On My Mind: Unholy Fire... Christian Faith Under Attack In America

 PLEASE PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA IN THE

WAKE OF THE DEVASTATING WILDFIRES.

Dear Father Who art in heaven,

Please send some significant rain to douse these fires!

Please comfort those who have lost their homes and properties,

but especially, those who have lost loved ones in this tragedy.
Send them Your comfort, strength, and peace.
In the matchless name of Jesus I pray!
Amen and Amen.

Wildfires are still raging out of control in southern California.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE CITIZENS OF INDONESIA,

WHICH RECENTLY EXPERIENCED A TERRIBLE 6.9 MAGNITUDE

EARTHQUAKE. MAY GOD BE WITH THE PEOPLE OF THIS
NATION IN THIS TIME OF TREMENDOUS SORROW AND LOSS.

Survivors stumble through the rubble in the wake of the August 5th earthquake

An estimated 156,000 people have been left homeless, and at least

259 lives were lost in this recent catastrophe with the death toll to climb

higher as the days pass.  Please pray that humanitarian aid groups will

be able to reach the most effected areas of the nation soon with 

 much needed clean water, food, shelter and medical supplies

and treatment for the suffering people there.

PROHIBITED BIBLE STUDY?

"Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment
of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging
the freedom of speech, or of the press, or of the right of the people
peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government
for a redress of grievances."
The First Amendment of the United States Constitution

This seems to be the case for a family living in western Pennsylvania,

who were prohibited from holding a Bible study on their farm property

because they did not obtain a zoning permit.

According to CBN.com, Scott and Terri Fetterolf, who have owned

their farm property for about two years, were served a "cease-and-desist"

order late last year by the borough of Sewickley Heights, which 

claimed, "the farm was being improperly used as a place of worship,

a place of assembly, and as a commercial venue and "special studio of school".

Are you kidding me?  These people are not being permitted to 

conduct a Bible study on their own property?

Oh, and by the way, the borough wants the Fetteroffs to shell out

a whopping $500 each for permits for all activities they conduct 

 on their land, including fundraisers and performances by hymn-singing youth groups.

Hey, Sewickley Heights town council, ever hear of the First Amendment?

Senior Counsel Jeremy Samek of the Independence Law Center, an arm

of the Pennsylvania Family Institute, whose organization is representing the

Fetterolfs, says that what is happening to this couple is clearly a

violation  of their constitutional rights and he is correct!

Furthermore, according to Mr. Samek, the town placing these

sort of requirements on the Fetterolfs or anyone else for that matter is illegal.

"What they're doing here is they are requiring them to make a request
with the zoning board to get permission to hold a Bible study," Mr. Samek explained.
Require them to go through a public hearing to receive permission...and that kind
of prior restraining is unconstitutional and infringing on 
 their right to freely exercise their religion."

I find this underhanded attempt to block Christians from praying on their

own land, which they undoubtedly pay taxes for to the borough, not only
very disconcerting, but clearly ironic in regards to the religious history
 of the land which became the State of Pennsylvania, whose motto is:
"Virtue, Liberty, and Independence".

The Keystone State,  which is also called The Quaker State,

 was settled by wave after successive wave of immigrants

from Germany, France, Switzerland, and other nations, many of

 whom were refugees fleeing widespread religious persecution 
 which took place across Europe during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries.

Many early towns and villages which arose from the forested wilderness and

in the mountain valleys were centered around Christian churches erected

in these communities.  Prior to the year 1860, it was primarily the work
of the churches in these communities to keep recorded censuses of the
residents, through births, baptisms, marriages, deaths, and funerals.

Events such as holiday celebrations were also planned by church
councils in every town and village.  In addition to strict observance of
the Sabbath Day, worship services were often conducted by a circuit
rider or traveling minister in churches in more remote places,
or in rural areas without a church, people conducted worship
services and Bible studies within their own homes.

 Many descendants of these refugees fought in the

 War of Independence and many more participated in the forming

of our national and local governments, and, as proud citizens of the newly  
formed United States of America, adhered to and cherished the freedoms 

 granted within the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution.

Furthermore, the City of Philadelphia, founded by Quaker William Penn in 1682,
and called the "City of Brotherly Love" is the home of one of the most
recognizable and iconic symbols of our freedom-the Liberty Bell!

Apparently, the borough of Sewickley Heights has very little or no

knowledge of the Christian heritage of their state, nor do they

 seem to care much about respecting and protecting the constitutional 

rights of God-fearing, Christian folks residing within their community.

While I see this as just another sign of the times were living in,

I also say shame on that town's council for their profound ignorance and their greed!

"ALL THE NEWS THAT'S FIT TO PRINT?"

YES, THAT'S TRUE ENOUGH, NEW YORK TIMES,

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE INSTIGATING OPEN WARFARE

AGAINST BIBLE-BELIEVING CHRISTIANS.

"For the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks on

  the outward appearance but the Lord looks on the heart."

 1 Samuel 16:7

In a recent article written by New York Times columnist,

Frank Bruni regarding the planned impeachment of President Trump

by the Democrats, who are hoping to re-take the House and the Senate

in the mid-term elections, the writer asserts, "There are big problems with

impeaching Donald Trump. A big one is the holy terror waiting in the wings."

Bruni is referring to Vice President Mike Pence, who would be 

President Trump's successor if he were impeached, which I  do not

 believe will be happening anytime soon.

Bruni proceeded to disparage Mr. Pence, calling him, "self-infatuated"

 a "bigot" and a "liar" and  claims that he is a "cruel" man.  He further asserts 

 that while President Trump does not genuinely believe he is on a mission from

God, and has no determination to mold the entire nation in the shape of

his own faith,  Vice-President Pence on the other hand, desires to

"...mold the entire nation in the shape of his own faith, a regressive,

repressive version of Christianity. Trade Trump for Pence and you

go from kleptocracy to theocracy."

The quote above was taken from a forth-coming book called,

"The Shadow President: The Truth About Mike Pence" by journalists

Michael D'Antonio and Peter Eisner.   

This quote says it all to me in regards to the true intentions of the authors

 of this latest book, which is just another unfair and biased media attack on

the courageous and unshakable faith of Mr. Pence in the Lord Jesus Christ,

 which includes our vice-president's often publicly professed
 daily reliance on the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit
 in making decisions for his life and our nation.

Clearly unashamed of his love for the Lord and the saving power of His grace,

  Vice President Pence knows that with the laws of God firmly
 ascribed within his heart, none of his steps will ever slide,
nor will he be shaken by any weapon of the enemy formed against him.

   Jesus told us, "If the world hates you, know that

it hated Me before it hated you."

 John 15:18

God's enemies are our enemies. They can plot and scheme

till oblivion.  However, as the words of the psalmist

 reminds us, "The Lord laughs at the wicked for

He sees their own day of defeat coming." 

Psalm 37:13 

And mark my words, their defeat is coming!

 Furthermore, not only do I believe that God loves to use the ordinary

man and ordinary circumstances to do the extraordinary,

 I also believe that God has placed both President Trump and Vice

President Pence in positions of authority over the American people

for this time in world history.  And only God Himself can remove these

 two men from the helm of power in Washington DC.

PSALM 29

A Psalm of David

Ascribe to the Lord, O sons of the mighty, ascribe to
the Lord glory and strength.

Give to the Lord the glory due to His name; worship
the Lord in the beauty of holiness or in holy array.

The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the
God of glory thunders; the Lord is upon many great waters.

The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord
is full of majesty.

The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; yes, the Lord
breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.

He makes them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon
and Sirion (Mount Hermon) like a young wild ox.

The voice of the Lord splits and flashes forth forked lightning.
The voice of the Lord makes the wilderness tremble;
the Lord shakes the Wilderness of Kadesh.

The voice of the Lord makes the hinds bring forth their young,
and His voice strips bare the forests while in His temple
everyone is saying, "Glory!"

The Lord sat as King over the deluge; the Lord still
sits as King and forever!

The Lord will give unyielding and impenetrable strength
to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.

Fall On Your Knees
Zemer Levav



Shabbat Shalom Eretz Israel!

Have a blessed and beautiful Friday everyone!