Mike Huckabee discusses Christmas

Still think he should have been the Republican presidential candidate.

Hanukkah

Chanukkah begins at sunset on Sunday December 21, 2008
and continues through nightfall on Monday December 29, 2008.
The first candle is lit the night of 12/21.
The last candle is lit the night of 12/28.

From Judaism 101.

Fourth Sunday in Advent, 2008 A.D.

This is another of those texts that has to be read every year during the season:

The Twelve Days of Christmas

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning, plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality, which the children could remember.

• The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
• Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.
• Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.
• The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.
• The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
• The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
• Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.
• The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
• Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control.
• The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.
• The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
• The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

Oncologist 12/18/08

Went to the oncologist yesterday for my check. All of my blood counts are doing what they are supposed to except the blood coagulation. The IGG and monoclonal proteins that reflect the amount of cancer are both downs. The medication is working!!

I'm on rest until Wednesday from the Revlimid regime. I do 21 days on and 7 days off. Christmas Eve I will start the Revlimid again. Maybe the side effects won't get started until after Christmas.

God is Good!

"Silent Night"

I have posted this story before, Christmas in the Trenches, during the Advent season but this is a little different version (and shorter) than before. This version is from my daily devotional for today. It is from "Hope for Each Day: Words of Wisdom and Faith" from Billy Graham:

Perfect Peace

During the First World War, on Christmas Eve, the battlefield was strangely quiet. As the soft snow fell, the thoughts of the your men were of home and their families.

Softly one lad began to hum "Silent Night." Others took up the chorus until the trenches resounded with the Christmas song. When they finished they were astonished to hear the song echoing from the trenches across no-man's-land: In their own tongue the other soldiers also sang "Silent Night." That night they were thinking of The Prince of Peace, the Christ of Christmas.

How different this world would be if we could unite together around the "Holy Infant so tender and mild." Earth can be as Heaven with Christ. Discord can be as peace when Christ in near. Midnight gloom can be transformed into noonday brightness when He abides with us.

Full peace will come only when Christ returns. But until that day we can know His peace in our hearts and can be messengers of this peace in the world, as we commit our lives to him.

This is such a powerful story for us. It always moves me to know what humans are capable of when the desire is present.

CLASSIC: My "First" Christmas

From the Santa Claus Blog:

I have shared this story of my "First" Christmas before but I have had several requests in my email inbox to repeat it again this year. I hope you enjoy it. Merry Christmas! - Love, Santa.

The first Christmas I remember was when I was 3 years old. I lived with my father and mother near the small village of Drobak. My father was an exiled king. Before I was born, he had ruled a kingdom that stretches across much of what is now Germany. Soon after my mother became pregnant with me, my father's younger brother, who had been the next in line for the throne, conspired with a neighboring king to overthrow my father. Fearing for the life of my mother and me, my father fled to Norway. Though my father remained extremely wealthy, having escaped with much of the family treasures, we lived like paupers so as not to draw attention to ourselves. Our house was just outside the Village. My father had built it with his own hands. It was probably the first thing he had ever built. It was small, drafty, and almost perptually [sic] dark as it sat under the deep cover of the forest... the only warmth coming from a stone fireplace and the only light from that fire and the candles my mother had made. Yet when we were all there together, it somehow seemed to glow with warmth. Back then, there was no Santa Claus (obviously!) to bring presents, no Christmas parades, no Christmas parties, no Sales at the mall, no TV Holiday Specials, no Christmas carols, nor gift giving. There were certainly no Christmas lights. In fact, the only semblance of a decoration for most families at that time was a small tree. Traditionally, a small tree was cut each year and brought inside on Christmas Eve to be decorated by the family. As you can tell, our Christmases were pretty "bare" by today's standards. From that 'first' Christmas, aged 3, I remember getting in the sleigh right after we finished decorating our tree on Christmas Eve. We traveled several kilometers through the woods to the closest church. I remember my father crying - a small tear running down his cheek - as the priest told the story of how God had sent His only Son to the world - not as a prince but as a poor baby sleeping in rags in a stable - in order to save the very people that no longer believed in God. After the service, he knelt and prayed for the longest time. I do not know until this day what he prayed but as I now look back, I can imagine that he gave thanks and prayed that he would have the strength to be an example of that kind of love. It was dark by the time we started our trip back home. We stopped several times. Each time my father would jump out of his seat, pull something from the sleigh, and bound through the snow towards a nearby cabin. As I grew older, and after many years of the same stops, I figured out that my father was leaving small bags of gold coins at the doors of those most needy. The next morning, the residents would wake up to find the coins at their doorstep and their quality of life changed forever. Never again would they wonder where the next meal would come. No one ever expected it to be my father and that was exactly how he wanted it. I fell quickly asleep once we returned home. As I would every Christmas after that until I moved out, I awoke to the sounds of people chattering excitedly about Christmas morning. The smell of pancakes and hot cider permeated the air. Most of the villagers were gathering at our house. We didn't have much space, but somehow, almost everyone squeezed into that small, 1-room home for a delicious Christmas morning breakfast that my mom had stayed up all night to prepare. She did not want anyone to be alone on Christmas Day. She told me that morning that she believed Christmas was a day of Hope, intended to be spent rejoicing with friends and family rather than focusing on every day trials. I will never forget that Christmas, though I was merely 3 years old. At the time I did not know it, but this was our annual Christmas tradition. My father never stopped weeping at the Christmas story. And he never stopped giving anonymously to those in need. And my mother never stopped hosting the village in our home on Christmas Day. As I grow older, I realize that my parents lived life, and approached every decision, with that same spirit of Christmas. The lessons they have taught me, will never leave me. I only pray to set the same example of selfless giving that my father & mother set before me. Merry Christmas, all!

Third Sunday in Advent, 2008 A.D.

It just isn't Christmas unless I read Virginia's letter sometime during the season. To see a copy of the newspaper clipping click here. The time it is courtesy of Newseum.org:

Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus

Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York's Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history's most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps.

"DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.
"Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
"Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.'
"Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?

"VIRGINIA O'HANLON.
"115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET."

VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Oncologist visit 12/12

Went to the oncologist yesterday. Blood counts were looking good overall. The INR (measures blood coagulation) still was not where it needs to be so we increased by coumadin again.

My absolute neutrophils (immunity) had gone down. This means my immunity to contagions is decreasing, so be careful about coming around me if you are ill. This isn't an unexpected change. It indicates that the Revlimid is working.

My next appointment is Thursday. At that time I will be on my first 7 day rest period from the Revlimid but we will decided whether to continue to the second 21 day cycle of Revlimid.

Probably not PC, but true

*Twas the month before Christmas*

*When all through our land,*

*Not a Christian was praying*

*Nor taking a stand.*

*See the PC Police had taken away,*

*The reason for Christmas - no one could say.*

*The children were told by their schools not to sing,*

*About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.*

*It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say*

* December 25th is just a 'Holiday'.*

*Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit*

*Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!*

*CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod*

*Something was changing, something quite odd! *

*Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa*

*In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.*

*As Targets were hanging their trees upside down*

* At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.*

*At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears*

*You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.*

*Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty*

*Are words that were used to intimidate me.*

*Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen*

*On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!*

*At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter*

*To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.*

*And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith*

* Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace*

*The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded*

*The reason for the season, stopped before it started.*

*So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'*

*Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.*

*Choose your words carefully, choose what you say*

*Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS ,

not Happy Holiday!*

Please, all Christians join together and

wish everyone you meet

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Christ is 'The Reason' for the Christ-mas Season!

Second Sunday of Advent, 2007 A.D.

Remembrances of Advent with a Friend (Repost)

Paul Berry was a great friend and spiritual mentor to me. He is is greatly missed. During Advent I always find my way back to his writings. They always have much timeless meaning. Hope you enjoy this one for the 2nd Sunday of Advent, 2008.

This is from Paul Berry for Christmas, 2002.

God did not send into our tormented world
technical aid,
Gabriel with a group of experts.
God did not send food,
not discarded clothes of angels.
Even less did God extend long term loans.
Rather God came to us,
born in a stable,
starved in the desert,
naked on a cross,
and sharing with us God became our bread
and suffering with us God became our joy.

Someone
Said it was over,
when it ís only just begun.
So keep your lights ablaze as friends come around to call
but above all be aware that

Someone
has come to us in this winter light,
at the dark time of the year,
when comets blaze, and starlight falls,
and the remaining green trees speak of endless life,
and candy canes are shepherds' crooks,
while carols sing of "peace on earth,"
and the New Year comes when we may give and know
and nurture love,
as we grow in grace, and the glad heart sings
of the gifts of joy that his presence brings.

Oncologist 12/5/2008

Friday was my weekly visit to the oncologist primarily to check my blood counts. The primary new medication I'm taking can cause blood clots so I'm taking coumadin to thin my blood.

My blood is getting thinner but still isn't as thin as needed so they increased the amount of coumadin I'm taking. Last week the INR (coagulation indicator) was 1. Friday it was 1.3. The goal is between 2 and 3.

All in all it was a pretty uneventful doctor appointment.

I'm feeling pretty good most of the time. I have good day and bad, good times and bad. The biggest complaints are being tired and waking up too early in the mornings. Life is tough, huh!

A Christmas Story for people having a bad day

When four of Santa's elves got sick, the trainee elves did not produce toys as fast as the regular ones, and Santa began to feel the Pre-Christmas pressure.

Then Mrs Claus told Santa her Mother was coming to visit, which stressed Santa even more.

When he went to harness the reindeer, he found that three of them were about to give birth and two others had jumped the fence and were out, Heaven knows where.

Then when he began to load the sleigh, one of the floorboards cracked, the toy bag fell to the ground and all the toys were scattered.

Frustrated, Santa went in the house for a cup of apple cider and a shot of rum. When he went to the cupboard, he discovered the elves had drank all the cider and hidden the liquor. In his frustration, he accidentally dropped the cider jug, and it broke into hundreds of little glass pieces all over the kitchen floor. He went to get the broom and found the mice had eaten all the straw off the end of the broom.

Just then the doorbell rang, and irritated Santa marched to the door, yanked it open, and there stood a little angel with a great big Christmas tree. The angel said very cheerfully, 'Merry Christmas, Santa. Isn't this a lovely day? I have a beautiful tree for you. Where would you like me to stick it?'

And so began the tradition of the little angel on top of the Christmas tree.

first Sunday of Advent, A.D. 2008

The offering of a prayer:

Claiming God's Promises and Scriptures

As a child of the King I claim the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control; here there is no conflict with the law. Since I live by faith and follow the Holy Spirit, I will let Him lead me in every part of my life. I will not become conceited or irritate my brothers and sisters in Christ, nor iwll I be jealous of any of them. I always put on the full armor of God so that I can stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the devil, and I use every piece of God's armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle I will still be standing firm. I put on the sturdy belt of truth and body armor of God's righteousness. My shoes are the shoes of peace that comes from the Good News, so I am fully prepared. Since I need faith in every battle to stop the fiery arrows aimed a me by Satan, I will also put on my helmet and take the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. I will pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. I will stay alert and be persistent in my prayer for all Christians everywhere, and I will also follow The Golden Rule in my daily life.

{Author unknown}

Health Update 9/28/08

Day 1 on the new regime was Wednesday starting with the dexamethasone (steroid). My blood sugar immediately took off for the high(er) ground. The blood sugar was high Wednesday and Thursday (Thanksgiving) then yesterday and, so far, today they have actually been normal... not normal for me but normal for normal people. It's so confusing! Anyway, I take the dexamethasone every seven days during the cycle.

I also started the coumadin and Revlimid on Wednesday. Since the Revlimid can cause blood clots I have to take the coumadin to keep my blood thin. I go in every week to have my blood checked. This week, it was a little early since I had only been on the regime for three days, but next week will be a full blood test.

Other than being extremely tired and pretty emotional I have been doing well.

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving; I did!

Miracle on the 17th Green

"Miracle on the 17th Green" by James Patterson and Peter deJonge was originally published in 1996 so it is an early Patterson book. It is an easy and fast read with only 149 pages.

It is not "just" a golf book but a basic knowledge of golf will make the novel much more enjoyable. However, you don't have to have a golf history to enjoy the book.

The story is about a man unhappy with his life, attitude, and direction who is quite disconnected with his wife and children. It is surprising what and how he decides to do about his life.

Once An Arafat Man

"Once an Arafat Man" by Tass Saada with Dean Merrill is subtitled "The True Story of How a PLO Sniper Found a New Life."

First, Tass Saada is the father of one of my fellow bloggers that I read on a daily basis, Ben Abu Saada. He is also the Worship Minister of Grace Church in south Overland Park, Kansas.

This is a MUST read for everyone!

This is Mr. Saada's biography and covers his life up to just months ago. For any Christian, Jew or Muslim it will open your eyes as to what has been going on and is currently going on in the middle east.

Although this book covers the time when Mr. Saada was a sniper with the PLO it is not a bloody, gory book. He does explain much about his and other Palestinians' feeling toward the Jews and the Fatah organization that Arafat started.

The forward for this book is written by Joel Rosenberg, another of my favorite authors.

Yesterday's Doctors Visits

Yesterday was the day to see the oncologist and get the results of all the tests that were run a couple of weeks ago.

The myeloma is continuing to grow at about the same pace it has for the past few months. There has been some changes in the bone lesions, in particular, one on top of my skull that has significant change and enlargement.

He had me stop taking Thalidomide immediately. The next drug to try is a newer one, Revlimid. As soon as the oncologist gets approval from our health insurance I will begin taking it along with a steroid and coumadin. I will take the Revlimid for 21 days and then off 7 days. The steroid will be taken one day each week. The plan is to try this regimen for 2-3 months, monitor the results and then make the decision to continue with it or try another regimen.

I also went to the endocrinologist. My blood sugars have been out of control for some time. They want to put me on an insulin pump which would eliminate me having to inject up to 8 times each day. We decided to leave things alone right now and revisit this issue after my first round on the new cancer regimen.

The Secret Life of Bees

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd is not just a "chick" book although that is what it is advertised to be. It took me about 40-50 pages to really get into the story but then it became a page turner.

The story takes place in 1964 at the time that President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act. It was a turbulent time that affects the story and makes one aware of how far we have come in the 40+ years.

The Sue Monk Kidd web site describes the book as follows:

Living on a peach farm in South Carolina with her harsh, unyielding father, Lily Owens has shaped her entire life around one devastating, blurred memory--the afternoon her mother was killed, when Lily was four. Since then, her only real companion has been the fierce-hearted, and sometimes just fierce, black woman Rosaleen, who acts as her "stand-in mother."

When Rosaleen insults three of the deepest racists in town, Lily knows it's time to spring them both free. They take off in the only direction Lily can think of, toward a town called Tiburon, South Carolina--a name she found on the back of a picture amid the few possessions left by her mother.

There they are taken in by an eccentric trio of black beekeeping sisters named May, June, and August. Lily thinks of them as the calendar sisters and enters their mesmerizing secret world of bees and honey, and of the Black Madonna who presides over this household of strong, wise women. Maternal loss and betrayal, guilt and forgiveness entwine in a story that leads Lily to the single thing her heart longs for most.

The Secret Life of Bees has a rare wisdom about life--about mothers and daughters and the women in our lives who become our true mothers. A remarkable story about the divine power of women and the transforming power of love, this is a stunning debut whose rich, assured, irresistible voice gathers us up and doesn't let go, not for a moment. It is the kind of novel that women share with each other and that mothers will hand down to their daughters for years to come.

Cartoons by Rick McKee

Double Cross

Double Cross by James Patterson is another book in the Alex Cross murder mystery series. This one has a little twist to it in that two psychotic killers are loose. Not only are they killing the public but both are after Dr. Cross and his family. One of the killers craves an audience and the other is the mastermind from a previous novel. The mastermind is Kyle Craig, a former FBI agent, who has broken out of a super maximum security prison.

Although this is a good quick read like all of Patterson's books I don't think that it is one of his better books. Even so, it is still worth the read... maybe I've read too many Pattersons in a row without a break!

Twas The Night Before The Elections

'Twas the night before elections
And all through the town
Tempers were flaring
Emotions all up and down!

I, in my bathrobe
With a cat in my lap
Had cut off the TV
Tired of political crap.

When all of a sudden
There arose such a noise
I peered out of my window
Saw Obama and his boys

They had come for my wallet
They wanted my pay
To give to the others
Who had not worked a day!

He snatched up my money
And quick as a wink
Jumped back on his bandwagon
As I gagged from the stink

He then rallied his henchmen
Who were pulling his cart
I could tell they were out
To tear my country apart!

On Fannie, on Freddie,
On Biden and Ayers!
On Acorn, On Pelosi'
He screamed at the pairs!

They took off for his cause
And as he flew out of sight
I heard him laugh at the nation
Who wouldn't stand up and fight!

So I leave you to think
On this one final note-
IF YOU DONT WANT SOCIALISM
GET OUT AND VOTE!!

Wizard of Washington

Halloween Obama style

Obama tested

Senator Joe Biden recently expressed that if Obama is elected president he will be tested in a world crisis within 6 months. I believe he will inherit a new world crisis if he is elected. If Obama is elected I believe that Israel will attack Iran before January 20, 2009 when he would be sworn in. I'm not the only one who feels this way. I have said before that Joel Rosenberg's fictional books are eerily prophetic and with the financial crisis we are currently in one more thing has come to pass.

* * * * FLASH TRAFFIC: WASHINGTON UPDATE * * * *

HOW MUCH TIME BEFORE A NEW WAR IN THE EPICENTER?
Plus: 15,000 Christians fleeing from Mosul, Iraq; and the Taliban murders a Christian aid worker in Kabul

By Joel C. Rosenberg

(Washington, D.C., October 21, 2008) -- How much time do we have before war between Iran and Israel breaks out? Could it happen between the U.S. elections on November 4th and the inauguration on January 20th? A number of top U.S. and Israeli officials and analysts fear the answer could be yes.

Last month, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad again vowed to wipe Israel and "these germs of corruption off the face of the Earth." Israeli officials believe time is running out before Iran gets the Bomb. What's more, they know full well that President Bush - widely considered the most pro-Israel commander-in-chief in U.S. history - is leaving office very soon. One question, then, is whether Israel might launch a pre-emptive war against Iran's nuclear weapons program before a new American President steps in.

Sen. Joe Biden, the Democratic Vice Presidential nominee, this week actually guaranteed a major international crisis would erupt within the next six months if running mate Barack Obama is elected. "Mark my words - it will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy," Biden told supporters in Seattle on Sunday. "The world is looking. We're about to elect a brilliant 47-year-old senator president of the United States of America….Watch. We're going to have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy."

Is Ahmadinejad and his regime preparing to launch such a crisis? They are certainly ratcheting up their anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli rhetoric. "The Zionists are crooks," Ahmadinejad said recently. "A small handful of Zionists, with a very intricate organization, have taken over the power centers of the world….Jewishness is a great lie. They have no religion whatsoever. They are a handful of lying, power-greedy people who have no religion, who only want to take over all the peoples and countries, and to trample the rights of the peoples….I've heard that one of them [Prime Minister Ehud Olmert] recently said that the idea of Greater Israel is dead. I would like to declare that the idea of 'smaller Israel' is also dead. The very notion of Israel is dead, but they are lagging behind the times. Just as the idea of Greater Israel died 30 years ago, and they did not realize this, and have continued to perpetrate crimes for 30 years…Today, I say to them: The idea of smaller Israel is dead." Ahmadinejad added that if the Jews do not end their support for Israel and Zionism, "the strong arm of the [Muslim] peoples will wipe these germs of corruption off the face of the Earth."

In other news from the epicenter, "Libya may agree to buy more than $2 billion worth of Russian weapons during a visit by Muammar Gaddafi to Moscow this month, Interfax news agency reported on Monday." The Israeli media immediately picked up on the reports. Given Libya's historic enmiity towards Israel, there is a very real concern that should Libya receive billions of dollars of advanced new weaponry from Moscow, those arms could eventually be turned against the Jewish State. There are also prophetic implications. The "War of Gog and Magog" described in Ezekiel 38-39 involves a military alliance between Russia, Iran, Libya and a group of other Middle Eastern countries that surround and seek to destroy Israel in "the last days" after Israel has been reborn as a country and Jews have returned en masse to the Holy Land. A development worth watching closely.

To visit Joel's new weblog site and get the latest developments in Israel, Russia and the epicenter -- as well as exclusive photos from Joel's trip to Afghanistan -- please click here

To join 71,758 other >> FLASH TRAFFIC << subscribers who are receiving (free) geopolitical and prayer updates from Israel and the epicenter, please click here.

Tornado! Up from the Debris

Tornado! Up from the Debris to Thank God Personal Accounts of the Greensburg Kansas Tornado May 4, 2007 was compiled by Greensburg resident Fern (Mrs. Eric) Unruh.

From the back cover of the book:

"An EF-5 tornado plundered through the farming community of Greensburg, Kansas on May 4, 2007; stripping it bare of homes, businesses, huge trees, and entire farmsteads. In its wake, only a pile of debris was left as evidence of what was once a peaceful existence. Miraculously, only twelve people lost their lives.

"As they pulled themselves up from the debris, it was with great thankfulness to God who spared their lives. This book is the account of what happened that day, and in the days following. It is their 'thank you' to all those 'ministering angels' who helped them in so many ways to dig out of the debris."

This is absolutely amazing stories starting minutes prior to the tornado strike to months after, during the reconstruction of homes and the town.

It details the power of God to protect during this terrible storm of life, the faithfulness of the people being tested and the thankfulness of the people that came through. It is an inspiring story from many people who suffered and survived and are now thriving.

opinion

guest blog

Dear friends and family,

For many years now I have been warning people that the Muslims are working to turn America and Russia against each other.  Every time we fight in the middle east Russia is on the other side supplying arms or assistance or vice-versa. During the 1980's The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan and we supplied Bin Laden with arms to fight them.  When Bush fought Iraq in 1991 Russia supplied Saddam Hussein with arms, intelligence and satellite information.  When George W. Bush fought him for the second time Russia aided him again.  Russia is siding with Iran now too. 

Now consider the mentality of Islam.   They don't care who they kill to achieve their goals.  They will even bomb their own Mosques and kill several innocent people to get one person considered an enemy.  And of course we all know they will strap on a bomb and commit suicide if it will further the cause of Islam.

Now consider if someone were to be elected as President of the U.S.A. and they were secretly a Muslim.  Islam could offer Russia the United States on a silver platter.  That is right,  Islam could tell Russia to nuke the U.S. and guarantee there would be no response because their man is in the White House.  Sounds far fetched doesn't it?  Well it could very well be happening.

Sincerely, Tom Kassin 

Is he or isn't he?

You've Been Warned

You've Been Warned by James Patterson and Howard Roughan is not the run of the mill murder mystery. It is a psychological thriller and an eerie story that really gets to a person and to a certain extent haunts.

The James Patterson web site has a good review by the New York Sun:

Kristin Burns has lived her life by the philosophy "Don't think, just shoot" – pictures, that is. Struggling to make ends meet, she works full-time as the nanny for the fabulously wealthy Turnbull family, looking after their two wonderful children and waiting for her glamorous life as a New York photographer to begin. When her photographs are considered by an elite Manhattan art gallery, it seems she might finally get the chance that will start her career.

You've been naughty, very naughty.

But Kristin has a major distraction: forbidden love. The man of her dreams is almost hers for keeps. Breathless with an inexhaustible passion and the excitement of being within reach of her goals, Kristen ignores all signs of catastrophe brewing.

Now you've been warned.

Fear exists for a reason. And Kristin can only dismiss the warnings for so long. Searching desperately for the truth through the lens of her camera, she can only hope that it's not too late. This novel of psychological suspense is a stunning new achievement for thriller master James Patterson, "one of the bestselling writers in history"

acorn

We have heard a lot about ACORN and their financial and election practices in the past couple of weeks related to the financial crisis. Yesterday, the Kansas City television stations reported that some registration irregularities had been found by Jackson Country officials with voter registrations turned in by ACORN.

Apparently, there were things like duplicate names, ID's, etc., except different addresses. Officials said they would be investigating the irregularities before disqualifying any registrations.

ACORN immediately issued a statement that Jackson County officials were trying to eliminate minority voters and denied any wrong doing.

I've always said "Nothing like an official denial to confirm the truth." In the words of our illustrious former president Bill Clinton, "Give me a break!"

Steven Furtick

Steven Furtick is the young man who is Senior Pastor at Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC. I have written about Furtick and Elevation several times in the past. This is one of the fastest growing churches in the United States and is pretty traditional. One of Pastor Furtick's heroes is the Rev. Billy Graham.

The following is from Pastor Furtick's blog today. I think it has a lot of legitimacy for all of us not just his church. Think about it!

Don’t Back Down

October 9th, 2008

God has been speaking to me a lot about the economy recently.
The sense of what He’s been impressing on my heart is: don’t back down.

Every time I’ve turned on cable news in the last 3 weeks I’ve been tempted to scale down and back away from some of our God-sized, faith stretching initiatives.  And I do want to be responsible…exercise wisdom…employ restraint…

But this is NOT the time for the church to huddle up in the bunker and wait for the end of the world.  In Joshua 3, God led His people across the Jordan during the flood stage.  Practically speaking, it was the worst possible time for them to cross over.  But from the standpoint of faith, why not cross over during flood season?  Flood season and harvest time go hand in hand.  And the higher the waters, the greater the opportunity for God to show off when He brings us through.

So Elevation Church is not backing down in this time of economic crisis.  We’re forging ahead, believing that God knows how to feed His children, even in a time of famine.
We’ll be committing hundreds of thousands of additional dollars to our local outreach partners in the coming months.  We are in the process of making the most expensive facilities decision we’ve ever made.  We just sent over 700 couples on date nights-paid for by the church.

We can’t back down.  It’s harvest time!  People are more ripe than ever to embrace the certainty of Christ, as the earthly things that seemed so certain are shaking and quaking. And God will resource us to reach them with the Gospel as we keep our eyes on Him.

I may sound naïve.  But I’d rather be naïve than faithless.
God’s faithless children are confined to wandering in the wilderness of intimidation.
Those who look to Him in times of scarcity and press ahead will see His provision, His favor, and His miraculous, abundant supply.

Don’t back down!

sinners and judgment

I finished the Old Testament a few days ago and have started on the New Testament. This year I am reading the Bible in chronological order. This week the following two passages have been in my readings:

After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he left all, rose up, and followed Him.
Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And there were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them. And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, “Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Luke 5:27-32 (New King James Version)

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you." Matthew 7:1-2 (New King James Version)

I found it interesting that at first reading the first passage made me think of some churches I have attended that didn't want "sinners" in the church, only "good" people. The second passage reminded me that I'm guilty of judgment and, also, the first passage applies to me, too. As I read the Bible daily I find more information, instruction, prophecy and hope than one could possible have imagined.

When I miss my daily reading I really feel I have missed.

The following was email to me from a friend:

Let’s see;

can't trust..The President

can’t trust...Congress

can't trust...Big Banks

can't trust...Investment Firms

can't trust...Wall Street

can't trust...News Media

can't trust...Oil Companies

can't trust...Social Security

can't trust...Pharmaceutical Companies

can't trust...Catholic Priests

can't trust...Food Supply

can't trust...The United Nations

can't trust...Polls

can't trust...Scientists

can't trust...Russia

can't trust...Insurance Companies

can't trust...Court System

can't trust...Law Enforcement

can't trust...The Internet

can't trust...People

And On and On and On....

There is someone who is closer than a brother to anyone who accepts Him.  And He told me He is on His way here to call everyone to account for their actions.  The world has forgotten this...He hasn't...Do you know HIM?

More conservative humor

Riddle for the  Day

Hillary, Biden and Obama were on a donkey, at the edge of a cliff. The donkey got spooked and jumped off the cliff. Who was saved?

AMERICA

'I am not here. I tell you, I am not here'

\ 

Today's Health Update

Today's visit to the oncologist to get test results didn't deliver a complete surprise. The cancer is still slowly growing but he did have some concern about the results of one of the blood tests. One test wasn't consistent with two others so he was questioning the accuracy of the one.

I will have another visit on November 11. Before seeing him I will have a skeletal survey, and numerous other lab tests that I don't care to describe. I will continue on the thalidomide until the next visit. He indicated if the tests show the same results as the past three checks he will probably change me from thalidomide to Revlimid plus a steroid that I have taken before.

Most days I feel well. On other days I just don't feel up to par with nothing specific hurting or aching. Those days I usually don't move very fast, am a little unsteady on my feet and have some difficulty concentrating. Some would ask what is so unusual... I still have my warped since of humor most of the time.

Please continue to pray for a slowing or ceasing of growth of the myeloma. All your prayers are appreciated.

Iran Sanctions bill dies in Senate

Some republican has his/her head stuck somewhere it shouldn't be! If it is determined who stonewalled this legislation that person should be deported to Iran. The following is from David Brog's blog. Mr. Brog is the Executive Director of Christians United for Israel (CUFI).

We must stand by and with Israel. We are under a mandate from God to protect Israel. And, Sarah Palin says, Jerusalem must remain united and the United States must build our embassy there.

...we got some bad legislative news last week along with this good personal news.  The Iran Sanctions legislation which so many of us have supported was blocked in the United States Senate.   For all intents and purposes, this legislation is dead this Congress.  Those who want to see Iran pay an economic price for its uranium enrichment program will have to start their work all over again next Congress. 

Let's be clear -- the failure to pass this legislation was a great victory for Iran.  Those of us who care about the security of Israel and America have a reason to be extremely disappointed.

The details are still unclear.  We know that on Thursday Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid tried to pass the sanctions bill by unanimous consent of the Senate -- a quick way to pass popular legislation.  Senator Wayne Allard (R-CO) objected to the motion on behalf of the Republicans, effectively killing the bill.  This does not mean that Senator Allard himself opposed the bill -- it simply means that at least one Senate Republican did.  Senator Allard was just fulfilling his obligation to voice this objection on behalf of his colleague. 

Which Senator blocked the sanctions bill, and why did he do it?  We will continue to look into exactly what happened.  In the meantime, this enormous disappointment is yet another example of the need for us to continue to build and grow CUFI.  The stakes could not be higher. ... 

To read the full post from Mr. Brog click on the blog banner above.

Obama Youth

This is one of the scariest things I have seen in a long time. If this isn't reminiscent of Hitler Youth I don't know what is! Ask a person that survived the Holocaust if this isn't how it all started. There are more than three dozen videos on YouTube.com like this. Many of those videos are no longer allowed to be embedded... you can only see them on YouTube.com. You can do a YouTube search for "Obama kids" and see all of them.

Maybe this is the ramblings of a dying old man but, I have little doubt anymore that this man is dangerous and evil. There have been many rumors about this man since he started his campaign for president, of which, he or his campaign has taken the time to deny. They even established a web site to "officially" dispel the rumors.

For months conservative talk radio has been going on about Obama's relationship with a man named Bill Ayers. Ayers is an admitted terrorist that planned to bomb the Capitol building and the Pentagon and was actually caught preparing a bomb that was to be delivered to a Ft. Dix dance. Although Ayers and his wife admitted to these and other crimes he was never prosecuted because of errors made by the prosecutor and the police.

Liberal main stream media has not covered nor asked questions about this relationship. However, Fox News and at least one New York newspaper are now asking questions and exposing this relationship for the American public to know about.

We also know about his relationship with his former pastor Wright. When Bill Clinton was interviewed and asked about this relationship the former President responded that we didn't need to talk about that any more because Obama was no longer a member of the church. Membership in the church was never the question - it was the relationship with Wright that has always been the question. This man obviously does not like America and Obama has admitted that Wright is his mentor, that he led him to Christ, he married him, and baptized his children. He also said he could never disown Reverend Wright. Once again, the liberal media is avoiding this issue and only conservative talk radio is continuing to bring this to light.

There have been rumors of Obama being Muslim which have repeatedly been denied. He may not be Muslim, but I believe that if he isn't Muslim he certainly has some loyalties leaning toward Muslim. It doesn't take a lot of research to determine than Islamic countries feel they have a friend and sympathizer in Obama and are openly supporting his election.

One of McCain's ads asks the question "Who is Barack Obama?" We certainly don't know who this man is. We know he wants to change American, but he has never said what most of those changes are. From the little he has disclosed we know that he is a socialist and wants to "change" America into a socialist state. He and the liberal media say he wants to cut taxes and his tax cuts would be more than McCain's. But they don't take into consideration that he also wants to eliminate the "Bush tax cuts." Apparently, many people, and the media, don't understand that this is a tax increase.

I believe this man is dangerous and evil. If elected, he will surpass Jimmy Carter as the worst President this country has ever experienced. In recent days there has been emails suggesting he may be The Anti-Christ. I do not believe, not have I seen evidence that this could be true, but I have no doubt that he is evil and if elected we will regret the day and every day that he is in office.

Please, get out and vote and even if you don't support McCain, campaign against Obama.

More James Patterson

It goes without saying that I am a huge James Patterson fan! I am trying to get caught up on my reading of his books. I go started reading Patterson years ago after I saw an interview. At the time, he was writing the scripts for several television programs but I can't remember the name of any of them.

Anyway, both of these books are, typically, excellent in the James Patterson mystery way and if one is into murder mysteries they are worth the read. As with most Patterson the stories move quickly, are page turners and the pages turn quickly.

I'm working on You've Been Warned now and still have 3-4 to go before I'm caught up. I am having trouble finding one of the old books. Apparently, it isn't in print anymore and isn't traded very much. If you see a copy of Miracle on the 17th Green let me know.

Yeah, I'm so addicted I even keep a list of his books!

A little satire - with my comments

My dislike of liberals and liberal media is unquestionable... I hope!

I would love to see Obama with Sean Hannity.

The Clintons have always been the darlings of the liberal media.

It always comes back to bite!

Doesn't it make one feel secure to see the liberal run?

Would you like some cheese with your "whine?"

Like it or not, Mr. Bush's war saves the liberals too.

Oh, but we're safe.

"A suspension of non-belief?"

Is that Al?

When the liberals are finished with us!

The armpit of the world!

Liberal support of our troops.

The last I knew Congress was down to 9% - the lowest in recorded history!

Don't have the heart to comment!

I'll stand behind you, as far behind you as I can get!