Odds n’ Ends (14)

Here are some recent stories that have caught my eye:

1. Final Fulfillment of Pentecost Set as being May 31^st. As times grow more stressful, we see the oddballs start coming out more frequently. Here is a link to one site which has set May 31^st as the final fulfillment of Pentecost: http://rogershermansociety.org/pentecost.htm. At least person provides his Biblical reasons for believing this. He makes one interesting conclusion, the "land of unwalled cities" described in Ezekiel 38:10-11 could be America. And the countdown clock is a nice touch!
   

 

1. NASA Launches Earth Hunting Satellite. On Friday, NASA's new Kepler space telescope into orbit, the mission stands to potentially change the way we look at the universe. Kepler is designed to turn its eye on thousands of stars in our own Milky Way galaxy and look for signs of Earth-sized planets orbiting in a region conducive to supporting life.
   

I believe NASA states the following - Theory, data, and experiments suggest that life requires (in decreasing order of certainty):

• A thermodynamic disequilibrium;
  
• An environment capable of maintaining covalent bonds, especially between carbon, hydrogen, and other atoms;
  
• A liquid environment; and
  
• A molecular system that can support Darwinian evolution.
  

Earth abundantly displays life that uses solar, geothermal, and chemical energy to maintain thermodynamic disequilibria, covalent bonds between carbon, water as the liquid, and DNA as a molecular system to support Darwinian evolution. Life with those characteristics can be found wherever water and energy are available.

Tom's Thought: It seems the second part of the above-list would be the most difficult to find. Earth has the right temperature, the right gravity, the lack of extreme conditions for most of the planet and so can support life, an atmosphere that protects from cosmic attacks, and a large moon to provide tides that are helpful for life to form. It seems this is an incredible waste of time and money, but as long as its being sent up let's sees what turns up.

 

1. Religion Losing Ground in America.
   Article on Religion Losing Ground. This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone living in America, but it seems there are more people who say they have no religion, and all religious Churches are shrinking. The article says: These dramatic shifts in just 18 years are detailed in the new American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS), to be released today. It finds that, despite growth and immigration that has added nearly 50 million adults to the U.S. population, almost all religious denominations have lost ground since the first ARIS survey in 1990.
   

   
    

   "More than ever before, people are just making up their own stories of who they are. They say, 'I'm everything. I'm nothing. I believe in myself,' " says Barry Kosmin, survey co-author.
   

   
    

2. One World Government/One World Religion? There is a segment of the Christian culture that is especially wary of there being a Global government and one world religion. I never understood if there was solid Biblical support for their fear, and this past week I received an email newsletter from a Minnesota group Olive Tree Ministries that provided its reasons why they believe this will take place as part of the Pre-Trib understanding of the end-times. Here is a portion of what they wrote:
   

   
    

   I read an article recently that began with these chilling words, "The Institute for Health Freedom (IHF) warns that the economic stimulus bill mandates electronic health records for every citizen without providing for opt-out or patient consent provisions." …
   

   
    

   God has told us in His Word that during the Tribulation there will be a one-world religious system (Rev. 17), a one-world economic system (Rev. 13:16, 17 & Rev. 18:1-19), and a one-world government (Rev. 13:1-10 & Dan. 11:36-39). The pieces would seem to be falling into place with increasing speed. We can sit back and watch as God's Word is fulfilled!
   

    
    

   Terrifying, you say? Well, no, because God keeps all of His Word and His promises! And what does He promise His beloved bride? "Let not your heart be troubled . . . if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also"
   (John 14:1, 3), and, "Because you have kept my command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial, which shall come upon all the world, to test those who dwell on the earth" (Rev. 3:10).
   

    
    

   A favorite Bible teacher of mine often says, "When you see the Christmas decorations going up in the local department stores, you know that Thanksgiving is right around the corner!" As we see all the signposts in preparation for the seven-year Tribulation going up, we know it's almost time to go Home! (Heidi Swander for Olive Tree Ministries)
   

   
    

   I found this helpful to provide for me a better understanding of why the Pre-Tribbers have this understanding of the end-times, and why they so strongly oppose anything that smells of One World Government/One World Religion. I will let you judge whether or not they are properly interpreting these verses.
   

   
    

3. Wolff Girls Audition for 'Ash Girls' Play. Asia and Maggie have auditioned for a jr. high play that deals with the 7 deadly sins. It will be interesting to see how the play handles this! More details on the parts they received and the play dates are forthcoming.
   

Lord please bless those who stop by with health, Your provision, and freedom from sin that only a life in Christ can provide. In Jesus' name, Amen.