Performance Enhancing Morality. Counting Blessings. Why Me, God? Alcatraz. Isle Derniere Storm. Bible Trivia. Lawlessness and Constantine.

 

For “Scripture Sunday”:

Performance Enhancing Morality

“If you think the report about cheating in baseball looks bad, you ought to read the reports about Americans cheating and lying in everyday life!”

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Counting Blessings

“What a world this would be if we could only learn to count our blessings even while we are counting our troubles.

We do have both, and it is in our control to focus on one or the other. Obstacles and disadvantages abound in our lives, and sadly enough, some people carry them all the way to their graves. Others battle against disadvantages and even turn them into advantages because, in spite of them, they rise to live full, happy and successful lives.

Helen Keller was born blind and handicapped more than most—yet she gave the world poetry, which cheered people of all walks of life. The lesson is an old one. Look for the silver lining, look for the good things in each day, focus on that which builds and edifies and then the dark and negative clouds that do exist will move to the side. We become what we think in our innermost self.” (Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. See All...). From: http://www.ucg.org/this-is-the-way/counting-blessings/

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The program on WGN TV this morning:

Why Me, God?

“When tragedy, sorrow and heartache strike, where is God? Hear the poignant stories of two people who found the answer and real hope.”

Transcript at: http://www.ucg.org/beyond-today-program/christian-living/why-me-god

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On This Day:

Hurricane submerges Louisiana resort, Aug 11, 1856:

“A hurricane hits the Louisiana coast, killing more than 400 people, on this day in 1856. Isle Derniere, a resort community, was totally submerged by the storm surges.

This hurricane, which came before scientists began naming big storms, probably formed in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico and moved northwest toward the Alabama coast. At that point, it veered due west and just missed a direct hit on Mobile, Alabama. Instead, the storm headed right for the mouth of the Mississippi River and devastated the Louisiana coast. Written reports of the storm describe it as the worst that anyone at the time could remember.

The worst-hit place was Isle Derniere (Last Island), a resort for Southern aristocrats near the Terrebonne Parish. The storm first brought blinding and torrential rain, which, when combined with strong winds, felt like daggers to the people on the ground. Next, storm surges carried water from Lake Pelto onto the small island from the north. Then, a tidal wave of water from the south devastated the residents. Reportedly, upwards of 150 people were carried off with the wave, with some bodies ending up six miles away. The only survivors from Last Island were those who were able to make it to a steamship moored on the island's shores. Every building and home on the island was submerged under water for days after the storm.

Also hard hit was nearby Bayou LaFourche, where a mysterious sea creature was rumored to have come ashore due to the hurricane.

Although it avoided a direct hit on the Louisiana coast, the same area was further damaged less than a month later by another hurricane.”

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Federal prisoners land on Alcatraz, Aug 11, 1934:

“A group of federal prisoners classified as "most dangerous" arrives at Alcatraz Island, a 22-acre rocky outcrop situated 1.5 miles offshore in San Francisco Bay. The convicts--the first civilian prisoners to be housed in the new high-security penitentiary--joined a few dozen military prisoners left over from the island's days as a U.S. military prison.

Alcatraz was an uninhabited seabird haven when it was explored by Spanish Lieutenant Juan Manuel de Ayala in 1775. He named it Isla de los Alcatraces, or "Island of the Pelicans." Fortified by the Spanish, Alcatraz was sold to the United States in 1849. In 1854, it had the distinction of housing the first lighthouse on the coast of California. Beginning in 1859, a U.S. Army detachment was garrisoned there, and from 1868 Alcatraz was used to house military criminals.

In 1963, U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy ordered Alcatraz closed, citing the high expense of its maintenance. In its 29-year run, Alcatraz housed more than 1,500 convicts. In March 1964 a group of Sioux Indians briefly occupied the island, citing an 1868 treaty with the Sioux allowing Indians to claim any "unoccupied government land." In November 1969, a group of nearly 100 Indian students and activists began a more prolonged occupation of the island, remaining there until they were forced off by federal marshals in June 1971.

In 1972, Alcatraz was opened to the public as part of the newly created Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which is maintained by the National Park Service. More than one million tourists visit Alcatraz Island and the former prison annually.”

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Yesterday:

At church, as it was the second Sabbath of the month, it was “Bible Trivia”, instead of Bible Study.  During this time, the small children have their own Bible Study in the dining hall.

Questions like in the ‘Bullies’ category, “Who tied two foxes tails together and set them on fire?”   In the “Momma’s Boy’s” category “Which mother and grandmother raised him to serve the Lord?”   In the “Man v. Wild” category “Who had God’s Spirit and not anti venom when they are bitten by a snake?” (The islanders of Malta are impressed when Paul is miraculously unharmed by a snake-bite. Acts 28:1)  Bible Trivia is always instructional and fun.

After the normal Song Service, anyone can get up on the stage and do a ‘special’ praise.  Sometimes it is one of the little children stumbling over some music they have just learned on the piano or guitar.  Another time, one of the ladies might just get up there and sing a solo.  This week a lot of the men sang a hymn.  Several of the fathers are holding their little babies, too.  The babies are usually quiet during the service, but if they are not, there is a nursery room with the sound piped in, and a big window to the sanctuary.

The sermon called “Lawlessness” was given by one of the elders.  He discussed the roots of contemporary Christianity, and how it was started by Constantine, who ruled from 306-337 AD.  He tried to embrace Christianity, but did not outlaw paganism, and even allowed Sun worship.  He in 321 AD he changed the Sabbath from the seventh day to Sun-day, the day of the sungod. 

The coins of Constantine continued to depict Roman god Sol Invictus ("Unconquered Sun").

In fact to commemorate this very unique 50/50 pagan/Christian split, on the coins that he minted after his so called "conversion" he put both the symbols of Christianity and the symbols of the pagan sun God "Sol Invictus Mithras" on his coins.

Some interesting tid-bits about old Constantine the founder of Catholicism and Christianity that you should never forget include, (and these happened AFTER he became a so called "Christian" by the way): He had his own first son executed, his eldest son Crispus (strangled). He had his own wife executed, his wife Fausta (boiled alive). And robbed temples. Does that sound like something a real Christian would do?

In 330 AD when his new capital, Constantinople (present day Istanbul) was created, it was committed to the care of the local protecting pagan deities, Rhea and Tyche. Constantine then built pagan temples for them all over his new capital, at the same time as he claimed to be a Christian, the very last thing a real one would do.

As the one of the main founders of Catholicism, Roman emperor Constantine took much of the mythology of the so called "Cult of Mithras" and carried it into Christianity to give us the sort of pagan/Christian hybrid that we now call Catholicism or Christianity. For instance in order to honor the birthday of his favorite pagan God "Sol Invictus Mithras", Constantine ordered the official Mithras birthday of December 25th to also be the new fake birth date of Jesus. All of the pagan beliefs and practices of the so called "Cult of Mithras" are the real backbone that Catholicism and Christianity are based on to this very day.

It is well established that the man-made-laws have proven to be imperfect, simply because they are made by created people to others like them. This leads us to the fact that there must be laws and a complete way of life by the Creator. Then, since the Creator is Perfect, so His law is perfect too. If you go through a man, you are going to have manmade laws.  If you go by the Bible, you will know God’s laws. Let’s not settle for a political Constantine version.  That was the elder’s message.

1 Corinthians Chapter 11: Be ye followers of me, even as I also [am] of Christ.² Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered [them] to you.

It was a great afternoon, and even better, as we had some rain yesterday.