Thomas Jefferson Quote from The Patriot Post today

"It is of great importance to set a resolution, not to be shaken, never to tell an untruth. There is no vice so mean, so pitiful, so contemptible; and he who permits himself to tell a lie once, finds it much easier to do it a second and a third time, till at length it becomes habitual; he tells lies without attending to it, and truths without the world's believing him. This falsehood of the tongue leads to that of the heart, and in time depraves all its good disposition." --Thomas Jefferson (1785)

Wisdom from Brother Lawrence

As I was reading Brother Lawrence's The Practice Of The Presence Of God this morning I was particularly drawn to the following two words of wisdom.  I absolutely believe both of them and desire to live my life accordingly even though at times I forget and get distracted by criticism and others' comments.

Many years ago I heard someone say, "It doesn't matter who you please in life if you displease God, and if you please God it doesn't matter who you displease."  I realized then that I wanted to please God more than anything.

Brother Lawrence says the same thing from a different angle.  "The most excellent method I have found of going to God is that of doing common business without any view of pleasing men, and as far as I am capable, doing it purely for the love of God."

Later in the same chapter he says:
"We ought to purpose ourselves towards this end: to become in this life the most perfect worshipper of God we can possibly be (since that is what we hope to be throughout all eternity.)

Obviously, this would be the most important thing we could do to please God, wouldn't it?  To make it our goal to become the most perfect worshipper of Him that we can possibly be!

Milky Way Entertaining Her Kitten

      Isn't God amazing?!!  He even builds in tools for animals to entertain their young.   It was hilarious to watch Milky Way's baby trying to catch her tail.  Yesterday this little guy went to his new home.  It was the last of the kittens to leave so all afternoon Milky Way walked around the yard crying and looking for it.  Sad, but necessary.  It is easy to see how people start with one cat and before they know it, they have a multitude!

More Fruit of My Labor

We have many white narcissus growing along the road on one of our farms so I have moved these to the backyard where I can better enjoy them.

 We also found a huge patch of bluebells growing in the back of the woods near the cattle farm so I have been adding a few of them in different places around our house.  This year they seem to have multiplied!  I am so glad because I haven't gotten around to transplanting anything new.  Maybe I can just be patient now and watch them spread.  Probably not, though.  It seems I am not long on patience.

IT'S WHAT YOU SCATTER

    This story has been around awhile but I love being reminded of the goodness of some people and it always brings a tear to my eye to read it, so I'm posting it here so I can re-read at will.

IT'S WHAT YOU SCATTER I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes... I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily apprising a basket of freshly picked green peas. I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me. 'Hello Barry, how are you today?' 'H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya.  Jus' admirin' them peas. They sure look good.' 'They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?'  'Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time.' 'Good. Anything I can help you with?' 'No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas.' 'Would you like to take some home?' asked Mr. Miller. 'No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with.' 'Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?' 'All I got's my prize marble here.' 'Is that right? Let me see it', said Miller. 'Here 'tis. She's a dandy.' 'I can see that. Hmm mmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?' the store owner asked. 'Not zackley but almost.' 'Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble'. Mr. Miller told the boy. 'Sure will. Thanks Mr.Miller.' Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said, 'There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store.' I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles.  Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could. Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts...all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one; each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes. Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband's bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket. 'Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size.....they came to pay their debt.' 'We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,' she confided, 'but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho. With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband... Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles. The Moral: We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath. Today I wish you a day of ordinary miracles ~ A fresh pot of coffee you didn't make yourself... An unexpected phone call from an old friend....  The fastest line at the grocery store.... A good sing-along song on the radio... Your keys found right where you left them. IT'S NOT WHAT YOU GATHER, BUT WHAT YOU SCATTER, THAT TELLS WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU LIVED.

A friend sent this beautiful meditation by Rabbi Abraham Heschel.

Witnessing the Wonder 
by Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel

---

Prayer is our humble answer 
to the inconceivable surprise of living. 
It is all we can offer in return 
for the mystery by which we live. 
Amidst the meditation of mountains, 
the humility of flowers
— wiser than all alphabets — 
clouds that die constantly 
for the sake of God’s glory, 
we are hating, hunting, hurting. 
Suddenly we feel ashamed 
of our clashes and complaints
in face of the tacit glory in nature. 
It is embarrassing to live!
How strange we are in the world, 
and how presumptuous our doings! 
Only one response can maintain us: 
gratefulness for witnessing the wonder, 
for the gift of our unearned right to serve,
to adore, and to fulfill. It is gratefulness 
which makes the soul great.

"Hallelujah" - The Easter Version

Heavenly Experiences

Have you read any of the books about people who have had heavenly experiences?  I have, and I have enjoyed them very much.  They have expanded my thinking, not only about what heaven could be like, but also about how big God is, how much He cares for each person, how He is always looking for ways to bring people closer to Himself, how He can't be put in a box and the myriad of ways He is always trying to communicate with us.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of reviews/comments on these books that cause sincere Christians to be afraid they will be misled if they read them or see the movies based on the books.  Do you really believe God is going to allow us to be deceived if we put our trust in Him to direct our paths?  If we ask Him to help us know Him in every way possible will He lead us astray?  Would we do that to our children?  I think we miss way too many opportunities to know a Great Big God who wants to reveal many aspects of himself to us by attributing too much power to a Little Bitty Devil.

I believe one of the very best ways to live our lives is to Never let fear make our decisions.  If we have prayed for wisdom and feel led to not read a book or see a movie--that's guidance.  God knows where we are in our walk with Him and therefore what will encourage us and what will harm us.  But if we are curious about the books or movies but don't explore them because we are afraid we will be misled that very well could be the devil keeping us from a great blessing from God.

The Bible says we are to test the spirits--that by their fruits we will know them.  We know fear, condemnation, doubt, and criticism are not fruits of the spirit, but love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control are.  What are the fruits of helping people to believe there is a heaven?  What are the fruits of making people afraid to think about it?  See what I mean?

There is something wrong with 'thought police' in Christianity who believe their job is telling us what is good for us and what we should stay away from.  That is legalism and Paul says we are to avoid it like the plague (my interpretation.)  Jesus wants us to have a relationship with Him.  Through it He will direct our paths.  We don't have to be afraid, and we aren't to rely on someone else to guide us.  Those who tell us what to do are usurping God's place in our lives and keeping us from seeking an intimate relationship with Him.

I have talked with several non-Christians who have seen Heaven Is For Real.  They were encouraged and excited.  Does that sound like the devil?  Since they are not about to set foot in church and some of us Christians have forgotten it is our job to tell them how much God loves them, what better opportunity to let them see a little glimpse of His goodness and how much He cares for His children!

I am very encouraged that movies like this are being made.  Let us pray those of influence in the media will realize the great potential to reach the lost and make that one of their primary goals.

Another Excert from Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom

From John O'Donohue's spiritual essay Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom

      "No one but you can sense the eternity and depth concealed in your solitude.  This is one of the lonely things about individuality.  You arrive at a sense of the eternal in you only through confronting and outpacing your fears.  The truly lonely element in loneliness is fear.  No one else has access to the world you carry around within yourself--you are its custodian and entrance.  No one else can see the world the way you see it.  No one else can feel your life the way you feel it.  Thus it is impossible to ever compare two people because each stands on such different ground.  When you compare yourself to others, you are inviting envy into your consciousness; it can be a dangerous and destructive guest.  This is always one of the great tensions in an awakened or spiritual life, namely, to find the rhythm of its unique language, perception, and belonging.  To remain faithful to your life requires commitment and vision that must be constantly renewed."

He Is Risen! He Is Risen Indeed!!

Jesus was crucified for our sin. He died, was buried and arose on the third day.

"Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the Name that is above every name, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."  Phil 2:10-11

John tells what happens in Revelation 5 when Jesus, the Lamb, is recognized as the only One who is able to open the scroll. The entire universe gave a thunderous, thrilling response of praise:

"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!"
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them singing:
"To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!"   Rev. 5:12-12

 Jesus is all powerful, all seeing, all good, all encompassing.  He can not be denied in the end because HE IS.  He holds all things together.  He is the Creator of the universe.  He is altogether lovely and HE LOVES YOU with a love that is everlasting.

Eventually all will bow their knee in recognition of who He is even though they deny him now.  Eventually, they too will see what they have tried to ignore but it will then be too late.

Won't you take time today to reflect on the consequences of your sin--spiritual death- and the price Jesus paid so that you won't have to pay the consequences, but instead will have eternal life?  Won't you choose the life He offers and lay aside your sin?  Many are afraid to do this because they fear He will ask them to do something they don't want to do like become a missionary in Africa or some such thing.

As our friend, Tommy Tyson, used to say, "God's will for you is what you would choose for yourself if you had sense enough to know it!" In other words it is the most exciting life you could ever choose to lead, with rewards too amazing to comprehend.

When we surrender our lives to Jesus that doesn't mean our lives will be necessarily easy but they will be rewarding, meaningful and complete.

Selah! (Think about it.)

MLR Flight

 I found this little video of the Moonshine Lunch Run.  Every year for about the last 10, motorcycles from all over the country have descended on the little rural hamburger place of Moonshine, population 2, near Martinsville.  It has been famous in these parts for years, but awhile back CBS did a special on the place entitled something like "In Search of the World's Greatest Hamburger" as I recall.  Since then people from all over the world have visited.  A local man, Terry Hammond, had the idea for this destination ride which has expanded every year.  I heard this year they sold over 3200 hamburgers from 11-1:00.  Fortunately, a local business brings their grill to help in the cooking for this many riders!

     The sound on this videa is rather annoying since it was filmed from a drone so you may want to turn down your sound while watching it.

Dennis Prager Column 4-15-14

     I continue to post articles like this because most of us are going about our daily business thinking everyone else is also. The main stream media is conspiring to keep as much of the left's agenda  hidden from us as possible.  And what they can't hide they put a spin on it to make it seem logical and good.
       Since most of us choose the 'live and let live' mode we don't realize there are those who have an agenda to destroy the America we have grown up in and love.  It is unfathomable to us that someone would want to do this!  Why?  Don't they realize their children will be affected by their destructive  decisions?  Are they so short-sighted they don't even try to determine the long term results of their ideas?  Or do they believe they will be immune from the results because they are so much better, smarter, etc. than the rest of us?  It seems like common sense to consider these things, but common sense appears to be in short supply.  We need to WAKE-UP.  We must take a stand.  We must pray for and vote for righteous self-sacrificing leaders.  It is time.

What the Left Did Last Week by Dennis Prager
Tuesday, Apr 15, 2014

In his column last week, Charles Krauthammer crossed a line. He declared the American left totalitarian. He is correct. Totalitarianism is written into the left’s DNA.

Krauthammer wrote about a left-wing petition “bearing more than 110,000 signatures delivered to the [Washington] Post demanding a ban on any article questioning global warming.”

He concluded:
“I was gratified by the show of intolerance because it perfectly illustrated my argument that the left is entering a new phase of ideological agitation — no longer trying to win the debate but stopping debate altogether, banishing from public discourse any and all opposition. The proper word for that attitude is totalitarian.”

America is engaged in a civil war — thank God, a non-violent one, but a civil war nonetheless. It is as divided as it was during the Civil War in the 19th century. The issue then was slavery — a huge moral divide, of course. But today, the country is divided by opposite views about much more than one major issue. The left and right are divided by their views of morality, politics, society, religion, the individual and the very nature of America.
The left seeks to, as candidate Barack Obama promised five days before his first election, “fundamentally transform the United States of America.”

That is what the left is doing. There is almost no area of American life in which the left’s influence is not transformative, and ultimately destructive.

Beginning with this column I will periodically, perhaps regularly, devote this space to that transformation and destruction. My reason for doing so is that most Americans, including more than a few Republicans and more than a few Democrats, simply do not know what the left is doing to their country.

So, here is some of what the left has done in the last week or two.
–The left-wing directors of Mozilla, the parent company of the browser Firefox, compelled their CEO, Brendan Eich, to resign after he refused to recant his support for maintaining the man-woman definition of marriage. Even though his gay employees acknowledged how fairly he treated them individually and as couples, the mere fact that he believes that marriage is between a man and a woman rendered him unacceptable as an employee of Mozilla/Firefox. (For more details, see my column of last week, “Uninstall Firefox.”)

The Wall Street Journal condemned Mozilla. The New York Times has not taken a position.
–Brandeis University rescinded its invitation to Ayaan Hirsi Ali, perhaps the world’s foremost activist on behalf of women in the Islamic world. Hirsi Ali, an African woman born into a Muslim family and raised Muslim, who now teaches at Harvard, was scheduled to receive an honorary degree at the forthcoming Brandeis graduation ceremony. Brandeis rescinded its invitation after protests led by a Muslim student and the Council on American-Islamic Relations, an Islamist organization, erupted over Hirsi Ali’s criticism of the way women are treated in many parts of the Muslim world.

The Wall Street Journal condemned Brandeis. The New York Times has not taken a position.
–The University of Michigan canceled a showing of the documentary “Honor Diaries.” The film features nine women who are either Muslim or come from a Muslim country. They speak about honor killings, female genital mutilation, forced marriages at young ages, and the denial of education to women in Muslim communities. They praise moderate Muslims. But the University of Michigan cancelled the film lest a non-moderate Muslim organization, CAIR again, label the university “Islamophobic.”

–Six weeks ago, a University of Wisconsin student released a video he had made of a guest lecturer in the freshman general education course “Education 130: Individual and Society.” The lecturer, the political and organizing director for Service Employees International Union Local 150, delivered a diatribe, with obscenities, against conservatives, whites and Republicans. Last week. When confronted with the evidence that classrooms at their university were being politicized, the faculty of the University of Wisconsin reacted with indignation — at the student who made the video. And then the faculty passed a resolution demanding that the university ban recording any of its classes.

It’s hard to blame the faculty. Given the intellectual shallowness and the left-wing politics that pervade so many liberal arts classes, the University of Wisconsin faculty has every reason to fear allowing the public to know what professors say in class.

–Today is the cutoff date for public reactions to the California Supreme Court’s ethics advisory committee’s proposal to forbid California judges from affiliating with the Boy Scouts, which the left deems anti-gay. Given the Left’s animosity to traditional value-based institutions, it is not surprising that it loathes the Boy Scouts. What is remarkable — actually, frightening — is how easy it has been for the left to make it (SET ITAL) illegal (END ITAL) for a judge to be a leader in the Boy Scouts. This is the now case in 22 states. It will soon be the case in California as well.

This was just one week — and only selected examples — in the left’s ongoing transformation of America. 

Amphitheater Progress

I stopped by the Amphitheater site this afternoon and snapped these photos.  It is exciting to see progress!

Abraham Lincoln Wisdom

Two Great Links to Research Historical Biblical Sites & Learn More About Israel

      I discovered two great new (to me) websites that have wonderful pictures, explanations of historical Biblical sites, and information about Israel and other parts of the Middle East. 

http://touchpointisrael.com    

 http://www.bibleplaces.com. 

      I thought you might be interested, too.

Heartland Highways 1209: Whiteside Garden Update, Daylily Farm, Old Tim...

My brother sent me a link to this YouTube video.  I was delighted to get it since I am familiar with the people in all three of the segments.

The first segment discussed Dr. Wesley Whitesides botanical garden.  Several years ago, Mom told me she had seen an announcement that Dr. Whitesides was opening his garden to the public as a fundraiser for some organization on Memorial weekend, so she & I met my aunt & uncle there.  We had a wonderful time enjoying his beautiful garden.  It was there I discovered the big leaf magnolia tree in bloom and knew I had to have one. (You can see a picture of Mom with one of the blooms and read about my quest for a specimen here.)

The second segment of this show is about the 5 Acre Daylily Farm which I became acquainted with also on the Whiteside Garden Tour.  One of the two gentlemen who own it gave a talk and a demonstration on dividing daylilies and then gave every one in attendance a tuber to plant.  Mom & my aunt & uncle gave me theirs, too, and they are all thriving.

Four of the participants in the third segment about the Radio Theater are from Martinsville so I am familiar with what they are doing, also.

As I said, I was delighted to have the link to the video.  I hope you enjoy it, too.

Fruit of My Labor

     Every year since we discovered the volunteer patch of daffodils growing on our property I have dug 20-50 clumps and planted them along our lane, which is about 1/2 mile long and under trees in the yard.  The work is beginning to pay off as daffodils seem to be blooming wherever I look.  I haven't yet dug any this year but all these bright patches of yellow are encouraging me to get out there and do it.

A Laugh for Today

4 Blood Moons

    Because there seems to be growing interest and awareness of the coming 'blood moons' I am posting this article by Aimee Herd from Breaking Christian News.  It is a short compilation of some of the information that is now circulating about the phenomena.

Aimee Herd:

Watching God's Heavens—What is He Saying through Blood Moon Tetrads and Solar Eclipses?

"Israel as a nation is 'God's time clock,'" –Pastor John Kilpatrick

By now the term "blood moon" is likely no longer alien to you, and may even have been discussed around the water cooler this week. (Photo by Luc Viatour/viaEarthSky.org)

And now that you have the astronomical description for four of them in a row—a "tetrad"—you may be feeling like your vocabulary has experienced a nice upgrade.

But what is all the eschatological (there's another one—'end times') discussion about anyway? What are some of the things being said?

After watching a few messages by Pastors John Kilpatrick and John Hagee—who are both saying the same thing, for the most part—I thought breaking their main points down into a fairly brief article might be of service to some who are curious, but who may not have time to watch numerous sermons.

Not Just Christians

One thing I've noticed in digging into the subject of the coming astronomical event is that the interest is not just found among Bible Believers.

Those in the secular science community are also intrigued—not just by the blood moon tetrad—but also in the fact that it does coincide with major Jewish feast days.

I've found several sites that have not only given a wealth of information on the tetrad, but also on the fact that this and next year's will occur at special times according to the Jewish calendar. (Graphic via John Kilpatrick Ministries)

That stood out to me—there are those who are not yet Believers who are paying attention… looking, watching and waiting to see if anything significant, God-oriented or major does indeed happen.

The Blood Moon Tetrad Facts and When to Watch

Interesting celestial events already began this week, with the "opposition of Mars"—it's perfect alignment with the sun, and also with Earth.

Next week—on Monday—Mars will be at its closest to Earth in 6 years; you'll be able to see it shining brightly in the night sky. Then on Tuesday morning April 15th (in North America) at approximately 3AM Eastern Time, the moon will be not only full, but there will be a full lunar eclipse as the Earth passes between the moon and the sun. The sun's light that reflects off the moon will then be filtered through Earth's atmosphere—basically all Earth's sunsets at once—and it will cause the moon to appear red like blood.

The blood moon will happen again this year, on October 8th; and then there will be two more blood moons next year on April 4 and September 28th—that makes a lunar tetrad.

EarthSky.org describes a lunar tetrad as: "Four successive total lunar eclipses, with no partial lunar eclipses in between, each of which is separated from the other by six lunar months (six full moons)."

The Significance Relating to Israel

According to Hagee and Kilpatrick (as well as others), the moons relate to Israel because the Jewish calendar is mainly a lunar-based calendar. The solar eclipses relate to the world because the rest of the world goes by the solar-based Gregorian calendar.

Now, tetrads aren't necessarily that rare—there was one in 2003—but the fact that each blood moon in this tetrad coincides with major Jewish feast days is rare.

Tuesday's blood moon happens on Passover; October's on Sukkot; next April's on Passover again, and the final blood moon of the tetrad falls on Sukkot once again. That last one is the only one that will be visible by Israel—but because it occurs on Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles) many Jews will be outside, sleeping under the stars so-to-speak, in their tents or booths according to the Jewish Feast tradition.(Photo via John Hagee Ministries)

And not only that, but the final blood moon will also be at perigee—also known as a "super moon" because it is at its closest to Earth on its lunar orbit.

It will be one SUPER BLOOD MOON!

So What? Wait, there's More…

Not only will the tetrad happen, but in 2015 there will also be two solar eclipses. The first one—a total solar eclipse— will fall on March 20th, or Nisan 1 in the Jewish calendar which is effectively their first day of their first month.

The second solar eclipse will be partial, and will occur on September 13th which is Rosh Hashanah; the first of the "High Holy Days" and also known as the Feast of Trumpets.

Why Is Any of This Significant?

Pastor John Hagee notes Genesis 1:14, "And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years."

That is, the sun, moon and stars can also be used by God as asign to Earth's inhabitants.(Graphic via John Kilpatrick Ministries)

Basically the coming tetrad is significant to Israel, and to Christians who love Israel, because of history—Israel'shistory.

In 21 centuries there have only been 8 (including this coming one) blood moon tetrads that fell on the Jewish Feasts of Passover and Sukkot and the 3 most recent ones occurred during extremely important events for Israel.

Tetrad of 1493-1494 – If you go back one year, you know Christopher Columbus sailed his famous voyage to discover the "new world" in 1492. What many may not realize is that this happened during Spain's Expulsion of the Jews, when the edict came down that all Jews in Spain had 3 months to leave. So the blood moon tetrad of that time happened during great persecution of the Jews.

Pastor John Kilpatrick notes that Christopher Columbus was sympathetic to the Jews and carried some on board his ships to the new world, and that his trip may even have been financed by them.

Because of this, as the tetrad of those years occurred, a bond was formed between Israel and the new world—America.

Tetrad of 1949-1950 – This tetrad happened just a few years after the end of WWII and in 1948, just prior to the tetrad, Israel was formally recognized by the world as a nation.

Tetrad of 1967-1968 – The Six-Day War began when attacks were mounted against Israel and she retaliated; it ended with an Israeli victory.

What Does the 2014 – 2015 Tetrad Signify?

Both Pastors Kilpatrick and Hagee are quick to answer "I don't know." But they add that it is important to WATCH—not just look; but observe, keep vigil, stay alert and most importantly...

...watch and pray.

Pastor Kilpatrick notes that Israel as a nation is "God's time clock," which means these things are important to Christians too. (Photo by: Fred Espenak of NASA/viaEarthSky.org)

Certainly, when you look at Joel 2:31 in the Bible, you can't help but get a little excited considering the celestial events before us!

"The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD." -Joel 2:31

The thing to remember is, if you are a Christian (you know that Jesus is your Savior and you are living for Him), don't be fearful, but as Jesus said, "Be dressed in readiness and keep your lamp alight." And be ready to share about this great Hope that is in you with anyone who asks.

If in reading about these things, you feel conviction by the Holy Spirit, or you know your heart isn't right before the Lord, then don't wait—get right with the Lord Jesus today, and then rejoice!

If you want to learn more here are some good sources:

Pastor John Kilpatrick's message on Blood Moons

Pastor John Hagee (who has also written a book about it) on Blood Moons

Here is EarthSky's astronomy website regarding the Blood Moon tetrad

Link for the book: "Blood Moons Rising" by Mark Hitchcock

Here is a link to watch Tuesday's Blood Moon LIVE

Sources: John Hagee Ministries, John Kilpatrick Ministries,EarthSky.org, BibleGateway.com, Wikipedia

Breaking Christian News

A Great Resurgence - Nellie Balandowich

This encouraging word for those of us born before 1960 was posted on the Elijah List today:

Nellie Balandowich:

A Great Resurgence - In the Generation of Those Born Before the 1960s!

When I woke up on the morning April 6, 2014, the Spirit of the Lord spoke to me, and I heard Him say the generation that was born before the 1960s is arising...many in that generation who have been asleep or lulled are now awakening to new dreams, visions, and invitations from the Spirit of God!

"This generation has been lulled into mediocrity, and I am breathing My ruach breath on them and bringing them back to life. When the world tells them they are to wind down, ha! I laugh, because I am sending a sound, a frequency, that is awakening them to dreams being born.

"I am awakening a knowledge and a persistence to forge forward and to think further than their natural mind has taken them. There is a knowing being released that with Me all things are possible! This generation is arising to understand and delight in the fear of the Lord and walk in the knowledge and counsel of My Spirit. There is a renewal coming to a generation that thought they were forgotten.

"I say rise up, oh sleeper. Rise up to a new day for you – a new fervency, a new direction. I will restore, and I will refresh, and I will anoint you to dream again; and to not only dream but to live out those dreams. I am the One who empowers you, and I will teach you the way to go and how to get there. It is not the time to give up. It is not the time to say it is over, for I tell you it is just beginning.

"Hear the sound of horse hooves. They are coming your way. There is a gathering of a generation that thought it was over, and I am calling you toRISE UP! I am unleashing a renewing of youth, and strength, and purpose, and intent for all who are willing to say, 'YES.'

"Your greatest hour is ahead, and together we are going to partner to bring forth My Bride. All parts of the Body are required. The world has said 'Retire, wind down'; others said, 'You've lived your life,' or, 'You cannot offer anything,' but I say 'NO!'

"You are to awaken to Kingdom purposes and protocol. I am birthing something new in you, and I will not allow a generation to fall asleep, for you were born for such a time as this! For such a time as this you will come forth and you will awaken, and the glory of the latter house will be much greater than the glory of the former house!

"Can you hear the sound? The awakening of a supernatural generation has begun," says the Spirit of God! "It is the sound of RESURGENCE, supernatural resurgence. It has been released! I am calling forth a generation to finish well!"

Nellie Balandowich
Email: nellieelaine7@hotmail.com

Celtic Woman - You Raise Me Up

A beautiful song!

Uninstall Firefox

     I believe Dennis Prager makes perfect sense in this article and have joined him in uninstalling Firefox from my computer.  After reading this, I hope you will, too.

Uninstall Firefox by Dennis Prager

Tuesday, Apr 8, 2014

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In 31 years of broadcasting, and 40 years of writing, I have never advocated a boycott of a product.

Quite the opposite, in fact.

During the 2012 presidential campaign, when the left attempted to destroy Chick-Fil-A for its owner’s views on same-sex marriage, I suggested on my radio show that the Republican candidate, Mitt Romney, stand in front of a Chick-Fil-A restaurant while enjoying some Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. In that way, I argued, he could show one of the great moral differences between the right and the left. Though Ben and Jerry are leftists, we conservatives do not believe that company owners’ views should matter to consumers. We believe that products should speak for themselves. If the ice cream is good, despite whatever repugnance we might feel regarding the views of the makers of that ice cream, we will still purchase it.

The left does not see things that way. The left is out to crush individuals and companies with whom it differs. This is especially so today on the issue of same-sex marriage.

Perhaps the most dramatic example of this took place last week. The governing board of the widely used browser, Firefox, forced the company’s CEO, Brendan Eich, to resign. The Firefox board had learned that in 2008, Eich donated $1,000 to the Proposition 8 campaign in California. Proposition 8 amended the California Constitution to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman. In classic Communist fashion, gay rights organizations demanded that Eich publicly recant. When Eich did not, gay rights and other leftist organizations called for a boycott of Firefox. Firefox immediately forced Eich out.

All these years, the left, after coining the term “McCarthyism” in order to disparage the right, had fooled most people into believing that it is the right that suppresses liberty. The truth, of course, has been the opposite. Worldwide, with the exception of Nazi Germany (which was a uniquely race-based totalitarianism, neither left nor right — while it rejected Marxist class-based struggle, it supported socialism (“Nazism” was short for National Socialism), every genocidal totalitarian regime of the 20th century was leftist. And domestically, too, the left has much less interest in liberty than in forcing people to act in accord with its values. A totalitarian streak is part of the left’s DNA. How you think matters and what you do away outside of work matters: More than 20 states prohibit judges from being leaders in the Boy Scouts — because the left deems the Boy Scouts homophobic.

During the McCarthy era, the left (and not only the left) screamed when people were falsely charged with supporting Stalin and Communism, one of the greatest evils in human history. But the left also screamed when people who really did aid and abet Stalin were dismissed from their jobs. In other words, for those on the left who celebrate Eich’s ouster, it was evil to deprive a man who supported Stalin of a job, but it is right to fire a man who supports the man-woman definition of marriage. Such is the left’s moral compass.

It is important to further note that gay employees at Firefox acknowledge that Eich never discriminated against gays, whether in employment, benefits or any other way. But that doesn’t matter to the left because a totalitarian streak is part of the left’s DNA.

As Princeton Professor of Jurisprudence Robert George warned on my radio show, today the left fires employees for opposition to same-sex marriage. Tomorrow it will fire employees who are pro-life (“anti-woman”). And next it will be employees who support Israel (an “apartheid state”).

The reason to boycott Firefox is not that it is run by leftists. Nor is the reason to support the man-woman definition of marriage. It is solely in order to preserve liberty in the land of liberty. If Firefox doesn’t recant and rehire Eich as CEO, McCarthyism will have returned far more pervasively and perniciously than in its first incarnation. The message the gay left (such as the Orwellian-named Human Rights Campaign) and the left in general wish to send is that Americans who are in positions of power at any company should be forced to resign if they hold a position that the left strongly opposes.

And right now that position is opposition to same-sex marriage.

Think about that. In the United States of America today, the belief that marriage should remain defined as the union of a man and woman is portrayed as so vile by the left that anyone who holds it is unfit for employment.

A handful of those on the gay (and straight) left have spoken out against the forced resignation of Eich. If their words are to mean anything, they must join in the call to boycott Firefox. Otherwise, their protestations are meaningless, made solely to preserve their moral credibility.

The battle over Firefox is the most important battle in America at this particular moment. If you use Firefox, uninstall it. Instead use Internet Explorer, Chrome, Opera, Safari, or try Pale Moon for Windows, which is based on the Firefox engine and will import all of your bookmarks. For mobile devices, you can try Puffin.

America can have liberty or it can have Firefox. Right now, it cannot have both.

Books, Books, and More Books!

     Last week our local library had a huge book sale.  I love books so, of course, I went to the sale and came home with 30--some by authors I had not read, some by authors I was familiar with, a couple of reference books, some spiritual books and several novels.  To me there is nothing more satisfying than to have a good novel waiting in which to lose myself when I have an extra day to relax.  Since there aren't many days like that I don't want to waste it on a bad book, so before I decide to purchase a book I usually check with Amazon on my smartphone to see what kind of reviews the book has.
     Because I was in a confined space and the books were only 25 cents it seemed best to check on the reviews when I got home.  Of the 30 I chose, 27 of them were rated 4 star or better!  That means I have a lot of potentially good books to read!  Of course, just because someone else rated a book 5 star doesn't mean I will like it, but it's a good starting point.
    Since Country Guy has been working on taxes this week I have had several free evenings to read.  Hurray!
    One of the books, Dreams Are For Tomorrow by Agnes Sanford, was a exciting find!  Agnes has been a spiritual mentor to me through her writings. I thought I had read all of her books so when I saw this one I was delighted!  Of course, it was one of the first ones I read this week.
    I also picked up 4 books by Andrew Greeley, who I discovered is a Catholic priest.  I hadn't previously read any of his books but thought I recalled reading a good review of his writings.  This week I read Irish Love and then because I liked it, I read Irish Mist which I didn't think was quite as good, but still enjoyed it.  Many other 'Irish' books are listed so I am glad to know I have lots more to choose from.  I only wish I had begun with the first book, Irish Gold, since the two main characters are married and are central to the theme of each book. (Detective/Mystery genre.)
    I also picked up A Vision Of His Glory by Anne Graham Lotz.  It is a meditation on the Book of Revelation.  I have begun reading it during my devotional time and find it an excellent resource in helping to understand this difficult (to me) book!  I also brought home her book, God's Story, which I am looking forward to reading now that I like this one.
   Other books included in those I brought purchased are:  a 1938 book of Games, a book of American Proverbs, and a manual on using Adobe Photoshop.  I even brought home Sarah Palin's book, Going Rogue, but why not?  Hey! I love Sarah Palin!  She is one of the few leaders who is laying her life and reputation down for the good of the country.  But that's another topic and for another blog.
   As I said, I love books!  Now where to put them all...

Cute Eyes' Kittens

     Cute Eyes had her kittens last night.  They have such different markings!  Since she looks like the buff colored one (that is her head in the top of the picture) it is interesting how different the others look.

       I am amazed how much fun it has been having all these kittens when I have never been a cat lover.     

      This litter should be ready for new homes just about the time of the Heritage Days Festival (June 7-8), so I guess we will have to take them there with a 'free kittens' sign if we haven't found homes for them before the festival.

       I will post a picture of the 3 kittens remaining from Milky Way's litter when I can get a good one.  One of them is a fur ball--almost as wide as he is long!  They will be ready for new homes in about 3 weeks.  Two of them have already been spoken for. Good thing because right now we have 10 cats!

Inside Out by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

     A friend sent this great meditation.  We can only give what we have.  So to be able to give Christ to a dying world we must be 'full of Christ.'  The only way to be full of Christ is to have a relationship with Him in which we are aware of His Presence all day long.

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Hebrew Word of the Day Shor (Meaning: Bull) Hear Translation » Inside Out April 9, 2014 “He is to take a censer full of burning coals from the altar before the LORD and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense and take them behind the curtain. He is to put the incense on the fire before the LORD, and the smoke of the incense will conceal the atonement cover above the tablets of the covenant law, so that he will not die.” — Leviticus 16:12–13 The Torah portion for this week is Acharei Mot, which means “after the death,” from Leviticus 16:1–18:30, and the Haftorah is from Amos 9:7–15. Have you ever felt like you are running on empty? In our fast-paced society with overloaded schedules, it’s easy to push ourselves to do more without taking care of our most basic needs. While no doubt the endless errands and projects that we pursue in the outside world are important, it’s even more important to take care of our inner world. This is because how we are faring on the inside greatly affects what we do on the outside. When we push ourselves to run on empty, we aren’t doing anyone any favors, least of all ourselves. We’re simply headed for a breakdown! In this week’s Torah portion, we learn about the service performed by the High Priest on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur. As part of the service, the priest was to bring incense into the Holy of Holies, the most sacred room of the Temple. A dispute arose among the rabbis about whether the incense was to be lit outside the Holy of Holies and then brought inside, or if the priest was to light the incense once inside the sacred room. Ultimately, it was ruled that the priest was to light the incense inside the Holy of Holies. This ruling has practical applications – not just for theYom Kippur service, but for our lives as well. The Sages explain that the requirement for the priest to light the incense while inside the holy room teaches us that when we serve God, the place to start is inside the sanctuary of our own souls. Only once we have lit a fire on the inside can we turn outward. The way to illuminate the world is from the inside out and not the other way around. We can go about our lives trying to inspire others, but if we haven’t first lit the fires of inspiration within our own souls, we will have a very hard time lighting anyone else’s fire. If we want to make the world a better place, we had better start with ourselves. We can spend our lives running on empty, but it is much more effective to take the time and fill up our tanks. Only a pail full of water can water plants. Only a candle that is burning can light another wick. And only a person brimming with inspiration can effectively inspire others. What brings you inspiration? What lights up your soul? It is essential that we take time for prayer, Bible study, and whatever else keeps our fires burning. When our souls are full, there is no telling how far we can go. With prayers for shalom, peace, Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein Founder and President