Endtimes Indications - 1/8/8
New Sunspot Is Harbinger Of New Solar Cycle, Increasing Risk For
Electrical Systems
*
First official sunspot belonging to the new Solar Cycle 24.
by Staff Writers
Washington DC (SPX) Jan 07, 2008
A new 11-year cycle of heightened solar activity, bringing with it
increased risks for power grids, critical military, civilian and
airline
communications, GPS signals and even cell phones and ATM
transactions,
showed signs it was on its way late yesterday when the cycle's first
sunspot appeared in the sun's Northern Hemisphere, NOAA scientists
said.
"This sunspot is like the first robin of spring," said solar
physicist
Douglas Biesecker of NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center. "In this
case, it's an early omen of solar storms that will gradually increase
over the next few years."
A sunspot is an area of highly organized magnetic activity on the
surface of the sun. The new 11-year cycle, called Solar Cycle 24, is
expected to build gradually, with the number of sunspots and solar
storms reaching a maximum by 2011 or 2012, though devastating storms
can
occur at any time.
During a solar storm, highly charged material ejected from the sun
may
head toward Earth, where it can bring down power grids, disrupt
critical
communications, and threaten astronauts with harmful radiation.
Storms
can also knock out commercial communications satellites and swamp
Global
Positioning System signals. Routine activities such as talking on a
cell
phone or getting money from an ATM machine could suddenly halt over a
large part of the globe.
"Our growing dependence on highly sophisticated, space-based
technologies means we are far more vulnerable to space weather today
than in the past," said Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr.,
under
secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA
administrator.
"NOAA's space weather monitoring and forecasts are critical for the
nation's ability to function smoothly during solar disturbances."
Last April, in coordination with an international panel of solar
experts, NOAA issued a forecast that Solar Cycle 24 would start in
March
2008, plus or minus six months. The panel was evenly split between
those
predicting a strong or weak cycle. Both camps agree that the sooner
the
new cycle takes over the waning previous cycle, the more likely that
it
will be a strong season with many sunspots and major storms, said
Biesecker. Many more sunspots with Solar Cycle 24 traits must emerge
before scientists consider the new cycle dominant, with the potential
for more frequent storms.
The new sunspot, identified as #10,981, is the latest visible spot to
appear since NOAA began numbering them on January 5, 1972. Its
high-latitude location at 27 degrees North, and its negative polarity
leading to the right in the Northern Hemisphere are clear-cut signs of
a
new solar cycle, according to NOAA experts. The first active regions
and
sunspots of a new solar cycle can emerge at high latitudes while
those
from the previous cycle continue to form closer to the equator.
SWPC is the nation's first alert for solar activity and its affects
on
Earth. The center's space weather forecasters issue outlooks for the
next 11-year solar "season" and warn of individual storms occurring
on
the sun that could impact Earth. SWPC is one of NOAA's nine National
Centers for Environmental Prediction and is also the warning agency
of
the International Space Environment Service (ISES), a consortium of
11
member nations.
17-Sharing Your Faith
It is impossible to be neutral about God. Anyone who is not actively
following him has chosen to reject him. Any person who tries to
remain neutral in the struggle of good against evil is choosing to be
separated from God who alone is good.
(Matthew 12:30)
"Anyone who is not for me is really against me; anyone who does not
help me gather is really scattering."
What real difference does Jesus' power make in your daily speech with
others?
As a good friend or relative when you see someone in trouble, you will
want to help them. Well you have something that is very important to
their present and future happiness, success and purpose in life. You
have an opportunity to save an individual from death (no future) and
change their future to graduation to heaven. Will you hate them so
much that you withhold this information from them? Love would not,
and what else should there be.
If you have turned your life over to God, you will find a Love that
surpasses any; that you can encounter any other way. Would you not
tell your friends and relatives of a engagement, marriage, or birth of
a child. And yet you have one of the two greatest events (accepting
God's control of your life and graduation to your permanent home) in
your life, will you withhold this.
Faith sharing should be a spill over of your joy and love of your God
and his other children. When you have learned about your relationship
and have completely committed to it; you will find it easy to talk
about it. An engaged individual who is deeply in love has no
problem, talking about it. There would be no tongue tied individual
giving that earthly news. Can we do less if we are as deeply in Love
with our Father in Heaven. Jesus said his kingdom would begin
quietly, and eventually push outward until the whole world has
changed.
(Luke 13:20-21)
Again Jesus asked, "What shall I compare the Kingdom of God with? It
is like this. A woman takes some yeast and mixes it with a bushel of
flour until the whole batch of dough rises."
When have you felt that your faith was too small to matter? What does
this parable teach you about significance?
We must mix yeast in our lives and others. You no doubt would wish to
share good news with people around you when the time is right. You
would not normally share a happy event (i.e. marriage) at a difficult
time in another person's life (e.g. divorce, death of a spouse,
etc.). But this is exactly when a person may be most receptive to
sharing your childhood in God. When a person is currently happy about
their earthly life, they will not normally be receptive to changing
it. Jesus needs workers who knows how to deal with people's
problems. We can comfort others and show them the way to live because
we have been helped with our problems by God and his laborers.
(Matthew 9:36-38)
"As he saw the crowds, his heart was filled with pity for them,
because they were worried and helpless, like sheep without a
shepherd. So he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is large, but
there are few workers to gather it in. Pray to the owner of the
harvest that he will send out workers to gather in his harvest.'"
What have you learned about the Kingdom and what it means to labor in
the field where God has placed you?
Their are some people who God may select that would be a messenger for
him, and who will be chosen to share this important information on a
broader basis. But for the average child of God; it would be
sufficient to share with those people that you come in contact with on
a day by day basis. These people should be ready for this sharing.
God will prepare you and them for this sharing. You will know it is
right, if you have prayed to God about the individual and the
circumstances and have spiritually listened for guidance.
I'm going to set up a situation for you. Your at the airport. You
have a good friend there; one who has never asked you about your
faith before, never even talked about religion. The person has only
one minute before getting on the plane. Suddenly he or she says,
"What's your happiness all about?" and you have just one minute to
respond. What do you say?
One of the ways God will tell you when it is right, is that God will
provide you the opportunity to discuss this news. Then as a Child of
God you are REQUIRED by your Father in Heaven to SHARE. This is not
an option you have. If you turned down this opportunity, you are
saying to God; that I do not agree with your plan, I am not proud to
be your Child, I have not really turned my life over to you, and I do
not love you enough to want to share you. What do you think God the
Father's viewpoint will be concerning this rebellion on your part.
Jesus told his disciples that they should not worry about what they
should say - God's spirit would speak through them.
(Matthew 10:18-20)
"For my sake you will be brought to trial before rulers and kings, to
tell the Good News to them and to the Gentiles. When they bring you
to trial, do not worry about what you are going to say or how you will
say it; when the time comes, you will be given what you will say. For
the words you will speak will not be yours; they will come from the
Spirit of your Father speaking through you."
How can you best represent to your neighbors that the kingdom of
heaven is near?
If you do act, God will provide you with the guidance you need. And
since He is in control of your life, He is the one that is acting
through you. Therefore there is no question of your ability or lack,
success or failure, acceptance or rejection by the individual you are
presenting to. All you are required to do is make the contact and do
the best you can do in presenting the opportunity to rejoin as God's
child. The very least you are expected to do is to present, how it
happened to you, what it means to you, and ask them if they would like
to know more. If they would, and you do not feel capable to answer
their questions, then you are obligated to arrange that they can get
more information. We should always be ready to give an answer, gently
and respectfully, when asked about our faith, our life-style, or our
Christian perspective.
(1 Peter 3:15-16)
"Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the
hope you have in you, but do it with gentleness and respect."
Can others see your hope in Christ? Are your prepared to tell them
what Christ has done in your life?
By taking this opportunity to share your relationship with your Father
you are confirming it. This would be the same as if you kept your
marriage secret, along with any parental circumstances. It inn effect
is a denial of that relationship. By making it public and sharing it,
you are confirming in in your own heart and to your Father. By
failing to act when God provided you with the opportunity, you are
denying this relationship.
Share a time when you might have been embarrassed about your faith.
Do you wish you had responded differently in this situation? If so,
Why?
(Matthew 10:32-33)
"If anyone declares publicly that he belongs to me, I will do the same
for him before my Father in heaven. But if anyone reject me publicly
I will reject him before my Father in Heaven."
Under what circumstances do you find it most difficult to talk about
your faith?
A positive action on your part strengthens your relationship with your
Father, confirms it, indicates that you are proud of it, that you
really do love Him, and the individual you performed the confirmation
of your relationship with. The benefits will exceed any thing you
might expect.
(Luke 10:16)
Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever listens to you listens to me;
whoever rejects you rejects me: and whoever rejects me reject the one
who sent me."
How do you feel about the harvest where you live? Are people ripe for
the gospel? What would it take for you to be more involved in the
harvest?
Christ explains to us in (Mk. 4:26-29) that the seed (God's 'kingdom'
in the world) grows without human control but with human
participation.
How can sensitive listening on your part reduce the chance of someone
rejecting Christianity?
Remember that it does not matter if you are successful or not, but
that you did it and that you did your best. Just like if you told
your friends about a happy marriage you have, it does not matter if
they do not get married. But it sure would do a lot for you and your
partner in marriage. Well the same is true of you and your Father in
Heaven. If you failed to tell people when the time was right, about
your relationship, it would cause great stress on that relationship.
We hide our light by: (1) being quiet when we should speak, (2) going
along with the crowd, (3) denying the light, (4) letting sin dim our
light, (5) not explaining our light to others or (6) ignoring the
needs of others.
(Matthew 5:14-16)
"You are like light for the whole world. A city built on a hill
cannot be hid. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a bowl; instead
he puts it on the lamp-stand, where it gives light for everyone in the
house. In the same way your light must shine before people, so that
they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in
heaven."
How can Jesus enable you to "shine brighter?"
If you do not feel that an individual is ready to hear about your new
childhood, at least they should be able to see the joy within you.
They should be able to see the radiance of your Heavenly childhood
spilling out over the world. If asked "How its going?" You should be
letting people know that you are happy. If they pursue, 'Why you are
happy;' you should be prepared to give them brief statements of why
(i.e. Well I'm really excited about my relationship with my Father in
Heaven). Then dependent on their reaction you can pursue it or not.
But at least you have planted a seed with them, and you have
strengthened your relationship with God.
(1 Peter 2:15-16)
"For God wants you to silence the ignorant talk of foolish people by
the good things you do. Live as free people; do not, however, use
your freedom to cover up any evil, but live as God's slaves."
God isn't merely gritting his teeth and using imperfect humans; he
likes it that way! What does this mean for you?
And of course if you are in a parental role you are REQUIRED by your
Father in Heaven to see that your children receive an education on
their religion and the relationship they should have with God the
Father. Since he is a Co-Father (he provided a soul and the spark of
life as Creator). You are denying them this information and the
opportunity to join you and your Father in Heaven. But the
information means nothing unless they can see the importance of it in
your life. It must be the most important thing in your life. They
must be sold on making the right choice. Since it is a choice, the
option must be presented to them, but you can not make the choice for
them. You are only required to present it and sell it. They must buy
the choice.
Have you had experiences in which you wanted to share your faith
verbally with someone, but didn't? What kept you from sharing? What
would have made it easier to share?
(2 Esdras 2:24-28)
"Be calm, my people, your time to rest will come. Take care of your
children like a faithful nursemaid and guide their steps in safe
paths, so that none of them will be lost. When the time comes, I will
hold you responsible for them. Don't worry; when the day of trouble
and distress comes, others will cry and mourn, but you will be happy
and rich. The other nations will be jealous of you, but they will not
be able to harm you."
Who do I know that might be ready to have my story shared with and
How?
(Luke 4:43)
But he said to them. "I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of
God in other towns also because that is what God sent me to do."
How am I going to be involved in small group sharing?
If God's own Son came down to Earth as a Human and showed us examples
of this "Sharing"; can we refuse to do what our Brother has done.
Do I feel that I have special gifts in the area of sharing and what?
The reign of God, as God, is His to control. Men can do and have
done, nothing to hasten the coming. But the seed has been growing
secretly, God's purposes have been maturing through the long story of
Israel and his Gentile children. As part of our growth plan we need
to prove our love, so He has provided us the opportunity. Will we use
it? Let your strengths balance your weakness, and be grateful that
your abilities make up for your deficiencies.
(Romans 12:6-8)
"So we are to use our different gifts in accordance with the grace
that God has given us. If our gift is to speak God's message, we
should do it according to the faith that we have; if it is to serve,
we should serve; if it is to teach, we should teach; if it is to
encourage others, we should do so. Whoever shares with others should
do it generously, whoever has authority should work hard; whoever
shows kindness to others should do it cheerfully."
How can you present your body as a living sacrifice in everyday life
by using your gifts?
We also need to share with others any questions we may have of God's
will. This is one of the most effective way to listen to God's
Guidance. This is true, only if the person we are sharing with is
also one of God's children. It is helpful if you discuss it with at
least 3 individual Children of your Father in Heaven. Many have set
up small faith groups, in order to share and hold each other to the
"Plan."
What is my plan for sharing?
Become the "Voice of God's Love," not his "Secret Agent."
Based on what you have studied in this lesson write a paragraph of
evaluation on; "A person's religion is his own business. It matters
only to him, as long as he is sincere?
The best way to "share," and plant "seed" is to live a life that is
appealing to others.
Practical Living
Paul draws our attention to the practical obligations of the Christian
life. He calls on all of us, his fellow Christians, to dedicate
ourselves wholeheartedly to God, and to remember that each of us has a
definite part to play in the work of the Church, whatever our
particular gift may be. Brotherliness, charity, and forgiveness among
ourselves are to be our response of gratitude to God for his mercy
(Romans 12:1-21). Right actions lead to right feelings. With kind
actions, tell your enemy that you would like to heal your
relationship. Lend a helping hand. Smile at him or her.
(Romans 12:9-21)
"Love must be completely sincere. Hate what is evil, hold on to what
is good. Love one another warmly as Christian brothers, and be eager
to show respect for one another. Work hard and do not be lazy. Serve
the Lord with a heart full of devotion. Let your hope keep you
joyful, be patient in your troubles, and pray at all times. Share
your belongings with your needy fellow Christians and open your homes
to strangers.
"Ask God to bless those who persecute you - yes, ask him to bless not
to curse. Be happy with those who are happy, weep with those who
weep. Have the same concern for everyone. Do not be proud, but
accept humble duties. Do not think of yourself as wise.
"If someone has done you wrong, do not repay him with a wrong. Try to
do what everyone considers to be good. Do everything possible on your
part to live in peace with everybody. Never take revenge, my friends,
but instead let God's anger do it. For the scripture says, 'I will
take revenge, I will pay back says the Lord.' Instead, as the
scripture says: 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty,
give him a drink; for by doing this you will make him burn with
shame.' Do not let evil defeat you; instead, conquer evil with good."
This week, how can you practice "love" and "peace" with your family?
Co-workers? Small group? Church?
A powerful and difficult way of living, is asked of us. In order to
accomplish it we must have "Love".
(Matthew 5:46-47)
"Why should God reward you if you love only the people who love you?
Even the tax collectors do that! And if you speak only to your
friends, have you done anything out of the ordinary? Even the pagans
do that!"
How would your life be different as God helps you to put this quality
into action?
We are all capable of bending and twisting the words and example of
Jesus in an effort to excuse ourselves from true discipleship. Those
who support our sinful ways seem to number legion compared to those
who challenge us to grow in virtue and holiness. It takes tremendous
self-honesty to assess whether we stand with Jesus and live the values
of the Kingdom, or whether in our Jesus and live the values of the
Kingdom, or whether in our heart we dismiss him as too idealistic for
our real world.
How will you control, avoiding pride?
Do we, as Paul invites us, "Keep our eyes fixed on Jesus" through
prayer and sharing with people of faith, or do we allow ourselves to
be guided by the more popular moral standard, everybody's doing it.
What is your plan to turn money from your "master" to a "ministry?"
If we insist on friendships for those who mock what God considers
important we might sin by becoming indifferent to God's will. Do your
friends build up your faith, or do they tear it down? True friends
draw you closer to God.
(Psalm 1:1)
"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or
stand in the way of sinners."
How will you find time to meditate as this blessed man does?
What would happen if God wanted to break into your world and get your
attention this week? What would He be competing with? The
television, the newspaper, housework, your job responsibilities or
some other distraction? It's worth thinking about. If the answer you
give is unsettling, maybe its time to clear out some of the clutter in
your life and place priority on your relationship with your Lord. God
responds to us when we urgently relate to him.
(Psalm 3:4)
"To the Lord I cry aloud and he answers me from his holy hill."
From what are you praying for deliverance?
Trials of any sort aren't enjoyable especially when the trial involves
a family conflict. But for the child of God they are never without a
purpose.
This is hard to remember when the battle is raging or when the pain is
at it's worst. We often don't see God's purpose until the trial
hasn't passed. It's possible God has a greater good for you in the
trial than He would have outside of it. If your trial hasn't passed,
ask God for a new sense of the hope we have in trusting our Lord.
How will you implement what has been learned on your job in life?
Senior citizens and our Christian teachers have some very special
responsibilities. They should teach the younger by words and by
example.
(Titus 2:1-6)
But you must teach what agrees with sound doctrine, Instruct the older
men to be sober, sensible, and self-controlled; to be sound in their
faith, love, and endurance. In the same way instruct the older women
to behave as women who should live a holy life. They must not be
slanderers or slaves to wine. They must teach what is good, in order
to train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be
self-controlled and pure, and to be good housewives who submit
themselves to their husbands, so that no one will speak evil of the
message that comes from God. In the same way urge the young men to be
self-controlled.
How can you help others as a mentor?
You mean I can't be jealous or fight with anyone. What will I do to
pass the day? Love is one suggestion. Attitudes are as important as
actions. Just as hatred, leads to murder; so jealousy leads to strife
and lust to adultery. Christ wants his people clean on the inside as
well as the outside.
(Romans 13:13-14)
"Let us conduct ourselves properly, as people who live in the light of
day - no orgies or drunkenness, no immorality or indecency, no
fighting or jealousy. But take up the weapons of the Lord Jesus
Christ, and stop paying attention to your sinful nature and satisfying
its desires."
What must change to insure that others see you "wearing" Jesus Christ?
We must give up drunkenness, fighting, jealousy, and a lot more that
will not be easy.
(1 Clement 1:15)
"Ye were kind one to another without grudging; being ready to do every
good work. And being adorned with a conversation altogether virtuous
and religious, yes did all things in the fear of God; whose
commandments were written on the tables of your heart."
What is your plan for dealing with jealousy?
Humility in relation to others is needed.
(1 Clement 1:8)
"Ye were all of you humble minded, not boasting of anything; desiring
rather to be subject than to govern; to give them to receive; being
content with the portion God had dispensed to you;"
What is your plan to implement humility in your life?
Humility is acquired through discipline. The hold their negative
impulses in check. They avoid and resist distractions and
temptations; which drain their money, moral, and the bodies
capabilities. When emotions aren't controlled they lead to
discouragement and depression.
Those who have this inner strength, will finally succeed. They have
highs and lows; but they don't allow the low times to distract them
from eternity. They don't quit when times are tough.
(1 Clement (7:1-2 )
"Let us therefore humble ourselves, brethren, laying aside all pride,
and boasting, and foolishness, and anger; and let us do as it is
written."
"For thus saith the Holy Spirit; let not the wise man glory in his
strength, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the rich man in his
riches; but let him that glorieth, glory in the Lord, to seek him, and
to do judgment and justice."
We must be justified by our actions not our words.
How can I control my tongue?
Pride must be conquered.
(Proverbs 16:18)
"Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall."
Who are some of the other "kings" in your life whom you listen to?
Can you be mighty enough to accept God's control and discipline? Can
you be controlled enough to resist temptations? Can you learn to
accept that you can't do it alone? Can you be Christ-like and be
sensitive, quiet, and unselfish.
(1 Clement 14:7)
"Let our praise be of God, not of ourselves; for God hateth those that
commend themselves."
Should a parent live only for their children?
We must also whip into shape any tendency to: over confidence,
arrogance, and rashness.
(1 Clement 14:9)
"Rashness, and arrogance, and confidence belong to them who are
accursed of God: but equity, and humility, and mildness, to such as
are blessed by him."
We can't give glory to God when we are glorifying ourself.
(1 Clement 16: 5-6)
"Let our boasting, therefore, and our confidence be in God: let us
submit ourselves to his will. Let us consider the whole multitude of
his angels, how ready they stand to minister unto this will.
"As saith the scripture, thousands of thousands stood before him and
ten thousand times ten thousand ministered unto him. And they cried,
saying, 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Saboth; the whole earth is
full of his glory."
One of the best ways to overcome conceit and pride is to accept
correction.
(Proverbs 9:7-9)
"If you reprimand an evil man, you will onnly get hurt. Never correct
a conceited man; he will hate you for it. But if you correct a wise
man, he will respect you. Anything you say to a wise man will make
him wiser. Whatever you tell a righteous man will add to his
knowledge.
In practical terms, what is the difference between a "Mocker" and a
"wise man?"
If we overcome pride, and do good we will live the lives we are
intended to. If not our life will not be lived to the fullest in
peace, but will exist in torment.
(Proverbs 10:16-17)
"The reward for doing good is life, but sin leads only to more sin.
People who listen when they are corrected will live, but those who
will not admit that they are wrong are in danger."
Faith in Christ, not in self or riches, is what counts. God can bring
rich people into the kingdom.
(Matthew 19:23-24)
Jesus then said to his disciples, "I assure you; it will be very hard
for rich people to enter the Kingdom of heaven. I repeat; it is much
harder for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God than for a camel
to go through the eye of a needle."
What are you counting on for your "Quality of Life"?
This biblical statement, as well as the story of the "Rich Man" (Mark
10:17-30), emphasizes the letting go of the love of riches for riches
sake. Instead we need to consider riches as another "gift" or
"ministry" which God provides some of his children, to be used to
promote his "Glory" not "Man's." This is no doubt the hardest
"ministry" to deal with; because it requires letting go of control and
turning it over to God. It means "Trusting" in God to direct you, to
the proper actions. Be on guard against greed (desire for what we
don't have)? Learn to concentrate instead on the truly good life -
living in a relationship with God and doing his will for us.
(Luke 12:15)
"Watch out and guard yourselves from every kind of greed; because a
person's true life is not made up of the things he owns, no matter how
rich he may be."
What difference in lifestyle result from believing Jesus versus the
advertisements?
A word frequently used to reflect this attitude is; stewardship. The
young man who would not "turn it over" left in sorrow while "letting
go" for the sake of being God's child leads to joy. Wise and generous
use of wealth can be a "Ministry," but the pursuit of wealth for the
glory of man can cause the wrong choices on that all important
question; "Earth's Child or God's Child." It is up to the church to
act as a guide in this area.
"The Church is to '...Hear witness to the wonderful deed of God and
attract others to share in the peace and freedom that Christ alone can
give" (The Resilient Church - Avery Dulles Pg. 27).
Christian Model
Aaron
The people Moses led failed miserably. Even Aaron, the high priest,
shirked his responsibilities. Consequently, the Israelites were
sentenced to spend the rest of their days meandering across the
desert, shut out of the Promised Land. Moses was not the one who had
disobeyed in that instance. He had been faithful, yet God did not
release Moses from his people. He was their leader. If ever God's
people needed a leader, it was during this period of affliction.
Moses spent the remaining forty years of his life wandering in the
wilderness, not because of his own failure, but because of the failure
of his followers. Too many leaders abandon their people once they
fail. Many leaders have justified their abandonment, claiming, "I had
to leave that church because no one there wanted to be on mission with
God." Or, "My company was hostile to Christianity so I found a more
tolerant place to work.
Student Prayer
Come, O Lord, to be the head of my household, and the unifier in my
family. Let my home be a haven of comfort and joy. Let my love for
those closest to me be the special love that you alone can give.
Amen.
For more information go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jeramiahs_back_again/
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