DAMASCUS A RUINOUS HEAP?

September 6, 2013

What about Damascus?  Right now very interesting things are happening in Syria.  You would have to be deaf not to have at least heard a bit about it. 

https://chrisreimersblog.com/2012/11/28/the-future-of-damascus/

And Just yesterday:

Isaiah 17:1

King James Version (KJV)

17 The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.

My thoughts:

I believe this is a prophecy that has yet to be fulfilled.  It’s like the prophecies concerning the rapture.  We look for signs but we don’t know when these prophecies will come to pass.  Either could happen tonight. Either could happen in 100 years or more.  It is very possible the prophecy that Isaiah spoke of in 17:1 could happen very soon.  What will God use to destroy Damascus?  It could be an earthquake, a nuclear event, bombing from a regional war, or even a supernatural event that is without explanation.  There are many possibilities.

I continue to watch Israel because I believe that the little nation, created by a covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, is God’s timepiece.

cr

2 Comments | Bible Prophecy, Commentary, Israel, News, Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by Chris

EVOLUTION AND GOD

September 1, 2013

There are so many reasons why we have gotten away from the truth of God’s Word.  The Evolution issue is a big one.

My son worked very hard in high school to get his college tuition minimized.  He is in his freshman year and is taking a Biology and Physiology class.  Here are a few of the chapter titles in his text:

“How Populations Evolve”

“How Biological Diversity Evolves”

“The Evolution of Microbial Life”

“The Evolution of Animals”

Chapter 14 ( a favorite number of mine) begins with “The Origin of the Species.”

Anyone who has read this blog knows where I stand on this issue.  The Bible says that “God created the heaven and the earth.”  I believe it by faith.  I also believe there is a great deal of evidence to back this belief.  Evolutionists may not always admit it but they must come to their THEORY with a great deal of faith.  This video shows several Biology students being asked very simple questions that they can’t answer.  When they do answer, they have not really dealt with the issue.

SPROUL/STEIN INTERVIEW

This is very interesting interview. The entire movie “Expelled” has been put on YouTube by a Muslim.  I had it here, but I don’t feel right about showing an entire movie without those who have worked so hard on it getting something from it.  HERE is a section of the movie that I’ve shown in another post.

Here is a link dealing with “Intelligent Design:”

There are many other posts on this blog about this issue.  To see them all, click on “creation” in the category section on the right side of this blog.  Here a few of my favorites:

GOD OF WONDERS

EVOLUTION CONTROVERSY’S OUTDATED ONE-SIDED EXPOSURE

IS THE AGE OF THE EARTH A SIDE ISSUE?

DOES A GOOD GOD EXIST?

We need to give our young people the facts and let them come to their own conclusions.  Listen to some of the students in the first video.  They sound brainwashed to me.  I think that man knows that there is a God, but rebellion closes one’s eyes to the truth.

This section of scripture From Romans 1 (Bible Gateway) describes the results of a continued turning away from the truth:

Unbelief and Its Consequences

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

cr

4 Comments | Commentary, Creation, Education, Helps, LIFE, Science, theology | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Chris

MAYWAGE

August 29, 2013

I know this is a very serious subject.  But I can’t refrain from sharing this humorous part of a movie called “The Princess Bride” that deals with marriage.  “Buttercup” is being forced to marry “Prince Humperdink.”  The priest doing the ceremony is quite the character.  What he says is actually good.  It’s the way he says it that, if you are in a mood, may get a giggle out of you.  We could all use a good laugh these days.

Why a post about marriage?  Well, today is my 32nd wedding anniversary.  Have you read Proverbs 31?  It describes a Godly wife.  Somehow, 32 years ago, a 22-year-old-know-little married a young lady similar to the one described in Proverbs 31.  I have been very blessed.

There are mixed feelings.  As I checked Flickr for a good photo to accompany this post, sadly many were of homosexuals getting “married.”  The fact that almost every decent picture was copy written tells me that marriage is still important to some.  I had to take my own picture.

You don’t need me to tell you that we live in contradictory times.  We have some of the best health care the world has ever known, yet we kill the unborn.  We are supposedly evolving into something better, at the same time, all appearances make it look like we are as we have always been: sinners.  Advances in technology screeeeeeem forward.   Ethical standards lurrrrrrrrrrrrrch backward.  There is a scripture that makes me think we are nearing the second coming of our Lord.

It is:

Daniel 12:4

 
“But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase.”
 
————-
 
I received an email from a friend of my wife wishing us a happy anniversary.  She is one of many of my friends who thinks Jesus may return in our lifetime.  I thought He would be here long ago.  If He does, praise be to God.  If not, I’ll be content to spend the rest of my days with one of the greatest blessings of my life.
 
cr

2 Comments | BIG GOVERNMENT, Commentary, globalization, LIFE, News, theology | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by Chris

How Do Mother Butterflies Avoid the Poison?

August 24, 2013

by Brian Thomas, M.S. *

Colorful Heliconius butterflies grace the tropics with their beautiful wide wings. Their survival depends on more features than what simply resides in their physical bodies. The challenge is trying to explain the origins of the way their body parts not only mesh perfectly with each other, but also with their butterfly behavior.

Read the rest of this interesting article HERE.

My comment:

I am a sucker for butterflies.  Someday I will explain why.  I think they are an amazing creation.  How can something like a butterfly survive in such a harsh world?  Maybe it’s for God’s glory. Maybe it’s to show that gentleness is an attribute that God appreciates. After all, gentleness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. THIS ARTICLE is another evidence of an everlasting Creator.

cr

7 Comments | Commentary, Creation, Education, LIFE, Science | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by Chris

LIFE CAN BRING JOY OUT OF SORROW

August 21, 2013

On the quest to cover stories about the fruits of the Holy Spirit, I discovered this one about Joy. 

(HERE IS A RECENT POST THAT I THOUGHT DESCRIBED the fruit named LOVE.)

The plan is to go through all of the fruits of the Holy Spirit and then start over again.

Time after time, I have seen God bring good out of something bad.  This story is a good example.

The story (true by BTW):

By Norma Becker

We have been married for 53 years. Ed and I met while going to university and were married at age 21 – that makes us 74 years old. We now have two children and four grandchildren.

The early years of our marriage were not happy years, but were filled with stresses and strains. We really had nothing in common. Our likes and dislikes were totally different. Our ways of spending money were different. Our ideas of an enjoyable vacation were different. I even lived with the fear that he was going to leave me.

How it all Changed
We moved to Canada from the United States 38 years ago and I started to attend a Bible study. I had always believed in God and knew the Bible was true, but I really didn’t know what it said. I believed I would go to heaven just because I was a morally good person and tried to be kind and helpful to my family and friends.

It was through studying the Bible that I learned I could have a personal relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ. It was this personal relationship that gave me the peace and direction I needed to carry on with life and making the right decisions in raising my family.

I’m not talking about a specific church or religion, but a personal relationship with Jesus. I prayed and asked His forgiveness for the sin of wanting to control my own life, and I asked God to take charge of my life. That decision didn’t mean that my life was going to be trouble free; it meant He was always there to help me through the hard times that came, because I now had a new foundation based on the solid rock of God.

Ed was not interested in spiritual things, so I continued to go to my Bible study but the rest of the time I followed the life Ed wanted to lead; however, I continued to pray for Ed and asked the Lord to do anything that it would take to bring him to know God as I did – even if that meant taking my life – but God had a different plan.

Tragedy Strikes
After I had been a Christian for about ten years, we went through a time of severe testing when our son was in the hospital undergoing many operations to correct the proper drainage of fluid in his brain.

READ THE REST OF THE STORY HERE.

4 Comments | Commentary, Helps, Love of God, Words that Uplift | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by Chris

HELLO HOT SPRINGS! I HAVEN’T FORGOTTEN YOU.

August 15, 2013

It is time, once again, to get involved in local “politics.”  I was at a recent Watchmen of Garland County meeting and the subject was Oaklawn.  Oaklawn is the local racetrack and casino.  It appears that $40 million a month is not enough.  At least that’s the number that I heard from a friend who knows quite a bit about what Oaklawn takes in.  There is word in the air that another expansion is in the works.  I don’t know how large the plans are, but one more “machine of skill” (That’s a short phrase that some of those who benefit from the casino use.) is too much for me.

The plan is to show up at the City Board meeting on Tuesday, September 3rd, and voice our views on any expansion.  I have already requested FOI information and plan to share it at the meeting unless there are so many who have had their lives ruined by a gambling problem willing to speak that time runs out.

I’ve always viewed gambling as nothing more than a poor tax.  From a Christian viewpoint, the Bible speaks of being content with what one has.

Admittedly, I am not an angel when it comes to gambling.  I’ve gambled thrice, that I can remember in the last 30 years.  A boss of mine taunted me to gamble, knowing he would lose, just to see if I would gamble.  I finally relented and won $20 (I think).  He was so unhappy that I took him up on it that he paid me in pennies.  I turned around and bet another employee about something that I knew I would lose and he ended up with the tainted gambling money.  Another time, on a work related outing, I was given money to gamble.  I ended up winning at a black jack table.  I felt so bad I’ll never set foot in another casino as long as I live if I can help it.

If you live in or near Hot Springs, I hope you show up at the meeting on September 3rd.  Even if you don’t like to speak in front of people, it would be nice to fill the room with concerned citizens.

Chris Reimers

The photo above is not suggesting that Oaklawn allows children to gamble.  My point is that many children are affected adversely by the gambling industry.  There are many Dads who wind up like the guy below because there are casinos in town.

HERE is a link to an article about gambling sent to me by my friend, Kassey.

The article by Science Digest finishes with this statement:

The authors conclude: “Our findings indicate that there is a relationship between age and pathological gambling: the older the patient, the more gambling-related problems the patient has. Intervention during early manifestations of the complex problem that is pathological gambling is essential for successful treatment planning.”

Kassey writes a blog called “Ponder Anew.”

2 Comments | Commentary, Hot Springs News, IMPORTANT UPCOMING MEETINGS, News, theology | Tagged: , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Chris

EIGHTH GRADE TEST FROM 1912 BAFFLES

August 13, 2013

I’ve given a few tests in my time.  I even gave a 12 page U.S. history final to my eighth grade students a few years.  One of the pages was a blank sheet of paper.  The eighth grader could not graduate until they were able to list all U.S. presidents and their political parties.  Extra credit was given for a popular nickname.  Most students got it right the first time.  We spend only 5-10 minutes a day on flashcards, covering 10 each quarter.  I’ll never forget one of the young scholars getting all of the hard ones right and missing Thomas Jefferson…twice. Ah………. I won’t mention any names but the initials were (V.E.).  Imagine getting a perfect paper with all the presidents and Mr. Jefferson being the only blank on the entire page.  I finally figured out a way for the student to remember ole T.J.

Yes THIS TEST FROM 1912 is probably a test that I would have trouble passing.  I think most of the reason for this is that even when I was in school (just a bit ago) teachers spent a good amount of time trying to keep kids under control.  It is worse today.

Glancing over the test, I knew some of the answers right away and didn’t take the time to figure others.  The spelling portion wasn’t that difficult. Who knows…maybe I could pass it.  Is it today’s students fault that the world has gotten farther away from Godly principles and, therefore, we have become a less studious society?  I would say: “no.”  The slip has happened over time.  Students today know things that students from 1912 could only wish to know.  It is a different time.  Some might question the importance of knowing some of the questions on the 1912 test.  I know a bit about today’s education and it seems like many of the tests our kids are getting are focusing on questions that will help them today’s real world.  At the same time, schools spend too much time prepping kids for tests that will be different in five years.

Education has always been a challenge.  The goal of any good teacher is to try and instill a love for learning in the student. Whether a student lived in 1850, 1912, or 2013, the goal of a good teacher hasn’t changed.

Admittedly, it is much harder to educate today.  There are so many social, political, and spiritual reasons I won’t even begin to name them.  I appreciate those who teach because they love kids, not because it pays the bills.  As school starts for another year, pray for your kids teachers.  They are going to need it.

cr

After writing this bit, is saw this story called:

“California Gov. Brown signs transgender-student bill”

The above says: “California Gov. Brown signs transgender-student bill”

Did I mention spiritual reasons for America’s fall?  (Click on the above headline to view the crazy “effort” in California.)

2 Comments | Commentary, Education, LIFE | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by Chris

ARMORED FISH FOSSILS REWRITE EVOLUTIONARY STORY

August 11, 2013

by Brian Thomas, M.S.

A special set of Australian fish fossils just derailed evolution’s long-held story of early fish origins. The remarkable fossils preserved detailed soft tissue body features, including the precise points where muscles attached to the ancient fish’s bones. These clues enabled paleontologists to reconstruct the now-extinct fish anatomy. Though expecting something much more primitive-looking, they discovered completely designed, fully-muscled armored fish. Now they have to rewrite the evolutionary bit about how jaws evolved.1

This interesting article may be seen in its entirety HERE.

cr

Note (6/18/2016): I had a story here that was removed from the original source so I went on a hunt to find the same related story and others. The one that was here originally is first. There are many more than three like it, but I will list two other similar stories that show the general view of current scientists within American Universities over the past decade or so.

ORIGINAL STORY THAT WAS HERE FROM A DIFFERENT POST…INTELLIGENT DESIGN AT BALL STATE 2013

INTELLEGENT DESIGN AT BALL STATE 2016

INTELLIGENT DESIGN AT IOWA STATE 2007

2 Comments | Commentary, Creation, LIFE, Science | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by Chris

6 YEAR OLD FIREMAN BILLY

August 9, 2013

Stop telling God how big your storm is.

Instead tell your storm how big your GOD is!

In Phoenix, Arizona, a 26-year-old mother stared

down at her 6-year-old son, who was dying of

terminal leukemia. Although her heart was filled

with sadness, she also had a strong feeling of

determination. Like any parent, she wanted her

son to grow up and fulfill all his dreams. Now

that was no longer possible..

The leukemia would see to that. But she still

wanted her son’s dreams to come true. She took

her son’s hand and asked, “Billy, did you ever

think about what you wanted to be once you grew

up? Did you ever dream and wish what you would do

with your life?”

Mommy, “I always wanted to be a fireman when I grew up.”

Mom smiled back and said, “Let’s see if we can

make your wish come true.”

Later that day she went to her local fire

department in Phoenix, Arizona, where she met

Fireman Bob, who had a heart as big as Phoenix.

She explained her son’s final wish and asked if

it might be possible to give her six-year-old son

a ride around the block on a fire engine.

Fireman Bob said, “Look, we can do better than

that. If you’ll have your son ready at seven

o’clock Wednesday morning, we’ll make him an

honorary fireman for the whole day. He can come

down to the fire station, eat with us, go out on

all the fire calls, the whole nine yards! And if

you’ll give us ! his sizes, we’ll get a real fire

uniform for him, with a real fire hat-not a toy

one-with the emblem of the Phoenix Fire

Department on it, a yellow slicker like we wear

and rubber boots. They’re all manufactured right

here in Phoenix, so we can get them fast.”

Three days later Fireman Bob picked up Billy,

dressed him in his fire uniform and escorted him

from his hospital bed to the waiting hook and

ladder truck. Billy got to sit on the back of the

truck and help steer it back to the fire station.

He was in heaven. There were three fire calls in

Phoenix that day and Billy got to go out on all

three calls. He rode in the different fire

engines, the paramedic’s van, and even the fire chief’s car.

He was also videotaped for the local news

program. Having his dream come true, with all the

love and attention that was lavished upon him, so

deeply touched Billy that he lived three months

longer than any doctor thought possible.

One night all of his vital signs began to drop

dramatically and the head nurse, who believed in

the hospice concept that no one should die alone,

began to call the family members to the hospital.

Then she remembered the day Billy had spent as a

fireman, so she called the Fire Chief and asked

if it would be possible to send a fireman in

uniform to the hospital to be with Billy as he

made his transition.

The chief replied, “We can do better than that.

We’ll be there in five minutes.

Will you please do me a favor?

When you hear the sirens screaming and see the

lights flashing, will you announce over the PA

system that there is not a fire? It’s just the

fire department coming to see one of its finest

members one more time.

And will you open the window to his room?

About five minutes later a hook and ladder truck

arrived at the hospital and extended its ladder

up to Billy’s third floor open window

16 firefighters climbed up the ladder into

Billy’s room.

With his mother’s permission, they

hugged him and held him and told him how much

they loved him.

With his dying breath, Billy

looked up at the fire chief and said,

“Chief, am I really a fireman now?”

“Billy, you are, and the Head Chief, Jesus, is holding your hand,”

the chief said.

With those words, Billy smiled and said,

“I know, He’s been holding my hand all day,

and the angels have been singing..”

He closed his eyes one last time.

————————————–

This story fits the “Demonstrations of the fruits of the Spirit” class that is at the top of the list of stories for which I am looking.  The first fruit of the spirit is love.  I thought this was a good example of love.

CR

4 Comments | Commentary, LIFE, Love of God, Words that Uplift | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by Chris

PUSHED AROUND

August 7, 2013

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.

My confession:

I don’t like getting pushed around for being a Je…w, and I don’t think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians.

I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period.

I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can’t find it in the Constitution and I don’t like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren’t allowed to worship God as we understand Him?

I guess that’s a sign that I’m getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it’s not funny, it’s intended to get you thinking.

In light of recent events – terrorists attacks, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O’Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn’t want prayer in our schools, and we said OK.

Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school.

The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbour as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn’t spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock’s son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he’s talking about. And we said okay.

Now we’re asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don’t know right from wrong, and why it doesn’t bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with, ‘WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.’

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world’s going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says.

Funny how you can send ‘jokes’ through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing.

Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing yet?

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

————————–

My comment:

This wouldn’t have been posted if I didn’t think there is a good amount of truth in Mr. Stein’s statement.

If we are Christians, we are to expect (not excuse) persecution.  Check out the following verses:

Romans 8:34-36

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written,

“For Your sake we are being put to death all day long;
We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

2 Thessalonians 1:3-5

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater; 4 therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure. 5 This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.

There are others, but these two make it pretty clear.  If we are Christ followers, there is a good chance we will face some form of Persecution.  I think that most Christians in America have no idea what real persecution is, myself included.  May we be considered worthy if or when difficult persecution comes.

CR

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Posted by Chris

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