Have You Answered This Question in Your Heart?

Behold I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes reeling to all the people around; and when the siege is against Jerusalem, it will also be against Judah.  It will come about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples” (Zech. 12:2-3a).

Hey Gang: Perhaps it is time for a quick review!  Zechariah makes it pretty clear that in the final chapter of the Age of the Gentiles there will be great controversy across the earth as to who really owns the land of Israel.  The sons of Ishmael would have the world believe that the Hebrew people have never had the rights to the land of “milk and honey” and have done all in their power to erase any remembrance of those days of the Patriarchs and Kings of Israel.

They claim there has never been a Jewish Temple on the Temple Mount.  An interesting article recently appeared in a newsletter from a national ministry pertaining to the Barbary Coast pirates who were harassing all shipping that came near to their countries.  Kind of like the Somalia pirates of today. 

To find out why they were doing this a contingent of world leaders went to the Barbary Coast and met with one of the gurus and asked the question, “Why are you doing this when we have not harmed you in any way?”  The official remarked, “Because we are told, in our holy book, as sons of Islam we are to harass and kill all infidels who do not believe as we do.

In the Bible, God spoke to Abraham, father of the Jews, and directs him to take up his bed and leave the country of his birth and go to the land of Canaan. Later God told him, “I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing.  And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed” (Genesis 12:2-3).

Later in Genesis God promised Abraham, “To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates” (Gen. 15:18).  Notice, ”I have given this land”.  Do you think God changes His mind?

 Two chapters later, God tells Abraham, “I will establish my covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you” (Gen. 17:7).

Still in doubt, check out the following verses from Chronicles and pay close attention to the word “covenant”. “O Seed of Israel His servant, Sons of Jacob, His chosen ones!  He is the Lord our God; His judgments are in all the earth.  Remember His covenant forever, The Word which He commanded to a thousand generations, The covenant which He made with Abraham, And His oath to Isaac.  He also confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, To Israel as an everlasting covenant, Saying, ‘To you I will give the land of Canaan, as the portion of your inheritance” (1 Chron. 16:13-18).

So my friends, what say ye?  Several years back, William Koenig wrote a book which he titled Eye to Eye.  He subtitled it “Facing the Consequences of Dividing Israel.”  In the book Koneig chronicles 57 catastrophic events that occurred in our land as our leaders attempted to find a way to coerce Israel to return to the 1967 boundaries.  The most notable, Katrina  that devastated the New Orleans area and several of the Gulf States; this occurred when the world passed the mandate that Gaza would be cleansed of all Jews and given to the Palestinians.    

I wonder how close we came to a similar judgment from the heavenlies as our past president threw Israel under the bus, by refusing to protect our only ally in the Middle East, with His veto powers.  My friends and neighbors, Psalm 122:6 tells us to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem”.  That is an irrevocable mandate from God Almighty through His servant David.    Keep in mind God said, “Those who bless Israel I will bless and those who curse the ‘apple of my eyes’ I will curse!

Blessing,

Gramps

Out of Sight - Whoopie!

 “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key to the abyss and a great chain in his hand.  And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed.”  (Rev. 20:1-3).

Now, I ask you, “Does that not kindle the flame that is already burning deep within your soul?”  Can you even begin to imagine what John is writing here?  Did you ever take a few moments to visualize what the New Heaven and New Earth will be like without Satan and his minions to harass you?

Jesus said, “There will be no more tears, I will wipe them all away and there will be no reason for tears in the New Jerusalem.  For there will be no more death, no more mourning or crying, or pain, the first things have passed away.” (Rev. 21:4-5). Read it again, and again, and again, until it sinks deep into our heart and soul. 

Is that not “out of sight?” but notice verse 3: “And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them”.

John went on to write:” I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.  And the city has not need of the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb” (Rev. 21:22-23).

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Hey, stop for a moment, can you imagine- can you get a mental picture of what Jesus is saying through John here?  That God will dwell among men!  That there will be no reason for tears!  That the evil one and all of his minions will be no more! That there will be no need of sun or moon! That there will be no sickness or death!

In Revelation 16:10-1, I find one of the most profound examples of man’s stupidity in the Bible. Anyone who knows, even a pittance of what is within the covers of God’s Holy writ, knows that man has done some pretty stupid things.  But I find this especially stupid; “Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast and his kingdom became darkened; and they gnawed their tongues, because of pain, and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of the pains and their sores; and they did not repent of their deeds”. 

But that could not happen today, could it?  I have received a request to pray for a man who is fighting for his very life with lung and heart problems.  He was warned by his doctor several years ago, and every several months since, that, if he did not stop smoking, it was going to kill him, a prophecy that is at his doorstep. 

But even more alarming is that he knows he could draw his last breath right now and what lies ahead for those who reject Christ salvation and forgiveness. But he refuses to seek the Lord with a repentant heart.  Is that not on par with the story of those who will see angels in the heavens, be filled with pain and agony and beg that boulders fall on them, but he will blaspheme God and refuse to cry out to God with a repentant heart. 

Now that folks is stupid?  His family are deeply concerned about his decision to reject God and all of His promises, but there is no one more sad-his Heavenly Father, whose desire is that none should perish.

Makes one more determined to make sure their armor is spit-polished and shining, their lamp is filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit and they are up to speed with sword, God’s word, in hand and ready for assignment and battle.  Remember, as you go out the door of your Rehoboth you are entering the mission field.

Blessings,

Gramps

Do You Have A Legacy?

 “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joint and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). 

Hey Gang:  O yes, I remember it well!  It was January, the year I am not so sure, but I do remember that I had made up my mind to complete the pre-tax filing procedures before I putting my adding machine away for another year.  As I dotted the last “I” and closed the file, I confess I felt pretty good, even a wee bit smug; completing the agony and pain of preparing for the tax man allows a wee bit of smugness.

I had shut the computer down, turned the light off and was preparing to close the day, when one of those thoughts came into my head.  I found myself asking, was that from God or was it from Kermit.  Did you ever have thoughts that pop into your mind that seem to come out of the blue?

I was not sure at the time, if it was a reprimand or a suggestion that I get my act together.  I think I will rephrase that, for I am a firm believer that many folks do a lot of acting and are less sincere in those things that have eternal value.  The thought was very clear and in the form of a question.  Are you more concerned about your earthly bangles and beads and what you are going to have to pass down to your kids, or, are you more committed, to passing down your spiritual legacy to your children?   

Since my kids were no longer living under my roof, the question of “How does one pass their legacy down to the next generations?”  I thought of having them all assemble at my abode once a week or month and doing a Bible study, but did you ever try and get your family together for anything?  That, my friends, is bordering very close to the totally impossible.  I thought that anything in writing was far beyond my level of expertise.  At that time my reading and writing skills were more limited.

But, I decided I would put away the excuses and give the’ writing and sending’ idea a try.   My mailing list was very short, consisting of my kids, their spouses and a couple other of our adopted family. Low and behold, I started to receive comments back from them.  And I found out that God gave me the ability to put onto paper what He fed through me. 

I have always had a bias against electronic devices that have become habit forming for many folks.  I think they have increased communication problems among people and especially family members.  I have never gotten into the smart phone or any other sending and receiving device.  My bias, if you want to say something to get something from me, called me so I can hear the excitement in your voice.  There is a huge difference when I hear someone call just to say “I love you or miss you” carries so much more feeling than to read it on a little square thing that so many people spent hours looking at each day.  I recently heard a person admit that they nearly had a nervous breakdown when they misplaced their cell phone.  To me that borders on addiction.

Well the months turned into years, more than five years now, and the list of folks that tuned in the Gramps Morning Thoughts and What’s Happening Man increased.  Now I close this epistle with a question – what are you doing to pass your spiritual legacy down to your family and friends?

Blessings,    

Gramps

Chapter 45 Has Begun

Electoral College 232 vs 306

"I that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the calamity I planned to bring on it.  Or at another moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to build up or to plant it; if it does evil in My sight by not obeying My voice then I will think better of the good with which I had promised to bless it”.  (Jer. 18:8).

Hey Gang:  I was watching the inaugural festivities and the news stations kept switching back and forth from the transition of power and the protest that was taking place just down the road from the place where the President was taking the oath of office.  On the first day of our new President’s tenure in office, while he was attending a worship service, several blocks people were coming from the four corners of our nation with the intent of showing their displeasure that his man was their President.

I found myself getting angry that so many were waiting in the wings to let the new President know that he was not their choice and, therefore, they would be in rebellion against his authority. Then one of the announcers made this statement: “{s it not great to live in a country where the transfer of power was smooth and without wars and killing and in a country where people have the freedom to speak out and let their feelings be made known without fear of the Gestapo showing up at their door.”

Don’t get me wrong, I still felt a twinge of anger that so many looked upon the change of government with distain and vowed that this was not their President and, therefore, they would be in rebellion against anything that he said or tried to do.  

God then tapped me on the shoulder and reminded me that the “Battle is the Lord’s and He has never lost a battle and has no intentions to lose one now.”  William Koenig wrote a wonderful blurb in his weekly report on what is happening around the world. First, he warned that we need to keep our spiritual armor in place, spit polished and ready for war for the battles ahead will be intense.  But keep in mind that Trump, Pence, Priebus, Bannon, Spicer and most nominees are very pro-Christian, pro-Evangelical, and pro-Israel.  This is truly a new day for believers in Yeshua!

His last comment is one that we should etch in our mind and heart for those darker days that are just ahead: “We are living in the most important time in biblical history and very likely the generation that will see Yeshua’s return”.  Wow, does that get your thumper to thumping this morning?

So my friends, what is going on in your heart and head this morning.? The word tell s us that He, places kings on thrones and also removes them.  Do you believe God placed Donald Trump in the Oval Office of our nation?  Even today, the world is in shock as he came from the depths of defeat to an overwhelming victory. 

As I watched the festivities yesterday, I did it with Bible in hand and did some research on a few of the promises, power verses from God that give us the assurance that He is still setting at the control panel of this earth.   

Promise: “If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or I send pestilence among My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chron. 7:14).

Promise:  “But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live, he shall not die.  All his transgressions which he has committed will not be remembered against him; because of his righteousness which he has practiced, he will live.  Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord God, “rather than that he should turn from his ways and live” (Ezek. 18:21-23).

Promise:   “Now therefore amend your ways and your deeds and obey the voice of the Lord your God; and the Lord will change His mind about the misfortune which He has pronounced against you” Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death?  Did he not fear the Lord and entreat the favor of the Lord, and the Lord changed His mind about the misfortune which He had pronounced against them?  But we are committing a great evil against ourselves” (Jew. 26:3,13,19).  NOTE:  We have committed evil against ourselves.

I close this epistle with these powerful words of Jesus: “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there.” And it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you” (Matt. 17:20).  The most powerful weapon you have is prayer, pray without ceasing!

Blessings,

Gramps

God Wants To Do Something Special Through You Today!

“But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord” (I Cor. 15:56-57). 

Hey Gang:  I love to turn the computer on and see what is happening in our world today and what is fixing to happen and research the word to see how it fits.  One of my favorite saying is “Lord how are you going to work this out and how are you going to make something good out of this which seems to me to be beyond repair?

This is an exciting and thrilling time to be alive…., right?  It is not just Christians that sense something is about to happen.  The world knows that things cannot go on as they are.  History has reached an impasse.  This world is on a collision course.  Can one doubt that “something is fixen' to happen?”  Words such as Gog, Magog and Armageddon are becoming more frequent even in the world that “has chosen to go their own way”.  But sadly, the vast majority of the world do not have a clue about “What’s Happening Man?”

I have noticed, in the years that I have been working to try and convince people that in Christ we have a Savior who will provide for us everything, and I mean everything to allow us to live successful and content lives, they do not want to hear what is happening.   But many whom I have labeled the “empty eye syndrome folks”, subtitled “the agony and pain clan” are more convinced daily that the world will fill that vacuum that is just the size of God that aches to be filled in their chest cavity.

Sorry Charlie, This world they may have, but the Lord did not give it to them.  Far greater things are in the Father’s hand and He is itching to give them to us.

Our Pastor has been teaching from Galatians 5 for several weeks.  I have read Galatians many times, have even done a Hillbilly dissertation of it, but the wonders of reading the Word and rereading the Word is, they never read the same! There is always a new truth that coming popping into your mind – time, place and circumstances are different.  I have often asked the question, Lord was that new idea from you from Kermit? 

You see I do not have a lot of trust in Kermit’s thought and my prayer daily is that God will take me deeper into His Word.  I recommend that prayer very highly- but only if you are willing to let God have control of your heart and mind long enough to take you deeper.

I believe with all my heart we are in that period just prior to His return when He said, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven’.  (Heb.12:26b).  And, the question once again popped into my mind, as it frequently does, when I hear of the vast  numbers (nearly one fourth of our population) who are either avowed atheist or Satan followers, Why would one choose to follow the evil one and his fringe package when Jesus stands with arms outstretched saying “Come unto Me and I will make you a fishers of men” with all of My benefits.

In Galatians 5:18-21 Paul tells me that, IF I am under the Spirit I will not be plagued with the deeds of the flesh, which he list as immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissentions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing and things like these.  In 2Timothy 3:1-7 He expands on this by adding “in the last days difficult times will come.”  And he closes this sad description of our day with these words, “People will learn but never come to the knowledge of the truth”.  Is that not a description of our day?

But praise God returning to Galatians 5:22-25 Paul give us a description of those who will inherit the kingdom of God, those who have practiced “…the Spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, fruitfulness, gentleness, self-control.” 

Now, my question to you this morning, why would anyone choose Satan’s smorgasbord of options when God loved us so much that He sent His only Son to die on a hideous cross to free us from the bondage of sin and make a way for us to one day be with Him eternally, face to face?  (John 3:16).

Blessings,

Gramps

God Says, "Come Fly With Me!"

“He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might, He increases power.  Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary” (Isa. 40:29-30).

Hey Gang:  My big brother was my idol.  He was intelligent, knew where he wanted to go with his life and had the will to make sure that he achieved the goals that he wanted to accomplish in his life.  As a young lad growing in the mountains of Pennsylvania, he looked up one day and saw an airplane and vowed that day he would be a pilot and from that day on he began to prepare to join the birds in the skies.

So, since he was my idol, I wanted to follow his lead and also become a pilot.  After flunking out of college for the third time and the dean telling me at the rate I was going it would take me seventeen years to graduate, he thought I might want to consider taking some time off and growing up a bit.  I did fool him, it only took me twelve years to get my degree, but he was right, I did a heap of growing up in that time away from college.  

At that time we were in the mist of the Korean Police Action and I received one of those letters that began “Your friends and neighbors have chosen you to be a warrior for Uncle Sam.”  As long as I did not open the letter, to join one of the other services was an option. I had nothing against being a member of the United States Army but down inside I wanted to follow my brother’s footsteps.

So, I went down to Andrews Air Force Base where my brother was stationed and enlisted in the Air Force with the intent on entering pilot training.  But I had a problem- you had to weigh more than 139 pounds and I was a mere 135 pounds.  So for two weeks I ate everything that was supposed to put weight on ones bones with negative results but, at the end of the two weeks, I had reached the magical number of 138 pounds.

I was advised just before going in for the weigh-in I should fill my stomach with water.  Miracle of all miracles, I tipped the scales at a 140 pounds!  Wow, awesome!  But my joy was short lived! At the next station the doctor said, “Sorry Charlie” you have a heart murmur.” And red lined me.  So, I returned home and hid in a corner of the garage, right?  No, the Colonel said the second greatest job in the Air Force is to become an Air traffic Controller.  That is the closest you will get to flying.  So, I went to the next door and signed the papers to invest four years of my life for my country.  Some called me stupid because the Army hitch would have been only two years of my life. 

But there was a problem.  I was lousy at algebra and calculus and thought analytic skills had something to do with building a submarine or something.   On the day I took the battery of test that would determine what I did for the next four years, I knew that if I blew the Air Traffic Control Tech School, I could very well end up driving a truck or becoming a cook, neither rated very high on my vocational desires list.

I could turn this epistle in a short story but that is not my intent.  I was not walking with the Lord at that time but I had something really neat and powerful going for me, I had several grandmothers, two mothers, a wife to be and a number of other prayer warriors who spend time in their War Closets.

When called into review the test results I am not sure who was more surprised, the interviewer or the interviewee, for I had nearly aced the battery of nine test.  Now, for why I felt the need to share this message with you.  As I said, I was a lousy student but God didn’t give a hoot about that.  The woman’s prayer brigade prayed me though thirteen week of intense training and three years in the field and when my tenure ended as an airman, I continued on as a member of the Air Traffic Control Industry at the Great Pittsburgh Airport for several years. 

So what did I learn at the point in my life?  God knows how to overcome weight problems, or poor grades in school.  I also learned that as a child of the King one should not dig their roots to deep but be prepared to accept His call to move to higher ground.  Jesus said, “Come fly with Me!”

Blessings,

Gramps

Are You Up to Speed?

“I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat.  Then I will enter into judgment with them there on behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; AND THEY HAVE DIVIDED UP MY LAND” (Joel 3:2).

Hey Gang:  As I sit here this morning, as I do every morning, seeking what God would say through me to you, I sense an ominous feeling of woe all around me.    The thought of an old analogy popped into my head that goes like this: “In the world is a tiny group of power brokers, the queen bees so to speak, who decide what will happen.  Then there are the drone bees, a larger group that makes happen what the Queen bees decide.  But the vast majority of the bees just go about their daily routines and do not have a clue of what is happening. “Many Students of the Bible have said, this could be the most dangerous day in the history of mankind and I sense that they are right.

 At this very moment -Saturday and Sunday- representatives from more than 70 counties are assembling in France to make a decision that will impact on every person on this earth and the vast majority of people do not even have a clue that this tragic event is taking place.  Is there a significance to the number 70?  It is no secret that the purpose of the Conference is, as it has been since Israel became a nation in 1948.  It will culmination of an all- out hate fest against Israel. 

Keep in mind the Arabs intent here is not the gaining of land but rather the total annihilation of the Jews.  Also, keep in mind this battle is not confined to Israel but is also being fought in the heavenlies between the powers of darkness and God’s Warrior Angels.

 When the news report was published that there would be a gathering of 70 nations in France to approve the resolution that will be taken before the General Assembly on the 17^th, three days before the initiator of these actions will lose his power and be replaced by a power that is very supportive of Israel, it sent red flags into the hearts of the Orthodox Jews; in the Torah when one refers to 70 they are really referring to “all”.

My friends, if you have not read Zechariah (cover to cover), with emphasis on chapter twelve through fourteen, you must take the time to get alone and read it over and over until it becomes engrained in your heart and head.  That is, if you are interested in what is happening and what is going to happen in the very near future.

Abbi Shimon Apisdorf, a prominent Jewish educator and bestselling author, wrote that seeing 70 nations written in the headlines immediately rang his bell.  Why?  “Because there is no question that the aspect of specifically 70 nations gathering is significant, the point being Israel is not one of them.  He then quoted Numbers 23:9, “Lo, it is a people that shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations”.

When questioned as to why the Jews have been under attack for thousands of years his answer was “God designed us to be a light to the world and we are supposed to be different”.  There is a day coming when the people of the world will seek out the Jews because they have a special relationship with almighty God. (Zech 8:23).

There is so much more that could be written here that Jesus referred to when said, “I do not want you to be unaware of will be happening.” Matt 24)   One last very important point before I close for the day, our President elected, one Donald Trump was born on June 14, 1946.  On his first full day in office, January 21 he will be 70 years, 7 months and 7 days old.   Wow!

One other point, Orthodox Jews believe this year 5777, could be the year of the Messiah’s coming.  It will be the 50^th anniversary of Israel’s reunification of Jerusalem.  The number 777 is God’s number of perfection and completion.  There are Orthodox Rabbis that believe the Year 5777 will be the period prior to the Messiah’s coming. 

Hey Gang:  Proverbs tells me, to believe there is no God, one has to be a fool.  I could add to that if one does not see the hand writing on the wall at this very hour, one has to be a fool.  I would also add, if one does not stay up to speed in what God is doing in this time, one is vulnerable to be led down the wide road. 

Blessings,

Gramps

Jan Markell made a listing of the major Bible Prophecy Stories of 2016.  If interested in knowing what she included, you can find them on grampswhatshappenongman.blogspot.com to be posed Tuesday.    

"I Will Not Come Down From the Wall."

”

I am doing a great work and I cannot come down.   Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you” (Neh. 6:3).

Hey Gang:  Nothing ever changes, it just gets recycled under different names and titles.  Solomon, the second wisest man of all time, wrote the following: “That which has been is that which will be, And that which has been done is that which will be done so there is nothing new under the sun” (Eccl. 1:9).

When asked why we continue to return to Israel, the answer come quickly about the long list of the blessings that God has given to us in our sojourns to His chosen land.  If I were to choose one such blessing that stands out most in my heart and mind, it would be “because it makes the Scriptures come alive”.    We visited a new place on this tour, The City of David.  The entire city is surrounded by huge stone walls. 

One wonders, when looking at the huge stones used in these early constructions, how they were able to lift these giant stones up and place them on the fourteen to sixteen feet high walls, but they did have knowledge of levers and pulleys and I am sure it also involved a heap of brute strength.   

Note:  One of the basic foundation stones of the Temple mount is estimated to weigh more than twenty tons”.  Keep in mind there was not a single back hoe or crane in the land of Israel at that time and, as of this writing, they have found no quarries in the local Temple area from which to cut such a huge stone.

As I looked at these mammoth walls, I thought about Nehemiah and the task that laid before him.  Not only was he dealing with a labor shortage but one did not go to the local Lowes or Home Depot to purchase the needed material to complete the task. Add to this the hostile environment, much like it is today; there were many who were more than a wee bit ticked to see him rebuilding the wall and restoring the gates.

Also like when the UN declared Israel to be a state once again a similar action took place:  “Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious and very angry and mocked the Jews”  (4:1).  Hey, Gang, I want to share with you a pure reality this morning that I learned in my 83 plus years on this earth – “If you set out to do God’s work, be prepared for the attacks of the enemy!

Nehemiah is a wonderful book about a dedicated warrior who set out to do an impossible task.  I can identify with the challenge. On our first trip to Israel one of our assignments was to rebuild several walls at the Kibbutz were we were staying.  We had about the same equipment that Nehemiah had, in our early attempt to restore the Kibbutz to living conditions.    We had a distinct advantage, the stones were still there.

Nehemiah’s task was to take the remnants from the destruction and rebuild the walls of the city or Jerusalem.  But his task was not limited to making the remnants work, it was also dealing with the harassment of those who had held the city in bondage for many decades.

To make the long story short, we find the key to Nehemiah’s success in a number of passages.  In 1:6 we read “Hear the prayer of Your servant,” and in 1:11 “O Lord I beseech you”. And in our scripture of the day “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down”.

These are very tough days, my young friends, and I fear we ain’t seen nothing yet!  So when the road seems especially filled with pot holes, keep in mind there was an old salt by the name of Nehemiah who said “The God of heaven will give us success, therefore we His servants will arise and build” (2:20).  When God is using you to do great things for Him, never come down from the wall.; Just dig a little deeper.

Blessings,

Gramps

Do We Cheat Ourselves?

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so what the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). 

“This joy I have the world did not give it to me.” Sing with me……

Hey Gang:  Christmas is over, time to take down the trimmings, finish off the turkey from Christmas dinner and get back into the daily grind.  Does your house look as bare as mine?  Perhaps a better question: Do you feel a bareness in your heart for the bangles of beads of this world which fill our joy meters for only a very short season?  Or, did you lean back and say, “Thank You Lord for all the neat blessings that you sent my way this Christmas Season”.

I have heard sermons on how God’s human creation tends to cheat the God who breathed life into them.  In Malachi we read, “Will a man rob God?  Yet you are robbing Me!  But you say, “How have we robbed You?  “In tithes and offerings” (Ml. 3:8-9).

In a blog before Christmas I wrote of the success the evil one has had in filling our date planners so full we operate in about the middle or lower half of that list of things we consider the most important.   A time study specialist, always began his time studies with this question: “If you were told you will die in thirty days what would your top ten priorities be?”

He discovered that the top three answers were: get right with God, make sure I was right with my family, and make sure I was right with my neighbor.  But when he asked the question, “Where are these things in your daily life?” Nearly all admitted they were at the bottom of their list.

He also determined most agreed that when they were right with God, family and friends, they were at the peak of the joy, contentment and happiness meter.  When he asked the question, “Is there more joy in receiving gifts or giving gifts?”  His finding was amazing. Nearly all said, “To give is much more satisfying than to receive.”  When asked why, again the responses were amazing: “Because I like to see people happy.”  One last finding in the study was the response to- “Why, when you know it makes you feel good to give, you do not give more?”  The number one answer was- “I just don’t think of it!”

At Eagle Village Christmas Program Pastor Eric talked of a very special gift that he received as a child. At the end of his description of this very special gift he asked the audience what was the very best gift you ever received.  My grandson was sitting beside me and his response was, ”A barn built by my grandfather.” This made his grandfather feel good inside for all the hours he spent in ‘Gramps Workshop’ building wooden toys that have been shared with many.

You see in my 83 years I have learned a wonderful lesson:  the greatest of all gifts do not come from Macy’s or Walmart but things that produce memories in the heart of the receivers.  With each wooden toy that has gone out from ‘Gramps Workshop’ includes a piece of his heart.

Well, it is time for me to wrap this up and get back down to ‘Gramps Workshop’.  There are a couple project that need to have the finishing touches applied.  Projects that look like wood but rather are prayers and memories from Gramps.

Blessings,

Gramps

A New Year! Really!.........................................Or……………….…………The Same Old Stuff?

 Wow, Awesome!  Wait, shut everything out of your mind.  Take three deep breaths.  Now read very slowly with your whole brain in gear “And I heard a loud vice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among the, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”  And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”  (Rev. 21:3-5, Jesus words through John that we can take to the bank)

Hey Gang:  I have been researching the word “new” this morning and have listed some of those verses that I found especially powerful that rang my bell.   I pray they will ring your bell. 

Keep in mind as you read this morning message that it is being written by an old codger that has greeted 83 New Year’s in his life time and has also seen a great deal of history.  I wish I could say, that with each period of man’s choosing to go his own way, we have become more wise and our world is a better place to live but NOTHING could be further from the truth.  

I would rather share with you the way I wish it was.   As I perused the verses on new and newness, there was no doubt that, if one followed God’s mandates, statures and commandments, we would experience newness of life every day.  I recall someone along the path saying, “Christianity is the land of new beginnings”.   

I believe that is one of the benefits that God designed into the cross experience, that if we do as He said and go to the cross daily, we carry none of the errors or our yesterdays into tomorrows.  I do believe that His design is,  ‘each new day is to be a new beginning with the Lord’. 

What a wonderful piece of news Paul gives us in Romans 6:4:  “Therefore having been buried with Him, through baptism into death, so that, as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we, too, might walk in newness of life.”  

If we allow Him, God makes all things new.  Paul also tells us to “rejoice always and again I say rejoice”.  I believe this is like a cleansing process.  Speaking from experience, I can attest to the fact that when I am singing to the Lord a new song, it is like a spiritual enema and cleans out the rust spots that have accumulated.  In Philippians, Paul gives us seven examples of the joys of joy. Nehemiah shared the good news that “…the Joy of the Lord is our strength” (Neh. 8:10).

The Christian owes it to the world to be supernaturally joyful! In this day of universal apprehension, when men’s hearts are failing them for fear of those things that are coming upon the earth, we Christians are strategically placed to display a happiness and joy, that is not of this world, and to exhibit a tranquility that will be a little bit of heaven here below.  All this takes for granted that sin has been dealt with by sincere repentance.

How we need to praise God for newness of life.  In our recent trip to Israel, what joy there was in standing before the tomb that many believe is the place where Jesus body was laid that fateful day when man choose to kill God.  The joy did not come with the knowledge of the cruelty of men, but rather that His Father breathed life into Him and He overcame the grave.  John put it this way: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). 

Israel Balfour Declaration of 1917- this says Palestine - maps are also PC.This was declared Homeland for Israel

I close this epistle with a deep concern in my heart.  The recent events that have taken place in our nation, the turning our back on God and Israel - and that is what our president’s decision was when he abstained from vetoing the U.N. decree that Israel must return to its 1967 borders, hurts my heart for our country.  God made an irrevocable decree with Abraham -that those who bless Israel would be blessed and those who curse Israel will be cursed.  He also made in clear in Joel 3:2 that those nations that demand that covenant land be given to Israel’s enemies would be held accountable to God for it.

I believe our President has place our nation in great jeopardy.  We need to take this issue to God’s throne room continually.

Pray that God’s will be done as the 70 Nations (God’s symbol for all) meet in Paris on Jan 15 to declare a Palestine State to include Judea, Samaria and half of Jerusalem,

                            Israel Today

Blessings,

                      

Gramps  


Israel 1967

Jesus said, "I so not want you to be Unaware."

“Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle” (Zech. 14:3).

Hey Gang:  I have been debating with myself for several days as to whether I should send this blog out on What’s Happening Man or Gramps Morning Thought.  The later won because the reader numbers of What’s Happening Man are very low and I believe God would have me at least alert you to the significance of the past week’s activities on the part of our government.

On December 23, the United States of America perpetrated an unprecedented act against the State of Israel by abstaining on a resolution submitted in the UN Security Council which denies the legal validity of Israel’s West Bank and East Jerusalem settlements.  As former UN Ambassador John Bolton declared it was not a stab in the back it was a direct frontal attack.

This is the first time since the reestablishment of Israel as a nation that the United States has refused to use its UN Veto power to protect the interests of Israel, marking a dramatic and extremely dangerous change in not only our relationship with Israel but our relationship with God.  In Genesis 12 God made the following promise “And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse” (Gen 12:3) said in reference to our relationship with the “Apple of God’s Eye, Israel.

The question that you must settle in your heart is, “Is the Bible the word of God from cover to cover”.  For it makes a difference how you will process this bit of news. If you do not believe the Abrahamic Covenant is an eternal covenant, the actions of one Barack Obama will not have much meaning to you.  For most in the world, they are unaware of the significance of this resolution.  It is far more than another simple reprimand of Israel which is a daily event for the United Nations. 

I recently received a picture of how the United Nations sees the nations of the world.  On one side are listed all the nations of the world but one.  On the other side is the tiny state of Israel, alone.  Again the question of how this will impact on each one that receives this news is “Is the Bible? the Word of God and every jot and tittle true.   It so then one should not be to surprised with the action of the United Nations.  Zechariah 14:12 give us fair warning that this day is at hand “For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle”.   

We have already seen Zechariah 12:2 and 3 fulfilled.  Jerusalem is a cup that causes reeling to all the peoples around and has already become a heavy stone of all the peoples of the world.   But what the world does not realize is they are not tampering with Israel, a tiny state in the midst of nations who have but one goal, to annihilate Israel but are on the very edge of feeling the wrath of God.

In Genesis `17:7-8 God clearly made an unconditional covenant to give all (not part) of the land of Canaan to Israel for an everlasting possession and He also promised to be Israel’s God.   In my life time I have been blessed to see the nation of Israel become a state once again but the sons of Ishmael have decreed this will not last.  But I have also seen a continual battle on the world scene to take away the tiny lands that were given to them by the United Nations in 1948.

The recent resolution of the United Nations is Israel must return to the `1967 boundaries.  Again, your level of belief as to whether the Bible is God’s infallible word will determine how you accept this latest all-out attack against God’s chosen land and people.  In other words, what say you about our nations turning its back on Israel and does it have any connection with the fulfillment of Joel 3:2 that states, “I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat.  Then I will enter into judgment with them there on behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel.  Whom they have scattered among the nations; and they have divided My land”.

I believe when President Barack Obama decided to abstain and turned his back on Israel,  it was more than a put down to Israel but a frontal attack on God.   Keep in mind the Abrahamic covenant “He will bless those who bless His chosen nation and chosen people but will curse those who curse His chosen nation and people” did not end with the death of Abraham but was cast in God’s cement which is irrevocable. 

I challenge you this morning, before you turn your attention to the business of the day, to take the time to read Luke 21:25-36 and pay special attention to verse 28, “But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near,” “Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of the life, and that this day will not come on you suddenly like a trap.,,,   Keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may had strength to escape all these things that are about take place and to stand before the Son of man.” (v 36).

Why is the resolution to push Israel back to the 1967 boundaries so dangerous to America?  I will address this question in the next What’s Happening Man blog to be posted on Sat.Jan  7.

Blessings,

Gramps
**** The blog sent Jan 4 was published here on Sat Jan 7

I AM Deeply Concerned About My Country, Are You?

This week's Blogs were put on the other site and I am reprinting them here.  This one was sent Jan 2.

Check blog of Jan 4 - now posted on Sunday Jan 8. 

A special blog was posted on grampswhatshappeningman.blogspot.com on Jan 7

“If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chron. 7:14).

Hey Gang:  I am a patriot!  I love my country and would have remained in the United States Air Force, but God said, “No, I have something else I want you to do”.  As I was seeking something that would convey my love for God and country, my bride came to my rescue again. She introduced me to a book she purchased months ago with the intent of working our way through it in this New Year as a daily devotional.   It was compiled by Dr. Richard G. Lee, titled “In God We Still Trust”.

After reading the January first and second entry several times, there is  no way I can improve on his words so I am going to copy them verbatim and pray that they hit your hot button with the same intensity that they hit mine. 

Jan 1: “From the nation’s earliest days, God’s promise in 2 Chronicles 7 that He will hear the cry of a humbled people has motivated America’s leaders to call citizens to prayer.  In 1775, as it began the process of forming a new Continental Congress, they called for a day of prayer.  At critical junctures during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln called for the nation to fast and pray.  And in 1952 President Truman signed a bill establishing an annual National Day of Prayer.

Second Chronicles helps establish a model of national spiritual renewal.  The book recounts how a succession of righteous Kings in Judah led to reforms that brought the people back to true faith in God.  Second Chronicles 16:9 assures us that God will “show Himself strong” toward those who place their trust in Him.” 

  

Patriot’s Prayer **

Lord, I am very aware of our nation’s need to repent and return to You.  I am also very aware that such repentance must begin in every hear, including mine.  Today I ask You to reveal to me the sins hidden in my heart and accept my pea for forgiveness.

Patriot’s Promise**

Jan 2: God promises that “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse from all unrighteousness” (I John 1>9).

Patriotism Defined:

Noah Webster’s An American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828: patriotism, is the love of one’s country; the passion which aims to serve one’s country, either in defending it from invasion, or protecting its right and maintaining its laws and institutions in vigor and purity.  Patriotism is the characteristic of a good citizen, the noblest passion that animates a man in the character of a citizen.

In Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary of 2004 patriotism is defined “Love for or devotion to one’s country.  Note the change.  Noah Webster’s patriotism is very different from the vague, subjective patriotism of one who only feels love for country.  True patriotism is not just an emotional feeling; it is action.

Webster’s original definition starts with a love for country, but moves to specific actions: service to country, defense of country, protection of the rights of country, maintenance of the laws and institutions of country, and perseverance of religion and morality in public and private life.  This kind of patriotism puts the needs of the country above personal or partisan desired, as well as above the favor of foreign nations.

Patriots Prayer**

I love my country Lord, and I ask You to protect us from harm.  Be with those men and women in each branch of service.  Guard us all in Your name.

Patriot’s Promise**

Hear God’s promise:  “The Lord commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive. As it is this day:” (Deuteronomy 6:24).

I believe with all my heart that God has looked down on this once mighty and proud nation and said, I believe I will give them one more chance to put their hands in the hands of the One who stills the waters.  I also believe with all my heart it was the prayers of the God’s people that prayed Mr. Thrump into office, and I believe with all my heart that it will be the prayers of God’s people that will give him success.

That is, if God’s people remain on the firing line continuously!!!  Satan is not going to take his Presidency lying down. Commit with me to pray daily – as we have done for years-  for this new Administration to seek God’s wisdom and listen to Godly advisers.

Blessings,

Gramps

The Road Less Traveled

Friday, January 6, 2017

For some reason posts this week hace gone out on grampswhat'shappeningman,blogspot.com.

I will post Jan 2 on Sunday. 

The Road Less Traveled

“Enter through the narrow gate: for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.  For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matt. 7:13-14).

Hey Gang:  One might think it would be hard to answer the question, “What is the most profound thing you learned in your trips to Israel?”.  The answer is very easy.  But first you must know what our motivation was that lead to our going to Israel.  For me it was to get my hands dirty, visit and learn about those very special places I had read about many times in the Bible.

Let me put some meat on that statement.   On our most recent trip to Israel we were truly blessed with a wonderful teacher by the name of Denny Thompson, who has spent many years walking the hills and dales of Israel, studying the word to seek God’s revelations, and a deeper understanding of the words of Jesus.  We have been blessed to be on other trips thorough the Holy Land and found that each teacher had a very special focus.  Denny was different, he covered as much ground as the group was able to observe and then some.

I wish I could share with you all of his illustrations that truly made the Word of God become more meaningful, but that would take copying his 130 his page manual that, not only shared the meaning of Jesus’ words but gave a historical background on each of the places we visited and culture.

But, I want to share one example of his teaching that was especially meaningful to me.  On the last day of the tour we experienced a very busy day starting on the Sea of Galilee and heading south. One of the stops was at Beit Shean, a Roman City where great progress in restoration has been made since our last visit to this site.  It was a city that one might compare to Las Vegas, New Orleans, or any of the sin-cities of the world. 

As we were walking into the city on the wide, very well maintained thorough fare, we passed by a path, one might call a “lane” that was not cared for.  There was no question to choose to walk this path would have been to choose the more difficult way.   Denny, stopped the group and explained that path was the path to Jerusalem where the Temple was, the center of the religious activities of the day- the place where Jesus will one day set His throne on Zion Hill, but note- the path is very narrow.  

He explained it is much like the many crossroads we encounter as Believers in Yeshua, we have to make decisions- to follow the wide road that leads to all the glitter, bangles and beads of the world, or to follow the narrow road that is often filled with stones and holes, trials and tribulations that leads to Jesus and Eternal Life with Him.

This morning, as I spent my time with the Lord, the thought of Beit Sheen was clearly etched on my mind but another thought came into my mind. I thought of the time we spent at Gordon’s Garden Tomb, where many believe is the tomb where Jesus body was laid on that fateful day.  When you read of the Biblical description of that place, this is the closest to that description that one finds.

It is always interesting to me that additional time is always scheduled for this stop because there are many that want to remain there for a while.    On my first trip to Israel I, too, was interested in spending a little extra time at the tomb, but God made it clear to me, “He is not here, He has risen! 

But today I am far more interested on standing on the top of the tel at Tel Tamar and looking across the valley top to Bozrah where the Word tells me one day Jesus will pass through on His way to Jerusalem. Perhaps He will stop even at Tel Tamar on His way to the Eastern Gate.  I also enjoy standing on the Mount of Olives knowing one day soon Jesus will stand on the top of that mountain and it will split down the middle.

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6).  Wow, what an awesome promise.

Blessings,

Gramps