Good morning, blog readers, from cloudy, rainy, windy and cool (54 degrees) Wisconsin where, on my morning walk in a heavy rain, I saw: 2 deer, a bunny and a baby frog which I almost stepped on! Thank You, Jesus, for protecting the little guy or gal from me!

This headline, from the Christian Post, got my attention this morning: “Majority of pastors don’t believe Christians should tithe 10%.” P.S. I don’t either.

In the article, Leonardo Blair reported: “While many Christian churches encourage tithing – giving 10% of one’s income to the church – as a biblical commandment, only a minority of pastors subscribe to that traditional view, data from a new Barna study show. While most pastors in the study don’t see giving outside the church as tithing, 70% said tithing doesn’t have to be strictly financial. And when it comes to how much financial giving would be an acceptable tithe, only 33% are in favor of the traditional 10%. Another 21% of pastors didn’t recommend any particular share of income that Christians should give, but suggested it should be ‘enough to be considered sacrificial.'”

Personally, I believe it depends on whether you are under law or grace? According to my “Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible,” the words “tithe, tithes or tithing” are mentioned 46 different times in Scripture: 39 in the Old Testament and 7 in the New Testament (three times by Jesus in Matthew 23:23, Luke 11:42, 18:12) and five times by the writer of Hebrews (7:5, 6, 8, 9, 9).

I find it interesting that the apostle Paul never mentions tithing in his 13 letters. However, he does give us, I believe, four very practical principals about giving in his letters to the Corinthians: Principal #1: It should be regular (I Corinthians 16:1, 2). Principal #2: It should be personal (between you and God (II Corinthians 9:7). Principal #3: It should be cheerful (9:7). Principal #4: It should be generous (9:11). Hope that helps.

Now, to my study of earthquakes. Last week, I said I would give you a comparison of my research of earthquakes from last and this week to see if they were increasing in “frequency and intensity” like “birth pains” which Jesus said they would in Matthew 24:7, 8. In week #1, there were: 19 “moderate” (5.0-5.9) and 5 “strong” (6.0-6.9) quakes for a total of 24 quakes. In week #2, there were: 31 “moderate” (5.0-5.9) quakes, 3 “strong” (6.0-6.9) quakes and a “major” (7.6) quake for a total of 35 quakes, an increase of 11 from the previous week. Stay tuned!

Yes, dearly beloved in Christ, Jesus is coming! And so, our marching orders are the same: watching, waiting, working, witnessing for, walking with and worshiping Jesus until He comes. And, if you are not a believer in Jesus, please agree with God you are a sinner who needs a Savior Who is Jesus (Romans 3:23, 24) Who died on a cross for your sins, was buried and raised from the dead (I Corinthians 15:1-4) to forgive all your sins and give you eternal life (John 3:16). P.S. Thanks for praying for me yesterday. I was truly blessed! Blessings to you, Doug (9/12/22)

Good morning, blog readers, from rainy and cool (59 degrees) where, on my morning walk in a pouring rain with an umbrella, I saw: a dog who was not happy to see me and let me know about it!

Yesterday, I wrote about volcanos and earthquakes and said: “I am thinking (and I could be wrong), we could be seeing some ‘strong’ (6.0-6.9) and/or ‘major’ (7.0-7.9) earthquakes, even here in the U.S., before Jesus comes.” And, guess what? Over the last 24 hours, there was a “strong” (6.0) earthquake in Indonesia and a “major” (7.6) quake in Papua New Guinea.

Does that make me a prophet? No way, as I have been wrong before. And, I might add, according to Biblical standards, a “true prophet” needs to be 100% accurate all the time or be killed, according to Deuteronomy 18:20.

And, though I am not a prophet or the son of a prophet, I do work for a non-prophet organization!” Old joke, thanks to Dr. Walter Kaiser! But, I do believe Jesus. And, if Jesus said certain things are going to happen before His return, then I believe those certain things will happen exactly the way He said they would because He is the Truth (John 14:6)! So, check out the “signs” Jesus gave us in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 and watch them all come true right before your eyes. And, like “birth pains” (Matthew 24:8), these “signs” will increase in “frequency and intensity” as we get closer to His return. So, dearly beloved in Christ, stay tuned and keep watching, waiting, working, witnessing for, walking with and worshiping Jesus until He comes.

And, if you are not a believer in Jesus, today would be as good as any to become one by simply agreeing with God you are a sinner who needs a Savior Who is Jesus (Romans 3:23, 24) Who died on a cross for your sins, was buried and raised from the dead (I Corinthians 15:1-4) to forgive all your sins (past, present and future) and give you eternal life (John 3:16). Preaching today. Please pray for me. Thank you! Have a blessed day in Jesus, Doug (9/11/22) P.S. Thinking of those who died or were injured on 9/11/01, their families and co-workers.

Good morning, blog readers, from sunny and cool (58 degrees) Wisconsin where, on my morning walk, I saw: 2 dogs and a spectacular full moon declaring the glory of God! Thank You, Jesus!

This headline, from EarthSky got my attention this morning: “Popocatepetl volcano erupts twice, spews ash.” Deborah Byrd reported: “Popocatepetl volcano – an active stratovolcano located just 43 miles (70 km) southeast of Mexico City – had two explosions yesterday (September 9, 2022) before dawn local time. Both eruptions spewed ash into the atmosphere, which can be a hazard for aviation. The Volcanic Ash Advisory Center in Washington D.C., issued an advisory about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to an estimated 23,000 feet (7,000 meters) in altitude. But, by Saturday morning (today), the ash was dissipating.”

This reminded me of Revelation 8:8, 9 where John wrote: “And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them. The first sounded, and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up. The second angel sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood, and a third of the creatures which were in the sea and had life, died; and a third of the ships were destroyed.” Note: I am thinking we will hear of more volcanoes erupting and the earth “quaking” before Jesus returns.

And, speaking of earthquakes, over the last 24 hours, there were: 7 “moderate” (5.1-5.9) quakes in or near Timor Leste, the Ascension Islands, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, the South Sandwich Islands and 2 “strong” (6.2) quakes in Indonesia! P.S. I am thinking (and I could be wrong), we could be seeing some “strong” (6.0-6.9) and/or “major” earthquakes even here in the U.S. before Jesus comes. So, stay tuned! Paul reminds us that we are to “redeem the time because the days are evil” and getting more so by the day (Ephesians 5:16).”

So, please, get excited about Jesus’ return and keep watching, waiting, working, witnessing for, walking with and worshiping Him until He comes. And, if you are not a believer in Jesus, please agree with God you are a sinner who needs a Savior Who is Jesus (Romans 3:23, 24) and believe He died on a cross for your sins, was buried and raised from the dead to forgive all your sins and give you eternal life (I Corinthians 15:1-4; John 3:16). Blessings, Doug (9/10/22)

Good morning, blog readers, from sunny and cool (59 degrees) Wisconsin where, on my morning walk under clear skies, I saw: 2 deer and the heavens spectacularly declaring the glory of God (Psalm 19:1)! Thank You, Jesus!

These morning headlines reminded me once again: the earth is not a safe place:

#1. New N. Korea law outlines nuclear weapons use, including preemptive strikes (Reuters)

#2. Fifty Five Percent of Babies, Toddlers Had ‘Systemic Reaction’ After COVID Vaccine, CDC Survey Shows (The Defender)

#3. World’s Deadliest Virus: ‘Spanish Flu’ Reverse Engineered, Recreated (Technocracy News)

In the first article, Josh Smith reported: “North Korea has officially enshrined the right to use preemptive nuclear strikes to protect itself in a new law that leader Kim Jong Un said makes its nuclear status ‘irreversible’ and bars denuclearization talks, state media reported on Friday. The move comes as observers say North Korea appears to be preparing to resume nuclear testing for the first time since 2017, after historic summits with then-president Donald Trump and other world leaders in 2018 failed to persuade Kim to abandon his weapons development.”

In the second article, Margaret Menge wrote: “More than 55% of children ranging in age between 6 months and 2 years had a ‘systemic reaction’ after their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, according to data released September 1 by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition, almost 60% had a reaction to the second dose of the Moderna vaccine, in the CDC survey of more than 13,000 children. A systemic reaction is a response beyond the injection site.”

And, in the third article, the TN (Technocracy News) Editor wrote: “These Frankenstein crazed geneticists who are creating killer viruses have seemingly created a secret society amongst themselves, all agreeing to zero transparency, lies, deceit and corruption. This cartel must be broken down and exposed to the light of sanity and humanity. If they are not stopped, all of mankind is at risk.”

As a believer in Jesus, I am reminded by Him that the earth is not my home: heaven is. Paul wrote, in Philippians 3:20, 21, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ Who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.”

I can’t wait! But, wait I must while watching, waiting, working, witnessing for, walking with and worshiping Jesus until He comes. And, if you are not a believer in Jesus, please, agree with God you are a sinner who needs a Savior Who is Jesus (Romans 3:23, 24) Who died on a cross for your sins, was buried and raised from the dead (I Corinthians 15:1-4) to forgive all your sins and give you not only eternal life (John 3:16), but also a glorified body like His. Blessings, Doug (9/9/22)

Good morning, blog readers, from sunny and cool (60 degrees) Wisconsin where, on my morning walk under clear skies, I saw: “The heavens declaring the glory of God (Psalm 19:1),” a bunny and a dog! Thank You, Jesus!

This recent headline, from The Christian Post, really got my attention: “Over a third of senior pastors believe ‘good people’ can earn their way to Heaven.”

CP Reporter Ian M. Giatti wrote: At least a third of the senior pastors in the United States believe one can earn a place in Heaven by simply being a good person, according to a nationwide survey.

The findings were among several surprising responses as part of a survey conducted earlier this year by the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University.

After data reported earlier this year found just 37% of Christian pastors have a biblical worldview, the latest CRC report analyzed that research across all major U.S. denominations found that a ‘loss of biblical belief is prevalent among pastors in all denominational groupings.'”

Giatti also reported: “Another 39% of Evangelical pastors surveyed said there is no absolute moral truth and that ‘each individual must determine their own truth.'”

Okay, let’s examine these beliefs by the Word of God. First of all, Jesus said to the rich young ruler, in Matthew 19:17, “There is only One Who is good (God).” Paul added, in Ephesians 2:8, 9: “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” And, Jesus said, in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father (that is, goes to heaven) but through Me.”

Jesus, in John 8:44, said of the religious leaders of His day, “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

Several years ago, when I led a Memorial Service for a friend, I pointed out five common ideas of what happens to you when you die: #1. Purgatory: You are given an opportunity to atone for your sins by doing good deeds in the hope that you’ll do enough “good” to get you into heaven. #2. Reincarnation: You come back as something else (a tree, a dog or another person). #3. Annihilationism: You’re dead; that’s it. #4. Hell: You go to a place where, as one man put it, “to party with your buddies!” #5. Heaven: You have agreed with God you are a sinner who needs a Savior Who is Jesus (Romans 3:23, 24) Who died on a cross for your sins, was buried and raised from the dead (I Corinthians 15:1-4) to forgive all your sins and give you eternal life (John 3:16).

Please know God loves you and wants you to spend eternity with Him in heaven. The choice is yours. My hope and prayer is that I will see you in heaven by God’s grace through faith in Jesus. Blessings, Doug (9/8/22)

Good morning, blog readers, from sunny/foggy and cool (57 degrees) Wisconsin where, on my morning walk under clear skies, I saw the heavens declaring the glory of God! Thank You, Jesus!

Now, I don’t know about you but, just when I thought I had heard it all in regards to evil, I learned from the September 6, 2022 edition of “Christian Headlines” of a FXX animated sitcom series called “Little Demon” which features a mother who was impregnated by Satan and gives birth to an Antichrist daughter” which the conservative Christian group One Million Moms has launched a petition urging Disney to cancel.

And, speaking of the “father of lies” (John 8:44), there was also this headline from yesterday’s “Epoch Times” in the Defender: “RFK, Jr. ‘Astonished After Documents Reveal How Biden Administration and Big Tech Colluded to Censor COVID ‘Misinformation.'” In the article, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Chairman of Children’s Health Defense, said it’s “shocking” that a U.S. president would involve the FBI and Homeland Security in efforts to pressure publishers to censor the president’s critics.”

In the prophetic world of “wild weather,” California continues to bake under 100+ degree temperatures (Revelation 7:16; 16:8, 9) while Pakistan has been ravaged by flooding rains which have killed 1,343 (Luke 21:25). And, in the “rumors of wars” department (Mathew 24:6; Mark 13:7; Luke 21:9), “Tanks pounded targets and fighter jets roared overhead as Taiwan’s military carried out its latest combat drills after weeks of saber-rattling by giant neighbor China.”

And yet, with all the bad news, there is “good news” – Jesus is coming! And, He will either be your Savior or Judge. So, if you haven’t already done so, agree with God you are a sinner who needs a Savior Who is Jesus (Romans 3:23, 24) Who died on a cross for your sins, was buried and raised from the dead (I Corinthians 15:1-4) to forgive all your sins and give you eternal life (John 3:16).

And, for those of you who have trusted in Jesus as your Savior, get ready for tougher times and keep watching, waiting, working, witnessing for, walking with and worshiping Jesus until He comes. Blessings with love and prayers, Doug (9/7/22).

Good morning, blog readers, from cloudy and cool (61 degrees) Wisconsin where, on my morning walk, I saw: a bunny!

Jesus said, in Matthew 24:7, 8: “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs (pains).”

As many of you know, I have studied earthquakes daily for 17+ years to see if they, like “birth pains,” are increasing in “frequency and intensity,” as Jesus said they would before His return. And, though it has been a while since I have seen any increased activity of earthquakes, this past week has seen 19 “moderate” (5.0-5.9) quakes in Japan (5), Greece (2), (Tonga (2), Fiji, Owen Fracture Zone, Timor Leste, India, Costa Rica, Mid Atlantic Ridge, Nicaragua, the South Sandwich Islands Region, New Caledonia, Bandar Abbas and 5 “strong” (6.0-6.9) quakes in Papua New Guinea, Eastern Pacific Rise, Mariana Islands Region, China and the South Sandwich Islands Region.

Lord willing, next Tuesday, I’ll give you another report which we can compare to this week’s to see if these are increasing in frequency and intensity.

And, speaking of things which are increasing in “frequency and intensity,” these headlines from the “wars and rumors of war signs” stand out (at least to me):

#1. US B-2 Bombers Fly Over Middle East Amid Tensions with Iran (Associated Press)

#2. Arabs to Biden: Do Not Sign the Iran Deal; It Will Start a War (The Gatestone Institute)

Yes, dearly beloved in Christ, He is coming. And, maybe sooner than you might think as we watch the “signs” He gave us in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21. So, please “stay on the alert” (Mark 13:33, 35, 37) and keep watching, waiting, working, witnessing for, walking with and worshiping Jesus until He comes.

And, if you are still not a believer in Jesus, please agree with God you are a sinner who needs a Savior Who is Jesus (Romans 3:23, 24) Who died on a cross for your sins, was buried and raised from the dead (I Corinthians 15:1-4) to forgive all your sins and give you eternal life (John 3:16). And, if you do, I’ll see you in heaven! Looking forward to it! Blessings, Doug (9/6/22)

Good morning, blog readers, from partly cloudy, sunny and cool (57 degrees) Wisconsin where, on my morning walk, I saw: a dog! But, I just saw two fawns running by our condo! Thank You, Jesus!

Whether you realize it or not, Bible prophecy of Jesus’ return, is being fulfilled right before our eyes. Yet sadly, most people, including many Christians, are not looking for Him. And, as a result, many of them will be in for some big surprises like a Psalm 83 war between Israel and her Muslim neighbors, the total destruction of Damascus, Syria as a city (Isaiah 17:1) and a Russian-led invasion of Israel (Ezekiel 38-39), all three of which I believe we could actually see in our lifetime.

Jesus also said there would be “false Christs, prophets and miracles (Matthew 24:24) and, in various places, famines/food shortages, earthquakes and an increase in lawlessness (Matthew 24:7, 12)” which we are already seeing in this country and around the world. And, even though I believe we will not be around for the coming of the Antichrist, I do believe, we may very well see the elimination of the dollar and rise of cryptocurrency and chips implanted in the right hand or on the forehead, as John prophesied in Revelation 13:16, 17.

So, stay tuned, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, report for duty and keep watching, waiting, working, witnessing for, walking with and worshiping Jesus until He comes. And, if you are still not a believer in Jesus, please, I beg of you: agree with God you are a sinner who needs a Savior Who is Jesus (Romans 3:23, 24) and believe He died on a cross for your sins, was buried and raised from the dead (I Corinthians 15:1-4) to forgive all your sins and give you eternal life (John 3:16). Blessings with love in Christ, Doug (9/5/22)

Good morning, blog readers, from cloudy and cool (57 degrees) Wisconsin where, on my morning walk, I saw: 3 deer (a doe and her two fawns)! Thank You, Jesus!

Here are a couple of recent headlines, from the news, which got my attention this morning:

#1. Macron’s Pessimistic Moment (Gatestone Institute)

#2. Finance ‘Guru’ Reveals Financial Collapse and COVID Jab Data (Dr. Joseph Mercola)

In the first article, Amir Taheri wrote: “Prepare for the end of abundance!” This is the message that French President Emmanuel Macron offered in his first post-holiday pronouncement last month. Though supposedly addressed at the French people, Macron’s lamentation seemed to have the entire ‘Western world’ in mind. In its current version, the nomos (organizing principle) trying to seize control in almost all Western societies could be described as ‘victimism.’ In victimism the state is seen as a cash machine distributing money among the victims (for example, in the U.S., college students with large amounts of debt), while apologizing to them. In the past few years, Western states, both in Europe and North America, have distributed countless trillions.”

In the second article, Dr. Joseph Mercola reported: “Edward Dowd is a hedge fund ‘guru’ and former equity portfolio manager for the largest asset manager in the world, BlackRock. Over the past two years, Dowd has courageously come forward to awaken people to the collateral damage of the COVID pandemic, saying, “A global financial collapse is a mathematical certainty which he predicts will begin in earnest within the next six to 24 months.”

Question: “Why is it that the world, the country and, even the church, are not preparing for tougher times?” Personally, I believe the church has lot sight of the “immanent return of the Lord.” Here’s what Paul had to say about this in I Thessalonians 5:1-8: “Now as to times and the epochs (seasons), brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord (that is, His judgment upon the world) will come just like a thief in the night. While they (unbelievers) are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. Note: For a list of the “birth pains,” see Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21.

Paul continued: “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of the darkness. So then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.” Jesus also emphasized the importance of being “on the alert” in Mark 13:33, 35 and 37.

So, wake up church, and keep watching, waiting, working, witnessing for, walking with and worshiping Jesus until He comes. And, if you are not a believer in Jesus, please agree with God you are a sinner who needs a Savior Who is Jesus (Romans 3:23, 24) and believe He died on a cross for your sins, was buried and raised from the dead (I Corinthians 15:1-4) to forgive all your sins and give you eternal life (John 3:16). Then, watch wait, work, witness for, walk with and worship Jesus until He comes. Blessings, Doug (9/4/22)

Good morning, blog readers, from cloudy and warm (67 degrees) Wisconsin where, on my morning walk, I saw: 3 deer and a bunny! Thank You, Jesus!

Here are a couple of interesting, scary and, perhaps prophetical, headlines from yesterday’s news:

#1. The Times of Israel: Russia said to tell Iran to leave Syrian sites amid rise in apparent Israeli strikes

#2. Technocracy News: Power Company Seizes Control of Thermostats in Colorado Heatwave

In the first article, Emanuel Fabian reported: “Russia has demanded that Iran and its militias withdraw from positions in Syria, amid an apparent uptick in airstrikes attributed to Israel in recent weeks, according to a Friday report.

“A-Sharq Al-Awsat, a Saudi-owned daily published in London, cited Syrian officials as saying Russian officers called on their Iranian counterparts during a Wednesday meeting at the Hama Military Airport in central Syria, to leave several sites in the country. The report said the three Russian officers demanded they evacuate the Iranian military headquarters in the western Hama province, which is situated next to the Syrian army’s Regiment 49 base. The base is considered an important military site to Syria, as it is used to store missiles for the S-200 air defense system, as well as other Russian-made military equipment, the report said.”

This made me think of the prophecy of Isaiah 17:1 which says in the NASB: “The oracle concerning Damascus (Syria): Behold, Damascus is about to be removed from being a city, and it will become a fallen ruin” or, in the KJV, “The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.”

In the second article, the Technocracy News Staff wrote: “TN (Technocracy News) has warned about and posted dozens of stories since the inception of Smart Meter rollout and the resulting Smart Grid under the Obama Administration. Many people laughed. Twenty-two thousand people in Colorado aren’t laughing any more as their utility company has hijacked their smart meters to control their thermostats. Control over energy is a key requirement for Technocracy. Smart meters open the door to outside control of every major appliance in your home, including your air conditioner. Completely losing control over the temperature of your own home is presumably one of the many benefits of the green energy ‘Great Reset’ Americans will be forced to endure.”

Wow! Wow! Wow! Question: “Are you (am I) ready to be under the control of the U.S. government and, ultimately, the rule of Antichrist? Personally, I believe (and I could be wrong), the true church, made up of all born-again believers in Jesus (John 3:3) who have been saved by God’s grace through faith in Christ, His death, burial and resurrection (Ephesians 2:8, 9; I Corinthians 15:1-4), won’t be here for, what Jesus described as the “worst time in human history (Matthew 24:21, 22).” But, I also believe we will be around for some tough times before Jesus comes which He reminded us of, in John 16:33, “In the world you have tribulation (not the seven-year “Tribulation”), but take courage; I have overcome the world.” Teaching today! Blessings and prayers, Doug (9/3/22)

Yes, dearly beloved in Christ, Jesus is coming! He is our “blessed hope (Titus 2:13).” So, let us “fix our eyes on Him” (Hebrews 12:2) while we watch, wait, work, witness for, walk with and worship Jesus until He comes. And, if you are not a believer in Jesus, simply agree with God you are a sinner who needs a Savior Who is Jesus (Romans 3:23, 24) Who died on a cross for your sins, was buried and raised from the dead (I Corinthians 15:1-4) to forgive all your sins and give you eternal life (John 3:16). Getting ready to teach II Thessalonians 2. Blessings and prayers, Doug (9/3/22)