My wish for my family & friends this new year is for happiness. For having a mindset of positivity & thinking good thoughts. That we can all separate ourselves from anything negative & not give negativity space in our head. May your year be filled with joy!
What a beautiful world we’d be living in if we wanted the
best for each other. Instead of only being all about ourselves, we took the
time to help others & to build others up. Let’s make each other feel
important & worthy.
Romans 15:2 We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.
Ecclesiastes 3:12 I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live…
Philippians 4:8 If anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.
Luke 23:5-7 But they
were urgent, saying, He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea,
from Galilee even to this place. When Pilate heard this, he asked
whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he belonged to
Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem
at that time.
Pontius Pilate was the Roman Governor over Jerusalem and Israel from 26 AD to 36 AD. Pontius was his family name. Pilate comes from the Latin “Pilatus”. This means: one armed with a javelin.
Historically, Pilate was not kind to the Jewish people. He flaunted Roman symbols of power and authority in Jerusalem and in the Temple. He stole the Temple tax funds to build an aqueduct.
Jesus knew of Pilate and commented about his murderous actions.
Pilate showed no regard for Jewish lives and Temple worship service. Tradition
holds worshipping Jews were sacrificed by Romans in the Temple.
Luke 13:1-2 There
were some present at that very time who told Him about the Galileans whose
blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And He answered them, “Do
you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans,
because they suffered in this way?”
In 36 AD, the Governor of Syria brought charges against Pilate. The historian Eusebius indicated Pilate committed suicide after being sent to Vienne in Gaul (modern day southeast France). -The Compact Bible Dictionary.
Drawing: J Rodman Photo: C Amit, Hebrew University
Fifty years ago, a copper alloy ring was found. Not much attention
was given to the ring until recently. In 1968 and 1969 archaeologist Gideon
Foerster led the dig at Herod’s burial tomb and palace at Herodium.
Today, archeologist Roi Porat requested the ring be cleaned
and re-examined. The ring is nothing fancy or regal.
The specific date of the ring is unknown. The ring was
located with other artifacts including: glass, ostraca, pottery, decorated mud
stoppers, and abundant metal artifacts (iron arrowheads, a large number of
First Jewish Revolt coins). The find is estimated to be dated no later than 71
AD.
“It was important to publish a careful scientific article. But
in practice we have a ring inscribed with the name Pilate and the personal
connection just cries out,” said Roi Porat.
Historically, the last name “Pilate” was very rare in Roman culture.
“The
family name Pontius was common in central and northern Italy during that era,
but the name Pilatus was ‘extremely rare.’” -The International Standard
Bible Encyclopedia.
Skeptics find it hard to believe Pontius Pilate would have
worn the ring of a common citizen.
“Simple all-metal rings like the Herodium ring were
primarily the property of soldiers, Herodian and Roman officials, and
middle-income folk of all trades and occupations. It is therefore unlikely that
Pontius Pilatus, the powerful and rich prefect of Judaea, would have worn a
thin, all copper-alloy sealing ring.” -skeptical authors
“There is no way of proving either theory 100% and everyone
can have his own opinion. It’s a nice story and interesting to wrap your head
around.” -Roi Porat
I am humbled that one of my books is now used on 3 college campuses. The other is used on 2 college campuses and 4 university campuses. Classes include narrative writing styles to domestic missions to human trafficking to women’s issues in recovery addiction classes.
From secular campuses to biblical/faith campuses, I am humbled that students across the USA are seeing wider thought processes. I am even more humbled that my works were chosen for such educational processes.
I am also excited that 3 churches are working through one of my books to grow it’s people in 2019. And I am excited to engage with those groups through that process. I am even more excited that they are of different faiths.
I believe we should never be limited by religiosity faith or lack there of. Christians can be some of the most narrow minded and judgmental people.
Guard against approaching others from moral standards Bible verses. Consider Bible verses with Christ like hearts and allowing His heart and Spirit to guide us.
Always honored and humbled when God chooses to use me as a vessel for Him.
“Love your neighbor, all of ’em.” -Christine Clarity McDonald
It would appear an Iranian warehouse at the Syrian Army’s 4th Division is no more. The base was west of Damascus. Allegedly, rockets were stored at the former base.
Satellite images indicated the Damascus International Airport was not hit and did not sustain damage.
Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov stated the Syrian air defense forces shot down 14 of the 16 Israel guided bombs.
Russia stated they were “very concerned” and called the actions “provocative”.
Matthew 1:21 She will bear a son,and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.
May each of you be blessed and thankful for what you have be it much or be it little. And if no one has told you today you are loved, you are valued. You are amazing just as you are. Well loves, I just did! Love you all much!
Christmas is a lot like life. It’s full of contradictions and no little confusion. It’s filled with both the good and the bad, with all of the generosity and all of the greed that is so characteristic of our fallen race. And as unlikely as it may seem, Jesus immersed Himself in our mess – He became one of us – in order to save us from our selfish selves. Now that’s the true meaning of Christmas!
Psalm 97:5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.
Photo: AP/Weather Channel
December 24, 2018: Mount Etna in Italy has erupted. This is Italy’s largest volcano. Mt. Etna is located on the island of Sicily. This is west of the toe in the boot of Italy. According to experts, the eruption occurred from a new fracture. Approximately 130 quakes less than 4.0 on the Richter Scale have been reported. Air space in the region has been closed because of extensive ash.
“The eruption occurred on the side of Mt. Etna. It’s the first lateral eruption in more than 10 years, but it doesn’t seem to be dangerous.” -Boris Behncke, Volcanologist, Italy’s National Institute for Geophysics and Vulcanology
Click on the video link above for geography and additional analysis
Luke 21:25 And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves… -Jesus
Isaiah 51:15 I am the LORD your God, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar— the LORD of hosts is his name.
December 23, 2018: Anak Krakatoa has erupted and is likely the cause of a deadly tsunami. The volcano is located in the Sunda Strait between the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra. The number of dead is approaching 400 at the time of this post. Hundreds of others have been injured and missing. Landslides from the eruption are the likely cause of the tsunami. Fears of further eruptions and tsunamis are indicated.
Erupsi Gunung Anak Krakatau yang terpantau dari pesawat Grand Caravan Susi Air pada 23/12/2018. Gunung Anak Krakatau erupsi sejak Juni 2018 hingga sekarang. Erupsi kemarin bukan yang terbesar. Periode Oktober-November 2018 terjadi erupsi lebih besar. Status Waspada (level 2). pic.twitter.com/jDJw48LCHg
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord
is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient
toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach
repentance.
It is God’s will that each created, individual human being should not perish or face judgment. God wants all of us to have a change of heart and mind and return to Him.
But God created us with the capacity to choose our own way and
choose the things we want. Every day we make multiple decisions. For example, I
chose to hit the snooze button when the alarm clock went off this morning. I
had oatmeal instead of bacon and eggs for breakfast. I put on brown pants and a
sweater. I did not want to shave but I chose to brush my teeth. You get the
point.
On this planet, there are over 7 billion individual wills
who have this same capacity. People are acting on their own behalf. Religion, culture,
and lifestyle influence and dictate behavior on a global scale. Some have
chosen sides for either good or evil. Some have not chosen sides and drift to
their own drum. Some choose to believe in nothing.
As altruistic humans, we love to believe our free will is for
the greater good. We conveniently neglect the consequences of our sinful choices.
When we screw up, we blame God. The reality is, we are responsible for our
thoughts and actions.
James 1:13-15 Let no
one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God
cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each
person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.Then desire when it has conceived gives
birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
With eternal consequences for sin, humans love to blame God
as an overbearing, unfair task master. “God wants to crush us with His thumb like
a bug! God is a mean, cruel ogre!” This just is not true. Listen to what the
prophet Ezekiel has to say. And this
is even in the Old Testament…
Ezekiel 33:11 Say to
them, as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the
wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back
from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?
The issue is us, humanity. We have a choice. Do we choose
Jesus or not? Do we accept His payment for sin or not? Eternal judgment is the
cost for sin. God provides a solution for the consequence of sin. The solution
is Jesus’ death on the cross.
1 Timothy 2:4-6 who
desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For
there is one God, and one mediator also between God and
men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at
the proper time.
God knew before the creation of time and Earth who was going
to choose His path. He also knew who was going to refuse His path. This is God’s
plan for all of humanity before time. He Chose Us, Every Single One of Us.
Ephesians 1:4 just as
He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy
and blameless before Him. In loveHe
predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according
to the kind intention of His will…
see also Romans
8:29-30
But, humanity has free will.
Ecclesiastes 8:11 When the sentence for a crime is not speedily executed, the hearts of men become fully set on doing evil.
