Is COVID-19 Nature's Curse? Patient Zero ID'd? Some Bright Sides

Is COVID-19 Nature's Curse? Patient Zero ID'd? Some Bright Sides

By: Michael D Tobin

March 28, 2020 9PM Pacific Time

I actually did a DuckDuckGo websearch on Psalm 91, and it's currently the #1 chapter that pops down after the word, Psalm is typed. I found this: 

What is Psalm 91 all about?  What are things that we can learn from it for today?

Psalm 91 appears to be a psalm in the setting of warfare with threats of an imminent battle that is about to, has or is currently taking place between solders that may be facing impossible odds. If the face of such a harsh reality as this, God is placed in the position of being the protecting parent of His young as their fortress, shield, and protector. Psalm 91: Commentary, Bible Study and Summary by JACK WELLMAN 

Psalm 91:1-3 God the Deliverer

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say to the Lord, My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.”

Here is this audio podcast and free downloads link to this blog: Michael D T The Lookout Guy AUDIO'S

Here is my youtube video of this blog

COVID-19 Nature's Curse? Patient Zero ID'd? And Some Bright Sides

The pestilence in play is COVID-19. We've all heard of it by now. I've heard it called, Xi's Disease, Kung Flu, the China Virus, the Wuhan Virus, and another form of the group of viruses called, Carona. It was recently officially named, COVID-19, an acronym for Corona, virus, and Disease. And the 19 represents the year in the 21st century, that it was discovered. As mundane as it may seem, here are the statistics:

Photo by: Michael D Tobin

Previous Related Audio Podcasts

CALIFORNIA COVID19 NEW ORDERS EXPLAINED LATEST March 21, 2020

Dr Fouci Wipes Nose. Moments Later Rubs Hand All Over On Mike Pence By: Michael D. Tobin March 21, 2020

COVID-19 U.S. Supermarkets Prepare for Surge in Demand-GLOBAL Fatalities March 1, 2020

Markets Reacting Appropriate To COVID-19? By: Michael D Tobin Feb 29, 2020

Corona Virus Wuhan Christians Plead For Prayers w/Guest Eugene Bach By: Michael D Tobin Jan 25, 2020

We can thank Donald Trump and the whole Western World for leading the first modern attempt to do something all mankind has joked about for thousands of years; the proverbial, cure the common cold. In this case, it is to treat one virus as if it is a terrorist organization. This is literally the most brilliant thing I have ever seen in my whole life and possibly anyone who is alive, with exception of WW2 as a debatable event to be considered the most brilliant event ever, in defeated a genuine evil force. Donald Trump was the first in the world to ban travel after only 10 days of our official notification of the existence of this particular virus. The world followed. Further to the center, California is the first U.S. State to issue a state-wide ordinance to heed a set of protocol toward slowing the spread if COVID-19 from person-to-person. And New York followed the very next day with theirs. We beat the nation to the draw. And Donald Trump beat the world to the draw. And everything thus far that has followed, has followed and it is now world history. Every year in every region of the world since flu's and colds were in existence, mankind has literally been like sheep led to the slaughter on schedule. This is what it looks like to battle just one virus. If we are going to pray 2 Chronicles 7:14 and actually believe it, then this is what it looks like to do what God teaches us through His wisdom of real science. Every year 650,000 humans die of the flu. And we do nothing to kill it. If we expect God to do an abra kadabra and eradicate an annual epidemic, then we are fooling ourselves. If we can thank God for skillful doctors, then we can also thank God for skillful scientists and chemists and all who develop cures for sickness. Our bones don't put themselves back together when they are broken. It would be ludicrous to expect God to put a bone back together instead of having someone who learned about bones in order to make it happen for us. But instead of standing still until being literally led to death without a struggle every single year, this is what people do who don't go down without a fight. If part of the solution is self-isolation, quarantine or whatever you want to call it, then self isolation it is. It isn't communism. It isn't socialism. It isn't politics. It isn't conspiracy. It is plain sensibility and resolve, to defeat something that is able to be defeated.

On that I have 3 things: 1. Scientific Journal Of Nature concludes that COVID-19 naturally evolved from an earlier natural virus, SARS-CoV (SARS)

2. "Patient Zero of COVID-19 may have actually been discovered.

3. What are some bright sides of times of incarceration, loneliness, persecution, and especially pestilence? (Which is what this and other diseases are.)

1. Scientists say the lack of a COVID-19 conspiracy means we may be in more trouble than we think.  Study 'Clearly Shows' Novel Coronavirus Was Not Made By Human Beings By Andrew Magnotta @710WOR Mar 27, 2020 

So how is being a natural-made virus worse than a man-made virus? From the article

Results of a study about the origin of the novel coronavirus shows the virus was created by Mother Nature, not people. Popular conspiracy theories suggests that the pandemic-causing SARS-CoV-2 virus was engineered in a lab for a biological attack on the United States.

But a study of the virus's genome published in the scientific journal of Nature Medicine finds otherwise.

"Our analyses clearly show that SARS-CoV-2 is not a laboratory construct or a purposefully manipulated virus," the study says.

As its scientific name would suggest, the new coronavirus is a relative of another pandemic-inducing germ, SARS-CoV, or as you probably know it SARS. ... 

While the climbing global death toll and universal economic consequences from the pandemic provide compelling circumstantial evidence that the virus was not the work of an adversarial regime, an analysis of the virus' makeup supports those facts.

When the study was submitted on March 11, there were 121,564 confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 and 4,373 deaths in 110 countries.

By March 27, there were 552,943 confirmed cases of the virus and 25,045 deaths in 199 countries.

According to the study, the virus evolved naturally in animals — likely bats — before mutating again last fall and optimizing to infect human cells.

It concludes that the virus evolving naturally actually makes it more of a threat to human kind than a human-made virus.

If lethal diseases like COVID-19 can develop secretly in animal species for generations before infecting humans, "then there is the risk of future re-emergence events."

The "ongoing surveillance of pneumonia in humans and other animals is clearly of utmost importance" to preventing the next pandemic, it says.

2. Patient Zero’ Could Be 57-Year-Old Woman Who Sold Live Shrimp in Wuhan Market Wei has recovered and believes she may have been infected from a market toilet that was shared with wild meat sellers. Jarrett StaffBy JARRETT STAFF 1 day ago 

3. And HOW have people from Biblical times and into the 21st Century made the best out of pestilence, prison and persecution when it comes to writing?

"BEST MASTERPIECES: From Biblical Incarceration To COVID-19 " I was reading how Paul the Apostle wrote his best writings while locked up. Also, So you’re Marco Polo, and you’ve just spent 15 years traveling a world few people have seen. Upon your return to Italy in the late 13th century, you discover that there’s a war on between Venice and Genoa. You’re captured and tossed in jail simply because you’re a prominent Venetian. What do you do? You tell your story to your cellmate, who happens to be a writer, and who jots everything down in French and later publishes it. Debate rages as to how much imagination Polo added to his travels, but his stories remain an invaluable glimpse into a world erased by time. ( https://www.barnesandnoble.com/…/10-books-that-were-writte…/ ) I actually read that book in 6th grade! "Travels of Marco Polo." And then as mentioned above, The prison epistles—Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon—are so named because they were written by the apostle Paul during one of his incarcerations. It is generally accepted that Paul wrote the prison epistles during his first Roman imprisonment. The exact dates he wrote each of the prison epistles is unknown, but the two-year period he spent under house arrest in Rome has been narrowed down to the years AD 60–62. Paul’s imprisonment in Rome is verified by the book of Acts, where we find references to his being guarded by soldiers (Acts 28:16), being permitted to receive visitors (Acts 28:30), and having opportunities to share the gospel (Acts 28:31). These details, along with Paul’s mention of being with “those who belong to Caesar’s household” (Philippians 4:22), support the view that Paul wrote the prison epistles from Rome. Paul’s Roman incarceration produced three great letters to the churches of Ephesus, Colosse, and Philippi, as well as a personal letter to his friend Philemon.

( https://www.gotquestions.org/prison-epistles.html ) Then there's a modern public figure today who I have spoken with personally over the phone and through email a few times beginning around 1990 (before email). His name is, Randall Terry, founder and first President of Operation Rescue. I have still yet to meet him in person, but I consider him a friend. Look him up. He wrote several books and I have all of them as he actually mailed them to me a few years ago. At least one of them was when he was in jail, ( Why Does A Nice Guy Like Me... Keep Getting Thrown In Jail?: How theological escapism and cultural retreatism in the Church have led to America's demise. (1993) ,) falsely imprisoned by the Wichita police illegally using the Rico Act as a mechanism to imprison him for peacefully protesting abortion facilities during the Wichita abortion protests during Bill Clinton's first term in the early 1990's. He was later released and his criminal record cleared. And finally, I even wrote a book when I was suddenly handed a bunch of time to gather all my most pertinent writings and ideas I have stored up in my memory over a period of 26 years. My time was from losing my job of seven years due to my employer losing a contract, and I was forced to be on unemployment for 6 months. I wrote, "Making America Righteous-Again: From Bitterness To A Delight." During my time unemployed, I searched high and low for several months for employment, but I also had the time to compile my book on kindle's Amazon website and put together my book into e-form. And it was released on the very first day of 2016! And from then on I had begun my many temporary and part time jobs up until just a year ago, finally becoming permanent full time in a job I currently have, machine operation for a top tier, cutting edge Italian company making all various kinds of the best salami you'll ever eat. But back to books, while writing, the thought occurred to me to make an acronym for my book title so it won't be a total pun on now, President Trump's first campaign motto. So I took the letters, M, A, R, and A from the beginning of the first four words in the book title, "Making America Righteous-Again," to form the acronym, M.A.R.A. . The acronym forms the female name, or a word, meaning "bitterness", with Hebrew origins. A lake in the wilderness from the book of Exodus was named Mara, because it was a bitter water. But God told Moses to throw a stick in the water. So Moses had thrown a stick in the water and the water became sweet! In the book of Ruth, Naomi told the people of Bethlehem, when they recognized who she was, to no longer call her Naomi, but to call her Mara, because God has dealt bitterly with her. But of course Naomi kept her name, which means beautiful, or my delight. That, of course, is how we must be personally, and as a nation. We need to change from bitterness to sweet-again! From bitterness, to a delight-again! So there are literally hundreds if not thousands, of extremely classic and well-known works that so many writers, inventors, adventurers and all forms of public figures throughout the ages, written in times of incarceration, loneliness, famine, persecution; you name it. And finally, right now, as I write, the latest two surprises of public celebrities who have released a major work, and who is working on his next release, are Singer songwriter, Jackson Brown, (he is producing some new music because he has a very mild case of COVID-19, https://nypost.com/…/jackson-browne-rock-and-roll-hall-of…/… ) he just learned this week, and he says he has plenty of time now because of California's and the U.S.'s shelter-in-place regulations due to the attempt to "flatten the curve!" To bring down the number of COVID-19 cases by not mingling in public. And now, today's news is that long-time singer/songwriter Bob Dylan just release a song a couple seconds shy of 17 minutes at the stroke of midnight Wednesday morning, March 25, 2020! The song is titled, "Murder Most Foul:" A song about the murder of President John F Kennedy. (Official Audio) https://variety.com/…/bob-dylan-releases-17-minute-song-jf…/ And so I will just leave you at that. And conclude that even now, due to a common cold, my boss actually told me to take Thursday and Friday off and the weekend just to play it safe! WOW! Who's boss ever said that!? So I actually have had three days now, in home isolation that seems forever, to ponder a whole vast array of ideas to podcast and or write about, which has been very rare these past couple years of going from job-to-job paying my bills and LIVING!, because I'm doing my due diligence to heed and honor the attempt for all to stay home. There's no way for this not to work if everyone does their best to do so. But that's another story. And if you still are interested in how others have written their greatest or great works during times of difficulty, just do a web search and you can find much more. But until then, I hope you had a good read or listen, just now, through my podcast or blog.

Thank you very much for visiting my whole gigantic vast array of social media platforms! WOW! Here are links where my podcasts are currently available 

iHeartRADIO-  Michael DT The Lookout Guy

SPREAKERPODCASTS- https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-lookout-guy

SPOTIFY- You may create an account or login through facebook on this one: Michael DT The Lookout Guy By NAOMI FILES w/Michael D Tobin

GOOGLE PODCASTS- Michael D T The Lookout Guy NAOMI FILES w/Michael D Tobin

DEEZER PODCASTS- Michael D T The Lookout Guy

PODCAST ADDICT- Download Podcast Addict app to your pc or phone app store, and on both, search Michael D T The Lookout Guy. Here's the PC link: Download Podcast Addict For PC (Windows and Mac) May 18, 2019

PODCHASER- Michael D T The Lookout Guy A Society and Culture podcast

YouTube- No link because they're sadly mistaken but when I have videos posted to my blog just select it and you may watch and subscribe to my channel if you like.

Would you please consider supporting my blog and web-based audio/video pursuit? My broadcasting days began in 1989, as I was a deejay, Prod. Mgr and News Director with then, WPES in Ashland, VA, from 1989-94. I did it all for FREE-volunteer, while in Bible school! I desire to respond FULL-TIME to disaster sites sharing the love of Jesus at hurricane, tornado, fires and other disasters as a Billy Graham Rapid Response Team chaplain, as I've responded several times since 2003, and for my goal for being on the highest tier-levels on Spreaker and PodBean, to broadcast from future locations and missions trips stateside and abroad. I just had to cancel my subscription to my previous Spreaker podcasting platform and am now on a lesser tier, until I can gain listener support and be full-time boots on the ground to cover California and the world, with the Gospel and events as a watchman on the wall ( Isaiah 21: 6-8 6 Meanwhile, the Lord said to me, “Put a watchman on the city wall. Let him shout out what he sees. 7 He should look for chariots drawn by pairs of horses, and for riders on donkeys and camels. Let the watchman be fully alert.” 8. Then the watchman called out, “Day after day I have stood on the watchtower, my lord. Night after night I have remained at my post.) My pursuit is to have various LIVE simultaneous podcasting/video platforms. Nothing is too hard for God! (-; My ultimate goal is for souls saved, and praying for the world in it's many aspects. You may purchase my book, Making America Righteous-Again: From Bitterness To A Delight at https://www.amazon.com/Making-America-Righteous-Again-Bitterness-Delight-ebook/dp/B01A1JPHUC/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=making+america+righteous&pldnSite=1&qid=1583117346&sr=8-1 You may also support through paypal https://www.paypal.me/michaeldt

Who Wrote The Bible...?

https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/who-wrote-the-bible.html

Does the Bible teach socialism?

Does the Bible teach socialism?

Michael D. Tobin

05-17-17

AUDIO YOUTUBE: Does The Bible Teach Socialism?

(Link to my blog, Socialism? PT 2 The Most High In Defense Of The Most Low

https://michaeldtobin.blogspot.com/2017/05/socialism-pt-2-most-high-in-defense-of.html )

Does the Bible teach socialism? Listen to this timeless clip from D James Kennedy's broadcast, Truths That Transform to find out. I remember listening to this broadcast many times after I aired it as a radio dj between 1989-1994. I still have many of his cassettes I had saved and some day will have them all transferred to computer files as I already have a couple with my tape-to-pc device. I've got all the physical means to create top notch podcasts but money and time constraint is the challenge and soon with God's help, I will be doing shows full-time with His provision, from anywhere in the U.S. or world/mission field. I hope you enjoy my line-up and they will all likely be history of my early beginnings and something to smile about in comparison to when I actually have professional CD media quality productions. Typically I will be doing interviews or running the whole 'show' on my podcasts, but on rare occasions such as this I will have a classic clip. God bless you and thank you for subscribing to my blog, my spreaker account and my youtube account, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIX1qkhEw8tFAzgI8Hcv4Iw and any support you feel led to give. 

I desire to respond to disaster sites sharing the love of Jesus at hurricane, tornado, fires and other disasters as a Billy Graham Rapid Response Team chaplain, as I've been one since 2003. I pray to be able to renew my passport and have one for my 31-yr old son who wants to be in missions and ministry with me. Visit my podcast, Michael Tobin Show at, http://www.spreaker.com/show/the-michael-tobin-show .
So would you please help me respond to natural disasters as a BGRRT Chaplain by purchase of my book, Making America Righteous-Again: From Bitterness To A Delight at, https://www.amazon.com/Making-America-Righteous-Again-Bitterness-Delight-ebook/dp/B01A1JPHUC You may also support through paypal at, https://www.paypal.me/michaeldt 
ALSO, you may see more detail at my GiveSendGo account, https://www.givesendgo.com/michaeltobin , and my GoFundMe account, https://www.gofundme.com/almost-homeless-missionary .

When Was a Better Day For Christianity?

When Was A Better Day For Christianity?

By: Michael D. Tobin Jan 2, 2016

Parents who are first generation Christians don't always produce the strength in their children needed to be stronger second generation Christians.
Well, let me cut to the chase and refer you to American Christianity, so we can see the crux of the matter, because we've all heard that politics is not going to help our success, and is not the ultimate say on our future. The future is in the hands of God.
One of the interesting things about AW Tozer is that he covered Christianity from at least 1920 until he died in 1963. He was born in 1897 which would make him 3 yrs old in 1900. But I can't read his commentary without thinking about today's church and society, and without being surprised that he was actually describing the church in the days that we think was a better day. But when WAS a better day?
If you read the Bible, you'll see in the Old Testament and New Testament, that the writers were describing the same mentalities then, as are prevalent now. I leave you with an AW Tozer devotional and a final thought of mine: Our satisfaction with the church of the day has never been adequate, from today, all the way back into the time of the Gospels and Epistles. We have never been satisfied with what we've seen in the church. And that is because Christianity as a religion is doomed to failure along with all the rest. But Christianity as a personal relationship is the true picture of success. The same challenge has always been this: John 3:19-21 19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

AW Tozer Devotional: A Lower Level
O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. Psalm 71:17
There are leaders and there are churches within the Christianity of our day who will surely answer for their failure to apply the disciplines of the New Testament to the present generation of young people.

Much of Christianity today does not hold to the necessity for disciplines in the Christian life. If we have any of God’s concerns in our hearts, we must grieve over the lack of spirituality in the lives of great segments of professing Christian young people. It is not my calling to assess blame. It is part of my Christian calling to proclaim the fact that no one, young or old, hasthe right to come to Jesus Christ and stake out their own conditions and terms.

Segments of Christianity have made every possible concession in efforts to win young people to Christ; but instead of converting them to Christ, they have “converted” Christianity to them. Too often they have come down to the modern level—playing, teasing, coaxing and entertaining. In essence, they have been saying to them, “We will do everything as you want it,” instead of giving them Christ’s insistent word, “Take up your cross!”

O Lord, our young people are the future members and leaders of our churches. To the degree that we teach them the ways of the Lord, they will either be vibrant or weak believers. Lord, don’t let us forsake our youth!

Download my new book, released Jan 2, 2016

Please help me to respond to natural disasters as a Billy Graham Rapid Response Chaplain and support God's Extended Hand homeless ministry by purchasing my first and new e-book released this year by selecting this link:

Making America Righteous-Again: From Bitterness To A Delight Kindle Edition
by Michael D. Tobin (Author)  https://www.amazon.com/Making-America-Righteous-Again-Bitterness-Delight-ebook/dp/B01A1JPHUC

You may support my efforts through my paypal account at this link:https: //www.paypal.me/michaeldt

This book is not time sensitive, meaning that it will never lose it's relevance. In fact, it should be read to relate to any time now and in the future by students, instructors, new believers, non believers and seasoned laypersons. I also avoided listing current statistics that would just waste reading time and space, when we now have internet search capabilities to fulfill those purposes With that said, I think we can agree we all feel like the world is in a NASCAR race full of crashes, delays, cautions, pit-stops and even deaths. This race and all of its' madness has to stop, and I want a sense of peace. He leadeth us to still waters. 
There is an old saying, "the end results justify the means to achieve such results." 
The reason for my book title containing the word, "righteous", instead of greatness, is because it's a pun on Donald Trumps' Presidential campaign slogan, "Lets Make America Great Again." My point throughout this book is to show that righteousness is the means to achieve greatness. Therefore one does not become great in its' desired sense and definition without first becoming righteous. Also, America will never be great, unless the Church is great. I have compiled eleven years of my best essays relating to this books title, and one of them is from twenty-six years ago that I finally wrote in 2006. 
Here are the definitions of righteousness, and great: 
Righteousness: the quality or state of being just or rightful 
Great: wonderful first-rate; very good...

Five-Finger Gospel Presentation

The following blog is from a link I had seen and read,

 and I thought it was awesome for the street evangelist

 as well as anyone else who would like to brush up on

 how simple it can be to share Jesus. I hope you enjoy it
.
 Also, for anyone who would be interested, here is a link

to a gofundme campaign I had started recently before re-

entering the missions field. Thanx so much.  Full-time Missions/Evangelism gofund.me/kmukh7qs

The Gospel in your Hand
Posted on October 18, 2013
http://gregburdine.com/2013/10/18/the-gospel-in-your-hand/
 One of the main reasons believers don’t share their faith is that they feel ill-prepared.  Through Evangelism Explosion, I have discovered a a simple memory tool you can use to share a Gospel presentation – your hand!  Each finger represents a key point of the Gospel.


Using the five fingers on your hand, each finger represents a key point of the Gospel. It’s easy to learn, hard to forget, and you always have it with you. It’s a “hands-on” approach to sharing your faith.

Let me explain:

THUMB—HEAVEN IS A FREE GIFT

Your thumb symbolizes hitching a free ride to heaven, we cannot get there on our own. Use your thumb to make a thumbs up, such as someone who is hitchhiking would do. This is an easy way to remember you need to get a ride to heaven, you cannot get there on your own.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. -Romans 6:23

INDEX FINGER—MAN IS A SINNER AND CANNOT SAVE HIMSELF

Your index finger is the first finger and symbolizes that man usually puts himself first. Using your index finger, or “first finger” is a good way to remember that we tend to put ourselves first. That is because we have a selfish and sinful nature. This symbolizes the second point of the gospel.

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, -Romans 3:23

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.  -Ephesians 2:8-9

MIDDLE FINGER—GOD LOVES YOU, BUT HATES YOUR SIN

Your middle finger is the tallest finger. This is a good representation of God, since He is the creator and beginning of all things. We add the middle finger as we share about the nature of God.

God is love. -1 John 4:8b

Yet he [God] does not leave the guilty unpunished; -Exodus 34:7b

RING FINGER—JESUS IS THE INFINITE GOD-MAN

Your next finger to add to the presentation is the ring finger. This finger represents the marriage of Christ to the church. If you use your right hand as you talk about this, it will be on the right side of the great finger. You can then say that Christ sits at the right hand of the Father. It is very important to share who Jesus Christ is. Jesus Christ is the infinite God-man who died on the cross to pay for our sins and purchase a place in heaven for us.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God … The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. -John 1:1,14

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, ... -1 Peter 2:24

LITTLE FINGER—THIS GIFT IS RECEIVED BY FAITH

Your little finger is the smallest finger and symbolizes faith. The gift of eternal life is received by faith.

… “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” -Acts 16:31

This simply explains the Gospel story.  Once you have shared your faith, it is important to offer the invitation to trust Christ as Savior.  I try to encourage the person I am talking with to pray.

There is no certain prayer that must be used to help someone to receive Christ. If you are not sure what you should pray, below is a simple prayer you might use.

Dear Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner and cannot save myself. I believe you died on the cross to pay for my sin and purchase a place for me in heaven. I receive that gift right now by faith. Lord Jesus come into my heart and be my Lord and my Savior. Amen.

I have found that sharing your faith is rather simple, but it is never easy.  Sharing your faith is a bold move into the darkness of sin.  Satan will fight it.  I’ve found it ironic that we can talk about sports, politics, and health issues with no reluctance. But when it comes to eternal issues, we often relegate this discussion to the ‘professionals.’  I plead with you to share your faith with those you know who need Jesus. He will help you!

Do you have a ‘gospel presentation’ that you have used effectively?

Who are you praying for right now that needs to hear the Gospel story?

How Jesus' Birth Split Time in Two

The following was originally posted by In Touch Ministries. I 
hope it is a blessing this season of Holy
Days. I hope you enjoy it. Also, for anyone who would be 
interested, here is a link to a gofundme campaign I had

started recently before re- entering the missions field. 

Thanx so much.  Full-time Missions/Evangelism gofund.me/kmukh7qs




In Touch Ministries
Dec 23, 2011
"Jesus split time in two. His birth divided all time into B.C. before Christ and A.D. after Him." - Dr. Charles Stanley

The Birth of Jesus Christ
By: Daniel B. Wallace

Preface

The following is part of a short series of devotional items related to the birth of Christ. For some, such material is hardly devotional because it primarily focuses on history. But we must keep in mind that the Jesus we worship was truly born in time-space history. And that babe in the manger was truly crucified--and just as surely rose from the dead. The Bible is different from the sacred books of other religions because it invites historical investigation. And when it has met the test--as it surely always, inevitably does--it inculcates a greater devotion in the heart of the believer for the one we call the Son of God.

The Year Jesus Was Born

In the western hemisphere, we split time by the birth of Jesus Christ. But did he really even live? If so, when was he born?

Sometime ago, I struck up a conversation with a man who claimed that God did not exist. He was an atheist. But not just a run-of-the-mill atheist, you understand. He also insisted that Jesus Christ never existed! This fellow was hard core.

Now my atheist friend had incredible faith--blind faith, I might add. His religious fervor, in fact, would put many evangelists to shame. But the evidence that Jesus Christ invaded history is not just shut up to the testimony of the New Testament--as irrefutable as that might be! The very enemies of Christianity claimed that he lived--and that he performed miracles! Early Jewish documents such as the Mishnah and even Josephus--as well as first-century Gentile historians--such as Thallus, Serapion, and Tacitus--all testify that the one called Christ lived in Palestine and died under Pontius Pilate. As the British scholar, F. F. Bruce put it, "The historicity of Christ is as [certain]. . . as the historicity of Julius Caesar" (NT Documents, 119).

Now it logically follows that if Jesus Christ lived (need it be said?), he must have been born. The Gospels tell us that his birth was shortly before Herod the Great died. Herod's death can be fixed with certainty.

Josephus records an eclipse of the moon just before Herod passed on. This occurred on March 12th or 13th in 4 B.C. Josephus also tells us that Herod expired just before Passover. This feast took place on April 11th, in the same year, 4 B.C. From other details supplied by Josephus, we can pinpoint Herod the Great's demise as occurring between March 29th and April 4th in 4 B.C.

It might sound strange to suggest that Jesus Christ was born no later than 4 B.C. since B.C. means 'before Christ.' But our modern calendar which splits time between B.C. and A.D. was not invented until A.D. 525. At that time, Pope John the First asked a monk named Dionysius to prepare a standardized calendar for the western Church. Unfortunately, poor Dionysius missed the real B.C./A.D. division by at least four years!

Now Matthew tells us that Herod killed Bethlehem's babies two years old and under. The earliest Jesus could have been born, therefore, is 6 B.C. Through a variety of other time indicators, we can be relatively confident that the one called Messiah was born in either late 5 or early 4 B.C.

My atheist friend scoffs at such flexibility. He says, "If you don't know exactly when Jesus was born, how do you know that he really lived?" That is hardly a reasonable question! The other day I called my mother to wish her a happy birthday. "Mom, how many candles on this birthday cake?" I inquired. "I don't know, son--I don't keep track any more," she sighed. After a few minutes of pleasant conversation, we hung up.

Now, of course, I can't be certain, but I do believe that that was my mother on the other end of the phone. She can't remember how old she is (and she's neither senile nor very old), but that doesn't make her a figment of my imagination, does it? Because if she's just a phantom, then for the last three minutes, you've been reading absolutely nothing!

The Day Jesus Was Born

This coming December 25th most parents will be lying to their children about old St. Nick. Some of us will be celebrating the birth of our Savior. But was he really born on this day?

Was Jesus really born on December 25th? Virtually every month on the calendar has been proposed by biblical scholars. So why do we celebrate his birth in December?

The tradition for December 25th is actually quite ancient. Hippolytus, in the second century A.D., argued that this was Christ's birthday. Meanwhile, in the eastern Church, January 6th was the date followed.

But in the fourth century, John Chrysostom argued that December 25th was the correct date and from that day till now, the Church in the East, as well as the West, has observed the 25th of December as the official date of Christ's birth.

In modern times, the traditional date has been challenged. Modern scholars point out that when Jesus was born, shepherds were watching their sheep in the hills around Bethlehem. Luke tells us that an angel appeared to "some shepherds staying out in the fields [who were] keeping watch over their flock by night" (2:8).

Some scholars feel that the sheep were usually brought under cover from November to March; as well, they were not normally in the field at night. But there is no hard evidence for this. In fact, early Jewish sources suggest that the sheep around Bethlehem were outside year-round. So you can see, December 25th fits both tradition and the biblical narrative well. There is no sound objection to it.

Now admittedly, the sheep around Bethlehem were the exception, not the rule. But these were no ordinary sheep. They were sacrificial lambs. In the early spring they would be slaughtered at the Passover.

And God first revealed the Messiah's birth to these shepherds--shepherds who protected harmless lambs which would soon die on behalf of sinful men. Whey they saw the baby, could they have known? Might they have whispered in their hearts what John the Baptist later thundered, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"

Now, of course, we can't be absolutely certain of the day of Christ's birth. At least, not this side of heaven. But an early winter date seems as reasonable a guess as any. And December 25th has been the frontrunner for eighteen centuries. Without more evidence, there seems no good reason to change the celebration date now.

We can blame the ancient church for a large part of our uncertainty. You see, they did not celebrate Christ's birth. At all. To them, it was insignificant. They were far more concerned with his death . . . and resurrection.

But modern man has turned that around. A baby lying in a manger is harmless, non-threatening. But a man dying on a cross--a man who claims to be God--that man is a threat! He demands our allegiance! We cannot ignore him. We must either accept him or reject him. He leaves us no middle ground.

This Christmas season, take a close look at a nativity scene once again. Remove your rose-colored glasses--smell the foul air, see the cold, shivering animals. They represent the Old Testament sacrificial system. They are emblems of death. But they are mere shadows of the Babe in their midst. He was born to die . . . that all who believe in him might live.

The Visit of the Magi

When Jesus Christ was born, men--known as magi--came from the east to worship him. Were they wise men . . . or astrologers?

Matthew begins his second chapter with these words: "Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 'Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him.'"

Who were these wise men from the east? Matthew tells us next to nothing about them--he doesn't mention their names, nor how many there were--not even which country they came from. As mysteriously as they come on the scene, they disappear. . .

Though Matthew doesn't tell us much, over-zealous Christians throughout church history have dogmatically filled in the blanks. By the 6th century A.D., these dark strangers were given thrones and names: Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthazar were the alleged names of these alleged kings. But this has nothing to do with the biblical story: we really have no idea what their names were--nor even their number. There could have been 3 or 300 as far as we know! But one thing we do know for sure: they were not royalty. The ancient magi were reilgious and political advisors to eastern kings--but there wasn't a drop of blue blood among them.

But isn't it true that the magi were astrologers? And didn't God prescribe death to astrologers in the Old Testament? 'Not always' and 'yes' are the answers. In Deuteronomy 17, God commands his people to execute all astrologers by stoning. Jean Dixon wouldn't stand a chance in such a theocracy! The fact that she--and others like her--are so comfortably tolerated--even well respected!--in modern America ought to show us that the U.S.A. is a post-Christian country--at best . . .

But what about these ancient magi? Were they astrologers? After all, they followed a star to Bethlehem.

We might answer this in three ways: First, not all magi were astrologers, for Daniel the prophet was the chief of the magi in Nebuchadnezzar's court. Through his influence, undoubtedly many of the magi carried on their religious and political duties as worshippers of the One true God.

Second, there are some biblical scholars who believe that Isaiah predicted that a star would appear when the Messiah was born. If this interpretation is correct, then the magi who worshipped the newborn king were clearly following in Daniel's train, for he almost surely taught them from Isaiah.

Third, although a few believe that the 'star' they saw was a natural phenomenon--such as a conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter--this cannot explain how the star stood right over Bethlehem. Clearly, the 'star' was completely of supernatural origin. If so, it probably had nothing to do with astrology.

Therefore, the magi most likely did not subscribe to such superstitious folly. If so, they were truly wise men . . .

I saw a bumper sticker the other day, which read, "Wise men still seek him." Actually, that's not quite accurate. The Bible tells us that "no one seeks God, not even one." But if he has led us to himself, then we have become wise. For it is true that "wise men still worship him."

The Boys from Bethlehem

One of the most heinous atrocities in human history was the murder of Bethlehem's babies by Herod the Great. But did it really happen?

In the second chapter of Matthew's gospel, we read that when Herod the Great heard of the Messiah's birth, "he was troubled--and all Jerusalem with him." Later, when the wise men did not report back to him, he became furious and ordered all the baby boys up to two years old in and around Bethlehem to be slaughtered!

Three questions come to mind as we consider this cruel incident: First, how many babies did Herod actually kill? Second, how old was Jesus when this happened? And finally, why does no other ancient historian record this outrage? In other words, did it really happen?

How many babies did Herod murder? Some scholars have suggested as many as 200! But most reject such a figure. Bethlehem was a small community--almost a suburb of Jerusalem. The village itself--and the surrounding countryside--would hardly have more than 30 male infants under two. Most scholars today place the number between 20 and 30.

But that's if only the boy babies were killed. Actually, the Greek text of Matthew 2:16 could mean 'babies'--not just 'boy babies.' And psychologically, Herod's henchmen might not have bothered to check the gender of their victims. The number might be as high as 50 or 60.

Second, how old was Jesus when this occurred? According to the best chronological evidence, he could not have been more than three or four months old. He was more than likely born in the winter of 5 or 4 B.C.--Herod died in the early spring of 4 B.C. So why did Herod slay all children up to two years old? The answer to the third question might help to answer this one. . .

Third, why is this event not recorded outside the Bible? Specifically, why did Josephus, the first-century Jewish historian, fail to mention it?

Josephus tells us much about Herod. The best word to describe his reign is 'overkill.' He murdered his favorite wife's father, drowned her brother--and even killed her! He executed one of his most trusted friends, his barber, and 300 military leaders--all in a day's work! Then he slew three of his sons, allegedly suspecting them of treason. Josephus tells us that "Herod inflicted such outrages upon (the Jews) as not even a beast could have done if it possessed the power to rule over men" (Antiquities of the Jews 17:310). Killing babies was not out of character for this cruel king. And killing them up to two years old--to make sure he got the baby Jesus lines up with his insane jealousy for power.

Josephus might have omitted the slaying of the babies for one of two reasons: first, he was no friend of Christianity and he left it out intentionally; or second, just before Herod died he locked up 3000 of the nation's leading citizens and gave orders that they were to be executed at the hour of his death. He wanted to make sure that there would be mourning when he died. . . Israel was so preoccupied with this that the clandestine murder of a few babies might have gone unnoticed. . .

Herod thought that he had gained a victory over the king of the Jews. Yet this was a mere foreshadowing of the victory Satan thought he had when Jesus lay dead on a Roman cross. But the empty tomb proved that that dark Friday was Satan's worst defeat!

Conclusion

We've been looking at several aspects of the birth of Jesus Christ in this short study. Now, we want to put it all together.

In the winter of 5 or 4 B.C., God invaded history by taking on the form of a man. He was born in a small town just south of Jerusalem. Bethlehem, which means 'the house of bread,' indeed became worthy of its name one lonely winter night. For there, in that town, was born the Bread of Life . . .

His mother placed the infant king in a manger--or feeding trough--because the guest room where they were to stay was occupied. The birth of this king was celebrated that night only by his mother, her husband, and a handful of shepherds. The shepherds had been in the fields around Bethlehem, guarding the lambs which would die at the next Passover. An angel appeared to them and gave them the birth announcement: "today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11). In their simple faith, they rushed to see their newborn king.

Shortly after the birth of the Messiah, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem and inquired of king Herod where the real king of the Jews was to be born. The theologians of Herod's court knew the Scriptures well--in 'Bethlehem' they recited. Ironically, though they knew the Scriptures, they did not believe them! They did not even bother to travel the five or six miles to Bethlehem to see their Messiah.

But Herod believed the Scriptures! That is why he sent a corps of butchers to Bethlehem to slaughter innocent children, in hopes of destroying this rival to his throne. But he was too late. The magi had come and gone and Jesus was by now safe in Egypt.

And the magi believed the Scriptures. They had traveled several hundred miles to worship this Babe. They were guided to Bethlehem by a supernatural celestial phenomenon--and by the Scriptures. Apparently, their ancestors had been instructed by Daniel the prophet about the coming Messiah. . . When they saw the child, they fell down and worshiped him. This was God in the flesh. They could do no other.

And they gave him gifts--gold, frankincense, and myrrh. This was an unusual present--by any standards. The gold, of course, we all can understand--but the frankincense and myrrh were odd. Perhaps they had read Isaiah's prophecy that "nations will come to your light, and kings to your rising . . . They will bring gold and frankincense, and will bear good news. . . " (Isa. 60:3, 6). This explains the frankincense, but not the myrrh.

Now myrrh, like frankincense, was a perfume. But unlike frankincense, myrrh smelled of death. In the ancient world, it was used to embalm a corpse. Jesus himself would be embalmed with this very perfume (cf. John 19:39).

If the magi were thinking of Jesus' death when they brought the myrrh, they no doubt knew of it from Daniel's prophecy (9:24-27). In the ninth chapter of Daniel we read that the 'Messiah will be cut off' and this 'will make atonement for iniquity' and ultimately 'bring in everlasting righteousness' (9:26, 24).

Even at the birth of our Savior, the shadow of the cross is already falling over his face. . .

The theologians of Herod's court did not believe the Scriptures. They were fools. Herod believed, but disobeyed. He was a madman. The simple shepherds and the majestic magi believed in this infant Savior--and it was reckoned to them as righteousness. May we follow in their train.

Related Topics: Christmas, Incarnation

Español Tagalog తెలుగు

By: Daniel B. Wallace
Daniel B. Wallace has taught Greek and New Testament courses on a graduate school level since 1979. He has a Ph.D. from Dallas Theological Seminary, and is currently professor of New Testament Studies at his alma mater.

His Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics: An Exegetical Syntax of the New Testament (Zondervan, 1996) has become a standard textbook in colleges and seminaries. He is the senior New Testament editor of the NET Bible. Dr. Wallace is also the Executive Director for the Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts.

/bible.org/article/birth-jesus-christ

Christmas Hijacked: Peace Love & Joy

   Yes, Christmas in the so called developed world has been hijacked, by longer than anyone alive can remember.

   This may be a shocker, but Christmas is not ABOUT family, though predominantly it is a time work and career scheduling typically, but not as much, allows for long weekends off work to gather with friends and family to feast, give gifts and make merry.
   Secondly, Christmas isn't about buying gifts for eachother, but within reason, we can purchase gifts if finances permit, but how about without the media and social pressure to do so? In this case, it is common knowledge that television and radio networks and sponsors, which oobviously are retail and every other aspect of the stock market, depend on money we have and even DON'T have. (Will that be cash or credit?"
   Thirdly, this may be another shocker. While we're frenzied buying gifts and food, and traveling to see loved ones who we miss, the rest of the world, particularly Africa and the middle east, are having a field day with their Muslim populations literally hanging Christians on crosses and killing them in countless other ways of torture and death. After all, Jesus is the reason Christians exist, and Jesus is the reason for Christmas. Or is Jesus just an excuse to have happy holidays? Have you told anyone to not buy you a gift and their love is enough?
   Please don't see this as a downer in any way. I'm merely about to point out something I do not recall hearing or reading before. And I'd like to mention what can't be stressed enough: remember the real reason for Christmas. And pray for all of our fellow Christian brothers and sisters who are suffering real genuine persecution as we celebrate Jesus's birth. I know December 25 has different origins and nothing to do with the real date of the savior's real birthday. But it is the day the world agreed on to celebrate, except the Russian Orthodox, who celebrate a few weeks later.
   And finally, my fourth point is simply to go a little further from the birth of our savior Christ child, and learn of His before, after and everlasting life He has offered to us. It's all in the Bible. In fact, I'll leave you with the best online free Bible website link that I know of. And here's a start with the birth of Jesus.
God bless you, and merry Christmas!

The Birth of Jesus
http://biblehub.com/niv/m/luke/2.htm

1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place whilea Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to their own town to register.

4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

21On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

Jesus Presented in the Temple

22When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”b), 24and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”c

25Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

29“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismissd your servant in peace.
30For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
33The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

36There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.e She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

39When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.