Former President Donald Trump was indicted today by a New York grand jury in Manhattan, NY.  It is the first time in U.S. history that a former or a current president has been charged criminally.

The Manhattan district attorney’s office has been investigating the former president in connection with his alleged role in a hush money payment and cover-up involving adult film star Stormy Daniels, which pre-dates the 2016 presidential election.  Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office has indicated that it will reach out to Trump’s attorneys to discuss his surrender to face an arraignment.

Last year, Trump announced his candidacy for president in the 2024 election.  In response to the indictment, Trump released a statement claiming that it was “Political Persecution and Election Interference at the highest level in history.”  One of Trump’s attorneys, Alina Habba, said in a statement that Trump “is a victim of a corrupt and distorted version of the American justice system and history.  He will be vindicated.”

I was headed to a friend’s house when she called me and asked if I could pick up a Domino’s pizza that was on the way.  So I went there and got the 12" pan pizza that she had ordered.  It had extra cheese with no other toppings.

While waiting inside, I noticed on one wall their trademark logo, a domino with three dots, and an explanation of what the dots represented.  They represent the first three Domino’s stores in Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor, Michigan, back in 1960.

I took some snapshots of that and some other things just to show my friend when I brought her the pizza.  She likes things like that.  I had a couple of slices, and it was very good.

       
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Today is American Diabetes Alert Day.  Each year, it is on the fourth Tuesday in March.  In the U.S., about 1 in 5 adults with diabetes don’t know they have it.

Type 1 diabetes can start at any age, but it often starts during childhood or teen years.  Type 2 diabetes, the more common type, can develop at any age.  Type 2 diabetes is more common in people older than 40, but it is increasing in children.

Some symptoms and signs include the following:

• feeling more thirsty than usual
• urinating often
• losing weight without trying
• presence in the urine of ketones, which are a byproduct of the breakdown of muscle and fat that happens when there’s not enough available insulin
• feeling tired and weak
• feeling irritable or having other mood changes
• having blurry vision
• having slow-healing sores
• getting a lot of infections, such as gum, skin and vaginal infections

It was reported today that the judicial overhaul legislation by the Israeli government is being paused.  National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir says he agreed to a delay in the legislation until parliament reconvenes on April 30 for its summer session.  He said the break would give time for the government to seek a compromise with the political opposition.

Ben-Gvir also said that if a deal is not reached, the package would be approved in parliament’s summer session.  Ben-Gvir has been a leading proponent of the overhaul.

This pause in the overhaul legislation follows one of the biggest domestic crises in recent Israeli history last night.  Ben-Gvir’s announcement came hours after tens of thousands of people burst onto the streets around the country in a spontaneous show of anger at Prime Minister Netanyahu’s decision to fire Defense Minister Yoav Gallant yesterday.  Today, tens of thousands of Israelis demonstrated outside of the Knesset.

Also, workers from a range of sectors in Israel walked out this morning, threatening to paralyze the economy as they joined the surging protest movement against the proposed overhaul.  Departing flights from the country’s main international airport were grounded, diplomats walked off the job at foreign missions, and large mall chains and universities shut their doors.  Local governments were expected to close the preschools they run and cut other services, and the main doctors’ union announced that its members would also walk off the job.

Today, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired his defense minister, Yoav Gallant.  This happened after Gallant called on Netanyahu to drop a proposed overhaul of the country’s judicial system.  Gallant was the first member of the ruling Likud party to publicly oppose it.

During a speech yesterday, Gallant said that the overhaul needed to be halted “for the security of Israel.”  He cited several Israel Defense Force (IDF) reservists who said, in protest, that they would stop training if the judicial system’s overhaul took place.

For many weeks, Israel’s government has been proposing changing the way the country’s Supreme Court judges are selected, giving appointees and representatives of the government an automatic majority on the selection committee.  In effect, this would allow the government to choose the judges on Israel’s highest court.  In addition, the Knesset would be able to override the Supreme Court’s ability to strike down laws that it deems unconstitutional.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid called on Netanyahu to walk back his dismissal of Gallant.  He warned that “at this time, the State of Israel cannot, in the face of the risks in all arenas, afford a change of defense minister.  We have never been closer to falling apart.”

Netanyahu’s dismissal of Gallant sparked mass demonstrations in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, Beersheba and other parts of Israel.  Tens of thousands of protesters packed the streets and blocked roadways.  Several universities also announced strikes starting tomorrow.

At Olive Tree Ministries this weekend, Jan Markell spent the hour with Dr. Ron Rhodes.  They considered the glories of Heaven, where we will have transformed bodies and the former things will not be remembered.

Jan and Ron talked about how people’s physical bodies will not be in heaven.  For those who die and believe in Jesus, their deceased mortal bodies will be resurrected in the same type of body that Jesus had when He was raised from the dead.  He was raised in a physical body with flesh and bones (Luke 24:39).

However, His resurrected body also was considered to be an imperishable and powerful spiritual body; and each of us will have a body like this, forevermore, after we are resurrected (1 Corinthians 15:42-44).  Jesus will transform our bodies so that they will be like His glorious body (Philippians 3:20,21), and that is the body in which we will enter heaven.

They also talked about what our roles will be in Heaven and considered if infants and children will be there.  They questioned whether or not we will mourn those that we have known but who are not there.  They also talked about people who say they are making trips to Heaven in their mortal bodies; however, that is extremely unlikely to impossible.

I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.  Listen, I tell you a mystery:  We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.  For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.  When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true:  “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”  “Where, O death, is your victory? [Isaiah 25:8]  Where, O death, is your sting?” [Hosea 13:14]  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:50-57)

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:17,18)

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. (Philippians 3:20,21)

         

         

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

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is the holiest month of the year for Muslims.  It began at sundown yesterday, March 22, and will end at sundown on April 21.

It is a month of fasting—abstinence from consuming food and liquids—worldwide for Muslims from dawn to sunset each day.  During the daily hours of fasting, it will be a time of prayer, reflection, and study of the Qur´an for Muslims.

This year, the week beginning with the Jewish holy day of Pesach or Passover is April 6-12, which also will include the Christian celebration of Easter on April 9.  That holy week will take place during the Islamic month of Ramadan as it did last year, when there was an abundance of violence during the 2022 Al-Aqsa clashes on the Temple Mount, referred to by Muslims as the Al-Aqsa Compound.

So far this year, there has been an abundance of violence, chaos and protesting in Israel, including in Jerusalem and in the West Bank.  Prime Minister Netanyahu has stated that these things are leading Israel into a state of anarchy.  It will not be surprising if these tensions strongly escalate during the month of Ramadan this year.

The most recent interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve was on Mar. 8.  The increase was one-quarter of a percentage point (0.25% point).  Following their meeting yesterday and today, the Federal Reserve raised the interest rate by another 0.25% point.

A year ago, the benchmark fed funds rate was only about 0.5%.  Now, after nine interest rate hikes in the past year, the benchmark fed funds rate is in the range of 4.75% to 5%.  This is the highest that the rate has been since 2007.

There was some speculation that the Fed might pause rate hikes in response to recent banking failures, including Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank.  However, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has repeatedly said that price stability is the central bank’s “overarching focus.”

       
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I do web searches on various browsers.  One thing I like about the Bing browser is the different backgrounds that are displayed everyday, usually of various places in the world.

Today, the background is a collection of colorful pastel chalk.  I am not an artist and never have used chalk to make colorful pictures.  However, I have written the basic code for every page at my website, including the colors of all of the text and backgrounds.  My Comprehensive HTML Tutorial includes a Color Coding page.

I often think about the infinite number of colors created by God, many of which our human eyes cannot even see.  Two of my sections that show connections between God and colors are here:

A friend sent me a recent photo that he took of a perfect rainbow out his kitchen window.  It followed of the many gigantic rain storms in California this past winter.

Rainbows remind me of the final portion of one of the many amazing visions seen by the ancient Israeli prophet, Ezekiel.  I absolutely am convinced that Ezekiel saw the colorful radiance around the preincarnate Jesus on His heavenly throne:

Above the expanse over their heads was what looked like a throne of sapphire, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man.  I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him.  Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.  This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.  When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking. (Ezekiel 1:26-28).

Spring begins today in the Northern Hemisphere at 2:24 p.m. PDT = 5:24 p.m. EDT.  It is the Spring or Vernal Equinox, when the daylight hours equal the nighttime hours.

After today, the hours of light will increase and the hours of darkness will decrease each day until June 21 (the Summer Solstice).  Then the pattern will reverse.

Twice a year, at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, San Diego, CA, the sunset lines up perfectly with the water channel.  This cool phenomenon occurs both on the Spring Equinox (today) and on the Autumnal Equinox (six months from now).

Two of the best words to hear in a story are, “BUT GOD.”  The Bible is full of “BUT GOD” moments.  In case you are in a season where you are waiting on God, you can encourage your faith by reading through these “BUT GOD” moments in the Scripture.

No matter what your circumstance is, God always has the last word.  Don’t give up; today could be your “BUT GOD” moment.

My flesh and my heart may fail, BUT GOD is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:26)

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, BUT WITH GOD all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)

When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb.  BUT GOD raised him from the dead. (Acts 13:29,30)

For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.  For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for a good man, someone would dare to die.  BUT GOD demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8)

At Olive Tree Ministries this weekend, Jan Markell spent the hour with Mondo Gonzales.  They talked about how things are in place to build the Third Temple in Jerusalem.

Jan and Mondo believe that the Third Temple will be in place for the Antichrist to defile it at the midpoint of the 7-year Tribulation.  The Third Temple, which has been in the planning stages for three decades by the Temple Institute in Jerusalem, would come after Solomon’s First Temple and Herod’s Second Temple, the latter which was destroyed in the Siege of Jerusalem (70 CE).  They discussed why they believe a Third Temple should be of interest to Christians.

Five red heifers, without defect or blemish, were brought from Texas to Jerusalem in September 2022.  They will be necessary to slaughter and to mix the ashes with water to cleanse the priests who will enter the Temple.  Orthodox Jewish rabbis also believe that before a Third Temple is built, the ground on which the Temple will stand first must be purified with the water containing the burnt red heifer ashes.

         

         

         
45-second slideshow

Today’s program, lasting 56 minutes, can be heard here:

Years ago, I felt that there would be a manmade Third Temple in Jerusalem.  However, I have become convinced that there will not be another temple in Jerusalem (whether on the Temple Mount or elsewhere) prior to Jesus’ return to earth at the end of the 70th Week.  My lengthy explanations as to why I disagree with the construction of a manmade Third Temple can be found in the Third Temple section of this commentary:

Regardless of whether or not a manmade Third Temple is built in Jerusalem, there will be a millennial Temple (described in Ezekiel 40:5–43:27).  This will be the sanctuary in which Jesus will dwell, following His return to Jerusalem to rule and reign during the Millennium.

Also, I used to believe that it would be the Antichrist who would confirm a covenant for one week of years with many in Israel, and then he would bring an end to sacrifice and offering in Israel (Daniel 9:27).  Now, I feel it is more likely that the “He” at the beginning of Daniel 9:27 is Jesus, not the Antichrist.  More information and details about this can be found in these sections:

       
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Happy St. Patrick’s Day to my Catholic friends and acquaintances.  Today is a celebration of St. Patrick.  He was a Romano-British Christian missionary who became the primary patron saint of Ireland in the 5th Century.

Supposedly, March 17 is the date of St. Patrick’s death.  It is observed both inside and outside of Ireland as a religious and cultural holiday.

I like how St. Patrick used the three-leaf shamrock as an illustration of the Holy Trinity or Triune God.  Indeed, God is One and Three at the same time.  More about this can be found in my singular and multiple section.

A couple of days ago, a Russian fighter jet collided with the propeller of an MQ-9 Reaper drone.  This occurred over the Black Sea, which is considered to be international waters.

Russia accused the U.S. of being to blame for conducting surveillance near its airspace to help Ukraine.  At the same time, Russian ambassador Anatoly Antonov said that no Russian fighter jets hit or used their weapons against the American drone.

The drone fell and sank into the Black Sea.  It is assumed that Russian ships are planning to move to the location and salvage the wreckage.

I don’t like to drive someone else’s car.  The main reason is that I don’t want to risk damaging it, nor be obligated to repair it.  But another reason is because it seems that most people do not seem to have their side mirrors adjusted properly, and I might not realize that until I’m already on the road.

For some reason, most side mirrors in cars are turned in too far, so much of the back of the car can be seen by the driver.  This reduces the amount of traffic that can be seen in the blind spot areas on both sides of the car being driven.

Here are the left and right mirror configuration in many people’s cars:

 

Here is how the left and right mirrors should be adjusted:

 

Notice that in the second pair of side mirrors, each mirror displays a great deal more of the areas to the side and back of the car, where a car in an adjacent lane often is located.  When adjusting a side mirror, only a very small portion of the back of your car should be visible in the mirror.

Incidentally, here is the view out the front car window of a typical street in San Diego, my favorite city in the world:

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San Diego is wonderful because of the ideal year-round climate.  The palm trees, ocean beaches, restaurants, parks and many other things are great, too. 

Click on the images below to read how to adjust the outside mirrors in your car to decrease the blind spot areas on both sides:

In the third largest bank failure in U.S. banking history, New York-based Signature Bank was closed yesterday.  This follows the second largest bank failure of Silicon Valley Bank on March 10.  Washington Mutual Bank had the largest bank failure when it collapsed during the 2008 financial crisis.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) took control of Signature.  At the end of last year, it had $110.36 billion in assets and $88.59 billion in deposits.  In a joint statement by the U.S. Treasury Department, the FDIC and the Federal Reserve, all of the depositors of Signature Bank and Silicon Valley Bank will be made whole, and “no losses will be borne by the taxpayer.”

In other news, the 95th Academy Awards ceremony took place last night at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood.  I did not watch the Oscars program myself.  However, I will list a few of the Oscar winners below.

• Best Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
• Best Actor: Brendan Fraser in The Whale
• Best Actress: Michelle Yeoh in Everything Everywhere All at Once
• Best Supporting Actor: Ke Huy Quan in Everything Everywhere All At Once
• Best Supporting Actress: Jamie Lee Curtis in Everything Everywhere All At Once
• Best Director: Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert for Everything Everywhere All at Once

In most of the United States (except Hawaii and most of Arizona), and in some other parts of the world, time has “sprung forward” an hour today.  These regions observe Daylight Saving Time, where the sun will rise an hour later in the mornings and set an hour later in the evenings.

At Olive Tree Ministries this weekend, Jan Markell spent the hour with Pastor Billy Crone.  He also was her guest last week.

They talked about the rapture event and how the consequences of being “left behind” could be eternal.  In many churches, there are no messages given about the rapture or harpazo—the sudden supernatural catching or snatching up and away of believers in Christ into heaven.

Pastor Billy Crone believes that Jesus didn’t just save us from hell; He saved us from “hell on earth”—the time of the 7-year tribulation.  He and Jan Markell equate this with the “time of Jacob’s trouble” or Daniel’s 70th Week.

         

         
30-second slideshow

Today’s program, lasting 55 minutes, can be heard here:

Personally, I definitely do believe in a main Rapture event, which I am convinced will be a Pre-Wrath Rapture.  Reasons why I disagree with the Pre-tribulation view of the Rapture and embrace the Pre-wrath view of the Rapture are explained in the first six email responses that I have written in Rapture Questions & Responses.

Those who believe in a Pre-tribulation Rapture feel that the whole “tribulation” period (final 7 years of this age) will consist of the wrath of God.  Yet, in the book of Revelation the word “wrath” does not appear until Revelation 6:16,17, following the Sixth Seal disturbances.

The impending wrath will be a response by God to a plea from the souls of those who had been killed following the opening of the Fifth Seal.  Their appeal is for God to avenge their blood (Revelation 6:9,10).  This will result in God’s day of vengeance, which will consist of God’s wrath and will be preceded by a Pre-Wrath Rapture.

Also, I believe that, in 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8, the one holding back the “secret power of lawlessness” and the “lawless one” (that is, the Antichrist) is the archangel Michael, not Christian believers or the Holy Spirit of God.  My explanation for this is in the restrainer section.

I do leave open the possibility for a Mid-tribulation Rapture to take place at or near the middle of the 70th Week.  If that possibly should happen to occur this year, it seemingly would be appropriate for it to take place next month on the Feast of Firstfruits (Easter Sunday), the day that Jesus rose from the dead as the “firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20).

Yesterday is being called a “Day of Disruption” in Israel.  Thousands were protesting the plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to weaken the country’s judicial system.  The protests are continuing today.

Protestors blocked some roads and highways.  These included the main road leading to the departure area of Ben Gurion International Airport, the busiest airport in Israel, as well as the busy Ayalon highway in Tel Aviv.  Many protestors resisted police efforts to clear the roadways.

The protesters oppose government plans to give Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, the power to overrule Supreme Court decisions with a simple majority.  Members of the government feel that the Supreme Court has become too powerful and is not democratically accountable.

Hundreds of members of Israel’s military—reserve air force pilots, members of special forces units, and military intelligence officers—are indicating that they may not continue to serve if the Supreme Court and other democratic institutions are weakened.  That could seriously impede operational capabilities of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).

Also, yesterday morning in the West Bank, Israeli security forces came under fire from a vehicle.  They returned fire and killed all three Palestinians inside the vehicle.

U.S. Pentagon Chief Lloyd Austin, visiting Israel yesterday, told Israeli leaders to take steps to reduce tensions in the occupied West Bank.  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused the protesters and the increasing violence in the West Bank of leading the country into anarchy, violence and chaos.  These circumstances distract from Israel’s focus on Iran’s dangerous nuclear advances and on continuing regional and global aggression.

Today is National Slam the Scam Day.  Recognize the four basic signs of a scam:

1. Scammers pretend to be from a familiar organization or agency, like the Social Security Administration.  They may email attachments with official-looking logos, seals, signatures, or pictures of employee credentials.
2. Scammers mention a problem or a prize.  They may say your Social Security number was involved in a crime or ask for personal information to process a benefit increase.
3. Scammers pressure you to act immediately.  They may threaten you with arrest or legal action.
4. Scammers tell you to pay using a gift card, prepaid debit card, cryptocurrency, wire or money transfer, or by mailing cash.  They may also tell you to transfer your money to a “safe” account.

The most recent interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve was on Feb. 1.  The increase was one-quarter of a percentage point (0.25% point).  It is possible that the next hike may be higher.

Yesterday, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell spoke to the Senate Banking Committee.  He pledged to continue the battle against inflation.  Most likely, this will involve continuing interest rate hikes.  This feeling probably was the primary cause of a very large 574.98-point decline in the the Dow Jones Industrial Average index yesterday.

The next Fed meeting will be on March 21-22.  Most Fed officials want to see the employment and consumer price inflation reports for February before deciding how much to raise the interest rate at the next meeting.

Today is Purim, which began last evening at sunset.  Many communities, especially in Jerusalem, also observe Shushan Purim tomorrow.  On the lunar Hebraic calendar, Purim falls on a full moon in the final month of the Hebraic year, Adar.

       
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Purim is a time celebrated by Jews everywhere in commemoration of being saved from extermination.  This is a very interesting account of how God blessed a Jewish girl to the point of becoming Queen over the entire Medo-Persian Empire.

The annihilation of all the Jewish people had been decreed, and Queen Esther was in a position to prevent this from happening, even though she risked her life in doing so.  It is a fascinating, true story, in case you would like to read about it in the Book of Esther.  In that biblical account is written the mandate that every generation of Jews should celebrate Purim:

These days should be remembered and observed in every generation by every family, and in every province and in every city.  And these days of Purim should never cease to be celebrated by the Jews, nor should the memory of them die out among their descendants. (Esther 9:28)

The feast of Purim comes from Chapter 9 of the biblical book of Esther.  In the final two verses below, Mordecai indicated that the days of joy and feasting (Purim) were to be celebrated annually on “the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar”:

¹⁸The Jews in Susa, however, had assembled on the thirteenth and fourteenth, and then on the fifteenth they rested and made it a day of feasting and joy.  ¹⁹That is why rural Jews—those living in villages—observe the fourteenth of the month of Adar as a day of joy and feasting, a day for giving presents to each other.  ²⁰Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far, ²¹to have them celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar. (Esther 9:18-21)

San Francisco, California, is both a city and a county.  The city and county are a unified jurisdiction that encompass the same geographic area.  No other city in the Bay Area is both a city and a county.

Both the city and the county comprise the same land area on the San Francisco Peninsula, as well as the same portions of San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean.  The Farallon Islands, about 30 miles west of the Golden Gate Bridge, also are part of San Francisco City and County.

All the way across the country, the five Boroughs of New York City are also counties in the state of New York.  That is, each borough is coextensive with a respective county of New York State.

At Olive Tree Ministries this weekend, Jan Markell spent the hour with global economist and strategist Wilfred Hahn.  They talked about how the black horse of Revelation is on the horizon.  Also, the tribulation economic woes are casting a shadow everywhere.

Jan and Wilfred further discussed the coming Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC).  Satan is using the love of money to wind up the Church Age.  They also called out the purveyors of Prosperity Theology.

         

         
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Today’s program, lasting 55 minutes, can be heard here:

Early this morning, at about 1:40 a.m. EST, a new crew docked with the International Space Station (ISS).  They had flown for about 25 hours in the Endeavor spacecraft after launching from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Docking with the ISS was delayed for 23 minutes.  SpaceX ground control had to verify that all 12 latching hooks were properly deployed.  A software override was activated for a sensor that showed a possible malfunction.

The Crew 6 mission will last six months.  The 4-man crew is as follows:

• American astronaut Stephen Bowen, 59, a veteran of three Space Shuttle flights and seven spacewalks;
• Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, 42, an engineer and spaceflight rookie;
• United Arab Emirates astronaut Sultan Alneyadi, 41, an engineer who is the second person from UAE to fly into space; and
• American astronaut Warren “Woody” Hoburg, 37, an electrical engineer, computer science expert and commercial aviator.

The olive leaf is a staple of the Mediterranean diet.  Research points to lower rates of illnesses and cancer-related deaths among populations that follow this diet.  The positive effect is due, in part, to the powerful and health-boosting benefits of the olive leaf.

Olive leaf extract (OLE) is a concentrated dose of the nutrients in olive tree leaves.  It is a potent source of antioxidants that support our immune systems, reduce our risk of many illnesses and contribute to a range of other health benefits.

For over 30 years, I have found OLE to be a virtually miraculous naturopathic substance.  It is effective against viruses, bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms that can make us sick.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began three years ago, I have taken one 750 mg OLE capsule (occasionally two capsules), containing 20% Oleuropein, everyday.  Since then, I have not had even one symptom associated with the COVID-19 virus nor any flu virus.  Numerous benefits of OLE can be read here:

Tonight and tomorrow night, there will be a close conjunction in the sky of Jupiter and Venus.  They are the two brightest planets viewable from Earth.  This planetary conjunction happens about once every 13 months.

The best time period for viewing this will be soon after sunset until about 7:00 p.m. PST = 10:00 p.m. EST.  Looking toward the western sky, they should be visible from almost anywhere on Earth in a sky that is free of clouds.

In addition, as many as four of Jupiter’s moons will viewable to some.  Looking through a pair of binoculars will increase the probability of being able to see these moons near Jupiter.

Amid the ongoing tensions and escalating violence in the West Bank, Israel deployed hundreds more soldiers to the area yesterday morning.  It followed the killing of two Israeli brothers, Hillel and Yagel Yaniv, by a Palestinian gunman.  This resulted in Palestinian homes and cars being set afire by settlers.

Among others killed in the violence were a Palestinian man, Sameh Aqtash, and an Israeli man, Elan Ganeles.  Ganeles was shot while driving a car by the same gunman who shot the two Israeli brothers.  Ganeles, who also is a U.S. citizen from Connecticut, will be buried in Israel tomorrow.

Since last spring, violence has been building in Israel, particularly in the West Bank, which Israel captured in the 1967 Six-Day War and where Palestinians seek to build an independent state.  After Palestinian attacks on Israelis last year, the Israeli military began months of raids that it says target militants but have often killed civilians.  There appears to be no end in sight to the ongoing violence.

The COVID-19 virus emerged in Wuhan, China, back in 2019.  According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the virus has infected more than 674 million people worldwide and killed more than 6 million people.

The origin of the virus has sparked worldwide debate for the past few years.  Some feel that the virus was leaked from a lab, while some feel that it was naturally occurring.

Now, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the COVID-19 most likely was leaked unintentionally from a laboratory in Wuhan, China.  The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that the DOE cited a new classified intelligence report, which was provided to the White House and to members of Congress.

Back in 2021, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) also concluded that the COVID pandemic began at a lab in Wuhan.  It took this position with “moderate confidence.”  Many feel that an accidental lab leak could have resulted in the release of the COVID virus and that the Wuhan lab-leak theory should not be dismissed.

At Olive Tree Ministries this weekend, Jan Markell spent the hour with health expert and emergency room registered nurse Twila Brase.  Bill Gates warns another pandemic is coming, and only vaccination of 100% of the world’s population will save us.

Digital IDs are on the horizon and will control our lives.  We may not be able to buy or sell without them.

There have been an untold number of people injured by COVID vaccines.  Jan and Twila conclude that such issues are about control and not health.  Big Brother is leading us to Mr. Antichrist.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)

         

         

         
45-second slideshow

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

Today is the one-year anniversary of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.  It was a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, which started in 2014.

A year ago, Russia began missile and air strikes, triggering explosions in Ukraine.  Targets included at least five Ukrainian cities including Kramatorsk, Kharkiv, Odessa, Mariupol and the captial city of Kyiv.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he did that under the guise of a “special military operation” to “demilitarize and de-nazify Ukraine.”  He announced this in a live televised speech, after which the bombing began.  He also made a threat to countries who might interfere with “consequences greater than any you have faced in history.”

The Russian military attacks on Ukrainians is continuing today, when 3 civilians were killed and 19 others were wounded.  Early this morning, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tweeted, “We know that 2023 will be the year of our victory!”  Also today, President Joe Biden announced sweeping new sanctions against Russia and others who are supporting Russia’s war efforts.

This morning in Israel, at least six rockets were fired into southern Israel.  They were launched by Palestinian militants in Gaza.

In response, Israeli aircrafts struck several targets in northern and central Gaza.  Israeli Air Force (IAF) fighter jets struck both a weapons manufacturing site and a military compound belonging to the Hamas Terrorist Organization.  Also, at least two anti-aircraft missiles were launched from the Gaza Strip.  There were no reports of injuries in Israel or Gaza.

These attacks today follow an Israeli attack in the West Bank yesterday.  The Israeli military entered Nablus in the West Bank to arrest three militants suspected in previous shooting attacks.  Violence erupted, with at least 11 Palestinians being killed and at least 100 injured.

Violent attacks in Israel most likely will continue and escalate during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, from March 22 to April 21.  This year, that will include the Jewish holy week of Passover, from April 6 to April 13.

Today’s date is 2/22/2023.  Five of the seven digits are 2s.  A year ago, on 2/2/2022, six of the seven digits were 2s, which was very rare.

A good friend is in Arkansas, a state that is on Central Standard Time (CST).  For many years, he and I have had this “thing” about various sequences of numbers containing a repeat of the numeral 2.  Since today is 2/22 (or, in many parts of the world, 22/2), I sent him a screen shot of the https://time.gov page, showing 2:22:22 P.M. CST:

Yesterday, President Biden visited President Zolensky in Kyiv and announced $500 million in new military aid to Ukraine.  Today, President Putin suspended Russia’s participation in the New START treaty.  This was a nuclear arms reduction treaty that went into effect in 2011 and was extended for five additional years in 2021.

Putin accused the U.S. and its NATO allies of openly declaring the goal of Russia's defeat in Ukraine.  He also claimed that the U.S. was considering resuming nuclear testing.  Therefore, in his view, Russia should be ready to test Russian nuclear weapons if necessary.

Putin said that Russia will not withdraw completely from the New START treaty.  However, Russia’s suspension complicates the arms control situation between the U.S. and Russia, both of which have almost 90% of the world’s nuclear warheads.

Today, the third Monday of February, is Presidents (or President’s) Day in the U.S.  It is a federal holiday.

       
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George Washington’s farewell address in 1796 was not delivered publicly.  It first appeared in the Philadelphia Daily American Advertiser and then in papers around the country.  For those with an interest in reading it, it is here:

At Olive Tree Ministries this weekend, Jan Markell spent the hour with Pastor Mike Gendron.  For over 34 years, Pastor Gendron was a strong defender of his Catholic faith.  After reading the Bible for the first time in 1982, he realized that his previous Catholic teaching contradicted the Bible in many ways.  He understood that the Bible is the inspired, infallible and inerrant Word of God, and it became his supreme authority in all matters of faith.

Why are evangelical leaders rushing to Rome to unite with the Vatican to sign unity accords with the Roman Catholic religion?  They feel that they all share a common faith and the same Gospel, which is not the case.

Alleged appearances or apparitions of Mother Mary have been occurring all over the world for many years.  Countless numbers of people have been fascinated and intrigued by these sightings.  One of the messages given is that Mary is coming for all of her children.  Another message is that people can be saved apart from her Son, Jesus, as long as they do good works.  A common bond of deception in all false religions is salvation through works and righteousness.  The fact is that faith and trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior is the only pathway to God and eternal salvation.

Jan and Mike feel that Catholicism is the Mystery Babylon woman who rides the scarlet beast in Revelation 17.  Knowing about the beliefs of Pope Francis, the first Jesuit pope, it is puzzling why he is so celebrated in Rome and around the world.  This pope has stated that all people are children of God, that there is no hell and that even atheists will make it to heaven.  These beliefs are not factual.

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ.  And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:13,14)

         

         
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Today’s program, lasting 55 minutes, can be heard here:

I really like the state of Texas.  It is the second largest state in size (next to Alaska).  It also is the second most populous state (next to California).  In 1820, it became the 28th state in the U.S.

It seems that more people are moving to Texas than to any other state, besides Florida.  Over the past few years, that includes countless people moving away from California.

Almost all of my relatives live in Texas.  Although I haven’t been there for several years, I’d like to go again.  Maybe some day I will move there.

Last night, Governor Greg Abbott of Texas gave his State of the State address for 2023.  It lasted about 25½ minutes from the time he rolled up to the microphone in his wheelchair until he finished his address.  He has used a wheelchair since age 26, when he was paralyzed below the waist after an oak tree fell on him while he was jogging after a storm.

         

         
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The death toll in last week’s major 7.8 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes in Turkey and Syria (see Feb. 7) has exceeded a record-breaking 41,000 people.  With an unknown number of people still trapped beneath fallen buildings and rubble, the death toll is expected to continue rising.

So far, in Turkey, at least 35,418 people have died.  In Syria, the number of deaths is at least 5,500.  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called this “the disaster of the century.”

Amazingly, survivors still are being pulled and rescued from the rubble a full nine days after the devastating earthquakes.  Governments and people around the world are continuing to give needed donations and contributions to this significant disaster.

This morning, I went to Walmart and to a Dollar store and got 61.46 oz. (3.84 lb.) of 50%-off Valentine’s candy.  A lot of the candy already had been removed from the shelves, but at least I got a few selections that I like.

To those who like this day and all that it brings: Happy Valentine’s Day! 

       
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For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8)

Heart Reef is an island in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia:

Super Bowl LVII was played today at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ.  The two teams were the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs.  The game lasted about 3 hours 25 minutes.  The final score was Chiefs 38, Eagles 35.

At Olive Tree Ministries this weekend, Jan Markell spent the hour with author and Pastor Dr. J. B. Hixson in part two of a two-part program.  They discussed how the one-worlders are changing life as we know it to form a global government.  Their goal to do this is 2030.

They talked about secret societies, rising surveillance, UFOs, the paranormal, a coming one-world religion and more.  There are dozens of bricks that form the foundation of global government, and many of them are being prepared.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) demonstrates a lot of the ways that the Antichrist will come to power.  His agenda will not appear out of thin air.  It will be presented as the only solution to a series of problems that are so out-of-hand that they seem to threaten the well-being of every person on earth.  The world awaits a man who appears to have answers to all the crises everywhere.  Ultimately, he will be conquered and defeated by Jesus Christ.

Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing?  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.”  He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall hold them in derision.  Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure. (Psalm 2:1-5)

         

         

         
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Today’s program, lasting 55 minutes, can be heard here:

On Feb. 4, a Chinese surveillance balloon was shot down over coastal waters near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (see Feb. 5 entry).  Over the next couple of days, a U.S. Navy team began collecting debris from the wreckage.

The sailors retrieving the debris were part of the Navy’s specialist explosives team.  The debris was taken to an FBI laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, for analysis.  Also, the US military has also deployed unmanned underwater vehicles as part of the search effort.  The debris is being examined to see if, indeed, it contains spy equipment.

China, who has criticized the U.S.’s actions, has insisted that the airship balloon was for civilian use and entered U.S. air space accidentally.  However, U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin III has said that the balloon was being used by China to surveil “strategic sites” in the U.S., which posed an “undue risk” to our country.

This year there is some confusion on when and how to file 2022 tax returns.  There also is some uncertainty about refunds and deductions for certain states.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has recommended that certain taxpayers hold off on filing their tax returns for 2022.  The IRS is expected to provide additional clarification soon for as many states and taxpayers as possible.

Last night, President Joe Biden gave his State of the Union Address 2023.  Following that, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders gave the Republican response.

Early yesterday morning, a major earthquake occurred near Gaziantep in southeastern Turkey.  The magnitude 7.8 quake also was felt in Syria, Jordan, Israel and other neighboring countries.  There have been dozens of aftershocks, including a major shaker of at least magnitude 7.5 a few hours after the 7.8 quake.  Today, there was a 5.7 aftershock.

So far, the recent temblors are responsible for at least 6,000 deaths and over 15,000 injuries in Turkey and Syria.  Tens of thousands of people are homeless and spent the night in freezing temperatures.  There also were over 11,000 collapsed buildings, and many survivors were heard screaming under the rubble.  Also, temperatures during the night in most areas were below freezing.

The 7.8 shaker was the strongest quake in Turkey since 1939.  That quake also had a magnitude of 7.8.

More than 10 search and rescue teams from the European Union have arrived on the scene to help.  The US, UK, Canada, Israel, Russia and China are among other nations to have offered assistance.

This weekend, a record wind chill temperature most likely was reached in the U.S.  Wind chill is what the temperature feels like.  If it is cold and the wind is blowing, it feels colder than it actually is.

In Mount Washington, NH, the actual temperature was -46 degrees F.  However, due to an Arctic blast, the wind was blowing at 97 mph.  With the huge wind chill, it felt like an incredible -108 degrees F.

I’m glad I was nowhere near there when that happened.  I wonder if that’s where the unfortunate snowman below might have been. 

A huge Chinese balloon, suspected of being a spy balloon, entered U.S. air space in Alaska over a week ago, on Jan. 28.  The large substructure just below the balloon was about three city buses in size.  It was well below the 62-mile altitude that separates international air space from national air space.

The balloon traveled through western Canada, down into Montana, over Missouri and toward the Carolinas.  The entire way, it was well below the 62-mile altitude that separates international air space from national air space.  A second balloon flew over Colombia and Venezuela in South America.

On Feb. 3, China claimed that the balloon over the U.S. was a civilian research craft, collecting weather data, that was blown off course by prevailing winds.  However, a Pentagon spokesman said that it was a high-altitude surveillance balloon with sophisticated cameras and imaging technology.  If so, its purpose most likely was to collect various types of information at military facilities, including data about intercontinental ballistic missiles.

While the balloon was over Montana on Feb. 1, President Biden ordered the Pentagon to shoot down the balloon as soon as possible.  However, there were many concerns that there could be potential dangers in doing that, such as the falling debris harming people and/or structures.

Finally, on Feb. 4, the Chinese balloon was shot down by U.S. F-22 and F-15 planes.  This occurred a few miles off the coast of South Carolina and North Carolina.  It happened over U.S. national waters before the craft reached international waters.  No people or vessels were struck by the debris, which now is being carefully examined.  Officials are warning beachgoers not to touch or move any possible Chinese spy balloon debris that may wash up on Carolina beaches.

At Olive Tree Ministries this weekend, Jan Markell spent the hour with author Dr. J. B. Hixson in part one of a two-part program.  They discussed the World Economic Forum (WEF) meetings last month in Davos, Switzerland.  Klaus Schwab opened the 2023 session with a call to “master the future.”

The Antichrist kingdom won’t come out of thin air.  It is being prepared now by the global elite and will spring into action when the church vacates in the Rapture.  But what do the global elite have in mind?  How about eating bugs, slashing the population, and owning nothing?  We are coming near to entering the global kingdom described in Revelation 13.

According to the WEF, God is dead.  They also have declared that Jesus is fake news and that WEF leaders have acquired divine powers to rule over humanity.  They are determined to form their own kingdom that they refer to as the Reset or the New World Order.  God laughs at the global elites who are trying to supercede Him.

Evil men and impostors will grow worse, deceiving and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:13)

Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His.  And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.  He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him. (Daniel 2:20-22)

         

         
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Today’s program, lasting 54 minutes, can be heard here:

Long COVID is characterized by long-term health problems that persist or appear after someone has recovered from COVID-19.  It affects people differently.  There are four major types of symptoms that are included in the following categories:

• Heart, kidney and circulatory problems
• Respiratory issues, anxiety, sleep disorders and chest pains
• Musculoskeletal and nervous system issues, including arthritis
• Digestive and respiratory issues

Recently, a new study by the New York State Insurance Fund revealed several negative effects of Long COVID-19 for 3,139 workers.  These effects most likely reflect American workers in general.

Many have been unable to return to their jobs, and many have received medical treatments for long periods of time.  Many of those who were able to return to work have suffered from “disruptive” symptoms such as shortness of breath and fatigue.  This has caused them not to be as productive as they used to be.

Today is Groundhog Day.  Punxsutawney Phil came out and saw his shadow, which allegedly is an indication that there will be six more weeks of winter.  So the world’s most famous weather-prognosticating groundhog has spoken, probably in “Groundhogese.”

         
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There have been several snow storms and freezing weather in the east and northeast this winter.  So those living there may not be thrilled that this weather could continue for quite awhile longer.

However, some reports indicate that Phil has gotten it right only about 40% of the time over the past 10 years.  Time will tell if he was correct or not this year.

The last interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve, one-half of a percentage point (0.50% point), took place on Dec. 14, 2022.  The Fed indicated that it is extending its fight against high inflation today by raising its key interest rate by one-quarter of a percentage point (0.25% point).  This comes amid signs that inflation is beginning to slow, but the Fed has warned that the fight is far from over.

This is the eighth rate hike since March.  The Fed signaled that even though inflation is easing, it remains high enough to require further rate hikes.  However, this latest move will likely further raise the costs of many consumer and business loans and possibly the risk of a recession.

The Fed’s hike was announced one day after the government reported that pay and benefits for America’s workers grew more slowly in the final three months of 2022, the third straight slowdown.  The Fed may raise the benchmark rate again when they meet next in March and perhaps again in May as well.

The two NFL conference championship games were played this past weekend.  The winners will meet up in Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12.

In the National Football Conference, the San Francisco 49ers played the Philadelphia Eagles.  In the American Football Conference, the Cincinnati Bengals played the Kansas City Chiefs.  These were the results:

• The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the San Francisco 49ers, 31 to 7.
• The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Cincinnati Bengals, 23 to 20.

The last time the Federal Reserve raised interest rates was on Dec. 14, 2022.  The hike was one-half of a percentage point (0.50% point).  The Fed is expected to raise interest rates by one-quarter of a percentage point (0.25% point) this week.

A lesser interest rate hike this week seems to be due to an increase in the gross domestic product (GDP) by 2.9% in the fourth quarter of 2022, as well as a slowdown of inflation from 7.1% to 6.5%.  This also could result in any interest rate hike(s) in February to be low, although a recession still may be inevitable.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen does not feel that these positive results necessarily decrease the possibility of a recession.  She said, “I’m reasonably satisfied by the data that I’ve seen so far, but I don’t want to minimize the risk of recession.”

Also, Yellen strongly feels that a recession will happen if the U.S. debt ceiling is not raised as soon as possible.  The debt limit was reached on Jan. 19.  She urges that if the debt ceiling is not raised soon, the U.S. most likely will default on its debt, which would result in a devastating and catastrophic financial crisis.

At Olive Tree Ministries this weekend, Jan Markell spent the hour with authors Holly Pivec and Doug Geivett.  The talked about the troubling angle of the New Apostolic Reformation.

This movement is an offshoot of the 1940s Latter Reign movement, and it separated from the Assemblies of God in the 1990s.  Those within the church rely on signs, wonders, miracles and feelings.  NAR encourages the leadership of apostles and prophets within the church, says that they can bring heaven to earth, and promotes extra-biblical revelation.

All true prophecy comes from God.  If a specific prophecy does not come to pass, then the person who prophesied it is not a true prophet.

When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him. (Deuteronomy 18:22)

Prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:21)

God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds. (Hebrews 1:1,2)

         

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

In East Jerusalem yesterday evening, people were exiting a synagogue after a Shabbat (Sabbath) service.  A gunman outside shot at a number of people.  There were 10 gunshot victims, and at least 7 of them were killed.

As the 21-year-old Palestinian man who did the shootings fled from the scene in a vehicle, he fired at police who were chasing him.  After an exchange of fire, the police shot and killed the terrorist and seized his handgun.  The deadly attack, and subsequent killing of the attacker, took place on International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

All of this took place a day after an Israeli raid on a refugee camp in the West Bank, where 9 Palestinians were killed.  The Israeli military considered it part of an ongoing anti-terrorism offensive, which began last year.  After that West Bank raid, Gaza Palestinians fired missiles into Israel, which resulted in Israeli airstrikes in return.

Today, a 13-year-old Palestinian boy opened fire on people walking by in an East Jerusalem neighborhood.  A Jewish father and son, ages 47 and 23, were shot but not killed.  Armed civilians shot and wounded the shooter, who was taken into custody by police.  This violence in Israel probably will continue and increase.

Today is the 78th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the concentration camp where over one million European Jews died or were killed by Nazis.  This is only a fraction of over six million Jews who died or were killed in all of the Nazi concentration camps during World War II.

This date officially was designated as International Holocaust Remembrance Day in 2005 by the United Nations.  Here are five Holocaust memorials and museums that can be visited in the U.S.:

• United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington D.C.
• The Nancy and David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
• Florida Holocaust Museum, St. Petersburg, Florida
• Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust, Los Angeles, California
• Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, Skokie, Illinois

A small asteroid, about the size of a delivery truck, will pass very close to Earth tonight.  Asteroid 2023 BU was discovered less than a week ago on January 21.

NASA does not classify the asteroid as dangerous, as its path will keep it from colliding with the earth.  Even if were to enter Earth’s atmosphere, it would turn into a fireball and largely disintegrate harmlessly in the atmosphere.

It will be one of the closest approaches by a known near-Earth object ever recorded.  At its closest distance, the asteroid will be just over 2,200 miles above Earth’s surface.  That is about a quarter of the distance between the planet and its man-made geostationary satellites, which orbit continually over the equator.

The asteroid will be closest to Earth at about 7:27 p.m. EST = 4:27 p.m. PST.  At that time, it should be over the southern tip of South America.  A live feed can be viewed here:

The 2023 Academy Awards ceremony will take place on Sunday evening, March 12, at 8:00 p.m. EDT.  The 95th Oscars will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel at Ovation Hollywood (the renamed Dolby Theatre) in Los Angeles.

Here are the categories of Oscar nominations:

The Doomsday Clock has been around since June of 1947.  According to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, the clock is a metaphor for threats to humanity from unchecked scientific and technological advances.  It was intended as a way of tracking catastrophic risks to humanity and the world.

On this clock, midnight marks the theoretical point of ultimate global cataclysm and annihilation.  The original setting, over 75 years ago, was 7 minutes before midnight.  Each year after that, in January, a decision was made to reset or not to reset the clock.  In 2020, the clock was reset to 100 seconds until midnight, where it remained in 2021 and in 2022.  However, today the clock was reset to 90 seconds until midnight, which is the closest it’s ever been.

Less than a year ago, Russia (a nuclear nation) began attacking Ukraine.  That ongoing war, along with nuclear expansions in China, North Korea, Iran and India, have revived fears of nuclear war.  These and other factors have resulted in moving the hypothetical time on the Doomsday Clock 10 seconds closer to midnight.

There is a quick and easy way to check one’s internet speed in Mbps (Megabits per second).  Going to https://fast.com will show the internet speed, in a few seconds, in the middle of the screen.  Then, clicking on the “Show more info” button will provide additional information at the bottom.

At Olive Tree Ministries this weekend, Jan Markell spent the hour with Amir Tsarfati and Pastor Barry Stagner in part two of a two-part program.  They cover some of the questions in their new book, Bible Prophecy: The Essentials – Answers to Your Most Common Questions.

They focused primarily on the topic of a Pre-tribulation Rapture.  They began with the four seals and the four horsemen of the apocalypse in Revelation 6:

1.  white horse: rapid spiritual deception that would grip the earth in its final days
2.  red horse: an image of intense warfare throughout the planet
3.  black horse: thundering through the earth wreaking havoc with famine and natural disasters
4.  pale horse: death making its dreaded and inevitable journey

It is clear in Scripture that believers will escape God’s wrath (1 Thessalonians 5:9), although they will experience man’s wrath and Satan’s wrath.  Those who adhere to a Pre-tribulation Rapture view believe that the rapture will take place prior to the opening of the first four seals.  They also believe that the entire period of a final 7-year tribulation will be a time of God’s wrath on the earth, and all those who believe in salvation through Jesus will be snatched away to heaven before it begins.

Markell, Tsarfati and Stagner feel that the Holy Spirit is the “restrainer” who is holding back the Antichrist or “lawless one” (2 Thessalonians 2:6-8).  However, He is doing it through saved believers who are on the earth.  They agree that the Holy Spirit will not be removed from the earth during the tribulation period.  He is omniscient, is omnipotent, knows all, is all-powerful, is omnipresent and everywhere.  He cannot be removed from the earth, but they feel He will be removed from saved believers when these believers are caught up and away from the earth in the rapture.

Amillennialism is the eschatological view that there is no literal millennial or thousand-year of Jesus Christ on the earth.  Amillennialists believe that the Millennium is not literal but, rather, is figurative or allegorical.  Some believe that the spiritual millennial kingdom is present now during the current era of the church.

In fact, though, the Millennium will be a literal 1,000-year period of time during which Jesus Christ will reign righteously and justly as King over the whole world after He returns to Jerusalem and sits on His throne.  Also, during the same period of 1,000 years, Satan will be bound in an abyss, after which he will be set free for a short time before thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, forevermore.  There has not been a time in the past, since the beginning of the world, that Satan has not had free reign of the world; yet he will forfeit that freedom in the future for 1,000 years.  The literal term “thousand years” is listed six times in Revelation 20, verses 2-7.

At the end of the Millennium, this earth and entire universe will cease to exist, and a brand new universe (heavens and earth) will be created by God.  In that eternal realm, there never again will be any death, tears, sorrow, or pain, nor any form of sin or sinners.  These things are described in Revelation 21, verses 1,4,8.  Furthermore, nothing in that glorious and perfect dominion of God ever will decay or waste away.

         
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Today’s program, lasting 54 minutes, can be heard here:

Two days from now will be the 50th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade landmark decision on January 22, 1973.  That is when the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 7–2 decision in favor of “Jane Roe” (Norma McCorvey) giving women in the United States a fundamental right to choose whether to have abortions without excessive government restrictions.

This afternoon in Washington, DC, a March for Life event took place.  Members of several anti-abortion groups assembled in Washington to take part in a pro-life march.  The participants were pushing for action from the U.S. Capitol, near where they were marching.  Movement leaders indicated that they planned to urge Congress against making any attempt to curtail the multiple anti-abortion laws imposed last year in a dozen states.

Today’s march was different from the march one year ago, which took place as a protest against legal abortion.  At that time, there was a relatively new conservative majority on the Supreme Court.  There was a hope, by pro-lifers, that the court would act to overrule Roe v. Wade.

Indeed, that did occur with a 5-4 vote on June 24, 2022.  It took place weeks after May 2, 2022, when there was a leak of the first draft of a majority opinion, written by Justice Samuel Alito, that stated, “We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled.  It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives.”  The identity of whoever made that leak still has not been made public.

Today, the United States has reached its borrowing limit, also known as the U.S. debt ceiling.  It is the maximum amount the federal government is able to borrow to finance obligations that lawmakers and presidents already have approved.

The debt limit also includes interest payments on existing debt.  Once the government reaches the statutory debt limit, it cannot take on new obligations.  The outstanding debt of the United States is projected to reach the statutory limit of $31.381 trillion today.

Once that limit is reached, the U.S. Treasury must take some extraordinary measures to prevent the U.S. from defaulting on its obligations.  If a default were to happen, as soon as early June, it would be the first time in history that the U.S. would default on any of its obligations.

Regardless what does or does not happen in Congress pertaining to the debt issue, widespread financial and economic instability, including a recession, appear inevitable.  A stock market crash or a credit rating downgrade could lead to lasting damage for the U.S. and world economy.

I have read the entire Bible 23 times in the past three decades.  I recommend that everybody does it at least once or twice.  It usually takes me about eleven months to do it.  I have not done that for three years, but I am in the process of doing it again during 2023.  Usually, I stay a few days ahead in case something unexpected comes up that keeps me very busy for a few days.

Many people in the USA spend hours a day on social media and/or watching videos.  Spending only about 12 minutes a day will enable a person to read the Whole Bible in a year.

Some Christians have read the New Testament but do not feel that it is necessary to read the Old Testament.  However, there are countless connections between the two.  Everytime I read the whole Bible over several months, I see amazing and astouncing connections that I had not noticed before.

There are numerous verses and passages in the New Testament that have direct references to portions of the Old Testament.  Also, there are many prophecies in the Old Testament that are fulfilled in the New Testament.  The latter include descriptions of events in the life of the coming Messiah, Jesus, centuries before He was even born.  One example is the entire chapter of Isaiah 53.

In my first entry (on Jan. 1) this year, a section provides ways to read the Bible straight through in a year.  There also is a way to skip around the Bible while reading it, which is what I prefer to do.  For those who have not read through the entire Bible, I highly recommend it.

The annual meeting of the World Economic Forum is taking place this week in Davos, Switzerland.  Senior economists from international agencies—including the International Monetary Fund, investment banks, multinationals and reinsurance groups—were surveyed.

Nearly two-thirds of the economists said that they expect a global recession to begin this year.  A majority of those surveyed feel that economic growth will be weak in the United States and very weak in Europe.

WEF Managing Director Saadia Zahidi said, “With two-thirds of chief economists expecting a worldwide recession in 2023, the global economy is in a precarious position.  The current high inflation, low growth, high debt, and high fragmentation environment reduces incentives for the investments needed to get back to growth and raise living standards for the world’s most vulnerable.”  She added, “Leaders must look beyond today’s crises to invest in food and energy innovation, education and skills development, and in job-creating, high-potential markets of tomorrow.  There is no time to lose.”

Today is a federal holiday honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.  He would have been 94 years old on Jan. 15.

       
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At Olive Tree Ministries this weekend, Jan Markell spent the hour with Amir Tsarfati and Pastor Barry Stagner in part one of a two-part program.  They cover some of the questions in their new book, Bible Prophecy: The Essentials – Answers to Your Most Common Questions.

They considered questions surrounding the Church, Israel, the Rapture, the Tribulation, the Millennium, Heaven, and more.  In this age of uncertainty, they feel that we can know the details of our future with relative certainty.

There are various millennial views.  An increasingly prominent view is that the Millennium, mentioned six times in Revelation 20, is not a literal period of time.  Rather, they believe that it is a figurative and spiritualized term, describing the time in which we now live when Jesus is ruling on a heavenly throne in heaven and/or is ruling in the hearts of believers on Earth.

In the past, Israel has broken their covenant with God several times—including a widespread rejection of their true Messiah, Jesus, almost two thousand years ago.  Their repeated breaking of the covenant resulted in God’s punishment coming upon Israel in various ways.  Typically, though, Israel has repented and turned back toward God.  Then He has repeatedly reinstated His everlasting covenant with His chosen people and nation, Israel (Genesis 17:7; 1 Kings 9:4,5; Jeremiah 31:31-37, 32:40; Psalm 89:3,4; 2 Chronicles 13:5).

However, many Christians have developed the notion that God has completely and permanently rejected and abandoned Israel.  They incorrectly believe that the Church has “replaced” Israel, which is referred to as replacement theology or supersessionism.  Yet, a time is coming when God will make a new covenant with Israel, incorporating His laws into their minds and hearts, and they will be His chosen people again, forevermore.

Jan noted that another false teaching in the Church is Kingdom Now, Dominion Theology, Reconstructionism, the Restoration Movement—also known as “liberation theology.”  The belief is that the Church will make the world perfect prior to Jesus’ return back to earth.  Essentially, they erroneously think that we can achieve a “heaven on earth” status before Jesus returns.  In other words, they believe that Christ cannot return until the Church has established dominion over all the nations of the world.  This notion is blatantly fallacious.

         

         

         
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Today’s program, lasting 54 minutes, can be heard here:

The United States Secretary of the Treasury, Janet Yellen, has sent a letter of warning to members of Congress concerning the U.S. statutory debt limit:

The statutory debt limit, often referred to as the U.S. debt ceiling, is the limit set by Congress for the amount of debt that the U.S. government can take on.  It also includes interest payments on existing debt.  Once the government reaches the statutory debt limit, it cannot take on new obligations.

In her letter, Yellen informed the Congress that, beginning on January 19, the outstanding debt of the United States is projected to reach the statutory limit of $31.381 trillion.  Once that limit is reached, the U.S. Treasury must take some extraordinary measures to prevent the U.S. from defaulting on its obligations.  If a default were to happen, as soon as early June, it would be the first time in history that the U.S. would default on any of its obligations.

Yellen wrote, “It is therefore critical that Congress act in a timely manner to increase or suspend the debt limit.  Failure to meet the government’s obligations would cause irreparable harm to the U.S. economy, the livelihoods of all Americans, and global financial stability.”

The U.S. and much of the world have been experiencing escalating inflation due to the COVID pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and other factors.  Forecasts suggest that a U.S. default on its debt limit could quickly bury the country in a deep recession and cause a crash of financial markets.

Over 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease today, mostly people age 65 and older.  It is the 6th leading cause of death in the USA, killing more people than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined.  Currently, there is no prevention or cure for Alzheimer’s.

Causes of Alzheimer’s are not well understood.  However, risk factors include genetics, head injuries, depression and hypertension.

Early detection of Alzheimer’s is very important.  Without it, our loved ones may wait too long to make necessary lifestyle changes to ensure that all medical care options are explored.

These options range from medications to research.  Other considerations include personal safety, quality of care, and making necessary financial and estate planning adjustments.

Last night and into this morning, all flights nationwide in the U.S. were grounded.  Hundreds of flights were cancelled.  The problem was due to an outage in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) software.

The FAA ordered airlines to pause all domestic departures until 9:00 a.m. EST this morning.  Since then, flights have been allowed to take off and land.  However, flight delays are growing at airports across the country.

In a notice on the FAA website, it said that its Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system had “failed” and led to the grounding of flights.  The NOTAM system notifies workers of flight operations of essential information.

The FAA released the following statement:  “The FAA is working to restore its Notice to Air Missions System.  We are performing final validation checks and reloading the system now.  Operations across the National Airspace System are affected.”  A full investigation is being conducted by the Department of Transportation (DOT).

Last night, House Republicans on Monday approved news rules for the chamber for the next two years.  This is the first major legislative action after the chaotic and historic process last week of electing Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) as House speaker.

McCarthy had offered multiple concessions to his GOP critics to receive enough votes to become speaker.  This included changes in rules on Capitol Hill, where Democrats have been in control for the last two years.  The new rules also underline what is likely to be a period of tension with the Democratic Senate and Biden White House, such as on spending.

Some of the rule changes include the following:

1.  motion to vacate the speaker’s chair
2.  increased amendments to spending bills
3.  new spending counterbalanced with cuts
4.  defense spending cuts
5.  subcommittee to investigate
6.  Holman Rule

Today, President Biden and Secretary of Homeland Security Mayorkas traveled to El Paso, Texas.  It was the first time, as president, that Biden has visited the U.S.-Mexico border.

Governor Abbott of Texas handed Biden a one-page letter when he arrived in Texas.  One statement in the letter said, “You have violated your constitutional obligation to defend the States against invasion through faithful execution of federal laws.  This chaos is the direct result of your failure to enforce the immigration laws that Congress enacted.”  It also included improvements for border security that Abbott would like to see.

Following their visit to El Paso, Biden and Mayorkas continued on Air Force One to Mexico City.  While there, they will meet with Mexican President Obrador and Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau for a three-day summit, beginning tomorrow, on energy, economic cooperation, immigration and drug trafficking, especially fentanyl.

At Olive Tree Ministries this weekend, Jan Markell spent the hour with Pastor Brandon Holthaus.  They talked about how there is an intensity of demonic attacks against believers.

What is their entry point and are associations suspect?  The Church participates with its mystical practices and is being influenced by fallen angels.  The presence of these fallen angels, spread out all over the planet, is how Satan counterfeits being omnipresent.

Sometimes there are items in homes that invite the attacks.  Sorcery will rage in the Tribulation, so we are seeing a set-up for this.  “Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”

There was a push at the World Government Summit in 2022 for a global blockchain or digital currency.  There will be an almost perfect record of every transaction that happens in the economy.  It will raise huge dangers in terms of the balance of power between states and citizens.  Through people’s digital IDs, their banking details, medical information, ESG scores, and comings and goings will be monitored.  It will be a major part of the ultimate surveillance of humanity.

         

         

         
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Today’s program, lasting 55 minutes, can be heard here:

There have been eleven rounds of voting for the U.S. House speaker so far this week, during which no speaker was elected.  Earlier today, there were two additional rounds of voting with no election of a speaker taking place.

The House members took a break for several hours and reconvened again tonight at 10:00 p.m. EST.  A fourteenth round of voting took place.

After almost 1½ hour, the voting was completed.  Kevin McCarthy needed 217 votes to become speaker.  However, he was short just 1 vote, receiving 216 votes—the most he has received in any round of voting all week.  Hakeem Jeffries received 212 votes.

Yet, a fifteenth round of voting took place late tonight and into the early morning of January 7.  A few Republicans voted “present” in the final round.  This lowered the vote threshold from 217 votes to 216 votes to win the election for speaker.

Representative Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) had voted against McCarthy in the first fourteen rounds of the election.  Yet, he changed his vote to “present” in the fifteenth round, giving McCarthy his 216-vote victory.  President Biden put out a statement congratulating McCarthy for his win.  Speaker McCarthy now is the 55th House speaker and is next in line to the presidency after Vice President Harris.

As McCarthy stepped off the House floor after the final vote, he was heard to say, “Glad it’s over!”  There should be numerous reports during January 7 that Representative Kevin McCarthy (R-California) has won the position of U.S. House speaker.

In six rounds of votes for a new speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives during the past two days, the GOP House members were unable to coalesce behind a single candidate.  The House reconvened today for a seventh round of voting.

After five rounds of voting today, there still was no speaker elected.  This brings the total number of rounds of voting, over three days, to eleven.  In the final vote today, Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) received 200 votes, while Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) received 212 votes.  At least 218 votes is required for someone to become speaker.

A vote of 219 to 213 was made to adjourn for the day.  Tomorrow, at noon EST, a fourth day of votes will begin with the twelfth round of voting.

The record for the most drawn-out House speaker election was set in 1855/56, with 133 rounds of voting during the 34th session of Congress.  The speaker election last surpassed nine rounds in 1859/60, when a speaker was elected after 44 rounds of voting during the 36th session of Congress.  McCarthy previously made history on Tuesday when he became the first lead candidate since 1923 to fail to win on the first ballot.

The first three rounds of votes for a new speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives took place yesterday (Jan. 3).  No House speaker was elected, so they adjourned for the day.

Today, all 434 House members showed up again.  Throughout the afternoon, they took three more rounds of votes.  Finally, after several hours and after a few hours following the sixth round of votes, the House reconvened again shortly after 8:00 p.m. EST.  However, no more votes were taken because they voted 216 to 214 to adjourn for the day.

Kevin McCarthy’s main challenger yesterday was Representative Jim Jordan from Ohio, who received up to 20 votes from Republicans.  However, today, Representative Byron Donalds from Florida received 20 votes in every round of votes.

Tonight, Kevin McCarthy indicated that he feels he is getting closer to the speakership, due to discussions that have been going on among himself and other House members.  Time will tell.  The House members will reassemble again tomorrow at noon EST and begin with the seventh round of voting.  It is unknown how long it will take to elect a new House speaker.

The 118th U.S. Congress convened in Washington, DC, today.  The newly-elected Congress assembles every two years, on January 3, at 12:00 p.m. EST.  The first item of business always is to elect a House speaker.  Until a speaker is elected and the House members are sworn in, no other business can be conducted by the House.

All 434 House members showed up: 222 Republicans and 212 Democrats.  This did not include a Democrat, Donald McEachin of Virginia, who died in late November shortly after winning a fourth term.

A nominee needed at least 118 votes to become the House speaker.  This is half the number of the 434 representatives plus one vote (217 + 1 = 218).  Today, for the first time in a century (since 1923), a new speaker was not elected on the first round of voting.  In fact, after two additional rounds of voting, no one had received at least 218 votes.

During the first, second and third rounds of voting, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries from New York received 212 votes from the 212 House Democrats.  Kevin McCarthy from California received a variable number of votes in each round of voting.  In the third round, McCarthy received 202 votes, which was 10 less than the number of votes received by Jeffries.

Following the third round of voting, with no House speaker elected, the House adjourned for the day.  This will countinue tomorrow, beginning with the fourth round of voting, and will continue for an indefinite period of time.  It possibly could take days for a new speaker to be chosen.

The last speaker election to go beyond the first ballot was in 1923.  Members took nine tries to name Frederick Gillett (R-Mass.) to the position of House speaker.  If the voting drags on for days, House members can change the election rules by passing a resolution allowing whoever gets a simple majority of votes to become speaker, regardless of absences or “present” votes.

In 2022, there were widespread fears of a recession in the U.S. and globally.  In an effort to reduce inflation and decrease the possibility of a recession, the U.S. Federal Reserve hiked interest rates seven times and have indicated that the interest rate increases will continue in 2023:

1.  0.25% point on March 16
2.  0.50% point on May 1
3.  0.75% point on June 15
4.  0.75% point on July 27
5.  0.75% point on September 21
6.  0.75% point on November 2
7.  0.50% point on December 14

Last month, a Bloomberg monthly survey of economists indicated that they believe the likelihood of a recession in 2023 is 70%.  That was more than double the amount of 30% in the same survey six months earlier in June.

The chief of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) believes that a recession in 2023 will impact one-third of the entire global economy.  She says reports indicate that the economy in 2023 will be more difficult than in 2022 as the United States, Europe and China—the main engines of global growth—will see their economies slow down.

Happy New Year!  I hope that 2023 is a good, favorable and prosperous year for you and yours.  Hopefully, you didn’t spend too much money on fireworks. 

       
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Below is a link to my annual calendar and a list of 2023 holidays and observances that many like to download and tape to a wall nearby.  That is what I do, with the calendar on one side and the holidays/observances on the other side of one piece of paper.

This calendar is not meant to substitute for a 12-page calendar on which scheduled reminders can be written.  I have mine on the wall behind my desk and frequently use it as a quick reference for future dates.

Click on each image below and save the pages to your computer.  Then print out the two pages on either side of one piece of paper.

PDF

If you’ve never read the Bible straight through, from cover to cover, you might want to do it in 2023.  Go to the following page, print out the pages in PDF, HTML, DOCX or DOC format, and check off the passages as you read them:

Another option is a daily reading schedule that skips around the Bible.  I now prefer reading it this way myself.  Samaritan’s Purse has a yearly reading list, which I like, that does this.  You can download and print it in any of these three formats:

The Bible is God’s Law and Instruction Manual for life.  Don’t worry if you are unable to understand everything you read; eventually, God will give us answers to everything we wonder about.  One of the main things you will come to understand is God’s everlasting covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—see God’s Covenant: with Israel or the Church?

So in case you’ve never read the Bible all the way through, do it!  If you’ve done it before, do it again; you never can get too much of God’s written Word!  I am in the process of doing it now, which I have done numerous times before.

You can read one of a number of Bible versions at Bible Study Tools or at BibleGateway.com.  If you read it for an average of 15 minutes a night before bed, you will sleep better for a whole year. 

It always has puzzled me why some people like to sing while showering.  I don’t recall ever doing that myself.  The image below might demonstrate a good reason why not to do it.  Maybe this guy will make a new year’s resolution not to do it anymore.