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Starbucks: A Christmas Message
While drinking a latte this morning, I noticed that Starbucks has a seasonal message line on their cups and decorations. In an attempt to define Christmas or “holiday” or whatever they may think December 25 should be called, they are using the phrase, “It only happens once a year.”
And in a sense, it does, if it’s about a day or even a season.
However, there is another view. A view that has been held by billions of people throughout the past 2000 years.
Benjamin Franklin, one of our Founding Fathers, had a little different idea. He said, “A good conscience is a continual Christmas.”
But it was Charles Dickens, in his A Christmas Carol who said it best.
“I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year.”
Indeed, indeed!
_______________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom Network
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2 Comments:
“I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year.”
Amen and Amen!!!
we must keep christ the center of christmas Amen...for this reason below
op 5 End Times Signs of 2005?
by Dr. Stu Johnson
posted 12/1/05
Most of the "signs" we talk about today are not new to human history. Since Jesus told his disciples about the "signs," hundreds of millions of people have died from war, genocide, disease, famine, and natural and other disasters. While 45 million or more died in World War II, tens of millions died in each of at least four Chinese rebellions between 756 and 1864. And while the 2004 earthquake and tsunami claimed nearly 300,000, the worst earthquake death toll is estimated at 830,000 in Shaanxi, China, in 1556 (from a list of hundreds of events on the Wikopedia online encyclopedia).
The morning The Regime was released, Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins appeared on Good Morning America. Lead-ins to the segment and one of the first questions hit the issue of the recent earthquakes and hurricanes as apocalyptic signs. Dr. LaHaye said these are not specific signs, but he does believe their apparent increase and intensity is an indicator that the stage is being set, the time is ripe.
Prophecy expert Mark Hitchcock agrees. In numerous articles in the Left Behind Prophecy newsletter, Mark explained this view.
I don't believe that earthquakes we see today are a specific sign of Christ's soon return. The earthquakes predicted by Jesus and John are great earthquakes that will occur during the seven-year tribulation. And we are not yet in the tribulation.
In the article about Hurricane Katrina, Hitchcock concluded what we see now may "foreshadow the kinds of disasters that will occur during the tribulation, and that they provide us with graphic, striking previews of the chaos and misery that will prevail during the coming time of tribulation. In this way they serve as a stern warning and foretaste to all of what is coming upon the earth and should lead people to repent before it's too late" (Luke 13:1-5).
Mark of the Beast
The Mark of the Beast is another example of a "sign" that produces intense speculation—and it's not new. Any kind of government record keeping, especially with numbers attached, has been suspect—driver's licenses, Social Security cards, etc. Now, the possibilities get ever more Orwellian. A school district in California, for example, recently used Radio Frequency ID technology, to bring GPS surveillance to student ID cards.
The mark of the beast is often misunderstood as a sign of the approaching end times, but the pre-tribulation view of prophecy that provides the background for the Left Behind stories says the mark will be used by Antichrist as a loyalty sign following his ascendancy during the Tribulation.
Antichrist
Amidst the speculation about who could become Antichrist, prophecy experts like LaHaye and Hitchcock point out that there have been numerous antichrist types throughout history, men such as Adolph Hitler, Josef Stalin, and Sadaam Hussein. As we have seen in The Rising and The Regime, Antichrist will likely emerge from the likes of Nicolae Carpathia, whose public charisma hides his evil soul. Most prophecy experts do agree that Antichrist will arise out of Europe, which itself plays a key role in the end times.
What to watch
So what are the real signs to watch? Tim LaHaye, Mark Hitchcock, and other prophecy experts all point to the regathering of Israel as the "supersign," with other key events focused on Europe and the Middle East.
Here are five key areas from the news this past year. In many cases we do not see huge steps, like the establishment of Israel following World War II, but many little pieces begin to fall into place when compared to prophecy and history.
1. Israel. An interesting benchmark is coming soon as the Jewish population in Israel is expected to become the largest in the world, surpassing that of the United States. This has been a tumultuous year, with the disengagement from Gaza producing praise from many in the international community and protest from staunch Zionists who feel Israel should inhabit all of its biblical territory. The continued tensions may make Israel ripe for the international intervention of Daniel 9.
Another significant event went largely unnoticed. The ancient Sanhedrin, the official legal tribunal in Israel, convened in October 2004—the first time in 1,600 years. In its February 2005 meeting, it took up the topic of rebuilding the temple. At its June meeting, the Sanhedrin issued an official call to rebuild the temple. Of course, the Temple Mount is now in Muslim hands.
2. Europe. In this year that celebrated the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, the reemergence of the Roman Empire (a.k.a. the European Union) on the world scene has been moving ahead, but not without obstacles. The EU continues to expand in size, though the adoption of a constitution was rebuffed. Tensions over radical-Islamic terrorism and Muslim immigration in general were seen in the London bombing and the recent riots in France. This could feed acceptance of the strong ruling body predicted by Daniel, as Russia and the Arab/Islamic nations come together against Europe and the West
3. Russia. Russia has tried to make drastic reforms, but can't escape her past. President Putin has been moving to consolidate power and neutralize potential opposition. In an apparent power-grab, Putin abolished direct election of the 89 governors of the various regions of Russia. In his annual state of the nation address in April, he mourned the fall of the Soviet Union and raised fears he is reversing democracy.
4. Iraq and the Middle East. Oil drives modern society, and most of it is found in the Middle East. This connection also puts in place the conditions in Ezekiel 38-39 to surround Israel with the enemies prepared to wipe it out. While the major battlefields of war have been shifting from Europe and Asia to the Middle East, a peaceful Iraq will encourage relations with Europe, setting the stage for the eventual rebuilding of Babylon as headquarters for Antichrist. While the situation is still dangerous and uncertain, two elections have already been successful, with the third scheduled this month. With Iraq situated in the middle of two-thirds of the world's proven oil reserves, there is even more reason for Europe to develop good relations.
5. Iran. Ezekiel 38 suggests that a coalition between Iran (Persia) and Russia (Rosh) will lead an alliance against Israel. Iran's nuclear ambitions have troubled the world and Russia has proven to be a key player, even a potential "solution." Iran also maintains a troubling relation with North Korea. Iran's new president publicly called for the destruction of Israel, while at the same time strengthening ties with Russia.
Much of the speculation about end times signs comes from interpretations of Jesus' words recorded in Matthew 24 in which he talked about war, famine, earthquakes, growing sin, and diminishing love before his return. He also warned against listening to false prophets and making too much of the signs, since even he did not know the exact time the Father would send him back.
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