Serendipitous Ruminations

There have been several thoughts banging around in this empty head of mine; I need to get them in print. Here they are in no particular order:

• Any attempt to gain revenue by normalizing or legalizing a vice has proved counter-productive in the State of Oklahoma. First it was "Liquor by the drink", then para-mutual horse racing, then Indian casinos, then the lottery. They are looking at legalizing marijuana. What's next legalized prostitution?
• I visited the Jewish Art Museum in Tulsa yesterday. In their holocaust exhibition, they noted that Henry Ford was antisemitic and for a time, place antisemitic literature in the glove box of each new car he sold.
• The birth certificate that the White House presented as Obama's ORIGINAL birth certificate doesn't look anything like my original birth certificate. (He was born two years before me) It does, however, look like a copy of my birth certificate that I got back in the 1980's. We are being lied to.
• I am appalled at the attempt to normalize homosexuality.  Anyone who stands against this abomination is labeled as a homophobe or a bigot.  I have felt more hate directed at me for my views on homosexuality (which are in line with the Bible) than for any of my other opinions. For those who tout tolerance, they aren't very tolerant of me.
• The gun control issue isn't about guns; it's about control. The cities with the highest homicide rates are those with the strictest gun control. I really think they are afraid that they might lose their tyrannical power by allowing us to maintain our 2nd Amendment right. Wait a minute! Isn't that what the 2nd Amendment is all about?
• If it wasn't so pitiful and sad, I would find it hysterically amusing that homosexual "couples", especially lesbian couples, must have one partner who assumes the male role and one who assumes the female role. I've seen numerous "wedding" pictures where one of the women is dressed as a man and the other in a bridal dress. 
• Islam is NOT a religion of peace. It is a religion of hate and violence. Allah is not the same as the One true God of the Bible. It embodies the spirit of the antichrist. 
• I find it interesting that Hollywood's portrayal of lesbians is very very different from reality. Hollywood shows two slim, hot women who are extremely feminine and sensual; Walmart and the news show two obese decidedly butch and unattractive women. Then again, Hollywood has never been good at portraying reality.
• National Democratic politicians scream "racism" at every opportunity, but their own policies and programs are extremely racist, especially against African Americans. Their support of Planned Parenthood has killed more African Americans than the KKK could have ever imagined.
• I don't trust anyone in the current administration. Something is afoot.
• GENERALLY, churches with the words Liberty, Grace, Free, or Abundant are filled with anything but grace. It OFTEN denotes extreme legalism.
• I'll bet that the missing Malaysian Airlines plane is in Pakistan.
• One of the things that irk me most is church people who do something wrong, get caught, then lie about it, usually implicating someone else (often the preacher). Pride is so evil.
• Smokers are generally, some of the most selfish people you will ever meet. There is nothing worse than an angry militant smoker who demands their right to smoke, no matter the place or present company. They don't recognize that their addiction truly makes a slave of them to nicotine. And there is no way to hide it. You can't smoke at home or in the car and then cover it up with perfume; that doesn't work.
• I believe the Return of Jesus is eminent. Possibly by the end of next year.  Are you ready?

Jewish Messiah

I found the following description of who the Jews are looking to as their messiah:

The Mashiach

The mashiach will be a great political leader descended from King David (Jeremiah 23:5). The mashiach is often referred to as "mashiach ben David" (mashiach, son of David). He will be well-versed in Jewish law, and observant of its commandments (Isaiah 11:2-5). He will be a charismatic leader, inspiring others to follow his example. He will be a great military leader, who will win battles for Israel. He will be a great judge, who makes righteous decisions (Jeremiah 33:15). But above all, he will be a human being, not a god, demi-god or other supernatural being.
It has been said that in every generation, a person is born with the potential to be the mashiach. If the time is right for the messianic age within that person's lifetime, then that person will be the mashiach. But if that person dies before he completes the mission of the mashiach, then that person is not the mashiach. 

What About Jesus?

Jews do not believe that Jesus was the mashiach. Assuming that he existed, and assuming that the Christian scriptures are accurate in describing him (both matters that are debatable), he simply did not fulfill the mission of the mashiach as it is described in the biblical passages cited above. Jesus did not do any of the things that the scriptures said the messiah would do.                                                                        [http://www.jewfaq.org/mashiach.htm]

When I was in Israel last December, I was sitting on the steps of the Church of the Agony just outside the Garden of Gethsemane, looking across to the Eastern Gate. I asked our Jewish tour guide what she thought about the messiah. Her thoughts were extremely similar to the views expressed above.  She did laugh at the Muslims for thinking they could prohibit the Messiah from using the Eastern Gate by putting a cemetery there. She said that the messiah would have supernatural properties and could fly over the cemetery, if he wanted to. She also said that a cemetery wouldn't stop him anyway, as he would not be a levite and therefore not have any prohibition regarding touching the dead.

View of the Eastern Gate with Muslim cemetery blocking the entrance at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

 
Our church prays for Israel and for the Jews that they would recognize Jesus as God's Son, and therefore the Messiah or Mashiach.

Church Refuses to Apologize for Offensive Message

Immanuel Southern Baptist Church in Wagoner, OK, refuses to apologize for a message on their sign which offends every major religion in the world.

Offensive Message

The sign reads, "JESUS - THE ONLY NAME BY WHICH WE CAN BE SAVED"


The message is offensive to major world religions because it implies that their belief system will not get them to God.

"It is a myth that all religions lead to God," said, Rick Boyne, Pastor.  "The Bible says that the only way to God is through Jesus.  We're not going to apologize for what the Bible says.

The message offends Jews because they do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah.

The message offends Muslims because they do not recognize Jesus as the Son of God.

The message offends Buddhists because it denies 'enlightenment' and synchronicity.

The message offends Hindus because it denies Karma and their host of false gods.

The message offends atheists (yes, it is a belief system) because it denies their denial of God and the need for salvation.

The message offends unbelievers of any religion because it confronts their need for salvation.

The message even offends many Christians because it denies that salvation is by works, or "being good."

The church sign is located at 611 N. Gertrude Ave, Wagoner, OK 74467.  The pastor can be reached for comment at rick (at) immanuelsouthern (dot) com.

End Times in Action

Well, it looks like religion is becoming one, ushering in a "one world religion" as eluded to in the book of Revelation.

As of today, Claremont Seminary, Claremont, CA, has introduced  clerical training for Muslims and Jews, as part of their regular theological cirriculum.  They hope to add training for Hindus and Buddhists in the near future.  Here is the LA Times article for more detail.

The school is one of thirteen associated with the United Methodist Church.

Considering their rich theological heritage, dating from the 1890's
they should know better!

Something to the Rumor

Well, there must be a little more to the rumor than just internet scuttlebutt.  The following quote comes from an international security firm that puts out a daily update of world events, called "Hotspots"

Israel (Country threat level - 4): Rioting occurred in the East Jerusalem neighborhoods of Issawiya, Wadi Joz and Abu Tor on 16 March 2010 during Palestinian protests against the reopening of a synagogue in the area. Angry demonstrators burned tires and threw rocks at anti-riot police officers, who responded with tear gas and rubber bullets. At least 20 protesters and two police officers were injured in the unrest. Authorities have been on a heightened state of alert in Jerusalem, which has experienced a significant degree of unrest in recent weeks, motivated by several developments that include Israeli building announcements for East Jerusalem, Israel’s decision to add two disputed shrines in the West Bank to its list of national heritage sites and rumors of an impending Jewish settlers' takeover of al-Aqsa Mosque at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem’s Old City.

The Palestinian Hamas faction had reportedly called for a day of rage on 16 March, prompting authorities to deploy thousands of additional security personnel in Jerusalem; there were reports that authorities had turned back buses of Palestinians attempting to enter Jerusalem to join protests. There were also reports of additional disturbances near the Old City, including near the Mughrabi and Majlis gates. The aforementioned developments in recent weeks combined with the lack of progress in the peace process have only exacerbated Muslim-Jewish tensions in Jerusalem as well as the West Bank, and further disturbances are likely to occur in the near-term.

I continue to find this very interesting indeed!

Just a Rumor

I posted a story about the rumor that construction on the Third Temple of Jerusalem was to begin on today, March 16.

Unfortunately, it was just a rumor.

A colleague of mine just returned from the Holy Land (for the 23rd time) and said that while all the temple tools are ready and warehoused, construction hasn't begun because the Jews look upon the area as defiled because of the Islamic structures in place.

Yet, isn't it interesting how, Israel, so small and insignificant, remains in the news all the time? 

I heard just yesterday that the relationship strain between the US and Israel is at all time high, that is, most strained, now, because of Obama's insistence of no more building and Israel's insistence to build.

I'm not going to get into that, because, well, I don't want to.  However, I think there is something to the fact that when we bless Israel, we are blessed and when we curse Israel, we will be cursed.

I personally don't like the path that our president is taking us.  I personally feel as if he has no regard for Israel.  If we don't take up for them, there won't be anyone who will.

Of course, this may all be a part of God's master plan; I don't claim to  be privy to that!

Nevertheless, pray for Israel, that they would recognize Jesus as the Messiah!

Third Temple Construction to begin on March 16?

The internet is aflutter with rumours that the Third Temple of God will begin construction on March 16. Evidently, this is an eighteenth century prophesy from a rabbi.

Not being Jewish, or connected to the Jewish community, this is the first I have heard about it. However, within the span of this week, I have found it in several different sources.

To be honest, I'm not sure exactly what I believe about the rebuilding of the Temple. I know that some say it is necessary before Christ will return. Others say that the Temple is not necessary because in the New Covenant, our bodies are the Temple of the Holy Spirit.

I do know that the world is changing in a very weird way. I believe that the world is poised to receive the Antichrist. I believe with all my heart that the return of Jesus is imminent and very well may happen in my lifetime, if not in the next 20 years.

The Temple Institute has completed all of the necessary fittings and ceremonial tools to conduct Temple services. There was even a tradition among rabbis that the needed red heifer would come from a gentile with a Biblical name. Mr. Lott from Mississippi provided the red heifer.

I certainly don't claim to be an expert on End Times. The only thing I know for sure is that "Jesus will return". Are you ready for that to happen? Have you given your heart to Him? Is your body the temple of the Holy Spirit?

Don't delay - the end could come sooner than you expect.