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My Son Voted for the First Time Last Week

My son turned 18 in December. So many rites of passage are happening before our eyes. When he registered to vote just after his birthday, he wondered how soon he would get a chance to act on that rite of passage. He got that chance last week.

Our family always votes at the same location in rural Madison County, Alabama. He was able to accompany us to vote for the first time last week during the Super Tuesday primary.

I did not discuss who to vote for, nor did I ask who he had voted for. To me, that is a personal matter, and one I leave between him and God. I am just proud of him for exercising his right as a citizen of the United States to use his voice at the polling location to choose our country’s leaders.

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Revelation 4: God Is Worthy of our Praise

1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

John the Revelator is seeing what he describes here in a vision, where a door is opened for him to come into Heaven and see what is to come.

2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

He travels to Heaven in his spirit, meaning in a vision, while his body remains on the earth. He sees a throne in Heaven with a person sitting on it. Who is this person? We find out as we continue reading.

3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

The one sitting on the throne was compared to precious stones and a rainbow. By this, John the Revelator is talking about the one on the throne and the glow that they have, but words are not adequate to describe what he truly sees.

4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

There are 24 seats for 24 elders, who are wearing white robes and crowns of gold.

5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

The throne had lightning, thunder, and voices around it. It was surrounded by seven lamps representing the seven Spirits of God. According to Isaiah, the seven spirits of God are The Spirit of the Lord, The Spirit of Wisdom, The Spirit of Understanding, The Spirit of Counsel, The Spirit of Strength, The Spirit of Knowledge, and The Spirit of the Fear of the Lord.

6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

The throne has a sea of glass like ine crystal in front of it. Surrounding the throne are four beasts full of eyes.

7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.

These our beasts are like a lion, a calf (a young cow), a face of a man, and a flying eagle.

8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

The four beasts have six wings each, and John repeats the point that they are full of eyes. He states that they do not rest at all, but praise God continuously. They state that God is Holy, He is the Almighty God, and He is eternal.

9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

The beasts give glory, honor, and thanks to God, who, John reminds us again, is eternal.

10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

At this point the 24 eldets join in, falling on their knees to worship God, and casting their crowns at His feet.

11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

The elders say that God alone is worthy to receive glory, honor, and power, because He created all things for His pleasure.

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Seven Seal Judgments, Part 1: Background

So, once the Rapture occurs and carries all the Chrstians away to Heaven, the Tribulation period will begin on the Earth. It will be seven of the worst years that this planet will ever endure. The last three years are so bad that they are called the Great Tribulation. We will pick up with Revelation chapter four next Sunday to begin our study of this period. But, for now, I am just going to outline the first seven of the twenty-one judgments, which are called the Seal Judgments. (The second seven are called the Trumpet Judgments, and the third seven judgments, which happen during the Great Tribulation, are known as the Bowl or Bowel Judgments.

The first four of the Seal Judgments are collectively known as the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The first horseman comes riding a white horse and is the Antichrist, who will sign a seven year peace treaty with Israel that he will violate later in the Tribulation. He will be a worldwide ruler who will quickly take over everything in his path. The second Seal is the second horseman, who rides a red horse. This rider represents a worldwide war that will break out soon after the Antichrist takes over. The third horseman of the Apocalpse, the third seal judgment, is represented by a black horse. This rider represents worldwide famine and pestilence that will break out following the war. (Pestilence is a fancy Biblical word for diseases and plagues.) The fourth seal is the fourth and final of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, the pale horse of death. From the first four seal judgments, 25% of the earth’s population at the time of the Tribulation will be killed.

The fifth seal judgment will be the cry of the martyrs in Heaven, where they are assembling after being killed for their beliefs. Many people will come to Christ during the Tribulation, only to be killed by the Antichrist or forces acting on the Antichrist’s behalf. The sixth seal judgment is a mighty worldwide earthquake. This earthquake will be stronger than anything ever felt before, and is accompanied by the sun going dark and the moon turning to blood. The seventh seal is silence in Heaven while the seven trumpet judgments are being prepared.

While this may paint a bleak picture, just remember if you accept Jesus as your Savior now and repent of your sins, you will not be here during the Tribulation. For the Lord will descend with a shout, and with the voice of the Archangel. Those dead who believed will rise first, and then those who are alive will join them, heding for Heaven. Accept Jesus now!!!

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My Colonoscopy

I had to have a colonoscopy on Monday of this week. The worst part of the proceedure was the special prep drink that I had to drink the night before and the morning of the proceedure. It didn’t really taste good, but thankfully I only had to drink 16 ounces of it at a time.

The proceedure was done at Crestwood Medical Center here in Huntsville, Alabama. The doctors, nurses, and support staff at the hospital all went the extra mile to make me feel as comfortable as possible, and all did a great job. I would recommend Crestwood Medical Center to anyone in the area who needs a good facility for outpatient proceedures.

My doctor, John-Paul Voekel, also did a fabulous job before, during, and after the proceedure. He did discover a couple of polyps, which he removed during the proceedure. I have to go back in three years for another colonoscopy, and I will be using Dr. Voekel and Crestwood Medical Center as my doctor and facility of choice at that time.

If you are over 45 and have not had a colonoscopy, I would encourage you to schedule one soon. It can be a good start to ensuring good gastronomical health.

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“Amazing Grace”

One of the most popular hymns sung in church is “Amazing Grace.” This hymn talks about how grace has erased our sins so that we can live with and for God. Have you ever thought about how the song was written?

John Newton was a slave trader in England in the 1700s. At the age of 47, he experienced a severe storm on the seas which caused death and injuries on the crew and the slaves. He cried out to God for mercy. God delivered him safely back home to England. After this experience, Newton converted to Christianity and started taking training to become a minister.

The lyrics for “Amazing Grace” were originally written for one of Newton’s sermons, but were later published with music on both sides of the ocean. The hymn struck a chord with all who have been saved by God’s grace, and even played a pivotal role in the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s here in the United States.

“Amazing grace! how sweet the sound,
  That saved a wretch; like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
  Was blind, but now I see.”

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Product Review: KFC Hot Wings

KFC has entered the market for customers looking for hot wings. Their new KFC Hot Wings feature texture, taste, and good value for the money.

First, there is the value. An order of KFC Chicken Hot Wings is less than $5.00 in most markets. Add a side and drink and it is still under $10.00, which is an excellent value for the money.

Second, there is the texture. The crunchy breading on these wings is spot on for texture. It is crunchy, but not hard to chew. It breaks apart well as you bite into the wing. Even with the crunchy breading, the inside meat is tender, moist, and plentiful.

Third, there is the taste. The heat is present in these wings, but it is only a moderate heat. My son, who likes his food extra spicy, advised that he would add some hot sauce in order for the wings to be really hot. I am not a fan of really spicy food, so these wings were just spicy enough to have the heat, but not too much heat. The flavor of the other seasonings (the secret blend of eleven herbs and spices) is also present as well, and complements the heat well.

I would buy these wings again. They are a perfect addition to the KFC menu.

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Book Review: “Cat Daddy: What the World’s Most Incorrigible Cat Taught Me About Life, Love, and Coming Clean”

Jackson Galaxy, host of Animal Planet’s “My Cat From Hell,” is a cat whisperer. He can take a cat and train that cat to do amazing things. But, how did he get his start as a cat behavioral specialist?

“Cat Daddy: What the World’s Most Incorrigible Cat Taught Me About Life, Love, and Coming Clean,” tells the story of how Galaxy got his start. He began his adult life as a rudderless boat, having many vices to keep him from facing reality.

Once he got a job at an animal shelter, however, his life changed. His work with the cats has taught him many life lessons, which he is willing to share in this book. He also states that working with the cats has been what has helped him to sober up and face his future brightly. The book is a story of redemption, with the cats as the healing touch that helped Galaxy straighten up his life.

READER ALERT: The book is full of expletitives, including multiple uses of God’s name in vain. It also discusses drug use and other adult situations. Reader discretion is advised.