For all of you moms out there:  HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY, and God bless you for doing all the great and wonderful things that you do for your families. 

       
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The REAL ID Act was passed by the 109th U.S. Congress in 2005.  It specified that U.S. citizens would need to have Real ID driver’s licenses or identification cards to enter federal government facilities, to access nuclear power plants or military bases, and to board domestic airline flights.

Provisions regarding identification documents originally were intended to take effect in 2008, but enforcement was repeatedly delayed due to widespread opposition and refusal by many state governments to implement them.  It took many years for U.S. states and territories to comply.  Earlier this year, enforcement based on the identification documents was scheduled to be implemented in phases from May 7, 2025, to May 5, 2027.

For awhile, people should be able to fly without a Real ID or another approved form of identification, such as a passport.  However, their passage through airport security checkpoints will take longer than usual.  TSA officers will ask them to complete an identity verification process.  Information identifying them, such as their name and address, will be collected to confirm their identity.  They also may be subject to additional screening.

Overall, California has the highest average gasoline prices of all the U.S. states.  According to AAA fuel prices, today’s national average for regular unleaded gasoline is $3.145 per gallon.  The average in California is $4.849 per gallon.  In the past few days, I took the following photos of gasoline prices at a few stations in Orange County, California, when the average price in CA was somewhat lower than $4.790 per gallon.  Click on individual photos to see larger views.

A new pope of the Catholic Church has been named at the Vatican.  This is only two days after 133 Cardinals gathered in conclave to select a new pontiff.  Never in the history of the Roman Catholic Church has there been a pope from the United States, until today.

Cardinal Robert Prevost, age 69, is from Chicago, Illinois.  He will be known as Pope Leo XIV.  He is the 167th Catholic Pope and follows Pope Francis, who passed away on Apr. 21 and had been head of the Catholic Church for just over 12 years.

The native language of Pope Leo XIV is English.  He also speaks Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese, and he can read Latin and German.

Today, officials in the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) warned that tariffs were raising risks of higher unemployment and higher inflation.  Therefore, they unanimously agreed to hold the key interest rate unchanged in the 4.25% to 4.50% range.

The Fed left rates at that level at its two previous meetings on Jan.29 and Mar.19.  In the Fall of 2024, there were three rate cuts in a row.  These cuts were 0.25% on Dec. 18, 0.25% on Nov. 7 and 0.50% on Sep. 18.

There appears to be a probability that the central bank will hold off on interest rate cuts at its next two Fed meetings.  These meetings are scheduled to be on June 17 & 18 and on July 29 & 30.

       
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Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican army’s victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.  However, this was not Mexico’s Independence Day.

Mexico’s independence from Spain was an armed conflict that lasted from 1808 to 1821.  On September 16, 1810, Roman Catholic priest Miguel Hidaldo y Costilla rang the church bell in Dolores, Mexico.  That gave the call to arms that triggered the war of independence.

At Olive Tree Ministries this weekend, Jan Markell talked with Michele Bachmann.  The hinge of history changed on October 7, 2023.  The spirit of death and lawlessness was unleashed on the world at that time.

Ken Mikle and Pastor Josh Schwartz talked with Alex Newman.  There is a global deep state.  In America, it is subversive and exists in all three-letter agencies including the CIA.  How can Christians come against those plotting hidden deeds of darkness?

         

         

         
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Today’s program, lasting 58 minutes, can be heard here:

As an optometric physician, I practiced eye care for several years.  I always enjoyed improving people’s blurry vision with glasses or contact lenses.

For many of my patients, the visual acuity chart across the room would appear blurry like the one below on the left.  In most cases, after adjusting the lenses they were looking through in my phoropter, I could enable them to see the visual acuity chart clearly like the one on the right.

 

Eating a variety of nutrient-dense foods from each of the 5 food groups can help reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease.  Here are a few tips to incorporate into a healthy lifestyle:

• Choose foods with little to no added sugar, saturated fats, and sodium.  Build meals around protein foods that are naturally low in saturated fats, like beans, peas, lentils, chicken, seafood, and lean meats.

• Be aware of how many calories you need per day.  Visit MyPlate.gov to learn more.

• Avoid sugary drinks.  Drink plenty of water throughout the day to remain hydrated.

At Olive Tree Ministries this weekend, Jan Markell talked with Michele Bachmann about the loss of two globalists—Pope Francis and Klaus Schwab.  Has the one-world agenda been affected?  Who ran the Biden administration and can their deeds of darkness ever be defeated?

Ken Mikle and Pastor Josh Schwartz talked with Lee Brainard.  Where is America in Bible prophecy, and could she be the Babylon referred to in the Bible?

         

         

         
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Today’s program, lasting 57 minutes, can be heard here:

Today, tens of thousands of people gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican for the funeral service of Pope Francis.  He passed away at the Vatican on Apr. 21, the day after Easter.

Among the attendees were President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, and Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife Olena Zelenski.  Memorable moments from the funeral can be seen in the video below, which lasts about 1 hour 54 minutes.

A couple of days ago, I purchased 28.00 oz. (1.75 lb.) of 50%-off Easter candy.  I just wanted a chocolate and peanut butter combination.  I didn’t get very much, since I still have some Valentine’s Day candy.

Early today, Pope Francis passed away at the Vatican.  This took place at 7:35 a.m. local time.  He was 88 and had served as pope since 2013.

His last public appearance was yesterday, Easter Sunday.  He blessed a large crowd in St. Peter’s square and then was driven around the square in his popemobile with an open top.

Earlier this year, Pope Francis had spent weeks in the hospital with serious pneumonia.  After he returned to the Vatican, his health remained fragile.

Now there will be a period of mourning.  This will be followed by a conclave or gathering of cardinals at the Vatican to elect a leader for the global Catholic Church.

Happy Easter.  This is the observance of Jesus’ Resurrection Day, which took place on the Feast of Firstfruits.  It always is on the Sunday following Passover, which was on Apr. 13 this year.

       
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At Olive Tree Ministries this weekend, Jan Markell talked with Holly Pivec about Paula White, the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), the Seven Mountain Mandate, and more.  Jan also talked with Josh Schwartz about an urgent upcoming Pastors Huddle event.

Ken Mikle and Pastor Josh Schwartz talked with Nathan Jones about prophecy-related issues and Revelation chapters 2 and 3.

         

         

         
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Today’s program, lasting 60 minutes, can be heard here:

Most of Christianity is observing the crucifixion of Jesus today, calling it “Good Friday,” and the resurrection of Jesus two days from now (Apr. 20), calling it “Easter Sunday.”  Firstly, I dispute the notion that His crucifixion took place on the sixth day (Yom Shishi or Friday) of Holy Week.  Rather, I am convinced that this event took place on the fifth day (Yom Chamishi or Thursday), although that day of the week changes each year.  See many more details in Good Thursday.

Secondly, regardless of which day of the week Jesus’ crucifixion occurred, it undoubtedly did take place on Passover.  Without question, there were specific parallels between Jesus and the Passover lamb.

Furthermore, Jesus rose from the dead on the Feast of Firstfruits, which was the first day of the week (Yom Rishon or Sunday) following Passover.  This was (and still is) the first day of a 50-day count, the counting of the Omer, culminating on Shavuot, Feast of Weeks, or Feast of Harvest.  For Christians, that is the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4).

In most years, the day of Jesus’ resurrection is properly observed and celebrated within a week after Passover, during the week-long Feast of Unleavened Bread.  That is true this year.  The first full day of Passover this year was Apr. 13, and Resurrection Day (commonly referred to as “Easter Sunday”) is a week later on Apr. 20, the Feast of Firstfruits.  Indeed,

Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 15:20)

The macula is the small center portion of the retina, which is located at the back of the inside of the eye.  It provides the clearest and most distinct vision when looking directly at something.

Macular degeneration is an ocular condition that has a negative effect on the macula.  Usually it is hereditary.  In older people, most often those who are 65 or older, age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is the leading cause of irreversible central blindness.  Macular tissue destroyed by macular degeneration cannot be repaired.

Today is Tax Day in the United States.  The first day of tax season this year was Jan. 27, and this is the final day to file taxes in the U.S.  The only things that are certain for most Americans are death and taxes.

The tax filing deadline is midnight tonight in each time zone unless someone has filed for some type of a tax extension.  For someone filing his/her taxes by mail today, as long as it is postmarked with today’s date, the IRS will consider the return filed on time.  Americans residing overseas have an extended deadline of June 16 to file.

The IRS has extended the tax deadline beyond Apr. 15 for five states and for portions of four other states.  These states are shown in the following article:

This was stated by the apostle Paul:

Give everyone what you owe him:  If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. (Romans 13:7)

I attended a very nice Passover seder last night.  I enjoyed the reading of the haggadah, including the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt very long ago.  I also enjoyed the very tasty food.  I’ve never attended a Passover seder that did not include great food.

       
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Today is the first full day of Pesach or Passover, which began at twilight yesterday.  There also was a full moon last night and early this morning.  This day is a commemoration of the exodus of Israel out of Egypt, as described in Exodus 12:1-51.  It is followed by the week of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Just as lambs were slain on the first and subsequent Passovers, the Lamb of God, Yeshua/Jesus, also died on Passover.  His shed blood atoned for the sins of all who will accept His unique sacrifice on their behalf.  According to John the Baptist and the apostle Paul,

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)

For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. (1 Corinthians 5:7b)

His death, of the righteous for the unrighteous, is the only thing that can bring us to God the Father.  According to the apostle Peter,

Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. (1 Peter 3:18)

In Part 1, Jan Markell talks to Jill Martin Rische and Jean DeJong who spent extensive time in Israel, conveying the message that Israel is not alone.  Israelis asked, “What is this love?”

In Part 2, Ken Mikle and Pastor Josh Schwartz talk to Mondo Gonzales about the importance of being a prophecy watcher and the silence of the church.

         

         

         
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Today’s program, lasting 59 minutes, can be heard here:

At Olive Tree Ministries this weekend, Jan Markell talked with Pastor Billy Crone.  The Antichrist has a cabal with players and puppet masters.  They consider the Soros empire, and is Donald Trump a candidate for the Antichrist?

Ken Mikle and Pastor Josh Schwartz talked with Israeli David Tal.  Israel’s deep state is a disruptor as in America.  Where is Mideast turmoil leading?

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Today’s program, lasting 61 minutes, can be heard here:

This past week was the worst week for the stock market since 2020.  Today (Apr. 4) and yesterday (Apr. 3), the Dow Jones Industrial Average index, the S&P 500 index, and the NASDAQ Composite index plummeted huge amounts.  Today, each index fell 5.50% or more.  This notable stock market decline took place after President Trump’s announcement of several reciprocal tariffs on Apr. 2.

Stock Market Apr. 4, 2025

   

Stock Market Apr. 3, 2025

   

Happy April Fool’s Day.  Don’t play too many pranks unless you like to get pranked back. 

       
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