RUMORS HERE & THERE!

Good morning, blog readers, from sunny and cool (58 degrees) Wisconsin where, on my morning walk, I saw: 33 robins, 2 bunnies, 2 cardinals, 2 deer and a dove! Thank You, Jesus!

These headlines really got my attention this morning:

#1. “Terror attack on US soil now ‘more than likely,’ expert says.”

#2. China escalates military presence near Taiwan.

#3. US may not be able to help defend Israel against an all-out war with Hezbollah

In the first article, Paul Mauro, a retired NYPD inspector who worked in counterterrorism for nearly 15 years, reported: “We are in a period where a number of factors are combining to make a terrorist attack on the homeland far more likely than it perhaps had been. He said: “the risk of a potential new attack should be assessed in a criminal context – who has the means, motive and opportunity to successfully execute a deadly plot. The world has gotten a lot smaller since 9/11. You’ve got drones, the interconnectivity of the internet is more ubiquitous into areas that maybe didn’t have that connectivity. You can get an uplink using something like an Elon Musk satellite. You can get online from the mountains of the Hindu Cush, you’ve got AI capabilities, and you’ve had all that time to develop capabilities since 9/11 if you are still in the terror business.”

Then, there was this headline: “China escalates military presence near Taiwan.”

And, one more: “Joint Chiefs of Staff head Charles Q. Brown warned that the US may not be able to help defend Israel against an all-out war with Hezbollah in the same way that it stepped in during the Iran drone attack in April, the Associated Press reported on Monday.”

Let me remind you that Jesus, in Matthew 24:6, told His disciples: “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of war. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.” Yes, dearly beloved in Christ, He is coming. And, even though I believe (not all Christians do) in a “pre-tribulation rapture of the church,” I also believe that we will still go through some tough times, just like we are beginning to see in this country, Israel and around the world. And yet, let us not forget, we still have Jesus on our side Who will ultimately lead us to victory!

So, dearly beloved in Christ, let us remember Hebrews 12:2 and “fix our eyes on Jesus,” keep them there and be ready to fight against our adversary, the devil, who prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. And, let us resist him, firm in our faith in Christ (I Peter 5:8, 9), knowing full well that we have “victory in Jesus! Hallelujah! Glory to God! Love, Doug (6/24/24)

RUSSIA & NORTH KOREA!

Good morning, blog readers, from partly sunny/cloudy and warm (75 degrees) Wisconsin where, on my morning walk, I saw: 51 robins, 3 deer, a dove and heard the bullfrogs! Thank You, Jesus!

This headline, from Reuters, got my attention this morning: “Putin vows to support North Korea against the United States.”

In the article, Hyonhee Shin, Josh Smith and Guy Faulconbridge reported: “Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed on Tuesday to deepen trade and security ties with North Korea and to support it against the United States, as he headed to the reclusive nuclear-armed country for the first time in 24 years.

US and South Korean officials believe North Korea has sold Soviet-era artillery, rockets and other military equipment to aid Russia in its war against Ukraine – now in its 27th month since the first year of the conflict. The sales reportedly include as many as 10,000 shipping containers holding nearly 5 million artillery shells. Both countries have denied the accusations. In exchange, Russia is believed to have provided economic aid to North Korea, whose economy has contracted every year since 2020, with a gross domestic product per capita of around 1 K.” All I (Doug) can say is “stay tuned and watch for these two communist countries which, I believe, will be among “the kings from the east” which are prophesied in Revelation 16:12 to possibly destroy or weaken America at sometime in the future.

P.S. For those of you who are interested in earthquakes because of what Jesus said about them in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21, watch for them to increase in “frequency and intensity” like “birth pains,” as we get closer to the Lord’s return. FYI, over the last 24 hours, according to the USGS, there were 7 “moderate” (5.0, 5.2, 5.2, 5.5, 5.5, 5.6, 5.8) quakes in the Kermadec Islands Region, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Solomon Islands and Tonga (2). Stay tuned!

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). And, if you are a believer in Jesus, then watch, wait, work, witness for, walk with and worship Jesus until He comes. Looking forward to seeing you in heaven. Love and prayers, Doug (6/18/24)

BYE, BYE, MISS AMERICAN PIE!

Good morning, blog readers, from sunny and cool (55 degrees) Wisconsin where. on my morning walk, I saw: 18 robins, 3 deer and heard the bullfrogs croaking from the pond!

This morning’s headline, from the Gatestone Institute, sadly got my attention: “As US Is Being Encircled by Enemies, the US Administration Wants Israel to Surrender to Terrorists!”

In the article, Majid Rafizadeh reported: “While Russian warships, including a nuclear submarine, this week docked in Cuba, and with China building a major deep-water port in Peru that could serve the Chinese military, the US administration is pressuring only Israel to allow the Iran-backed terrorist group Hamas to win the war it launched against Israel on October 7.

Instead of supporting Israel’s right to defend itself against coordinated and sustained attacks, the Biden administration’s public wavering suggests a pro-terrorist shift in US policy away from Israel. This shift represents a betrayal that leaves Israel in the no-win position of either rejecting US proposals, or allowing Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis and other Iranian-backed terrorist groups to keep trying to advance their goal of ultimately destroying Israel.”

Let me remind Israel’s enemies that the Lord God has said, in Jeremiah 31:35-36, “Thus says the Lord, Who gives the sun for light by day, and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, Who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar; the Lord of hosts is His name: If this fixed order departs from before Me, declares the Lord, then the offspring of Israel shall also cease from being a nation before Me forever.” Then, there is Zechariah 2:8 where the Lord God says: “For thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘After glory He has sent me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye.”

So, let me warn all of Israel’s enemies, you don’t want to mess with the Lord God when it comes to Israel. And, let me warn all of Israel, without the Lord Jesus as your Messiah and Savior, you will spend your eternity in hell. 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) 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). And, if you do, I’ll see you in heaven. Then watch, wait work, witness for, walk with and worship Jesus until He comes. Blessings with love in Christ, Doug (6/15/24)

THREATS HERE and ABROAD!

Good morning, blog readers, from snowy and windy (27 degrees) Wisconsin where, on my morning walk in the snow, I saw: 5 deer and a crane! Thank You, Jesus!

This headline, from U.S. News, got my attention this morning: “FBI: Since October 7, ‘almost every major terrorist organization in the world’ has threatened the U.S.” In addition, Robert Wells, the assistant director of the FBI’s counterterrorism division, said: “We’ve also seen an uptick in threats against the Jewish community here in the United States and abroad.”

The JNS (Jewish News Syndicate) Staff reported: “The United States has been in a ‘heightened terrorism threat environment’ since Hamas’ October 7 terror attack on Israel, and ‘almost every major terrorist organization in the world, including Al Qaeda and ISIS, have called for terror attacks against the United States,” an FBI official testified before the House Committee on Homeland Security. We’ve also seen an uptick in threats against the Jewish community here in the United States and abroad,” said Wells, “and remain concerned about threats from lone actors or small cells radicalized to violence online. In addition, we are very focused on the threat posed by the more traditional foreign terrorist organizations and the state-sponsored terrorism threat from Iran,” added Wells, in his testimony on Wednesday.”

Let me remind you again that, according to the prophecy of Ezekiel 38-39, I believe (and I could be wrong), at sometime in the future, Russia, Iran and a host of other countries will, at a time when Israel is living in peace (not now), invade Israel to “capture spoil” which includes silver, gold, cattle and goods (wealth).” And, just when it looks like Israel is doomed with no one to defend her, including the United States, the Lord God Himself comes to Israel’s defense and destroys this massive army (Ezekiel 38:14-39:29). Jesus told us, in Mark 13:33, 35, 37, to “stay on the alert” and be ready for tougher times while we watch, wait, work, witness for, walk with and worship Jesus until He comes.

And, if you’re not a believer in Jesus, please know you may not have tomorrow. So, here’s what you need to do today: Simply 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). And, if you do, I’ll see you in heaven! Glory to God! Blessings with love, Doug (3/22/24)

OOOOPS!

Good morning, blog readers, from clear and cold (27 degrees) Wisconsin where, on my morning walk, I saw the heavens declaring the glory of God (Psalm 19:1) and two planes! Thank You, Jesus!

This 3/4/24 headline, from the Jerusalem Post, came as no surprise to me: “IAEA chief: We have lost track of Iran nuke progress.”

In the article, Yonah Jeremy Bob wrote: IAEA Chief Rafael Grossi on Monday told the IAEA Board of Governors, concerning Iran’s nuclear advancement, that “the agency has lost continuity of knowledge about the production and inventory of centrifuges, rotors and bellows, heavy water and uranium ore concentrate. It is three years since Iran stopped provisionally applying its additional protocol and therefore it is also three years since the agency was able to conduct complementary access in Iran,” Grossi said, describing large gaps in nuclear inspections.”

No surprise to me there. And, no big deal, as far as the Lord is concerned because, according to the prophecies of Ezekiel 38-39, the Lord will not only take care of Iran (Persia in Ezekiel 38:5), but also her allies which include Russia, Ethiopia, Libya, Turkey and possibly Germany. And, as I have said before, we could actually be alive to see this happen. But, let me remind you that, when Russia and her allies invade Israel to “capture great spoil” (Ezekiel 38:13), Israel is living in prosperity, at rest and in a land of unwalled villages (verses11-23) which is certainly not happening now. So, stay tuned! As someone once told me: “God said it; I believe it; that settles it; let’s get on with it!”

The bottom line is that Jesus is coming to take His own (His bride, the church) out of this worldly mess to our heavenly home (John 14:1-3). So, let’s be ready by watching, waiting, working, witnessing for, walking with and worshiping Jesus until He comes. And, if you are not a believer in Jesus, you can become one right now by agreeing 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). Off to worship and fellowship with our church family. Blessings with love, Doug (3/10/24).

SMITHS FERRY!

Good morning, blog readers, from sunny and balmy (45 degrees) Wisconsin where, on my morning walk, I saw: 2 deer and a bunny! Thank You, Jesus!

This morning, as I usually do, I took a look at the USGS website to see what had transpired as far as earthquakes over the last 24 hours. And, much to my surprise, I saw there had been a “light” (4.9) earthquake, 10 km north of Smiths Ferry, Idaho (population: 75, as of 2010) which is about 25 miles northeast of Boise (population: 235,684, as of 2010). Note: You and I just never know where these are going to occur. And Jesus said, in Matthew 24:7: “For nation will rise against nation (check), and kingdom against kingdom (check), and in various places there will be famines (check) and earthquakes (check).”

And, in the next verse (Matthew 24:8), Jesus also said: “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs (pains).” Now, I am thinking (and I could be wrong), we are still in the “first trimester of the birth pains.” As I have said numerous times before, as believers in Jesus, we are to watch, wait, work, witness for, walk with and worship Jesus until He comes.

And, if you are not a believer in Jesus, please become one today by simply agreeing 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). And, if you do, I’ll see you in heaven! Blessings, Doug (2/27/24)

BEWARE of the LION!

Good morning, blog readers, from clear and cold (10 degrees) Wisconsin where, on my morning walk which was cut in half by the cold, I did not see any of God’s creatures! Thank You, Jesus, for keeping me safe!

This morning, in my devotions, I was reading through Paul’s second letter to Timothy and was struck by verse 1 where Paul wrote: “Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”

First of all, thank you to those of you who have served in the military. I was never in the military, but did serve as a hospital chaplain for 25 years and a police chaplain for 13 years where I was an eyewitness of the hardships that both of them face.

Sometimes, I think that, as Christians, we forget that we are in a war against an enemy, aka, the devil who, according to Peter, in I Peter 5:8, “prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Peter then added these very important words in verse 9: “But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.” And, if you dare, read Hebrews 11:17-40 to see what some of the saints in the Old Testament went through for God and Jesus. And, should the Lord tarry, we might just be put to the test like they were. So, dearly beloved in Christ, let us keep watching, waiting, working, witnessing for, walking with and worshiping Jesus until He comes.

And, if you are not a believer in Jesus, why not become one today, even right now, by simply agreeing 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 in Christ, Doug (2/17/24)

PSALM 122:6

Good morning, blog readers, from cloudy and “balmy” (22 degrees) Wisconsin where, on my morning walk, I saw 2 deer for the first time in about 2 weeks! Thank You Jesus!

This headline, from today’s Gatestone Institute, caught, my eye: “Biden Threatens Netanyahu’s Drive to Destroy Hamas.”

In the article, Con Coughlin reported: “The Israeli premier has also reiterated his long-standing opposition to the creation of a Palestinian state, which he insists would become a launching pad for attacks on Israel.

Israel’s efforts to achieve its goal of destroying Hamas, though, are at serious risk of being undermined by the Biden administration’s growing hostility towards Netanyahu’s government. There are credible indications, moreover, that the Biden administration’s growing hostility towards Netanyahu has led it to work with senior figures within Israel’s security establishment, which is known to have a difficult relationship with the Israeli premier, to remove his government from power. The Palestinian leadership has always been just as deeply and outspokenly committed to the destruction of Israel as Hamas is.

Instead of trying to overthrow the Netanyahu government, the Biden administration would be better advised to grasp the vital strategic consideration that defeating Hamas is as much in the interests of the U.S. as it is for Israel.”

“So what, you might ask?” Let me remind you, from Jeremiah 31:35-37 that, according to the Lord God Himself,” as long as there is the sun, the moon and the stars, there will be an Israel! But, let me also tell you, sadly, from Zechariah 13:8, 9, that, because the majority of the Jews (two-thirds) have not accepted the Jesus Christ as their Messiah and Savior, they “will be cut off and perish.”

And so, as believers in Jesus, in light of all of what is going on in the world, including the U.S. and Israel, we should be “praying for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6)” which will only come when the Prince of Peace, the Lord Jesus Christ, returns to the earth to defeat His enemies and set up His kingdom. Secondly, we should be praying for the salvation of Jews and Gentiles alike, including Muslims, Protestants, Catholics, Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons, atheists, agnostics and all those who have rejected Christ as their Savior.

Then, as believers in Jesus, we should be: watching, waiting, working, witnessing for, walking with and worshiping Jesus until He comes. And, if you are not a believer in Jesus, please become one right now by agreeing 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 and prayers, Doug (1/22/24)

DAVOS & QUAKES!

Good morning, blog readers, from cloudy and very cold (-11) degrees Wisconsin where, on my morning walk which, like yesterday, I cut short because of the cold, I did not see any of God’s creatures (not a surprise). Maybe tomorrow! Thank You, Jesus, for keeping me warm and safe!

This headline, from the 1/10/24 Technocracy News & Trends, caught my eye this morning: “Fake News Is What Worries WEF The Most.”

Anna Wise via Yahoo Finance reported: “The WEF (World Economic Forum) is afraid of losing control of the ‘Great Narrative, ‘so this will be the major theme at this year’s meeting in Davos. They are deathly afraid of nations electing populist leaders like the Netherlands, France, Argentina and the United States. They have especially pulled all the stops to get rid of Donald Trump.

Disinformation, misinformation, and fake news are blamed for leading people astray as if they are unable to come to the right conclusions on their own. You will now see the word ‘malinformation’ appear: exposing true things about elitists and governments to undermine trust in authority. This is being spun as terrorism directed at them, not us. Bottom line: Every attendee of the Davos meeting should expect to receive marching orders to kill Free Speech 2024. – TN Editor

This morning, as I looked at the latest USGS earthquake list, I noticed something which may or may not be significant: over the last 24 hours, there were 17 (2.5-4.4) earthquakes in 5 different states: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Texas and Washington. Stay tuned!

Yes, dearly beloved in Christ, He is coming! And, even though we will not know the “day or the hour (Mark 13:32),” I believe it is possible we will know the “season of His return,” thanks to what Jesus said in Matthew 24:1-14 and what Paul wrote in I Thessalonians 4:13-5:11.

So, keep watching, watching, working, witnessing for, walking with and worshiping Jesus until He comes. And, if you are still not a believer in Jesus, please don’t put it off for another day, as you might not have another day and simply 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). And, if you do, I’ll see you in heaven. Glory to God! Love in Christ, Doug (1/15/24)

HERE COME the KINGS!

Good morning, blog readers, from cloudy and cool (30 degrees) Wisconsin where, on my morning walk, I saw: 2 deer! Thank You, Jesus!

This morning-headline, from the Gatestone Institute, really got my attention: “US Lack of Resolve Incentivizing China on Taiwan.”

In the article, Lawrence Kadish reported: “Bluntly put, the nations of the Free World have allowed global commerce to be held hostage by the revolutionary group of theocrat terrorists in Iran and their tribal terrorist tool in Yemen. The primary problem seems to be that so far at least, there has been no attempt to hold the ringleader accountable economically, militarily, hold-on-power or any way. This, incidentally, is the same Iranian regime that has lately escalated its enrichment of uranium to near-nuclear weapons capability (thanks to the U.S. government), and has now moved a warship to the Red Sea. That is why the Iranian regime has proxies: so that they will do the dirty work and take the hits – while the Iranians tuck into dinner. You can be sure Communist China’s leaders are closely evaluating the inadequate US responses to more than 100 attacks on US forces in Syria and Iraq – just since October.”

Now, let me remind you, from God’s prophetic word, that the Lord God Himself will take care of Israel’s enemies, including her Muslim neighbors (Psalm 83 and Isaiah 17:1), Russia, Iran, Libya, Turkey (Ezekiel 38-39) and others, eventually, China, North Korea, the other “kings from the east” (Revelation 16:12-16), the antichrist and the false prophet (Revelation 19:20, 21) when Jesus returns to the earth to set up His kingdom for 1,000 years (Revelation 19:11-21) and, finally, the devil himself (Revelation 20:7-10).

Just think of a world without the unholy trinity of Satan, the antichrist, false prophet and their demons and a new heaven and a new earth for eternity with God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, their angels and all the saints with glorified bodies in a “new heaven and a new earth” (Revelation 21-22). I can’t wait. But, wait I must and watch, work, witness for, walk with and worship Jesus until He comes. And, if you are not a believer in Jesus, you still have time to become one by agreeing 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). Love in Christ, Doug (1/3/24)