ThePilgrim

The better part of valor might be instead of attempting to dodge the ram, you might meet him head on with a Dodge Ram. 

Notice the conclusion of the matter from Jesus:
Mt 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Mt 24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mt 24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
Mt 24:39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be................
Everything will be going on as if all things are the same old, same old. We've been warned the end is coming, just as the people of Noah's day were warned, but people didn't see any signs of such being true so they went about their lives as usual. The same today, people have been warned for about 2,000 years now the end is coming but with no signs this is actually upon us the people pay no heed and go about life as usual.
When Christ returns people will be surprised. Even the faithful won't know His return is upon us, but the faithful will be living with the expectation Christ could return at any moment so we need to be about His business now.
Scripture is filled with more than enough to make it clear that Christ is returning and He could return at any moment. No sign or announcement from heaven is needed. We've been warned. Followers of Christ are to share that warning.
Those looking for signs often eventually become disappointed and backslide or fall away. So many "signs" throughout the centuries have been pointed to and yet Christ did not return, the end of the world didn't happen, many peoples hearts grew disillusioned and disheartened from the "signs" not proving true. The Black Death, WWI, Nazi Germany, nuclear bombs, Soviet Union, EU, and more weather related happenings than can be numbered along with a host of other events have all been pointed to as the sign or signs Christ would be here any day now.
Many folks got caught up in all the Cold War "signs" which were followed by the Left Behind craze and now after hearing look here, now look here, no, now look at this, and yet none of the predictions come true, the signs come and go, many hearts have waxed cold. This is one of the reasons for the growing trend of Christians moving away from the pre-trib rapture view to other views.
It's like the boy crying wolf over and over again so that many people today have hearts hardened not only to the sign pointers messages, but often even to the true Word of God being proclaimed about the return of Christ and coming end.

Too many Christians, especially secular, weak, immature and those unwittingly in such churches, as well as many others, aren't satisfied with what Scripture actually says. Rather than believe and live as Christ commands, they constantly look for the sensational, something new, something exciting, something popular. This keeps the hucksters, false preachers, mystics and others in good business.
These people latch on to the latest "new and exciting revelation", buy all they can on the topic while authors and book sellers rush to provide more for them to buy. Then when the "new and exciting" starts wearing off there is something else to take its place.
A few off the top of my head are: the Promise Keepers movement, Left Behind series, Purpose Driven Life, Prayer of Jabez, Four Blood Moons. There have been many more and will continue to be many more until Christ returns.

THE NIGHT WATCHMAN
Once upon a time the government had a vast scrap yard in the middle of a desert.
Congress said, “Someone may steal from it at night.”
So they created a night watchman position and hired a person for the job.
Then Congress said, “How does the watchman do his job without instruction?”
So they created a planning department and hired two people, one person to write the instructions, and one person to do time studies.
Then Congress said, “How will we know the night watchman is doing the tasks correctly?”
So they created a Quality Control department and hired two people. One was to do the studies and one was to write the reports.
Then Congress said, “How are these people going to get paid?”
So they created two positions: a time keeper and a payroll officer then hired two people.
Then Congress said, “Who will be accountable for all of these people?”
So they created an administrative section and hired three people, an Administrative Officer, Assistant Administrative Officer, and a Legal Secretary.
Then Congress said, “We have had this command in operation for one year and we are $918,000 over budget, we must cut back.”
So they laid-off the night watchman.
NOW slowly, let it sink in.
Quietly, we go like sheep to slaughter. Does anybody remember the reason given for the establishment of the DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY during the Carter administration?
Anybody?
No?
Didn’t think so!
Bottom line is, we’ve spent several hundred billion dollars in support of an agency, the reason for which very few people who read this can remember!
Ready?
It was very simple… and at the time, everybody thought it very appropriate.
The Department of Energy was instituted on 8/04/1977, TO LESSEN OUR DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL.
AND NOW IT’S 2015 — 38 YEARS LATER — AND THE BUDGET FOR THIS “NECESSARY” DEPARTMENT IS AT $24.2 BILLION A YEAR. IT HAS 16,000 FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AND APPROXIMATELY 100,000 CONTRACT EMPLOYEES; AND LOOK AT THE JOB IT HAS DONE!
38 years ago 30% of our oil consumption was foreign imports. Today 70% of our oil consumption is foreign imports.
NOW, WE HAVE TURNED OVER THE BANKING SYSTEM, HEALTH CARE, AND THE AUTO INDUSTRY TO THE SAME GOVERNMENT?
Hello!! Anybody Home?
Signed….The Night Watchman
From: http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2015/07/18/night-watchman/

The heaviest element known to science was recently discovered by 
physicists. The element, tentatively named Administratium, has no 
protons or electrons and thus has an atomic number of 0. 
However it does have:
           1 neutron.
         125 assistant neutrons
          75 vice-neutrons
         111 assistant vice-neutrons
This gives it an atomic mass of 312. The 312 particles are held 
together  by a force that involves the continuous exchange of 
meson-like particles called morons.
Since it has no electrons, Administratium is inert. However, it 
can be detected chemically as it impedes every action with which 
it comes in contact. According to the discoverers, a minute amount 
of Administratium causes one reaction to take four days to complete 
when it would have normally occurred in less than one second.
Administratium has a normal half-life of approximately three years, 
at which time it does not actually decay but instead undergoes a 
reorganization in which assistant neutrons, vice neutrons, and 
assistant vice-neutrons exchange places. Some studies have shown 
that atomic mass actually increases after each reorganization. 
Research at other laboratories indicates that Administratium occurs 
naturally in the atmosphere. It tends to concentrate at certain points 
such as government agencies, large corporations, and universities, 
and can usually be found in the newest, best appointed, and best 
maintained buildings.
Scientists point out that Administratium is known to be toxic at any 
level of concentration and can easily destroy any productive reaction 
where it is allowed to accumulate. Attempts are being made to determine 
how Administratium can be controlled to prevent irreversible damage, 
but results to date are not promising.

It's not a new discovery. This saying is attributed to Gaius Petronius, a senator in the time of Nero:

The heaviest element known to science was recently discovered by 
physicists. The element, tentatively named Administratium, has no 
protons or electrons and thus has an atomic number of 0. 
However it does have:
           1 neutron.
         125 assistant neutrons
          75 vice-neutrons
         111 assistant vice-neutrons
This gives it an atomic mass of 312. The 312 particles are held 
together  by a force that involves the continuous exchange of 
meson-like particles called morons.
Since it has no electrons, Administratium is inert. However, it 
can be detected chemically as it impedes every action with which 
it comes in contact. According to the discoverers, a minute amount 
of Administratium causes one reaction to take four days to complete 
when it would have normally occurred in less than one second.
Administratium has a normal half-life of approximately three years, 
at which time it does not actually decay but instead undergoes a 
reorganization in which assistant neutrons, vice neutrons, and 
assistant vice-neutrons exchange places. Some studies have shown 
that atomic mass actually increases after each reorganization. 
Research at other laboratories indicates that Administratium occurs 
naturally in the atmosphere. It tends to concentrate at certain points 
such as government agencies, large corporations, and universities, 
and can usually be found in the newest, best appointed, and best 
maintained buildings.
Scientists point out that Administratium is known to be toxic at any 
level of concentration and can easily destroy any productive reaction 
where it is allowed to accumulate. Attempts are being made to determine 
how Administratium can be controlled to prevent irreversible damage, 
but results to date are not promising.

The heaviest element known to science was recently discovered by 
physicists. The element, tentatively named Administratium, has no 
protons or electrons and thus has an atomic number of 0. 
However it does have:
           1 neutron.
         125 assistant neutrons
          75 vice-neutrons
         111 assistant vice-neutrons
This gives it an atomic mass of 312. The 312 particles are held 
together  by a force that involves the continuous exchange of 
meson-like particles called morons.
Since it has no electrons, Administratium is inert. However, it 
can be detected chemically as it impedes every action with which 
it comes in contact. According to the discoverers, a minute amount 
of Administratium causes one reaction to take four days to complete 
when it would have normally occurred in less than one second.
Administratium has a normal half-life of approximately three years, 
at which time it does not actually decay but instead undergoes a 
reorganization in which assistant neutrons, vice neutrons, and 
assistant vice-neutrons exchange places. Some studies have shown 
that atomic mass actually increases after each reorganization. 
Research at other laboratories indicates that Administratium occurs 
naturally in the atmosphere. It tends to concentrate at certain points 
such as government agencies, large corporations, and universities, 
and can usually be found in the newest, best appointed, and best 
maintained buildings.
Scientists point out that Administratium is known to be toxic at any 
level of concentration and can easily destroy any productive reaction 
where it is allowed to accumulate. Attempts are being made to determine 
how Administratium can be controlled to prevent irreversible damage, 
but results to date are not promising.

The heaviest element known to science was recently discovered by 
physicists. The element, tentatively named Administratium, has no 
protons or electrons and thus has an atomic number of 0. 
However it does have:
           1 neutron.
         125 assistant neutrons
          75 vice-neutrons
         111 assistant vice-neutrons
This gives it an atomic mass of 312. The 312 particles are held 
together  by a force that involves the continuous exchange of 
meson-like particles called morons.
Since it has no electrons, Administratium is inert. However, it 
can be detected chemically as it impedes every action with which 
it comes in contact. According to the discoverers, a minute amount 
of Administratium causes one reaction to take four days to complete 
when it would have normally occurred in less than one second.
Administratium has a normal half-life of approximately three years, 
at which time it does not actually decay but instead undergoes a 
reorganization in which assistant neutrons, vice neutrons, and 
assistant vice-neutrons exchange places. Some studies have shown 
that atomic mass actually increases after each reorganization. 
Research at other laboratories indicates that Administratium occurs 
naturally in the atmosphere. It tends to concentrate at certain points 
such as government agencies, large corporations, and universities, 
and can usually be found in the newest, best appointed, and best 
maintained buildings.
Scientists point out that Administratium is known to be toxic at any 
level of concentration and can easily destroy any productive reaction 
where it is allowed to accumulate. Attempts are being made to determine 
how Administratium can be controlled to prevent irreversible damage, 
but results to date are not promising.

Air Force.

Air Force.

Air Force.

Air Force.

The U.S. and the E.U. are pushing the world into two camps.  I think George Bush said it best, "If you ain't with us you are against us".  Any nations that won't Kow Tow to the way the U.S. want the world to be is an enemy of the West.  Why would it be surprising to anyone that those we consider our enemies would consider us a danger to their existence and "circle the wagons".  It doesn't matter whether we are right or wrong (though I think we are wrong) in our behavior with foreign powers, all governments must act in what they perceive in the best interests of their people.  
 
World leaders are not Christians (in my opinion anyway) so don't expect them to act as such.  They have no Godly wisdom or direction for their actions.  Their actions are based on human experience and (in their opinion) "what works" meaning they are for the most part pragmatists.  Morality or love of fellow man figures little in their thinking.  
 
Then their is that old saying, "the enemy of my enemy is my friend".  We have chosen, out of hubris, to make Russia an enemy instead of our friend.  Why should we be surprised if it decides to befriend someone else we consider our enemy.  Very pragmatic it would seem to me.  Safety in numbers, I guess.  Sorry for all the old cliches. 
 
I think that it is not necessary to add all this nation realigning business up into an end times scenario.  The New World Order may be behind it all, or Satan, or even OBama or Putin.  I don't know, but in the end God is in control of the outcome.  Oh!  Just one more old cliche we might all think about by that old philosopher Alfred E. Newman, "What me worry".
 
Sorry, couldn't help myself.

R.L. Dabney on Northern conservatives in 1870:
"And last: the State has committed the crowning outrage and inconsistency of not letting her be a man because God made her a woman! What an outrage this to be committed on so frivolous a pretext!
...
Has not the Radical version of the political gospel said, "All men are by nature mechanically equal?" And "man", Mistress Amazona ( as you will know when you acquire the virile right of learning Latin ) here means, not vir, but homo; the species irrespective of sex. It means that a woman has a natural right to do all the particular things that a man does ( if she can ), to sit on juries and shave her beard, to serve in the army and ride astraddle, to preach sermons and sing bass.
...
He cannot consistently oppose it; he has himself naturalized the false principles from which that 'reform' will flow. The true principles from which its folly might have been evinced, the principles held by us "Rebels", he has trampled down with the armed heel, and drowned in blood and buried under mountains of obloquoy and odium and slander. He cannot resort to those sound premisses. To meet the argument of these aspiring Amazons fairly, one must teach , with Moses, the Apostle Paul, John Hampden, Washington, George Mason, John C. Calhoun and all that contemptible rabble of 'old fogies', that political society is composed of "superiors, inferiors and equals"; that while all these bear an equitable moral relation to each other, they have very different natural rights and duties; that just government is not founded on the consent of the individuals governed, but on the ordinance of God, and hence a share in the ruling franchise is not a natural right at all, but a privilege to be bestowed according to a wise discretion on a limited class having qualification to use it for the good of the whole; that the integers out of which the State is constituted are not individuals, but families represented in their parental heads; that every human being is born under authority ( parental and civic ) instead of being born "free" in the licentious sense that liberty is each one's privilege of doing what he chooses;
...
It may be inferred again that the present movement for women's rights will certainly prevail from the history of its only opponent, Northern conservatism. This is a party which never conserves anything. It's history has been that it demurs to each aggression of the progressive party, and aims to save it's credit by a respectable amount of growling, but always acquiesces at last in the innovation. What was the resisted novelty of yesterday is today one of the accepted principles of conservatism; it is now conservative only in affecting to resist the next innovation, which will tomorrow be forced upon it's timidity, and will be succeeded by some third revolution, to be denounced and then adopted in it's turn. American conservatism is merely the shadow that follows Radicalism as it moves forward towards perdition. It remains behind it, but never retards it, and always advances near it's leader."
Robert Lewis Dabney was an American Christian theologian, Southern Presbyterian pastor, Confederate States Army chaplain, and architect. He was also chief of staff and biographer to Stonewall Jackson. His biography of Jackson remains in print today.

What in the world does Putin think he is doing an why is he doing it?
English subtitles
 

All this brouhaha came up at the same time as the congress gave the President the green light to make treaties without the Senate having to approve them thus giving up the sovereignty of the American people.  Get the people to watch the right hand so they will not see what the left hand is doing.

All this brouhaha came up at the same time as the congress gave the President the green light to make treaties without the Senate having to approve them thus giving up the sovereignty of the American people.  Get the people to watch the right hand so they will not see what the left hand is doing.

No, Daniel and Ezekiel are both prophecy. Hebrew prophecy contains a large amount of symbolism and is usually written in verse form with a lot of rhetorical language. It is an apples-to-oranges comparison.
I'm "overly worried about what the heathen are up to" because it has infected the modern church like a virus. It is turning the youth who grow up with one foot in church and one in the secular world being force-fed an atheistic worldview away from the church and away from Jesus Christ. The overwhelming majority of people who reject the faith they grew up say their journey toward atheism began with a rejection of Genesis in favor of Darwinism. For a church to concede any ground on this issue is to willfully cast a stumbling block before an unsaved youth, which was met with harsh criticism by Jesus Himself (Matt 18:6)

I think most people outside America wouldn't see it like that.  It seems more like bands of brigands committing genocide.

Have been doing a study of the minor prophets the last week or so, and it strikes me that, though no other nation on earth ever enjoyed the favor of being the Chosen of God, America has been a prime example of what a nation of mostly Believers can accomplish. Which means it is also a prime example of what can happen to a nation that rejects God in favor of the world.
Though the prophets were speaking directly to Israel and Judah, their warnings to wicked, godless nations carries through the ages. Knowledge of God decreasing steadily by the generation? Rejection of God to worship the baalim? Attacks on and mockery of the righteous? Decadence and entertainment attained at the expense of the poor? Political prostitution, lying, and underhandedness with allies? Weak, impotent, and evil rulers? A corrupt legal system? The embracing of sexual deviation through cult behavior? A whole lot of "religion", but no piety or true repentance? A slow culling via infertility? Invasion and degradation at the hands of outsiders? It all sounds too familiar.

Something I brought up in my sermon yesterday, is that, until fairly recently, even many non-Christians tended to have at least a sympathetic view of believers, particularly those being oppressed and persecuted. Just common decency. True, not all, but many.  But now, homosexuality has become the 'cool' thing: many youth play with it, declaring at 12 or 13 that they are gay or lesbian, (more the girls, I think, than the boys), its cool and trendy to 'be gay'. As such, with same-sex 'marriage' not all the rage, and everyone on Facebook changing their avatars to have rainbows on them, its not only trendy and cool, its seen as enlightened and possibly the next step in human evolution. So now, to be a Christians who stands against it, means you are standing against love, against progress, against enlightenment, against all supposed good things that will make society a better place, (they believe), so now, standing against, even persecuting Christians is going to be seen as a great help to society, which cant possibly soar with the majestic New Age eagles if they are being weighed down by the Neandertals (sic) who believe in creation, God, absolute truth and hell.  Who would have thought they could actually make persecution of Christians cool and trendy?  
Also, prepare to see the new Popester begin a shift of official church position on same sex marriage. 

I have been pretty sad to see all the businesses who have added a rainbow to their logo and friends who have added a rainbow to their Facebook profile.  Even the White House added a rainbow.   So much has changed since he 80s and I remember asking my Dad what AIDS was, and why it was in the news.
Religious freedom has been restricted already but it will be gone soon.  The dissenting justices even said as much.

Warning!  People with blond hair should not read this joke!                                                                                                                                                                                                      If people with blond hair do read this joke don't say I didn't warn you!
“Hey guys who wants to hear a blonde joke?” Said a blind old man after settling himself down at the coffee shop. The question was met with dead silence.  After a few second pause, the waitress walked up to the blind fella and put her face right up to his nose and said in a menacing voice. “I’m blond and I don’t appreciate blonde jokes! My husband is right next to me, he’s blonde and he doesn’t appreciate blonde jokes either. And best of all, on your right is a blond bodybuilder who I’m pretty sure doesn’t like blonde jokes either! Would you still like to say that joke?” “Nah forget it!” Said the blind fella, “Not if I'm gonna' have to explain the darn joke that many times"!

Warning!  People with blond hair should not read this joke!                                                                                                                                                                                                      If people with blond hair do read this joke don't say I didn't warn you!
“Hey guys who wants to hear a blonde joke?” Said a blind old man after settling himself down at the coffee shop. The question was met with dead silence.  After a few second pause, the waitress walked up to the blind fella and put her face right up to his nose and said in a menacing voice. “I’m blond and I don’t appreciate blonde jokes! My husband is right next to me, he’s blonde and he doesn’t appreciate blonde jokes either. And best of all, on your right is a blond bodybuilder who I’m pretty sure doesn’t like blonde jokes either! Would you still like to say that joke?” “Nah forget it!” Said the blind fella, “Not if I'm gonna' have to explain the darn joke that many times"!