Numbers just make sense

Our world has gone over the 7 billion mark in its population bomb.  India is now challenging China for the top spot in the numbers game.  The way we traditionally and very personally identify each of those who make up the mass of people is with a name. We like our names.  We did not choose it but it is ours.

However, more and more the governments of our world want us to become numbers.  Names are to difficult to use when dealing with billions of people.  Names can be the same and are duplicated.  As time marches on and more and more people enter our world names are going to become a problem.  Numbers will be easier for the use of identifications.

Think for a moment.  How many numbers do you have connected with your name?  At birth a birth certificate number is given to you.  In the USA and other countries Social Security numbers are issued to each child born in the country.  As we move through our lives a collection of numbers increases.  Various numbers are used in the school system.  Drivers licenses, credit cards, hospital insurance cards, marriage license, passport numbers and on and on it goes.  We each have a hugh collection of numbers associated with our ID.

ID thieve has become a hugh uncontrollable crime.  People steal other people's ID numbers and are successfully stealing from them.  Banks are moving us very quickly into a numbering system.  Banks are using account numbers.  These include ATM machine numbers.  Each deposit or withdrawal has a number.

It would make sense for the governments of the world to agree to a universal numbering system that could be given to each person.  It would become the one number that the person would use for transactions.  Each person would have a number that no one else would have.  It would be your secure number.

Whether you visit your bank or a government office.  It would be the same number.  When you go to the grocery store you could paid for your food with a number.  Go to the drug store and get your medicine.  No matter what transaction would be required of you during a normal day you would have that one and only number.

It makes sense.  It would simplify things.  For the governments it would be a great problem solver.  When the planes struck the twin towards in the  USA killing thousands, the ID of these people who carried out the act was a hugh problem.  They each had several pass passports and various other kinds of ID numbers.  Who were these terrorists?  More importantly where are they today.

One number for each person.  A great ideal whose time is quickly coming.  You would just have to be careful that you did not lose your number.  If you did or if someone else got control of your number you would be in trouble.

However, the government is ahead of us and is moving in a deliberate direction that will not only bring us into this worldwide numbering system but it will become the law of the land.  Everyone must have this number in order to control the misuse or lost a controlling.

The world of science has come to the rescue.  More specifically the electronic world has come into the picture.  This world of electronics is moving faster than our small minds can keep up with.  Enter the world of computers and the fascinating microchips come into their greatest use.  A vast mysterious world that allows man through its use to number, track, control, signal, identify, and any other problems that has to do with individual IDs.

The Bible some 2,000 years ago talked about this system. Amazing!  It revealed a time would come when everyone would be required to take a number.  It would be a personalized number that would be imbedded into the skin of each person.  It would be so incredibly small that you would not be able to see it with the naked eye.  It could only be seen through an electronic reading device.

No more credit cards to worry about losing.  My ATM machine would be safe.  I could not be suspected of being a terrorist.  The banks would be happy.  Working with the governments a no money society could be created.  That would deal with the stealing of paper money.  Who could buy drugs?  If you stole a car how would you sell it?

The book of Revelation is THE book to turn to if you want to read about some of these.  It is merely introduced and is a mystery but it is there.  Predicted by the Apostle John as he wrote the book.  The number that is symbolicly used is 666.  It is said to be the number of man indicating this whole system would come from man.

Revelation 13 tells us the extend of the use of this required numbering system:

     1.  Everyone will be forced to take the number.  It will be government required.

     2.  There would be no "special" people left out.  Small and great.  Rich and poor.  Free and slave.

     3.  Those who refused will be killed.  After all they could be a terrorist.

     4.  Even the location on the body is told.  The forehead or right hand would be the place.  It would not matter which because it will not be seen.

     5.  No buying or selling could be done without the number.  The money to pay would be in the system.

     6.  It is referred to as the number of man.

     7.  Those who take the number are doomed for eternity.

Scriptures to read?  Revelation 13:16; 14:9;  15:2; 16:2; 20$

False religions will cause mass confusion in the last days

As I study various passages in scripture I am amazed at how often we are warned about religions that will so confuse people that they will not know what to believe.  Each religion claims to be the only true way.  They twist, distort and in a general way use scripture to their advantage.  In the confusion they create, people will move from one religion/church to another.  They will proclaim something they deeply believe one day and after a few days they are proclaiming another doctrine.  Some will become so confused they will simply leave the faith.  They will simply give up on truth and develop their own belief system.

In Matthew 24 Jesus was responding to questions His apostles had ask him about the end of time.  Their questions are much the same questions being ask today.  In trying to answer their questions He warned several times in this one chapter about the religious confusion that would occur in the last days.

In verses 4 & 5 He warns, "Watch out that no one deceives you.  For many will come in My name, claiming, "I am Christ."  In verse 10 He tells us the results of this is, "that many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other."  He continues, "Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people."  Again in verse 24 His warning continues, "For false christs and false prophets will appear and perform great  signs and miracles to deceive even the very elect - if that were possible."

I have no ideal how many religions you may be able to find in our world.  Move from country to country and you will see temples, gods, churches, religious declarations of various kinds.  They can be intriguing.  They can have a certain drawing power to them that is strange.  Watching their devotion to their gods amazes us.  How can they be wrong?

There is only one safe haven for truth in this kind of world.  It is the Bible!  The deeper you go into the Bible the more truth will be revealed to you.  The further you get away from it the more confused you will become.

The message of the Bible?  This is were many go astray.  They pull a few verses from one book of the Bible and then a few more from another book and develop their theology.  Here is a central truth concerning the Bible.  It is about One Person.  From Genesis 3:15 to the book of Revelation the red line of Jesus life can be found.  Every interpretation must be in total agreement with Jesus Christ.  A scripture concept or theology that takes us away from Christ will be false.

If you will keep your eyes on the Jesus of the Bible you will avoid false teachings.  The Jesus of the
Bible is the One born of the virgin Mary.  Born without sin.  Lived a sinless life.  Was resurrected on the their day.  He is the only One the Father accepts as our Savior.  Take away any part of this teaching and you have departed from truth.

There is no need for us to be confused.  We have the Bible in our hands.  Read it!  Meditate on it!  Memorize it!  Know its message!

A World in Trouble Means We are in the Last Days

I have been a student of last day events as they are revealed in the Bible for many, many years.  I am amazed as I see things happening today that were written about hundreds of years ago by the men and women of the Bible. In putting together in my own mind all of the things we are told will be happening in the last days I have noted some of my own insights.  These are not prophecies.  These are just obvious things occurring in our world that are moving us swiftly into what the Bible simply calls the last days.  The last day concept, of course, refers to the last days of our earth before Jesus returns to take over a world that has lost its way and is out of control.

First, we have a worldwide crisis created by the various kinds of governments.  Every form of any man made government can be found in our world today.  We have the autocratic forms which are merely dictatorships.  We oligarchic which is government by the few.  Aristocratic, government by the nobility can be found.  Imperialistic is a government by the military and then there is the democratic forms which is government by the people.  They can all be found.  However, God never intended His world to be governed by any one of these forms.  His world was to be a theocratic from of government.  The Israelites rejected this long ago and we are still rejecting it today and creating our own unworkable forms.

Second,  uncontrollable population explosion.  Masses and the power that they potentially have to create havoc in our world is beginning to be seen worldwide.  In the year of 2011 we saw throughout the Middle East what masses can do.  There are countries such as China who live in fear of the masses.  No matter how large an army a country may have they will not be able to control the masses.  The masses today are unhappy.  They are being abused, used, mistreated and enslaved by their governments.  We are going to see more of this kind of unrest in the last days.

Third, we have a worldwide economic crisis that has thrown the world into financial chaos and their seems to be no end in sight.  The economies that were strong and controlled so much of the enterprise of the world have lost their power.  The Euro is fighting for its life.  The US dollar is no longer king.  The Mark of the Beast that will come in the last days has to do with controlling the economy.  Revelation 13 tells us that no one will be able to buy or sell unless they have this mark.  This is an economy crisis being brought under control by a worldwide power which we know will be controlled by the anti-christ.

Fourth, devastating natural disasters are occurring almost daily.  We are not talking about inconvenient storms and landslides.  We are talking about island moving earthquakes killing thousands.  Tsunamis that silently sweep across the land and destroy everything and everyone.  No man made power can stop them.  We simply try to predict their coming and run from them.  But there is no place to run.  The Bible warns of an increase of these kinds of happenings in the last days.

Fifth, the emergent of false doctrines, religions, prophets and people claiming to be Christ.  When it comes to religion people can be easily blinded.  A false prophet can sound so correct.  Religions can promise so many things.  Doctrines are difficult to verify.  Our emotions take over and we embrace the most foolish of religions no matter how ridiculous the claims.  Even true Christians are often deceived and fall away from the faith.  Many end up believing nothing at all and declare there is no god.

Sixth, we live in an age of narcissistic domination.  The way we look.  The clothes we wear.  The cosmetics we use.  The plastic surgeries we endure.  The millions we spend.  We have developed into a world of people obsessed with the way we look and what we own that makes us look better.  It seems insignificant but it has become a dominating way of life.  The Bible simply refers to this as being self centered.  No one would dare admit that this is true of themselves but you only have to watch their life styles and observe what is important to them and how they spend their money.  This has become a serious misguided way of life.  There is no amount of money that we will not spend in order to make the right fashion statement.  What becomes lost in this approach to life is what is really important and how serious life is.  We easily forget tomorrow and any consequences of todays misguided value system.  We can't seem to think for ourselves.  We let the fashion world, the movie industry, the cosmetic developers form our value systems.  And to add to this tragic lost of our own value system we tend to pass it on to our children.

Seventh, there is a lack of  spiritual hunger.  The vacuum that everyman has for God is being filled with a world of entertainment being offered to us.  Never has there been so many different ways to be entertained.  The amazing world of electronics has brought to us movies that are life like.  Computers that hook us into a hugh world of music, movies and entertainment to your liking.  No one today is without some electronic device that they can have with them 24 hours a day.  People walk down the streets as if they are in a daze with ear pugs bringing into the head music of every kind.  Our children no longer want a doll or toy car.  They want a cell phone or game boy or one of the many items that Apple offers.  Satellites  fly around our world sending down to us from the heavens what ever we would like to entertain us at the moment.  Any spiritual hunger that God may be be trying to create within us is often lost in the world of confusing sounds meant to entertain us.

Where is all of this taking us?  One thing seems to be obvious we do not seem to have any control over where we are going.  We are being swept along with these forces.  I warn you my friend, you will be swept away with it all unless you bring into your life a power that is stronger than you and stronger than what you face.  God is the only source of power strong enough to help us.  On our own we will simply lose the battle and not even be aware that we are losing.  We will wake up one day and it will be too late.  God is always there and always will be.  But it is up to us to invite Him into our situation and allow Him to take charge of our confused and lost way of life.  He knocks everyday at our hearts door, but He will only knock and wait patiently hoping we will come to our senses and open the door for Him to come in.  He is waiting right now.

True Fasting

On February 22nd, which was Ash Wednesday we entered into the Lent season.  I am not sure that very many Christians know much about the season.  It begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday before Easter morning.  It is technically suppose to be 40 days.  The days are intended to remind us of the 40 days of Jesus' wilderness journey that He took before He began His ministry.

There is nothing said in the Bible about Lent.  The whole ideal has come from religion.  It is therefore a religious ritual intended to remind us to observe certain disciplines that are intended to bring us into a closer relationship with Christ.

One of the rituals that is observed by many is fasting....doing without food.  Jesus fasted 40 days and some may even try to follow His example.  Few people really fast that long and I certainly would not recommend it without an intended purpose that has come from God through a definite revelation.

Fasting is found in the Bible. Practiced by Old Testament people as well as New Testament.  Isaiah, one of the major prophets of the Old Testament, talks about fasting in his 58th chapter.  What is found in that chapter is Isaiah being told by God what true fasting is.  Here is what you find:

In verse 6 God speaks to Isaiah and declares "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:

     1.  To loose the chains of injustice.

     2.  Untie the cords of the yoke.

     3.  Set the oppressed free.

     4.  Break every yoke.

     5.  Share your food with the hungry.

     6.  Provide the poor wanderer with shelter.

     7.  When you see the naked, clothe him.

     8.  Do not turn away from your own flesh and blood.

This passage caught me by surprise.  I had never thought of fasting in this kind of context.  It makes you think.  It makes you wonder if fasting is something more than merely not eating or doing without some pleasure.  Fasting is seen here as an action on our part to do something for others that we may have never thought of doing.

We are to loose, to untie, to set free, share food and provide shelter.  It is Christianity in action.  It is obvious that there is more here than merely a ritual or a ceremony or even a period of time.  It is action that must not be limited to a few days of religious activity.  It is so much deeper than that.  This kind of fasting puts our Christianity to the test.  A real test of reaching out to those who have become enslaved by sin.  Who are suffering the consequences of sins.  Who can not free themselves.

True fasting is hearing the cry of the enslaved, the hurting, the hungry, the naked and doing something about it.  True fasting is rushing to them to do everything in our power to relieve them of their suffering.  It is a soothing act of mercy by reaching out with kind hands and comforting them.

True fasting!  I think I'll take a fresh new look at fasting and see if I am fasting at all.

I have been traveling

For the last two weeks Sue and I have traveled.  Nothing special about that.  But as I travel in and out of various countries things happen that you tell yourself, "I am going to remember that."  But, of course, most of the time you don't.  While it is fresh on my fading memory I though I would ramble a little about some things.

1.  The first flight was on Emirates Airline and it is super.  It has come to the top of some of my airlines along with Singapore, Thai Air, ANA and Cathay Pacific.  No American airlines on my list.  To many grandmothers daring you to ask for anything.

2.  We flew most of the trip on the world's largest commercial airline the A380.  It is a flying cruise ship.  Absolutely amazing.

3.  I also flew on Alitalia Air.  I have placed this airline at the bottom of my list of the worst International Airline.  Avoid it if you can.  I have heard strange stories about the mafia.  They may be the owners of this airline.  Customers are obviously a hugh annoyance to them.  Please give us your money and go away is their motto.  Terrible!

4.  We stayed in Reggio, Italy where our fist church in Italy is located  This is a small town where the Apostle Paul came to shore on his way to Rome.  A monument stands on the shore.  A great place for a Word for the World.

5.  The smallest cars possible ply the streets of Reggio.  They park on top of each other.  Streets are too small for cars, parking and people.  Tiny!

6.  From cold, cold Italy we flew to hot, hot Dubai.  Huge, beautiful airport.  Maybe the nicest international airport in the world.

7.  More religious freedom in Dubai than you think.  Not so in most of the other 6 emirates but some freedom.  Still, you must be careful.

8.  I got on an elevator in our hotel in Dubai and a small little old lady got on with me while eyeing me strangely.  "Is that a Bible you have?'  Yes it is.  She wanted to say more but the doors opened for her floor and she slowly got off looking back at me.  I don't know what was going through her little old mind.

9.  Heat and dust storms are the order of most days.

10.  We traveled to Ai Ain to visit Chad and Ginny.  They are from Tennessee and they are teachers.  It is a beautiful city and they were happy.

11.  Food is always different in each place you travel.  Dubai?  Cheeses of every kind.  Dates plentiful.  Wonderful Olives of every size and taste.  For breakfast we had beef bacon and beef sausage.  The pig was spared.

12.  You must know some basic sign language to get around.  This is language you just make up as you go alone.  Sue is very good at this.

13.  Changing time zones pays havoc with your sleeping order, your ability to think clear, and the clothes you should or should not be wearing.

14.  The time of day, the date and the day simply gets lost.  The meal you are eating usually doesn't help much.

15.  Security at airports is a nightmare.  You come close to being required to undress.  Coats off, pockets empty, belt off, shoes off, off, off, off.  I saw one Japanese man trying his best to hold up his pants while trying to do the other things the security people were shouting at him.

16.  After everything marching through the ex-ray machine you find yourself elbow to elbow with a dozen other people trying to redress.  Excuse me.  Pardon me.  Is that your belt or mine?

17.  Airlines have a very unique system of having you arrive at gate 1 and your must  be at gate 100 in five minutes.  Marvelous the way they can do that.

18.  The meals are fascinating if you happen to get one.  Most of the time you do not know what it is your are eating and before you are finished, "We are beginning our descend."  Tray tables up, seats in place, seat belt buckled.  Hurry, hurry.

19.  Turn off all electronics or you will cause total confusion in the tower and the pilot's instructions.

20.  We have just landed and everyone tries to get off at the same time.  Hurry or something terrible is going to happen.  Overheads pop open and what does fall out on someone's head is pulled out quickly as if someone is going to steal your bag.  On to the next wonderful flight.  I know it because they keep telling us what a great airline this is.  Now where can I find gate 100A.