John 11:25

3-31-18, * -- We celebrate the anniversary of Resurrection of our Lord Jesus on Sunday [aka Easter] on a different date every year; very weird. It is not about brightly bunnies, colored eggs, wearing pastels, or enjoying a big meal, although it could include these. Easter is about the death and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

For some, Easter will be a great day, spent surrounded by family and friends. But for others, it will be a sad day, because Easter is a reminder of a loved one who has died and is now desperately missed.

Death seems so cruel, so harsh, and so final. That is what the disciples were feeling when they saw their Lord, whom they had left everything to follow, hanging on the cross. They were devastated. Death had crushed them. But if they would have gone back in their memories, they would have recalled an important event and statement Jesus had made.

They would have remembered Jesus standing at the tomb of His close friend, Lazarus; that Jesus did something completely unexpected: He wept (John 11:35). Jesus wept, because He knew that death was not part of God’s original plan. Humanity was not meant to grow old, to suffer with disease, or to die. But because of the sin of Adam and Eve, sin entered the human race, and death followed with it. And death spread to all of us.

Standing there at Lazarus’ tomb, Jesus delivered these hope-filled words: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.” (John 11:25) If you have put your faith in Christ, then Easter means that you will live forever in the presence of God. Jesus resurrection brings hope to the person who has been devastated by death and makes us fearless of our own earthly death. Death is not the end; and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ proves it. ​Thank You, Lord!

* Excerpted and adapted full original message from Greg Laurie here:
www.facebook.com/harvest.greglaurie/posts/10153964444106698

Matthew 16:1-15, 28:2-4; Mark 16:1-11; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-17

Matthew 28:11-15; Mark 16:9; John 20:31

Exodus 12:21-28; ​1 Corinthians 5:7 

3-29-18, Free Beacon -- According to regional and US officials, the Muslim terrorist group in Gaza called 'Hamas' is planning a mass demonstration or a new war with the Jewish state of Israel ahead of the Passover holiday that begins on March 31, 2018 through April 6, 2018. On the heels of a recent military exercise that observers described as "unprecedented," Hamas leaders have called for some 100,000 Gaza Strip resident to engage in six weeks of mass demonstrations along the Israeli border as Jewish families gear up for the Passover holiday.
 
Managing editor of the Israel Project, Omri Ceren said: "Hamas is preparing thousands of civilians to rush Israel's border, tear down the defensive fence and provide cover as Hamas fighters flood into Israel. While Israeli military officials have planned to use as little force as possible to control any violent eruption. The Israelis will do everything possible to prevent escalation and avoid casualties, but this is the kind of thing that could go really bad really quickly."

In a recent report Tzippe Barrow, Jerusalem based correspondent for CBN News said: "The plan is to build to a crescendo day by day until May 15, the day after Israel's Independence Day, when Hamas hopes tens of thousands of Gazan civilians, interspersed with some military folks, will storm the security barrier, an action that could provoke a forceful response from Israeli security."


Officials with the U.N. Relief Works Agency, or UNRWA, a body routinely cited for its anti-Israel bias, have already endorsed the demonstrations, stoking further concerns the U.N. is setting the stage to blame Israel for any violence that could erupt. UNRWA has offered medical facilities to any Palestinian who may be injured during the weeks of protest. More here

Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34; Luke 23:34, 43; John 19:26-30

Romans 6:10

3-30-18, Henry Morris, PhD* -- The Greek word ephapax translated “once” in this verse actually means “once for all.” Christ did not have to die again and again, a new death for every sinner. He died unto sin once for all, His death being sufficient to take away “the sin of the [whole] world” (John 1:29).

In Jewish law, a factual claim was considered confirmed by the principle that “in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established” (Matthew 18:16). The Apostle Paul recalls that the resurrected Christ “was seen of above five hundred brethren at once” (1 Corinthians 15:6). Two or three would have sufficed, but the risen Christ had five hundred witnesses. These saw Him alive once for all, and their lives were forever changed.

“We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Hebrews 7:27; 9:12; 10:10

With His own shed blood He entered into the presence of the Father, sanctified us forever and was raised from the dead by impeccable testimony, once for all.

* Excerpted and adapted full original message Here

Deuteronomy 10:17; Psalm 136:3; 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 1:5, 17:14, 19:11-16

Christian pastors are being arrested in the UK for preaching the word of God… while UK tyrants protect Islamic radicals
3-29-18, (Natural News) -- According to reports, freedom of speech in the United Kingdom is under attack after a Christian preacher, David Lynn was arrested for sharing his faith in the public square. David was forcibly removed from a train station in Barking after a lesbian woman accused him of being sinful. More here

3-24-18, DailyMail -- In 2009, nine years ago to the exact day, more than 80 whales and dolphins died in a similar case in Hamelin Bay. Three years ago there was another incident involving 20 whales who all died after becoming stranded in Bunbury, South West Australia.  Distressed locals captured images of 100's of black short-finned whales washed up on the picturesque coast. It's not known why they washed up, but thought they were following subtropical waters and beached themselves The WA Government issued a shark alert advising of beach closures between Hamelin Bay and Boranup Australia. More here

Rescuers with cranes could only save six survivors, according to ABC; they were helped back into the open sea. They used hammocks to carry the 4 ton animals down to the beach; volunteers were seen in the water in an attempt to coax the animals back into the water. It is not known why the whales washed up on the beach, but it is thought they were following subtropical waters around the coast according to the Telegraph. Today's incident is the biggest mass stranding in Western Australia since 1996 when 320 long-finned pilot whales beached themselves. 

______________________

 Psalm 1:3

3-29-18, John Morris, ICR -- The first Psalm constitutes a contrast between the godly individual who delights in God’s law and the ungodly person who is destined for destruction. “Blessed” literally means “happy,” and the habits of such a happy one are described as not only avoiding the thought patterns and lifestyle of the ungodly (Psalm 1:1), but also delighting in and obeying the Word of God (Ps 1:2). Our text describes four results of being blessed or happy in the biblical sense.

First, “he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,” with the implication being to dwell in a secure, bountiful state. The verb “plant” actually means “transplanted,” now firmly rooted and provided for, no longer vulnerable, tentative and undernourished.

Second, he “bringeth forth his fruit in his season.” One does not so nourish a tree without any purpose. Here, following the analogy, the godly individual, nourished and protected by his Maker, can likewise expect to accomplish a purpose—in this case to bear spiritual, eternal fruit.

Third, “his leaf also shall not wither.” Eternal life is the present possession of all who have been “transplanted” by the Lord. Such a one can expect to faithfully bring forth precious fruit in each season of his life.

Fourth, “whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” Success in each endeavor undertaken by one whose delight is the Lord can be expected, such success defined by that which brings spiritual maturity, and eternal fruit, and prosperity as He defines prosperity.

“For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous:
but the way of the ungodly shall perish.” (Ps 1:6)
Source

• Russia fire: Kemerovo mall blaze kills 64, many of them ...
  https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/deadly-fire-in-russian... 3/25/18 -- The official death toll is 64 ... including many children, they were killed after a fire broke out in a theater in a mall as the play area.
  
• Russia mall fire: Many dead after fire exits blocked in ...

The fire alarms were silent and staff reportedly nowhere to be seen, a fire at a shopping mall packed with children and their parents on the first weekend of the school recess killed 64 people in Russia’s Siberia.

• 8 children among 64 killed in Russian mall fire, officials ...
  3-26-18, A fire in a Siberian mall where children and ... 64 people in Russia's Siberia. T
• Trapped in Russian Mall Fire
  The New York Times · Mar 26, 2018 · The fire at a shopping centre in Kemerovo, Siberia. MOSCOW — The theater was packed, and children’s movies were …
• More here

John 1:36

3-18-18, Dr Henry Morris, PhD -- John the Baptist was, in effect, telling his followers that they should henceforth leave him to follow Jesus. (John 1:37). On the previous day, when John had first seen Jesus coming, he had said, apparently to all his disciples, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

This is the first use of the word “lamb” in the New Testament, and it is significant that it refers here to the Lord Jesus as the one great sacrifice for our sins. He is called “the Lamb” 30 more times in the New Testament, the final time no longer viewing Him on the altar but on His eternal throne (Revelation 22:3). Yet, even on His throne as our King, He is still the Lamb, and we can never forget that He once died for us that we might live with Him.

Long before this, Isaac once asked his father, “Where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham answered, “God will provide himself a lamb” (Genesis 22:7-8). God did just that 2,000 years later, when Christ, “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8), “came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15).

Then when God was ready to set His people free in ancient Egypt, He told them to place the shed blood of a spotless lamb on the doorpost of each home and said, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you” (Exodus 12:13). In fulfillment of all these ancient sacrifices and types, the once-for-all Lamb of God came, and “Christ our passover is sacrificed [even] for us” (1 Corinthians 5:7).

Now, like John’s disciples, it surely compels us, in the very depths of our souls, to “behold the Lamb of God” and follow Him. Source

3-25-18, * -- The God Delusion author [Richard Dawkins] tweeted to his 2.74 million followers earlier this week said: “Before we rejoice at the death throes of the relatively benign Christian religion, let’s not forget Hilaire Belloc’s menacing rhyme: ‘Always keep a-hold of nurse For fear of finding something worse.'”  

Previously, Dawkins, who was famously canned from a Berkeley, California campus appearance last year after organizers learned about his criticisms of Islam, admitted he has some concern about the decline of Christianity, “in so far as Christianity might be a bulwark against something worse. There are no Christians, as far as I know, blowing up buildings. I am not aware of any Christian suicide bombers. I am not aware of any major Christian denomination that believes the penalty for apostasy is death,” he said. [..snip]

Above all else, Europe’s rise to prominence was enabled by Christian Values. It is not a coincidence that the rise of the West occurred just as Asian societies turned inward and “suddenly became immobile… [They cut themselves off from a changing external world just when European expansion was beginning” (Geoffrey Barraclough, Turning Points in World History, p. 24). Once the West started to rise in the sixteenth century, “it seemed that nothing could hold it back” (Historians Debate the Rise of the West, p. 23). But why did one civilization rise and the others decline—almost at the same time?

These values did help us and we could be an example and a help to all the peoples of the world.

Though we cast aside many of those ways and concepts as the centuries passed, some of those ways, concepts and ideas survived to become a part of the foundation of Western civilization that has transformed the world over the last five hundred years. The dramatic rise of the West—one of the most important turning points in the history of the world--illustrates the effectiveness of those ways. There are such “social values” today in Europe, America, and Australia only because during those thousand years.

The Christians of Europe possessed the warlike power to do what the Christians of Asia and Africa had failed to do – that is, to beat back the Moslem invader. More here

History of the Beast of Islam, Ottoman Hordes, Moslems, et al
6-4-15, Ralph Sidway -- On May 29, 2015 was the anniversary of the conquering and desolation of the great Christian city of Constantinople by the forces of Islam in 1453. The historical descriptions of the pillaging and destruction by the Muslim invaders is remarkable for its similarity to the actions of the Islamic State and other jihadi groups today, and vividly illustrates the historical continuity of Islam’s treatment of Christians and other non-Muslims. More here http://www.truthandgrace.com/muslimhistory.htm

3-27-18, Jesus spoke of future events, including the destruction of Jerusalem and His return. He said that “Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled” Luke 21:24. A similar phrase is found in Romans 11:25 “A partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.”
 
Just as the Lord Jesus prophesied; in 70 AD Roman armies destroyed Jerusalem and burned the Second Temple to the ground. Thus began the 2,000-year exile of the Jewish people from their Promised Land when Gentiles took control of Jerusalem. 

And in 1517 the Muslim Ottoman conquest of Israel occurred ruled from Istanbul Turkey. An estimated 1,000 Jewish families lived in the Jewish nation, mainly in Jerusalem, Nablus (Shechem), Hebron, Gaza, Safed (Tzfat) and the villages of Galilee. The community was comprised of descendants of Jews who had never left the Land. [1]

Fifty years ago, on June 11, 1967 [2] Israel won control and unified the Jewish city of Jerusalem taking control from the Gentiles [Muslims]. Despite Israel’s sovereignty over the Jewish Holy site of Temple Mount – Muslims were granted access and control of the Islamic DOME OF THE ROCK [built by Muslims in appx 688 AD] on the Jewish holy Temple Mount Moriah. 
 
Israel will celebrate her 70th Anniversary being recognized by the world as the Jewish Nation [May 1948]; who can argue that Jerusalem isn’t the most disputed piece of real estate on earth today?

Abomination of Desolation as described by the Apostle Mark 13:14 – an IT – not a person. 
 
Recently the United States President Donald Trump and seven other nations* have finally accepted the fact that Jerusalem is the capitol of the Jewish State of Israel.  The USA has planned to move US Embassy in May 2018.

Paris: 85-year-old woman French-Jewish Holocaust survivor
MARCH 26, 2018, Mireille Kanol was set on fire Friday night. Her charred body also had at least 11 stab wounds. Police have a suspect in custody identified as her 35-year-old Muslim neighbor who the victim apparently had known since childhood. 
​Apparently the killer tried to cover his murder with arson as investigators found at least five points of ignition in the apartment. Over the past few years the number of attacks against Jewish citizens of Paris – even by their neighbors – has been on the steady rise. More here

Islamist in Florida at Sleepover Seventeen Yr Old, Corey Johnson Kills One Stabs Many
A3-14-18, Fox News -- Seventeen yr old at a birthday sleepover fatally stabbed one and several more attempts ... he admitted to the attack citing his study of Islam ... The killer Corey Johnson told police he woke up at 4 a.m. at Kyle Bancroft’s home and had an urge to kill Kyle’s mother, Elaine Simon, brother 13-year-old Dane Bancroft and Dane’s friend 13-year-old Jovanni Sierra. He tried as they were asleep - he succeeded in killing Jovanni Sierra ...

Muslim Terrorists are seen as a threat Worldwide – but the Florida shooter ...Feb 25, 2018 ... Students protested against gun violence after 17 were killed in the latest mass school shooting. However, internationally, Muslim terrorist are the killers we should be concerned about. Why aren't we?

Apparently the argument for the continued terror by Muslim killers is that THEY are being persecuted .... hmm? Here's a report from a NATO website:
Terror, coercion and foreign policy - NATO - I am directly responsible for protecting and avenging my Muslim brothers and sisters. Until we feel security, you will be our targets and until you stop the bombing, gassing, imprisonment and torture of my people we will not stop this fight. We are at war ...

So stabbing a sleeping teenager in America and an 85 yr old Grandma in Paris is avenging the the persecution of Muslims? No it isn't ... they are brutal murderers of innocent people.

Adult Leftist Liberals Using and Taking Advantage of our Youth's Ignorance Marching Them Around With The Goal of Confiscating Guns From
​ Law Abiding Citizens - Diabolical!
***
"Woe to the wicked! It will go badly with him, For what he deserves will be done to him. 12O My people! Their oppressors are children, And women rule over them. O My people! Those who guide you lead you astray And confuse the direction of your paths. 13The LORD arises to contend, And stands to judge the people." Isaiah 3:11-13

The people cast their garments on the donkey and Jesus sat upon him. Many people spread their garments in the path: others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed the way. They that went before, and they that followed, cried:

"Hosanna; Blessed [is] He that comes in the name of the Lord:
Blessed [be] the kingdom of our father David, that comes
in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest!"

Jesus entered Jerusalem, and the temple: and when He had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, He went out unto Bethany with the twelve [apostles].
Mark 11:7-11

3-25-18, * -- Today is the anniversary of the Lord Jesus Christ's entry into Jerusalem where a week later He would be crucified. But the good news is He arose from death. The significance of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is breathtaking. The witness of the apostles and believers is that - without the resurrection -  there could be no Christianity. The crucifixion and shed blood of Jesus Christ would be useless without His resurrection. It was His resurrection that explained His death as a sacrifice for sins for all who would repent and trust Him as their Savior. It was the resurrection which vindicated His teaching: He was no liar.

It is the resurrection that gives us hope of a new, eternal life: as Christ arose, so will we. It is the one fact that the apostles and early church constantly held forth as the proof of their message. It is the oldest traceable doctrine of the early Christian liturgy. Even notable anti-Christian scholars admit that the early church held the resurrection as fact, however much those same scholars hope to show that the church was mistaken or it was a hoax as they stole His body away. However, historical records report that Christ was buried, His tomb was sealed [Matthew 27:65-66] and soldiers posted around it. About dawn of the first day of the new week an earthquake shook the tomb. The guards fell senseless [Matthew 28:4]. An angel rolled back the stone.

Women, on their way to the tomb to anoint His body, wondered how they would roll away the stone. Imagine their surprise when they found it rolled back and His body gone! They supposed it had been removed and laid elsewhere. Weeping, one of them asked a gardener if he knew where the body had been taken; she then recognized the "gardener" as Jesus Himself! [John 20:1-16]

The women rushed back to tell the disciples. Peter and John raced to the tomb. All was as the women had said. An angel assured the men Christ had risen. All arguments against Jesus’ resurrection must take into account the eyewitness testimonies. Jesus appeared several times to His disciples, ate food [Luke 24:41-43] with them [passed through walls (John 20:19 )] and to His brother James [1 Cor 15:7]. The Bible lists a number of appearances, including one to over 500 people at once. Paul said, "And then He appeared to me as if to one born late." [1 Corinthians 15:6-8]

The church of Christ was born and its witness changed lives around the world. And the fact that all but the Apostle John died excruciating martyrs deaths because they refused to deny the Messiah’s life, death and resurrection.

The church has long insisted that the Christian life would be impossible without the resurrection, for through it Christ removed the sting of death from all those who believe in Him.

1 Corinthians 15:1-7
​***
* Excerpted and adapted full original message here 

3-16-18, Debbie Schlussel -- I had mixed feelings about screening this movie '7 Days Entebbe.' The trailers made it look promising, but I know that Hollywood hates Israel and is filled with self-hating Jews. This movie makes the Islamic terrorists and their counterparts from the Baader Meinhof Gang into humanitarians who want to be nice to the Jews. The Baader Meinhof terrorists are riddled with guilt about the Holocaust and don’t want to discriminate against Jews . . . which is exactly why they helped hijack a plane from Israel, right?

I was especially repulsed when the movie portrays a woman waking up sick in the middle of the night, thinking she is back in Auschwitz concentration camp. She has numbers inked onto her arm and the sympathetic German terrorist comforts and takes care of her. Awww. This never happened! In real life, a male Holocaust survivor was yelled at and threatened after he showed his numbers on his arm to the German hijacker. ​More here

Events summary from Wikipedia:
Operation Entebbe, or Operation Thunderbolt, was a successful counter-terrorist hostage-rescue mission carried out Israel Defense Forces (IDF) at Entebbe Airport in Uganda on 4 July 1976. The flight, which had originated in Tel Aviv with the destination of Paris, was diverted after a stopover in Athens via Benghazi to Entebbe, the main airport of Uganda.

On 27 June, an Air France plane with 248 passengers was hijacked by Muslim members of Palestinian support groups under orders of Wadie Haddad and two members of the German Revolutionary Cells. The hijackers stated objective to free 40 Muslims aka "Palestinians" and affiliated militants imprisoned in Israel and 13 prisoners in four other countries in exchange for the hostages.

The Ugandan government supported the Muslim hijackers, and dictator Idi Amin personally welcomed them. Amin had been fully informed of the planned hijacking.

After moving all hostages from the aircraft to a unused airport building, the hijackers separated all Israelis and several non-Israeli Jews from the larger group and forced them into a separate room.

Within the next two days, the 148 non Jews were released and flown out to Paris.

Ninety-four, passengers along with the 12-member Air France crew, remained as hostages and were threatened with death [..] one Israeli was killed. All the terrorists were killed. More here