I wonder if Jacob’s dog Igor (a St. Bernard), in the video, realizes what a genius his master is.  He probably doesn’t care, as long as he gets petted and receives food and treats from him regularly.

This kid has Asperger syndrome.  (The article says “Asperger’s syndrome” but the proper name is “Asperger syndrome.”)  I have a fascination with this condition, as I have a good friend and two relatives with it.  Basically, it is a functional form of autism.

Tony describes more about how we can make thematic comparisons, in the Bible, at “Thematic Analysis” beginning on page 2.

Mar. 19, 2011

Purim began at sunset tonight, and it will continue through tomorrow and the next day.  I read the Book of Esther, one of my favorite books of the Bible.  Last year, I wrote this brief account about Purim:

Queen Esther and the
Feast of Firstfruits

---

In other news, there is an “extreme supermoon” tonight.  It is the closest to the earth that it has been in over 18 years.  It also should appear a little larger than normal, so go out and take a look.

 
5-second slideshow

The moon’s closer proximity increases its gravitational pull on the earth, amplifying tidal and tectonic forces.  Some have suggested that this could have been a factor in the gigantic earthquake in Japan about a week ago.  Others insist that there was no correlation.  In any case, there is more likely to be an increase in seismic activity on the moon than on the earth.

Yes, I wore green today, and no I’m not Catholic.  Also, a friend and I went to Trader Joe’s.  While there, we ate free samples of corned beef, which was really good.  I might have bought some except it was $4.99/pound and out of my budget.

Later, we ate at an all-you-can-eat soup and salad place, since I had a 2-for-$10 coupon.  One of my favorite things there was the vegetable/beef soup, which contained several vegetables, including cabbage, carrots, and potatoes.  So, basically, I had all the standard St. Patrick’s Day food, and it was yummy. 

As an optometric physician, I am qualified to respond to her questions because of the optics classes I took 35 years ago.

For those in most parts of the USA, don’t forget to turn your clocks ahead one hour before bedtime.  We change to Daylight Saving Time early in the morning.  I don’t like losing an hour of sleep, but I do like the extra daylight at the end of the day.

Potentially, this is an enormous problem, though, if the protests continue and increase.  Saudi Arabia is a major oil-producing/exporting nation.  If the government were to be overtaken and controlled by radical Islamic factions at some point, gasoline could double or go even higher in a short period of time.

I believe that Jesus will rule and reign throughout the Millennium, at the end of which this present creation (including the sun and the moon) will pass away and will be replaced by a brand new heavens and earth (Revelation 21:1).  In essence, “forever” and time as we know it will have come to an end, being replaced by a new Creation for eternity.

Furthermore, in the new, eternal Creation to come, there will be no more need for a sun or moon, since the glory of God and the Lamb Himself will be the Source of Light (Revelation 21:23).  So enjoy the present sun and moon in the sky while you can.  One day, they no longer will be around!

If there is something you should do or some project that you should be working on, but you do not feel like doing it, then think of something else equally or even more important that you should get done, too, but don’t feel like doing it, either.  That may help you get motivated to get the first thing done, especially if the first one is less of a hassle to accomplish.  It’s kind of funny how that works, at least for me.

However, no branch of government has the final say about what is constitutional or unconstitutional.  As such, Congress very well may appoint legal counsel to defend DOMA.

I think it is rather odd that in June 2009, the U.S. Department of Justice (USDJ) filed a motion to dismiss the case of a gay couple who was challenging DOMA.  The USDJ attorneys argued that DOMA is constitutional.  They contended that awarding federal marriage benefits to gays would infringe on the rights of taxpayers in the 30 states that specifically prohibit same-sex marriages.

Even though, in 2008, Mr. Obama campaigned for calling on Congress to repeal DOMA, there is a conspicuous inconsistency here.  Two years ago, the Obama administration felt that DOMA was constitutional.  Now it feels that DOMA is unconstitutional.  I suspect that this recent “flip-flop” in policy is an effort to add more support to his liberal base, prior to his run for a second term as president.

Farrakhan avowed, “What you are looking at in Tunisia, in Egypt ... Libya, in Bahrain ... what you see happening there ... you'd better prepare because it will be coming to your door.”  If you listen carefully, you also will hear him say, “This is a sign that the great Mahdi, that the Muslim world has been looking for, is present in the world.  The Christ that you’ve hoped for, the Christ that we long for, is present in the world.”

However, when the prophesied Mahdi appears, he will not be the “Christ.”  Rather, he will be the Antichrist, who will confirm a covenant among many nations, including Israel, for seven years (Daniel 9:27): the 70th Week.  It seems to me that in much of the Middle East today, a great big vacuum for leadership is being created.  Very likely, the Mahdi/Antichrist will be filling that vacuum.

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. (Romans 1:20)

It is advisable to be among those who desire to obey the Lord’s eternal Word, who long for righteousness and fairness to be the law of the world, and who rejoice at the thought of witnessing the appearance of the Son of God and Son of Man in the clouds (Matthew 24:30,31).  If you are in that group, then the Lord Yahweh, ultimately, will neither forget nor forsake you.

The world, including those who believe in Him, are approaching the darkest time in human history.  But on the other end of that tunnel, our Savior will be waiting with open arms, and we will be with Him forevermore thereafter.  There is nothing that comforts and sustains me more than knowing that! 

One of the chapters in my Bible reading today is Psalm 2.  I love that chapter because it is an excellent description of what will happen when the Messiah—that is, the “Anointed One”—returns.

Some believe that Psalm 2 indicates that the angry people of the nations will rage and conspire against God (Psalm 2:1) before Yeshua/Jesus returns.  But, for one thing, how much of the world actually believes in the one true God, Yahweh, to the point where they would rant and rave against Him and His Anointed One and gather together to come against them (2:2)?

Furthermore, how much of the world believes that the Anointed One (Yeshua) is the Son of God the Father (Psalm 2:7)?  Outside of Christianity, this is not a general belief among most of the people of the world.  It certainly is a major point of contention for Judaism and Islam.

Even if these people and kings were to come to a certain knowledge that the biblical God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob exists, wouldn’t they have enough sense to know how futile and senseless it would be to come against an unseen God in heaven?  Some “prophecy buffs” have suggested that there will be multitudes of enraged people around the world, standing and shaking their fists at the sky, cursing God and daring Jesus to descend to earth.  How realistic is that?

On the other hand, I am convinced that the events of Psalm 2 will occur after Yeshua has returned to earth and has been installed as King in Zion, that is in Jerusalem (Psalm 2:6).  He already will have been sitting on His throne (I believe for 30 days) in the millennial Temple and Holy Mountain.

I believe that following Yeshua’s return at the blowing of the Seventh Trumpet, He will pour out the Bowl Judgments (Revelation 16:1-21) upon those who do not pay reverance and homage to Him—that is, upon those who do not “kiss the Son” (Psalm 2:12).  This, of course, will end in the horrific Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16:16-21, 19:19), which will include a destructive shaking of the entire earth (16:18,19).  Then the glorious Millennium will ensue, during which Yeshua will rule and reign with an iron scepter (Psalm 2:9; Revelation 19:15).

Essentially, God had the “gospel message” in mind before any of these ten men were named.  Furthermore, in His great wisdom, He saw to it that these men received their specific names.  The message that their names “spells out” is this: Man [is] appointed mortal sorrow; [but] the blessed God [Jesus] shall come down, teaching [that] His death shall bring the despairing [people] comfort and rest.

I have been hearing more and more talk about an Israeli-Palestinian “peace deal” deadline in the Fall of this year.  Some say September; others say October.  EU’s Ashton says Middle East peace deadline stands.  She is looking for a peace deal in September.

With the escalating turmoil, chaos, and confusion in nations around Israel, it looks to me like the region is looking for a leader or leaders to fill a huge void.  Therefore, I would not be at all surprised if the 70th Week agreement is made this Fall.

I suspect that the demonstrations in the Islamic “Republic” of Iran will be unsuccessful in overthrowing its leaders.  Iran leans much more toward being a caliphate than a republic.  In time, I suspect that most of the Middle East—and, ultimately, much of the world—will be a caliphate under Sharia law.

What I feel is happening now in Middle East countries is a marked, steady progression toward one type of Islamic rule or another (generally, Sunni vs. Shia).  I also feel that, eventually, it is likely that most of the world will be led by either Gog or the Antichrist, whose forces will battle against each other for control of Israel and even domination over the world (see Gog vs. Antichrist).

Hosni Mubarak has resigned from the presidency of Egypt.  It seems apparent that millions of people in Egypt, and around the world, are overjoyed, even rapturous.

President Obama appears to be happy that Mubarak has stepped down.  Quoting Martin Luther King today, Obama said, “There’s something in the soul that cries out for freedom.”

Personally, I am not at all optimistic or hopeful about the future “freedom” of the Egyptians.  I feel it is much more likely that they are in the process of “leaping from the frying pan into the fire.”  In fact, that did happen exactly 32 years ago today, in Iran, when the Shah of Iran was deposed and the Islamic fundamentalist Ayatollah Khomeini took over—hurling Iran into the “dark ages,” where it still remains.

In fact, protestors were in the streets of Iran today, showing solidarity with the protestors in Egypt and Tunisia.  Iran’s president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, proclaimed “We will soon see a new Middle East materialising without America and the Zionist regime....”

Furthermore, if I lived in Israel, I would be very troubled and concerned about the situation developing in the nations adjacent to them.  Many feel that this could portend the “beginning of the end” for Israel.  As undesirable as Mubarak was as a leader for three decades, at least he abided by the 1979 Egypt–Israel Peace Treaty.  It is questionable that a new government in Egypt will do the same.  I have sincere doubts, as expressed to some extent in my Feb. 2 entry.

Feb. 9, 2011

My friend K. in San Diego has a hummingbird feeder on her porch.  Frequently during the day, it will get visitors.

   
8-second slideshow

I stood perfectly still for a couple of minutes with my camera focused on the feeder.  Just when I thought that I was wasting my time, a bird showed up.  Good things come to those who wait.

Feb. 6, 2011

Today was Superbowl day.  Before we went to a Superbowl party, my friend J. and I went for a walk around Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley.  The temperature was perfect: 77°.

She brought her dog, thinking that she would have to hold him much of the way, since the walk was so far.  Surprisingly, the little dog walked all four miles on his own.  He even kept up with us the entire way, and we are fast walkers.  We did the full walk in 1 hour 10 minutes.

     
     
20-second slideshow

The Green Bay Packers were victorious over the Pittsburg Steelers 31 to 25.  That made my friend extremely happy, since she is from Green Bay.  She was about to break out in hives during the game, since the Packers “never were quite far enough ahead” for her to get a grip on her nervousness.  When it was over, she was greatly relieved.  Congratulations to Aaron Rodgers, quarterback and most valuable player, and to all the Packers!

       

       
25-second slideshow

Frankly, I didn’t really care who won the game.  I just hoped that the game would be exciting, which it was, although we all felt that the majority of commercials were lame and even unnecessarily violent.

Feb. 3, 2011

My friend C. and I walked in Mason Park, which is in Irvine.  It is one of our favorite parks, and she doesn’t live far from there.

     
     
20-second slideshow

Southern California is different from most places in that the rainy season is during the winter.  Therefore, it usually is green and there are lots of flowers this time of year.  In fact, many of the trees still have their leaves.

We were talking about what a shame it is how much of the nation is covered in snow, is experiencing sub-zero temperatures, and is having power outages.  We felt sorry for all the people who are in that boat today.  However, we didn’t feel so badly that we didn’t enjoy our walk in paradise.

It looks like several countries in the Middle East, including Egypt, are melting down.  Before long, Israel could be surrounded by nations run by Islamic fundamentalists, who do not have Israel’s “best interests” in mind, to say the least.  (Interestingly, most of the nations having, or on the verge of having, intense civil unrest and anti-government protests—Egypt, Tunisia, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria—are members of the European Neighbourhood Policy, along with Israel.)  Riots are planned soon in Algeria and Morocco.

A gigantic snow storm, of historic proportions and with record-low temperatures in many places, is crossing the USA.  Over 30 states and more than 100 million people are, or will be, affected.  A category 5 monstor cyclone is bearing down on north Queensland, Australia, wreaking massive havoc and destruction.  Watch the news; even more adversity is happening in the world than all of this.  And pray for the great multitude of unfortunate people living in these places.

Many have been wondering how much longer we can go before the 70th Week, the final seven years of this age predicted in Daniel 9:27, will commence.  I do not know, and I will not guess.  Recently, however, I did a calculation, more out of curiosity than anything else.

If a seven-year agreement were to be made this year, involving Israel and other nations, I am going to make the assumption, for a moment, that the midpoint of the seven years would be the Feast of Firstfruits, 3½ year (1,260-days) later, which in this case would be Apr. 5, 2015.  Theoretically, that should put the seven-year accord at Oct. 23 or 24, 2011, if this were to be the year.

Now, I long have believed that the final day of the 70th Week, when Jesus will return to rule and reign (upon the blowing of the Seventh Trumpet), will take place on a Yom Kippur.  So I calculated the length of time from Apr. 5, 2015, to Sep. 19, 2018 (Yom Kippur).  It turns out to be 1,264 days.

Isn’t there a discrepancy here, though?  Isn’t the final half of the 70th Week supposed to last 1,260 exactly days (Revelation 11:3, 12:6)?

Let’s not forget one thing, though.  Although the two witnesses will prophesy for 1,260 days, something happens at the end of that period of time.  The two witnesses will be killed but will be resurrected after 3½ days; then they will go up to heaven in a cloud (Revelation 11:7-12).

Therefore, perhaps, that 3½ days added to the 1,260 days would account for the 1,264 days from Apr. 5, 2015, to Sep. 19, 2018.  And let’s not forget that Yom Kippur actually will begin at sunset the night before, which could make the brief period of time in question be exactly 3½ days rather than a full 4 days.

Again, I am predicting nothing.  I simply am looking at the sudden escalating turmoil and chaos in nations around Israel and wondering how far this will progress.  If Israel comes to be threatened on all sides this year, then it may come to feel pressured, for its own safety, to sign onto a mutual agreement or covenant with many other nations, as Daniel 9:27 seems to predict.

I began the “Ted’s Remarks” section of my website exactly five years ago today: Feb. 1, 2006.

This is a very serious situation.  Some fear that the Islamic Brotherhood will take over the government of Egypt.  There also is a fear that this unrest could spread to Saudi Arabia, since there also is unrest in Tunisia, Jordan, Lebanon, and Yemen.  If oil and gasoline prices do not climb as a result of what is happening, I will be surprised.

Of course, I always am concerned that any earthshaking events (like this) that happen in the Middle East could cause adverse effects on Israel.  The Egypt–Israel Peace Treaty was formulated in 1979.  The peace and stability between them, for over three decades, could be threatened if Islamic fundamentalists were to take over Egypt.  It is too early to speculate; time will tell.

Jan. 27, 2011

I chopped up a bunch of food (cabbage, carrots, potatoes, onions, garlic, and chicken) and simmered it in my crockpot for 10 hours.  I added my favorite spices, and it smelled so good all day that I wanted to open it and dig in; but I resisted the temptation.

 
5-second slideshow

I had a big helping for dinner, and it was well worth the wait.  I also made brown rice on the side.  All of that will last several nights. and I won’t get tired of it.  Yum.

I watch Glenn Beck’s show from time to time on Fox News Channel.  Sometimes he is just too silly.  However, today, while talking about the State of the Union address last night, he made some good analogies to bloated, expanding government and how treacherous it can be.  I thought it was a very good comparison.

Beck showed some rings from the cross section of a tree trunk and noted how there were thick rings (in good/wet years) and thin rings (in bad/dry years).  In dry years, the tree knows that it has to slow down its growth because there are limited resources and reserves.  If it ignores this fact, and tries to grow too quickly, it can get very sick or even die.

Then he showed a plane flying in very strong turbulence.  He pointed out that when a plane hits turbulence, the pilot’s first natural inclination is to speed up and get out of the turbulence, as quickly as possible.  But what this does is just to create even more air pressure on the plane, and it is likely to fall, crash, and burn.  The best thing for the pilot to do is to slow down the speed.  This will cause the plane to be in the turbulence for a longer time, but it will reduce the air pressure and prevent it from crashing.

He likened both of these to the U.S. government.  The president and other Democrats believe that the government needs to increase, and even speed up, its spending to try to “fly” the economy out of its depressed state.  Instead, the government needs to drastically cut its spending, in every area possible, since it has very limited resources right now and needs to live within its means.

This is exactly what Republicans are advocating.  If extraordinary measures are not taken soon, the extreme pressure of our spiraling debt and and deficit will cause us our economy to collapse, crash, and burn.

Jan. 25, 2011

Barack Obama gave his second State of the Union address tonight.  I watched all of it, although it was tough not to doze off.  It was not nearly as “convincing” as most of his prior speeches.  Frankly, I don’t think he believed much, or even most, of what he was saying, which seemed to be reflected in the tone of the speech.

   
10-second slideshow

The words spoken by Mr. Obama were very flat and lackluster.  With the disastrous results of his past two years in office—not to mention the past four years of Democratic majorities in the House and Senate—it appears that it has become increasingly difficult for him to convince anyone who has any sense that the next two years are going to be better.  I can make an absolute guarantee that anyone who thinks this is living in an idealistic fantasy.

All of Mr. Obama’s references to “investments” were merely more ways to spend money that we do not have.  Also, several times Mr. Obama said that we need to “win the future.”  I saw that as nothing more than his hope to “win” the White House again in less than two years.  Tonight was merely a “kick off” for his re-election campaign.  Therefore, even though he moved to the “center” somewhat on his rhetoric, it did nothing to convince me that much, if anything, that he said was sincere.

I was much more impressed with the GOP response to Mr. Obama’s dreary speech, which was made by Paul Ryan (R-WI).  He said that this nation is at a “tipping point” economically and that if government’s growth remains unchecked and unchallenged, “America’s best century will be considered our past century.”  He added, “We still have time...but not much time.”  I agree, wholeheartedly, with all of that.

In the past, I have heard Ryan express some of the most realistic, sensible, and levelheaded ideas that have come out of Washington, DC.  I am looking for him, as a very conservative Chairman of the House Budget Committee, to provide some good ideas to reverse our alarming movement toward socioeconomic destruction.  Unfortunately, I am not at all optimistic that we have enough time to put the brakes on; I’m afraid the hill is just too steep now.

The latter will take place after Jesus returns, during the Millennium.  Some Christian denominations insist that God has abandoned Israel forever, that the Church has completely replaced Israel in God’s graces, and that the Church will be the sole recipient of God’s eternal blessings.

Nothing could be further from the truth.  In my opinion, such thinking is erroneous, at best, and potentially perilous for those who have “bought into” it, at worst.  The fact is, Israel will be devastated and all but destroyed during the ghastly, horrific events of the Endtimes.  However, once Israel’s Messiah (Yeshua/Jesus) returns, He will bring the surviving Israelites back into their original land and will bestow upon them their fortunes, guaranteed by God’s promises to Abraham.

So far, Gabrielle has shown signs of making an amazing recovery.  Many have called it “miraculous.”  I agree.  Personally, I have a wish that I have expressed to a few friends.  It is something that, no doubt, would be ridiculed and scorned by most of the world if they were to read what I have to say.  Of course, I don’t care; so be it.

I have a secret hope that, while Congresswoman Giffords was in her medically-induced coma soon after her injury, she saw the living Yeshua (Jesus) and came to an immediate belief in Him.  I would love to see, at some point after she is able to speak, her proclaim the name of Yeshua as her Healer and Savior.  I expect that this would set off a wave of spiritual turbulence around the world, since her shooting and remarkable signs of recovery have been making international news.

If this happened, it could be that her fellow Democrats, who typically have a liberal mindset, would begin to distance themselves from her.  They might even claim that the gunshot wound has “made her crazy” or “zoned her out.”  Of course, since she is Jewish, this probably would cause her family to beseech and implore her:  “STOP saying that name, dear!  We don’t use that word, honey, remember??!!”

Well, I for one would sit back and support her and commend her for voicing her new convictions, as generally unpopular and unacceptable as they might be.  Moreover, she might even switch back to being a Republican, which she was at one time.  I bet that most in the Republican party would gladly welcome her back with open arms. 

Jan. 19, 2011

You know how I am about full moons.  I couldn’t help getting a few shots early this morning.

     
10-second slideshow

Three more full moons from now will be Passover, the first of the four Hebraic Spring Festivals/Holy Days.  That’s the day on which Jesus, our Passover Lamb, was crucified (1 Corinthians 5:7b—see also Good Thursday).

Interestingly, a command by God to Moses for the Israelites to observe Passover (Deuteronomy 16:1-8) is part of my Bible reading today.  For anyone who would like to read through the Bible with me in 2011, go to Chronological List of Bible Passages.  In case you haven’t started yet, you have a lot of catching up to do. 

A friend showed me this 6½-minute video satire about “global warming” and “climate change”: Global Warming Panic Explained.  I think it is hilarious.  The guy expresses my sentiments about the topic quite well.

The six-day creation sequence is described in Genesis 1:1-31.  I understand that many, if not most, Christians and orthodox Jews believe that the entire universe, including the earth and everything on/in it, were created in six 24-hour days, approximately 6,000 years ago.

I thoroughly have researched and studied the “young-earth” view of creation.  I absolutely do not believe it, nor have I ever believed it.  Furthermore, it is highly improbable that I ever will change my mind about it.  My views about creation can be found in my two-part commentary, The Creation.

I am convinced that it does not matter which of the charts one looks at to determine his/her zodiac sign, since astrology is a boatload of c®@Þ anyway.  As such, people who lead their lives according to the counsel of horoscopes or astrologers not only are wasting their time but are displeasing God.  They would be much better off seeking the counsel of Yahweh, the only One who knows the future, since He created it to happen.

There has been a great deal of reprehensible rhetoric from left-wing media, celebrities, and politicians blaming right-wing counterparts for “instigating” Jared Loughner to shoot several people on Jan. 8.  A despicable article by Paul Krugman, Climate of Hate, is a good example.  Other examples are comments made by Michael Moore, Kathy Griffin, Jane Fonda and also by Tucson’s Clarence Dupnik—The Worst Sheriff in America (who, I suspect, doesn’t want to take responsibility for the fact that this took place on his watch, so he is finding political “scapegoats”).

The fact is, Loughner was not influenced by the Tea Party, Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachmann, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Bill O’Reilly, Fox News Channel, nor any other conservatives to carry out the horrendous deed that he is accused of doing.  Only left-wing ideological hacks would insinuate this.

Evidence appears to show that Loughner has been a regular user of several illegal drugs, and he was influenced by manuscripts such as The Communist Manifesto and Mein Kampf.  Apparently, he was fascinated by radical, vitriolic songs like this one by the group “Drowning Pool,” which was one of his favorites: Bodies (Let The Bodies Hit The Floor).  Furthermore, in his backyard, he had set up a bizarre altar or shrine, which included the replica of a human skull.

Congresswoman Giffords actually had been a target of Loughner for a few years.  Police found a 2007 letter to Loughner in his safe.  In it, she thanked Loughner for attending an event, presumably where she had spoken.  In another letter written by Loughner, it appears that he had premeditated the assassination of Giffords for some time.  According to a friend of Loughner, this may have been due to an “unsatisfactory” answer given by Gifford to an ambiguous question asked by Loughner at a rally:  “What is government if words have no meaning?” 

Giffords, a moderate Democrat (formerly a Republican), has been an advocate of comprehensive immigration reform and stepped up border security.  She has said that the fallout from Arizona’s controversial immigration law SB-1070 could have been avoided if the Obama administration had been more in touch with what is happening on the border.

These certainly do not sound like the views of someone who would be attacked by a “crazy conservative.”  In fact, Loughner was a registered Independent who did not even vote in the 2010 general election.  Moreover, according to the Phoenix New Times, in Jared Loughner...Described by Classmate as "Left-Wing Pothead," a classmate even described Loughner as “left wing” and a “pot head.”

Other fellow students who were interviewed said that Jared had a creepy, maniacal laugh during class, and he frequently clenched his fists.  Some have said that they feared for their safety when he was around.  He even was tossed out of college because he seemed to be mentally unstable.

Loughner’s “Hello” video on You Tube demonstrates his scattered, fantastic thoughts, along with his poor grammar and ability to communicate clearly.  In reality, Jared appears to be a deranged, idealistic, atheistic, delusional, paranoid schizophrenic Satan worshiper.  I find attempts to link him to conservative groups or people to be ludicrous, if not downright preposterous.

This is no time for contemptible political rancor from liberal progressives.  This is a time for prayer and concern for those who have been directly affected by this terrible tragedy in Tucson.

Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), 40, a U.S. Representative, was critically injured this morning.  In an attempted assassination attempt, a bullet passed completely through the left side of her head.  The attack took place in a “Congress on the Corner” event that she was holding in a parking lot in Tucson, AZ.

This was three days after Giffords was sworn into the 112th Congress.  It was only a day after an interview with Fox News Channel’s Bill Hemmer: Members of Congress Must Lead by Example.

Among those who were killed were Christina Green, 9 (born on 9/11/01); Dorothy Morris, 76; Federal District Chief Judge John M. Roll, 63; Phyllis Schneck, 79; Dorwin Stoddard, 76; and Gabe Zimmerman, 30.  Fourteen others were wounded.  The suspected gunman was Jared Lee Loughner, 22.

We need to be praying for the families and friends of these six people who were killed and the thirteen who were wounded by the shooter.  Hopefully, all of those who were injured will recover, including Congresswoman Giffords.  The Lord Yahweh is more than capable of performing astonishing miracles.

I am reminded of the words of Ezra Klein, a staff writer for the Washington Post, a week ago on Dec. 30.  In an interview on MSNBC, he seemed to indicate that the Constitution “has no binding power on anything.”  He also stated, “The issue with the Constitution is not that people don’t read the text and think they’re following it.  The issue with the Constitution is that the text is confusing because it was written more than a hundred years ago.”  You can see a short video of this here:

Firstly, the Constitution was adopted on September 17, 1787, over 223 years ago—over double the span of “more than a hundred years ago” stated by Ezra Klein.  Secondly, I think that the English in the Constitution is quite clear and is not at all confusing, at least to anyone who has the minimal intellect required to understand it.

In any case, I am glad that the Constitution was read on Capitol Hill today.  Furthermore, I will be in support of all the Republicans in the House who will vote, on Jan. 12, to repeal the disastrous ObamaCare.

The Democratically-controlled Senate will not vote to do the same, however, which means that the House should vote—again, and again, and again—to repeal it.  It will show the American public how Senate Democrats, along with President Obama, are ignorant to the fact that ObamaCare is a complete and utter debacle, as well as a blatant and manifest violation of the U.S. Constitution.

Jan. 5, 2011

Today was the beginning of the 112th U.S. Congress in Washington, DC.  The gavel of the Speaker of the House of Representatives changed from Nancy Pelosi to John Boehner.

   
8-second slideshow

I very much dislike and oppose the vast majority of what Nancy Pelosi has done in the past four years.  There were even 19 Democrats who did not vote for her, today, to be the minority leader.

I do feel that John Boehner has the potential to be an excellent and very competent Speaker.  I share most of his conservative views.  However, I have not jumped on the “change we can believe in” wagon.

Realistically, I do not have confidence in the new Congress to get us out of the gigantic economic hole that the old Congress has dug us into over the past four years, especially the last two.  I think that sensible people should begin planning for the worst times imaginable and pray to God to help get them through.

Basically, there was a time, specified in Exodus 12:6, to slaughter the Passover lamb.  It would seem that if the disciples had sacrificed a lamb other than at that predetermined time, they would have violated the directive given by God and Moses.

Furthermore, the disciples ate (unleavened) bread and drank wine with Jesus.  These were symbolic of Jesus’ “flesh” and “blood,” and Jesus was the ultimate Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7).  Thus, it would seem to have been incongruous for the disciples to have been eating a regular lamb while the greatest Passover Lamb was present in the same room with them.

Notice how he even admitted that “crime is up, schools are worse, taxes are higher” after his two terms.  Get ready, Californians...it’s about to happen again, only this time the consequences probably will be immeasurably worse.

Jan. 1, 2011

Happy New Year.  Below are links to my annual calendars that many like to download and tape to a wall nearby.  They are in both .doc and .pdf format.

Click on each image below and print out the two pages (.doc files) on either side of one piece of paper.  Just change my name, at the top of the calendar page, to your name before you print it.  (The thin gray lines will not show up when you print the pages).

 

Or else you could print out these (.pdf files), without my name on the calendar, and write in your name.

 

Also, I am reading the Bible straight through, from cover to cover, in 2011.  In fact, I already have gotten a head start.  You can see my progress here:

Chronological List of Bible Passages

In case you would like to join me, you’ll have some catching up to do.