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Deer attacks man.Turkeys attack woman. Stink badger attacks in Borneo. It’s chaos I tell ya

Posted on November 22, 2012 by elizabethprata

Forget about rise of the machines…it’s rise of the animals, lol

Deer attacks two men in their front yard, and injures five police officers AFTER it is tased
Article has video. Impressive dents in the guys’ truck. Happened in TX.

“Joseph Rose and Cole Kellis were leaving their home in Whitehouse on Friday morning when they noticed a deer in their front yard. Rose approached the deer and he says the deer seemed friendly. But then Kellis and Rose say the deer then charged them and started to attack. Rose and Kellis ran to Rose’s pick-up truck to try to get away from the wild buck. The deer then “poked” Rose in his ribs, so Rose jumped out of his truck into the back-bed. Rose says he left his driver-side door open and the deer climbed in and took his pack of cigarettes that were sitting in his center console. The deer starting eating Rose’s smokes, and when Rose tried to get them back, Rose says the deer got more aggressive. They then had to call Whitehouse police and the Game Warden. When police arrived they had to tase the deer and then Rose says it took more than 5 men to restrain the buck. KETK spoke to Smith County Game Warden, Dustin Dockery, and he says, “Admire deer from a distance but do not approach them because they can be dangerous.”

He tried to get his cigarettes back? Dude, know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em…

Complaints About Turkey Attacks On The Rise In Brookline, MA
“Neighbors are on the offensive in Brookline after what some residents are describing as aggressive turkeys. “They were attacking the vehicle,” Karen Halvorson said outside her home in the Aspinwall Hill neighborhood. After getting in her truck, a neighbor came and ran the birds off but it didn’t stop there. “Then, the turkeys came and started attacking my front door,” she said.” A second run-in came a few weeks ago as she walked nearby. “I looked back and three of them charged me,” she explained. She moved to the center of the street to avoid the animals, but it wasn’t enough. “The turkey flew in my face and scratched my neck,” she said. Halvorson refuses to give up her walks so she has taken precautions. Complaints to Brookline Police about wild turkeys have doubled in the past two months.”

Good for her she refuses to give up her walks. Give a turkey and inch and he’ll gobble a mile.

In this story of animal attack from the other side of the world…the wild jungles of Borneo, we read

Villagers mystified by strange animal Villagers mystified by strange animal
“An Indonesian plantation worker and a 75-year-old farmer got the shock of their lives when they were attacked by an unknown animal species in two separate occasions earlier this month. The farmer, Aris Kuna of Kampung Paon Gahat, was attacked by the rare animal while attending to his pepper garden about noon. The foreigner was attacked a week later at a plantation near Kpg Baing while gathering oil palm fresh fruit bunches… The animal that attacked the duo was described as having a “bear and wild boar” resemblance. Fellow workers and villagers who saw the carcass, brought by the Indonesian, could not identify the animal species. “In all my life venturing into the jungle, hunting and such, I’ve never come across this species,” 62-year-old Louis Nyaoi said.”

“The farmer said that the animal made a strange sound and rushed toward him, at one point standing on its hind legs. The reign of terror—or at least consternation—ended when the farmer, holding a sickle, promptly sliced the creature up. The animal was described as about two feet long, with a long, pig-like snout and long, sharp claws. It also gave off a horrible odor that got much worse after death. “

But Discovery scientists in this debunking article said it was likely a stink badger. Whether a mystery Bornean chupacabra or jungle stink badger, the sickle slices and dices handily. Don’t leave home without it. Operators are standing by.

Bun Rany, Cambodia, Obama, sampeah

Cambodian First Lady disses Obama, genteelly, of course

Posted on November 22, 2012 by elizabethprata

Investor’s Business Daily has a good article summing up Obama’s Asian tour. Obama’s Southeast Asia Trip All Style, No Substance

I got a chuckle out of the genteel jab at the President by Cambodia’s First Lady. So much of diplomacy is non-verbal ritual. I’ve noted Obama’s bowing to Arab kings and faux pas with the other leaders in terms of non-verbal signals. Now the Cambodian First Lady comes along but she does not make a faux pas but instead makes a pointed non-verbal remark.

First, a short explanation of what the bowing and pressed hands means. Emphasis mine

Wikipedia
“The Sampeah is a Cambodian greeting or a way of showing respect. It is very similar to the Thai wai and the Indian Añjali Mudrā/namasté. While performing the sampeah, the person places his palms together in a prayer-like fashion while bowing slightly. The higher the hands and the lower the bow, the more respect is shown.

This is how Bun Rany, Cambodia’s first lady, gives President Obama a “sampeah” greeting at a tilt usually reserved for servants. Read More At IBD

Bun Rany, Cambodia’s first lady, gives President Obama a “sampeah” greeting at a tilt usually reserved for servants.

LOL!

jesus, life of pi, movie review, satan

Life of Pi: A Christian review

Posted on November 22, 2012 by elizabethprata

A new movie by Ang Lee is hitting theaters and the movie-appreciating audience is making a buzz over it. Ang Lee was the man who directed Brokeback Mountain (an ode to homosexuality) and the beautiful and absorbing fairy tale Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Lee is considered one of contemporary filmmaking’s best directors. He has been nominated for Oscars and has won Oscars. He is well regarded and has a unique visual style that he brings to the screen which immediately identifies his work.

The movie that’s making so much buzz Ang Lee’s Life of Pi. Life of Pi is a fantasy adventure novel by Yann Martel published in 2001. It won the Booker Prize, garnered other prizes and went on to become a best-seller. This is a story that Hollywood initially sought to bring to the screen because the book was so well-written, unique, and salable.

However, Hollywood soon dropped the idea of making the book into a movie due to the inherently exquisite difficulties of bringing the otherworldly narrative to film. Eventually, most producers thought that it would be too hard to relate the mystical beauty of the tale to film in a way that would hold audience attention.

Ang Lee’s incredible talent was brought to the fore and he surmounted those difficulties. The film was released yesterday. By all accounts it is a visual triumph and a stand-out, unique film compared to the fodder and tripe that usually permeates the theaters at this time of year.

Wikipedia reports, “In a letter directly to Martel, Barack Obama described Life of Pi as “an elegant proof of God, and the power of storytelling”. Brian Bethune of Maclean’s describes Life of Pi as “[a] head-scratching combination of dense religious allegory, zoological lore and enthralling adventure tale, written with warmth and grace”. Master Plots suggested the “[c]entral themes of Life of Pi concern religion and human faith in God”.

Apparently not only is the story well-told on film, not only is it a feast for the eyes in lyrical beauty and lauded its ability to transport the viewer to another place of peace and transcendence. Not only is it a box-office triumph, but many Christian reviewers are rating it highly also.

This fact has piqued the interest of a usually under-served Christian segment of the movie-going population, and so Christian families are streaming to the movie in droves. This essay is to determine if the movie is good food for Christian families to absorb.

We long for family movies that honor God and exalt Jesus. We are thirsty for some good food to take in, where we can relax in our seats and know that nothing we that we’re presented on the film will assault the eyes or offend God.

Life of Pi is NOT THAT MOVIE.

I have not seen it. Yet I am reviewing it. How can this be? Well, sometimes one can read an outline of the plot and know immediately that it is not worthy of attention. Do I need to watch Scorsese’s Last Temptation of Christ to know that it is not something I want to enter my mind? No. I don’t have to watch Jesus repudiate God’s plan and descend from the cross to live a fleshly life with Mary to understand it wasn’t something that God wants us to entertain.

One part of Wikipedia’s synopsis caught my attention.

“Pi is raised a Hindu, but as a fourteen-year-old he is introduced to Christianity and Islam, and starts to follow all three religions as he “just wants to love God.” He tries to understand God through the lens of each religion and comes to recognize benefits in each one.”

Right away I know this is not a movie for me. Anything that competes with or elevates anther god to equal status with the One True God is not worthy of my money, time, or attention. Pi, who is born a Hindu, at his mother’s behest to embrace plurality in everything, praises Jesus for bearing our sins while reciting the Quran? No thanks.

But that’s one person’s synopsis, what do others say?

CBN is Christian Broadcasting Network. CBN’s Movie Review says-

“While Christian audiences will be thrilled with the amount of onscreen time devoted to the cause of Christ and what it means to believe, they will also be quite disappointed as Islam and Hinduism receive equal representation. However, when viewed through the eyes of evangelical Christianity, you can’t help but be encouraged by the flickers of faith being projected onscreen. … Filled with thought-provoking moments of self-discovery, redemption and God’s unrequited grace, Life of Pi is an exploration into whether a person truly believes what they say they believe. For Christians, that is whether Jesus Christ went to the Cross as the ultimate sacrifice for sinners to be saved by grace. Unfortunately, this quest is played out for the other three religions as well.”

Are we so desperate for crumbs of a true holiness presented on screen that we are willing to eat the crumb off the corner of satan’s lip after having spewed Allah, Vishnu, and Catholic gods? Why do we settle for “flickers”? And lying flickers at that? Is that what encouragement has diluted down to? Apparently.

Christian Science Monitor wrote:
“Young Pi, raised in a not-very-strict Hindu household, tries his hand at Christianity and Islam as well. He’s an ecumenical free spirit who sees all religions as equally affirming.”

They called it a “sane movie” and gave it a B rating. That’s insane.

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Christian Cinema gave it ‘five doves’ and referred to the fact that the movie is ‘Dove Family Approved’ by the Dove Foundation several times in its review. So let’s see what they wrote:

“Pi’s agnostic father taught him, “Faith is a house with many rooms.” Pi himself is a religious person, but without a specific doctrine. He often prays to the God he learned about from a Catholic priest, but occasionally sends up an appeal to Allah, Vishnu, and Krishna. One desperate prayer Pi cries out when he’s nearly lost all hope is, “God, I give myself to you, a vessel.” The cinematography is spectacular, and the CGI and 3D effects rival those in “Avatar.” The movie is rated PG, however, there are several tragic events that are better taken in by older audiences. Therefore, we are pleased to award this profoundly moving story on film the Dove “Family-Approved” Seal for audiences over age 12.”

How can this be a Christian-approved movie when it is blatantly stated that the main protagonist prays to false gods, and when all his hope is lost, gives himself to one of them? Which one? The Catholic false god? The Hindu false God? The Muslim false god? And the Dove Foundation calls this “profoundly moving?!”

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Crosswalk is the only Christian review I’ve read that calls it what it is, ‘full of wonder but a poison pill’. They write-

“English theologian Ronald Knox once quipped, “Comparative religion is an admirable recipe for making people comparatively religious.” The current spirit of our age is to embrace many faiths as leading to the same god, not a philosophy that works with orthodox Christianity. The Bible practically screams warnings against such thinking, such as in 1 John 4, 2 John 1, 1 Timothy 4, 2 Corinthians 11—the list goes on.”

“Life of Pi“, the new film from director Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon) and based on the bestselling book from Yann Martel, has, at its core, a message that Christians reject. But—can there be a “but” after that?—the filmmaking in Life of Pi is often nothing short of spectacular. It has images of beauty and power that won’t be matched by any other film this year. Visually, it’s marvelous—it literally contains one marvel after another. But sandwiched in between those thrills is a message that’s contrary to the Gospel.”

That is how satan works. Sinuously. Beautifully. He comes as a beautiful angel of light but he brings death.

You will be tempted to view the film for its vaunted visuals. In 3D I hear it is even prettier. But do you want to violate the scripture that says–

“Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. In the end it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder.” (Proverbs 23:31-32)

Gill’s Exposition says
“when it moveth itself aright; sparkles in the glass, or goes down the throat pleasantly; or rather looks well to the eye, and appears right and good, and promises a great deal of satisfaction and delight.”

You say, ‘But that is a prohibition against drinking too much wine! It has nothing to do with a movie!”

The principle is the same. It sparkles… you’re attracted to it… you drink it in… it poisons you.

Listen to what Psalm 101:3-4 says- “I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar. I hate all who deal crookedly; I will have nothing to do with them. I will reject perverse ideas and stay away from every evil.” (NLT)

I would rather you go to see Brokeback Mountain, because it is honest in its lies and perversity. At least it is what it is. Life of Pi is what it isn’t. Mixing our Holy God with other gods and equalizing them is a worse blasphemy. Why would a Hindu or a Catholic think he needs Jesus after seeing this film, and especially if you are sitting next to him enthusiastically affirming the movie’s premise? Why would a recently saved youth or a weaker Christian brother see the need to repent of his Oprah-Osteen “many paths” apostasy when he sees you taking in the same lies, and liking it?

“Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” (1 John 5:21). An idol is anything that replaces the one, true God. Or competes with Him.

Read this from 1 Samuel 5:1-5:
“When the Philistines captured the ark of God, they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it up beside Dagon. And when the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and put him back in his place. But when they rose early on the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the Lord, and the head of Dagon and both his hands were lying cut off on the threshold. Only the trunk of Dagon was left to him. This is why the priests of Dagon and all who enter the house of Dagon do not tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.”

God tolerates no others in His house. Now your body is His house.

GotQuestions asks, “Should a Christian go to movies?“
“The Bible tells us that many things are permitted, but not all things are beneficial or constructive (1 Corinthians 10:23). It also says that whatever we say or do (or watch) should be done to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). We are to set our minds on things that are noble and pure (Philippians 4:8). If—and this is a big if—we can watch a movie or TV program that contains questionable content AND still be in agreement with these commands from the Bible, then it’s hard to see a wrong in this. The danger lies in (1) how what we are watching affects our heart and (2) how it affects others.”

It IS a danger, especially in this day of the last days when satan’s encroachment into everything is so pervasive. MacArthur said in his sermon, The Danger of Being a Friend of the World, “The evil impulses of man’s heart draw him toward worldliness and a worldly life brings one into a conflict with God.”

This movie will draw you, beautifully, but it is a draw toward compromise nonetheless. I take a hard line, as you know. I believe I could watch that movie and enjoy its visuals and its reported life-affirming message without compromise to my faith. I believe that my watching it would not present a stumbling block to weaker ones in my sphere. I believe my faith is very strong and that it would not be a problem. However, I will not watch it. Why?

Because my faith is so strong! It pains me to see other gods given equal time. It hurts to see others fall under satan’s lie that there are many paths to ‘life’. I mourn over the lies satan so easily sends out in tendrils that choke a heart. Unless the movie clearly identifies Jesus as the only way by the end of the film, it is not life-affirming. It is death affirming. My faith won’t let me spend two hours in a death-affirming event, no matter how prettily it’s presented.

Proverbs 26:23 says it best, “Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart.” The heart of Life of Pi is evil. I reject the crumb satan offers from his lips and I will stay away.

false religion, jesus, pericle fazzini, pope, sculpture, the resurrection

Now this is just plain evil. Not to mention ugly

Posted on November 21, 2012May 9, 2016 by elizabethprata

Catholic News Service reported last year,

Giving new life to a Vatican sculpture
“Rome’s unseasonably warm weather is giving the Vatican time to erect scaffolding and start a serious cleaning of Pericle Fazzini’s sculpture, “The Resurrection.” Work began today on the piece, which towers over the stage in the Vatican’s Paul VI audience hall. Since it’s plenty warm enough to hold the pope’s weekly general audience outdoors, visitors won’t even notice. The sculpture, dedicated in 1977, is almost 66 feet wide and more than 23 feet tall. According to L’Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper, the bronze piece weighs about 15 tons. It depicts Christ “rising from a tomb in the Garden of Olives, while the earth is shaken by an enormous storm.” During the work — in case the weather does turn cold — a tarp with a reproduction of the sculpture will hang over the scaffolding, so the audience hall still can be used. The work is expected to be completed in early December.”

The depiction is of Jesus emerging out of an atomic bomb crater with resurrected souls. You can read more about the sculptor and the sculpture here in the NY Times Obituary of him. His name was Pericle Fazzini. He died in 1987.

“Pericle Fazzini, the sculptor whose monumental statue ”The Resurrection” is the backdrop for Pope John Paul II’s weekly general audiences, died today. He was 74 years old. The sculptor, a native of Grottammare on the eastern Italian coast, began his career as an exponent of the Roman school of the 1930’s. His early wooden pieces, characterized by their simple style, led to the starker later figures, which he fashioned almost exclusively in metal, particularly bronze.”

“The Vatican commissioned Mr. Fazzini to provide a work for its modern auditorium. The result was ”The Resurrection,” a statue depicting Jesus rising from a nuclear bomb crater.”

”Suddenly there came to me the idea of Christ preaching peace for 2,000 years, and the place where He prayed for the last time: the olive grove of Gethsemane,” said Mr. Fazzini in a book about the work. ”I had the idea of depicting Christ as if He were rising again from the explosion of this large olive grove, peaceful site of His last prayers. Christ rises from this crater torn open by a nuclear bomb; an atrocious explosion, a vortex of violence and energy.”’
”The Resurrection” is molded in red bronze and yellow brass and measures 66 feet by 23 feet by 10 feet.

“It was unveiled by Pope Paul VI in 1977 and dominates the stage of the Vatican hall where the pope’s general audiences are held. Among Mr. Fazzini’s works is the bronze ”Sybil” at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and a giant sculpture of a sea shell commissioned by the City of Dallas. Mr. Fazzini is survived by his wife, Anita, and a daughter.”

You wonder what goes through a man’s mind to come up with a horrifyingly evil looking depiction such as that. Remember, Catholics adhere to doctrines and traditions that are not biblical so the likelihood exists that Fazzini was not saved and therefore had a blinded, depraved mind. (2 Corinthians 4:4; John 12:40). It seems evident that he could not rightly see Christ, (Mark 4:12) nor could the Pope that commissioned it nor the Popes that sit before it. Here is a very short news piece about the sculpture.

Imagine sitting in front of that evilly horrific sculpture week after week conducting ‘religious’ services, with a serpent-looking Christ coming out of a man-made bomb crater carrying sooty souls. Images are important. The scene speaks volumes.

cease fire, gaza, hamas, israel

Updated- it is effect now. Hamas, Israel agree to cease fire

Posted on November 21, 2012 by elizabethprata

NBC News reports, “Israel and Hamas have agreed to a cease-fire, the Egyptian foreign minister said Wednesday in a press conference, after eight days of fighting that have killed more than 140 Palestinians and five Israelis. The cease-fire is set to start at 9 p.m. Cairo time, Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr announced alongside U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.”

Right now it is 8PM in Cairo.

PM of Israel tweeted: ‏@IsraeliPM “PM #Netanyahu spoke with Pres Obama; accepted his recommendation to give Egyptian proposal for a ceasefire a chance”.

I think Israel probably achieved its objectives and thus had less to lose by agreeing to a cease fire. Where this will go in the next days is anybody’s guess. We know from the bible that this isn’t over. Keep praying.

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The cease fire is in effect officially as of now. However alerts are still going off in southern Israeli towns and after the cease fire deadline passed a rocket did explode. Pray that it was the last one.

jordan, prophecy, tel aviv, turkey

Middle East war news: Tel Aviv bus bombing, Turkey asks for Patriot Missiles deployment, Jordan unstable

Posted on November 21, 2012May 9, 2016 by elizabethprata

I’ll keep updating this blog entry through the day if situations warrant. Likely they will.

Tel Aviv bus hit by bomb; Hamas celebrates
A bomb exploded on a bus in central Tel Aviv on Wednesday, wounding 15 people in what Israeli officials said was a terrorist attack that could complicate efforts to secure a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Celebratory gunfire rang out across Gaza as the news spread and the territory’s Islamist rulers Hamas praised the bombing, but no one claimed immediate responsibility.”

Source JPost

On Twitter, Hillel Fuld wrote, “Putting a bomb on a bus of innocent people. WHO DOES THAT? A person 100% brainwashed and blind to reason. No talking peace with such people.”

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BNO News reports,

NATO chief says Turkey has requested deployment of alliance’s Patriot air defense missiles
Posted on 11-21 at 15:04:40 CST
[As released by NATO]

“Statement by the NATO Secretary General on Patriot Missile Deployment to Turkey”

“I have received a letter from the Turkish government requesting the deployment of Patriot missiles. Such a deployment would augment Turkey’s air defence capabilities to defend the population and territory of Turkey. It would contribute to the de-escalation of the crisis along NATO’s south-eastern border. And it would be a concrete demonstration of Alliance solidarity and resolve.”

“In its letter, the Turkish government stressed that the deployment will be defensive only, and that it will in no way support a no-fly zone or any offensive operation.”

‘NATO will discuss Turkey’s request without delay. If approved, the deployment would be undertaken in accordance with NATO’s standing air defence plan. It is up to the individual NATO countries that have available Patriots – Germany, the Netherlands and the United States – to decide if they can provide them for deployment in Turkey and for how long. Next week a joint team will visit Turkey to conduct a site-survey for the possible deployment of Patriots.”

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I reported earlier today that the situation in Jordan is tenuous and getting more unstable by the day. Here is some more news–

Gulf states extend lifeline to Jordan as they seek to contain unrest
“ABU DHABI – Oil-rich Gulf states are mulling ways to help Jordan shore up its fuel supplies after sharp price increases sparked protests against the king, the United Arab Emirates foreign minister said on Monday.”

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“Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” (Luke 21:23-24)

bangor, jesus, media bias, truth

News Bias getting more overt: two news anchors quit on-air

Posted on November 21, 2012May 9, 2016 by elizabethprata

Bangor Daily News publishes the following genteel headline:

Take this job and shove it: Fed-up Bangor TV anchors quit on air
“Citing a longstanding battle with upper management over journalistic practices at their Bangor TV stations, news co-anchors Cindy Michaels and Tony Consiglio announced their resignations at the end of Tuesday’s 6 p.m. newscast. … “I just wanted to know that I was doing the best job I could and was being honest and ethical as a journalist, and I thought there were times when I wasn’t able to do that,” said Consiglio, a northeastern Connecticut native who broke in with WVII as a sports reporter in April 2006. … [S]he explained, “It’s a little complicated, but we were expected to do somewhat unbalanced news, politically, in general.” Neither Michaels nor Consiglio would say what specific political leaning they were expected to adopt. Consiglio, who also was executive producer, said the balanced journalistic approach they use for all their stories was sometimes frowned upon.”

So two veteran and apparently ethical journalists resigned because being ethical and balanced and unbiased was allegedly not the preferred approach to news. The following is my editorial opinion regarding the state of the media and the coming quest for truth in the antichrist regime.

I grew up with Huntley and Brinkley and the Huntley-Brinkley Report. Theirs was the NBC television network’s flagship evening news program from October 29, 1956, until July 31, 1970. Each newscast ended with “Good night, Chet. Good night, David. And good night, for NBC News.” I was born in 1960 so the first ten years of my life involved absorbing their sonorous voices. As a matter of fact, critics considered Huntley to possess one of the best broadcast voices ever heard. The duo was filled with gravitas, and I was caught up in watching my parents’ absorbed attention to them. So I paid attention too. They looked like newscasters, they sounded like newscasters. They were newscasters.

In their final broadcast, Chet Huntley said, “I might also remind you that American journalism, all of it, is the best anywhere in the world.” And at that time, it was still true. After them came Walter Cronkite, dubbed ‘the most trusted man in America.’As Howard Kurtz said of early Cronkite, “I watched his image flickering on a small black-and-white set, the voice of authority in an age when we still revered, without a trace of cynicism, those who spoon-fed us the news.”

Huntley could say in all truth that American journalism was the best, and we could listen to him say that without laughing. Cronkite’s liberal bias and questionable ethics didn’t come to the fore until many years later. The 1950s and 60s and even the 70s era Watergate of Woodward & Bernstein and aggressive investigative journalism of 60 minutes were golden years for many in America of eagerly waiting to hear truthful news without bias.

In Huntley’s final broadcast, Huntley went on to say, “But you have bolstered my conviction that this land contains incredible quality and quantity of good, common sense, and it’s in no danger of being led down a primrose path by a journalist” but that statement unfortunately has not held up. Look where we are today.

The nature of sin and the nature of greed in politics has wound us down to the recent election and status we now endure- a grasping American public reliant on handouts and voting for the one who will subsidize them the most, a craven political system spawning politicians only to happy to comply as long as it lines their own pockets too, and a colluding Fourth Estate eager to get in on the action.

I think there would be little disagreement if I said there is a severe lack of common sense in society today and that we have gone far down the primrose path.

The Fourth Estate, or journalism, is important because a truthfully informed electorate can make the best decisions, and the best decisions benefit us all. Journalism also reflects us back to ourselves and if we do not like what we see we can take steps to change it. Journalism is both the mirror and the means to a healthy civilization within the confines of a vigorous democracy.

America’s national face has become a horror to many.

There was an old Twilight Zone episode called The Masks. A millionaire in New Orleans is about to die, and he summons his buffoonish, narcissistic, cowardly and miserly family members to be with him as he does. He tells them they get all his money if they do one final thing: put on the Mardi Gras masks ‘made special by an old Cajun’, and wear them until midnight. He sarcastically tells them that the personalities depicted on the mask are the opposite of their true personality. They are reluctant, but they are eager to get the money so in the end they don the masks.

As the hours tick by, the kindly patriarch bristles at having to be with his worm-like family members and he insults them. The family members are in pain as the masks, they tell him, are unbearable. At midnight the old feller makes one final tirade and expires. The family, caring less for their grandfather and more for themselves, take off the masks, but to their horror they discover that their faces have transformed to the personality depicted on their on unique mask: narcissist, coward, sadistic buffoon, and miser. Their outward personality is now seen plainly on their faces. They are no longer hidden by the mask they once wore of outward moral righteousness. The inward cravenness and the outward face presented to the world now match. Finally, they wore no mask.

This could be an allegory for America. It’s sort of like the chicken and the egg question- did the media’s constant portrayal of us as craven greedy gimme culture spark the culture, or is the media’s portrayal of us as such simply the drawing out of what had long been there, whereupon we finally wear no mask?

I’m not speaking literally of course, because not every single person in America is a wastrel. Jesus’s bride is spotless and shining, a moral example of HIS righteousness. However, with the recent election, it is clear that the media’s reflection of ourselves back to us has stripped off any semblance of moral righteousness or even political courage, and shown us that what the majority prefers is homosexual perversion, child murder, adultery, moral relativism, greed, and no accountability for any of it. Pardon me, but our inward horror is showing.

In leaving off the Fourth Estate for a moment and turning to the general media, I am daily getting more sick at watching television. Just the sheer number of commercials is outrageous, but the subject of them is atrocious. In attempting to watch even the most innocuous of shows, a quiet cooking show called Chopped, the ads in between the show segments made me sick. In successive turn, I saw an ad for vaginal mesh, male enhancement for more fun in the bedroom, and a housewife pole dancing around an upright vacuum. I turned the TV off.

It is nice to read that there are heroes, still. The two newscasters who resigned on the basis of desiring to present the news pure and unadulterated without management bias or political leanings are to be commended. Neither of them have a job lined up. Their stand is acknowledged and appreciated.

But the mask is set. We are a craven nation, who, even if given an unbiased newscast, would flee, because the truth is not to be found in hearts so laden with sin. In the near future, when the antichrist reigns, his ability to seduce by counterfeit miracles and the readiness of the already-prepared media to embrace untruth will only serve to advance his agenda. The truth can no longer be found in the media, almost universally.

Just as God is stripping Israel of her stability to the point at the outset of the Gog Magog war Israel finds when she cannot even rely on her own vaunted military- and they appeal to Him, He is stripping away reliance on man’s truth for decision-making. The media is not to be trusted, anywhere, even in a small northern city like Bangor. No place is unadulterated.

Our God is so great, that the antichrist and most of the people on earth will not even realize that it is GOD who is allowing this lying agenda to advance. It is His will and design to show us that as John said of Jesus in the beginning,

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14).

The truth cannot be found on earth. Jesus is the only truth and it can be found in His word. It contains all that we need to reflect ourselves back to ourselves: we are sinners in need of a Savior, and being perfectly holy, He has the answers.

“and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32).

israel, jordan, king abdullah, prophecy, psalm 83

The Muslim Brotherhood wants Jordan- Is Obama selling Jordan out to them?

Posted on November 21, 2012 by elizabethprata

The Muslim Brotherhood has been active ever since the Arab Spring. They have come to power in several nations, most notably Egypt.

There has been discontent in Jordan as well, but it hasn’t burst to the surface as visibly as in the other Middle East Nations such as Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, Qatar, Syria et al. Jordan’s King Abdullah has kept a tight hold on the swelling discontent…until now.

Several articles came across the wires this week which caused me to raise my level of concern for that country. Jordan is one of the last Middle East monarchies, and it also is the only nation after Egypt to hold a peace treaty with Israel. Of course the Muslim Brotherhood wants that treaty gone, just as much as they do in Egypt. The first article is from the As-Safir Newspaper, an Arabic political daily.

Muslim Brotherhood Weighs Options in Jordanian Protests
“The Jordanian government’s plans to call for early elections have failed to quell Jordanians’ discontent this time, as the results are known in advance, according to opposition members. Although King Abdullah II has previously reversed the decision to raise prices in order to avoid the public’s wrath, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had the final say to that effect. Thus, the Jordanian streets in Amman and other provinces were bursting with anger, sending a warning message from the Jordanian people to the inside, and to other Arab regimes that may choose to favor the interests of international neoliberal institutions at the expense of their own people. … The Jordanian monarchy has long underestimated young Jordanian demonstrators, who have spent the past year waiting for the spark of anger that would take their protests to the next level. They are well aware that the latest decision represents the corrupt economic regime alone.”

The movement wants to topple the regime, the article claims.

“According to Jordanian author Mohammed Faraj, “it is interesting that the Brotherhood’s members are not as present in Amman as in the provinces, even though the “demonstrations were the most aggressive” in the provinces. This suggests that the Brotherhood is not active in the Jordanian popular movements. “The movement is rather lying in wait. As soon as the regime responds to their conditions, it will dispense with the protests.”

And who knows from what direction or when that “spark of anger’ will come. Who knew that one Tunisian fruit vendor setting himself on fire in protest would start the entire Arab Spring?

In this second article on Jordan, the Gatestone Council of International Policy Institute reports this week:

Has the US Administration Decided to Get Rid of Jordan’s King Abdullah
“Unless the US clarifies its position regarding King Abdullah and reiterates its full backing for his regime, the Muslim fundamentalists are likely to step up there efforts to create anarchy and lawlessness in the kingdom. Washington needs to reassure King Abdullah and his followers that it will not allow the creation of an Islamic terror republic in Jordan. Has the US Administration decided to get rid of Jordan’s King Abdullah? This is the question that many Jordanians have been asking in the past few days following a remark made by a spokesman for the US State Department. Deputy State Department Spokesman Mark Toner managed to create panic [and anger] in the Royal Palace in Amman when he stated that there was “thirst for change” in Jordan and that the Jordanian people had “economic, political concerns,” as well as “aspirations.” The spokesman’s remark has prompted some Jordanian government officials to talk about a US-led “conspiracy” to topple King Abdullah’s regime. The talk about a “thirst for change” in Jordan is seen by the regime in Amman as a green light from the US to King Abdullah’s enemies to increase their efforts to overthrow the monarchy.”

This article is from Front Page Magazine. The authors pose the very same question.

Is Obama Selling Out the King of Jordan to the Muslim Brotherhood?
“Jordan is one of the remaining “moderate” states in the region, not because it’s an especially wonderful place, but because after the Arab Spring, much of the region has gone Islamist. The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is reasonably moderate and friendly to America mainly because it has no other options, with no oil and surrounded by larger countries that would love to gobble it up, it had no choice but to swap out its dependency on the UK for a dependency on the US. The Muslim Brotherhood would love to take over Jordan, as they have taken over Egypt, with Obama’s assistance, and as they are trying to take over Syria. But the United States appeared to have exempted Jordan from the Jihad of the Arab Spring. Until now…”

In the end, they do not maintain their cautious and moderate equilibrium- to their detriment. Jordan participates in the Psalm 83 attack on Israel. The Psalm reads-

“See how your enemies are astir, how your foes rear their heads. With cunning they conspire against your people; they plot against those you cherish. “Come,” they say, “let us destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more.” With one mind they plot together; they form an alliance against you— the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, of Moab and the Hagrites, Gebal, Ammon and Amalek, Philistia, with the people of Tyre. Even Assyria has joined them to lend strength to the descendants of Lot.” (Psalm 83:2-8).

J.R. Church wrote, “Bible scholars tell us that there is no evidence that such a regional War, uniting ten enemies to the north, east, south, and southeast of Israel, ever occurred in ancient times! The “Revised New Bible Commentary” (Eerdmans, 1970) states: “No such widespread alliance of adjacent states, as is described in verses 6-8 (of Psalm 83) is mentioned in the Old Testament.” (source)

The neighboring nations, including Jordan, plot to wipe out Israel. So something has to happen to change Jordan’s currently moderate stance to one of satanic hostility against the Jews. Will it be that King Abdullah is overthrown? Will it be that King Abdullah is killed? Or that he is changed of mind to ally with the Muslim Brotherhood? Or something else that God in His creativity will perform? We don’t know. But this essay is just a reminder that simply because we have not heard any news from or about Jordan lately doesn’t mean that they will escape the prophetic will of God. We’ve all been watching Israel’s enemies to the south (Egypt), west (Gaza-Hamas), and north (Syria). But keep your eyes on Jordan to the east, as well.

The nations which participate in the attack on Israel as prayerfully prophesied in Psalm 83 are listed, their ancient names are recorded but it is easy to tell who most are. There still is a Tyre in Lebanon. Gaza still exists. Amman is still the capital of Jordan. Here is a ‘translation’ of the tribal names to the modern equivalents. These translations are generally accepted by several or more credible biblical historians with a disagreement as noted–

Tents of Edom—Palestinians and Southern Jordanians
Ishmaelites—Saudis
Moab—Palestinians and Central Jordanians
Hagrites—Egyptians (some disagree that these are Egyptians, descendants of Hagar the Egyptian, but more properly southern Sinai & Saudi Arabs joined with Ishmaelites. My opinion FWIW is they are Egyptians)
Gebal—Hezbollah and Northern Lebanese
Ammon—Palestinians and Northern Jordanians
Amalek—Arabs of the Sinai
Philistia—Hamas of the Gaza Strip
Tyre—Hezbollah and Southern Lebanese
Assyria—Syria and Northern Iraqis

Richard Ritenbaugh wrote in Forerunner Commentary about the tribes in the prophecy:
“Nevertheless, all of these different peoples—Edom, Ishmael, Amalek, Moab, Ammon, Philistia, Tyre, and Assyria—are among the major players in the Middle East today. These are peoples from whom the Jihadists and the Islamic fundamentalists hail, making up what is known as the “Arab” or “Muslim world.” Today, these people inhabit the nations of Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Egypt, Libya, Sudan, Morocco, Tunisia, etc., and the pseudo-nation of Palestine.”

When Israel is successful in a military campaign, they always accumulate land. It is thought that with the prophecies of the last days battles (Isaiah 17, Isaiah 19, Psalm 83 etc), when Israel is spoken of that they are dwelling securely in the midst of a large land, and that since Gog and Magog come after Israel for a spoil, (Ezekiel 38:11-12) that it is the land and all its oil that Israel has re-accumulated in the aforementioned successful battles sparks the fury of the Gog-Magog coalition as described in Ezekiel 38.

As for Jordan, something will happen that allows the remnant to flee to Jordan’s Petra and be protected throughout the latter half of the Tribulation. And something else has to happen also- because Daniel 11:41 records that Jordan will not be overcome by the antichrist- the only nation to withstand his onslaught.

The chronologies of how the battles will go are just interpretations and no one knows for sure how or when the events will occur in real time on the ground which renders Jordan at once surrendered to Israel and at the same time able to withstand the antichrist which overcomes Israel. The only logical explanation is that God directly puts His hand around the remnant in Petra and keeps the antichrist away. How amazing that though Jordan will become a waste, He clears the ancient enemy from their land to make way to shelter His people!

Jordan figures prominently in last days wars, prophecies, and is used by God to execute His will. Keep your eyes on Jordan, even as you keep looking up!

tongariro, volcano

Mt. Tongariro erupts

Posted on November 21, 2012 by elizabethprata

This is the second eruption for the volcano since 1896. It is located in the central north Island of New Zealand

https://i0.wp.com/media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201247/mTOTM20121121133002NZDT_620x413.jpg

TV New Zealand reports:
GNS Science has reported that Mount Tongariro has erupted. The eruption was captured on the Te Maari Crater camera at around 1.25pm this afternoon. An operation is underway to get people off the Tongariro Crossing. Volcanologists have advised that the Volcanic Alert is now Level 2. Brent Guy from the Department of Conservation told ONE News that the eruption was small. Guy said it appears to be a gas eruption. The Aviation Colour Code is now red, meaning that a significant amount of gas has been emmitted into the atmosphere.”

In other restless earth news, there was a 3.6 quake in Illinois, 128 miles from St. Louis MO.

The Pacific NW of the United States is enduring a terrible rainstorm. It has been going on for days and is predicted to continue through Thanksgiving. It has sparked landslides. Reuters reports that it is record rain and the winds have reached hurricane force.

gaza, hamas, IDF, jerusalem, jesus, prophecy, rocket

Hamas fires rocket at Jerusalem again, lands at Bethlehem

Posted on November 20, 2012May 9, 2016 by elizabethprata

Joel C. Rosenberg tweeted this morning, ‏@JoelCRosenberg, “Air raid sirens sounded in Jerusalem. All clear now. Missile hit near Bethlehem. No casualties reported. Keep praying. #PillarOfDefense”

“Michael Lawrence, @IsraelSpeaker, reacted this way, “This afternoon’s long-range Hamas missile fell near Bethlehem, holy town for the Christian world. Why is this allowed?”

I didn’t think my spiritual pain could worsen when I’d read the other day that Hamas launched a rocket at Jerusalem but it did when I’d read that the little town of Bethlehem was hit. I admit I began to cry. I honestly don’t know why it hit me so hard.

There are many protests and clashes going on in Bethlehem right now, too. Jerusalem Post reports-

W. Bank: Palestinians protest, clash with IDF troops
“More anti-Israel protests erupted in the West Bank Tuesday as Palestinians took to the streets and clashed with IDF troops. The worst clashes took place in Bethlehem and Hebron, where IDF soldiers used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse stone-throwers.”

As we approach the season of our Holy Savior’s birth in that tiny village, we always envision this kind of peaceful scene–

Source

Phillips Brooks wrote the lyrics to O Little Town of Bethlehem. He described his horseback journey from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, where he assisted with the midnight service on Christmas Eve, 1865:

“I remember standing in the old church in Bethlehem, close to the spot where Jesus was born, when the whole church was ringing hour after hour with splendid hymns of praise to God, how again and again it seemed as if I could hear voices I knew well, telling each other of the Wonderful Night of the Savior’s birth.”

And we never envision this kind of violent scene-

Palestinian youths throw stones at Israeli security forces
Friday in a West Bank village near Bethlehem. source

On Twitter, a Stephanie Bond wrote “Oh little town of Bethlehem how still we see thee riot!” And she posted this photo —

As for the present clashes between Israel and Gaza, there are rumors flying around that change every minute. There is a cease-fire about to be announced. There is no cease fire. Israel does not want a cease-fire. Gaza does not want a cease fire. They are under pressure to accept a cease fire…and on and on it goes. Credible news outlets like CNN, Reuters, JPost and others on Twitter tweet all the above and sometimes at the same time. All I can say for sure is that things are changing by the minute.

The only thing that does not change is Christ’s love for His people- all people, for now. The IDF soldiers, the Muslim rock throwers and the Christians in the little town of Bethlehem. This is the time of Grace. Soon it will be the time of wrath, where there is no grace.

Micah 5:2 spoke of Bethlehem where the savior would be born. We associate the swaddling babe with that city and rightly so. But the same Micah reminds us just a few verses later that Jesus

“in anger and wrath I will execute vengeance on the nations that did not obey.” (Micah 5:15)

The day of grace will end.

Acts 17:30-31 reminds us of that fact-

“The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

In Revelation 6 we read that the souls of the slain cry for vengeance upon the earth.

“When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” ” (Revelation 6:9-10)

MacArthur explains this thirst for vengeance, and it is not what it seems–

“These prayers are not personal vendettas, they’re not thirst for personal revenge. Their holy desire is for the end of iniquity. Their holy desire is for the destruction of Satan. Their holy desire is for the devastation of Antichrist and the false prophet and all who followed him. Iniquity has reached its height in the slaughter, how long until You avenge our blood on…then this phrase, “Those who dwell on the earth?” … Now as we look at Revelation chapter 6 tonight, we are going to come face to face with God’s vengeance. The time of grace is really coming to its end.”

For all those who think that the grace will continue to those who dwell on the earth forever, you’re wrong. I do not know how long our Holy Savior will patiently endure the attacks at Jerusalem and on the people of the apple of His eye. Appeal to Him now while grace is still here. (Isaiah 55:6). Be His recipient of it now!

Here, the Vienna Boys Choir sings O Little Town of Bethlehem. It is grace, grace, grace Who came to us wrapped in flesh to save the world and those who dwell in it. I cry today because they bomb it and throw stones at it and spit on it. How long, O Lord? The Lord uses Zechariah to remind them and us that His patience will not remain forever–

“For thus said the Lord of hosts, after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye: “Behold, I will shake my hand over them, and they shall become plunder for those who served them. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me. Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the Lord. And many nations shall join themselves to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. And the Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem.” (Zechariah 2:8-13)

Such glorious promises! But Zechariah ends the verse with this:

“Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord, for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.”

And what a day that will be!! A day of wrath and not of grace. Therefore “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15b)

They begin singing at 1:33.