New Again - Brad Paisley & Sara Evans

"New Again," by Brad Paisley and Sara Evans, comes from the CD called "The Passion of the Christ - Songs" from Windup Records.

This is a music video containing scenes from the Passion of the Christ and The Birth of Christ. The time is now to examine yourself and invite Jesus into your heart and life. Don't wait for tomorrow. It may never come. In this new year, I wish you Jesus and a personal relationship with a living God who loved you enough to send His only son to endure the cross, suffer the shame, and take upon himself the sins of the whole world.



Pray with me today to receive Jesus.

"Dear Heavenly Father, You have called me to Yourself in the name of Your dear Son Jesus.

I am a sinner and realize that without Jesus, I am lost. I believe that Jesus Christ shed his blood for me on the cross. He died for me, for my sins, and rose again on the third day. I choose to repent and turn away from my sins to follow You. Forgive me for my sins against You and others. Remove my sins far from me and cover them with the blood of Jesus. Have mercy on me a sinner and cleanse me through and through. I also forgive anyone who has ever sinned against me.

Thank You for Your forgiveness. Now fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I might have power to witness to others of Your saving grace and to overcome the sins that would try to trip me up and snare me. I am a new creation in Jesus Christ. My past is forgiven and my future stands before me. Transform my life so that in my living, I will bring glory and honor to You.

I confess that Jesus Christ is now the Lord of my life. I believe with my whole heart that God the Father raised His Son Jesus from the dead. I acknowledge that Jesus Christ is my Savior according to the scriptures. Through the blood of Jesus, my faith in Him and the confession of my mouth, right now I am born again! I declare all of this in the name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Thank you Father for hearing my prayer. I stand clean before you because of the blood of Jesus. Thank you Jesus for forgiving my sin and coming into my heart and life. And thank you for giving me the Holy Spirit to lead me and guide me throughout my life. Amen"

Did you accept Jesus as your Savior? Email me today at:
jesussavesjohn316@gmail.com

New Years Resolution - Return To God

New Years is just around the corner. This is the time of year that most of us have a list of resolutions we intend to make. May I suggest the most important resolution of all? Commit to creating a personal one-on-one relationship with Jesus Christ in this new year.

Christianity is not about religion. It's about relationship. For God so loved us, He sent Jesus. Why? Sin separated us from Him. And He showed His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Jesus layed down His life for us so that we could have everlasting life and our relationship with God would be restored.

Meditate on the following verse, the testimony of Donnie Sumner, and listen to the song "I Have Returned." Make this new year a year of rededication. And if you have never know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, there is no better time than the present.

Happy New Year and God bless you!

II Chronicles 7:14 - KJV
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

The Sacrifice Lamb

With another passing Christmas, I would like to again emphasize the true meaning for this season. We all have sinned. We all need a savior. It is only through the shed blood of Jesus that there is atonement for our sins. Jesus came as God's gift to man, to lay down his life for us that we might live and our relationship be restored. In the Old Testament, the blood sacrifice was made through a lamb without spot or blemish. Jesus became that sacrifice lamb. Once and for all, he made atonement for our sins. All we have to do is receive the gift that was offered to us willingly.

Here is one of my favorite songs about God's love and faithfulness. I have provided a link below so that you can listen to it. It was written and arranged by Joel Chernoff from the group called Lamb. The name of the song is:

The Sacrifice Lamb

Have you ever heard, Messiah has come?
It says in His Word, to cleanse everyone
Atonement He made, iniquity bore
That we can find life, in Him evermore

The sacrifice Lamb, has been slain
His blood on the altar, a stain
To wipe away guilt and pain, to bring hope eternal
Salvation has come, to the world
Messiah, the one, for the world, Yeshua is He

The prophets of Old, Speak much of Messiah
His death is foretold, the purpose is clear
Isaiah did say, ‘twas for an atonement
To give us a way, that leads not to death (chorus)

So brothers of mine, look not to yourselves
For we are but one, we all need His help
We’ve broken the Law, but He paid our debt
That we can find life, by Yeshua’s death

The sacrifice Lamb, has been slain
His blood on the altar, a stain
To wipe away guilt and pain, to bring hope eternal
So final atonement has come and brought us new hope by G-d’s Son, if you believe…in your heart…Yeshua you’ll know



Find more music like this on GraceAlley.com

In Defense of Christmas

There is a movement today teaching the pagan roots of Christmas to Christians and encouraging them not to take part in the celebration of this season. It is true that the original observances of the season’s festivities centered around the worship of the sun god and the pagan feasts of the winter solstice. During the winter months, when daylight was in short supply, superstition grew that the sun was leaving the earth, never to return again. To encourage the sun to return, the ancients performed elaborate rituals and ceremonies that included building great bonfires, and decorating with evergreens such as mistletoe, holly and ivy. When the movement of the southern sun stopped, it was believed that their petitions had been heard. The community broke out in celebration which included heavy drinking, carousing, and gluttonous feasting.

The Romans celebrated December 25th as the Birthday of the Unconquerable Sun in honor of the Sun God Mithras. When Emperor Constantine came to power, he made Christianity the religion of the empire. In a move to bring unity throughout the land between pagans and Christians, former pagan holidays and festivals were replaced by a Christian theme. The Sun God and his mother Isis became the Son of God – Jesus Christ, and the Virgin Mary. In 375 A.D., the Roman Catholic Church through Pope Julius officially proclaimed the birth of Christ to be December 25th.

This being said, why would I as a Christian defend the celebration of Christmas? Let’s look at Acts chapter 17 in the Bible. Paul had come to Athens, and as was his practice, he went to the local synagogues to discourse with the Jews regarding Jesus the Messiah. Athens was steeped in idolatry. They had never heard of this Jesus, so they invited him to a public place called Areopagus to tell them of this Jesus and his resurrection from the dead. They asked, “May we know what this new doctrine is of which you speak? For you are bringing some strange things to our ears. Therefore we want to know what these things mean.”

Paul responded in verse 22, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found and altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshipped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.”

He continued to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to these men who were inquiring of the hope that was within him. He was being instant, in season and out of season declaring Jesus Christ to a lost people in need of salvation. He did not chide them for their idols, but used the objects of their worship to preach the message of salvation to those who were hopelessly loss and needed to know that the blood of Jesus was the only thing that would wash away the stain of sin in their lives.

No, the Bible does not discuss the practice of Christmas. Yes, the Bible is full of stories of people who worshipped other gods. It also tells us that we are not to have any other gods before the Lord God of hosts. He is a jealous God and will not share His glory with another. We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and the wages of that sin is death.

Christmas is known the world over as a time to remember that God sent Jesus as a baby in a manger who grew to manhood. He willing went to the cross and paid the penalty for our sin. In this season, the message goes out showing God’s love for mankind. Should we silence this message because of the pagan roots behind the season? Should Paul have refused to use the object of the Athenians worship to preach the gospel? I don’t think so. There’s a world that needs Jesus. Christmas is a perfect opportunity to introduce Him to your friends and neighbors, and to remember where you were without Him as your Savior.

Merry Christmas!

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Charlie Brown - True Meaning of Christmas

This was a childhood favorite. In the middle of all the hustle and bustle, remember God's best gift for you and me - Jesus. He came to earth taking the form of a man and offered his sinless life as a blood sacrifice to redeem us from our sins. For it is not our works of righteousness which bring us salvation, but the precious blood of Jesus.

Grace Alley - Christian Social Networking

I just found a new Christian social networking site called Grace Alley. Check it out



http://gracealley.ning.com/

Christmas and Depression

Christmas and the holiday season for many is not a time of festivity. Rather, painful events leave them feeling like their heart has been ripped out of their chest. They are the walking wounded. I personnally know of a woman who has lost her mother two days ago. Another friend of mine called me today. His father fell out of his wheelchair and doctors are giving him five days to live.

This is the time of year where depression weighs heavier than ever, and many choose the path of alcohol, drugs, or suicide to escape the pain. I almost chose that path once, but God in his mercy and love intercepted me before I could go through with throwing my life away. I pray for all who are lonely in this season, that you may find comfort in your pain. I pray that God's spirit would speak peace to the storms you are facing. There is sunshine beyond the darkness. Jesus stands with arms extended to you. Receive his comfort, and may the poem I wrote below give you the courage to face the darkness, and arise victorious over the gates of hell.


WINGS
by Jeffrey Kimble

Oh tender wings
so strong yet frail
beaten fierce
by the winds of hell
who sneering waits
with firm clenched fist
jeering, hoping
you'll fail the test.

Yield not to this fury
of hateful tempest blast
lose not your spirit
to a dismal darkened past
Hell may try to trap you
within its gripping snare
steal away your strength
leave you in despair.

But your wings are created
to withstand the tests of time
praise to their Creator
reveals their secret design
Brilliant rays from within
pierce hell's darkest night
demons flee with trembling
at the awesome sight.

Torn and tattered wings
repaired by heavens light
diamond studs protrude
cutting chains bound so tight
Angels join the chorus
the blood and word prevail
spirit rises heavenward
destroying the gates of hell

Remember, oh precious wings
the Creator's grand design
praise breaks through the barriers
and makes his glory shine
The gates of hell cannot prevail
against the glory of the Lord
none can quench the fire of God
nor stand against his word.

Christmas Music

Here is some Christmas music I found on GodTube for your enjoyment. At the piano is Lemuel Coyoc from Jojutla, Mexico. The words of each song is listed below.

God bless you this Christmas season. Cast your cares upon Him because He cares for you.

Merry Christmas!



Silent Night
Words: Josef Mohr, cir­ca 1816-1818.
Music: Franz X. Gru­ber, cir­ca 1820.


Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and Child.
Holy Infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight;
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!

Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love’s pure light;
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.

Silent night, holy night
Wondrous star, lend thy light;
With the angels let us sing,
Alleluia to our King;
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!




What Child is This?
16th Century English melody by William Dix, 1865


What Child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary

Celebration of Christmas

Last night I watched as my wife hung the last ornament on our Christmas tree. “I think this is the most beautiful tree we’ve ever decorated,” she said with a smile. I had to agree.

As we sat there taking in the green tree, red ribbon, colored lights, red and gold ornaments, topped with an angel wearing a burgundy colored gown, my mind traveled back to Christmases past. My first visit was a decision we had made last year to stop celebrating Christmas. This was due in part to what seemed to be a timely message on television regarding the pagan roots of the holiday centered around sun god worship, and verses we read in the bible .

“Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.” Jeremiah 10:1-4

Being sincere in our relationship with Jesus Christ, and not wanting to dishonor God, we decided not to celebrate Christmas. After all, Jesus was not actually born at this time of the year. It was probably closer to spring. Besides, we wanted nothing to do with a practice based on the worship of the sun god. Our relationship with the Son of God, Jesus, was more precious than a tradition we had learned from childhood.

I looked back at the tree with all of its trimmings and thought about the events that lead up to our decision to cancel Christmas. Then I thought of why after making that decision, we were now choosing to do so this year.

My earliest memories of Christmas are very warm. My father was in the navy, and his tours of duty kept him away sometimes upwards to six or eight months out of the year. Sometimes he was home for the holidays, but many times he was with us in our thoughts and prayers. Our income was limited. My dad sent everything he possibly could from his pay, but a military salary requires a very creative person to pinch the pennies and stretch the dollars.

My mother did just that. She saved everything. We had Christmas lights and decorations from years past, and an artificial aluminum tree. Any fresh tree we could afford, she would decorate and cover with flock so thick that the tree was well preserved and no longer posed as a fire hazard. Our family was known for keeping Christmas decorations up most of the year.

Those were simple times. Most of our gifts were hand-made. Store-bought gifts were more practical – ear muffs, sweaters, gloves; just what was needed to go out and play in the snow. There were treats in our stockings and a few toys. But mostly, I remember the spirit of giving and love, the Christmas carols, and the making of memories and family traditions.

As I grew older and our nation enjoyed prosperity, the warmth of yesterday seemed to be replaced by feelings of a commercialized Christmas. I began to witness the beginning stages of attacks that would try to eradicate Christ from Christmas. The words “Merry X-mas” began to show up everywhere, and the message of “Joy to the world” was being replaced with the anxiety and stress. Quick! Hurry! Beat the rush! Buy the perfect gift! Get it wrapped and under the tree! How many people are coming? I witnessed many people complaining of pressures from within and without as so much energy was expended to achieve the “perfect Christmas.”

All of this seemed to drown out the carols, trees, lights, decorations and the overall message of love, peace, and goodwill. Jesus was no longer the “reason for the season,” for the spirit of Christmas been swallowed up by commercialism. Besides, everywhere you looked, the emphasis of Jesus Christ was under attack. Take Christ of Christmas! “Happy Holidays,” “Holiday Tree,” and “Winter Break” still echo the sentiments of many who would extract any connection with Christianity to this holiday season

Finally, financial setbacks only reminded us of the gifts we couldn’t afford to give. Reflecting on its pagan roots and the shift in society to remove Christ from Christmas, we were primed and ready for Jeremiah 10:1-4. So we decided not to celebrate Christmas last year.

One year has passed and this Christmas season has caused me to reflect on our choice to cancel Christmas. It occurred to me that my wife and I had succumbed to the pressure that would take Christ out of Christmas. For generations, Christians have successfully taken a pagan holiday that paid homage to the sun god and turned it around. Songs like “Silent Night,” “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” And Hark the Herald Angels Sing” are known and sung all around the world, spreading a message of God’s love everywhere. This is the message in Christmas that many today are trying to silence.

For one Christmas season, the winter of opposition silenced this family’s celebration. But we will not be silenced again. With our decorated tree, we see the cross that Jesus died on. The red bulbs symbolize his precious blood he shed for all the sins of every man, woman, and child on this earth. The golden bulbs remind us that he is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, and that his kingdom is from everlasting to everlasting. The evergreen branches represent the life that he wants to give us ever so abundantly. The gifts show us the example of God’s love by giving his best gift to us. Though we were yet sinners, he loved us and sent Jesus to us that we might be saved from our sins. Finally, the lights show us that he is the light of the world that shines in the darkness. And darkness cannot eclipse His glory.

Born as a baby in a lowly manger, Jesus grew to manhood, sacrificed his life and shed his blood that you and I would not perish, but have everlasting life. O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem! Come and behold him born the King of angels. O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!

Video Warning - The Golden Compass

Here is a great video I found regarding The Golden Compass on GodTube. Please take time to listen. And please, listen with an open heart and mind.

Demonic Danger - The Golden Compass

In her book entitled, Consuming Kids, psychologist Susan Linn shows us the bombardment of advertising dollars that are being invested to reach a major consumer group of our population – our children. Linn says that the billions being spent on this market is directly competing “with parental values for children’s hearts, minds and souls.”

One such marketing tool is the movie industry. Movie trailers with interactive web sites take your child on a fantasy adventure while waiting for the films release. This is followed by flooding the market with action figures, books, clothes, and toys accompanying fast food meals join in the advertising blitz to influence our children.

The Golden Compass uses this type of marketing to encourage a child to discover their personal demon who will guide them on life’s adventures. Freddie Highmore who plays the voice of Lyra’s daemon, Pan, believes that his character “is really the mirror image of Lyra. I think having a demon is like wearing your heart on your sleeve. It’s your heart working side-by-side by you.” He went on to explain, “I think the demon is the voice inside your head, your gut feeling saying, ‘well, maybe you shouldn’t do that.’ And that’s what the demons are except they just express it out loud. And they’re invisible – they’re out there.”
Is this the values that every parent wants to allow their children to learn? Doing what the web site encourages, that is, finding the name and character of your lifelong personal demon, will have a profound impact on their “hearts, minds and souls.”

Even those experienced in the occult warn that the conjuring up of spirits and demons can lead to demonic possession for the inexperienced. In the United States where God and Christian values are increasingly under attack, the idea of a devil or demon is considered mythology. But to the countries and tribes who believe in the power of the spirits they call upon, this action is not a game.

According to Christianity, demons can take up residence in a person where the Holy Spirit does not reside. Where there is a spiritual vacuum in the soul combined with an event that invites the spirit into that person’s life, demonic possession can occur.

Part of the ministry of Jesus was the casting out of demons. Here is one such account from Matthew 8:28-32. (RSV)

"And when He came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs met Him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. And behold, they cried out, "What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?" Now a herd of many swine was feeding at some distance from them. And the demons begged Him, "If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of swine." And He said to them, "Go." So they came out and went into the swine; and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and perished in the waters."

The Bible says in Revelations 16:13-16 that demon will have an influence in our world in the last days before the return of Jesus Christ.

"And I saw, issuing from the mouth of the dragon and from the mouth of the beast and from the mouth of the false prophet three foul spirits like frogs; for they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. "Lo, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is he who is awake, keeping his garments that he may not go naked and be seen exposed!" And they assembled them at the place which is called in Hebrew Armageddon."

Please understand that I am trying to warn you of the dangers inherent when one calls upon a demon to be their guide through life. Phillip Pullman’s series “His Dark Materials” and the official web site for “The Golden Compass” do not have your children’s best interests at heart. Rather, the material being marketed is design to capture and imprison your “children’s hearts, minds and souls.”

The Golden Compass Controversy

“I am a story teller,” declared British author Phillip Pullman. “If I wanted to send a message I would have written a sermon.” Pullman struck back at critics who have accused his trilogy “His Dark Materials” as being “candy-coated atheism.” He declares that such accusations are “absolute rubbish.” But are they?

Pullman’s own web site states his thoughts that it is “perfectly possible to explain how the universe came about without bringing God into it.” The third book in his trilogy, “The Amber Spyglass,” portrays the “Authority” to be a senile pretender who falsely proclaims to be God, the creator of the universe. The reader finally discovers that he is not who he claims to be but is rather one of the first angels who is extremely aged and quite weak.

Compare this to the biblical account of a powerful God who spoke the worlds into existence. One of his angelic creations, Lucifer, the morning star, tried to lead a revolt to overthrow God, only to be cast out of heaven with one-third of the angels. These became Satan and his demons.

In the Garden of Eden, Satan takes the form of the serpent, and tempts Eve by twisting God’s word. He asked her, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”

Eve replied, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’”

Satan’s reply through the serpent was “You shall not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Adam and Eve ate of the fruit. They disobeyed God. These are the “ancestors” referred to in the Golden Compass, who “disobeyed the Authority.”

This is a small sampling of the atheistic threads woven through Pullman’s trilogy. The film maker’s toned down the atheistic content of the movie to the point that secularists are complaining that there isn’t enough anti-religious sentiment.

Terry Sanderson, president of the National Secular Society has complained, "We think this is a great shame. The fight against the Magisterium is the whole point of the book. Take that away and the most original and interesting element of the story is lost."

Pullman denies the accusation of "candy-coated atheism.” However, both secularists and the religious community recognize the symbolism and the weight of the issues contained in “His Darkest Materials.” Meanwhile, The Golden Compass presents to the world a Pandora’s Box, encouraging its viewers or readers to reject the “Authority” and discover the personal demon who will guide them through life.

The Golden Compass

The Golden Compass, released by New Line Cinema on December 7, 2007 is based on the first book in the trilogy written by British atheist Phillip Pullman known as “His Dark Materials.” “The Golden Compass,” “The Subtle Knife,” and “The Amber Spyglass” encourages the reader to fight to liberate themselves from the oppression of church rule. This is accomplished as children go on a quest to kill God with the aid of their own personal daemon (pronounced demon).

A daemon is a child’s best friend. The two confide in each other and fight together as an invincible team. A child’s daemon takes the form of a talking animal. It is the child’s soul and helps to guide them through life. They have a free will and with a daemon’s help, they are confident and courageous.

The authoritarian organization known as the Magisterium is opposed to free thinking and a free will, and seeks to separate child from daemon making them unhappy and miserable with no personality. They exist like zombies.

The golden compass helps the one who knows how to use it find the truth. The Magisterium only wants its version of the truth to be told, so it has successfully destroyed all but one of these compasses. An orphan girl named Lyra possesses this last golden compass and learns to use it. She uses it to fight the oppressive Magisterium and its evil leaders to keep them from stealing children’s daemons – their souls.

I have two major problems with this movie. The first point is not my greatest concern.


Major Problem #1 – ATTACK AGAINST THE CHURCH

Although the anti-Christian content was toned down considerably in this movie, there are enough clues as to the intended message. The Magisterium is a modern day reference to the teaching authority of the Roman Catholic Church. This also extends beyond Catholicism to any Bible believing Christian church that teaches godly principles.

The Bible teaches that Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden by eating of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The movie refers to “our ancestors’ who “disobeyed the Authority.”

Speaking words other than those accepted by the Magisterium is considered heresy. Such free will and thinking is considered Dust and upsets the status quo and should never be spoken of in the presence of children. Dust opens the door to infinite possibilities. Dust is what makes us human. By controlling thoughts, dust is contained. There is no mistaking that the oppressive ruling body is the church.


Major Problem #2 – GET YOUR OWN DEMON

The screenshot below is from the official website promoting the movie. An invitation is given to “Meet Your Daemon.” When you follow this link you will read:

"To discover your very own Daemon, look into your heart, and answer the following 20 questions openly and honestly. Your true character and the form of Daemon will be revealed, ready to be taken with you into your virtual world."



Upon answer these questions the name of the child’s personal demon is given as well as the animal shape that it resides in. Each child is then encouraged to call upon their personal demon.

This is my greatest concern. What are we opening our children up to? Encouraging children to find their personal demon and to call on its name to help them is a Pandora’s box that should never be opened.

The Bible says “Call upon the name of the Lord and you shall be saved. Calling on demons will not lead to freedom, but bondage. Evil is plentiful in this world, and when we call that which is evil – good, and good – evil, we start down a slippery slope that leads to destruction.

Synopsis

This movie is a teaser for people to buy Pullman's books just like the Harry Potter movies. This will bring millions of children into contact with the demonic. By volume three of the His Dark Materials trilogy children are invited to join in a diabolical revolt against God, bishops, and priests.

The first movie is just an avenue to hook and draw our kids in. You cannot judge the trilogy based on the first movie.

Since this is a topic that is of paramount importance to me, I will discuss the subject of demons in an upcoming post. Feel free to leave your comments below.

Why Not To Divide Jerusalem - Ambassador Gold

Listen to the President of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, Ambassador Dore Gold, as he describes why Jerusalem must remain the united, undivided capital of the State of Israel. (courtesy of onejerusalem.org)

Ambassador Gold was the eleventh Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations (1997-1999). Previously he served as Foreign Policy Advisor to the former Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu.

Read more about Ambassador Gold

I Will Bless Them That Bless Thee

I will gather all nations and will bring them down into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, and there will I deal with and execute judgment upon them for [their treatment of] My people and of My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations and [because] they have divided My land. Joel 3:2 (Amplified Bible)

God's warning in scripture is definite. His judgement will be upon any people or nation that mistreats His people, scatters them, or divides HIS land. The land of Israel was given by covenant to Abraham through Isaac. Part of that covenat is found in Genisis 12:1-3. (KJV - below)

1. Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

2. And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

3. And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.


We need to pray for our leaders that they deal wisely with Israel and the Jewish people, lest we incur God's wrath and judgement on our nation.

Visit thevoiceofwarning.com to read an "Urgent End-Time Prophetic Message To The World Today."

Annapolis Failure - Negotiating Jerusalem an Act of Treason

According to IsraelNationNews.com, leading Hamas member and Deputy Speaker of the Palestinian Authority parliament, Ahmed Bahar, announced on Thursday that the PA legislature passed a first reading of a “Jerusalem bill.”

This law forbids any negotiations or concessions that involve Jerusalem. Any such votes or negotiations will be null and void in advance, and anyone found to be in violation of this law will be guilty of treason and be punished accordingly.

Jerusalem and its borders, including Jewish and Christian holy sites such as the Temple Mount, the Western Wall, the Jewish Quarter, and the City of David are considered Palestinian, Arab, and Islamic land.

A second reading of this law will soon be passed when the PA legislature reconvenes. It will be given to Mahmoud Abbas for his signature.

This law officially makes the Annapolis Peace Conference null and void. Like I said in an earlier article, the summit was only good as a photo-op for the leaders involved. There never was any intent to reach a peaceful compromise. The Palestinian view for the Middle East is a land where Israel no longer exists.

Memory Lane

It is a joy to look back on memories and traditions that strengthen our cords and bind us together as a family. One such tradition was almost lost to the Kimble’s when our mother died. On special occasions, she would labor for what seemed like hours in the kitchen to prepare a mouth watering dish that each of us loved. It was her secret recipe; her gift to us. Even now, I remember the aroma that filled the house, and the sweet and sour flavor that excited my taste buds. Finally, dinner was ready. We all sat around the dining room table. Daddy said the blessing. Then one by one, we passed our plates as she served us her labor of love – Halupsi.

A few years ago, I met a Jewish woman at work who had recently come from the Soviet Union. Her family was originally from Poland. We began discussing ethnic foods when I revealed my childhood favorite. Her face lit up as she repeated my words in her accent – “Chalupsi!” Before I could get the recipe, she was laid off from her contract position. But she recently returned. She gave me her recipe, but the ingredients did not totally match the memory of my taste buds. I did several searches on the internet to piece together what I believe comes close to our mother’s recipe.

I found twenty-five names for the same dish which translated means little pigeons. These represent peoples of either German, German-Polish, German-Russian, Russian, Russian-Ukrainian or Ukrainian descent. But two things stood out as distinctively Jewish in the recipes I reviewed. Pork and vinegar were eliminated, and brown sugar, spices, and lemon juice were added into the tomato juice or sauce giving the dish a sweet-sour flavor.

Another interesting fact is that this is a favorite Jewish dish that is used in the celebration of Sukkot, or the Feast of Tabernacles. Traditional Sukkot dishes include stuffed vegetables of many varieties filled with meat, vegetables, fruit, matzah meal and various spices. These symbolize God’s provision of a bountiful harvest. They are easy to transport from the kitchen to the sukkah, or temporary booth, they are living in during this week-long observance that God has ordained. So try this recipe for yourself. Remember our family tradition, and thank God for His many blessings. (See Recipe Below)

Halupsi

Cabbage
1 large head of green cabbage (about 2 pounds)

Sauce
1 - 46 ounce can tomato juice
6 cups reserved cabbage stock
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
Ground black pepper to taste (use liberally)

Stuffing
2 large onions coarsely chopped
3 tablespoons olive or vegetable oil
2 pounds lean ground beef
1 cup uncooked rice
1 large carrot peeled and grated
1 large clove garlic crushed
2 tablespoons minced parsley
1 teaspoon salt

Topping
2 small can condensed tomato soup
1 can water or evaporated milk


Cabbage Preparation
Core the cabbage. Blanch it in boiling water for about 5 minutes. Remove from the pot and gently peel off the outer leaves (12 to 16). If the inner leaves are still too stiff to be removed, return the cabbage to the boiling water for another minute or so. Remove the rib of these leave to make them easier to fold. Continue until all the leaves have been removed. Use the small inner leaves or any damaged ones to line the bottom and sides of a large Dutch oven. If there are any leaves left after this, dice them up and lay on the bottom. This will keep the cabbage rolls from burning. Reserve about six cups of cabbage stock for later use.

Stuffing
In a heavy bottomed frying pan, sauté the onions with olive or vegetable oil until they are soft. Stir occasionally to make sure the onions don't stick to the pan. Set aside to cool. Prepare the filling in a large bowl thoroughly mixing together the ground beef, raw rice, carrot, cooled onions, garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper. Starting with the largest leaves – Place a mound of the filling along the center of one leaf. Slide the bottom of a second leaf under the stuffing closing both leaves loosely around the stuffing mixture until the finished product resembles a small to medium sized head of cabbage. Do not roll tightly so that you leave room for the rice to expand. Place heads on the bed of diced and loose cabbage leaves in the Dutch oven seam side down leaving a little space between each roll to allow for the stuffing mixture to expand. Continue until all the filling has been used. There will be about 6 to 8 rolls.

Sauce
In a large saucepan heat the tomato juice and cabbage stock. Stir in the lemon juice, brown sugar, cloves, allspice, cinnamon, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Pour over the cabbage rolls, almost covering them. Cover the pot and bake at 350 degrees for 2 1/2 hours.

Topping
Mix 1 can of water or evaporated milk with condensed tomato soup and pour over the top of each roll. Reduce heat to 300 degrees and bake for 30 more minutes, or until cabbage is soft.

Remove The Altar?

I spoke with a pastor recently who had just returned from the General Council of Assemblies of God churches. He shared that a proposal was made and a vote taken to remove all altars from each Assembly of God church nationwide. It was argued that the altar has lost its relevance in the church today. An outcry arose from this General Assembly of pastors, NOT to remove the altars. For now, their voices have been heard and the altars remain.

Since when did the altar lose its relevance? The Old Testament tells story after story of the kings of Israel and Judah that rose to power. Righteous kings destroyed the altars and high places used to worship false gods. In their obedience, the nation was blessed, and God delivered his people out of the hands of her enemies. But wicked kings rebuilt the high places, with altars to offer sacrifices to idols false gods. Israel and Judah caused their children to pass through the fires of sacrifice. This abomination caused God’s wrath to burn against the nation. He sent his prophets to warn of coming judgment which eventually led to the Babylonian Captivity.

Removing the altars did not just happen overnight. There has been a gradual decay as the truth of God's word is being watered down or rejected outright. Sin is rejected as truth is compromised for peace and brotherhood. We fill our schedules with everything except time to read and meditate on God's Word. When disaster strikes, we call on God. But when all is well, His Word and our prayers are shelved and we seek after our pleasure and comfort. The prick of our conscience will be all but silenced unless we heed the call of God to His people.

I Timothy 4:1 states, "Now the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons." II Timothy 4:3 says, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers: and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables."

Remove the foundation stones of God's Word, and our house will fall. God's Word is not a delicatessen that we can pick and choose from the menus what is good and wholesome. II Timothy 3:16-17 says that "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." As we strip away the truth of God's Word, we open the floodgates of deception into our lives. The prick of our conscience will be all but silenced unless we heed the call of God.

"Now therefore, says the Lord, turn to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning. So rend your hearts and not your garments: Return tot the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and He relents from doing harm. Who knows if He will turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind Him A grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord your God. Blow the trumpet in Zion, consecrate a fast, call a sacred assembly: Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children and the nursing babes, let the bridegroom go out from his chamber, and the bride from her dressing room. Let the priests, who minister to the Lord weep between the porch and the altar; let them say "Spare Your people, O Lord, and do not give your heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, Where is their God'" (Joel 2:12-17)

The Man and the Birds

I believe that I first heard this radio broadcast in 1974 on a local Christian radio station in Bellingham, Washington. It instantly became my all time favorite Christmas story. With all of the complex issues that face us today combined with our busy lifestyles, let me take you back by way of nostalgia, to a simple story written by an unknown author, as told by radio commentator, Paul Harvey. Merry Chistmas!


The Man and the Birds

Now the man to whom I'm going to introduce you was not a scrooge, he was a kind, decent, mostly good man. Generous to his family, upright in his dealings with other men. But he just didn't believe all that incarnation stuff which the churches proclaim at Christmas Time. It just didn't make sense and he was too honest to pretend otherwise. He just couldn't swallow the Jesus Story, about God coming to Earth as a man. "I'm truly sorry to distress you," he told his wife, "but I'm not going with you to church this Christmas Eve." He said he'd feel like a hypocrite. That he'd much rather just stay at home, but that he would wait up for them. And so he stayed and they went to the midnight service.

Shortly after the family drove away in the car, snow began to fall. He went to the window to watch the flurries getting heavier and heavier and then went back to his fireside chair and began to read his newspaper. Minutes later he was startled by a thudding sound. Then another, and then another. Sort of a thump or a thud. At first he thought someone must be throwing snowballs against his living room window. But when he went to the front door to investigate he found a flock of birds huddled miserably in the snow. They'd been caught in the storm and, in a desperate search for shelter, had tried to fly through his large landscape window.

Well, he couldn't let the poor creatures lie there and freeze, so he remembered the barn where his children stabled their pony. That would provide a warm shelter, if he could direct the birds to it. Quickly he put on a coat, galoshes, tramped through the deepening snow to the barn. He opened the doors wide and turned on a light, but the birds did not come in. He figured food would entice them in. So he hurried back to the house, fetched bread crumbs, sprinkled them on the snow, making a trail to the yellow-lighted wide open doorway of the stable. But to his dismay, the birds ignored the bread crumbs, and continued to flap around helplessly in the snow. He tried catching them. He tried shooing them into the barn by walking around them waving his arms. Instead, they scattered in every direction, except into the warm, lighted barn.

And then, he realized, that they were afraid of him. To them, he reasoned, I am a strange and terrifying creature. If only I could think of some way to let them know that they can trust me. That I am not trying to hurt them, but to help them. But how? Because any move he made tended to frighten them, confuse them. They just would not follow. They would not be led or shooed because they feared him. "If only I could be a bird," he thought to himself, "and mingle with them and speak their language. Then I could tell them not to be afraid. Then I could show them the way to safety ... to the safe warm barn. But I would have to be one of them so they could see, and hear and understand."

At that moment the church bells began to ring. The sound reached his ears above the sounds of the wind. And he stood there listening to the bells - Adeste Fidelis - listening to the bells pealing the glad tidings of Christmas. And he sank to his knees in the snow.

___________________________

Do you have a favorite Christmas story to share? Post your comment below.

What's In Your Closet?

A popular banking commercial today portrays a villainous scoundrel from the dark ages barking "What's in your wallet?" My first response is to clutch my wallet tightly and say, "That's none of your business!" But what if I were to befriend this rogue character, show him what he wanted, and maybe even bring him home and give him a spare room or closet to take up residence in? Imagine this for a moment. Let your mind explore the possibilities of such a decision. How would this impact your life? What changes would happen immediately and over time? One thing is for certain, your life would not be the same.

Nehemiah chapter 13 records a similar story. There was an enemy of Israel named Tobiah, who along with Sanballat, and Geshem the Arab, tried their hardest to discourage the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem. They tried everything in their power to bring the project to a halt. They sent messengers five times to Nehemiah trying to get him to pull away from the construction site and meet with them privately. He ignored them, refusing to cease his work, and continued to build. They tried fear, rumors, discouragement, and false accusations. They threatened to take back an evil report to King Artaxerxes in Babylon, that Nehemiah was heading a revolt to setting himself up as king of Jerusalem.

Nehemiah disregarded their threats and continued working until the wall was finished. He departed for Babylon to report to the king the progress that had been made. But while he was gone, "Eliashib the priest, having authority over the storerooms of the house of God, was allied with Tobiah, and he prepared for him a large room, where previously they had stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the articles, the tithes of grain, the new wine and oil which were commanded to be given to the Levites and singers and gatekeepers, and the offerings for the priests." Nehemiah 13:4-5

Upon his return, Nehemiah discovered this wrong and gave Tobiah and all of his household goods the boot! He commanded that rooms be cleansed, and that the articles of the house of God be returned to their rightful places. He then contended with the rulers in verse eleven saying, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" He then appointed faithful men to watch over God's house.

When Tobiah was allowed to move in, the articles of God's house moved out. The Levites and the singers returned to their fields because their portions of the tithes were withheld. Tobiah probably feasted on their portion. Like the rogue villain invited to stay, he just took over with no regard to the house in which he was residing.

Let's take time to examine our house. God's word says that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. When we accepted Jesus, the Holy Spirit moved in and put His seal upon our hearts. Satan, who is opposed to the work of God will call out with taunting lies, accusations and distractions, trying to bring the work of God to a halt. And if given the opportunity, will gladly take any little corner of our heart that we might give him. With contempt and disregard, he will begin to push the holy articles of God out of the storeroom of our heart.

Has he tried to take a small space in your heart? Or has time allowed some of the articles of God to be pushed out? Does it feel like your portion has been consumed? The question is, will we ally ourselves like Eliashib, or take action like Nehemiah, sending Tobiah and all of his household goods packing. Pray as David prayed in Psalm 51:10-11, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me."



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Annapolis Peace Conference - The Day After

At the Annapolis Peace Conference this last Tuesday, President George Bush read aloud the joint statement that both Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had agreed upon. "In furtherance of the goal of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security, we agree to immediately launch good-faith bilateral negotiations in order to conclude a peace treaty."

Only one day after the Annapolis conference ended, the Palestinian Authority aired on PA-TV a map replacing all of Israel with the colors of the Palestinian flag. Despite the efforts of the U.S. to negotiate peace between both countries, the PA continues to feed to its population with hatred by portraying a world where Israel does not exist.

This is why trading land for peace will fail. Annapolis was good for photo-ops and appearances. But when the dust settled at the end of the day, the fact that remained was their will be no peace until Israel has vanished from the region. “For He [God] recognizes and knows hollow, wicked, and useless men (men of falsehood); when He sees iniquity, will He not consider it?” Job 11:11

American Dependence on Crude Oil - $200 a Barrel?

Venezualan President Hugo Chavez has threatened to cut off oil exports to the United States and push the price of crude to $200 a barrel. He has been very active this year meeting with the leaders of Russia, China and Iran, gathering with him support for his anti-American sentiments. He has purchased submarines from Russia that can be easily retrofitted with the capability to launch missles.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has defiantly stood against the US and the UN continuing its development of nuclear technology. He has warned President Bush against trying to stop his country’s efforts to join the nuclear age. Islamic radicals see Ahmadinejad as an icon that has stood up to the Great Satan – America. They are looking to the day that the mushroom cloud hangs over the United States and Israel.

Oil prices and the threat of nuclear war seek to hold us hostage as a nation. America has become too dependent on other nations. Where we used to export and the attitude was to “Buy American” to strengthen our dollar, we now import and buy cheap merchandise that falls apart and is not manufactured with consumer safety in mind.

It is time for us to return to the America that we once were. We will do this by returning to the values that made our nation proud and strong. “In God we trust.” “One nation under God, indivisible . . .” 2 Chronicles 14:7 reads “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” Let us return to God, secure our borders, and stop depending on other nations for what we can proudly do for ourselves.