Update 1060

On March 4, 2023, Brain Gale will present the sermonette, titled, “Our Daily Unleavened Bread,” and Norbert Link will present the sermon, titled, “How Can You Be More Successful?”

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.

Recently, one of the email chains I get was talking about change. The email was about how to make change last. In the email, the writer was quoting a friend of his who is a very successful New York Times Best-Selling self-help author. The quote from this author went like this: “I don’t believe most people actually ever change all that much. That may be strange to hear coming from someone who has dedicated their life to helping people change, but I don’t think most people actually change.”

How true this is. So many people in this world want change. And yet, they can often attempt to make a change and then end up reverting back to where they were before.

The author of this email goes on to state the following:

“It’s not because they can’t. It’s because they don’t know what they don’t know. This ‘knowing’ deficit falls into 2 categories…

“1. Most people don’t know what’s actually possible for them.

“Most people have a hard time being able to imagine what’s actually possible for their life experience. They feel ‘good enough,’ and can’t imagine what feeling ‘great’ even is – or that it’s possible for them. They come to accept the malaise. The potential for life remains perpetually on hold as they fall into the norm that Thoreau once accurately described… ‘The mass of men live lives of quiet desperation.’

“2. Most people don’t understand how change actually works

“We think that the way we find greater peace, meaning, freedom, joy and purpose is by focusing on making external changes and quick fixes. The real transformation comes from fixing the foundation. You won’t live differently until you see the world and yourself differently. Sure you can muscle through a diet for a couple of months, but unless your internal operating system changes (your beliefs and sources of meaning) at some point you’re going to find yourself right back at the starting line. This is how it is for everything. External transformation starts with internal transformation.

“Lasting change is an inside-out job.”

As we view this from a Christian perspective, how true this really becomes. When we are called by God and we start to understand the Truth, we are expected to change. Yet, how deeply do we integrate Christian changes into our lives? When we start to make great changes in our lives, we feel invigorated and have a sense of relief. We are zealous and on fire. But as time starts to take its toll in a Christians life, and things start to creep back in or trials and tests happen, that “malaise” can start to set in. The future that we once looked forward to can grow dim and seem increasingly out of reach. The hope for the future, for the Kingdom of God—that which helps to propel us forward—can become dull.

In order to do these things properly, we must allow Christ to be our rock—our true foundation. How do we do this? How do we make sure that we are changing as Christians? We need to be overwriting our carnal operating system. The old person needs to go and needs to be replaced—but with what?

Christ plainly tells us that we must build our foundation—who we are inside (and this takes continual effort, dedication, perseverance, care, watchfulness, searching and changing throughout our lifetime) in order to make it through this life.

In Matthew 7:24-29, we read: “‘Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:  and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.’ And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”

What actions is Christ talking about? What changes are God and Christ looking for within us? Will those things–if we put them into practice in our lives, (because it takes action)–allow us to be able to stand on the rock as we go through life’s trials (rain, floods, winds)?  The answers are in the previous verses, in chapters 5-7. Notice the headings in the New King James Bible:

• The Beatitudes
• Believers Are Salt and Light
• Christ Fulfills the Law
• Murder Begins in the Heart
• Adultery in the Heart
• Marriage Is Sacred and Binding
• Jesus Forbids Oaths
• Go the Second Mile
• Love Your Enemies
• Do Good to Please God
• The Model Prayer
• Fasting to Be Seen Only by God
• Lay Up Treasures in Heaven
• The Lamp of the Body
• You Cannot Serve God and Riches
• Do Not Worry
• Do Not Judge
• Keep Asking, Seeking, Knocking
• The Narrow Way
• You Will Know Them by Their Fruits
• I Never Knew You
• Build on the Rock

There is a TON of content in these three chapters, things that we can all take action on. If we want to change as Christians, we have to be willing to do the internal work that it takes. Oftentimes, we can get stuck in the knowing—and yet not actually digging in and dealing with the things that matter in this life.

In preparation for the Passover, Paul warns us all to really think about who we are on the inside—the person who cannot be hidden from God. In 1 Corinthians 11:27-32, he gives us good insight: “Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.  But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.”

To examine ourselves and to take action on those things that are wrong is the ticket. We all fall short in some areas. That is why we are admonished to examine—to seek them out. God is willing and fast to forgive our sins when we see a sin and repent of it. When we are in this mindset of seeking out how to build better on the rock—how to fortify and make ourselves stronger—we will be making good changes in our lives.

by Norbert Link

We report on the war in Ukraine; Germany’s attempts to create better relationships with India; the fear of a Russian attack on Poland; the “end of the American Empire”; America’s “endless wars”; corruption in Ukraine; the “most dangerous time in history”; the ongoing battle between Fox and Donald Trump; and the ill-preparedness of the German Army.

Please view in this regard our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Prophecies for Russia, Ukraine, Germany, the USA and NATO!”

We continue with the erroneous concept that peace can be achieved through war; and the suggestion that NATO should and will be disbanded.

We speak on new controversies between Israel and the EU; continuing earthquakes in the Middle East; fake news regarding the Ohio  train derailment and serious health issues by locals; as well as the devastating pollution of fish in Michigan and throughout the USA.

We speak on a new “Brexit Deal”; address the Woke nonsense; the future of “Queen Consort” Camilla; the “uselessness” of masks in the fight against Covid; the still-disputed origin of Covid and the censorship of the mass media in this regard; the requirement of testing; and some funny and not so funny remarks of Actor Woody Harrelson regarding vaccine mandates and Big Pharma.

We report on changes in Medicaid; the double tax for Social Security recipients; the pope’s correct assessment that the Devil divides; and new “discoveries” about the creation of the universe; and we conclude with giant hornets in Germany.

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

Six Countries in Support of Russia

Fox News reported on February 23:

“Six countries sided with Russia during a United Nations General Assembly resolution on Thursday, in which 141 countries voted to end hostilities in Ukraine and for Russia to withdraw its forces. Belarus, North Korea, Syria, Eritrea, Mali and Nicaragua all joined Russia in opposing the declaration…

“The six countries opposing the resolution have developed close military ties with Russia… Countries who abstained during Thursday’s vote included South Africa, China and India.”

Chancellor Scholz is visiting India to win the country over to the Western position. See next article.

Scholz’ Prophecy about India

Bild Online wrote on February 25:

“Germany has little time left, the chancellor thinks. In a few years India will have overtaken us in terms of economic performance. And then, according to the Chancellor’s prophecy, the Indian nation will remember exactly how the Germans behaved when they were even stronger.

“That’s why Olaf Scholz [who is visiting India] wants to use the remaining time to show what will soon be the largest country in the world: We have learned, we take you seriously, no colonial arrogance, but a relationship on an equal footing…

“Despite the brutal attack on Ukraine, India maintains good relations with Russia. In the votes in the United Nations, the Modi government did not condemn the war of aggression, but abstained. Delhi thinks the West’s sanctions against Moscow are wrong.

“India is currently negotiating the purchase of six submarines for almost five billion euros. A business that the German company ThyssenKrupp would like to land. That’s why the Thyssen-Krupp boss Martina Merz (59) was part of the business delegation. The deal should be pushed forward behind closed doors. However, a deal will still take some time, especially since India insists that the submarines should be built in their own country…”

It is very likely that India will be part of the “kings of the East” who will ultimately engage in war with Europe.

The End of the American Empire

The Ron Paul Institute wrote on February 23:

“… if the Polish, Lithuanian, Estonian, Latvian, Dutch, German and Spanish leaders, for example, thought Russia would really be rolling in the tanks after finishing off Ukraine, they would be spending… a lot more than 2.42%, 2.36%, 2.34%, 2.10%, 1.65%, 1.44% and 1.01% of GDP on defense, respectively.

“The fact is, the combined defense budgets of the above seven European nations amount to just $115 billion or 1.60% of their collective GDP. That’s a lot more than Russia spends, of course, but barely 50 days worth of Pentagon extravagance…

“Well, no, fortunately there will be no world war, but only because the impending Russian offensive is set to finish off the Ukrainian army before Washington can effectively respond… In turn, that will mean the end of the American Empire because after Washington’s ignominious retreats from Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, the world, like the children in the fable, will be jeering the Naked Empire and its utterly senile leader….”

Are we seeing soon the end of the American Empire? The Bible does prophesy the inevitable fall of the USA prior to Christ’s return.

Attack on Poland’s Border?

Daily Beast wrote on February 24:

“… former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev… on Friday insisted that ‘victory will be achieved’ for Russia. ‘We all want it to happen as soon as possible. And that day will come,’ Medvedev, who is now deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, wrote on his Telegram account.

“Alarmingly, Medvedev argued that a deal will eventually have to be negotiated to end the bloodshed, but that such an agreement won’t have ‘fundamental agreements on real borders… To push back the borders that threaten our country as far as possible, even if they are the borders of Poland.’

“Any attack on Poland’s borders would put Russia into direct conflict with NATO. In Poland this week, Joe Biden vowed to ‘defend literally every inch of NATO.’”

IF Poland were to be attacked in any way, it is still doubtful that NATO would respond militarily, with “boots on the ground.” Poland is very well aware of this. It has been the victim of Russian and German aggression several times in the past.

America’s Endless Wars…

 The Rutherford Institute wrote on February 22:

“To hear President Biden talk about the Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, you might imagine that Putin is the only dictator bent on expanding his military empire through the use of occupation, aggression and oppression. Yet the United States is no better, having spent much of the past half-century policing the globe, occupying other countries, and waging endless wars.

“What most Americans fail to recognize is that these ongoing wars have little to do with keeping the country safe and everything to do with propping up a military industrial complex that has its sights set on world domination. War has become a huge money-making venture, and the U.S. government, with its vast military empire, is one of its best buyers and sellers…

“Incredibly, America’s military forces aren’t being deployed abroad to protect our freedoms here at home. Rather, they’re being used to guard oil fields, build foreign infrastructure and protect the financial interests of the corporate elite… This is how the military industrial complex, aided and abetted by the likes of Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and others, continues to get rich at taxpayer expense… War spending is bankrupting America…”

Indeed, it may very well bankrupt America.

Corruption in Ukraine

Breitbart wrote on February 24:

“Led by chairman James Comer (R-KY), oversight Republicans sent a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Administrator Samantha Power voicing concern about granting over $113 billion in aid to Ukraine as issues remain surrounding Ukrainian corruption. These claims came one day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky fired several top Ukrainian officials amid a corruption scandal.

“Ukrainian government officials allegedly engaged in bribery, used government vehicles for personal use, and purchased inflated food supplies for Ukrainian forces. In response, President Zelensky named a new Minister of Defense…

“A recent report from Transparency International found that Ukraine ranked as the second most corrupt country in Europe, losing only to Russia, which ranked first.”

In a related article, Breitbart wrote on February 24:

“Ukraine is not misusing the tens of billions of dollars in direct financial assistance it is receiving courtesy of U.S. taxpayers according to a top Biden administration official. Samantha Power, the administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), gave the public affirmation during a CNN live town hall on Thursday evening. Her assurances came just hours ahead of the White House revealing it would give another $2 billion in military aid to Ukraine as its war with Russia officially hits the one-year mark, bringing the total amount of American military assistance to over $30 billion in one year.

“The former Obama administration official further claimed Ukraine has made progress in working to root out corruption while officials are continually checking to ensure U.S. taxpayer dollars are used properly… The U.S. has given more than $100 billion in military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine since the start of the war one year ago even as doubts have been expressed over the potential for corruption.”

Time will tell, and might have an influence on further American and European help.

The Most Dangerous Time in History

Newsmax wrote on February 25:

“As Russia’s so-called ‘special military operation’ enters its second year of full-blown war in Ukraine, former President Donald Trump takes President Joe Biden to task for leading the U.S. ‘into oblivion’ and potentially World War III. ‘This is the most dangerous time in the history of our country,’ Trump wrote Saturday morning…

“‘World War III is looming, like never before, in the very dark and murky background. ‘Leadership’ is solely responsible for this unprecedented danger to the USA, and likewise, the world…’

“Trump’s remarks come as China has become more publicly present on the Russia-Ukraine War, including Xi Jinping potentially meeting with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy and back-and-forth with the Biden administration and China on supplying weapons to the front lines…

“When pressed on whether China would be ‘crossing a line’ if Beijing were to provide weapons to Russia, Biden said the United States ‘would respond.’”

Certainly, he would not respond by sending American troops to Ukraine.

Trump vs. Fox

Mediaite wrote on March 1:

“Trump posted on social media Wednesday morning that there is ‘MASSIVE amounts of proof’ that the election was ‘Rigged & Stolen’ before taunting [Fox News and Fox Corporation chairman Rupert] Murdoch and Fox News as ‘MAGA Hating Globalist RINOS’ and telling them that they ‘should get out of the News Business as soon as possible.’

“‘They are aiding & abetting the DESTRUCTION OF AMERICA with FAKE NEWS,’ he added… Trump wrote: ‘Certain BRAVE & PATRIOTIC FoxNews Hosts, who he scorns and ridicules, got it right. He got it wrong. THEY SHOULD BE ADMIRED & PRAISED, NOT REBUKED & FORSAKEN!!!’”

This battle won’t end any time soon.

Scholz: We Have a Strong Army

Bild Online published on February 23 an interview with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, where he said the following:

“No one need to fear. We are protected by a strong Bundeswehr and strong allies… Defense Minister Guttenberg suspended conscription twelve years ago. The Bundeswehr was converted into a professional army. Therefore, the return to conscription makes no sense. Linked to this is the question of compulsory service…

“As a member of the Bundestag, I have sent the Bundeswehr on many missions – it would be illogical if I were still critical of military service today…

“At the end of the war there will be peace negotiations, as President Selensky always says… For me, the [Russian] tanks are part of a memorial [in Berlin] that rightly honors the use of Soviet troops in the fight against the Nazis.”

The Bundeswehr is in terrible shape, as we have been reporting in our Current Events. To say that it is strong is illusional. Note the next article.

German Army Ill-Prepared

Deutsche Welle wrote on February 26:

“Germany would have to spend more money on its armed forces if it wants it fully equipped, army chief Lieutenant General Alfons Mais said on Sunday… Mais, caused a stir last year when he criticized what he described as years of neglect in the operational readiness of the Bundeswehr…

“His sentiments were echoed in a separate interview the head of the independent Armed Forces Association… Colonel Andre Wüstner, did with Bild am Sonntag. He told the mass-market weekly paper there has been ‘no noticeable improvement’ for soldiers…

“He warned that none of the military hardware supplied to Ukraine had been replaced and that means the operational readiness of parts of the military, such as [its] artillery, ‘continues to decline.’

“Opposition leader Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democratic Union… said it was unacceptable that ‘practically no orders’ had yet been placed, particularly for ammunition.”

Under a new German leadership, all of this will change.

Peace Through War?

Bild Online published the following editorial on February 25:

“Between February 23rd and 24th there is a rift in history. The night Russia launched a murderous war of aggression. Brute force against civilization…

“Then the West flexed its muscles! The US and Britain stood by, first and boldly. France, Germany and others came (too) late. But now everyone is delivering arms, helping Ukraine… Can arms really bring peace? Yes, in this case it is like that….”

But Jesus said: Whoever takes the sword will perish by the sword…

The German Left Against NATO

dpa wrote on February 25:

“Even in view of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, Left Party leader Janine Wissler is maintaining her party’s call for the dissolution of NATO.

“‘Our criticism of NATO is not obsolete because Russia is waging a war that violates international law,’ Wissler told the newspapers of the Funke media group. ‘We want to replace NATO with a collective security system. That applies unchanged. Stable international security can only be guaranteed when all important states are integrated into a common security system.’

“‘NATO is anything but a guarantor of security and stability in this world,’ Wissler criticized. She accused the alliance itself of having waged wars in violation of international law – ‘in Afghanistan or in the Balkans’. And the eastward expansion of NATO is part of ‘the prehistory of the Ukraine war’. When asked whether she blamed NATO for the Ukraine war, the Left Chairwoman denied. ‘I think the eastward expansion of NATO was a mistake. But it is no justification for invading Ukraine and bombing cities.’

‘Wissler called for a special program to take in Russian deserters in Germany. ‘I call on Russian soldiers to refuse armed service,’ she said. ‘We are committed to having Russian deserters accepted in Germany – in a special program that goes beyond the asylum procedure.’’

NATO might very well fall apart. Note the next article.

NATO Will Fall Apart

Uncut News wrote on February 24:

“If Ukraine joins NATO, Russia could be attacked directly. Russia will not allow that, said retired [American] Colonel Douglas Macgregor… The Russians had no choice but to fight to the end, he added.

“Macgregor believes that there are few Europeans who want to fight in this war or who are waiting for conscription to be introduced. ‘Russia will fight to the bitter end, to the Polish border,’ predicts the colonel. ‘And if we keep fighting from Poland, Poland will become part of the war.’ ‘It’s a catastrophe for NATO,’ he stressed. ‘NATO will not survive this and will fall apart. This is already happening behind the scenes. And Germany is right in the middle. The Germans, like most other Europeans, are absolutely not waiting for a war with Russia.’

“Previously, Macgregor said that sending tanks to Ukraine makes absolutely no sense. ‘First you have to transport them over a distance of many hundreds of kilometers. Then, when they arrive at the front, they have to be serviced, you need spare parts and the parts have to be repaired in Poland or Germany…’”

NATO is already falling apart behind the scenes?

Israel Bars EU Parliament Member From Entering the Country

JTA wrote on February 22:

“A member of the European Parliament was turned around at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv on Tuesday and sent back to her native Spain after attempting to enter Israel on a diplomatic mission to the Palestinian Authority.

“Israeli officials cited the fact that the politician Ana Miranda, who represents the Galicia region, participated in a 2015 flotilla that attempted to break Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip. Israeli law prohibits supporters of the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement from entering the country, and U.S. Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar were barred from visiting in 2019…

“Miranda, a member of the Greens/European Free Alliance group, was part of a delegation of eight EU lawmakers. Some had planned to visit Israel, while others planned to visit the West Bank… ‘Respect for all elected MEPs and the European Parliament is essential for good EU-Israel relations,’ Nabila Massrali, the European Commission’s spokesperson for foreign affairs, told Politico. ‘This decision is deeply disappointing.’”

The Algemeiner added on February 24:

“Ana Miranda… was detained for six hours at Ben-Gurion International Airport and then returned on the first flight back to Madrid.

“… emails obtained from Miranda dated Feb. 2 and Feb. 14. between the European External Action Service (the E.U.’s diplomatic service) in Israel and the Foreign Ministry show that Miranda was initially given permission to enter the country. The emails show that the Foreign Ministry did deny a different proposed member of the delegation, MEP Manu Pineda, the president of the European Parliament’s Delegation for relations with Palestine, entry to Israel. However, they did not mention Miranda…

“The refusal of entry to Miranda has brought a wave of condemnation from representatives of the European Union and Spain. Roberta Metsola, president of the European Parliament, wrote on Twitter that she was ‘deeply disappointed’ by the incident and ‘will be contacting Israel’s authorities to clarify what happened.’ Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares condemned Miranda’s deportation and said that Madrid would ‘request explanations from the Israeli authorities.’”

It looks like, Israel botched up this one.

Earthquakes Continue to Strike the Middle East

Israel 365 News wrote on February 24:

“Last month an earthquake on the border of Syria and Turkey killed over [50,000 people, according to Deutsche Welle of February 25]. Since that catastrophic event, almost 8,000 aftershocks have shaken the region, many felt in Israel…

“A 4.5 magnitude earthquake centered off the coast of Lebanon was felt in Israel on Wednesday morning marking the second time this week that Israel was shaken… This follows a 6.4-magnitude earthquake that hit the Turkey-Syrian border region on Monday. That earthquake was also felt in Israel…

“7,930 aftershocks have shaken the region since the first devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake on February 6. More than 600,000 apartments and 150,000 commercial premises had suffered at least moderate damage… Many of the aftershocks were felt in Israel.”

Deutsche Welle reported on February 25:

“A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Central Turkey [in the province of Nidge] on Saturday… Nidge is some 350 kilometers (217 miles) west of the Turkish-Syrian border region that was struck by two major earthquakes on February 6… Meanwhile, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu said his city, which sits close to a major fault line, needs an urgent urbanization program worth ‘around $30 billion to $40 billion’ to prepare for an anticipated major quake.”

Deutsche Welle reported on February 27:

“Southeastern Turkey was hit by yet another deadly earthquake on Monday… It’s the fourth major earthquake to hit the region in three weeks…”

Israel Today wrote on February 23:

“… experts agree that it is only a matter of time before a strong earthquake shakes the area [of Israel]. They also agree that we are not prepared well enough… Today there are about 800,000 housing units that are in danger [of collapsing]… in case of earthquakes or missile attacks…”

Earthquakes will continue to strike the Middle East.

Fake Claim of Trump’s Responsibility in Ohio Train Derailment

The Washington Free Beacon wrote on February 23:

“The Biden administration claims the derailment would have never occurred had the Trump administration not scrapped rules that would have required new electric braking technology on trains carrying large quantities of hazardous materials. But the Biden administration has thus far failed to reinstate those rules, which would not have applied to the derailed train, anyway…

“National Transportation Safety Board chairwoman Jennifer Homendy, who was appointed by Biden and unanimously confirmed by the Senate, said the rule wouldn’t have applied to the Norfolk Southern train that derailed in East Palestine on Feb. 3.

“‘PLEASE STOP SPREADING MISINFORMATION,’ Homendy pleaded in a Feb. 16 tweet thread. ‘Some are saying the ECP (electronically controlled pneumatic) brake rule, if implemented, would’ve prevented this derailment. FALSE—here’s why,’ Homendy wrote. ‘The ECP braking rule would’ve applied ONLY to HIGH HAZARD FLAMMABLE TRAINS. The train that derailed in East Palestine was a MIXED FREIGHT TRAIN containing only 3 placarded Class 3 flammable liquids cars.’ ‘This means even if the rule had gone into effect, this train wouldn’t have had ECP brakes,’ she concluded….”

The Washington Free Beacon gave the Biden Administration “four Clintons” for their claim. The New York Times recently reported as well that the derailment had nothing to do with Trump’s scrapping electronic braking regulations.

Locals Face Serious Health Issues

The New York Post wrote on February 25:

“Locals are frustrated and furious over what they say has been a lack of real information and help from both local officials and the Biden Administration… Many of them are facing health issues from the chemical fire as well as the psychic toll of their town becoming, in the words of a scientist visiting the area Thursday, the new ‘Love Canal’—a reference to the Niagara Falls, NY, neighborhood that became a hotbed issue in 1978 because people were getting sick from living above a contaminated waste dump…

“Evacuation orders were lifted on February 8, but many locals say they got unexplained rashes and sore throats when they returned home… An independent analysis by Texas A&M University of Environmental Protection Agency data, released Friday, found nine air pollutants at levels that could raise long-term health concerns in and around East Palestine, apparently contradicting statements by state and federal regulators that the air there is safe…

“A class action suit… alleges that Norfolk Southern went rogue when it decided to blow up five train cars containing deadly vinyl chloride three days after the derailment, effectively poisoning the town and nearby region. About 1.1 million pounds of toxic vinyl chloride were spilled and later burned, sending thick, black plumes of smoke into the air and contaminating soil and water sources, the suit claims…. ‘Norfolk Southern discharged more vinyl chloride into a small area in eastern Ohio in a day than the entire industries combined of America discharge in a year.’”

This conduct was truly irresponsible and totally incompetent.

All Michigan Fish Polluted

The Guardian wrote on February 24:

“All fish caught in Michigan rivers and tested for toxic PFAS contained the chemicals – and at levels that present a health risk for anyone eating them… PFAS are a class of about 12,000 compounds used to make products resistant to water, stains and heat. They are known as ‘forever chemicals’ because they do not naturally break down, and they have been linked to cancer, high cholesterol, liver and kidney disease, fetal complications and other serious health problems in humans.

“The chemicals are thought to be polluting drinking water for more than 200 million people, and the study is the second this year to suggest widespread contamination of freshwater US fish…”

Frightening!

A New Brexit Deal Reached?

BBC News reported on February 27:

“A new Brexit deal… was reached and announced by the UK and EU, concerning trade arrangements in Northern Ireland. The Windsor Framework will effectively replace the Northern Ireland Protocol which led to major disagreements between the UK and EU.

“PM Rishi Sunak says the deal ‘permanently removes any sense of a border in the Irish Sea.’ Sir Keir Starmer says Labour will back the deal, which he says will improve the UK’s international standing. [Belfast’s] Democratic Unionist Party [DUP] leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson says the deal secures ‘significant progress’ but concerns remain. Earlier, Sunak and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen hailed a ‘decisive breakthrough’ at a joint news conference. Sunak said the NI Assembly would be able to stop some EU laws on goods applying by using what he called a ‘Stormont Brake.’ But Von der Leyen stressed this was an ‘emergency mechanism’ and the European Court of Justice would have the final say on single market issues.”

Deutsche Welle added on February 27:

“Both sides insist the agreement marks a ‘new chapter’ in EU-UK relations — but in Belfast, the jury’s still out… Great Britain encompasses England, Scotland and Wales. The United Kingdom comprises Great Britain and Northern Ireland…

“Brussels’ red line remains intact: Von der Leyen said the EU’s top court would have the ‘final say’ on EU laws applying in Northern Ireland. Observers believe that this will prove unpopular with some in Belfast who want an end to EU jurisdiction…  the story doesn’t end here with a neat happy ending…

“All eyes are now on Belfast to see what the… DUP makes of the deal… If the deadlock doesn’t end, critics will likely cast the new deal as a failure.

“Sunak said the UK parliament would vote on the proposals but gave no date, stressing that ‘time and care’ would be needed as parties digest the deal. EU ratification will also be needed…”

We will have to wait and see.

Dahl’s Original Books to Be Released After Backlash

Newsmax wrote on February 24:

“Publisher Puffin UK announced Friday it would release the original versions of Roald Dahl’s children’s books to keep the ‘classic texts in print’ following a wave of criticism over their re-editing for a modern audience…

“The criticism came amid a growing trend for publishers to employ so-called ‘sensitivity readers’ who work alongside editors to identify references to gender, race, weight, violence or mental health that might offend readers…

“Queen Consort Camilla even appeared to weigh in, telling members of her online book club to ‘please remain true to your calling, unimpeded by those who may wish to curb the freedom of your expression or impose limits on your imagination.’…

“Laura Hackett, deputy literary editor of The Sunday Times newspaper, called the changes ‘botched surgery’…”

But this Woke nonsense will not stop…

Camilla—Queen Consort or Queen?

The New York Post wrote on February 25:

“Queen Consort Camilla is reportedly getting a title change that appears to go against the wishes of her late mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II. The change in title will likely come after the May coronation of King Charles III, the Daily Mail reported Saturday, citing unnamed sources… ‘And when, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes King, I know you will give him and his wife Camilla the same support that you have given me; and it is my sincere wish that, when the time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service,’ the queen wrote…

“‘There’s a view in the Palace that Queen Consort is cumbersome and it might be simpler for Camilla to be known just as the Queen when the time is right,’ a source told the Daily Mail. Charles and Camilla will be crowned together on May 6 at Westminster Abbey…”

Masks Totally Useless at Stopping Covid

Life Site News wrote on February 23:

“An opinion piece was published in The New York Times on Tuesday called ‘The Mask Mandates Did Nothing. Will Any Lessons Be Learned?’ giving yet another example of how even the Left is waking up to the nonsense of the COVID restrictions…

“It only took three years for the mainstream media to admit what was known by ‘conspiracy theorists’ in March 2020. This sort of statement would have gotten you banned from YouTube until about 15 minutes ago, but apparently, it is now permitted at the Times.”

The censorship by the mass media has been appalling.

Origin of Covid—Still Disputed

Breitbart wrote on February 26:

“The coronavirus pandemic most likely began with a laboratory leak,  a U.S. Energy Department classified intelligence report now before the White House and key Congress members sets out. The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday the Energy Department’s revised assessment of the pandemic’s origins is based on fresh intelligence noted in an update to a 2021 document by Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines’s office.

“The WSJ further states while the investigation is ongoing, more authorities are coming to the lab leak hypothesis however there is as yet no unanimous decision: ‘The new report highlights how different parts of the intelligence community have arrived at disparate judgments about the pandemic’s origin. The Energy Department now joins the Federal Bureau of Investigation in saying the virus likely spread via a mishap at a Chinese laboratory.

“‘Four other agencies, along with a national intelligence panel, still judge that it was likely the result of a natural transmission [via a bat], and two are undecided.’

“The report goes on to say the Energy Department made its judgment with ‘low confidence,’ according to people who have read the classified report, however it does align with previous speculation about the exact origin of the virus…”

Of course, China is in no way helping with the investigation.

Origin of Covid and Appalling Media Censorship

Breitbart wrote on March 1:

“During an interview with the Fox News Channel released on Tuesday, FBI Director Christopher Wray [stated] that the agency has, ‘for quite some time now, assessed that the origins of the pandemic are most likely a potential lab incident in Wuhan.’”

Whether the lab theory will be proven to be right or not, the following article shows the real problem with how this entire matter was mishandled by the mass media, “academics” and the Biden Administration.

Law Professor Jonathan Turley wrote on February 28:

“… the most alarming aspect was the censorship, not the science… For years, the media and government allied to treat anyone raising a lab theory as one of three possibilities: conspiracy theorist or racists or racist conspiracy theorists. Academics joined this chorus in marginalizing anyone raising the theory…  As late as May 2021,  the New York Times’ Science and Health reporter Apoorva Mandavilli was calling any mention of the lab theory as ‘racist.’…

“We were also supposed to forget about massive payments from the Chinese government to American universities and grants of some of these writers to both Chinese interests or even the specific Wuhan lab. No reference to the lab theory was to be tolerated...  President Joe Biden accused Trump of fanning racism in his criticism of the Chinese government over the pandemic and his Administration reportedly shutdown the State Department investigation into the possible lab origins of the virus…

“None of this has diminished demands for more censorship. Even after Twitter admitted that it wrongly blocked The New York Post story before the 2020 election, Democratic senators responded by warning the company not to cut back on censorship and even demanded more censorship…

“By suppressing alternative scientific and policy views, the public was denied a full debate over mask efficacy, vaccine side effects, COVID origins and other important issues… Censorship does not, as President Biden claims, save lives. It is more likely to cost lives… It does not foster the truth any more than it fosters free speech. Whatever the origin of COVID-19 may be in China, the origins of our censorship scandal is closer to home.”

Censorship in the USA by the media and the government has reached appalling dimensions. It reminds us of the praxis of totalitarian and autocratic countries. People who questioned the official “narrative” by the mass media, the government and certain “academics” became the victims of bitter and accusatory enemies. No wonder God is terribly upset with America.

Testing for Covid?

The New York Post wrote on March 1:

“Megyn Kelly had little sympathy for her onetime colleague Savannah Guthrie, who had to leave her co-hosting duties on NBC’s ‘Today’ show on Tuesday after testing positive for COVID-19 during the morning broadcast. ‘This is reportedly Savannah’s third bout of COVID and I guarantee you she’s had all the vaccines and the boosters because you won’t be able to go into 30 Rock without them,’ Kelly… said… ‘All of it is such a perfect indication of how the left — and especially the left in New York — continues to live.’

“Kelly seemed bewildered at the fact that there are still people who test for COVID-19. ‘I mean, at this point, seriously? … ‘Is anyone still even testing for COVID?’ she said. ‘It’s amazing to me. These guys are leftists and it’s amazing to me to see how the leftists still live under the grip of COVID …’ She added: ‘I don’t test for COVID anymore. Who’s testing for COVID still?’”

Disneyland still “recommends” to be tested before entering the park, and the audience of “America’s Got Talent” is still “required” to be tested. Foreign tourists wanting to visit the USA still have to be vaccinated, let alone tested. Even assuming, without in any way agreeing or admitting that this requirement was meaningful at one time, it is most certainly not today, but it seems like the Biden Administration and many of their supporters are frozen in time and living in the past.  

Actor Woody Harrelson, Vaccine Mandates and Big Pharma

Breitbart wrote on February 26:

“Actor Woody Harrelson has come under fire for making a joke about coronavirus vaccine mandates during his monologue as host of Saturday Night Live, in which he compared pharmaceutical companies to drug cartels. Harrelson, taking on SNL duties this week for the fifth time in his career, told a parable about the ‘craziest script’ he has ever read.

“‘So the movie goes like this,’ Harrelson said. ‘The biggest drug cartels in the world get together and buy up all the media and all the politicians and force all the people in the world to stay locked in their homes. And people can only come out if they take the cartel’s drugs and keep taking them over and over,’ [he] added. ‘I threw the script away. I mean, who was going to believe that crazy idea?…’

“Harrelson was quickly attacked on social media and by various entertainment news outlets… Others, however, applauded Harrelson for publicly accusing the media of ‘being owned by the Big Pharma Drug Cartel.’…

“This is not the first time the… star has shared his distrust in big pharma. ‘Think of the billions of dollars that have gone to big pharma,’ Harrelson said in a previous interview with Bill Maher. ‘The last people I would trust with my health is big pharma and big government, because neither one of those strike me as caring entities… They’re all about profit,’ he added.”

Funny… or is it?

Changes in Medicaid

The Associated Press wrote on February 26:

“If you get health care coverage through Medicaid, you might be at risk of losing that coverage over the next year. Roughly 84 million people are covered by the government-sponsored program, which has grown by 20 million people since January 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. But as states begin checking everyone’s eligibility for Medicaid for the first time in three years, as many as 14 million people could lose access to that health care coverage…

“At the beginning of the pandemic, the federal government prohibited states from kicking people off Medicaid, even if they were no longer eligible. Before the pandemic, people would regularly lose their Medicaid coverage if they started making too much money to qualify for the program, gained health care coverage through their employer or moved into a new state.…

“Over the next year, states will be required to start checking the eligibility again of every person who is on Medicaid. People will have to fill out forms to verify their personal information, including address, income and household size… some states are moving faster than others to check eligibility. Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma and West Virginia are among the states that will begin removing ineligible Medicaid recipients as early as April. Other states will start taking that step in May, June or July…

“States will mail a renewal form to your home. The federal government also requires states to contact you in another way -– by phone, text message or email –- to remind you to fill out the form… You will have at least 30 days to fill out the form. If you do not fill out the form, states will be able to remove you from Medicaid…

“Many people who will no longer qualify for Medicaid coverage can turn to the Affordable Care Act’s marketplace for coverage, where they’ll find health care coverage options that may cost less than $10 a month. But the coverage available on the marketplace will still be vastly different from what’s offered through Medicaid. Out-of-pocket expenses and co-pays are often higher. Also, people will need to check if the insurance plans offered through the marketplace will still cover their doctors.

“A special enrollment period will open for people who are unenrolled from Medicaid that will start on March 31 and last through July 31, 2024. People who lose Medicaid coverage will have up to 60 days to enroll after losing coverage…

“More than half of U.S. children receive health care coverage through Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Even if you receive a notice that you’re no longer eligible for Medicaid, it’s likely that your child still qualifies for the program or for health care coverage through CHIP, which covers children whose families make too much money qualify for Medicaid but don’t earn enough to afford private health insurance. Between 80% and 90% percent of children will still be eligible for those programs… ‘When a parent receives a message that they aren’t eligible anymore, they often assume their child is no longer eligible either,’ said Joan Alker, the center’s executive director. ‘It’s more common to find that the parent is no longer eligible for Medicaid, but the child still is.’”

These figures are astounding. More than half of U.S. children are covered through Medicaid or the CHIP?

Paying Double Tax on Social Security

Newsmax wrote on February 27, 2023:

“More than half of Social Security recipients pay, or soon will, taxes on their benefits, and that number will only increase… ‘Every year, millions of seniors become eligible for either Social Security or tier I railroad retirement benefits,’ Bob Carlstrom, Association of Mature American Citizens founder and president, said. ‘After working for decades, paying taxes on their hard-earned income to fund these federal programs, some seniors are forced to pay income tax on the benefits they receive from the federal government,’ he added.

“Before 1984, seniors’ Social Security was exempt from federal taxation, but a law that year changed the rules, making any individual who has an income of up to $34,000 eligible to pay taxes on up to 50% of their benefits. And those making over $34,000 have to pay taxes of up to 85% of their benefits. For married couples, a Social Security benefits tax of up to 85% hits automatically when a joint return shows $44,000 or more in income… most beneficiaries are now paying a significant amount of retirement income in the form of taxes.

“Critics of the law say retirees are paying a double tax, and thresholds for income were established in 1984, updated in 1993, but never indexed for inflation. ‘Taxing benefits which were created from already taxed funds is nonsensical and curtails retirement benefits seniors have been promised. Seniors deserve to reap the full benefits of their hard work from career-long contributions to Social Security and the Railroad Retirement Plan,’ Carlstrom said…

“In 2022, Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., introduced the ‘You Earned It, You Keep It Act,’ which would eliminate federal taxes on Social Security. And Republicans led by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., have introduced a similar bill… the ‘Senior Citizens Tax Elimination Act,’ which assists middle-class seniors by eliminating the unjust double-tax on Social Security benefits.

“With Republicans now holding the House majority, Massie ‘is likely to reintroduce the legislation in the 118th Congress,’ spokesman John Kennedy told Newsmax. The bill, originally introduced in 2003 by Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, has been reintroduced by Massie in each Congress since he took office in 2012. ‘Although seniors have already paid tax on their Social Security contributions via the payroll tax, they are still required to list these benefits as taxable income on their tax returns,’ Rep. Massie said…  The Republican bill — which died in the last Congress — had 28 co-sponsors, all Republican…

“At least a dozen states also tax Social Security income, but four states are considering eliminating such levies: Kansas, Minnesota, Kansas, and Utah.”

The Bible says that a government imposing heavy taxes on the people ruins and destroys a country.

The Devil Divides

Breitbart wrote on February 26:

“Pope Francis… reminded pilgrims that ‘devil’ means ‘one who divides,’ and that Satan always seeks to separate people from God. Recalling Jesus’ temptations in the desert, the pope noted that the devil tries ‘to divide Jesus from the Father… ‘attachment to material things, distrust and the thirst for power are three widespread and dangerous temptations, which the devil uses to divide us from the Father…’

“The pope went on to stress that Jesus defeats these temptations by ‘avoiding discussion with the devil and answering with the Word of God.’… Jesus ‘never enters into dialogue with the devil, he does not negotiate with him, but he repels his insinuations with the beneficent Words of the Scripture,’ he stated… ‘We defeat the devil by countering him in faith with the divine Word.’”

These statements are correct. We must resist the devil—not trying to talk to him or to demons – and Satan will flee from us, when we submit to God.

Another Nail Into the Coffin of the Evolution Fairy Tale

 The Associated Press wrote on February 22:

“Astronomers have discovered what appear to be massive galaxies dating back to within 600 million years of the Big Bang, suggesting the early universe may have had a stellar fast-track that produced these ‘monsters.’ While the new James Webb Space Telescope has spotted even older galaxies, dating to within a mere 300 million years of the beginning of the universe, it’s the size and maturity of these six apparent mega-galaxies that stun scientists…

“Lead researcher Ivo Labbe of Australia’s Swinburne University of Technology and his team expected to find little baby galaxies this close to the dawn of the universe — not these whoppers. ‘While most galaxies in this era are still small and only gradually growing larger over time,’ he said in an email, ‘there are a few monsters that fast-track to maturity. Why this is the case or how this would work is unknown.’ Each of the six objects looks to weigh billions of times more than our sun. In one of them, the total weight of all its stars may be as much as 100 billion times greater than our sun… Yet these galaxies are believed to be extremely compact, squeezing in as many stars as our own Milky Way, but in a relatively tiny slice of space…

“The Pennsylvania State University’s Joel Leja, who took part in the study, calls them ‘universe breakers.’ ‘The revelation that massive galaxy formation began extremely early in the history of the universe upends what many of us had thought was settled science,’ Leja said in a statement. “It turns out we found something so unexpected it actually creates problems for science. It calls the whole picture of early galaxy formation into question.’…

“Scientists hope to eventually observe the first stars and galaxies formed following the creation of the universe 13.8 billion years ago…”

Even though much of what is presented in the article is nonsense, it is interesting that they talk about the “creation of the universe.” A creation presupposes and necessitates a Creator!

Giant Hornets in Germany

MSN wrote on February 24:

“Currently, beekeepers in Germany are complaining about large losses of entire bee colonies. This is said to be due to a special species of hornet that has spread rapidly across Germany in recent years. It is the Asian giant hornet that honey bee colonies are now suffering from. Along with pears, apples and grapes, wasps, bumblebees, wild bees and honey bees are part of the diet of the invasive species. The ‘Vespa velutina’, which is actually based in China, probably came to Europe via transport routes…

“Each spring, the hornets build a primary nest on trees at about eye level. But that’s not all: They set up a second nest a little higher on the same tree, which is about the size of a football. Such a nest can accommodate up to 5000 Vespa velutina, with several hundred queens.

“According to the chairman of the Rhineland-Palatinate Beekeepers’ Association, Thomas Hock, the insect is able to fly like a dragonfly and thus besiege the entrance holes of beehives. He adds: ‘It can be so massive that bees can no longer leave the hive.’…

“The sting of a single hornet is painful, but still harmless… But a hornet rarely comes alone: ​​If several animals sting a person at the same time, it can be fatal…”

Even one sting can be fatal for those who are allergic to stings from bees, wasps and hornets. God said He would use hornets to defeat His enemies…

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.

In our Update #756, dated October 7, 2016, the Q&A was entitled, “What Does the Bible Say About the Transgender Debate?” In over 6 years since that Q&A was first published, there has been, inevitably, more “progress” on this distressing situation.

We have recently published a 3-part series, entitled “Discrimination is a big issue today. How do you view this?” https://www.eternalgod.org/discrimination-is-a-big-issue-today-how-do-you-view-this-part-1/; https://www.eternalgod.org/discrimination-is-a-big-issue-today-how-do-you-view-this-part-2/ ; and https://www.eternalgod.org/discrimination-is-a-big-issue-today-how-do-you-view-this-part-3/ .

We will now review this situation on transgenderism,  as it is a constituent part of the overall racial discrimination discussion and package.

The Daily Mail published on 23^rd January 2023 an article by psychologist Dr Max Blumberg, entitled, “13 reasons why people DON’T want to get married anymore – and why staying single makes you happier.” In this long article, he stated that “2021 was the first year that more children were born out of wedlock than in it: that marriage rates have also been steadily declining since the 1970s and claimed that marriage has little value anymore and often comes with costs.” It is against this relentless backdrop of negativity about that which God ordained (marriage between a man and a woman only) that other forms of relationship seem to blossom.

Today, in 2023, it seems that any relationship is acceptable as long as it appears to make people happy.  But quite frequently, the very opposite is the case with distress, unhappiness and mental problems, often being the result of ungodly relationships.  Transgenderism is but one of them which has caused much anxiety and anger.  This is hardly surprising as it promotes a lifestyle which God has prohibited.

Scotland’s former first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, who recently resigned her position, had been at loggerheads with the government in Westminster over her proposal to allow lowering the age at which people can change their legal gender from 18 to 16.

The website cityam.com reported the following on 23^rd January 2023:

“The Scottish government’s Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill, which the Holyrood parliament passed just before Christmas, had always promised to be controversial. Essentially, the bill would make it easier to obtain a gender recognition certificate in Scotland, lowering the age at which people can change their legal gender from 18 to 16, removing the requirement of a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria and reducing the waiting time from two years to six months of living in an acquired gender.

“Last week, the Secretary for Scotland, Alister Jack, announced that he would invoke section 35 of the Scotland Act to deny the bill Royal Assent. This provision can block the passage of a legally competent bill if the UK government believes it would affect matters of reserved competence, in this case the Equality Act 2010. This is the first time that section 35 has been used, though it has been a provision of the devolution settlement for a quarter of a century.”

Why a mature woman and the rest of her party (the Scottish National Party) would want to become embroiled in such an argument is a moot point, but the outrage at it has been reported widely, and this may have been the final straw in her resignation. 

Again in January 2023, a report said that Police were investigating after a sign threatening to “decapitate TERFs” [which stands for “trans-exclusionary radical feminist”] was displayed at a demonstration in Glasgow as author JK Rowling mocked the “temporary blindness” of SNP (Scottish National Politicians) who posed near the banner. The author has previously described Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon as a “destroyer of women’s rights.”

The vast majority of protesters held signs with peaceful phrases such as “respect democracy” and “Trans rights are human rights.”  One protester tweeted: “That’s a horrific sign, and it wasn’t there when I joined the demo.” “Violent hateful language, of any kind, is unacceptable and has no place in the peaceful movement for LGBT equality and democracy.”  This shows, quite clearly, how this issue has become part of the overall discrimination package which we have looked at closely in previous Q&As.

One protester at the rally held a sign comparing the Section 35 legislation to the Section 28 legislation, which banned the “promotion” of homosexuality. Section 28 in the UK was implemented by Margaret Thatcher when she was Prime Minister (1979-91) which banned the promotion of homosexuality in schools.  Of course, in our permissive society, this was overturned and the homosexual lobby and lifestyle have gone from strength to strength since then. Such measures to prevent the young from the indoctrination of the homosexual lobby were overturned, and not for the better of society.

And this ongoing saga with the transgendered is not limited to the UK. The American Washington Examiner published an article in April of 2022 with the headline, “Even the Left is beginning to admit it has pushed transgenderism too far.” Of course, pushing it at all is simply wrong in the eyes of God. We quote from the article as follows:

“Transgender orthodoxy has moved so far past the bounds of sanity that any attempt to question its effects is quickly discouraged and punished. We are expected to shut up and accept that public schools are passing policies to keep students’ gender identity transitions from parents, that medical professionals can file to remove children from their parents’ custody if parents oppose physical and chemical transition efforts, that a young man competed on a women’s swimming team and took home a women’s championship title, and that a man who claimed to identify as a woman was allowed into a women’s prison where he impregnated two of his fellow prisoners.

“None of this is normal or even remotely defensible, and everyone, including many on the Left, know it.

“Few on the Left, however, are willing to say so out loud, in large part because their peers have made it impossible. Break from the transgender narrative in any way, and accusations of bigotry and violence will be thrown at you relentlessly. Just look at the abundant invectives hurled at Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, for example.

“Still, there are some, such as Rowling, who are beginning to admit that transgenderism has gone too far. Rowling and other liberal feminists recognize that the concept of ‘gender identity’ is a serious threat to women’s rights, especially the right to privacy and equal opportunity. Gay and lesbian activists realise that pushing effeminate boys or tomboyish girls toward transgenderism could create even more confusion and anxiety in youths who are struggling not with their actual gender but with their sexuality — two very different things.

“And healthcare professionals who are now being encouraged by the Biden administration to alter the bodies physically and chemically of gender-confused minors are starting to raise concerns about the permanence of such drastic interventions and ask whether there is any data to back them up at all.

“It is not a coincidence that the number of young adults who identify as transgender has increased more than twentyfold over the past several years as transgenderism has become more mainstream. What was once a rare mental affliction — gender dysphoria — is now being sold as a solution to any number of common emotional and social anxieties. The result has been a massive surge in transgender-identifying youths, the vast majority of whom, if given enough time, would snap out of it on their own.”

A further article appeared on the website askdrbrown.org: “The transgender revolution is oppressive, irrational, unhealthy, extreme, dangerous, unnatural and an attack on children. As the Daily Mail asked ‘Are children as young as 11 really capable of making life-changing decisions about their gender? We are playing with fire here, and there will likely be many, many casualties before we wake up.’”

The website thegospelcoalition.com contains further insights: “As much as contemporary academia says otherwise, the Bible believes in the organic unity of biological sex and gender identity. This is why male and female are (uniquely) the type of pair that can reproduce (Gen. 1:28; 2:20). It’s why homosexuality—a man lying with a man as with a woman (Lev. 18:22)—is wrong. It’s why the apostle Paul can speak of homosexual partnerships as deviating from the natural relations or natural function of male-female sexual intercourse (Rom. 1:26-27). In each instance, the argument only works if there is an assumed equivalence between the biology of sexual difference and the corresponding identities of male and female.

“If the binary of male and female is God’s idea, and if we are meant to embrace, by divine design, our biological and creational difference as men and women, then it stands to reason that the confusion of these realities would be displeasing to God. And so we see clearly in the Bible that men should not act sexually as women (Lev. 18:22; Rom. 1:18-32; 1 Cor. 6:9-10), that men should not dress like women (Deut. 22:5), and that when men and women embrace obviously other-gendered expressions of identity it is a disgrace (1 Cor. 11:14-15). We do not have an inalienable right to do whatever we want with our physical selves. We belong to God and should glorify him with our bodies (1 Cor. 6:19-20).”

Another commentator writes as follows: “However, just because something might have a biological cause does not mean embracing the effects is the right thing to do. Some people are wired with a sexuality on hyper-drive. That does not make it right for them to engage in sexual immorality. It is scientifically proven that some psychopaths/sociopaths have brains with severely weakened impulse-control mechanisms. That does not make it right for them to engage in every deviant behaviour that crosses their minds. No matter if the gender distortion has a genetic, hormonal, physiological, psychological, or spiritual cause, it can be overcome and healed through faith in Christ and continued reliance on the power of the Holy Spirit. There is hope for everyone, transsexuals, transgenders, those with gender identity disorder, and transvestites included, because of God’s forgiveness available in Jesus Christ.”

We would question that the “gender distortion” has a “genetic, hormonal or psychological cause,” as the author erroneously assumes, rather than a choice, but whatever the cause, the point is that transgenderism can be overcome.

This fits right in with 2 Peter 3:9 which reads: “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

As a final comment in this Q&A, we quote the numbers of the LGBT+ movement as Gallup reported in 2022: “The percentage of U.S. adults who self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or something other than heterosexual has increased to a new high of 7.1%, which is double the percentage from 2012, when Gallup first measured it.

“Gallup asks Americans whether they personally identify as straight or heterosexual, lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender as part of the demographic information it collects on all U.S. telephone surveys. Respondents can also volunteer any other sexual orientation or gender identity they prefer. In addition to the 7.1% of U.S. adults who consider themselves to be an LGBT identity, 86.3% say they are straight or heterosexual, and 6.6% do not offer an opinion.”

It is interesting to see how the 7.1% have a demonstrably higher visibility in society than the percentage would normally show. Quotas in television, film, the news media and high-profile jobs given to LGBT+ people show how skewed the system is today. The original argument was that they should be shown to reflect their position in society but it has gone way beyond that. Anyone could be forgiven for thinking that the figure was very much higher than 7.1% by the very presence of so many displaying, and even promoting, any deviance from God’s ordained way for men and women to behave.

Many now mock the Bible.  Some don’t believe what it says and others may think that it is outdated. The inhabitants of ancient Sodom and Gomorrah were evil and their end was most unpleasant as the Bible records their depravity and its results (see Genesis 19:12-29). It would surely benefit those who are currently involved in the behaviour discussed herein to review and change their lifestyle.

There is still time but it appears that they are set on doing their own thing and it will not end well for them, or for anyone who lives a lifestyle which is not compatible with Biblical instruction. We conclude today as we did in our original Q&A on transgenderism, mentioned above, by repeating the following paragraph:

“It is a sad fact that today the biblical approach is one that is scorned and disregarded which is very dangerous to do. We should have love and concern for those who are engaged in these practices, loving the sinner but hating the sin. God instructs us in His way which is always for our own good and we ignore it at our peril. Transgender practices, along with many other sexual sins, are not to be part of any true Christian’s life. Such practices will not be allowed in the Kingdom of God and that should be enough proof for anyone with an open mind and a willing heart.”

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

compiled by Dave Harris

“Prophecies for Russia, Ukraine, Germany, the USA and NATO!” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

The Bible speaks about an emerging power bloc in the Far East and another power bloc in Europe, all opposed to NATO and the USA. These developments are already happening now, behind the scenes. Some speak about the end of the “American Empire,” as well as the end of NATO. What does this all mean, and WHY is it happening?

“The Rise and Fall of Germany and Europe,” is the working title of a new booklet written by Evangelist Norbert Link. This booklet has entered the first review cycle.

“Taufe im Namen der Dreieinigkeit?” is the title of this Sabbath’s German sermon, presented by Norbert Link. Title in English: “Baptism in the Name of the Trinity?”

“Das Geheimniss der zwei Bäume,” the sermonette presented last Sabbath in Germany by Andreas Raetz, is now posted. Title in English: “The Secrets of the Two Trees.”

“The World Needs Godly Love,” last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Paul Niehoff, is now posted. Here is a summary:

There is a lack of true godly love in the world. The Bible explains what this love really is and how to express it.

“Prayer,” the sermon presented last Sabbath by Rene Messier, is now posted. Here is a summary:

This sermon addresses the importance of maintaining a close relationship with God through prayer. It also emphasizes the need to follow the biblical admonitions given to us in regard to prayer.

Spring Holy Days: Passover—April 5, 2023 (observed the evening before); Feast of Unleavened Bread—April 6-12, 2023; Pentecost—May 28, 2023.