her his dinner meal. Go along then, America, go ahead and walk with this pernicious stranger in your land. It may be easier, even, for this wolf to take down the Sunday people first -and then take the Saturday people for dessert.
Sam Walton Would Turn Over In His Grave!
WalMart, king of the capitalist retailers, has climbed further into bed with the Chinese Communist government that supplies its stores with so many cheap goods by setting up a Communist Party branch in its corporate headquarters in Shenzhen. ( ! ! ! )
Dubbed "another breakthrough" for Wal-Mart by Wang Suiming, a Communist official in the city, the new organization was established last month, according to Shenzhen Special Zone Daily.
Wang anticipates the move will lead to other foreign-financed companies boosting the Communist Party.
In August, Wal-Mart set up its first party branch in the northeast city of Shenyang. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. entered the Chinese market in 1996, and it now has 67 stores in 34 Chinese cities, with more than 30,000 employees.
Condensed from:
World Net Daily
http://wnd.com:80/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=53416
Dubbed "another breakthrough" for Wal-Mart by Wang Suiming, a Communist official in the city, the new organization was established last month, according to Shenzhen Special Zone Daily.
Wang anticipates the move will lead to other foreign-financed companies boosting the Communist Party.
In August, Wal-Mart set up its first party branch in the northeast city of Shenyang. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. entered the Chinese market in 1996, and it now has 67 stores in 34 Chinese cities, with more than 30,000 employees.
Condensed from:
World Net Daily
http://wnd.com:80/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=53416
It's Happening Again!
I don't know if you're watching the news -- this terrible storm which has wreaked havoc across the midwest and now in the northeast -- hundreds of thousands without power, airports closed, and 3 deaths so far...
The day before yesterday I sent out an email to only a very few people closest to me saying to watch this.
Here's why:
Awhile back I wrote, after having read "Eye To Eye" by White House correspondent Bill Koenig. Mr. Koenig has found a direct link between any time the US government pressures Israel to give up land, and judgment falling on this country within 48 hours.
I didn't send it out to all of you, because I'm only at the "watching this" stage, a little skeptical as I'm sure you are, and not wanting to say too much until I've seen with my own eyes that this is truly a pattern.
Well -- it proved itself out this time anyway. President Bush was in Jordan this week, moreso to meet with the President of Iraq, but also to meet with the king of Jordan to discuss how to get the land-for-peace "road map" back into motion. When I saw that, I immediately went on "alert" to see if this thing that Bill Koenig has noticed and researched would indeed play itself out again.
Well of course it has. As I watched the news reports of this storm, I continually heard the words "record-breaking," especially when it was down in Oklahoma and Texas, and of course that only confirms the case.
I'm not going to say a lot about this until I'm completely sure of it. But I've been watching ever since I read Bill Koenig's book and so far this is holding true. The situation seems to be developing which Zechariah spoke of:
"And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it."
-Zechariah 12:3
Then the prophet Joel tells of the great battle of Armageddon in which the Lord pours judgment on those who have "parted my land."
-Joel chapter 3
We're still a bit away from the fulness of that, but as we watch the ominous escalation in the Middle East, with all that has happened in the past 2 years, for one, the Gaza-Katrina link being so incredibly clear -- all I can say is that the days coming upon us should be interesting!
The day before yesterday I sent out an email to only a very few people closest to me saying to watch this.
Here's why:
Awhile back I wrote, after having read "Eye To Eye" by White House correspondent Bill Koenig. Mr. Koenig has found a direct link between any time the US government pressures Israel to give up land, and judgment falling on this country within 48 hours.
I didn't send it out to all of you, because I'm only at the "watching this" stage, a little skeptical as I'm sure you are, and not wanting to say too much until I've seen with my own eyes that this is truly a pattern.
Well -- it proved itself out this time anyway. President Bush was in Jordan this week, moreso to meet with the President of Iraq, but also to meet with the king of Jordan to discuss how to get the land-for-peace "road map" back into motion. When I saw that, I immediately went on "alert" to see if this thing that Bill Koenig has noticed and researched would indeed play itself out again.
Well of course it has. As I watched the news reports of this storm, I continually heard the words "record-breaking," especially when it was down in Oklahoma and Texas, and of course that only confirms the case.
I'm not going to say a lot about this until I'm completely sure of it. But I've been watching ever since I read Bill Koenig's book and so far this is holding true. The situation seems to be developing which Zechariah spoke of:
"And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it."
-Zechariah 12:3
Then the prophet Joel tells of the great battle of Armageddon in which the Lord pours judgment on those who have "parted my land."
-Joel chapter 3
We're still a bit away from the fulness of that, but as we watch the ominous escalation in the Middle East, with all that has happened in the past 2 years, for one, the Gaza-Katrina link being so incredibly clear -- all I can say is that the days coming upon us should be interesting!