Here is a poem I wrote recently about one of my good Aquinas College friends. One of my clear memories of Andy was his Volkswagen Beetle.
One day Jackie, now my dear wife whom I met at Aquinas, and I were out driving and she spots a Volkswagen Beetle. "Look" she says, "There is a car just like Andy's - only white". I laugh and Jackie says "What?". About two minutes later I spot a VW bug and say, "Look, there's a car just like Andy's - only red!" Another minute passes, a green VW goes by and I again repeat the phrase. After a few more my right shoulder is starting to ache from the pounding.
That was when I learned to be, how shall I say it? - more discrete. Instead of announcing each passing VW I would just chuckle quietly to myself. It worked. Now feeling bad for me Jackie started pointing out Andy's huge fleet of mystery cars.
A couple of years after graduation we attended Andy's wedding. A few weeks prior to that he got in a bad car accident, different car I'm sure, and the wedding was the last I saw of him. About 5 years ago however I received a friend request on Facebook from Andy. My initial reply, as you can appreciate from the poem below was, "Andy - You still got that music box?"
The Accordion
Andy had one of those last names
that ended in C H I C. We both
attended a Catholic college on
the West side of the state, but
Andy was an Eastern Orthodox
guy from DEE TROIT.
This was in the late sixties, early
seventies and Andy drove around
a blue Volkswagen Bug which carried
all his worldly possessions, including
his portable music box, white keys
and silver buttons framing a large
black chamber of moving air.
He loved all the current music of course.
On New Year's Eve Andy would record that
year's top 100 hits from W D what ever
onto another music box, this one running
a half inch of dark brown tape from one
six inch reel to another, speakers blaring
Mo Town and Chicago during parties held
in our rented house, or softly lulling Andy
to sleep later while sitting in his favorite
reclining chair.
And yet, when we went to someone
else's parties, Andy would bring
along his childhood companion.
When enough kegs were tapped and
drinks were mixed and if Andy was
feeling in the mood he'd saunter out
and grab from that little car's trunk
the pathway to another dimension.
Andy would role up his sleeves, ignite
the tip of one of his Marlboro's, close
his eyes and start playing that old
Jewish tune, Hava Nagila,
softly at first, then a bit more urgent,
then faster and faster until every slightly uptight
Catholic in that house were clapping and singing
and dancing in circles.
When the last note finished and the cheers
died down Andy would thank all who
bothered to say something nice, strap
his music box tight, glance over at me
with a look that said "Time to go"
and we would head back home, me to my
waiting bed and Andy to his chair of
worries, comforted once again by the low
sounds of harmony and brass.
Thursday, August 31, 2017
Sunday, August 13, 2017
Is the Solar Eclipse of August 21, 2017 a Warning to America?
Traditionally in Jewish history lunar eclipses are warnings for the nation of Israel and solar eclipses are warning signs for nations.
Next week on August 21 America will experience a total eclipse of the sun. It's path of totality will enter the U.S. from the Pacific Ocean near Salem, Oregon and exit near Charleston, South Carolina into the Atlantic. This is pretty rare. It's been almost 100 years (June 8, 1918) since a total eclipse has crossed our country. The last time a solar eclipse covered exclusively our nation was at it's beginning in 1776.
Interestingly, almost 7 years after the August 2017 eclipse comes another one on April 8, 2024. This time the path of the sun enters Texas from Mexico and exits from Maine into Canada.
The path of these two eclipses is over 70 miles wide and provides at it's midpoint about 2 minutes 40 seconds of totality for the 2017 eclipse and over 4 minutes for the 2024 one. As shown below they create an image of an X over our country, the direct intersection being a little village in Southern Illinois known as Makanda. Other cities in this cross section are Carbondale Illinois, Cape Gireadaeu, Missouri and Paducka, Kentucky.
Map of total solar eclipse over the United States - 2017 and 2024
Checking to see if there are any interesting facts about this area spiritually the following things can be noted. Makanda is a Hindu word basically translated as the mango tree (mango is the national tree of India).There are a couple of Hindu gods associated with mango fruit or mango leaves, one of which is Ganesh, the one with the elephant head. That god represents blessing and success which helps explain why I have seen so many of those little idols under plastic domes on the dashboards of people from India that I do driver tests for.
However, as I checked further I found a site on line called Babynuology which must be an astrology site. There the mango is identified as the king of the fruits and in Vedic astrology it's ruling element is the sun and it's moon element is Leo the lion. Checking another site I found that the position of the sun and moon on August 21 will be smack dab in the middle of the constellation Leo (the stars of which will become visible during the eclipse), right next to the brightest star Regulus (known as "the heart of the king", or in Latin, "The Prince" or "The Little King").
From another site I found a list of all the number 33's associated with this eclipse. Just to get you up to speed on the meaning of numbers in Scripture, the number 11 is usually associated with judgment. Bullinger says in his book - Number In Scripture - that if 10 represents the perfection of divine order then 11 is an addition to it, subversive of and undoing that order. If 12 is the number which marks the perfection of divine government then 11 (whether 10+1 or 12-1) is the number which marks disorder, disorganization, imperfection and disintegration.
33 is a multiple of 11 (11 x 3). The sun will enter the U.S. at Lincoln, Oregon, which is our 33rd state. It will exit from Key Beech, South Carolina, which is at the 33rd degree latitude. It has been 99 years (33 x 3) since the last eclipse of this kind and 33 days later in September we will have seen the great sign of Virgo in the heavens which is mentioned in Revelation 12 (the woman with the crown of 12 stars who gives birth to the man child). More on the possible meaning of this sign in the heavens at a later post.
Other things to note:
Carbon (root of Carbondale, is the 6th element and it is made up of 6 protons, 6 electrons and 6 neutrons (6-6-6 - well known reference to the Antichrist).
August 21, 2017 is Ehul 1 on the Jewish calendar. In Jewish tradition this marks the beginning of a 40 day period of repentance to prepare generally for the day of God's judgement and specifically for the upcoming Jewish feast days of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. Although I think the rapture of the Church, if on a Jewish feast day, will occur at some future Pentecost, many think that it will happen on a Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashana), which begins this year on Sept. 20, 2017. Ehul 1 begins with the blowing of the shofar. The Sign of Virgo happens on Sep. 23rd, 2017.
April 8th, 2014 happens on the Jewish month Nissan 1, which marks the beginning of the Jewish New Year.
In 1811 and 1812 the U.S. experienced a series of huge earthquakes, some of which were over 9 on the Richter scale. These occurred in an area known as the New Madrid fault, a lot of which is covered by the crossing routes of the two eclipses. Some have prophesied that the U.S. will be divided in two by a future major earthquake(s) happening in this area. Check the link below to see the area.
Map of New Madrid seismic activity
Although I am not predicting that judgment on the U.S. will begin then or that the rapture will come this September I am convinced that God is in control of the movements and timing of the sun, moon and stars and that we are indeed somewhere in the last days. Even if there will instead be 7 years of national blessing and revival between the two eclipses I am convinced that these two crossings are a call for the Church and our nation to repent and to pray as never before.
Here is a poem I wrote about this.
Total Eclipse of August 21
There are stories we've been told by men with lying lips
who weave their interesting tales, sure facts until one slips
and so begins the terrors of the next great full eclipse
I'm told that darkness will extend from shore to shining shore
beginning west in Oregon, then east southeast will tore
South Carolina where it ends, the ocean it will pour
And in the path of full darkness, seventy miles wide
lasting two full minutes long, that's quite a solar ride
but all this is a warning shot concerning nation's pride
About a hundred years ago was last it crossed complete
we entered war to end all wars that leveled the elite
but came out later standing tall, strong arms and on two feet
Yet now the nation's at a point of body, spirit, souls
the air's a mess of boiling clouds with darkness at the poles
the question - do we change and heal - the answer be - who knows?
Next week on August 21 America will experience a total eclipse of the sun. It's path of totality will enter the U.S. from the Pacific Ocean near Salem, Oregon and exit near Charleston, South Carolina into the Atlantic. This is pretty rare. It's been almost 100 years (June 8, 1918) since a total eclipse has crossed our country. The last time a solar eclipse covered exclusively our nation was at it's beginning in 1776.
Interestingly, almost 7 years after the August 2017 eclipse comes another one on April 8, 2024. This time the path of the sun enters Texas from Mexico and exits from Maine into Canada.
The path of these two eclipses is over 70 miles wide and provides at it's midpoint about 2 minutes 40 seconds of totality for the 2017 eclipse and over 4 minutes for the 2024 one. As shown below they create an image of an X over our country, the direct intersection being a little village in Southern Illinois known as Makanda. Other cities in this cross section are Carbondale Illinois, Cape Gireadaeu, Missouri and Paducka, Kentucky.
Map of total solar eclipse over the United States - 2017 and 2024
Checking to see if there are any interesting facts about this area spiritually the following things can be noted. Makanda is a Hindu word basically translated as the mango tree (mango is the national tree of India).There are a couple of Hindu gods associated with mango fruit or mango leaves, one of which is Ganesh, the one with the elephant head. That god represents blessing and success which helps explain why I have seen so many of those little idols under plastic domes on the dashboards of people from India that I do driver tests for.
However, as I checked further I found a site on line called Babynuology which must be an astrology site. There the mango is identified as the king of the fruits and in Vedic astrology it's ruling element is the sun and it's moon element is Leo the lion. Checking another site I found that the position of the sun and moon on August 21 will be smack dab in the middle of the constellation Leo (the stars of which will become visible during the eclipse), right next to the brightest star Regulus (known as "the heart of the king", or in Latin, "The Prince" or "The Little King").
From another site I found a list of all the number 33's associated with this eclipse. Just to get you up to speed on the meaning of numbers in Scripture, the number 11 is usually associated with judgment. Bullinger says in his book - Number In Scripture - that if 10 represents the perfection of divine order then 11 is an addition to it, subversive of and undoing that order. If 12 is the number which marks the perfection of divine government then 11 (whether 10+1 or 12-1) is the number which marks disorder, disorganization, imperfection and disintegration.
33 is a multiple of 11 (11 x 3). The sun will enter the U.S. at Lincoln, Oregon, which is our 33rd state. It will exit from Key Beech, South Carolina, which is at the 33rd degree latitude. It has been 99 years (33 x 3) since the last eclipse of this kind and 33 days later in September we will have seen the great sign of Virgo in the heavens which is mentioned in Revelation 12 (the woman with the crown of 12 stars who gives birth to the man child). More on the possible meaning of this sign in the heavens at a later post.
Other things to note:
Carbon (root of Carbondale, is the 6th element and it is made up of 6 protons, 6 electrons and 6 neutrons (6-6-6 - well known reference to the Antichrist).
August 21, 2017 is Ehul 1 on the Jewish calendar. In Jewish tradition this marks the beginning of a 40 day period of repentance to prepare generally for the day of God's judgement and specifically for the upcoming Jewish feast days of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. Although I think the rapture of the Church, if on a Jewish feast day, will occur at some future Pentecost, many think that it will happen on a Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashana), which begins this year on Sept. 20, 2017. Ehul 1 begins with the blowing of the shofar. The Sign of Virgo happens on Sep. 23rd, 2017.
April 8th, 2014 happens on the Jewish month Nissan 1, which marks the beginning of the Jewish New Year.
In 1811 and 1812 the U.S. experienced a series of huge earthquakes, some of which were over 9 on the Richter scale. These occurred in an area known as the New Madrid fault, a lot of which is covered by the crossing routes of the two eclipses. Some have prophesied that the U.S. will be divided in two by a future major earthquake(s) happening in this area. Check the link below to see the area.
Map of New Madrid seismic activity
Although I am not predicting that judgment on the U.S. will begin then or that the rapture will come this September I am convinced that God is in control of the movements and timing of the sun, moon and stars and that we are indeed somewhere in the last days. Even if there will instead be 7 years of national blessing and revival between the two eclipses I am convinced that these two crossings are a call for the Church and our nation to repent and to pray as never before.
Here is a poem I wrote about this.
Total Eclipse of August 21
There are stories we've been told by men with lying lips
who weave their interesting tales, sure facts until one slips
and so begins the terrors of the next great full eclipse
I'm told that darkness will extend from shore to shining shore
beginning west in Oregon, then east southeast will tore
South Carolina where it ends, the ocean it will pour
And in the path of full darkness, seventy miles wide
lasting two full minutes long, that's quite a solar ride
but all this is a warning shot concerning nation's pride
About a hundred years ago was last it crossed complete
we entered war to end all wars that leveled the elite
but came out later standing tall, strong arms and on two feet
Yet now the nation's at a point of body, spirit, souls
the air's a mess of boiling clouds with darkness at the poles
the question - do we change and heal - the answer be - who knows?
Sunday, August 6, 2017
Daisies and Poppies
This poem was inspired by a prophetic word we had this Sunday morning. Dave has been preaching the last two weeks on my favorite Scripture, Romans 8:1.
There is therefore now no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus.
In the word daisies represented life and poppies death.
Daisies and Poppies
She wandered the field
searching for daisies
but brought back poppies instead
then cradled those close
to her broken heart
while curled as a ball
in her bed
And the tears that were shed
while curled in that bed
came from loneliness and pain
of life that was lost
at a terrible cost
which she recalled again
and again
Through shutters then shone
while she lay there alone
bright light on that tear stained face
encouraging word
forgiveness assured
offered with kindness
and grace
And the grace that was hers
could also be yours
daisies fresh to brighten your day
cast those poppies aside
you'll have new life inside
from One who gave
His life away
There is therefore now no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus.
In the word daisies represented life and poppies death.
Daisies and Poppies
She wandered the field
searching for daisies
but brought back poppies instead
then cradled those close
to her broken heart
while curled as a ball
in her bed
And the tears that were shed
while curled in that bed
came from loneliness and pain
of life that was lost
at a terrible cost
which she recalled again
and again
Through shutters then shone
while she lay there alone
bright light on that tear stained face
encouraging word
forgiveness assured
offered with kindness
and grace
And the grace that was hers
could also be yours
daisies fresh to brighten your day
cast those poppies aside
you'll have new life inside
from One who gave
His life away
Sunday, July 16, 2017
The Explorer - Isaiah 53:6
The forest folded as I walked
into the great unknown
but carried on with slower pace
searched till the path was shown
past dew and damp and sticking thorns
down to a wandering creek
and there I stopped to contemplate
what future I should seek
just as I did a minnow jumped
beneath a floating branch
a darting cloud of tiny bugs
flew by as if by chance
and as I stood there lost in thought
a beam of sun shone through
down to my knees there in the mud
to follow what was true
all that I've done was just for me
like all I'd gone astray
He was the Lamb who shed His blood
for me, to show the way
into the great unknown
but carried on with slower pace
searched till the path was shown
past dew and damp and sticking thorns
down to a wandering creek
and there I stopped to contemplate
what future I should seek
just as I did a minnow jumped
beneath a floating branch
a darting cloud of tiny bugs
flew by as if by chance
and as I stood there lost in thought
a beam of sun shone through
down to my knees there in the mud
to follow what was true
all that I've done was just for me
like all I'd gone astray
He was the Lamb who shed His blood
for me, to show the way
Sunday, July 9, 2017
Spiritual Warfare
This is a review of the book - Spiritual Warfare - by Derek Prince, which I received from it's publisher Chosen Books.
Derek Prince, who died 2003 in Jerusalem, has always been one of my favorite spiritual authors and speakers. His teachings via books or tapes or through his radio broadcasts were very influential in the early days of the Charismatic Renewal as well as in my life personally. One time I even heard him speak and watched him direct a team of healing ministers on a visit to Kalamazoo, Michigan, where I was living at the time.
He leaves behind a ministry organization which continues his radio broadcasts, distributes his thousands of writings, tapes, books and videos which go throughout the world, and from time to time they put his material together in book form. HERE is a link where I have blogged about another of his posthumous books which includes a story from his visit in Kalamazoo.
I have read quite a number of other books dealing with spiritual warfare and deliverance, including what I consider one of the classics by Prince called Deliver Us From Evil. This book - Spiritual Warfare - is quite different from the others in that it does not go into any details about deliverance or provide lists of spiritual strong holds for the reader to confess and apply the Word of God to. And in my opinion the center part of the book reflects a view of an overcoming Church in the last days which I have several problems with.
That said the teaching presented at beginning and end could not be more powerful or timely for today. Let me summarize it with one Scriptural verse from Revelation 12:11:
They overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony
This was made into a powerful worship song which takes this Scripture verse and brings it to us as a statement of faith: "We have overcome, by the blood of the Lamb and the strength of our testimony."
Here are some of the spiritual principles that Prince wants every believer to understand. I am only going to high lite just a few.
First, evil is a person, not a thing. We are in a struggle with the ruler of darkness who has evil spiritual minions assigned to torment us and to pull us away from the knowledge and love of the Father. Much of what we think is a physical or psychological struggle in our lives is actually a spiritual struggle with spiritual beings involved.
Second, by His death and resurrection Jesus has defeated the evil one and his forces. Because we have surrendered our lives to Jesus as Lord and Savior we have divine authority to overcome the kingdom of darkness.
Third, even though redeemed our ignorance of this spiritual battle empowers the evil one. Plus things that we do in the spiritual or attitudes we have, such as unforgiveness or harboring sin, give the evil one and his forces a legal right to torment and deceive us.
Fourth, we have three main weapons to use against evil spirits and their deceptions. These would be the Word of God (knowing and understanding the truth of Scripture), the blood of the Lamb (it is the shed blood of Jesus that both redeems us and gives us the legal right to defeat the evil forces), and the word of our testimony (we must declare the truth of the Word as well as declare, not just the blood of Jesus, but that we have authority because Jesus shed His blood for us, for me personally).
When we declare the Word, and testify to the shed blood for us, the Holy Spirit will always be at work. He is the true power behind everything we do.
In the last couple of chapters Derek Prince teaches quite a bit about the blood of Jesus and how to apply it to the situation in our lives. This is something that all Christians should understand and a main part of what makes Spiritual Warfare an important read.
Derek Prince, who died 2003 in Jerusalem, has always been one of my favorite spiritual authors and speakers. His teachings via books or tapes or through his radio broadcasts were very influential in the early days of the Charismatic Renewal as well as in my life personally. One time I even heard him speak and watched him direct a team of healing ministers on a visit to Kalamazoo, Michigan, where I was living at the time.
He leaves behind a ministry organization which continues his radio broadcasts, distributes his thousands of writings, tapes, books and videos which go throughout the world, and from time to time they put his material together in book form. HERE is a link where I have blogged about another of his posthumous books which includes a story from his visit in Kalamazoo.
I have read quite a number of other books dealing with spiritual warfare and deliverance, including what I consider one of the classics by Prince called Deliver Us From Evil. This book - Spiritual Warfare - is quite different from the others in that it does not go into any details about deliverance or provide lists of spiritual strong holds for the reader to confess and apply the Word of God to. And in my opinion the center part of the book reflects a view of an overcoming Church in the last days which I have several problems with.
That said the teaching presented at beginning and end could not be more powerful or timely for today. Let me summarize it with one Scriptural verse from Revelation 12:11:
They overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony
This was made into a powerful worship song which takes this Scripture verse and brings it to us as a statement of faith: "We have overcome, by the blood of the Lamb and the strength of our testimony."
Here are some of the spiritual principles that Prince wants every believer to understand. I am only going to high lite just a few.
First, evil is a person, not a thing. We are in a struggle with the ruler of darkness who has evil spiritual minions assigned to torment us and to pull us away from the knowledge and love of the Father. Much of what we think is a physical or psychological struggle in our lives is actually a spiritual struggle with spiritual beings involved.
Second, by His death and resurrection Jesus has defeated the evil one and his forces. Because we have surrendered our lives to Jesus as Lord and Savior we have divine authority to overcome the kingdom of darkness.
Third, even though redeemed our ignorance of this spiritual battle empowers the evil one. Plus things that we do in the spiritual or attitudes we have, such as unforgiveness or harboring sin, give the evil one and his forces a legal right to torment and deceive us.
Fourth, we have three main weapons to use against evil spirits and their deceptions. These would be the Word of God (knowing and understanding the truth of Scripture), the blood of the Lamb (it is the shed blood of Jesus that both redeems us and gives us the legal right to defeat the evil forces), and the word of our testimony (we must declare the truth of the Word as well as declare, not just the blood of Jesus, but that we have authority because Jesus shed His blood for us, for me personally).
When we declare the Word, and testify to the shed blood for us, the Holy Spirit will always be at work. He is the true power behind everything we do.
In the last couple of chapters Derek Prince teaches quite a bit about the blood of Jesus and how to apply it to the situation in our lives. This is something that all Christians should understand and a main part of what makes Spiritual Warfare an important read.
Wednesday, July 5, 2017
As It Was In The Days Of Noah
This last week Jackie and I ventured south to northern Kentucky and visited the Creation Museum, the Ark Encounter and then did zip lining at the course next to the Ark. It all was great fun.
I do believe in a literal Adam and Eve, an actual world wide flood and ark built by Noah and that God created and designed each species with the ability to change in multiple ways within limits. That said, I was disappointed with how the Creation Museum presented the arguments for specific creation verses evolution, I thought the Ark Encounter was amazing, and zip lining was a blast. Here is a poem I wrote about that activity:
Zip Lining As A Senior
Astride Noah's Ark
on an afternoon lark
we did Zip Line Adventure
They loaded with gear
so we wouldn't fear
a mistaken quench her
Harness, helmets, gloves
first hesitation shoves
down and out screams
Climb the next stair
up to the top lair
my helmet kept hitting the beams
Fourth time I clunked
went into a funk
wondering how stupid I was
Always looked down
at stairs or the ground
BANG! My head's in a fuzz
Now back to the review. My problem with the Creation Museum was this. Although about a quarter of the displays are evangelical (the world is going to hell, teenagers do drugs and rebel against their parents, Adam sinned now all men are sinners, Jesus is the second Adam and died as as God's chosen sacrifice to take away our sin, etc.) that and the other displays actually seemed designed to comfort the believer instead of actually presenting either the gospel or specific creation arguments in a way that would convince the skeptic or capture the attention of the young generation.
Let me give you just one example. At some point through the museum you come to a display case which shows a copy of the bones know as Lucy, which was a small ape like creature supposedly with a pelvis that would enable it to walk upright. This was one of the evolutionary proofs of transitional species. Near that was the Creation Museum's rendition of what Lucy would look like with chimpanzee hair, hands and facial features, standing of course on all four legs and looking very much like a juvenile chimp.
Now, I'm already familiar with the apologetics presented by creationists and AIG (Answers In Genesis - sponsors of the Creation Museum) regarding this. But for someone else who is not, who walks by and briefly scans the small print, without someone to logically lay out the argument, this will do nothing. It is a display laid out to show those who already believe. For skeptics or for our youth who have a world of information at their fingertips, in full color and in audio, this does not work.
One time I heard a scientist on TV talking about the design and functions of a simple feather. Turns out there is nothing simple about feathers. They have multiple parts, each part needed to allow the other parts to function. I was glued to his presentation because I could see and hear how it all worked together. And the obvious point in the debate is: Why would all these parts develop randomly over tens of thousands of years by natural selection if none by themselves would be a benefit until all came together?
I think we are in a losing battle not just for the heart but also for the mind and if indeed the Creation Museum wants to take part in that war then it needs to rethink everything.
And the other hand, the same people have given us the Ark Encounter, and I loved it. Here is a case where the visuals are everything. It is a life sized imagination of what Noah's ark might have looked like according to the dimensions and descriptions found in Genesis and I wanted to see it - JUST TO SEE IT!
The Ark Park is just off the expressway. You take a winding road and then come to the entrance, which reminds you of the entrance to Jurassic Park (genius!). From there you come to the large parking lots and visible from the lots, sitting high upon a hill, is this huge wooden structure, the ARK. This is also the way it should be. The Ark was probably built up high for safety when the flood waters came but it also presents of picture of the Ark resting on the mountains of Ararat after the flood.
Buses take you from the ticket areas, up a winding road, and drop you off near a structure which looks massive from the ground. There is a ramp on the side of the Ark (not for visitors) that leads to a single large door in the side. The visual on this is also important. Just as there was only one way for all the animals plus Noah and seven more to enter into the Ark, the door then closed by God and the people and animals then delivered from God's judgment, so there is only one door for all mankind to enter to avoid judgment. And that is our Ark, Jesus Christ.
Inside there are three large levels, clean, easy to walk, which display cages for all sorts of animals, food and water storage, waste removal and much more. There is also a lot of information to read and we were lucky to have come when it was not so crowded. The views inside are impressive, you can smell the wood and see how this could have been done. And that's the point.
There are two videos shown which tie into the Ark that present the gospel and they are also very well done.
If there is a negative I would point out two things. The tickets are $40 per adult (as seniors Jackie and I paid $31 each) and I believe kids are something like $24 ea., so not cheap although we spent 3 hours inside the Ark and if busy it might take 5 hours. Plus parking is $10.
The second would be the music. OK, OK, the music, which starts at the ticket areas, continues on in the buses, and follows throughout the Ark (except for storm sounds when you enter) is very effective for creating a mood. However Jackie described it as "swami music", which if you don't know what I mean then think of a MGM movie with a snake charmer girl coming out of a large vase.
We are very much now in a time just like in the days of Noah. Jesus is coming back soon and then worldwide judgment is coming. Maybe there will be revival and restoration before that, maybe not, but the clocks keeps ticking.
Let me leave you with the words from 2 Peter, chapter 3, beginning with verse 3:
Know that first of all that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts
and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.
For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water,
through which the world at that time was destroyed being flooded with water.
But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
Last night it was the forth of July. Jackie and I went outside and there were booms and pops and sizzles and rocket whistles around our house in the distance and nearby from every direction. We thanked the Lord that this was a celebration night and that we were not like so many who hear the same sounds and have to hide in their basements.
The Ark reminds us that God is holy and that sin and rebellion will not be allowed to go on indefinitely. But it also displays His abundant mercy and provision for all that will repent and come to Him.
I do believe in a literal Adam and Eve, an actual world wide flood and ark built by Noah and that God created and designed each species with the ability to change in multiple ways within limits. That said, I was disappointed with how the Creation Museum presented the arguments for specific creation verses evolution, I thought the Ark Encounter was amazing, and zip lining was a blast. Here is a poem I wrote about that activity:
Zip Lining As A Senior
Astride Noah's Ark
on an afternoon lark
we did Zip Line Adventure
They loaded with gear
so we wouldn't fear
a mistaken quench her
Harness, helmets, gloves
first hesitation shoves
down and out screams
Climb the next stair
up to the top lair
my helmet kept hitting the beams
Fourth time I clunked
went into a funk
wondering how stupid I was
Always looked down
at stairs or the ground
BANG! My head's in a fuzz
Now back to the review. My problem with the Creation Museum was this. Although about a quarter of the displays are evangelical (the world is going to hell, teenagers do drugs and rebel against their parents, Adam sinned now all men are sinners, Jesus is the second Adam and died as as God's chosen sacrifice to take away our sin, etc.) that and the other displays actually seemed designed to comfort the believer instead of actually presenting either the gospel or specific creation arguments in a way that would convince the skeptic or capture the attention of the young generation.
Let me give you just one example. At some point through the museum you come to a display case which shows a copy of the bones know as Lucy, which was a small ape like creature supposedly with a pelvis that would enable it to walk upright. This was one of the evolutionary proofs of transitional species. Near that was the Creation Museum's rendition of what Lucy would look like with chimpanzee hair, hands and facial features, standing of course on all four legs and looking very much like a juvenile chimp.
Now, I'm already familiar with the apologetics presented by creationists and AIG (Answers In Genesis - sponsors of the Creation Museum) regarding this. But for someone else who is not, who walks by and briefly scans the small print, without someone to logically lay out the argument, this will do nothing. It is a display laid out to show those who already believe. For skeptics or for our youth who have a world of information at their fingertips, in full color and in audio, this does not work.
One time I heard a scientist on TV talking about the design and functions of a simple feather. Turns out there is nothing simple about feathers. They have multiple parts, each part needed to allow the other parts to function. I was glued to his presentation because I could see and hear how it all worked together. And the obvious point in the debate is: Why would all these parts develop randomly over tens of thousands of years by natural selection if none by themselves would be a benefit until all came together?
I think we are in a losing battle not just for the heart but also for the mind and if indeed the Creation Museum wants to take part in that war then it needs to rethink everything.
And the other hand, the same people have given us the Ark Encounter, and I loved it. Here is a case where the visuals are everything. It is a life sized imagination of what Noah's ark might have looked like according to the dimensions and descriptions found in Genesis and I wanted to see it - JUST TO SEE IT!
The Ark Park is just off the expressway. You take a winding road and then come to the entrance, which reminds you of the entrance to Jurassic Park (genius!). From there you come to the large parking lots and visible from the lots, sitting high upon a hill, is this huge wooden structure, the ARK. This is also the way it should be. The Ark was probably built up high for safety when the flood waters came but it also presents of picture of the Ark resting on the mountains of Ararat after the flood.
Buses take you from the ticket areas, up a winding road, and drop you off near a structure which looks massive from the ground. There is a ramp on the side of the Ark (not for visitors) that leads to a single large door in the side. The visual on this is also important. Just as there was only one way for all the animals plus Noah and seven more to enter into the Ark, the door then closed by God and the people and animals then delivered from God's judgment, so there is only one door for all mankind to enter to avoid judgment. And that is our Ark, Jesus Christ.
Inside there are three large levels, clean, easy to walk, which display cages for all sorts of animals, food and water storage, waste removal and much more. There is also a lot of information to read and we were lucky to have come when it was not so crowded. The views inside are impressive, you can smell the wood and see how this could have been done. And that's the point.
There are two videos shown which tie into the Ark that present the gospel and they are also very well done.
If there is a negative I would point out two things. The tickets are $40 per adult (as seniors Jackie and I paid $31 each) and I believe kids are something like $24 ea., so not cheap although we spent 3 hours inside the Ark and if busy it might take 5 hours. Plus parking is $10.
The second would be the music. OK, OK, the music, which starts at the ticket areas, continues on in the buses, and follows throughout the Ark (except for storm sounds when you enter) is very effective for creating a mood. However Jackie described it as "swami music", which if you don't know what I mean then think of a MGM movie with a snake charmer girl coming out of a large vase.
We are very much now in a time just like in the days of Noah. Jesus is coming back soon and then worldwide judgment is coming. Maybe there will be revival and restoration before that, maybe not, but the clocks keeps ticking.
Let me leave you with the words from 2 Peter, chapter 3, beginning with verse 3:
Know that first of all that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts
and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.
For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water,
through which the world at that time was destroyed being flooded with water.
But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
Last night it was the forth of July. Jackie and I went outside and there were booms and pops and sizzles and rocket whistles around our house in the distance and nearby from every direction. We thanked the Lord that this was a celebration night and that we were not like so many who hear the same sounds and have to hide in their basements.
The Ark reminds us that God is holy and that sin and rebellion will not be allowed to go on indefinitely. But it also displays His abundant mercy and provision for all that will repent and come to Him.
Saturday, June 24, 2017
Holy Spirit Power
Let me tell you about the Spirit of Power
sent from the Father and Son one fine hour
when women and men were gathered in prayer
one hundred and twenty were said to be there
a loud rushing wind announcing His coming
then tongues of hot fire to get them all humming
in languages heard by citizens gathered
from dozens of countries where Jews had been scattered
which spoke of the greatness of God now proclaiming
what is this new wonder they all were exclaiming
so Peter got up to explain this strange show
and talked about Jesus beginning with Joel
who said that our God would pour out His Spirit
with visions and dreams so lost men would hear it
proclaimed to the ends of a very big earth
that Jesus has died so all could have worth
and the good news for us who sit here and read
is that Spirit still moves in power and deed
giving gifts to all people reborn in Christ Jesus
to build up the church and not just to please us
although some indeed do comfort our soul
to mold us and form us so we will be whole
and these we call fruits like love, peace and joy
or patience, long-suffering and others, oh boy!
yet now we must mention to build up the body
apostles and prophets and teachers not shoddy
and even today greater works we will see
with miracles, healing and wonders for thee
divine words of knowledge and wisdom are shared
tongues with interpretation also are paired
which calls for discernment a most vital gift
what spirit or prophetic word it must sift
and last but not least for our private prayers
the Spirit with tongues of languages shares
when our understanding falters and fails
and we groan to the Father not knowing details
I've prayed in this way for forty-five years
seen people healed and delivered from fears
opened the Word setting my heart afire
all this and much more for you my desire
sent from the Father and Son one fine hour
when women and men were gathered in prayer
one hundred and twenty were said to be there
a loud rushing wind announcing His coming
then tongues of hot fire to get them all humming
in languages heard by citizens gathered
from dozens of countries where Jews had been scattered
which spoke of the greatness of God now proclaiming
what is this new wonder they all were exclaiming
so Peter got up to explain this strange show
and talked about Jesus beginning with Joel
who said that our God would pour out His Spirit
with visions and dreams so lost men would hear it
proclaimed to the ends of a very big earth
that Jesus has died so all could have worth
and the good news for us who sit here and read
is that Spirit still moves in power and deed
giving gifts to all people reborn in Christ Jesus
to build up the church and not just to please us
although some indeed do comfort our soul
to mold us and form us so we will be whole
and these we call fruits like love, peace and joy
or patience, long-suffering and others, oh boy!
yet now we must mention to build up the body
apostles and prophets and teachers not shoddy
and even today greater works we will see
with miracles, healing and wonders for thee
divine words of knowledge and wisdom are shared
tongues with interpretation also are paired
which calls for discernment a most vital gift
what spirit or prophetic word it must sift
and last but not least for our private prayers
the Spirit with tongues of languages shares
when our understanding falters and fails
and we groan to the Father not knowing details
I've prayed in this way for forty-five years
seen people healed and delivered from fears
opened the Word setting my heart afire
all this and much more for you my desire
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