tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28652220168398506722024-01-25T05:25:12.412-06:00The Real IssueAn "ad Dei Gloriam Ministries" Blog from a Biblical Christian World and Life ViewRoycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00355616675481661310noreply@blogger.comBlogger212125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2865222016839850672.post-31981824347649078992024-01-02T18:54:00.004-06:002024-01-02T19:04:27.216-06:00Retiring "to" Ministry<img alt="Green Waterfall" class="imageLeftb1 w50" src="https://www.addeigloriam.org/blog/images/blogger24/waterfall3.jpg"/>
Personal Update: I finally did it! After several years of declarations, promises, postponements, threats, reversals and other false starts, I finally retired from my position at a major international engineering company. I had been working from home the past 8-10 years.<p>
I was never classified as an official tele-worker, just stopped going into the office. My transition from office to home didn’t happen overnight but was more of a gradual process. I was assigned to the Dallas office Water Group, but most of my work came from the Ports and Maritime Division of the Transportation Group. I primarily designed electrical substations, infrastructure and facilities for ports up and down the East Coast of North America from New England to Costa Rico. I also did a fair amount of work for the Power Group in the Middle East, where I designed electrical substations and facilities for privately owned industrial cities.<p>
But, enough of the boring stuff. Let’s talk about “retirement”. The best advice that I ever got regarding retirement was <b>“don’t retire from something, retire to something”</b>. That is, your primary reason for retiring should not be to stop doing what you’re currently doing, but to do something better. In 2006, I began my website ministry, <a href="https://www.addeigloriam.org/.htm" target="_blank"><strong>ad Dei Gloriam Ministries</strong></a> but was often frustrated due to the lack of available time for it. Sometimes I would even go months without working on the site. So, I finally put in my retirement papers to the engineering company and retired to devote much more time to my research and writing ministry.<p>
I would also like to greatly thank all the excellent guest authors that have contributed to this blog the past few years. My input has been minimal, so you kept the blog from going almost completely dormant. Finally, a huge “thank you” to our loyal readers of our website and blog that have continued to “tune in” over the past few lean years. Finally, I thank God for His blessings and this opportunity, and hope to continue working as long as He allows. Soli Deo Gloria.<p>Roycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00355616675481661310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2865222016839850672.post-46310252494515372472023-05-29T19:45:00.000-05:002023-05-29T19:45:33.377-05:00Memorial Day Tribute to our Brave Heroes 2023Today, we pause from our barbeques and other typical holiday routines to pay honor to those who ultimate sacrifices set aside a special Memorial Day each year to remember and pay a special tribute in honor of those who have selflessly made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve the freedoms and privileges that we enjoy daily. As a very small token of gratitude to those who we can never fully repay, we've created our latest annual tribute page at <a href="https://www.addeigloriam.org/military/memorial-day-2023.htm" target="_blank"><strong>2023 Memorial Day Tribute</strong></a>.<p>
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May God continue to Bless our Brave Troups and their families!<p>Roycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00355616675481661310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2865222016839850672.post-13304778073576850402022-07-04T22:02:00.002-05:002024-01-02T18:12:07.773-06:00Lost After the Loss of a Loved One? It May Be Time For a Move<i>Guest Post by Camille Johnson from <a href="https://bereaver.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><strong>The Bereaver Blog</strong></a>. The views and opinions expressed in the article and associated links are those of the author, and may or may not necessarily reflect those of ad Dei Gloriam Ministries. We have no relationship with any of the organizations linked within the article.</i><p><br>
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Grieving the loss of a loved one or thing brings deep sorrow, and it can seem impossible in some cases. But by drawing close to God and taking practical steps each day to maintain your health, you can grieve healthily and come out stronger than ever.<p>
While it’s reassuring to know this is all in God’s plan, and your church community can be the best support you can find at times like these, it may not feel that way in the moment. Suddenly finding yourself alone can be terrifying. Factor in the many changes that you’ll have to deal with at this time, and it may seem like an unbearable challenge. While it may seem drastic, after weighing the pros and cons, sometimes the best way to move on is to actually move.<p>
<h4>Take good care of yourself</h4>
When the person you’ve shared your life with has passed away, even meeting daily needs can seem overwhelming. Take care of the body first–you’ll need to eat well, to exercise (even a walk around the block), and to try to get good sleep. It’s easy to fall into a funk, skipping the dishes and laundry, skipping meals. Make contact with friends and family who you won’t be embarrassed when they see that way, but who will also motivate you to get back up again. Even just calling someone sometimes can give you the perspective you need to take better care of yourself.<p>
When you’re between houses, or if you’ve decided to move to a new town, don’t let your wellness visits lapse. Because you’re grieving you might miss some of the warning signs when it comes to your own health. If you haven’t been sleeping or eating well, this can exacerbate any health concerns.<p>
Fortunately, you can book a virtual doc visit online if you have yet to establish care with a doctor in your new town. Simply search for "online doctors" or "online medical care" in your favorite internet browser. Online platforms make telehealth an easy option so you get the care you need. And whether you have insurance or not, you can still meet with an online physician to discuss your needs. Look for an option with same-day appointments.
<h4>Lighten possessions</h4>
Memories of your life partner will linger on, especially at home where you’re surrounded by their earthly belongings. You’ll undoubtedly go through a myriad of emotions, running the gamut from sadness to guilt. However, dealing with <a href="https://www.nextavenue.org/possessions-after-loved-ones-death/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">your late spouse’s possessions</a> is a crucial part of letting go and moving on, and an unavoidable one at that.<p>
In truth, this is an opportune time to declutter your own belongings and downsize. As this is an emotionally-charged task, it’s wise to enlist the help of a trusted friend or loved one, not just to do the heavy lifting, but also to give you comfort in the process. You might even find it’s an empowering part of the healing process.<p>
As a rule of thumb, <a href="https://whatsyourgrief.com/sorting-through-belongings/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">sort belongings</a> into piles. While emotions may dictate that you hold on to collections and meaningful keepsakes, you also have to assess whether these will serve you or just add to clutter. It’s good practice to take photos of meaningful items or pass them on to loved ones, as well as keep what’s useful and truly priceless. The rest can be sold, <a href="https://www.moving.com/tips/where-to-donate-your-stuff-before-moving/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">donated</a>, or thrown away.
<h4>Give yourself permission to start anew</h4>
Sometimes moving away <a href="https://modernloss.com/does-moving-away-mitigate-grief/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">mitigates grief</a>. After all, it’s painful to return to an empty household that’s now devoid of a presence that was once constant. As daunting a decision as moving to a new home may be, it’s one that will save you money in the long run as living expenses decrease, which you can put forward for your future or use to offset the impact of a lost income.<p>
It’s necessary to follow a few steps to ensure a financially sound decision. Take into account how much you’re likely to make in the sale of your home. Next, look at the <a href="https://realestate.usnews.com/real-estate/articles/a-checklist-for-moving-to-your-new-home" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">costs</a> involved in selling your home, buying a new one, moving expenses, and so forth. And while it’s a good idea to get help from people you trust or consult a professional like a financial advisor, remember that the decision is ultimately yours to make.
<h4>Prioritize your needs</h4>
Know that your safety and comfort are of the essence, especially if you depended on your late spouse for care. With that in mind, seniors sometimes do best in independent living. This option can mean less work because many facilities handle housekeeping and some health support. Independent living can also include a senior-friendly environment and social life. You may want to search the internet for more information regarding the advantages and disadvantages of assisted living.<p>
The death of your spouse may give you a sense of an ending, but it’s undeniably also the start of a new chapter. There’s nowhere to go but forward. Let grief run its course and in due time, you’ll find the right decisions for your own future.<p>
Roycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00355616675481661310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2865222016839850672.post-30958797579542584232022-04-03T18:19:00.003-05:002022-04-03T18:24:01.594-05:00How Goal-Setting Can Move You Through Grief<i>Guest Post by Lucille Rosetti from <a href="https://bereaver.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><strong>The Bereaver Blog</strong></a>. The views and opinions expressed in the article and associated links are those of the author, and may or may not necessarily reflect those of ad Dei Gloriam Ministries. We have no relationship with any of the organizations linked within the article.</i><p><br>
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Grieving the loss of a loved one or thing brings deep sorrow, and it can seem impossible in some cases. But by drawing close to God and taking practical steps each day to maintain your health, you can grieve healthily and come out stronger than ever.<p>
Whether you're grieving the death of a loved one, the end of a friendship, or a shattered dream, there are no shortcuts through the pain. However, seeking God's presence can strengthen your faith because you rely on something bigger than your crushed spirit. And setting healthy goals can help you heal while boosting your confidence in the process. Here are some some practical tips for navigating grief.
<h4>Prioritize Quiet Time</h4>
First of all, as critical as it is to spend time with friends and family while grieving, no one can provide you with the comfort, grace, and wisdom that God can. Make sure you are making time to spend in His presence every day.<p>
Devote time to prayer, and don't hold back your <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/prayer/prayers-for-the-loss-of-a-loved-one-find-comfort-and-peace-in-the-grief.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">feelings or thoughts</a>. Read the Bible at various points in your day for truth and wisdom for your situation. And consider keeping a journal where you write your most honest thoughts and emotions. No one ever has to read what you write, which means you can be raw. And you can also use your journal to set goals and track your progress.
<h4>Make Career Moves</h4>
Grief has a way of reminding us how short life is. If you are stuck in an <a href="https://www.corporatewellnessmagazine.com/article/workplace-stress-silent-killer-employee-health-productivity#:~:text=Workplace%20stress%20also%20has%20adverse,abuse%2C%20and%20poor%20dietary%20patterns." target="_blank" rel="nofollow">overwhelming</a> or unfulfilling job, this could be your chance to make a major change. Why not establish a path for a career you can be passionate about?<p>
One practical step is to return to school for a bachelor's, master's, or doctorate. These days, many online programs allow you to earn a degree while still tending to your full-time job and other responsibilities.<p>
Whether you are interested in business management, IT management, accounting, or any other field, you can earn an online business degree without leaving your house. Besides boosting your career prospects, achieving this goal could be a boon for your mental health.<p>
<h4>Eat Whole Foods</h4>
It can be challenging to maintain a decent diet when you're grieving. Not only do anxiety and depression have a way of suppressing the appetite, but the <a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/physical-symptoms-of-grief-4065135" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">physical symptoms</a> of grief can sometimes make it hard to eat. When you have a craving, it might be for empty carbs and other comfort foods.<p>
However, you must feed your body essential minerals and vitamins to function and keep up with grief's emotional and physical demands. Stick to lean proteins, healthy fats, fruits, vegetables, and other whole foods that will provide you with <a href="https://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-nutrition/whole-foods-diet/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">much-needed energy</a> and benefit your long-term health.<p>
<h4>Build a Fitness Routine</h4>
Regular exercise will not eliminate your grief, but it's a critical <a href="https://www.livestrong.com/article/13726330-workout-motivation-grief/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">coping tool</a> that can reduce depression, anxiety, and loneliness symptoms. The health benefits of maintaining a fitness routine are as broad and deep. Exercising can also provide opportunities to interact with others and keep your mind off of your grief for short moments. Fortunately, there are countless physical activities to try, including:
<ul>
<li>Walking</li>
<li>Running</li>
<li>Weightlifting</li>
<li>High intensity interval training (HIIT)</li>
<li>Swimming</li>
<li>Cycling</li>
<li>Recreational sports</li></ul>
The key is to find one or more activities that you enjoy and commit to doing them at least five days a week. Your mind, body, and soul will thank you for it.
<h4>Listen to More Music</h4>
Listening to music can help you battle anxiety, stress, depression, and other common grief symptoms. Immerse yourself in <a href="https://lisaappelo.com/21-christian-songs-to-comfort-in-grief/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">worship music</a> throughout the day. Listen to it on your morning commute, as you relax at home, and while you go through your daily workouts. It will boost your mood and help you keep your mind on heavenly things.<p>
If you are experiencing heavy grief, don't rely on yourself to get through it. And don't depend solely on your friends and family either. Seek God with everything you have, set healthy goals you can attain, and ask God for grace to move your life in the right direction. He will respond because He is faithful!
Roycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00355616675481661310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2865222016839850672.post-63475704559170730402022-04-03T16:46:00.002-05:002022-04-03T17:58:44.631-05:003 Tips for Organizing an Overseas Church Mission<i>Guest Post by Camille Johnson from <a href="https://bereaver.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><strong>The Bereaver Blog</strong></a>. The views and opinions expressed in the article and associated links are those of the author, and although we strongly agree with the premise of the article, all specific details may or may not necessarily reflect those of ad Dei Gloriam Ministries. We have no relationship with any of the organizations linked within the article.</i><p><br>
Image Source: <a href="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1566938042100-0a0d4f174269?ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&ixlib=rb-1.2.1&auto=format&fit=crop&w=1350&q=80" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Unsplash</a><br>
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Organizing a church mission to another country is a wonderful way to bring a congregation closer together and show young members of the church how to spread God’s love around the world. This is a big undertaking, but if you're feeling overwhelmed, take a business-like approach. Establish steps for reaching your goals and get as many people on board as possible, taking into account each individual’s needs and finding out what motivates them.<p>
Baptist Press notes that <a href="https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/5-basics-for-planning-a-mission-trip/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">preparing</a> for a successful journey involves a great deal of work and planning, including consideration of some of the challenges that are involved in traveling overseas with a group of teenagers. These three tips will make organizing an overseas church mission more manageable.<p>
<h4>1. Involve Church Youth in Fundraising Efforts</h4>
Mission trips are more successful when participants feel comfortable around one another and have invested time and effort in preparing for the trip. That’s why you should involve your church youth from the very beginning by including them in <a href="https://www.easy-fundraising-ideas.com/programs/church-fundraising-ideas/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">fundraising efforts</a>. The trip will hold more meaning for them when they have worked for it.<p>
Popular youth fundraisers include selling faith-based candles, using church scratch cards, selling cookies and cookie dough. Your young church members also may hold car washes, bake sales, yard sales, or other community events to raise money for their trip.<p>
Because you will involve the community in your <a href="https://experiencemission.org/blog/20-ways-fundraise-during-pandemic" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">fundraising events</a>, you should advertise in your church bulletin, on your church sign, and in local newspapers. If your church has a social media page, put a few of your youth in charge of creating and sharing fundraising events because it is an inexpensive way to reach a larger audience.<p>
If you plan to stand in front of local stores with cans to collect donations, design matching T-shirts for your mission participants to make them more visible and credible when they are out and about in the community. Of course, everyone should pack their shirts and wear them on the mission itself when the time comes.<p>
Another important fundraising tool you could use is <a href="https://www.zenbusiness.com/blog/email-marketing-smb-nonprofit/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">marketing via email</a>. Email marketing has a very high return on investment, so you should leverage it for raising funds and awareness for your mission trip. If you can use the email list of your whole church’s congregation, then you should have no problem reaching your fundraising goals.<p>
<h4>2. Make Sure Everyone is Onboard with the Mission’s Purpose</h4>
When organizing a mission trip overseas, the church’s mission should be first and foremost in everyone’s minds. Operate under the understanding that you are <a href="https://www.davidznowell.com/the-house-rules-essentials-for-your-mission-trip/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">representing your church</a> and are traveling to do public service and be the face of your church in another part of the world. It’s important for you to share the purpose of the mission with your young participants and their families so everyone understands the trip is not a vacation. You should create a mission itinerary, a daily schedule, and a list of mission goals and share them at the first informational meeting.<p>
<h4>3. Clearly State Your Rules and Get Signatures Early in the Planning Process</h4>
You also should clearly state your expectations and team rules from the beginning so church members know the do’s and don’ts of the trip and can agree to them well ahead of time. State and explain the rules to parents at the introductory meeting but also invite mission participants to attend so you can spend the evening answering questions and assuaging parents’ fears.<p>
For more ideas on when to hold meetings, which information to share when, and which forms you will need, check out the numerous resource-rich websites like <a href="http://youthworks.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">YouthWorks</a> and <a href="http://faithward.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Faithward</a>. Keep in mind that if you are traveling to a country that allows people younger than 21 to drink or has a reputation for heavy recreational drug use, you should make it very clear that your youth will not be participating even though the laws differ. <a href="https://healthland.time.com/2013/05/24/if-drinking-starts-at-puberty-its-more-likely-to-lead-to-alcohol-problems/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Studies</a> show that exposing teens to alcohol at an early age puts them at a greater risk of developing drug and alcohol problems later in life, as noted in TIME magazine.<p>
Similarly, experimenting with drugs early in life or using them socially as teens also leads to a high risk of becoming dependent and affects brain development. Alcohol and drugs have no place in a church mission, and you should reiterate these points at your introductory meeting.<p>
Lastly, you may want to clearly state what items they can and cannot bring. It’s also important to give them reminders of important items to bring, such as medications they take daily, clothes that suit the climate, and chargers or power banks for devices they’re bringing along.<p>
Planning an overseas church mission trip requires a great deal of time and <a href="https://missiontravel.org/how-to-plan-a-mission-trip/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">organization</a>. But, if you involve church youth and parents early in fundraising and informational sessions and clearly state your purpose and rules early on, you will have a much more successful and meaningful trip.<p>
Roycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00355616675481661310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2865222016839850672.post-18227039703893467282021-05-30T15:38:00.003-05:002023-05-29T20:06:32.597-05:00Memorial Day Tribute to our Fallen HeroesAlthough we should remember our fallen heroes each day of the year, we set aside a special Memorial Day each year to remember and pay a special tribute in honor of those who have selflessly made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve the freedoms we enjoy daily. As a very small token of gratitude, we've created our latest annual tribute page at <a href="https://www.addeigloriam.org/military/memorial-day-2021.htm" target="_blank"><strong>2021 Memorial Day Tribute</strong></a>.<p>
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This past week, we received an email from <a href="https://www.mikeysfunnies.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mikey's Funnies</a> that I wanted to pass along to our readers. It was written by a local friend of his, Diane L Penrose, in 2005. Permission has been given to share with others, with attribution, but commercial use is strictly forbidden. It is simply entitled "Memorial Day":<p>
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It's not about the parties<br>
Or picnics on the beach<br>
It's in memory of those who have fallen<br>
Just now beyond our reach<br><br>
The men and women of past<br>
Who gave of life and limb<br>
To protect the freedoms that we enjoy<br>
Our right to believe in Him<br><br>
From our forefathers of yesteryear<br>
To Grandpa in "forty-one"<br>
Dad in Korea and Vietnam<br>
A brother in Desert Storm<br><br>
As you lounge beside the pool<br>
Or stroll along the shore<br>
Take a moment to reflect upon<br>
Those that are no more<br><br>
Take a look around you<br>
At the life you hold so dear<br>
Just a moment to remember<br>
And you'll find that they're still here</<blockquote></div>
May God continue to Bless our Brave Troups!<p>
Roycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00355616675481661310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2865222016839850672.post-11268028203204983492020-11-23T20:22:00.000-06:002020-11-23T20:22:04.412-06:00The Thanksgiving Hand<i>Guest Post by Jim Beatty – a fellow Servant of Jesus Christ</i><p><br>
<i>Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart</i> ~ Proverbs 3:3 KJV<p>
The editors of <i>Reader’s Digest</i> wrote a touching story about <a href="https://www.rd.com/article/thanksgiving-story/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Mrs Klein’s classroom of first graders</a>. Mrs Klein asked her students to draw pictures showing what Thanksgiving meant to them. She didn’t think the kids would have much to be thankful for being as they lived in a deteriorating neighborhood. So she expected to get drawings of turkeys, thanksgiving dinner spreads and the like.<p>
When the children turned in their drawings, Mrs Klein was taken aback when she saw Douglas’s drawing of a hand. Douglas was typically so forlorn and likely to be found in her shadow when they went to recess. When she asked the class what they thought this hand represented, one kid said, “the hand of God that brings us food”, another said “the farmer that raises the turkeys” and another said “I think it’s all the hands that help us, but Douglas could only draw one of them”.<p>
In her pleasure at the class’s response, Mrs Klein started the class on another project when she realized she had almost forgotten to ask Douglas what the picture was actually about. So, so she leaned over his desk and asked him whose hand it was, and the boy replied, “it’s yours, teacher”.<p>
It seems Mrs Klein had taken Douglas by the hand from time to time, as she had done with many of her students, but it had meant so much to Douglas and it turned out to be her thanksgiving.<p>
The editors of <i>Reader’s Digest</i> didn’t explain in the story why this small gesture had meant so much to Douglas, and they never explained why he was “forlorn and likely to be found in her shadow at recess”.<p>
I have to think of people I’ve known in my own life, while in school, working various jobs, at social gatherings and even just in daily life who seemed out of place, didn’t fit in and sometimes just seemed a bit forlorn. The ones I have helped along the way and the ones who, in my own selfishness, pride and arrogance, I didn’t.<p>
This story applies to adults and senior citizens as well as to school kids and it shows how sometimes the smallest of deeds can make a big impact on someone. Sometimes all a person wants is a friend. In a verse that comes to mind, Jesus said in Matthew 10:42 <i>“And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.”</i><p>
I remember a good friend of mine saying that she instructed her kids, “if you see someone at school who sits alone and doesn’t have any friends, <i>you</i> be their friend!” <p>
The bible has numerous examples of kindness to strangers and acquaintances alike, such as David’s kindness toward Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan in 2nd Samuel chapter 9, the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10, Paul’s shipwreck in Acts 27 and 28 where the islanders showed them unusual kindness. There are endless examples in scripture of God’s grace and kindness toward us, even though we don’t deserve it.<p>
As people celebrate the national Thanksgiving Day holiday this year, let’s remember that thanksgiving isn’t all about us.<p>
Quoting from Acts 20:35, <i>“remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”</i> Let’s also remember Paul’s words in Colossians 3:12-13 <i>“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbeareing one another and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”</i><p>
Being a friend, being kind and giving someone a hand could mean so much to someone who is forlorn.<p>
Roycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00355616675481661310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2865222016839850672.post-33182481728518284642020-11-23T19:59:00.005-06:002020-11-27T19:32:20.180-06:00The Book of Daniel TrilogyBack in 2011, I wrote a series of three articles on <a href="https://blog.addeigloriam.org/search/label/prophecy" target="_blank"><b>Bible Prophecy</b></a> called <i>Are We Living in the Last Days?</i>, <i>The Study of Prophecy – in Perspective</i>, and <i>Present Living in Light of Prophecy</i>.<p>
Recently, I completed another trilogy on the <i>Book of the Prophet Daniel</i>. The first was an <a href="https://www.addeigloriam.org//bible-intro/ot-prophets/bible-intro-daniel.htm" target="_blank"><b><i>Introduction to the Book of Daniel</i></b></a>. This led to two additional spin-off articles, the first being <a href="https://www.addeigloriam.org//commentary/ot-prophets/interpretation-of-daniel-visions.htm" target="_blank"><b><i>Interpretations and Fulfillment of the Visions and Prophecies of Daniel</i></b></a>. For this article, I spent a few weeks combing through various commentaries and other resources such as the <i>Encyclopedia Britannica</i> to determine the various persons and events that fulfilled many of the prophecies from the seventh through the second century BC. I also attempted to explore the prophecies still to be fulfilled in our future. If you've always wondered about many of the strange images and predictions within the book, hopefully this article will shed some light on the subject. A knowledge of Daniel is essential to understanding almost all aspects of future prophecy, including the prophetic portions of the New Testament.<p>
The Book of Daniel contains more prophecies that have since been fulfilled than any other book in the Bible. As I was researching the meanings, I couldn't help but be amazed at the detail and precision by which each phrophecy was fulfilled. Thus, the fulfillments have a strong apologetics application. Because we have so many prophetic visions that have already been precisely fulfilled in the past, we would expect the same accuracy for those visions concerning the future.<p>
The final article in the trilogy was entitled <a href="https://www.addeigloriam.org//commentary/ot-prophets/seventy-weeks-of-daniel.htm" target="_blank"><b><i>The Seventy Weeks of Daniel 9 – Four Interpretations</i></b></a>. In this article, I examined various interpretations and timelines for this prophecy from an Old Testament (Maccabean) view, a Preterist (Reformed Historical) view, a Covenantal (Reformed Futurist) view and from a Dispensational (Futurist) view, pointing out the similarities and the divergences of each view. The Seventy Weeks of Daniel is the key to helping us understand the basic timeline of historical and future events prophesized in both the Old and New Testament.<p>
I initially didn’t set out to do another prophecy-themed trilogy, but it just happened that way. Incidentally, I’m now working on the <i>Introduction to the Book of the Revelation</i> and, wouldn’t you know it, I currently have two spin-off articles in progress on it as well. The first spin-off considers how various events (and their timelines) are interpreted from a Preterist, a Historicist, an Idealist (Allegorical), and a Futuristic view. The final article will discuss four major interpretive views of the Millennial Kingdom of Revelation 20.<p>
I’ll add the links to the Revelation articles in a new post when finished. To God be the glory…<p>
Roycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00355616675481661310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2865222016839850672.post-87313149004487354142020-11-14T17:27:00.000-06:002020-11-14T17:27:25.162-06:00When the Skies of November Turn Gloomy<i>Guest Post by Jim Beatty – a fellow Servant of Jesus Christ… a sinner who has turned away from a sinful lifestyle… writing in hopes of throwing somebody a life ring.</i><p>
Webmaster Note: <i>This past week marked the 45th anniversary of the event of which Jim writes. He sent the article late last year, but we saved it until now for posting. The image below comes from the US Corps of Engineers and is in the public domain.</i><p><br>
<div style="text-align:center;">
<a href="https://www.addeigloriam.org/blog/images/blogger20/Edmund_Fitzgerald-USACE.jpg"><img class="img1 w90" src="https://www.addeigloriam.org/blog/images/blogger20/Edmund_Fitzgerald-USACE.jpg"><alt="Edmund Fitzgerald Ship Vintage"/></a></div><p>
Most of us know about Veteran’s Day and I’m sure everyone knows when Thanksgiving is. Those dates are usually marked right on the calendar for us, because they are important days that we should remember. But there’s another important day in November that’s not generally marked on our calendar, and that is November 10th, the anniversary of the sinking of the <i>Edmund Fitzgerald</i> in 1975.<p>
The Fitzgerald wasn’t one of the thousand foot “super tankers”, but a pretty big ship on the Great Lakes, with a length of almost 750 feet. Being what’s known as a “straight decker”, the Fitzgerald was perfect for hauling iron ore pellets, as she was that fateful night. Gordon Lightfoot took poetic liberties when he sang “They left fully loaded for Cleveland” when in fact, they left fully loaded for Zug Island, which is near Detroit, but I suppose you just can’t make Zug Island rhyme.<p>
Captain McSorley was a veteran sailor with over 40 years experience and had taken command of the Fitzgerald only a few years earlier. It’s ironic that this was scheduled to be his final journey before retirement.<p>
Lake Superior that night had waves of 35’, and the wind was about 60 miles per hour. The weather was so bad that the Soo Locks had been closed and the Coast Guard had issued a warning for all vessels to take safe harbor and to remain at anchor until the storm had passed.<p>
The Captain of the Fitzgerald radioed that his ship was listing. They were taking water across the deck and both radars were out. The Steamship <i>Arthur Anderson</i> was following some distance behind, trying to guide them by radio to the safety of Whitefish Bay.<p>
We know how the story ends. The Fitzgerald sunk suddenly... very suddenly in about 600 feet of water and all the men on board died.<p>
I was working on the freighters in those days. In fact, we were safely at anchor in the lee of a small island on Lake Huron. But I remember from our lifeboat training that we were told, “There’s no need to panic, there’s no hurry, you don’t have to rush, it takes at least 45 minutes for a ship to sink. There’s plenty of time to get the lifeboats ready.”<p>
But that’s not how it happened on the Fitzgerald that night. In fact, about a year later, I met a man who said he was working on the <i>Arthur Anderson</i> that night. He said it happened so quickly that with one sweep of the radar screen she was there, and the next sweep she was gone.<p>
Gordon Lightfoot hit it square on when he sang, “The lake it is said... never gives up her dead... when the skies of November turn gloomy”.<p>
You know, I have to wonder how many, if any, of those men had come to Christ at some time before that final journey. And I have to wonder how many of those men cried out to Christ with their last breath as they sank into that icy water.<p>
Sometimes we get so caught up with the cares of the world and our own “stormy situations” that we forget about our relationship with God.<p>
“Oh, you don’t understand! I’ve got to work a lot of overtime to pay off my student loans... or whatever. I don’t have time for that religious stuff right now”, or so we reason.<p>
Others may be caught up in a lascivious lifestyle. Drinking and carousing, carelessly singing, “eat drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die!” Those poor spirits never even see the need to change their course, much less to get the lifeboats ready!<p>
Others may think they can just put it off, “Oh, I’m a good guy and people like me. I mean, I go to church, you know... or at least sometimes. It’s not like you have to really follow all that stuff. Besides, I can always repent on my death bed. Certainly Jesus will wait for ME, won’t he?”<p>
The trouble is, as the Edmund Fitzgerald shows us, sometimes the calamities of life happen so suddenly that we don’t always have time to even LOOK for the lifeboats. Proverbs 27:1 says, <i>“Don’t boast about tomorrow, for a man doesn’t know what a day might bring”.</i><p>
So the question is, “When should I change my course... when should I get my lifeboat ready?” Paul tells us in 2nd Corinthians 6:2, <i>“And he said, in the favorable time, I listened in the favorable day, you needed salvation and I helped. Behold, THIS is the favorable time. Behold, THIS is the day of salvation”.</i><p>
If there is anyone reading this message and has come to a point in your life where you see the need to change your course, you see that it’s time to get the lifeboat ready. I urge you to seek out competent biblical teaching, believe in the Word and repent from the world. Be baptized and receive the free gift of the Holy Spirit.<p>
I urge you to seek out and build your relationship with the One who can calm the stormy sea. And I urge you to do this while it is still the favorable day, before one of life’s calamities can strike!<p>
Roycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00355616675481661310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2865222016839850672.post-19913804821615324392020-10-17T18:02:00.003-05:002020-10-17T18:03:54.708-05:00Things That Go Bump In the Night<i>Guest Post by Jim Beatty – a fellow Servant of Jesus Christ</i><p>
<br>Witches, demons, fortune tellers, skeletons, ghosts, monsters and the like are common themes in October!<p>
<a href="https://www.addeigloriam.org/blog/images/blogger20/halloween2020.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">
<img class="imageRightb1 w50" src="https://www.addeigloriam.org/blog/images/blogger20/halloween2020.jpg" alt="halloween no fun"/></a><i>Samhain</i> was celebrated on the night of October 31 when the Druids believed the boundary between the world of the dead and the world of the living was blurred and demons would visit. These spirits played tricks and caused havoc, so the Druids would offer sacrifices to appease these spirits, hence the modern holiday question: “trick or treat?”<p>
The Druids dressed in costumes to look like demons in attempt to befriend them and celebrated the holiday with drunkenness, psychoactive plants and debauchery. They believed that by communing with the nether world, they could tell fortunes, cast spells and speak with the dead.<p>
According to the <i>Encyclopedia Britannica</i>, Pope Boniface IV created All Saints day, celebrated November 1st, around AD 600. This holiday was called “All-hallows” and the night before it, “Samhain”. Later, it became known as “All-Hallows Eve” and eventually, “Halloween”.<p>
Most people today believe such celebrations are just good, clean fun. Kids get to dress up and get candy while going house to house giving each one a choice, “trick or treat?” I mean after all, demons, witches, ghosts and goblins aren't real, are they?<p>
If demons, astrology, divination, necromancy, sorcery and idols don't exist, why did God forbid these practices in the Law of Moses and again through Paul in 1st Corinthians 6 and Galatians 5, among other places in the bible?<p>
There are at least a dozen Hebrew names for demons in the Old Testament and demons are mentioned by every writer in the New Testament, with exception of the unknown author of Hebrews; but he did mention their ruler, Satan. Jesus taught in many passages that demons do exist, and many instances are recorded of Jesus and his Apostles casting them out of people that had been possessed. Demons are the fallen angels and can take on various physical forms.<p>
People of many faiths celebrate Halloween and the bible does say, <i>“One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.”</i> (Romans 14:5)<p>
However, our bible also clearly says in 1 Corinthians 10:20-21 <i>“But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.”</i><p>
Maybe I'm old fashioned, but rather than putting on a ghost, devil, witch or monster costume, why not put on <i>"the whole armor of God; the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, as shoes put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace; the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”?</i> (Ephesians 6:13-20)<p>
Roycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00355616675481661310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2865222016839850672.post-81709237825664910692020-10-11T17:23:00.000-05:002020-10-11T17:23:28.505-05:00Seek the Welfare of the City
This is a follow up post to yesterday’s article <a href="https://blog.addeigloriam.org/2020/10/are-all-politics-local.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Are All Politics Local</a>, in which we examined the Power of the Majority Party in the US Congress and noted several characteristics of Worldly and Godly Leaders.<p>
Today, I’d like to discuss the application of Jeremiah 29 for the modern day Christian. In particular, we’ll address how God’s command in verse 7 for his people to <i>“seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile”</i> should apply to true believers in our earthly countries.</p><p>
As our regular readers know, we must first look at what the verse meant to the original audience before we can begin applying it to ourselves. As I’ve said many times (I’m certainly not the first to say this), the three top rules for interpreting scripture are “Context, Context, and Context”. We know from verses 1-3 that the majority of the chapter contains a letter that the Prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the Jewish exiles that had been taken into exile to Babylon. So, looking at the immediate context, the letter begins:<p>
<blockquote><i>Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But <b>seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.</b></i> (Jer 29:4-7)</blockquote>
At first glance, Jeremiah appears to be telling the people that their main objective is to become good citizens of Babylon. But looking at the entire chapter, along with the prevailing themes of the Book of Jeremiah as a whole, we find the narrative to be a bit more complicated.<p>
Let’s begin with the bigger picture. The primary themes of the book are that a Holy God must punish His people for their constant disobedience to His covenant, but the Prophet also speaks of hope for the future. Thus, even though the people are currently in exile as punishment, they will later be restored to their homeland. In addition, there is also a running battle between Jeremiah the true prophet, and various false prophets who are constantly attempting to damage Jeremiah’s credibility among the people.<p>
Continuing in verse 8, we read:</p><p>
</p><blockquote><i> For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream, for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not send them, declares the LORD.<p>
“For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.</p></i> (Jer 29:8-14)</blockquote>
The false prophets were telling the people to resist rather than to serve the King of Babylon; that they would only be there for a short time. Jeremiah however, accurately informed the people that their captivity would last seventy years. Furthermore, this was God’s righteous judgment so any rebellion would also be against God.<p>
So Jeremiah was basically telling the people to be good citizens in their temporary home for seventy years, but cautioning them not to get so comfortable that they would refuse to return to their homeland when it was time to leave. In addition, the command to multiply also looked forward to the end of captivity since it would primarily be the sons and daughters whose families would return.</p><p>
Thus, the parallel we can draw for Christians in our modern day is that, while we’re here on this earth, we should likewise be good citizens, but we should not get so comfortable as to want to stay here forever. The Psalmist writes, <i>The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away</i> (Ps 90:10).</p><p>
As the old saying goes, “We should be in the world, but not of the world” as we look forwward to our permanent home in Heaven.</p><p>
<b>Prologue</b></p><p>
Since this article is a follow-up to yesterday’s political post, I thought I’d address the meaning of the word “welfare” in our main verse. “Seek the welfare of the city” does not mean that we should vote for Socialist Democrats just because they’re attempting to turn the country into a welfare state (at least until they run out of everyone else’s money).</p><p>
The word for welfare is translated “peace and prosperity”, “well-being”, or “the good” in various other Bible translations. It is the Hebrew word <i>shalom</i> that is most often translated “peace”, but also “welfare”, “safety” etc. Think of it as seeking the common good.</p><p>Roycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00355616675481661310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2865222016839850672.post-11466912519535947672020-10-10T20:43:00.004-05:002020-10-11T05:27:58.391-05:00Are all Politics Local?
The saying “All politics are local” is typically attributed to Tip O’Neill, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives in the 1970s and 1980s. This saying is still partially true, even with the vast amount of donations that pour in nationally for some state races, but the locals still do the voting (if you don’t count those who are bused in from out of state to vote multiple times). The out-of-state funding of local candidates has become the norm over the past few decades, but this strategy is now being extended to many local races <p>
In the last few years, we’ve even seen George Soros backed funds buy many prosecutor races in targeted cities and counties. In just one example, a liberal prosecutor in North Carolina running on the platform of abolishing bail and refusing to prosecute most crimes received about $1.5 million dollars. In previous years by comparison, each candidate typically received only about $15 thousand. This strategy has led to an epidemic of increased crime and unrest across the country due to the Soros-backed prosecuters refusing to prosecute even serious crimes.<p>
<h4>Power of the Majority Party</h4>
With the upcoming 2020 elections just around the bend and many voters have already begun to cast their ballots, we like to offer some brief thoughts about the importance of your vote, because you are voting for more than just a candidate. <b><i>One of the single most misunderstood facts about voting is that when a person casts his or her vote, it is not just for a candidate, but for an entire party, and in the bigger picture, for an entire worldview.</i></b><p>
Perhaps the easiest way to explain is to look at the 2108 mid-term elections. Prior to the election, the Republicans held a majority in the House and Senate. We should note that this fact doesn’t necessarily mean the Republicans had a solid majority, since as most people know, all Democrats are solid Democrats, but many Republicans are Republicans in Name Only (RINOs). A prime example was during the Republican’s attempt to repeal the expensive, one-size-fits-all Obamacare disaster and replace it with an individualized, more economical plan, RINO John McCain single-handly dealt one final blow to conservatism with his last vote in the Senate.<p>
Be that as it may, the Democrats won the majority by running candidates proclaiming themselves to be “moderates” in over 30 precincts that had been carried by President Trump in 2016. Videos surfaced of aides to some of these candidates telling prospective voters that, “Our candidate is very liberal, but has to pretend otherwise due to the number of moderate voters in the district”. The “mainstream” media spiked the stories, and the candidates won by promising not to support Nancy Pelosi for Speaker of the House, and to be an independent voice for their constituents.<p>
Regarding the first of these promises, Ms Pelosi was able to win over enough of these new members by cutting individual special deals to be re-elected as Speaker of the House, and place herself third in line for the Presidency. Regarding the new candidate’s promise of being an independent voice, all but one voted the impeach the President over non-criminal, policy disagreements between Trump and the unelected deep-state bureaucrats.<p>
We’ll come back to these “moderates”, but we first must understand the power of the majority party, or more accurately, the power of their leader(s). The leader of the majority party has enormous power, even if that party has only a one-member majority. First, he or she appoints the chairman for each committee and sub-committees. The majority party also holds a majority of members on each committee. Since any legislation must pass several procedural obstacles in the committees to even get to the legislative body, these committee heads also have tremendous authority. The minority party can’t even bring a bill to the floor without getting an agreement with a sufficient number of members from the other party. It’s not surprising that most legislation never makes it to the body for a vote.<p>
So, for the sake of argument, let’s pretend that many of the new “moderates” were sincere in their promises to vote independently, they would still have no control over which legislation the committees and Speaker will bring to a vote. Even if a bill makes it out of committee and they decide to break with the leaders on a vote, they will typically be threatened to either vote the party line, or have the party back an opponent against them in the next primary election. Thus, once they compromised on their “No to Pelosi” pledge, they were basically powerless to keep their promise to their local voters, even if that had been their intention. </p>
So, before you cast a ballot, please consider the entire ramification of your vote. We mentioned that when we cast our ballot, we’re also electing a worldview. Although specifics can vary somewhat by candidates, one party generally believes in natural law (from God), freedom of religion, state and local rights, free-market economics, the right to life, security, free speech and other liberties guaranteed by the constitution; while the other typically believes in federal government autonomous control (socially, economically and otherwise), judicial activism, the right to kill babies, and globalism.
<h4>Worldly and Godly Leaders</h4>
In 1998, pastor and teacher John MacArthur preached a sermon entitled <a href="https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/80-197/characteristics-of-an-effective-leader" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Characteristics of an Effective Leader</a> in which he painted a picture of an effective leader according to the two prevailing worldviews. The secular world typically prefers a leader with the following qualities. “Visionary – that is looking to the future and, in some degree or another, being able to forecast the future and plan ahead for the future. Action oriented – that is more than just someone who muses about things, more than someone who comes up with ideas and schemes, somebody who can make things happen… So, you have this typical picture of a leader: visionary, action oriented, courageous, energetic, objective oriented, paternalistic, egocentric, intolerant of incompetence in others, and indispensible.” Meanwhile, from a Christian worldview, he states, “What makes an effective leader? He’s respected/trusted, takes initiative, uses good judgment, speaks with authority, strengthens others, is enthusiastic and optimistic about triumph, never compromises absolutes, focuses on objectives not obstacles, and leads by example.” We need more candidates fitting Pastor MacArthur’s description of a leader in all levels of government today.<p>
If I could add a personal observance, worldly leaders tend to be life-long politicians, while Godly leaders often serve for a few years, then return to the private sector. There are many exceptions of course, but as a rule, I believe this is often because worldly leaders often attempt to raise government to the level of diety. Witness Barack Obama’s infamous “You didn’t build that” statement implying that private citizens or corporations are basically powerless without government. One other example is the recent mandates closing houses of worship, mostly in the blue states. While liquor stores and marijuana selers are considered “essential” businesses, churches are considered as “non-essential”. In Pastor MacArthur’s state of California, churches are facing tens of thousands dollars in fines hold holding services.<p>
<h4>Loud Dogma</h4>
This coming Monday, Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett will appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee to begin confirmation hearings. In her previous hearing, in which she was confirmed to the US Seventh Court of Appeals, Diane Feinstein, the top Democrat on the committee, attached her for her faith with the now infamous statement, “The dogma lives loudly within you”. Of course, what went, and continues to go unsaid, is that the dogma also lives loudly within Sen Feinstein, albeit a completely different dogma. Still, a secular faith is just as much a dogma as is a religious one, even though it is not recognized as such by most people. Article VI, Section 2 of the US Constitution states “no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or Public Trust under the United States”. The Constitution, as Obama once noted, can be a real inconvenience.<p>
<p>Finally, as the percentage of authentic Christians continues to drop in our country, we encourage all remaining believers to exercise their right and privilege to vote.</p>
Roycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00355616675481661310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2865222016839850672.post-84113883970935182172020-08-15T21:57:00.004-05:002020-08-16T13:08:40.462-05:00Thy Kingdom ComeGuest Post by Jim Beatty – a fellow Servant of Jesus Christ<p>
Webmaster Note: <i>Jim received some pushback from others on this article because it was incorrectly perceived that he was writing against all public corporate prayer. Public prayer was common and essential among the Apostles and disciples in the NT church (Acts 1:12-14). Jim believes that corporate prayer is important in the Church and while that involves someone praying publicly, that's not what Jesus was addressing in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus was addressing the boisterous prayers some were making in the public squares only to draw attention to themselves. “Look how righteous I am by praying so loudly for everyone to hear!” Reading the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapter 5 through 7 should help the reader understand the intended context of this article.</i><p>
<br>This might be a good time to review what Jesus taught us when he gave his model prayer at the Sermon on the Mount.<p>
Jesus begins by warning us against praying to bring attention to ourselves. He says the hypocrites do that. We’re to pray privately where only God will hear our prayer. Worldly people repeat a lot of vain babbling, but we shouldn’t pray like that. God already knows our needs and those repeated ritual phrases are useless (Matthew 6:5-7).<p>
<i>“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”</i> (Matthew 6:9-13 KJV)<p>
Praying for His Kingdom’s return truly is praying for all the world’s issues to be corrected. All will be made right in that day and his will be done (Revelation 22). We ask for our own forgiveness in the same way we forgive others. <i>“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”</i> (Matthew 6:14-15)<p>
Ask him to lead us away from temptation. A picture of this can be seen in the 23rd Psalm, comparing the Lord as a shepherd leading us to the green grass and along the still waters, the guidance of his rod and staff comforting us, not threatening.<p>
And deliver us from evil. Satan tempted Jesus to turn stones into bread after 40 days of fasting. Jesus quoted scripture, <i>“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God”</i> (Deuteronomy 8:3). Satan challenged him to test God, but Jesus again quoted scripture, <i>“...thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God”</i> (Deuteronomy 6:16).<p>
Satan said he would give Jesus <i>“...all the kingdoms of the world; and the glory of them”</i> if Jesus would just worship him. Jesus once again quoted scripture, <i>“...thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve”</i> (Deuteronomy 6:13, 10:20). Although Satan promised him <i>“all the KINGDOMS and their GLORY”</i>, Jesus closes his prayer by affirming that those aren’t the kingdoms we want anyhow! <i>“For THINE is the KINGDOM and the POWER and the GLORY forever”.</i> It’s God’s kingdom that we want!<p>
Jesus told us to pray “in this manner”, not necessarily these exact words. There are no magic words. I think he meant to pray from the heart, briefly and asking for things that are of God’s will rather than our own will. We’re to ask with faith and confidence (Matthew 7:11). If we pray for the things that are of God’s will, he’ll take care of our needs as well!</p>
Roycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00355616675481661310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2865222016839850672.post-33584249091169965192020-06-28T15:25:00.000-05:002020-06-28T15:30:28.481-05:00Day of the Christian Martyr 2020Tomorrow marks the annual Day of the Christian Martyr, and many Christians are paying special respect and honor this weekend to the legacy of those who have sacrificed their very lives for the advancement of the gospel. This day is chosen based on early church tradition that the Apostle Paul was martyred on June 29 in Rome during the reign of Emperor Nero in the mid-to-late sixties of the first century AD.</p>
<p>The <i>Voice of the Martyrs</i> (VOM), an interdenominational Christian missions organization that has been serving our persecuted brothers and sisters worldwide for over fifty years, maintains a <a href="https://blog.addeigloriam.org/2019/06/day-of-christian-martyr-2019.html" target="_blank">memorial to Christian martyrs</a> at its Oklahoma headquarters. This year's special inductee is Central African Pastor Jean-Paul Sankagui (Graphic courtesy of VOM).<p>
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<img class="img1 w90" src="https://www.addeigloriam.org/blog/images/blogger20/Day-of-Christian-Martyr-2020-Sankagui.jpg"></div><p>
Pastor Sankagui’s inspiring story is courtesy of the <i>Voice of the Martyrs</i>:
<blockquote>Pastor Jean-Paul Sankagui planted a church in a Muslim neighborhood outside Bangui, capital of the Central African Republic, in 1993. He maintained good relations with the community for years.
<p>But civil war between Seleka rebels, government forces and anti-balaka militias changed everything.
<p>Most of the pastor’s church members fled the area as hostility increased toward Christians. And even the pastor’s wife, Mary, urged him to leave the area and work someplace safer. But Pastor Jean-Paul stayed in obedience to what he believed God had called him to do.
<p>On Feb. 7, 2017, Islamists shot Pastor Jean-Paul to death outside his church in Ramandji before looting and burning his house and church. Mary said they killed her husband because the community no longer wanted Christians in the area. She and Pastor Sankagui had been married 48 years and had 11 children and 17 grandchildren. After losing not only her husband but also her home and all her possessions, Mary had no choice but to leave the area.
<p>Five other evangelical pastors in the region also were killed in the first five weeks of 2017. Pastor Jean-Paul knew the risks, counted the cost and willingly stayed to shepherd his small congregation and serve as a witness for Christ in the neighborhood.</blockquote>
<p>For those who would like additional information and resources about Pastor Sankagui and/or the Day of the Christian Martyr, we encourage you to visit the VOM website for the <a href="https://www.vomradio.net/episodes/detail/day-of-the-christian-martyr-2020" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><strong>Day of the Christian Martyr 2020 podcast</strong></a>, and a prayer guide for the <a href="https://www.persecution.com/globalprayerguide/central-african-republic/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><strong>Central African Republic</strong></a>. There are also additional resources for your church or small group.
<p>We have supported our friends at VOM for years and believe them to be one of the most vital ministries for our modern turbulent times. In particular, we'd like to alert our readers to a particularly urgent need of our sisters and brothers, not only in the Central African Republic, but also in Nigeria, Sudan, Pakistan, Laos and several other African, Middle Eastern and Far Eastern nations. The number of Christian families forced out of their homes and villages in recent years has increased dramatically. Most are forced to flee with no food or provisions, only the clothes on their backs. They survive by sleeping on the ground and eating whatever edible plants they can find in the forests.
<p>This is due not only to Islamic, Hindu and other militarists, but to superstition as well. The vast majority of many villagers worship the “gods” or “spirits” of nature (the river, forest, livestock, household idols etc). Many Christians are banished from their villages by their superstitious neighbors to avoid angering or offending these false gods or spirits. For those who would like to aid these displaced Christian families, VOM has set up a <a href="https://www.persecution.com/driven/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><strong>Help Christians Driven from their Homes</strong></a> campaign that delivers items for their basic needs. Thank you and God bless. Roycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00355616675481661310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2865222016839850672.post-62254214723023251292020-05-25T17:30:00.001-05:002021-05-28T20:10:31.468-05:00Memorial Day Tribute to Our Fallen Heroes
Although we should remember our fallen heroes each day of the year, Memorial Day is set aside as a special day to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve the freedoms we enjoy daily. As a very small token of gratitude, we've created our latest annual tribute page at <a href="https://www.addeigloriam.org/military/memorial-day-2020.htm" target="_blank"><strong>2020 Memorial Day Tribute</strong></a>.<p>
As I was making this year’s selections of pics, memes etc, I noticed several that urged everyone to have a “Happy Memorial Day”. While these were likely done with the best of intentions, and I’ve probably used this phrase several times without thinking in the past, I always pass these over in preference to other phrases. Although Memorial Day is partly a celebration of the good times we’ve had with our military families and friends, it is primarily a day of somber remembrance of those who gave their lives for us. Thus, we must be grateful for the sacrifices made by the families of these heroes, who let them go off in service to our country so that our families can live in safety and freedom.<p>
We should also remember the fellow soldiers who were able to return home, many with physical and psychological handicaps that will last the remainder of their lives. One might wonder how a soldier can charge into a deadly situation that would paralyze a non-soldier. We can call it love for country and families back home, and that's certainly part of the answer. But I'm told time after time in conversations that, a primary concern during these moments is their fellow soldiers, their “brothers in arms”. However many years may pass, a soldier never forgets each of his fallen comrades, and Memorial Day is particularly difficult.<p>
Memorial Day is made even more difficult for those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In my opinion, PTSD is a falsely named term for their condition. It should instead be called simply PTS, or Post Traumatic Stress. After surviving under the extreme conditions that a soldier faces constantly during wartime, the disorder (or abnormal condition) would be to not have PTS. PTS should be considered completely normal under the conditions that our soldiers willingly endured. Yet, despite knowing this going in, and the fact that a major political party, along with all their leftist activist judges, are continually working to undue the freedoms that our brave men and women are fighting for, the soldier continues in his or her duty to family, friends and country.<p>
One final thought for this day, Christians also remember the ultimate sacrifice made by Jesus Christ for us. Just as many a brave soldier laid down his life for our physical, civil, and political liberties, Jesus voluntarily laid down his life for our spiritual freedom so that believers are co-heirs with Him to the Kingdom of Heaven.<p>
Below is a tribute made of the 3/7 battalion during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Several years later, my son did two tours of duty with the Third Battalion - Seventh Marines in Afghanistan. We were very fortunate that he came back safely, but he lost several of his friends. Please continue to pray for, and express our sincere gratitude to the members and families of our brave military.<p>
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<a href="https://www.addeigloriam.org/military/images/memorial-day-2020/operation-iraqi-freedom-3-7-marines.jpg"><img class="img1 w90" src="https://www.addeigloriam.org/military/images/memorial-day-2020/operation-iraqi-freedom-3-7-marines-sm.jpg" alt="Operation Iraqi Freedom 3-7 Marines"/></a></div><p>Roycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00355616675481661310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2865222016839850672.post-41687964507823264392020-03-08T16:47:00.001-05:002021-05-30T13:03:27.167-05:00How does a True Christian’s Life Differ from other People?Guest Post by Melisa Marzett:<p>
Note: <i>The following article is partially written from a Roman Catholic / Eastern Orthodox theological perspective. The main concern of the article however, is proper Christian living rather than doctrinal teaching. Although the theological views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect those of ad Dei Gloriam Ministries, this article presents an excellent picture of true Christian living on this temporary earth as we look forward to our glorious eternal home.</i><p><br>
Image Source: <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/beads-bible-blur-book-236339/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Pexels / Pixabay</a><br>
<img class="imageLeftb1 w50" src="https://www.addeigloriam.org/blog/images/blogger20/bible-cross-600.jpeg" alt="bible with rosary"/>
A true Christian is a completely different person compared to other people.<p>
He is distinguished by thoughts, feelings, words, and deeds; he is among others, as the world star. Compare a true Christian with a non-Christian or with people who only bear the name of Christians and live in a disproportionately high rank, and you will see a big difference.<p>
For example, people usually think about how to live in peace, to have prosperity in everything, how to live life happily.<p>
But the Christian does not think much about the temporary, he has the main and, for the most part, the only concern about how to please God and appear in the next world with the hope of eternal life and bliss.<p>
Others, according to the Savior, believe in time, but fall away during temptation (Luke 8:13), consider themselves to be among the believers, and if by faith there would be at least the slightest danger of losing either honor, or gain, or simply attention and disposition of the highest, ready to hide their faith, in the case of open persecution and completely abandon the faith.<p>
What about a Christian? The Christian stands firmly in his confession; he is not shaken by any circumstances. In the case of extremes he is ready to endure exile, and torment, and death; he finds solace in sorrows and torments in the words of the apostle Paul: for me, life is Christ, and death is gain (Phil. 1:21).<p>
Others just think about how to improve their condition, increase benefits and get rich, at least sometimes not entirely righteously and honestly, even with fraud, with harm to one's neighbor.<p>
What about a Christian? God save you! And what is wealth to him? He knows well and firmly remembers that maybe he will not be in the world today. Will the wife and children remain? Why, they are the same people, the same Christians!<p>
All must live for God and their salvation. Having food and clothing is not rich and luxurious, but necessary – it is not difficult, and having them, we will be happy with it (1 Tim. 6:8).<p>
And look again, what a marvelous generosity and patience Christians have! For example, a person is subjected to contempt, resentment, harassment, persecution. What is it like to endure? Others in such circumstances are discouraged, complaining, trying even, if they can, to take revenge on their enemies.<p>
What about a Christian? He tolerates everything with pleasure. Indeed, he says, people acted with saints. But they all endured and in patience blessed God. They blaspheme us, says the holy Apostle Paul about himself and others, we bless; persecute us - we endure; blaspheme us - we pray (1 Cor. 4:12-13).<p>
And the true Christian, bearing in mind these examples, not only does not harbor hatred for his enemies but loves them and is charitable to them.<p>
Take poverty again: how bitter it is for a person, and who is calm and indifferent to it!<p>
What about a Christian? He is calmer and happier in poverty than any rich man. He well understands that poverty is the best and most reliable way to acquire celestial treasures, and with wealth - that and see that you forget and die forever. If misfortune happened to him, ruin, loss of those dear to the heart, then what?<p>
Do you think he will complain, like others, grieve, cry, torment, or, worse, grumble at God, despair, curse his birthday? Oh no! He sees the will of God in everything: it has been given to him — he thanks God and uses for the benefit of others and for the glory of God, is taken away — he does not regret and plunges himself into the will of God, saying after the righteous Job: the Lord gave, the Lord took; as the Lord pleased, so it was, blessed be the name of the Lord! (Job 1:21).<p>
Is death threatening him? Oh, how terrible it is for a man! It is hard to part with life, with the light, with family and friends.<p>
What about a Christian? The Christian is calm in this case too. What is death to him? He always thought about her, always expected and prepared for her; for him, she is a transition to a better life, to the Creator, his Redeemer, and God. He had nothing to regret: he had nothing, and if he did, he did not stick to anything, he considered everything to be temporary and as if the other (Nordov, “Holy, blessed.”, Vol. 2, p 489-491).<p>
Here, Christians, what a high rank we have and how many we differ from other people, non-Christians! It is only necessary to try to be worthy of him; one must be Christians not only by name but also by life, by the internal arrangement of the heart.<p>
<i>About the author:</i> Melisa Marzett is an article writer who is freelancing and traveling for quite some time now. Currently writing for <a target="_blank" href="http://findwritingservice.com/">english writing</a>, she provides her grateful audience with good reading. Being much of a reader herself, not a day goes by without her reading a few pages of some book and practice both physically and mentally.<p>
Roycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00355616675481661310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2865222016839850672.post-33251770906770942162020-02-29T13:04:00.000-06:002020-05-03T17:43:03.523-05:00Ministry Update and Shout-outs for Leap Day 2020Here are a few random items to close out February for this leap year.<p>
<b>Updates you may have missed:</b><p>
We’ve finished and uploaded our <a href="https://www.addeigloriam.org/bible-books.htm" target="_blank">Introductions to the books of Jeremiah and Lamentations</a>, and the book of Galatians is in progress. When we first started this section, my original goal was to complete all the Bible’s books and sections by the end of 2012. Obviously, we’re not going to make that overly ambitious goal, but we’re now over halfway there and hope to pick up the pace. This is still one of our top priorities and we’ve expanded each article to include not only general information, key verses, authors, timelines, themes and purposes, but also brief surveys, historical backgrounds, theology, and interpretation hints and challenges. These articles have also resulted in many spin-off writings.<p>
We’ve-formatted our <a href="https://www.addeigloriam.org/bible-study-guide/bible-reading-plans.htm" target="_blank">Bible Reading Plans</a> section for easier navigation and clarity for those who’d like to start a new plan this year. Our Bible reading plans are setup so that anyone can start and end anytime, not just at the start of a new year.<p>
We also added SSL encryption to our <a href="https://www.addeigloriam.org/" target="_blank">main website</a> and our Real Issues Blog for additional reader security by encrypting all data passing back and forth between our server and the browsers of our readers.<p>
Personally, I’ve finally been able to cut back my hours on my regular job to free up more time for research, writing, and additional website updates. For the handful of readers that may be interested, I recently posted a <a href="https://blog.addeigloriam.org/2020/02/a-personal-mini-history-and-notes.html" target="_blank">A Personal Mini-History</a> regarding my work over the past ten years or so.<p>
<b>A Couple of Shout-outs:</b><p>
The first one is about 18 months overdue. In 2018, I received a very cordial email from Evan Plant, director of <a href="http://mainsailministries.org/index.php" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mainsail Ministries</a>. Evan has also been serving as a question responder for over ten year at <a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Got Questions Ministries</a>, one of the top Christain sites on the web. He notified us that he had used one our articles on <a href="https://www.addeigloriam.org//commentary/ot-history/ruth-intermarriage.htm" target="_blank">the intermarriage of Ruth and Boaz</a> as a resource for the question <a href="http://mainsailministries.org/index.php/q-a-a-god-bible-theology-culture/495-should-ruth-s-being-a-moabite-have-excluded-david-from-being-king-2.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Should Ruth's being a Moabite have excluded David from being king?</a><p>
We were very excited to hear this, and after exchanging a few emails, I also learned that Evan and I had similar technical backgrounds before he retired to concentrate full-time on his ministries. Hopefully, I'll be following him along a similar path soon. Thanks again Evan for using our article in your work. I highly recommend that our readers visit the Mainsail website for additional fine articles.<p>
The second shout-out goes to Emerson de Oliveira of <i>Logos Apologética Cristã</i> (Christian Apologetics Logos). Emerson translated and published our article <a href="https://www.addeigloriam.org//theology/general/theology-benefits.htm" target="_blank">Benefits and Blessings of Studying Theology</a> at <a href="https://logosapologetica.com/os-beneficios-de-estudar-teologia/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Os benefícios de estudar teologia</a>. This was also done in 2018 but I only stumbled onto it recently by accident.<p>
I’ve always wanted to get some of our articles transferred into other languages but haven’t had the knowledge or the resources. I’ve issued engineering documents in Spanish and German in the past, but only did the technical terms myself. I always had to get help in creating sentences with proper grammar. Thanks so much Emerson for translating our article. We highly recommend Emerson’s site to our Spanish speaking readers.<p>
Roycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00355616675481661310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2865222016839850672.post-34197773924216849152020-02-21T16:51:00.000-06:002020-02-23T17:06:27.307-06:00Born this Way?Guest Post by Jim Beatty – a fellow Servant of Jesus Christ<p>
Webmaster Note: <i>Jim wrote this excellent article after the Lady Gaga song and album came out, but his writing had been previously rejected by others as being “too controversial” and/or anti-gay. Yet, an honest reading of the article makes clear that Jim is addressing a universal condition that affects each of us, both homosexuals and heterosexuals alike.</i><p>
<br><b>“Baby, I was Born This Way!”</b> - Lady Gaga, 2011<p>
<i>But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil”</i> Genesis 3:4-5 (ESV).<p>
It was the incident in the Garden of Eden that gave each of us all our sinful nature. In Romans 5:12, Paul says <i>“Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned”</i>. Jeremiah 17:9 explains <i>“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”</i> David said in Psalm 51:5 <i>“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me”</i>. Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 7:20 <i>“Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins”</i>, and in Romans 3:23, Paul said <i>“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”</i>.<p>
While I don't think that anyone’s theology should be based on some pop/rock song of the past, Lady Gaga does make a good and true point that we're all “born this way” (I can't say that I agree with the rest of the song though, but you can find the lyrics on your favorite search engine and judge that for yourself).<p>
We’re all “born this way”, myself included, which is to say we’re all born with a sinful nature. This sinful nature grows differently in different people and manifests differently in each of us - blossoming into different “flavors”, one might say. A thief is “born this way”, as is an adulterer, a murderer, a liar, a gossip, a greedy person, a swindler, a fornicator, or anyone who oppresses the poor and feeble are all “born this way” (Ref: 1st Corinthians 6:9-10, Galatians 5:19-21, Colossians 3:5-6 and other passages).<p>
God does not want us to stay “this way”, however, as is made abundantly clear throughout scripture, in fact we are at enmity with God when we are “this way” (Genesis 3:15).<p>
God does love us however, and offers us all a way out of our bondage to this sinful nature! Jesus is quoted in Mark 2:17 <i>“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners”</i>. Paul also tells us <i>“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly”</i> (Romans 5:6), and although we are “born this way” God gives us the opportunity to change all that!<p>
Matthew 3:3-5 says that Jesus answered him, <i>“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God”</i>. Nicodemus then asked him, <i>“How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God”</i>. The way to change from being “born this way” is to be “born again”.<p>
So although all of us were truly “born this way”, we don't have to stay this way! <i>Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new</i> (2nd Corinthians 5:17), and <i>Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ</i> (Romans 5:1).<p>
Roycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00355616675481661310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2865222016839850672.post-47328858104488458022020-02-20T20:01:00.000-06:002020-02-20T20:01:01.390-06:00A Personal Mini-History and NotesWe began our blog (in its current form) in the summer of 2009. As longtime readers have probably noticed, the frequency of our posts steadily decreased after the first few years due to the external workload of the primary blogger (me) sharply increasing. In 2012, I took on several new electrical engineering design projects such as the largest shipping terminal in Costa Rico, a new Substation for the US Coast Guard in Puerto Rico, a Naval Base in Florida, and a major maritime port in New Jersey. Then, from 2013 – 2016, I took on the Substation, Transmission and Distribution, and Telecommunication design of several industrial cities in the Middle East, during which a veteran engineer and great friend whom I’d been splitting some of the work retired.<p>
After getting a few weeks break in the summer of 2016, I then took on several major Ports and Maritime projects along the East Coast, with scarcely a day off (including weekends and holidays) for the next two years. I was then contemplating retirement, but took on another project for the Navy in which the design phase ended last week. So, I’m once again seeking God’s will whether to retire in order to research, write and minister full time, or to continue working. Whatever happens, I’m hoping to at least cut back on my engineering work, perhaps to a part-time consultant, so that I may spend more time on our website, blog, and other ministries. Thank you for your continued prayers and support.<p>
Roycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00355616675481661310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2865222016839850672.post-10572900614674099562019-06-29T19:35:00.001-05:002019-07-06T15:54:22.572-05:00Day of the Christian Martyr 2019This weekend, many Christians are honoring the memory and legacy of those who have sacrificed their lives for the advancement of the gospel. According to early church tradition, the Apostle Paul was martyred on June 29 in Rome during the reign of Emperor Nero in the mid-to-late sixties of the first century AD. The <i>Voice of the Martyrs</i> (VOM), an interdenominational Christian missions organization that has been serving our persecuted brothers and sisters worldwide since 1967, maintains a memorial to martyrs at its Oklahoma headquarters (all photos courtesy of VOM).<p>
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This year, VOM will add a plaque honoring Werner, Rodé and Jean-Pierre Groenewald, who were murdered by the Taliban on November 29, 2014 while serving in Kabul, Afghanistan. On the day of the attack, Taliban fighters (one reportedly wearing a police uniform) scaled the walls of the Christian compound, and began firing with AK-47s. Werner, along with several afghans, were shot to death while he was teaching a leadership-training class. The two teens, Jean-Pierre, 17, and Rodé, 15, were killed in the Groenewald’s upstairs apartment, also with an AK-47. Gunfire and explosions could be heard for over an hour. Werner's wife Hannelie, who was working at a nearby clinic that day, was the only family survivor.<p>
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<img class="img1 w90" src="https://www.addeigloriam.org/blog/images/blogger19/vom-Groenewald-family.jpg"><br>The Groenewalds: Rodé, Hannelie, Werner, Jean-Pierre</div><p>
It is said of the Groenewalds, like many other Christian martyrs before and after, that <i>"they counted the cost. They knew Christ was worthy, and they willingly put their lives on the line and paid the ultimate price."</i><p>
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We encourage our readers to watch the induction ceremony, as well as read more of their inspiring story at VOM's <a href="https://www.persecution.com/martyr/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><strong>Day of the Christian Martyr 2019</strong></a> webpage. It is also a great reminder for us to continue praying for the persecuted worldwide.<p>
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The VOM memorial, similar to the <i>Tomb of the Unknown Soldier</i>, also has a plaque labelled <i>"<b>KNOWN BUT TO GOD - We honor countless Martyrs with names unknown on Earth, but whose witness and sacrifice are celebrated in Heaven - Psalm 116:15"</b></i>. The writer of Hebrews undoubtedly had both known and unknown martyrs in mind when he wrote these words:
<blockquote><i>And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. <b>There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.</b></i> - Heb 11:32-38</blockquote>
Hebrews chapter 11 is often called <i>"The Faith Chapter"</i>. The books of the Bible were not divided into chapters until the sixteenth century AD, so immediately following, we read these words:
<blockquote><i>Therefore, since we are surrounded by <b>such a great cloud of witnesses</b>, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.</i> - Heb 12:1-2</blockquote>
So, even though all Christians will not have to die a martyr's death, we are to follow the example of these ever-increasing "great cloud of witnesses" by following the Lord Jesus wherever He leads.<p>Roycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00355616675481661310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2865222016839850672.post-59825010055546016672018-11-11T19:25:00.005-06:002018-11-23T18:22:30.327-06:00Honoring our Veterans – Veterans Day Weekend 2018
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Each year, November 11 is recognized as a day of solemn reflection throughout many nations in honor of those who bravely served them. The day is known by many names, including Armistice Day, Remembrance Day in British Commonwealth countries, and Veterans Day in the United States. This year also marks the 100 year anniversary of the armistice to end World War 1, signed between the allied countries and Germany at Compiègne, France on November 11, in 1918. The armistice went into effect at 11am Paris time, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.<p>
In the United States this year, Monday, November 12 is set aside to commemorate and honor and recognize their service to the nation. Although we should honor our veterans every day, please make a special effort to thank all of those you know. Although most veterans don’t seek attention, it shouldn’t be difficult to find one. There are over 20 million former and active veterans in our country today. Even if you can’t thank them in person, please observe a moment to thank God for our brave men, women and their families.<p>
<h4>Marine Corps Birthday 243rd Birthday</h4>
Coinciding with this Veteran’s Day weekend is the 243rd birthday of the US Marine Corps, whose origins trace from an October 1775 plan by the Continental Congress to use Marines to oversee a mission to intercept ammunition shipments from Britain during the Revolutionary War. The following month, a resolution was adopted that officially created a standing Marine Corps force on November 10, 1775, the date that became the USMC birthday.
True to their humble roots, the <a href="https://www.military.com/marine-corps-birthday" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><strong>Marine Corps Birthday</strong></a> is not a federal holiday, but observed only internally by the military branches; although some local government and civic organizations sometimes hold various events to honor the men and women of the Marines. The primary historical celebration is the traditional <a href="https://www.usmcbirthdayball.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><strong>Marine Corps Birthday Ball</strong></a>. The first known Birthday Ball was held in 1925 Philadelphia, but is now held annually in our nation’s capital.<p>
<h4>WWI Memorial Cross in Jeopardy</h4>
This Veterans Day Weekend also coincides with the recent Supreme Court’s agreement to hear arguments in the case of the <a href=" http://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/maryland-national-capital-park-and-planning-commission-v-american-humanist-association/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><strong>Bladensburg Peace Cross</strong></a>. The dispute began in 2014 when members of the <i>American Humanist Association</i> filed a lawsuit to have the memorial removed, claiming it discriminates against soldiers who were not Christian.
The humanists were later joined by the <i>Council on American-Islamic Relations</i> in their efforts to destroy the cross that has stood for almost 100 years, and was financed by the American Legion and private donors.<p>
Stella Morabito at <a href="https://thefederalist.com/2018/11/10/thanks-anti-religion-lawsuit-wwi-anniversary-last-bladensburg-cross/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><strong><i>the Federalist</i></strong></a> has a must-read article in which she writes:
<blockquote>Sadly, precious few Americans today know a single thing about World War I. This is unconscionable, because we can still feel its aftershocks all over the world today. Forgetting our history has very damaging consequences if we ever hope to attain real progress in this world. And the point of war memorials is to remind us of such things, and to bid us never to forget.<p>
So there is great poignancy in the timing of the Supreme Court’s recent agreement to consider the case of <i>The American Legion et al. v. the American Humanist Association et al</i>. The court will decide whether a World War I memorial in Bladensburg, Md., may remain standing, or if it constitutes an illegal mix of church and state. The American Legion is appealing the Oct 18, 2017, decision of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals that the memorial must go, which overturned a previous ruling allowing the memorial to stand.</blockquote>
<p>Ms Morabito also explains the religious and historical aspects of why we need the memorial cross. Other excellent articles are from <a href="https://www.wnd.com/2018/11/supremes-to-review-orders-to-destroy-cross-memorial/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">World Net Daily</a>, a concise story on the SCOTUS taking the case, and <a href="https://www.dailysignal.com/2018/11/10/what-veterans-say-about-effort-at-supreme-court-to-remove-peace-cross-war-memorial/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">the Daily Signal</a>, who has the perspective from actual veterans on their thoughts about the efforts to remove the memorial cross.<p>
Please be in prayer for the families of these veterans and all others involved in this very important religious freedom case.</p>
<h4>WWI and Technology</h4>
<img alt="WWI tank" class="imageRightb1 w50" src="https://www.addeigloriam.org/blog/images/blogger18/WWI-Holt-gas-elec-tank.jpg"/>
We’ll end this post on a lighter note. I was reading through this month’s issue of <i>Electrical Construction and Maintenance (EC&M) Magazine</i>, when I came across an article on <a href="https://www.ecmweb.com/design/electricity-and-world-war-i" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><strong>Electricity and World War I</strong></a>. The subject of the article was the pivotal role that electricity played in the First World War. This article is also the source of the old photos used in this post.<p>
The article notes some of the “firsts” that were introduced into combat during the First World War, in addition to rapidly developing electrical technology such as warplanes for bombing, steel helmets, blood banks, and guide dogs. In 1917 and 1918, the Holt Manufacturing Co and General Electric Co collaborated to invent the Holt gas-electric tank, the first prototype tank built in the United States. The tank used a gasoline engine connected to an electric generator to provide power to its various parts. Unfortunately, the tank was prone to overheating and lacking maneuverability, so the machine was the only one of its kind built. Fortunately, it was not needed since not a single American-made tank ever saw service in the war, and the US dominated technical development and manufacturing afterward.<p>
In other technological gains, incandescent and carbon-arc searchlights became game changers for the allies. These lights were crucial for nighttime operations such as navigation, illuminating enemy ships, blinding enemy troops to allow torpedo boats to navigate closer to enemy ships, and for spotting and guiding warplanes during bombing raids (no GPS in those days).<p>
WWI battleships also benefited greatly from advancements in electrical technology. Most devices and equipment were electrically power and operated, many by remote control. In addition, electricity was now being used to pivot and aim guns, and to lift ammunition from the magazines up to the guns.<p>
The various weapons such as rifles, machine guns, artillery, mortars, and flamethrowers, led to millions of human injuries and created a medical crisis. In response, Marie Curie, a Polish and naturalized-French physicist and chemist who became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, invented the “radiological car” (aka the “Curie car”). This vehicle contained an X-ray machine (a recently invented medical diagnostic tool) and photographic darkroom equipment. This invention allowed medics to bring this new technology to the battlefield. Ms Curie also incorporated an electrical generator into the car to power the X-ray machine.<p>
WWI also resulted in the establishment of the first blood bank. Oswald Robertson, a US Army doctor came up with the idea of storing blood prior to the arrival of casualties. He established the first blood bank on the Western Front in 1917, from where it was transported to various medical stations as needed. This idea is credited with preventing thousands of deaths.<p>
Finally, we mention that after the war, Dr Kurt Huldschinsky, a German pediatrician of Polish descent, noticed that many of his young patients were extremely pale. In addition, it is thought that about half of Berlin’s children suffered from rickets (a softening, weakening and/or deformation of skeletal bones). Since sunlamps had been used throughout the war to help treat soldiers’ wounds, the doctor began placing a few of the children under mercury-quartz lamps which emitted ultraviolet (UV) light. His patient’s bones slowly became stronger and the following summer (1919), he also began having them sit in the sun. The doctor’s research eventually led to the discovery that the process of Vitamin D strengthens the bones with calcium is triggered by UV light. Thus, God used the circumstances of the war to cure this children’s ailment.<p>
In closing, we ask once again that we pray for, and honor all our veterans and their families.<p>
Roycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00355616675481661310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2865222016839850672.post-90532554818640640712018-11-04T18:41:00.000-06:002020-02-20T17:49:40.166-06:00International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church 2018Today marks the annual International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP), a day on which churches, Christian groups, and individuals across our nation and the world join together in prayer for our persecuted brothers and sisters in the Faith. This year’s observance coincides with breaking news of another deadly attack on Christians in Egpyt, and a critical turning point in a decade-old case in Pakistan.<p>
In Egypt, several Christians were killed and over a dozen injured in the second bus massacre in the past year. Two church buses were returning from a visit to a desert monastery when they were violently attacked by masked gunmen. One bus driver managed to escape with his passengers unharmed, but the second, including family members returning from a baptism, suffered the casualties.<p>
The Islamic State, who frequently targets Egypt’s Coptic Christians, has claimed responsibility for the attack. This was merely the latest in a long string of attacks on the Coptic Christian community, who proclaim to trace their roots back to Mark, the companion of Peter and writer of the second Gospel. Let's please keep this group in our prayers.<p>
<img alt="Asia Bibi" class="imageRightb1 w50" src="https://www.addeigloriam.org/blog/images/blogger18/Asia-Bibi-IDOP-2018.jpg"/>The second story is undoubtedly one of the highest profile cases over the past decade. It involves the acquittal of a Christian woman, <strong>Asia “Bibi” Noreen</strong>, after spending eight years on death row in Pakistan for the false charge of blasphemy. Since her arrest, countless Christians, including ourselves, have been fervently praying for her release. This is a long story so we’ll give the highlights and include links for those interested in learning more details.<p>
Ms Bibi’s ordeal began in 2009, when she brought a bucket of water to some Muslim co-laborers who were harvesting fruit. The women claimed that, since Ms Bibi was a Christian, she had made the cup “unclean” and as a result, they could no longer drink from it. They later beat Ms Bibi at her home, and after she refused to convert to Islam, her co-workers complained to the police. They accused her of “blasphemy” and claimed she even confessed during the beating. This resulted in to her arrest; after which she was convicted of blasphemy and sentenced to death by hanging.<p>
Pakistan added blasphemy as a separate article to their penal codes in 1986. These blasphemy laws, which carry a recommended sentence of death or life imprisonment, are extremely controversial and almost impossible to defend against, since the law code does not even define what actually constitutes “blasphemy”. Thus, it is often used (or more accurately, abused) in disagreements with, and to target religious minorities.<p>
After Ms Bibi’s conviction, she spent eight years in prison while her appeal hearing was repeatedly delayed, until finally receiving a hearing and being freed this past week (Oct 31, 2018). Yet, this could turn out to be only a temporary victory. The <i>Tehreek-i-Labaik</i> (TLP) party, an Islamic extremist group, immediately organized and launched nationwide protests calling for Ms Bibi’s execution. Due to these protests, her lawyer fled to Europe for his own safety. Even more troubling however, Pakistani officials, in an agreement with the extremists to stop the protests, agreed to ban Ms Bibi from leaving the Pakistan even though several countries have offered her asylum. We must continue to pray for Ms Bibi’s safety since many attempts have already been made on her life, and likely will continue until she is allowed to leave.<p>
For more information, the BBC has a good article on <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35910331" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Why Pakistani Christians are Targeted</a>, and Open Doors USA writes about <a href="https://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/stories/5-things-christians-need-to-know-about-asia-bibi-and-the-church-in-pakistan/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Five Things Christians Need to Know about Asia Bibi and the Church in Pakistan</a>.<p>
I find very few things as inspiring as listening to the stories of Christians that are being or have been imprisoned, persecuted and even martyred for their faith. I rarely hear them request prayers for their own comfort. Instead, they typically ask for grace to forgive their persecutors (Mt 5:43-44, Rom 12:14) and for courage to continue to spread the Word (Ac 4:29), even to those who are oppressing them. In these faithful saints, we’re seeing true first century Christianity displayed before our very eyes. Please pray for all those facing persecution (Heb 13:3).<p>
<b><i>Update:</i></b><p>
As of May 2019, Ms Bibi has been re-united with her family in Canada; however, she must remain cautious since she is still receiving death threats. Please continue to pray for her safety.<p>
Roycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00355616675481661310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2865222016839850672.post-37791560832798276542018-05-27T23:52:00.000-05:002020-05-25T15:29:04.451-05:00Memorial Day Tribute 2018We wanted to begin by alerting our readers to a new temporary display this
year in our nation's capital near the Lincoln Memorial. According to
<a href="https://www.military.com/undertheradar/2018/05/23/dc-readers-dont-miss-poppy-memorial-weekend.html" target="_blank">Military.com</a>:<p>
<img class="imageLeftb1 w50" src="https://www.addeigloriam.org/military/images/memorial-day-2018/poppy-field.jpg" alt="poppy field"/><i>The Poppy Memorial is a translucent structure that
measures 133 feet long, 8 1/2 feet tall and is filled with more than 645,000
poppy flowers — honoring every man and woman who gave their life in service
of our nation since World War I. USAA is sponsoring the installation.
Inspired by John McCrae's World War I poem, “<span class="italic">In
Flanders Fields</span>,” the poppy is a widely-recognized symbol of
remembrance. <br><br>“The poppy flower symbolizes those who gave the last
full measure in defense of our freedoms,” said Vice Admiral (Ret) John Bird,
USAA Senior Vice President of Military Affairs. The Poppy Memorial
visualizes the magnitude of that sacrifice and reminds us all of the price
that was paid. We are grateful to the National Park Service for
allowing us to display this inspiring and educational exhibit among the
permanent monuments, as a testament to the enduring bravery of our men and
women in uniform.”</i>
<p>In conjunction with the memorial, USAA has set up a website,
<a href="https://poppyinmemory.usaacloud.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Poppy in Memory</a>,
where anyone can dedicate a poppy to a fallen hero, and the poppy will then be
added to the display.</p>
<p>For our annual Memorial Day Remembrance, see our <a href="https://www.addeigloriam.org/military/memorial-day-2018.htm" target="_blank"><strong>2018 Memorial Day Tribute</strong></a> to our fallen heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms. God Bless our Troops!<p>Roycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00355616675481661310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2865222016839850672.post-85531081635354341812018-03-03T19:07:00.000-06:002020-03-08T15:40:50.562-05:00Finding The Right School Before MovingGuest Post by Tilda Moore of OpenEducators:<p>
Note: <i>The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect those of ad Dei Gloriam Ministries.</i><p><br>
Whether it’s because you found a great job or you just want to change where you live, you are planning a big move. With all the work you have to put into finding the house, hiring movers, and dealing with mortgages, it’s easy to forget about finding the right school.<p>
Image Source: <a href="https://pixabay.com/en/girl-kids-training-school-letter-1345800/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Pixabay</a><br>
<img class="imageLeftb1 w50" src="https://www.addeigloriam.org/blog/images/blogger18/girl-1345800.jpg" alt="girl studying"/>
Your kids’ school will have a huge effect on their development both in terms of education and social life. You make friends for life in school, and it obviously impacts your college chances. That’s why it pays to find the right school before moving. You need to start by looking at where the schools are in your new hometown.<p>
<b>The Neighborhood Matters</b><p>
Urban planning and school district boundaries cannot be perfect. That means you can find a great house and still have a bad school. That’s why you have to look at the neighborhood where the school is at as well as your new home.<p>
The New York Times explains that the longer your children go to school in a bad area, the <a href="https://schoolecosystem.wordpress.com/2015/05/04/where-you-live-matters/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">worse things get</a> for them. The quality of a neighborhood affects those who live in it. Since your kids spend so much of their time at school, that area can mean more than where your home is located.<p>
Several questions you have to ask about the <a href="http://www.drugrehab.org/good-kids-great-choices-guide/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">school’s immediate area</a> are:<br>
<ol><li>  Is there a lot of graffiti?</li>
<li>  Are there abandoned buildings nearby?</li>
<li>  Do you see many school-age children running around when school is in session?</li>
<li>  Do you suspect illegal activity nearby?</li></ol>
All of these are indicators that the surrounding area is bad, which typically means the school isn’t doing well either.<p>
<b>Contact Them Online</b><p>
Even if a school is located in a good neighborhood, that doesn’t guarantee the school itself is good. That’s why you should <a href="http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2089618,00.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">contact local schools</a> before you move. Ask them about their curriculum, discipline, and funding. Although school funding isn’t always tied to student achievement, how many bad schools do you find in rich areas?<p>
You should also make sure all teachers are certified and, for elementary schools, that recess is still offered. Young kids need recess to establish good exercise habits and burn off excess energy.<p>
But what <a href="https://www.publicschoolreview.com/blog/10-tips-for-choosing-the-best-school-for-your-child" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">type of school</a> should you look for? These days, there are often several choices for people moving into a new home. These include:<br>
<ul><li>  Public schools</li>
<li>  Magnet schools (which are usually still public)</li>
<li>  Charter schools</li>
<li>  Religious and private schools</li></ul>
Some communities even offer virtual schools where students stay at home and attend classes online.<p>
<b>How To Change Your Mind</b><p>
You did your research and found what looked like the best choice. But a few weeks or months into the school year, you start to realize that you made a mistake. That’s not uncommon as you really never know until you enroll there. What can you do?<p>
Although the law states children must attend school, you may still have some choices. Check out the various federal, state, and local laws, or in some cases you may want to consult an attorney. Before you leave, talk to the school administration about your concerns. If they cannot be addressed, you'll probably need to send a formal withdrawal letter to the school. Then you should be able to enroll your kids elsewhere or even home-school them.<p>
<b>The Right School Is So Important</b><p>
Admittedly, it’s hard to find a great school before you move. But there are things you can do to tip the odds in your favor. Check out the school’s neighborhood and talk to them before enrolling. You often have a choice of schools these days, so don’t be afraid to withdraw from a school that’s not working out for your kids. After all, they’re the important ones in this scenario.
Roycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00355616675481661310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2865222016839850672.post-6979090098822412692018-02-25T23:04:00.000-06:002018-09-01T13:38:26.616-05:00Untold Story of North Korea at the Winter Olympics
By now, we’ve all seen the fawning headlines and stories of the media’s lovefest with Kim Yo Jong, the sister, close adviser and confidant to North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. We haven't seen adoration like this from the media since the death of Fidel Castro. Here’s a small sampling:
<p>NY Times: <i>Kim Jong-un’s Sister Turns on the Charm, Taking Pence’s Spotlight</i></p>
<p>Washington Post: <i>The “Ivanka Trump of North Korea” captivates people in the South</i></p>
<p>Associated Press: <i>At Olympic Games, Kim Jong Un’s sister takes VIP seat</i></p>
<p>Reuters: <i>North Korea heads for diplomacy gold medal at Olympics</i></p>
<p>Yahoo: <i>All swagger and smiles, Kim Jung Un's mysterious sister gets her star turn at Winter Olympics</i></p>
The winner of the “KJU Fan Club Best Propaganda Award” predictably went to CNN for a story entitled <i>“Kim Jong Un's sister is stealing the show at the Winter Olympics”</i>. The article began with</p>
<blockquote> If “diplomatic dance” were an event at the Winter Olympics, Kim Jong Un's younger sister would be favored to win gold.</p>
<p>With a smile, a handshake and a warm message in South Korea's presidential guest book, Kim Yo Jong has struck a chord with the public just one day into the PyeongChang Games.</p>
<p>Seen by some as her brother’s answer to American first daughter Ivanka Trump, Kim, 30, is not only a powerful member of Kim Jong Un’s kitchen cabinet but also a foil to the perception of North Korea as antiquated and militaristic.</blockquote>
<p>CNN thus implies that, KJU’s sister flashing a smile offsets all the images and other news coming out of N Korea. Evidently, all the military parades, missile tests, and the killings of vast numbers of their citizens were totally misinterpreted by those outside of the media. CNN gives us further enlightenment of how we’ve further misunderstood N Korea in a separate article.</p>
<blockquote>Babilina Hwang, a visiting professor at Georgetown, told CNN that “Kim Yo Jong is the perfect counterpart to [Ivanka Trump]. And it also is a signal that North Korea is not this crazy, weird former Cold War state -- but it too has young women that are capable and are the future leadership.”</blockquote>
<p>So according to CNN, if you’re a young woman looking for a great career with advancement opportunities, send your resume to Kim Jong Un today! To CNN’s credit, the writer did include some information that distinguished the article from that of a a press release written by the N Korean public affairs office.</p>
<blockquote>But as North Korea's brutal dictator, Kim's brother has ruled with an iron fist since coming to power, operating Nazi-style prison camps, repressing political opposition and even executing senior officers and his own family members in an effort to consolidate power.</blockquote>
<p>CNN also included the fact that Kim Yo Jong is a close aide to her brother, but you have to look for it deep into the article. The writer also mentioned the 2-3 million N Koreans that have starved over the past couple of decades, but blamed this on famine caused by withdrawal of food subsidies from China and Russia, collective farming [state-run and controlled], flooding and droughts. There was no mention of the millions and millions of dollars of foreign aid for food that was routinely diverted to the military, including nuclear facilities, but this would have contradicted CNN’s portrayal of N Korea as a modern peace-loving progressive society.</p>
<p><b>The North Korea that the Media Ignores:</b></p>
<p>We’re all familiar with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un’s constant threats of nuclear war, but there are many other stories that get ignored by the media. We often see videos of enthusiastic cheering by his military leaders and others around him, but no mention that KJU imprisons and tortures anyone who he even suspects of hinting at disloyalty to his regime. His government has systematically destroyed churches and attempted to eradicate any signs of Christianity except for a few “token” churches left open to promote his claims of religious freedom. Any true Church leaders and Christians are routinely rounded up and sent to prison camps.</p>
<p>Even associating with a Christian can result in being detained for questioning. In shades of Nazi Germany, children are targeted early for government propaganda and brain washing (the American left has also very successfully adopted this strategy). During school days, a few children are assigned the “honor” of keeping watch while the other students are studying or playing at recess. What do they watch for? They are told to watch for incoming bombing raids by American war planes. This is one of the reasons for lack of resistance to the N Korean nuclear program. People are taught from childhood that attacks by the West are imminent. Children are also taught to spy on their parents and neighbors, so Christians must pray with their eyes open and worship secretly, even in the “privacy” of their own homes.</p>
<p>“Offenders” are typically sent to prison camps for the smallest of infractions. There are two types of prison camps in N Korea. Both are basically concentration camps in which prisoners are used as harsh slave labor for government-owned factories, and are also subject to torture and public executions. The <i>Kyohwaso</i> is a re-education type camp for those accused of “lesser” offences. Theoretically, prisoners are eligible for release after completing their sentence and deemed to be “rehabilitated”, but many don’t survive the harsh conditions. The <i>Kwanliso</i> camps are for more “serious” crimes such as criticizing the government or attempting to flee the country. Prisoners in these camps are considered beyond redemption, so are basically under a life sentence in order to “protect” society.</p>
<p>Some Christians might be “fortunate” to be sent to a Kyohwaso camp, but many are sent to one of the Kwanliso camps since Christianity is considered as dangerous as narcotics in N Korea. Christians are also seen as political prisoners, since Christianity is viewed by the NK government as a means by which the West attempts to “invade” and infiltrate the country with Western and capitalist ideas. Nearly 40 percent of prisoners die from the beatings and/or starvation. Many others manage to barely survive by eating some of the rats that infest the camp. It is estimated that about 30% (30,000) of 100,000 N Korean Christians currently are imprisoned in one of the Kwanliso camps.</p>
<p><b>The Seed of the Gospel from a Highly Unlikely Source</b></p>
<p>Yet, even in the darkness is a glimmer of light, as reported in <a href="https://www.persecution.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><strong>The Voice of the Martyrs</strong></a> <i>February 2018 Newsmagazine</i>. Here, we find the story of “Kyung-ja” (names changed for protection), a mid-fifties North Korean woman detained because her daughter had defected to South Korea. As Kyung-ja was being beaten with a club, she drifted in and out of consciousness and heard the guard shouting out unfamiliar words like “God”, “Jesus” and “Bible”.</p>
<p>After two months of beatings, it was determined that Kyung-ja had no ties to Christianity so we was sent to a Kyohwaso camp for “re-education”. Her curiosity had been peaked however, so one day she asked a fellow prisoner, “What is God, and what is a Bible?” The prisoner whispered that “There is such a thing, but you must not ask [for your own safety]”.</p>
<p>After six months, during which she witnessed many atrocities and deaths of fellow prisoners, Kyung-ja was released. Eventually, her daughter was able to raise enough money and obtain the aid of a pastor to help Kyung-Ja defect to S Korea. Only then, was she able to obtain some answers to her questions about Christianity.</p>
<p>Today, Kyung-ja never misses a worship service or an opportunity to share her testimony with others. She also works with a VOM-sponsored ministry that reaches out to N Korean Christians and defectors. The irony is not lost on her that, if she had never been arrested, she would have never heard of Christianity, and that the seeds of the Gospel were planted by a N Korean guard attempting to eradicate Christianity.</p>
<p>Kyung-ja story is amazing, but not as uncommon as we might think. Similarly, we continually see large numbers of Muslims turning to Christianity due to the brutal tactics of groups like ISIS, Boko Harem (W Africa), Al Shabaab (E Africa), Al Qaeda, FARC (Colombia), and others. I heard of one case about 18 months ago, where Muslim neighbors hid Christians in their homes after their village church had been attacked and burned by Islamic terrorists. Just as in the first few centuries in which the blood of the martyrs was the seed, we now see unequaled numbers of Muslims coming to Christ.</p>
<p>Let’s continue to pray for Christians in restricted and hostile nations.</p>Roycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00355616675481661310noreply@blogger.com0