Walk the Talk/ We Will Be Great!

On November 30, 2024, Kalon Mitchell will present the sermonette, titled, “Walk the Talk,” and Michael Link will present the sermon, titled, “We Will Be Great!”

The live services are available, over video and audio, at http://eternalgod.org/live-services/ (12:30 pm Pacific Time; 1:30 pm Mountain Time; 2:30 pm Central Time; 3:30 pm Eastern Time; 8:30 pm Greenwich Mean Time; 9:30 pm Central European Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.

Don’t Become a Hostage!

In 1973, a parolee and an accomplice in Stockholm, Sweden, took 7 employees of a local bank hostage for a period of six days. In the end, when the situation was resolved and the two were taken into custody, the hostages declined to assist prosecutors in pursuing charges and, in fact, they began raising funds for the criminal defense of the two.

Wikipedia recounts that Nils Bejerot, a Swedish criminologist and psychiatrist, described the hostages’ reactions as a result of being brainwashed by their captors. He called it “the Norrmalmstorg syndrome;” it later became known outside Sweden as Stockholm syndrome.

As I observed the reaction of many people here in the US to the recent presidential election, the factor that seemed to emerge was a measure of mass hysteria and panic from the liberal and progressives who seemed united in their belief that the freedoms they had heretofore had, to live as they wished, and so-called reproductive right—abortion—would be gone the next morning. The days of Walter Cronkite, Edward R. Murrow, and other news media luminaries of the past reporting the facts in as unbiased a way as humans are capable of has been replaced. Now we see corporate media, backed by unseen and ultra powerful people who seek to divide and destroy morality and civilization.

It seems to me that many have embraced a new religion that transcends politics and ideology and is more about controlling minds and behavior. The ancient Romans were adept at this. Initially hailed for their effective governance, this was not enough for them as they wanted absolute control over the people—both their own citizens, and those they conquered. Rather than winning the hearts and minds of the population, they chose threats, fear and pain.

As true Christians, we have to guard against becoming a hostage to the structures and prevailing thinking of this world. In Proverbs 4:23, we receive pure and simple guidance to aid us: “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (New International version throughout). Most of us have to work in business and other structures in the world in order to feed and house our families. However, we can opt out of the holiday parties and events that glorify Satan and his hold on this world. We can avoid being sucked in to the things that cause us to stumble.

When I worked in local government, I noticed how prevailing beliefs often were accepted as facts, much as we witnessed with the Covid crisis. An example was the public reaction to the arrival of West Nile Virus in the summer of 2004. The virus had made its way to the Rocky Mountain region through a specific mosquito vector or species.

There were thousands of residents who wanted mass pesticide fogging at night with trucks rolling down every street. A nearly equal cohort were equally vocal that pesticide fogging would be killing chemically sensitive residents. Of course, neither position was correct to the point of absolute certainty, yet people became hostage to either position and could not get past it. Each side became so enamored of their message that there was no room for facts. Conversely, we know that as true Christians, we are not part of the world’s structures—we must instead be focused and aligned with God. 2 Timothy 1:7 illustrates what God intends for His people in such times: “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”

God does not want us scared and influenced by society such that we accept and, at worst, identify with the immoral and corrupt elements that surround us. We often hear this characterized as accepting the lesser of evils. In Philippians 4:8, we see what Paul had to say about these matters: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

If we are seeking what is true, pure, noble, and healthy, it is unlikely that we would willfully join a group or take a job that would cause us to constantly be faced with difficult situations pitting God’s ways with the ways of this world. In Isaiah 26:7-10, the prophet Isaiah lays out how true Christians can seek alignment with God versus the world: “The path of the righteous is level; O upright One, you make the way of the righteous smooth. Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you. When your judgements come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness. Though grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil and do not regard the majesty of the LORD.”

God has been remarkably merciful with His people through the ages, and He wants us to grow to the point that we can identify how the evils of this world can draw us in and hold us hostage. Much like those bank employees in Sweden in the 1970’s, if we spend all of our time with our seemingly benevolent captors, we will undoubtedly begin to draw our inspiration and see our future through their corrupt vision. The words of Paul to the Church at Corinth in 2 Corinthians 10:1-6 can help us as we make our way as true Christians in this world.

“By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am ‘timid’ when face to face with you, but ‘bold’ when away! I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.”

We have all of these Scriptures and more available to us to enable us to stand strong; always seeking alignment with God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. In this way, we can avoid false doctrines that can hold us hostage to this world.

Current Events

We begin with dangerous developments involving Russia and the USA; the upcoming German elections; and the need for Europe to act fast. Please view in this regard our recent StandingWatch program, “So Close to World War III.” 

In response to the ICC’s warrant to arrest Netanyahu, and the reactions of some countries stating they would honor the warrant, emotions in the USA are running high, with threats of sanctions against those countries or even an invasion of the Netherlands, should Netanyahu were arrested there. We also address the fragile and temporary ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

We focus on Trump’s economic threats towards Mexico, Canada and China; some of his dubious nominations and his controversial and to an extent unrealistic plan of mass deportation and, if carried out, its inevitable and undesired bad consequences. We also address America’s ridiculous immigration policy for LEGAL immigrants.

We conclude with a report on the tragic death of the famous “killer whale” or Orca Keto.

Throughout this section, we have underlined pertinent statements in the quoted articles, for the convenience and quick overview of the reader.

This Week in the News

Russia Urges USA “to Show Restraint”

AA wrote on November 21:

“Russia on Thursday urged the US to exercise restraint in response to the Pentagon’s statement regarding the possibility of nuclear strike exchanges. Speaking at a Moscow press briefing, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized Russia’s commitment to prevent a nuclear conflict and called on the West to adopt a similarly responsible stance. ‘Russia’s nuclear doctrine underscores our responsible approach to making every effort to avoid such a conflict. We expect other nations to act responsibly and refrain from provocative actions,’ he said.

“The comments followed a statement by Rear Adm. Thomas Buchanan of the US Strategic Command, who said Washington remains prepared for a nuclear exchange under ‘acceptable terms,’ though it does not seek such a scenario.

“Addressing concerns about potential threats to Belarus, Peskov noted ongoing collaboration between Russian and Belarusian intelligence services… He added that the security of Belarus, as a Union State member, is covered under Russia’s nuclear doctrine, which prioritizes deterring aggression against both Russia and its allies using the full extent of its military power, including nuclear capabilities…”

The verbal exchanges become really disturbing.

German Elections Consequential For Europe?

Deutscher Welle wrote on November 23

“European Parliament President Roberta Metsola has voiced her anxiety about upcoming German elections and noted that a strong performance by populist parties could have significant consequences for Europe… Recent opinion polls show the AfD with… 19% support ahead of next year’s elections, with the BSW [a left-wing group] possibly getting as much as 8% of the vote…

“Anger over inflation, migration and lack of housing are some of the reasons why German voters are turning to populist parties. Voters who disagree with German arms deliveries to Ukraine have also been drawn to the AfD and the BSW…

“Metsola also implored the German government to take a decisive stance on European affairs: ‘A strong Europe needs a strong Germany…’

“In the interview, Metsola was asked if she supports the German government delivering Taurus missiles to Ukraine. Taurus missiles have a range of up to 500 kilometers (310 miles). ‘Yes, that is also the position of the European Parliament. There is broad support for this demand. We will see if there is a corresponding policy change after the Bundestag elections,’ she said.  

“The leader of Germany’s conservative opposition [CDU], Friedrich Merz, has supported giving Taurus missiles to Ukraine. Merz has a strong chance of becoming Germany’s next chancellor, as the CDU leads most opinion polls before the February vote. The current coalition government, meanwhile, is helmed by SPD Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who opposes Taurus deliveries to Ukraine, due to fears of escalating tensions with Russia. His coalition partners, the environmentalist Green Party, back the transfer of Taurus missiles to Ukraine.” 

Merz could only become Chancellor if the CDU (32%) forms a coalition. The best option to get a majority would be the AfD (19%) but the CDU has stated, so far, that they will not enter into a coalition with the AfD. The CDU could then form a coalition with Scholz’s SPD (14%), or that alone would presently not be sufficient to gain the majority. So, either the CDU and the SPD would rule as a minority government, or they would have to find another partner (for instance, the Green with 11% or the FDP with 5%). Either way, one can easily see how the next German government would be the same debacle as the current one is or has been.  But maybe, someone else is waiting in the background to step in when the future government is collapsing again—as can be expected.

Europe Needs to Act Fast

Foreign Affairs wrote on November 22:

“With Donald Trump’s return to the White House, there is a genuine risk that U.S. engagement in Europe could drop precipitously… European leaders must act decisively to advance a unified strategy to ensure the continent’s peace and stability. They must quickly… begin a serious effort to create an integrated European defense industry… From now on, Europe’s security will have to be European—or it won’t exist at all

“For Europe, then, there is no time left to waste… Europe now has no choice but to manage its own security. There is no doubt that it has the economic potential to do so; the combined GDP of the European Union is roughly ten times that of Russia. What holds Europe back is a lack of political will… This pitiful state of affairs has arisen even though the EU has a strong industrial base and counts four of the world’s ten largest arms exporters among its members.

“Europe needs to step up its defense capabilities—and fast. But this project requires political leadership, which is currently hard to come by. In Germany, the coalition government has collapsed, and the country’s politicians will spend the coming months occupied by snap elections scheduled for February 23 and the coalition-building process that will follow. In France, President Emmanuel Macron lost his parliamentary majority this summer, leaving him politically weakened. Meanwhile, the EU’s relationship with the United Kingdom, one of Europe’s most formidable military powers, remains fraught…

“… any substantial defense buildup will need Germany’s economic power and political clout to succeed, which means that the new government in Berlin will need to take the continent’s security challenges seriously and be willing to put money behind a broader European effort.”

It appears that Europe does not have that much time left. Some speak already of the demise of the EU, but that will not happen. What WILL happen, however, is that ten nations or groups of nations will come together (establishing a “core Europe”) to form a mighty power bloc. Before this, Germany would have to have a strong government… which would require other and more competent leaders.

USA Will “Crush” Europe

The Telegraph wrote on November 23:

“A staunch ally of Donald Trump has warned Sir Keir Starmer that the UK will face severe economic consequences if it helps to arrest Benjamin Netanyahu. Senator Lindsey Graham said the US should ‘crush’ the economies of all those who comply with the warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).  The prime minister of Israel faces arrest if he enters Britain, Downing Street has said. On Friday No 10 refused to explicitly comment on the case, saying it was a hypothetical situation, but added that the UK would follow its legal obligations.

“The ICC has also issued an arrest warrant for Yoav Gallant, Israel’s former defence minister, over alleged war crimes in Gaza. But the move has provoked fury among Republicans in the US. In response, Mr Graham tweeted: ‘Any nation or organization that aids or abets this outrage should expect to meet firm resistance from the United States, and I look forward to working with President Trump, his team, and my colleagues in Congress to come up with a powerful response…  I’m working with [another US senator] Tom Cotton to have legislation passed as soon as we can to sanction any country that aids and abets the arrest of any politician in Israel. What they’re doing in Israel is trying to prevent a second Holocaust. So, to any ally, Canada, Britain, Germany, France, if you try to help the ICC, we’re gonna sanction you.’…

“But shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel described the move [the issuance of the arrest warrant] as ‘concerning and provocative’ and called on the government to ‘condemn’ them.”

Strong words…

The USA to Invade the Netherlands?

Newsweek added on November 23:

“Several countries… such as Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Lithuania, Canada, Ireland, South Africa, Turkey, Jordan, Norway and Sweden, have said they will comply with the ICC’s arrest warrant or are open to it… Senator Tom Cotton… suggested in a post on X… on Thursday that the U.S. could invade the Netherlands, one of the countries that said they would comply with the ICC, if Netanyahu is arrested and brought there to face trial.

“[Cotton referred to] the American Service-Members’ Protection Act, which gives the president the legal authority to use ‘all means necessary and appropriate to bring about the release of any U.S. or allied personnel being detained or imprisoned by, on behalf of, or at the request of the International Criminal Court.’…”

This is hard to believe, but not impossible to imagine. It would completely destroy the relationship between the USA and Europe. Even threats like these do not help the relationship at all.

Trudeau Supports Netanyahu’s Arrest

Breitbart wrote on November 21:

Radical leftist Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated on Thursday that he would allow the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Canadian soil in observance of a recently issued International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant against him… Trudeau noted that Canada was one of the founding countries of the ICC, which has no enforcement mechanism outside of the actions of members states, and declared that arresting Netanyahu was ‘just who we are as Canadians.’…

“Trudeau said later in the same remarks that the world should embrace the ‘two-state solution’ – the creation of an independent state of ‘Palestine’ – to end the conflict between Israel and Hamas…

“Trudeau’s announcement that he would support Netanyahu’s arrest prompted outrage nationwide. Some members of his own Liberal Party had condemned the ICC’s decision, giving the appearance that the party was divided on the issue. ‘The ICC discredits itself by its actions today,’ Liberal member of Parliament Anthony Housefather wrote in a statement on social media, noting that the ICC accused the Israeli leadership of committing crimes against humanity beginning on the day after the October 7 attack, ‘a day Israel was in shock, grief mourning.’…

“Conservative Sen. Leo Housakos wrote… ‘We stand with the people of Israel and support their right to self-defense against terrorism. The actions taken by both the ICC and Justin Trudeau should be condemned as a dangerous precedent that threatens global stability and the principles of international law.’…

“Canada experienced a shocking surge of antisemitic activity between the initial Hamas attack and October 2024: a 670-percent increase in documented violence and other antisemitic acts against Canadian Jews…

“Netanyahu’s government responded with outrage to the ICC warrants on Thursday. ‘The antisemitic decision of the International Criminal Court is a modern Dreyfus trial – and will end the same way,’ a statement from the prime minister’s office read. ‘Israel utterly rejects the false and absurd charges of the International Criminal Court, a biased and discriminatory political body.’

“‘The decision to issue an arrest warrant against the Prime Minister was made by a corrupt chief prosecutor who is trying to save himself from sexual harassment accusations and biased judges who are motivated by antisemitic hatred of Israel,’ the statement continued.”

While violent antisemitic and pro-Palestinian “protests” were going on in Montreal, with fires burning everywhere, Trudeau was seen dancing at a Taylor Swift concert. The ICC is a disgrace to the free world, and Trudeau (the modern Nero, like the ancient one who played the fiddle when Rome was burning?) is a shameful disgrace to Canada. Trudeau later “condemned” the violent antisemitic and pro-Palestinian protests, not unlike ancient Nero who set Rome on fire and then claimed that Christians had done it.

Antisemitism in France

The Jerusalem Post wrote on November 24:

12% of the general population in France believe Jews leaving the country is a good thing, compared to 6% in 2020… 17% of under 35s believe this would be a good thing.”

Dershowitz to Defend Netanyahu

The Jerusalem Post wrote on November 25:

“US lawyer and professor Alan Dershowitz is assembling a team to defend Israeli leaders in The Hague… Dershowitz noted that the case would be tried in the court of public opinion as well as in The Hague. ‘For that reason, I am assembling a team of world-class lawyers from around the globe to help defend Israeli leaders against the false charges,’  Dershowitz wrote.”

The Troubled Story of ICC and Its Prosecutor

The New York Post wrote on November 21:

“[British-Muslim judge and ICC’s chief prosecutor Karim Asad Ahmad Khan] turned out to be at the center of sex-pest complaint by a former colleague at the ICC. The woman in question had lodged internal complaints about his lewd behavior… Khan’s brother was recently sent to prison in the UK for sexually assaulting a child.

“As multiple papers around the world have reported, Khan apparently made completely inappropriate sexual demands of a female colleague on multiple occasions. When she complained he threatened to ruin her career… the ‘MeToo’ crowd… seem to have been remarkably quiet.

“In any case, though Khan denied the charges, he must have realized his world might come crashing down, and rushed out a war-crimes charge against the Israeli prime minister. Then he carefully leaked to the left-wing media that he feared Mossad were out to get him…

“[Thankfully] both the United States and Israel were always wise enough not to sign up to the jurisdiction of this preposterous international court. In 2002 Henry Kissinger had an arrest warrant put out for him by a Spanish communist judge while the former Secretary of State was in Paris. Kissinger was whisked out of France in pretty cool time. But it was a reminder of one of one great, anti-democratic move of our era. Which is the idea that sovereign nations should effectively offer up their sovereignty. That the soldiers and statesmen of a sovereign nation should be allowed to be judged by the whims or perversions of a foreign judge in a foreign country…

Idiotic, self-destructive and short-sighted nations around the democratic world have signed up to the jurisdiction of the ICC. For now — until it comes back to bite them — they seem to think that a couple of crooked judges from Britain or Africa should be allowed to decide how a sovereign nation is allowed to defend itself…

“This is an outrage of course. But it is one that also affects America. If they can do this to Israel, they can do it to America. President elect Trump has a historic mandate for many reasons. But now is a good time for him to make something very, very clear. If you come for America then America will come for you. And if you come for America’s closest allies, then wow will you regret the day…”

The rhetoric becomes louder and more direct…

Germany’s “Hesitant” Approach—Really?

Daily Mail added on November 23:

“Several governments have already expressed caution, while others – including the Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium, Spain and Austria – have insisted they respect the court and will follow the law, however much they may disagree with it… Austria, for one, said they found the ruling ‘utterly incomprehensible’ but said its authorities would have no choice but to make an arrest as ‘international law is nonnegotiable and applies everywhere’. 

Germany has taken a more hesitant approach, suggesting it will carefully examine the ICC’s warrants but not take further steps until a visit to Germany is planned. ‘I find it hard to imagine that we would make arrests on this basis,’ said German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit on Friday, pointing out that legal questions had to be clarified regarding the warrant. He did not specify what those questions entailed and did not answer when asked whether Netanyahu would be welcome in Germany.

“German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said… that Germany respected the ICC’s work and adhered to the law at national, European and international levels… ‘The German government was involved in the drafting of the ICC statute and is one of the biggest supporters of the ICC – this attitude is also the result of German history,’ said Hebestreit…”

Germany’s double-tongued message is cause for deep concern.

Fragile Temporary Ceasefire

Deutsche Welle wrote on November 27:

“After almost 14 months of fighting, a ceasefire agreement brokered by France and the US has been accepted by both Hezbollah and Israel. But is this the end of the conflict?…

“The ceasefire deal says there will be a two-month halt to fighting between the Israeli military and the armed wing of the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon… Hezbollah is to withdraw north of the Litani River while Israeli troops will gradually withdraw back south of the Blue Line into Israel… The Lebanese army will deploy 10,000 soldiers into the buffer zone to make sure that neither Hezbollah nor Israel returns…

“… experts agree the ceasefire is fragile as the underlying sources of the conflict still exist and its implementation will be difficult. Questions are already being asked about the Lebanese army’s ability to police the buffer zone…

“The ceasefire deal does not apply in any way to what’s going on in Gaza. Biden has said he hopes momentum created by the Lebanon agreement might lead to a similar outcome in Gaza, but Israel’s Netanyahu has already reacted negatively to that suggestion… The ceasefire has not changed the intentions of other members of the so-called ‘Axis of Resistance,’ a number of groups [including Hamas and the Houthis] backed by Iran that consider Israel and the US their enemies.”

Pope Wants Israel Investigated

National Catholic Register wrote on November 20:

“The news that Pope Francis would like the international community to investigate whether Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute genocide has shocked and angered many Jews in the U.S. and Israel. In a book excerpt published Nov. 17 in the Italian newspaper La Stampa, the Pope urges an inquiry into what some have labeled an Israeli genocide of Gaza civilians… ‘What is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of a genocide. We should investigate carefully to assess whether this fits into the technical definition [of genocide] formulated by international jurists and organizations,’ the [Pope] writes in the book…

“This is not the first time Pope Francis… has strongly criticized Israel’s actions. In September, he suggested Israel’s military maneuvers in Gaza and Lebanon were… ‘immoral.’…

“Israel insists that it is acting in self-defense against Iran-backed Islamic terrorists bent on its destruction. In addition to the Oct. 7 massacre, both Hamas and Hezbollah have fired thousands of rockets at Israeli towns and cities, displacing more than 200,000 Israelis.  

The United Nations, Human Rights Watch and several other organizations have accused Israel of genocide, claiming that the IDF intentionally targets Palestinian civilians and is trying to evict Palestinians from Gaza… Israel says the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) goes to great lengths to keep Palestinian civilians out of harm’s way, either by dropping leaflets or telephoning civilians before an airstrike. It is Hamas, Israel asserts, that has launched thousands of rockets at Israel from Palestinian homes, hospitals and even mosques to maximize Palestinian civilian casualties and mobilize international hatred against the world’s only Jewish nation and its supporters. 

“Hamas — which the U.S. has designated a terror organization — is refusing to release the 100 remaining hostages, including seven Americans, that they kidnapped from Israeli homes and a music festival not far from the Gaza border during the Oct. 7 attack. Hostages who were released during a brief ceasefire say they were starved and tortured, imprisoned in airless tunnels or in the homes of Gaza civilians. Some witnessed Israeli women being raped…

The Israeli government expressed dismay at the Pope’s words. ‘There was a genocidal massacre on 7 October 2023 of Israeli citizens, and since then, Israel has exercised its right of self-defense against attempts from seven different fronts to kill its citizens. Any attempt to call it by any other name is singling out the Jewish state,’ Yaron Sideman, ambassador to the Holy See [said]…

“Leading Jewish organizations have long maintained that the war in Gaza does not come close to meeting the criteria for genocide, noting that the term was being leveled at Israel within days of retaliating against Hamas.

“The Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) offered sharp criticism of its own. ‘The State of Israel is currently facing a war of intended annihilation on seven fronts, and these remarks look like a possible opening of an eighth front, from of all places, the Vatican, which can also lead to the spilling of Jewish blood around the world,’ said the organization’s CEO, Sacha Roytman Dratwa. ‘For a Pope who appears to prize even-handedness and peace, we see that the Jewish State once again appears to be the exception…’

“B’nai B’rith International, which self-identifies as the world’s oldest and most widely known Jewish organization, said it is ‘stunned and outraged’ by the Pope’s assertion that Israel may have committed genocide…”

The Catholic Church was never a true friend of Israel, and the Bible shows that the relationship will end up in open hostility and warfare.

Trump to Impose Tariffs on China, Canada and Mexico

Fox News wrote on November 25:

“President-elect Trump on Monday said he would issue an executive order upon taking office to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% tariff on all products coming into the United States, as well as additional tariff hikes on China [a 10% tariff] over the flow of illegal immigrants and illicit drugs…  Trump said he has spoken with Chinese officials about fentanyl coming into the U.S., noting that the communist nation previously promised to put to death drug dealers involved in the illicit trade, but failed to follow through…

“‘Indeed, unknown to most Americans, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is actively funding, supporting, and pushing America’s most deadly drug threat in history,’ reads a Heritage Foundation report…”

The Telegraph wrote on November 26:

“Global stock indexes are mostly down after Donald Trump last night ramped up the rhetoric on tariffs… Europe must prepare for Donald Trump to impose hefty tariffs on its exports, Germany’s economy minister has said.

“Robert Habeck said… ‘We have to be prepared for the fact that something similar could also happen to Europe or Germany.’ He told a business conference in Berlin that the president-elect’s announcement indicates that his threats should be taken seriously… ‘The EU must react to this in a united manner (and) speak together as Europe.’”

Bessent For Treasury Secretary?

Axios wrote on November 22:

“President-elect Trump will nominate Scott Bessent, a financier focused on global macroeconomics, as his Treasury secretary, which would make him the incoming administration’s top economic official… Bessent would bring… a close relationship with Trump — as well as a surprising connection to hedge fund manager George Soros, mega-donor to liberal causes and bogeyman to the political right…

“Bessent, 62, founded hedge fund Key Square Capital Management. Before that, he spent most of his career at Soros Capital Management, including as chief investment officer from 2011 to 2015…

“Bessent is married to John Freeman, a former prosecutor, and they have two children. If confirmed, Bessent would be the first openly gay Treasury secretary…”

DNYUZ wrote on November 23:

“The selection [of Scott Bessent] caps an extraordinary career arc for an investor who was once a protégé of the liberal billionaire philanthropist George Soros and who gave money to top Democrats including Hillary Clinton, John Kerry and Barack Obama… Mr. Bessent who would be the first openly gay Treasury secretary, was a strong advocate for gay rights and marriage equality

“In the 1990s, he worked as a partner at Soros Fund Management, gaining notoriety by betting against the British pound and earning the firm $1 billion. After leaving to start his own fund, Mr. Bessent returned in 2011 to become Mr. Soros’s chief investment officer…

“As Mr. Trump was making his decision, skeptics of Mr. Bessent raised concerns about his ties to Mr. Soros and suggested that he was not a true believer in tariffs. However, he won the public support of key advisers to Mr. Trump such as Larry Kudlow and Stephen K. Bannon, who viewed him as the best choice.”

What’s going on with some of Trump’s strange nominations? In addition to the controversial nomination of Scott Bessent, we have been witnessing the nomination of the radical and extremely dangerous Stephen Miller; of the controversial, inexperienced and highly unliked Matt Gaetz (who by now withdrew); and of Pete Hegseth (with rape charges hanging over his head, which he denied, but he described more than one affair as “consensual” sex…, i.e. of adultery).  Of course, there will be other nominations which will be, rightly or wrongly, highly contested.

Trump Federal Cases Dismissed

ABC News reported on November 25:

“The judge overseeing Donald Trump’s election Interference case dismissed the case Monday, after special counsel Jack Smith asked the judge to toss the case due to a long-standing Justice Department policy that bars the prosecution of a sitting president. Smith earlier Monday filed a motion to dismiss the case, as well as the appeal of Trump’s classified documents case ahead of Trump’s impending inauguration, due to the DOJ’s presidential immunity policy and not because the charges lacked merit…

“U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan dismissed the election interference charges against Trump without prejudice, leaving open the highly unlikely possibility of a future prosecution… ‘Dismissal without prejudice is also consistent with the Government’s understanding that the immunity afforded to a sitting President is temporary, expiring when they leave office,’ Chutkan wrote. However, it’s extremely unlikely that any prosecutor would attempt to bring the same charges in the future, in part because the statute of limitations for the alleged crimes will have expired by the time Trump leaves office in four years….”

In the document case, Smith had appealed a decision by the judge dismissing the case as Smith’s appointment as special prosecutor was found to be illegal and unconstitutional.

AFP wrote on November 26:

“An appeals court on Tuesday granted a request by prosecutors to drop the case against President-elect Donald Trump for mishandling classified documents.

Breitbart added on November 25:

“Taken together, the moves mark the end of the federal prosecutions against the president-elect, leaving two remaining cases at the state level in Georgia and New York.”

Trump’s Controversial Deportation Plans

The Huffington Post wrote on November 23:

“In the aftermath of Donald Trump’s election to a second term as president, attention has turned to his highest-profile campaign promise: the mass deportation of millions of undocumented immigrants living in the United States… Trump and his allies say they will focus on ‘violent criminals’…  But the fine print is always the same. When they say ‘criminals,’ they mean all roughly 11 million undocumented people in the country, most of whom have lived in the United States here for years, have family and loved ones who are U.S. citizens, and have never committed a serious crime

“Trump ‘border czar’ Tom Homan] said…that the ‘massive deportation operation’ would be focused on ‘those people entering the country illegally, which is a crime.’ It’s not technically true that all unauthorized immigrants are criminals. Though crossing the border without authorization is a misdemeanor at first, and then a felony every time after that, some undocumented people — such as those who overstay visas — are civil offenders, not criminals.

“Nonetheless, Trump and his allies have painted all undocumented immigrants broadly as criminals, and they’ve said they intend to go after everyone. Last November, Stephen Miller — a key Trump adviser on immigration and the incoming deputy chief of staff for policy — told the New York Times in the paper’s words, that ‘a new Trump administration would shift from the ICE practice of arresting specific people to carrying out workplace raids and other sweeps in public places aimed at arresting scores of unauthorized immigrants at once.’..

“Roughly 11 million undocumented people lived in the United States as of 2022…  Estimates of the undocumented population include people who have temporary protections from deportation, such as people who are applying for asylum (even if they crossed the border without authorization), people with so-called ‘temporary protected status,’ recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or ‘DACA,’ and people applying for certain visas from within the United States. This group with temporary protections accounts for almost 30% of the undocumented population…  The undocumented population estimates do not include naturalized citizens, green card holders, approved refugees, people who’ve been granted asylum, and people with temporary lawful status like students with visas.

“Nearly two-thirds of the undocumented population has lived in the United States for over a decade, and a third of those 15 and older reside with at least one U.S.-citizen child under 18… The vast majority of undocumented immigrants live in ‘mixed status’ households. Some 8.5 million undocumented people live alongside U.S. citizens, or, in some cases, noncitizens with legal status… In all, 5.5 million U.S.-born children live in households with at least one undocumented resident… All told, about 1 in 12 U.S. residents will be at risk of either deportation or family separation — the result of deporting a member of a mixed-status or undocumented household — in 2025…

“Some people have received what are known as ‘final orders of removal,’ meaning an immigration judge has determined they can be deported… [Some] put the figure at between 1.4 and 1.5 million people. Only a fraction of that number is currently in ICE custody, or part of an ‘alternative to detention’ program like wearing an ankle bracelet. This group will be a top priority for the Trump administration, as will detaining people with final removal orders who aren’t in ICE custody… Others have been ordered removed from the country ‘in absentia’ — meaning after they missed an immigration court date — though these orders can be reversed in some cases, for example if the affected person did not receive proper notice of their hearing. In all, there are millions of cases currently pending in immigration court.

“Even if Trump vastly expanded the scale and pace of the immigration legal system — a tall order — he’d still need the cooperation of other countries to accept people deported from the United States. The ‘repatriation’ flights that Miller hopes will ‘constantly’ churn between U.S.-based detention facilities and countries around the world depend in part on diplomacy…

“Trump and Miller have also spoken about the potential for using National Guard and even U.S. military personnel as part of the effort — though U.S. law would complicate this. Immigration enforcement is generally reserved for domestic federal law officers, not the military, and efforts to cross that line would likely end up in court.

“Perhaps the most potent weapon Trump wields when it comes to speeding deportations is the fact that open-ended stays in detention facilities, which are jails in all but name, will lead many to put an end to their misery by agreeing to their own deportation without waiting for a judge’s order. That is likely one of the motivations behind Miller’s effort to build vast detention camps for migrants — they would constitute an extreme attempt to pressure people to leave the country without exercising their right to appeal. Trump applied such pressure in his first term with the ‘zero tolerance’ or ‘family separation’ policy, which Miller and Homan played key roles in crafting. The practice involved criminally charging every adult who crossed the border without authorization, meaning they would be briefly held in jail and their children would be considered ‘unaccompanied’ minors, as detention rules differ for children….”

Some of these concepts are simply terrible.

Using the Military

Reuters reported on November 26:

“President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to use the U.S. military to help deport millions of undocumented migrants, a plan that breaks from U.S. tradition against deploying troops domestically but which legal experts said would still be hard to successfully challenge in court. Trump has not explained how he plans to deploy the military to deport migrants… ‘President Trump will marshal every federal and state power necessary to institute the largest deportation operation of illegal criminals, drug dealers, and human traffickers in American history,’ Trump-Vance transition spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement on Monday.

“Every president since Bill Clinton in the 1990s has sent National Guard or active-duty soldiers to the border in support roles, ranging from surveillance to training and fixing equipment. Experts said the support role exceptions to the Posse Comitatus Act might also allow the military to build vast camps to hold those slated for removal. Stephen Miller, an immigration adviser to Trump, floated that proposal to the New York Times in November 2023…

“If state governors refuse to send their National Guard, Trump could invoke the Insurrection Act… It has been used 30 times in U.S. history…  Trump could be invited by a governor to invoke the act, as former President George H.W. Bush was in 1992 in response to riots in Los Angeles. Trump could also invoke it on his own if there has been a breakdown in law and order or it is needed to defend civil rights. It was invoked in 1871 to fight racial violence by the Ku Klux Klan after the Civil War and in the 1950s and 1960s to enforce school desegregation and protect civil rights marches.”

Bad Economic Impact on Mass Deportations?

AFP wrote on November 24:

“President-elect Donald Trump’s tough immigration proposals — including a controversial mass deportation plan — could prove economically damaging…, with US sectors that rely heavily on foreign workers like agriculture and construction especially hard hit… Around 8.3 million unauthorized people were in the labor force in 2022… That was equivalent to just under five percent of the overall workforce… many of the sectors that could be the hardest-hit have long struggled to attract US workers.

“‘The construction and agriculture industries would lose at least one in eight workers, while in hospitalityabout one in 14 workers would be deported due to their undocumented status,’ the non-profit American Immigration Council (AIC) said in a recent report on Trump’s deportation plans. The deportations would also impact ‘more than 30 percent’ of plasterers, roofers, and painters, along with a quarter of housekeeping cleaners, according to the report…

“A recent Peterson Institute for International Economics report… predicted that economic growth by 2028 could be 7.4 percent beneath baseline estimates, ‘meaning no US net economic growth occurs over the second Trump term because of this policy alone.’”

npr added on November 23:

“Clear signals President-elect Donald Trump plans to make good on his campaign pledge to deport millions of undocumented immigrants in his second term has sparked concerns among some in Texas’ business and economic sectors who say mass deportations could upend some of the state’s major industries that rely on undocumented labor, chief among them the booming construction industry… In 2022, more than a half million immigrants worked in the construction industry…  Nearly 60% of that workforce was undocumented… the Texas General Land Office recently offered the incoming Trump administration more than 1,400 acres of South Texas land ‘to construction deportation facilities.’”

It was also stated that Trump’s deportation plans “would devastate our [Texas’] industry, we wouldn’t finish our highways, we wouldn’t finish our schools… Housing would disappear… they’d lose half their labor.”

We will see…

America’s Ridiculous Immigration Nightmare

Fox News wrote on November 21:

“Former NCAA swimmer and conservative activist Biley Gaines…  were married in May 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee… Gaines says Barker, despite coming into the country legally, has not been able to attain citizenship or even a green card yet, despite the fact that the couple has been married for two years… Gaines says the couple received a letter in the mail. The reason Barker has not been granted citizenship is that he does not have the COVID-19 vaccine. ‘Think about how hard our government has made it for people migrating into this country legally in comparison to those who break the law. Because if you just walk across the southern border, you’re given housing, a driver’s license, money.’

Elon Musk reposed Gaines’ TikTok video on X with a message advocating for legal immigration reform. Musk himself is also a legal immigrant from South Africa who has also spoken in favor of immigration reform in the U.S…. ‘Legal immigration to America is ridiculously slow and difficult, even for super talented people. Needs to be fixed,’ Musk wrote. 

“U.S. immigration law requires immigrant visa applicants to obtain certain vaccinations prior to the issuance of an immigrant visa. The COVID-19 vaccine was added to that list under the Biden-Harris administration. Panel physicians who conduct medical examinations of immigrant visa applicants are required to verify that immigrant visa applicants have met the vaccination requirements, or that it is medically inappropriate for the visa applicant to receive one or more of the listed vaccinations. However, none of this applies to people who sneak into the country illegally.”

America’s immigration system embraces clearly incredibly stupid requirements and procedures.

The Orca Tragedy

The Sun wrote on November 26:

“A KILLER whale that spent its whole life in captivity and fatally attacked its trainer in 2009 has died at a Canary Islands park… The orca, originally born at SeaWorld Orlando in 1995, had been transferred to Loro Parque in 2006, where he performed for crowds and was used for breeding. Keto’s life began in captivity, born as part of SeaWorld’s controversial orca breeding programme. His mother, Kalina, was the first orca successfully born in a SeaWorld park, while his father, Kotar, died tragically when a tank gate crushed his skull.

“Keto was torn from his mother at just four years old and shuffled between several SeaWorld parks before being loaned to Loro Parque. At Loro Parque, Keto was bred with his niece, Kohana, in an unnatural pairing that resulted in multiple calves. Only one, Adán, survives today. His daughter, Vicky, died at just 10 months old. Keto’s captivity is said to have taken a severe toll on his mental and physical health… engaging in unnatural and harmful behaviours, such as chewing on concrete out of frustration, which severely damaged his teeth…

“On Christmas Eve 2009,  Keto killed his trainer, 29-year old Alexis Martinez, during a rehearsal for a Christmas show… The attack… came just two months before another orca killed trainer Dawn Brancheau  in front of an audience at SeaWorld Orlando.  These tragedies highlighted the dangers of keeping orcas in captivity and prompted SeaWorld to briefly suspend water work with whales. PETA and other animal welfare groups… criticised both SeaWorld and Loro Parque for subjecting him to a life of confinement in small tanks, depriving him of the ability to swim vast distances or form natural social bonds. PETA also noted that Keto’s mixed genetic background—75% Icelandic and 25% Southern Resident orca—would never occur in the wild, as these populations are separated by vast distances and have distinct social structures.

“Keto’s unnatural breeding and life in captivity, they argue, robbed him of a natural existence… [The zoo noted] that 29 years is average for male orcas in the wild. Critics, however, argue that captivity was the true cause of Keto’s early death. In the wild, male orcas can live up to 60 or 70 years.”

The conduct of SeaWorld and other parks must indeed be questioned. Is it really God’s Will to treat or mistreat animals in that way?

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer:

These Current Events are compiled and commented on by Norbert Link. We gratefully acknowledge the many contributions of news articles from our readership. The publication of articles in this section is not to be viewed as an endorsement or approval as to contents or accuracy of the selected articles, but they are published for the purpose of pointing at worldwide developments in the light of biblical end-time prophecy and godly instruction. Our own comments are provided in italics.

How can we strengthen our relationship with God?

A relationship with God is important for us who have been chosen by God in this age to be involved in the preaching of the gospel to the world as a witness, prior to the return of Jesus Christ, as we read in Mathew 24:14: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” We are also admonished to grow in Christ’s grace and His knowledge which helps us get close to God the Father. 2 Peter 3:18 says: “… grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.”

The key element for developing a close relationship with God is ODEDIENCE, which almost seems like a dirty word to some people.

How important is obedience?  Acts 5:32 quotes the words of Peter in this way: “And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom [better: which] God has given to those who obey Him.”

Failure to obey can prevent one from even being properly baptized and receiving the Holy Spirit. And if they received it, they could lose it again if they consistently resist repenting and obeying God. We must constantly use the Holy Spirit by using the tools God has given us, which are prayer, Bible study, meditation and occasional fasting. Otherwise, we might dim or quench the Holy Spirit. We can even witness this by observing how fast biblical knowledge leaves a person when they leave the Church and/or neglect to use the tools provided for us by God. If or when in their presence, you sense that something is wrong.

To keep a fire burning, it needs constant fuel. Once the fuel is stopped, the fire diminishes in heat and size and eventually, it is reduced to glowing coals. If more wood is thrown on the coals, the fire will reignite and burn bright again. If the coals are left without fuel or wood, they diminish in size, but are still able to reignite, but once it gets down to one spark and keeps fading away, there is nothing you can do to revive the fire.

2 Peter 2:19-26 warns us in this regard:

“While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: ‘A DOG RETURNS TO HIS OWN VOMIT,’ and, ‘a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.’” 

Refusing to obey has the consequence of possibly losing the Holy Spirit which puts one in the unpardonable sin category.

Hebrews 10:26 says: “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins…”

There is no coming back from this state. It’s the state that Satan is in. He cannot repent because he will not repent. His mind is so corrupted because of sin that it is impossible for him to repent and thus, he now hates God, the ONE he once loved and obeyed.

It is a sad state of affairs one can find oneself in by refusing to obey, so obeying is a key factor in our relationship with God. In this context, prayer is also important. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 admonishes us to “pray without ceasing.” In other words, do not ever give up on prayer; because when we pray, we communicate with our Creator.

Philippians 4:6 says: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”

By supplication and prayer, we put our requests before God. We have many examples of Christ praying to God the Father, and we know He was definitely close to God; and God was pleased with Christ’s conduct and ways, as we read in Luke 3:22: “And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, ‘You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.’” In addition, we read in Matthew 17:5: “While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!’”

The admonition on how to pray is also provided in Scripture. Christ instructs us in Mathew 6:9-13: “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

These are the things we ought to pray about, and the key admonition is to pray “IN THIS MANNER,” as it is an outline which should guide us when we pray.

When we pray, we show obedience. Obedience demonstrates our love for God, and that God’s love is in us. 1 John 5::2-3 says: “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.”

The commandments are not nor should they be a burden but rather a blessing when we keep them.

How is the love of God demonstrated? By keeping the Ten Commandments. While the last six commandments demonstrate our love towards our fellow man, the first four commandments show us how to love God. Let us now, in the context of this Q&A, concentrate on the first four commandments.

Exodus 20:2-3 quotes God as saying: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.”

It’s important that we put God in first place in our lives and not replace Him with other gods or idols or worthless objects or things. God is the Eternal God, the Creator of all things through His Son Jesus Christ, as Colossians 1:13-16 tells us: “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.”

We are to worship the Father. Be cognizant that God the Father is also the God of Christ, as Christ confirmed in John 20:17: “Jesus said to her, ‘Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, “I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.”’” But we are to pray to the Father in the name and with the authority of Jesus Christ, our Mediator.

Exodus 20:4-6 continues: “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.”

We are not to bow down to any idols, be they statues in a church building, statues of Budha or symbols of fish or land animals. People can also make idols of people like rock stars, politicians, actors, husbands or wives, jobs and positions or anything that takes our eyes and attention off the One true God.

Exodus 20:7 says: “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.”

Taking God’s name in vain includes vain repetitions like using beads or rosaries or euphemisms, like “gee” or “gosh.” It also includes cursing as you hear so much in movies and work sites today.

Exodus 20:8-11 continues: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.”

God says to remember, and most people forget. The Sabbath is part of the re-creation week. It was created by God for man to rest. By extension, this also includes the annual Sabbaths outlined in Leviticus 23:1-7 and Deuteronomy 16:1-17. These Festivals outline the plan of God from repentance to redemption, showing that eventually every human being ever born will be offered the opportunity to become a member of the Family of God.

The weekly Sabbath is blessed and hallowed by the fact that God puts His presence in the day— but not in any other day, be it Sunday, Friday or any other weekday. Matthew 12:8 quotes Christ as saying: “For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” As Creator of the Sabbath, He is also Lord of the Sabbath and has the authority to instruct us how to keep it.

Further, Exodus 31:13-17 says: “Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you. You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.'” 

The Sabbath—the weekly Sabbath and the annual Holy Days—are a sign between us and God. They point to the One and true God of Creation—the most high God. They are a perpetual covenant between God and His people, members of God’s Church called in this age.

Bible study is the reading and study of the Bible which holds truths about the creation of the universe and man—including a history of the patriarchs, of the nation of Israel from its slavery in Egypt to becoming a nation and down through the prophets to the time of Christ. It includes the record of the life and history of Christ up to His crucifixion and resurrection, as well as the history of the Church established on Pentecost; the life of Paul; the books of the followers and brothers of Christ up to the book of Revelation, giving us a history of the seven churches down through the ages and prophetic events leading up to the return of Christ. It is crucial to study biblical history, the Psalms and admonitions of the authors of the many books of the Bible. In this context, what is the admonition to us? 1 Peter 3:15 says: “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear…”

In order to give a defense of the hope that lies within us, we have to have knowledge and understanding of the Bible, which we attain through studying it.

Meditation is also important, which means thinking about and analyzing what we have read in the Bible. So the more we meditate on God’s Word, the more it will stay in our mind and it is thus easier to recall when required by someone who asks about our beliefs.

Fasting is the one way of developing a strong relationship with God that not everyone is eager to do. This tool was used by Christ for forty days and forty nights prior to the start of His ministry (Matthew 4:1-2), so the example is to use it prior to major decisions or challenges in our lives. Combined with prayer, Bible study and mediation, it is a powerful tool in our arsenal for drawing closer to God.

Our ultimate goal is to qualify to enter the Kingdom of God as His sons and daughters and inherit life that never ends—a life of productivity, joy and fulfillment. Drawing close to God and developing a strong relationship with Him is an important aspect of attaining that goal, since all of us want to hear this praise from our Savior Jesus Christ at His return: “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord’” (Matthew 25:23). 

Lead Writer: Rene Messier

Preaching the Gospel and Feeding the Flock

compiled by Dave Harris

The memorial service for Margaret Adair will take place on Sunday, December 15, 2024. It will begin promptly at 12:45pm at Escondido Columbus Club Hall, 515 W. Valley Pkwy, Escondido CA 92025. Please contact Johanna.Link@cox.net if you want to attend.

“Jesus Christus—unser alleiniger Heiland,” is the title of this Sabbath’s new German sermon, presented by Norbert Link. Title in English: “Jesus Christ—Our Only Savior.”

“Die Hoffnung in uns,” last Sabbath’s first split-sermon presented by Robert Muhr, is now posted. Title in English: “The Hope Within Us.”

“Wach endlich auf, Juda!” last Sabbath’s second split-sermon presented by Marc Völler, is now posted. Title in English: “Finally Wake Up, Judah!”

“Without Deceit,” last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Paul Niehoff, is now posted. Here is the summary:

God has given us instructions to remove deceit from our lives reminding us that that is a characteristic of Satan. Jesus Christ praised Nathanael for being without deceit and the one- hundred and forty-four thousand in the book of Revelation are also described as being without deceit. Only those without deceit can be trusted to live God’s way forever.

“Jesus Christ—Our Savior,” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:

The Bible tells us that we can ONLY be saved through Jesus Christ; that there is no salvation in any other. This means that we CANNOT be saved through any other means or name or religion. But in order to be saved, we must believe and follow the true Jesus Christ of the Bible. A belief in a false Jesus will not save us. What does this mean exactly? What must we believe, and what must we reject?

©2024 Church of the Eternal God