Hope Amid Trial: ‘The God Who Has Been Sufficient Until Now Should Be Trusted to the End’ | The Daily Declaration

The God who has been sufficient for you before in times of need, as Spurgeon wrote, can be trusted to the end.

Charles Hadden Spurgeon was given the nickname “Prince of Preachers” for a reason. By the age of 22, he delivered sermons to audiences of over 100,000 people. Although he was a 19th century theologian, his influence still stands to this day. Most importantly, Spurgeon had a deep love and reverence for God. His work was drenched in wisdom and encouragement, and he humbly submitted his life to Christ. Undoubtedly, he has stirred many others to do the same.

Spurgeon, like many, has offered an abundance of helpful resources to the church. And while he’s not the only influential figure of his kind, in the Spurgeon Morning and Evening devotional, he wrote of something I believe all Christians would benefit from reading. The March 4 entry was rooted in 2 Corinthians 12:9a, “My grace is sufficient for you.” Spurgeon wrote: “If none of God’s saints were poor and tried, we should not know half so well the consolations of divine grace.”

He continued, “He who would glorify his God must set his account upon meeting with many trials. No man can be illustrious before the Lord unless his conflicts be many. If then, yours be a much-tried path, rejoice in it, because you will the better show forth the all-sufficient grace of God. As for His failing you, never dream of it — hate the thought. The God who has been sufficient until now, should be trusted to the end.”

There are three very important truths at play here.

1. Suffering is Often For Our Sanctification

No, I cannot explain all of why little children get sick with cancer. Nor do I have full understanding of why wars take the lives of so many innocent people. I couldn’t say all of what God’s reasonings are for allowing evil people to have power — especially power that they gruesomely abuse. Loneliness, depression, anxiety, and poverty seem to afflict all of us to some extent, and to pretend as though I know every reason for it would be an enormous lie. What is certain, however, is that this world is fallen. Sin flooded into the earth when Adam and Eve chose to rebel in the Garden of Eden. Death, pain, bitterness, and sorrow were added to the equation. To this day, no being is able to fully escape the effects of sin in this life.

Thankfully, there’s another certainty, and it’s that God uses suffering for our sanctification. In a way only He can, He does work things together for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28). Our Lord turns light into darkness, for not even darkness is dark to Him (Psalm 139:12). He allows pain to be the means by which we fall into the arms that bled for us. As Spurgeon duly noted, our trials put a spotlight on divine grace. It is when we are at our lowest that we can be reminded: “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).

Nothing is impossible for God. He’s the one who said, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you” (Isaiah 43:2). We may not be able to part the waters or put out the fires around us, but our God can — and He does. Though anguish often makes us feel the weight of the world is on our shoulders, those in Christ have been promised to “soar with wings like eagles” (Isaiah 40:31). Though pain makes it hard to hold onto hope, the Lord said, “I will be with you.” Our suffering often leads to sanctification, and sanctification leads us to Christ.

2. Our Sanctification Gives Way for Rejoicing

When we are sanctified, it means we’re being set apart for God’s use. We are becoming more Christ-like. This is not just important — it’s crucial. For the Christian, at the heart of this temporary earthly life ought to be a deep longing for our eternal heavenly life. Something the Lord often reminds me of is that, really, this life is not about me. Do I take time to enjoy the many blessings He has given me? Of course. And yet, I strive to pray daily that I do nothing apart from that which glorifies God. I fail, but I persist. I stumble, but He picks me up. And I rejoice in the many challenges that have forced me to rely wholly on Christ.

There is great joy in knowing that we are a part of God’s sovereign will and tools in the Creator’s hands. His perfect plan is unfolding before our eyes. Even if we may not fully understand it, our aim is not to know everything, but to trust the One who does. When reflecting on the past, it becomes clear rather quickly that the darkest moments have been where Christ light beams most brightly. The loudest moments are what often cause me to crave quietude, if only to hear Christ’s voice. And the quietist moment are frequently filled with the most soulful praise my heart has offered.

There’s such a beauty to being a sheep in the Shepherd’s fold. Here, there is eternal purpose, fixed value, and love that endures forever. These truths remain, regardless of our circumstances. And when all around feels too much to bear, I’ve always found immense comfort in this truth (perhaps you will too): If you’re alive, God is not done with you yet.

Hold on to hope and stand firm in truth, for His ways know no futility.

3. Christ Supplies All That We Need

As a refresher, Spurgeon wrote: “As for His failing you, never dream of it — hate the thought. The God who has been sufficient until now, should be trusted to the end.” Prior to experiencing trials, it’s far easier to believe that God uses evil for good. Conceptually, we understand that God is faithful and gives purpose to what we endure. The problem is not necessarily obvious when life is going well. It’s not until we face severity that we’re forced to ask ourselves: “Do I really believe there’s a reason for what I’m going through? Do I really believe God supplies my every need?”

We easily forget that our God is a God who never fails. Truth be told, it’s when we’re suffering that we think God has failed us. We think He’s walked away or given up. We assume He has a limit to how much grace He’s willing to give and that we’re capable of maxing it out. This, however, is simply not true.

Loneliness does not mean He’s absent. Depression does not mean He no longer wants to be our joy. Weakness by no means implies that He has chosen to no longer be our strength. Rather, through the lens of Scripture, all these albeit unpleasant emotions come with an opportunity to turn to Christ. Jesus said in John 6:37, “Whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” So, go to Him. In your pain, go to Him. Go to the Father who is always there; the God who’s always ready to tend to your needs. The God who is already doing so. The Psalmist put it this way: “Where shall I go from Your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, You are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me” (139:7-10).

My prayer for the church is that we would genuinely hate the thought that the Lord could ever fail us. Suffering can cause us to be tunnel-visioned and focus only on what ails us. But the Bible tells us that suffering points us to Christ — His love, peace, joy, comfort, and faithfulness. Our shortcomings remind us of our finitude, but they also demonstrate God’s infinite power. Our valleys may tempt us to hopelessness, but they can also be seen as a mere part of our journey to the mountain tops.

The God who has been sufficient for you before in times of need, as Spurgeon wrote, can be trusted to the end. Indeed, He must be trusted to the end. He hasn’t changed and He never will. To Him we cry: “You hold my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:23-26).

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Republished with thanks to The Washington Stand. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

The post Hope Amid Trial: ‘The God Who Has Been Sufficient Until Now Should Be Trusted to the End’ appeared first on The Daily Declaration.

A scientist’s path from hard atheism to Christianity | WINTERY KNIGHT

A scientist’s path from hard atheism to Christianity

Lately, when I ask parents and church leaders how a person comes to Christ, the responses I get most often is that people need to be invited into a welcoming community first and foremost. To me, this is a very strange answer. When I think about Jesus working miracles so that people who didn’t believe in him would have reasons to trust him, I don’t see this emphasis on welcoming community.

Along those lines, I found a very interesting faith story at Salvo magazine, written by a prominent paleontologist named Dr. Günter Bechly.

First, let’s see his biography, though:

Günter Bechly, PhD, is a German paleontologist, senior fellow with Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture, and senior research scientist at Biologic Institute in Washington state. He has written about 160 scientific publications, described over 180 new species, and been advisor for 3 BBC nature documentaries.

Here is the captivating introduction to his faith story:

When atheists hear conversion stories that begin with, “I was a staunch atheist and then . . . ”, they tend to roll their eyes and doubt the claim. However, this is exactly what happened to me. I had been a 150-percent atheist and materialist for almost forty years before I embarked on a spiritual journey that ultimately, after many twists and turns, led me to belief in God and Christianity. I had no life crisis, no epiphany, and no spiritual experiences at all. It was the result of purely rational, scientific, philosophical, and historical arguments that gradually changed my mind as a scientist. Here is my story.

I grew up in a medium-sized town in southwestern Germany, where the Mercedes-Benz factory is located. My parents were both irreligious. My mother was simply not interested in religion, and my father was agnostic. We never talked about religion or God, and we never prayed or visited any church service. My parents pushed to opt me out of religion class in school, which was then still compulsory, resulting in my being ridiculed as the village atheist.

I first saw churches from the inside as a young adult, but it was only as a tourist taking photos.

He had a fabulous career and a dream job in paleontology, but he started looking for answers when he realized the problems with naturalism:

It all started in my late thirties when I became interested in modern physics. I read popular books by Stephen Hawking, Richard Feynman, Michio Kaku, John Barrow, David Deutsch, Brian Greene, and others. I was fascinated by the weirdness of quantum mechanics and relativity theory, as well as the mind-blowing implications of modern cosmology.

While I had started from a materialist, clockwork-universe perspective, I soon discovered certain implications of modern physics that did not fit well with such an obsolete, 19th-century worldview. I stumbled upon further problems, such as the questions of causality, the ontology of time and space, the status of mathematics, and the laws of nature. This brought me even deeper into metaphysics with issues like the problem of universals, the one and the many, the persistence of diachronic (personal) identity, free will, and the hard problem of consciousness.

I soon realized that materialism is untenable, and I searched for a new worldview that could explain these problems and make sense of the world we experience.

The first step in Dr. Bechly’s journey was investigating evidence for design in the universe, and finding it compelling:

Around this time, I also came into contact with intelligent design theory, though for totally different reasons. I was the project leader for a large special exhibition on evolution at our museum for Darwin Year 2009, which celebrated the double event of Darwin’s 200th birthday and the 150th anniversary of the first publication of his magnum opus On the Origin of Species. In preparing for this exhibit, I read some books by Darwin critics, because we wanted to refute and mock them.

This did not go as intended. I was surprised that the arguments of the ID theorists were nothing like the distorted picture painted by their opponents. The more I studied ID arguments, the more I became a critic of Neo-Darwinism and an ID proponent myself.

I was still into process philosophy when I embraced intelligent design theory, so my support for ID had nothing to do with religion, but only with scientific arguments. I had come to see that Neo-Darwinism simply fails to explain the diversity and complexity of life and that these are better explained by an infusion of information from outside the system. The information does not have to come from a divine, miraculous intervention, but of course that would be compatible with such a view.

So, he accepts design in the universe at this point, but still doesn’t accept theism, and even further away from Christianity.

But he’s not done exploring:

So I finally decided to check out the belief system that was the last thing I wanted to be true: Classical theism. I had previously read all the New Atheists’ books, but even then, as a non-theist and fan of the authors, I had found them quite shallow and unsatisfying.

He goes on to explain how he explored the arguments for classical theism, and then the specific evidences for Christianity, such as prophecy and the historicity of the resurrection of Jesus. Eventually, he just went for the worldview that answered the questions raised by the progress of science, that also fit with the metaphysical problems he had encountered.

You can read the whole thing, if you’re looking for a wonderful testimony filled with lots of apologetics. I wish that this testimony was seen as the “normal” testimony by Christian parents and pastors. Then we would be taking a completely different approach to parenting and church. We would put the emphasis on evidence.

The Goal of the Christian Life: Ultimately with R.C. Sproul

What is the goal of the Christian life? Today, R.C. Sproul reminds us that our aim as believers isn’t to pursue spirituality or piety, but something greater.

Hear more from Ultimately with R.C. Sproul: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL30acyfm60fWxph9skWjvcCF41XqShypw

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Source: The Goal of the Christian Life: Ultimately with R.C. Sproul

DECEMBER 26 | COMPASSION: IN CHRIST IT WAS FULLY PERFECTED

And of some have compassion, making a difference: and others save with fear….

JUDE 22, 23

The word compassion is a vital New Testament word. Do you realize that compassion is an emotional identification, and that Jesus Christ had that in full perfection? The man who has this wound of compassion is a man who suffers along with other people. Jesus Christ our Lord can never suffer to save us any more. This He did, once and for all, when He gave Himself without spot through the Holy Ghost to the Father on Calvary’s cross.

He cannot suffer to save us but He still must suffer to win us. He does not call His people to redemptive suffering for that is impossible; it could not be. Redemption is a finished work!

But He does call His people to feel along with Him and to feel along with those that rejoice and those that suffer. He calls His people to be to Him the kind of an earthly body in which He can weep again and suffer again and love again. For our Lord has two bodies!

One is the body He took to the tree on Calvary; that was the body in which He suffered to redeem us. But He has a body on earth now, composed of those who have been baptized into it by the Holy Ghost at conversion. Paul said he was glad that he could suffer for the Colossians and fill up the measure of the afflictions of Christ in his body for the Church’s sake.

It is in that body now, on earth, that Christ would suffer to win men!¹

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¹  Tozer, A. W., & Smith, G. B. (2015). Evenings with Tozer: Daily Devotional Readings (p. 390). Moody Publishers.

Evening, December 26 | “Lo, I am with you alway.”—Matthew 28:20

The Lord Jesus is in the midst of his church; he walketh among the golden candlesticks; his promise is, “Lo, I am with you alway.” He is as surely with us now as he was with the disciples at the lake, when they saw coals of fire, and fish laid thereon and bread. Not carnally, but still in real truth, Jesus is with us. And a blessed truth it is, for where Jesus is, love becomes inflamed. Of all the things in the world that can set the heart burning, there is nothing like the presence of Jesus! A glimpse of him so overcomes us, that we are ready to say, “Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me.” Even the smell of the aloes, and the myrrh, and the cassia, which drop from his perfumed garments, causes the sick and the faint to grow strong. Let there be but a moment’s leaning of the head upon that gracious bosom, and a reception of his divine love into our poor cold hearts, and we are cold no longer, but glow like seraphs, equal to every labour, and capable of every suffering. If we know that Jesus is with us, every power will be developed, and every grace will be strengthened, and we shall cast ourselves into the Lord’s service with heart, and soul, and strength; therefore is the presence of Christ to be desired above all things. His presence will be most realized by those who are most like him. If you desire to see Christ, you must grow in conformity to him. Bring yourself, by the power of the Spirit, into union with Christ’s desires, and motives, and plans of action, and you are likely to be favoured with his company. Remember his presence may be had. His promise is as true as ever. He delights to be with us. If he doth not come, it is because we hinder him by our indifference. He will reveal himself to our earnest prayers, and graciously suffer himself to be detained by our entreaties, and by our tears, for these are the golden chains which bind Jesus to his people.¹

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¹  Spurgeon, C. H. (1896). Morning and evening: Daily readings. Passmore & Alabaster.

December 26.—Evening. [Or December 20.]“That which ye have already hold fast till I come.”

Revelation 2:18–29

AND unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;

¹⁹ I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

This church grew better and better, and did more and more for her Lord. Progress should be the constant characteristic of a church of God.

^{20, 21} Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

²² Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

²³ And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. (Probably a party in the church led by a woman had taught that the sins of the flesh might be indulged in without evil. The Lord is most jealous of the purity of his church, and those who enter her midst and teach lasciviousness must expect condign punishment. No church ought to endure such, but should cast them out at once.)

^{24, 25} But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.

^26–28 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star. (The grandest conqueror is the man who overcomes sin. He shall not only vanquish the world, but shall win the glory of heaven’s eternal day. On him Jesus, the morning star, has shone, and the dawning must be near.)

²⁹ He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Ears are meant to hear with, but some have lost all power to hear the voice of the Spirit. If grace has opened our ear, let us attend to every word which the Spirit utters.)

Revelation 3:1–6

AND unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. (The bulk of the members were formalists and hypocrites, yet the church kept up its reputation, and it does not appear that any serious heresy had to be contended with. How beautiful may a fruit appear upon the outside and yet be rotten within.)

² Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

³ Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

⁴ Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. (The Lord does not punish the righteous with the wicked; he discerns the pure in heart, and separates them from the unholy. Are we among those whose garments are unspotted?)

⁵ He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. (This is a choice reward. We are to be clothed like our Lord and to be owned by him. Who will not fight on till he conquers when such a prize is set before him?)

⁶ He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (We are not to hear what the churches say to us, but what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Be not satisfied with echoes, hear the grand original.)¹

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¹  Spurgeon, C. H. (1964). The Interpreter: Spurgeon’s Devotional Bible (p. 763). Baker Book House.

December 27 – What Is the “Latter Rain”? | VCY

December 27 – What Is the “Latter Rain”?

TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
  Zechariah 10:1-11:17
  Revelation 18:1-24
  Psalm 146:1-10
  Proverbs 30:33

Zechariah 10:1 — David Wilkerson believes the “latter rain” is spiritual, talking about a revival movement of the Holy Spirit. While the timing of the “latter rain” is a matter of eschatological dispute, Wilkerson adds a helpful caution to his desire for Holy Spirit revival: “Many so-called Holy-Ghost movements vanished quickly because they were man-centered, focusing on gifts, blessings, self-improvement, happiness.”

However, we’re probably safer taking a narrower interpretation. Within the context of the chapter, it’s referring to God’s future dealing with Israel and not the Church. Note the frequency of the word “again”:

• “I will bring them again … they shall be as though I had not cast them off” (Zechariah 10:6)
• “they shall remember me … turn again” (Zechariah 10:9)
• “I will bring them again” (Zechariah 10:10)

Zechariah 10:4 — John MacArthur identifies this as a Messianic prophecy:

• He notes “the corner” is the “precious cornerstone” in Isaiah 28:16, the “stumbling stone” of Romans 9:32, and described in 1 Corinthians 1:23, Ephesians 2:20, Daniel 2:34, and Matthew 21:44.
• He compares “the nail” to Eliakim in Isaiah 22:23, where “the Eliakim nail will be cut off, not the nail that is referring to Christ.”
• He argues that the “battle bow” is identified with Zechariah 9:13 and Revelation 19:11.

Zechariah 11:12-13 — 1 Peter 1:11 comes to mind. Zechariah must have wondered why God included this, and it wasn’t until Matthew 27:9-10 that it was identified as a Messianic prophecy. The New Testament attributes it to Jeremiah, the first of the prophets in the Hebrew Bible.

Zechariah 11:16 — God is raising up a bad shepherd? Similar to the lying spirit of 1 Kings 22:23, in order to bring judgment upon His people.

Revelation 18:4 — In 2 Corinthians 6:17, God says to come out from unbelievers; if you lose your father, He will be a father to you.

Revelation 18:24 — Many people wonder why God doesn’t judge the wicked. The problem is that their timetable isn’t God’s. God will judge the wicked – He keeps track of every wrong.

Psalm 146:4 — Note the contrast – man returns to his earth (dirt), as opposed to the Maker of the earth (Psalm 146:6). Trust in the LORD!

Proverbs 30:33 — As James 1:20 tells us, “For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”

Share how reading through the Bible has been a blessing to you! E-mail us at 2018bible@vcyamerica.org or call and leave a message at 414-885-5370.

Advent- Thirty Days of Jesus: Day 25, Jesus’ Authority | Elizabeth Prata

Advent- Thirty Days of Jesus: Day 25, Jesus’ Authority

By Elizabeth Prata

https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/4q8IANd8fqLmvSyGtSjkmz?si=IXHDXLv0Q4WQrtA7NAdrjA&utm_source=oembed

This section of verses that show Jesus’ life are focused on His attributes and earthly ministry. We’ve seen Him through what He does, as servant, teacher, shepherd, intercessor, and healer. Now we look at who He is by looking at His attributes. We looked at His omniscience yesterday and today we ponder His authority.

How to represent the authority of Jesus over life, in pictorial form, since this series is mainly pictorial? That was a tough one. I settled on the notion of the dock being the long journey of finite earthly life in the flesh, then we come to an inevitable end and launch up and into the eternal heavens. Jesus has authority over every step.

I recently wrote an essay focusing on the authority of Jesus. It is linked below if you’re interested, along with a couple of additional essays from credible sources.

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Further Reading

The End Time: Jesus Has the Authority
What does this mean, exactly? Let’s look into the nature of the word authority and what it means when Jesus says He has been given all of it.

AIG: What is the extent of Jesus’ authority?
When Jesus told His disciples He has full authority in heaven and earth, His declaration came before giving them a direction: “make disciples of all the nations.” … Yet we easily forget that the implication of biblical authority is much more than defending truth. In the case of Matthew 28:18–19, upholding the authority of the Bible is about doing. If God’s Word is authoritative, we must not overlook any directive in it. We should never consider one passage more authoritative than another.

Ligonier Devotional: The Authority of Jesus
In today’s passage, Mark highlights the matter of Jesus’ authority by recording an exchange our Lord had in the temple with “the chief priests and the scribes and the elders” not long before He went to the cross. 

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Thirty Days of Jesus Series-

Introduction/Background

Prophecies:

Day 1: The Virgin shall conceive
Day 2: A shoot from Jesse
Day 3: God sent His Son in the fullness of time
Day 4:  Marry her, she will bear a Son

Birth & Early Life-

Day 5: The Babe has arrived!
Day 6: The Glory of Jesus
Day 7: Magi seek the Child
Day 8: The Magi Offer gifts & worship
Day 9: The Child Grew
Day 10- the Boy Jesus at the Temple
Day 11: He was Obedient
Day 12: The Son!
Day 13: God is pleased with His Son

The Second Person of the Trinity-

Day 14: Propitiation
Day 15: The Gift of Eternal Life
Day 16:  Kingdom of Darkness to Light
Day 17: Jesus’ Preeminence
Day 18: The Highest King
Day 19: He emptied Himself
Day 20: Jesus as The Teacher
Day 21: The Good Shepherd
Day 22: The Intercessor
Day 23: The Compassionate Healer
Day 24: Jesus’ Omniscience

The Cardboard Christ | Midwest Christian Outreach, Inc

Have you ever noticed how many people believe in a one-dimensional “cardboard Christ”? We may not think about it in those terms, but it surfaces in various ways. At this time of year, the babe in the manger is certainly the predominant Christ. Everyone likes sweet, cuddly babies with their cute cherub faces. Unfortunately, that is all many acknowledge about Jesus — that He was born in a manger 2,000 years ago — and that baby

Jesus has no effect or influence on their day to day lives throughout the year.

There is also the Jesus of progressives, or as Allie Beth Stuckey calls them, “Social Justice Warriors.” Their Jesus is all about peace and love. He is an example of kindness and inclusion. He is definitely not about judging people, and would not be in favor of mentioning, you know, the S–word (sin), because that wouldn’t be kind or inclusive. Is this Jesus the Son of God? Maybe, but that isn’t an important part of the one-dimensional Jesus they have in view. It is true that the real Jesus spoke about having love for one another and caring for the needy. Yet somehow the SJW Jesus advocates serving and protecting others through governmental agencies — rather than the personal voluntary sacrifice of time and money that has led Christians for centuries to start hospitals, adoption agencies, rescue missions, orphanages, feeding programs and the like.

This Jesus is not big on people taking any personal responsibility for their lives, and it is no matter if the people seeking help should thumb their noses at such laws as they attempt to force others to care and provide for them. For example, immigration laws are certainly not inclusive, and, therefore, by definition are definitely labeled as unkind, so they have to go! This Jesus would certainly not expect that the Gospel be preached to those who have never heard or understood — the neediest of all human beings – and, of course, would never offend the sensibilities of people by calling them to personal change or holy living. Our duty to this Jesus can be completely satisfied by voting for the right people, and perhaps by protesting whatever people or laws they find hindering the doing away with the rule of law and police department in order to usher in fairlyland world they dream of. This Jesus does not call for disciples, but “activists.” All we need is love, though naivete is a plus.

Others worship the Jesus of railing hatred and condemnation. Their Jesus simply hates wrongdoers, which should make one wonder why He died for sinners. Westboro Baptist Church exemplifies this version of Christ, and they arrive at various events with their signs and “preaching” that “God hates fags” etc. What they feel they do not need is love. Rabid self-righteousness is a plus with this Jesus.

Is Jesus God? Yes! Does God hate sin? Absolutely! So, what’s the problem with the God-hates-you approach? God hates sin, but He loves sinners and offers them grace and forgiveness. That is the whole point of the cross.

There are of course many other one-dimensional Christs, such as the Alien Jesus, the Hindu Jesus (Who is not “the Way” but “a way-shower”) the “My Buddy” Jesus, etc. But the REAL Jesus, Who entered our world 2,000 years ago, is so much more than a sweet baby, an incarnation of Vishnu, a Jungian archetype, a leftist activist, a buddy-buddy, or a hater of sin.  The REAL Jesus is the One Who arrived in Bethlehem not simply as another human being but as God Who took on human nature.

That truth brings us into the Advent season. (The word Advent means, “The coming or arrival of something or someone that is important or worthy of note.”) Jesus is the Creator of all things Who chose to incarnate and live among His creation. He is the One Who spoke in the Hebrew Scriptures to delineate and define sin. Because we were and are incapable of living the holy life that is required to be reconciled to God, Jesus, because He loves us so much, arrived to perfectly live out the Law that condemns us and to pay our debt to God on the cross. While He walked the paths in Israel and Samaria, He spoke of peace and love, but He also spoke of sin and condemnation. Not only did He expose the hypocrisy of the religious leaders who brought to Him the woman caught in adultery for condemnation, but He was the one Who told her to “go and sin no more.” The religious leaders hated Him because He regularly exposed them as sinners in need of salvation, and as people who were themselves rushing towards judgment because of their refusal to believe.

The beautiful thing is that because of what Jesus did for us on the cross, no one must any longer live in fear of judgment and condemnation. Forgiveness and the resulting peace with God are a free gift to those who believe, no matter what they have done! But the gift must be accepted, at which time one is placed into Christ Jesus, so that when God looks at him or her, He sees His Son in all His radiant righteousness.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Roman 8:1)

Sadly enough, if a person refuses God’s gift, he or she is not in Christ, and when God looks at that person, He sees them in all their pitiful foulness. You’re either in – or out.

There is far more to Jesus than peace, love, kindness, inclusion – or condemnation, though all of these are true. His is the true story of the Prince and the Pauper – He is both. He is God the Son Who in the First Advent incarnated as a servant and gave His life, a ransom for many. He raised Himself and returned to His throne in heaven. What is rarely discussed even in many churches today, is the Second Advent, when He will return to earth to rule and to judge those who have rejected the salvation He freely offers. (John 5:22 & 27, Revelation 19:11-16)

Where most seasonal songs and hymns focus on the birth and celebration of the coming of the Savior, which are wonderful in their own way, one that we appreciate gives us in a mere 229 words the story of the two advents, redemption, God’s communication and Jesus as King.

In The First Light

In the first light of a new day no one knew he had arrived
Things continued as they had been while a newborn softly cried
But the heavens wrapped in wonder knew the meaning of his birth
In the weakness of a baby they knew God had come to earth

As his mother held him closely it was hard to understand
That her baby, not yet speaking, was the word of God to man
He would tell them of his kingdom but their hearts would not believe
They would hate him and in anger they would nail him to a tree

But the sadness would be broken as the song of life arose
And the firstborn of creation would ascend and take his throne
He had left it to redeem us but before his life began
He knew he’d come back, not as a baby, but as the Lord of every man

Hear the angels as they’re singing on the morning of his birth
But how much greater will our song be when he comes again to earth
Hear the angels as they’re singing on the morning of his birth
But how much greater will our song be when he comes to rule the earth!

“In the First Light” is done by the acapella group, Glad, and the lyrics are part of this three-minute video. In the spirit of the advent we present, “In the First Light”:

Even so, come Lord JesusΩ

Comfort, Comfort Ye My People | Morning Studies

By Pastor Benjamin Glaser – Posted at Thoughts From Parson Farms:

Doctrinal Preaching and the Peace Which Comes From Gospel Truth

Howdy,

Pray y’all have had a blessed week filled with joy, thanksgiving, and grace. It is a grand time of the year, not only as we rest in the everlasting goodness of our Lord, but look forward to the good fortune that awaits us in His providence in the year to come. At Bethany we will be starting a new morning sermon series on January 5th. Our 2025 is going to focus on the great truths of the faith and we are rightly going to start with the Great Shema of Deuteronomy 6:3-6. Being able to understand who God is and who He is cannot be forgotten if we are going to know how to live in a world gone mad. There is great comfort available for the Christian in remembering these ideas.

In our time this week in the Westminster Directory for Public Worship as we close our thinking on the doctrine of preaching and its place in our life the DPW kind of repeats itself in keeping the minister in mind to what his real duty is in the pulpit. Meditating on what is below is a good way for all of us to give weight to what happens on the Lord’s Day, and benefit from it. Let’s read:

In applying comfort, whether general against all temptations, or particular against some special troubles or terrors, he is to carefully answer such objections as a troubled heart and afflicted spirit may suggest to the contrary. It is also sometimes requisite to give some notes of trial, (which is very profitable, especially when performed by able and experienced ministers, with circumspection and prudence, and the signs clearly grounded on the holy scripture,) whereby the hearers may be able to examine themselves whether they have attained those graces, and performed those duties, to which he exhorteth, or be guilty of the sin reprehended, and in danger of the judgments threatened, or are such to whom the consolations propounded do belong; that accordingly they may be quickened and excited to duty, humbled for their wants and sins, affected with their danger, and strengthened with comfort, as their condition, upon examination, shall require.

And, as he needeth not always to prosecute every doctrine which lies in his text, so is he wisely to make choice of such uses, as, by his residence and conversing with his flock, he findeth most needful and seasonable; and, amongst these, such as may most draw their souls to Christ, the fountain of light, holiness, and comfort.

This method is not prescribed as necessary for every man, or upon every text; but only recommended, as being found by experience to be very much blessed of God, and very helpful for the people’s understandings and memories.

Continue here…

https://rchstudies.christian-heritage-news.com/2024/12/comfort-comfort-ye-my-people.html

Waiting in Troas | FORGET NONE OF HIS BENEFITS

Waiting in Troas

FORGET NONE OF HIS BENEFITS, volume 23, number 52, December 26, 2024

. . . and passing by Mysia, they came to Troas, Acts 16:8.

As I noted a few weeks ago, Saul of Tarsus was born around 5 A.D. and was converted around 33 A.D., about two years after Jesus’ ascension, while on the road to Damascus where he was persecuting Christians. He was twenty-nine years old at the time. We know that about fourteen years later, after consulting with the leaders in Jerusalem, he and Barnabas began their first missionary journey in 47 A.D. in what is now south central Turkey. After the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15, 49 A.D.), Paul, Silas, and Timothy embarked on their second missionary journey in 50 A.D. By this time it was pretty clear that Paul’s strategy was to plant churches in large metropolitan areas where there was much trade, surmising that people coming and going from some large cities would greatly enhance the propagation of the gospel to all the nations of the world. On his second missionary journey Paul planned to go directly west to Asia Minor, now called western Turkey, probably to Ephesus, but the Lord forbid him. Not to be deterred, Paul  then tried to go in a northeasterly direction to Bithynia near modern day Istanbul but the Lord said “No” on that trip too (Acts 16:6,7). A few hundred years later the gospel had so impacted Bithynia that the Creeds of Nicea (325 A,D.) and Constantinople (381 A.D.) were written there. Paul kept moving, however, and went to Troas, a city just ten miles from the ancient city of Troy on the coast of the Aegean Sea, a gateway city to and from Europe. That’s where Paul received his Macedonian call, “Come over to Macedonia (in northern Greece, Europe) and help us,” (Acts 16:9). Paul spent two years on that journey (traveling 1400 miles on foot and 2000 miles by ship) in Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, and Corinth. God gave him a very productive ministry.  

Paul had his marching orders from Jesus. He was to bear the name of Jesus before Gentiles, and kings, and the sons of Israel. He was to suffer for Jesus’ sake (Acts 9:15). Paul was driven by God to plant churches. So moving forward with the gospel was a “no brainer” for Paul. His dilemma, however, was where next? Paul had a plan. It seemed logical. “Ephesus is a hugely strategic city. Let’s go there.” No doubt to Paul’s surprise, the Holy Spirit impressed upon him in some way that, “No, that’s not the plan.” Okay, then. Byzantium is also strategic. Let’s go there and again the Lord said, “No, that’s not what I want.” So Paul kept moving to the next logical place, Troas, the gateway to and from Europe.

Perhaps there is a message here for you as you face the new year. There may be some major issue on your horizon in 2025. You are praying about your plans, sincerely wanting to follow the Lord’s will but not sure which way you should go. You have your plans and you hope to move on them after the first of the year. Or perhaps you are a single woman in your late twenties or early thirties and you are enjoying a nice career, but what you really long for is a husband and being a mother. You are waiting on “Mr. Right.” Or it may be that you have been married for six or eight years and are trying to have children and thus far, no success. You are getting concerned, asking, “What should we do?” Or maybe you are in an unchallenging job that you can do in your sleep and wish for something a bit more rewarding. Or it might be that you have grown children whom you brought up to love and obey Jesus who no longer seek the things of God. You are heartbroken because you see them failing to bring your grandchildren up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Or perhaps you recently received a devastating cancer prognosis and you are weighing your options. And then maybe you are a pastor and you have been trying faithfully to preach the word and reach your community but you cannot seem to get any traction. You begin evangelistic Bible studies. You preach weekly in the open air, and yet you seemingly have little to show for it. You sometimes wonder if the Lord is saying “No” to your efforts of ministry. Are you like Paul? Are you waiting in Troas? 

In light of your present situation, what should you do? Do what Paul did. Do the next thing correctly. Paul was waiting on the Lord. Paul was praying. Paul was seeking the Lord but above all, Paul was doing the next thing correctly. 

So this means practically that whatever your present circumstances, you must get up every morning and spend time with God, reading the Bible, praying, and worshipping the Lord. Work, first and foremost, on your spiritual well being. Then go about your daily routine. Go to work, do your best for your company. Get physical exercise, eat well, and spend time with your family and friends. Keep doing what God has placed before you. Do so in faith, remembering that the man who is righteous or godly walks by faith. 

By all means, you can and must plan, but remember that man plans his ways, but the Lord directs his path (Proverbs 16:9). Also remember that the undergirding principle of Paul’s labor is his clear call from the Lord to disciple the nations. This drove everything he thought and did. 

So keep the main thing the main thing. You are called to disciple the nations. I am not saying that all of you are to be preachers or missionaries. No, of course not, but your heart, the essence of your prayers, ought to be for the name of God to be exalted above the earth, that the peoples of the earth will give praise to the Lord. In other words, make the propagation of the gospel the driving force in your life. See God and the nations “streaming into Jerusalem” as the greatest joy in your life. Read the geo-political scene with “Great Commission eyes.” For example, how might the recent coup toppling Assad in Syria impact Christians there and the conversion of Muslims in the region?

And then persevere. Never give up. Edison tried 2774 elements until he found the right filament for the invention of the light bulb. He kept doing the next thing correctly until he finally succeeded. For you, in any and every circumstance, this means do your normal, day to day responsibilities with faithfulness and joy. Remember the principle of sowing and reaping. If the farmer sows a crop sparingly then he will reap sparingly but sowing bountifully will yield, in due time, a bountiful harvest. Look with expectancy in 2025 at what God will do in and through you. Very often the mundane will over the long haul bring surprising results if we sow and do not give up. 

26 Dec 2024 News Briefing

Israel issues warning to Houthi leaders over ongoing missile launches
With Hamas largely degraded and Hezbollah severely weakened, the Houthis in Yemen remain Iran’s last viable terror proxy still launching missile attacks on the Jewish state. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed on Christmas Eve that Israel would begin targeting Houthi leaders in Yemen.

The wolf speaks of sheepfolds: Al-Jolani and Christian minorities under Islamic rule
al-Jolani’s peaceful words today clash sharply with what he said before. Just a few years ago, he clearly stated that “Alawites, Christians, and other minorities have no place in Syria.” His group HTS then acted on these words – forcing thousands belonging to religious minorities to flee their homes, destroying churches, and driving Christian communities from their ancestral lands.

Marwan Barghouti tops Palestinian polls for PA leadership as family lobbies for his release
As the family of imprisoned Palestinian terror commander Marwan Barghouti lobbies for his release in a widely anticipated ceasefire, a Palestinian survey released found overwhelming support for him to succeed Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. 71% of Palestinians were dissatisfied with the leadership of PA President Mahmoud Abbas.

Bracing for Israeli retaliation, Houthis raise combat readiness alert to highest level
On Wednesday, the Houthis raised the combat readiness for Yemen to its highest level in anticipation of Israeli retaliation, according to Saudi media reports. They ordered the evacuation of civilians from areas close to the major coastal city of Hodeidah and called troops to the front lines. Merchants who own warehouses in the “Kilo 7” district in Hodeidah were told to empty their facilities and prepare for the destruction of their property.

UN Security Council calls emergency session on Houthi attacks on Israel
The United Nations Security Council agreed Wednesday to hold an emergency session next week, following multiple missile attacks by Yemenite Houthis on Israel. “The Houthis appear not to have grasped the consequences that await those who attempt to attack Israel,” Danon said on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Netanyahu: ‘The Houthis will learn what Hamas and Hezbollah learned’
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lit the first Hanukkah candle on Wednesday evening … “The Houthis will also learn what Hamas, Hezbollah, the Assad regime, and others have learned, and this will also take time. This lesson will be learned across the Middle East, I tell you, in those days at this time.”

Ukraine: President Zelenskyy lights Hanukkah candles in presidential bunker
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy participated in a first-night Hanukkah candle-lighting ceremony on Wednesday with Chabad emissaries and rabbis in his presidential bunker. The event, organized by the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine (FJCU), which oversees Jewish life across 169 communities nationwide, maintained its annual tradition despite heightened security measures.

Unprecedented intel. penetration: How the IDF blocked Hezbollah’s doomsday attacks on Tel Aviv
The IDF disclosed on Wednesday that its decapitation of Hezbollah from mid-September until the November 26 ceasefire was not luck, but based on an unprecedented level of infiltration. According to the military, its intelligence branches spent years separately diagnosing each level of Hezbollah’s firepower: mortars, short-range rockets, medium-range rockets, and precision and long-range rockets.

Vatican ambassador called by Israeli Foreign Ministry over Pope’s comments on Israel
The Vatican ambassador was summoned to the Israeli Foreign Ministry for a conversation with the director general following Pope Francis’s recent comment on Israeli “cruelty” in Gaza, an Israeli source told The Jerusalem Post.

Iran shifts to foreign policy, but it has to shake violent past
Iran may be shifting to focus more on foreign policy, a logical move after the fall of the Assad regime and the weakening of some of its proxies in the region. This focus can be extrapolated from different messaging coming out of Iran. One message came from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei in which he denied that Iran even has “proxies.” Another is the recent spat between Iran and the new Syrian government, in which Damascus warned Tehran to respect its sovereignty. “Iran must respect the will of the Syrian people and the country’s sovereignty and security. While Iran may be pushing foreign policy over proxies, it is still ruffling feathers.

Biden Admin Slams US Agency’s Claim of ‘Famine’ In Northern Gaza
The Biden administration issued a statement disputing a new report alleging the emergence of a famine in northern Gaza, accusing the group which issued the report of using false data in service of advancing an inflammatory narrative regarding the Israel-Hamas war.

Ireland: Antisemitism Without Jews
When Gideon Sa’ar, Israel’s Foreign Minister, recently announced the closure of Israel’s embassy in Ireland because of Ireland’s antisemitic actions and anti-Israel posture, it led to flurry of articles in the press. Largely missing from the discussion is that there are almost no Jews in Ireland. Jews were never very numerous in Ireland, but today they are on the endangered list.

Israeli Defense Minister says Houthi leaders in crosshairs
Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday that the Jewish state will target the heads of the Houthi terror group after a successful missile interception by Israel’s long-range Arrow defense system shortly before 2 a.m. local time. The missile was intercepted outside of Israeli territory, the IDF said. “I warned and said that just as we dealt with [recently eliminated Hamas leader Yahya] Sinwar in Gaza, [Hamas political leader Ismail] Haniyeh in Tehran and [Hezbollah leader Hassan] Nasrallah in Beirut, we will also deal with the heads of the Houthis in Sana’a and everywhere in Yemen,” Katz said.

Hamas refusing to hand over list of hostages to be released in deal
Sources close to the talks paint a picture of deliberate obstruction, describing how slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar’s brother has consistently misled mediators over weeks, stonewalling requests for hostage lists and withdrawing from previously reached agreements. Security and political officials have expressed deep concern over Sinwar’s handling of the negotiations.

Netanyahu set to attend Trump’s inauguration in Washington DC
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to attend Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, alongside global leaders including Argentina’s Javier Milei and Hungary’s Viktor Orbán; This marks Netanyahu’s first trip abroad since the ICC issued an arrest warrant against him

Russia Launches Christmas Assault On Ukraine Targeting Power Grid
Russia unleashed a massive aerial attack using missiles and drones on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called the Christmas Day assault “inhuman.”

Millions of U.S. Companies Must Register w/ Massive U.S. Database By Jan 1 Due To Last Minute Court Ruling
Millions of U.S. companies might be busy over the holidays forking over their data to the Treasury Department, thanks to a last-minute ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

US Airstrike Eliminates Islamic State Leader Abu Yusif in Syria
The United States military has announced the killing of Islamic State leader Abu Yusif, who was also known as Mahmud, in Syria. According to U.S. Central Command (Centcom), the airstrike was conducted in an area that, prior to the recent political changes, was under the control of Bashar al-Assad’s government and Russian forces.

Why Has The Threat of Iranian Nukes Suddenly Become Such a Huge Narrative
Western officials suddenly have a tremendous amount to say about the threat that Iranian nukes could potentially pose to us.  Is it that the threat has increased, or are they trying to justify something that they have planned in early 2025?  I don’t know, but all of this talk about Iranian nukes is certainly not good.  Without a doubt, the Iranian nuclear program has been moving forward for a long time, but now we may be reaching a point of confrontation which could have enormous implications for the entire Middle East.

Home Alone Why America Is Dealing With A Severe Epidemic of Loneliness Right Now
We live in a society where a significant chunk of the population feels painfully alone much of the time.  It is an epidemic that has enormous mental, emotional and spiritual implications, and it is one of the clearest signs that we are a society that is coming apart at the seams.  One of the primary reasons why there is so much loneliness in our society is because the institution of the family is in decline.  Today, the proportion of the population that is single and childless is at an all-time high, and the proportion of the population that is married with children is at an all-time low.  How can anyone possibly claim that we are headed for a bright future when we are facing such alarming societal trends?

London Bans ‘Christmas’ From Its Largest Holiday Market: Erasing Christianity While Promoting Islam
London’s largest winter market, once a celebration of Christmas, has been stripped of its identity in a blatant assault on Christianity, banning the word “Christmas” while openly promoting Islamic traditions—reflecting the West’s growing erasure of its cultural and spiritual foundations.

Walmart Removes T-Shirts Featuring Yahya Sinwar From Website
Fierce controversy erupted on Tuesday on social media after the discovery of T-shirts bearing the likeness of Yahya Sinwar, The recently eliminated hummus leader on Walmart’s online sales site.

UN Amplifies Campaign Against ‘Disinformation’ And AI Through Global Governance Frameworks
The United Nations (UN) appears to be firmly embracing its novel role as one of “disinformation warriors” through what can be described as a series of “nesting dolls” of censorship and surveillance-enabling treaties, resolutions, frameworks, and initiatives.

26 Dec 2024

Headlines – 12/26/2024

Halevi: Israel ready to strike Iran at ‘any time, any place’ – “Anyone who attempts to undermine the stability and security of the State of Israel, the IDF will stand firm against them,” Halevi stated

Syrian Christians attend Christmas mass for first time since fall of Assad

War in Lebanon saw IDF seize 85,000 Hezbollah items from over 30 villages

IDF displays thousands of Hezbollah weapons, shares details on pager operation

Unprecedented intel. penetration: How the IDF blocked Hezbollah’s doomsday attacks on Tel Aviv

IDF Reveals Massive Stockpile of Weapoons Seized from Hezbollah in Lebanon

Israel, Hamas Blame Each Other for Ceasefire Delay

PM’s office: ‘Hamas lying again’ with claim Israel imposing new conditions to delay deal

Herzog pleads for government to reach Gaza deal, says hostages’ lives in immediate danger

IDF chief Halevi tells military to finish probes into Oct. 7 attack by January’s end

Foreign investments in Israel rebound after decline caused by political instability, war

Bethlehem marks second subdued Christmas, amid pall of ongoing war

Rabbi Menken: Hanukkah Is the Holiday Against Wokeness

Happy Chrismukkah! Christian, Jewish Holidays Coincide for First Time in 19 Years

Netanyahu Warns Houthis as He Lights First Candle of Hanukkah

Houthi drone crashes in south as terror group said to brace for major Israeli attack

Houthis Attack Israel on Christmas; Second Missile in Two Nights

Report: Mossad chief believes Israel should target Iran to get at Houthis, PM disagrees

Dozens Dead in Crash After Passenger Flight Diverts From Russia

Russian region declares emergency situation as Black Sea oil spill fallout widens

Russian ship that sank off Spanish coast was blown up in ‘act of terrorism,’ RIA cites owner

More than 100 of North Korea’s elite ‘Storm’ troops are dead and 1,000 more wounded from their first battles for Russia: South Korean intel

Russia Targets Ukrainian Energy Infrastructure on Christmas Day

Pope Francis urges world to ‘silence sound of arms’ in Christmas speech – Pontiff calls for peace in Ukraine and Sudan, and expresses concern over ‘extremely grave’ situation in Gaza

War and Peace: Trump’s Push for Ukraine-Russia Peace Faces Rising Missile Tensions

2024: The Year Trumpism Triumphed and Put Globalists on the Run in Europe

Trump continues trolling Canada and PM Trudeau, suggests NHL legend Wayne Gretzky as Canadian PM

Trump Issues Christmas Message to ‘Wonderful Soldiers of China’ and ‘Governor’ Trudeau

‘There’s No Alternative’: Over 50 MPs From His Own Liberal Party Call for Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau To Step Down Before Opposition Topples Him With No-Confidence Vote

South Korea’s Yoon defies second agency summons over martial law

Angry Panamanians Burn Flags Outside U.S. Embassy – Denounce Trump’s Canal Threat as ‘Imperial Delusion’

Companies Donate to Trump Inaugural After Denouncing Jan. 6

Undersea Power Cable Linking Finland, Estonia Hit by Outage

5.0 magnitude earthquake hits near Valdivia, Colombia

Popocateptl volcano in Mexico erupts to 21,000ft

Ruiz volcano in Colombia erupts to 21,000ft

Sangay volcano in Ecuador erupts to 20,000ft

Fuego volcano in Guatemala erupts to 16,000ft

Semeru volcano in Indonesia erupts to 16,000ft

Reventador volcano in Ecuador erupts to 15,000ft

Santa Maria volcano in Guatemala erupts to 14,000ft

More than 200,000 homes without power in Bosnia after Balkan snowstorm

Satanic Temple Promises Lawsuit Over Cancelled Event in the Iowa State Capitol Rotunda

Pope Francis Opens the Sacred Portal at Vatican for Jubilee Year 2025 – Special Absolution From Sins During Jubilee Year

Church of England Priests Told to Change ‘Problematic’ Christmas Hymns: Report

‘Dark World’: These Nations are the Biggest Persecutors of Christians in 2024

AfD’s Alice Weidel Fights Back Tears Addressing Massive Protest Against Migration After Christmas Market Massacre, Seizes the Moment as New Favorite for German Chancellor

Two injured in NYC Christmas Eve stabbing at Grand Central Station, suspect arrested

NYC subway murders reach 25-year high as ‘tone deaf’ Hochul congratulates herself on transit safety

Gavin Newsom to create ‘Immigrant Support Network’ to upend Trump deportation policy

No Assassin Merch Under the Christmas Tree: Copyright Claims Target Items Celebrating Accused CEO Killer Luigi Mangione

Trump vows to direct DOJ to pursue death penalty in wake of Biden clemencies

Middle school boy allegedly creates, circulates AI pornographic ‘trading cards’ of female classmate in Washington state

Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO, who is charged with sex trafficking, has dementia, lawyers say

Controversial Algerian Boxer Imane Khelif Receives Four Votes for AP Female Athlete of the Year

Biden rule protecting privacy for abortions likely unlawful, judge rules

Oregon house cat died after eating pet food that tested positive for bird flu

Unvaccinated 17-year-old from Jerusalem area contracts polio, condition unspecified

Whooping cough cases in the US are the highest they’ve been in a decade

Source: http://trackingbibleprophecy.org/birthpangs.php

Weight Loss Drugs | CBN NewsWatch – December 26, 2024

With a new wave of prescription drugs breaking ground by helping patients lose unwanted pounds, address Type-2 Diabetes, and reduce the risk of deadly heart problems. Itchy eyes, runny nose, and constant sneezing: 1 in 4 Americans suffers from seasonal allergies. Just one pill can kill: That’s the message a grieving father wants young people to hear before they take any pills from a friend or a drug dealer.

Want more news from a Christian Perspective? Choose to support CBN: https://go.cbn.com/ugWBn

CBN News. Because Truth Matters™

Source: Weight Loss Drugs | CBN NewsWatch – December 26, 2024

Elon Musk Predicts the Rise of the Machines by 2030 – Discern Report

Elon Musk Predicts the Rise of the Machines by 2030

(SHTF Plan)—Billionaire Elon Musk has predicted that by the year 2030, machines will be more intelligent than human beings. Musk, the tech mogul, says that the probability that his prediction comes true is 100%.

In 2018, several other experts on artificial intelligence and technology said that we are approaching that singularity point, however, they disagreed on the timing. Musk’s prediction aligns fairly closely with previously mentioned timelines.

Singularity is the point in time when humans can create an artificial intelligence machine that is smarter. Ray Kurzweil, Google’s chief of engineering, says that the singularity will happen in 2045. Louis Rosenberg claims that we are actually closer than that and that the day will be arriving sometime in 2030. MIT’s Patrick Winston would have you believe that it will likely be a little closer to Kurzweil’s prediction, though he puts the date at 2040, specifically. –SHTFPlan

MORE NEWS: ‘Hercules’ Actor Kevin Sorbo Says He Left Hollywood ‘Because They’re All Pedos’

Back in 2018, Jürgen Schmidhuber, who is the Co-Founder and Chief Scientist at AI company NNAISENSE, the Director of the Swiss AI lab IDSIA, and heralded by some as the “father of artificial intelligence” is confident that the singularity “is just 30 years away. If the trend doesn’t break, and there will be rather cheap computational devices that have as many connections as your brain but are much faster,” he said. “There is no doubt in my mind that AIs are going to become super smart,” Schmidhuber says.

Musk, who is the Tesla and SpaceX CEO, and owner of X, formerly Twitter, made the prediction shortly after his AI company, xAI, officially launched its first image generation model, Aurora, earlier this month, according to a report by RT.

Aurora, an updated version of the first image generation model that xAI introduced in October, allows users to create photorealistic visuals. Compared to other AI models, Aurora has fewer restrictions and can accurately generate images at almost any prompt, including depictions of famous personalities and copyrighted characters.

“It is increasingly likely that AI will superset the intelligence of any single human by the end of 2025 and maybe all humans by 2027/2028,” Musk wrote on Monday, in a post on his social media platform X. According to him, the probability that AI will exceed the intelligence of all humans combined by 2030 “is ~100%.”

The computer scientist cited a common fear that the AI machines currently being trained “would lead to systems that turn against humans.”

— Read on discernreport.com/elon-musk-predicts-the-rise-of-the-machines-by-2030/

Cartoon: See no evil

Source: See no evil

Rand Paul just called for the ARREST of the EVIL Dr. Fauci…

12-24-2024 • https://rumble.com, NewsVariable

“I have proof that Dr. Fauci went around the Safety Committee to fund the Wuhan Lab and that he has emails that PROVE that he knew it was ‘Gain of Function Research…” -Rand Paul (2023)

Rand Paul just called for the ARREST of the EVIL Dr. Fauci…

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Column: Who Can Trust White House Reporters Who Hid Biden’s Infirmity? | Newsbusters

Even after The Wall Street Journal published a four-byline bombshell detailing how Joe Biden’s staff energetically hid his ongoing cognitive decline from the public, there wasn’t a single question at the White House briefing. No reporters demanded answers about how they were misled, or complained they were pressured into silence. They mustered that umbrage over the Hunter Biden pardon, but this slow-rolling scandal was apparently too painful to recount. Perhaps they thought that since Biden was talked out of a re-election bid, the matter was settled. This scandal is already over. But Trump scandals never stop emerging. Radio host Hugh Hewitt proclaimed he had been calling Biden “infirm” for two years, but didn’t know the depth of the infirmity that’s now been revealed. Everyone inside the White House must have known, including the reporters. He said they were “either explicitly complicit or recklessly indifferent” to Biden’s decline. Hewitt upset knee-jerk defenders of the media when he said “with the exception of Peter Doocy, I would ban everyone from the White House press room who has been there for the past four years, because they are obviously of no use to the country. They didn’t tell us the number one thing, which is that [Biden] is not competent. Why in the world would Trump let them in?” Hewitt’s guest, author Bethany Mandel, agreed about the media failure: “It’s really disturbing and it’s funny, because Brian Stelter and all the columnists decree the trust that we should all have in the media, that we should all respect them and their hard work and sacrifice. Can you imagine any other job in America where you could do your job that badly and still keep on failing up? The media is pretty much it.” For his part, Doocy expressed amazement on Fox that no one asked Karine Jean-Pierre a single question about this – his Fox colleague Jacqui Heinrich was present, but Jean-Pierre did not call on her. (No need to wonder why.) The White House briefing room under Republicans is like a roiling shark tank. Under Democrats, it’s a shallow kiddie pool. Donald Trump allows hateful reporters to question him. Pro-Biden reporters have supinely accepted getting few opportunities to interview Biden and Kamala Harris, until they decide they’ll take a swing or two.  Everyone knew the president was babbling and bumbling. They knew because they observed it first hand, and they knew because he was kept away from the press, and he was even kept away from his own cabinet members. They knew because reporters like Courtney Subramanian of the Los Angeles Times were in on it. Photographs showed that in a press conference, she asked the question that Biden had on a notecard with her name and her face on it. Some reporters – like former CNN political scribe Chris Cillizza — are confessing that they should have been pushed back when Biden aides furiously argued asking questions was ageist. He admitted “I should have not let the shame campaign to make you feel bad for asking the question get to me.” But CNN’s audience expects relentless anti-Trump bias, and questioning Biden seems like it’s helping Trump. That’s the reflex – don’t do anything that helps Trump. Like your jobs. This entire spectacle makes it sickening that leftist journalists are all running around right now worrying that Donald Trump’s lawsuits against the press will cause them to “self-censor.” As if they haven’t been aerobically self-censoring for the last four years.

Source: Column: Who Can Trust White House Reporters Who Hid Biden’s Infirmity?

As Americans Celebrate, The World Is Plunging Into An Abyss Of War, Famine, Natural Disasters And Pestilence | The Economic Collapse

Sticking our heads in the sand and pretending that everything is okay isn’t going to do anyone any good.  Chaos has been erupting all over the globe, and global events are likely to accelerate even more in 2025.  But as I write this article, most Americans have shifted into “vacation mode” and are focused on celebrating.  Of course many do not have the resources to celebrate like they did in the past.  As I discussed the other day, 35 percent of Americans plan to spend less this holiday season and only 16 percent plan to spend more.  But there is still a whole lot of spending going on.  The average U.S. adult will spend about a thousand dollars on gifts this year, and all of this stuff will bring a certain level of temporary happiness.

Meanwhile, our world is going completely and totally nuts.

In recent weeks, there has been a growing consensus in the mainstream media that World War III is already here.  For example, the following comes from a Forbes article entitled “World War III Has Already Begun – And Businesses Need To Take Note”…

The sudden collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s despotic regime in Syria this weekend highlights the interconnectedness of a growing number of global conflicts, revealing a hard truth that most of us would rather not think about too deeply: World War III has already begun.

Business leaders need to recognize this and begin planning accordingly.

At this moment, we are closer to nuclear war with Russia than we have ever been before, the Chinese are closer to invading Taiwan than ever before, North Korea continues to threaten to invade South Korea, and the incoming administration is seriously considering bombing Iran’s nuclear program…

Ahead of his January 20 inauguration, President-elect Donald Trump is evaluating the possibility of preemptive strikes on Iran to stop its growing nuclear program, according to a Friday morning Wall Street Journal report.

According to the WSJ, this move would mark a significant change from previously established US policy on diplomacy and sanctions when dealing with Tehran.

The report outlines the Trump team’s evaluation of potential attacks on nuclear sites, indicating that members of the president-elect’s transition team are exploring this option.

2024 has certainly been a year of war.

Unfortunately, I am entirely convinced that World War III will only intensify in 2025.

Dozens of armed conflicts are currently raging all over the planet, and this is just one of the factors that has pushed global food prices up dramatically in recent months.

The poorest of the poor are being hit particularly hard.  Women and children are dropping dead of starvation in Sudan right now, and it is being reported that the famine in that country has now spread to five new areas…

Famine in Sudan has expanded to five areas and will likely spread to another five by May, the global hunger monitor reported Tuesday, while warring parties continue to disrupt humanitarian aid needed to alleviate one of the worst starvation crises in modern times.

Famine conditions were confirmed in Abu Shouk and al-Salam, two camps for internally displaced people in al-Fashir, the besieged capital of North Darfur, as well as in residential and displaced communities in the Nuba Mountains, according to the Famine Review Committee of the Integrated Food Phase Classification (IPC).

Thankfully, people are not dropping dead from starvation here in the United States.

But as I documented last week, demand at food banks all over America is setting brand new record highs.

Nobody can dispute these facts, because they are true.

Let me give you some more facts.  From 1984 to 2003, the U.S. experienced about 5 “billion dollar disasters” a year…

There were 97 natural disasters between 1984 and 2003 that cost more than $1 billion. From 2004 to 2023, that number rose to 273. Extreme weather events can affect demand for utilities, threaten aging infrastructure, and result in volatile fuel costs.

On October 24th, Fox Weather reported that the U.S. had already experienced 24 “billion dollar disasters” in 2024…

With the addition of three recent Atlantic hurricanes, the U.S. has experienced 24 billion-dollar weather and climate disasters this year – a near-record number, according to NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).

On Thursday, NOAA’s NCEI released its assessment of the global climate, including U.S. weather disasters. Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton and one tornado outbreak were added to this year’s billion-dollar weather and climate disasters, bringing the total to 24 events as of October.

This is our new normal.

On average, we are being hit by a “billion dollar disaster” about every two weeks.

Our world is becoming so unstable, and signs of volatility are all around us.  In fact, just yesterday one of the most violent volcanoes on U.S. soil started erupting again…

Kilauea volcano, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, is erupting, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said the eruption began at 2 a.m. local time on Monday, elevating Kilauea’s volcano alert system to the highest warning levels within a closed area of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.

“The opening phases of eruptions are dynamic,” the USGS said.

Natural disasters will continue to be a major theme in 2025, and I am entirely convinced that pestilences will be a major theme during the coming year as well.

The New York Times is telling us that the much deadlier new strain of mpox that has emerged in central Africa is spreading like wildfire in the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

And confirmed cases of that new strain have now been reported in Belgium, Canada, Germany, India, Sweden, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States…

Even as the World Health Organization (WHO) maintains the mpox situation in Africa is “especially concerning”, the disease has been reported in another country outside of the continent.

In the latest weekly bulletin, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said that a case of mpox has been detected in Belgium. The mpox virus in the case is from the clade 1b.

With this, Belgium became the eighth non-African country to report mpox infection from clade 1b. The other countries are Canada, Germany, India, Sweden, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Of course global health authorities are even more alarmed about the potential for a bird flu pandemic.

H5N1 continues to rip through poultry farms and dairy herds all over the nation, and now Los Angeles County has reported their very first human case…

Los Angeles County health officials reported the first human case of bird flu in the area less than a week after a statewide emergency declaration was announced.

In a statement released on Monday, the L.A. County Department of Public Health said the human case of H5 bird flu was detected in an adult who was exposed to livestock infected with the virus at a worksite.

All over the world, people are starting to get infected, and many health experts are warning that a global crisis has become inevitable.

Needless to say, most Americans are not paying much attention to the things that I have shared in this article.

Instead, their focus is on other things.

At this point, everybody knows who Luigi Mangione is, because the mainstream media has been endlessly obsessing over Luigi Mangione.

And apparently there are quite a few young women that have decided that Luigi Mangione is some sort of a hero…

An eerie public show of support for Luigi Mangione outside New York Supreme Court on Monday drew comparisons to The Manson Family.

A few dozen masked young women swayed and sang as the alleged UnitedHealthare CEO killer pleaded not guilty plea on terrorism charges.

The 26-year-old sported a collared shirt, maroon sweater and orange shoes as he leaned over to a microphone to enter his plea.

How sick is that?

His new “fans” rushed to buy the sweater that he wore to court, and so now it is out of stock…

The Nordstrom knit sweater – which has been likened to the sweaters worn by the Menendez brothers during their infamous trial – has already sold out.

Immediately, Mangione’s fans tracked down the Marino crewneck top, which retails for $89.99 and is currently 30 percent off, and rushed to purchase it.

What is wrong with these people?

Luigi Mangione is a murderer.

Some are suggesting that he deserves the death penalty, and it is hard to argue with that.

But if he deserves the death penalty, what does our entire society deserve for killing more than 60 million American children since 1973?

Sadly, I think that it won’t be too long before we find out…

Michael’s new book entitled “Why” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can subscribe to his Substack newsletter at michaeltsnyder.substack.com.

About the Author: Michael Snyder’s new book entitled “Why” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com. He has also written eight other books that are available on Amazon.com including “Chaos”, “End Times”, “7 Year Apocalypse”, “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”, “The Beginning Of The End”, and “Living A Life That Really Matters”.  When you purchase any of Michael’s books you help to support the work that he is doing.  You can also get his articles by email as soon as he publishes them by subscribing to his Substack newsletter.  Michael has published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and he always freely and happily allows others to republish those articles on their own websites.  These are such troubled times, and people need hope.  John 3:16 tells us about the hope that God has given us through Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  If you have not already done so, we strongly urge you to invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior today.

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The post As Americans Celebrate, The World Is Plunging Into An Abyss Of War, Famine, Natural Disasters And Pestilence appeared first on The Economic Collapse.

JESUS AS A CHILD: WHAT WE KNOW AND WHY IT MATTERS | Fortis Institute

JESUS AS A CHILD: WHAT WE KNOW AND WHY IT MATTERS

Segment 1:

• Parents Matter: Kids with involved, sacrificial parents turn out happier and healthier.

• Social Media’s Damage: Liberal girls lead the depression epidemic, spending 56+ hours/week online.

• Dads Step Up: Fathers who discipline and engage at home raise more content, grounded children.

Segment 2:

• “Get Off Your Phone”: Excessive screen time, especially for teens, correlates with higher depression rates.

• Feelings vs. Reality: Gen Z is taught that feelings drive truth, creating a fragile worldview.

• Parental Role: Replace damaging messages with biblical truth and model healthier habits.

Segment 3:

• Unintentional Leadership: Fathers influence their homes, even when unaware of it.

• Modeling Matters: How dads treat their wives and interact with their kids teaches lasting lessons.

• Encouragement Over Criticism: Make sure your children know you’re proud of them; they’re watching closely.

Segment 4:

• Jesus as a Child: The Bible provides only a glimpse into His early years in Luke 2.

• Why So Little?: Speculations like “The Infancy Gospel of Thomas” show why the canon was carefully curated.

• A Divine Perspective: Imagine living with full knowledge of your future suffering—how would it shape your life?

Sen. Ron Johnson says Democrats tried to ‘fundamentally transform’ America

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., highlights how Democrats under President Obama and President Biden tried to make ‘fundamental’ changes to America on ‘Jesse Watters Primetime.’

Source: Sen. Ron Johnson says Democrats tried to ‘fundamentally transform’ America