In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said,
“Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them,
“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
John is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply,
‘If I were any better, I would be twins!’
He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, John was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation. Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up and asked him,
‘I don’t get it!’ ‘You can’t be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?’ He replied,
‘Each morning I wake up and say to myself, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or…you can choose to be in a bad mood I choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or…I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or…I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life.’
‘Yeah, right, it’s not that easy,’ I protested.
‘Yes, it is,’ he said. ‘Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It’s your choice how you live your life.’
I reflected on what he said. Soon hereafter, I left the Tower Industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it. Several years later, I heard that he was involved in a serious accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, he was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back. I saw him about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied,
‘If I were any better, I’d be twins…Wanna see my scars?’ I declined to see his wounds, but I did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place.
‘The first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of my soon-to-be born daughter,’ he replied. ‘Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or…I could choose to die. I chose to live.’
‘Weren’t you scared? Did you lose consciousness?’ I asked. He continued,
‘…the paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read ‘he’s a dead man’. I knew I needed to take action.’
‘What did you do?’ I asked.
‘Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me,’ said John. ‘She asked if I was allergic to anything ‘Yes, I replied.’ The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, ‘Gravity’ Over their laughter, I told them, ‘I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead.’
He lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude…I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully. Attitude, after all, is everything.
‘Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.’ Matthew 6:34.
After all today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.
We tried so hard to make things better for our kids that we made them worse. For my grandchildren, I’d like better.
I’d really like for them to know about hand me down clothes and homemade ice cream and leftover meat loaf sandwiches. I really would.
I hope you learn humility by being humiliated, and that you learn honesty by being cheated.
I hope you learn to make your own bed and mow the lawn and wash the car. And I really hope nobody gives you a brand new car when you are sixteen.
It will be good if at least one time you can see puppies born and your old dog put to sleep.
I hope you get a black eye fighting for something you believe in.
I hope you have to share a bedroom with your younger brother/sister. And it’s all right if you have to draw a line down the middle of the room, but when he wants to crawl under the covers with you because he’s scared, I hope you let him.
When you want to see a movie and your little brother/sister wants to tag along, I hope you’ll let him/her.
I hope you have to walk uphill to school with your friends and that you live in a town where you can do it safely.
On rainy days when you have to catch a ride, I hope you don’t ask your driver to drop you two blocks away so you won’t be seen riding with someone as un-cool as your Mom.
If you want a slingshot, I hope your Dad teaches you how to make one instead of buying one.
I hope you learn to dig in the dirt and read books.
When you learn to use computers, I hope you also learn to add and subtract in your head.
I hope you get teased by your friends when you have your first crush on a boy/girl, and when you talk back to your mother that you learn what ivory soap tastes like.
May you skin your knee climbing a mountain, burn your hand on a stove and stick your tongue on a frozen flagpole.
I don’t care if you try a beer once, but I hope you don’t like it… And if a friend offers you dope or a joint, I hope you realize he is not your friend.
I sure hope you make time to sit on a porch with your Grandma/Grandpa and go fishing with your Uncle.
May you feel sorrow at a funeral and joy during the holidays.
I hope your mother punishes you when you throw a baseball through your neighbor’s window and that she hugs you and kisses you at Hanukkah/Christmas time when you give her a plaster mold of your hand.
These things I wish for you – tough times and disappointment, hard work and happiness. To me, it’s the only way to appreciate life.
Written with a pen. Sealed with a kiss. I’m here for you. And if I die before you do, I’ll go to heaven and wait for you.
With the instability in the US market trialing into the world market, we need to caution ourselves. One wrong move from America, or any other county for that matter, cold lead to disaster and push our fanatical wows over the top. The world market would be devastated if there were another event like 9/11. So what do we do? It may be too late for a good solution, but the recent events have started a chain reaction that I just can’t ignore.
Glenn Beck, a CNN television and radio host had this to say about the current conditions in the market:
… It’s not just money that they’re throwing at this problem; it is also our freedom. America, we have — we have fundamentally changed. The America that you and I grew up in is gone. And maybe it’s gone forever, if we don’t wake up now. …
There is a global meltdown coming. It is a global depression. And one world currency, and one world financial system is the end game. China said last week they want one global currency. France said yesterday or the day before that they want one world order, a new world order at the end of this event. …
As I listened to this statement I realized something fundamental, the idea of one world order, or government, as well and one world currency seems enticing. Up front the idea would solve many problems and may lead to peace. The fundamental problem with this is that there would than be one world leader.
Step back and think about this for a moment, especially if you really thought this is a good idea. I have heard this story before for the Bible. According to the Bible, there will be one world government controlled by the Antichrist. In Revelations 17 many Bible scalars believe this is referring to one world government and religion. Since we are on the topic of religion, where would one world religion come from? Currently the most powerful religion is lead be the Roman Catholic church. Many world leaders profess there faith to this church, as well as to the leader of the church, the Pope. Now I am not saying that the Pope is the Antichrist, but thing about it for a moment. Let’s speculate for a minute, and say that there was a one world order that came from the current economic conditions, the leader of this government could likely be the beast as stated in Revelations 19. The Pops, who has already claimed to be the living embodiment of God, would most likely be a player in this government, much as is in most of the European countries. This would lead to any entry point for the beast to win over billions of people.
Another element of Revelations that I see coming to light is the mark of the beast. We now have our one world order, currency and religion; you need an easy way to keep track of people. The technology has already been tested and is currently in use, RFID. These small microchips can be placed underneath the skin, perhaps in the forearm or forehead… making it impossible to do anything without being tracked. The RFID could contain all our personal information, including baking information, leading to smart money. Bingo, you now can’t buy anything without the chip which is controlled by non other than the beast! What happens now?
The Bible has a lot to say about the end times. Nearly every book of the Bible contains prophecy regarding the end times. Taking all of these prophecies and organizing them can be difficult. Here is a very brief summary of what the Bible declares will happen in the end times:
Christ will remove all born-again believers who are part of the Church (New Testament saints) from the earth by an event known as the Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51ff). These believers will be rewarded for good works and service during their time on earth at the Judgment Seat of Christ or will lose rewards, but not eternal life, for lack of service and obedience (1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10).
The antichrist (beast) will come into power and sign a peace pact (covenant) with Israel for seven years (Daniel 9:27). This seven year period of time is known as the Tribulation. During the Tribulation, there will be terrible wars, famines, plagues, and natural disasters. God will be pouring out His wrath against sin, evil, and wickedness. The Tribulation will contain the four horsemen of the apocalypse, and the seven seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments.
About halfway through the 7 years, the antichrist will break the peace covenant with Israel and make war against them. The antichrist will perform the abomination of desolation and set up an image of himself to be worshipped in the temple (Daniel 9:27; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-10). The second half of the Tribulation is known as the Great Tribulation and the time of Jacob’s trouble.
At the end of the seven year Tribulation, the antichrist will launch a final attack on Jerusalem, culminating in the Battle of Armageddon. Jesus Christ will return, destroy the antichrist and his armies and cast them into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:11-21). Christ will then bind Satan in the Abyss for 1000 years and will rule His earthly kingdom for this 1000 years (Revelation 20:1-6).
At the end of the 1000 years, Satan is will be released, defeated again, and then cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:7-10). Christ then judges all unbelievers (Revelation 20:10-15) at the Great White Throne Judgment, casting them all into the lake of fire. Christ will then usher in a New Heaven and New Earth and the New Jerusalem – the eternal dwelling place of believers. There will be no more sin, sorrow, or death (Revelation chapters 21-22).
Take heart, I did not write this to scar you, if you are a believer you have nothing to fear. Much of what I have said is speculation based on biblical facts. It may or may not happen like this, and it may not happen even in our lifetimes. If you are not a believer it is not too late, but you must hurry, time is running out. One thing is for sure, things have been set in motion that may change our world forever, and may lead to the grate day that we have all been promised.
I sometimes have a hard time trying to come up with stuff to write; however, I would like to share what my cosine has to say about music. You may not agree with what she has to say; but, for her age, she shows great wisdom. It was originally posted in her notes on Facebook, and I have recommended that she start a real blog…
Hey people…Brooke here (ummm, yeaaaah……). I decided it might be fun to randomly write random notes about random stuff that is…random. SO yeah! Welcome to Brooke’s Thoughts #1-My take on music.
Have you ever seen the movie, “Titanic”? I haven’t, but even if YOU haven’t, you probably know the song…yeaaah, that song… “My Heart Will Go On”.
Isn’t it the most obnoxious song ever?!
My point is, music has the power to change emotions! It has the power to change you attitude! It has the power to change your reactions to things! It has the power to change your LIFE!…
…And that song just makes me wanna smack the screamin’ chick offa the boat while yelling, “Clam up, freak!” until she screams like a limping monkey.
Um, yeah.
My mom tells a story about this pastor she heard speak once. He said, “When you listen to rock music, it does something traumatizing to your brain! If you listen to rock music, for instance, the brain waves corrode and you cannot lift your arms up for too long! BUT!!!!!!! When you listen to CLASSICAL music, your brain waves work right and you CAN stick your arms up…”
WAIT! Freeze right there?! At that point my mom and I agreed…Since when do you need to stick your arms up when you listen to classical music?! I mean, seriously, do you like…go into a store, hear bach and all of the sudden, strike a pose, shoot your arms in the air, fingers in the “rock on” sign…shouting at the top of your lungs…”YEEEEEEEEAAAAAHHHHHH-UHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! Rawk ON, BACH!!!!!!”?
UH, last time I remember…no.
Country music for instance has a power to it. I cannot stand country music, I am a yankee, yeah, I know, I don’t belong here. I’m reminded everyday when I flip through the radio stations and there are at least, oh, only a few, say, um, only ninety-eight different ones, yeah, that’s about it. And the occasional gangstah rap station, 60’s rock, gospel, r&b and…oh yeah, more country…
Country music has the power to make a southern gal bawl like a baby and sigh at the crooning of a cowboy.
Most girls here in NC find that romantic and emotional.
I just find that slightly weird…
The moral of this story is that music is so different! God gave us so much to choose from when it comes to music, so what do we do with it?
My personal thought is that all music is ok…but not all LYRICS are ok. If a band has foul language in at least one song, I can almost assure you they will probly be more song just like that. I choose to avoid bands/singers like that, it seems safer that way.
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” -Philippians 4:8
You all probly remember this verse from awana back in those good old days. The meaning has never changed, the meaning is still beautiful. We need to honor God by what we cram in our ipods, computers, cd players…blahblahblahblah.
I know, I have heard this saying soooo many times, it makes me wonder if they really are serious in what they are saying.
“I just listen to the song just for the music…I don’t listen to the lyrics…”
But you still KNOW the lyrics, right?
Right.
The words and music combined in a song has the power to CHANGE YOU. I’m not kidding. What I’m NOT saying is when you listen to rock music, you all of the sudden wanna kill someone.
Uh, no, that really actually does not happen.
What DOES happen is that it is a slow, gradual prosess. You don’t just all of the sudden wanna kill someone (if you wanna kill someone whenever you hear distortioned guitar riffs, either 1. get help or 2. just tell your son to to turn his amp down, or buy him something quiet, like a flute. He might not get nice remarks from other boys, though…).
When you listen to a song, it goes on in your head for days. Don’t tell me it doesn’t, we all know that it does happen. It gets stuck in your head, it can rule you and your thoughts and can even make you angry. The lyrics can convince you to do something maybe you don’t want to do.
THAT is why we need to be soooooo careful to what we listen to.
Music? Yes. Lyrics? Be choosy.
Oh yeah, and if you totally love rock, no prob, no matter what some people say, Christian rock is God-honoring. Just be careful around other Christians who don’t think its such a great idea. We need to respect people like that.
“1 Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. 2 For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. 3 Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let him judge whether they are right or wrong. And with the Lord’s help, they will do what is right and will receive his approval. 5 In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. 6 Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him. Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God. 7 For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. 8 If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead. 10 So why do you condemn another believer*? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For the Scriptures say,
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bend to me,
and every tongue will confess and give praise to God.*’”
12 Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. 13 So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall. 14 I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong. 15 And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don’t let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died. 16 Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good. 17 For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. 19 So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.”
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