Cattle on a Thousand Playing Fields. Suddenly The Whole World Can Change, Qasem Soleimani. Update.

For “Scripture Sunday”:
The Cattle on a Thousand Playing Fields

“An Amazing Fact: It takes about 35,000 cows to make a year’s supply of regulation NFL footballs.

Despite the nickname “pigskin,” today footballs are actually made of leather. Wilson Sporting Goods, official supplier of NFL footballs, says one cowhide produces 15 to 25 footballs. Wilson makes about 700,000 regulation NFL footballs every year.

David Gassko and Ian Stanczyk decided to ask one day, “What are the odds that any given cow will make it into the Super Bowl, via a football?”

Of those 700,000 regulation balls, the NFL uses just 12,000 per year. Meanwhile, one in two adult cattle are slaughtered every year. Of those, the hides of one in 952 will become NFL footballs, of which one in 58 will be used in an NFL game, and about one in 158 of those will be used in the Super Bowl. So what are the odds that a random cow will be in the Super Bowl? About 1-in-17,420,000, or so say Gassko and Stanczyk.

The Psalm says God owns “the cattle on a thousand hills.” In fact, God claims every beast of the forest as well. Not even a sparrow falls to the ground without Him noticing. “Of how much more value are you?” Jesus asked. “Even the hairs on your head are numbered.”

With a God who loves you this much, do you know the odds that you’ll go to heaven and live with Him forever? Accept Him as your personal Savior, and they’re one in one.”

KEY BIBLE TEXTS

For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. Psalms 50:10-11 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. John 16:3”

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And Suddenly The Whole World Can Change

“That is what happened earlier this week when the United States took out the Iranian terrorist leader Qasem Soleimani with a missile strike in Baghdad. Iran was stunned by such a direct blow to their top general who has directed the Shiite regime’s expansionist efforts in the Middle East. After months of attacks on other targets in Iraq, Saudia Arabia and Iran, the American giant struck a right hand blow to Iran that smacked them to the mat. What is next remains to be seen.

I will let others opine about what might be the next phase of hostilities between the United States and Iran and the mix of other powers in this volatile region. The Middle East today is a collection of failed states, terrorist groups and fat, rich pseudo-royal oil states who posture as powers on the world stage. If it wasn’t so dangerous it would be a comedy. But the Middle East is the most dangerous region of the world and no one should underestimate the roiling powers that churn beneath the waves of events coming out of this region.

The future history of the world will be centered in the Middle East. While the current U.S. administration wants to withdraw troops from the region, extricating itself from the endless conflict that historically traps the unwary, powerful forces remain in place. Religious sectarian conflict will continue to focus attention of the world on the place known as the birthplace of three major world religions.

You need to educate yourself about the history of the Middle East from a biblical perspective. Today’s news sources will not give you this vital background. The Bible tells us why this part of world has so much conflict. The Bible also shows us what lies ahead and what that means for all nations and peoples. Our booklet, The Middle East in Bible Prophecy, is a great free study guide to help you understand the history of the peoples and cultures.

Why does Iran act as it does toward its neighbors and hold such deep animosity toward the United States? Why do the Arab states regard the State of Israel as a pariah in the region and have battled it constantly since its founding in 1948? These and other questions are answered for you in this study guide.

Start your study with this chapter that answers the question, “Why do people hate the United States?”.  I promise you this one read will show you why you need to read the rest of the booklet and learn the deeper facts about the Middle East.

Big events that will shape your life are coming out of the Middle East. Broaden your understanding by reading this study guide.” From: https://us1.campaign-archive.com/?e=72c729d811&u=1d04480cefc2e7c4492fe4a04&id=3c557c555b

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Update.

On Sunday, I took little Foxie to Tractor Supply to get her doggie shots and get her tested for heartworms.  The mobile vet is there each week at 1.00pm.  She is still very scared of unusual things, but she was very calm through all that.   Then I went to the Bible study here at the apartment club house.

On Monday there was a relationship seminar, complete with sandwiches, but it seemed mostly to be directed to couples, and we are all old senior singles here.  The following day there was a Wellness Program, where an “Aggie” nutritionist from Texas A & M showed us a film and fed us Chicken Alfredo, garlic bread and salad.  This is where we needed the relationship seminar on manners…..    One of the ladies, who has a loud voice anyway, kept on talking to the lady next to her, and then answered her phone three times shouting to the person on the other end.  We just couldn’t hear the film.  Finally she left, and I hope someone says something to her so that she doesn’t disrupt everything like that again.

I just didn’t know what to take to the church potluck,  then I saw a bag of egg noodles taking up space in my pantry.  I knew that I had some organic corn, peas, celery, carrots and onions, so I made Creamy Veggies and Noodles.  It made so much that I froze half of it for another day.

The Bible study before the church service for the last three weeks has been about Daniel.  My neighbor and I study it on Friday mornings so we will be ready for the Sabbath the next day.  The sermon was about “Buy in His Store”,  referring to Prov. 23:23, Acts 8:20 and how money perishes, and we should buy in God’s store.

My little Foxie, is a sweet thing.  Only once in a while will she pee when I walk her, but she has got the pooping thing down right and waits until she is outside.  It is a shame that someone shouted at her when she was peeing in their house so she is afraid to pee now, and goes on her blankie when I am not looking.    For that reason, I still have to keep her in a big cage and take her out several times a day. 

70th Anniversary of NATO: Are Its Days Numbered? Great Commandment. The Big Discount. Update.

For “Scripture Sunday:

70th Anniversary of NATO: Are Its Days Numbered?

“With President Trump’s push for European nations to pay for their own defense and America’s growing isolation from Europe, are NATO’s last days drawing near as we approach its 70th anniversary?

President Harry Truman signs the North Atlantic Treaty Proclamation in the Oval Office on Aug. 24, 1949.

Just over six months before the end of World War II, the Allied powers met at Yalta to discuss the future of Europe after the war. Hitler’s Germany was almost totally defeated, and Europe lay largely in ruins, economically and militarily decimated.

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin divided post-war Europe between the Western powers and the Soviet Union. At the conference they made some key decisions about Europe’s future, including that:

• Nazi Germany must unconditionally surrender.
• Germany would be divided into four zones controlled by the victors: the United States, Great Britain, France and the Soviet Union.
• Germans would pay reparations for losses caused to the Allied nations.
• Poland would be left under the control of a pro-Communist provisional government dominated by the Soviet Union, with a vague plan to hold free elections later.
• A conference to form the United Nations would be held April 25, 1945, with five nations, including the Soviet Union, receiving a permanent seat on the Security Council.

The post-war strategic importance of NATO

After the war, it became clear that Joseph Stalin could not be trusted. He did hold elections in Poland but used Soviet troops to eliminate the non-Communist opposition. Poland provided the U.S.S.R. with a protective buffer from Western Europe and an area of Soviet influence in Eastern Europe.

In 1947 and 1948 the Soviet Union organized and supported a Communist coup in Czechoslovakia and implemented the Berlin Blockade, limiting access to West Berlin (which was located within Soviet-controlled East Germany).

This map shows the current member states of NATO. 

Because of the fear that Western European nations might turn to the Soviets for their security, U.S. leadership stayed engaged with Europe to prevent the spread of Soviet influence and to prevent a third world war. To protect Western Europe from the Soviet Union, in 1949 the United States, Canada and other Western nations formed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

With Europe laid waste after the war, NATO provided the security necessary for the rebuilding of European industries and food production funded by the Marshall Plan. The Soviets refused to participate in the rebuilding of Europe or allow any Eastern European states to receive aid, heightening the distrust between the East and West.

NATO was successful at accomplishing its strategic goals. It kept Western Europe safe and secure from Soviet aggression in its delicate post-war rebuilding years; it helped West Germany to rebuild itself, peacefully integrated into Europe; and it helped ensure that Western Europe would be rebuilt along the Western economic and political model.

Fast-forward 70 years to today, and the role and future of NATO is uncertain. As America under President Donald Trump retreats from the world stage, are NATO’s days numbered?

A broken relationship

The United States was instrumental in the rebuilding of West Germany. When the Berlin Wall began to fall in 1989, the U.S. was ready to assist with the reunification of East and West Germany.

But since then a lot has happened between the United States and Germany. A number of factors have caused a significant rift between the two powers. Continued at: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy/blog/70th-anniversary-of-nato-are-its-days-numbered/?

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Which Is the Great Commandment?

Matthew 22:35-38

Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.”

The lawyer seemingly intended this as a trick question with many possible answers that would be considered wrong by those experts who had ranked the laws differently. But Jesus Christ cut to the core of all the laws to identify what is truly most important. Loving God with all our being means we will seek to please Him and do everything else He asks us to do.

This first, great commandment summarizes the first four of the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20:1-11) where God explains how to love Him the way He wants to be loved. Human ideas of how to worship God may be well-intentioned, but to be assured we are pleasing God, we must worship and obey Him the way He wants us to. The first four Commandments, and the entire Bible, show us that way.

Study more about how God wants us to love Him in our article “The Great Commandment.”

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The Big Discount

An Amazing Fact: “Shoplifting is a rampant problem in the United States, but can you imagine someone stealing from a charity event? Timothy Clark did just that. What’s more, it was an event at a Walmart store in Maryland, attended by 50 police officers! He allegedly tried to steal over $500 in video game products while the law enforcement officers were holding a “Shop with a Cop” program for the community.

The store’s security unit caught Clark cutting open and shoving video games and accessories into his shirt. They immediately contacted police who were … right there! The suspect had no chance to run out the door since officers were all over the place. Authorities found 26 PlayStation and Xbox games, two controllers, and various other video game accessories. Strangely enough, the purpose of the charity event was to “build good relations between law enforcement and local youth.”

Shoplifting, also called “boosting” and “five-finger discount,” is one of the most common property crimes in the United States. Most shoplifters are amateurs, but there are those who make a living at it. Retailers say that on average they lose about 0.6 percent of their inventory to shoplifters. One figure says shoplifting costs businesses about $25 million a day. Some businesses use closed-circuit television to catch thieves. Others pay personnel to watch people, some using uniformed guards to discourage shoplifting activity.

The devil, in one sense, has shoplifted planet Earth. He has stolen the innocence, the purity, and the safety of our world when he successfully tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, telling her, “You will not surely die” (Genesis 3:4). Shoplifters believe that they will not get caught and that there are no consequences to their actions. But the Bible teaches that God sees all. “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13). The Lord’s surveillance system is without fault.
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. Ecclesiastes 12:14”

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Update.

Two more trips to the chiropractor, ad the x-rays showed that my tailbone is permanently damaged and won’t get any better.  I am OK as long as I don’t get in certain positions, and then it catches, makes me go “ouch”, and takes my breath away.  The chiropractor doesn’t want me to to go walking like I used to, anyway, not yet.

Because it looks like the sale of my house and mini-house (guest house) will be going through and I will be moving to a senior apartment in another town, I had to do something about a feral cat who takes up residence here every time she has kittens because she knows that I will feed her.  I hated to do it, but I set a trap and caught her, and her kitten.  She only had one survive this time. She was poorly and had one of those deadly cat diseases that they get from being outside, either FIV or FeLu.  I felt like a traitor because even though she hissed at me and I couldn’t get near her, she trusted me. She would meow from under my van to tell me she was hungry because she knew that I would bring her something to eat and drink.  Chris took us to the shelter south of Conroe, where she would be put to sleep.  I knew that I wouldn’t be safe to drive through my tears.  This way she won’t die a painful lingering death alone, but just go to sleep peacefully. 

The fuel pump for my little Mercury Tracer was available but expensive at the local parts house, and then I found out how much less they are online.  I am not in that much of a hurry to get it fixed, so I will wait for it to get here for $120 difference!

I made organic chicken breasts and spaghetti for the church potluck, and there were two great dishes made by different ladies that were ground beef. One with rice and one with a cornbread topping.  Lots of salads, veggies and desserts.  We all get plenty to eat.

The Bible readings were Exo. 22:4-23:5, Isa. 49:1-7, James 1:1-2:4, and the Teaching was more about Pentecost.  The pastor’s voice was giving out so he didn’t read any of Matthew this Sabbath.

It was hot trying to get stuff out of my attic, it had to be done anyway, then  it was a lot cooler after the rain, so we should have waited until the next day.

Questions About Heaven Answered From the Bible. Feast of Trumpets. Update

For “Scripture Sinday”:

Questions About Heaven Answered From the Bible

“There are many ideas about what happens after we die. But the best place to find the truth is in the Book inspired by the One who knows the most about heaven. 

A lot of people have ideas about heaven, but no human being has been there except Jesus Christ. Let’s see what God says about it in the Bible.

Am I going to heaven when I die?

No Bible passage speaks of heaven as the destination of “saved souls.”

No. Quite the contrary. Your future is right here on planet earth.

Yet many people believe that when they die they will go to heaven. That’s what the Holy Bible says, doesn’t it? Well, there are indeed plenty of books on library shelves that say that, but amazingly, the Bible isn’t one of them.

Scriptures forecasting the earth’s future put the King of Kings, Jesus Christ, not in heaven, but rather on earth in the holy city Jerusalem, governing the many nations of this planet (Revelation 5:10; 11:15; 20:4; Matthew 5:5).

The holy instruction manual provided by the Architect of the cosmos, Jesus Christ, makes it clear: We’re not going to heaven. Rather than all of us being transported up there; Jesus Christ is coming down here (see John 3:13; Zechariah 14:9).

But what about the many references to “heaven” in the Bible?

Many of those refer to the place where God’s throne is now. It is His headquarters, where many of His angelic staff serve Him, and it will be relocated to the earth in the future (Matthew 6:10; Revelation 21:1-4). Most of the biblical references to heaven are about earth’s atmosphere or about the starry skies.

No Bible passage speaks of heaven as the destination of “saved souls.” Going to heaven or hell is one of the cardinal teachings of mainstream Christianity. If the teaching really came from the Bible, wouldn’t we expect to find many references explaining about heaven clearly?

Astonishing as it may seem, not one Bible verse says outright that your, my or anybody else’s immortal soul (if we had one) will go there when we die.

Do a search yourself for these common phrases in a reputable, word-for-word translation of the Bible (like the King James Version or the New King James Version):

• Going to heaven.
• When I get to heaven.
• Those in heaven.
• Getting to heaven.
• Men in heaven.
• Souls in heaven.
• Heavenly gates.
• Pearly gates.
• Our future in heaven.
• Eternity in heaven.
• Saints in heaven.

Not one of those catchphrases—so popular in most Christians’ faith experience—appears in the King James Version. They’re not in the Bible. The Bible does use the phrase “kingdom of heaven,” but it doesn’t refer to people going to heaven. To learn why, read our article “The Kingdom of Heaven.”

Continued at: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/god/blog/questions-about-heaven-answered-from-the-bible/?

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Feast of Trumpets

“The progression of the biblical festivals throughout the year vividly portrays the glorious plan of God to bring many children to glory in His family.

The Bible lists seven festivals that God gave to the nation of Israel for them to celebrate each year (Leviticus 23). The New Testament shows many examples of Jesus, His apostles and the Church of God observing them as well. Each festival is full of rich Christian symbolism, pointing to God’s plan for humanity and Jesus Christ’s role in each step.

Most of the festivals are also special annual Sabbath rest days, which are observed in addition to the weekly Sabbath day.

The fourth festival of God is the Feast of Trumpets . The Bible describes the day as a “memorial of blowing of trumpets.” In Israel, trumpets were used as a way of announcing special, very important messages. 

Jesus Christ reveals that before His return to the earth, seven trumpets will be blown, announcing the downfall and overthrow of this world’s kingdoms and the return of Christ to take possession of the earth and establish the Kingdom of God. Christ’s return is announced by the seventh and final trumpet. This day also pictures the ultimate fulfillment of every Christian’s hope: the moment when faithful Christians will be resurrected to receive the gift of eternal life at the sounding of the seventh trumpet. A Christian’s eternity with God begins with the opportunity to reign on earth with Jesus Christ for 1,000 years.

(See: Leviticus 23:24-25; Numbers 10:1-10; Revelation 8:2; Revelation 11:15; Revelation 20:4-6; 1 Corinthians15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16)” 

From: https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/bible-questions-and-answers/how-do-christians-observe-the-biblical-festivals-guide-god-holy-days

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Update:

Last Sunday I drove quite a way to see a senior who was having some problems.  They convinced me to bring them over here, which was OK, but as they have some dementia, they and their relatives kept on calling each other on my phone.  I had to dial the number for them.  It was obvious that they really needed to be back in familiar surroundings, so I took them home.  But they left me a fully stuffed down jacket to wash, as they didn’t know how to do that.

Monday, Zack, my neighbor and I worked on a few things like re-connecting a refilled 5 gallon propane tank so that my cook top will work.  I can manage quite well without it as I have many electric cooking things, but I like to have the propane just in case of a power failure.  We also tried out the two flat TVs that I had bought, and they both worked.  Now maybe I can find someone who wants four tube-type TVs!  We also sanded the floor in the mini-house where we had patched it.

Tuesday, on my way to a chiropractor appointment and to deliver the washed down-filled jacket, my van started sputtering, backfiring and died.  It took 3-1/2 hours for the wrecker to arrive to take it to the mechanic.  My friend Chris came and picked me up at the mechanics, so we delivered the jacket at the Seniors Center, stopped for some groceries, then she took me home.  I still don’t have my van.

Wednesday was a Holy Day, The Feast of Trumpets, so Lauri from church who lives down the road, took me and my food for the potluck.  I had made Roasted Cubed Potatoes with Onions and Bell Peppers, Sliced Bison and Gravy, and also Sautéed Cabbage, so I took three crockpots that day.

The Bible readings were Gen 21:1-34 about Isaac, 1 Sam. 1-2":10 about Saul and the Teaching was about “Are We Just Waiting, Or Are We Looking for Him?”  We need to be ready.  One of the elders, Jeff, sounded the shofar, (ram’s horn) and did the blasts like they would have done on that day.  Jeff is really good on the horn, and better than Dr. Schneider on TV, http://discoveringthejewishjesus.com/ .  We all enjoyed the service, food and fellowship.

Thursday, Zack and I finished washing my vintage motor-home, and he mowed. 

Friday, I spent cooking and studying.  Hans, the German gentleman from down my street stopped by, wondering where my van was.  As I had already bothered Chris and Lauri this week, I asked him if he would take me to church on Saturday.  I know he likes to go to my church once in a while.  It is easier for me to go in Hans’ car, because I can’t wear cologne or hairspray when I ride with Lauri.  So I brushed my hair up into a banana clip, sprayed it so it wouldn’t drop, and had several compliments.  I took Turkey in Tomato Sauce, and gluten-free, organic, Spaghetti Pasta in separate crockpots.  Don’t forget that I come from Europe, and we don’t mix the two until we get on our plates because some folks want more sauce and some want more pasta.  I made one little dish of organic sauce for Lauri because she says she has to eat organic or she will get a migraine.  The pastor’s wife had made organic ground beef, and organic refried beans for the tacos, so Lauri had some of that, too.

The Bible readings were Psa. 100, Deut. 31:1-30, Isa. 55:6-56:8 and Rom. 10:14-18. And the Teaching was about “Trumpets”, not the feast, but the times in the Bible where it says that the trumpets will sound when He arrives, and we had better be ready.  Also the trumpets will sound when we are getting ready for The Feast of Taberbacles which we will be celebrating soon.  Different people calculate from different new mons, that is why this church is a month behind some of the others.  We will be keeping the only fasting feast, The Day of Atonement, on Friday.

Peeling Potatoes!!

Throw your peeler away, here is a one and a half minute video showing you the VERY easy way to peel potatoes:

How easy is that?
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Use your George Foreman and slice them into chunky potato slices and brush them with garlic olive oil and sprinkle some dried herbs on top
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Just the Potato Nutrition Facts:
“One medium-size potato has just 110 calories and is absolutely fat-, sodium and cholesterol free, making them downright undeniable for any diet.  The power of the potato doesn’t stop there.

Starchy carbohydrates, such as potatoes, seem to be specifically targeted by low‐carbohydrate fanatics. But don’t fall for the hype. There is actually little scientific evidence to support the notion that starchy vegetables, such as potatoes, cause obesity. In fact, most research indicates that diets high in complex carbohydrates are associated with a lower body weight…”

1 medium Potato has 25 g of carbs., and that stacks up very well compared to a cup of pasta or rice:
Pasta (serving size 1 cup cooked)  Carbs:
Lasagna, verdi                     44g
Macaroni                              40g
Macaroni, whole wheat        37g
Spaghetti                             40g
Spaghetti, whole wheat       37g
Tagliatelle (FETTUCCINE)    44g
Rice (serving size 1 cup cooked)
Long grain brown rice         45g
Long grain white rice           45g
Short grain white rice          37g
Basmati rice (3oz)               44g
Fried rice (3oz)                    56g
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See all the benefits of potatoes here:

Potassium
One medium potato with skin is a good source of potassium......

Vitamin C
Potatoes are an excellent source of vitamin C (45% of the DV), which is more vitamin C than one medium tomato (40% DV) or sweet potato (30% DV)......

Fiber
One medium potato with the skin contributes 2 grams of fiber or 8% of the daily value per serving...

B6
Potatoes are a good source of vitamin B6 with one medium potato providing 10% of the recommended daily value.....

Iron
One medium potato provides 6% of the recommended daily value of iron.....


More at: http://www.healthypotato.com/HealthEducators/potatoNutritionFacts.php
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Storage:   Potatoes should be kept in a cool, dark place with good ventilation. The ideal storage temperature is 45 to 50ºF. At these temperatures, potatoes will keep for several weeks.
But don’t store potatoes in the refrigerator! When kept below 40º F, potatoes develop a sweet taste, due to the conversion of starch to sugar. This increased sugar causes potatoes to darken when cooked. If you store potatoes at room temperature, try to use them within a week or so.

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This makes a big difference to the taste of the potatoes:

When making mashed potatoes, after you drain the potatoes return them to the hot pan, cover tightly, and allow them to steam for 5 minutes. Doing this allows them to dry out so they'll mash to a beautiful texture and soak up the butter and cream more readily."
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I am making zucchini and potato patties today.