May this new year be a year that brings great Glory to Yahweh...the Great and Living God.

Yahweh...expand your Kingdom...in both the heart and mind of Man...and may your reign expand and dominate in the governance of humanity.

And...may your Word and Will be cherished and implemented in this your world.

And...may it be revealed and lived out through this breath You have given to me.

Happy New Year Father.

xtnyoda, shalomed

xtnyoda is out on a Patriot Guard mission the rest of the day.

Will return in the later evening.

Salute!

xtnyoda, shalomed

Friday, December 31st, 2010. Today's cherished Nugget from guest blogger Pastor Bill.

“All men are by nature equal, made of the same earth by the same Creator, and however we deceive ourselves, as dear to God is the poor peasant as the mighty prince.”
(Plato, c. 428–348 b.c.)

Even in eternity, equality exists. The writer of 2 Peter 3:9 says,

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

God Himself provided the level playing field by providing the way for salvation. The way is stated in John3:16:

“For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

"God, thank You for letting me benefit from Your love.
Amen."

Bro. Bill

Give Him glory daily.

Russian and Polish weather scientists predicted this 1,000 year record breaking cold months ago for eastern Europe and Russia... now England is catching on... out of necessity.

Daily Star

WINTER MAY BE COLDEST IN 1000 YEARS

BRITAIN’S winter is the coldest since 1683 and close to being the chilliest in nearly 1,000 years. Latest figures reveal that the average temperature since December 1 has been a perishing -1C. That makes it the second coldest since records began in 1659. The chilliest on record was 1683/84, when the average was -1.17C and the River Thames froze over for two months.

But with January and February to come, experts believe we could suffer the most freezing cold winter in the last 1,000 years. The Met Office’s Charlie Powell said: “It’s rare to have cold this prolonged, with temperatures falling incredibly low.
“Temperatures will be down again by Sunday, with nights below freezing and daytimes below average at 3C to 5C. Our outlook forecast to January 26 shows temperatures 2C or 3C below average, frost and ice likely and the highest chance of snow or sleet over the northern half of the UK.”

Although official weather records only go back to 1659, weather experts said the centuries from 1100 to 1500, dubbed the “Medieval warm period”, would not have produced winters as cold as today. So 2011 could end up being the coldest winter of the last millennium.

Brian Gaze, of The Weather Outlook, said: “It’s very unusual to have a sub-zero month.”

And, with no joy whatsoever in seeing this growing tragedy,... even though most Christians would say that God is in control of everything... most are truly surprised to think that God might actually act in direct relation to the arrogance of Man.... in other words that human governments can actually influence a direct response from Yahweh in this world.

In other words... many Christians are in fact deists... and are totally unaware of their deistic stance on God and the affairs of humanity... and would be quite offended if one were to attempt to convince them otherwise.

However... Yahweh is moving to demonstrate to our deistic brothers that He is very much and directly involved in the governance of our planet and the universe... and when Man makes outrageous statements like the 193 nations that gathered in Cancun just a month ago claiming that governments and humanity can... control the climate of the earth... one way or the other... God will suddenly move to prove them wrong... for only God can control the climate.

Now... this IS why we are seeing the dramatic cooling and freezing global wide. It is the evident hand of God moving in our day.

Yet many have not the spiritual sense to see it.

xtnyoda, shalomed

Day 184

Yahweh

Is Your Redeemer 2

"Rejoice, barren one, who did not give birth; burst into song and shout, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the forsaken one will be more than the children of the married woman," says the Lord. "Enlarge the site of your tent, and let your tent curtains be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your ropes, and drive your pegs deep. For you will spread out to the right and to the left, and your descendants will dispossess nations and inhabit the desolate cities. Do not be afraid, for you will not be put to shame; don't be humiliated, for you will not be disgraced. For you will forget the shame of your youth, and you will no longer remember the disgrace of your widowhood. For your husband is your Maker- His name is Yahweh of Hosts- and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all the earth."
Isaiah 54:1-5 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Notice how Yahweh focuses on 'the least of these' in the verses.... and these least ones are typically the very ones that religion/culture... rejects... yet they are the focus of Yahweh's compassion and promise.

Yahweh cares for those least able to care for themselves.

Vital lesson.

This is in The Name.

xtnyoda, shalomed

Thursday, December 30th, 2010. Today's cherished Nugget from guest blogger Pastor Bill.

“A compliment is verbal sunshine.”
(Robert Orben)

To brighten someone’s day, give them a sincere compliment. When we are prompted to give the compliment, that prompt could be God using us to encourage and be a blessing to others. The writer of Deuteronomy 3:28 shares this information with us:

"Charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see."

Just imagine being the one who gives the encouraging word that could affect generations throughout history.

"God, thank You for Your Word. Let me be an encourager to others.
Amen."

Bro. Bill

Give Him glory daily.

Day 183

Yahweh

Is Your Redeemer

"Rejoice, barren one, who did not give birth; burst into song and shout, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the forsaken one will be more than the children of the married woman," says the Lord. "Enlarge the site of your tent, and let your tent curtains be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your ropes, and drive your pegs deep. For you will spread out to the right and to the left, and your descendants will dispossess nations and inhabit the desolate cities. Do not be afraid, for you will not be put to shame; don't be humiliated, for you will not be disgraced. For you will forget the shame of your youth, and you will no longer remember the disgrace of your widowhood. For your husband is your Maker- His name is Yahweh of Hosts- and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all the earth."
Isaiah 54:1-5 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

The compassion and purpose of Yahweh presented in these 5 verses is... breathtaking.

Especially when one considers the ingrained religious prejudices of any give age... this age included.

My prayer today: "Oh Yahweh. Help me to see Your Word, read Your Word, as though I had never heard a whisper about You, or what has been recorded... could You erase every preconception I have about You or Your service?

Would You?"

This is in The Name.

xtnyoda, shalomed

Wednesday, December 29th, 2010. Today's cherished Nugget from guest blogger Pastor Bill.

“It is misleading to imagine that we are developed in spite of our circumstances, we are developed because of them. It is mastery in circumstances that is needed, not mastery over them.”
(Oswald Chambers, 1874–1917)

Every challenge we face not only puts bumps and bruises on us but also strengthens us to become what we need to be. God will walk with us even in the midst of our trials. We are reminded by the apostle Paul in Philippians 4:13:

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

"God, thank You for Your presence to strengthen us daily.
Amen."

Bro. Bill

Give Him glory daily.

Barack Obama lets his faith show

The president has gone to church again and Politico thinks it is worthy of a lead article.

The main focus of the story is the one-liner from scripture that the president often uses about being our brother's keeper. I have a few thoughts about the repeated use of the line.

Politico story

HONOLULU — President Obama’s trip to church Sunday followed a steady rebirth over the past three months in public expressions of his Christianity.

Obama has publicly mentioned his “Christian faith” more times in the past three months than he has over the past year. He has more frequently cited passages of the Bible, including repeated references to the spirit of Genesis 4:9 — “I am my brother’s keeper; I am my sister’s keeper” — which was a mainstay of Obama’s 2010 campaign stump speech. And he’s taken his family to church twice, a shift for a president who has preferred to worship privately since the end of the 2008 campaign.

“He presents his Christianity as an important aspect of his identity but one he doesn’t want to foist upon anyone else, and he would rather risk downplaying it than offending somebody,” said Jeffrey Siker, a theology professor at Loyola Marymount University, who has studied Obama’s use of the Bible in his speeches.

“One recurring phrase — and I’ve noticed this frequently of late — this notion that we are our brothers’ keepers, which is kind of a mantra for him,” Siker added, noting that Obama “would see the notion of being our brother’s keeper as something that crosses all religious lines.”

Obama has used the reference, which was a regular feature of his on the 2008 campaign trail, in two dozen speeches since September. Before then, he’d used it just four times as president. References to his “Christian faith” also have appeared more times in Obama’s speeches since September than they did before....

It's really sad that with our president we have become suspect of his religious references... with the thought that they are nothing more than politically motivated. But... that is what he has left us with... esp. with this continual reference to being "our brothers keeper." For we conservatives we actually hear him saying that we are responsible to provide everything any person might desire instead of people being responsible for their own lives and actions.

I would love to hear him quote the verse that says,

"If anyone isn't willing to work, he should not eat."
2 Thessalonians 3:10 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Now... I can't help but wonder what kind of political capital that would harvest for a politician these days... esp. the president?

xtnyoda, shalomed

H/T Jeremy

Tuesday, December 28th, 2010. Today's cherished Nugget from guest blogger Pastor Bill.

"A man is what he is—not what he used to be."
(Jewish Proverb)

Praise The Lord! We don’t have to remain as we once were, but we can changed by the grace of God. We do not have to stay on the path of iniquity and degradation, but we can do as the apostle Paul instructs in Romans 12:2:

“Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

"God, thank You for changing us through our relationship with You.
Amen."

Bro. Bill

Give Him glory daily.

Day 182

Yahweh

Is Your God

This is what your Lord says- Yahweh, even your God, who defends His people..."
Isaiah 51:22 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

There is an individual, personal... beauty... to reflect on in this verse, "Yahweh, even your God..."

As the Psalter reflected, "The LORD is my shepherd..." Today, reflect on this singular statement... and receive the truth of it... by faith.

"Yahweh is my God."

This is in The Name.

xtnyoda, shalomed

The story behind the "Star Spangled Banner"

"Dudley Rutherford, senior pastor of Shepherd of the Hills Church in Porter Ranch, California, explains the story behind the "Star Spangled Banner" - our National Anthem." is the caption under the youtube video.

We need a new generation of Americans that know this story.

xtnyoda, shalomed

H/T Roger!

Guest blogger, Stan Nussbaum, takes us on a journey through the messianic year calendar.



Welcome to the journey of our Messiah through the year with Dr. Hussbaum.

Dec. 26 - The glorious word, “Done!”

He also said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.” (Rev. 21:6, NET)

If you have ever reached the finish line of a multi-year project like earning a degree or paying off a mortgage, you know the joy of the word, “Done!” This is the joy we come to at the end of the Messianic Year, anticipating the day when the Messiah himself will proclaim, “It is done!” (Rev. 21:6)

He said that once before, of course—“It is finished!” (Jn. 19:30). It marked the completion of the work he came to do on his first visit to this world. He had spread the Declaration of Peace throughout the nation of Israel, as we saw last week. He had laid down his life as the perfect sacrifice for all time. That phase of his work was done, never to be repeated.

“Done” is a God-word. God created the world in six days and it was “done,” so well done, in fact, that he sat down and enjoyed it on the seventh day. God’s arch-enemy has no right to that word, “Done.” He never gets to carry any of his plans through to completion. Even if he gets tantalizingly close, as he did when he had the Messiah on the cross, the whole thing is suddenly un-done. He is the king of “almost,” which is to say, the king of nothing.

He bluffs, of course. “You are done for. It’s over.” And there is a lot of evidence implying he is still in power. Two thousand years after Jesus said, “Done,” earth still looks like a basket case, riddled with disease, war, drugs, oppression, loneliness, poverty, greed, AIDS, genocide, divorce, corruption, etc. That is a lot of unfinished business. The gracious approach to sin does not look very effective.

Can anybody seriously believe the Messiah did not think of that? Could he have gone to the cross and not realized that a lot of sinners would stay sinners anyway? Didn’t he foresee that billions of people, including hundreds of millions who think they are “Christians,” would regard him only as a religious teacher but not a king? He must have known.

Then why did he do it? Only to create the time and space for people like us to welcome him when we are not forced to. In that one free act of welcoming, we find our identity and fulfillment as human beings. We get to know what it means to live in him and have him living in us.

The window of opportunity will close, however. On the appointed day the Messiah’s Declaration of Peace will be replaced by his Declaration of Victory, “The whole world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever." (Rev. 11:15, NLT) He will return in glory and power, he will use force, he will eradicate evil, and he will do it all with only one weapon, “the sword of his mouth.” (Rev. 19:15, see the reading for July 25). He has the last word, and when he says it is over, it’s over.

Since he is the Alpha and Omega, who are we? His welcomers and his representatives. We welcome him by praying as he taught us, “May your reign begin. May your will be DONE on earth as it is in heaven!” We represent him by telling the world that the Declaration of Peace is still in effect, though we do not know for how long. 2011 could be the year he declares victory and permanently floods the world with all the blessings we have been celebrating. The Messianic Year will give way to the Messianic Age. “Yes, come Lord Jesus.” (Rev. 22:20)

Welcome: Jesus the Messiah, we can’t wait to welcome you back. May your reign begin. May your will be done in us today, and may it be done everywhere soon. Please come and say, “Done!”

Affirmation: This year we celebrate the Messianic Year here. Next year in the New Jerusalem, God willing.

OK... I had to read Cohen's "opinion" piece a couple of times to figure out if he was serious or being sarcastic... and I've decided that the dude is serious... which is hilarious.

With this kind of serious opinion editors... who needs cartoonists?

NY Times

Bundle Up, It’s Global Warming
By JUDAH COHEN

THE earth continues to get warmer, yet it’s feeling a lot colder outside. Over the past few weeks, subzero temperatures in Poland claimed 66 lives; snow arrived in Seattle well before the winter solstice, and fell heavily enough in Minneapolis to make the roof of the Metrodome collapse; and last week blizzards closed Europe’s busiest airports in London and Frankfurt for days, stranding holiday travelers. The snow and record cold have invaded the Eastern United States, with more bad weather predicted.

All of this cold was met with perfect comic timing by the release of a World Meteorological Organization report showing that 2010 will probably be among the three warmest years on record, and 2001 through 2010 the warmest decade on record.

How can we reconcile this? The not-so-obvious short answer is that the overall warming of the atmosphere is actually creating cold-weather extremes. Last winter, too, was exceptionally snowy and cold across the Eastern United States and Eurasia, as were seven of the previous nine winters.

For a more detailed explanation, we must turn our attention to the snow in Siberia....

Go read the several paragraphs of mental gymnastics that Cohen presents trying to defend "global warming"... then sit back with a hot cup of cider and prepare yourself for a fun new year of the global warming alarmists breaking their backs trying to prop up that which is... unpropable.

xtnyoda, shalomed

N/T Jeremy!

Monday, December 27th, 2010. Today's cherished Nugget from guest blogger Pastor Bill.

“Our confidence in Christ does not make us lazy, negligent, or careless, but, on the contrary, it awakens us, urges us on, and makes us active in living righteous lives and doing good. There is no self-confidence to compare with this.”
(Ulrich Zwingli, (1484–1531)

The confidence the paratrooper has in his parachute is built on faith he acquires through training and grows by experience; likewise, our faith is increased by our walk with God. The writer of 1 John 5:14-15 tells us,

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”

Our faith and experience increases our confidence in God.

"God, thank You for increasing our faith by our relationship with You.
Amen."

Bro. Bill

Give Him glory daily.

Jingle Bells - The Bethlehem 2010 Version

This by Brutally Honest is one of the most revealing pieces about the real spiritual battle we are in... world wide... and how progressives have been used by the 'communists' for nearly a hundred years... to destroy America and Christianity.

All I know to say is... please read it all... digest it all... follow the links and read them all... please.

'Communists found progressive pastors to be “the biggest suckers of them all.”'

Over at Big Peace, Sun Tzu posted a Christmas Day interview with Dr. Paul Kengor, professor of political science at Grove City College who is also the author of DUPES: How America's Adversaries Have Manipulated Progressives for a Century:

Big Peace: The communists didn’t like Christmas in particular.

Kengor: They despised it, like a vampire fleeing a cross. In Czechoslovakia, communists co-opted traditional Christmas carols and symbols and replaced them with things like red stars instead of the Star of Bethlehem. In Romania, Christmas trees were banned. In Dupes, I quote from the Soviet archives a December 25, 1919 edict from Lenin ordering that anyone caught taking off work that day for “Nikola” should be “taken out and shot.”

Big Peace: And these communists, who locked up and even executed Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, sang a different tune to liberal Christians?

Kengor: Yes. They cynically, contemptuously targeted the Religious Left. They knew that Religious Left Christians agreed with them on certain sympathies—workers rights, wealth redistribution. The communists exploited that trust, sometimes invoking the language of “social justice,” to enlist liberals in their petitions, marches.

Big Peace: Where did they have their best success?

Kengor: That’s easy. The mainline Protestant denominations: Episcopal Church, Presbyterian Church USA, and Methodist Church.

Herb Romerstein, the veteran investigator of the communist movement, and himself an ex-communst, told me that communists found progressive pastors to be “the biggest suckers of them all.”....

There's much more and it's eye-opening. Check it out, pass it on and think of Dr. Kengor the next time you're sitting in the pews of a main line church hearing idiocy spewed from the pulpit.

Again... please... read the article and all the links very carefully.

xtnyoda, shalomed

Sunday, December 26th, 2010. Today's cherished Nugget from guest blogger Pastor Bill.

“Christmas is not a date. It is a state of mind.”
Mary Ellen Chase (1887–1973)

This is December 26th and most if not all the presents have been unwrapped and the paper and ribbon has been thrown away, and for some even the decorations have been put away for at least 10and a half months. You may put away the trimmings, but we should never put aside The Christ of CHRISTmas. Let us keep the attitude the angels brought according to the writer of the book of Luke in chapter 2 verse 14 when they proclaimed,

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will toward men.”

"God, Thank You for the relationship we have with You that was made possible by Your gift to us at Christmas.
Amen."

Bro. Bill

Give Him glory daily.

Revelation Song

Worthy is the,Lamb who was slain
Holy, Holy, is He
Sing a new song, to Him who sits on
Heaven's Mercy Seat
[Repeat 2x]
(Chorus)



Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing:
Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And I will adore You...!
Yeah!
Clothed in rainbows, of living color
Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder
Blessing and honor, strength and
Glory and power be
To You the Only Wise King,
Yeah
(Chorus)
Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come, yeah
With all creation I sing:
Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And – I - will - adore You!
Yeah!
Filled with wonder,
Awestruck wonder
At the mention of Your Name
Jesus, Your Name is Power
Breath, and Living Water
Such a marvelous mystery
Yeah...
(Chorus)

Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come, yeah
With all creation I sing:
Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And – I - will - adore You!
Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come,
With all creation I sing:
Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And – I - will - adore YOU...
(Chorus)
Come up lift up His Name
To the King of Kings...
We will adore YOU Lord...
King of heaven and earth
King Jesus, King Jesus
Aleluya, aleluya, aleluya!
Majesty, awestruck Honor
And Power and Strength and Dominion
To You Lord,
To the King, to King
To the King of Glory

The Chaplain's Corner




Guest blogger, Chaplain Paul, is one of the most effective chaplains in America today. He is an emergency responder to every situation.

Hey, this is the Chaplain again.

Have you ever noticed that Christmas comes at just the right time? Think about it. It comes during the very last week of the very last month of the year.

Over the preceding months, struggles have been encountered, pain has been endured, joys and sorrows have been shared. Then, just as you are about to do it all again in a new year, comes this day of celebration with its magnificent story of heavenly visitation and intervention. And at the heart of the story is a promise that brings strength when you feel weak, warmth when you feel alone, and hope when days are dark.

This promise was delivered from the tongues of angels to the fearful hearts of Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds. And if you listen carefully, you will hear it in the soft cries of an infant lying in a manger. The promise is for you too. Are you ready? Here it is:

"Do not fear; God is here". Say it to yourself until its truth echoes into the coming year.

Have you learned some devastating news that has caused you to despair? Do not fear; God is here. Do you face some uncertainties in the near future? Do not fear; God is here. He knows your heartaches, headaches, pains, and pressures. They all came to rest in His hands, feet, and side.

He came to heal the leper, raise the paralytic, and open the blind eyes of the beggar. There is no storm His presence cannot calm. Prepare yourself for the valleys and peaks of the next year by standing on the summit of this holiday season and breathing in the fragrance of God's presence and promises.

Write down your past troubles and your fears about the future and present them to God in prayer. Place them in a box, wrap them up, and write on the tag: Do not fear; God is here. Search through the Scriptures, find all of the "do not be afraid" passages, and read one each day throughout the month of December and into the new year. You should never face tomorrow until you are filled with God's promise for today.

Yes, Christmas comes at just the right time every year, leading us into the next year with the firm assurance that whatever we encounter, we can safely say: Do not fear; God is here.

(Above is adapted from a piece by G.A. Myers)

God bless you & yours and Merry CHRISTmas!

Saturday, December 25th, 2010. Today's cherished Nugget from guest blogger Pastor Bill.

“Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as opening our hearts.”
(Janice Maeditere)

Christmas is when God showed Himself to us with an open heart. His love toward us encourages us to open our hearts in response to Him. God shared His love with us, in that

"while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans 5:8

"God, thank You for the gift of love You have shared with us.
Amen."

Bro. Bill

Merry CHRISTmas to you!

Day 181

Yahweh

The Tormentors Goblet

This is what your Lord says- Yahweh, even your God, who defends His people- "Look, I have removed the cup of staggering from your hand; that goblet, the cup of My fury. You will never drink it again. I will put it into the hands of your tormentors, who said to you: Lie down, so we can walk over you. You made your back like the ground, and like a street for those who walk on it."
Isaiah 51:22-23 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

We are often tread upon... but not defeated... weeping may last through the night... but joy truly does come... and that right early.

Again in Colossians 2:13-15: we see the retribution of The Messiah against the sin/iniquity/temptation that at one time tread over our hearts and spirits like a skilled skater over smooth ice... but the heart of ice has been melted by God...

"And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses. He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it out of the way by nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; He triumphed over them by Him." (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Sin... and Death... and Hell... and The Grave... shall each one face their destiny.

As will the redeemed in Christ.

This is in The Name.

xtnyoda, shalomed

Friday, December 24th, 2010. Today's cherished Nugget from guest blogger Pastor Bill.

“Christmas is based on an exchange of gifts: the gift of God to man—his Son; and the gift of man to God—when we first give ourselves to God.”
(Vance Havner)

Remember to keep Christ in CHRISTmas. CHRISTmas is truly the gift that keeps on giving. The familiar verse, John 3:16, reminds us all year long that

“God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Our Lord Jesus is a most personal and precious gift given in love to us from His Father God.

"God, thank You for the true gift of life and love.
Amen."

Bro. Bill

God is love!

From a Christmas Past

Day 180

Yahweh

Speaking

This is what your Lord says- Yahweh, even your God, who defends His people..."
Isaiah 51:22 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

For Yahweh to speak is consistent with His Name... for He exists to all who believe and to all who will listen.

This is in The Name.

xtnyoda, shalomed

Morning Rush

I really didn't know they had embedded a video recorder in my helmet...

xtnyoda, shalomed

H/T Larry!

Thursday, December 23rd, 2010. Today's cherished Nugget from guest blogger Pastor Bill.

“The worship of God is not a rule of safety—it is an adventure of the spirit.”
(Alfred North Whitehead, 1861–1947)

Many would try to use religion to "hedge a bet" with God. The truth is that the "bet" is not religion, but is a relationship with Holy God brought about by the gift of God’s Son, Jesus. To enjoy that relationship, we must worship Him in Spirit and in truth (John 4:24).

"God, thank You for letting us draw near to You for worship.
Amen."

Bro. Bill

O, Come all ye faithful... Let us adore Him, CHRIST The LORD!

Day 179

Yahweh

Removes the Cup of Fury

This is what your Lord says- Yahweh, even your God, who defends His people- "Look, I have removed the cup of staggering from your hand; that goblet, the cup of My fury. You will never drink it again. I will put it into the hands of your tormentors, who said to you: Lie down, so we can walk over you. You made your back like the ground, and like a street for those who walk on it."
Isaiah 51:22-23 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

When trouble comes... as it will... the first place to look for responsibility is to one's own self.

The oft repeated desire to "discover one's own self" is essential actually... that part of self that is offensive to God. Once discovered and acknowledged with humility... God will say, "Stand up" and the dark night will stand down.

This is in The Name.

xtnyoda, shalomed

"The theology behind it all is really beautiful."

I'm quite familiar with this church. (says Rick.)



Over at Brutally Honest Rick has this timely post and the story behind the Nativity.

The still of the night is briefly broken when you see the handmade nativity in front of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in York County.

More than 15 church members had a hand in building the religious scene, which features special backlighting to draw intrigue and drama to the meaning of the moment.

Muralist Marcy Avery, who has an art degree from Virginia Tech, designed the nativity. The life-size figures are part of a 21-foot-long scene with a stable that is 8 feet high and 15 feet long. The thatched stable roof is made from straw and ornamental grasses.

"Father Mike Joly wanted the figures painted black and the scene backlit," she says.

"Once I saw the scene lit up, I understood.

"Father Mike, because he's blind, sees things in his heart differently than we see with our eyes. He wanted the figures painted black to represent our own darkness, and the backlighting to represent the light of Christ piercing through our own spiritual night.

"The theology behind it all is really beautiful."

Thanks Rick!

Everyone have a blessed Christmas weekend.

xtnyoda, shalomed

Russian and Polish Climatologists saw this coming way back in September as the result of the dramatic slowing down of the Northern Jet Stream that circles the northern hemisphere.

Care to guess what impacts the Jet Stream the most? It just happens to be the sun... not the rising or falling of CO2 in the atmosphere... the sun... and as far as I've heard no one has said that mankind has affected the sun as of yet... but give them time after they figure out that the sun is actually the greatest contributor to the earth's climate...

Daily Mail

How a freak diversion of the jet stream is paralyzing the globe with freezing conditions

The freezing conditions that have blasted Britain are being blamed on a series of weather patterns that are bringing Arctic temperatures to much of western Europe, California and even Australia.

One of the main factors is a change in the position of the jet stream - the fast-moving current of air that moves from west to east, high in the atmosphere.

Changes in the jet stream's path can cause massive changes in weather conditions across the globe and may be why Australians are now shivering their way through summer and the current freezing conditions in California.

By the way... the Daily Mail wants to call it a "freak diversion" for the Jet Stream to act in this way? What is really freaky is that all these really smart global warming alarmists have relegated the sun to only having a variation of 0.02% in energy output. That is the number they have factored into all the computer models... as if the sun never varies in energy output more than 0.02%?

Now THAT is freaky... and then to try and literally impact and control the energy use in the world on that kind of shoddy information is... evil.

xtnyoda, shalomed

Welcome to Winter

I've been looking for a way to officially welcome the arrival of winter to the northern himisphere and the following article seems to be a pretty good way.

The global warming alarmist are running out of convincing arguments to prop up their fear mongering about "global warming"... and their desperate efforts are becoming more... bazaar by the day.

Daily Caller

As Colorado braces for epic snowfall, Great Britain literally comes to a halt because of record blizzards, and the whole northern hemisphere enters what is predicted to be an especially harsh winter, some climate change experts are blaming the cold spell on global warming.

....

Some call this phenomenon the Arctic Paradox: that as the Arctic gets warmer, the cold air doesn’t necessarily disappear, it just shifts south. In other words, there isn’t any weather, hot or cold, that can’t be explained with global warming theory. Unsurprisingly, some are not convinced.

“You can make up any analogy you want, but the fact is that computer models don’t show that change,” Pat Michaels, a climatologist and senior fellow at the Cato Institute told The Daily Caller. “If you can’t model it, you don’t have any evidence for it.”

It is, said Michaels, the “core problem of climatology:” “It is attempting to explain everything even when everything becomes contradictory.”

“They make this stuff up as they go along,” said Myron Ebell, director of the Center of Energy and Environment at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. “If this theory is true, a necessary consequence is that there will be less severe winter storms because arctic air masses will not be as cold.”

According to Ebell, if the Arctic was getting warmer, the air rushing south would also be warm. This would reduce the difference between the two meeting pressure systems, leading to less severe winter weather. This hasn’t happened....

Being a part of the global warming belief movement has moved from simply being... gullible... to fanatical cultists.

And God will prevail over the climate.

xtnyoda, shalomed

Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010. Today's cherished Nugget from guest blogger Pastor Bill.

“In order that people may be happy in their work, three things are needed: they must be fit for it; they must not do too much of it; and they must have a sense of success in it.”
(John Ruskin, 1819–1900)

Years ago, I heard the following quotation: "Find a job you love to do and you will never work again.” God created us to find fulfillment in our vocation so that in our labor we can achieve a sense of accomplishment. The writer of Ecclesiastes 9:10 remindes us,

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.”

"God, thank You for letting us be fulfilled in what we do.
Amen."

Bro. Bill

Day 178

Yahweh

Stand Up!

"His name is Yahweh of Hosts. I have put My words in your mouth, and covered you in the shadow of My hand, in order to plant the heavens, to found the earth, and to say to Zion, "You are My people." Wake yourself, wake yourself up! Stand up, Jerusalem."
Isaiah 51:15-17 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

In the military this would be said, "Come to Attention!"
This is the ultimate call from Yahweh that He is readied to speak, ready to instruct, ready to command.

When Yahweh speaks we should listen with rapt and undivided attention. He is to announce a mission... and when He commands the mission He also provides the ability to fulfill that mission... for the Glory of His Name.

This is in The Name.

xtnyoda, shalomed

Tuesday, December 21st, 2010. Today's cherished Nugget from guest blogger Pastor Bill.

Spurgeon, that great prince of preachers, was once staying at an inn in one of the valleys of northern Italy where the floor was dreadfully dirty. “I had it in my mind to advise the lady to scrub it,” said Spurgeon, “but when I perceived it was made of dirt, I reflected that the more she scrubbed the worse it would be.” Just so, God knew that there could be no improvement of the corrupt nature of man except through faith in His Son.

No matter how much we try, our best will never be good enough to deserve the relationship with God that He freely gives us. The writer of Isaiah 64:6 puts our works into perspective with these words:

“We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.”

The good news is found in Isaiah 1:18: “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

"God, thank You for cleaning us as only You can.
Amen."

Bro. Bill

The Chaplain's Corner




Guest blogger, Chaplain Paul, is one of the most effective chaplains in America today. He is an emergency responder to every situation.

Hey, this is the Chaplain again.

First I want to wish you - MERRY CHRISTMAS!

You may be doing some Christmas shopping this week, so I thought I'd give you a helpful tip. If you're not sure whether he wears a medium or large; if you don't know if she is a size 6 or 8, you might want to find something that is, "One-Size-Fits-All".

For her, jewelry is a pretty safe bet; and a necklace is, one-size-fits-all. For him power tools usually do the trick and again, one-size-fits-all. There is another, much more important subject where one-size-fits-all, that is your eternal destiny. And Christmas is a great time to think about that.

As you know our world is full of religions, lots of 'isms' and 'aintms'. But there is only one savior, one messiah, one Jesus. And He said that He was the one and only one-size-fits-all really works; that's for the spiritual need in your life. That emptiness on the inside of you - only Jesus can fill that void.

I don't know what you're feeling or what kind of situation you may be facing, but I do know that Jesus has the solution. He alone has the answer to your deepest need. Jesus is the gift that perfectly fits every heart. And on that first Christmas so long ago, He came to us so that we could come to Him.

God bless you & yours and once again, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Monday, December 20th, 2010. Today's cherished Nugget from guest blogger Pastor Bill.

“Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin will entice a man to cease from prayer.”
(John Bunyan)

When we consider that prayer is our direct link to the God of all creation, it only makes sense that the father of all lies would want us to stop talking to Him. Such a disconnect, cripples us from a closer sin-free relationship with our God. The writer of James 4:8 encourages us with these words:

“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, double-minded people!"

"God, Thank You for letting, even welcoming our fellowship with You.
Amen."

Bro. Bill

Our God is Awesome!

Dec. 19 – The glorious Declaration of Peace

Guest blogger, Stan Nussbaum, takes us on a journey through the messianic year calendar.



Welcome to the journey of our Messiah through the year with Dr. Nussbaum.

"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors." Luke 2:14 (NLT)

“Peace on earth”—what a fitting way for the angels to declare the birth of the Messiah, issuing the “Declaration of Peace,” gift-wrapped in glory and grace. The glory terrified the shepherds but the angels calmed them with news of peace. Yes, the glory was approaching but no, it was not going to kill them. It was going to arrive in Bethlehem as a harmless newborn baby.

This baby would bring peace to earth. Neither the angels nor the shepherds were thinking this was a religious announcement about peace in some far-off future in heaven. The declaration was that the peace of heaven was coming to earth right then and there. To announce the baby is to announce the peace. In fact, the baby is the peace. The glorious future of the world was wrapped up in that one little child. It only takes one Messiah to change everything.

This messianic peace, like everything else in the Messianic Year, was God’s gracious initiative, not anything that humans had concocted, earned, or promoted. God by his own choice out of his own goodness made the Declaration of Peace in his way and his time.

As the Messiah and all his blessings are propelled by God’s grace, so they all lead to his peace. Grace and peace are like two parentheses bracketing the Messianic year. Grace and peace are the defining framework that all the other blessings come from and lead toward. They are the alpha and omega of blessings. The apostles knew what they were saying when they started out their letters, “Grace and peace to you.”

The “peace” we look forward to is much more than the end of a war. Peace, or “shalom” as the shepherds would have heard it, basically meant utopia. Peace meant life, plenty, fulfillment—perfect people in perfect circumstances and perfect harmony with God. At last everything becomes what God in his grace intended it to be when he made it in the beginning.

This comprehensive peace was what the Messiah was talking about when he himself re-issued the Declaration of Peace as an adult. Peace is what you get when God is in charge, and Jesus’ declaration was, “God is taking charge now” (“The reign of God is beginning,” or in King James English, “The kingdom of God is at hand.” Mark 1:15)

Jesus’ purpose in coming to earth was to issue the Declaration of Peace.

"I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God in other places, too, because that is why I was sent." (Luke 4:43, NLT)

We miss the centrality of this work of declaration because of the English word, “preach.” The root meaning is to herald or proclaim, not to give a sermon in a religious gathering. John the Baptist was a herald. Jesus was a herald. He sent his disciples out as heralds. They were all heralding the arrival of peace on earth, just like the angels outside Bethlehem.

Ironically it was his Declaration of Peace that almost got Jesus killed the first time he announced it in his home town (Lk. 4:16-30) and eventually did get him killed on the cross. Not just anybody can declare peace. Only kings do that. If you go all over the country declaring peace, if you send out seventy-two of your followers in pairs as an advance party to inform every town and village of your peace declaration before you get there (Lk. 10:1-6), if you follow up your peace declaration by calling people to follow you, you are acting like a king even if you mysteriously refuse to come right out and say it. People can connect the dots.

Jesus told the seventy-two to look for “people of peace” (Lk. 10:6), that is, people who would welcome the Declaration of Peace and welcome him as the Declarer. This is why every one of the weekly readings in the Messianic Year ends with a welcome message. We want to be those “people of peace” (peace-welcomers) today.

Not everybody wants to welcome Jesus and his messengers, as we saw throughout the past season. That explains Mt. 10:34,

"Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! No, I came to bring a sword.”

The Declaration of Peace brings peace to those who welcome it, but it radically divides the welcomers from the refusers.

John 3 paints the picture clearly. God loves the world and sends his Son to bring life (v. 16) not to condemn anybody (v. 17). But when people refuse the Son and the light he brings, they are condemned (v. 18-19). Their negative reaction to the light shows that they prefer the darkness, and darkness is what they get (v. 19-20). They are not the people God “favors” (Lk. 2:14). His grace comes to them and they turn it down flat.

For the time being they continue their evil ways, pumping more death, lostness, oppression, helplessness, bitterness, fear, and shame into the world—the defiant opposites of all the Messiah’s blessings. It is as if they are trying to prove that peace has not arrived yet and Jesus’ declaration means nothing.

But the King of kings is coming to enforce the Declaration of Peace. Those who live by refusing him will die by refusing him (Rev. 19:11-21). And there will be peace on earth. Once that glorious baby arrived, the die was cast and things could not turn out any other way. Merry Christmas!

Welcome: Jesus, Messiah, we welcome your Declaration of Peace. Let it reign in our lives. Make us people of peace.

Affirmation: Peace has been declared by the Messiah. Peace is arriving. Peace will be enforced when he returns. I will do whatever it takes to spread the Declaration of Peace.

Sunday, December 19th, 2010. Today's cherished Nugget from guest blogger Pastor Bill.

“Not without design does God write the music of our lives. Be it ours to learn the time, and not be discouraged at the rests. The making of music is often a slow and painful process in this life.”
(John Ruskin)

The song of our lives is not made better by the sustains, but by the crescendos, decrescendos, and pauses which serve to keep it interesting. The writer of Psalms 116:7 gives us this advice:

“Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.”

Enjoy the rests God gives you out of His abundant love for us.

"God, Thank You for Your orchestration in our life.
Amen."

Bro. Bill

Saturday, December 18th, 2010. Today's cherished Nugget from guest blogger Pastor Bill.

"This morning, through a picture of the beauty God puts before us, I was reminded of His blessings. I had seen the same sky, but God used one of His servant to record the message and send it to me. I was blessed to see it the first time, and even greater to have a copy of the scene sent to me a few hours later. The blessing of the picture was of an individual who was obedient to record the sunrise and to share with others who may have missed it."

We have opportunities every day to bless someone with a picture or poem or Scripture God has impressed upon us. The writer of Hebrews 13:16 encourages us with these words:

“Don’t neglect to do good and to share, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.”

Do not neglect to do the good things for which God has gifted you. As far as sharing the abilities with which God has blessed you, I would offer this word of encouragement: “You be the blessing to someone today.”

"God, let me be a blessing to others even as they are to me.
Amen."

Bro. Bill

God, You are awesome!

Discrimination against Christians is quite the acceptable position in America these days.

"Freedom of Religion" has grown into "Freedom FROM Religion" as long as it is Christianity that is the religion we are to be freed from.

Yahoo news report

Scientist alleges religious discrimination in Ky.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – An astronomer argues that his Christian faith and his peers' belief that he is an evolution skeptic kept him from getting a prestigious job as the director of a new student observatory at the University of Kentucky.

Martin Gaskell quickly rose to the top of a list of applicants being considered by the university's search committee. One member said he was "breathtakingly above the other applicants." Others openly worried his Christian faith could conflict with his duties as a scientist, calling him "something close to a creationist" and "potentially evangelical."
...
Gaskell later learned that professors had discussed his purported religious views during the search process.... University scientists wondered to each other in internal e-mails if Gaskell's faith would interfere with the job, which included public outreach, according to court records.... "We might as well have the Creation Museum set up an outreach office in biology," biology professor James Krupa wrote to a colleague in an October 2007 e-mail. The museum was making national headlines at the time for exhibits that assert the literal truth of the Bible's creation story.
...
Gaskell was uniquely qualified for the new position at the University of Kentucky, according to court records, because he oversaw the design and construction of an observatory at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He also advised UK during the building of the MacAdam facility. He currently teaches at the University of Texas....

Christians are a great embarrassment to our society you know... esp. the brand of Christian that holds to the sacred scriptures as worthy of serious contemplation for fruitful living.

xtnyoda, shalomed

feminism discriminating against women

Brutally Honest has the rest of the story.

Since the height of the feminist movement in the late 1960s, non-leftist women in the West and Israel have been hard-pressed to answer the question of whether or not we are feminists. Non-leftist women are opposed to the oppression of women. Certainly, we are no less opposed to the oppression of women than leftist women are.

But at its most basic level, the feminist label has never been solely or even predominantly about preventing and ending oppression or discrimination of women. It has been about advancing the Left’s social and political agenda against Western societies. It has been about castigating societies where women enjoy legal rights and protections as “structurally” discriminatory against women in order to weaken the legal, moral and social foundations of those societies. That is, rather than being about advancing the cause of women, to a large extent, the feminist movement has used the language of women’s rights to advance a social and political agenda that has nothing to do with women.

So to a large degree, the feminist movement itself is a deception.

The deception at the heart of the feminist movement is nowhere more apparent than in the silence with which self-professed feminists and feminist movements ignore the inhumane treatment of women who live under Islamic law. If feminism weren’t a hollow term, then prominent feminists should be the leaders of the anti-jihad movement.

What is really... amazing... is that so many can be so deceived.

xtnyoda, shalomed

Friday, December 17th, 2010. Today's cherished Nugget from guest blogger Pastor Bill.

Children use a stick to whack the beautiful piñata to break it open to see what is inside. While the piñata is lovely on the outside, the treasure comes when the exterior is removed.

Likewise, God uses what is necessary to remove the shell of a man to reveal the real treasure He has placed inside of us. Do we reflect His glory, or are we empty and hollow. Let us pray with the Psalmist:

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."
(Psalm 51:10)

"God, let me be willing for You to remove what is needed to make me useful for You. Amen."

Bro. Bill

God, You are awesome!

An old saying goes that "misery loves company".....

.... and the same could be said of sin.... and Hollywood is looking for ever younger company.

FOX news report

Prime Time TV 'Objectifies and Fetishizes' Underage Girls, Study Says

LOS ANGELES – Long gone are the days when Marcia Brady’s sweet smile and Winnie Cooper’s brains and beauty were how television represented teen-age girls.

According to a new study conducted by the Parents Television Council (PTC), Hollywood is shockingly obsessed with sexualizing teen girls, to the point where underage female characters are shown participating in an even higher percentage of sexual situations than their adult counterparts: 47 percent to 29 percent respectively.

PTC’s report, entitled “New Target: A Study of Teen Female Sexualization on Primetime TV” is based on a content analysis drawn from the 25 most popular shows in the 12-17 demographic throughout the 2009-2010 television season.

“The results from this report show Tinseltown’s eagerness to not only objectify and fetishize young girls, but to sexualize them in such a way that real teens are led to believe their sole value comes from their sexuality," said PTC President Tim Winter. "This report is less about the shocking numbers that detail the sickness of early sexualization in our entertainment culture and more about the generation of young girls who are being told how society expects them to behave."

“Storylines on the most popular shows among teens are sending the message to our daughters that being sexualized isn’t just acceptable, it should be sought after,” Winter said. “It is outrageous that TV executives have made it their business to profit off of programs that depict teen girls blissfully being sexualized by casual partners.” .....

Now... for all you parents that tend to use the television as a baby sitter... I think we need to have a little chat...

xtnyoda, shalomed

It Is Not Winter Yet #3

This is the same arctic blast that swept across North America last week and earlier this week... and it's going to run it's course through Asia... then... will it revolve around again to North America?

Daily Star UK

FREEZING Britain will be buried by the worst ­blizzards in 100 years ­today.

Drifts of up to 6ft are expected as 60mph Arctic gales batter the country.

Motorists and train commuters have been warned to expect chaos while thousands of schools will shut early.

Millions of Christmas cards and presents will not arrive.

Forecasters have warned that the storms, which will drop a foot of snow in hours, will be even more serious than the notorious 1962-63 winter and the worst to hit Britain since 1927.

Giant drifts are set to close dozens of main roads. Scores of railway lines will be threatened with long delays and ­cancellations....

“The winds are expected to cause 6ft drifts in the north. Many roads will be closed, including A roads.”

Long-range forecaster Jonathan Powell, of Positive Weather Solutions, said the freeze could last until mid-February and the temperature this winter could plummet to a record low.

The Polar freeze is set to cost our economy £13.2billion by Christmas, wiping out 1% of the UK’s annual turnover, said loss experts RSA.

Retailers said the snowfalls could force some small firms to fold.

To add to the misery, petrol prices rose even higher, with an average litre of unleaded hitting a 122.14p.

And don't think for a minute that this is a local event... it's happening over the entire northern hemisphere... and the southern hemisphere as well... one might call it world wide in scope.

One might call these "weather events" epic.

One might even begin to believe that Yahweh is involved for some reason.

xtnyoda, shalomed

Thursday, December 16th, 2010. Today's cherished Nugget from guest blogger Pastor Bill.

“God works continually, a thousand joys he would Pour into you at once, if suffer it you could.”
(Angelus Silesius, 1624–1677)

God’s grace is sufficient for today. We need it to drip on us daily rather than be poured out as a flood that we might not be able to stand. God knows if He gave it to us all at once, we might forget where it came from. The apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that Jesus said,

“My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”

Just like the morning dew, I appreciate my grace for today.

"God, thank You for being our all in all every day.
Amen."

Bro. Bill

God, You are awesome!

Day 177

Yahweh

Wake Yourself Up!

"His name is Yahweh of Hosts. I have put My words in your mouth, and covered you in the shadow of My hand, in order to plant the heavens, to found the earth, and to say to Zion, "You are My people." Wake yourself, wake yourself up!"
Isaiah 51:15-17 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Many people don't have enough spiritual sense to realize when they are under the heavy hand of Yahweh's displeasure.

They will thrash around trying to better their circumstances... never realizing that their enemy/tormentor is actually God... who is trying to get their self-centered attention.

Yahweh will use whatever means to shake one into spiritual awareness... and He then calls out... "Wake Yourself Up!"

This is in The Name.

xtnyoda, shalomed