Just Another UFO?

Just in time for Halloween!

Well, not really.  It's happened lots of times before,

at all different times of the year! 

So, what is it?

Helicopters Surround UFO???

October 25, 2017

Could it be multiple objects in the night sky,

or one massive object?

Could it be a new type of satellite?  A drone?

A new kind of military hardware being tested out?

A formation of aircraft?

An elaborate Internet hoax?

Or, is this evidence of something else, something

that even the so-called "experts" in the fields of space 

technology and astronomy cannot really explain to themselves, 

much less to the inquiring minds of millions of

people all over the world?

My own thoughts about this ever increasing phenomena

is, that while I am hearing more and more reports of strange things people 

are seeing in the skies these days, my own curiosity is tempered

with a healthy dose of skepticism, not to mention more than just

a modicum of caution.

The fact is, folks, we are not alone in the universe.

However, what many believe to be alien beings, or "higher life 
forms with superior intelligence" from other planets, you

 can forget about those friendly "little green men" from Mars,
or even cute little space critters like ET...

Little Gertie (Drew Barrymore) gives homesick

ET a farewell kiss in Steven Spielberg's

"E.T. The Extra Terrestrial"

(1982)

As much as I love this heartwarming fantasy about

a little boy named Elliot (Henry Thomas) who befriends

an alien stranded on the earth,  I know that this is not an

accurate portrayal of what is actually homing in and out 

 of the earth's atmosphere with more frequency

than ever before in these last of the last days.

If I had to pick a movie which better describes my feelings
concerning what a real alien encounter might be like here on earth,

it would undoubtedly be a film which I remember both fascinated

and frightened me whenever I watched it on television as a kid.

War Of The Worlds

(1953)

Although the situation in the screen adaptation
 of  the H.G. Wells' story, "The War of the Worlds" seemed hopeless, with

mankind left devastated in the brutal destruction of the earth by 

 alien invaders from Mars attacking in sophisticated, impenetrable space ships,

it was only when the survivors on earth cried out to Almighty God for His

help and protection that the merciless assault ended, with the alien ships

 falling out of the sky and crashing to the ground, leaving an eerie silence

in their wake.The survivors, whom had been gathered together

praying inside churches, poured out into the streets to discover

that the relentless hordes of extraterrestrial destroyers
 were suddenly and mysteriously dead.

 "The aliens had no resistance to the bacteria 

in our atmosphere to which we long

since have become immune," 

 the narrator of the movie,

 English actor Sir Cedric Hardwicke explained.

 Once they had breathed our air, germs,

 which no longer affect us began to kill them.

 The end came swiftly.

.All over the world, their machines began to stop and fall.

After all that men could do had failed, the martians were

destroyed and humanity was saved, by the littlest things,

which God, in His wisdom, had put upon the earth."

"...which God in His wisdom, had put upon the earth."

 This last statement always makes me want to cry.

After all human beings could do
 in their futile battle against these evil creatures,

 it was God who quickly and thoroughly destroyed them in the end.
 I often think today that if the people in this story had only turned to Him

 for the answer in the beginning, there would have been no

monsters from outer space attacking the earth in the first place!

Of course, it was only a movie!

 I believe, however, that what is
 being perceived these days as "close encounters"
with possible alien life forms from outer space,
 as recorded by video cameras worldwide,
 and later uploaded to the Internet,
are, in reality, evidence of an established, unholy hierarchy,
  or, what the apostle Paul called in his letter to the Ephesians,

"..the master spirits of wickedness in high places, 
who are the world rulers of this present darkness.."

The prideful enemy of the souls of mankind 
even boasted of this allegiance of evil in the Book of Job,
 when Satan came to be among the sons of God,

 or the angels, who had gathered before the 

throne of the Lord one day.
This surprise visit apparently took place after
the battle in heaven, when the devil and a third of his
like-minded followers were cast out.
 While the other angels gathered on this particular day
apparently failed to recognize him among their ranks,

 God certainly took notice of Satan's presence!

"And the Lord said to Satan, "From where did you come?

Then Satan answered the Lord, "From going to and fro on

the earth and from walking up and down on it."

Job 1:7

By his own admission, the murderer, the accuser 
of the brethren, the father of lies, and all that is false,
 has been here since the beginning of recorded time, not only

 setting up the principalities of his kingdom
 over the lives of men and nations,
 but, establishing a celestial throne of deceptive,
"spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly sphere" 

 as the apostle Paul warned us about in Ephesians 6:12.

In these uncertain days we are living in, believers
in Messiah need to stay alert and to keep their focus on Him.
Our faith in Jesus Christ alone is our victory!

Furthermore, the study of and meditation on
the priceless and infallible word 
 that God speaks through the Holy Bible
 is our best defense against the rampant forces
of deception at large in the world today,
especially with the significant increase
of questionable "signs and wonders"
 appearing in the heavens above.

"Look well to yourself and to your own personality
and to your teaching; persevere in these things,
hold to them, for by so doing you will save
both yourself and those who hear you."
1 Timothy 4:16

The original video clip of a UFO captured

over the Temple Mount in Jerusalem

in February, 2011

Ghost Riders In The Sky

A haunting legend from the Texas Hill Country

 based on a real tragedy called Stampede Mesa.

During a fall cattle drive in 1889, an infuriated trail boss

named Sawyer drove his herd of cattle through a new

homestead built across the trail, crushing everything
and everyone inside the house

 A  violent thunderstorm suddenly blew up,

causing the confused cattle to panic even more,

 and keeping them running full force until they ran

off several cliffs to their deaths.

Unfortunately, the cowhands chasing after the

rushing herd could not stop their horses in time,

and they too toppled over the cliffs to their untimely deaths.

An old cowboy went riding out one dark and windy day

Upon a ridge he rested as he went along his way

When all at once a mighty herd of red-eyed cows he saw

A-plowing through the ragged sky and up the cloudy draw

Their brands were still on fire and their hooves were made of steel

Their horns were black and shiny and their hot breath he could feel

A bolt of fear went through him as they thundered through the sky
For he saw the riders coming hard and he heard their mournful cry.

Yippie yi ooh

Yippie yi yay

Ghost riders in the sky

Their faces gaunt, their eyes were blurred, their shirts all soaked with sweat,

He's riding hard to catch that herd, but he ain't caught'em yet

'Cause they've got to ride forever on that range up in the sky

On horses snorting fire

As they ride on hear their cry

As the riders loped by him he heard one call his name

If you want to save your soul from hell a-riding on our range

Then cowboy change your ways today or with us you will ride

Trying to catch the devil's herd across these endless skies

Yippie yi ooh

Yippie yi yay

Ghost riders in the sky

Ghost riders in the sky

Ghost riders in the sky

Ghost Riders In The Sky

Johnny Cash

(1979)

"Ghost Riders In The Sky"
Words and Music by Stan Jones
(1948)

Our Mighty Shield

Psalm 35

A psalm of David

Contend, O Lord, with those 

who contend with me; fight

against those who fight against me!

Take hold of shield and buckler,

and stand up for my help!

Draw out also the spear and javelin

and close up the way of those who

pursue and persecute me. Say to me, 

I am your deliverance!

Let them be put to shame and dishonor

who seek and require my life;

let them be turned back and confounded

who plan my hurt!

Let them be as chaff before the wind,

with the Angel of the Lord driving them on!

Let their way be through dark and slippery places,

with the Angel of the Lord pursuing and afflicting them.

For without cause they hid for me their net;

a pit of destruction without cause they dug for my life.

Let destruction befall my foe unawares;

let the net he hid for me catch him;

let him fall into that very destruction.

Then I shall be joyful in the Lord;

I shall rejoice in His deliverance.

All my bones shall say, Lord, who

is like You, You Who deliver the poor and

afflicted from him who is too strong for him,

yes, the poor and the needy from him who

snatches away his goods?

Malicious and unrighteous witnesses rise up;

they ask me of things I know not.

They reward me evil for good to my

personal bereavement.

But as for me, when they were sick,

my clothing was sackcloth; I afflicted myself

with fasting; and I prayed with head 

bowed on my breast.

I behaved as if grieving for my friend

or my brother; I bowed down in sorrow,

as one who bewails his mother.

But in my stumbling and limping they 

rejoiced and gathered together against me;

the smiters (slanderers and revilers)

gathered against me, and I knew them not;

they ceased not to slander and revile me.

Like profane mockers at feasts, making sport

for the price of a cake, they gnashed 

at me with their teeth.

Lord, how long will You look on without

action? Rescue my life from their destructions,

my dear and only life from the lions!

I will give You thanks in the great assembly;

I will praise You among a mighty throng.

Let not those who are wrongfully my foes

rejoice over me; neither let them wink with

one eye who hate me without cause.

For they do not speak peace, but,

they devise deceitful matters against

those who are quiet in the land.

Yes, they open their mouths wide against me;

they say, Aha! Aha! Our eyes have seen it!

You have seen this, O Lord; keep not silence!

O Lord, be not far from me!

Arouse Yourself, awake to the justice due me,

even to my cause, my God and Lord!

Judge and vindicate me, O Lord my God,

according to Your righteousness, Your rightness

and justice; and let my foes not rejoice over me!

Let them not say in their hearts, Aha, that is

what we wanted! Let him not say,

We have swallowed him up and utterly destroyed him.

Let them be put to shame, and confusion

together who rejoice at my calamity!

Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor

who magnify and exalt themselves over me!

Let those who favor my righteous cause

and have pleasure in my uprightness shout for joy

and be glad and say continually, Let the Lord be

magnified, Who takes pleasure in the

  prosperity of His servant.

And my tongue shall talk of Your righteousness,

rightness, and justice, and of my reasons for

Your praise all day long.

Thank You Dear Lord for redeeming the

lives of Your faithful servants with Your

great love and abundant mercy.

Jehovah Nissi

The Lord Our Banner

Fifth Sunday Meditation: His Power Made Perfect

"...My grace, My favor and

loving-kindness and mercy is enough for you,

sufficient against any danger and enables you

to bear the trouble; for My strength and power

are made perfect in your weakness,"

II Corinthians 12:9

While in Europe researching my book,

"Of Whom The World Was Not Worthy"

(Bethany House 1979)

I traveled through Yugoslavia from Slovenia

to Macedonia. I interviewed factory workers,

peasants, gypsies, doctors, and laborers, as

well as former Communist party officials.

I wanted to know how Christians sustained 

their faith through the devastation of two world wars.

I heard story after story of courage in the face of

seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

I talked to those who had been imprisoned and whose

future seemed hopeless; people who had been sick and wasted

physically; frail women who fought in the Partisan army

against the Fascists with only sticks for weapons;

people who were starving, who ate scraps out of garbage cans.

These were brave people-weak, defenseless, people- but

those for whom the grace of the Lord was sufficient.

In their weakness, His power was made perfect.

Female partisans of the Prolaterian Brigade in 

Sutjeska,Yugoslavia during World War II.

I looked at my own life and asked myself if my weaknesses

were an opportunity for God's power to be made perfect in me.

Did I really accept His grace as sufficient for every situation?

The apostle Paul suffered a thorn in the flesh that he begged

the Lord to remove. The Lord responded not by removing the

agonizing source of pain but by giving the apostle the strength

to bear it. This is how God often works. He does not spare us

from suffering but enables us to conquer it.

I've seen shy people become great leaders, and I've seen physically

ill people become charged with spiritual energy and touch other

lives with the power of the gospel of Christ.

I've seen suffering people become shining examples of strength

and power. And through this I've learned that nothing can break

or destroy us when we allow our weaknesses to make us strong.

There is sublime joy in holy boasting of the power of God in

a life that is totally dependent on Him. There is a sublime peace

in accepting the sufficiency of God's grace by allowing Him to

be strong in us where we are weak.

Author Marie Chapian

"His Power Made Perfect"

By Marie Chapian

from the "Women's Devotional Bible"

 The Zondervan Corporation

(1990, 1991)

With A Thankful Heart

"But know this, woman of God,
know this,
Many sisters in the faith
have walked this path before you..."

Ruth Bell Graham

1920-2007

I bring those whom I love to You,

commit each to Your loving care;

then carry them away again

nor leave them there;

forgetting You

who lived to die

(and rose again!)

care more than I.

So back I come

with my heart's load,

confessing my lack of faith

in You alone,

addressing

all I cannot understand

to You

Who do.

You know each heart,

each hidden wound,

each scar,

each one who played a part

in making those

we bring to You

the ones they are

(and dearest each to You

than us, by far),

So-

now I give them

to Your loving care,

with a thankful heart,

-and leave them there.

"Commit your way to the Lord, roll and repose

each care of your load on Him; trust, lean on, rely on,

and be confident also in Him and He will bring it to pass.

And He will make your uprightness and right standing

with God go forth as the light, and your justice and right

as the shining sun of the noonday.

Be still and rest in the Lord; wait for Him and patiently

lean yourself upon Him."

Psalm 37:5-7

"Commit To God"

The Amplified Bible pictures us committing our load

to God by rolling it onto Him. It is helpful to note that we

can roll something that is too heavy to carry or to cast.

What are we to commit-to-trust-to God?

Ourselves. Psalm 22:8:

"He trust in the Lord; let the Lord rescue him.

Let him deliver him, since He delights in him."

Our Burden. Psalm 55:22

Cast your cares on the Lord

and He will sustain you;

He will never let the righteous fall.

Our Souls. 1 Peter 4:19

"So then, those who suffer according to God's will should

commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue 

to do good."

Our Way. Psalm 37:5:

"Commit your way to the Lord;

trust in Him."

Our Cause.  1 Peter 2:23

"When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate;

when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted

Himself to Him who judges justly."

Our Works. Proverbs 16:3

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do,

and your plans will succeed."

Reverend Billy and Ruth Graham and their children

from left to right: Virginia, Anne, Ruth (Bunny) Franklin, and Ned.

"Woman of God"
2005
CTA Inc.

"Commit To God"

A devotion by 

Ruth Bell Graham, from

the "Women's Devotional Bible"

Copyright Ruth Bell Graham

(1990)

"With A Thankful Heart"

from "Prodigals And Those Who Love Them"

By Ruth Bell Graham

(1991, 1999)

The Ruth Bell Graham Literary Trust

A Prayer For Children

We pray for children who put chocolate fingers

everywhere, who like to be tickled, who stomp in

puddles and ruin their pants, who sneak Popsicles

before supper, who erase holes in math workbooks,

who can never find their shoes.

And we pray for those who stare at photographs from

behind barbed wire, who can't bound in the street in a new

pair of sneakers, who never go to the circus, who live

in an X-rated world.

Starving children in North Korea

We pray for children who bring us sticky kisses and

fistfuls of dandelions, who sleep with the dog and bury the

goldfish, who hug us in a hurry and forget their lunch money,

who cover themselves in band-Aids and sing off-key, who

squeeze toothpaste all over the sink, who slurp their soup.

And we pray for those who never get dessert,

who have no safe blanket to drag behind them,

who watch their parents watch them die, who can't

find any bread to steal, who don't have any rooms to

clean up, whose pictures aren't on anybody's dresser,

whose monsters are real.

A Christian victim of ISIS

We pray for children who spend all their allowance before Tuesday,

who throw tantrums in the grocery store and pick at their food, who

like ghost stories, who shove dirty clothes under the bed and never

rinse the tub, who get visits from the tooth fairy, who don't like to

be kissed in front of the carpool, who squirm in church and scream

in the phone, whose tears we sometimes laugh at, whose smiles

can make us cry.

We pray for those whose nightmares come in the daytime,

who will eat anything, who aren't spoiled by anybody, who

go to bed hungry and cry themselves to sleep, and who live

and move but have no being.

More than half of American Indian children in the 

United States of America grow up in extreme poverty on reservation lands.

We pray for children who want to be carried and

for those who must, for those we never give up on, and

for those who don't get a second chance. For those we smother...

and for those who will grab the hand of anybody kind

enough to offer it.

Child refugees in the South Sudan

Bless the beasts and the children

For in this world they have no voice,

They have no choice.

Bless the beasts and the children,

For the world can never be

The world they see.

Light their way

When the darkness surrounds them;

Give them love, let it shine all around them.

Bless the beasts and the children;

Give them shelter from a storm;

Keep them safe

Keep them warm.

Light their way

When the darkness surrounds them;

Give them love, let it shine all around them.

Bless the beasts and the children;

Give them shelter from a storm;

Keep them safe;

Keep them warm.

Bless the beasts and the children

Give them shelter from a storm;

Keep them safe;

Keep them warm.

Bless The Beasts And The Children

The Carpenters

"A Prayer For Children"

By Ina J. Hughes

"Bless The Beast And The Children"

Barry De Vorzon/ Peter L.Botkin

(1971)