Some of us are old enough to remember watching science-fiction movies when we were kids growing up. In those movies robots would take over the world - and it was usually in a very negative way. But, a few remaining humans would come to the rescue and save the world.
Well, I thought of some of those movies as I read an article that was sent to me a few days ago. It was written by the Head of Daimier Benz, one of the largest auto manufacturers in the world. The title of the article is "Artificial Intelligence (AI) is Changing the World at an Exponential Rate." Allow me to share just a few of the thoughts from this article.
"In a recent interview, the Head of Daimier Benz (Mercedes Benz) said their competitors are no longer other car companies, but Tesla (obviously), and now Google, Apple, Amazon 'et al' are. Software will disrupt most traditional industries in the next 5-10 years. Uber is just a software tool, they don't own any cars, and are now the biggest taxi company in the world. Airbnb is now the biggest hotel company in the world, although they don't own any properties.
"Artificial Intelligence: Computers become exponentially better in understanding the world. In the U.S., young lawyers already can't get jobs. Because of IBM Watson, you can get legal advice (so far for more or less basic stuff) within seconds, with 90% accuracy compared with 70% accuracy when done by humans. So, if you study law, stop immediately. There will be 90% less lawyers in the future, only specialists will remain.
"Watson already helps nurses diagnosing cancer, 4 times more accurate than human nurses. Facebook now has a pattern recognition software that can recognize faces better than humans. In 2030, computers will become more intelligent than humans." That last sentence shocked me. When a computer becomes more intelligent than a human, have we crossed that threshold where machines now are in charge of the world?
"Health innovations: The Tricorder X price will be announced this year. There are companies who will build a medical device (called the 'Tricoder' from Star Trek) that works with your phone, which takes your retina scan, your blood sample, and you can breath into it. It then analyses 54 biomarkers that will identify nearly any disease. It will be cheap, so in a few years everyone on this planet will have access to world class medical analysis, nearly for free. Goodbye, medical establishment.
"3D printing: The price of the cheapest 3D printer came down from $18,000 to $400 within 10 years. In the same time, it became 100 times faster. All major shoe companies have already started 3D printing shoes. Some common spare airplane parts are already 3D printed in remote airports. The space station now has a printer that eliminates the need for the large amount of spare parts they used to keep in the past. At the end of this year, new smart phones will have 3D scanning possibilities. You can then 3D scan your feet and print your perfect shoes at home. In China, they already 3D printed and built a complete 6-story office building. By 2027, 10% of everything that's being produced will be 3D printed." Wow!
The writer continues, "Work: 70-80% of jobs will disappear in the next 20 years. There will be a lot of new jobs, but it is not clear if there will be enough new jobs in such a small time."
Friends, this is the world in which we are now living. We are on the very edge of a world that will pride itself in being "de-personalized." I no longer need a face-to-face with my personal physician because a computer will analyze my condition and recommend a prescription for me. I will not even have to travel to a local pharmacy because Amazon will deliver that prescription right to my front door via a drone. I no longer have to go to the grocery store. I merely log in, place my order, and a drone will drop my purchases off at my front door. I can do all my classes through a smart phone so I will not need to attend a real school. In the end we will all become like little hermits, each confined to his/her own cave.
But, is this what we really want? The Bible describes the need for relationships. The purpose of the local church is to cultivate personal relationships. Discipleship involves personal relationships. Jesus Christ wants to enter into a personal relationship with you. A depersonalized world is not something that God orchestrates. Yet we seem to be moving in that direction. I ask myself this question: "When will God say, 'Enough is enough!'" When will we have crossed that line drawn in the sand by God? And just where is that line? Those are questions for which I have no answer. But I am wondering if we are not approaching the point where those at Babel were before God stepped in to confuse their languages.
These are indeed very interesting days. Yet, I believe they are also very deadly days. As I shared with a group of men early this morning, I am so grateful that God is in control. Nothing is happening without His permissive hand being upon it. And it will all lead to the celebration of the return of the King. Hallelujah!
Wednesday, January 24, 2018
Wednesday, January 17, 2018
Are You a "Bad Guy?"
Do you ever feel like you are the bad guy? No, you don't wear a black hat. No, you do not threaten your children. In fact, you treat your children with love and are an encouragement to them. You pay your taxes - not always without grumbling, but you pay them nonetheless. You respect your neighbor's property. You respect those in authority over you. Yet, somehow you get the feeling that you are the bad guy?
Well, according to some "experts" if you are a white, Anglo-Saxon, heterosexual male, then you are the bad guy. I had one of the men in my Wednesday morning Leadership-Discipleship Group share the following article with me. It was titled, "Ohio State course reprimands while heterosexual masculinity." The article was written by Amanda Tidwell. It was published by "The College Fix." Allow me to share some excerpts from the article:
"A class taught this spring at Ohio State University will review a parade of reasons why white heterosexual masculinity is allegedly problematic, tackling the topic from the constructs of racial issues, bullying, pop culture, societal expectations and much more, according to its syllabus.
"The course, 'Be a Man! Masculinities, Race and Nation,' includes a variety of readings to that end, including its required textbook, "Dude, You're a Fag!" by C.J. Pascoe, which analyzes masculinity as not only a gendered process, but sexual one." (Other books were cited as being used, but I am embarrassed to even list those titles).
"The course is ultimately presented as a study in 'feminist masculinity' that seeks to explain how ideas about masculinity 'simultaneously harm yet privilege' men, the syllabus states. It also aims to explain how 'beliefs regarding masculinity serve to justify certain kinds of violence by men against others, and violence against particular groups of men.'
"The course was created and is taught by Jonathan Branfman. Branfman is a doctoral candidate in Ohio State's Department of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and a recent recipient of a 2017-18 Presidential Fellowship, the most prestigious award given to students by the OSU Graduate School, according to the department's website.
"Branfman is also author of the new children's book 'You Be You!" intended for 7- to 12-year-olds that gives parents a 'simple and accessible way' to introduce children to gender and sexual identity 'in hopes of decreasing stigmas associated with the LGBTQ community,' the Lantern campus newspaper reports."
Okay, at least according to one professor at Ohio State University, I am a "bad guy" because I am a white heterosexual male. That "badness" has nothing to do with who I am as a person. It has nothing to do with what I believe about anything. If I take this course will I be enabled to get over my "badness?"
Allow me to share a second article, written by Todd Starnes this past January 10. It can be found at www.townhall.com/columnists/toddstarnes/2018/01/10/universitys-white-racism-course-sounds-like-blame-the-white-guy-101. "Students at Florida Gulf Coast University can take all sorts of enriching classes - from gender studies to social justice. But a class on white racism is causing all sorts of campus chaos and charges of reverse racism. The university calls it 'White Racism.' But I call it, 'Blame the White Man 101.'
The class, taught by Professor Ted Thornhill, 'will interrogate the concept of race; examine the racist ideologies, laws, policies, and practices that have operated for hundreds of years to maintain white racial domination over those racialized as non-white.' The New York Daily News reports students will also have the opportunity 'to discuss ways to challenge white racism and white supremacy toward promoting an anti-racist society where whiteness is not tied to greater life chances.'"
It seems to me that the premise behind this class is that it is "bad" to be white. I read of another university professor who challenges her students to imagine that they were not white - what would they be thinking? But, I have to admit that it is hard for me to do that because I am white. I am a male. I am a heterosexual male. And, to make the problem even more intense, I am a conservative, Bible-believing Christian. According to many, I am the classic example of the "perfect bad guy."
Friends, it seems to be that we are bordered on the edges of insanity these days. You see, whether a person is good or bad is not dependent upon his skin color. It is not dependent upon a person's gender. According to the Bible a person's ultimate goodness or badness is totally dependent upon that person's relationship with God through Jesus Christ. The prophet Isaiah says that all our good deeds are as filthy rags before the holiness of God (Isaiah 64:6). The Apostle Paul says that our salvation is not dependent upon our good works (Ephesians 2:8-9).
I wonder how Ohio State University and Florida Gulf Coast University would react if someone were to ask them about a class on "The Final Solution to Man's Ultimate Problem - Sin." I am guessing there would not be any takers.
Well, according to some "experts" if you are a white, Anglo-Saxon, heterosexual male, then you are the bad guy. I had one of the men in my Wednesday morning Leadership-Discipleship Group share the following article with me. It was titled, "Ohio State course reprimands while heterosexual masculinity." The article was written by Amanda Tidwell. It was published by "The College Fix." Allow me to share some excerpts from the article:
"A class taught this spring at Ohio State University will review a parade of reasons why white heterosexual masculinity is allegedly problematic, tackling the topic from the constructs of racial issues, bullying, pop culture, societal expectations and much more, according to its syllabus.
"The course, 'Be a Man! Masculinities, Race and Nation,' includes a variety of readings to that end, including its required textbook, "Dude, You're a Fag!" by C.J. Pascoe, which analyzes masculinity as not only a gendered process, but sexual one." (Other books were cited as being used, but I am embarrassed to even list those titles).
"The course is ultimately presented as a study in 'feminist masculinity' that seeks to explain how ideas about masculinity 'simultaneously harm yet privilege' men, the syllabus states. It also aims to explain how 'beliefs regarding masculinity serve to justify certain kinds of violence by men against others, and violence against particular groups of men.'
"The course was created and is taught by Jonathan Branfman. Branfman is a doctoral candidate in Ohio State's Department of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and a recent recipient of a 2017-18 Presidential Fellowship, the most prestigious award given to students by the OSU Graduate School, according to the department's website.
"Branfman is also author of the new children's book 'You Be You!" intended for 7- to 12-year-olds that gives parents a 'simple and accessible way' to introduce children to gender and sexual identity 'in hopes of decreasing stigmas associated with the LGBTQ community,' the Lantern campus newspaper reports."
Okay, at least according to one professor at Ohio State University, I am a "bad guy" because I am a white heterosexual male. That "badness" has nothing to do with who I am as a person. It has nothing to do with what I believe about anything. If I take this course will I be enabled to get over my "badness?"
Allow me to share a second article, written by Todd Starnes this past January 10. It can be found at www.townhall.com/columnists/toddstarnes/2018/01/10/universitys-white-racism-course-sounds-like-blame-the-white-guy-101. "Students at Florida Gulf Coast University can take all sorts of enriching classes - from gender studies to social justice. But a class on white racism is causing all sorts of campus chaos and charges of reverse racism. The university calls it 'White Racism.' But I call it, 'Blame the White Man 101.'
The class, taught by Professor Ted Thornhill, 'will interrogate the concept of race; examine the racist ideologies, laws, policies, and practices that have operated for hundreds of years to maintain white racial domination over those racialized as non-white.' The New York Daily News reports students will also have the opportunity 'to discuss ways to challenge white racism and white supremacy toward promoting an anti-racist society where whiteness is not tied to greater life chances.'"
It seems to me that the premise behind this class is that it is "bad" to be white. I read of another university professor who challenges her students to imagine that they were not white - what would they be thinking? But, I have to admit that it is hard for me to do that because I am white. I am a male. I am a heterosexual male. And, to make the problem even more intense, I am a conservative, Bible-believing Christian. According to many, I am the classic example of the "perfect bad guy."
Friends, it seems to be that we are bordered on the edges of insanity these days. You see, whether a person is good or bad is not dependent upon his skin color. It is not dependent upon a person's gender. According to the Bible a person's ultimate goodness or badness is totally dependent upon that person's relationship with God through Jesus Christ. The prophet Isaiah says that all our good deeds are as filthy rags before the holiness of God (Isaiah 64:6). The Apostle Paul says that our salvation is not dependent upon our good works (Ephesians 2:8-9).
I wonder how Ohio State University and Florida Gulf Coast University would react if someone were to ask them about a class on "The Final Solution to Man's Ultimate Problem - Sin." I am guessing there would not be any takers.
Wednesday, January 10, 2018
Life Has Value Because of God
Last week I received an article, written by Todd Starnes, that aroused my anger once again. The article was published at Townhall and was titled, "Shocking! College Student Argues in Favor of Killing Newborn Babies." (www.townhall.com/columhnists/toddstarnes/2018/01/06/shocking-college-student-argues-in-favor-of-killing-newborn-babies.)
Allow me to share a portion of this article with you. "From the University of Tennessee-Knoxville comes word of a shocking video of a student arguing in favor of infanticide - killing babies up to two-years-old. The video was filmed by Students for Life of America on the campus of Tennessee's flagship taxpayer-funded university. 'The idea that someone could support infanticide is incredibly disturbing. Yet, it reflects the kinds of attitudes our staff members and students can face on a daily basis on high school and college campuses,' Students for Life of America president Kristan Hawkins said.
"Brenna Lewis, SLA's Appalachian regional coordinator, recorded one of the encounters in early December with a young man who said he had no problem with aborting two-year old babies. 'The face of the matter is without communication, we have no way of knowing if you are sentient or not,' the unidentified student said. 'It's no different than this tree. It's alive, but is it sentient? I don't know. I cannot communicate with it.'
"But what if the baby is two-years old? 'Can the two year old talk to me? In some instances I'm fairly certain that is,' the student said. 'But generally speaking the child still has the inability to communicate. And until we determine that as such at what point does sentience become an issue. We can't really debate whether or not that is the situation or not.'"
Now, as shocking as that thought is, here is what really angered me. "In 2015 the Washington Times reported on a controversy surrounding a statement allegedly written by a Princeton University professor on his faculty page: 'Newborn human babies have no sense of their own existence over time. So killing a newborn baby is never equivalent to killing a person, that is, a being who wants to go on living. That doesn't mean that it is not almost always a terrible thing to do. It is, but that is because most infants are loved and cherished by their parents, and to kill an infant is usually to do a great wrong to its parents."
The prevailing philosophy behind such thoughts is utilitarianism. Life has value only if it can contribute to the betterment and advancement of society. If we legally allow for the murder of a child within the womb because it has insignificance, then why not the murder of a child who, aside from the love he/she might receive from his/her parents and other extended family, certainly has communicated no significance to the larger social structure. He cannot communicate with clarity of speech. She cannot create. Why should the precious resources of earth be used to feed and cloth someone who has yet to contribute anything productive to society? This is the heartbeat of utilitarianism.
But, why stop there? What about those who are elderly and can no longer contribute to society as they once did? Why should they be allowed to continue to live? Perhaps we should allow for their murder as well. Why should we continue to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to provide medical treatment or nursing care for someone who is just a "has-been" and can no longer be productive? If all we have is the spirit of utilitarianism, then those questions must be answered in the affirmative.
But, babies do have value. Two-year olds do have value. Those in the nursing homes across America do have value. They have value in the eyes of God. There was and is a special purpose for their being here. This month where we remember one of the worst decisions the United States Supreme Court has ever made - Roe v. Wad, in January 1973. We remember a certain passage of Scripture that reinforces the value of all in the eyes of God. It is Psalm 139:13-16 where we read these words: "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My name was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."
What an incredible text! You and I have been wonderfully made by God. Perfect we are not! Some of us have poor eyesight. Some of us have poor hearing. Some of us have congenital diseases that prevent a normalcy of life. But, you are as God has designed you to be! You are special. And God has a purpose for you. Sometimes we know that purpose. Samson knew what his purpose was. The man born blind discovered what his purpose was. You will discover what your purpose is. God created you to be more than a mere servant of society. God created you to be an instrument to receive God's blessings and an instrument through whom God's blessings can flow to others.
Jesus spoke of our significance when He said, "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart form the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows" (Matthew 10:29-31). I am so special that God knows the number of hairs on my head! By the way, He has to subtract a few from that count each morning. But if God is concerned about your hairs, don't you think that He is also very concerned about every aspect of who you are? Of course He is!
For the utilitarian philosopher to say that it is okay to kill a two-year old because she is not sentient certainly is not what Jesus would say. All life has value. That utilitarian student at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville simply has it wrong. The Princeton University Professor simply has it wrong. Jesus Christ has it right.
Allow me to share a portion of this article with you. "From the University of Tennessee-Knoxville comes word of a shocking video of a student arguing in favor of infanticide - killing babies up to two-years-old. The video was filmed by Students for Life of America on the campus of Tennessee's flagship taxpayer-funded university. 'The idea that someone could support infanticide is incredibly disturbing. Yet, it reflects the kinds of attitudes our staff members and students can face on a daily basis on high school and college campuses,' Students for Life of America president Kristan Hawkins said.
"Brenna Lewis, SLA's Appalachian regional coordinator, recorded one of the encounters in early December with a young man who said he had no problem with aborting two-year old babies. 'The face of the matter is without communication, we have no way of knowing if you are sentient or not,' the unidentified student said. 'It's no different than this tree. It's alive, but is it sentient? I don't know. I cannot communicate with it.'
"But what if the baby is two-years old? 'Can the two year old talk to me? In some instances I'm fairly certain that is,' the student said. 'But generally speaking the child still has the inability to communicate. And until we determine that as such at what point does sentience become an issue. We can't really debate whether or not that is the situation or not.'"
Now, as shocking as that thought is, here is what really angered me. "In 2015 the Washington Times reported on a controversy surrounding a statement allegedly written by a Princeton University professor on his faculty page: 'Newborn human babies have no sense of their own existence over time. So killing a newborn baby is never equivalent to killing a person, that is, a being who wants to go on living. That doesn't mean that it is not almost always a terrible thing to do. It is, but that is because most infants are loved and cherished by their parents, and to kill an infant is usually to do a great wrong to its parents."
The prevailing philosophy behind such thoughts is utilitarianism. Life has value only if it can contribute to the betterment and advancement of society. If we legally allow for the murder of a child within the womb because it has insignificance, then why not the murder of a child who, aside from the love he/she might receive from his/her parents and other extended family, certainly has communicated no significance to the larger social structure. He cannot communicate with clarity of speech. She cannot create. Why should the precious resources of earth be used to feed and cloth someone who has yet to contribute anything productive to society? This is the heartbeat of utilitarianism.
But, why stop there? What about those who are elderly and can no longer contribute to society as they once did? Why should they be allowed to continue to live? Perhaps we should allow for their murder as well. Why should we continue to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to provide medical treatment or nursing care for someone who is just a "has-been" and can no longer be productive? If all we have is the spirit of utilitarianism, then those questions must be answered in the affirmative.
But, babies do have value. Two-year olds do have value. Those in the nursing homes across America do have value. They have value in the eyes of God. There was and is a special purpose for their being here. This month where we remember one of the worst decisions the United States Supreme Court has ever made - Roe v. Wad, in January 1973. We remember a certain passage of Scripture that reinforces the value of all in the eyes of God. It is Psalm 139:13-16 where we read these words: "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My name was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."
What an incredible text! You and I have been wonderfully made by God. Perfect we are not! Some of us have poor eyesight. Some of us have poor hearing. Some of us have congenital diseases that prevent a normalcy of life. But, you are as God has designed you to be! You are special. And God has a purpose for you. Sometimes we know that purpose. Samson knew what his purpose was. The man born blind discovered what his purpose was. You will discover what your purpose is. God created you to be more than a mere servant of society. God created you to be an instrument to receive God's blessings and an instrument through whom God's blessings can flow to others.
Jesus spoke of our significance when He said, "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart form the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows" (Matthew 10:29-31). I am so special that God knows the number of hairs on my head! By the way, He has to subtract a few from that count each morning. But if God is concerned about your hairs, don't you think that He is also very concerned about every aspect of who you are? Of course He is!
For the utilitarian philosopher to say that it is okay to kill a two-year old because she is not sentient certainly is not what Jesus would say. All life has value. That utilitarian student at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville simply has it wrong. The Princeton University Professor simply has it wrong. Jesus Christ has it right.
Wednesday, January 3, 2018
2018: A Look Into Its Many Questions
The New Year has started with much of the nation in the icy grips of Old Man Winter. Here in Minnesota, we were greeted with a minus 20 degrees on New Year's Eve morning as we headed off to church. We are now in week three of subzero nights and single digit highs. Folks in Dallas are worried about frozen pipes and those on the East Coast are bracing for what meteorologists are calling a "bomb cyclone." Not sure what it is, but it doesn't sound very good. Only about 70 days until the official start of spring!
Political unrest is settling over the nation of Iran. Scenes there today remind us of those that occurred back in 2009. The economy in Iran is in shambles. There is a clamoring among the middle class for freedoms from the tyrannical restraints placed upon them by a dictatorial, sharia-driven ayatollah and his administration. Could this be the beginning of another Arab Spring? Will the Western world, particularly the United States, sit and watch as they did in 2009, or will they become actively involved in helping those who are desiring a change in Iran? Can you begin to imagine what the world would be like if there was a regime change in Iran? Perhaps the entire Middle East would take a deep breath. If there is a regime change, what would Russia's response be? We have witnessed a closely-knit relationship between Tehran and Moscow of the past few years. The situation in Iran could be one of the early seminal moments in 2018. So, keep you eyes focused upon that region of the world.
The war of words between North Korea and the United States continues into 2018. So far, North Korea has not launched any missiles. Yet intelligence sources are declaring that North Korea is developing both chemical and biological weapons that could be attached to a warhead and delivered by a missile. A recent defector from North Korea was discovered to have antibodies in his system for anthrax, a well-known biological agent. Just yesterday North Korea issued an invitation to South Korea to have discussions along the border. How sincere is this invitation? Is it just a stalling action on the part of North Korea to take international pressure off its weapons program? How involved will the United States get if such discussions do in fact occur? And, here is a very interesting question: What will happen in North Korea if there is a regime change in Iran? Stay tuned as this story about North Korea will be an important one for 2018.
Another area of focus in 2018 will be Europe with its wrestling over how to deal with an immigration crisis that has been created over the past decade or so. I was just reading this morning that the crime rate in England is at an all-time high and most of it is attributed to the large number of refugees in England. Last year we witnessed violent scenes in France and in Germany. Hungary has threatened to build a wall around itself to stop the influx of refugees. Coupled with that is the increased incidences of anti-Semitism that is flooding Europe. The stability within Europe is shaky and one wonders at the future of the European Union. I can assure you that I will be focusing time on Europe this year.
And, of course there is the political climate here in America this year. Mid-term elections occur in November, but lines are already being drawn. Current members of both the House and Senate are announcing retirements. The media is strongly anti-administration. The #MeToo movement has exposed some of the corruption within the political system. How influential will that movement be in the upcoming elections? And the investigations by the Special Counsel and by Congress concerning the 2016 election continue to drag on - seemingly without an end in sight. Will the impact of the recently passed tax reform legislation influence the attitude of people as elections near? Will people be swayed by the prolonged media-driven negativity or by the positivity driven by job creations, continued stock-market peaks, and more take-home pay?
There will be the continued pressure for the acceptance of immoral practices in 2018. Bathroom usage will be debated in school-board rooms, in legislative chambers, and in courtrooms across America. Those businesses who take a stand opposing same-sex marriage will soon find that the weight of popular opinion and of legal recourse are against them. 2017 saw the rise of the issue of transgenderism and gender-confusion. One can only imagine what issue will take center stage in 2018.
And, finally, for those of us who hold to the return of Christ, there is that ultimate question: Will 2018 be the year that the trumpet blows and Jesus returns for His Bride? Of all the questions to be pondered in 2018, I have to admit this is the most exciting one. How we pray with the Apostle John, "Come quickly, Lord Jesus." But we know that, until the trumpet does blow, we have a great work to be done to share with an increasingly spiritually darkened world that there is hope in Christ. That there is forgiveness in Christ. That there is love in Christ. That there is joy in Christ.
The New Year has arrived. It is time for followers of Jesus Christ to awaken out of our slumber and to begin to take a stand for Christ and His Kingdom.
Political unrest is settling over the nation of Iran. Scenes there today remind us of those that occurred back in 2009. The economy in Iran is in shambles. There is a clamoring among the middle class for freedoms from the tyrannical restraints placed upon them by a dictatorial, sharia-driven ayatollah and his administration. Could this be the beginning of another Arab Spring? Will the Western world, particularly the United States, sit and watch as they did in 2009, or will they become actively involved in helping those who are desiring a change in Iran? Can you begin to imagine what the world would be like if there was a regime change in Iran? Perhaps the entire Middle East would take a deep breath. If there is a regime change, what would Russia's response be? We have witnessed a closely-knit relationship between Tehran and Moscow of the past few years. The situation in Iran could be one of the early seminal moments in 2018. So, keep you eyes focused upon that region of the world.
The war of words between North Korea and the United States continues into 2018. So far, North Korea has not launched any missiles. Yet intelligence sources are declaring that North Korea is developing both chemical and biological weapons that could be attached to a warhead and delivered by a missile. A recent defector from North Korea was discovered to have antibodies in his system for anthrax, a well-known biological agent. Just yesterday North Korea issued an invitation to South Korea to have discussions along the border. How sincere is this invitation? Is it just a stalling action on the part of North Korea to take international pressure off its weapons program? How involved will the United States get if such discussions do in fact occur? And, here is a very interesting question: What will happen in North Korea if there is a regime change in Iran? Stay tuned as this story about North Korea will be an important one for 2018.
Another area of focus in 2018 will be Europe with its wrestling over how to deal with an immigration crisis that has been created over the past decade or so. I was just reading this morning that the crime rate in England is at an all-time high and most of it is attributed to the large number of refugees in England. Last year we witnessed violent scenes in France and in Germany. Hungary has threatened to build a wall around itself to stop the influx of refugees. Coupled with that is the increased incidences of anti-Semitism that is flooding Europe. The stability within Europe is shaky and one wonders at the future of the European Union. I can assure you that I will be focusing time on Europe this year.
And, of course there is the political climate here in America this year. Mid-term elections occur in November, but lines are already being drawn. Current members of both the House and Senate are announcing retirements. The media is strongly anti-administration. The #MeToo movement has exposed some of the corruption within the political system. How influential will that movement be in the upcoming elections? And the investigations by the Special Counsel and by Congress concerning the 2016 election continue to drag on - seemingly without an end in sight. Will the impact of the recently passed tax reform legislation influence the attitude of people as elections near? Will people be swayed by the prolonged media-driven negativity or by the positivity driven by job creations, continued stock-market peaks, and more take-home pay?
There will be the continued pressure for the acceptance of immoral practices in 2018. Bathroom usage will be debated in school-board rooms, in legislative chambers, and in courtrooms across America. Those businesses who take a stand opposing same-sex marriage will soon find that the weight of popular opinion and of legal recourse are against them. 2017 saw the rise of the issue of transgenderism and gender-confusion. One can only imagine what issue will take center stage in 2018.
And, finally, for those of us who hold to the return of Christ, there is that ultimate question: Will 2018 be the year that the trumpet blows and Jesus returns for His Bride? Of all the questions to be pondered in 2018, I have to admit this is the most exciting one. How we pray with the Apostle John, "Come quickly, Lord Jesus." But we know that, until the trumpet does blow, we have a great work to be done to share with an increasingly spiritually darkened world that there is hope in Christ. That there is forgiveness in Christ. That there is love in Christ. That there is joy in Christ.
The New Year has arrived. It is time for followers of Jesus Christ to awaken out of our slumber and to begin to take a stand for Christ and His Kingdom.
Wednesday, December 20, 2017
Christmas Memories
There is an old Christmas song that begins with these amazing words: "It's the most wonderful time of the year." Truly those words echo within the hearts of many this Christmas Season. This is the season when scenes of "Christmases long ago" come rushing back into our memories. This is my first Christmas without my Mom. The other day I just sat and enjoyed remembering those Christmas scenes when I was a boy. My Mom loved to bake at Christmastime. She made dozens of cookies - more than one variety. She made pounds of candy - her burnt-sugar fudge would literally melt in your mouth. My Dad's job was to crack all the pecans and walnuts Mom would use in her baking and candy-making. He also led the charge in the peanut shelling. I was never very good at cracking a pecan without destroying the nutmeat, but I could shell peanuts. My siblings and I often had a contest to see who could shell the most peanuts.
Christmas morning would find us off to Yulatta at 6:00 a.m. You know, we did not even mind getting up early for that service. The air was crisp, the snow would crunch when you walked on it. There was a quietness and yet brilliance in the Christmas-night sky. With joy we would sing "Joy to the World, the Lord is come" and "O, Come All Ye Faithful." Then, just as the sun was beginning to peak over the horizon, we would hurry home. Breakfast was always served before the presents would arrive. Mom always had a Swedish cinnamon-pecan tea-ring that she served, drizzled with powdered-sugar frosting and decorated with red and green maraschino cherry pieces. A favorite treat were those gigantic Christmas oranges - there would be one beside each place setting. It was a breakfast that I always treasure. Then, after the dishes were done - no, we had no dishwasher to put them into - we all had to pitch in - then we gathered around the tree for the presents. I loved Christmas mornings. And, to be honest, I still miss an early Christmas morning worship service.
As I thought of many Christmas memories, I was reminded of a verse within the Luke Advent story that brought special meaning. Luke writes these words of Mary: "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart" (Luke 2:19). We like to imagine what the scene there in Bethlehem that night looked like. To be perfectly honest, we have a lot more questions than answers. Were there animals in that cave? How many shepherds came? Did they bring sheep with them? What kind of a child-birthing experience did Mary have? What was going through Joseph's mind as tried to comfort and encourage Mary as she delivered her first child? But, whatever happened that night, Luke tells us that "Mary treasured all those things and pondered them in her heart." I am confident that every year, around the time of Jesus's birthday, Mary would sit and remember that night. The story of the angelic visitation and of their anthem as shared by the shepherds brought joy. She would remember the kindness of Joseph and the smile that crossed his face as he delivered the Son of God.
Perhaps Mary pondered deeply a truth that still mystifies us today. That little baby she had just delivered and was now nursing at her breast; that little baby who then was quietly laid within a manger-bed and whose soft breaths gave a signal of peace; that little baby was God Himself! She had had the opportunity to ponder that mystery for the preceding nine-months. Yet, even as she saw the fruit of that amazing pregnancy lying there before her, there was still a mystery that surrounded it.
Friends, have you taken time this Christmas Season to have your mind stirred with the memories of Christmases in the past? But, more importantly, have you taken the time to just ponder the mystery of the Incarnation? I am drawn to those mystifying words from the Apostle John: "But the Word (and John has identified Who that Word is with his opening statement - "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God") became flesh and lived among us" (John 1:14). The Creator of the universe became part of His creation. The powerful El Shaddai became a helpless little baby. The One who rained down fire from heaven at a prophet's command, now cries out to His mother for life-sustaining nourishment. The One who called Himself the "Great I AM" now has a body with a beginning and an ending.
Friends, that is the mystery of the Incarnation. That child whose birthday we celebrate on Monday, is the Son of God. And there was only one purpose for His coming - to provide the way of salvation for sinful men and women, young men and young women, and boys and girls. I trust you have received that amazing gift that Jesus came to give.
This will be the final blog for 2017. Taking some time next week to spend with our family. So, I want to wish you and your families a very Joyous and Merry Christmas and a Blessed start to the New Year.
Christmas morning would find us off to Yulatta at 6:00 a.m. You know, we did not even mind getting up early for that service. The air was crisp, the snow would crunch when you walked on it. There was a quietness and yet brilliance in the Christmas-night sky. With joy we would sing "Joy to the World, the Lord is come" and "O, Come All Ye Faithful." Then, just as the sun was beginning to peak over the horizon, we would hurry home. Breakfast was always served before the presents would arrive. Mom always had a Swedish cinnamon-pecan tea-ring that she served, drizzled with powdered-sugar frosting and decorated with red and green maraschino cherry pieces. A favorite treat were those gigantic Christmas oranges - there would be one beside each place setting. It was a breakfast that I always treasure. Then, after the dishes were done - no, we had no dishwasher to put them into - we all had to pitch in - then we gathered around the tree for the presents. I loved Christmas mornings. And, to be honest, I still miss an early Christmas morning worship service.
As I thought of many Christmas memories, I was reminded of a verse within the Luke Advent story that brought special meaning. Luke writes these words of Mary: "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart" (Luke 2:19). We like to imagine what the scene there in Bethlehem that night looked like. To be perfectly honest, we have a lot more questions than answers. Were there animals in that cave? How many shepherds came? Did they bring sheep with them? What kind of a child-birthing experience did Mary have? What was going through Joseph's mind as tried to comfort and encourage Mary as she delivered her first child? But, whatever happened that night, Luke tells us that "Mary treasured all those things and pondered them in her heart." I am confident that every year, around the time of Jesus's birthday, Mary would sit and remember that night. The story of the angelic visitation and of their anthem as shared by the shepherds brought joy. She would remember the kindness of Joseph and the smile that crossed his face as he delivered the Son of God.
Perhaps Mary pondered deeply a truth that still mystifies us today. That little baby she had just delivered and was now nursing at her breast; that little baby who then was quietly laid within a manger-bed and whose soft breaths gave a signal of peace; that little baby was God Himself! She had had the opportunity to ponder that mystery for the preceding nine-months. Yet, even as she saw the fruit of that amazing pregnancy lying there before her, there was still a mystery that surrounded it.
Friends, have you taken time this Christmas Season to have your mind stirred with the memories of Christmases in the past? But, more importantly, have you taken the time to just ponder the mystery of the Incarnation? I am drawn to those mystifying words from the Apostle John: "But the Word (and John has identified Who that Word is with his opening statement - "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God") became flesh and lived among us" (John 1:14). The Creator of the universe became part of His creation. The powerful El Shaddai became a helpless little baby. The One who rained down fire from heaven at a prophet's command, now cries out to His mother for life-sustaining nourishment. The One who called Himself the "Great I AM" now has a body with a beginning and an ending.
Friends, that is the mystery of the Incarnation. That child whose birthday we celebrate on Monday, is the Son of God. And there was only one purpose for His coming - to provide the way of salvation for sinful men and women, young men and young women, and boys and girls. I trust you have received that amazing gift that Jesus came to give.
This will be the final blog for 2017. Taking some time next week to spend with our family. So, I want to wish you and your families a very Joyous and Merry Christmas and a Blessed start to the New Year.
Wednesday, December 13, 2017
A Reading Wish-List for Christmas
Christmas is less than two weeks away. This weekend is our annual Living Nativity which has been hosted by our church family for many years. It comes complete with camels, a cow, a donkey, some goats, and, this year, some chickens. There will be some Roman soldiers who will announce that taxes are due to the Emperor. Shepherds and wise men will roam the hallways sharing their stories with any who will stop to listen. And all will be directed toward the stable where Joseph and Mary tenderly care for their little baby boy. This year we have added a main street to our Bethlehem, featuring a woodworking shop, the office of a scribe, and a food vendor offering the delicacies of the First Century. Last year we had over 1500 people visit Bethlehem and experience in a new way the real reason for Christmas. Here is my invitation to any of you living near Buffalo, MN: Come and join us this Saturday or Sunday evening. The Living Nativity is open from 5:00-7:00 p.m. The cookies will be home-made and the chocolate and coffee will be hot.
It seems that about this time every year I share with you some of the books that I have read and highly recommend. The winter months are great times to sit near a warm fire with a cup of hot cider and enjoy a good book. This past year the Church has celebrated the 500th Anniversary of the beginning of the Reformation. Several biographies of Martin Luther were published. Eric Metaxas has written an outstanding biography of this Augustinian monk who dedicated his life to helping people understand that salvation does not come through any efforts of their own. It comes only through faith. Metaxas's book is titled, Martin Luther. I found the book to be a fascinating read. The author, at times, seeks to enter into the very mind of his subject to better understand why he did what he did. What I also appreciated about this book was the careful descriptions of those men who influenced Luther and were in turn influenced by Luther. For example, I was unaware that Luther never personally met the Elector Frederick who was responsible for Luther obtaining a position of teaching at the new university in Wittenberg and who protected Luther when the Church turned against him. And, of course, Metaxas does an excellent job of helping us to enter into the marriage of Luther and his Katie. What a remarkable woman she truly was. Not only will this book help you to better understand the life of this remarkable man, but it will also give you insights into the culture of the sixteenth century. If you were to read only one book about Luther, this is the book I would highly recommend.
A second book that is recommended is titled, Killing England. This is the seventh book in the "Killing" series written by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard. Over the past several years, I have devoted more of my private reading to better understanding the American Revolutionary times. I have discovered that there is a complexity about that era that truly defines it. In this book, which I must admit I had a difficult time putting down, the authors portray the ebb and flow of the Revolutionary War. Although the book does not purport to be written from an evangelical or even Christian perspective, the authors do point out those moments when Someone stepped in just when defeat seemed inevitable. As with all of the books in the "Killing" series, this book is well foot-noted for further referencing.
There is one other book that I highly recommend. It was written by Jim Putman and is titled, Real-Life Discipleship: Building Churches That Make Disciples. The Adult Ministries Pastor here at our church introduced many of us to this book. You know we spend a lot of time in our churches talking about being a disciple-making church. But what does that look like? How does a church make disciples who, then in turn, make disciples for Jesus Christ? This book begins that discussion. There is a 30-week training process that accompanies this book. I have been privileged to be part of that training process this year. We are near the half-way point. It has been refreshing to relate with two other men in my triad on a weekly basis. We are asking ourselves first, what does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus, and then, how can we help others to become disciples. Discipleship is not a lecture that can be attended, or a course that one can graduate from. Discipleship flows from an intentional relationship, based upon truth, that I have with someone else. I have to admit that this book, and the accompanying training, has opened my eyes to see discipleship in a whole new light. I strongly recommend it for a small group that really wants to see God do something through their lives.
So, if you are still wondering what to put on your Christmas list, perhaps one of these books might be recommended. Reading will stretch your minds and also challenge your hearts.
May God bless you as you prepare your hearts for our Savior's birthday.
It seems that about this time every year I share with you some of the books that I have read and highly recommend. The winter months are great times to sit near a warm fire with a cup of hot cider and enjoy a good book. This past year the Church has celebrated the 500th Anniversary of the beginning of the Reformation. Several biographies of Martin Luther were published. Eric Metaxas has written an outstanding biography of this Augustinian monk who dedicated his life to helping people understand that salvation does not come through any efforts of their own. It comes only through faith. Metaxas's book is titled, Martin Luther. I found the book to be a fascinating read. The author, at times, seeks to enter into the very mind of his subject to better understand why he did what he did. What I also appreciated about this book was the careful descriptions of those men who influenced Luther and were in turn influenced by Luther. For example, I was unaware that Luther never personally met the Elector Frederick who was responsible for Luther obtaining a position of teaching at the new university in Wittenberg and who protected Luther when the Church turned against him. And, of course, Metaxas does an excellent job of helping us to enter into the marriage of Luther and his Katie. What a remarkable woman she truly was. Not only will this book help you to better understand the life of this remarkable man, but it will also give you insights into the culture of the sixteenth century. If you were to read only one book about Luther, this is the book I would highly recommend.
A second book that is recommended is titled, Killing England. This is the seventh book in the "Killing" series written by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard. Over the past several years, I have devoted more of my private reading to better understanding the American Revolutionary times. I have discovered that there is a complexity about that era that truly defines it. In this book, which I must admit I had a difficult time putting down, the authors portray the ebb and flow of the Revolutionary War. Although the book does not purport to be written from an evangelical or even Christian perspective, the authors do point out those moments when Someone stepped in just when defeat seemed inevitable. As with all of the books in the "Killing" series, this book is well foot-noted for further referencing.
There is one other book that I highly recommend. It was written by Jim Putman and is titled, Real-Life Discipleship: Building Churches That Make Disciples. The Adult Ministries Pastor here at our church introduced many of us to this book. You know we spend a lot of time in our churches talking about being a disciple-making church. But what does that look like? How does a church make disciples who, then in turn, make disciples for Jesus Christ? This book begins that discussion. There is a 30-week training process that accompanies this book. I have been privileged to be part of that training process this year. We are near the half-way point. It has been refreshing to relate with two other men in my triad on a weekly basis. We are asking ourselves first, what does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus, and then, how can we help others to become disciples. Discipleship is not a lecture that can be attended, or a course that one can graduate from. Discipleship flows from an intentional relationship, based upon truth, that I have with someone else. I have to admit that this book, and the accompanying training, has opened my eyes to see discipleship in a whole new light. I strongly recommend it for a small group that really wants to see God do something through their lives.
So, if you are still wondering what to put on your Christmas list, perhaps one of these books might be recommended. Reading will stretch your minds and also challenge your hearts.
May God bless you as you prepare your hearts for our Savior's birthday.
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
Jerusalem: It's Time to Recognize It As Israel's Capital
The world woke up this morning to startling headlines: President Trump is going to declare that Jerusalem is the undisputed capital of Israel and that the United States is planning to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The announcement is scheduled for today.
Already nations in the Middle East have sounded the alarm. Hamas has declared Friday to be a "day of rage" following Friday services at the mosques. They are even advocating violence as part of the demonstrations against this decision. The president of Turkey has indicated that if President Trump follows through with this declaration that it is a "red line" within the Muslim world. Other Middle Eastern nations have made similar statements, including Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Thoughts have ranged from violence on the streets, to demonstrations in front of American embassies, to the total collapse of any further peace-talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
Of course the sides are divided. In an article written by Loveday Morris and Ruth Eglash from the Washington Post, and published on December 2 in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, several leaders within the Palestinian and Israeli communities were asked about the impact such a decision would have upon the relationships between Israel and the Palestinians. Gais Abdul Karim, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, when asked about the impact of a Trump declaration that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, said, "This would be even more problematic, as this would involve direct recognition of the Israeli annexation of East Jerusalem. It would also be recognition of the illegal Israeli move to announce Jerusalem as a capital." He went on to say, "The U.S. will lose its status as a broker and declare itself as an ally to Israel. It will be a complete catastrophe and perhaps a final end to the attempts by the U.S. administration to start a process."
When asked the same question, Nachman Shai, a member of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, responded: "Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, and we want it to be internationally recognized. When Israel was declared in 1948, some world countries did recognize Jerusalem, and they even had their consulates and embassies here. But after the 1967 war, some of them moved, and later, following each crisis, even more left. I understand the issue with territories, but Jerusalem will always be Israel's capital. And what does it really mean if the embassy is in Jerusalem? Why should it not be in Jerusalem? I think every country in the world would expect foreign embassies to be in their capital."
These are just two differing opinions. Since its declaration as an independent state on May 14, 1948, the center of Israeli government has been in Jerusalem. I have driven by the Knesset many times. The Knesset is the equivalent of our Congress. Nearby are the offices of the various departments of Israeli government. The residence of the Prime Minister is located in Jerusalem. When foreign dignitaries come to Israel, those meetings are held in Jerusalem.
Yes, for nineteen years - 1948 to 1967 - Jerusalem was a divided city. East Jerusalem was Arab, while West Jerusalem, where the government was seated, was Jewish. Jerusalem became an united city following the close of the 1967 Six Day War. At that time Jewish leaders declared that Jerusalem would never again be a divided city. And it has not been, although in the eyes of many around the world, there still is that line of demarcation that exists. One can travel freely today from East Jerusalem into West Jerusalem. They are no check points. To the pilgrim visiting Jerusalem, it is one large growing city.
And yet tensions run high between those living in East Jerusalem from the rest of Jerusalemites. Just a little spark can set off a massive emotional explosion. Will this declaration by President Trump today be that little spark? One can only hope that it is not! The moving of the embassy will take several years, but this declaration will begin that process. Here is what is often overlooked in this matter of the embassy in Israel: Presidents Clinton, Bush, and Obama all declared that they would move the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Friends, Congress authorized the funding of such a move decades ago, but it has just been a matter of talk. Here is where President Trump is different. He follows through on what he says he will do, and the world is beginning to recognize that he is not your traditional political talking head. And this is what makes them nervous. It is what makes leaders in Congress nervous.
During the campaign, Candidate Trump declared that, if he became President, he would move the embassy of the United States from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Now, it seems that promise is one step closer to being fulfilled.
Friends, you need to remember that Jerusalem's history is not yet completed. We know that someday - and hopefully very soon - Jesus Christ will reign from David's throne there in Jerusalem. At that time every nation in the world will come to Jerusalem to worship God and to pay homage to King Jesus. Jerusalem is still to experience some terrible days of suffering before King Jesus comes, but it will survive.
I always tell my congregation and students, keep your eyes focused upon Jerusalem for that is where all history will climax. That is the intentions of our God. Let me close with these words from the Prophet Ezekiel: "This is what the Sovereign LORD says: 'This is Jerusalem, which I have set in the center of the nations, with countries all around her" (Ezekiel 5:5).
Already nations in the Middle East have sounded the alarm. Hamas has declared Friday to be a "day of rage" following Friday services at the mosques. They are even advocating violence as part of the demonstrations against this decision. The president of Turkey has indicated that if President Trump follows through with this declaration that it is a "red line" within the Muslim world. Other Middle Eastern nations have made similar statements, including Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Thoughts have ranged from violence on the streets, to demonstrations in front of American embassies, to the total collapse of any further peace-talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
Of course the sides are divided. In an article written by Loveday Morris and Ruth Eglash from the Washington Post, and published on December 2 in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, several leaders within the Palestinian and Israeli communities were asked about the impact such a decision would have upon the relationships between Israel and the Palestinians. Gais Abdul Karim, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, when asked about the impact of a Trump declaration that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, said, "This would be even more problematic, as this would involve direct recognition of the Israeli annexation of East Jerusalem. It would also be recognition of the illegal Israeli move to announce Jerusalem as a capital." He went on to say, "The U.S. will lose its status as a broker and declare itself as an ally to Israel. It will be a complete catastrophe and perhaps a final end to the attempts by the U.S. administration to start a process."
When asked the same question, Nachman Shai, a member of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, responded: "Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, and we want it to be internationally recognized. When Israel was declared in 1948, some world countries did recognize Jerusalem, and they even had their consulates and embassies here. But after the 1967 war, some of them moved, and later, following each crisis, even more left. I understand the issue with territories, but Jerusalem will always be Israel's capital. And what does it really mean if the embassy is in Jerusalem? Why should it not be in Jerusalem? I think every country in the world would expect foreign embassies to be in their capital."
These are just two differing opinions. Since its declaration as an independent state on May 14, 1948, the center of Israeli government has been in Jerusalem. I have driven by the Knesset many times. The Knesset is the equivalent of our Congress. Nearby are the offices of the various departments of Israeli government. The residence of the Prime Minister is located in Jerusalem. When foreign dignitaries come to Israel, those meetings are held in Jerusalem.
Yes, for nineteen years - 1948 to 1967 - Jerusalem was a divided city. East Jerusalem was Arab, while West Jerusalem, where the government was seated, was Jewish. Jerusalem became an united city following the close of the 1967 Six Day War. At that time Jewish leaders declared that Jerusalem would never again be a divided city. And it has not been, although in the eyes of many around the world, there still is that line of demarcation that exists. One can travel freely today from East Jerusalem into West Jerusalem. They are no check points. To the pilgrim visiting Jerusalem, it is one large growing city.
And yet tensions run high between those living in East Jerusalem from the rest of Jerusalemites. Just a little spark can set off a massive emotional explosion. Will this declaration by President Trump today be that little spark? One can only hope that it is not! The moving of the embassy will take several years, but this declaration will begin that process. Here is what is often overlooked in this matter of the embassy in Israel: Presidents Clinton, Bush, and Obama all declared that they would move the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Friends, Congress authorized the funding of such a move decades ago, but it has just been a matter of talk. Here is where President Trump is different. He follows through on what he says he will do, and the world is beginning to recognize that he is not your traditional political talking head. And this is what makes them nervous. It is what makes leaders in Congress nervous.
During the campaign, Candidate Trump declared that, if he became President, he would move the embassy of the United States from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Now, it seems that promise is one step closer to being fulfilled.
Friends, you need to remember that Jerusalem's history is not yet completed. We know that someday - and hopefully very soon - Jesus Christ will reign from David's throne there in Jerusalem. At that time every nation in the world will come to Jerusalem to worship God and to pay homage to King Jesus. Jerusalem is still to experience some terrible days of suffering before King Jesus comes, but it will survive.
I always tell my congregation and students, keep your eyes focused upon Jerusalem for that is where all history will climax. That is the intentions of our God. Let me close with these words from the Prophet Ezekiel: "This is what the Sovereign LORD says: 'This is Jerusalem, which I have set in the center of the nations, with countries all around her" (Ezekiel 5:5).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
