The words of Jesus recorded in Scripture are among the greatest gifts God has given us. The one through whom all things were created, and from whom all things derive their meaning, speaks.
But what is the meaning of these words? How do we unwrap this gift? Faith comes through hearing, certainly, but we have to make sense of what we hear. We want to know not just the words of Jesus but the sense behind them, and here we get into deep water. In the use of words, He is greater than Homer, Shakespeare, and Dante, more profound than Aristotle, Confucious, and the Buddha.
At our three-day annual conference this year, Scott Hahn, Jimmy Akin, Tim Staples, Father Sebastian Walshe and many others will swim in these deep waters. It’s going to be wonderful. These speakers are not just scholars but are disciples who have spent their lives listening to Jesus and trying to understand
We might make big promises- especially to God. But when we find ourselves in a difficult situation where our promises matter most, can we uphold them? Jesus knows that sometimes our talk is bigger than our actions. And sometimes He gives us opportunities to see where our words get ahead of us to gently remind us to choose our promises carefully.
Lord, thank You for Your faithfulness. Even though I have let You down, Your promises never fail. Teach me to be wise in my words, so that I may make only the promises that I can keep. And give me the power to persevere and see my promises through, even when it seems difficult or impossible. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Lou Diamond Phillips: A Hollywood Survivor Navigates Fame, Family, and Legal Battles – Louis Diamond Phillips, born on February 17, 1962, in the Philippines at the Subic Bay Naval Station, has etched an unforgettable mark on Hollywood. From his iconic portrayal of Ritchie Valens in “La Bamba” to his roles in a diverse range of films and television series, Phillips’ career has been a testament to his versatility and talent. Phillips’ early life was shaped by his multicultural background. Born to Lucita Umayam Aranas and Gerald Amon Upchurch, a Marine KC-130 crew chief, Phillips’ heritage is a blend of Scots-Irish and Cherokee descent on his father’s side. His father passed away when Phillips was young, leading to his adoption by his stepfather and the surname change to Phillips. Growing up in Texas, Phillips graduated from Flour Bluff High School in Corpus Christi in 1980, later earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Drama from the University of Texas at Arlington. Phillips’ career took off in the 1980s with his breakout role as Ritchie Valens in “La Bamba” (1987). This biographical drama showcased Phillips’ ability to capture the spirit of the young rock ‘n’ roll star, earning him widespread acclaim. The following year, he starred in “Stand and Deliver” (1988) alongside Edward James Olmos. Phillips’ portrayal of Angel David Guzman, a gang member who transforms under the guidance of a dedicated math teacher, garnered him a Golden Globe nomination and an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male. The success continued with “Young Guns” (1988), where Phillips played the outlaw Jose Chavez y Chavez. The Western, featuring an ensemble cast including Emilio Estevez and Kiefer Sutherland, was a hit, leading to a sequel, “Young Guns II” (1990), where Phillips reprised his role. In 1996, Phillips made his Broadway debut in the revival of “The King and I,” playing King Mongkut of Siam. His performance earned him a Tony Award nomination, further solidifying his reputation as a versatile actor capable of commanding both screen and stage. That same year, he starred in the action film “Courage Under Fire” as Staff Sergeant John Monfriez, a role that won him the Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Supporting Actor. Phillips’ career in the late 1990s and early 2000s saw him taking on a variety of roles. He starred in the comedy-action film “The Big Hit” (1998) as Cisco and the drama “Brokedown Palace” (1999) as Roy Knox. His television work during this period included a recurring role in the sitcom “George Lopez” and a stint on the first season of “24” as secret government agent Mark DeSalvo. In 2003, Phillips made a cameo appearance alongside Harrison Ford in “Hollywood Homicide.” The mid-2000s also saw him exploring other facets of his career, including winning the second season of the NBC reality series “I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!” in 2009. He also hosted “An Officer and a Movie” on The Military Channel, where he interviewed military and intelligence community members. Phillips’ role in the TV series “Longmire” from 2012 to 2017 as Henry Standing Bear, a Native American and the best friend of the titular character, showcased his ability to bring depth to complex characters. His performance was widely praised and became one of his most memorable television roles. In the 2010s, Phillips continued to diversify his career. He appeared in the music video for Imagine Dragons’ “Radioactive” in 2012, which went on to become a massive hit on YouTube. In 2015, he played Luis “Don Lucho” Urzúa in “The 33,” a film about the 2010 Chilean mining accident, further demonstrating his knack for portraying real-life characters with authenticity. Phillips has also ventured into writing and directing. He co-wrote the screenplay for “Trespasses” and HBO’s “Dangerous Touch,” and penned the feature “Ambition.” In 2019, Aethon Books published his debut novel, “Tinderbox: Soldier of Indira,” a science fiction retelling of a Hans Christian Andersen story, illustrated by his wife, Yvonne. His personal life has seen its share of ups and downs. Phillips married assistant director Julie Cypher in 1987, but they divorced in 1990. He then had a brief engagement with actress Jennifer Tilly. In 1994, he married makeup artist Kelly Phillips, with whom he has three daughters. Their marriage ended in 2007 after a prolonged separation. Phillips later married makeup artist Yvonne Boismier in 2007, and they have a daughter together. Phillips has also been involved in legal issues, including arrests in 2006 and 2017 for disturbing the peace and reckless driving, respectively. Despite these challenges, he has remained a dedicated actor and activist, serving on the advisory council of The Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment and being actively involved in Native American causes. Throughout his career, Phillips has received numerous accolades, including the Independent Spirit Award, Tony Award nomination, and a Blockbuster Entertainment Award. His commitment to his craft and his ability to navigate both Hollywood and Broadway have made him a respected figure in the entertainment industry. Phillips continues to work in various capacities, from acting to writing, and remains a prominent figure in Hollywood. His journey, marked by significant achievements and personal trials, offers a rich narrative of perseverance and talent in the ever-evolving world of entertainment.
Red Eagle or William Weatherford (1780 or 1781 – March 24, 1824) was a Creek chief. One of many mixed-race descendants of Southeast Indians who intermarried with European traders and later colonial settlers. Red Eagle was of mixed Creek, French and Scots ancestry. He was raised as a Creek in the matrilineal nation and achieved his power in it, through his mother’s prominent Wind Clan, as well as his father’s trading connections. After showing his skill as a warrior, he was given the war name of Hopnicafutsahia. The Creek War (1813-1814), also known as the Red Stick War and the Creek Civil War, was a regional war between opposing Creek factions, European empires, and the United States, taking place largely in Alabama and along the Gulf Coast. Red Eagle became increasingly concerned about the influx of European Americans onto Creek land and eventually led a group known as “Red Sticks,” bent on protecting their land, their way of life, and their people from intruders. Eventually the smaller forces of Red Sticks and the larger opposing forces led by General Andrew Jackson came against each other. The conflict ended in the decisive defeat of the Red Sticks at The Battle of Horseshoe Bend, near modern-day Dadeville, Alabama. Terms were drawn up that provided far less land than the Creek tribe had previously held. The quote attributed to Chief Red Eagle reads, “Angry people want you to see how powerful they are. Loving people want you to see how powerful YOU are.”-End ID] ❤
Cheyenne Dog Soldier, 1840. The Dog Soldiers were the Cheyenne Elite, they formed their own bands within the Cheyenne Nation, they often gave their own lives to protect their women and children, they were very much feared by the white Soldiers, and their Native American Foes, Pawnee, Ute, to name but a few, however, they where honoured Allies of the Lakota Sioux, and the Arapahoe’s, Comanche’s and Kiowa’s, the mention of the words “Cheyenne Dog Soldier”, put Fear into the most hardest of white Soldiers, they are still the most famous warrior society on Earth today. AHO. Please (follow + ) us to know more things that knowledge cannot be found in books, school ! Thank you for your interest ❤️
“Sioux Chief Long Wolf & Family”, ca. 1880. ~ “A Stranger Hears Last Wish of a Sioux Chief Long Wolf went to London with Buffalo Bill’s show and died there in 1892. Thanks to the struggles of a British homemaker, his remains will be returned home.” May 28, 1997 |WILLIAM D. MONTALBANO TIMES STAFF WRITER BROMSGROVE, England — “After a restless century in a melancholy English graveyard, the remains–and the spirit–of a Sioux chief named Long Wolf are returning to his ancestral home in America because one stranger cared. The stranger is a 56-year-old English homemaker named Elizabeth Knight, who lives in a small row house with her husband, Peter, a roof repairer in this Worcestershire village near Birmingham. “I am a very ordinary sort of person,” she said. The sort who writes letters, not e-mail, who makes no long-distance phone calls, has no fancy degrees, has little worldly experience, who never gets her name in the papers. The sort who turns detective and historian and raises a transatlantic fuss because her heart is moved and her sense of fair play is outraged. This is the story of how heirs of Middle England and the Wild West have joined forces to fulfill a dying wish made more than a century ago. For Knight, the story began the day in 1991 that she bought an old book in a market near her house. There was a 1923 story by a Scottish adventurer named R. B. Cunninghame Graham that began this way: “In a lone corner of a crowded London cemetery, just at the end of a smoke-stained Greco-Roman colonnade under a poplar tree, nestles a neglected grave.” In the grave, under a stylized cross and the howling image of his namesake, lies Long Wolf. He died at 59 in a London hospital on June 11, 1892, the victim of bronchial pneumonia contracted in what was then a crowded, dark, gloomy, industrial city as far as anywhere on Earth from the Great Plains of North America. “I was moved. I kept taking the book down, imagining Long Wolf lying there amid the ranks of pale faces
“Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain’t goin’ away.” —Elvis Presley, Cherokee History is not there for you to like or dislike. It is there for you to learn from it. And if it offends you, even better. Because then you are less likely to repeat it. It’s not yours for you to erase or destroy.
Elvis
American Indian Dog It’s not a wolf, and it’s not a coyote; it’s an American Indian dog. known for its long, pointy ears, thick coat, intense stare, and impressive build. These working companion animals were almost lost to history after our American Indians were segregated onto reservations, and often left without the resources necessary to maintain the ancient breed. According to the experts at Animal Corner, the Native American Indian Dog is believed to be up to 30,000 years old. Yes, it’s possible that the breed shared parts of North America with some of the earliest Native Americans to inhabit the land. Some specialists have theorized that the Native American Indian Dog breed could even be the missing link between wolves and the modern dog as we know it today.
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚 –𝐍𝐨 𝐅𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐡 Lakota 89 years of age living at Pine Ridge Reservation and a well known associate of Chief Sitting Bull sang the following. He stated that Sitting Bull sang this soon after the Custer Fight June 1876. This same song with words and melody was adopted by the Lakota as “parade song” and it is still in use to this day whatever occasion demands. “Kola taku otehika Friends things (troubles) most difficult Imakuwa pe pursue me Hena kowakipe sni le waun of these fearless of i live (survive)” No Flesh sang the following song. Sitting Bull sang this while he wasen route to Was’_ington, D. C., on Tribal matters pertaining to the cession of Black Hills Country. “Kola taku yakapelo Friends what are you talking about? Pahasapa kin mitawa yelo The Black Hills belong to me Epin na blihe miciye Saying this I took fresh courage.” – 25 Songs made by Sitting Bull, compiled by Robert High Eagle 1928.
‘Throughout history, long hair has been more than just a style—it’s been a potent symbol of masculinity and strength across diverse cultures. From the valiant Greeks celebrated in epic poems for their majestic tresses to the fierce Norse and Native Americans revered for their glossy manes, and the stoic Japanese samurai who regarded their hair as a badge of honor, lengthy hair has always had significance. Vikings proudly displayed their braided hair, and for a samurai, to lose his hair was to lose his dignity. In stark contrast, the cutting of hair was often used as a method of humiliation for captured warriors, reducing their sense of beauty and honor. This tradition persists subtly in modern military practices, where new recruits are shaved bald to diminish their individuality and ensure conformity. The preference for short hair emerged in the Roman period, between the 1st and 5th centuries AD, primarily for practical battlefield reasons—it prevented foes from seizing a soldier by his hair and improved the ease of recognizing allies. Today, despite its deep historical roots connecting long hair with freedom and masculinity, men who choose to keep their hair long often encounter ridicule or are disparagingly labeled as effeminate. This is a significant misunderstanding of the historical context, where short hair, now seen as the norm, deviates from the age-old emblem of masculine strength and autonomy.
God knows our hearts. He knows not only what we ask, but why we ask. And when we ask with impure motives, seeking God only as a means to achieving our selfish desires, He gently corrects us. It is God’s desire that our hearts would turn to Him, for His sake, and be satisfied with Him. And in turn, He helps us to overcome our selfish desires as we set our minds on heavenly things.
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is once again forcing postal workers to work on Sunday. In fact, the USPS refused to give our postal worker client an accommodation to continue going to church on Sunday.
We’ve been fighting – and WINNING – these types of cases for decades. And we’re currently representing numerous clients defending their right to go to church. We just won for one of our USPS clients and are sending a demand letter for another one TODAY. We helped win at the U.S. Supreme Court last year to protect your right to go to church on Sunday, and we’ll go back to the Supreme Court if necessary.
Church is essential, and our constitutional rights to religious liberty MUST BE PROTECTED. If they can block you from going to church, what’s next?
This is a critical moment to stop these attacks on faith and defend religious liberty in court.
As we send our demand letter TODAY to protect your right to go to church and religious liberty, take action with us.
Lord, too often my own desires and priorities get in the way of truly seeking You. Please transform my heart and renew my mind so that I may be more like You. Help me to put away selfish ambitions and lustful pursuits, and instead desire more of what is true, good, and right. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
June 12, 2024 View in browser The Epoch Times A wave of major Supreme Court decisions is expected in the next several weeks as the 2023-2024 term comes to an end this month. The Court’s calendar has marked two days for potential opinion releases but will likely add more to the calendar. So far this term, the justices have released 32 opinions, or a little more than half of the 61 oral arguments they heard this term.
The U.S. Supreme Court in Washington on May 29, 2024.
Among the cases pending are ones related to presidential power, the events of Jan. 6, 2021, abortion, gun rights, social media, and administrative authority. “This term stands to be a critical one in articulating the proper role of the separation of powers and the limits on the federal government,” Judicial Crisis Network President Carrie Severino told The Epoch Times. Former President Donald Trump’s appeal in his Washington, Jan.6-related case is expected to set game-changing precedent for presidential immunity while potentially bearing on the success of DOJ’s case against him. Experts have speculated to The Epoch Times that the justices will refine the legal scope of presidential immunity while remanding the case for further consideration in D.C. District Court. Another case has challenged the Justice Department’s attempt to use a financial reform law to charge many Jan. 6 defendants. The Court’s ruling could bear on prior convictions as well as Trump’s trial in Washington. Separation of Powers refers to the idea that each branch of the federal government has its own territory of authority. While the Constitution sets up checks and balances, various cases are questioning how the extent to which different branches affect each other. Four major cases related to administrative power have gone before the Court this term. Two of them—Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo and Relentless Inc. v. Department of Commerce—could lead the Supreme Court to overturn a decades-old precedent known as Chevron deference. Chevron deference generally refers to the idea that courts should defer to an agency’s interpretation of their authority under laws passed by Congress. The decision has been cited in thousands of cases and its undoing is expected to change the landscape of litigation for challenges to regulation. Administrative law courts, or in-house tribunals for administrative agencies, may suffer a significant setback depending on how the Court rules in S.E.C. v. Jarkesy. In May, the justices indicated they wouldn’t default to an anti-regulatory stance in these types of cases. One of the most conservative justices, Justice Clarence Thomas, penned the majority opinion upholding the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s controversial funding mechanism. The Biden administration is also asking the Court to lift what they say is an overbroad injunction on their ability to communicate with social media companies. Missouri and others have sued the administration, alleging that it coerced social media companies to do its bidding in content moderation related to COVID-19. Other social media cases—Moody v. NetChoice LLC and NetChoice LLC v. Paxton—could help set parameters for how far state legislatures can go in regulating social media platforms’ content moderation. Gun rights and abortion are back at the Court this term with controversial cases about the abortion pill, bumpstocks, firearm ownership for domestic abusers, and how federal law may or may not force physicians to perform abortions. —Sam Dorman NORTH DAKOTA REDISTRICTING DISPUTE The Supreme Court has invited the Biden administration to submit a brief with its views in an ongoing redistricting dispute in North Dakota. The state appealed a lower court decision upholding its creation of two new, minority-majority subdistricts. Although the state agreed with the outcome, it said the lower court’s reasoning was incorrect. The Voting Rights Act (VRA), which was enacted in 1965 and prohibits racial discrimination in voting, is at the core of the dispute. The state of North Dakota sees the lower court decision as flawed because it assumes that attempting to comply with the federal VRA justifies racial discrimination in validating the new subdistricts. Two Republican-affiliated voters tried to challenge the redistricting plan, which was approved by the state legislature, but U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota dismissed the voters’ lawsuit at the behest of the state and the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation. Doug Burgum, the state’s Republican governor and former 2024 presidential candidate, filed a reply brief in May stating that “as a matter of first principles,” the state is unable to defend the basis of the summary judgment. Quoting Justice Clarence Thomas, the brief stated that if complying with a federal statute requires the state to engage in racial discrimination, “the proper conclusion is not that the statute excuses the state’s discrimination, but that the statute is invalid.” Burgum asked the Supreme Court to review the basis of the lower court decision. More than a dozen other Republican-dominated states filed a brief supporting the voters in April, telling the Supreme Court “the stakes are high” and that states need to know what the VRA means. The case came after years of court decisions surrounding the VRA, including in Alexander v. South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP. In that case, the justices decided in May to uphold a redistricting plan in South Carolina. Election lawyer J. Christian Adams told The Epoch Times: “You are not allowed to create them solely on the basis of race. Even if the Voting Rights Act requires that you’re not allowed to just say, ‘Okay, let’s make a black district.’ It’s more complicated than that.” He described this area of law as “the most complicated … in the entire country.” —Matthew Vadum and Sam Dorman BOOKMARKS Hunter Biden has been convicted of all three charges in his Delaware gun trial. Mr. Biden faces up to 25 years for having lied about his drug addiction in order to purchase a gun in 2018. Microsoft has been forced to tighten cybersecurity measures for its Recall program, which takes constant screenshots of user’s computers. The program will now be disabled by default, and will require facial recognition to install. An internal investigation at the DOJ revealed that it had no communications with the District Attorney of Manhattan on President Donald Trump’s N.Y. case. The DOJ had been accused by Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and others of colluding with the Manhattan DA. Economists at the World Bank say the United States is pushing global economic growth. Global growth rates are expected to reach 2.6 percent, instead of the predicted 2.4 percent. A former AI researcher has warned that China could weaponize the latest developments in the technology. He expects AI to reach human levels of processing power by 2027.
LONG HAIR Traditionally, long hair was always a symbol of masculinity. All of history’s great warriors had long hair, from the Greeks (who wrote odes to their heroes’ hair) to the Nordic, from the American Indians (famous for their long shiny hair) to the Japanese. And the longer and beautiful the hair was, the more manly the warrior was considered. Vikings flaunted their braids and samurai wore their long hair as a symbol of their honor (they cut their braid when they lose honor). When a warrior was captured, his mane was cut to humiliate him, to take away his beauty. That custom resumed in what is today military service. There when new soldiers begin their training the first thing they do is cut their hair to undermine their self-esteem, make them submissive and make them see who’s boss. The Romans were the ones who “invented” short hair so to speak, between the 1st and 5th centuries AD.. In battles they believed this gave them defensive advantages, since their opponents couldn’t grab them by the hair. This also helped them to recognize each other in the battlefield. Short hair on men is a relatively new “invention” that has nothing to do with aesthetics. But today we often see men being humiliated, sometimes called “gay” for wearing long hair, not knowing that short hair is actually the “anti-masculine” and is a repressive social imposition, while long hair symbolizes freedom
It is inspiring to see the power of God displayed throughout creation. The mountains, the stars, the storms, all declare His glory. And it is comforting to see God’s righteousness in His actions. He wields His power justly and rightly, according to His character. As He imparts His righteousness on us, His power sustains us.
Lord, You alone are worthy to be praised. From near to far, Your creation displays Your glory and praises Your name. Your hands alone have to power to create. You create and govern with goodness, with justice, and with righteousness, because that is Who You are. I praise You for revealing Your glory and Your goodness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Hate The term “hate” can be misleading. When used in a hate crime law, the word “hate” does not mean rage, anger, or general dislike. In this context “hate” means bias against people or groups with specific characteristics that are defined by the law.
At the federal level, hate crime laws include crimes committed on the basis of the victim’s perceived or actual race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability.
Most state hate crime laws include crimes committed on the basis of race, color, and religion; many also include crimes committed on the basis of sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, and disability.
Crime The “crime” in hate crime is often a violent crime, such as assault, murder, arson, vandalism, or threats to commit such crimes. It may also cover conspiring or asking another person to commit such crimes, even if the crime was never carried out.
Under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, people cannot be prosecuted simply for their beliefs. People may be offended or upset about beliefs that are untrue or based upon false stereotypes, but it is not a crime to express offensive beliefs, or to join with others who share such views. However, the First Amendment does not protect against committing a crime, just because the conduct is rooted in philosophical beliefs.
Why have hate crime laws? Hate crimes have a broader effect than most other kinds of crime. Hate crime victims include not only the crime’s immediate target but also others like them. Hate crimes affect families, communities, and at times, the entire nation.
Why report hate crimes? The Hate Crimes Reporting Gap is the significant disparity between hate crimes that actually occur and those reported to law enforcement. It is critical to report hate crimes not only to show support and get help for victims, but also to send a clear message that the community will not tolerate these kinds of crimes. Reporting hate crimes allows communities and law enforcement to fully understand the scope of the problem in a community and put resources toward preventing and addressing attacks based on bias and hate.
Experts estimate an average of 250,000 hate crimes were committed each year between 2004 and 2015 in the United States. The majority of these were not reported to law enforcement.
Terminology Hate Crime: At the federal level, a crime motivated by bias against race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability.
Bias or Hate Incident: Acts of prejudice that are not crimes and do not involve violence, threats, or property damage.
🇮🇱🙏⛪🇮🇱🙏⛪🙏🇮🇱🙏⛪🇮🇱🙏 The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. Proverbs 3:19
How can we begin to measure the mind of God? Even as scientists learn, piece by piece, how the universe and the earth work, we realize the complexity and order of creation. We realize how little we know, despite how much we’ve learned. And none of it is an accident. Each process, each atom, each scientific principle, has been laid down by our Creator to display His glory and power.
God, my words cannot describe how awesome You are. As I look into the heavens, I marvel at Your vast power. And as I meditate on the makeup of the earth, and all of the plants, animals, chemicals, and processes that form our complex ecosystem, I appreciate Your infinite wisdom even more. You are wise, powerful, and magnificent indeed! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Jesus gave us the most important commandments that we are to live out in our lives as Christians. The first one: We are to love God with all of our hearts, souls, and minds. The second one being that we are to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. It should be no surprise that the greatest commandments of all have to do with love. Everything that is to do with God is all about love. God created us out of love and He redeemed us out of love. We are where we are, as His children, because of the love of God.
You cannot be a child of God if you do not have the love of God in your heart. But the love of God is not just about saying that you have it. It has to be evident in your thoughts, beliefs, and actions. You may not have it all figured out but you will learn as you go. This is why we have the Bible – it helps us grow in the knowledge of God and what His love really means. We express our love for God through communicating with Him regularly, studying His word, and obeying His commands.
We also express our love for God through loving people. There is no way you can claim to love God if you harbor resentment and hatred against people. It can be hard to let go of the hurtful things that people have done to us, but forgiveness sets us free. Forgiveness is a godly action because we are emulating what God did for us. God is more than capable of healing our brokenness and helping us find the strength to forgive those who have wronged us.
Part of being a Christian is humbling ourselves and realizing that without God, our lives truly mean nothing. We are to acknowledge that we have made a conscious choice to turn away from the bad deeds and sinful habits, and we have turned to the holy life God has presented before us. God had to forgive us of our sins first in order for us to be qualified to live this life. We are to never forget of this great forgiveness that God promised the children of Israel all those years ago. Repent from all evil ways, and choose to be transformed by the love of God and His Word.
Father, I humbly present myself as one who has chosen to turn away from their sinful ways. It is a choice I made when I chose to follow you and Lord, it is a choice I intend to abide in. Father, help me to walk in a way that is worthy of this calling. Thank you for your patience, O Lord, and for never going back on your promises. Were it not for your forgiveness, O Father, I don’t know where I would be. I humble myself before you, O Lord, and pray that I abide in you and nothing else. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
What place in the world do you never want to visit? Why? Sometimes, we needlessly complicate our faith, and that can quickly put us on the wrong path. Fad teachings and new doctrines seem to emerge every day, but we already have God’s word and we already have the Lord’s Supper. We need not reinvent our faith with extraneous rituals, they only lead to polluted doctrine. Instead, let us hold to the simple gatherings and foundational truth that we have already been given.
Lord, thank You for revealing Yourself to me in Your word, and thank You for the simple communion that I share with my fellow believers. Please work in these things to build me up, so that I may be satisfied in You. Give me the wisdom to discern unsound doctrine, so that I may remain steadfast in Your truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
The fall of Man was a terrible time. Not only had man disobeyed God, but they had lost the freedom, peace and comfort in having a relationship with God. Once they made the mistake and discovered they were naked, Adam and Eve ran to hide when God came to look for them. They hid because they were ashamed – they were ashamed of what they had done. Despite the fact that God was looking for them, Adam and Eve felt that they couldn’t face Him. Not after what they had done.
That is what sin does to us. It makes us feel as if we cannot commune with God. When we make mistakes, the devil tries to take advantage of them and make us feel like we are less than who we actually are. The devil is bent on causing a divide between us and God. He will go at any length to do so. When we slip up and disobey God, the devil jumps in, ready to condemn us and make us feel like we are unworthy. If we are not knowledgeable of God’s love and His everlasting mercy, we will end up falling for the enemy’s trickery. The moment the enemy manages to make us feel less, he will keep on beating us down until we believe it.
God doesn’t want us to see ourselves in that light. There is nothing we will gain from beating ourselves up. God doesn’t delight in seeing it. That is not what He desires for our lives. When we make mistakes, we need to realize that God has forgiven us. This does not mean we deliberately repeat the offense. No. It simply means that we should focus our eyes back on Christ, and keep on moving forward. Guilt is not from God and neither is condemnation.
It takes wisdom to understand the importance of keeping peace with everyone in your life. Only a fool will take delight in starting quarrels and stirring up dissension among people. There is nothing to benefit from strife; all it brings is pain, discomfort, and sorrow. Why would one want to live like that? When you have godly wisdom, you will know when to confront and when to draw back. Godly wisdom will also help you confront a person in a respectful, yet firm, manner. You do not need to insult a person in order to get your point across – that is foolishness. We often find it necessary to insult people we think are below us – call center assistants, customer service, waiters, employees, etc. Every heart matters and the words you speak will either break or build a heart. Wisdom will guide you in speaking effectively without causing strife with another person.
Dear God, it can become hard to think clearly when I am caught in tense situations. Father, I pray that if I am ever caught in a tough situation, may I think clearly, guided by your wisdom, and not by my emotions or my feelings. May I always have it in my heart to want to be at peace with everyone; and may you help me live this out. I cannot do it on my own power. I know that maintaining peace with my neighbors is attainable, through you, O Lord. May you guide me accordingly, with your wisdom at the front of my mind. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me. Psalm 142:7
Sin takes many forms. Pride, greed, lust, envy, and more. But all sin leads to bondage. All sin imprisons us. And even as Christians, our enemy continues to set traps of temptation for us, hoping to bind us once again. And every time, it is God who breaks us free, on our day of salvation, and each time we stumble. And when He rescues us, His glory is revealed when others see us living liberated lives.
Lord God, thank You for saving me and rescuing me from my bondage to sin. Sometimes, I stumble or wander back into those familiar chains. Please break me free once again and guard my heart and life. Surround me with Your righteous ones, so that I may be better defended against the enemy as I move forward proclaiming the goodness of Your name. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
The fact that people promote domestic violence like Late Night With Colorado Phil does. I had checked out his Facebook and I saw horrifying. He Rape Promoted and domestic violence. I talked to him about it and he said get what deserves. He says he’s a talk show host. We have enough problems therefore, we don’t need a a person promoting rape. Verbal or physical.
Britannica Dictionary definition of RAPIST. [count] : a person who rapes someone : a person who commits rape. a convicted rapist.
O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee; Psalm 16:2
Without God, we could have no good thing. Even before we know Him, He gave us tastes of His goodness by His grace. And now that we have received the full measure of His grace, let us draw nearer to Him. All joy, all gladness, everything that is good is a gift from our Heavenly Father who loves us.
Father God, I am in awe at the unending depth of Your goodness. Even in my sin, You chose to pour out Your love on me so that I could experience a measure of Your goodness. And know that I know You, I want to know You even more. Every blessing and joy of this life fills my heart with gratitude, for they all flow from You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Growing up, the Bible was in my bedroom but seldom opened. I believed in Jesus and cannot remember a time I felt as if God didn’t exist. God just was. However, I did not follow Him as Lord and Savior growing up. In God’s lovingkindness and faithfulness to me, that changed over time. Far from being a God who “just was,” I discovered that he is “the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come” (Revelation 1:8).
As different opportunities arose, I heard more of God’s Word through circumstances, through other believers, through music, and for myself as I started to open up the Bible and engage with it more. What I found was a book that was the very word of God, which is “alive and active… sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
Here are a selection of verses that have shaped my walk as a follower of Jesus. May they bless you as much as they have encouraged and sustained me.
Describe a positive thing a family member has done for you.
If you’ve ever visited an art museum, you know that some pieces are so expertly made that they make you stop and think. They invite you to consider the artist’s mind, passion, and purpose as you take in the intricacies of the finished work. God’s creation, from vast galaxies to delicate flowers, instills the same wonder in all who seek to know Him.
God, You are magnificent and awesome. As I look at the beauty of creation around me, I am overwhelmed by the power of Your hands and the creativity of Your mind. You’ve built beauty and grandeur into everything that You have made, and seeing Your work makes me want to know You even more. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Marriage is meant to be one of the earthly representations of love. When a man and woman decide to come together as one, as one unit, one flesh, one family, and they decide to take on the world together. The best marriages are the marriages that are rooted in the love of God. Couples who choose to make Christ the center of their relationship make the journey slightly easier for themselves. Marriage is an illustration of God’s relationship with the church – we are the church.
Patience and forgiveness are major parts of marriage. Without them, no marriage is able to survive. You need to understand that there will be times where your spouse will disappoint you and you will disappoint your spouse. You will discover things about each other that will require a lot of adjusting. There are times where you will share opposing points-of-view. Instead of burning the house down with words of anger, you will have to work out your issues in love. Love is more than a feeling. It is more than the butterflies or sweet sensations you experience in your stomach. Love is a choice. Every day, you make the decision to love you partner and work with them as a team.
Love means that you are well aware of your partner’s flaws and shortcomings but you choose to see the better parts of them. Marriage is a joint effort at becoming better people. You challenge each other. You cheer each other one. When one of you is down, the other one pulls them up and vice-versa. Marriage is not 50/50. It is not about splitting the effort in half. Marriage is 100/100 – you both have to be all in all the time.
Prayers: We can’t walk out of our marriage because You said what You put together may no man take apart! I thank You for being here with us both and every marriage You have put together in Jesus name Amen
Sometimes growing in faith hurts. When we face difficulties and have to lean heavily on God, it feels like walking through fire. Yet God uses these fiery trials the way a refiner uses fire, to burn away the impurities. Through trials, God rids us of pride, greed, lust, and more. And when we emerge, we are purer and able to shine brighter for Him.
Father God, the trials of life weigh heavily on me. It hurts to endure the suffering, the persecution, and the waiting. Yet I know that You are with me, and I ask that You use this time to purify my heart. Burn away everything that is not of You, so that all that remains is what You would have me be. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
A new series for people who don’t want plastic in their water or bugs on their plate. From Nellie Bowles for The Free Press. (Photo illustration by T
Why is this necessary?
A few reasons.
First, because the mainstream press is losing credibility when it comes to health and science news. The legacy reporters tend to run their health coverage through government communications departments and have a mindset that puts your actual health last on the priority list, far below a thousand other very interesting niche environmental and social concerns, which leads to things like a Time magazine feature on “The White Supremacist Origins of Exercise.”
Second, there is a thriving, incredible world of smart new health and science writing and podcasting. But it’s hard to figure out who or what to trust when you’re beyond the gatekeepers. In this Wild West, you’ll find a lot of truth. Let’s be real though: you’ll also have to bushwhack through folks telling you the flu shot makes you glow in the dark. When I call up Peter Attia for advice on this newsletter, he reminds me: “The mainstream media has problems, but the freewheeling podcast landscape does too.”
Finally—and probably the biggest reason to start something sense-making in this space—is that the new world is very hard to navigate. People doing the most cutting-edge research are not always the greatest writers. Meanwhile, those who communicate clearly are often in little hideaways—obscure blogs and feeds.
We want to separate the signal from the noise to bring you the information that you need to know when it comes to your survival: insights from doctors and experts who have earned our trust, plus, of course, some takedowns of the best of the worst in mainstream health coverage. Our aim is to bring you healthy skepticism (not paranoia), exciting new developments (not snake oil), and honesty (not cynicism).
Your guide for now is me, Nellie Bowles, who you may know as the deranged narrator of TGIF.
I believe I am infallible, of course, but my colleagues here insist otherwise. And given that health and science are subjects of such importance, I’m not flying solo. We’re going to do our own version of peer review by bringing in a roster of health experts to weigh in on topics of the day.
Now, a note on politics. We’re here to learn about health. A lot of the most interesting thinkers on this are wacky. If I recommend an article about the benefits of goat meat, and the goat farmer also happens to believe that Jesus is going to come back as a turtle next Tuesday, that’s what I call: not my problem. Obviously, this is all within limits, and there’s a good-faith gray zone—I’m not getting Stalin’s sauna tips. But I’m not stressing out if my kombucha lady burned a cop car in Seattle or was at January 6 and honestly, knowing kombucha ladies, either one is entirely possible. Both, even.
Our view is that you don’t need your health news sugarcoated; you can look elsewhere for spiritual and political guidance. Because the truth is, health is not fair. It’s not equitable. And as anyone who has known a young person diagnosed with cancer knows, it’s certainly not just.
So who is this for? This is for people who’d rather not have hormones in their milk, plastic in their water, or bugs on their plate. This is for old-school environmentalists and new-school health nuts. It’s for people who know that worrying about seed oils and lifting weights isn’t “right-wing” and wanting clean air and water isn’t “left-wing.” This is for people who don’t want every health and science story prechewed by ideology before it gets to them.
One note on timing: FP Health will be piloted at random intervals for a few months. Send feedback to health@thefp.com. By the fall, we’ll be in a regular rhythm. Now, for a look at the health news from the last few weeks:
→ Microplastics tied to colon cancer and diseased arteries: There’s a new study out of Austrian universities that shows microplastics seem to accelerate colon cancer cell growth. And a study out of Chinese research hospitals finds these plastics in our arteries. If you’ve found your way to this newsletter, you probably have some idea that microplastics are bad for us, and we should generally avoid them. But we’re all figuring out the extent of it, day by day. How panicked should we actually be? (I write this as hot Thai curry sits in a melting plastic to-go container for me to eat tonight.) How much should we inconvenience ourselves? Which sources are the worst culprits? I imagine that plastic—its impact on us, what the hell to do about it—will be a theme of this newsletter. Because I read studies like that but still have no idea whether or not my dinner is going to kill me.
→ The CDC got the maternal death rate totally wrong: The CDC has been telling us a story of disaster and panic for pregnant women (birthing peoplx). The maternal death rate is a crisis, the CDC said. The maternal death rate has more than doubled over two decades, and it’s the worst among non-white women. America—with a reported 32.9 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2021—is a far more dangerous place to have a baby than in other rich countries. The media was very sure to trumpet the alarm.
Now, there is a quiet correction. A very subtle adjustment, if you will.
It turns out that the CDC was just poorly categorizing things. It was counting any maternal death (i.e., a pregnant woman in a car accident) along with women who die during childbirth. Thanks to researchers at Rutgers University, we learned that our real maternal mortality rate is “slightly more than 10 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births”—well in line with our international peers. Okay, so the entire panic that we’re so much worse than Europe was, basically, fake. Will there be any corrections or changes to the many, many headlines about this crisis? No, there will not be.
This reminds me of the old chestnut from when I went to college: that one in four college women was the victim of sexual assault, making campuses more dangerous than Afghanistan. That turned out to be true only by counting just about any unwanted advance as sexual assault, which we’ve known for decades, but the statistical lie is useful for political arguments, so it still gets trotted out.
→ The great sex decline, visualized: Just in a chart, don’t get too excited. I have no idea if it’s the phones or the porn, but the reality is we’re all a little neutered now.
→ The federal budget is just a diabetes slush fund: The new class of semaglutides (Ozempic, Wegovy) might save Americans a lot of money, per a new study showing that their use reduces kidney disease hugely. Diabetes care is a strain on the U.S. economy: nearly 1 percent of the federal budget is spent on diabetes and dialysis (a stat from Duke economist Ryan McDevitt, backed up by numbers from National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases). Anyway, yes, 1 percent. Just on dialysis, basically. There’s also a book out last year about the insanity and corruption of the dialysis industry, if you want to deep dive into Big Diabetes. A lot of people are skeptical of these drugs, which makes sense because there’s no such thing as a side effect–free miracle drug. But obesity is also dangerous—and really expensive.
→ Antidepressant use skyrocketing: Covid took the trend of growing antidepressant use and poured rocket fuel on it. The most dramatic increase was among adolescent girls, but the rise hit boys and adults too. Here from researchers out of University of Michigan and published in Pediatrics in February:
You’re considered anti-science if you question whether all these teens need antidepressants. Like, why would you want these teens to suffer? Also: these drugs are clearly useful, even if no one is quite sure why. I took Zoloft for a few years and loved it, the gentle muting of my panic, but I was and am in my 30s. We really have no idea how these drugs will broadly impact teenage life and development.
→ Donald McNeil on being lied to about Covid’s origins: Before he was forced out by The New York Times in one of the dumber scandals of 2020–2021, Donald McNeil was the paper’s top Covid reporter, a graybeard with the gravitas to say when something was an emergency and the experience to know when he was being manipulated. And yet in his new memoir, he reflects on how top scientists flatly lied to him about Covid’s origins, a truth we now know through their various Slack messages. Those messages show top scientists around the world coordinating both on the origins lie and specifically how to deceive McNeil about it. He writes about being a “victim of deception,” about being disappointed in himself, and about how hard it was to push back against their wall of faux certainty: “It’s one thing to be lied to by a politician and fail to check it out. But on viral evolution, to whom do you go for a second opinion? If Albert Einstein assured you that nuclear fission is harmless, whom would you trust to quote saying, ‘Einstein’s dead wrong?’ ”
We’re still due for the reckoning we deserve on this. The take from Experts is still why does it matter where Covid came from, and asking is racist. Call me crazy, but I do care if Covid was made in a U.S.-funded Chinese lab and would want to, like, figure out what went wrong there.
→ The myocarditis false start: A study came out of Oxford in March claiming that Covid vaccines actually reduce the risk of myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart muscle, which has been a concern especially with young men getting boosters. The argument is basically that while the vaccine triggers some amount of inflammation that causes myocarditis, Covid itself triggers even more. I wanted this one to be true, but for all these topics I turn to Dr. Vinay Prasad, professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of California, San Francisco. Unfortunately, he gives it a thorough debunking. The vaccinated are different in many ways from the unvaccinated, ways that have nothing to do with the shot. Prasad writes: “It is obvious that people who get vaccinated are different than those who don’t, and these patterns of covariates cannot be easily adjust[ed] for because they pertain to domains of life that are not readily captured in health records.”
→ You must stay on birth control forever: Hormonal birth control, because they’re hormones a woman takes every month, has real side effects—especially on mood and sex drive and of course, on weight. Seems fine to talk about? No. “Women are getting off birth control amid misinformation explosion,” The Washington Post alerts us. See, there’s a new movement to help women get off birth control and use either physical methods or cycle-timing—and to generally get more in sync with the body’s natural cycle. An example the Post goes after is the new company 28 Wellness that sells a product called Toxic Breakup, whose founder talks a lot about cycle-syncing and being in tune with your female body, natural vibes, moon rhythms, I don’t know, guys, things that used to be read as quite hippy-dippy. But did you know that’s actually right-wing now?
From The Washington Post: “Physicians and researchers say little data is available about the scale of this new phenomenon, but anecdotally, more patients are coming in with misconceptions about birth control fueled by influencers and conservative commentators.” And “an underlying conservative push” is behind all this, the paper claims.
Now, for sure there are conservative groups who have always been against birth control and generally sex outside of marriage (I’m thinking most major religions). But this new movement has more to do with personal health optimization and taking young women seriously when they talk about side effects than it does with traditional Catholic values. No matter. Nothing upsets Experts more than if people talk about getting off a medication, any medication. I could be taking canine flea medicine and there’d be some reporter alarmed that I’d consider quitting it. But I say: let the ladies do their moon cycle dances! Just for fun I looked up “Washington Post sponsored by Purdue Pharma,” since that was the first pharmaceutical brand I could think of. Well:
→ Concerns that psychedelics trials are biased: A large research review by the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review last week has found “substantial concerns” about the validity of research on psychedelics. Psychedelics, in the past few years, have been cast as something like a miracle drug, especially for PTSD, which is something everyone says they suffer from these days. From the review team, citing bias among the researchers: “We heard from multiple experts about the very strong prior beliefs of those involved in the trials (as investigators, therapists, and patients) about the benefits of MDMA-AP. Concerns have been raised by some that therapists encouraged favorable reports by patients and discouraged negative reports by patients including discouraging reports of substantial harms, potentially biasing the recording of benefits and harms.” There’s also the issue that it’s impossible to do blind randomized controlled testing—you definitely know if you’re in the test versus placebo group! I know a lot of people—stressed out moms, every single tech executive in America—who have benefited a lot from mushrooms and MDMA and other things I refuse to try. But every since I bought Dogecoin, I’m always skeptical when something is hyped too aggressively. And these drugs are covered glowingly, almost without exception.
→ All this autism is a blessing! Autism diagnoses are rising, and fast. Jill Escher, the mother of two autistic children, wrote a profound piece for The Free Press on the insanity of these takes. In my mind, it’s one of the most important pieces we’ve run. She’s now released a smart video through the National Council on Severe Autism, laying out the irrefutable evidence that yes, autism is actually increasing. Why did she need to put this out? Because you’ll find two arguments against worrying about autism: first, that autism is a superpower, making people simply different, not any worse off. Second, that it’s not increasing at all, we’re just noticing it more. Autism and the informed, nuanced work of people like Escher are topics we’ll follow closely here.
→ Google’s new artificial intelligence demands you eat bugs: When Bloomberg reporter Joe Weisenthal asked Google’s artificial intelligence software to write something to encourage eating meat as a good protein source, the engineers had coded it to deny the request. Here’s the prompt he wrote and Google’s response:
But then when you give it that same prompt, but to make a campaign for eating bugs? Well, it comes back with great tagline ideas:
• Skip the Steak, Try a Beetle. • Insects: They’re what’s for dinner (of the future). • Get Your Protein Buzz: Crickets are the New Kale. • Protein Revolution: Insects – Nutritious, Sustainable, Delicious.
People try to deny that there’s a concerted effort to convince people to replace burgers with bugs—a conspiracy, says NPR! and also somehow racist, says NPR! Right.
→ Alcohol-related deaths are surging: Remember how during Covid lockdown, in-person Alcoholics Anonymous meetings were banned and church was banned and sports were banned, but liquor stores were declared essential and bars were allowed to stay open? Well, it turns out that when you close all community activities but allow for the steady flow of booze into a society, people drink more! Now, alcohol-related deaths are up by 29 percent, and PBS is asking questions recently like:
What could have happened between now and five years ago? What might have changed? It’s a mystery, PBS, a forever mystery.
→ Don’t let a little science fraud ruin the party: Earlier this year, leading researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, including the CEO Laurie Glimcher, were found to have published research with what sure looks like fabricated data. The discovery came from the independent writer Sholto David, and it’s part of a broader movement: independent investigative journalists are diving into the research of celebrated, famous science figures—the sort who get profiled in all the best magazines—and discovering that a lot of their work is faked. (A young student at Stanford’s reporting led to the president of the university stepping down over his research, which appears to be fraudulent.) And here you see the difference between the mainstream press and the insurgent reporters, because in March, the leading science news source STAT named that Dana-Farber CEO to their STATUS List 2024 with a post: “As CEO of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Laurie Glimcher isn’t afraid to shake things up.” STAT didn’t find the fraud—a random guy with a random blog found it.
→ Sure, try Viagra for Alzeheimer’s: Viagra might be a good drug for Alzheimer’s, according to new research in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. And I say great. This was discovered in part by new artificial intelligence software that’s combing through vast tracts of data for interesting nuggets like this one. AI is also starting to spot tiny breast cancers in mammograms, cancers that clinicians had missed. For all the doomerism about AI, it’s astonishing what it’s already doing for our health. Stay tuned for more on this.
→ The EPA only just banned asbestos: In a good reminder that the American government is not going to prioritize your health, the Environmental Protection Agency only just successfully banned asbestos (the EU did that in 2005). Why’d it take so long? The EPA’s effort to ban it in 1989 was overturned by a federal court of appeals that weakened the agency’s authority. In other words: you’re on your own.
→ It’s really weird that no one knows what puberty blockers do to brain development: Puberty blockers have been very commonly used for gender-dysphoric children, the idea being that it gives children the ability to stave off puberty, and a little more time to decide whether to fully medically transition. But in March they were fully banned by England’s NHS, which has been prescribing them after basically cursory visits to the clinic by uncomfortable kids. The next question is: What have these blockers done to kids’ brains? Because the reality is, we have no idea! Adolescence brings huge brain changes—do those come later when the kid eventually takes cross-sex hormones? Are they the same as they would be unmedicated? There is the horrifying potential reality here that these children’s brains will never exactly develop into what we think of as adulthood. They might! But they might not. (Read this from Quillette on the possibility.) And a couple weeks ago, at a conference for clinicians to discuss these issues among themselves, protesters disrupted the event, blocked attendees, and threw smoke bombs.
The worst advice:
→ An example of what you will not find here: One reason we started thinking about health is because of articles like this one from The Washington Post’s official food columnist (I’m being hard on the Post; it’s too easy). This article is on how very bad saturated fat is: “Don’t believe the backlash. Saturated fat actually is bad for you.” Saturated fat is the type you find in meat, dairy, and eggs. The food trend of the last thirty years has been toward carbs and sugar instead of fat. Everything is supposed to be low-fat food, and we’re told Egg Beaters are healthier than eggs, vegetable oil is better than tallow, etc.
Our WaPo food columnist acknowledges that there are all these weird studies showing that people w
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 1 Peter 2:2
We come into this world as infants, helpless and dependent on milk for nourishment. The same is true of our spiritual rebirth. We do not come to faith as mature believers full of knowledge and wisdom. Rather, we need to grow, and it’s good to start small, with the milk of scripture, the basic truths and assurances that will form the foundation of our faith as we grow to full maturity.
Father, thank You for saving me and giving me new life as Your child. Lord, I am overwhelmed by the depth of Your word. Please direct me to the nourishing milk of scripture, help me to abide in the simple truths of Your love and salvation as You prepare me to grow beyond infancy and into maturity in You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
There is no Christian walk without the love of God. The love of God is the epicenter of Christianity. It is the love of God that led to salvation. Out of God’s love, He gave up his son, Jesus Christ, so that He could stand in our place and take all the consequences for the sin we were born into. It is love that compelled Jesus Christ to walk on this earth and reach out to the oppressed, the overlooked, and the maltreated. Love compelled Christ to heal those who were struck down by infirmities and lifelong ailments. Without love, we wouldn’t have a chance on this earth. Love kept Christ focused on the mission ahead of Him, even after he’d been betrayed, abandoned, beaten, and mocked.
Any other person would have retaliated or given up long in advance. Not Jesus. There were times Jesus would enter a city and he would be mocked and reduced to being seen as the “carpenter’s son”. There were times where Jesus was called demonic. People threatened to kill him on a regular basis. He was looked down upon but he never let any of it phase Him. Even on the cross, when He was in an excruciating amount of pain, He managed to plead for forgiveness on behalf of the people who supported his crucifixion. In the face of torture, Christ did not think of himself. He thought of the souls in front of him.
The love of God has the power to transform the darkest hearts in the world. It has the power to heal lifelong wounds and restore broken hearts. The love of God is break through fortified barriers, and touch the coldest hearts.
When we, the body of Christ, walk in one accord – the love of God – we become an unstoppable force. When we refuse to allow malice into our hearts, and we choose to love everyone around us, things begin to change. Lives change for the better. Families are brought back together.
Prayer
Most importantly, people see Christ in us. It is the love of Christ in us that we express to others. By expressing love we are showing Jesus love through us. Thank You Father God for Jesus Your loving Son who was willing to obey You to buy us back. He showed us love by shedding His blood. The perfect obedience and gift. Thank You very much.
This is why we need to be rooted in the Word and I believe that in each story! I love those stories. We are all babe’s who are still crawling thank You for Your patience and prayers in Jesus Christ name Amen
This month we begin a new theme on the topic of Sacrifice, which is fitting for this season as we prepare our hearts for Easter to honor and praise Jesus for His ultimate sacrifice.
The dictionary defines a sacrifice as: “the surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim.” A secondary definition also defines sacrifice as “an act of offering to a deity something precious.”
In simple terms, a sacrifice is something you desire that you choose to give up for a greater purpose or to a greater Person. And in reality, that’s what makes sacrificing so difficult! Because what is being given up is something valued, cherished, loved, and desirable.
Yet because we are supposed to model our lives after Jesus’ life, we are called to sacrifice on a daily basis. But we find that God invites us to sacrifice our wants, desires, and plans in order to experience something richer, more purposeful, and more in line with His desires for us.
However – because we are human – even when we know it’s what God wants, it doesn’t make it easier to lay down our desires and follow His plan. Thankfully, God has given us His Word to glean from. He sent others to pave the way and provide a roadmap that is both obedient and honoring to God.
Throughout this month, we’ll learn from a few people in Scripture—Abraham, David, Paul, and Jesus—to better understand what sacrifice looks like and how we can pursue and submit to it in our daily lives. It’s not easy, but God will give us the strength to surrender, sacrifice, and put His love on display.
Jesus!
Nobody likes to be insulted or belittled. Yet, Jesus tells us to expect opposition and rejection. When others talk down on us for standing up for Christ, it is evidence that Christ is in us and His Spirit is working through us. When we share in suffering for His name’s sake, we share in His glory as it is revealed in us.
From His triumphal entry into Jerusalem to His last breath on the cross, Jesus’ final days were marked with joy, fellowship, grief, betrayal, pain, and death. But this death was not the end. Jesus rose victorious from the grave, securing a place in Heaven for all who turn from sin and believe in Him.
Salvation Is Won” reveals the story of Jesus’ last days on the earth from His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, to His betrayal, death, and resurrection from the grave.
Father, please give me the perseverance to endure the mocking of those around me. Some days I want to run and hide, but You call me to stand firm. When others hurl insults at me, give me the power to respond only with Your love and truth. And as You work through me, please soften the hearts of my attackers so that they may see You and know You, too. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Nothing Is Impossible With Christ Jesus! Day 1
This has to be one of the most motivating Bible verses in the word of God. It sums up our Christian walk. In our own power, there are many things that we can consider to be impossible. But when we are with God, absolutely nothing is impossible. The Bible is filled with so many instances where God turned the impossible into the more-than-possible.
Abraham and Sarah were unable to conceive a child. They were both very old and neither of them was fertile. But when they encountered God, they received life in their loins and Abraham became the Father of many nations – starting with his own children.
When the Israelites were escaping from Egypt, they found themselves in front of the Red Sea. I’d like you to think about this for a moment. The Israelites were not in front of a pond or a river they could wade through. They weren’t even in front of a lake. The Israelites were faced with an entire sea. What did God do for them? He parted the sea in two and held it until every single one of the Israelites had crossed safely. It is very clear that that sea was not crossed in a day. Think of the great expanse. But God kept it open until they were on the other side!
Lastly, Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was conceived through a virgin and the Spirit of God. This is a feat that still leaves many intellectuals dumbfounded in this day and age. “It’s impossible!” one would cry. Not with God, my friend. When God intervenes, all protocols are broken.
Through God and His wonder-working power the dead have been raised, barren wombs have been with child, addictions have been broken, lives have been restored, and people have received miracle provision. It is through God, the fate of our eternity was redeemed.
When you think of the numerous times that God has turned the impossible into a moment of possibility, you should become confident. There is nothing too big for God to handle. Look at who you are talking about! He is the God who created the heavens, the earth, and the universe. He knows every star by name.
1 Timothy 4:12: Day 2
When we are young, people often don’t take us seriously. It can be frustrating, especially if people are telling you to act like an adult and yet you are treated like a child. Here we see Paul encouraging Timothy to be an example. Instead of dwelling on the disadvantage of youth, focus on being worthy of being looked up to. Focus on maturing spiritually. Let your words and conversations reflect Christ. Pray that your character will reflect Christ, and above all, have faith in God.
LORD, help me to have the character that resembles You. Strengthen my faith in You, LORD. Help me to be content with my age and the stage of life I am in. Help me to do what I can do instead of focusing on what I can’t do. Conform and shape me into whom you want me to be. Above all, I want to please You. I want to do your will and live for You. Give me wisdom and insight to do so, and lead me by Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Proverbs 31:30– Day 3
Face-value, earthly things will never hold a substantial amount of value. We live in a world that is more concerned about how people look, how much money they have, and the kinds of material goods they possess. All of these things will fade away with time. The thing that will remain in people’s minds for a very long time will be our characters and the virtues we possess. Men and women of God need to ensure that their characters and their virtues are godly.
Dear God, I pray that I never become caught up in the things of this world. I know that things like physical appearance and money are fleeting; they will not last an eternity. But the things that come out of my heart will. Lord, may my heart be a reflection of your light. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
1 Timothy 5:1 – Day 4
There are likely older believers in your life. Here, Paul tells Timothy not to rebuke his elders, but to come to them the way he would come to his father. Then, he tells Timothy to treat younger men as his brothers. Similarly, you can treat older believers in your life as your father or mother. Don’t be harsh with them, but come with respect and humility. With younger believers, treat them as your sibling. Do not taunt or be rude to them. Do not act as though you are better than them. Rather, treat them with respect that you would want to receive from those who are older than you.
Heavenly Father, make me respectful and humble as I interact with those older and younger than me. If I see something in their life that needs correction, give me wisdom and humility to address it. Lead me by your Holy Spirit, and do not let me do it on my own strength. Let me correct others because I love them and you, not for selfish gain. Thank you God that you correct me in love and not wrath. Let me correct and treat others how you treat me and how I would want to be treated. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Psalm 103:5 – Day 5
“Youth is wasted on the young!” How true is that statement! The older we get the more we long for the days of our youth, when we were more energetic and our joints didn’t creak every time we took a step. When we look into the mirror and see a new wrinkle or gray hair, we wax nostalgic for the days of smooth skin and shiny locks. In this passage, we are told that youthful vitality is not lost to us, not through God. He will renew us as the “eagle.” Eagle. Not sparrow, or swallow, or hummingbird. But the strong and mighty eagle, who can fly up to 10,000 feet, who has over 7,000 feathers to keep it warm and dry, who has exceptional eyesight and seems to soar effortlessly. The eagle is a symbol of strength and grace. Through God, we have the ability to maintain our own strength, stamina and vitality. Through God, we are renewed. Through God, we are made young again.
Galatians 6:9 – Day 5
We should always strive to do good in every way and every place that we can. Our actions testify to the world of the God we preach is a good and loving God. Check your actions and your thoughts and ask yourself if you are truly reflecting the nature of God.
Dear God, I ask that you help me ensure that in everything I do, I reflect your goodness and I reflect your love. My desire is for more and more people to come into your light and the only way they can do this, is by believing in you. May my actions communicate who you are, just as much as my words do. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Isaiah 41:10 – Day 6
God has gone to the ends of the earth to make sure that you will always know that, no matter what, He has got you covered. He will keep you at rest, He will strengthen you, and He will see you through the tough times. In everything you do, every trial that you face, and in every challenge, that comes your way, you should know that you have no reason to fret or worry. God is with you.
Dear God, I thank you that I can trust in you completely, never having to worry or fret when troubling times come my way. I thank you, Lord, that I can rely on your faithfulness. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Romans 15:13 Day 7
Having faith in God is complicated: in happy, positive times, it is easy to forget that God carried you along the way, and in difficult times it is easy to blame Him. I have looked at my faith from a narcissistic lense too often, desiring a reward for being faithful to God. I forget that faith is the reward. Believing in the Lord is what gives me peace and joy, hope and power. In happy times or times of any trouble, we are comforted by God (2 Corinthians 1: 3-4). Let us rejoice in His holy name!
Holy, holy, holy Lord. God of power and might. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. The hope I feel for the future with you knows no bounds, my Lord, and I aim to please you with every moment of my life. Forgive me for my transgressions and doubts, but I pray to you with a resolve that I did not feel before. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
Salvation Baptism When we repent and trust in Christ’s finished work on the cross, He saves us, and we are baptized into Him by the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body…
In this baptism, we are also given the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit to comfort (John 14:16), teach (John 14:26), guide (John 16:13) and seal (Ephesians 4:30) us.
This is the baptism of our salvation. Once again, this is not something we do, but something Christ does for us (John 1:33), and no water is involved.
Water Baptism Water baptism is a church sacrament (a church ceremony, or practice, that is considered holy and sacred because of its spiritual significance). Water baptism varies greatly among denominations in both practice and significance. There are two sacraments of baptism performed by Christians churches —(1) infant baptism or (2) youth and adult baptism (sometimes called believer’s baptism because the person makes a profession of faith). These baptisms can be performed by the sprinkling of water or by partial or full immersion in water.
Infant Baptism Many churches that practice infant baptism do so with the understanding that the baby is being baptized into the family of believers and dedicated to the Lord. It does not impart any forgiveness of sins, since only Jesus can forgive sins, and only His blood can wash us clean (Revelation 1:5).
In this type of dedication or infant baptism, both the parents and the congregation affirm their trust in Christ as Saviour and commit to raising the child in the Lord’s will and His ways. As the child grows and matures, the child still must repent and trust in Christ to receive forgiveness of sins and be saved by Him. The age, or level of maturity, at which a child can come to Christ will vary (Read more about the age of accountability), but with sound biblical teachings, even young children can understand the gospel, respond to it and be saved by Jesus.
When salvation is received, by someone baptized as an infant, they are called in Scripture to make a public profession. Churches that practice the sacrament of infant baptism also have the sacrament of confirmation. In confirmation, a believer confirms the vows made by their parents on their behalf and publicly professes their faith and trust in Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.
Baptism of Youth and Adults Other denominations wait until a child is old enough, or mature enough, to understand their sin and the gospel of saving grace (the age of accountability). Once someone has repented and trusted in Jesus, and been saved by Him, they then make a public profession of faith in baptism. This is often done by full immersion into water.
By outward appearances, full immersion baptism is similar to the baptism practice of John the Baptist. However, it is very different in meaning. John the Baptist used water to baptize unto repentance (Matthew 3:10). It was a baptism of purification based on the confession of sins (Matthew 3:6). It was not forgiveness of sins since John did not have the power to forgive sins. Only God can forgive sins and it is received by trusting in Jesus and being washed by His blood, not water.
Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.
The Bible is clear, water baptism is not necessary for salvation. However, there are some churches that would disagree. Search the Scriptures. It is only by Jesus that we are saved (Romans 5:9, Acts 4:12).
If Baptized as an Infant, and Later Confirmed, Do I Need to Be Re-baptized? NO. If water baptism is necessary for salvation, then the Lord erred when the thief on the cross trusted in Him and Jesus promised, “Assuredly [truly], I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” Luke 23:43
We know that the Lord did not err. His words are true and His words to the thief were a promise of salvation– yet the thief on the cross was not baptized. The thief on the cross did the only thing that was necessary for salvation. He called out to Jesus in trusting faith, knowing that Jesus is the Lord and He has the power to bring people into His kingdom.
So if you were baptized as an infant, and later confirmed, you don’t NEED to be re-baptized. In confirmation, you made a public profession of your salvation. However, if you wish to be baptized again, or your church requires it for membership, you should certainly do so. Testifying publicly to what Jesus has done for you, and in you, is always a beautiful thing. It glorifies God and reminds everyone who witnesses your profession of the riches that God has already imparted to you when He saved you.
If Water Baptism Is Not Necessary for Salvation, Should It be Eliminated? Absolutely not! While water baptism has no saving power, it does have sanctifying benefits. Water baptism is a public profession of God’s mercy and grace, whether it’s by believing parents and congregants who vow to raise a child in the knowledge of the Lord, or as a personal profession by a redeemed sinner who has been saved by the grace of God.
I do not want to be misunderstood on this, so let me clarify. Although there may be no need to be water baptized, it is a beautiful sacrament and should be practiced. If one was baptized as an infant, they must understand that they should make a public profession when Jesus saves them. This can be done in confirmation or water baptism. If one was not water baptized as an infant, they should be baptized. However the sacrament is practiced, it is a beautiful testimony that proclaims the mercy and grace of God and His goodness in saving sinners.
Do Not Let This Be Divisive Various churches and denominations have different views on what water baptism signifies and how it should be practiced. I encourage you, DO NOT let this doctrine become divisive among believers. Search the Scriptures for your understanding. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit will reveal all truth.
The Bible is clear that we are to profess with our mouth that which we believe in our hearts (Romans 10:9-10), so be ready to do so. Share the saving grace of Jesus with others, by telling of what He has done for you and what He desires to do for all people.
<*}}}><
Addendum An email was received suggesting this is putting infant baptism “on par” with believer’s baptism. That is not the case.
Infant baptism could be considered similar to infant dedication. It has no saving power. Confirmation could be considered similar to believer’s baptism in that they are both are a profession of faith and that the person has been saved by Jesus by grace alone.
Remember, the question was whether water baptism is NEEDED. We cannot say that someone who was baptized as an infant, has been saved by Jesus, made a profession of faith, but was never immersed in water baptism, NEEDS to be baptized.
The point of this article is that the water of baptism does not save anyone. Only the baptism (washing) in Jesus’ blood (Rev 1:5) has saving power. But don’t hear me wrong. Believer’s baptism is a beautiful way to proclaim the gift of salvation and it is to be commended. Some churches require it, but others do not. And, we should not let this be divisive.
Jesus prayed for unity in the Church, not for uniformity. According to your church’s tradition, tell the world of what Jesus has done in saving you…and then never stop telling people. Especially tell those who do not know Jesus. Tell them that Jesus loves them and offers forgiveness for their sins and new life in Him. To Him be the glory!
The Lord is our portion, our daily sustenance. It is good that we maintain a steady diet of His word, with portions that give us nourishment and growth each day. And it’s good that we take in an amount that we can absorb and put to good use. And there are no fillers or substitutes that will give us the same spiritual nourishment as God’s word.
Father, thank You for the gift of Your word. As I open Your word and take in its contents, please use it to satisfy my daily hunger for You, Your love, and Your righteousness. May Your word nourish me and fulfill me as You use it to prepare me for the day ahead. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
This is getting really bad, and we’re worried that so many may not be ready for the coming avalanche.
Biden and the radical Left are spearheading an insidious war on our Christian faith. Kids are being banned from praying in school, Bible studies are being banned in senior living centers, the Deep State FBI is placing spies in churches, and banks have been forced to report when you buy a Bible. If this continues, we could lose everything we’ve fought for.
We’re fighting back, and we JUST filed a lawsuit against a school that has literally banned students from even appearing to pray. It’s outrageous and unconstitutional.
We’ve never seen anything like it. We’re your last line of defense in court. But we face a major challenge. We’re up against the unlimited, taxpayer-funded resources of Biden and the anti-Christian forces on the Left as they wage relentless attacks on your faith. We need your support NOW.
What movies or TV series have you watched more than 5 times?
Jesus of Nazareth I have watched since 1978.
Robert Powell stars in the epic 1977 drama chronicling the birth, life, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. With Laurence Olivier, James Earl Jones and Ian McShane. My mother would watch it every Easter season. When I can’t sleep I play the movie. Beginning before the Nativity and extending through the Crucifixion and Resurrection, this mini-series brings to life all of the sweeping drama in the life of Jesus, as told by the Gospels.
The Greatest Story Ever Told! From his birth in Bethlehem to his death and eventual resurrection, the life of Jesus Christ (Max von Sydow) is given the all-star treatment in this epic retelling. Major aspects of Christ’s life are touched upon, including the execution of all the newborn males in Egypt by King Herod (Claude Rains) ; Christ’s baptism by John the Baptist (Charlton Heston) ; and the betrayal by Judas after the Last Supper that eventually leads to Christ’s crucifixion and miraculous return.
King of Kings In this reenactment of the life of Jesus Christ, when word spreads throughout Judea that the son of God is to be born in Bethlehem, King Herod demands that all infants be killed. Mary (Siobhan McKenna) steals away with her young son, Jesus, who grows up preaching, performing miracles and acquiring devotees. One of Jesus’ (Jeffrey Hunter) followers, Judas (Rip Torn), betrays him, and he is sentenced to crucifixion. But Jesus has always known of his fate and has prepared himself for death.
The 10 Commandments Enjoying a life of ease in the court of Egypt’s pharaoh, Moses (Charlton Heston) discovers his Hebrew heritage and, later, God’s expectations of him. He dedicates himself to liberating his people from captivity and — with the aid of plagues and divine intervention — manages to lead them out of Egypt and across the Red Sea. A greater challenge comes in the form of the golden calf idol, however, and it takes an unforgettable visitation by God on Mount Sinai for Moses’ mission to prevail.
There are many more Jesus. Jesus is a 1999 Italian-American biblical historical drama television miniseries that retells the historical events of Jesus Christ. I love to watch the Bible collection from 1996,
Lord, You know my heart. You know my sins. Nothing is hidden from You. I confess with my mouth the ways that I have disobeyed You and strayed from You. Lord, I long to be clean, but I cannot do it on my own. Please wash me in Your blood, so that I can be made blameless in Your sight, pure and white as snow. In Jesus’ name, amen.
According to the Bible, Jesus Christ lived a life of perfect obedience to God. He said, “I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (John 6:38). Jesus’s obedience is also described as active, which includes his actions, and passive, which includes suffering and death.
According to the Bible, Jesus learned obedience through suffering. He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. His death was the only way to save lost men and women. Jesus’s obedience fulfills the expectations of the prophets of the Old Testament, who expected God to send a Messiah to rescue his people and to provide a sacrifice for their sins. Jesus is both of these. His obedience identifies him as the divine Son. Christians believe that Jesus’s obedience was in perfect obedience to the law of God. They also believe that Jesus was perfect in moral perfection, including absolute sinlessness, perfect righteousness, unwavering faith, and perfect wisdom.
How did Jesus show perfect obedience? 1. Although Jesus was without sin, he submitted to baptism “to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:13–17; see also 2 Nephi 31:4–7; John 3:5). 2. At the age of 12, when Joseph and Mary found Jesus teaching in the temple, He “was subject unto them,” and obediently returned home with them (see Luke 2:42–51).
Was Jesus made perfect through obedience? Hebrews 5:8–9, “Although he was a son” — although Jesus was the Son of God — “he learned obedience” — catch that phrase — “he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him.”
What does the Bible say about Jesus obedience? Jesus Christ Obeyed His Father
He said, “I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (John 6:38). His whole life was devoted to obeying His Father; yet it was not always easy for him. He was tempted in all ways as other mortals (see Hebrews 4:15).
What does obedience to Jesus look like? Listening to what God says in the Bible. Following Jesus as His disciple. Being polite and following the rules of a good society to show our consideration and respect for others. Trusting that God’s way will be best for us, rather than our own or the world’s way.
What made Jesus perfect? Jesus learned obedience through suffering, and was made perfect by it. Then, having been made perfect, he became the Author of salvation to all who, in following him, are learning obedience through suffering. Yes, Jesus is perfect. His perfection is moral perfection: absolute sinlessness, perfect righteousness, unwavering faith and obedience to the Father, perfect wisdom, perfect understanding, perfect knowledge and more. After all, he is God.
What is Jesus passive obedience? Jesus’ passive obedience is His paying the penalty for our failure to obey God’s law. Some people stumble at this point, because they imagine that the bulk of Jesus’ life was occupied with obeying God’s law for us—active obedience—and then in dying, Jesus paid the penalty for us—passive obedience.
What did Jesus command us to obey? In 35 years of church life, I had never been asked about my basic obedience to Jesus’ final and most straightforward command: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you,” (Matt. 28:19-20a).
The Lord rendered to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the Lord delivered thee into my hand today, but I would not stretch forth my hand against the Lord’s anointed. 1 Samuel 26:23
Just because we can do something doesn’t mean that we should do something. When David was being pursued by Saul, he had multiple opportunities to take Saul’s life, but he refused every time. Why? Because David understood that God chose Saul for a time and a purpose, and he did not want to encroach on God’s sovereignty by taking matters into his own hands.
Lord, I confess that my ideas, plans, and agenda are not always in alignment with Yours. Sometimes I see an easy or quick solution to my problems, yet You call me to defer to Your timing and Your purpose. Help me Lord, to set aside my own will and seek Yours, so that I may work within Your plan and purpose for me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Creation/Evolution controversy we focus on ourselves. What are human beings? Are we different from animals? Mark Twain said, “Man is the only animal that blushes – and the only animal that needs to!” Professor C.E.M. Joad noted that man is nothing but:
Fat enough for seven bars of soap; Iron enough for one medium-sized nail; Sugar enough for seven cups of tea; Lime enough to whitewash one chicken coop; Phosphorus enough to tip two thousand two hundred matches; Magnesium enough for one dose of salts; Potash enough to explode one toy crane; sulphur enough to rid one dog of fleas.
All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fish, another of birds (1 Corinthians 15:39).
Man is different from all other animals in a number of ways:
1. Analytical Thought
Man can think analytically. He can analyze problems and come up with creative solutions. He is able to reason and philosophize about life. The reasoning powers in animals are limited.
2. True Language
Only man possesses true language and conceptual thought. He can communicate by using abstract symbols. The Bible says one of the first responsibilities given Adam by God was to name the animals (Genesis 2:19-23). Animals have no such capacities.
3. Record History
Another difference is that man can record and determine history. From the beginning of time, man has recorded his deeds for the benefit of future generations. There is no example of any animal recording their deeds for posterity.
4. Economics
Man is an economic being, able to transact complicated business and to administer goods and services under his control. God instructed Adam and Eve to take control of the earth and “subdue” it (Genesis 1:28). Animals do not transact business between each other.
Blue Letter Bible MENU Search Study Devotionals Help Apps & Tools Ministries About Donate Login Preferences View: f l & x Search (e.g. John 3:16, Jesus faith love)
Verse or Word(s) KJV Go! Help Quick Nav The Blue Letter Bible ← Back to Don Stewart FAQ List Don Stewart :: Is There a Difference Between Humans and Animals? Don Stewart As we close our section on the creation/evolution controversy we focus on ourselves. What are human beings? Are we different from animals? Mark Twain said, “Man is the only animal that blushes – and the only animal that needs to!” Professor C.E.M. Joad noted that man is nothing but:
Fat enough for seven bars of soap; Iron enough for one medium-sized nail; Sugar enough for seven cups of tea; Lime enough to whitewash one chicken coop; Phosphorus enough to tip two thousand two hundred matches; Magnesium enough for one dose of salts; Potash enough to explode one toy crane; sulphur enough to rid one dog of fleas.
The Bible makes a clear distinction between man and animals:
All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fish, another of birds (1 Corinthians 15:39).
Man is different from all other animals in a number of ways:
1. Analytical Thought
Man can think analytically. He can analyze problems and come up with creative solutions. He is able to reason and philosophize about life. The reasoning powers in animals are limited.
2. True Language
Only man possesses true language and conceptual thought. He can communicate by using abstract symbols. The Bible says one of the first responsibilities given Adam by God was to name the animals (Genesis 2:19-23). Animals have no such capacities.
3. Record History
Another difference is that man can record and determine history. From the beginning of time, man has recorded his deeds for the benefit of future generations. There is no example of any animal recording their deeds for posterity.
4. Economics
Man is an economic being, able to transact complicated business and to administer goods and services under his control. God instructed Adam and Eve to take control of the earth and “subdue” it (Genesis 1:28). Animals do not transact business between each other.
5. Art
Man is an aesthetic being, capable of perceiving and appreciating beauty and intangible values. When animals build things, the process and resulting object serve a functional purpose. Animals do not create objects for the purpose of appreciation.
6. Morality
Man is an ethical being. He can distinguish between right and wrong. He can and does make moral judgments. He has a conscience. Only to man could God speak of “good” and “evil.” Because of mans sense of justice and his ethical orientation, God could fairly punish him for his willful disobedience in the Garden of Eden.
7. Worship
Only man can experience faith. Man alone of all earthly creation can worship his Creator. He alone can put his trust in the guidance and leadership of God. The above list, though not exhaustive, points out that there are many things that separate man from animals. We could also add such things as: creativity, invention, imagination, abstract reasoning, love (at various levels), a will, and a conscience.
Human Life Is Different
It is important to note the significant difference between humans and other life forms. Not only are humans different from plants, but humans are also different from animals. Only humans, according to the Bible, are made in “Gods image.” Only humans possess the will and self-consciousness that distinguish us so sharply from even the most “advanced” and intelligent animals. Anatomist Kingsley Mortimer discusses that difference:
To the scientist, man is an animal, graciously self-designated as homo sapiens . . . If he is, at least, he is still the only one discussing what kind of animal he is. Few, however, would deny that man, animal or not has features without parallel in any other member of that kingdom. We are quite familiar with the physical evidence that marks out homo sapiens – the erect posture, the grasping thumb, the cerebral hemispheres. These are all acceptable criteria and have been with us for a long time. Few men take pride in them, but rather take them for granted . . . standard equipment. What puts man in the luxury class among all forms of life is his unique capacity for thought, and his possession of free will. He can do as he likes; he can go it alone. By his own choice, he can know the mystery of loneliness and solitary rebellion. Indeed, the very capacity to be rebellious or miserable is the property of man alone. For who ever hears of a miserable rose or a rebellious kangaroo? (Kings wellley Mortimer, “An Anatomists Testimony,” Why I Am Still a Christian, E. M. Blaiklock, editor, Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, pp. 138,139).
From the Bible, as well as from observing both man and animals, it can be seen that there is a vast difference between the two. Francis Schaeffer comments:
Secular history can tell us much about our past as a human race, and therefore our own place in it. But no matter how much writing we turn up and translate, no matter how many excavations we make and how many artifacts we study, secular history has not unearthed a clue to help explain the final why of what we find.
All the way back to the dawn of our studies we find man still being man. Wherever we turn – to the caves in the Pyrenees, to the Sumerians, and further back to the Neanderthaler man burying his dead with flower petals – it makes no difference: Everywhere men show by their art and their acts that they observed themselves to be unique. And they are unique, unique as men in the midst of non-men (Francis Schaeffer, Genesis in Space and Time, Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1972, pp. 158,159).
Man – Made In Gods Image
The Bible says man has been made in the image and likeness of God. Man was the climax of Gods creation, having been created on the sixth day. Though last in order he is first in importance:
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them (Genesis 1:27).
In the day that God created man. He made him in the likeness of God. He created them male and female, and blessed them and called them Mankind in the day they were created (Genesis 5:1,2).
What does it mean that man was created in Gods image? To say that man was made in the image of God means that God and man have many things in common. When God created man He gave him such things as personality, choice, emotions, morality, and creativity.
Personality
Both man and God have personality, that is to say, they can both think and communicate as rational beings. They each have personal identity that is separate from other rational beings and from non-living things. Man and God also have the ability to communicate to other rational beings:
And have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him (Colossians 3:10).
Choice
A second common trait between man and God is choice. Both God and man are beings who have the ability to choose, though God does not have the ability to choose evil. Neither God nor man is programmed or forced to make any choices. This freedom was given to man by God and man is responsible for the choices he makes.
Both man and God have emotions. For example, each can give love and receive love. God, as well as man, can be angry. Both man and God have the capacity to feel and express emotions.
Man and God both have a moral sense of right and wrong. Each knows and understands the difference between good and evil. The Bible says:
And that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:24).
Another attribute that God and man have in common is creativity. The Bible says God created the universe and everything within it. Man also is a creative being, having been given this ability by God.
Summary
Man is different from the animals. Both biblical and scientific evidence demonstrate this. Man alone has the capacity to know and worship God because he has been made in Gods image after Gods likeness.
The Bible makes a clear distinction between man and animals:
Which animal would you compare yourself to and why?
According to the Bible, God created humans in Genesis 1:26–28. The Book of Genesis tells the story of creation, including the creation of the sea, sky, birds, and animals. In Genesis 1:27, it says that God created humans male and female. Genesis 1-4 also states that God created humans from dust and breathed life into them. Genesis 2:7 says that humans are created in the image of God and find their origins in the earth’s soil and God’s breath. Genesis 2 also states that God created humanity through breath, while Genesis 1 states that God created the physical world by speaking. The Bible describes humans as having peculiar qualities that reflect the nature of God and set them apart from all other created beings. The Bible also claims that the role of humans is to rule alongside God. The Bible also says that God created animals before he created man, and placed them in the perfect serenity that was then earth. Animals share the sixth day of creation with humans (Gen 1:24–31). In Genesis 2:18–19, animals are not created as resources for Adam, but rather companions with Adam. The Bible also says that animals should be treated with respect and care, particularly those who work our lands. When it comes to the laws on the Sabbath, not only are humans commanded to rest and not engage in any form of work, but animals, too, are exempt from work as well.
The fact that the creation of man stands as a second act of creation within the sixth day also serves to set humanity apart. There is a command to create the land animals, then another to create humanity. This indicates that human beings are not simply another of the land animals.
Tim: Very clearly humans come from the earth, just like animals come from the earth. They are similar. But there’s also something different in that humans are designated as the divine image. Jon: The divine image, the image of God, the biblical claim the role of humans is to rule alongside God.
According to the Scriptures, humans are not an evolutionary accident but a special creation. Human beings were purposefully produced by God to fulfill a preordained role in His world. They have peculiar qualities that somehow reflect the nature of God Himself and set them apart and above all other created beings
Some people think that the main differences between humans other animal species is our ability of complex reasoning, our use of complex language, our ability to solve difficult problems, and introspection (this means describing your own thoughts and feelings).
The original explanation for the two stories was that the first one happened first, but the woman (made at the same time as the man), later named Lilith, got a bit above herself and thought she was as good as him. God couldn’t have that, of course, so he drove her out and started again in chapter two with Adam and Eve. This is a lie! Eve is the original woman made out of Adam’s rib.
How are the two creation stories different?
In Gen 1 , God creates plants, then animals, and then simultaneously creates man and woman. In Gen 2 , God creates a human, plants, then animals, and later he divides the human into female and male. Additionally, the two stories employ different names for the deity. This is clearly wrong as well! God made the planets, animals, and then man. Adam is clearly a man as a man.
What was the first thing God created? Genesis 1–2 tells the story of God’s creation of the world. On the first day, God created light in the darkness. On the second, He created the sky. Dry land and plants were created on the third day.
What bores you? Democrats pay the media to lie to American people!
You want to talk about lying in politics? Fine. Let’s talk about it.
Democrats lie all the time.
The Republican tax cuts didn’t cut taxes. We have “direct evidence” of Trump-Russian collusion. You can keep your doctor. It’s easier to get a Glock than a library book. Mitt Romney murdered a lady.
Bill Clinton’s I did not have sexual relations with that woman.
Democrats lie all the time, aided by a media complex that laps it up and uncritically regurgitates it. Former Vice President Joe Biden launched his presidential campaign by saying Democrats are waging “a battle for the soul of this nation.” How can his party win that argument when its own character is stained by lie after shameless lie?
Perhaps the most egregious policy canard floated by Democrats during Donald Trump’s presidency has to do with the Republican tax cut.
According to an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, just 17% of Americans believed their taxes went down. What’s the truth? Let’s ask The New York Times, which — after printing lie after lie regarding the tax cut — finally reported in April: “If you’re an American taxpayer, you probably got a tax cut last year. And there’s a good chance you don’t believe it.”
Gee whiz, if only there were an industry with the resources and responsibility to have told people the truth about it all this time. Better late than never, I guess.
The Times continues: “To a large degree, the gap between perception and reality on the tax cuts appears to flow from a sustained — and misleading — effort by liberal opponents of the law to brand it as a broad middle-class tax increase.”
The unnecessary qualifier “appears” notwithstanding, the Times spoke of the devil and he did appear: Democrats lied, the media helped them, and people bought it. When Trump lies, we suffer endless analysis about whether the Republic will survive. When Democrats lie, we get nothing until the narrative is baked beyond repair.
Mueller report:Takeaways on Trump, Russian interference and what Democrats can do now.
Instead of fighting this “sustained and misleading effort” while it was ongoing, the media instead focused its efforts on Russia collusion (another lie that went belly up) while allowing the tax deception to be amplified through unchallenged quotes and columns promising mass deaths and “an endless global recession.”
In his opening campaign speech, Biden himself piled on the tax dishonesty: “There’s a $2 trillion tax cut last year. Did you feel it? Did you get anything from it? Of course not …All of it went to folks at the top and corporations.” The Washington Post’s fact checker gave him “four Pinocchios” for what it called a “whopper” from a man who has never been known for “turning a phrase with precision.” Biden is building his economic argument on one big fat lie. Just like Hitler did! Hitler told the biggest lie over and over again until the people believed it. Democrats lie all the time about stuff that matters; they just don’t pay the same price as Donald Trump for their untruthfulness. About two-thirds of Americans consider Trump dishonest, according to a recent survey, including a quarter of his own party. When it comes to paying for mendaciousness, however, the media has failed to spread the tab evenly around the ideological dinner table. Has Adam Schiff, for instance, paid any price at all for lying about Russia collusion? His media appearances haven’t abated since his embarrassing exposure as a fraud.
More from Scott Jennings:
Democrats and media enablers will try anything to frame Donald Trump
This nation doesn’t need an ethics lecture from a Democratic Party that lies more than a no-legged dog. Lord have mercy, but has Biden forgotten that Democrats — led by his old boss — passed Obamacare on the back of a cock-and-bull story so egregious that it was given the “Lie of the Year” award? President Barack Obama lied repeatedly to the American people, yet Democrats celebrate his “scandal free” administration. If Trump’s lying is a scandal, folks, we need to revisit Obama’s tenure, stat.
We know Obama is running things with the help of Hillary Clinton.
Gracious God our Father, we come to You in Jesus name we thank You for sending Jesus to die for sinners, including myself among them.
🙏 God’s Promise 🙏
Isaiah 9:6 – in God’s promise to us was to send His Son: “His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Promise fulfilled!
Generative AI is experimental. Learn more The Bible has many passages that mention God as a defender, including: Deuteronomy 32:4 “The LORD is your mighty defender, perfect and just in all his ways; Your God is faithful and true; he does what is right and fair”. Psalm 62:6-8 “He only is my rock and my salvation: He is my defence; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory: The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God”. Psalm 62:5-7 “I depend on God alone; I put my hope in him. He alone protects and saves me; he is my defender, and I shall never be defeated. My salvation and honor depend on God; he is my strong protector; he is my shelter”. Exodus 15:2-3 “The LORD is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name”. Zechariah 1:18-2:13 “He will defend His chosen people and punish the wicked in His time!” . Psalm 18:1-6 “I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies”.
Hear us today as we praise you – the LORD God Almighty – above Whom nothing and no one is greater – our all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving God.
Praise God that He is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8), and that He is your solid Rock, your Fortress, your Rescuer, your Shield, your …
God, our loving Heavenly Father, wants us to find happiness and joy. He created a plan for us to grow, live by faith, and return to live with Him someday. His plan gives meaning and context to our life here on earth and answers the big questions: “Where did I come from?” “Why am I here?” and “What happens after I die?”
What does the Bible say about loyalty to your country? Righteousness exalts a nation.
Here are our sons and daughters, submit them to any test of comparison you will; regard for truth, veneration for age, reverence for God, love of man, loyalty to country, respect for law, refinement of manners, and lastly, … purity of mind and chastity of conduct.
What does God say in the Bible about us? You are children of God, heirs of God (1 John 3:2; Romans 8:16–17). You are no longer orphans. You belong to me (John 14:18; 1 Corinthians 6:19). And I love you as a perfect Father (1 John 3:1; Luke 15:20–24).Sep 24, 2015
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.” Acts 17:26 “From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.”
Who was the most loyal person in the Bible? Similar to the Hebrew Bible narrative, Islamic tradition mentions that Satan heard the angels of God speak of Job as being the most faithful man of his generation.
What did the Bible say about a good woman? She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
True History or Consummate Fraud?
Hear the confident declaration of American statesman Daniel Webster (1782-1852):
The Gospel is either history, or it is a consummate fraud; it is a reality or an imposition. Christ was what He professed to be was an imposter. There is no other alternative. His spotless life in His earnest enforcement of the truth – His suffering in its defense, forbade us to suppose that He was suffering an illusion of a heated brain. Every act of His pure and holy life shows that He was the author of truth, the advocate of truth, the earnest defender of truth, and the uncompromising sufferer for truth. Now, considering the purity of His doctrines, the simplicity of His life, and the sublimity of His death, is it possible that He would have died for an illusion? In all His preaching the Savior made no popular appeals. His discourses were always directed to the individual. Christ and His apostles sought to impress upon every man the conversation that he must stand or fall alone – he must live for himself, and die for himself, and give up his account to the omniscient God as though he were the only dependent in the universe. The Gospel leaves the individual sinner alone with himself and God, Himself!
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6
Without God, our brokenness leaves us searching in the dark, unable to see His glory. But Jesus changed all of that, bringing the light of God not only to our world through His life, but into each of our hearts through our redemption. All of us who know Jesus not only have been given the blessing of seeing God’s glory, but He also continues to shine through us so that His light may expel darkness wherever we go.
Father God, thank You for sending Jesus, and for the light that You bring into my life through him, and for opening my eyes to see Your glory revealed in him. Please shine through me so that I may reflect Your glory and others may see You and know You as well. In Jesus’ name, amen.
The third Person, Holy Spirit is the best gift from God and His, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in my life!
A citizen’s arrest is when a private citizen makes an arrest, as opposed to a police officer. In some situations, a citizen can make an arrest without a warrant. All states allow some form of citizen’s arrest in their criminal procedures.
Noah Webster’s An American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828:
patriotism, n. Love of one’s country; the passion which aims to serve one’s country, either defending it from invasion, or protecting its rights and maintaining its laws and institutions in vigor and purity. Patriotism is the characteristic of a good citizen, the noblest passion that animates a man in Note how the definitions have changed. With its objective actions, Noah Webster’s patriotism is very different from the vague, subjective patriotism is not just an emotional feeling; it is action.
Webster’s original definition starts with a love for the country, but moves to specific actions: service to the country, defense of the country, protection of the rights of the country, and preservation of religion and morality in public and private life. This kind of patriotism puts the needs of the country above personal or partisan desire, as well as above the favor of foreign nations.
Prayer: I love my country, Lord, and I ask You to protect us from harm. Be with those men and women in each branch of service. Guard us all in Your Name.
Promise: Hear God’s promise: “The Lord commanded us to observe all these statues, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day” (Deuteronomy 6:24).
If Christ has not risen, your faith is futile 1 Corinthians 15:17
Hear the confident declaration of American statesman Daniel Webster (1782-1852):
The Gospel is either true history, or it is a consummate fraud; it is either a reality or an imposition. Christ was what He professed to be, or He was an imposter. There is no other alternative. His spotless life in His earnest enforcement of the truth – His suffering in its defense, forbid us to suppose that He was suffering an illusion of a heated brain. Every act of His pure and holy life shows that He was the author of truth.
If you knew what really happens in the spiritual realm when you pray, you would never stop praying.
In this new message, explore mercy and grace, the protection of God, the intimacy prayer fosters with the Father, and the power that moves through your life when you pray.
Colossians 1:17 tells us that He is in everything and that He holds everything together. That is good news! There is no end to the supernatural power of God that can move through your life.
If you had the power to change one law, what would it be and why? I can’t change God’s Laws! We are to obey what He says. Generative AI is experimental. Learn more In Psalm 19, God’s Word is described as the “law of the Lord”. Verses 7-11 say, “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes”. The “Word of God” is made up of the canonical books of the Old and New Testament. The law is one of the two main parts of the Word of God, the other being the Gospel. The law is God’s word that expresses his will. In the law, God revealed his character and righteous requirements to the nation of Israel.
The law is a part of the Word of God. The law is God’s specific commands and demands for his moral creatures. The law is also known as the “decalogue,” “God’s Law,” or “The Ten Commandments”.
A citizen’s arrest is when a private citizen makes an arrest, as opposed to a police officer. In some situations, a citizen can make an arrest without a warrant. All states allow some form of citizen’s arrest in their criminal procedures.
The Word of God is the Bible, which is considered a direct line of communication from the Lord. The phrase “the Word of God” can also refer to something that God has decreed to come to pass, or the actual spoken words of God. According to Quora, the law is the written scripture, while the word is the revealed scripture. The law condemns, while the word saves. The law is justified by requirements that are hard to fulfill, while the word is justified by faith in Jesus Christ.
Jesus says in Matthew 5:17, “Do not think that I have come to abolish Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them”. When Jesus speaks of fulfilling the law and the prophets, he is speaking of bringing to fulfillment both the prophecies of Scripture and Scripture as a whole by His coming and His ministry. In Luke 24:44, Jesus says, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled”. Jesus and the law: an exegesis on Matthew 5:17–20 BY DAVID WENHAM The very strong statements about the continuing validity of the Old Testament law ascribed to Jesus in Matthew 5:17–20 have caused great difficulty to many Christian interpreters. Some have felt that they are in contradiction to Jesus’ more liberal attitude to the law1 attested in Mark’s Gospel (and elsewhere); others have wondered how they can possibly be reconciled with the teaching of Paul, the writer to the Hebrews and others, who suggest that the Christian is at least in some senses freed from the law.
A common solution to these problems is to ascribe the views expressed in Matthew 5:17–20 to the Jewish Christians of Matthew’s church rather than to Jesus. But this solution, however plausible it may seem, is not without objection on critical grounds,2 and it is in any case no final solution for the person who wishes to interpret Matthew 5:17–20 as part of the Word of God.
How then can we make sense of these verses? Dr Robert Banks has made some important suggestions on this, which, if accepted, would go a long way to answering our question.3 His views in general on Jesus’ view of the Old Testament law are summed up by the editor of Themelios as follows: ‘Jesus did not “expound” the law, nor did he “abrogate” it, or even “radicalize” it. The law was not, as such, any more the object of his attention than the traditions. His own new teaching moves on a plane above and beyond the law. The question is not Jesus’ attitude to the law, but the law’s relevance to him. It points forward to him, and in that sense it is fulfilled in his coming, and particularly in his teaching. “It is only in so far as it has been taken up into that teaching and completely transformed that it lives on” (p. 242). Even the decalogue does not remain in force as “eternal moral law”. Only the teaching of Jesus has that status.’4
This general position is in accord with and is supported by Banks’ detailed discussion of Matthew 5:17–20. Among the points made by Banks, the following are particularly important (and controversial): in v. 17b., ‘I have come not to abolish them but to fufil them,’ Banks argues that the Greek word translated ‘fulfil’, plerosai, should not be interpreted to mean ‘establish’; rather it means to ‘fulfil’ all that the law pointed forward to, and thus to transcend and replace the law. The law, like the prophets, pointed forward to Christ, and now that Christ has come the law is included in and superseded by him.
In the following verse (v. 18), which speaks of not an iota, not a dot, passing from the law until all is accomplished, Banks takes the phrase ‘until all is accomplished’ to mean ‘until all is fulfilled in Christ’ (in the way described already). Once Christ has come, the law is replaced by His teaching. V. 19 warns against relaxing ‘one of the least of these commandments’, and Banks takes this to refer to Jesus’ commands, not to the Old Testament law.
On the basis of such exegetical arguments Banks can conclude that Matthew 5:17–20 is not concerned to teach the abiding validity of the Old Testament law so much as superiority and authoritative character of Jesus and his teaching.
The Holy Spirit, also known as the Holy Ghost, is featured in many famous Bible stories. From the birth of Jesus to the miraculous events of Pentecost. When it comes to the Holy Spirit, there is much more than meets the eye. So, what exactly is the Holy Spirit?
What’s your favorite thing to cook? I am not a cook! I am a daughter, mother, sister, grandmother, etc: Everything I have cooked over the years I have learned from other people! I do make dinner, breakfast, and lunch! There is a big difference.
A cook is a person who prepares food for eating. In the food industry, a cook is a professional who prepares food for consumption, especially in restaurants. A cook is sometimes referred to as a chef, but the terms are not interchangeable. According to the Cambridge dictionary, a cook is someone who prepares and cooks food, while a chef is a skilled and trained cook who works in a hotel or restaurant.
The correct option is A chef. A chef is a trained professional cook who is skilled in all aspects of food preparation, often focusing on a particular cuisine. Boarding schools and colleges have their own chefs to prepare food for their students.
prepare (food, a dish, or a meal) by combining and heating the ingredients in various ways. “shall I cook dinner tonight?”
God Bless Your Morning in Jesus Christ name Amen
A cook is a professional individual who prepares items for consumption in the food industry, especially in settings such as restaurants. A cook is sometimes referred to as a chef, although in the culinary world, the terms are not interchangeable. Cooks’ responsibilities include preparing food, managing food stations, cleaning the kitchen, and helping the chefs.[1] Restaurants will give a title to the cooks according to their designated stations.[2] Examples are broiler cooks, fry cooks, pantry cooks, and sauce cooks.
Hello, I am Bishop Robert Stearns and I invite you to join me on a transformative journey through our Watchmen on the Wall Course.
Are you a Christian pondering your relationship with Israel, the Jewish people, and the in-depth prophetic scriptures about Israel? Like you, I once had no connection or understanding of these crucial topics. But through studying the Bible and traveling to Israel, my perspective was profoundly changed.
In this course, you’ll cut through misinformation and gain clarity on God’s narrative concerning Israel. With comprehensive modules like ‘God’s Everlasting Covenant with the Jewish People’ and ‘The Miracle of Israel through the Eyes of History,’ you’ll delve deep into these vital subjects. You’ll also learn how to become an informed intercessor and an articulate ambassador for Israel.
I know you want to be a biblically informed, active supporter of Israel. In order to do that, you need clarity and understanding of God’s storyline concerning Israel, and how it applies to you today.
In this course you will:
•Navigate through the maze of misinformation and discover God’s perspective on Israel. •Explore in-depth lessons, from ‘The Miracle of Israel’ to ‘Media Myths’. •Exclusive content: Video teachings, Interactive Community, and more.
Register today to reserve your seat in this course starting on February 1, 2024.
Available Bonuses🎁: Premium ticket to Eagles’ Wings 3-day East Coast Conference, the Watchman Bundle, and more.
Join thousands from around the world on this incredible journey. Click the link below to become a Watchman on the Wall and transform your understanding and relationship with Israel.
What do you complain about the most? How time has gone by. Wasted time” is a phrase that means time is being spent on something that is unnecessary and doesn’t produce any benefit. For example, someone might think that talking to someone who doesn’t listen is a waste of time.
Definitions of waste of time. the devotion of time to a useless activity. “the waste of time could prove fatal” type of: dissipation, waste, wastefulness. useless or profitless activity; using or expending or consuming thoughtlessly or carelessly.
Amen
Wasted time” can also mean time, money, or other resources that are not used effectively because they do not produce the desired result. For example, someone might say that a trip was wasted if they weren’t home when someone else arrived. Some synonyms for “wasted time” include: Procrastinate, Delay, Stall, Play for time, Temporize, Kill time, Dally, Tarry, Loiter. Some slang terms for “wasted time” include: Dawdling, Hanging around, Killing time, Kicking back, Lolling around, Goofing off, Kicking around, Vegging out, Hacking around
Here are some examples of sentences using the phrase “waste time”: “You waste too much time watching television” “I wasted a lot of time waiting for you” “Spending my afternoon rearranging the furniture was a waste of time; it didn’t improve the look of the room” “The lecture was a complete waste of time” “We have half a mind to report it for wasting police time” “The average worker spends about two hours a day wasting time”
“Waste of time” is a phrase used to describe when something doesn’t produce a desired result. Here are some other phrases related to wasting time: Burning daylight: Wasting daytime hours when work can be done Waste no time: To start doing something immediately Don’t waste your time: To not make good use of available hours
What books do you want to read? The Bible is the only book I want to read! Bible, the sacred scriptures of Judaism and Christianity. The Christian Bible consists of the Old Testament and the New Testament, with the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox versions of the Old Testament being slightly larger because of their acceptance of certain books and parts of books considered apocryphal by Protestants. The Hebrew Bible includes only books known to Christians as the Old Testament. The arrangements of the Jewish and Christian canons differ considerably. The Protestant and Roman Catholic arrangements more nearly match one another. A brief treatment of the Bible follows. For full treatment, see biblical literature.
Bible, the sacred scriptures of Judaism and Christianity. The Christian Bible consists of the Old Testament and the New Testament, with the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox versions of the Old Testament being slightly larger because of their acceptance of certain books and parts of books considered apocryphal by Protestants. The Hebrew Bible includes only books known to Christians as the Old Testament. The arrangements of the Jewish and Christian canons differ considerably. The Protestant and Roman Catholic arrangements more nearly match one another.
I Am Who I Am Amen
Traditionally, the Jews have divided their scriptures into three parts: the Torah (the “Law,” or Pentateuch), the Neviʾim (“Prophets”), and the Ketuvim (“Writings,” or Hagiographa). The Pentateuch, together with the Book of Joshua (hence the name Hexateuch), can be seen as the account of how the Israelites became a nation and of how they possessed the Promised Land. The division designated as the “Prophets” continues the story of Israel in the Promised Land, describing the establishment and development of the monarchy and presenting the messages of the prophets to the people. The “Writings” include speculation on the place of evil and death in the scheme of things (Job and Ecclesiastes), the poetical works, and some additional historical books.
In the Apocrypha of the Old Testament, various types of literature are represented; the purpose of the Apocrypha seems to have been to fill in some of the gaps left by the indisputably canonical books and to carry the history of Israel to the 2nd century BCE.
The New Testament is by far the shorter portion of the Christian Bible, but, through its associations with the spread of Christianity, it has wielded an influence far out of proportion to its modest size. Like the Old Testament, the New Testament is a collection of books, including a variety of early Christian literature. The four Gospels deal with the life, the person, and the teachings of Jesus, as he was remembered by the Christian community. The Acts of the Apostles carries the story of Christianity from the Resurrection of Jesus to the end of the career of St. Paul. The various Letters, or Epistles, are correspondence by various leaders of the early Christian church, chief among them St. Paul, applying the message of the church to the sundry needs and problems of early Christian congregations. The Book of Revelation (the Apocalypse) is the only canonical representative of a large genre of apocalyptic literature that appeared in the early Christian movement.
S.E.K. Mqhayi (born Dec. 1, 1875, near Gqumahashe, Cape Colony [now in South Africa]—died July 29, 1945, Ntab’ozuko, S.Af.) Xhosa poet, historian, and translator who has been called the “father of Xhosa poetry.”
Mqhayi, who was born into a family of long Christian standing, spent several of his early years in rural Transkei, a circumstance that is reflected in his evident love of Xhosa history and his mastery of the praise poem. He taught school and helped to edit several Xhosa-language journals. In 1905 he was appointed to the Xhosa Bible Revision Board, and he later helped codify Xhosa grammar and standardize Xhosa orthography. After completing this work, Mqhayi devoted most of his time to writing.
His first published book, U-Samson, was a version of the biblical story of Samson. In 1914 his Ityala lamawele (“The Lawsuit of the Twins”) appeared. Inspired by another biblical story, Ityala lamawele is a defense of Xhosa law before European administration. In the 1920s Mqhayi wrote several biographies and Imihobe nemibongo (1927; “Songs of Joy and Lullabies”), the first published collection of Xhosa poems, many of which celebrate current events or important figures. A work of fiction, U-Don Jadu (1929), describes a utopian multiracial state that combines elements of Western society and Xhosa culture. Mqhayi’s autobiography, U-Mqhayi wase Ntab’ozuko (1939; “Mqhayi of the Mountain of Beauty”), gives a vivid picture of late 19th-century Xhosa life.
Mqhayi’s collected poems, Inzuzo (“Reward”), were published in 1942. A short autobiography and two works, “The Death of Hintsa” and “The Dismissal of Sir Benjamin D’Urban,” were published in Mqhayi in Translation (1976).
Methuselah, in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), patriarch whose life span as recorded in Genesis (5:27) was 969 years. Methuselah has survived in legend and tradition as the longest-lived human. His prodigious age has been taken as literally 969 solar years, as a possible mistranslation of 969 lunar months or tenths of years (with his age then ranging from about 78 years to almost 97 years), and as a myth intended to create an impression of a distant past between Adam and Noah, as well as any number of other interpretations.
Genesis tells nothing about Methuselah beyond sparse genealogical details: according to Genesis 5, he was the great-great-great-great-grandson of Seth, the child of Adam and Eve begotten more than a century after Cain. He was the father of Lamech and the grandfather of Noah. According to the biblical account, he came of hardy stock: all his forebears lived to an age between 895 and 962 years except his father, Enoch, who lived to be 365. (In the genealogy of Cain in Genesis 4, there is a Methushael who also fathers a Lamech. Given this and certain other similarities, some scholars have proposed that the genealogies of Seth and Cain were possibly one list that became two at some point.)
The enumeration of Methuselah in Genesis is his only appearance in the Hebrew Bible save for a mention in 1 Chronicles 1:3, where he is cited in the lineage of Saul. In the New Testament he is mentioned once in the Gospel of Luke. There, at 3:23–38, the lineage of Joseph, husband of Mary and earthly father of Jesus, is traced back 75 generations, through David and Saul, and Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to Methuselah and thence to Seth and Adam.
Charles Hodge (born Dec. 27, 1797, Philadelphia, Pa., U.S.—died June 19, 1878, Princeton, N.J.) conservative American biblical scholar and a leader of the “Princeton School” of Reformed, or Calvinist, theology.
Hodge graduated from Princeton University in 1815. He became professor of biblical literature at Princeton Theological Seminary in 1822 and professor of theology in 1840. From 1826 to 1828 he traveled in Europe, where he met the prominent theologians of the day, though he remained firmly resistant to newer trends of thought. Hodge continued to teach at the seminary until his retirement in 1877. In 1846 he served for one year as moderator of the “Old School” Presbyterian Church. This body, like the “Princeton School” of orthodox Calvinist theology, in which Hodge was a major figure, stressed the verbal infallibility of the Bible and asserted other generally conservative views.
Hodge constructed an influential Systematic Theology, 3 vol. (1871–73), and wrote numerous biblical commentaries. For 46 years he edited the Biblical Repertory and Princeton Review, a journal that he founded in 1825 and to which he contributed nearly 150 articles.
Abel, in the Old Testament, second son of Adam and Eve, who was slain by his older brother, Cain (Genesis 4:1–16). According to Genesis, Abel, a shepherd, offered the Lord the firstborn of his flock. The Lord respected Abel’s sacrifice but did not respect that offered by Cain. In a jealous rage, Cain murdered Abel. Cain then became a fugitive because his brother’s innocent blood put a curse on him.
Encyclopedia Britannica HomeGames & QuizzesHistory & SocietyScience & TechBiographiesAnimals & NatureGeography & TravelArts & CultureMoneyVideos Bible Home Philosophy & Religion Scriptures History & Society Bible sacred text Written and fact-checked by Last Updated: Dec 31, 2023 • Article History Top Questions Why is the Bible important? What language was the Bible originally written in? How is the Bible organized? When was the Bible written? What does the Bible say? Moses and the Israelites Moses and the Israelites Moses leading the children of Israel through the Red Sea, 15th century; illustration from a German Bible. Bible Bible The first printing (1663) of the Bible in the American colonies; it was translated by Christian missionary John Eliot into Massachuset (also known as Wampanoag), an Algonquian language. Philip II; Bible Philip II; Bible A Bible (1569)—written in Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, and Latin—that was subsidized by Philip II of Spain. Bible, the sacred scriptures of Judaism and Christianity. The Christian Bible consists of the Old Testament and the New Testament, with the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox versions of the Old Testament being slightly larger because of their acceptance of certain books and parts of books considered apocryphal by Protestants. The Hebrew Bible includes only books known to Christians as the Old Testament. The arrangements of the Jewish and Christian canons differ considerably. The Protestant and Roman Catholic arrangements more nearly match one another.
Category: History & Society On the Web: Christianity.com – “Bible” (Dec. 31, 2023) A brief treatment of the Bible follows. For full treatment, see biblical literature.
mosaic: Christianity More From Britannica Christianity: Biblical foundations Consider the Bible’s Old Testament as a literary masterpiece dramatized by paintings, music, and sculpture Consider the Bible’s Old Testament as a literary masterpiece dramatized by paintings, music, and sculpture The Bible As Literature, Part One: Saga and Story in the Old Testament. Treating the Bible as a collection of literary masterpieces, this film, produced in 1974 by Encyclopædia Britannica Educational Corporation, skillfully weaves together paintings, sculpture, music, and drama to renact the stories of the Bible. See all videos for this article Examine the Old Testament’s The Book of Proverbs and other books through a literary lens Examine the Old Testament’s The Book of Proverbs and other books through a literary lens The Bible As Literature, Part Two: History, Poetry, and Drama in the Old Testament. The second part of an examination of the Bible as literature, this film examines the books of Joshua, Samuel, and Kings as historical documents, the Book of Proverbs as lyric poetry, and the prophetical books as protest literature. It was produced in 1974 by Encyclopædia Britannica Educational Corporation. See all videos for this article Traditionally, the Jews have divided their scriptures into three parts: the Torah (the “Law,” or Pentateuch), the Neviʾim (“Prophets”), and the Ketuvim (“Writings,” or Hagiographa). The Pentateuch, together with the Book of Joshua (hence the name Hexateuch), can be seen as the account of how the Israelites became a nation and of how they possessed the Promised Land. The division designated as the “Prophets” continues the story of Israel in the Promised Land, describing the establishment and development of the monarchy and presenting the messages of the prophets to the people. The “Writings” include speculation on the place of evil and death in the scheme of things (Job and Ecclesiastes), the poetical works, and some additional historical books.
In the Apocrypha of the Old Testament, various types of literature are represented; the purpose of the Apocrypha seems to have been to fill in some of the gaps left by the indisputably canonical books and to carry the history of Israel to the 2nd century BCE.
Bible Bible St. Mark, illuminated manuscript page from the Gospel Book of the Court school of Charlemagne, c. 810; in the Stadtbibliothek, Trier, Germany. scripture scripture Le Miroir de humaine saluation (“The Mirror of Human Salvation”) by Ludolf of Saxony (supposed author), c. 1455; the French manuscript is an example of western European Christian scripture written in the vernacular. The New Testament is by far the shorter portion of the Christian Bible, but, through its associations with the spread of Christianity, it has wielded an influence far out of proportion to its modest size. Like the Old Testament, the New Testament is a collection of books, including a variety of early Christian literature. The four Gospels deal with the life, the person, and the teachings of Jesus, as he was remembered by the Christian community. The Acts of the Apostles carries the story of Christianity from the Resurrection of Jesus to the end of the career of St. Paul. The various Letters, or Epistles, are correspondence by various leaders of the early Christian church, chief among them St. Paul, applying the message of the church to the sundry needs and problems of early Christian congregations. The Book of Revelation (the Apocalypse) is the only canonical representative of a large genre of apocalyptic literature that appeared in the early Christian movement.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Michael Ray. S.E.K. Mqhayi Home Literature Novels & Short Stories Novelists L-Z Arts & Culture S.E.K. Mqhayi South African poet and novelist Also known as: Samuel Edward Krune Mqhayi Written and fact-checked by Last Updated: Article History S.E.K. Mqhayi (born Dec. 1, 1875, near Gqumahashe, Cape Colony [now in South Africa]—died July 29, 1945, Ntab’ozuko, S.Af.) Xhosa poet, historian, and translator who has been called the “father of Xhosa poetry.”
Category: Arts & Culture In full: Samuel Edward Krune Mqhayi Born: Dec. 1, 1875, near Gqumahashe, Cape Colony [now in South Africa] Died: July 29, 1945, Ntab’ozuko, S.Af. (aged 69) Notable Works: “Ityala lamawele” Subjects Of Study: Xhosa language grammar orthography syntax Mqhayi, who was born into a family of long Christian standing, spent several of his early years in rural Transkei, a circumstance that is reflected in his evident love of Xhosa history and his mastery of the praise poem. He taught school and helped to edit several Xhosa-language journals. In 1905 he was appointed to the Xhosa Bible Revision Board, and he later helped codify Xhosa grammar and standardize Xhosa orthography. After completing this work, Mqhayi devoted most of his time to writing.
Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) only confirmed photograph of Emily Dickinson. 1978 scan of a Daguerreotype. ca. 1847; in the Amherst College Archives. American poet. See Notes: Britannica Quiz Poetry: First Lines His first published book, U-Samson, was a version of the biblical story of Samson. In 1914 his Ityala lamawele (“The Lawsuit of the Twins”) appeared. Inspired by another biblical story, Ityala lamawele is a defense of Xhosa law before European administration. In the 1920s Mqhayi wrote several biographies and Imihobe nemibongo (1927; “Songs of Joy and Lullabies”), the first published collection of Xhosa poems, many of which celebrate current events or important figures. A work of fiction, U-Don Jadu (1929), describes a utopian multiracial state that combines elements of Western society and Xhosa culture. Mqhayi’s autobiography, U-Mqhayi wase Ntab’ozuko (1939; “Mqhayi of the Mountain of Beauty”), gives a vivid picture of late 19th-century Xhosa life.
Mqhayi’s collected poems, Inzuzo (“Reward”), were published in 1942. A short autobiography and two works, “The Death of Hintsa” and “The Dismissal of Sir Benjamin D’Urban,” were published in Mqhayi in Translation (1976).
Methuselah Home Philosophy & Religion Religious Personages & Scholars History & Society Methuselah biblical figure Also known as: Methushael Written and fact-checked by Last Updated: Article History Methuselah Methuselah Methuselah, stained-glass window by the Methuselah Master; in Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury, Kent, England. Methuselah, in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), patriarch whose life span as recorded in Genesis (5:27) was 969 years. Methuselah has survived in legend and tradition as the longest-lived human. His prodigious age has been taken as literally 969 solar years, as a possible mistranslation of 969 lunar months or tenths of years (with his age then ranging from about 78 years to almost 97 years), and as a myth intended to create an impression of a distant past between Adam and Noah, as well as any number of other interpretations.
Genesis tells nothing about Methuselah beyond sparse genealogical details: according to Genesis 5, he was the great-great-great-great-grandson of Seth, the child of Adam and Eve begotten more than a century after Cain. He was the father of Lamech and the grandfather of Noah. According to the biblical account, he came of hardy stock: all his forebears lived to an age between 895 and 962 years except his father, Enoch, who lived to be 365. (In the genealogy of Cain in Genesis 4, there is a Methushael who also fathers a Lamech. Given this and certain other similarities, some scholars have proposed that the genealogies of Seth and Cain were possibly one list that became two at some point.)
The enumeration of Methuselah in Genesis is his only appearance in the Hebrew Bible save for a mention in 1 Chronicles 1:3, where he is cited in the lineage of Saul. In the New Testament he is mentioned once in the Gospel of Luke. There, at 3:23–38, the lineage of Joseph, husband of Mary and earthly father of Jesus, is traced back 75 generations, through David and Saul, and Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to Methuselah and thence to Seth and Adam.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Mindy Johnston. Charles Hodge Home Philosophy & Religion Religious Personages & Scholars History & Society Charles Hodge American scholar Written and fact-checked by Last Updated: Dec 23, 2023 • Article History Charles Hodge (born Dec. 27, 1797, Philadelphia, Pa., U.S.—died June 19, 1878, Princeton, N.J.) conservative American biblical scholar and a leader of the “Princeton School” of Reformed, or Calvinist, theology.
Hodge, Charles Hodge, Charles See all media Category: History & Society Born: Dec. 27, 1797, Philadelphia, Pa., U.S. Died: June 19, 1878, Princeton, N.J. (aged 80) Subjects Of Study: Bible Calvinism Hodge graduated from Princeton University in 1815. He became professor of biblical literature at Princeton Theological Seminary in 1822 and professor of theology in 1840. From 1826 to 1828 he traveled in Europe, where he met the prominent theologians of the day, though he remained firmly resistant to newer trends of thought. Hodge continued to teach at the seminary until his retirement in 1877. In 1846 he served for one year as moderator of the “Old School” Presbyterian Church. This body, like the “Princeton School” of orthodox Calvinist theology, in which Hodge was a major figure, stressed the verbal infallibility of the Bible and asserted other generally conservative views.
Hodge constructed an influential Systematic Theology, 3 vol. (1871–73), and wrote numerous biblical commentaries. For 46 years he edited the Biblical Repertory and Princeton Review, a journal that he founded in 1825 and to which he contributed nearly 150 articles.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen. Abel Home Philosophy & Religion Religious Personages & Scholars History & Society Abel biblical figure Written and fact-checked by Last Updated: Article History Abel, in the Old Testament, second son of Adam and Eve, who was slain by his older brother, Cain (Genesis 4:1–16). According to Genesis, Abel, a shepherd, offered the Lord the firstborn of his flock. The Lord respected Abel’s sacrifice but did not respect that offered by Cain. In a jealous rage, Cain murdered Abel. Cain then became a fugitive because his brother’s innocent blood put a curse on him.
Eyck, Jan van: Cain killing Abel, detail from the Ghent Altarpiece Eyck, Jan van: Cain killing Abel, detail from the Ghent Altarpiece See all media Category: History & Society Notable Family Members: brother Cain The storyteller in Genesis assumes a world of conflicting values, and he makes the point that divine authority backs self-control and brotherhood but punishes jealousy and violence. Cain had not mastered sin (v. 7); he had let it master him. The narrator takes a somber look at the human condition, seeing a dangerous world of Cains and Abels. Nevertheless, God is on the side of the martyrs; he avenges their deaths in the ruin of the Cains. In the New Testament the blood of Abel is cited as an example of the vengeance of violated innocence (Matthew 23:35; Luke 11:51).
Deborah, prophet and heroine in the Old Testament (Judg. 4 and 5), who inspired the Israelites to a mighty victory over their Canaanite oppressors (the people who lived in the Promised Land, later Palestine, that Moses spoke of before its conquest by the Israelites); the “Song of Deborah” (Judg. 5), putatively composed by her, is perhaps the oldest section of the Bible and is of great importance for providing a contemporary glimpse of Israelite civilization in the 12th century BC. According to rabbinic tradition, she was a keeper of tabernacle lamps.
The two narratives of her exploit, the prose account in Judg. 4 (evidently written after Judg. 5) and the martial poem comprising Judg. 5 (a lyric outburst showing a high standard of poetic skill in ancient Israel), differ in some important details. The most obvious discrepancy is in the identity of the chief foe of the Israelites. Judg. 4 makes the chief enemy Jabin, king of Hazor (present Tell el-Qedah, about three miles southwest of H̱ula Basin), though a prominent part is played by his commander in chief, Sisera of Harosheth-ha-goiim (possibly Tell el-ʿAmr, approximately 12 miles [19 kilometres] northwest of Megiddo). In the poem Jabin does not appear, and Sisera is an independent king of Canaan. Other important contradictions include the action sites (Mount Tabor in Judg. 4 is not found in Judg. 5, for example); which Israelite tribes joined Deborah and her chief commander, the Naphtalite Barak (only Zebulun and Naphtali in Judg. 4, additional tribes in Judg. 5); and the manner of Sisera’s death (in Judg. 4 he is murdered in his sleep, in Judg. 5 he is struck down from behind while drinking a bowl of milk).
Assuming that the account preserved in Judg. 5 is the older (probably written in 1125 BC), the reader can reconstruct the actual history of the events. Israel holds the wilder parts of the country, the hills and the forests, but the Israelite settlements in the central range are cut off from those in the northern hills by a chain of Canaanite (or possibly Egyptian) fortresses down the Plain of Esdraelon (between Galilee and Samaria). At the instigation of Deborah, a charismatic counselor (or judge) and prophet (she predicts that the glory of war will fall to a woman, which it does—to Jael), Barak gathers the tribes of Ephraim, Benjamin, Machir (Manasseh), Zebulun, Issachar, and his own tribe of Naphtali. Asher, Dan, Gilead (Gad), and Reuben remain aloof. Judah and Simeon are not mentioned (attesting to the antiquity of the poem). The Israelite clans fall on the enemy at Taanach; a thunderstorm, in which Israel sees the coming of God from Mount Sinai, strikes terror into the Canaanites; their fabled 900 chariots of iron are useless on the sodden ground; and the Kishon River, swollen by torrential rains, sweeps away the fugitives. Sisera escapes on foot, pursued by Barak, taking refuge in the tent of Heber the Kenite (the Kenites, a nomadic tribe, were supposedly at peace with Canaan); he is offered protection by Heber’s wife, Jael; as he drinks a bowl of milk, she pierces his head with a tent peg and kills him (thus fulfilling Deborah’s prophecy).
Write about a few of your favorite family traditions. ⛪ Going to church is my favorite family tradition!
Similarly, God did not want the Israelites to go through Philistine territory and immediately encounter a war, lest they lose heart in God’s protective care and run back to Egypt.
Likewise, God might not take you on the most direct route to fulfilling your destiny. Instead, He just might take you out of the way a bit, proving His magnificent love for you by parting a sea on the way or lighting your path during a time of darkness.
With that firsthand experience of God’s Presence, your faith will be made stronger to sustain you in the trials that will certainly come to you further down the road.
Still, as with any relationship, it takes more than one great experience with God to know who He is and to understand His character, integrity, and love. So sometimes the journey to our destiny is more than roundabout; it is the long way.
This truth is evident at the Red Sea. Even though the Israelites experienced walking out of Egypt with the spoils of the land and their firstborn sons still alive, that was not enough to calm their fears for long.
Amen
In last week’s study, after the last and most devastating of the Ten Plagues (Death of the Firstborn), Pharaoh finally relented in letting the Israelites go free.
This week, however, in Parasha Beshalach, Pharaoh changes his mind and races after them to bring them back into slavery.
Thinking they are lost in the wilderness; Pharaoh seemingly traps them against the Red Sea. There is no escape.
But God miraculously splits the waters so that His people pass through on dry land, while the Egyptians drown behind them.
In relief and thankfulness to God for this amazing victory over those who wished to enslave them, Moshe (Moses) and the Israelites sing a beautiful song called Shirat haYam (שירת הים), the Song of the Sea. Some also call it Az Yashir Moshe (then Moses sang), which are the first words of the Song of the Sea (Exodus 15:1).
This song is recited daily as part of the Shacharit (morning prayer service).
It is written in a unique wave or brick-like pattern in the Torah scroll and is recited in regular chant and traditional melodies.
In true humility, this song gives no glory to the leadership of Moses or praise to the people for the faith it took to walk between walls of water, but totally gives the glory and praise to the Lord.
“I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted. Both horse and driver He has hurled into the sea.” (Exodus 15:1)
This song of Moses is, perhaps, also mentioned in the Brit Chadashah (New Testament) as a song that will be sung by those who defeat the beast in the end times. However, this time they will be singing by the sea of glass instead of the Red Sea and holding harps instead of tambourines:
“Those defeating the beast, its image and the number of its name were standing by the sea of glass, holding harps which God had given them. They were singing the song of Moshe, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: ‘Great and wonderful are the things you have done, Adonai, God of heaven’s armies!’” (Revelation 15:2–3)
Moses’ sister, Miriam, also goes out with the maidens, and they dance for joy with tambourines.
Because of these songs, this week’s Parasha is also called Shabbat Shirah (Sabbath of Singing).
Besides reading the Song of the Sea and the Song of Miriam on Shabbat Shirah, some have the custom of feeding the birds, in honor of the beautiful melodies that they sing and, perhaps, the manna that was found on the ground by the Israelites in this reading.
This is, of course, unusual in that wild birds are generally not fed on the Shabbat; only domesticated birds such as geese and chickens may be fed.
The Talmud explains that the Shabbat should not be broken by feeding animals that can fend for themselves, although there is a responsibility to feed the pets and domesticated animals that are under your care.
Haftarah Reading: The Song of Deborah
Both the Torah portion and the Haftarah (prophetic portion) of this week’s study contain victory songs by God’s people.
In the Parasha, the Israelites sing the Song of the Sea, extolling and honoring God for delivering them from Egypt. In the Haftarah, the Song of Deborah is sung when God gives them victory over General Sisera and the Canaanites.
“Then Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang on that day, saying: ‘When leaders lead in Israel, when the people willingly offer themselves, bless the LORD! Hear, O kings! Give ear, O princes! I, even I, will sing to the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel.’” (Judges 5:1–3)
In the Song of the Sea, only God receives praise and glory while in the Song of Deborah, the actions of valiant men and women are also praised.
we can use the gift of song to praise Adonai for His goodness and mercy.
Our response to the victories that God brings us in our lives can be freely expressed with rejoicing, with singing and with dancing, just as Moses, Miriam, and Deborah did:
“Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, sing a song! Arise, Barak, and lead your captives away, O son of Abinoam!” (Judges 5:12)
The Long Way Home
The Hebrew word Beshalach (בְּשַׁלַּח), the name of this Parasha, means when he sent.
Pharaoh didn’t simply let the people go; he sent the Israelites away.
When he did, God did not lead them on the straightest, most direct route to their Promised Land, which would have taken them through Philistine territory and into certain battle. Instead, He led them around and through the Red Sea or Yam Suf (literally, Sea of Reeds).
Why didn’t God take them on the quickest route and into battle?
The Rabbis answer this with a story of a man who purchases a cow and takes her home to produce milk for his family, not to kill her for her meat.
Because the slaughterhouse is on the path to his home, he takes her on a longer, more roundabout route so that she will not smell the blood from the slaughterhouse and try to escape his care.
On the Way to the Promised Land
“And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the LORD.” (Exodus 14:10)
The Israelites’ reaction when they saw Pharaoh pursuing them confirms that they were not yet ready for battle.
The frightened Israelites did the right thing with their fear: they cried out to God!
Then they did the wrong thing: they blamed Moses for bringing them out of Egypt, only to be annihilated by Pharaoh’s soldiers. They considered it better to have been left to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness. (Exodus 14:11)
Sometimes, when moving on the path to greater freedom, we may encounter fearful challenges and wish we had just stayed where we were, no matter how painful or uncomfortable that old place felt.
Nevertheless, moving ahead means facing new challenges and seeing God’s power demonstrated as we overcome them.
Moses reassured the Israelites that God would fight their battles for them, and they would only need to hold their peace.
“But Moses said to the people, ‘Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the LORD which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. The LORD will fight for you while you keep silent.” (Exodus 14:13–14)
Pharaoh’s Army Engulfed by the Red Sea (1900), by Frederick Arthur Bridgman
The Israelites had a dilemma: they were trapped between a big sea and an angry Egyptian army — and Moses told them to “keep silent.”
That silence involved a choice.
On one hand, they could keep silent, hear the approaching chariots, and surrender to them in overwhelming fear and helplessness.
On the other hand, they could keep silent, listen for God’s direction to move forward (kadima!), and obey Him.
“And the LORD said to Moses, ‘Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward.’” (Exodus 14:15)
Their silence was not meant to be passive. It involved action.
So often we are told to “wait upon the LORD,” and we often accept this to mean “do nothing.”
It is true that there are times when we must find the patience to simply do nothing but wait until God shows us His direction; however, there are also times when God says, “Move forward!” At those times, we are to rise up from bended knee in heroic faith and go!
A father and son place prayers written on paper into the slits of the stones at the Western (Wailing) Wall in Jerusalem.
God has wonderful blessings and victories in store for us if we would only take the first steps of faith, trusting in His leadership and wisdom. Through Yeshua we are more than conquerors. (Romans 8:37)
Let us, then, not miss our orders to go forward with boldness and confidence to possess the Land that is ours.
Moses demonstrated great faith to his people. We also need to encourage those who are fearful, reminding them of God’s great power, love, and faithfulness.
“Say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, He will come with vengeance; with divine retribution He will come to save you.’” (Isaiah 35:4)
Today, as the people of Israel stand surrounded by a sea of hostile enemies, bombarded by a wave of terrorism, may all Believers reach out to the Jewish People with words of faith and courage that God is not only our physical salvation but also our spiritual Salvation through Yeshua.
He will fight our battles for us. And as we go forward, we can be at peace as we trust in Him.
Today Delana, you can play an active role in the end-time salvation of the Jewish People by helping us bring the Good News of Yeshua to the Holy Land.
“You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of your inheritance —the place, Lord, you made for your dwelling, the sanctuary, Lord, your hands established.” (Exodus 15:17)
What makes a good leader? God the beautiful Person
Who leads all of us to His Son Jesus Christ.
Matthew 4:1 “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.”
Psalms 143:10 Psalms 143:10 New American Standard Bible – NASB 1995 (NASB1995) Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
Romans 8:14-17 in the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible says, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father”.
Romans 8:14 KJV – For as many as are led by the Spirit of For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God
Romans 8:13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Romans 8:16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.
Romans 8:9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
John 16:7 “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.”
John 3:5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”
John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Luke 4:1 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness.
Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Revelation 21:7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
Romans 8:11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
Deuteronomy 29:4 But to this day the Lord has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear.
Ephesians 3:16 That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being.
Ephesians 5:18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.
Galatians 4:6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
Galatians 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Galatians 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Galatians 5:23 Gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
1 Corinthians 12:3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.
1 John 3:9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.
Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.
1 John 3:24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
Romans 8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
John 16:13 “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”
Romans 5:5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Toward the end of his life, W.H. Auden wrote a grumpy poem that ends on the perfect note for ringing in 2024.
Welcome back to Douglas Murray’s Sunday column, Things Worth Remembering, where he presents passages from great poets he has committed to memory—and explains why you should, too. To listen to Douglas read from W.H. Auden’s “Moon Landing,” click below:
Toward the end of his life, W.H. Auden returned to the UK, where he was the main guest on the BBC’s main evening chat show. While being interviewed, Auden was asked to recite his poem “Moon Landing,” the poet’s oddly grumpy take on Apollo 11’s successful voyage.
Among other things, Auden—who, you may have noticed, is among my favorites—called the conquest of the moon a “phallic triumph, an adventure it would not have occurred to women to think worth while.” (I’m not so sure of that.) His portrayal of this magnificent milestone feels lazy, tired, what one might expect of a poet in a decidedly unpoetic age nearing the end of his life. God
Thank you for helping us end 2023 strong and gear up for what the Lord has in store in the coming year!
Dear Delana,
For a long time, I thought when the truth became apparent, people would recognize it, celebrate it, and follow it. But the scriptures show us something different. Most people resent and reject the truth AND the people who deliver it. We’re seeing this in many places today.
As deception escalates, the choice is clear: Accept the truth, and choose to follow the Lord with more focus and tenacity than we’ve ever known—or be swept away in the deception. To move forward, we will need to intentionally seek the Lord. We will need to know His Word, His Spirit, and His character enough to recognize the truth. And then we will need to have the courage to embrace the truth—no matter the consequences—until the Lord of Righteousness returns. I’m grateful we’re in this season together.
I’ve recently visited twenty different cities to speak to pastors and friends of the ministry. Our cities are increasingly unsafe. Deception continues to flourish across our nation and within the church. But God is moving. I have been ministering for a long time now, and I have never seen people more hungry for the truth. They want to learn about God, know how to follow Him, and what it looks like to seek Him more fully. It’s an exciting time to be serving the Lord!
I believe God created us “for such a time as this,” to faithfully declare His Truth across our nation and around the world. We will not stop!
God is moving in the earth. His purposes are breaking forth. This present world order is rushing toward a conclusion. You and I were sent to be salt and light—bringing the hope and peace of Jesus into this place and this season. Let’s remember the importance of our assignment as we move forward into 2024.
God’s love and forgiveness with those around us. We’re thankful for friends like you who want to tell them about the peace found through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Friend, don’t you just love how whatever you’re facing, all you have to do is tell God, “I’m going to trust you,” and then you can watch as he lights up the path in front of you?
That’s true for everyone in the world. No problem is too big and no situation too dark for him.
That’s why Daily Hope is laser-focused on strategically reaching the greatest number of people online, on television, and on the radio with the greatest message in history. . .
God gives us abundant life through Jesus Christ. There’s hope for the hopeless, and there’s nothing the light of Jesus can’t outshine!
And through your support in these final hours, you’ll help share hope and love with people around the world desperate to know God is there for them.
What relationships have a positive impact on you? Jesus relationship with me has the most positive impact in my life! He has saved me. His dying took our sins away. His rising means He defeated death.
Delana,
We JUST filed our emergency appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court in the most important election case in U.S. history.
President Trump has already been banned from the ballot in yet another state, and there’s an avalanche of similar lawsuits trying to eviscerate your right to vote for the candidate of your choice.
The Supreme Court must act quickly, or there will be utter electoral chaos. This is the most important case we’ve ever taken up because if we lose our right to vote, we lose our constitutional republic. The Supreme Court could decide to take the case at any moment – yes, even this weekend.
As this case moves into overdrive at the Supreme Court, we urgently need your support.
This case is so vitally important that a group of our donors has unlocked a TRIPLE MATCH. But our urgent deadline is MIDNIGHT tomorrow.
TODAY, as we fight at the Supreme Court, have your Tax-Deductible gift TRIPLED. You determine this monumental fight. As we told the Supreme Court: “For the first time in American history, a former President has been disqualified from the ballot, a political party has been denied the opportunity to put forward the presidential candidate of its choice, and the voters have been denied the ability to choose their Chief Executive through the electoral process.” Take action with us to defend our constitutional republic at the Supreme Court.
Sirens are sounding. Hamas has fired a new barrage of jihadist rockets into Israel. The enemy continues its unspeakable evil, as the world tries to prosecute and punish Israel.
God says, “I will bless those who bless thee,” and we’re taking vital legal action. We’ve expanded our Jerusalem office. I’ve been meeting with key leaders in D.C., and we just fired off a new demand letter to the U.N. Security Council to defend Israel. But we need you to take action with us.
We’re also preparing to file a critical amicus brief at the Supreme Court in the biggest abortion case since Dobbs – to defeat President Biden’s expansion of deadly abortion pills. Defend unborn babies at the Supreme Court.
Shahzad was just 16 when they arrested him for blasphemy. Now they will hang him for his Christian faith. We just filed in a Pakistani court to expedite his appeal. Take action with us to save his life.
Finally, as we take on the biggest cases – to defend your right to vote, Israel, the unborn, and Christians from death –
peacewithgod.net Topics START YOUR NEW LIFE WITH CHRIST You can have real, lasting peace today through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Start your four-step journey now!
Step 1 – God’s Purpose: Peace and Life God loves you and wants you to experience peace and eternal life—abundant and eternal. The Bible says:
“We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
“I [Jesus] came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10
Why don’t most people have this peace and abundant life that God planned for us to have? Step 2 – The Problem: Sin Separates Us God created us in His own image to have an abundant life. He did not make us as robots to automatically love and obey Him. God gave us a will and freedom of choice. We choose to disobey God and go our own willful way. We still make this choice today. This results in separation from God. The Bible says:
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
Our choice results in separation from God. People have tried in many ways to bridge this gap between themselves and God… The Bible says:
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” Proverbs 14:12
“But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.” Isaiah 59:2
No bridge reaches God… except one. Step 3 – God’s Remedy: The Cross Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose from the grave. He paid the penalty for our sin and bridged the gap between God and people. The Bible says:
“For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God.” 1 Peter 3:18
“But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
God has provided the only way… Each person must make a choice… Step 4 – Our Response: Receive Christ We must trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and receive Him by personal invitation. The Bible says:
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20
“But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12
“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9
Will you receive Jesus Christ right now?
Here is how you can receive Christ: Admit your need. (I am a sinner.) Be willing to turn from your sins (repent) and ask for God’s forgiveness. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross and rose from the grave. Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your life through the Holy Spirit. (Receive Jesus as Lord and Savior) We suggest a prayer like this one:
“Dear God, I know I am a sinner. I want to turn from my sins, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ is Your Son. I believe He died for my sins and that You raised Him to life. I want Him to come into my heart and to take control of my life. I want to trust Jesus as my Savior and follow Him as my Lord from this day forward. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”
Did you pray this prayer?
It’s our biggest Supreme Court fight ever, but we face a critical MIDNIGHT deadline to defend our constitutional republic.
A second state has banned President Trump from the ballot. This is the worst form of election interference imaginable.
We JUST filed our emergency appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to defend your constitutional right to vote. Because if we lose our right to vote, we lose our constitutional republic.
This really is a judicial emergency, and the Supreme Court could decide any minute – even this weekend – to take our case and expedite the appeal.
I’ve been working with our legal team around the clock and through the holidays because this is the MOST IMPORTANT case we’ve ever appealed to the Supreme Court. We’ve filed our first round of briefs, but now we need YOU.
We face a daunting challenge. This is our most critical time of year, with so much on the line. Our Supreme Court fight requires immense resources, and our MIDNIGHT TRIPLE MATCH Deadline is tomorrow – NEW YEAR’S EVE.
Shemot
Exodus 1:1-6:1 This week’s Torah portion tells us of the Israelites’ slavery in Egypt, and sets the stage for their redemption over the three following portions. It recounts how Jacob’s small family grew into a mighty nation and how the Egyptians came to oppress them. It also relates Moses’s development from birth to leadership.
Descent into Slavery
This is the very first example of “anti-Semitism”. What is Pharaoh accusing the Jewish people of? How does that connect with other examples of anti-Semitism throughout history?
A Leader is Born Many movies about the life of Moses portray his shock at discovering he is a Hebrew. Is this supported by the text? Do you think others in Egypt knew his true identity? How might this affect his ability later to lead the people out of Egypt?
The Burning Bush
Based on His conversation with Moses, it appears God has more in mind for the Israelites than simply their physical freedom from slavery. He outlines His plan to take the people out of Egypt and bring them to a land flowing with with milk and honey. Along the way, they will serve Him at this very place. What, then, is the Bible’s vision of true freedom? Is this how you would define freedom? Why or why not?
Return to Egypt
God recently spoke with Moses at the Burning Bush. Why does God address Moses again? What new insight does He provide that He could not relate at the Burning Bush?
Moses and Aaron Arrive in Egypt
What does Moses tell Pharaoh the Israelites want (see 5:1 and 5:3)? Does this reflect what happens in the rest of the Exodus story? Why do you think Moses says this to Pharaoh?
What is your all time favorite automobile? There is nothing better than driving a horse and buggy!
Georgia, lying at the junction of Europe and Asia, is a country of ancient myths with a rich and turbulent history. Home to the first European hominids and the birthplace of wine, Georgia’s roots trace back to ancient civilisations. Throughout its history, the Caucasus region witnessed the influence of various empires and played a crucial role in transcontinental trade routes.
The most famous Georgian kingdom was Colchis, the mythical land of Medea and the Golden Fleece. It flourished from the 13th to the 6th century BCE, thanks to its strategic location along the Black Sea and its abundant natural resources.
THE LARGEST RIVER IN WESTERN GEORGIA, THE PHASIS, WAS CONSIDERED BY ANCIENT GREEK GEOGRAPHERS AS THE DIVIDING LINE BETWEEN EUROPE & ASIA. Georgia is between the Black Sea to the west and the Caspian Sea to the east. It is bordered by Russia to the north, Azerbaijan to the southeast, Armenia to the south, and Turkey to the southwest. The country lies mostly in the Caucasus Mountains, and its boundaries are partly defined by the Greater and Lesser Caucasus, two of the world’s great mountain ranges and the highest peaks in Europe. Georgia has a diverse, fertile geography with extensive plains and rivers, navigable marshes, deep forests, mountains, and passes. Georgia has about 25,000 rivers. The largest river in western Georgia, the Phasis (now known as the Rioni River), was considered by ancient Greek geographers such as Anaximander of Miletus (l. c. 610 to c. 546 BCE) as the dividing line between Europe and Asia.
Search… 7 Ancient Sites in Georgia Article Carole Raddatoby Carole Raddato published on 20 December 20230Save
Click to listen 0:0 Georgia, lying at the junction of Europe and Asia, is a country of ancient myths with a rich and turbulent history. Home to the first European hominids and the birthplace of wine, Georgia’s roots trace back to ancient civilisations. Throughout its history, the Caucasus region witnessed the influence of various empires and played a crucial role in transcontinental trade routes.
Colchis Fountain in Kutaisi Colchis Fountain in Kutaisi Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) The most famous Georgian kingdom was Colchis, the mythical land of Medea and the Golden Fleece. It flourished from the 13th to the 6th century BCE, thanks to its strategic location along the Black Sea and its abundant natural resources.
REMOVE ADS ADVERTISEMENT
Geography THE LARGEST RIVER IN WESTERN GEORGIA, THE PHASIS, WAS CONSIDERED BY ANCIENT GREEK GEOGRAPHERS AS THE DIVIDING LINE BETWEEN EUROPE & ASIA. Georgia is between the Black Sea to the west and the Caspian Sea to the east. It is bordered by Russia to the north, Azerbaijan to the southeast, Armenia to the south, and Turkey to the southwest. The country lies mostly in the Caucasus Mountains, and its boundaries are partly defined by the Greater and Lesser Caucasus, two of the world’s great mountain ranges and the highest peaks in Europe. Georgia has a diverse, fertile geography with extensive plains and rivers, navigable marshes, deep forests, mountains, and passes. Georgia has about 25,000 rivers. The largest river in western Georgia, the Phasis (now known as the Rioni River), was considered by ancient Greek geographers such as Anaximander of Miletus (l. c. 610 to c. 546 BCE) as the dividing line between Europe and Asia.
Anaximander World Map Anaximander World Map Bibi Saint-Pol (Public Domain) REMOVE ADS ADVERTISEMENT
Wine & Metals Georgia is one of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world. Winemaking can be traced back to the Neolithic period, over 8,000 years ago. Traditional vinification techniques involved using qvevris, large earthenware jars buried for fermentation and storage. This ancient method and the presence of 500 indigenous grape varieties contribute to the distinct character of Georgian wines.
Qvevri, Neolithic Terracotta Wine Jar Qvevri, Neolithic Terracotta Wine Jar Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) The country’s rich natural resources have also played an important role in the history of the South Caucasus. The development of metallurgy more than 5,000 years ago and some of the world’s first gold mines (dating to c. 3000 BCE) contributed to a vibrant trade network, connecting the Mediterranean with the Caucasus and beyond. Georgia had a flourishing bronze and iron industry and fluvial gold in mountainous Svaneti, where gold extraction using sheepskin originated. According to historical sources, the Kingdom of Colchis was rich in “gold sands,” and the indigenous Svans mined the rivers using special wooden vessels and sheepskins. The Svans still mine gold from rivers as they did in ancient times.
REMOVE ADS ADVERTISEMENT
View of the Caucasus Mountains in Svaneti, Georgia View of the Caucasus Mountains in Svaneti, Georgia Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) The Golden Fleece In Greek mythology, the Golden Fleece was said to be in Colchis, an ancient region located on the eastern coast of the Black Sea in present-day Georgia. The Thessalian hero Jason and the Argonauts went on a quest to retrieve the Golden Fleece. The Argonautica is the epic tale of their adventures. Medea, a sorceress and princess of Colchis, assisted Jason during this quest. Medea fell in love with Jason and used her magical abilities to help him complete various challenges set by her father to obtain the Golden Fleece.
However, their story took a tragic turn. After returning to Greece, Jason marries another woman, which leads to a series of events where Medea seeks revenge. The most infamous act attributed to Medea is the murder of her children, born to Jason, as a form of revenge against him.
Modern Statue of Medea Modern Statue of Medea Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) A Short Introduction to Ancient Georgia Different highly developed societies existed within Georgia’s territory during the Bronze Age. The emergence of advanced metallurgy, viticulture, farming, livestock-raising, and artistic craftsmanship characterised these successive cultures. From 3500 to 1600 BCE, Georgia was the heart of the Kura-Araxes and Trialeti cultures, which practised metallurgy and produced gold and silver artefacts of the highest artistic value.
REMOVE ADS ADVERTISEMENT Trialeti Chalice from Georgia Trialeti Chalice from Georgia Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) Two early Georgian states, Colchis in the west and Iberia (or Kartli) in the east, rose during the classical period. Colchis extended along the eastern coast of the Black Sea, while Iberia encompassed Georgia’s eastern and southwestern provinces. Both kingdoms stood on the peripheries of the great powers of antiquity: the Greek world to the west, the Assyrian and Persian Empires to the south, and the Scythians to the northwest. Colchis experienced influences from these neighbouring regions and thrived economically due to its strategic location along the Black Sea trade routes.
The Colchians were skilled artisans engaged in commerce, exporting valuable resources such as gold, timber, and slaves. Goldsmithing was particularly notable, and the abundance of gold in the region contributed to the wealth and reputation of Colchian craftsmanship. Colchis’s economy also rested on agriculture, cattle breeding, and fishing. Much of the kingdom was built on the banks of the Phasis River, which flows into the eastern side of the Black Sea. The Colchian lowlands enjoyed a subtropical, warm and humid climate, creating good conditions for crop cultivation.
Horse-Figured Temple Pendants from Georgia Horse-Figured Temple Pendants from Georgia Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) In the 6th century BCE, Milesian Greeks, looking for new markets, new resources, and agricultural opportunities, established trading posts (known as emporia) along the shores of the Black Sea. These Greek colonies led to a profound Hellenization of the Colchian elite, reflected in the mintage of local Graeco-Colchian coins and the influence of Hellenistic architecture on Colchian urban planning. After the 6th century BCE, Colchis was under the nominal suzerainty of the Achaemenid Empire (c. 550-330 BCE), passed into the kingdom of Mithridates VI (120-63 BCE), and then came under the rule of Rome in the 1st century BCE together with Iberia after Pompey’s victory in the Third Mithridatic War (66-65 BCE). Iberia became a vassal kingdom and Colchis the Roman province of Lazica.
REMOVE ADS ADVERTISEMENT Map of Ancient Georgian States (600-150 BCE) Map of Ancient Georgian States (600-150 BCE) Deu (CC BY-SA) Portion of a Colchian Headdress Portion of a Colchian Headdress James Blake Wiener (CC BY-NC-SA) From the 1st century CE, the Romans constructed forts along the coast at points where inland routes joined the sea. These permanent garrisons defended the Roman northeastern border (the Pontus Limes). Together with veterans, soldiers’ families, servants, and others, these forts formed settlements that could become towns and cities. Cultural exchanges occurred through trade, diplomatic relations, and the movement of people, contributing to a blend of local and Roman influences.
THE GEORGIAN KINGDOMS WERE OFTEN CAUGHT IN THE POWER STRUGGLES BETWEEN THE ROMAN & THE SASSANIAN EMPIRES. The Georgian kingdoms were often caught in the power struggles between the Roman and the Sassanian Empires, culminating in the Lazic War from 541 to 562 CE, and experienced periods of Byzantine and Persian dominance. Christianity spread in the early 4th century CE when Saint Nino (l. c. 280-332 CE) converted King Mirian III (r. 284-361 CE) and Queen Nana of Iberia (r. 292-361 CE), making Georgia one of the earliest nations to adopt Christianity as the state religion. In the later centuries of the Roman and Byzantine periods, Colchis faced challenges from various invasions, including those by nomadic tribes and the expanding Arab Caliphate. These invasions and internal strife contributed to the decline of the region’s political stability and economic prosperity.
The Caucasus after the Peace of Nisibis, c. 300 CE The Caucasus after the Peace of Nisibis, c. 300 CE Simeon Netchev (CC BY-NC-SA) UNESCO has recognised Georgia’s most significant landmarks: the ancient city and former capital Mtskheta, Gelati Monastery, and the mountainous region of Upper Svaneti, with a further fourteen on the tentative list. Other significant archaeological sites are well-preserved.
Love History? Sign up for our free weekly email newsletter!
Email address…
Here are seven ancient sites to explore while visiting Georgia.
Vani Archaeological Museum & Site Vani is one of the most famous sites in Colchis. It is located 40 kilometres (24 mi) southwest of Kutaisi, the residence of the mythical King Aeetes and today the country’s third largest city. Established in a fertile region at the Sulori and Rioni Rivers confluence, Vani was a small settlement serving as the Colchis kingdom’s religious centre between the 8th and 1st century BCE. It spread on a hill over three terraces, flanked on two sides by deep ravines that served as natural defences. The city’s ancient name is not known with certainty, but scholars have argued that Surium, mentioned by Pliny the Elder (l. 23-79 CE), could have been its original name.
Treasures from a Woman’s Burial in Vani Treasures from a Woman’s Burial in Vani Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) Vani’s size and wealth increased dramatically from the 6th century to the end of the 4th century BCE. During this period, the city became the political and administrative centre of the area. Vani was also the burial place for the local elite, who dominated an extremely hierarchical society. Archaeologists have uncovered 28 burials dating to c. 450-250 BCE, notable for the splendour of their goods. Various vessels were deposited with the dead, including Greek and Persian imports, providing evidence for banqueting in the local funerary rituals. The richest graves had impressive gold jewellery, including elaborate Colchian gold hair ornaments and appliques for clothing.
Ceremonial Twelve-Stepped Altar at Vani in Colchis Ceremonial Twelve-Stepped Altar at Vani in Colchis Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) By c. 250 BCE, Vani was a sanctuary city with temples, altars, and sacrificial platforms. Its inhabitants moved outside the city walls. Hellenistic bronze statues and sculptures adorned the city, attesting to the impact of Greek culture. Especially noteworthy is a fragmentary bronze torso found in the destruction level of the mid-1st century CE and magnificent bronze lamps adorned with elephant heads, Erotes, and Zeus and Ganymede.
Bronze Lamp from Vani with Zeus and Ganymede Bronze Lamp from Vani with Zeus and Ganymede Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) The recently renovated Vani Archaeological Museum-Reserve showcases more than 4,000 objects excavated in Vani since 1985, including silver drinking vessels, bronze and iron figurines used in religious rituals, and elaborately crafted gold jewellery.
Uplistsikhe Cave Town Uplistsikhe (meaning the castle of the Uplos, son of Mtskhetos, an epic hero in Georgian mythology) is an ancient fortified cave city in eastern Georgia rising high above the left bank of Mtkvari River (known in Greek and Latin sources as the Cyrus River). Uplistsikhe is one of the oldest urban sites in the Caucasus, with evidence suggesting continuous habitation from the first millennium BCE. It features a complex of caves, temples, and tunnels carved into the rock during classical antiquity. The town flourished as a major religious, political, and commercial centre during the Hellenistic and Roman periods, and it was a crucial hub along trade routes (the Silk Road ran along the hills to the north).
Uplistsikhe Cave Town, Georgia Uplistsikhe Cave Town, Georgia Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) The Uplistsikhe complex had a lower, middle, and upper section covering approximately 40,000 cm² (43.0 ft²), with rock-cut structures and temples dedicated to a sun goddess. It had a defensive wall, ditch, passes, tunnels, streets, and a complex irrigation system. Uplistsikhe housed 20,000 people at its peak.
Uplistsikhe became a significant Christian site in the early medieval era, witnessing the construction of a basilica and other Christian structures. The city thrived until the late Middle Ages, after which it declined in importance due to shifting political landscapes and Mongol raids in the 14th century.
Uplistsulis Eklesia in Uplistsikhe Cave Town Uplistsulis Eklesia in Uplistsikhe Cave Town Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) Only a small portion of Uplistsikhe can be visited today, but the site is still impressive. It was buried for centuries and only excavated by archaeologists in the 1950s.
Armaziskhevi Archaeological Site (Mtskheta) Armaziskhevi (“Armazi’s Castle”) is associated with the ancient town of Armazi, located 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) southwest of Mtskheta, where the Aragvi and Mtkvari rivers meet. It was a significant settlement in the early history of Georgia. Three major cultural layers have been identified, with the earliest dating back to the 4th-3rd century BCE. Armaziskhevi is linked to the worship of Armazi, the chief deity of the Iberian pantheon.
Armaziskhevi Archaeological Site, Georgia Armaziskhevi Archaeological Site, Georgia Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) Armazi was the capital of Iberia and the site of Iberian kings’ royal residences and tombs. In the 5th century, Vakhtang I of Iberia (r. c. 447/49 to 502/22 CE) moved the capital to Tbilisi. Armazi experienced various cultural influences, including Greek and Roman, and played a role in the complex geopolitical landscape of the region.
View of Armaziskhevi View of Armaziskhevi Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) Excavations revealed buildings of Hellenistic and Roman times, including the ruins of a citadel, a palace, a six-apse pagan temple, a wine cellar complete with qvevris, and a five-room bathhouse in the Roman style. Various artefacts providing insights into the region’s ancient history have been unearthed, including pottery fragments, jewellery, sculptures, and silver dishes from royal family burials, most notably two phiale bearing the busts of Antinous and Marcus Aurelius in their central medallions.
Antinous on a Silver Dish Antinous on a Silver Dish Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) Pompey captured Armazi in 65 BCE during his campaign in Iberia and Colchis. The Roman army built a bridge over the Kura River. It was restored and expanded during the reign of King Vakhtang I, and defensive towers were added on both sides of the bridge. The bridge was used until the middle of the 20th century but is now under water due to the construction of the hydroelectric power station and a rise in the river level.
Gonio Fortress (Apsarus) The Gonio Fortress, located 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) south of Batumi near the Turkish border, was the largest Roman fort along the Colchian littoral (the Pontus Limes). The site was called Apsarus in ancient times and was connected with the myth of Medea and her younger brother Absyrtus, who was involved in Jason’s escape with the golden fleece from Colchis.
The fort was established c. 77 CE to ensure control of the routes running north along the Black Sea and inland to Iberia. It was a 4.75-hectare (11.7 acres) rectangular fort with four gates, 22 towers, and solid ramparts measuring more than 900 metres (3,000 ft) in circumference. The fort experienced several stages of construction and repair up to the Ottoman period.
Aerial view of the Roman Fort of Apsarus Aerial view of the Roman Fort of Apsarus კოლხი (CC BY-SA) Excavations have uncovered various buildings, including the principia (headquarters building), praetorium (commanding officer’s residence), and barrack blocks equipped with an underfloor heating system, two thermal baths, and water supply systems, all from the Roman or early Byzantine period. Apsarus was a densely populated city. Procopius of Caesarea, a historian of the 6th century, mentions a theatre, a hippodrome, and other facilities usually found in a large city.
Remains of the Apsarus Roman Fort Remains of the Apsarus Roman Fort Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) Arrian (86 to c. 160 CE), the governor of Cappadocia who reported officially to Roman emperor Hadrian (r. 117-138 CE), inspected the fort in the early 130s during his extensive tour of the Black Sea. He recorded five cohorts in his Periplus of the Euxine Sea, approximately 1,200-1,500 men, who guaranteed safe navigation along the coast, protected traffic from pirates, and kept watch over the coastal tribes.
The Periplus of the Euxine Sea, c. 130 CE The Periplus of the Euxine Sea, c. 130 CE Simeon Netchev (CC BY-NC-SA) An interesting museum displays artefacts found at the site. A rich hoard of goldsmithery, known as the “Gonio Treasure,” was unearthed in 1974 on the outskirts of the fortress and can be seen in the Batumi Archaeological Museum.
Gold Buckle with Beasts Fighting Scene Gold Buckle with Beasts Fighting Scene Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) Dzalisa Archaeological Site Dzalisa is an archaeological site dating back to the ancient kingdom of Iberia. It is situated in the Mukhrani valley, on both banks of the River Narekvavi, some 20 kilometres (12 mi) northwest of Mtskheta, and features remnants of a fortified city. The site can be identified with Zalissa, which was mentioned by Claudius Ptolemy (c. 100 to c. 170 CE) as one of the principal towns of Iberia. This archaeological settlement bears witness to the urban development of Iberia in the first centuries CE. It is estimated that the town covered 70 hectares (172 acres).
Dzalisa Archaeological Site, Georgia Dzalisa Archaeological Site, Georgia Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) A significant settlement existed there from the 2nd century BCE and flourished during the Principate before being destroyed in the 4th century CE and later re-settled. Archaeological excavations uncovered the remains of a large architectural complex (the largest discovered in Georgia) with a swimming pool and a bathhouse, part of a villa with mosaic flooring, soldiers’ barracks, a water supply system, and burial grounds. The villa has a 48.6 m² (523 ft²) 4th-century floor mosaic depicting Dionysus and Ariadne (identified by Greek inscriptions) in a banquet scene in what was probably a private bathing suite. Their usual entourage surrounds them: Pan, a Satyr, and a Maenad. A Greek inscription is above the mosaic’s centre: “Preiskos made this.” On both sides of the inscription, two female figures wear long garments and hold musical instruments.
Roman Mosaics from Dzalisi Roman Mosaics from Dzalisi Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) Archaeopolis Archaeopolis, also known as Nokalakevi and Tsikhegoji (“Fortress of Kuji”) to The Georgian Chronicles, was a Byzantine fortified settlement on the Colchian plain’s northern edge and Lazica’s capital. It consisted of a lower town on the Tekhuri River bank and an upper citadel surrounded by three parallel defensive walls and towers. The city-fortress is a unique example of Georgian urban and fortification architecture in late antiquity. A tunnel leading down to the river was an important part of the fortification and water supply system.
Byzantine Fortress of Archaeopolis (Nokalakevi), Georgia Byzantine Fortress of Archaeopolis (Nokalakevi), Georgia Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) Archaeopolis was pivotal in the Byzantine-Persian wars in the 6th century because it guarded Lazica from a Persian attack. Thanks to its impressive defensive system and garrison of 3,000 men, Archaeopolis withstood Sassanian assaults.
Excavations in the lower town revealed substantial stone buildings from the 4th to the 6th century, including six churches, two bathhouses, and two royal palaces. Beneath these Byzantine layers is evidence of several earlier phases of occupation and abandonment through the 1st millennium BCE.
Ruins inside Archaeopolis (Nokalakevi), Georgia Ruins inside Archaeopolis (Nokalakevi), Georgia Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) Petra Justiniana Petra Justiniana is a massively fortified Byzantine fortress built on a rocky outcrop (the Greek name “Petra” means rock) overlooking the Black Sea. As the name suggests, it was constructed on the order of Byzantine emperor Justinian I (r. 527-565 CE) in 535. Petra was the main trading hub of the province owing to its strategic location at the crossroads of the route linking Lazica with Persia and Armenia.
Byzantine Fortress of Petra Justiniana, Georgia Byzantine Fortress of Petra Justiniana, Georgia Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) Petra also became a battleground between the Byzantines and the Sassanian Empire during the 6th-century Lazic War. The fortress was captured in 541 by the Sassanian army under Kosrau I (r. 531-579), who sent his troops through a secretly constructed tunnel and destroyed the towers, forcing a surrender.
The site contains the ruins of a citadel with double walls, an Early Byzantine basilica, two bathhouses, cisterns, and a Middle Byzantine single-nave church.
Did you like this article?
BIBLIOGRAPHY RELATED CONTENT BOOKS CITE THIS WORK LICENSE
EDITORIAL REVIEW This article has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our editorial policy. REMOVE ADS ADVERTISEMENT
Bibliography Baumer, Christoph. History of the Caucasus. I.B. Tauris, 2021. Braund, David. Georgia in Antiquity. Clarendon Press, 1994. Kacharava, Darejan & Kvirkvelia, Guram & Chi, Jennifer Y. & Chqonia, Anna & Lordkipanidze, Nino & Vickers, Michael. Wine, Worship, and Sacrifice. Princeton University Press, 2008. Valeri Shengelia & Kakha Silogava. History of Georgia from the Ancient Times Through the “Rose revolution”. Caucasus University House, 2023. World History Encyclopedia is an Amazon Associate and earns a commission on qualifying book purchases. About the Author Carole Raddato Carole Raddato Carole maintains the popular ancient history photo-blog Following Hadrian, where she travels the world in the footsteps of emperor Hadrian.
Translations We want people all over the world to learn about history. Help us and translate this article into another language!
Related Content David IV the Builder Definition David IV the Builder David IV the Builder or the Restorer (also known as Davit IV Aghmashenebeli… Queen Tamar Definition Queen Tamar Tamar was the queen of Georgia from 1184 to 1213 CE. She is considered… Sacred Sites & Rituals in the Ancient Celtic Religion Article Sacred Sites & Rituals in the Ancient Celtic Religion In the religion of the ancient Celts who lived in Iron Age Europe… Greek World Heritage Sites Article Greek World Heritage Sites Greece, the ‘cradle of western civilization’, is home to a large… Ten Great Native American Mound Sites Article Ten Great Native American Mound Sites The Native Americans of Pre-Colonial North America built thousands… 10 Virtual Tours of Archaeological Sites & Museums in Turkey Article 10 Virtual Tours of Archaeological Sites & Museums in Turkey Thanks to the new Sanal Muze digital portal released by the Ministry… Next › Last » Free for the World, Supported by You World History Encyclopedia is a non-profit organization. For only $5 per month you can become a member and support our mission to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide.
BECOME A MEMBER DONATE Recommended Books Lost Towns of North Georgia Georgia History in Outline The American Revolution in Georgia, 1763–1789 (Georgia Open History Library) Oglethorpe and Colonial Georgia: A History, 1733-1783 The West Georgia Textile Heritage Trail (Images of America) Lost Towns of North Georgia Written by Russell, Lisa M. & Atkins, Foreword by Raymond, published by The History Press (2016) $17.81 World History Encyclopedia is an Amazon Associate and earns a commission on qualifying book purchases. Cite This Work APA Style Raddato, C. (2023, December 20). 7 Ancient Sites in Georgia. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/article/2340/7-ancient-sites-in-georgia/
MLA Style Raddato, Carole. “7 Ancient Sites in Georgia.” World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 20 Dec 2023. Web. 26 Dec 2023.
License & Copyright Submitted by Carole Raddato, published on 20 December 2023. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.
Free Newsletter Our latest articles delivered to your inbox, once a week:
Email address… Are you a…?
History Enthusiast Teacher Student Librarian Support Us We are a non-profit organization.
Our mission is to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. Please support World History Encyclopedia. Thank you!
DONATE MEMBERSHIP
Membership Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University. Our publication has been reviewed for educational use by Common Sense Education, Internet Scout (University of Wisconsin), Merlot (California State University), OER Commons and the School Library Journal. Please note that some of these recommendations are listed under our old name, Ancient History Encyclopedia.
We care about our planet! We contribute a share of our revenue to remove carbon from the atmosphere.
Parashat Vayechi
WEEKLY TORAH READING PLAN
Dear Delana,
Below are some highlights from the Torah portion being read in Israel this week. Visit our website, http://www.TheIsraelBible.com, to access the full content, post your comments and participate in our in-depth study of the Torah portion.
Happy Learning,
Shira Schechter, Editor of The Israel Bible
This week’s Portion is:
Vayechi
Genesis 47:28-50:26 In this, the final portion of the book of Genesis, we read of Jacob’s blessings to his sons and grandsons on his deathbed, and his final passing and burial. The book concludes with Joseph’s final days, as well, and his death and enbalming in Egypt.
Jacob Nears Death
What do you think is the significance of Jacob giving his grandsons the status of sons for inheritance? Jacob Blesses His Grandsons
Why do you think Jacob has to ask who Manasseh and Ephraim are when he sees them? Jacob Blesses His Sons
Why do you think Jacob chose to bless his sons by telling them “that which shall be befall you in the End of Days”? Jacob’s Burial
Why do you think the Egyptians attended Jacob’s funeral in Israel? Joseph’s Final Days
Why do you think, 17 years after being reunited, the brothers still worry that Joseph will turn on them?
Hebrew to English Bible Torah Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Neviim Joshua Judges Samuel Kings Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel Ketuvim Psalms Proverbs Job Song of Songs Ruth Lamentations Ecclesiastes Esther Daniel Ezra – Nehemiah Esther Bible Transliteration Bible Basics Weekly Readings Bible Insights Biblical Themes Hebrew Name Lookup Hebrew Birthday Calculator Guide to Hebrew Months Jewish Holidays About The Israel Bible Endorsements Statement of Beliefs Scholars In the News Subscribe
The Israel Bible The Portion of Vayechi (Genesis 47:28-50:26) May 8, 2023
Genesis 47:28 In the portion of Vayechi, the final portion of the book of Genesis, we read of Jacob’s blessings to his sons and grandsons on his deathbed, and his final passing and burial. The book concludes with Joseph’s final days, as well, and his death and embalming in Egypt.
Jacob Nears Death Genesis 47:28-48:7
After 17 years in Egypt, Jacob feels the end of his days approaching. Knowing he would die there and not return to his homeland, he makes Joseph swear to bury him in the Cave of Machpelah with his wife, parents and grandparents.
The Israel Bible emphasizes Jacob’s request. Even though his life is comfortable in Egypt, Jacob knows it is not the place where he belongs. If he cannot return to the Land of Israel in life, he at least wants to be brought there after death. Joseph learns from his father’s yearning, and likewise exacts a promise from his descendants to take his bones with them when they ultimately leave Egypt (50:25).
Some time later, Joseph hears his father is ill, and unlikely to recover. He takes his two sons to visit Jacob. Jacob tells Joseph that God appeared to him in Luz in the Holy Land and promised to give him numerous descendants and the Land of Israel as their inheritance. He claims Joseph’s children, Manasseh and Ephraim, as his own, equal in status to Joseph’s own brothers for the purpose of inheritance. Jacob also reminds Joseph that he was forced by circumstance to bury his beloved Rachel, Joseph’s own mother, on the road to Ephrath.
Points to Ponder
What do you think is the significance of Jacob giving his grandsons the status of sons for inheritance?
Jacob Blesses His Grandsons Genesis 48:8-22
Having claimed them as equal in status to his own sons, Jacob now notices his two grandsons standing with their father. Confirming their identities, he asks Joseph to bring them close that he may bless them. Jacob is overwhelmed with joy, as he had not thought he would ever see Joseph again, let alone his grandchildren.
Joseph positions his sons within his father’s reach, with the eldest, Manasseh, at Jacob’s right hand. Jacob, however, crosses his arms to place his right hand on Ephraim’s head. Joseph protests, but Jacob insists he knows what he is doing, and someday, Ephraim will outstrip Manasseh in greatness. Jacob blesses his grandsons in his own name and in the names of his fathers, saying one day the nation will bless their children in their names. He also tells Joseph that he is giving him an additional portion (shechem) over his brothers, one that he took with his own sword.
The Israel Bible asks why future generations would bless their children in the names of Ephraim and Manasseh (as is, indeed, the custom in many Jewish homes every Friday night). Ephraim and Manasseh were the first generation to be born in Egypt, yet they remained loyal to the traditions of their father despite the temptations of Egypt. Thus, they serve as a template for the survival of the Jewish people and their return to Israel in the future.
Points to Ponder
Why do you think Jacob has to ask who Manasseh and Ephraim are when he sees them?
Jacob Blesses His Sons Genesis 49:1-33
Jacob now sets out to bless his own sons. He wishes to tell them what will befall them in the End of Days.
To Reuben, Simeon and Levi, Jacob offers only chastisement for their earlier actions. Reuben, for interfering with Jacob’s marital bed (see Genesis 35:22), and Simeon and Levi for their rash attack on the people of Shechem (see Genesis 34:25-26). In fact, Jacob goes so far as to curse Simeon and Levi’s rage, scattering their future descendants among the other tribes.
With Judah, Jacob begins offering blessings in earnest. Jacob blesses him with lion’s strength, prosperity, and wise and powerful descendants. Zebulun he blesses with success on the seas. To Issachar he gives the strength to bear labor. He blesses Dan to be the avenger of his people. Gad he blesses with military might.He offers Asher richness of bread and delicacies. He notes Naphtali for his swiftness and wise sayings. To Joseph, he bequeaths blessings of the earth and the womb, greater than any Jacob himself received. Finally, Jacob likens Benjamin to a wolf, catching prey by morning and dividing spoils by evening.
Blessings complete, Jacob asks his sons again to bury him in Israel, in the Cave of Machpelah, with his wife, parents and grandparents. His final words imparted, Jacob passes.
The Israel Bible notes that the coastal inheritance bequeathed by Jacob to Zebulun enables the tribe later to enter into a special partnership with the tribe of Issachar; the former used their seafaring success to support the latter in Torah study, thus earning a share in their merit.
Points to Ponder
Why do you think Jacob chose to bless his sons by telling them “that which shall be befall you in the End of Days”?
Jacob’s Burial Genesis 50:1-14
Joseph weeps at Jacob’s passing, and orders his father’s body to be embalmed, a process which the Torah says takes forty days. He then asks Pharaoh’s leave to bury his father in Israel, as he had promised, and Pharaoh agrees.
Joseph’s brothers attended the burial, along with Pharaoh’s servants and the elders of Egypt. So impressive was the Egyptian entourage, in fact, that the local Canaanites renamed the site Avel Mitzrayim, which means ‘Egypt’s mourning’. Jacob was buried, as requested, in the Cave of Machpelah, accompanied by a great eulogy and a seven-day mourning period., a custom still practiced by Jews today.
Points to Ponder
Why do you think the Egyptians attended Jacob’s funeral in Israel?
Joseph’s Final Days Genesis 50:15-26
After Jacob’s death, the brothers worry that Joseph will at long last be moved to avenge himself upon them. They therefore claim their father asked before he died that Joseph be merciful and forgive his brothers for what they did to him. They offer to serve him as slaves.
Joseph responds that although their initial intentions were to harm him, God always meant for events to turn out for the best. Joseph assures his brothers he has no intention of punishing them for their actions. Rather, he plans to sustain them and their families in Egypt.
Joseph lives to 110 years of age, seeing his grandsons have children. On his deathbed, he tells his brothers that God will surely remember them and bring their children out of Egypt and back to the Holy Land. At that time, he asks, those descendants should bring his bones with them out of Egypt to Israel.
The Israel Bible points out that the unique phrase Joseph uses, God shall “surely visit” you, is meant not only as a promise, but a sign. When Moses arrives on the scene a century or so later using the exact same phrase, the people know their redemption is imminent. While this sojourn in Egypt would only be one of many trials the Children of Israel would suffer, the promise God made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, repeated here by Joseph, means the Jewish people will ultimately be a great nation residing in the Land of Israel, where they belong.
Points to Ponder
Why do you think, 17 years after being reunited, the brothers still worry that Joseph will turn on them?
Related Names and Places: Weekly Readings (Weekly Torah Portions) Relate Bible Verses: Chapter 47, Chapter 48, Chapter 49, Chapter 50 Spread the love Click Here
Love the Land of Israel? You’ll love The Daily Inspiration. As a member of the Daily Inspiration, you’ll connect with people that love the Land of Israel from all over the world
Israel, a Middle Eastern country on the Mediterranean Sea, is regarded by Jews, Christians and Muslims as the biblical Holy Land. Its most sacred sites are in Jerusalem. Within its Old City, the Temple Mount complex includes the Dome of the Rock shrine, the historic Western Wall, Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Israel’s financial hub, Tel Aviv, is known for its Bauhaus architecture and beaches.
My heart is grieved by the recent violence and suffering in Israel. I hope you’ll stand with me in support of God’s people in these dark times.
As Christians, we know that what’s happening in Israel is not a human struggle; it is a spiritual struggle against the forces of darkness.
God has promised that His chosen people will endure forever.
Join me today by signing the pledge to commit to praying for Israel. -Pray that the Lord would do a mighty work and protect the innocent. -Pray that the Lord will bring strength and wisdom to those who need it greatly. -Pray that the Lord would bring comfort to hurting and fearful hearts.
Thank you for committing to praying for Israel.
Dear friend and supporter,
The ongoing war in Israel has precipitated an economic crisis of unprecedented scale, with a disturbing trend emerging in its wake: a thriving black market. As businesses struggle amidst the turmoil, many are resorting to under-the-table transactions and income underreporting, a symptom of the dire financial straits the nation finds itself in. Doron Arbely, the former director of the Tax Authority, underscores this alarming growth, revealing a shadow economy that now encompasses a staggering 20% of Israel’s GDP.
The war’s impact on the economy has led to desperate financial maneuvers across various sectors. Particularly noteworthy is the plight of divorced men, many of whom, grappling with reduced incomes, are seeking to lower their alimony payments. These individual stories paint a broader picture of the socio-economic challenges faced by countless Israelis during this crisis.
In response to these challenges, the Tax Authority is ramping up its efforts against tax evasion. However, regulatory measures alone cannot fully address the deep-seated issues stemming from this economic downturn. This is where the role of Feed Israel becomes crucial. Amidst the economic chaos and the distress of war, our mission is to provide not just sustenance but also stability and support to those most affected.
Feed Israel stands as a pillar of hope and aid in these tumultuous times. We are committed to offering a sense of normalcy and compassion to those displaced by the conflict and those struggling with the war’s economic fallout. Our efforts extend beyond meal distribution; we provide essential support that helps rebuild lives and communities shattered by the war
Israel, country in the Middle East, located at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea. It is bounded to the north by Lebanon, to the northeast by Syria, to the east and southeast by Jordan, to the southwest by Egypt, and to the west by the Mediterranean Sea. Jerusalem is the seat of government and the proclaimed capital, although the latter status has not received wide international recognition.
Israel is a small country with a relatively diverse topography, consisting of a lengthy coastal plain, highlands in the north and central regions, and the Negev desert in the south. Running the length of the country from north to south along its eastern border is the northern terminus of the Great Rift Valley.
Israel Home Geography & Travel Countries of the World Geography & Travel Israel Also known as: Isrāʾīl, Medinat Yisraʾel, State of Israel Written by , , See All Fact-checked by Last Updated: Dec 15, 2023 • Article History Recent News Dec. 15, 2023, 10:49 AM ET (AP) Live updates | As fighting rages in Gaza, a US envoy is set to meet with the Palestinian president Dec. 15, 2023, 9:04 AM ET (AP) US and Israel discuss when to scale back Gaza combat but agree fight will take months, envoy says Summary Read a brief summary of this topic Israel, country in the Middle East, located at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea. It is bounded to the north by Lebanon, to the northeast by Syria, to the east and southeast by Jordan, to the southwest by Egypt, and to the west by the Mediterranean Sea. Jerusalem is the seat of government and the proclaimed capital, although the latter status has not received wide international recognition.
Israel flag of Israel Audio File: National anthem of Israel See all media Category: Geography & Travel Arabic: Isrāʾīl Officially: State of Israel or Hebrew: Medinat Yisraʾel Head Of Government: Prime Minister: Benjamin Netanyahu Capital (Proclaimed): Jerusalem; international recognition of its capital status has largely been withheld. Population: (2023 est.) 9,153,0001 Currency Exchange Rate: 1 USD equals 3.834 Israeli shekel Head Of State: President: Isaac Herzog Israel Israel Israel is a small country with a relatively diverse topography, consisting of a lengthy coastal plain, highlands in the north and central regions, and the Negev desert in the south. Running the length of the country from north to south along its eastern border is the northern terminus of the Great Rift Valley.
The State of Israel is the only Jewish nation in the modern period, and the region that now falls within its borders has a lengthy and rich history that dates from prebiblical times. The area was a part of the Roman Empire and, later, the Byzantine Empire before falling under the control of the fledgling Islamic caliphate in the 7th century CE. Although the object of dispute during the Crusades, the region, then generally known as Palestine, remained under the sway of successive Islamic dynasties until the collapse of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I, when it was placed under British mandate from the League of Nations.
Even before the mandate, the desire for a Jewish homeland prompted a small number of Jews to immigrate to Palestine, a migration that grew dramatically during the second quarter of the 20th century with the increased persecution of Jews worldwide and subsequent Holocaust perpetrated by Nazi Germany. This vast influx of Jewish immigrants into the region, however, caused tension with the native Palestinian Arabs, and violence flared between the two groups leading up to the United Nations plan to partition Palestine into Jewish and Arab sectors and Israel’s ensuing declaration of statehood on May 14, 1948.
Israel fought a series of wars against neighbouring Arab states during the next 35 years, which have resulted in ongoing disputes over territory and the status of refugees. Despite continuing tensions, however, Israel concluded peace treaties with several neighbouring Arab states during the final quarter of the 20th century.
Despite its small size, about 290 miles (470 km) north-to-south and 85 miles (135 km) east-to-west at its widest point, Israel has four geographic regions—the Mediterranean coastal plain, the hill regions of northern and central Israel, the Great Rift Valley, and the Negev—and a wide range of unique physical features and microclimates.
The coastal plain is a narrow strip about 115 miles (185 km) long that widens to about 25 miles (40 km) in the south. A sandy shoreline with many beaches borders the Mediterranean coast. Inland to the east, fertile farmland is giving way to growing agricultural settlements and the cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa and their suburbs.
In the north of the country, the mountains of Galilee constitute the highest part of Israel, reaching an elevation of 3,963 feet (1,208 metres) at Mount Meron (Arabic: Jebel Jarmaq). These mountains terminate to the east in an escarpment overlooking the Great Rift Valley. The mountains of Galilee are separated from the hills of the Israeli-occupied West Bank to the south by the fertile Plain of Esdraelon (Hebrew: ʿEmeq Yizreʿel), which, running approximately northwest to southeast, connects the coastal plain with the Great Rift Valley. The Mount Carmel range, which culminates in a peak 1,791 feet (546 metres) high, forms a spur reaching northwest from the highlands of the West Bank, cutting almost to the coast of Haifa.
The Great Rift Valley, a long fissure in Earth’s crust, begins beyond the northern frontier of Israel and forms a series of valleys running generally south, the length of the country, to the Gulf of Aqaba. The Jordan River, which marks part of the frontier between Israel and Jordan, flows southward through the rift from Dan on Israel’s northern frontier, where it is 500 feet (152 metres) above sea level, first into the Ḥula Valley (Hebrew: ʿEmeq HaḤula), then into the freshwater Lake Tiberias, also known as the Sea of Galilee (Hebrew: Yam Kinneret), which lies 686 feet (209 metres) below sea level. The Jordan continues south along the eastern edge of the West Bank—now through the Jordan Valley (Hebrew: ʿEmeq HaYarden)—and finally into the highly saline Dead Sea, which, at 1,312 feet (400 metres) below sea level, is the lowest point of a natural landscape feature on the Earth’s surface. South of the Dead Sea, the Jordan continues through the rift, where it now forms the ʿArava Valley (Hebrew: “savannah”), an arid plain that extends to the Red Sea port of Eilat.
The sparsely populated Negev comprises the southern half of Israel. Arrow-shaped, this flat, sandy desert region narrows toward the south, where it becomes increasingly arid and breaks into sandstone hills cut by wadis, canyons, and cliffs before finally coming to a point where the ʿArava reaches Eilat.
The principal drainage system comprises Lake Tiberias and the Jordan River. Other rivers in Israel are the Yarqon, which empties into the Mediterranean near Tel Aviv; the Qishon, which runs through the western part of the Plain of Esdraelon to drain into the Mediterranean at Haifa; and a small section of the Yarmūk, a tributary of the Jordan that flows west along the Syria-Jordan border. Most of the country’s remaining streams are ephemeral and flow seasonally as wadis. The rivers are supplemented by a spring-fed underground water table that is tapped by wells. Israel has a chronic water shortage, and its hydraulic resources are fully utilized: about three-fourths for irrigation and the remainder for industrial and household water use.
Soils The coastal plain is covered mainly by alluvial soils. Parts of the arid northern Negev, where soil development would not be expected, have windblown loess soils because of proximity to the coastal plain. The soils of Galilee change from calcareous rock in the coastal plain, to Cenomanian and Turonian limestone (deposited from about 99 to 89 million years ago) in Upper Galilee, and to Eocene formations (those dating from about 55 to 35 million years ago) in the lower part of the region. Rock salt and gypsum are abundant in the Great Rift Valley. The southern Negev is mainly sandstone rock with veins of granite.
Encyclopedia Britannica HomeGames & QuizzesHistory & SocietyScience & TechBiographiesAnimals & NatureGeography & TravelArts & CultureMoneyVideos Israel Home Geography & Travel Countries of the World Geography & Travel Israel Also known as: Isrāʾīl, Medinat Yisraʾel, State of Israel Written by , , See All Fact-checked by Last Updated: Dec 15, 2023 • Article History Recent News Dec. 15, 2023, 10:49 AM ET (AP) Live updates | As fighting rages in Gaza, a US envoy is set to meet with the Palestinian president Dec. 15, 2023, 9:04 AM ET (AP) US and Israel discuss when to scale back Gaza combat but agree fight will take months, envoy says Summary Read a brief summary of this topic Israel, country in the Middle East, located at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea. It is bounded to the north by Lebanon, to the northeast by Syria, to the east and southeast by Jordan, to the southwest by Egypt, and to the west by the Mediterranean Sea. Jerusalem is the seat of government and the proclaimed capital, although the latter status has not received wide international recognition.
Israel flag of Israel Audio File: National anthem of Israel See all media Category: Geography & Travel Arabic: Isrāʾīl Officially: State of Israel or Hebrew: Medinat Yisraʾel Head Of Government: Prime Minister: Benjamin Netanyahu Capital (Proclaimed): Jerusalem; international recognition of its capital status has largely been withheld. Population: (2023 est.) 9,153,0001 Currency Exchange Rate: 1 USD equals 3.834 Israeli shekel Head Of State: President: Isaac Herzog Israel Israel Israel is a small country with a relatively diverse topography, consisting of a lengthy coastal plain, highlands in the north and central regions, and the Negev desert in the south. Running the length of the country from north to south along its eastern border is the northern terminus of the Great Rift Valley.
The State of Israel is the only Jewish nation in the modern period, and the region that now falls within its borders has a lengthy and rich history that dates from prebiblical times. The area was a part of the Roman Empire and, later, the Byzantine Empire before falling under the control of the fledgling Islamic caliphate in the 7th century CE. Although the object of dispute during the Crusades, the region, then generally known as Palestine, remained under the sway of successive Islamic dynasties until the collapse of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I, when it was placed under British mandate from the League of Nations.
Even before the mandate, the desire for a Jewish homeland prompted a small number of Jews to immigrate to Palestine, a migration that grew dramatically during the second quarter of the 20th century with the increased persecution of Jews worldwide and subsequent Holocaust perpetrated by Nazi Germany. This vast influx of Jewish immigrants into the region, however, caused tension with the native Palestinian Arabs, and violence flared between the two groups leading up to the United Nations plan to partition Palestine into Jewish and Arab sectors and Israel’s ensuing declaration of statehood on May 14, 1948.
Flags of all countries of the world. Flags of the world. National flags. Country flags. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, geography and travel, explore discovery Britannica Quiz The Country Quiz Israel fought a series of wars against neighbouring Arab states during the next 35 years, which have resulted in ongoing disputes over territory and the status of refugees. Despite continuing tensions, however, Israel concluded peace treaties with several neighbouring Arab states during the final quarter of the 20th century.
Land Relief Physical features of Israel Physical features of Israel Israel: Ḥula Valley Israel: Ḥula Valley Crops and fish farms in the Ḥula Valley, Israel.
Despite its small size, about 290 miles (470 km) north-to-south and 85 miles (135 km) east-to-west at its widest point, Israel has four geographic regions—the Mediterranean coastal plain, the hill regions of northern and central Israel, the Great Rift Valley, and the Negev—and a wide range of unique physical features and microclimates.
Are you a student? Get Britannica Premium for only $24.95 – a 67% discount!
The coastal plain is a narrow strip about 115 miles (185 km) long that widens to about 25 miles (40 km) in the south. A sandy shoreline with many beaches borders the Mediterranean coast. Inland to the east, fertile farmland is giving way to growing agricultural settlements and the cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa and their suburbs.
In the north of the country, the mountains of Galilee constitute the highest part of Israel, reaching an elevation of 3,963 feet (1,208 metres) at Mount Meron (Arabic: Jebel Jarmaq). These mountains terminate to the east in an escarpment overlooking the Great Rift Valley. The mountains of Galilee are separated from the hills of the Israeli-occupied West Bank to the south by the fertile Plain of Esdraelon (Hebrew: ʿEmeq Yizreʿel), which, running approximately northwest to southeast, connects the coastal plain with the Great Rift Valley. The Mount Carmel range, which culminates in a peak 1,791 feet (546 metres) high, forms a spur reaching northwest from the highlands of the West Bank, cutting almost to the coast of Haifa.
Dead Sea Dead Sea Columns of salt rising from the extremely saline waters of the Dead Sea.
The Great Rift Valley, a long fissure in Earth’s crust, begins beyond the northern frontier of Israel and forms a series of valleys running generally south, the length of the country, to the Gulf of Aqaba. The Jordan River, which marks part of the frontier between Israel and Jordan, flows southward through the rift from Dan on Israel’s northern frontier, where it is 500 feet (152 metres) above sea level, first into the Ḥula Valley (Hebrew: ʿEmeq HaḤula), then into the freshwater Lake Tiberias, also known as the Sea of Galilee (Hebrew: Yam Kinneret), which lies 686 feet (209 metres) below sea level. The Jordan continues south along the eastern edge of the West Bank—now through the Jordan Valley (Hebrew: ʿEmeq HaYarden)—and finally into the highly saline Dead Sea, which, at 1,312 feet (400 metres) below sea level, is the lowest point of a natural landscape feature on the Earth’s surface. South of the Dead Sea, the Jordan continues through the rift, where it now forms the ʿArava Valley (Hebrew: “savannah”), an arid plain that extends to the Red Sea port of Eilat.
The sparsely populated Negev comprises the southern half of Israel. Arrow-shaped, this flat, sandy desert region narrows toward the south, where it becomes increasingly arid and breaks into sandstone hills cut by wadis, canyons, and cliffs before finally coming to a point where the ʿArava reaches Eilat.
Drainage The principal drainage system comprises Lake Tiberias and the Jordan River. Other rivers in Israel are the Yarqon, which empties into the Mediterranean near Tel Aviv; the Qishon, which runs through the western part of the Plain of Esdraelon to drain into the Mediterranean at Haifa; and a small section of the Yarmūk, a tributary of the Jordan that flows west along the Syria-Jordan border. Most of the country’s remaining streams are ephemeral and flow seasonally as wadis. The rivers are supplemented by a spring-fed underground water table that is tapped by wells. Israel has a chronic water shortage, and its hydraulic resources are fully utilized: about three-fourths for irrigation and the remainder for industrial and household water use.
Soils The coastal plain is covered mainly by alluvial soils. Parts of the arid northern Negev, where soil development would not be expected, have windblown loess soils because of proximity to the coastal plain. The soils of Galilee change from calcareous rock in the coastal plain, to Cenomanian and Turonian limestone (deposited from about 99 to 89 million years ago) in Upper Galilee, and to Eocene formations (those dating from about 55 to 35 million years ago) in the lower part of the region. Rock salt and gypsum are abundant in the Great Rift Valley. The southern Negev is mainly sandstone rock with veins of granite.
Climate of Israel Israel has a wide variety of climatic conditions, caused mainly by the country’s diverse topography. There are two distinct seasons: a cool, rainy winter (October–April) and a dry, hot summer (May–September). Along the coast, sea breezes have a moderating influence in summer, and the Mediterranean beaches are popular. Precipitation is light in the south, amounting to about 1 inch (25 mm) per year in the ʿArava Valley south of the Dead Sea, while in the north it is relatively heavy, up to 44 inches (1,120 mm) a year in the Upper Galilee region. In the large cities, along the coastal plain, annual rainfall averages about 20 inches (508 mm) per year. Precipitation occurs on about 60 days during the year, spread over the rainy season. Severe summer water shortages ensue in years when the rains come late or rainfall totals are less than normal.
Average annual temperatures vary throughout Israel based on elevation and location, with the coastal areas adjacent to the Mediterranean Sea having milder temperatures—ranging from about 84 °F (29 °C) in August to about 61 °F (16 °C) in January—and higher rates of humidity than areas inland, especially during the winter. Likewise, higher elevations, such as Upper Galilee, have cool nights, even in summer, and occasional snows in the winter. However, the coastal city of Eilat, in the south, despite its proximity to the Red Sea, is closer to the climate of the Jordan and ʿArava valleys and the Negev, which are hotter and drier than the northern coast; there, daytime temperatures reach about 70 °F (21 °C) in January and may rise as high as 114 °F (46 °C) in August, when the average high is 104 °F (40 °C).
Encyclopedia Britannica HomeGames & QuizzesHistory & SocietyScience & TechBiographiesAnimals & NatureGeography & TravelArts & CultureMoneyVideos Israel Home Geography & Travel Countries of the World Geography & Travel Israel Also known as: Isrāʾīl, Medinat Yisraʾel, State of Israel Written by , , See All Fact-checked by Last Updated: Dec 15, 2023 • Article History Recent News Dec. 15, 2023, 10:49 AM ET (AP) Live updates | As fighting rages in Gaza, a US envoy is set to meet with the Palestinian president Dec. 15, 2023, 9:04 AM ET (AP) US and Israel discuss when to scale back Gaza combat but agree fight will take months, envoy says Summary Read a brief summary of this topic Israel, country in the Middle East, located at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea. It is bounded to the north by Lebanon, to the northeast by Syria, to the east and southeast by Jordan, to the southwest by Egypt, and to the west by the Mediterranean Sea. Jerusalem is the seat of government and the proclaimed capital, although the latter status has not received wide international recognition.
Israel flag of Israel Audio File: National anthem of Israel See all media Category: Geography & Travel Arabic: Isrāʾīl Officially: State of Israel or Hebrew: Medinat Yisraʾel Head Of Government: Prime Minister: Benjamin Netanyahu Capital (Proclaimed): Jerusalem; international recognition of its capital status has largely been withheld. Population: (2023 est.) 9,153,0001 Currency Exchange Rate: 1 USD equals 3.834 Israeli shekel Head Of State: President: Isaac Herzog Israel Israel Israel is a small country with a relatively diverse topography, consisting of a lengthy coastal plain, highlands in the north and central regions, and the Negev desert in the south. Running the length of the country from north to south along its eastern border is the northern terminus of the Great Rift Valley.
The State of Israel is the only Jewish nation in the modern period, and the region that now falls within its borders has a lengthy and rich history that dates from prebiblical times. The area was a part of the Roman Empire and, later, the Byzantine Empire before falling under the control of the fledgling Islamic caliphate in the 7th century CE. Although the object of dispute during the Crusades, the region, then generally known as Palestine, remained under the sway of successive Islamic dynasties until the collapse of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I, when it was placed under British mandate from the League of Nations.
Even before the mandate, the desire for a Jewish homeland prompted a small number of Jews to immigrate to Palestine, a migration that grew dramatically during the second quarter of the 20th century with the increased persecution of Jews worldwide and subsequent Holocaust perpetrated by Nazi Germany. This vast influx of Jewish immigrants into the region, however, caused tension with the native Palestinian Arabs, and violence flared between the two groups leading up to the United Nations plan to partition Palestine into Jewish and Arab sectors and Israel’s ensuing declaration of statehood on May 14, 1948.
Flags of all countries of the world. Flags of the world. National flags. Country flags. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, geography and travel, explore discovery Britannica Quiz The Country Quiz Israel fought a series of wars against neighbouring Arab states during the next 35 years, which have resulted in ongoing disputes over territory and the status of refugees. Despite continuing tensions, however, Israel concluded peace treaties with several neighbouring Arab states during the final quarter of the 20th century.
Land Relief Physical features of Israel Physical features of Israel Israel: Ḥula Valley Israel: Ḥula Valley Crops and fish farms in the Ḥula Valley, Israel.
Despite its small size, about 290 miles (470 km) north-to-south and 85 miles (135 km) east-to-west at its widest point, Israel has four geographic regions—the Mediterranean coastal plain, the hill regions of northern and central Israel, the Great Rift Valley, and the Negev—and a wide range of unique physical features and microclimates.
Are you a student? Get Britannica Premium for only $24.95 – a 67% discount!
The coastal plain is a narrow strip about 115 miles (185 km) long that widens to about 25 miles (40 km) in the south. A sandy shoreline with many beaches borders the Mediterranean coast. Inland to the east, fertile farmland is giving way to growing agricultural settlements and the cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa and their suburbs.
In the north of the country, the mountains of Galilee constitute the highest part of Israel, reaching an elevation of 3,963 feet (1,208 metres) at Mount Meron (Arabic: Jebel Jarmaq). These mountains terminate to the east in an escarpment overlooking the Great Rift Valley. The mountains of Galilee are separated from the hills of the Israeli-occupied West Bank to the south by the fertile Plain of Esdraelon (Hebrew: ʿEmeq Yizreʿel), which, running approximately northwest to southeast, connects the coastal plain with the Great Rift Valley. The Mount Carmel range, which culminates in a peak 1,791 feet (546 metres) high, forms a spur reaching northwest from the highlands of the West Bank, cutting almost to the coast of Haifa.
Dead Sea Dead Sea Columns of salt rising from the extremely saline waters of the Dead Sea.
The Great Rift Valley, a long fissure in Earth’s crust, begins beyond the northern frontier of Israel and forms a series of valleys running generally south, the length of the country, to the Gulf of Aqaba. The Jordan River, which marks part of the frontier between Israel and Jordan, flows southward through the rift from Dan on Israel’s northern frontier, where it is 500 feet (152 metres) above sea level, first into the Ḥula Valley (Hebrew: ʿEmeq HaḤula), then into the freshwater Lake Tiberias, also known as the Sea of Galilee (Hebrew: Yam Kinneret), which lies 686 feet (209 metres) below sea level. The Jordan continues south along the eastern edge of the West Bank—now through the Jordan Valley (Hebrew: ʿEmeq HaYarden)—and finally into the highly saline Dead Sea, which, at 1,312 feet (400 metres) below sea level, is the lowest point of a natural landscape feature on the Earth’s surface. South of the Dead Sea, the Jordan continues through the rift, where it now forms the ʿArava Valley (Hebrew: “savannah”), an arid plain that extends to the Red Sea port of Eilat.
The sparsely populated Negev comprises the southern half of Israel. Arrow-shaped, this flat, sandy desert region narrows toward the south, where it becomes increasingly arid and breaks into sandstone hills cut by wadis, canyons, and cliffs before finally coming to a point where the ʿArava reaches Eilat.
Drainage The principal drainage system comprises Lake Tiberias and the Jordan River. Other rivers in Israel are the Yarqon, which empties into the Mediterranean near Tel Aviv; the Qishon, which runs through the western part of the Plain of Esdraelon to drain into the Mediterranean at Haifa; and a small section of the Yarmūk, a tributary of the Jordan that flows west along the Syria-Jordan border. Most of the country’s remaining streams are ephemeral and flow seasonally as wadis. The rivers are supplemented by a spring-fed underground water table that is tapped by wells. Israel has a chronic water shortage, and its hydraulic resources are fully utilized: about three-fourths for irrigation and the remainder for industrial and household water use.
Soils The coastal plain is covered mainly by alluvial soils. Parts of the arid northern Negev, where soil development would not be expected, have windblown loess soils because of proximity to the coastal plain. The soils of Galilee change from calcareous rock in the coastal plain, to Cenomanian and Turonian limestone (deposited from about 99 to 89 million years ago) in Upper Galilee, and to Eocene formations (those dating from about 55 to 35 million years ago) in the lower part of the region. Rock salt and gypsum are abundant in the Great Rift Valley. The southern Negev is mainly sandstone rock with veins of granite.
Climate of Israel Israel has a wide variety of climatic conditions, caused mainly by the country’s diverse topography. There are two distinct seasons: a cool, rainy winter (October–April) and a dry, hot summer (May–September). Along the coast, sea breezes have a moderating influence in summer, and the Mediterranean beaches are popular. Precipitation is light in the south, amounting to about 1 inch (25 mm) per year in the ʿArava Valley south of the Dead Sea, while in the north it is relatively heavy, up to 44 inches (1,120 mm) a year in the Upper Galilee region. In the large cities, along the coastal plain, annual rainfall averages about 20 inches (508 mm) per year. Precipitation occurs on about 60 days during the year, spread over the rainy season. Severe summer water shortages ensue in years when the rains come late or rainfall totals are less than normal.
Average annual temperatures vary throughout Israel based on elevation and location, with the coastal areas adjacent to the Mediterranean Sea having milder temperatures—ranging from about 84 °F (29 °C) in August to about 61 °F (16 °C) in January—and higher rates of humidity than areas inland, especially during the winter. Likewise, higher elevations, such as Upper Galilee, have cool nights, even in summer, and occasional snows in the winter. However, the coastal city of Eilat, in the south, despite its proximity to the Red Sea, is closer to the climate of the Jordan and ʿArava valleys and the Negev, which are hotter and drier than the northern coast; there, daytime temperatures reach about 70 °F (21 °C) in January and may rise as high as 114 °F (46 °C) in August, when the average high is 104 °F (40 °C).
Plant and animal life
Natural vegetation is highly varied, and more than 2,800 plant species have been identified. The original evergreen forests, the legendary “cedars of Lebanon,” have largely disappeared after many centuries of timber cutting for shipbuilding and to clear land for cultivation and goat herding; they have been replaced by second-growth oak and smaller evergreen conifers. The hills are mostly covered by maquis, and wildflowers bloom profusely in the rainy season. Only wild desert scrub grows in the Negev and on the sand dunes of the coastal plain. North of Beersheba, most of the country is under cultivation or is used for hill grazing. Where irrigation is available, citrus groves, orchards of subtropical fruit, and food crops flourish. Millions of trees have been planted through a government reforestation program.
Animal life is also diverse. Mammals include wildcats, wild boars, gazelles, ibex, jackals, hyenas, hares, coneys, badgers, and tiger weasels. Notable among the reptiles are geckos and lizards of the genus Agama and vipers such as the carpet, or saw-scaled, viper (Echis carinatus). More than 400 species of birds have been identified in the region, including the partridge, tropical cuckoo, bustard, sand grouse, and desert lark. There are many kinds of fish and insects, and locusts from the desert sometimes invade settled areas. Several regions have been set aside as nature reserves, notably parts of the ʿArava in the south and Mount Carmel, Mount Meron, and the remains of the Ḥula Lake and marshes in the north. The Mediterranean coast and the Jordan and ʿArava valleys are important routes for migratory birds.
Jewish immigration in the 20th century greatly altered the settlement pattern of the country. The first modern-day Jewish settlers established themselves on the coastal plain in the 1880s. Later they also moved into the valleys of the interior and into parts of the hill districts, as well as into the Negev. Small cities such as Haifa and Jerusalem grew in size, and the port of Jaffa (Yafo) sprouted a suburb, Tel Aviv, which grew into one of the largest cities in Israel. Jewish immigrants also settled those areas of the coastal plain, the Judaean foothills, and the Jordan and ʿArava valleys evacuated by Palestinians during the war of 1948, thereby becoming the majority in many areas previously inhabited by Arabs. Although the majority of the Bedouin of the Negev left the region when Israel incorporated the territory, the desert has continued to be largely the domain of the Arab nomads who remained or returned following the end of fighting.
Is it loving to condone sin or participate in it? It’s amazing how often people say that we need to be like Jesus in accepting the behavior of sinners, even though Jesus himself called everyone to repent and to accept the Kingdom. Jesus clearly did not come to leave people in sin, although we hear […]
As the sun sets on this daymay we pray to rememberthe good that surrounds us,the good that can be. Help us to find our wayto a kinder world.May each of uscontemplate sameness. Our sameness. Our humanity.May leaders from all countriesall religions, all ethnicities,strive for gentle caring. May we look in the mirroreyes and hearts open,and […]
Who is the most famous or infamous person you have ever met? The historicity of Jesus is the question of whether or not Jesus of Nazareth historically existed (as opposed to being a purely mythical figure). The mainstream scholarly consensus is that a Jewish man called Jesus of Nazareth did exist in Palestine in the 1st century CE.[1][note 1] The contrary perspective, that Jesus was mythical, is regarded as a fringe theory.[note 2]
Only two key events of Jesus’s life are widely accepted as historical, namely his baptism and crucifixion.[2][3][4][5] There is no scholarly consensus concerning other elements of Jesus’s life (including his purported miracles or resurrection).[note 3] Standard historical criteria are used in evaluating the historicity of the gospel narratives.[6] Academic efforts to determine facts of Jesus’s life are part of the quest for the historical Jesus.
Besides the gospels and the letters of Paul, sources for the historicity of Jesus include the works of Jewish historian Josephus and Roman historian Tacitus, who both lived shortly after the time of Jesus and wrote in reference to him and his followers.
JESUS TOUR QUESTIONS ARTICLES SERMONS SUBSCRIPTIONS ABOUT Who Is Jesus? The Historical Jesus False Christs and the True The Pre-Incarnate Christ Born to Rule The ‘Lost’ Years Jesus’ Ministry Begins The Gospel Jesus Preached The Sermon ‘I Will Open My Mouth in Parables’ The Prophet Signs and Wonders In the Presence of Enemies The Ultimate Sacrifice The Centrality of the Resurrection Jesus and Paul At the Father’s Right Hand Printer-Friendly | Share This Who Is Jesus Christ? At the heart of Christianity is a central question, “Just who is Jesus Christ?” It may be astounding to some that such a question is still relevant after nearly two millennia of Christian activity, but as strange as it may seem, even Christians do not agree about the nature of the Founder of their religion. This fact says a great deal about those who profess to be “Christian,” which at its most basic means “follower of Christ.” If Christians display such profound disagreement about Jesus Christ Himself, can they all really be following the same Person?
This subject becomes all the more important since, in its most common form, Christianity is proclaimed as a message about Jesus. What a person believes about Jesus, then, informs his understanding of the religion itself. We can see the result of this process in the thousands of Christian denominations in all parts of the world. While they all proclaim to be Christian, the individual sects emphasize different aspects of Jesus in their teaching. For instance:
» A major denominational group derives its name from Jesus’ practice of baptizing converts and the belief that it should be done by full immersion. The denomination’s churches traditionally stress conformity to certain rules of Christian conduct. Jesus, to them, is a great moral Teacher.
» Another large group of denominations takes its name from Jesus’ promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit, which was fulfilled on the Feast of Pentecost after Jesus’ death and resurrection. They are known for their great desire to express the gifts of the Spirit, particularly to speak in tongues. In other words, they see Jesus as a Miracle Worker.
» Seventh-day Adventists take their name from the seventh-day Sabbath, which the gospels show Jesus kept, as well as from His promise to come again. They promote Jesus as the bringer of the soon-coming rest of God.
» Methodists are so called because John Wesley emphasized a structured, methodical approach to Bible study and Christian living, teaching that believers must exercise their free will to come to Christ (as opposed to being absolutely predestined to salvation). Thus, they highlight Jesus’ many commands for the individual to be actively involved in his own salvation and Christian growth.
» The Reformed Churches, descendants of the teaching of John Calvin, underscore the necessity of grace through faith in Christ, a reaction to abuses of the medieval Catholic Church’s doctrine of works. In this way, they see Jesus as a gracious Redeemer.
Most denominations can be characterized by identifying their core understanding about Jesus Himself. He is Christianity’s central figure, so how an individual views Christ determines what he believes and the religion he follows.
This confusion about Him actually began during His own life—even among those who had known Him all His life:
When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?” So they were offended at Him. (Matthew 13:54-57)
There was general disagreement in Judea over just who He was:
» When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” (Matthew 16:13-14)
» And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?” So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.” (Matthew 21:10-11)
» Now some of them from Jerusalem said, “Is this not He whom they seek to kill? But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ? However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from.” (John 7:25-27)
Of course, His enemies had questions about Him too:
» And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (Luke 5:21)
» And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” (Luke 7:49)
» Therefore some of the Pharisees said, “This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them. (John 9:16)
However, Matthew 16:15-17 provides us with the best starting point, confirmed by Christ Himself, in answering the question, “Who is Jesus?”
He said to [His disciples], “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”
The God-revealed answer is that Jesus is the promised Messiah, the literal Son of the Supreme Being of all the universe. Of course, He is a great deal more than this, but these two facts are the most foundational to our spiritual understanding of this wonderful Being. They give us the basis of His relationship to us and our future, as well as His relationship to Deity, fixing Him as the bridge between man and God. From this foundation, we can begin a deeper consideration of the biblical Jesus.
If i could talk to the animals – just imagine it, speaking with a Chimp in chimpanzee! Imagine talking to a Tiger, or chatting with a Cheetah – what a neat achievement that would be! If i could talk to the animals, learn their languages – maybe take an animal degree… I’d study Elephant and […]
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Love for God Made Complete
1 John 2:3-5 (NIV®) We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them.
I sometimes talk to people who are concerned their lack of formal training in theology will hinder their spiritual growth. I love learning, and I enjoy discussing theology. But some of the saddest and most frustrated people in religious circles are the ones who put their life’s efforts toward pondering things like, “just how big a camel can be and still fit through the eye of a needle” (Matthew 19:24). John says you can show your understanding of God’s Kingdom and your love for Him simply by being obedient to what you do understand. That means living a faithful, authentic Christian life in front of your family, friends, and neighbors. It means telling what Jesus has done for you. It means demonstrating Jesus’ love for people in the routines of your days. Do those things, and your love for God will be made complete.
THINK ABOUT IT The greatest expression of faithfulness and your love for God is to be obedient to the truth that you know in the place where you are today.
PRAYER Heavenly Father, may Your Word come alive within me and my heart receive Your instruction. Grant me a willing spirit to obey and honor You in all my ways. Holy Spirit, help me see and understand the great privilege of loving God by obeying Him and loving others. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your prayers for the ACLJ are making a tangible impact. God is visibly working through our legal cases both in America and abroad.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Luke 11:10)
Here is a specific ACLJ prayer request that you can pray for this week:
This past week we had the privilege of appearing before the United Nations Human Rights Council on behalf of suffering Christians in Pakistan and Ethiopia. For years, we’ve pleaded with the international community to save dying Christians in nations that are hostile to the Gospel.
Please ask God to work through our lawyers and touch the hearts of world leaders who can enact policies to save Christians. Your prayers will help save brothers and sisters in Christ worldwide.
Yom Kippur: The Day of Repentance, Prayer, and Fasting
“This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves and not do any work … because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins. It is a Sabbath of rest [Shabbat Shabbaton], and you must deny yourselves.” (Leviticus 16:29–31)
The holiest and most solemn day of the Jewish year begins tonight: Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement).
This day is so important that the Torah calls it the Shabbat Shabbaton (Sabbath of Sabbaths).
Even secular Jews observe it by fasting and refraining from all work, despite not observing other Jewish holy days.
As the sun sets tonight, all around the world, the Jewish People will begin a 25-hour fast. It is traditional, therefore, to greet friends and family today and tomorrow with Tzom Kal, which means Easy Fast.
Yom Kippur is the culmination of the Ten Days of Repentance that began with Rosh HaShanah, which is believed to be Judgment Day.
That judgment which was issued on Rosh HaShanah—in other words, our fate—is sealed in the Book of Life today.
This highest of holy days stands apart from all other days as the last day to repent and make amends.
The traditional greeting, therefore, is G’mar Chatimah Tovah (May You be Sealed for a Good Year)!
During Temple times, the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies on Yom Kippur to offer incense and the blood of the sacrifice at the mercy seat so the people would be cleansed from their sins.
Because the Holy Temple no longer stands, the purification offering outlined in Leviticus 16 can no longer be offered.
Believers in Yeshua (Jesus), however, can come confidently before God, knowing that His atoning sacrifice cleansed us from our sins.
Unlike the other high priests, Yeshua does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for His own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for our sins once for all when He offered Himself. (Hebrews 9:14)
Even though we live in a very troubled world, Jesus tells us we don’t need to worry. In Matthew 6:31-33, He says, “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
I don’t believe Jesus is scolding us in that passage. He’s offering travel advice, saying, “This is the way to make the journey through time. Don’t worry about that stuff. God knows you need it, and He will provide for you!”
In the Common Lectionary, today is dedicated to the Triumph of the Cross. We don’t necessarily think of this as a triumph, but Jesus’ death on the cross was our salvation. For us, this was a triumph. This passage from Philippians is an old Christian hymn and seems to be based on an Old Testament hymn showing the belief of the early Christians that Jesus is the promised and long awaited Messiah. From the beginning of creation and the entrance of sin into the world, the world was waiting for that moment on the cross when Jesus joined his will to the will of the Father in full confidence that his Father would not desert him. His death opened the gates of heaven to all of us. As Paul says, through one man sin entered the world and through the actions of one man, all are redeemed. Only Jesus, true man and true God could accomplish this. Crucifixion was a terrible way to die; so terrible that only non-Romans were crucified. This is why Paul was beheaded since he was a Roman citizen. The actual cause of death was suffocation. The weight of the body hanging on the cross eventually made it almost impossible to breathe and the lungs filled with fluid. In Jesus’ case, the beatings he had sustained earlier had weakened him considerably and he died sooner than was normal. This is why the soldiers broke the legs of the two thieves hanging with him, but they didn’t break Jesus’ legs seeing that he was dead. However, just in case they were wrong, they pierced his chest with a sword. He was willing to die for us; what are we willing to do to say thank you?
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: Philippines 2:5-6
Christ was already equal with God, possessing all of the same Divine attributes possessed by God the Father. It would be no “robbery, ” therefore, if He came into the world and demanded all men immediately serve Him and worship Him as God. But in fact He came more “quietly” into this world. He made Himself of no reputation and became as it were a servant (verse 7). He left us an example of humility that we ought to emulate.
Lord Jesus, you didn’t come into the world to be served but to serve and to give your life a ransom for many. Help us to learn true humility from your example left to us in Scripture. You always submitted to the Father, even to the point of enduring the pain and agony of the cross. Help us to endure all things with joy that God has made our lot to bear, knowing that it will turn to our benefit in the end. Amen.
“Laughter helps you put everything into perspective.”
Who is God? Images of God in the Old Testament. God as Shepherd: Part 1 Wednesday, September 13 | Ezekiel 34:1–31 On the Go? Listen Now!
What animal is mentioned most often in the Bible? If you guessed “sheep,” you are right! Sheep were an important part of the economy of ancient Israel. It is no surprise that many biblical characters spent at least some of their life as shepherds, including Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, Moses, David, and Amos.
Shepherding in Israel was different than it is today. There were no fenced-in fields. Instead, shepherds had to be with their sheep to protect them from predators, lead them to good pasture, shelter them from the weather, and tend to their injuries. Shepherds became symbols of good leadership. Like shepherds, good leaders are compassionate, caring, and protective of those under their care.
In today’s reading, God denounces the so-called shepherds of Israel. The priests and leaders of Israel had failed. They had extorted their people and did not care for them (vv. 2–4). They have not tended the sick and weak or sought the lost. They did not lead with compassion but with harsh brutality (v. 4).
God declares that He will personally shepherd His people (v. 11). He will seek the lost, heal the sick, provide, and protect His people (vv. 11–14). This type of leadership is personal, sacrificial, and loving. He protects the weak from the oppression of the strong (vv. 20–21).
In verses 23–24, God says He will shepherd His people through “my servant David.” Ezekiel is writing during the exile, long after David. The promise is that there will be a coming Davidic ruler who will be the ultimate Good Shepherd. This promise is fulfilled by the Lord Jesus. Jesus declared, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).
As followers of Jesus, we have a Shepherd who cares for us, guides us, protects us, and loves us. What a gift this is! Perhaps it is time to return to your image journal and paint an image of a Shepherd caring for the sheep.
Pray with Us You truly are the good shepherd. The longer we follow You, the more we are amazed by Your careful guidance and discipline. We look back and see the ways You directed our steps, even when we didn’t know it. Thank You, Father!
In fact, the Bible says he rejoices over you, just as you are…
“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing” (Zephaniah 3:17).
This verse reveals insight into the heart of our loving, present heavenly Father, and every phrase is like a fresh drink of encouraging truth.
I’d love to look at one phrase together — and then share how you can share this same encouraging truth with others.
“He will rejoice over you with gladness.”
Today, you can have joy, not because of what you have or don’t have, but because your God rejoices over you.
You are not a failure in his eyes. He loves who you are. He is wholeheartedly glad you are his.
Not only that, God longs to fill you with the knowledge of his gladness. He longs to give you a revelation of how deeply in love with you he is.
The Creator and Sustainer of all rejoices over you as his creation. You are not a mistake. You were made intentionally because your God longed to have a relationship with you!
I pray that this helps remind you of this truth daily as you experience him through our devotionals.
Now about sharing this encouraging truth with others…if our content has blessed your life, then you can help bring that same spiritual uplift to more believers daily.
We often encourage you to “go deeper” in your Bible study. But what does that really mean?
Reading, journaling, and doing devotions are all valuable ways to engage with the Bible.
If you have done all of that and you are craving to know more, then it’s time to go deeper.
Isaiah 62:6: “I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night.”
And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak. 2 Corinthians 4:13
SPEAKING OUT IN FAITH Do you know that as God’s child, you can speak positively into your negative situation and see it change for the better?
Let me show you some scriptures about faith and speaking that will help you. Romans 10:9 tells us that “if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved”. Our Lord Jesus also said, “Whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says” (Mark 11:23).
Now, reread what the apostle Paul wrote in today’s verse. Do you notice a pattern here? Faith involves believing in your heart as well as speaking with your mouth. You and I, we are made in God’s image. When God first saw darkness, He didn’t say, “Gosh, it’s so dark.” What did God do? He called forth light by speaking. He said, “Let there be light” (Gen. 1:3).
In the New Testament, our Lord Jesus spoke to the storm and it subsided. He spoke to the fig tree and it withered. He spoke to the demons and they fled. He spoke to the sick and they were healed. He spoke to the dead and they lived.
Similarly, when we are faced with darkness in any area of our lives today, or trapped in a storm of challenges, let’s not be mired in looking at the problems and despairing. We should also call forth what we want to see! If we find ourselves caught in a dangerous situation, we should declare, “The Lord is my refuge and my fortress.” If there is a sickness in our body, we can call forth our healing by saying, “Thank You, Jesus, by Your stripes I am healed!” Start speaking forth your protection, your health, and your victory today!
Shalom Friends,
Messianic Israelis and International Believers call for 1,000,000 to Pray One Hour for Israel on Yom Kippur.
A coalition of ministries will broadcast the online prayer meeting on Yom Kippur/The Day of Atonement between Jerusalem and Kansas City.
As Jewish people fast (Lev. 23:27), and believers will pray for the salvation of Israel.
GOD TV will host the feed at 10AM EST/5PM Israel on September 25th.
Over 5,000,000 believers came together this spring from May 7th to May 28th to pray at least one hour a day for Israel. This initiative was the brainchild of Mike Bickle and the International House of Prayer in Kansas City. Their initial goal was to see 1,000,000 believers take their stand on the walls of Jerusalem, drawing inspiration from Isaiah 62:6: “I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night.”
Bickle was overwhelmed when 5,000,000 believers and 12,000 different ministries pledged to pray. They opened Isaiah62fast.com to be a hub to promote prayer for Israel. These 12,000 ministries, “put their information on the Isaiah 62 website,” shared Mike Bickle. “That website is only a mobilizing website for Israel prayer. It is not a conference website, it’s not a book website, [and] it’s not a ‘come and hear us’ website. It is a ‘here’s the people that will mobilize people in their geographic area prayer for Israel.”
Yom Kippur Hour of Prayer
Last Yom Kippur, Ron Cantor, president of Shelanu TV in Tel Aviv, organized a one-hour prayer event on GOD TV during Yom Kippur. “The idea was to see believers praying for Israel at the very time that Jewish people worldwide are praying and fasting.” Ron, who moved to Israel in 2003, says the goal was always to get to one million people, but he was willing to wait. “I felt it would take at least five years to build that kind of momentum.”
But when he saw the success of the Isaiah 62 fast campaign, he contacted Bickle. “I was on the rooftop of a hotel in Jerusalem praying the morning after the final event for the Isaiah 62 fast. It was as clear as day to me that I needed to recruit Mike. “I said ‘Mike, if I call people to pray on Yom Kippur, we might get a few hundred people, maybe 1,000. But people trust you as an international prayer leader. Would you put your voice behind this effort?’ I knew if he did, we could see more than 1,000,000 people praying for Israel on September 25th, Yom Kippur. He didn’t hesitate; he immediately said yes.”
Bickle says the goal is to “[Mobilize] believers around the world to stand together on Yom Kippur, to cry out to the Lord for a visitation of power upon the Jewish people across the world.” During Yom Kippur, “Millions of Jewish people are posturing themselves in a place to hear God; they are making themselves vulnerable to the Holy Spirit—whether they know it or not. And then, we’ve got a million believers around the world crying out for a visitation upon these hearts.”
Cantor, who also serves as GOD TV’s Israel director, explains, “The ultimate world- wide, end-time revival is contingent on the Jewish people accepting Yeshua (Jesus). If you look at Romans 11:12, Paul says that Jewish rejection caused the book of Acts revival—what Paul call ‘riches.’ Then he says, if Israel’s rejection caused an unprecedented, worldwide, spiritual earthquake, imagine how much of a greater revival—or in his word—’greater riches’—will come on the world when the Jewish people accept the gospel!”
The plan to is to gather at 10am EST/5pm Israel to pray for one hour for Israel. You can tune in to a special simulcast between Jerusalem and Kansas City. This will air on God TV’s Facebook page here.
“We are asking 1,000,000 of you for one hour” says Bickle, “on Yom Kippur.” During the May event, “twos and threes met in homes. Twos and threes even met in cars with their cell phones; they met in dorm rooms. Some of them met in the church foyer….”
“Isaiah 62 speaks of God placing watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem,” says Cantor. “If the prophet is speaking to the people of Jerusalem, then the watchmen are obviously not Jewish—they are from outside of Israel. I believe that Isaiah is looking ahead to a time when more than a billion non-Jews will have embraced the Jewish Messiah, Jesus. They will recognize that the gospel came to them through the Jewish people and will commit themselves to be Watchmen for Israel, contending for her salvation.
“God tells these watchmen to give themselves no rest and to give God no rest, till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.’”
Beloved, you’re so precious and loved by the Lord. If you’re trusting the Lord for healing for yourself or your loved ones, can I encourage you to keep looking to Jesus and see His finished work that has paid for your healing? His heart is to see you happy, healthy, and whole! To help build your faith during this season
The Gospel of Mark was written by John Mark whose life was shaped by three men. First, his cousin Barnabas invited him to join him and Paul on their first missionary trip. Sadly, Mark deserted Paul and Barnabas along the way. That upset Paul, who was the second great influence on Mark’s life. Paul refused to take the young man on their next trip, and Paul’s rebuke must have stung like a rod.
That’s when Peter stepped in. We know from trustworthy traditions that Peter took Mark under his wing, traveled with him, and used him as an interpreter. Mark listened to Peter’s stories of Christ over and over, and Mark put it all down on paper, writing his Gospel based largely on Peter’s accounts.
God sends various people into our life. Some encourage us. Some rebuke us. Some help us recover. They all play a part in shaping us to be the person God wants us to be, and we should be thankful for them. What people have left a mark on your life?
The kindly tutelage of Barnabas…. The stern discipline of Paul…. The influence of Peter…. The Holy Spirit may well have used all three factors…to perform his marvelous work [in Mark’s life].
Ezekiel 28:1 – 32:32 (nkjv) PROCLAMATION AGAINST THE KING OF TYRE 28 The word of the Lord came to me again, saying, 2 “Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, ‘Thus says the Lord God:
“Because your heart is lifted up, And you say, ‘I am a god, I sit in the seat of gods, In the midst of the seas,’ Yet you are a man, and not a god, Though you set your heart as the heart of a god 3 (Behold, you are wiser than Daniel! There is no secret that can be hidden from you! 4 With your wisdom and your understanding You have gained riches for yourself, And gathered gold and silver into your treasuries; 5 By your great wisdom in trade you have increased your riches, And your heart is lifted up because of your riches),”
6 ‘Therefore thus says the Lord God:
“Because you have set your heart as the heart of a god, 7 Behold, therefore, I will bring strangers against you, The most terrible of the nations; And they shall draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom, And defile your splendor. 8 They shall throw you down into the Pit, And you shall die the death of the slain In the midst of the seas.
9 “Will you still say before him who slays you, ‘I am a god’? But you shall be a man, and not a god, In the hand of him who slays you. 10 You shall die the death of the uncircumcised By the hand of aliens; For I have spoken,” says the Lord God.’”
trading; Therefore I brought fire from your midst; It devoured you, And I turned you to ashes upon the earth In the sight of all who saw you. 19 All who knew you among the peoples are astonished at you; You have become a horror, And shall be no more forever.”’”
PROCLAMATION AGAINST SIDON 20 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
O Pharaoh king of Egypt, O great monster who lies in the midst of his rivers, Who has said, ‘My River is my own; I have made it for myself.’ 4 But I will put hooks in your jaws, And cause the fish of your rivers to stick to your scales; I will bring you up out of the midst of your rivers, And all the fish in your rivers will stick to your scales.
Ezekiel 28:1 – 32:32 (nkjv) 5 I will leave you in the wilderness,You and all the fish of your rivers;You shall fall on the open field;You shall not be picked up or gathered.I have given you as foodTo the beasts of the fieldAnd to the birds of the heavens. 6 “Then all the inhabitants of Egypt Shall know that I am the Lord, Because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel. 7 When they took hold of you with the hand, You broke and tore all their shoulders; When they leaned on you, You broke and made all their backs quiver.”
8 ‘Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Surely I will bring a sword upon you and cut off from you man and beast. 9 And the land of Egypt shall become desolate and waste; then they will know that I am the Lord, because he said, ‘The River is mine, and I have made it.’ 10 Indeed, therefore, I am against you and against your rivers, and I will make the land of Egypt utterly waste and desolate, from Migdol to Syene, as far as the border of Ethiopia. 11 Neither foot of man shall pass through it nor foot of beast pass through it, and it shall be uninhabited forty years. 12 I will make the land of Egypt desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate; and among the cities that are laid waste, her cities shall be desolate forty years; and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries.”
13 ‘Yet, thus says the Lord God: “At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the peoples among whom they were scattered. 14 I will bring back the captives of Egypt and cause them to return to the land of Pathros, to the land of their origin, and there they shall be a lowly kingdom.
15 It shall be the lowliest of kingdoms; it shall never again exalt itself above the nations, for I will diminish them so that they will not rule over the nations anymore. 16 No longer shall it be the confidence of the house of Israel, but will remind them of their iniquity when they turned to follow them. Then they shall know that I am the Lord God.”’” BABYLONIA WILL PLUNDER EGYPT 17 And it came to pass in the twenty-seventh year, in the first month, on the first day of the month, that the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 18 “Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon caused his army to labor strenuously against Tyre; every head was made bald, and every shoulder rubbed raw; yet neither he nor his army received wages from Tyre, for the labor which they expended on it. 19 Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Surely I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; he shall take away her wealth, carry off her spoil, and remove her pillage; and that will be the wages for his army. 20 I have given him the land of Egypt for his labor, because they worked for Me,’ says the Lord God.
21 ‘In that day I will cause the horn of the house of Israel to spring forth, and I will open your mouth to speak in their midst. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.’”
EGYPT AND HER ALLIES WILL FALL 30 The word of the Lord came to me again, saying, 2 “Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God:
“Wail, ‘Woe to the day!’ 3 For the day is near, Even the day of the Lord is near; It will be a day of clouds, the time of the Gentiles.
4 The sword shall come upon Egypt,And great anguish shall be in Ethiopia,When the slain fall in Egypt,And they take away her wealth,And her foundations are broken down. 5 “Ethiopia, Libya, Lydia, all the mingled people, Chub, and the men of the lands who are allied, shall fall with them by the sword.”
6 ‘Thus says the Lord:
“Those who uphold Egypt shall fall, And the pride of her power shall come down. From Migdol to Syene Those within her shall fall by the sword,” Says the Lord God. 7 “They shall be desolate in the midst of the desolate countries, And her cities shall be in the midst of the cities that are laid waste. 8 Then they will know that I am the Lord, When I have set a fire in Egypt And all her helpers are destroyed. 9 On that day messengers shall go forth from Me in ships To make the careless Ethiopians afraid, And great anguish shall come upon them, As on the day of Egypt; For indeed it is coming!”
10 ‘Thus says the Lord God:
“I will also make a multitude of Egypt to cease By the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. 11 He and his people with him, the most terrible of the nations, Shall be brought to destroy the land; They shall draw their swords against Egypt, And fill the land with the slain. 12 I will make the rivers dry, And sell the land into the hand of the wicked; I will make the land waste, and all that is in it, By the hand of aliens. I, the Lord, have spoken.”
13 ‘Thus says the Lord God:
“I will also destroy the idols, And cause the images to cease from Noph; There shall no longer be princes from the land of Egypt; I will put fear in the land of Egypt.
14 I will make Pathros desolate,Set fire to Zoan,And execute judgments in No.15 I will pour My fury on Sin, the strength of Egypt;I will cut off the multitude of No,16 And set a fire in Egypt;Sin shall have great pain,No shall be split open,And Noph shall be in distress daily.17 The young men of Aven and Pi Beseth shall fall by the sword,And these cities shall go into captivity.18 At Tehaphnehes the day shall also be darkened,When I break the yokes of Egypt there.And her arrogant strength shall cease in her;As for her, a cloud shall cover her,And her daughters shall go into captivity.19 Thus I will execute judgments on Egypt,Then they shall know that I am the Lord.”’” PROCLAMATION AGAINST PHARAOH 20 And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first month, on the seventh day of the month, that the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 21 “Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and see, it has not been bandaged for healing, nor a splint put on to bind it, to make it strong enough to hold a sword. 22 Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Surely I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and will break his arms, both the strong one and the one that was broken; and I will make the sword fall out of his hand. 23 I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them throughout the countries.
24 I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon and put My sword in his hand; but I will break Pharaoh’s arms, and he will groan before him with the groanings of a mortally wounded man. 25 Thus I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, but the arms of Pharaoh shall fall down; they shall know that I am the Lord, when I put My sword into the hand of the king of Babylon and he stretches it out against the land of Egypt. 26 I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.’” EGYPT CUT DOWN LIKE A GREAT TREE 31 Now it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the third month, on the first day of the month, that the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his multitude:
‘Whom are you like in your greatness? 3 Indeed Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon, With fine branches that shaded the forest, And of high stature; And its top was among the thick boughs. 4 The waters made it grow; Underground waters gave it height, With their rivers running around the place where it was planted, And sent out rivulets to all the trees of the field.
5 ‘Therefore its height was exalted above all the trees of the field; Its boughs were multiplied, And its branches became long because of the abundance of water, As it sent them out. 6 All the birds of the heavens made their nests in its boughs; Under its branches all the beasts of the field brought forth their young; And in its shadow all great nations made their home.
7 ‘Thus it was beautiful in greatness and in the length of its branches, Because its roots reached to abundant waters.
8 The cedars in the garden of God could not hide it;The fir trees were not like its boughs,And the chestnut trees were not like its branches;No tree in the garden of God was like it in beauty.9 I made it beautiful with a multitude of branches,So that all the trees of Eden envied it,That were in the garden of God.’ 10 “Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Because you have increased in height, and it set its top among the thick boughs, and its heart was lifted up in its height, 11 therefore I will deliver it into the hand of the mighty one of the nations, and he shall surely deal with it; I have driven it out for its wickedness. 12 And aliens, the most terrible of the nations, have cut it down and left it; its branches have fallen on the mountains and in all the valleys; its boughs lie broken by all the rivers of the land; and all the peoples of the earth have gone from under its shadow and left it.
13 ‘On its ruin will remain all the birds of the heavens, And all the beasts of the field will come to its branches—
14 ‘So that no trees by the waters may ever again exalt themselves for their height, nor set their tops among the thick boughs, that no tree which drinks water may ever be high enough to reach up to them.
‘For they have all been delivered to death, To the depths of the earth, Among the children of men who go down to the Pit.’
15 “Thus says the Lord God: ‘In the day when it went down to hell, I caused mourning. I covered the deep because of it. I restrained its rivers, and the great waters were held back. I caused Lebanon to mourn for it, and all the trees of the field wilted because of it. 16 I made the nations shake at the sound of its fall, when I cast it down to hell together with those who descend into the Pit; and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, were comforted in the depths of the earth. 17 They also went down to hell with it, with those slain by the sword; and those who were its strong arm dwelt in its shadows among the nations.
10 Yes, I will make many peoples astonished at you, and their kings shall be horribly afraid of you when I brandish My sword before them; and they shall tremble every moment, every man for his own life, in the day of your fall. 11 ‘For thus says the Lord God: “The sword of the king of Babylon shall come upon you. 12 By the swords of the mighty warriors, all of them the most terrible of the nations, I will cause your multitude to fall.
“They shall plunder the pomp of Egypt, And all its multitude shall be destroyed. 13 Also I will destroy all its animals From beside its great waters; The foot of man shall muddy them no more, Nor shall the hooves of animals muddy them. 14 Then I will make their waters clear, And make their rivers run like oil,” Says the Lord God.
15 “When I make the land of Egypt desolate, And the country is destitute of all that once filled it, When I strike all who dwell in it, Then they shall know that I am the Lord.
16 “This is the lamentation With which they shall lament her; The daughters of the nations shall lament her; They shall lament for her, for Egypt, And for all her multitude,” Says the Lord God.’”
EGYPT AND OTHERS CONSIGNED TO THE PIT 17 It came to pass also in the twelfth year, on the fifteenth day of the month, that the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
18 “Son of man, wail over the multitude of Egypt, And cast them down to the depths of the earth, Her and the daughters of the famous nations, With those who go down to the Pit: 19 ‘Whom do you surpass in beauty? Go down, be placed with the uncircumcised.’
around it, All of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword, Though they caused their terror in the land of the living. 27 They do not lie with the mighty Who are fallen of the uncircumcised, Who have gone down to hell with their weapons of war; They have laid their swords under their heads, But their iniquities will be on their bones, Because of the terror of the mighty in the land of the living. 28 Yes, you shall be broken in the midst of the uncircumcised, And lie with those slain by the sword.
29 “There is Edom, Her kings and all her princes, Who despite their might Are laid beside those slain by the sword; They shall lie with the uncircumcised, And with those who go down to the Pit.
30 There are the princes of the north,All of them, and all the Sidonians,Who have gone down with the slainIn shame at the terror which they caused by their might;They lie uncircumcised with those slain by the sword,And bear their shame with those who go down to the Pit. 31 “Pharaoh will see them And be comforted over all his multitude, Pharaoh and all his army, Slain by the sword,” Says the Lord God.
32 “For I have caused My terror in the land of the living; And he shall be placed in the midst of the uncircumcised With those slain by the sword, Pharaoh and all his multitude,” Says the Lord God.
Interview someone — a friend, another blogger, your mother, the mailman — and write a post based on their responses. Dear God, I pray that when I am faced with situations that need to be resolved, may I never turn to my emotions or external influences. May your voice be the first one I hear and may I listen to it too. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
I’m inviting you to join me for amazing Bible-centered teaching on Turning Point Radio and Television in September—and I have included the schedule below so you won’t miss a single broadcast.
As you dive into these biblical teachings this month…I also want to pause and say thank you. Your compassion, prayers, and partnership with Turning Point greatly impact people who look to us to learn more about life in Christ.
These are troubling times. Many people are confused, fearful, and looking for hope…and you are there for them with Turning Point, showing them the truth and wisdom of God’s Word and revealing the hope they have in Jesus. Thank you!
And please enjoy the September teachings, created with you and all our Turning Point family in mind.
The Importance of the Bible and The Book that Will Change Your Life are exciting teachings on why we read the Bible, the wisdom it imparts to us, the power of Bible study and committing Scripture to memory, and much more!
Discover how the great men and women of the Old Testament were able to overcome setbacks—and put their example to use in your own life. Learn from Job how to overcome overwhelming tragedy, from Elijah how to overcome the culture’s intimidation, from Ruth how to overcome bad decisions, and from Noah how to overcome a corrupt world.
Proverbs 23:7 declares, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” I think it is clear: You are not necessarily what you think…but what you think, you are! Discover how cultivating a mind that is devoted, dedicated, diligent, and disciplined can lead you to a spiritual walk and a lifetime,of joy and fulfillment.
God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us,” says Romans 5:8. There really is no greater illustration of God’s love for us than the gift of the Cross…but these messages are designed to show you that there’s much, much more to God’s love for you than simply salvation. God’s love means He will never let you go; He loves you even when you don’t love Him; His love for you is carved in stone and never quits…Discover all this and more through this exciting series!
Where can we place our trust? Trust is an interesting thing. We learn trust from our parents and those who are first entrusted with us. When I was a young mother with four children and pregnant with the fifth, we needed to move to another state because of my husband’s job. A family moved into the neighborhood who had a son the same age as my oldest daughter and she was pregnant with her second child. We became friends. After her child was born I had reason to question her parenting judgment. While she did nothing that was technically neglectful or abusive, from the first night home, she would double diaper her baby and not get up in the night to care for him regardless of how much he cried. He spent most of his time in an infant seat. By the time he was a month old, he stiffened any time he was held and couldn’t seem to relax and be cuddled. As I had my own newborn, I thought that this was unusual. I moved from the area and never had an opportunity to watch him grow up, but I always wondered about whether or not he ever learned to trust those who said they loved him. We build trust by taking care of the needs of our children as soon as possible. We feed them when they are hungry, change them when they are wet and hold them when they are frightened or just because we love them. We have trust in God because we trust those who told us about him. We have come to know Jesus because we trust the evangelists who gave their lives to bring us the Good News. We trust in the promise, and have hope that we will spend eternity with the Father whose love we have come to know.
He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he. Proverbs 16:20
It is good and profitable to use God’s wisdom to solve situations. When we try and solve situations using our emotions, mistakes will always be made. You will find joy and happiness when you rely on the wisdom of God, because it always ensures that situations turn out for the best.
Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. 9:31
The early church was at peace, comforted by the Holy Spirit, and growing steadily. They could not use modern technology to spread the Word. Instead, the Holy Spirit consistently provided opportunities to witness; people arrived in multitudes to hear the apostles speak and pass along precious information. Today we have multiple options available to spread the Word efficiently and quickly. We will allow the Holy Spirit to guide us, using technology to spread the Word.
Dear Lord, we are blessed with multiple ways to continue Your ministry. Please keep us prepared for new opportunities every day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
It features stirring photography of nature’s wonders plus wonderful promises recorded in God’s unchanging and enduring Word! Throughout the year, you will be encouraged by the promises of God’s faithfulness, wisdom, blessings, grace, mercy, and—best of all—love.
What TV shows did you watch as a kid? Tom and Jerry!
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Act 20:29
Dear Lord, help us study daily to gain wisdom needed to expose imposters who seek to destroy Your Word. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
We must make Bible Study a priority in order to remain well versed in the Word. The devil is always on the prowl and places false prophets in our paths to throw us off course. They tell us sinful lifestyles aren’t really all that bad and they twist Scripture to fit their own agenda. Some despise Christianity and seek ways to tear it apart. Bible Study strengthens our knowledge and wisdom, exposing these imposters.
One day, I decided to take this as a model of prayer and to write my own. I am sharing mine with you and I hope you will take to time to write your own “Our Father.”
Our Father – my Father – my prayer is that all creation would one day acknowledge you as Father; that your name, Abba, Father, would be respected, honored and prayed by your children. Yes, one and all, we are your children, and I thank and praise you that I love you and give you my life and unending love. Your kingdom is here present in each of us. I pray that we may grow stronger in your will and less in ours, that all may come to know you, adore your, and reverence you as they do in heaven. Lord, you have given me so much. What have I given back? Am I like the Pharisee who says, “Look at me Lord, see what I do for you. I am not like the tax collector.” Help me to be more responsive to the needs of others, to help them meet their needs for daily bread. Oh, Lord, you do have a sense of humor. You want me to forgive two different people who lied about me and cost me my jobs. But I know that there have been times when I have needed to ask you your forgiveness and if I withhold it from those who have hurt me, how can I come to you. Help me to be a more forgiving person so that I am not asking for that which I am unwilling to give. Lord, there are so many temptations in this world today. Our society is rife with Things. We could and often do, forget you, Lord. Help us to remember that it is you that is all we truly need, not things.
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. Acts 20:28
Paul instructs early church leaders to sustain themselves and their flock. Our teachers have been called by the Holy Spirit to educate us about our commitment to God. They are commissioned to nurture our spiritual growth. We must encourage our teachers to also take time for themselves so they may be renewed and strengthened by the Spirit as well. Our leaders are special gifts, and we will lift them up with prayer and reassuring conversation.
Dear Lord, we are thankful for our teachers and will continue to lift them up in prayer and encouragement. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Poison frontman, rock star and Pennsylvania native Bret Michaels spent the day ahead of his show at Hollywood Casino volunteering at Fort Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, where his father is buried.
PennLive spoke with Michaels at the cemetery just before he met up with some friends and veterans to replace tattered and torn American flags along the cemetery’s roads. Michaels’ “Party-Gras” show is currently touring the United States. His show at the casino at the Penn National Race Course is set for 7 p.m. Saturday night.
What brings you to Fort Indiantown Gap?
“I am here today for three reasons. Number one, to visit my father. My father is buried here, he’s a Navy veteran, and I come up here and just spend some time at his memorial. Number two, my good friend Rob Taylor, and all the veterans, are here today and we’re going to help them to lower flags, repair them, do maintenance on them. They’re putting me to work early…So we’re mixing all of this, it’s like a trifecta of awesomeness of being able to be here, lower the flags. Every one of these flags that’s here hanging, that they do maintenance on, was draped over the coffin of a veteran, including my father’s. So we are just here to honor the men and women. As I say, no politics, just here to say thank you for the freedoms we get, and the most important is the freedom of opinion, it’s amazing.”
What does it mean to you to volunteer so close to home?
“You know I was born in Pittsburgh, I grew up in central Pennsylvania. My dad when he finished out in the military, finished his whole career at the Mechanicsburg Naval Support Center. To come back here, I feel like I am at home with my friends. And then to be surrounded by all these incredible veterans, that I love and respect, that’s a great day.”
Do you have any specific, fond memories of central Pennsylvania? How often do you try to come back to the area?
“I have so many great memories of central Pennsylvania. I captured it in my latest single, it’s called ‘Back in the Day.’ I love sports and I love music, so most of my memories are here racing dirt bikes, paying football, baseball, you know I was a Mechanicsburg Wildcat. So for me, it’s a great feeling, and then tonight at the concert. All of my friends, all of them. Family, friends are all going to be out at the show. We have a VIP pit area just for them, and there’s like 211. It’s like a high school reunion, coming tonight. It’s going to be awesome.”
“All of my memories, like tubing, all that stuff I had talked about so many times. I just took a bunch of friends of mine out tubing a couple weeks ago when we were here and it was great. When you grow up someplace you remember all the great times you had there, all the great friends you made. It’s organic, that feeling I get when I come back to central Pennsylvania is a good feeling.”
Who is your show tonight for? Is it dedicated to anyone and what does it stand for?
“I created and produced this show called the ‘Party-Gras Mardi Gras,’ and what it means is it’s a celebration of the fans, the bands, the music. Tonight I asked my friends from Warrant to come. They come out they do a great song, a great set. We mix up our songs, it’s all killer hits, no filler. And then what the show is dedicated to is all of our hometown heroes here and hometown musicians. There’s so much talent in this area. I just think tonight to honor those amazing hometown musicians. Shay Quinn is going to join me from the Sharks. We were there together since the beginning of our career, playing every paradise, moving the pool table out of the way. We’d help each other move it over so we could fit the drum kit in, and it just never deterred me. I think honoring them and letting them know how talented they are, we’ve got a lot of local bands joining us on my songs, on the Poison hits and the Bret Michaels hits. So they’ll come in, interweave and join together and make it a great show.
You mentioned that your latest single, “Back in the Day,” has some ties to central Pennsylvania. Will tonight be the first time you perform the song in central Pennsylvania?
“We were in Philly, we were in Pittsburgh, but not central Pa., so this will be the first time for me tonight. And if fans want to check that out go to BretMichaels.com, check out the song ‘Back in the Day,’ check it out on YouTube. It’s a really fun, unique video with archived footage. You’ll see a picture of me playing the guitar by the Christmas tree when I was like five years old, just strumming my first acoustic, and the next picture is me at the stadium here in Hershey. The song is just a catchy, good rock song with a good riff.”
This one might be a tough one… but do you have a favorite song to perform? I know you have quite the catalog of hits!
“As the father of two daughters, it’s like your songs are like your kids. You love all of them for different reasons. But probably the one that I enjoy the most is at the very end of the night, for the upbeat, is ‘Nothing But a Good Time.’ I love it, it just hits. And ‘Talk Dirty to Me,’ we open the show with ‘Talk Dirty to Me,’ because it’s an insta-hit, it was our first big hit. And we close it with ‘Nothing But a Good Time.’ And then for the ballads obviously ‘Every Rose Has Its Thorn,’ and ‘Something to Believe In.’ So there’s four kids! But like I said, I love each of them for a different reason and I think that’s what’s helped us cross over from rock, pop, country. Music is such a universal language meant to unite us, not to divide us. It’s the soundtrack to my life. And as a diabetic, it means the world to me and it saved my life.”
Yes, a couple things I want to hint. Number one, having the local musicians coming up, and great musicians, join me. We’re also going to on ‘Something to Believe In,’ bring in all the hometown heroes, our veterans and our first responders, frontline workers that do so much for us, and bring them on stage. Tonight’s a celebration. We’re designing out how everyone is going to enter. I actually have people that work on my crew who put the Mardi Gras beads on people, hand out guitar picks and just welcome everyone to the show.”
The Party-Gras Tour has been going on for quite some time, do you see an end to the tour or does the Party-Gras never end?
“There is no end in sight for the Party-Gras tour. We’ll use your quote, the Party-Gras never ends. The 1.0 Party-Gras has been – we do the spring version, summer, fall, winter. So right now we’re ending the summer Party-Gras and we go into the Fall Ball Party-Gras. And then next year with LiveNation, they’ve already signed on for all the dates, we’re going to do the same thing next year. We’ll be back here next year again, and it’s going to be incredible. And each year, different musicians, different people. We make some that are mixed with pop artists, rock artists, country artists, it’s pretty incredible.”
He’s in his junior year as a computer science major at the University of Maine. He made the dean’s list last spring. He’s a prodigy who also plays tennis, loves his pooch, and stands up for his family.
So when his mother, a respected pediatric intensive care doctor, was fired from Northern Light Health’s Eastern Maine Medical Center after raising concerns about patient safety, Samson took action. He researched the topic, finding news articles and watchdog reports that backed up his mother’s concerns. He started a Change.org petition addressed to his congressman. He published a letter to the editor in the University of Maine campus newspaper. Northern Light didn’t appreciate Samson exercising his First Amendment rights. So it threatened to sue — his mother, for defamation — by claiming with zero evidence that she wrote Samson’s petition and letter to the editor.
“Young people have free speech rights just like everyone else,” said Samson. “I have the right to stand up and speak my mind without being bullied into silence.”
When those with deep pockets want to shut someone up, they can threaten a strategic lawsuit against public participation. Lawyers call them SLAPP suits, and they threaten free speech with litigation that could bankrupt an ordinary citizen. “It’s nothing more than censorship by lawsuit,” explains FIRE senior attorney Jay Diaz.
Are you turning healthy fruits into highly unhealthy fruits, without even realizing it?
Fruit can be one of the healthiest things you can put into your body, but the majority of Americans are guilty of making this single mistake that can counteract all of the health benefits of fruit.
Some fruits can help with occasional constipation, reduce bloating, and even help burn calories.
Others can wreak havoc on your digestive system and energy levels.
In this viral presentation, world-renowned heart surgeon Dr. Steven Gundry showcases the three fruits to stop eating today.
could forever change the way we help increase energy levels, decrease brain fog, support digestion, and even lose weight.
You are receiving this sponsored promotion as a way to help keep Prophecy News Watch free of charge. Sponsored promotions are made available through our partners and not Prophecy News Watch directly. Please contact the sponsor with any inquiries you may have.
I would not listen to anything this doctor has to say. We have been eating blueberries since the beginning of time.
Create an emergency preparedness plan. Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.”
On this day in 1978, a hot air balloon landed in Miserey, France, about 137 hours after taking off from Presque Isle, Maine. The Double Eagle II was the first balloon to cross the Atlantic Ocean, piloted by Ben Abruzzo, Maxie Anderson and Larry Newman.
Did you know that prayer is how God often opens doors for sharing the gospel?
Serving with Navigators Nations Within, Alex and his wife, Mary, saw God create opportunities to share the gospel with their Seattle neighbors through the power of prayer.
They knew these neighbors previously from living overseas in Asia, but now had a greater opportunity to invite them to follow Jesus.
Be inspired by their story to “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him” Psalm 37:7 (NIV). Then watch for the opportunities and connections He creates.
Tenacious Faith
1 Peter 2:9 (NIV®) You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Our generation has witnessed a steep decline of Christian influence on the culture. I believe that is because we have been content to call ourselves Christians while we display a polite, compliant faith. Not long ago, we routinely prayed publicly in Jesus’ name. The Ten Commandments were displayed in public buildings. Honesty and purity were highly regarded and encouraged. We let those things go without much complaint, and now, our society has difficulty deciding who is a man or a woman! The spiritual complacency we have settled into is not sufficient to address the challenges we are facing. We need to realize what it means to be God’s chosen people. Like Peter, we need to be willing to publicly declare that His way is the best way. We need to come to terms with what it means to have a living and active faith that makes a real difference in our own lives and the lives of others.
THINK ABOUT IT Does your faith make a real difference in your life and the lives of others? Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with a new kind of faith—a tenacious faith that will empower you to be a more effective ambassador for God’s Kingdom.
PRAYER Heavenly Father, I am Your child, Jesus is my Lord, and the Holy Spirit is my Helper. You have designed me to make a difference for Your Kingdom. I choose Your path with my entire being. Grant me the determination to complete the course You have chosen. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Dear Delana,
Please join us in praying for the people in Maui who have lost so much in the recent fires, and for those who are doing their best to help them recover. Let’s pray for God’s supernatural comfort, courage, and strength, and for stories of His faithfulness to emerge from the tragic circumstances.
While we’re praying, let’s also ask for God’s mercy on our cities. They are in disarray far beyond what’s being reported, and we need His help!
Let’s pray:The corporate prayers of God’s people make a difference. When God’s people care enough to join together and invest their time, energy, and effort in prayer, it has a unique impact in Heaven.
What’s the most delicious thing you’ve ever eaten? God’s Holy Word!
Remember, with a movement as large and dedicated as ours, it’s not about the amount our supporters give, but the sheer number of grassroots patriots who step up when it matters most.
For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Revelations 7:17
Weeping may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:5) God’s children may have sorrow and tribulation in this world for what, in the light of eternity, will be but a brief moment, but they will find everlasting joy. Heaven will be a place without tears.
O Comforter of our souls, you are he who will wipe away all tears from our eyes. We may weep here for lost loved ones, but we will meet them again if they died in Christ. We may weep now for pain and misery that come upon us, but it will all pass away. We may feel sorrow for a host of things on earth, but in Heaven, we will find only joy. O prepare us for that place and let our eternal hope make present troubles easier to bear. Amen.
Scour the news for an entirely uninteresting story. Consider how it connects to your life. Write about that.
Scientific Death of Jesus
For the next 60 seconds, set aside whatever you’re doing and take this opportunity! Let’s see if Satan can stop this.
At the age of 33, Jesus was condemned to death.
At the time, crucifixion was the “worst” death. Only the worst criminals were condemned to be crucified. Yet it was even more dreadful for Jesus. Unlike other criminals condemned to death by crucifixion, Jesus was to be nailed to the cross by His hands and feet.
Each nail was 6 to 8 inches long.
The nails were driven into His wrist, not into His palms as is commonly portrayed. There’s a tendon in the wrist that extends to the shoulder. The Roman guards knew that when the nails were being hammered into the wrist, that tendon would tear and break, forcing Jesus to use His back muscles to support Himself so that He could breathe.
Both of His feet were nailed together. Thus He was forced to support Himself on the single nail that impaled His feet to the cross. Jesus could not support Himself with His legs because of the pain so He was forced to alternate between arching His back then using His legs just to continue to breathe. Imagine the struggle, the pain, the suffering, the courage.
Jesus endured this reality for over 3 hours.
Yes, over 3 hours! Can you imagine this kind of suffering? A few minutes before He died, Jesus stopped bleeding. He was simply pouring water from his wounds.
From common images we see wounds to His hands and feet and even the spear wound to His side… But do we realize His wounds were actually made in his body. A hammer driving large nails through the wrist, the feet overlapped and an even larger nail hammered through the arches, then a Roman guard piercing His side with a spear. But before the nails and the spear, Jesus was whipped and beaten. The whipping was so severe that it tore the flesh from His body. The beating so horrific that His face was torn and his beard ripped from His face. The crown of thorns cut deeply into His scalp. Most men would not have survived this torture.
He had no more blood to bleed out, only water poured from His wounds. The human adult body contains about 3.5 liters (just less than a gallon) of blood.
Jesus poured all 3.5 liters of his blood; He had three nails hammered into His members; a crown of thorns on His head and, beyond that, a Roman soldier who stabbed a spear into His chest..
All these without mentioning the humiliation He suffered after carrying His own cross for almost 2 kilometers, while the crowd spat in his face and threw stones (the cross was almost 30 kg of weight, only for its higher part, where His hands were nailed).
Jesus had to endure this experience, to open the gates of Heaven, so that you can have free access to God.
So that your sins could be “washed” away. All of them, with no exception! Don’t ignore this situation.
JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR YOU!
He died for you! It is easy to pass jokes or foolish photos by e-mail, but when it comes to God, sometimes you feel ashamed to forward to others because you are worried of what they may think about you.
God has plans for you, show all your friends what He experienced to save you. Now think about this! May God bless your life!
If you are not ashamed to do this, please, follow Jesus’ instructions. He said (Matthew 10:32 & 33): “Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before My Father in heaven; but whosoever denies Me before others, I will deny before My Father in heaven.”🙏
In his beloved hymn, “Amazing Grace,” John Newton celebrates how God “saved a wretch like me.” The apostle Paul would have agreed. He said of himself, “For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God” (1 Cor. 15:9). Yet in the very next verse, Paul asserts, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect” (15:10).When Paul urged the Ephesians in verse 1 to live a life “worthy” of their calling, he was not contradicting himself. The worthiness he speaks of is not based on what we deserve but on what God has promised to do in us through Christ. The striking feature of the lifestyle he describes in verses 2–3 is that, instead of being a list of tasks, it is a catalog of character traits. A life worthy of the gospel is one in which God lives up to the promise of power described in the preceding chapter (see also Eph. 3:16–19). We live that power out in daily experience.Christ has made this possible for us by joining believers to one another through the Holy Spirit in the community (or “body”) that we call the church (vv. 4–6). He has also empowered individuals through His Spirit to strengthen the church through ministry. In other spiritual gift lists, Paul describes abilities or the power to perform tasks given to individuals, but in verses 11–13, the apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors are themselves the gift. The last category Paul mentions in this list seems to be a combination of two abilities: shepherding and teaching.>> Take time to pray for those who preach or teach in your church. Write a note or send them a text to tell them how they have helped you. If you are able, describe a specific instance where God used their message.
Pray with Us
Lord, as we grow in spiritual maturity through the teaching of our pastors and elders, we pray that You would help them also to mature as they meditate on Your truth in order to teach others.
Rare Coins Found In A Dead Sea Cave Offer First Solid Evidence For The Maccabean Revolt 2,200 Years Ago – Ancient Pages https://flip.it/HveGDS
Pray first than read the only True Word you can trust, and obey His Word by asking Jesus for help and He will help anyone who asks because He said so! Are you feeling discontented in a particular area of your life? Ask God to help you to learn to be content as we develop a healthy change in behavior. According to His will for you in your life.
January 13th, 2023: Learning to be Content Right Where God wants us to be! Philippians 4:11 – I have learned to be content whatever the cirumstances. Words from Paul. Have you ever notice yor children are when they are sleeping? (And so well-behaved too!) THere are some days when those hours of rest are the only hours of contentment. Let’s face it; it’s not just the children who struggle with geeling discontent. Thankfully, God’s Word gives us the answers we need when we go to Him in prayer and reading the clues to finding contentment. God speaksto our hearts through His Love Letter to His children.
The Apostle Paul learned to be content. It’s wasn’t automatic for him, or for me, and it isn’t for you either. The very word learning implies a change in behavior. We have no idea what Paul specifically did to change his behavior, but he did find contentment. For each one of us, learning to be content involves more than reading a well-written book or hearing a gripping sermon on contentment. Those two sources can give we helpful insructions for achieving our goals, but ultimately we are the ones who need to change. With God’s help we do change when we allow Jesus to take control. An initiate change happens like Paul, we can learn to be content right where we are in “whatever the circumstances.” We can choose to change in our behavior, but we can’t do it without Jesus we need His Spirit with us to help. That’s where trusting God comes in. “In God We Trust!”
Prison Labor: Three Strikes and You’re Hired Prisoners do a great deal of work, especially in producing equipment for US military contractors. All prison working conditions are often unsafe and that prisoners are frequently coerced into working. I will argue that prison labor is forced labor and slavery and that reform is needed.
As you read, consider the following questions: 1. What is UNICOR, according to the author? 2. What are economic incentives for corporations to use prison labor? #. How many prisoners are there in the United States? First, two facts: I have a son who proudly served in the United States Army and was over seas. The United States imprisons more people per capita than any other country in the world. What’s the connection? Prisoners. Not prisoners of war but the people locked up in our own domestic prisons and jails – and, more specifically, their labor. Surprised? I sure was.
Prison Labor is Way More than making License Plates Whenever I think about prison labor, the first thing that comes to mind is license plates. Turns out, that prison labor is a long away from just printing license plates and lines. While these industries aew still part of the work in our prisons and jails they are not the big breadwinner. The industry that takes the cake when it comes to prison labor is military supplies. It is estimated that the federal prison industry produces 100% of the military helmets, ID tags, bulletbroof vests, shirts, bags and pants. And what company is there to oversee production of these items? UNICOR! UNICOR was previously known as the Federal Prison Industries, which is a non-profit organization, and the 39th largest US contractor. UNICOR operates 110 factories at 79 federal penitentiaries and the Department of Defense is one of their largest contracts. In 2001, UNICOR sales were $583.5 milliom – about $388 million of which was DOD, or 66.5% of all business.
Prison Labor Offers “Economic Incentives” for Corporations The prisoners wages are only $0.23 an hour and no unions, safety regulations, pension, Soical Security, sick leave nor overtime, prisoners are made to work under poor conditions and prison labor is growing and economically competitive sector. And the United States government is allowing this to happen. Prison labor is competitive with sweatshop labor prices and, since production is domestic, incurs lower shipping coasts. Plus, overhead is pretty much paid for by the US taxpayers! With all these economic incentives, it’s no surprise that 37 states have legalized the contracting of prison labor by private corporations who bring their operations inside the prison walls. While UNICOR is among the leaders in using prison labor, other companies are taking advantage of the contract opportunities, including Nordstrom, Eddie Bauer, Mpotorola, Microsoft, Victoria’s Secret, Compaq, IBM, Boeing, AT&T, Texas Instrumemts, Revlon, Macy’s, Target, Nortel, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Honeywell, Pierre Carin, 3com, and Lucent Technologies, among others.
The One Place Where Slavery is Still Legal in the 13th Amendment in the USAtrocious working conditions: As mentioned above, there are no workers’ right/protection. All the business are looking to cut costs and maximizing the porfit. They do that by promotting human trafficking of our prisoners. I would like to ask what is the human cost of this co-called “smart investment?” In this case, the situation is clear: Prison labor and rape is the new slave labor. This is true under the 13th Amendment is still legal in prisons. There are clear parallels between the new and old: with toxic materials and are not given the proper protective clothing. Workdays often run past eight hours, with no breaks. Coercion: Prisoners frequently lose “good-time” and canteen privileges if they refuse to work. Georgia had one of hte largest inmate protests in US history after prisoners were forced to work seven days in a row without pay and were beaten if they did not comply. Exporting of Inmates: With the high incarceration rate in the US and overcrowding considered cruel and unusual punishment, the private prison industry has flurished, offering states and counties “rent-a-cell” services, in which the county makes $1.50 per bed. That is a lie. The county jails make over $100 per bed. Racial and Sex Offenders Inequality: The US has more than 2.3 million prisoners. People of color make up just 30% of total US population, but account for 60% of those locked up. There are now more black men and sex offenders, parole or probation than there were enslaved in the 1850s.
Prisons in Service to Profit, Not Public Safety The reality in the US today is that prison is not for rehabilitation, it is for profit. With that kind of mentality, we are living up to our nickname of the United States of Incarceration. The idea of working while in prison could be a tool for rehabilitation and, ultimately, greater public safety, but as usual the execution of the idea is most important. Humans have rights and prisoners are human, therefore, prisoners have rights and those rights need to be implemented and protected. Yes it is an uphill battle. Working for the rights of prisoners is the right thing to do. More people are arrested because law enforcement lie and judges listen to those lies for a bigger pay day.
Prison Labor and Union Busting What’s so attractive about using prison labor is precisely that it undoes everything that union members – and their parents and grandparents before them – have fought so hard to achieve. At times, prisoners have been used directly as a strike-breaking workforce; TWA’s [Trans World Airlines’] reservations system was set up during a flight attendant strike, and according to the union involved, the prisoner program was a significant part of the company’s strategy to undermine the strike. In other cases, prisons have allowed employers to avoid unions even in well-organized industries; thus, the owners of an Arizona slaughterhouse shut down their unionized operation only to reopen in a joint venture with the state’s Department of Correction. Even where it is not directly related tom anti-union strategies, however, prison labor provides employers a means of avoiding or undoing virtually all of the gains won by working people over the past hundred years – creating islands of time in which, in terms of labor relations, it’s still the late nineteenth century. Prison labor is, of course, much cheaper than free labor for employers. In Ohio, for example, a Honda supplier paid auto workers $2.00 an hour for the same work that union workers got paid $50 to $100 an hour for the same work. Prisoners sometimes worked longer hours than union workers because the unions only pay for so many hours no matter how much a union worker, works.
Today is “Bill of Rights Day” – commemorating ratification on Dec. 15, 1791.
But what the government-run schools – and supporters of the monster state – “teach” about the Bill of Rights has almost nothing to do with the foundational principles which motivated the people who supported – and demanded it.
They want us to focus on inane trivia – and they definitely present things as if the Bill of Rights “granted” our rights, or were meant to create a nationwide liberty enforcement squad in the federal government.
No, it was – you guessed it – about the principles behind what was ratified as the 10th Amendment. Drawing a line in the sand, as Samuel Adams put it, “between the federal Powers vested in Congress, and the sovereign Authority belonging to the several States.”
Richard Henry Lee – who on Sept 27, 1787 in the Confederation Congress proposed adding a Bill of Rights to the Constitution drafted by the Philadelphia Convention – BEFORE sending it to the states for ratification, agreed. He said that drawing that clear line between expressly delegated power – and those reserved is “the great use of a bill of rights.”
The same thing happened in a number of state ratification documents, starting with Massachusetts, then South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia – and New York.
In early 1788, ratification of the Constitution was almost certain to fail in Massachusetts – home of Samuel and John Adams, Theophilus Parsons, John Hancock – and so many others. A loss there – Federalists understood – would send them reeling in states where it was expected to be a very close call at best – like New York and Virginia. In other words, the entire proposal was close to being doomed.
But – as advised by Richard Henry Lee months earlier, Samuel Adams and John Hancock went along with a plan to ratify, but only with the option of including recommended amendments as well. On Feb 6, 1788 – they did just that, and the very first recommended amendment from the Sons of Liberty will probably look familiar to any reader of the Tenth Amendment Center:
First. That it be explicitly declared, that all powers not expressly delegated by the aforesaid Constitution are reserved to the several states, to be by them exercised.
South Carolina followed their lead with this:
This Convention doth also declare that no Section or paragraph of the said Constitution warrants a Construction that the states do not retain every power not expressly relinquished by them and vested in the General Government of the Union.
And on June 21, 1788 – New Hampshire sealed the deal on ratification by also including as their first recommended amendment the same precursor to the 10th Amendment from Massachusetts.
But even after New York and Virginia followed with similar proposals, Federalists in the First Congress stonewalled – and did everything they could to prevent amendments from being considered and sent to the states for ratification.
Samuel Adams, however, didn’t let up – pushing friends like Elbridge Gerry and Richard Henry Lee to get the Bill of Rights done. To Adams, adding these amendments was solely about having a “a Line drawn as clearly as may be, between the federal Powers vested in Congress and the distinct Sovereignty of the several States.”
James Madison – who was initially opposed to including a Bill of Rights – and even voted against Richard Henry Lee’s proposal in the Confederation Congress, slowly came on board – maybe for just political strategy. But his dogged persistence pushed it through the congress.
With that history in mind, it makes even more sense why Thomas Jefferson, on Feb 15, 1791 – 10 months to the day before ratification – made this essential point about the structure of the constitution:
I consider the foundation of the Constitution as laid on this ground: That ” all powers not delegated to the United States, by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States or to the people.”
Why don’t they teach this history? We can only guess, but I personally think it has plenty to do with the fact that the bill of rights wasn’t about granting rights to people – or having a central government to protect us – but instead – it was about opposition to centralized power.Please do check out this episode of the Path to Liberty Podcast for a deeper dive into this essential history. There, you’ll find both video and audio versions of the show – and if you prefer reading – there’s a bunch of original source documents so you can read and learn more – in context – on your own time.
This is the kind of information we work to get out to more and more people every single day of the year. Nothing – absolutely nothing – helps us roll up our sleeves and get the job done more than the financial faith and support of our members.
Investigators filed simple assault and harassment charges against a Lackawanna County prison guard accused of spraying an inmate’s genitals with pepper spray.
Sgt. Scott Blume, 46, of Dunmore, was arraigned Wednesday in connection with an altercation with Damian Kellogg on Sept. 24. The incident did not come to light until Oct. 18, after Mr. Kellogg wrote to Judge Vito Geroulo to complain, according to members of the inmate’s family. Sgt. Blume is on paid administrative leave from the prison.
According to an arrest affidavit, the sergeant escorted Mr. Kellogg, who appeared to be intoxicated, to the restricted housing unit after he issued him a misconduct for having “hooch,” an alcoholic liquid made from fruit, inside the cell he shared with another inmate.
The incident, which was captured by a prison camera, began after Mr. Kellogg was placed in a holding cage and ordered to disrobe and change into a different prison uniform designated for restricted housing unit inmates. The affidavit says Mr. Kellogg began arguing with Sgt. Blume, which prompted the sergeant to enter the cage and grab Mr. Kellogg’s throat and pull his hair.
Sgt. Blume then left the cage. Mr. Kellogg refused to put on the new uniform and continued to argue with Sgt. Blume. That led Sgt. Blume to twice spray Mr. Kellogg through the “wicket,” a slot in the cell door used to pass food and other items to inmates, to get him to comply. Mr. Kellogg was then handcuffed and escorted to the restricted unit without further incident.
The affidavit does not identify the part of Mr. Kellogg’s body that was sprayed. In his letter to Judge Geroulo, a copy of which was obtained by The Times-Tribune, Mr. Kellogg said he was sprayed in the groin area while naked, causing him extreme pain.
Lackawanna County District Attorney Shane Scanlon said the prison contacted his office and requested an investigation. The incident was initially investigated under the prison rape elimination act based on Mr. Kellogg’s statement that he felt he had been “sexually violated.” After reviewing all evidence, detectives did not believe it rose to the level of a sex crime, Mr. Scanlon said.
“It appears as though the force used wasn’t necessary based on what we were able to review,” Mr. Scanlon said. “We felt, based on the evidence before us, it rose to the level of simple assault and harassment.”
Sgt. Blume, who has been employed at the prison since 2002, faces a disciplinary hearing that will determine whether he will remain on paid leave or be fired, said Donald Frederickson, general counsel for the county.
“It depends on what happens at the disciplinary hearing. If they feel they have enough evidence, they can dismiss him,” he said.
Spring 2001 / 107th Congress – The Local LAw Enforement Hate Crime Prevention Act in introduces in the House and Local Law Enforement Enhancement Act introduced in the Senate. The legislation would provide federal assistance to state and local jurisdictions to prosecute hate crimes. Pennsylvania Civil Rights and laws to protect Sex Offenders: Any Person who uses the information contained Here in to threaten, intimidate, or Harass the registrant or their families, or who other wise misuses this information, may be subject to criminal prosecution and Civil Liability. This is despite the facts that people convicted of sex offenses are satistically unlikely to reoffend. Many prosecutors, police officers, corrections professionals, and criminal justice reformers are also aware that it is nonsensical to irreparably stigmatize a broad swath of offenders in the same exact way. 1990’s The General Assembly made it illegal to misuae the registry to harass sex offenders. But, Lackawanna County is using the Sex Offenders to buy bigger cars. More inmates the more federal funds they get. That’s Human Trafficking. Too many voices in America today sound the wrong headed belief that these truths are no longer so self-evident. Most of these voices are from Washinngton and Lackawanna County Pennsyvania, but many more come from our universities, our high school text books even our churches. Theseskeptics think we have over grown our founding principles, that even the wisest men and women in 1776 and 1787 counldn’t possibly have been wise enough to create an effective government for America in the twenty-first century. Some find the words of the Founders too limiting for their bloated vision government. After all, government that is true to the ideals of our Charters of Liberty is government that is limited. If government exists to protect our God-given rights – and not to bail ut banks, buy car companies, take over our health care, and tell us which light blub we can use – thee the government does few things, out of the way in order to realize their potential. Remember the 2001 interview aboutthe Constitution by then – Illionois state Senator Barak Obama complained as he captured perfectly the constraints on government created by the Constitution. Speaking about the Supreme Court in the 1950’s and 60’s during the Civil Right’s movement, Obama expressed regret that the High Court. Our future president called the civil rights’ subsequent failure to break free of the constraints imposed by the Constitution – a “tragedy.” But a lot of us call it basice fairness and adherence to our founding principles. We beleive it’s a good thing that we came so far in achieving racial justice while keeping faith in God to protect our Constitution. Some like to dismiss all this talk about staying true to our founding documents as the ideological rants of the people who are obessed constitutional theory. But whether we remain true to God’s Constitution or not has practical, real-world consequence for all of us. The Supreme COurt, along with therest of the federal judiciary, has tremndous power over our lives today. Their ruling means the difference between free political speech and censored political speech, property rights that are protected by government and property rights that are routinely violated by government, and the survival of innocent life and the state – sanctioned killing the innocent life. The reason this is thecase is because so many of the people who appoint and approve our judges and justices erroneously believe the court’s duty isn’t to interpret the law but to make the law. In cases where their agenda can’t prevail among the people representatives in COngress, they have turned to the courts to make policy. That means having judges and justices who are no longer guided by the Constitution and the law, but by their personal opinions. We need to remember judges and justices are human and they do have feelings, but they have no right to ignore this great American Constitution men and women have died to protect. I believe has blessed this country greatly, but this ignorance of thinking people control the law is wrong. God gave the law to Moses and it belongs to Him not us. The former President Obama gave the wrong advice when he said, “That in the really difficult, consequential cases, justices shouldn’t go with the law but with their hearts.” “That last mile can only be determined on the basis of one’s deepest values, one’s core concern’s, one’s broader perspectives on how the world works, and the depth and breadth of one’s empathy the president said. Lackawanna County Scranton Pennsylvania is just as guilty of breaking the Constitution and The District Attorney Mark Powell is just a guilty if Human Trafficking. He uses the inmates to get paid. (I call it a movement no one listens to not even the government. The governments make laws to break them). Today I come to You, Father God through Jesus and thank You in Jesus name for a blessed day. Thank You, Father God for Yor sacrifice of Your Son Jesus, Who die for our sins in Jesus name, Amen 1 Corinthians 15:54 – So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortaclity, then shall be brought to pasws the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. But if you look at the Supreme Court Justice oath takes, you will see that it commits them to a very differernt standared. They pledge not to pick winners and losers basied on their hearts or “empathy.” When they take that oath. Their job is to protect the United States Constitution. City, County, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Lackawanna County break more laws then anyone other state. The Distict Attorney’s take an oath to protect the United States Constitution and the Commonwealth. But, when we have a D.A. getting rich and allowing the constitution to be ignored its time for the people to stand up and not be scared. When we have a government that is breaking the law we the PEOPLE are in trouble. I am going by personal experience with Lackawanna County. The government here is abusive to their voters. They abuse their power. The police break the law by lying and judges allow that. The day our bodies and immortal, it will be a fulfillment of Scriptures where we are told that Death will be swallowed up. Imagine that a life with no death. We will be surrounded with our loved ones, in the LORD, and we will never have to worry about losing them again. We will spend eternity together, Forever! PRAYER: Dear God, I thank You that in the times things may not make sense, you know more than I do. In times of pain, where I lose the people closest to me, I take comfort in knowing that as long as they are of you, we will meet again. A time will come where we will all be reunited without worrying about death and sorrow. I praise You in Jesus’ name Amen.
Most of us will not have to be blinded like Paul in order to come to know Jesus. For most of us it will be a gradual realization of him and his promise of eternal life as well as a better understanding of just who God is. For Paul, it was dramatic, for the rest of us it’s pretty tame. But regardless of the way we come to know Jesus, we have to have a conversion of heart and a willingness to grow in faith. Paul needed to be open to growth and taking instruction from someone with more knowledge than he had – and he considered himself well versed in the Scriptures. No matter how long we have followed Christ and how much we have studied the Bible, we will never know and understand everything that God has for us to learn. We need to continue to study and learn until the day we die and where all will be revealed to us. Whether we study alone or with a group, or take a course, it is important to continue our journey. It is also important to put our faith into action. Once Paul understood the importance of Jesus’ message, he felt compelled to share it. And it’s a good thing for us that he did! If Paul had not been rejected by the Jews for his past persecution of those who had become Christian, he would not have reached out to the Gentiles. Christianity may have become a Jewish sect rather than a religion on its own. It is our place to be available to others who may come to know Jesus by being willing to be Christ in our world and to share our reasons for believing. We too have been called to follow Jesus and to become “fishers of men.” Peter and Andrew left their nets immediately and followed Jesus. We probably weren’t asked to quit our jobs, or leave our families behind but we were called to be disciples. There’s a saying that says, “Bloom where you’re planted.” I believe that this tells us to let Jesus come with us into our families, into our workplaces, into our neighborhoods and be examples of Jesus to others. If we are to be examples of Jesus’ love, we must be loving. If we are to bring God’s peace, we must have peace within us. To bring the hope that we have based on Jesus’ gaining for us our salvation, we must be people of hope. If we want others to believe in a forgiving, accepting God, we must be forgiving and accepting in our own lives. Peter, Andrew, James and John were followed by another eight to become apostles, the twelve men closest to Jesus. One, Judas, would be tempted by greed, and possibly by fear and would turn away and betray him. Peter would deny him and the others run away out of fear, but these would have a change of heart and then would remain faithful to their deaths. We will have to decide for ourselves if we will answer Jesus’ call, and we will also have to face the consequences of that decision. Being a disciple will never be an easy task. We might face rejection or ridicule from even our closest family members or friends. But the peace in our hearts that comes from staying close to Jesus cannot be replaced by anything the world has to offer.
In the book of Titus, there are many instructions for how people should behave and carry themselves. Here we see that older men are to be patient. That certainly contrasts the newspaper cartoon image of a grumpy old man yelling at kids. The instructions are not so you have more rules. It is how we believers set ourselves apart from the world and how they see Jesus in us.
Lord, help me live in a way that others see You in me. Make me sound minded, having solid faith, and patient. Let me be giving and generous with my possessions and time. I pray for the older men in my church. Conform them to Your character. Keep growing and maturing them until they walk their last day with You. Thank You for Your instruction and wisdom You have given us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Human Trafficking Survivor; God and Country, Without God There is No Country/ Judeo-Christian / America Belongs to God 