I listen to many different preachers and have read many different books but I always go to God in prayer about differences I may have with other opinions of what God’s word says.My prayer to Him is that I will always know His voice.

I have learned many things through listening to others and God gives me discernment to know when I am hearing truth all I need do is ask.

I admit I don’t know when He is coming back but it is enough for me to know He is. Until then I will try to do His will and help those I can along the way.

Carlj I have enjoyed your posts on Purim and Crisis. I also believe it is all about knowing Him personally.

Be careful for nothing means: Be anxious for nothing. We are not to worry about what tomorrow may bring. Sadly, too many people, Christians included, wring their hands every time they hear things like this.

As for me, I’m not going to allow myself to worry, needlessly, about man’s predictions or prophecy. God is and always has been in control. I trust Him to get me through whatever lies ahead.

mtman, got my letter today. The hospital is giving a 35% reduction in my bill. It’s not as much as my hubby was hoping for, but I’m happy with what we did receive. At least we didn’t have to pay 100%! God knows our situation and somehow we will get the bills paid.

Personally, we socialize with a family whose 11 year-old son suffers from autism. Very young Godly parents… who were completely devastated when they first learned of their child’s condition. In the beginning, they isolated themselves and turned down our invitations. It took a lot of prayers and persuasion by other Christians to help them come out of their shell of guilt, fear and shame. Sorrow turned into joy, once they were convinced, that their crisis is not due to personal sins…and that they are loved and accepted as normal as others. We love spending time with them …That child is so special and a delight to all of us….he loves to eat good food and always wants me to tickle him:)

Amidst all the troubles and trials of life on this earth, Christ’s promise to return fills us with hope… all the more if we are in crisis or suffer due to the “thorn in our flesh” or in those who live around us. It is in crisis… that we cling to the hope that when we shall see Him our sick bodies will be flawless and perfect like His. All sickness and suffering of living in this fallen world will vanish and He will personally wipe every tear from our eyes, and there will be no more crisis or sorrow or crying or pain!

I can say I have seen glimpses of the anti-Christian attitudes. I think of them as practice bouts for my own responses, which have to be done carefully lest I make things worse. That one part of the article I agree with – there is a anti-Christian movement coming, and it’s going to be nasty. Unfortunately, a lot of it is being fostered by what I consider to be wrong Christians. I live where that pastor is, the one who bases most of his beliefs on the issue of homosexuality and acts on those beliefs by picketing everywhere. His signs are an affront and ridiculous at the same time. That is one of the more extreme examples, but I run into lesser ones constantly. There’s one at my night job, an employee who has managed to turn almost everyone against him with his attitude. I find myself having to be a quiet, gentle, and friendly example. It’s less noisy and attention getting, but it is also a noticeable contrast sometimes.

I’m left with this thought after all these ideas, a memory of a scene and quote from The Lord of the Rings. When Gandalf told Frodo that all men wish that evil times would not come to them, but it is not for us to decide. All we have to decide is what we will do with the time that is given to us. I will continue to try to be quiet, gentle, friendly, and yet strong, strong and steady. I hope it is the right way.

Part of the article from Christian Science Monitor I can believe: Many Christians HAVE identified themselves in one political movement or another. I have been uneasy about this one myself. The main problem I see with modern Evangelicalism and the article said is: we have failed to pass on to our young people an orthodox form of faith that can take root and survive the secular onslaught. There is a lot of “touchy-feely” religion going on in our churches, and it won’t support folks during crises. Only a rock-solid faith “once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3) that Christians need to “contend for” will do.

Much else in the article is debatable. I don’t agree with David Wilkerson. Some day, yes, this world will burn up with a fervent heat and then be restored, reconciled and renewed. But I have real issues when someone says “he is compelled by the Holy Spirit” to warn about specific judgments.

Mart is right: Jesus didn’t react to crises. And if we are “in Christ” we shouldn’t either. He knows whats happening and where He is going and He isn’t an alarmist. Neither should we be alarmed.