THINGS HAPPEN FOR A REASON

What's up with the issues of the leaders of the United States and Israel?  Are you keeping track of the going on?   Do you care?  Should you?  The simple answer to questions 2-4 are a resounding "yes".  The response to the first question is included in part of an article below from the New York Times....

JERUSALEM-"Israel appears headed to a record third straight election as a midnight deadline approaches on Wednesday with neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor his chief rival, Benny Gantz, edging back from the brinkmanship that has kept the country's future on hold for nearly a year. 

Barring an 11th-hour surprise, Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Gantx, a former army chief who leads the centrist Blue and White party, will try again for a more decisive outcome in another parliamentary election on March 2.  Votes in April and September ended in a deadlock".

There was no last minute agreement, so....Netanyahu will remain prime minister until the next election.  He will do so as a defendant in three criminal cases against him.  He was indicted on November 21st of bribery, corruptions and trading favors.  Was this a stay?  Only time will tell.

Back home, President Trump is facing some serious issues of his own.  Democrats in Congress are closing in on a scheduled vote on articles of impeachment of the President due to high crimes and misdemeanors, abuse of power and obstructing Congress.  To say the heads of the two governments are facing the fire, is an understatement. 

Beyond their shared political style, the two leaders have forged a tight alliance.  Trump has sided with Israel on key issues related to the conflict with the Palestinians, and Netanyahu has boasted of his close ties to the American President, saying they have brought about unprecedented gains for Israel.

So just what could be working against these two leaders in a bigger form?  How about four little letters.  E..V...I...L  If you don't think there is a war being waged against them, then think again.  Just yesterday, church leaders and pastors laid hands on President Trump in the Oval Office.  They know what's at stake.  It's not just our country, but the world at large.

The importance of spiritual intervention can't be understated 

In the end, there will be only one winner in this all.  If you given a blind eye to what's going on in the world, look again.  Which side are you on?  The fence railing is not a good resting place for what lies ahead.


YGG,

John

ABC SIMPLE

I've been mentioning for several weeks now that we're in the midst of some big, actually bigger than big, more like humungous events taking place.   Just today, we raised our heads off the pillow to the following news report from the Washington Post.

JERUSALEM — The Israeli army said it attacked military targets in Syria overnight Wednesday following a missile launch into Israel the previous day.  An independent war monitoring group said 11 were killed, mostly non-Syrians, raising the specter of retaliatory strikes between the regional rivals. The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement it had struck dozens of targets belonging to Iran’s elite Quds Force as well as the Syrian army, including surface-to-air missile sites, headquarters, munitions warehouses and military bases. Israel said the strikes were in response to four reportedly Syrian-based missiles launched into northern Israel early Tuesday, which were downed by Israel’s air defense systems. Officials said Iran was behind that launch.

“I made it clear that whoever hurt us — we will hurt him,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a tweet. “This is what we did tonight against military targets of Iranian Quds force and Syrian military targets in Syria.”

So.  What should we do?  Most of us will continue to go on with our lives with little or no concern on the event.  And that's sad.   The wise thing to do, is to get on your knees and ask God for wisdom, direction and understanding.  He will provide a course.  I'm certain of that.  If you're reading this and don't have a relationship with God....I would suggest you do right away. 

JD Faraq, Pastor of Calvary Chapel in Kaneohe, Hawaii offers a very simple approach.  It's way beyond easy.  Check it out below and make the commitment. 

A- Admit you're a sinner in need of the Saviour- Romans 3:10, 3:23, 6:23

B-  Believe in your heart Jesus is Lord- Jesus Christ was crucified, buried and rose again in paying in full our death penalty for your sin. -Romans 10:9-10

C- Call upon the name if the Lord-  Confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe, and are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. -Romans 10:9-10, 10:13

Simple as you can get  

If you've taken note and read the ABC's with a thought that you want change in your life, then the next likely question would be, "what's next?"

First off, now that you are willing to let the light from Jesus' word and from His life shine over your own life....realize that a conversion has taken place.  You need to get rid of the old baggage that you've been holding on to for far too long.  Dig into the Bible.  All your answers are there.  Check out Revelations for what's in store.  If you have questions, ask someone you trust that is keen to God's teaching or hit Google for some opinions on the matter.  Be thankful that you've made this choice.  And with Thanksgiving Day right around the corner, I couldn't think of anything better.

YGG,

John 

ARE YOU GETTIN READY?

Leave it to a funeral to prompt us to take time to reflect on where we've come from, where we are now and what the future offers?  Such was the case this past week when I traveled to Albert Lea, Minnesota to pay my respects to one of the fine gentlemen of this earth, Davis Gilbertson.

Dave, as I called him, was the first to accept me into the Albert Lea Tiger community after taking the Sports Editor position at the “Tribune.”  “We finally have someone here who covers our sports teams”, he said many, many years ago.  “All anybody ever did in that position before you came was sit on their behind and cover state and national stuff.  Hardly any attention was given to our local sports teams.”  Those comments made me feel good.  It gave me a feeling that my skills were being read and also appreciated. 

I must say, there were many memories driving in and then back out of that southern Minnesota town.  This was where my writing career began.  So much of what I am now started there.  And so much of it, I owe to Dave. 

Listening to the many tributes paid to Dave during the service, I was struck by the amount of serving he’d done.  It was a total commitment on he and his wife Julie’s part.  They served in the community and at their church.  How many of us can say that in today’s world?  I must admit, I’ve done a whole bunch of serving over the years, but lately, I’ve fallen off the wagon.  I’m seeing a challenge on the horizon.  The funeral and the whole reflection thing has a lot to do with that.  

As I’ve mentioned in posts over the past couple of weeks, I think Jesus will be returning to us very soon.  So given that fact and the above mention of serving, it might be a good time to assess or in some cases, reassess, your gifts. 

First, you might need to realize what that gift is.  If you don’t know for sure what your gift/gifts are, here is the rundown and description courtesy of “All About”….

1.  The gift of wisdom seems to be the ability to make decisions and give guidance that is according to God's will.

2.  The gift of knowledge is the ability to have an in-depth understanding of a spiritual issue or situation.

3.  The gift of faith is being able to trust God and encourage others to trust God no matter the circumstances.

4.  The gift of healing is the miraculous ability to use God's healing power to restore a person who is sick, injured or suffering.

5.  The gift of miracles is being able to perform signs and wonders that give authenticity to God's Word and the Gospel message.

6.  The gift of prophecy is being able to proclaim a message from God.  

7.  The gift of discerning spirits is the ability to determine whether or not a message, person or event is truly from God.

8.  The gift of tongues is the ability to speak in a foreign language that you do not have knowledge of, in order to communicate with someone who speaks that language.

9.  The gift of interpreting tongues is the ability to translate the tongues speaking and communicate it back to others in your own language.

10.The gift of administration is being able to keep things organized and in accordance with God's principles.

11.The gift of helps is always having the desire and ability to help others, to do whatever it takes to get a task accomplished. 

There is no magic formula or spiritual gifts test that can tell you what gifts of the Spirit you possess.  Information on the subject can direct you down a path to a decision, but what you really need to focus on is serving God.  Here might be another source of help courtesy of Romans 12:3 6-8

"By the grace given to me I bid every one among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith which God has assigned him...having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them:  if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving. he who teaches, in his teaching; he who exhorts in his exhortation;  he who contributes, in his liberality; he who gives aid, in zeal;  he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness."

Coming Soon

The time is drawing near.  My friend's funeral brought serving and end times right to my forefront.  It's time to get ready, not only for myself and yourself, but for those we love and who we want to be with us on this journey.

YGG,

John    

There is no magic formula or spiritual gift test that can tell you what gifts of the Spirit you possess.  It can help lead you down a path to a decision, but what you need to focus on is serving God.  Here might be another source of help, courtesy of Romans 12:3 6-8

“By the grace given to me I bid every one among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith which God has assigned him . .  Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching; he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who  contributes, in liberality, he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness." 

The time is drawing near.  Dave’s funeral brought these thoughts right to my forefront.  It’s time to get ready, not only for myself and yourself, but also helping those you love, see what’s coming sometime very, very so

CERTAIN OR UNCERTAIN?

If you’ve been watching world events changing our landscape each and every second you’ve no doubt have a great amount of thoughts going through your mind…..like what can I be certain about and what not.   

We all like certainty in our lives.  It helps provide some sort of direction.  Like things are all planned out.  But, look around you again.  Just when you think you have it all figured out, anything can happen.  And often times it does.   We could lose our job, a pet could get run over, a parent could suffer a heart attack, the furnace could quit working or your husband or wife could leave and take the children with them.  Now, that’s a pretty ugly way to look at some facts of life that could occur.  But hey, they do.  

Matthew Henry might have summed it up best on his “Complete Commentary on the Bible”.  “In this age of theory and ‘we can not know for sure about anything’, it is wonderful to have a belief system concerning which we may ‘know with certainty.’  Henry comments about a surefire direction in Luke 1:4.  “It was intended that he should know the certainty of those things, should understand them more clearly and believe more firmly.  There is a certainty in the gospel of Christ, there is that therein which we may build upon; and those who have been well instructed in the things of God when they were young should afterwards give diligence to know the certainty of those things, to know not only why we believe,  but why we believe it, that we may be able to give a reason of the hope that is in us.”    

These are not easy times.  More than ever before our faith will be put to the test.    That I'm certain of.  With many apparent signs, it should be obvious that the LORD'S return could be soon.  That I'm certain of too.  

A message from Focus on the Family in 2011 spelled things out a little more succinctly.  "Let's assume for a moment that these are the end times.  What then?  How should a Christian respond?  Fortunately, the apostle Peter gives us straightforward answer to this question.  Writing specifically with reference to the end of the age, when "the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat, and both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up, "Peter does not suggest that believers head for the hills, adopt a 'fortress mentality' and start stockpiling food and weapons.  Instead, he ask "since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire and the elements will melt with fervent heat?"  (II Peter 3 10-12). 

As Peter sees it, end-time Christians are called to do one thing:  they are to practice holiness and do good to others wherever and whenever they can.  They are supposed to work the works of God 'while it is day' (John 9:4)           

Hopefully this will help easy some worries you might have.  God is near and loving and he is coming.  That we can all be certain of.  Now the question is, are you ready?

YGG,

John  

IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER

Last week President Donald Trump pulled U.S. Troops out of Syria.  To say the least, a firestorm ensued.  Members from both Republican and Democratic parties have voiced their opposition.  That's not really unexpected.  So have a number of religious leaders.  That is a little surprising.

Conservative Christians have stood by President Trump on nearly all of his decisions and in spite of  raunchy accusations thrown at him.  The New York Times offered thoughts on the breaking of the ranks.  "Some of Mr. Trump's top evangelical supporters broke rank to raise alarms over this move to withdraw troops from Syria, which prompted Turkish forces to launch a ground an air assault against Kurdish-led militia that has been a crucial ally in the American fight against ISIS.  As Turkish warplanes began to bomb Syrian towns on Wednesday, the prominent Franklin Graham called for Mr. Trump to reconsider his decision and worried that the Kurds-and Christian minorities in the region they have defended-could be annihilated.  Pat Robertson, founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network, said he was appalled by the Presidents decision, and added that the President of  the United States is in great danger of losing the mandate of heaven if he permits this to happen.  Senator Lindsey Graham, who rarely breaks with the President, said it could be the biggest mistake of his Presidency." 
 

Turkey begins invasion of Northern Syria 

This really shouldn't be a surprise y'all.  If you look back on Trump's campaign promises he listed the Middle East as a "total and complete mess" and wished the government had spent the trillions of dollars in the U.S. instead.  He has long called for us to leave the Middle East.   In February of this year he threatened to pull troops but backed off on the withdrawal.   This time there will be no looking back.   

How did Israel take the news?  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hasn't offered any public response to the United States.  In fact, he became appreciably stronger in his stance of what the future holds.  "We very much appreciate the important U.S. backing, which has only increased greatly in recent years (but) we always remember and apply the basic rule that guides us:  Israel will defend itself, by itself, against any threat,"  Netanyahu announced.  BTW, let's mention here that in the end times, let's remember, Israel goes it alone...and they do it with a great amount of confidence that they can handle any and all comers.     

So let's get down to the truth.  That is, if you can handle that.  It doesn't really matter what I think, what you think, what any political expert believes or any religious leaders espouses.  There's only ONE that knows what matters.   And that is God.  Read Ezekiel 35-39 and it will become a clearer.

From my perspective, things are matching up so well.  Perhaps they're happening a little quicker than anyone could have predicted.   But isn't that the case.  To use a sports analogy.  Momentum, momentum, momentum.   

YGG,

John

P.S. "I will make known my holy name among my people Israel.  I will no longer let my holy named by profaned, and the nations will know that I the Lord am the Holy One in Israel.  It is coming! It will surely take place, declares the Sovereign Lord.  This is the day I have spoken of.- Ezekiel 39-7-8 

 

      



         

DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE?

I'm not a political activist.  I'm not a fortune teller.  Nor am I Bible Scholar.  What I am though, is someone that has his eyes open far and wide to what is going on in the world today.  I hope you are too.  If not, in a few words....you need to be.

Monday, President Trump decided to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria's border flanking Turkey.  Many members on each side of the Congressional aisle are not in favor of such a move calling the decision one that could threaten Turkish invasion and lead to the slaughter of U.S. Allies in the region.

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C), said in an interview that it was "an impulsive decision that has long-term ramifications" and "cuts against sound military and geopolitical advice."     

Here's where things get a little confusing.  CNN usually sides against the President.  Not so much this time.   CNN analyst Jeffrey Toobin offered thoughts that a majority of voters favor less military involvement in the Middle East and that more people are with Trump than the politicians.   And then it becomes, who knows better?

If you're watching world events and relating that to Ezekiel 35-39 than your warning signals have to working overtime.  Things appear to be lining up all over the place.  Russia President Vladimir Putin and Iran are clearly warming up towards each other.  Makes one think that Turkey, Russian and Iran are sitting together making a big plan for Syria.  It could very well lead to the United States falling to the wayside and it becoming a major threat for Israel.  What might happen next?

"The honest answer is that the Bible does not say",  Joel Rosenberg wrote on his blog last June.  "But to Motherjones.com in Rosenberg's 'Twelfth Iman' series, he postulates that the emergence of the Mahdi, the Muslim messiah, leads to the rise of a new Islamic caliphate in the Middle East that prepares to decapitate Israel by launching nuclear warheads from Damascus.  As the top-rated Amazon review for the final book in the series, "Damascus Countdown" puts it....this is a great read for anyone interested not only in the prophetical future of Israel but for Iran and Syria as well.  It makes one want to keep his or her eyes wide open on the current day Middle East events and see if they line up to eschatological Old Testament passages."

Rockets will signal the war of all Wars 

Whatever you do, don't put your head in the sand and think nothing is at hand.  We are getting closer day by day, hour by hour and minute by minute.  You need to be ready.  Are you?  Is your family?  Are your friends? 

Let me put it a little more understandable way.  "There will be terrible times in the last days.  People  will be lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God"- (2Timothy 3:1-4)

See a pattern. 

YGG,

John

HANG ON....

Last weekend I had the opportunity to watch the 2019 Understanding the Times Conference that was held in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  The lineup of speakers was superb.  Not in any special order, the group was made up of Amir Tsarfati, an international Bible teacher from Israel and author of the book, "The Last Hour: An Israeli Insider Looks at the End Times";  Robert Jeffress, pastor of the First Baptist Church, Dallas Texas who serves on President Trump's evangelical advisory board;  Jack Hibbs, leader of Calvary Chapel, Chino Hills, California whose "Real Life with Jack Hibbs, is a frequent destination both online and on radio;  J.D. Farag who pastors Calvary Chapel, Kaneohe, Hawaii and hosts an online prophecy update on YouTube;  Laurie Cardoza-Moore from Proclaiming Justice to the Nation and the leader of the Conference, Jan Markell, the founder of Olive Tree Ministries.   

For me, Tsarfati and Farag captured my attention the most.  Tsarfati for what he senses happening in Israel today and what the future looks like.  Of special interest and discussion was the result of the recent election for a new Prime Minister.  Benjamin Netanyahu, who had served for the previous four terms had been expected to have a difficult road to victory.  Not many expected what transpired.  Not only did Netanyahu not win, no one did.   Not Benjamin or his primary challenger, former three-star general Benny Gantz.  They ended in a stalemate with neither one able to land a majority to form a government.  Days later though, President Reuven Rivlin tasked Netanyahu with forming a new government, the but the solution for such action doesn't appear on the horizon.  Wednesday night, Netanyahu called a number of ministers and told them unless there is a breakthrough with Kahol Lavan, he will inform the President he is unable to carry out the forming of the government. 

Should that be a concern?  No question, according to Tsarfati.  But not necessarily the way you'd think.  For some time now, there has been discussion of a new peace plan that President Trump was going to roll out with the Netanyahu.  If he doesn't resume his Prime Minister duties then what?  Is that deal dead in the water.  And could that be a reason why the United States doesn't come to the aid of Israel?  Could the issues with the Netanyahu election be the trigger of  it all?   To put it bluntly, we are in the countdown days. 

Farag's words provided solace in the matter.  There are a couple of songs over the years with a theme of hanging on.  The one that comes most to mind is "You Keep me Hanging On", a song made famous by the Supremes in the 1960's.   

Set me free why don't cha babe
Get out of my life why don't cha babe
'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' on 

Set me free why don't cha babe
Get out of my life why don't cha babe
'Cause you don't really love me
But you keep me hangin' on

Why do you keep a comin' around playing with my heart?
Why don't cha get out of my life and let me make a brand new start?
Let me get over you the way you gotten over me, yeah, yeah

Okay, I digress, as J.D. would say.  I just couldn't resist doing a little singing and humming from the little ditty from the past.  After all, it was a super, super song.

The point Farag stated quite honestly was that he went through a period recently...not a breakdown, but an overwhelming period of hopelessness.  He looked around his church and saw much of the same thing.   He saw people who were tired and worn down by the world.   But through this time, he heard God tell him to "hang on".   More directly, he sensed God's words saying, "I told you it was going to be like this in the end times".  So, Farag, stated, "why should we be surprised?  Just hang in there and hang on". 

To wrap things up, Farag offered the following thought.  We can maybe go without food for awhile, maybe we could go without water for a few days, but we can't even go a few seconds without Hope".

Remember that when things are spiraling to despair.  Hope and Hangin On.  It will be great tonic to your soul.

YGG,

John

P.S.  Jan Markell's Conference was so well done.  You should make plans to check in on the 2020 Understanding the Times Conference.  That is....if we're here.  And if we're not, that's not such a bad thing.  Then we can change up the phrase to "Is this Iowa.  No, it's Heaven".

It should be obvious which is which.....

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION.....

Where have I been?  Well, that's a real good question.  I've been blogging sports stories and working on a book that is now at the publisher.  It has kept me busy.  At least I try to convince myself of that.   My wife might have a totally different slant on the subject.   Back to the book, "Hope is a Weapon", is a reflection on my son's deployment to Afghanistan in 2010.  Not only is it a story of his journey, but also of another one of our son's entry into the National Guard at roughly the same time....and then how our family navigated those waters.  I'll let you in on a little secret.  We couldn't have  accomplished it without our faith and HOPE.

Obviously, I haven't been blogging on this site, that's for sure.  It's been 18 months since I've posted anything.   I think it's about time to get back in the seat and bury my head in the laptop.  More appropriately,  I sense God is prompting me to get back at it.  So, here we go.....

I've been thinking a whole bunch lately.  Not just the inane things that are part of every day life but the more important things.  Faith and family and future.  Ironically, they go hand in hand in hand.  At least that's what I've been thinking.  Where do I do that thinking?  The best place I know.....my bed.  It doesn't really matter if it's day or night.  That's where I get my best thinking done.  I have to wonder where other people do their thinking.  Or maybe their lack of thinking.  Because wherever it is, there sure seems to be a breakdown.  And why do I say that?   It just might be because there are a whole lot of thoughts in our divided nation depicting a lack of reasoning and accountability.   A good thought process shouldn't be act first and deal with the consequences later.   Rest assured.  Thinking done the proper way involves some time.  Not a knee-jerk reaction to a problem or situation.  Case in point....   

In August of this year, Marty Sampson, a worship music writer, singer and active member of Hillsong publicly denounced his faith on social media.  His announcement comes weeks after well-known Christian author Joshua Harris announced his departure from Christianity, both sharing their news over Instagram.

Harris, the author of the controversial Christian bestseller, "I Kissed Dating Goodbye", announced that he and his wife, Shannon, were ending their marriage.  The following week came the following news about his faith.   "I have undergone a massive shift in regard to my faith in Jesus.  The popular phrase for this is 'deconstruction', the biblical phrase is 'falling away.'  By all the measurements that I have for defining a Christian, I am not a Christian.  Many people tell me that there is a different way to practice faith and I want to remain open to this, but I'm not there now."   

On November 5th, 2017 a gunman walked into the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas after shooting several people outside.  As he entered the building he shot and shot and shot.  When he was complete with his carnage he had killed 26 people ages five to seventy two.  Minutes after his flurry he tried to make a getaway but was shot in the leg.   Shortly thereafter he crashed the vehicle he stole and shot himself in the head.  The reaction to this slaughter was detailed by David Horowitz in his book, "Dark Agenda".  "From Hollywood to New York and Washington, the left responded with a chorus of jeers and insults.  Former MSNBC political commentator Keith Olbermann suggested in a tweet that Speak of the House Paul Ryan should proctologize himself with his prayers.  Seattle Democrat, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, tweeted. 'They were praying when it happened.  They don't need our prayers.  They need us to address gun violence...'  Comedian Paul Poundstone sneered: 'If prayers were the answer to mass shootings, wouldn't people at church service be safe?  Actor Wil Wheaton tweeted, 'The murdered victims were in a church.  If prayers did anything, they'd still be alive, you worthless sack of ...'  

It's this type of thinking that has put our country and to an even bigger extent our world on a course to destruction.   Which has caused me to think.  Well actually it's caused me to listen and then to think.  My wife, Joanne, introduced me to Pastor J.D. Farag of Calvary Chapel Kaneohe, Hawaii some time ago.  Farag was born in Beirut, Lebanon to an Egyptian father and a Palestian mother.  We listen to his sermons quite often as well as his weekly prophesy updates.  Not only is he a true communicator, his words smack of honesty and truth.  His insight on current times and prophesy is unique.  If anything, he's been a chief reason for me to lie in bed each week and ponder what lies ahead. 

So what does lie ahead?    Let's see what the Bible says.   Ecclesiastes 9:7-9  

7    No one knows what lies ahead.
       So who can tell someone else what's going to happen?
8     No one can stop the wind from blowing.
       And no one has the power to decide when they will die.
       No one is let out of the army in times of war.
       And evil won't let go of those who practice it.   
9     I understood all these things.  I used my mind to study everything
       that's done on earth.  A man sometimes makes life hard for others.
       But he ends up hurting himself.  

That's quite a perspective.  A man sometimes hurts himself.  Hmmmmmm.  Look around you.  There's a good portion of that going around.  The split between good and evil is greater than ever before.  Add the fact that so many people are taking God's words and changing them to suit their owns needs.....is not part of God's plans.  His words are Truth.  Spoken Literally.    

Here is what I think and believe.   "If we are indifferent to Christ's return and wrapped up in our own selfish affairs, prophetic events will appear to us distant and unimportant, even if they are happening all around us.  But if we study prophecy with a focus on how soon we will be united with Jesus, the passing of time will increase our anticipation of being with the Lord, and we will feel that His returns is near-at the doors!"-Rapture.com    

So if you're thinking is off the rails...you just might need a change of location to do your thinking.  It's not how you want to feel that you need to focus on, it's what's best and right.  Yes, it's all about location...the one location called Heaven.  Remember hearing about that place?


YGG,

John