Heaven Bound

   Lincoln assassination April 14, 1865

On April 15, Robert Redford’s new movie, The Conspirator, will open in theatres around the country.  The release date coincides with the 146th anniversary of the death of Lincoln following the shooting the previous night at Ford’s Theatre in Washington.  This particular movie centers around Mary Surrat, the only female convicted of  conspiracy to murder the President.  And, although Mary protested her innocence until the end, she was tried and executed with three others by hanging on July 7, 1865, the first woman to be executed by the Federal government.

I have not researched the life of Mary Surrat enough to have an opinion on her guilt or innocence.  But, I do find it interesting that the name Mary ( a derivative of the hebrew name Miriam) means “bitter” and her surname  Surrat, means “soul”.  Her last words to the  man who placed  the noose of 5 knots around her neck , “please, don’t let me fall” –indicate not a last moment confession of either innocence or guilt, but, perhaps a plea for grace – the noose tied about her neck made with five knots rather than the usual seven, because the hangman reportedly did not believe the government would hang a woman.  The number 5 according to Bullinger; the number of grace.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Surratt

It’s interesting to note that it was on the fifth night of Passover 1865 (also Good Friday) that President Lincoln was shot. President Lincoln, because he was an emancipator is a type of Moses, you might say. And, Mary Surrat, a type of Miriam.  The name Mary/Miriam means “bitter” and is closely related to the hebrew word Maror, the name for the bitter herbs of the Passover Seder.  In a very loose sense, you might say that Mary by conspiring to kill Lincoln acted to destroy the authority of Lincoln in a way similar to that of Miriam who questioned and/or complained to God regarding the authority of Moses.  Her punishment for this offence, skin that turned a leprous white. (Numbers 12:1-10).

It’s important to understand that when we try to stand in the way of God, we become an enemy of God.   Thus, the harsh words towards Peter, when Jesus told him “get behind me Satan,”  in Matthew 16:23, when Peter vowed that he would never let Jesus suffer and die.  Miriam in questioning the authority God had given Moses as a type of redeemer, became an enemy of God.  It was for this that she received her harsh chastisement. 

The spiritually supercharged month of Nissan is a vivid reminder of these things.  Therefore, it is imperative that we know and understand the plan of God, so that we do not become guilty of standing in his way.  A warning for those Christians who do not love, support and pray for Israel. 

Five days after Passover on Nissan 19, Pharoah set out in pursuit of the Israelites who had fled Egypt.  Unsuccessful in re-capturing the Jews and killing or enslaving them, Pharoah would be just one in a long line of tyrants who would do their best to destroy the Jews.  But, it would not be until centuries later that another “Pharoah”  more terrible than all of the others would be born.  His name – Adolph Hitler.  Born April 20, 1889, the 19th day of Nissan.  

When I look at the month of Nissan this year, I see a number of threads converging.   It is no secret that during the days of his campaign President Obama was unabashed about making a comparison between himself and President Lincoln; seeing himself as someone, like Lincoln, who would unite a divided nation.  President Obama also sees himself as a peace maker.  The one who after many failed attempts by others will finally secure peace in the middle-east.  But, will he?  So far, the President has done more to polarize the nation and embolden her enemies against her (and Israel) than any thing else.

 On April 15, four days before Passover, the Quartet consisting of the UN, the United States, the European Union and Russia will meet to discuss the formation of a Palestinian state.  Peace in the middle-east peace not by uniting, but, by dividing – Israel.  An action which if taken will allow Israel’s enemies  an opportunity to prevail against them resulting in what could be called the ultimate pursuit of the Jews.  And, if Israel is not amicable to an agreement this spring, come September of this year, the decision will be made for them.  Warning:  “What God has united, let no man set separate” Matthew 19:6.    More than just words to the marriage vow.

This year, the first and second days of  Passover fall on April 19th and 20th.  April 20, the birth dates of two notorious enemies of the Jews; Hitler and Mohammed.  

In chapter 11, in the book of Revelation, two witnesses appear in Jerusalem who have the power to turn the water to blood and to close up the heavens to rain.  Based on this description, many believe these two men will be Moses and Elijah. Every Passover Seder ends with an expectation for the prophet Elijah to come to the door to announce the arrival of the Messiah.  Because Moses and Elijah are inextricably tied to Passover, it would only make sense to link their arrival to this time of year.

On Good Friday 1865, a man who symbolized liberty and freedom suffered a bullet wound to the head. One of these days soon, another will suffer a similar type wound, the healing of which will cause the entire world to be amazed.  Just as the Bible is full of types and shadows, so is history.  I sometimes think that it is in the looking back that we’re best able to see what is ahead.

Mary Surrat met her end at the end of a hangman’s noose.  Was she guilty of conspiracy as charged?   Perhaps we’ll never know.  In Psalm 2:1 it says:  “The nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain …against the Lord and against His anointed one” –  and, we, dear friends, apart from the grace of God are guilty as charged.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper who love thee”  Psalm 122:6   Watching and waiting with YOU for the soon return of Jesus!   Cindy

April Fool’s Day.   The first day of the fourth month of the year traditionally known for the harmless (usually) jokes and pranks people like to pull on one another.  A friend of mine posted on her Facebook page yesterday, how she had given a co-worker a message to call Mr. Bear at such and such number.  When the co-worker called the number, it was the number for the local zoo.  Clueless ’til the end, she told my friend, “I tried calling Mr. Bear at the number you gave me and the zoo answered”.  It was not until she saw the look on my friends face that she realized that she had been had. Gotcha!

How did this tradition get started?  Well, a quick check on Wikipedia reveals that April Fools Day is celebrated around the world and dates back to the middle ages where the first mention of the day is found in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales in 1392.  But, it really didn’t answer my question as to how the day got started.   But, what I did find was this interesting bit of information.

Iranians play jokes on each other on the 13th day of the Persian new year (Norouz), which falls on April 1 or April 2. This day, celebrated as far back as 536 BC, is called Sizdah Bedar and is the oldest prank-tradition in the world still alive today; this fact has led many to believe that April Fools’ Day has its origins in this tradition.^[83] 

 Interesting, because this is amazingly close to the time period when Esther was in Persia. Is it possible that the Persian tradition for playing pranks actually originated with the events of Purim? I wonder.  To this day, it is a popular Purim custom to wear a mask or be in masquerade as a representation of the Queens identity as a Jew, which was concealed until she revealed it to the King.

Whether these customs are related or not, I really can’t say.  But, the enmity between Haman (Persia/Iran)  and the Jewish people remain until this day.  When Iranian leader Ahmadinejad and other Islamic leaders vow to wipe Israel off the face of the map and bring death and destruction to infidel nations, we can believe them.  They ain’t foolin’.   Just ask the 12 UN workers killed in Afghanistan a few days ago including the two who were beheaded. 

April.  A month for the wise or a month for fools?  The English name for this month may have originated with the latin word Aperire  which means “to open”.  A possible reference to spring and the opening of flowers and the budding of trees.  But, could it mean more?

Already in the first days of the month, a scenario is working itself out strangely reminiscent of the one last summer which started with the explosion of the BP Oil rig on April 20.  In the news today, “efforts to plug leak of radioactive water in to Pacific Ocean fails.”    Hmmmm ….. effort fails. How many attempts did it take to finally seal up the Macondo Well last year before it was successful. (If indeed, it was successful).  

 April 2010, the Macondo Well. When looking up the meaning of the word Macondo, I found out it is the name of a town in a novel, a fictious town which had been cursed.

 April 2011, the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant.   The name Fukushima means “Island of Good Luck” – sadly, not so lucky anymore as it will take an estimated one hundred years before the fuel rods can be made safe.  Hmmm … one hundred years, one hundred years.   http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42397653/ns/world_news-asiapacific/   http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1371793/Japan-nuclear-crisis-Fukushima-plant-entombed-concrete-radiation-leak.html

I opened my Bible to read this morning and turned to Ezekiel chapter 45.  In verse 18, the Lord instructs his people to take a young bull on the first day of the first month of the year and sacrifice it.

“This is what the sovereign Lord says:  In the first month on the first day you are to take a young bull without defect  and purify the sanctuary.  The priest is to take some of the blood of the sin offering and put it on the doorposts of the temple, on the four corners of the upper ledge of the altar and on the gate posts of the inner court.  You are to do the same on the seventh day of the month for anyone who sins unintentionally or through ignorance; so you are to make atonement for the temple.”

It’s interesting to note that all of the instructions above precede the observance of Passover which takes place on the fourteenth day of the month, the month of Nisan (April on our calendar). The instructions above speak of sanctification.  God wants his people purified and set apart for him.  This is what he did when he brought them out of Egypt.  He set them apart.  He caused them to pass through the sea on dry land. The sea did not touch  them.

It strikes me that the twin disasters of oil and radioactive material spilling in to the sea speak  of something quite the opposite.  They speak not of purity, but, of defilement.  The sea representing people and nations. And, the fact that both disasters occurred during the same month one year apart (not the earthquake) but, the spilling of the radioactive material itself and the spilling of the oil  make for a very weighty argument, that we should probably pay attention to.

 If King Belshazzar was given a warning via a message on a wall, we’ve been given a ten-story high billboard.  No foolin’.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper who love thee”  Psalm 122:6.    Watching and waiting with YOU for the soon return of Jesus!   Cindy

      Lady Gaga and the Egg, 53rd annual Grammy Awards, February 13, 2011      

I have eggs on my mind this morning and its not because I’m craving an omelette!  It actually started with a post I read yesterday on the Open Scroll regarding the latest stunt by Lady Gaga (if you want to call it that) which took place at the Grammy’s this year on February 13.  If you’re not familiar with Lady Gaga (and God bless you if you’re not!) she is a pop icon known for her outrageous behavior and eccentricity.  This year, she made headlines by being carried into the awards ceremony inside an egg like structure which she terms a vessel.   Inside the semi-translucent structure Lady Gaga could be seen, where according to her, she had been incubating for the past 72 hours waiting to emerge to perform her newest hit single “Just Born This Way”.  According to her, coming out of the egg or vessel represents a new birth, a transformation which all of humanity needs  in order to rid our species of the hate, intolerance and judgment which plague us – particularly, when it comes to acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle, thus the title of her new song, Just Born This Way.

Rather than trying to duplicate the excellent research and insight done by Bob Schlenker at the Open Scroll, I will just point you directly to it.  You can read it for yourself.  The article is in three parts. The first part contains links to two videos by Pastor Mike Hoggard on the same subject and both are excellent!  (You’ll remember Pastor Mike from the links I posted sometime back on The Triple Helix and The Mother of all Secrets).  Both links run about an hour in length but, are well worth the time spent, so don’t  miss them!  In my opinion, both of these are excellent and provide information crucial to understanding the times we live in.  http://theopenscroll.blogspot.com/2011/03/part-one-lady-gagas-ritual-magick-not.html 

In one way, Lady Gaga has it right.  We were all “just born this way” and a new birth is needed.  How the devil loves to twist the truth!  But, it’s not the re-birth of acceptance, tolerance and transformation that is needed, but, rather a new birth by the spirit of God through the blood of Jesus Christ, his one and only begotten Son.  For it is through him and him only that our sin natures are changed and we are able to pass from death to life to become new creations in Christ Jesus.

Please pray for Lady Gaga (Stefani Germanotta) and a generation that is being influenced and seduced by twisted messages like these.   

And, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper who love thee”  Psalm 122:6   Watching and waiting with YOU for the soon return of Jesus!  Cindy

I think the sign above just about says it all!  And, if you think the prices you’re paying where you live are bad, just think what we’re paying where I live- $4.17 a gallon for regular!  Can you feel my pain now?  In the last few days, the numbers at our gas station have been changing faster than a poker dealer can deal out new cards at a Las Vegas Casino.  And, families already stretched thin in this down turn economy are feeling the pinch.

As I have watched American foreign policy in the last few weeks, this scripture from James 1:8 comes to mind:  “A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.”

There was a time when the world looked to Americans for leadership and direction.  Apparently, that time has passed.  With this American President, what we have seen in regard to foreign policy lately is a strange mix of ambiguity, waffling, and apathy bordering on disinterest, if not out-right cluelessness.  For some reason, President Obama can’t quite seem to make up his mind which way to go, which leads us to believe that he either truly doesn’t get it, is waiting to find out which way the wind is blowing  or is waiting for direction from somewhere else.  None of which should be acceptable from an American President.

It should be apparent by now that the vast changes sweeping the middle east have very little, if anything to do with a true desire for democracy.  While deposing long-entrenched and hated dictators might seem like a good thing, in reality what happens is this – a void is created leaving  an open door for anything and everything waiting in the shadows for an opportunity to gain a foot-hold.  And, like  scripture says, when one demon moves out, (unless the Lord replaces it), seven more move in.  And, I think that is what is happening.

How many of you saw this story on Drudge this morning?   “Islamist group is rising force in a new Egypt“.   Really?  Surprise, surprise!  And, who might that Islamist group be?   None other than the long-banned Muslim brotherhood, of course.   http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/25/world/middleeast/25egypt.html?_r=2&ref=global-home  

It shouldn’t take a rocket scientist to see  the danger in this.  As long as individual dictators are in place with their own personal agendas and lust for greed and power, the true goals of Islam can never be achieved.  It will take a unified effort, the establishment of a caliphate to accomplish the goals of Islam which are: Islamization of the world (through jihad), the implementation of sharia law and the destruction of Israel and all infidel nations.  All of which are the stated goals of the Muslim Brotherhood.  The question is why the United States and the UN would support a movement which will invariably lead to its formation, leaving in its place an equally evil, but, much more organized, aggressive and powerful group of nations who hate us and seek our destruction than the dictators they replaced.  Double-mindedness.

Is the answer as simple as oil?  Certainly that may be part of it as Libya has the tenth greatest oil reserves in the world and ranks 17th in oil production.  But, as students of the Bible, we know there is much more involved than that.  There is a force at work today, hard at work, driving world events to one final and cataclysmic conclusion.  And, that day is coming very soon.

As believers, we are called not to be double–minded but, to have a singleness of mind in bringing  glory to the Lord Jesus Christ and bearing witness to his name.  In Psalm 119:113-117,  the Psalmist writes:

“I hate double-minded men, but, I love your law.  You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.  Away from me you evildoers that I may keep the commands of God!  Sustain me according to your promise and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed. Uphold me and I will be delivered; …”

This is my prayer today for you and for me – and, as always,

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper who love thee” Psalm 122: 6   Waiting and watching with YOU for the soon return of Jesus!    Cindy

    Misery Bay

Another fish kill today. This time in Misery Bay on Lake Erie.   Interesting word combination –  misery and “eerie”.  Sounds like a title from the latest Stephen King novel, doesn’t it?  A regular “whodunit”.  Was it Professor Plum in the library with the rope or Colonel Mustard in the Kitchen with the knife?  I was surfing through news stories tonight and came across this latest in bizarre fish tales. Thousands of dead fish (primarily gizzard shad, a  type of herring) washed up along the shores of Lake Erie today, March 22 in numbers never seen before.  And, although no one can exactly say why, a local geologist in his professional opinion has deemed it as natural and nothing to be concerned about.  http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110323/NEWS02/303229911/-1/NEWSSITEMAP    And, if dead fish, birds and earthquakes had not been making the news hand in hand since the beginning of the year, I might think he was right.

Misery Bay is part of Presque Isle Bay which lies along the south shore of Lake Erie in Pennsylvania.  Presque Isle is french for “almost an island” – and is a peninsula which serves as a natural harbor for the lake.  Rich in history and popular for a variety of recreational activities from fishing, swimming, hiking, boating and bird watching; visiting Misery Bay is anything but, misery.  Like life here in Paradise, it is hard to imagine the kind of devastation that crushed Japan ever coming to our shores.  But, the small creatures floating belly up with eyes blankly staring skyward remind us otherwise.  Like our sins, the little fish swim unseen beneath the surface until God calls them to account. 

According to the USGS, there were three earthquakes in Arkansas along the New Madrid fault line today March 22.   Two 2.5 and one 3.3.  And, I am reminded as I think about it that the Redondo Beach fish kill also took place on a Tuesday three days before the devastating earthquake that struck Japan on March 11.  Might today’s fish kill at Misery Bay have anything to do with the humiliation Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu experienced at the hands of the American President on his visit to the White House on March 25 of last year- the anniversary of which will be three days from now on Friday?  I wonder.   http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article7074832.ece

While President Obama cut short his trip to El Salvador (Spanish for “the Savior”) today to return home to pressing middle-East business, Michelle and the children remained behind to take in a visit to the  Mayan ruins.  Among the mementos they will bring home from their latest excursion will be a photo of them posing in dark silhouette with their backs toward the brightly lit arms-open statue of Jesus atop the mountain that over looks Rio. http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/03/21/6311488-first-family-visit-christ-the-redeemer-statue-in-rio

The art-deco statue that over looks Rio, is just that – a statue.  And, millions like the Obamas come to view, snap photos and even adore this plaster mold. The majority of whom, sadly, will walk away as dead in their sins as the fish that gaze lifelessly up from the shores of  Misery Bay never really knowing the real Jesus the statue represents.

The days are short and fish have always represented people in scripture.  May the realization of all these dead fish help us to remember the millions upon millions who are daily growing closer to an eternity apart from Jesus.  May we in these last days be fishers of men like never before!   And, –

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper who love thee”  Psalm 122:6     Waiting and watching with YOU for the soon return of Jesus!   Cindy

There was a wonderful story coming out of New Zealand recently regarding the bride-to-be who was rescued by her bridegroom after being trapped for 6 hours beneath the rubble of the collapsed office building she had been working in when the 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit Christchurch, NZ last week.  In what can only be described as a miracle, 23-year-old Emma Howard was pulled alive from beneath the tons of twisted metal under which she had been confined by the terrible quake, by her fiance Chris Greenslade, who came to her rescue after learning of her desperate situation via a number of text messages she had been able to send him.  Incredibly, to the joy of friends and family, Chris and Emma (who had suffered only minor injuries from her ordeal) were able to be married as planned, a short 72  hours later.

I saw the headlines regarding this story but, hadn’t given it a lot of thought until I read a couple of postings regarding it on Five Doves.  I was intrigued by the obvious symbolism and wondered if there might be more.  The first thing I did was to consider the names of the individuals involved.  Was I ever shocked (although I shouldn’t have been) to learn that the name of the groom is Chris.  Chris is a derivative of Christopher which means “Christ bearer.”  Wow, of all the names!!!  Iwas just dumb-founded, how could this be a coincidence!  Excited about the groom’s name, I couldn’t wait to see what the brides name might mean and I found out that Emma  means “entire, whole, universal, complete”  which immediately made me think of “the body of Christ“.   Double wow!!!   How cool is that!!!!  The meaning of Howard – the brides surname – means noble watchman – WATCHMAN !!!!    And the grooms surname – Greenslade –  Green is the color green and a slade is a valley which to me was very much reminiscent of the 23rd Psalm –  “the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want, he maketh me lie down in green pastures, he leadeth me beside the still waters ….yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me ….”

I also think the numbers 6 and 72 are most likely signficant but, because I need to finish packing tonight for my trip to the mainland tomorrow, will leave it to the collective wisdom and insight of you my friends and readers to do so.   I always look forward to hearing  your comments and appreciate how much we learn by sharing with one another.   Please keep me in prayer for travel mercies.  I am off to visit my daughters and 3 beautiful grandchildren for some much needed family time, but, look forward to being back here and posting again by mid-March or so, if not before.

Until then, much love and blessing in Messiah Yeshua,  Cindy

Yesterday afternoon as dark clouds gathered over Oahu, Governor Neil Abercrombie signed in to law (at approx. 2:00 p.m) Hawaii’s civil unions bill making Hawaii the 7th state in the nation to accept what is nothing  less than marriage between two members of the same-sex.  And, while it’s not known exactly what time ink met paper making it official,  it would be an almost exact 24 hours later (2:12 p.m.)  that Oahu would experience the shaking and shuddering of a 3.6 magnitude earthquake. 

Earthquakes, of course are not unknown in this part of the world, but, are more commonly experienced off the shores of the big island of Hawaii where the volcano Kilauea is located.  Earthquakes that can be felt on Oahu are much more rare.  And, while I did not feel the earthquake myself this afternoon, I can say this, “I was not surprised.”  As no doubt, many of you would not have been either, for those of us who have been watching the past few months have began  to recognize  that events such as this one (the signing of the civil unions bill) often do not go without comment in one way or another by what is known by many would term as “an act of God.” 

After hearing about the earthquake, one of my co-workers on looking out the window at the dark storm clouds that continued to loom overhead today as if in afterthought to yesterdays events, commented – “it looks like earthquake weather to me.”   Earthquake weather indeed!  And, while looming storm clouds have little to do with the shifting of tectonic plates, decisions such as the one made yesterday do.  Time and again, history has shown that some decisions are of such gravity, such import, that once made, they become tsunami like in nature.  And, like a tsunami, their incredible destructive power is never fully realized until it is too late, appearing in the beginning as a mere ripple across the water.

Yesterday Governor Abercrombie was suffering a cold and subsequent ear infection yet was not deterred from making state history by turning out to sign the civil unions bill in to law.  At the same time, a flash flood advisory was issued as heavy rain and lightning made its way across the island.

Interestingly, lightning struck the steeple of a church on the Windward side late yesterday afternoon blowing a hole in its steeple.  Thankfully, no one at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church was hurt.  But, I couldn’t help but take notice of the name  of the church – Mt. Carmel  – wondering if it could mean anything … .  strangely reminiscent in theme I think – fire and lightning – to a post done by Art over at New Wineskins on the Mt. Carmel fires in Israel some time back.  I googled Lady of  Mount Carmel and found the following information from Wikipedia.  Because it is late and I have to work in the morning, I won’t have time to explore all of the possible implications, so,  I’ll leave that to those of you who have the time and inclination to do so.  Here’s the link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Mount_Carmel

Summing it up I would say that in my opinion today’s earthquake is a warning.  A merciful warning that when God is removed from our personal lives and our civil laws, we can no longer expect either his hand of blessing or his hand of restraint in preventing  man-made or natural disasters.  Therefore, the choice is ours.  I hope the people of Hawaii are listening.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper who love thee” Psalm 122:6     Watching and waiting with YOU for the soon return of Jesus!  Cindy

“There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars and on earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves”.  Luke 21:25

If one word could be used in summing up this past week in regard to world and national affairs, I think it would be the word unrest.  What began in Egypt during the latter part of January has now spread throughout the middle-East causing a shake-up in long-established political regimes and kingdoms.  And, while the fire that fueled these events may vary from country to country, I believe what we are seeing with the recent protests taking place across the world and in our own nation in the state of  Wisconsin is a generation who is beginning to understand  the power they wield as a collective voice unified and strengthened by the power of the internet.

It is becoming increasingly clear that the time for paying the piper in this country has come. Trillions of dollars in debt, Americans have squandered the future of their children in favor of living above and beyond their means.  Let the good times roll! – has been the motto of a generation, who expected, no, –  demanded – the right to live lives of personal excess and  irresponsibility and who used the power of the vote to put in to office those  who would provide that for them.  Well, the good times are coming to an end.  But, it won’t end quietly – oh, no.  This generation fat off government programs and free-wheel spending  will not go down without a fight.  The days of  “play today, pay tomorrow”  are over and with the handwriting on the wall, just about everyone agrees that something must be done – as long  as it doesn’t affect them!

 “I believe with the civil unions bill it will play a significant role in our economic recovery I think a lot of people will be coming here to enjoy the atmosphere that’s been established by the passage of the bill,” said Abercrombie.  http://www.khon2.com/news/local/story/UPDATE-Abercrombie-will-sign-civil-unions-bill/oBvpHCidbkO8NxX3RBKUKw.cspx 

A short-sighted decision ( in my opinion) with far-reaching ramifications which I believe will back-fire before it hardly gets off the ground.   An ill-fated, quick-fix solution for grabbing dollars in the easiest way possible at the expense of abandoning millenia of moral and cultural standards (not to mention religious) which have long formed the bedrock of recognized society.

It is incomprehensible to most of us that the type of unrest we are seeing in the middle-East could come to our shores.  But, come it will.  With prices in gas, food, housing and other commodities skyrocketing as wages and benefits fall, we will with almost certainty see people taking to the streets when the way of life they have become so accustomed to crumbles before their very eyes.  And in an increasingly godless society in the absence of moral values, to expect for these kinds of demonstrations to be peaceful is extremely naive.  When this happens we can expect  two things:  civil disorder followed by an authoritarian response from the government and the search for a scape-goat; someone to blame – read that, Jews and Christians.

 I came across these verses from Jeremiah 5 this morning and I think they speak well for the times the times that we are living in – both as a comfort and as a warning.

“Hear this you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but, do not see, who have ears but do not hear:

  Should you not tremble in my presence?  I made the sand a boundary for the sea, an everlasting barrier it cannot cross.  The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail; they may roar, but, they cannot cross it. 

 But, these people have stubborn hearts; they have turned aside and gone away.  they do not say to themselves, ‘Let us fear the Lord our God, who gives autumn and spring rains in season, who assures us of  the regular weeks of harvest’.  Your wrong doings have kept these away; your sins have deprived you of good.

Among my people are wicked men who lie in wait like men who snare birds and like those who set traps to catch men.  Like cages full of birds, their house are full of deceit; they have become rich and powerful and have grown fat  and sleek.  Their evil deeds have no  limit; they do not plead the cause of the fatherless to win it and they do not defend the rights of the poor. Should I not punish them for this? declares the Lord. Should I not avenge myself on a nation such as this? 

A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land; the prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way.  But, what will you do in the end?”   Jeremiah 5:21-31. 

My people love it this way!!!   Wow, shocking and sobering words.  Words to be both warned and comforted by.  A warning for those who fail to acknowledge the ways of the Lord; a warning for those  who are unthankful, ungrateful and who seek their own way apart from him. But, words of comfort to those of us who know him; realizing that like the sand which provides a barrier to the sea which it cannot cross, the turmoil which affects the nations can only proceed so far before the Lord  will step in and rescue us.

“You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas, who formed the mountains by your power, having armed yourself with strength, who stilled the roaring waves and the turmoil of the nations”   Psalm 65:5-7

Dangerous, frightening and perplexing days are ahead.  People won’t understand what is happening.  Like birds caught in a snare, they will unwittingly be trapped.  Jesus is the only port of safety;  the only avenue of escape.   I plead with you now, if you have not yet made him your Lord and Savior, please do it today. 

  And, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper who love thee”  Psalm 122:6    Watching and waiting with YOU for the soon return of Jesus!  Cindy

February 11, 2011.  A date, which when looked back upon in history will be considered pivotal -not only in terms of the middle-East but, for the entire world.

Commenting on the unfolding of events which led to the end of the Mubarak era, President Obama stated, “Egypt will never be the same”.   And, he should know.  For the President who campaigned on the slogan of change, lost no opportunity in sacrificing former friends and allies to ensure that change in Egypt would take place.

For 18 days, the world watched as millions took to the streets of Cairo demanding an end to the 30 year autocratic dictatorship of President Hosni Mubarak.   Struggling to survive in a poor economic environment with an unemployment rate of 9.4%, young Egyptians are fed up with the status quo and rightfully want more.  But, as is often the case, in situations like these, what people want and what they get are often two different things. 

I came across something yesterday which absolutely astonished me!  Take a moment to carefully read this and consider the implications.  This could have been taken from yesterday’s newspaper! From Wikipedia regarding the Iranian Revolution of 1979:

“Demonstrations against the Shah began in January 1978. Between August and December 1978 strikes and demonstrations paralyzed the country.  The Shah left Iran for exile in mid-January, and in the resulting power vacuum two weeks later Ayatollah Khomeini returned to a greeting by several million Iranians.  The royal regime collapsed shortly after on February 11, when guerillas and rebel troops overwhelmed troops loyal to the Shah in armed street fighting. Iran voted by national referendum to become an islamic Republic on April 1, 1979 and to approve a new theocratic constitution whereby Khomeini became Supreme Leader of the country, in December 1979.

The revolution was unusual for the surprise it created throughout the world. It lacked many of the customary causes of revolution (defeat at war, a financial crisis, peasant rebellion, or disgruntled military; produced profound change at great speed; was massively popular, overthrew a puppet regime heavily protected by a lavishly financed army and security services and replaced a modernising monarch with a theocracy based on a guardianship of the Islamic Jurist.  Its outcome – an Islamic Republic “under the guidance of an extraordinary religious scholar from Qom” — was, as one scholar put it “clearly an occurrence that had to be explained.”

Wow!  Did you catch that?  On February 11, 1979, the autocratic rule of the Shah of Iran was permanently toppled – replaced just weeks later by a theocratic dictatorship!  What are the chances that two events such as these would occur on the very same date?  Coincidence?  I don’t think so!  In my opinion, the fact, that these two very important events share the same date underscore the fact that the events in Egypt are something to pay very close attention to –  and, is perhaps, the reason why everyone has been seeing 11:11.

Everyone has been spellbound with the images pouring out of Cairo this past week.  Of all the images captured on film none has created more buzz than that of the ghostly image of a  horse and rider appearing as if  out of no where on a small piece of news footage.  How this pale spectre appeared on this particular portion of film is anyones guess.  Could it be the pale horse of the Apocalypse signifying the opening of the 4th seal of Revelation chapter  6?  In my opinion, it is certainly possible.  But, whether or not it is, we, as students of the Bible already know what is ahead and have the testimony of the Holy Spirit telling us that it is not business as usual in today’s world.  But, rather to watch and be prepared.  

From an article on Haaretz.com, President Mubarak was quoted as saying before his resignation in a phone call to former cabinet member Benjamen Ben- Eliezer of Israel

“They may be talking about democracy, but, they don’t know what they are talking about and the result will be extremism and radical Islam”.

 http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/mubarak-slammed-u-s-in-phone-call-with-israeli-mk-before-resignation-1.342831

The  Obama administration in its action (or lack of action) has effectively cut the feet out from any chance of peace and stability in the Middle-East.  Instead of standing fast with known friends and allies, they have chosen instead to throw caution to the wind in favor of letting the chips fall where they may.  And, fall they will.

President Obama ran his campaign on the promise of change and change is a promise he has delivered on. 

In Isaiah 19, Egypt is spoken of as being given over to a cruel master. 

“See, the Lord rides on a swift cloud and is coming to Egypt. The idols of Egypt tremble before him, and the heart of the Egyptians melt within them.  I will stir up Egyptian against Egyptian – brother will fight against brother, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom ….  I will hand the Egyptians over to a cruel master and a fierce king will rule over them declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.”  Isaiah 19: 1–4

Pray for the people of Egypt.  Those who truly wanted something better have been snookered.  Change is coming – and, not for the better, at least for now.  The good news is that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob loves the Egyptians and in days to come has promised to save them and to heal them of their afflictions. May that day be soon, O Lord!    (Isaiah chapter 19).

And, as always –

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper who love thee”  Psalm 122:6     Watching and waiting with YOU for the soon return of Jesus!  Cindy