Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13

The Religion of Climate Change & the New Doomsday Scenario
Oct 4th, 2019
CommentaryMICHAEL BROWN/THE STREAM
Categories: Warning

When I came to faith as a 16-year-old, drug-using, hippie rock drummer, I was told that Jesus was returning very soon. The end of the world was near. Very near. 

Today, there is a new religious narrative, especially among young people, with a new "end of the world" scenario. But this one is depressing and grim, with nothing redemptive about it.

I'm talking about the new religion of man-made global warming.

It has its unique gods (like Mother Earth).

It deifies the created world (with seminarians confessing to plants in a chapel service).

It has its high priests and religious leaders (the climate change gurus and radical environmentalists).

It has its patron saints (like Sweden's Greta Thunberg).

And it has its own doomsday scenario: The end of the world is near. Very near.

According to a recent Rasmussen/HarrisX survey, 29 percent of all American voters believe it is "at least somewhat likely that the earth will become uninhabitable and humanity will be wiped out" in the next 15 years due to climate change.

"There is a dramatic difference by age on this question. Half (51%) of voters under 35 believe it is at least somewhat likely humanity will be wiped out in the next decade or so. Only 12% of senior citizens agree, and only 4% of senior citizens believe it is very likely," the survey said.

The survey revealed rural Americans do not share city-folks' concerns. Of those surveyed, 21 percent of urban voters believe that our world will soon become uninhabitable. Americans in the suburbs and rural areas are comparatively unconcerned: six percent of rural voters and five percent of suburbanites believe imminent doom is upon the world. 

To be clear, I do not have the credentials to comment on scientific questions related to global warming.

But I do have the credentials to comment on the effect that environmental activists are having on our culture, especially the younger generation.

An Australian website offers counsel to help people (especially young people) deal with stress and anxiety related to climate change. It notes that, "There are lots of reasons why young people might feel stressed about climate change."

These reasons include: 1) They feel like planning for the future is hopeless. 2) They are angry that the people around them aren't doing anything to help. 3) They are frustrated that there's nothing they can do now to change things. 4) They are worried about whether it's responsible to have children. 5) They feel like everything is out of their control.

A May 2 headline on Science News for Students states, "Climate change poses mental health risks to children and teens."

And a September 19 article on Conversation.com warned that, "Ignoring young people's climate change fears is a recipe for anxiety."

In fact, as far back as 2016, the American Psychological Association (APA) claimed that, "Climate change is threatening mental health. A federal report that tapped psychologists' expertise outlines the ways climate change affects us all."

But herein lies the rub. It is not "climate change" that is "threatening mental health." It is the apocalyptic way it is being reported that is threatening mental health.

After all, when I was told in 1971 that Jesus was coming back soon, it was an exciting prospect. The end of the age is fast approaching and we will be with the Lord forever! This world is falling apart, but God will come to redeem us!

But there is no such hope in today's gloom and doom climate change reporting. Instead, it produces fear and provokes frustration, especially for young people: "Our world is being destroyed, and you're not doing anything about it! Don't you care?"

To quote Greta Thunberg directly, "You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words. ... We are in the beginning of a mass extinction and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth -- how dare you!"

But there's a reason for her fears.

An October, 2018, headline proclaimed: "We have 12 years to limit climate change catastrophe, warns UN."

Six months later, in March, 2019, the UN website echoed these sentiments: "Only 11 Years Left to Prevent Irreversible Damage from Climate Change, Speakers Warn during General Assembly High-Level Meeting. Ambition, Urgency Needed to Address Global Emergency, Secretary-General Says."

No wonder teenaged Greta and her generation are up in arms. No wonder they are so stressed. No wonder they are angry. "It is your policies and your greed and your selfishness that have stolen our future!"

As reported on September 26, "Around climate-change protests, tears linger. Youthful activists cite all-too depressing science and develop angst. They grieve for a future they worry they'll never have.

"Many young climate activists say they feel hopeless and overwhelmed. ... 'It's really hard to grow up on a planet full of ifs,' said This is Zero Hour co-founder Jamie Margolin, a 17 year old from Seattle, who is finding hard to buckle down and apply to colleges. 'There's always been a sense that everything beautiful in this world is temporary for my generation.'"

Climate Alarmists are 0-41. How very, very sad -- but not because it's all true.

Instead, as John Nolte pointed out, "For more than 50 years Climate Alarmists in the scientific community and environmental movement have not gotten even one prediction correct, but they do have a perfect record of getting 41 predictions wrong.

"In other words, on at least 41 occasions, these so-called experts have predicted some terrible environmental catastrophe was imminent ... and it never happened."

Consequently, he asks, "Why would we completely restructure our economy and sacrifice our personal freedom for 'experts' who are 0-41, who have never once gotten it right?"

So, young people are being stressed about something that may never happen. They are growing up waiting for the shoe to drop, not being able to enjoy life because of fear for tomorrow.

The innocence of youth is being robbed from them, and everyone is to blame. Yet an article on the Teaching Tolerance website urges that, "Teachers' Silence on Climate Change Violates Students' Rights."

I would urge instead that there needs to be a lot of soul searching and circumspection, from our children's educators to the popular media. Are you sure the information you are sharing is accurate? Are you positive the fears you are instilling are warranted? Are you certain that you are not playing with the emotions of impressionable young people?

From my perspective (and leaning into my areas of expertise), I would rather say this: It's true that this world will not endure forever. One day, Jesus will return and make a new heaven and earth. 

So, live your life here with passion, in expectation of His return, making every moment count. That way, whether you live to be 100 or if He comes back in 10 years, your life will be full and blessed.

I challenge a climate change religionist to come up with a better message than that.

The Next Recession Could Crush Those Carrying Credit Card Debt
Oct 4th, 2019
CommentaryMAC SLAVO/ACTIVISTPOST.COM
Categories: Warning

Because credit card rates are so much higher now than they were in the past, even a mild recession could crush those who carry credit card debt.  The current national average interest rate on credit cards is 17.61%, just shy of the record set in July. By comparison, the average credit card charged about 13% when the Great Recession began.

According to CNBC, this overlooked issue of high-interest rates on consumer goods and credit card purchases are going to be incredibly difficult to pay for people during the next recession.  

Whether it's mild or severe, an economic downturn could really hurt those carrying a balance.

The so-called "private label" credit cards (often known as store credit cards) are experiencing the highest severe delinquency rate since 2011, according to Equifax. 

Delinquencies are ticking up even amid the media's glowing reports of a "10-year economic expansion." The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reports that in 2018, about 9% of general-purpose credit cardholders and 4.5% of private label cardholders had at least one severe delinquency in the preceding 12 months.

Millions of Americans are living dangerously close to the financial edge.

Just 35% of Americans have enough savings to cover three months' expenses, and 28% have no emergency savings at all. Additionally, 39 million U.S. adults have been carrying credit card debt for at least two years, and another 8 million can't recall how long they've been in debt. 

A quarter of debtors expect to die in debt. All of this despite an extraordinarily low unemployment rate of 3.7%. I fear what could happen to credit card debtors if that rises to 5%, 6% or 7%, let alone the 10% we saw in 2009. -CNBC

The Federal Reserve states that the average American holds $5,700 worth of credit card debt.  That means cutting the interest rates a quarter of a point would only save them $1 on their minimum payme

nt. It also means those minimum payments would stretch nearly 20 years and cost about $7,500 in interest (more than double the principal).

Credit cards are often a trap for the middle class in the United States, as people fall victim to consumerism and the ease of paying with plastic.  This trap could crush them during the next recession, so take the steps necessary to prepare for an economic problem early.

THE HOLY SPIRIT INDWELLS THE CHURCH. (Ephesians 2:21-22)
Oct 4th, 2019
Morning MeditationF. B. Meyer
Categories: Meditation;Inspirational;Book Study

Other passages clearly teach that He indwells the individual believer. He does this, that each several Christian community, fitly framed together, may grow into a holy temple in the Lord (see R.V.). The High and Holy One, who inhabits Eternity, makes his home with humble and contrite hearts. He tenants thee and me, if only we could realize it. But, in addition to this, when a company of believers is gathered in the name of Jesus, there is a habitation of God. "There am I in the midst of them."

This gives each company of disciples the mysterious power to bind and loose. Their acts receive Divine sanction, and achieve eternal results, because they are determined beneath the prompting of the Holy Spirit, and therefore in the presence of the living Saviour. The Spirit conveys the will of God to the saints, and bears back their prayers and decisions to God. Thus the Church keeps in step with Heaven, and utters, though sometimes unconsciously, the purposes of God.

Let the Headlines Speak
Oct 4th, 2019
Daily NewsFrom the Internet
Categories: Today's Headlines

The religion of climate change & the new doomsday scenario
It’s not “climate change” that’s “threatening mental health.” It’s the apocalyptic way it’s being reported that’s threatening mental health. I’m talking about the new religion of man made global warning. It has its unique gods (like Mother Earth). It deifies the created world (with seminarians confessing to plants in a chapel service). It has its high priests and religious leaders (the climate change gurus and radical environmentalists). It has its patron saints (like Sweden’s Greta Thunberg). And it has its own doomsday scenario: The end of the world is near. Very near.

China Unveils “Doomsday Bomb” While U.S. Military Concentrates On “Diversity”
Billed as the “ultimate doomsday weapon,” the fearsome super nuke was displayed during China’s 70th anniversary parade in Tiananmen Square. “The Dongfeng-41 is a 7,672 mph intercontinental ballistic missile that is said to have the furthest range of any nuclear missile and could reach the US in 30 minutes,” reports the Sun. Meanwhile, in the United States, US Major General Lori Reynolds told 300 intelligence Marines at the 9th Annual Marine Corps Association and Foundation Intelligence Awards Dinner that “diversity” will make the difference in future war fighting.

FDA: Thousands of Deaths Linked to Puberty Blockers
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has documented thousands of deaths linked to the puberty-blocking drugs now increasingly given to children who suffer from gender dysphoria or claim to be “transgender.”

Russia’s Communists Are Making A Comeback
For much of Russia’s post-Soviet history, communists and other leftists found themselves on the political margins. That is starting to change. During Russia’s recent regional elections, the Communist Party made major gains at the Kremlin’s expense — the second year in a row that it did so. Communists also played a major role in organizing mass anti-Kremlin protests that rocked Russia two summers ago.

Netanyahu interested in merging with New Right
The discussions on the matter, Netanyahu’s associates said, began shortly after the last election. This may explain why Netanyahu quickly made a phone call to Naftali Bennett following the election, despite tense relations between the two. Bennett and Ayelet Shaked, the co-leaders of the New Right, are not liked by the Netanyahu family, but it turns out that the Likud actually sees them as an electoral asset.

Now Reuters Appears Panicky Over Trump 2020 Win, Warns SCOTUS Could End up 7-2 Conservative
Wire service Reuters has apparently discovered two things. First, Donald Trump might win a second term as president in 2020. Second, two of the liberal justices on the Supreme Court are like, really old. The combination of those two things seems to have Reuters a little panicky. In fact, one could almost detect a bit of nervousness over what might happen before next year’s election.

Signs Of The Times? Earthquake Swarms Hit Texas, Oklahoma, San Francisco And The New Madrid Fault Zone
Could it be possible that the U.S. is entering a more seismically active time? This week alone, we have seen earthquake swarms in Texas, Oklahoma, San Francisco and the New Madrid fault zone. Of course earthquakes happen every day, but to see so many earthquake swarms happen in such diverse places within such a compressed period of time is definitely unusual.

Iraqi militia commander claims ‘green light’ to retaliate against Israel
The Iraqi prime minister’s claim that Israel was behind recent attacks on PMF positions was a “green light to retaliate against Israel,” the commander said.

Iraqi security forces fire at protesters storming Baghdad airport
Iraqi elite counter-terrorism service troops used live ammunition and tear gas on Wednesday to prevent protesters from breaking into Baghdad airport, police sources told Reuters.

Iraq imposes curfew in three southern cities
Iraq has imposed a curfew in the southern cities of Nassiriya, Amara and Hilla, police sources told Reuters on Wednesday, as renewed anti-government protests turned violent and spread nationwide.

Residents flee after Papua New Guinea volcano erupts
Papua New Guinea’s volatile Ulawun volcano erupted early Tuesday (Oct 1), sending a column of red lava shooting up into the sky and forcing the evacuation of recently returned residents. Mount Ulawan, situated on the remote Bismarck Archipelago chain, displaced between 7,000 and 13,000 people from their homes when it last erupted in June. Seismic activity started at midday on Monday before the volcano erupted at about 4:30am Tuesday, according to Rabaul Volcano Observatory assistant director Ima Itikarai. “It was noiseless and in the dark just before dawn; the eruption was visible (with) a distinct shard (of) red incandescent glow shooting up less than 100m from the base,” he told AFP.

Kochavi: ‘U.S. and Israel enjoy strong military-to-military relationship’
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi spoke with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley discussing issues of shared concern. The two “who worked side by side in their previous roles, discussed security issues, regional developments in the Middle East, and the deep and long-standing collaboration between the armies,” the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said in a statement.

Israel-Egypt gas deal gets a boost as shares soar
Israeli gas giant Delek announced on Wednesday that they updated a major agreement for the export of natural gas from the Leviathan and Tamar offshore reservoirs to Egypt. Following the announcement, gas shares soared. Partners in the Leviathan and Tamar projects include Israel’s Delek Group Ltd. and the Texas-based Noble Energy Inc.

North Korea tests submarine-capable missile fired from sea
North Korea has confirmed it test-fired a new type of a ballistic missile, a significant escalation from the short-range tests it has conducted since May. The missile – which was able to carry a nuclear weapon – was the North’s 11th test this year. But this one, fired from a platform at sea, was capable of being launched from a submarine.

US set to impose tariffs on $7.5bn of EU exports in Airbus row
The US has been given the go-ahead to impose tariffs on $7.5bn (£6.1bn) of goods it imports from the EU. It is the latest chapter in a 15-year battle between the US and the EU over illegal subsidies for planemakers Airbus and rival Boeing. The World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling will mean tariffs on EU goods ranging from aircraft to cheese, olives and jumpers from 18 October.

Iraq protests: Curfew imposed in Baghdad amid widespread unrest
A curfew is in effect in the Iraqi capital Baghdad after a second day of clashes between anti-government protesters and security forces. The restrictions will remain in place until further notice. Curfews had already been declared in three other cities as protests over lack of jobs, poor services and corruption escalated. The violence has left at least seven people dead and hundreds wounded.

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt believes biology is the next frontier in computing
Brain inserts and carbon-absorbing bacteria aren’t just the fantasies of Silicon Valley’s richest executives, they’re also a part of a larger hope to advance artificial intelligence and computing efforts. “Biology will undoubtedly fuel computing” in coming years, former Google CEO and current technical advisor Eric Schmidt said at a conference called SynBioBeta in San Francisco Monday.

Bizarre deaths of bulls baffle Oregon police and residents
The first dead bull was found in a timbered ravine in eastern Oregon. There was no indication it had been shot, attacked by predators or had eaten poisonous plants. The animal’s sex organs and tongue had been removed. All the blood was gone. In the next few days, four more Hereford bulls were found within 1.5 miles in the same condition. There were no tracks around the carcasses.

China Unveils “Doomsday Bomb” While U.S. Military Concentrates On “Diversity”
Good luck with that…

Muslim Refugee Butchers Mom In Front Of Her Kids For Way She Insulted Islam
When a refugee spotted a woman with her 2 young children, he immediately brandished a large knife and began brutally stabbing her in the head and neck in front of her horrified children. As soon as police arrested him, they discovered that the grisly attack was all because of the simple way she “insulted” his religion.

Canada: 14 year old girl sexually assaulted by muslim migrant, school asks her to consider the situation from his point of view
…Fredricton High School belittled reports of the sex assault against her daughter, and was told to consider things from the Syrian migrant’s perspective — yes you read this right

Storm Lorenzo to hit Ireland with disruptive winds and heavy rain
Post-Tropical Cyclone “Lorenzo,” now known as Storm Lorenzo, is moving toward Ireland and the United Kingdom, bringing disruptive winds and heavy rain. Lorenzo is still a powerful and very large cyclone. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 240 km (150 miles) from the center and tropical-storm-force up to 630 km (390 miles).

Typhoon “Mitag” about slam into South Korea, residents warned to take extra precautions against landslides and flooding
After lashing Taiwan and parts of eastern China with heavy rains and strong winds, Typhoon “Mitag” is now approaching southern South Korea. Landfall is expected around 12:00 UTC on October 2, with maximum sustained winds of 90 km/h (58 mph) and very heavy rain. After exiting into the Sea of Japan on October 3, Mitag will head towards Japan where it is expected to make landfall on October 4.

Major floods prompt evacuation and rescues in the UK
The Environment Agency in England has issued more than 250 warnings and alerts in the early hours of Tuesday, October 1, 2019, following torrential rains across parts of the United Kingdom. Major floods caused damaged roads, travel disruptions, and evacuations.

In migrant-surged Sweden, now it’s the Swedes who are fleeing
…Now it’s the Swedes who are fleeing, setting off a second refugee wave of sorts as Swedes move away to either the Swedish hinterlands or else to other countries, according to this Gatestone report.

Anti-Semitic fliers distributed in Montana
Fliers bearing white nationalist language and hate speech were circulated to businesses in Whitefish, Montana on Monday, the first day of Rosh Hashanah, JTA reports.

British Court In Transgender Case: Bible Belief Is ‘Incompatible With Human Dignity’
On Tuesday, a British court ruled that belief in the Bible was “incompatible with human dignity.”

CODENAME ALASKA: Planned Parenthood Opens An 18,000 Sq. Ft. Built In Secret ‘Mega-Clinic’ Capable Of Performing Over 11,000 Abortions Per Year
Planned Parenthood just opened a massive new abortion facility in Illinois that is capable of cranking out a minimum of 11,000 abortions per year, and like all criminals they worked under the cover of darkness, laboring night and day in secret. They called it ‘Codename: Alaska’, and it is now one of the largest abortion facilities anywhere in the country.

Suspected drug smugglers clung to floating bales of cocaine for hours in shark-infested waters: cops
When their boat sank off the coast of Colombia on Sunday, three suspected drugsmugglers survived out in the open waters by clinging to the only thing that was floating: their product.

74 Percent Of Conservative Californians Are Looking Into Leaving
More than half of California voters have thought about moving out of state, according to a new poll from the Institute of Governmental Studies at U.C. Berkeley. A full 74 percent of the state’s very conservative voters say they’re looking into moving, and 84 percent of those cite California’s political culture as their rationale for leaving.