Conservative French president Nicolas Sarkozy is visiting the United States to win the hearts of Americans after frosty former relationships. This turnaround is really a flashback of Revolutionary War days and memories of the Statue of Liberty.
George Washington won at Yorktown in large measure because 5,000 French troops under French General Rochambeau marched from Rhode Island (across New Jersey, camping a few hundred yards from our headquarters) and joined in the siege at Yorktown when British General Cornwallis surrendered. Received as a gift from the French in 1885, Lady Liberty was dedicated by President Grover Cleveland the following year.
Sarkozy’s visit recalls another Frenchman, statesman-historian Alexis DeTocqueville, who toured America in the 1830s seeking the reason for national greatness in so young a nation. His conclusions endure as a monumental testimony:
"…Christianity therefore reigns without obstacle, by universal consent; the consequence is, as I have before observed, that every principle of the moral world is fixed and determinate. I sought for the key to the greatness and genius of America in her harbors…; in her fertile fields and boundless forests; in her rich mines and vast world commerce; in her public school system and institutions of learning. I sought for it in her democratic Congress and in her matchless Constitution. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great."
Let us hope that Sarkozy will conclude the same.
David Virkler
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
The Face of King Tut Revealed
To some he is affectionately known as ‘The Golden Boy’. To others he is simply ‘King Tut’. But ‘The Guardian Unlimited’ ran a recent story revealing that some 85 years after the discovery of the boy king, Tutankhamun, the 3,000 year old mummy’s face was finally exposed to an ever curious world.
Apparently time’s exposure has ‘taken its toll on Tut’. But scientists are now trying to restore the mummy as best they can despite the face of the deceased 19-year old being the only portion still in decent shape. The opening and transferring of the body from the stone sarcophagus to a climate-controlled glass enclosure should help to slow down any further decay. Tut’s opening has also allowed scientists to know that he was apparently healthy and did not die by assassination or some serious injury as some thought.
The attempts of the early Egyptians to prepare for the next life through their unique embalming process remain a source of intrigue, as the continued interest reveals. The deceased would have major organs removed and saved as it was thought there was a guardian deity for each one. Often useful items for the next life were likewise entombed. And in the case of kings, most of their earthly treasure was included to ensure the same lavish life-style in the next life as they enjoyed in the past one.
Despite how famous and amazing these preservation attempts became, they failed to address something rather crucial in the mix. Their painstaking physical preparation for the next life was highly contrasted by their equal lack of spiritual readiness for the same.
In John 11 Jesus was summoned to heal a severely sick friend. Upon the Lord’s carefully timed arrival on the scene, Lazuarus was already in the tomb four days after having been wrapped from head to foot in mummy-like grave clothes, the standard preparation of the day. But when Jesus did arrive on the dreary scene, He called out to His Heavenly Father, resurrected His departed friend, and in verse 43 commanded the bystanders, "Loose him, and let him go."
Just prior to the outward public miracle, the Lord related to Lazarus’ grieving sister the basis for any successful life after death. In verse 25 He said, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die." His great declaration was followed by a probing question. " Do you believe this?’" Then in turn came her affirmative answer of saving faith in verse 27, "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world."
It has been said at death, "You can’t take it with you." That is of course correct in the physical material realm. But proper preparation for life after death can be taken to the grave by coming to the One that defeated sin - including both physical and spiritual death. And those who do that are then given a glimpse of what they will someday experience in 1 John 3:2. " Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is."
That is a glorious promise and obviously far beyond any human logic or comprehension. But those who will enjoy the blessings of that Heavenly life are still cautioned about the life they still lead in that third verse. "And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure."
Bill Breckenridge
Apparently time’s exposure has ‘taken its toll on Tut’. But scientists are now trying to restore the mummy as best they can despite the face of the deceased 19-year old being the only portion still in decent shape. The opening and transferring of the body from the stone sarcophagus to a climate-controlled glass enclosure should help to slow down any further decay. Tut’s opening has also allowed scientists to know that he was apparently healthy and did not die by assassination or some serious injury as some thought.
The attempts of the early Egyptians to prepare for the next life through their unique embalming process remain a source of intrigue, as the continued interest reveals. The deceased would have major organs removed and saved as it was thought there was a guardian deity for each one. Often useful items for the next life were likewise entombed. And in the case of kings, most of their earthly treasure was included to ensure the same lavish life-style in the next life as they enjoyed in the past one.
Despite how famous and amazing these preservation attempts became, they failed to address something rather crucial in the mix. Their painstaking physical preparation for the next life was highly contrasted by their equal lack of spiritual readiness for the same.
In John 11 Jesus was summoned to heal a severely sick friend. Upon the Lord’s carefully timed arrival on the scene, Lazuarus was already in the tomb four days after having been wrapped from head to foot in mummy-like grave clothes, the standard preparation of the day. But when Jesus did arrive on the dreary scene, He called out to His Heavenly Father, resurrected His departed friend, and in verse 43 commanded the bystanders, "Loose him, and let him go."
Just prior to the outward public miracle, the Lord related to Lazarus’ grieving sister the basis for any successful life after death. In verse 25 He said, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die." His great declaration was followed by a probing question. " Do you believe this?’" Then in turn came her affirmative answer of saving faith in verse 27, "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world."
It has been said at death, "You can’t take it with you." That is of course correct in the physical material realm. But proper preparation for life after death can be taken to the grave by coming to the One that defeated sin - including both physical and spiritual death. And those who do that are then given a glimpse of what they will someday experience in 1 John 3:2. " Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is."
That is a glorious promise and obviously far beyond any human logic or comprehension. But those who will enjoy the blessings of that Heavenly life are still cautioned about the life they still lead in that third verse. "And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure."
Bill Breckenridge
Monday, November 5, 2007
Stars and Stripes …
On October 1, 2007, General Peter Pace stepped down as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. That same day, a visitor to the Vietnam War Memorial noticed something unusual at the Wall. Dr. Frank Wright, President of National Religious Broadcasters described it.
"A visitor noticed a small white index card resting on the ground. Something gleamed on the card, and the visitor bent down for a closer look. The card, which had the general’s four stars attached to it, said the following:
For Guido Farinaro, USMC
These are yours, not mine!
With love and respect,
Your Platoon Leader,
Peter Pace
It was dated October 1, 2007—the same day the general stepped down as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs! He had clipped his own stars to the index card, written a note, and left them at the Vietnam War memorial under the column that bears Farinaro’s name. There was no press conference or fanfare. The world might never have known if the visitor had not snapped several pictures and allowed them to be widely distributed.
Lance Corporal Guido Farinaro was a 19-year old from Bethpage, NY who served in Gen. Pace’s Golf Company, 5th Marine Platoon, during the Vietnam War. Pace was the Platoon leader, and there were 158 marines under his command. Lance Cpl. Farinaro was the first to die after Peter Pace took over; he took a sniper’s bullet that was intended for Pace."
General pace has given a great lesson of earthly and spiritual sacrifice. Whatever we have of earth’s blessings and heaven’s joys are because Christ "took our bullet" on the Cross. "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (II Corinthians 5:21). Isaiah spoke of Christ’s substitution. "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5).
Revelation 4:9-11 describes the ultimate praise, "Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: ‘You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created’."
The old hymn summarizes our gratitude.
All glory and praise to the Lamb that was slain,
Who has borne all our sorrows and cleansed ev’ry stain.
Hallelujah, Thine the glory! Hallelujah, amen!
Hallelujah, Thine the glory! Revive us again.
David Virkler
"A visitor noticed a small white index card resting on the ground. Something gleamed on the card, and the visitor bent down for a closer look. The card, which had the general’s four stars attached to it, said the following:
For Guido Farinaro, USMC
These are yours, not mine!
With love and respect,
Your Platoon Leader,
Peter Pace
It was dated October 1, 2007—the same day the general stepped down as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs! He had clipped his own stars to the index card, written a note, and left them at the Vietnam War memorial under the column that bears Farinaro’s name. There was no press conference or fanfare. The world might never have known if the visitor had not snapped several pictures and allowed them to be widely distributed.
Lance Corporal Guido Farinaro was a 19-year old from Bethpage, NY who served in Gen. Pace’s Golf Company, 5th Marine Platoon, during the Vietnam War. Pace was the Platoon leader, and there were 158 marines under his command. Lance Cpl. Farinaro was the first to die after Peter Pace took over; he took a sniper’s bullet that was intended for Pace."
General pace has given a great lesson of earthly and spiritual sacrifice. Whatever we have of earth’s blessings and heaven’s joys are because Christ "took our bullet" on the Cross. "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (II Corinthians 5:21). Isaiah spoke of Christ’s substitution. "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5).
Revelation 4:9-11 describes the ultimate praise, "Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: ‘You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created’."
The old hymn summarizes our gratitude.
All glory and praise to the Lamb that was slain,
Who has borne all our sorrows and cleansed ev’ry stain.
Hallelujah, Thine the glory! Hallelujah, amen!
Hallelujah, Thine the glory! Revive us again.
David Virkler
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
WMDs in Syria?
In early September, the Israelis secretly took out Syria’s nuclear project, which was contracted with North Korea and affirmed by that country’s loudest objection. Israel’s swift and evidently successful strike was tacitly allowed by the U.S. and most of the international community (who viewed it) as buying time against nuclear proliferation and an alert to nuclear-inclined nations that dangerous nuclear capability development will not be tolerated.
Syria borders Israel and is a conduit for Hezbollah supplies into Lebanon from Iran. According to a former Iraqi Christian general, it is also host to WMDs flown out of Iraq in the waning days of Saddam Hussein’s regime. In his book Saddam’s Secrets (Integrity Publishers, Brentwood, TN 2006), Georges Sada writes, "…I know the names of some of those who were involved in smuggling WMDs out of Iraq in 2002 and 2003. I know the names of officers of the front company, SES, who received the weapons from Saddam. I know how and when they were transported and shipped out of Iraq. And I know how many aircraft were actually used and what types of airplanes they were, as well as a number of other facts of this nature." (page 252)
Under the guise of aid to Syria when an irrigation dam collapsed, "Eventually there were fifty-six sorties. Commercial 747s and 727s moved these things out of the country…. Instead of using military vehicles or aircraft which would have been apprehended and searched by coalition forces, Sadddam had used the civilian airlines." (pg. 259)
Support for Israel is a serious Biblical mandate outlined in Genesis 12:3. "I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you shall all the families of the earth shall be blessed." It is also support for our most dependable ally in the Middle East and appears to have bought precious time for the entire world in defusing Syria’s nuclear development and keeping Iraq’s loaned storehouse of WMDs out of service.
David Virkler
Syria borders Israel and is a conduit for Hezbollah supplies into Lebanon from Iran. According to a former Iraqi Christian general, it is also host to WMDs flown out of Iraq in the waning days of Saddam Hussein’s regime. In his book Saddam’s Secrets (Integrity Publishers, Brentwood, TN 2006), Georges Sada writes, "…I know the names of some of those who were involved in smuggling WMDs out of Iraq in 2002 and 2003. I know the names of officers of the front company, SES, who received the weapons from Saddam. I know how and when they were transported and shipped out of Iraq. And I know how many aircraft were actually used and what types of airplanes they were, as well as a number of other facts of this nature." (page 252)
Under the guise of aid to Syria when an irrigation dam collapsed, "Eventually there were fifty-six sorties. Commercial 747s and 727s moved these things out of the country…. Instead of using military vehicles or aircraft which would have been apprehended and searched by coalition forces, Sadddam had used the civilian airlines." (pg. 259)
Support for Israel is a serious Biblical mandate outlined in Genesis 12:3. "I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you shall all the families of the earth shall be blessed." It is also support for our most dependable ally in the Middle East and appears to have bought precious time for the entire world in defusing Syria’s nuclear development and keeping Iraq’s loaned storehouse of WMDs out of service.
David Virkler
What’s bugging you?
That old colloquialism has new meaning since the mechanical dragonflies started buzzing. Harvard University admits to bug spy research, and the U.S. government is strongly suspected of also developing this new snoop technology.
A new tiny, flying spy technology can buzz in and out of rooms and dart among crowds transmitting vital information to waiting analysts. This is really a "fly by night" breakthrough that is no flight of fancy, and it gives new dimension to the phrase "just wing it."
Several years ago, these gadgets were proposed as futuristic thinking. Evidently, the future is now.
Recently, some protesters in New York and Washington reported these "insect" gadgets flitting about and buzzing the crowds like Lilliputian aviators.. Hovering, swooping and darting like those skittish summer dragonflies, they looked a bit more mechanical than their living counterparts.
And if that’s not the real stuff of science fiction, word is out that real moths may be implanted with tiny transmitters in the pupae stage. When fully emergent, they could be programmed to fly where human or larger mechanical snoopers find access impossible.
The positive side is that these gadgets or insects could penetrate buildings or inaccessible cavities to aid is rescue operations.
No matter what the truth or how weird the devices, freedom of personal privacy is shrinking dramatically. Electronic eavesdropping can pick cell phone message out of the wireless air. Credit card sale patterns and records can be routinely tracked for commercial analysis. Static listening devices are old stuff now; nearly invisible transmitters can be sprinkled around anywhere, while GPS tracking could locate anyone.
God, however, has prior claim on secrecy probes. Ecclesiastes 10:20 warns, "Do not curse the king even in your thought; Do not curse the rich even in your bedroom; For a bird of the air may carry your voice, And a bird in flight may tell the matter." (Remember Mom saying, "A little birdie told me?")
But there are no secrets with God. "Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You" (Ps 139:12). God asks in Jeremiah 23:24, "Can anyone hide himself in secret places, so I shall not see him? … Do I not fill heaven and earth?..."
A day is coming "…when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel" (Romans 2:16). Christ warned the hypocritical Pharisees, "For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed; nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have spoken in dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops" (Luke 12:2-3).
That’s scary! But Christian witness deals with that future issue now since God’s present spiritual probe under Gospel preaching is more effective than any technological dragonfly. "And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you" (1 Corinthians 14:25).
God’s full disclosure is a blessing—the vestibule of forgiveness. In knowing all about us, He can forgive every sin. Psalm 139:23-24 invites total soul exploration. "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting."
Jesus paid it all! "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more" (Hebrews 8:12).
Believers need fear no stealth spying. In short, our lives are to be an open book.
David Virkler
A new tiny, flying spy technology can buzz in and out of rooms and dart among crowds transmitting vital information to waiting analysts. This is really a "fly by night" breakthrough that is no flight of fancy, and it gives new dimension to the phrase "just wing it."
Several years ago, these gadgets were proposed as futuristic thinking. Evidently, the future is now.
Recently, some protesters in New York and Washington reported these "insect" gadgets flitting about and buzzing the crowds like Lilliputian aviators.. Hovering, swooping and darting like those skittish summer dragonflies, they looked a bit more mechanical than their living counterparts.
And if that’s not the real stuff of science fiction, word is out that real moths may be implanted with tiny transmitters in the pupae stage. When fully emergent, they could be programmed to fly where human or larger mechanical snoopers find access impossible.
The positive side is that these gadgets or insects could penetrate buildings or inaccessible cavities to aid is rescue operations.
No matter what the truth or how weird the devices, freedom of personal privacy is shrinking dramatically. Electronic eavesdropping can pick cell phone message out of the wireless air. Credit card sale patterns and records can be routinely tracked for commercial analysis. Static listening devices are old stuff now; nearly invisible transmitters can be sprinkled around anywhere, while GPS tracking could locate anyone.
God, however, has prior claim on secrecy probes. Ecclesiastes 10:20 warns, "Do not curse the king even in your thought; Do not curse the rich even in your bedroom; For a bird of the air may carry your voice, And a bird in flight may tell the matter." (Remember Mom saying, "A little birdie told me?")
But there are no secrets with God. "Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You" (Ps 139:12). God asks in Jeremiah 23:24, "Can anyone hide himself in secret places, so I shall not see him? … Do I not fill heaven and earth?..."
A day is coming "…when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel" (Romans 2:16). Christ warned the hypocritical Pharisees, "For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed; nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have spoken in dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops" (Luke 12:2-3).
That’s scary! But Christian witness deals with that future issue now since God’s present spiritual probe under Gospel preaching is more effective than any technological dragonfly. "And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you" (1 Corinthians 14:25).
God’s full disclosure is a blessing—the vestibule of forgiveness. In knowing all about us, He can forgive every sin. Psalm 139:23-24 invites total soul exploration. "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting."
Jesus paid it all! "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more" (Hebrews 8:12).
Believers need fear no stealth spying. In short, our lives are to be an open book.
David Virkler
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