38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” 39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For  just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41  The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold,  something greater than Solomon is here.

Easter is based on death on Friday and resurrection on Sunday. If we look at this passage we can see this is impossible. If Christ died on Friday then Sat. would be one day and one night. Sunday would be 2 days and 2 nights. Monday would be 3 days and nights, which means they would have came to the tomb Tuesday morning. 

Think about this today as we are gearing up for Sunday. In part 2 we will explore the time line leading up to the death and resurrection of our savior.

There is a brief Easter history below from a holiday standpoint enjoy

According to St. Bede, an English historian of the early 8th century, Easter owes its origin to the old Teutonic mythology. It was derived from the name Eostre, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring, to whom the month of April was dedicated. The festival of Eostre was celebrated at the vernal equinox, when the day and night gets an equal share of the day.

The English name “Easter” is much newer. When the early English Christians wanted others to accept Christianity, they decided to use the name Easter for this holiday so that it would match the name of the old spring celebration. This made it more comfortable for other people to accept Christianity.

But it is pointed out by some that the Easter festival, as celebrated today, is related with the Hebrew tradition, the Jewish Passover. This is being celebrated during Nisan, the first month of the Hebrew lunar year. The Jewish Passover under Moses commemorates Israel’s deliverance from about 300 years of bondage in Egypt.

It was in during this Passover in 30 AD Christ was crucified under the order of the Roman governor Pontius Pilate as the then Jewish high priests accused Jesus of “blasphemy”. The resurrection came three days later, on the Easter Sunday. The early Christians, many of them being brought up in Jewish tradition regarded Easter as a new feature of the Pascha (Passover). It was observed in memory of the advent of the Messiah, as foretold by the prophets. And it is equanimous with the proclamation of the resurrection. Thus the early Christian Passover turned out to be a unitive celebration in memory of the passion-death-resurrection of Jesus. However, by the 4th century, Good Friday came to be observed as a separate occasion. And the Pascha Sunday had been devoted exclusively to the honor of the glorious resurrection.

Throughout the Christendom the Sunday of Pascha had become a holiday to honor Christ. At the same time many of the pagan spring rites came to be a part of its celebration. May be it was the increasing number of new converts who could not totally break free of the influence of pagan culture of their forefathers.

But despite all the influence there was an important shift in the spirit. No more glorification of the physical return of the Sun God. Instead the emphasis was shifted to the Sun of Righteousness who had won banishing the horrors of death for ever.

The Feast of Easter was well established by the second century. But there had been dispute over the exact date of the Easter observance between the Eastern and Western Churches. The East wanted to have it on a weekday because early Christians observed Passover every year on the 14th of Nisan, the month based on the lunar calendar. But, the West wanted that Easter should always be a Sunday regardless of the date.

To solve this problem the emperor Constantine called the Council of Nicaea in 325. The question of the date of Easter was one of its main concerns. The council decided that Easter should fall on Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox. But fixing up the date of the Equinox was still a problem. The Alexandrians, noted for their rich knowledge in astronomical calculations were given the task. And March 21 was made out to be the perfect date for spring equinox.

The dating of Easter today follows the same. Accordingly, churches in the West observe it on the first day of the full moon that occurs on or following the Spring equinox on March 21., it became a movable feast between March 21 and April 25.

Still some churches in the East observe Easter according to the date of the Passover festival.
The preparation takes off as early as on the Ash Wednesday from which the period of penitence in the Lent begins. The Lent and the Holy week end on the Easter Sunday, the day of resurrection. 

Hat tip to http://www.theholidayspot.com

HDR-SR11 Onboard Mic Test from Ron Foster on Vimeo.

Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,

The Consequences of Roe v. Wade
49,551,703
Total Abortions since 1973

From cdc.gov

I have a hard time with people professing Christianity and then supporting the worship of the God of Molech. Obama is a horrific example of this. He has made it very clear that he is going to sign the Freedom Of Choice Act (which is far from it), yet he professes Christianity. I am so tired of people calling themselves Christians and then picking and choosing what they do and do not want to believe. If you would like to debate within the pale of orthodoxy I have no problem with that. But this far outside of orthodoxy. If you do not believe what the bible says then call yourself something other than a Christian. Look at this totally satanic piece of legislation.

from www.aul.org

What Does FOCA Say?

FOCA provides that “[i]t is the policy of the United States that every woman has the fundamental right to choose to bear a child, to terminate a pregnancy prior to fetal viability, or to terminate a pregnancy after fetal viability when necessary to protect the life or health of the woman.”

Further, FOCA would specifically invalidate any “statute, ordinance, regulation, administrative order, decision, policy, practice, or other action” of any federal, state, or local government or governmental official (or any person acting under government authority) that would “deny or interfere with a woman’s right to choose” abortion, or that would “discriminate against the exercise of the right . . . in the regulation or provision of benefits, facilities, services, or information.”

Clearly, its reach is very broad. This single piece of legislation would apply to any federal or state law “enacted, adopted, or implemented before, on, or after the date of [its] enactment.”

What is the Legal Impact of FOCA?

FOCA creates a new and dangerously radical “right.” It establishes the right to abortion as a “fundamental right,” elevating it to the same status as the right to vote and the right to free speech (which, unlike the abortion license, are specifically mentioned in the U.S. Constitution). Critically, in Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court did not define abortion as a “fundamental right.”10 And with the exception of one justice’s attempt in 1983 to distort the Court’s abortion jurisprudence by framing the abortion license as a “fundamental right,” the Court has not subsequently defined abortion as a “fundamental right.” Thus, FOCA goes beyond any Supreme Court decision in enshrining unlimited abortion-on-demand into American law.

FOCA would also subject laws regulating or even touching on abortion to judicial review using a “strict scrutiny” framework of analysis. This is the highest standard American courts can apply and is typically reserved for laws impacting such fundamental rights as the right to free speech and the right to vote. Prior to the Supreme Court’s 1992 decision in Planned Parenthood v. Casey (which substituted the “undue burden” standard for the more stringent “strict scrutiny” analysis), abortion-related laws (such parental involvement for minors and minimum health and safety standards for abortion clinics) were almost uniformly struck down under “strict scrutiny” analysis. If enacted, FOCA would retroactively be applied to all federal and state abortion-related laws and would result in their invalidation.

What is the Practical Impact of FOCA?

In elevating abortion to a fundamental right, FOCA poses an undeniable and irreparable danger to common-sense laws supported by a majority of Americans. Among the more than 550 federal and state laws that FOCA would nullify are:
• Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003
• Hyde Amendment (restricting taxpayer funding of abortions)
• Restrictions on abortions performed at military hospitals
• Restrictions on insurance coverage for abortion for federal employees
• Informed consent laws
• Waiting periods
• Parental consent and notification laws
• Health and safety regulations for abortion clinics
• Requirements that licensed physicians perform abortions
• “Delayed enforcement” laws (banning abortion when Roe v. Wade is overturned and/or the authority to restrict abortion is returned to the states)
• Bans on partial-birth abortion
• Bans on abortion after viability. FOCA’s apparent attempt to limit post-viability abortions is illusory. Under FOCA, post-viability abortions are expressly permitted to protect the woman’s “health.” Within the context of abortion, “health” has been interpreted so broadly that FOCA would not actually proscribe any abortion before or after viability.
• Limits on public funding for elective abortions (thus, making American taxpayers fund a procedure that many find morally objectionable)
• Limits on the use of public facilities (such has public hospitals and medical schools at state universities) for abortions
• State and federal legal protections for individual healthcare providers who decline to participate in abortions
• Legal protections for Catholic and other religiously-affiliated hospitals who, while providing care to millions of poor and uninsured Americans, refuse to allow abortions within their facilities
Notably, pro-abortion groups do not deny FOCA’s draconian impact. For example, Planned Parenthood has explained, “FOCA will supercede anti-choice laws that restrict the right to choose, including laws that prohibit the public funding of abortions for poor women or counseling and referrals for abortions. Additionally, FOCA will prohibit onerous restrictions on a woman’s right to choose, such as mandated delays and targeted and medically unnecessary regulations.”

I took this direct from the whitehouse website

http://www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/women/

• Supporting Stem Cell Research: President Obama and Vice President Biden believe that we owe it to the American public to explore the potential of stem cells to treat the millions of people suffering from debilitating and life-threatening diseases. Obama is a co-sponsor of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007, which will allow research of human embryonic stem cells derived from embryos donated (with consent) from in vitro fertilization clinics. These embryos must be deemed in excess and created based solely for the purpose of fertility treatment.
Reproductive Choice (Abortion)
• Supports a Woman’s Right to Choose: President Obama understands that abortion is a divisive issue, and respects those who disagree with him. However, he has been a consistent champion of reproductive choice and will make preserving women’s rights under Roe v. Wade a priority in his Adminstration. He opposes any constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court’s decision in that case.
• Preventing Unintended Pregnancy: President Obama was an original co-sponsor of legislation to expand access to contraception, health information, and preventive services to help reduce unintended pregnancies. Introduced in January 2007, the Prevention First Act will increase funding for family planning and comprehensive sex education that teaches both abstinence and safe sex methods. The Act will also end insurance discrimination against contraception, improve awareness about emergency contraception, and provide compassionate assistance to rape victims.

We live in dark days in this country. I wonder how long it will be before professing the name of Christ in public is considered hate speech

Some songs to make you think

See No Evil

I float inside her womb
Oh mother, I am coming soon
Suddenly, fear and dread
When mother says she wants me dead

Oh how can you do this to me?

Thousands come
Please don’t kill me
Thousands go
I want to live
Day by day
Can anyone hear me
The numbers grow
I want to live

God hears them cry
We hear the lie
And we simply look the other way

See no evil
Hear no evil
Speak no evil

From a pail with open eyes
I see the man that I despise
He looks at me and turns his back
As my life fades, it fades to black
And there’s no turning back

(Mommy, can you hear me?)
Mommy, mommy, I’m afraid)

See no evil
Hear no evil
Speak no evil

Killers Of The Unborn

Lay her down, commence to drill
A primo murder, the legal kill
I am a child about to die
My mother does not hear my cry, no

[Chorus:]
Killers of the unborn, killers
Killers of the unborn, stop the killing

Injection starts to work its way
I don’t feel love, I just feel pain
I’m getting weaker, my poison blood
And death surrounds me like a flood

[Chorus]

The operation is over
I’m now in pieces in a garbage bag
Guilt will now take over
‘Cause where is the relief you thought you had
The shame and tears she bears
The scar of guilt she is going to wear
But he can forgive her
If she gives her life to the saviour
No, no, they’re gonna kill me
I don’t want to die, just let me be
No, no, I feel the pain
I feel, I feel the pain, no

]]> http://thornsandnails.com/main/archives/78/feed http://thornsandnails.com/main/archives/83 http://thornsandnails.com/main/archives/83#comments Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:24:06 +0000 Ron Foster http://thornsandnails.com/main/?p=83 This video is awesome

– James Wilson ()

Reference: The Works of James Wilson, McCloskey, ed., 125.

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted’ for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have show kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d day of October, A.D. 1789.

Yet our country was not founded on christian principles………….Right

Sovereign /Sov´er·eign/ (? or ?; 277), a. [OE. soverain, sovereyn, OF. soverain, suvrain, F. souverain, LL. superanus, fr. L. superus that is above, upper, higher, fr. super above. See Over, Super, and cf. Soprano. The modern spelling is due to a supposed connection with reign.] 1. Supreme or highest in power; superior to all others; chief; as, our sovereign prince.

This was taken from the 1913 websters unabridged which is my preferred dictionary. So God is the supreme or highest power. If this is the case then he is either the supreme power over all or he is the supreme power over nothing. So what does have to do with how are we saved? Well it establishes Gods authority in everything. It also establishes our role in this world. We are going to do an overview here, and dig into this deeper in the coming weeks

“Christ is the Master; the Scriptures are only the servant. The true way to test all the Books is to see whether they work the will of Christ or not. No Book which does not preach Christ can be apostolic, though Peter or Paul were its author. And no Book which does preach Christ can fail to be apostolic though Judas, Ananias, Pilate or Herod were its author.”

Martin Luther

Lets begin looking at some passages that defines God’s sovereignty. We will start in Daniel 4:35

35 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, What have you done?
So we see here one of the first passages where God says he does what he wants, and that we are nothing. Lets look at

Psalms 115:3
3 Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.

So once again we see God does what he wants. This has nothing to do with us.

 I Timothy 6:15-16

15 which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

This is a interesting passage because it says God alone has Immortality.  So lets now go a step further with God’s sovereignty and ask a question. If God is the master of everything is he the master of our salvation?  Did Jesus come for a specific group of people?

In Matthew 15:21-28 Jesus says he was only sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  In John 17:9 Jesus says the following.

“9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. “

 So Jesus only prayed for those which the father gave him. Is this sovereign choice of God shown in any other passages. Lets look and see.  In Romans 9:11 it says

“11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of his call”

 Lets look at some more passages from Romans 9:14-16

 “What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy “

 So we see here it depends not on human will or exertion but on God. There is yet still more in Romans chapter 9:17-18

 “For the scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills”

 So we see that God raised pharaoh up for the sole purpose of revealing his glory. Romans 9 continues to answer questions that someone would be expected to ask surrounding this topic. I will not go into he whole chapter now. I would like to challenge you to read it yourselves. We will continue in part 2

God preordained, for his own glory and the display of His attributes of mercy and justice, a part of the human race, without any merit of their own, to eternal salvation, and another part, in just punishment of their sin, to eternal damnation.
John Calvin

I could tell my Dad is really wore out, I visited them last night. All of the major blood supplying tubes to her brain are blocked, so pray that this goes well.

Please let us know what you think.

– Benjamin Rush (letter to John Adams, 20 August 1811)

Reference: Americanism, Gebhardt (12); original Letters, Rush,
Butterfield, ed., vol. 2 (1096-97)

– John Adams (Diary, 2 June 1778)

– George Washington (fragments of the Draft First Inaugural
Address, April 1789)

- John Calvin

Ulrich Zwingli