Update 1030

On July 16, 2022, Dave Harris will present the sermonette, titled, “What Do You Say To God?” and Rene Messier will present the sermon, titled, “Incremental Growth.”

The live services are available, over video and audio, at http://eternalgod.org/live-services/ (12:30 pm Pacific Time; 1:30 pm Mountain Time; 2:30 pm Central Time; 3:30 pm Eastern Time; 8:30 pm Greenwich Mean Time; 9:30 pm Central European Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.

The work of physicists and astrophysicists can be fascinating. While I’ve been intrigued, my impression changed when I became aware that some have questioned the existence of God.

 They are entitled to their beliefs, but it is difficult to reconcile that one, with a deep understanding of the majesty of the cosmos, does not believe an all-powerful Creator God is at the heart of all. Still, most physicists and scientists admit that humans know only a fraction of what lies beyond what we see with the strongest instruments.

Some prominent physicists have recognized the existence of God as the Creator of all things—from Johannes Kepler who recognized that God created the cosmos in an orderly fashion, to Isaac Newton whose belief in the Truth of God cost him his position at Cambridge.

Others such as Stephen Hawking and Marie Curie did not believe in God’s existence. Albert Einstein saw the logic of a grand Creator, but he believed in the pantheistic god of Baruch Spinoza. He did not believe in a personal God who concerns Himself with fates and actions of human beings.

One theoretical physicist of note in the mid-20^th century was Richard Feynman. Born in Queens, New York, in 1918, he attended a public high school in his neighborhood. This high school produced 3 Nobel Prize winners, including Feynman. During his time at Cal Tech and MIT, Feynman had a profound impact on the science of theoretical and particle physics.

Feynman was down-to-earth with a child-like curiosity about the world, and a knack for explaining complex theories. Feynman considered himself agnostic, though he stated that it was impossible for science to disprove the existence of God, and therefore science and God could co-exist.

He made an interesting point concerning unseen waves of all kinds. He imagined two people having a conversation, and at that moment there are chaotic waves bouncing around between the two. Energy waves, radiation, light, heat, and radio waves—they are all present around each of us. We know that oxygen exists though we cannot see it.  Similarly, Feynman suggested placing a radio between the two people to illustrate the existence of radio waves by tuning in to a broadcast from a nearby station, or perhaps in his day, Radio Free Europe.

As believers, we know that God exists, just as those waves, and can be present with His people even though He is not seen.  In 1 Corinthians 3:16, we read: ^“Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”

For those whom God calls, this is fundamental. As believers, we know that God is with us, and that sin drives Him away. As children, we most often misbehaved when we thought our parents were not watching. One day, when I was eight or so, I was sitting on the curb up the street from my home. I had taken matches from the house and thought it would be a good idea to start a little campfire in the gutter. When I got home, my mom was angry. A neighbor had phoned her after watching my antics. I had gotten into trouble thinking I was out of Mom’s gaze.

Why then do we sin? God knows our hearts and intentions, and it would be better to remember this and honor Him! Consider, Psalm 139:7-10, a psalm we often sing as a hymn to honor Him:

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.  If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.”

We understand that God is always aware of our actions, wherever we are, much like Mom and Dad when we are young. We are human and God offers repentance, but think of God as standing next to you as you contemplate your next move—sin, or obedience? Choosing sin should leave believers remorseful. There is a remedy: repent, obey, and pray—as a first waking thought, and the last one before sleep. Proverbs 15:3 offers an image for us to take to heart: “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good.”

We cannot hide our actions or our intentions from God, so let’s not waste time justifying sinful behavior. It is better that we live each day with the understanding that God is there. We may not see Him, but we know He is there for us to turn to.

Jeremiah made the point that God is not as a limited pagan idol, but is both present and transcendent. He is everywhere through the power of His Holy Spirit emanating from Him. Let’s consider Chapter 23 of Jeremiah, and verses 23 and 24: “^‘Am I a God near at hand,’ says the Lord, ‘And not a God afar off?  Can anyone hide himself in secret places, So I shall not see him?’ says the Lord; ‘Do I not fill heaven and earth?’ says the Lord.”

God has never tried to deceive us to catch us sinning. He has been forthright as our Creator in using Scripture to illustrate that He is present with each of us. Perhaps we think that He is so busy and cannot be concerned about each person. Isaiah captured what God wants for us. In Chapter 57, and in verse 15, we read: “For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.’”

God is a mystery to be revealed as we seek perfection for His Kingdom. However, God is with us now and we want Him close. Sin can be as subtle as an unkind thought; others require forethought. Choosing sin is counter to being a Christian. It is also foolish and willful. Let’s choose to honor our Father with respect and the obedience that He commands. Consider how Isaiah quotes God’s words in Isaiah 41:10: “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

We begin with the assassination of Shinzo Abe, the former prime minister of Japan; continue with the Biden Administration’s course of action regarding the support of abortion; address the report claiming that a 10-year–old girl was raped; became pregnant and had an abortion; wonder whether Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron and Boris Johnson have been out of touch with reality; report on Biden’s trip to Israel (please see our new StandingWatch program in this regard, titled, “Will America Help Israel Against Iran?”) ;speak of many Republicans who seem to be willing to abandon Donald Trump; and refer briefly to the hypocrisy of the governor of Michigan.

We address the Vatican’s controversial accession to the Paris Climate Agreement and make some observations about the continuing rumor that Pope Francis might retire.

We point out the precarious situation in Germany; new developments in Italy; fears of weapon smuggling in Ukraine; alleged plans by Serbia and parts of Bosnia to join Russia; and Russian “encouragement” to naturalize all Ukrainians; and we refer to reports that Putin is to meet leaders of Iran and Turkey; and to Turkey’s ongoing controversy with Greece.

We address a mandate in Europe to prevent “speeding”; the rise of the Dollar towards the Euro; the fear that a devastating recession will hit the USA—if not already here; and Elon Musk’s decision to end his deal with Twitter.

We conclude with articles about another nail in the coffin of the wrong evolution theory and Noah’s Ark.

Throughout this section, we have underlined pertinent statements in the quoted articles, for the convenience and quick overview of the reader.

Japan’s Shinzo Abe Assassinated

JTA wrote on July 8:

“Shinzo Abe, the former prime minister of Japan who boosted relations with Israel as part of his effort to increase his country’s global influence, was assassinated at a campaign rally on Friday. Abe, 67, who led Japan from 2012 to 2020 after a short stint in 2006-2007, was speaking at a rally in Nara when he was shot multiple times from behind…

“Abe was a staunch nationalist who sought to dramatically change Japan’s pacifist postwar character, increasing military spending and becoming more engaged with several world powers… Increased diplomacy with Israel was a prime example of Japan’s foreign policy shift during Abe’s consequential second tenure as prime minister… ‘I am determined, together with Prime Minister Netanyahu, to make further efforts to strengthen Japan-Israel relations, so that the potentials are fully materialized,’ Abe said [in 2014].”

The Sun wrote on July 8:

“Abe died after being brutally gunned down in a bloody assassination – with the lone gunman armed with a homemade weapon…. Tetsuya [the gunman who was captured and confessed to the crime], who formerly served in Japan’s navy, lives locally and cops have since discovered a possible explosive device in his home. Japan is regarded as one of the world’s safest countries and has some of the strictest gun control laws anywhere…. It was the first assassination of a sitting or former Japanese premier since the days of prewar militarism in the 1930s… Doctors said Abe had bled to death, suffered deep wounds to his neck, and one of the bullets entered his heart.”

Unbelievably, Biden, when mourning the assassination of Abe, used the occasion to speak out against gun violence. Apart from being utterly insensitive, it made no sense at all. Despite some media reports to the contrary, Abe and Trump shared an ongoing friendship as well.

Breitbart reported on July 8:

“Former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly honored ex-Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday morning, saluting their long friendship in the hours leading up to the late leader’s death… ‘Absolutely devastating news that former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan, a truly great man and leader, has been shot…’ Trump said in a statement. ‘He was a true friend of mine and, much more importantly, America. This is a tremendous blow to the wonderful people of Japan, who loved and admired him so much…’

“Trump and Abe met several times while both men were in office and kept up the key alliance between Japan and the U.S. in the face of increasing regional activity by China… In August 2020,Trump called Abe the greatest prime minister in Japanese history during a call between the two leaders, days after the Japanese premier said he was stepping down for health reasons.

“The two men spoke at length, and Trump told Abe he had done a ‘fantastic job’ and that the relationship between their two countries was stronger than it has ever been… The end result was stability for both nations and the preservation of a bilateral relationship that remains to this day.”

However, this close relationship between Japan and the USA may not continue.

Biden Pushed to Sign Executive Order on Abortion

The left publication Salon News wrote on July 8:

“Facing mounting backlash from progressive lawmakers and activists over his tepid response to the Supreme Court’s (decision overturning Roe v Wade), President Joe Biden on Friday plans to sign a limited executive order aimed at bolstering access to abortion for people living in GOP-led states that have rushed to ban the procedure…

“The order, as summarized by the White House, also expresses the Biden administration’s commitment to shielding the right of pregnant people to ‘travel safely to another state to seek the care they need’ as Republican lawmakers look to bar residents from crossing state lines to obtain an abortion.

“Biden’s unilateral action comes as members of his own party and advocacy organizations are vocally criticizing the administration for failing to respond with sufficient urgency to the… [decision of the] Supreme Court… ‘What the president and the Democratic Party needs to come to terms with is that this is not just a crisis of Roe, this is a crisis of our democracy,’ Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said in a recent interview. ‘This is a crisis of legitimacy, and President Biden must address that.’ The White House’s outline indicates that the president is not going to utilize federal property to open abortion clinics in Republican-led states, a step that Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., have urged him to take.

“Warren and Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., have also suggested that ‘federal agencies could explore opportunities to provide vouchers for travel, child care services, and other forms of support for individuals seeking to access abortion care that is unavailable in their home state.’

“While Biden’s order is expected to make clear that paid sick leave is available to federal workers who need to travel to obtain reproductive care, the executive action appears to be limited to government employees.”

We only quoted the substance of the article and omitted the disturbing polemic of this left-wing publication. It shows the widening rift inside the Democratic Party between more liberal moderates and extreme leftists.

Life Site wrote on July 8:

“‘Long gone is the Democratic Party of ‘safe, legal, and rare,’” declared a statement issued by Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America… President Marjorie Dannenfelser. ‘President Biden has once again caved to the extreme abortion lobby… Democrats will stop at nothing to promote their agenda of abortion on demand, up until the moment of birth… including dangerous mail-order abortion drugs…’”

The Strange Case of the Alleged Rape of a 10-Year-Old Girl

Breitbart wrote on July 13:

“An illegal alien is accused of raping a 10-year-old girl whose story was cited by President Joe Biden after she traveled from Ohio to Indiana to seek an abortion… The rape swept international headlines after Biden repeated the story twice during speeches at the White House. Biden cited the case as evidence that girls and women would have to travel out of red states to seek abortions following the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade last month… Despite Biden’s claims, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost noted that although Ohio has hugely limited abortion across the state, its law allows for medical emergencies which include cases like the 10-year-old girl who was raped. ‘She did not have to leave Ohio to find treatment,’ Yost said.”

Newsmax added on July 13 that the 27-year-old man “confessed” to the rape and has been charged with first-degree felony rape, continuing:

“The child’s case first made headlines when Dr. Caitlin Bernard — an Indiana-based physician who provides abortion services — referenced, through the media, the harrowing story of a pre-teen girl crossing state lines from Ohio to Indiana, solely to get an abortion. And once President Biden acknowledged the story, a public backlash developed on two fronts — against the person who allegedly committed the crime, and whether Indiana authorities had properly reported the statutory rape.”

In spite of the reports, serious questions regarding this entire story remain.

Before the story broke regarding the alleged arrest of the accused rapist, the New York Post published on July 12 the following opinion piece by attorney and Professor Jonathan Turley:

“What is even stranger than the utter lack of confirmation of the story is the utter lack of interest in confirming it — or in the welfare of the child herself… some of us noted that the Ohio law actually does not prohibit abortions after six weeks but after ‘fetal heartbeat has been detected.’ Being three days over the six-week line is not a bar on abortion. More importantly, it also has the exceptions for cases like this one. In fact, Ohio says abortions are allowed ‘to prevent a serious risk of the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman,’ which would certainly be the case for a 10-year-old…

“There have been a number of false or inaccurate claims made about abortion law and the Dobbs decision, including false claims that women can be prevented from traveling for medical care or that ectopic pregnancy treatments are now barred as abortion in some states. These false accounts can be a dangerous form of disinformation if women believe that they cannot receive treatment for legal procedures… Whether this is a case of criminal victimization or political exploitation, we should all be motivated to find out the truth.”

Biden—the New Dictator?

On July 8, The New York Post published the following opinion:

“President Biden never promised to ‘make America constitutional again.’ Though he took office preaching the need for ‘unity,’ he increasingly rules like an elective dictator, relying on executive orders instead of working with Congress for legislative solutions. But leftists supporters are furious that Biden has not seized far more power to inflict their values on the rest of America… Leftists are angry that Biden did not issue a decree making abortion legal…

“… law professor Jonathan Turley observed, ‘President Biden has arguably the worst record of losses in [federal court] the first two years of any recent presidential administration.’

“On his first day in office, Biden issued an executive order compelling people to wear face masks any time they were on federal property… Last September, Biden decreed that every American working for a company with more than a hundred employees must get a COVID vaccine injection. The Supreme Court obliterated that mandate in January, ruling that there was no basis in federal law for his decree.

“Last November, the Supreme Court struck down the Biden administration’s attempt to perpetuate a national moratorium on evictions of renters. Six Justices scoffed that the administration’s legal defense relied ‘on a decades-old statute that authorizes . . . measures like fumigation and pest extermination.’ In April, federal judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle struck down the Biden administration’s mask mandate for air travel, ruling that agencies were not permitted to ‘act unlawfully’…

“Despite being told again and again that he can’t just make law, leftists still insist Biden act unilaterally on abortion, guns and the environment. Ironically, despite four years nonstop howling about the peril from President Trump, many leftists understand nothing about the danger of absolute power.”

They sure don’t, and that is VERY dangerous, as it paves the way for tyranny and a dictatorship. Canada, under leftist Trudeau, is perhaps one of the best examples for this development.

Biden, Johnson and Macron… Out of Touch With Reality

The New York Post wrote on July 10:

“This is an Age of Rage, and it is only beginning… Boris Johnson… is a bust. The prime minister who made Brexit happen was knifed by his own Conservative Party. It’s a death by a thousand cuts, most of them self-inflicted….  In the big picture, public rage — the force that brought down Boris Johnson — has also paralyzed the presidency of Emmanuel Macron…  and given Joe Biden the worst popularity ratings since polling began. And the tidal wave of anger is still growing…

“Johnson’s colleagues made a pre-emptive strike before Britain’s voters turned on the party as a whole. The French public had no choice but to return Macron to the presidency in April’s elections: He was the least-worst alternative to the ex-fascist Marine Le Pen and the neo-communist Jean-Luc Mélenchon… Macron, a little man with Napoleonic plans, is now struggling to build a coalition.

“The American public have another two years of Joe Biden’s masterful leadership to look forward to. But the voters will get the chance to register their disgust in the midterms. They are… sure to massacre the Dems in November…

“Leftists are pleased that the original bad boys of populism are out — first Donald Trump, then Benjamin Netanyahu, now Boris — but there is no normal to return to. The voters trusted their leaders when the COVID-19 epidemic broke out — and their leaders panicked. Elected politicians outsourced the biggest challenge since World War II to the control freaks at the CDC while leaving it to corporate chemists to actually come up with the vaccines.  And the Biden administration still won’t tell us where it thinks COVID-19 came from.

“Emmanuel Macron’s restrictions on movement would have brought a gleam to the eye of a Vichy colonel: Not since the days of Marshal Pétain had the French needed an official pass to go beyond the end of the street. At least Macron played the role of dictator with unerring conviction.

“Boris Johnson imposed three merciless lockdowns, then broke his own COVID rules. Joe Biden ordered the cruel and pointless masking of children, then ambled about maskless in front of the cameras.

“The leaders of the Western democracies proved they neither understood nor cared about the suffering of their peoples…

“The post-COVID economy is a disaster. We have an unnecessary energy crisis, and the credibility of democracy itself is tumbling into an income gap that keeps getting wider. The trust between rulers and ruled has been broken.

“The worst of it is, no one forced our leaders to opt for lockdowns, mask mandates, infant vaccinations, mad money printing and green boondoggles. This was the experts’ ill-informed idea of good government.

‘Johnson and Biden both turned left after winning office, imposing expensive and unworkable green energy policies, and raising taxes even as they promised to revive their economies. Biden, with his usual integrity, will blame Vladimir Putin  or white supremacy when the Democrats lose both House and Senate in the midterms…

“We are ruled by halfwits and hypocrites without conviction or competence…”

Sadly, this is SO very true.  

Biden a “Great Zionist” and True Friend of Israel?

 The Algemeiner wrote on July 13:

“As US President Joe Biden kicked off his Middle East trip in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, Israeli leaders hailed the regional visit as a ‘journey of peace’ and called for global cooperation to arrest Iran’s nuclear program… Prime Minister Yair Lapid remarked at the greeting ceremony… that Biden once called himself a Zionist, saying that ‘you don’t have to be a Jew to be a Zionist.’ ‘You were right, and in your case: a great Zionist and one of the best friends Israel has ever known,’ the Israeli premier added.

“Biden reaffirmed that stance in his own remarks, calling the connection between the Israeli and American peoples ‘bone deep.’ ‘With this trip we have reaffirmed the unshakable commitment by the United States to Israel’s security, including partnering with Israel on the most cutting-edge defense systems in the world,’ Biden said.”

Biden, who was greeted at his arrival as “brother Joseph,” also said in an interview which was recorded before his trip but shown on Israeli TV after his arrival that he would use force as a last resort to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons. But words are cheap. It will remain to be seen what the USA will do in case of a serious crisis.

Agreement Between the USA and Israel Regarding Iran?

JTA wrote on July 14:

“After releasing a joint statement that demonstrates unity on the need to counter the Iranian nuclear threat, U.S. president Joe Biden and Israeli prime minister Yair Lapid gave statements that demonstrate radical differences in their approach to doing so. The document released on Thursday, the second day of Biden’s visit to Israel, is a 1,500-word statement titled ‘The Jerusalem Declaration on the US-Israel Strategic Partnership.’ It states that the United States is committed ‘never to allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon’ and is ‘prepared to use all elements of its national power to ensure that outcome.’

“But after the leaders’ meeting Thursday, Biden and Lapid gave a joint press conference in which Biden said that working to prevent a nuclear Iran, ‘I continue to believe that diplomacy is the best way to achieve this outcome.’

“Lapid struck a different note… ‘Words will not stop them, Mr. President. Diplomacy will not stop them. The only thing that will stop Iran is knowing that if they continue to develop their nuclear program, the free world will use force.’”

Deutsche Welle added on July 14:

“‘We will make sure Israel will be able to defend itself by itself,’ Biden said during a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid.”

G.O.P. Voters Ready to Leave Trump Behind?

DNYUZ reported on July 12:

“As Donald J. Trump  weighs whether to open an unusually early White House campaign, a New York Times/Siena College poll shows that his post-presidential quest to consolidate his support within the Republican Party has instead left him weakened, with nearly half the party’s primary voters seeking someone different for president in 2024 and a significant number vowing to abandon him if he wins the nomination…. A clear majority of primary voters under 35 years old, 64 percent, as well as 65 percent of those with at least a college degree — a leading indicator of political preferences inside the donor class — told pollsters they would vote against Mr. Trump in a presidential primary…

“Overall, Mr. Trump maintains his primacy in the party: In a hypothetical matchup against five other potential Republican presidential rivals, 49 percent of primary voters said they would support him for a third nomination. The greatest threat to usurp Mr. Trump within the party is Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, who was the second choice with 25 percent and the only other contender with double-digit support. Among primary voters, Mr. DeSantis was the top choice of younger Republicans, those with a college degree and those who said they voted for President Biden in 2020…

“Should Mr. DeSantis and Mr. Trump face off in a primary, the poll suggested that support from Fox News could prove crucial: Mr. Trump held a 62 percent to 26 percent advantage over Mr. DeSantis among Fox News viewers, while the gap between the two Floridians was 16 points closer among Republicans who mainly receive their news from another source…”

The Radical Government of Michigan

Life Site News wrote on July 8:

“Michigan’s radically pro-abortion Democratic governor on Wednesday reaffirmed her commitment to defending legal abortion in her state, characterizing the ability to kill unborn babies as ‘a great part of [Michigan’s] legacy.’

“Whitmer, who imposed some of the harshest COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions in the United States during the coronavirus epidemic, said that abortion falls under the state’s commitment to ‘civil rights,’ ‘bodily autonomy,’ and the ability of residents to create a ‘great quality of life.’”

What happened to civil rights and quality of life in Michigan when terrible and unconstitutional lockdowns and restrictions were imposed on the citizens during the pandemic crisis?

Vatican Joins Paris Agreement … What’s Really Behind It

Life Site wrote on July 8:

“The Vatican announced today that it has formally joined the Paris Climate Agreement… The Vatican claims that in joining the Paris Agreement it is expressing its solidarity with the poor and future generations as those most affected by ‘climate change.’…   however, it has long been noted by pro-life advocates, that the 2015 Agreement includes an underlying agenda to push abortion, contraception [that are, or can be, abortifacient], and sterilization as necessary means of controlling the population and minimizing human consumption and use of the earth’s resources…

“Many see the Vatican’s accession to the Paris Climate Agreement today as yet one more step along what Voice of the Family called ‘the steady reversal of the Holy See’s former vigilance on this issue [of abortion] and the increasing incidence of the Vatican and international anti-life and anti-family forces working together, despite the Holy Father’s public condemnations of abortion.’”

The article also pointed out:

“Today’s announcement comes only one day after the European Union adopted a resolution… in which the E.U. defends abortion as a ‘fundamental human right’ and ‘calls on the governments of those [US] states which have passed laws and other measures concerning bans and restrictions on abortion to repeal them and to ensure that their legislation is in line with internationally protected women’s human rights.’”

The collaboration between the EU and the Vatican is obvious.

Pope Francis and Retirement

The Associated Press wrote on July 12:

“Pope Francis said he would not live in the Vatican or return to his native Argentina if and when he ever retires, but would instead like to find a church in Rome where he could continue hearing confessions. ‘I’m the bishop of Rome, in this case the emeritus bishop of Rome,’ Francis said in an interview… Francis, 85, denied he was planning to retire any time soon but repeated that ‘the door is open’ after Pope Benedict XVI in 2013 became the first pope in 600 years to step down…

“Some cardinals and canon lawyers have long questioned Benedict’s decisions in retirement, including his continuing to wear the white cassock of the papacy and keeping his papal name, Benedict, rather than reverting back to his birth name, Joseph Ratzinger. They say those choices and Benedict’s continued presence in the Vatican created confusion among the faithful and enabled Francis’ traditionalist critics to use Benedict as a conservative point of reference, threatening the unity of the Catholic Church.”

Germany’s Fear of Disaster

Deutsche Welle reported on July 10:

“Canada has announced it will return to Germany a repaired turbine of the Russian Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which is a core source of the gas supply to Germany. It comes as the pipeline prepares to undergo maintenance from July 11 to 21. Although the maintenance is nominally routine, the tension with Russia and the sanctions status in allied countries like Canada had prompted German leaders to consider the possibility of a longer shutdown.

“The repairs come amid Canadian sanctions against Russia extending ‘to land and pipeline transport and the manufacturing of metals and of transport, computer, electronic and electrical equipment, as well as of machinery.’ Ukraine had urged Canada not to return the repaired part, saying it would undermine sanctions against Russia [and] it would be ‘setting a dangerous precedent that will lead to the weakening of the sanctions regime imposed on Russia.’ [Ukraine] stressed the turbine must be returned to Ukraine rather than Germany. The country argued that Germany could rely instead on Ukrainian pipelines to transport a sufficient amount of gas…

“Fears are growing in Germany regarding a difficult winter, should Russia maintain its reduced gas supply. Peter Adrian, the president of the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK), warned that the crisis could take its toll not only on citizens in need of heating their homes, but also on companies and Germany’s economy at large. Adrian told the dpa news agency that this could trigger a serious recession, predicting a decline in economic output of up to 10%. ‘The clock is ticking and, as businesses, we have to think about the worst case scenario,’ Adrian said, warning of ‘disaster’ should Russia fail to turn the gas supply back on after the conclusion of the pipeline’s maintenance on July 21.”

Frictions between Germany and Ukraine are increasing as well. On Monday, Canada’s ambassador to Kyiv was summoned over the decision that Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry called “unacceptable.”

The Associated Press wrote on July 13:

“Russian energy company Gazprom appeared to cast doubt Wednesday on the prospects of quickly restoring the flow of natural gas to full capacity through a major pipeline to Western Europe. Gazprom reduced the gas deliveries through Nord Stream 1 to Germany by 60% last month. The state-owned gas company cited technical problems involving a piece of equipment that partner Siemens Energy sent to Canada for overhaul and couldn’t be returned because of sanctions imposed over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“The Canadian government said over the weekend that it would allow the gas turbine that powers a compressor station to be delivered to Germany, citing the ‘very significant hardship’ that the German economy would suffer without a sufficient gas supply to keep industries running and generate electricity. Gazprom tweeted Wednesday that it ‘does not possess any documents that would enable Siemens to get the gas turbine engine … out of Canada.’ It added that ‘in these circumstances, it appears impossible to reach an objective conclusion on further developments regarding the safe operation’ of a compressor station at the Russian end of the pipeline, which it said is ‘of critical importance.’…

“Nord Stream 1 runs under the Baltic Sea and is Germany’s main source of Russian gas, which recently has accounted for about 35% of the country’s total gas supply… German politicians have dismissed Russia’s technical explanation for last month’s reduction in gas flowing through Nord Stream 1, saying the decision was a political gambit to sow uncertainty and further push up energy prices… German officials are concerned that Russia may not resume gas deliveries at all, pointing to a possibility that it might cite another technical detail as a reason to keep the gas turned off.”

Russia stated that it is not certain that gas deliveries will resume on or about July 21, as this may also depend on Europe’s conduct regarding their sanctions against Russia. 

Italian Government Near Collapsing–Again?

 Reuters reported on July 14:

“Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s coalition government risked collapse on Thursday after the 5-Star Movement, one of its members, failed to support a parliamentary confidence vote including measures to offset the cost of living crisis. Straight after the vote, Draghi headed to the Quirinale Palace in Rome to meet President Sergio Mattarella, the supreme arbiter in Italian politics, and the two men held talks for almost an hour….

“The confidence vote had become a focal point for tensions within Draghi’s broad coalition as its parties prepare to fight each other in a national election due by early 2023….The 5-Star decision to boycott the vote plunged Italy into political uncertainty and risked undermining efforts to secure billions of euros in European Union funds, tackle a damaging drought and reduce its reliance on Russian gas.

“It could lead to national elections as early as September or October after other coalition parties said there should be a vote if 5-Star no longer backed the government…. Draghi, Italy’s sixth prime minister in the past decade, had been seen as providing reassurance that Italy would respect any conditions attached to the new mechanism but his departure would create fresh uncertainty.”

After World War II, Italy’s governments have been one of the most unstable in Europe. After the fall of Israel’s coalition, we might also see a collapse of the unstable coalition in Germany very soon. 

Alarm Over Ukraine Weapons Smuggling

UK Today News reported on July 12:

“Nato and EU states are pushing for better tracking of weapons they have supplied to Ukraine in response to fears that criminal groups are smuggling them back out of the country and on to Europe’s black market. Since Russia launched its war against Ukraine, western states have pledged more than $10bn in military support, from portable rocket launchers and armoured vehicles to rifles and vast amounts of ammunition… ‘All these weapons land in southern Poland, get shipped to the border and then are just divided up into vehicles to cross: trucks, vans, sometimes private cars,’ said one of the western officials. ‘And from that moment we go blank on their location and we have no idea where they go, where they are used or even if they stay in the country.’…

“Europol, the EU’s law enforcement agency, said in April that its investigations indicated that weapons trafficking from Ukraine into the bloc to supply organised crime groups had begun and was a potential threat to EU security… ‘Initially, Ukrainian officials maintained registers of firearms handed out to civilians, but this practice was abandoned as the war progressed and firearms have been distributed without records since then,’ it said…”

This was so predictable, and it will not help the development or maintenance of any “friendship” between Ukraine and Europe.

Part of Bosnia and Serbia to Join Russia?

Newsweek wrote on July 9, 2022

“… secessionist threats by Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik is a ‘dream come true’ for Russian President Vladimir Putin… who promised… that ‘we are not leaving our friends.’… Dodik said in June… that Serbia would ‘wait for the appropriate global circumstances’ to achieve its plan of seceding from Bosnia. This also comes amid fears of instability in the Western Balkans, potentially fueled by the Russian war in Ukraine, which prompted Germany to plan to deploy troops with the European Union’s peacekeeping mission in Bosnia…

“Dodik [is] a Putin supporter who serves as the Serb member of Bosnia’s tripartite presidency… Dodik’s goal to break apart half of Bosnia and unite it with neighboring Serbia has led the United States and the United Kingdom to impose sanctions against him earlier this year over attempts to fuel conflict and destabilize Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“Bosnia has already gone through a war from 1992-1995 that left over 100,000 people dead before a deal, known as the Dayton Accords, was reached to end the conflict. The agreement created Bosnian Serb and Bosniak-Croat bodies who were connected by joint Bosnian institutions and a tripartite presidency…

“Dodik and Putin have similar goals when it comes to Bosnia which includes strengthening Serbian-Russian alliance as they both want to block Bosnia from seeking an EU and NATO membership…”

Ukrainians to Become “Russians”

Reuters wrote on July 11:

“Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Monday extending a simplified Russian naturalisation process to all citizens of Ukraine, a document published on the government’s website showed.

“Previously, a simplified procedure for acquiring Russian citizenship applied only to residents of the self-proclaimed breakaway territories of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) in eastern Ukraine, which Russia seeks to ‘liberate’ from Kyiv’s control, as well as the Russian-occupied regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, the state news agency TASS reported.”

Putin to Meet with Iran’s and Turkey’s Leaders

The Associated Press reported on July 12:

“Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit Iran next week… a day after the U.S. warned that Tehran could provide Moscow with drones for its action in Ukraine…. The White House said Monday that it believes that Russia is turning to Iran to provide it with ‘hundreds’ of drones, including those capable of carrying weapons, for use in Ukraine…

“During a trip to Tehran next Tuesday, Putin will attend a trilateral meeting with the leaders of Iran and Turkey, the so-called Astana format of meetings for Syria-related talks… Putin’s visit to Iran will follow U.S. President Joe Biden’s trip to Israel and Saudi Arabia this week, where Iran’s nuclear program and malign activities in the region will be a key subject of discussion…. Putin will also have a separate meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.”

The claim by the White House that Iran is to send drones to Russia has been highly disputed as being inaccurate in some of the conservative media, such as the Ron Paul Institute and Breitbart which referred to National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan as “one of the key perpetrators of the ‘Russia collusion’ hoax in 2016 and 2017.”

Turkey vs. Greece … and the USA

Greek Reporter wrote on July 10:

“Far-right nationalist Turkish politician and Erdogan ally Devlet Bahçeli released a map that indicates that the Greek islands in the Aegean and even Crete belong to Turkey. Bahçeli is one of the founders of The Grey Wolves, a nationalist, Islamist, and fascist group that is considered a terrorist organization across much of the world. Throughout the 1970s, the Grey Wolves conducted guerilla attacks against minorities, artists, and leftists in Turkey…

“In June, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, warned Greece to demilitarize its islands in the Aegean, saying he was ‘not joking.’ He spoke during Turkish military exercises near the islands… The Turkish leader also claimed that the US bases in Greece may be targeting his country instead of Russia. ‘There are nine US bases right now. They were established in Greece. Against whom were they established? The answer they give is ‘against Russia.’ We don’t buy it, take no offense,’ Erdogan said during a joint press conference with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.”

No More Speeding?

The Drive wrote on July 6:

“The European Union officially adopted a mandate Wednesday requiring all new vehicles sold in the EU to include technology that could prevent drivers from speeding when activated…

“ISA regulations say that if a vehicle speeds on any road, the system—when activated—must warn the driver or even automatically slow down the vehicle until it reaches the posted speed limit… As of July 2024, all new vehicles sold in the EU must be equipped with ISA.”

Will then many police officers be out of a job?

Dollar Nearly Equal to Euro—Helping or Hurting?

Fortune wrote on July 7:

“The U.S. dollar has been surging so much that it’s nearly equal in value to the euro for the first time in 20 years. [The exchange course has been between 1.02 Dollars and 1.00 to the Euro, for several days now.] That trend, though, threatens to hurt American companies because their goods become more expensive for foreign buyers. If U.S. exports were to weaken as a result, so, too, would the already-slowing U.S. economy…

“Yet there’s a positive side for Americans… A strengthened dollar… delivers bargains to American tourists sightseeing in Europe, from Amsterdam to Athens…

“In the meantime, the dollar’s rise is complicating an already uncertain outlook for the United States, the world’s biggest economy…”

Deutsche Welle added on July 12:

“The euro has taken a major beating against its US peer since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February, falling to its lowest level in 20 years… The general worsening of the eurozone’s outlook amid soaring gas prices and fears of Russia cutting off natural gas supplies is dragging down the shared currency. The oversized reliance of major economies such as Germany and Italy on Russian gas has left investors unnerved, with economists forecasting a much quicker and more painful recession in the euro area than in the US… Bets that the euro would continue its fall below parity have increased in recent days…”

It won’t be the world’s strongest economy for long, if that assessment is even true…

Express wrote on July 13:

“THE EURO is facing a huge crisis after the single currency plummeted below the value of the US dollar for the first time in nearly 20 years – further deepening Eurozone recession fears. The bloc’s currency plunged to $0.9998 against the greenback, breaking below the $1 level for the first time since December 2002, before the euro back up to $1.0023. It has already sunk by nearly 12 percent this year, deepening fears the Eurozone could be plunged into a disastrous recession. The situation was worsened on Wednesday when it was revealed US consumer price inflation had soared to 9.1 percent – the highest in more than 40 years.

“The euro only briefly brushed parity against the US dollar this morning, but it was enough to send shockwaves through Europe’s biggest stock market indexes…”

Next Recession Worse Than 2008

Newsmax wrote on July 8:

“Next Recession Is Coming, Likely Worse Than 2008…

“The United States has experienced at least 34 recessions since 1857, occurring every 10-15 years on average, with the last one taking place in 2008 – and that means Americans are due for another one very soon. And we’re likely going to get it.”

Many feel that the USA is already in a recession, which indeed will get worse.

Musk Ends Deal With Twitter

Reuters wrote on July 8:

“Elon Musk, the chief executive officer of Tesla and the world’s richest person, said on Friday he was terminating his $44 billion deal to buy Twitter because the social media company had breached multiple provisions of the merger agreement… In a filing, Musk’s lawyers said Twitter had failed or refused to respond to multiple requests for information on fake or spam accounts on the platform, which is fundamental to the company’s business performance…. Musk’s abandonment of the deal and Twitter’s promise to vigorously fight to complete it casts a pall of uncertainty over the company’s future and its stock price during a time when worries about rising interest rates and a potential recession have hammered Wall Street.”

CNBC added:

“Musk is apparently paying attention to the stock price, too, according to the letter, ‘and is considering whether the company’s declining business prospects and financial outlook constitute a Company Material Adverse Effect giving Mr. Musk a separate and distinct basis for terminating the Merger Agreement.’”

We may recall that Twitter blocked many posts which were not in accordance with their left-wing agenda.

Another Nail in the Coffin of Evolution

Study Finds wrote on July 9:

“Charles Darwin’s natural selection theory is being put to the test. Darwin’s theory expounded that organisms which can better adapt to their environment are more likely to survive and produce more offspring. However, a new study by British researchers reveals natural selection may be making society more unequal… natural selection is favoring poorer people with little education…[natural selection] is pushing against genes associated with highly educated individuals, people who have more lifetime earnings, those who have a low risk of… major depressive disorders, and those with a lower risk of coronary artery disease.

“‘Darwin’s theory of evolution stated that all species develop through the natural selection of small, inherited variations that increase the individual’s ability to compete, survive, and reproduce,’ says lead researcher David Hugh-Jones, a professor from UEA’s School of Economics…”

The study showed the exact opposite of what Darwin postulated. But the theory of natural selection or the survival of the fittest is one of the chief cornerstones of the theory of evolution. Without it, the theory collapses for that reason alone.

Noah’s Ark Rebuilt

Fox News wrote on July 10:

“The Ark Encounter park [in Kentucky] is a full-size representation of Noah’s Ark, based on the Genesis flood narrative in the Bible. The structure is roughly 510 feet long, 85 feet wide and 51 feet high…

“The Ark Encounter features the most authentic full-size replica of Noah’s Ark in the world…  It was built according to the dimensions given in the Bible — and has three decks of teaching exhibits.”

What will Bible-denying “scientists” say when the REAL Ark is found?

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer

These Current Events are compiled and commented on by Norbert Link. We gratefully acknowledge the many contributions of news articles from our readership. The publication of articles in this section is not to be viewed as an endorsement or approval as to contents or accuracy of the selected articles, but they are published for the purpose of pointing at worldwide developments in the light of biblical end-time prophecy and godly instruction. Our own comments are provided in italics.

It is an unusual word in that it is not in common usage in everyday life.   However, the understanding of its meaning is vital to the true Christian.   It is pronounced as “an-tin-o-mi-an-ism”.

Wikipedia observes as follows:

“Antinomianism (Ancient Greek: ἀντί, ‘against’ and νόμος, ‘law’) is any view which rejects laws or legalism, and argues against moral, religious or social norms (Latin: mores), or is at least considered to do so. The term has both religious and secular meanings.

“In some Christian belief systems, an antinomian is one who takes the principle of salvation by faith and divine grace to the point of asserting that the saved are not bound to follow the moral law contained in The Commandments.

“The distinction between antinomian and other Christian views on moral law is that antinomians believe that obedience to the law is motivated by an internal principle flowing from belief rather than from any external compulsion.”

In short, it is a doctrine by which Christians are freed by grace and need not obey the law.

In our booklet “Biblical Prophecy—From Now Until Forever,” we read the following on pages 3-4 where Jesus was talking about religious deception as described in Matthew 24:

“Christ responded in verses 4 and 5 by warning them against religious deception, stating that many would come in His name, proclaiming that He was the Christ, yet their messages would be deceiving. This deception actually began shortly after Christ’s resurrection and the birth of the New Testament Church. The apostle Paul would later say that there were many of his time who preached another gospel and another Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:4; Galatians 1:6)—one who had come to do away with the law of God. By the time of the destruction of the temple, much of the truth had been lost due to false teachings that had entered the Church. Subsequently, John was compelled to emphasize that anyone who would proclaim God but refuse to keep His law would be a liar, and no truth would be in him (1 John 2:4).

“The religious deception that Christ warned against would be ongoing. Even in the end time, just prior to and during the Great Tribulation…, religious deception would abound (verses 11, 24; compare Mark 13:22).”

In the introduction in our booklet, “And Lawlessness Will Abound,” we state:

“Almost two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ, under the inspiration of God the Father, prophesied that the very last generation of mankind would be so evil and wicked that it would be willing to even destroy ‘all flesh’ in a worldwide war (Matthew 24:22). At that time of impending cosmocide ‘the love of many’—even in God’s Church—’will grow cold’ (Matthew 24:12). There is a reason for such indifference and God tells us in the same verse what the reason is, ‘…because lawlessness will abound.’

“At that very time it will be as if people were to say, ‘The law is no more!’ (Lamentations 2:9). Instead, they will have been misled by the ‘mystery of lawlessness’ (2 Thessalonians 2:7). This mysterious concept was already at work in the days of the apostle Paul but it grew worse and worse over the centuries. The overwhelming majority, not having ‘received the love of the truth,’ will accept, support and even worship that man, thinking that he is God (2 Thessalonians 2:10).

“How could this be, given the fact that most people, especially in the Western World, are professing Christians, and as such, supposedly embrace the teachings of the Bible? Don’t they agree with, and keep, the fundamental and, we might say, constitutional law of the Bible, the Ten Commandments as well as God’s statutes and judgments that further define and explain the Ten Commandments? How could professing Christians be referred to in the Bible as people who follow ‘lawlessness’?”

“Most professing Christians do not believe that the Ten Commandments are still in force and effect, so they don’t see a need to keep them—neither in the letter, nor in “spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).”

It is fundamental, as we will see, to understand that the keeping of the Law of God is not something that we can make up in our own minds or some twisting of Scriptures to prove a different version of the Law to suit our own leanings.   It can be seen on the internet that a number of sources state that an antinomian is one who takes the principle of salvation by faith and divine grace to the point of asserting that the saved are not bound to follow the “moral law” contained in the Ten Commandments and they condemn this approach. In passing, the Bible nowhere speaks of the “moral law,” but it says that the Law is “spiritual” (Romans 7:14). They then contradict themselves by accepting their own form of understanding rather than taking the Ten Commandments at face value as the rule of law that we must keep.   Some even infer that those who keep the Ten Commandments are legalists!

On the website Christianity.com, we read their answer to the question: “What Is Legalism?  Definition and Examples”:

“Legalism exists when people attempt to secure righteousness in God’s sight by good works. Legalists believe that they can earn or merit God’s approval by performing the requirements of the law,” Thomas R. Schreiner said a legalist believes that their good works and obedience to God affects their salvation. Legalism focuses on God’s laws more than relationship with God. It keeps external laws without a truly submitted heart. And legalism adds human rules to divine laws and treats them as divine.”

The problem arises in mainstream Christianity that anyone who asserts that the Law of God has to be kept, can immediately be defined as a legalist and, quite probably they will belong to a cult.   This is often used just to try and further their antagonism to those who are, in actual fact, obedient to the Word of God.

To bring a practical everyday example of (often deliberate) misrepresentation is the word “homophobe”.  The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines this word as: “irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or gay people.”   Others may use slightly different or varied definitions, but the above definition is commonplace today and anyone opposing homosexuality, and quoting the Bible which describes this behaviour as perversion, is almost always vilified.   In other words, man’s definition is better and more acceptable today than the definition of the great Creator God!   What most people do today is misrepresent, on purpose, or through ignorance, what is a wrong interpretation.  A true Christian will not hate homosexuals, but disagree with their behaviour because God states that it is a perverse and wrong behaviour.  However, that usually doesn’t fit in with those who want to vilify anyone who does not approve of this wrong behaviour!

A typical, clever, response can be found on many websites that opine as follows:

“The moral law God expects us to obey is the law of Christ—’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets’ (Matthew 22:37-40). If we love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, we will do nothing to displease Him. If we love our neighbors as ourselves, we will do nothing to harm them.”

In essence, they quote nine of the Ten Commandments but don’t agree with the 4^th Commandment which is to keep the Sabbath day holy.   Those keeping the weekly Sabbath and the annual Holy Days, which are also called Sabbaths, are seen as legalists whereas God describes these days as His days as we read in Leviticus 23:1-2: “And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: “The feasts of the Lord, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.  Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings.”’”

We are the New Testament Israel today—“spiritual Israel”—and this still applies to the people of God in 2022.   If there is anyone reading this Q&A who is not familiar with our teachings on keeping God’s weekly and annual Holy Days, please see the many Q&A’s on the same subject, and also see the following free booklets:

• How to Keep the Sabbath
• Is That in the Bible? Man’s Holidays or God’s Holy Days
• The Meaning of God’s Spring Holy Days
• The Meaning of God’s Fall Holy Days
• The Ten Commandments

Another “clever” answer by an internet blogger is: “So now we live, not by being forgiven our constant shortcomings, but by being out of the law’s bailiwick altogether; not by imitating Christ, the archetypal practitioner of holy obedience to God’s law, but by burrowing ever deeper into the joy of our free justification, and of our knowledge that Christ himself actually does in us all that his and our Father wants us to do.”

Let us allow Scripture to answer some of the above.

In the model prayer, Jesus says that: “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14-15).

Also, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ,” said the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:1.

In the past, there have been members of the Church of God who have known the Truth but have succumbed to false teaching and the ways of this world which is a very dangerous spiritual state to be in.   It is described this way in 2 Peter 2:20-22: “For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: ‘A dog returns to his own vomit,’ and, ‘a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.’”

We know that those who interpret the plain Truth of Scripture in a different way to the Church of God will unlikely be persuaded to the Truth; but, it is our desire to strengthen Church members in the right knowledge of God as well as those who are genuinely seeking the Truth.

(To be continued)

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

compiled by Dave Harris

“Will America Help Israel Against Iran?” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

As Joe Biden visits Israel, hopes are high that a close relationship between America and Israel against Iran will be established and maintained. Lip services are clearly given to this effect, but how reliable is this “unshakable commitment”? Radical differences in approach have already been revealed. When push comes to shove, will America or any other nation help Israel, or will Israel be left in the cold?

A Tech Team Meeting was held on Sunday, July 10, 2022, and it was hosted by Eric Rank via Google Meets. Reports were presented covering options to You Tube for presenting our live services along with discussing our Ad campaigns and Feast plans.

“God Is… Our Destiny,” a new booklet written by Norbert Link, has been sent to graphic artist Shelly Bruno for finalization.

“Europas Aufstieg und Fall,” is the title of this Sabbath’s new German sermon, presented by Norbert Link. Title in English: “Europe’s Rise and Fall.”

“Der Reichtum der Verständigen,” the sermonette presented last Sabbath in Germany  by Mike Richter, is now posted. Title in English: “The Wealth of the Wise.”

“The Second Amendment and Gun Laws—Comments on News and Prophecy, July 9, 2022,” the first message presented last Sabbath by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is a summary:

A Mass Shooting at a Fourth of July Parade; the assassination of Japan’s Shinzo Abe; and the call for tougher gun control. Why is this discussion oftentimes hypocritical, and what is overlooked when addressing the Second Amendment and the Law of God? We also speak about the mess in the UK; the confusion pertaining to the definition of “a woman”; and the reasons for the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

“Specks and Planks,” the sermon presented last Sabbath by Michael Link, is now posted. Here is a summary:

We are admonished in Luke 6:41-42 to examine ourselves first before we point the finger at others.  We want to avoid being hypocrites when judging others unrighteously, because we will also be judged by our actions.