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About Love

As I look upon the state of our nation and the entire world I am sad to recognize the fulfillment of Bible prophecy regarding the end times.  The stage is set for the Restrainer to be removed from planet Earth so that the Antichrist should be revealed.  He will spread his wicked agenda across the globe.

7For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the One who is holding it back steps out of the way. 8Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of His mouth and destroy him by the splendor of His coming. 9This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. 10He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. 11So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. 12Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth. ~ 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12 NIV

Every heart of every person is driven by love.  Yes, even the wicked love something.

15Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever. ~ 1 John 2:15-17 NKJV

Mankind is now standing on the edge of a timeline precipice.  We have a unique viewpoint of world events via media technology.   Those who are watching can view approaching fulfillment of God’s prophecy regarding the end of the age of man governing himself.  Soon Jesus Christ will return to Earth, conquer Satan, and set up His kingdom.  Yeshua, our Messiah Jesus, will reign for one thousand years upon this Earth.  He will reign with strong power over evil.  As we have seen, the wicked who do not love truth shall be destroyed at His coming.

Now would be a very good time to be sure that you do not believe Satan’s lies.  If you have not surrendered your love of worldly things to Jesus, there is no better time to take care of eternal business than right now.  Helpful guidance is available here, talk to another believer or Pastor that you respect, or email me with questions.

Prayer – Father, as we lift Your Name above the heavens and all of the planets, stars, and galaxies of Your creation, convict hearts today that love the lie rather than Your Truth.  In the Matchless and Wonderful Name of our Redeemer, Jesus, thank you for such an awesome gift of salvation for those who sincerely choose eternal life over death by asking You to replace love of the world with Your love of Truth in their hearts. Amen.

These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. ~ 1 John 2:26 NKJV

Thank you for following

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What Can You Do?

Dream the impossible.  Go out and make it happen.  I walked on the moon.  What can you do? ~ Captain Eugene A. Cernan, Commander of Apollo XVII, “The Last Man on the Moon”

I am haunted by this quote after recently watching “The Last Man on the Moon” documentary.  Afterward, I visited a memorial website to honor one of our nation’s most revered human treasures, Captain Gene Cernan (1934-2017).  Like so many others, I sought to find out more about the man behind the astounding achievements recorded in his book and documentary, “The Last Man on the Moon”.  To me, his life symbolizes sacrifice and perseverance in the face of daunting perils associated with exploring the unknown reaches of space.  He faced such challenges with unwavering resolve and great faith in himself and in countless others who worked behind the scenes to place him in orbit around the earth and, ultimately, on the moon.  His story empowers me to ask the same question he did:

What Can You Do?

Or more importantly, What Can I do?

What can I do with God’s personal and precious gift of mysterious energy we call life?

On my own, I realize that my life’s achievements are insignificant in the eyes of the world.  I am a mere speck of dust – or perhaps less.  On the day of my departure from this world, I will be missed by a few friends or family members briefly and then – nothing…. but Captain Gene Cernan will live on in the hearts and minds of Americans far into the future.  In recent years Captain Cernan wanted to leave us a piece of himself while he still lived among us.  He wanted us to know that we should never give up on ourselves.  His message was to strive for our dreams and never give up on us.

Today I choose to take that advice literally both as an individual and also as a nation. Even though we live in times of negativity, division, or defeat, I am encouraged – no, inspired – by the exemplary life of  a national icon who reached out to the stars and beyond for answers to questions about our universe.  What he achieved is really BIG when you think about it.

So back to, What Can I do?

The strangest thing happened to me this morning as I pondered this question.  I felt a spiritual spark begin to pulse within me.  Do you ever get ignition – right out of nowhere? – that moment of thought conception that tugs and stretches until it becomes realization?  I’m talking about the sort of realization that comes from the gut; who knows – from the Holy Spirit?  It is the gripping realization of some genetically placed truth that I have known from before the womb.  In my case, it is the knowledge that “I can do all things through Christ, which strengthens me”, confirmed in God’s Word in Phil. 4:13.  If my obedience pleases God through Christ, it has all been accomplished under the direction and strength of His Holy Spirit.  That’s a ton of power and God-Given No-How.  Therefore, it will be remembered for eternity.

WOW!!!

I guess Gene Cernan was right.  There is unlimited potential in each one of us, and since our Heavenly Father never gives up on me, then I shouldn’t either.

They will still yield fruit in old age, They shall be full of sap and very green, To declare that the Lord is upright; He is my Rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.   ~ Psalm 92:12-15 NASB

The Lord reigns… For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you would hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts… ~ Psalm 93:1a, 95:7-8a NASB

“Father, please guide me by Your Spirit to live up to my potential for service to You and Your Kingdom.  Give me strength to perform Your will and the wisdom to understand it. Glory and Praise to You for Your everlasting love toward mankind.  Thank you for planting Your Greatness in me before the earth and moon were ever formed; in the powerful and matchless Name of Yeshua, our Messiah, Amen.”

I guess that brings us back to Gene’s question, “What Can You Do?”

God Bless and keep you all.

“The Last Man on the Moon” Wins Award for Best Documentary Film

Photo credit: NASA

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Life’s Reflection

Is my life reflecting God’s Word?

“This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.” ~Titus 3:8 KJV

Father, please forgive me for my thoughts, words, and actions which are unprofitable, vain, or an obstruction to the reading, understanding, and acceptance of Your Word.  In the Name of Jesus, our blessed Yeshua Messiah, amen.

 

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Operation Magic Carpet

My daughter recently took me to the Alaska Jewish Museum at 1221 E. 35th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska, for my birthday. What a treat! I especially enjoyed the exhibit “On the Wings of Eagles: Alaska’s Contribution to Operation Magic Carpet”.  The exhibit offers an inspiring account of the most dramatic humanitarian effort of all time to airlift over 47,000 Yemenite Jewish refugees to Israel from 1948 to 1950. img_9429I was moved to tears by the powerful personal accounts of heroic Alaska Airlines pilots who, against all odds (including hostile fire and other dangerous flying conditions), performed the Operation Magic Carpet airlift successfully without loss of life, despite one plane crash.

How could I have been a resident of Alaska for over 56 years and not heard of this amazing story? Or of this Jewish Museum, for that matter? I have traveled the skies with Alaska Airlines for decades and never realized the brave sacrifices Alaskan pilots made while flying missions for the mass immigration of God’s chosen people back to their homeland, Israel. Truly, I can only chalk it up to being out of touch with important stuff at the time; residing comfortably in my mother’s womb during the final months of Operation Magic Carpet – that, and it wasn’t taught in history class at public schools I attended back when – OH NO!

History:

In 1948, the isolated Yemenite Jews were very distrustful of leaving their homes to return to their promised land of Israel. They had become assimilated into the country of Yemen, but after the State of Israel was created, Arab persecution of the Jews increased. It soon became necessary for the Yemenite Jews to escape to Israel. But how?

Link to brief history lesson on how Alaska Airlines helped put the project together.

When Yemenite Jews heard they would be flying in airplanes to Israel, most had never seen an airplane and could not imagine flying in one, but the word of this adventure spread fast as thousands gathered to be carried home to Israel on “the wings of eagles” – excitedly proclaiming that Biblical prophesy was to be fulfilled:

On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt – on that very day – they came to the Desert of Sinai. After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain. Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” ~Exodus 19:1-6 NIV

“but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” ~Isaiah 40:31 NIV

To learn more about Operation Magic Carpet, there are quite a few online articles of this historical Yemenite Jewish aliyah (immigration to Israel). Click here for a great example.

These vintage photos of the airlift are priceless.

Currently:

I have been paying more attention in recent years to ongoing importantstuff like global humanitarian efforts to transport thousands of Jews back to Israel. Check it out at Israel Breaking News “On the Wings of Eagles, Yemen’s Last Jews Arrive in Israel”; plus “The first group of 78 Ethiopian Jews to move to Israel after waiting for three years will arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport on a flight approved by the Interior Ministry in 2013—one that never took off due to lack of budget for their absorption, which includes housing allowances for at least two years.” – Read more …

I highly recommend a visit to the Alaska Jewish Museum if you are traveling to Anchorage, Alaska. If you can’t make the trip, here’s a link to the museum’s online 3D Tour.

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God’s blessings upon you all, my brethren, and, “Thank you, my precious daughter, for the unique gift! I truly enjoyed our visit to the Alaska Jewish Museum.”

Photos credit: C’Les Jensema
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Starting Over – A Reset

We have all experienced the need for “starting over”.  It can be a painful prospect, but in many cases, a reset is the only solution.

Setting a new course can be just the thing necessary to set us free from heartache, guilt, doubt, addiction, unfruitfulness; or in the case of spiritual warfare, a total rebirth:

“7You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again’. 8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear the sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” ~ John 3:7-8 (NIV)

God chose a flood to wipe out the wickedness that man had caused on the earth (Genesis 6). Rather than destroy man completely, God provided a way of escape for Noah and his family by calling upon Noah to build an ark.  Through faith, Noah was allowed a means of starting over – a reset, if you will.  The victorious reset in history over mankind’s separation from God is the resurrection of Jesus Christ three days after His crucifixion.  Praise God, we serve a Living Christ!  Another major reset for mankind will take place in the future when our Messiah returns and sets up His kingdom on earth – the Millennial Age.  These examples of God’s resets show that God’s love for us is not to be defeated.  He has not given up on us, but His plan requires starting over.

I chose this feature photo because the rainbow reminds me of God’s faithful promise to never again consume the earth with a flood.  He placed the rainbow in the skies as evidence of His promise.  After the rains, the flooding will pass.

Starting over is like that for me.  The world consumed me like a flood, but the flooding has passed.  God’s magnificent rainbow of promise lies before me, and I rejoice in starting over in Him.

“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” ~ James 4:8a (ESV)
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” ~ Galations 6:9 (KJV)
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide you a way out so that you can endure it.” ~ I Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)

Great is the Lord, and Greatly to be Praised!

God bless you.

Photo credit: unknown