Easter March 31, 2013, Resurrection of Jesus Christ, Shroud of Turin, Luke 24:1-53, Strips of linen lying by themselves

Easter March 31, 2013, Resurrection of Jesus Christ, Shroud of Turin, Luke 24:1-53, Strips of linen lying by themselves

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”…Jesus, John 8:32

 

In case you are still a doubting Thomas, the Shroud of Turin evidence confirms the passage from Luke:

“Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves”

Luke 24:1-53

“Jesus Has Risen

24 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. ² They found the stone rolled away from the tomb,³ but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴ While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. ⁵ In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? ⁶ He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ⁷ ‘The Son of Manmust be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” ⁸ Then they remembered his words.

⁹ When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. ¹⁰ It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. ¹¹ But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. ¹² Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

On the Road to Emmaus

¹³ Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles^[a] from Jerusalem. ¹⁴ They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. ¹⁵ As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; ¹⁶ but they were kept from recognizing him.

¹⁷ He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast. ¹⁸ One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

¹⁹ “What things?” he asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. ²⁰ The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; ²¹ but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.²² In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning²³ but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. ²⁴ Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”

²⁵ He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”²⁷ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

²⁸ As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. ²⁹ But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

³⁰ When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. ³¹ Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. ³² They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

³³ They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together ³⁴ and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” ³⁵ Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

³⁶ While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

³⁷ They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. ³⁸ He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? ³⁹ Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

⁴⁰ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. ⁴¹ And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” ⁴² They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³ and he took it and ate it in their presence.

⁴⁴ He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”

⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. ⁴⁶ He told them,“This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,⁴⁷ and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations,beginning at Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹ I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

The Ascension of Jesus

⁵⁰ When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. ⁵¹ While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. ⁵² Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. ⁵³ And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.”

 

Good Friday March 29, 2013, The case for Christ, Historical evidence of Jesus, Crucifixion more brutal than portrayed, Shroud of Turin evidence, Atheists converted to believers

Good Friday March 29, 2013, The case for Christ, Historical evidence of Jesus, Crucifixion more brutal than portrayed, Shroud of Turin evidence, Atheists converted to believers

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”…Jesus, John 8:32

I am not preaching to the choir….necessarily.

Today is Good Friday, March 29, 2013, the remembrance of the Crucifixion of Jesus, a punishment far more brutal than has been portrayed to most of us.

We live in an Orwellian age of misinformation, secularism and attacks on Christianity.

That is why the truth is so important about the essence of Christianity.

Not necessarily what people say about Jesus and Christianity. But what Jesus said, did and endured.

First from “The Case for Christ” by  Lee Strobel.

What struck me the most from the book, when I was first introduced to it years ago, was the fact that there is much historical evidence of the life of Jesus.

From the publisher.

“A Seasoned Journalist Chases Down the Biggest Story in History Is there credible evidence that Jesus of Nazareth really is the Son of God? Retracing his own spiritual journey from atheism to faith, Lee Strobel, former legal editor of the Chicago Tribune, cross-examines a dozen experts with doctorates from schools like Cambridge, Princeton, and Brandeis who are recognized authorities in their own fields. Strobel challenges them with questions like How reliable is the New Testament? Does evidence for Jesus exist outside the Bible? Is there any reason to believe the resurrection was an actual event? Strobel’s tough, point-blank questions make this Gold Medallion-winning book read like a captivating, fast-paced novel. But it’s not fiction. It’s a riveting quest for the truth about history’s most compelling figure. What will your verdict be in The Case for Christ? ‘Lee Strobel probes with bulldog-like tenacity the evidence for the truth of biblical Christianity.’ Bruce M. Metzger, Ph.D., Professor of New Testament, Emeritus, Princeton Theological Seminary ‘Lee Strobel asks the questions a tough-minded skeptic would ask. His book is so good I read it out loud to my wife evenings after dinner. Every inquirer should have it.’ Phillip E. Johnson, Law Professor, University of California at Berkeley”

http://www.christianbook.com/christ-journalists-personal-investigation-evidence-jesus/lee-strobel/9780310209300/pd/20930

From the documentary.

“The documentary The Case for Christ follows reporter Lee Strobel as he interviews a number of religious and historical scholars in order to find out if there is any proof of the resurrection, and to discover the historical veracity of the New Testament. In trying the case for Christ, Strobel cross-examined a number of experts and recognized authorities in their own fields of study. He conducted his examination with no religious bias, other than his predisposition to atheism.

Remarkably, after compiling and critically examining the evidence for himself, Strobel became a Christian. Stunned by his findings, he organized the evidence into a book he entitled, The Case for Christ, which has won the Gold Medallion Book Award for excellence. Strobel asks one thing of each reader – remain unbiased in your examination of the evidence.”

http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/the-case-for-christ/

Mark Antonacci, an attorney and agnostic and another author, became a believer after researching the Shroud of Turin.

From the Amarillo Globe News April 14, 2001.

“Mark Antonacci said he was a committed agnostic until he stumbled upon an article about a subject he would eventually spend nearly 20 years researching.
Antonacci, a St. Louis lawyer, is author of “The Resurrection of the Shroud.” He spoke in a telephone interview about his book about the cloth that he and others believe wrapped the body of Jesus Christ.
His book delves into questions about the wounds suffered by the man whose impression is on the shroud, the shroud’s history and scientific challenges to the carbon dating of the shroud.
Now a Christian, Antonacci said much historical, medical and archaeological evidence exists to prove Christ’s death was consistent with Gospel accounts. The evidence he said he found changed his mind about God.
“I came to the conclusion that the literal, actual crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ occurred,” he said.
So why did it take nearly two decades to publish his book?

“I just had no idea the breadth of the evidence and the difficulty in finding a publisher,” said Antonacci, whose publisher is M. Evans and Company Inc. in New York.

Antonacci said scientists from many religious and nonreligious backgrounds have examined the shroud, and none think it is a forgery, although they have varying opinions about it. The shroud has been kept in Turin, Italy, for the last four centuries.”

Read more:

http://amarillo.com/stories/041401/rel_researcher.shtml

Even if you are a believer, you need to have a better understanding of the suffering that Jesus endured.

Here is a small sample of the scourging impact revealed by the shroud.

If you have not seen the History Channel documentary on the Shroud of Turin, I  strongly suggest that you do.

http://www.history.com/shows/the-real-face-of-jesus/articles/about-the-shroud-of-turin

A sample from the show.

Pope Francis final pontiff?, Peter the Roman?, Jorge Mario Bergoglio Italian ancestry, Saint Malachy prophecy, Destruction of Rome and judgment of Christ?

Pope Francis final pontiff?, Peter the Roman?, Jorge Mario Bergoglio Italian ancestry, Saint Malachy prophecy, Destruction of Rome and judgment of Christ?

“In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church there will reign Peter the Roman, who will feed his flock amid many tribulations, after which the seven-hilled city will be destroyed and the dreadful Judge will judge the people. The End.”…Saint Malachy

“…and there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring.”  … Luke 21:25

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”…Jesus, John 8:32

 

From  WND March 13, 2013.

“POPE FRANCIS HISTORY’S ‘FINAL’ PONTIFF?”

“An author who predicted Pope Benedict XVI would be the first pontiff
in nearly 600 years to resign believes the election today of Jorge
Mario Bergoglio as the 266th Roman Catholic pontiff lines up with a
medieval prophecy that would make him the “final pope” before the End
Times.

Tom Horn, co-author with Cris Putman of the book “Petrus Romanus: The
Final Pope is Here,” told WND today Bergoglio’s selection was a
“fantastic fulfillment of prophecy.”

His book examines St. Malachy’s “Prophecy of the Popes,” said to be
based on a prophetic vision of the 112 popes following Pope Celestine
II, who died in 1144.

Malachy’s prophecies, first published in 1595, culminate with the
“final pope,” “Petrus Romanus,” or “Peter the Roman,” whose reign ends
with the destruction of Rome and the judgment of Christ.

Horn has said a pope of Italian descent would fulfill the prophecy,
noting Bergoglio is the son of Italian parents and a Jesuit.

“Being a Jesuit is a very important aspect of our prediction in our
book,” Horn told WND in an email.

Citing his book, Horn said the name “Petrus Romanus” in the prophecy
“implies this pope will reaffirm the authority of the Roman Pontiff
over the Church and will emphasize the supremacy of the Roman Catholic
Faith and the Roman Catholic Church above all other religions and
denominations, and its authority over all Christians and all peoples
of the world.”

Horn pointed out the Jesuits order was organized “to stop
Protestantism from spreading and to preserve communion with Rome and
the successor of Peter.”

As WND reported, Horn and his co-author, Cris Putnam, predicted in
their book Benedict would step down, making way for history’s “final
pope.””

Read more:

http://www.wnd.com/2013/03/pope-francis-historys-final-pontiff/

Pope elected March 13, 2013, Fourth ballot, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, Pope Francis first

Pope elected March 13, 2013, Fourth ballot, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, Pope Francis first

“In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church there will reign Peter the Roman, who will feed his flock amid many tribulations, after which the seven-hilled city will be destroyed and the dreadful Judge will judge the people. The End.”…Saint Malachy

“…and there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring.”  … Luke 21:25

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”…Jesus, John 8:32

Pope elected March 13, 2013, Fourth ballot

White smoke.

Bells ringing

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires is the new pope.

Pope Francis first.

Pope elections fail twice, March 13, 2013, Black smoke over Sistine Chapel, Cardinals in secret conclave, Roman Catholic Church electing last pope?

Pope elections fail twice, March 13, 2013, Black smoke over Sistine Chapel, Cardinals in secret conclave, Roman Catholic Church electing last pope?

“In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church there will reign Peter the Roman, who will feed his flock amid many tribulations, after which the seven-hilled city will be destroyed and the dreadful Judge will judge the people. The End.”…Saint Malachy

“…and there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring.”  … Luke 21:25

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”…Jesus, John 8:32

From Reuters March 13, 2013.

“Black smoke as morning fails to bring new pope”

“Cardinals in secret conclave failed twice on Wednesday morning to elect a new pope, as black smoke over the Sistine Chapel showed ballots on the first full day of voting were inconclusive.

After an inconclusive first vote on Tuesday night, the 115 cardinal electors should hold another two ballots later on Wednesday after praying for inspiration from God for a choice that can lead the Roman Catholic Church out of crisis.

Having spent the night closeted in a nearby guesthouse, the cardinals attended Mass in the Pauline Chapel in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace and returned to the Renaissance splendor of the Sistine Chapel to hold the two morning ballots.

They face a tough task in finding one of their number capable of facing a string of scandals and internal strife which are thought to have contributed to Pope Benedict’s decision in February to become the first pontiff in 600 years to resign.

A chimney above the chapel, where the cardinals are meeting beneath Michelangelo’s luminous fresco of the Last Judgment, will signal a decision with white smoke. More black smoke will indicate no choice has been made.

With several leading candidates, or “papabili”, the cardinals are unlikely to reach a decision on who will lead the world’s 1.2 billion Roman Catholics before Wednesday afternoon, with many experts forecasting white smoke to emerge on Thursday.”

Read more:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/13/us-pope-succession-idUSBRE92808520130313

Pope Benedict retiring, February 11, 2013, Pope resigning February 28, Advanced years and infirmity, Saint Malachy Prophecy predicts last pope Petrus Romanus

Pope Benedict retiring, February 11, 2013, Pope resigning February 28, Advanced years and infirmity, Saint Malachy Prophecy predicts last pope Petrus Romanus

“In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church there will reign Peter the Roman, who will feed his flock amid many tribulations, after which the seven-hilled city will be destroyed and the dreadful Judge will judge the people. The End.”…Saint Malachy

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”…Jesus, John 8:32

From the NY Times February 11, 2013.
“Pope Benedict XVI Says He Will Resign”

“Citing advanced years and infirmity, Pope Benedict XVIstunned the Roman Catholic world on Monday by saying that he would resign on Feb. 28 after less than eight years in office, the first pope to do so in six centuries.

After examining his conscience “before God,” he said in a statement that reverberated around the world on the Internet and on social media, “I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise” of his position as head of the world’s one billion Roman Catholics.

A profoundly conservative figure whose papacy was overshadowed by clerical abuse scandals, Benedict, 85, was elected by fellow cardinals in 2005 after the death of John Paul II.

The Rev. Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, said that the pope would continue to carry out his duties until Feb. 28 and that a successor could be elected by Easter, which falls on March 31. But, he added, the timing for an election of a new pope is “not an announcement, it’s a hypothesis.””

Read more:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/12/world/europe/pope-benedict-xvi-says-he-will-retire.html?_r=0

From Citizen Wells April 7, 2012.

From The Raiders News Network April 5, 2012.

“Prophecy Has Catholics and Protestants Watching Pope Benedict in April”

“As April 16th looms, speculation is mounting concerning the possible post-birthday retirement of Pope Benedict XVI. These speculations are fueled by statements last year from Italian media personality journalist and Vatican insider, Antonio Socci, who wrote in The Times of London, “In short: the Pope does not discard the possibility of resigning when he reaches 85 in April next year.”[i]

Benedict was 78 when appointed pope in April of 2005 and was quoted then as having preferred a peaceful retirement, “At a certain point, I prayed to God ‘please don’t do this to me’…Evidently, this time He didn’t listen to me.”[ii] Even more, in his book, Pope Benedict XVI Light of the World, when asked if he thought it appropriate for a pope to retire he responded, “If a pope clearly realizes that he is no longer physically, psychologically and spiritually capable of handling the duties of his office, then he has a right and, under some circumstances, also an obligation to resign.”[iii] This widely reported predisposition adds credence to recent rumors.

While official sources assert his recent trip to Cuba as evidence of his ongoing vitality, a December 2011 Associated Press story from Vatican City asserted, “Pope Benedict XVI seems worn out.”

The internet and Bible prophecy community have been buzzing due to an ancient prophecy attributed to Saint Malachy which predicted some 112 popes culminating in the destruction of Rome, Benedict being next to last. Adding fuel to the fire are assertions from a soon to be released book titled after the predicted last pope concerning a cryptic cipher published by a Belgian Jesuit back in 1951.

Bestselling author, Thomas Horn (Apollyon Rising, Forbidden Gates), has teamed up with a Christian apologist and author Cris Putnam (Pandemonium’s Engine) in the soon to be released book, Petrus Romanus, which explores the intricacies of the Malachy prophecy and the potential role of the pope in biblical prophecy. According to the blog promoting the soon to be released book, the deceased Jesuit priest and codebreaker, René Thibaut, decoded 2012 explicitly as the year for the final conclave. According to calculations at Putnam’s website the date coincides with the recent rumors.

While some Catholic scholars are divided on the Prophecy of the Popes, John Lupia Ph.D. at Roman Catholic News has deemed it genuine. Loyal Catholics are likely incredulous due to Rome’s predicted doom during the next pontificate. This foretold apocalyptic demise has Protestants like Hal Lindsey and Jack Van Impe speculating that the “rapture” of the church — a time when true believers will be caught away into the heavens and saved from great tribulation — will occur very soon. For believers in the rapture, this seems all the more exhilarating amidst the numerous 2012 predictions.

Other Protestants see a remarkable potential that the predicted final pope may personify the false prophet predicted in the Book of Revelation in chapter 13 verses 11 onward. That end-time figure is said to appear as a lamb, a Christian, yet speak like a dragon pointing to the same book’s symbol for Satan. Prophetic commentators have been quick to point out recent Vatican statements calling for an increased role for the United Nations and a world financial authority. While many Catholic faithful are incensed by the insinuation that the next pontiff is the predicted second beast, it is not without precedent. In addition to respected Catholic seers down through time who predicted Rome would become the seat of the Antichrist, Pope Benedict himself, while still a Cardinal, shocked the Catholic community when he confessed that he did not think the Holy Spirit was necessarily involved in the conclave that elects popes. When asked on Bavarian television in 1997 if the Holy Spirit is responsible for who gets elected pope, Cardinal Ratzinger responded, “I would not say so, in the sense that the Holy Spirit picks out the pope. … There are too many contrary instances of popes the Holy Spirit would obviously not have picked.”[iv]

Cardinal Ratzinger’s startling admission seems at odds with the traditional dogma of papal succession all the way back to Jesus’ disciple Peter and inadvertently lends credence to the election of a false prophet.

The Vatican has done little to silence the building buzz concerning the next pope and Malachy prophecy. Ratzinger also created a stir when he chose the name “Benedict” seeming to intentionally fulfill the Malachy prophecy’s characterization of him as the “glory of the Olive” (the Benedictine order is symbolized by an Olive branch). With the recent rumors concerning the pope’s soon retirement, this begs the question of whether the Vatican is intentionally fulfilling the Malachy predictions and setting the stage for the coming of Petrus Romanus.”

http://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2012/04/07/pope-benedict-to-retire-soon-april-16-2012-birthday-pope-benedict-xvi-turns-85-saint-malachy-prophecy-last-pope-next-destruction-of-rome/

Saint Malachy Prophecy.

“The most famous and best known prophecies about the popes are those attributed to St. Malachy. In 1139 he went to Rome to give an account of the affairs of his diocese to the pope, Innocent II, who promised him two palliums for the metropolitan Sees of Armagh and Cashel. While at Rome, he received (according to the Abbé Cucherat) the strange vision of the future wherein was unfolded before his mind the long list of illustrious pontiffs who were to rule the Church until the end of time. The same author tells us that St. Malachy gave his manuscript to Innocent II to console him in the midst of his tribulations, and that the document remained unknown in the Roman Archives until its discovery in 1590 (Cucherat, “Proph. de la succession des papes”, ch. xv). They were first published by Arnold de Wyon, and ever since there has been much discussion as to whether they are genuine predictions of St. Malachy or forgeries. The silence of 400 years on the part of so many learned authors who had written about the popes, and the silence of St. Bernard especially, who wrote the “Life of St. Malachy”, is a strong argument against their authenticity, but it is not conclusive if we adopt Cucherat’s theory that they were hidden in the Archives during those 400 years.

These short prophetical announcements, in number 112, indicate some noticeable trait of all future popes from Celestine II, who was elected in the year 1130, until the end of the world.”

“The last of these prophecies concerns the end of the world and is as follows: “In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church there will reign Peter the Roman, who will feed his flock amid many tribulations, after which the seven-hilled city will be destroyed and the dreadful Judge will judge the people. The End.” It has been noticed concerning Petrus Romanus, who according to St. Malachy’s list is to be the last pope, that the prophecy does not say that no popes will intervene between him and his predecessor designated Gloria olivæ. It merely says that he is to be the last, so that we may suppose as many popes as we please before “Peter the Roman”.”

 

http://www.catholic-pages.com/grabbag/malachy.asp

Christmas 2012, December 25, Jesus Christ message, Tolkien CS Lewis, Where there is darkness light, Jesus Christ transformed the Earth

Christmas 2012, December 25, Jesus Christ message, Tolkien CS Lewis, Where there is darkness light, Jesus Christ transformed the Earth

“Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”…First Corinthians 1:25

In pondering what to write for Christmas Day my thoughts were dispersed, distracted and delayed. But that often happens.

I believe that in many ways we have become distracted and have missed the point.

In recent discussions with a wise lady, who happens to be Roman Catholic, we both shared observations about the human side of Barack Obama, what has formed his thought processes and the fact that he is a prisoner to his influences.

This does not apply only to Obama but to many on the left, to many people who believe that the problem with gun attacks is guns. Many of these people have no grounding in religion, a moral compass and right from wrong. They are driven by knee jerk feelings and political ideologies.

I have become less of a fan of organized religion and more a proponent of what Christ actually said and did. I am not against organized religion but I believe that we have lost our way with it and have let too many layers of interpretation and discussion and intermediaries come between us and the essence of Christ’s simple message.

The impact we have on others combined with the “smallness” of the world is powerful. Each life touches the lives of others and can ultimately be world changing. A good Christmas example of this is the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life”, one of my favorites. Another example of how small the world is, “6 degrees of separation” and one person changing the lives of others is this. One of my friends knew Tolkien and CS Lewis. Small world. But the bigger story is the impact of the life of Tolkien on CS Lewis and the world.

From The Blaze December 12, 2012.

“In “The Christian World of the Hobbit,” a new literary analysis of the popular writer, author Devin Brownexamines the intense religious nature of Tolkien’s written works. In a recent interview with CBN.com, Brown provided some fascinating tidbits of information. Among them, a fact that many Tolkien fans might not be aware of: “The Hobbit” author was responsible for bringing C.S. Lewis to the Christian faith.

Here’s what Brown had to say about Tolkien’s religious views and his assistance in helping Lewis find Christ:

[Tolkien] was Roman Catholic. His mom converted; she had been an Anglican. His dad died. So, he went with her in the Catholic faith and was very devout, very pious. That said, when he helped bring Lewis to Christianity—he didn’t bring him to Catholicism, he brought him to Christianity. Certainly, his commitment to Christ was first and his denomination second. But, yeah, he was very pious, went to church not just every Sunday, but often every day. He was one of those kind of people, that I don’t know that very many of them exist anymore.”

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/did-you-know-about-these-christian-themes-in-j-r-r-tolkiens-the-hobbit/

What the nonbelievers fail to realize and we fail to present is not only the message of love, peace and tranquility of Jesus Christ but the impact on the Earth that he had.

Here are some simple, self evident, truths for all to ponder.

Jesus was born in the Middle East of medium skin color, right in the middle, not black, not white.

Christianity transformed the Roman Empire.

Christianity tamed the vikings.

Christianity was a dominant force in stopping Nazi Germany.

There is clearly good and evil in this world.

“Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.”…Saint Francis

Bible belt real Christians real Americans voted for Romney, Paul Harvey If I Were the Devil nails Obama and Democrats, 3 millions RINOs did not vote

Bible belt real Christians real Americans voted for Romney, Paul Harvey If I Were the Devil nails Obama and Democrats, 3 millions RINOs did not vote

“If I had my choice I would kill every reporter in the world but I am sure we would be getting reports from hell before breakfast.”… William Tecumseh Sherman

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”…Ephesians 6:12

“Barack Obama is the poster child for the me me me folks. A very non Christian attitude”…Citizen Wells

As Rush Limbaugh stated, 3 million Republicans, RINOs, did not vote. That probably made the difference.

The real difference was a lack of moral compass, selfish concerns and a lack of real American values.

The Bible Belt voted for Romney.

The center of the country, except for Colorado and New Mexico voted for Romney.

The good folks of Indiana voted for Romney.

The Northeast, North, Rust Belt and left coast went for Obama.

View how the nation voted here.

http://www.politico.com/2012-election/map/#/President/2012/

From One News Now.

“Various faith-based voting blocs across America — white evangelicals, black Protestants, Hispanic Catholics, Jewish-Americans — all played critical roles Tuesday in the outcomes.

Ethnic divisions sharp among Christian voters”

“The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life says exit polls show black Protestants and Hispanic Catholics diverged from what was otherwise broad religious support for Republican Mitt Romney.

Pew senior researcher Greg Smith says that while Catholics overall were about evenly divided, about 60 percent of white Catholics voted for Romney while three-fourths of Hispanic Catholics cast their ballots for Barack Obama.

The racial difference was even more pronounced among Protestants, with nearly 80 percent of born-again evangelicals voting for Romney while 95 percent of black Protestants supported Obama.

The president also received support from about 70 percent of religiously unaffiliated and Jewish voters, while most who said they attend religious services every week supported Mitt Romney.”

http://onenewsnow.com//ap/religion/how-did-faith-groups-respond-on-election-day

Calling yourself a Christian does not make you one.

Obama is a great example of that.

Paul Harvey, in commentary over the years, has nailed Obama and the Democrats.

When you make a deal with the devil you are going to get burned.

Thanks to commenter SueK.

Prince of darkness wins election, Children of God followed Billy Graham admonition, US Sodom and Gomorrah areas rebel, Spiritual wickedness in high places

Prince of darkness wins election, Children of God followed Billy Graham admonition, US Sodom and Gomorrah areas rebel, Spiritual wickedness in high places

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”…Ephesians 6:12

“The legacy we leave behind for our children, grandchildren and this great nation is crucial. As I approach my 94th birthday, I realize this election could be my last. I believe it is vitally important that we cast our ballots for candidates who base their decisions on biblical principles and support the nation of Israel. I urge you to vote for those who protect the sanctity of life and support the biblical definition of marriage between a man and a woman. Vote for biblical values this November 6, and pray with me that America will remain one nation under God.”…Billy Graham

Genesis 19

“And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; 2And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night. 3And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat. 4But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: 5And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them. 6And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, 7And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. 8Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof. 9And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door. 10But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door. 11And they smote the men that wereat the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.

12And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: 13For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it. 14And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.

15And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. 16And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. 17And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. 18And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord: 19Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die: 20Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live. 21And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. 22Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.

23The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. 24Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; 25And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. 26But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

27And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the LORD: 28And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.”

Revelations 12 – 13

“7And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 11And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. 12Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

13And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. 14And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. 15And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. 16And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. 17And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

“1And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. 2And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. 3And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 4And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 5And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 6And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

7And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 8And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 9If any man have an ear, let him hear. 10He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

11And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 12And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. 15And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 16And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.”

Billy Graham Ad, 2012 election statement of belief, Vote for biblical values, Vote for those who protect sanctity of life and marriage, Romney meeting

Billy Graham Ad, 2012 election statement of belief, Vote for biblical values, Vote for those who protect sanctity of life and marriage, Romney meeting

“If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun.”…Barack Obama

“Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?”…Matthew 7:16

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”…Jesus, John 8:32

From the AFA, American Family Association October 18, 2012.

“A message from Billy Graham about the election”

“I wanted to pass this full page advertisement from Billy Graham on to you. It ran today in the Wall Street Journal and will run in other large papers in the coming days. You can click on the picture at right for full size.

Dr. Graham’s office has given permission to spread this vital message far and wide. He has given anyone permission to pay to run this ad in their local paper or to pass out at church, etc.

Your newspaper can get the ad at this link:
http://action.afa.net/uploadedFiles/Resources/grahamad.pdf
(Newspapers can call Paula Woodring at Samaritan’s Purse 828-262-1980 x1121 to verify permissions.)

Pray that tens of millions of people will read this personal reflection from Dr. Graham and heed his call to vote.

Vote your values! Visit the AFA Voter Guide atwww.AFAAction.net for the most distinctive and comprehensive presentation of information on candidates available at one location for values voters (we are still adding candidate information to the guide).

Every individual voter can visit the website, type in his or her address and be presented with their candidates and information that will assist the voter in determining who will best represent their Christian values if elected to public office.

Free Voter Guide Apps are now available for the smartphone by visiting your App Store and searching “AFA Action” or text “apple” or “android” to 70994. Share this powerful resource with family, friends and church members by utilizing the social networking tools including Facebook and Twitter. Then vote your values!

Sincerely,Tim Wildmon, President American Family Association

From the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association October 11, 2012.

“October 11, 2012 – Billy Graham and Franklin Graham met with Gov. Mitt Romney in the evangelist’s Montreat, N.C. home today.”

“Evangelist Billy Graham, 93, issued the following statement after meeting today in his North Carolina home with presidential candidate, Gov. Mitt Romney:

“It was an honor to meet and host Gov. Romney in my home today, especially since I knew his late father former Michigan Gov. George Romney, whom I considered a friend. I have followed Mitt Romney’s career in business, the Olympic Games, as governor of Massachusetts and, of course, as a candidate for president of the United States.

“What impresses me even more than Gov. Romney’s successful career are his values and strong moral convictions. I appreciate his faithful commitment to his impressive family, particularly his wife Ann of 43 years and his five married sons.

“It was a privilege to pray with Gov. Romney—for his family and our country. I will turn 94 the day after the upcoming election, and I believe America is at a crossroads. I hope millions of Americans will join me in praying for our nation and to vote for candidates who will support the biblical definition of marriage, protect the sanctity of life and defend our religious freedoms.”"

http://www.billygraham.org/articlepage.asp?articleid=8983