Memorial Day is often thought of as the beginning of summer (when I went to school, we always started after Labor Day and Memorial Day weekend heralded to beginning of summer vacation), but I hope we take the time to remember that this holiday, formerly known as Decoration Day, it is supposed to be a time where we honor those who died while performing military service for their country. Let us not forget the lives that have been lost to give us the freedoms we enjoy. If you have never had the opportunity to visit Washington DC and see the different memorials, it is truly inspiring. Thank you veterans who died so that we can live in the greatest country in history and so that we can enjoy the freedoms we do this day.
The boys and I saw Speed Racer this weekend. Speed was ok but Jonny Quest is the best cartoon ever, period. When I was but a wee one a very long time ago, I remember watching Jonny Quest and dreaming one day of being Race Bannon. I wanted a little dog like Bandit. Speed Racer was cool, but doesn’t hold a candle to Jonny Quest. Space Ghost was close. Best episode? Not even close. The Robot Spy, where Dr. Zin uses a UFO to transport a giant spider-like robot to earth to try and get info on a para-ray gun that Dr. Quest had invented.
I have certain blogs, web sites, newpapers, etc daily that I peruse. Laura Ingraham, The Weekly Standard, Rush Limbaugh, all the blogs to the left (I am in my blog infancy and haven’t figured out how to make lists yet. Summer project…), along with several newspapers for starters. I have recently downloaded all of the video sermons from the Celebration Church with Stovall Weems, mainly because anyone with a name like Stovall Weems has to be totally radical. I was right, the sermons are great. If we happen to have more kids, probably adopted unless divine intervention is involved if you know what I mean, I am going to name a boy Stovall. I also downloaded all of the sermons from the church where Pastor Dino Rizzo (yes that is correct, it not Pastor Rizzo’s church) is the lead pastor. I was drawn like a moth to a bug zapper to a sermon titled, “You’re an Idiot.” I know, I know, blah, blah, blah. I was thinking it was him (Pastor Rizzo) I was initially listening to but it turned out to be Pastor Craig Groeschel. The sermon was outstanding. I actually listened to it twice on my way to outreach clinic in Parkston. If you have the ability to download the podcast, take a listen and let me know what you think. I think it is easy to get caught up in the flavor of the day whether it’s this praise and worship style because church such-and-such has blazing guitars and a 100 person choir, or maybe a certain doctrine that we are debating amongst (nice KJV lingo there huh!) ourselves, or maybe its our pot luck (something I learned in Richmond, VA that the Southern Baptists at Grove Avenue Baptist do without peer!), or our big shiny new building, or … you get the point. Jesus came to seek and save the lost, period. If our focus isn’t there, we should seriously think about refocusing. It is easy to get sucked into the tangential topics that would take us away from a dying world and our primary mission. I find it interesting the number of Christians, long time Christians, who have never led some to the Lord. Has it been a while? Ever? I often think the reason one hasn’t is that they have never had a revelation of what hell is and what it would be like to spend an eternity, eternity, in hell. Would I be so cavalier with my relationships to those around me if I had any idea what an eternity in hell would be like? I doubt it. I pray God would give us a revelation, of hell and that it would light a fire (no pun intended) in us for those around us and that we would realize that the preoccupation with the church should be to rescue as many as possible from an eternity separated from the One whose one mission was to leave Heaven, be born to a virgin, live a perfect life, and die a horrible death on a cross just so we could have a relationship with the Him if we would only accept the gift he presents to us.
This is a poem about Mothers that I really like. I’m not sure who penned it so can’t give credit:
The child asked God, “They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?”
“Your angel will be waitng for you and will take care of you.”
Again the child asked, “And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don’t know the language?
God said, “Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak.”
“And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?”
God said, “Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray.”
“Who will protect me?”
God said, “Your angel will defend you even if it means risking her life.”
“But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore.”
God said, “Your angel will always talk to you about me and will teach you the way to come back to me, even thought I will always be next to you.”
At that moment there was much peace in heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, “God if I am to leave now, please tell me my angel’s name.”
God replied, “You will simply call her Mom.”
Thanks Mom. Happy Mothers Day!
Iron Man ROCKS!!!
15 years ago today my Dad died from lung cancer. I remember the length of time he has been gone because he died one month before our first son, John (named after my Dad) was born. Not a day goes by without me thinking of him. To this day I miss him terribly. My Dad was born in 1920. He grew up in during the Great Depression. He was a gunner on a B-17 during World War II in the south pacific. Growing up, I remember my Dad working harder than any three people I knew put together and still holds true to this day. I remember standing in a stream in Outlaw Canyon in Wyoming, learning how to fly fish at an early age. I remember going elk and deer hunting every fall. I remember going to church when I was young but not consistently growing up. After I started going to church after accepting Christ as my Saviour in 9th grade, he would encourage my sisters and I to go, but never went with us. We talked about God on many occasions but nothing ever came of our conversations. I just kept hoping that a seed was being planted. One day about a year before he died, we were living in Rapid City and I woke up one morning suddenly. For some reason I had a feeling that I had to go visit my Dad in Gillette, now. I told my wife and left for Gillette. I got there about two hours later and found him sitting at his usual spot at the kitchen table. He was surprised to see me and we talked for a couple of minutes. I then asked him about Jesus and if he wanted to ask Him into his heart. He said, “sure!” It was not long after that he found out he had cancer. He is buried at the Black Hills National Cemetery. He was a long time smoker and that took him from us early. He never met my kids. When I got the letter saying I was accepted to medical school, I drove to the cemetery and laid the letter on his grave, and sat there and cried for what seemed like an entire afternoon. I know that he is not at the spot designated by the marker on his grave, he is sitting with Jesus in heaven, whole, healthy. I know that one day we will be reunited and he’ll get to meet John, Luke, and Abby. Hopefully I have made him proud. I miss you Dad.
Ah, spring in South Dakota. One day 70 the next ten inches of snow. This time of year also renews a debate that rages on in the Kovaleski household: Do I get a Harley this year or continue on without. My friend Mark would say this is a no brainer (check out his blog, link to the left). Now, I am fortunate enough to cruise about Sioux Falls in my Toyota Tundra. The first point I tend to point out is that 999,999,999,999 times to one, Harley versus Tundra, Tundra wins. Big. Jeez, Harley versus Ford Pinto, Pinto wins, unless of course the Harley rear ends the Pinto and it bursts into a big fireball (see lawsuits concerning Pinto), then they both lose. The second point is made every summer, usually on a typical August South Dakota day. Temperature around 103 degrees with a 35-40 mile per hour wind creating a blast furnace type effect. Last summer, as I was driving on I-229 between the Emerald City (Mckennan) and HHSD (Heart Hospital of South Dakota) to see a patient, I happened upon the usual site. I came upon the a biker wearing the typical garb, headband, sleeveless white t-shirt, jeans (not wranglers), and leather boots. On the back, was a female, with a leather tank top, jeans, tennis shoes, and long blond hair that should have been directed back as the Harley traveled down the interstate at 70 mph, but due to the South Dakota blast furnace was flying sideways. Their facial muscles rippled in the wind and drool worked its way out of the side of their mouth as they rocketed their way to coolness, waiting for a lone bumble bee to act like a bullet as it bores its way through Easy Riders chest. I pulled up in my Tundra, vacuum sealed, noiseless, with the freon refrigerant cooling the air to a comfortable 64 degrees. I was sipping my large strawberry limeade (my favorite) recently purchased at Sonic and listening to a Christ For The Nations praise CD at about 98 decibels. I gave them a little wave as the feeling of pity enveloped me. The lady on the back waved back, but with only one finger. I smiled and turned the air conditioner up to icicle. I don’t know, maybe it is time to break down and get one, especially with gas pushing four dollars per gallon. My wife certainly would go out and buy one tomorrow. Maybe this year…
Hi,
Whenever I am in the car, I listen to Glen Beck. He had an interesting interview with this gentleman named Joel Rosenberg. I receive a daily update email from the Glen Beck program and this was included in it yesterday. Let me know what you think…DK
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Special Report: Russia, Iran and Bible Prophecy
Russia, Iran and Bible Prophecy
By Joel C. Rosenberg
Does the Bible really predict the rise of a dictator in Russia? Does it really foretell the emergence of a Russian-Iranian alliance against Israel in the End of Days? And if so, is the military, political and economic alliance being formed in recent years by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad evidence that such prophecies are actually coming true in our lifetime? Glenn and I have been discussing these questions all week. But let me lay them out in more detail here for those interested in going a bit deeper.
One of the most fascinating sets of End Times prophecies in the Bible are found in the Book of Ezekiel, chapters 38 and 39. Remarkably, the Hebrew Prophet Ezekiel, writing more than 2,500 years ago, was able to look down the corridors of time and see nations not yet born, and alliances not yet formed. In doing so, he actually did foretell the rise of a Russian military alliance with Iran and other Middle Eastern countries to annihilate Israel during the earth’s “last days.” This is known by many Bible scholars as the “War of Gog and Magog.”
In a moment, I will walk you through the prophecies step-by-step. But first, let me note that the predictions found in Ezekiel chapters 36 & 37 have already come true. These are the famous chapters that foretell:
The rebirth of the State of Israel in the end times (both chapters)
The return of the Jews to the Holy Land after centuries in exile (Ezekiel 36:10-11, 36:24, 36:37-38, 37:12, 37:21)
The rebuilding of the ancient ruins in Israel (Ezekiel 36:36)
The re-blossoming of desolate, desert lands to produce abundant food, fruit and foliage (Ezekiel 36:8-9 and 36:30-35)
The creation of an “exceedingly great army” (Ezekiel 37:11)
Such prophecies began to be fulfilled in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, accelerated in 1948 and 1967, and continue to come to pass to this day. This, of course, raises an intriguing question: If Ezekiel 36 and 37 have largely come true in our lifetime, isn’t it possible that Ezekiel 38 and 39 will soon come true as well?
WHO?
That said, let’s examine Ezekiel 38 and 39 more carefully. In Ezekiel 38:1-6, the Hebrew prophet gives a list of obscure names that will form a united coalition. In my non-fiction book, Epicenter: Why The Current Rumblings In The Middle East Will Change Your Future, I carefully walk readers through these prophecies and document the historical detective work necessary to determine what modern nations are referred to by the ancient text. But here’s an executive summary of the major points.
“Gog” is described as being “of the land of Magog” and as the “prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal.” Most Bible scholars believe Gog is not a name but a title, like Pharoah or Czar. He is a dictator who will hatch an “evil plan” (Ezekiel 38:10).
“Magog” - Leading Bible scholars say this is Russia and republics of the former Soviet Union. The first century Roman historian Josephus said the “Magogites” were the peoples whom the Greeks called “Scythians.” Scythians were a fierce, blood-thirsty civilization that settled north of the Baltic Sea in what is now Russia and the European republics of the former USSR.
“Rosh, Meshech and Tubal” - Many, though not all, Bible scholars believe “Rosh” refers directly to Russia. Meshech is believed by many scholars to be Moscow (though some believe it refers to an ancient people group in Turkey). Some Bible scholars believe Tubal refers to the city/region of Tobolsk in Russia along the Tobol River. Others say it refers to a section of modern-day Turkey. (Interestingly, in 1964, massive reserves of oil and gas were discovered in the Tobolsk region of Siberia and people now refer to the region as the “energy center of Russia.”)
“Persia” - This was the official name of Iran until 1935.
“Cush” - Based in significant part on the writings of the Roman historian Flavius Josephus, Bible scholars today believe “Cush” refers to Sudan and Ethiopia.
“Put” - Bible scholars are confident that this refers to the modern day country of Libya, though it may also refer to parts of Algeria and Tunisia, based on the writings of Josephus, among others.
“Gomer” - This is modern day Turkey, though some scholars also believe it could refer to Germany and Austria.
“Beth-togarmah” - This refers to Armenia and the Turkic-speaking peoples of Central Asia, including the Islamic former republics of the Soviet Union.
“Many peoples with you” who will attack along “the mountains of Israel” - Other countries will be involved in the coalition as well, notably countries that border the mountains of Israel. This includes Lebanon, Syria and possibly Jordan.
It should be noted that conspicuously absent from the list is Egypt and Iraq (typically referred to in Scripture as Babylon or Mesapotamia). This is noteworthy since Ezekiel was writing the prophecy in the City of Babylon, in the heart of Iraq. We would have to expect, then, that neither Egypt nor Iraq will participate. Egypt, of course, signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1979. Iraq is now so engrossed in its own internal struggles that it would be unlikely to join a coalition to destroy Israel in the next few years. We are, therefore, living in the first window in human history in which neither of these historic enemies of the Jewish people are likely to be involved in the next major Middle East war.
WHAT?
Ezekiel 38-39 explains that the Russian dictator known as “Gog” will develop an “evil plan” to attack and destroy Israel and seize her wealth. He will begin to build an enormous military coalition, comprised of the countries described above. He will make extensive preparations to strike. When the time is right, Ezekiel says Russia will then deploy this coalition against Israel in a show of overwhelming force, coming against the Jewish State “like a storm.”
The Bible makes it clear that when this “War of Gog and Magog” begins, no country will come to Israel’s defense. Not the United Nations. Not the European Union. Not even the United States. Israel will feel utterly alone, and her enemies will be convinced that they are on the verge of an historic victory in which the Jews will be wiped off the map once and for all. But Ezekiel then says some supernatural will occur. The God of Israel - the God of the Bible - will bring judgment upon the enemies of Israel, beginning with Gog, the dictator of Russia. The Lord will trigger a massive earthquake in which “all the men who are on the face of the earth will shake at My presence.” Gog’s forces will turn against one another, and then they will be subject to pestilence, torrential rains, hailstones, and even fire from heaven. Israel will then capture her enemies weapons and burn them for seven years and it will take seven full months to bury all the bodies of Israel’s slain enemies, so great will be the devastation.
WHEN?
When will all this happen? We don’t know for certain. But Ezekiel gives us several important clues. First, Israel will be a country again and Jews will be regathered to the Holy Land. Second, Israelis will be “living securely” before the “War of Gog and Magog,” though the Scriptures do not go so far as to say that they will have comprehensive peace treaties with their neighbors. Third, Israel will have a measure of economic prosperity, according to the text. And fourth, Ezekiel 38:16 says explicitly that all these events “will come about in the last days” (that is, before the Battle of Armageddon).
In closing, let me be clear. Yes, Israel has been reborn as a country for the first time in 2,000 years. Yes, a dictator is rising to power in Russia that seems “Gog-esque.” Yes, Russia and Iran are building an alliance today for the first time in 2,500 years. Yes, Russia and Libya are now building a new alliance. Yes, Iran is threatening to wipe Israel “off the map.” Is all this conclusive proof that the “War of Gog and Magog” will happen soon, much less in our lifetime? No, I don’t think we can make that assessment. Not yet, at least. Much more will have to happen to be sure. But can we rule out the possibility that this prophetic war could happen in the not-too-distant future? No, I don’t think we can.
As for me, I don’t want it to happen at all. But no man can stop what Bible prophecy says will come to pass. The most we can do is to be ready when it happens, and find ways to care for those in the Middle East and Russia who will be victims of this terrible war.
Joel C. Rosenberg is the New York Times best-selling author of political thrillers like Dead Heat, his latest novel. He is also the founder of The Joshua Fund, which provides humanitarian relief to Israel and her neighbors. For more information on this topic, you may wish to read Joel’s non-fiction book, Epicenter: Why Current Rumblings in the Middle East Will Change Your Future.
It’s that time of year in the neighborhood in which I reside, time for the 243rd Annual (just kidding, just seems that way) Kingswood Estate Rummage Sale. That wonderful time of year in which people descend like locusts to forage through many a man cave (garage) for that elusive 25 cent deal that will ultimately provide ultimate fulfillment to their lives. Now don’t mistake my burden that I must bear this weekend is even close in comparison to that which Pharoh was shackled with back in the “good ‘ol days.” Now I have been called a slow learner and have been accused by my wife of having a “one track mind,” but I am sure that the first time Moses turned the river to blood or tossed his walking stick on the ground and it became a snake, I would have wet my toga (had to get a kidney reference in there) and personally carried by piggy back each of the Israelites out on my back. No, here the normal person, when confronted with the deal of the century in the man cave, becomes worse than a male turkey in heat in the spring, charging headlong into danger without thought for his or anyone else safety. Just last year, a very nice gentleman I’m sure, parked his Ford F850 (not sure if that was really the number, but it was definitely the biggest truck I had ever seen this side of a monster truck rally) and his twenty horse trailer smack dab in the middle of my yard. When confronted with this dilema, while foaming at the mouth mumbled something about the stack of Pokeman cards that he just couldn’t live without. I am on call this weekend and have already laid my sleeping bag out on the floor in my office because I most certainly won’t be able to park anywhere near walking distance to my house (which for me is 20.5 feet). Maybe I should enlist Pookie (see previous post) and his new 20 gauge to patrol the perimeter of the lot. Actually, this would be a great ministry opportunity! Maybe next year have the youth group help with parking and hand out about a bazillion (that’s alot) tracts…
Stay tuned for an announcement on a Church at the Gate Father/Son camp out being organized for June…
