"Pope Francis: A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing?"

It all began when a lightning bolt zapped St. Peter's Dome at the Vatican after Pope Benedict's shocking resignation earlier this year. Lightning strike on the Vatican

Then came the wild speculation regarding the centuries-old 'prophecy of the Popes', alleging Pope Francis would be the last pope, and according to some, herald the beginning of the 'great apostacy' that Catholic scholars have been warning against for more than 800 years.

The facts?

Lightning bolts and extra-Biblical prophecies not withstanding, Pope Francis is no stranger to controversy, but do his statements line up with Scripture?

According to the new pontiff: You don't have to believe in God to go to heaven. "The issue for those who do not believe in God is to obey their conscience."

The Bible says: "There is a way that seems right to a man but its end is the way of death" (Proverbs 14:12).

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"...he who believes in Him (Jesus) is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God" (John 3:16, 18).
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This pope:

• is #4 on Forbes' 2013 ranking of the World's Most Powerful People
• influences an estimated 1 in 7 human beings on Earth
• has the MSM eating out of his hand

Two weeks ago he described 'ideological Christians' as a 'serious illness' within the Church.

What is an 'ideological Christian'? Technically, it's an adherent to a body of ideas characteristic of a particular group.

So wouldn't an 'ideological Christian' be one who adheres to Christian doctrine?

The folks love this guy--from the man on the street to the man in the White House.

Why?

Because of statements like these:

• "If someone is gay and looking for the Lord, who am I to judge him?" (Read what the Bible says in Leviticus 20:13).
• We shouldn't be "obsessed" with imposing doctrines on abortion or gay marriage. (Read what the Bible says in Jeremiah 1:5).
• People should follow good and evil as they "conceive" of them. (Read what the Bible says in Ephesians 4:22-24).
• "Proselytism is solemn nonsense, it makes no sense." (Read what the Bible says in Matthew 28:19).

Do you see a pattern here? Each statement is contradicted in Scripture.

Of course people like him--he says what they want to hear: Don't worry about obedience--all you need is love! Sounds like a liberal politician (or a Beatle?) or as if Love and following God's Word are mutually exclusive--they're not.

What does the Bible say?

"And so I solemnly urge you before God and before Christ Jesus--who will someday judge the living and the dead when He appears to set up His Kingdom: Preach the Word of God. Be persistent, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.

For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to right teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever they want to hear" (2 Timothy 4:1-3).

So do we think Pope Francis is a wolf in sheep's clothing?

It doesn't matter what we think.

What does the Bible say?

A wise man once said: "Knowledge is power." -- Francis Bacon

"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edge sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).

News:

• DEBKAfile: Israelis strike Russian missiles in Damascus to prevent delivery to Hezbollah.
• Bloomberg Business Week: Google, Oracle workers enlisted for ObamaCare 'Tech Surge'
• Fox News Channel: New report shows only 6 people enrolled in ObamaCare on first day of enrollment. By the end of the second day there were 248. At least 93 million people are projected to lose their current employer-provided healthcare plans due to ObamaCare. 

 

"ObamaCare: Prophetic Implications?"

If the first step to solving a problem is admitting that you have one, then maybe there's still hope for the ObamaCare roll-out.

But don't count on it any time soon.

The President finally addressed the issue on Monday, describing the catastrophic ObamaCare roll-out as "unacceptable", with a few "glitches" and "hiccups".

Glitches and hiccups? That's like saying the Titanic had a leak!

 This crippled website cost taxpayers $400 million ( a new study claims the true cost is closer to $1 billion), took 3 years to design, and is virtually non-functional. Even the toll-free enrollment phone number the President pushed as an alternative to the website didn't work. If you managed to get through--all it did was refer you back to the website!

"It's been a fiasco. Send Air Force One out to the Silicon Valley, load it up with smart people, bring them back to Washington and fix this problem," said Senator John McCain (R-AZ).

The really disturbing thing is this: Everybody seemed to know it wasn't ready for prime time except the President.

According to Breitbart News, CGI, the Canadian firm whose U.S. subsidiary built the website, has a long history of epic failures in Canada. Sun News, out of Canada says, "CGI is well-known for website crashes, software glitches, delays, budgetary overruns, project mismanagement, cancelled contracts, and even managerial corruption."

Sounds like a track record that would scare the daylights out of most--but not the U.S. government. They probably felt they'd met their match.

CBS News political director John Dickerson contends the roll out catastrophe means President Obama is headed towards a "credibility death spiral".

It's worse than that. The nation as a whole is headed toward a credibility death spiral. The ObamaCare 'failure to launch' debacle is only the latest in a series of policies that seem designed to fail:

• The U.S. is printing $1 trillion a year, knowing it will weaken the dollar
• The U.S. has scaled back its military, knowing Russia has announced a huge nuclear build up
• The U.S. is rolling back sanctions against Iran while dropping the ball in Syria, knowing it weakens our influence in the region and endangers Israel

The list of foolish policies goes on and on...

Why? Are we really that dysfunctional or is the Land of the Free reaping the consequences of kicking God out of our public life?

America, the world's only super power, is not mentioned in the Biblical end times scenario while most other major players are.

You gotta wonder why.

Our absence speaks volumes.

"Only fools say in their hearts, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, and their actions are evil..." 

Psalms 14:1

A wise man once said: " The president spoke regarding the ObamaCare website glitches. He said he's bringing in 'the best and the brightest' to solve the problem. Why didn't he bring in the best and the brightest in the first place? See, this is typical Washington. They only bring in the best and the brightest as a last resort." -- Jay Leno

News:

• DEBKAfile: Russia and Iran expanding military cooperation and arms trade; Russian technology will upgrade Iran's military to unprecedented levels and challenge America's military status in the region.
• CNBC: Former Xerox exec: No way to fix ObamaCare website anytime soon
• The Guardian: NSA monitored calls of 35 world leaders, adding to mounting diplomatic tensions between U.S. and its allies

"Creepy Technology:Coming to a Store Near You!"

It's bad enought that the IRS, NSA, and DHS are all spying on us, but guess who else is jumping on the bandwagon?

Your local supermarkets!

Yep--you read that right. According to privacy advocate Katherine Albrecht, supermarkets have plans to track shoppers using 'smart shelves'.

What are smart shelves, you ask? Shelving that has been rigged with Microsoft Kinect technology that can detect your:

• age
• gender
• physical traits

And that ain't all, folks!

Once they've figured out your specific demographic, the technology within the store shelf will be able to target you with a personalized ad or message. Right then and there--while you're in the store shopping.

For example, suppose you're looking at the premium ice cream and you've got a couple of extra chins. Your ad might sound something like a satanic temptation:

"Mmmmmm....just look at that scrump-dilli-iciousssss, melt in your mouth deliccccioussssnesss. You know you can't resissssst...."

Or let's say you're fit-n-trim:

"Hey, you there! You look mahhhhvalous. Absolootly, mahhhhvalous! You've certainly been taking great care of yourself. So, how 'bout a little reward, hmmmm???"

Get the picture?

The reason for all this, according to Albrecht, is so the stores will be able to charge different prices for different people.



Albrecht believes the store of the future will have no set price points. Customers will have to aim their cell phones at a product to get their specific price.

Inch, by incremental inch, people.

First Big Brother, someday Stater Bros.?

Is nothing sacred?

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A wise man once said: "We are rapidly entering the age of no privacy, where everyone is open to surveillance at all times; where there are no secrets from government." --William O. Douglas, U.S. Supreme Court Justice

"Do not be afraid for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine when you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior."  Isaiah 43:1-3

News:

• The Washington Times: U.S. intelligence fears Israeli air force drill may indicate a hardening stance on Iran.
• CBN: Girls threatened with hate crime charges for complaining about transgender bathroom harassment
• Associated Press: Temporary deal reopens government after 16-day shutdown

"U.S. Government: Too Stupid to Survive?"

Is there no intelligent life in Washington D.C.? Not according to former Assistant Treasury Secretary Dr. Paul Craig Roberts.

And tragically, he may be right.

The official name for what is going on in our capital is "government shutdown".

The reality?

A ten-day (and counting) political temper tantrum.

The long and short of it is this:

The Republican-dominated House passed a spending bill to fund the entire government except for ObamaCare, asking for a 1-year delay to work out all the bugs. The Democrats went ballistic, refusing to negotiate, and basically became bureaucratic bullies demanding their own way--or else!

Now they've cut off access to everything they could think of. And if they couldv'e draped the Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore and the Grand Canyon with giant tarps, they would have. They've barricaded everything in sight--even a few that don't belong to them...just for good measure.

Seriously, the government is closed. Boarded-up. Shut down. And you better notice it, buster.

Why? In order to score political points and force the Republicans into doing everything the Democrats want.

One angry Park Service ranger publicly admitted that he and fellow rangers have been ordered to "make life as difficult for people as we can" during the government shutdown.

The Democrats point fingers of blame at the Republicans and the Republicans are too weak-kneed to stand up to them. Everybody says it's the other guy's fault.

You know what the polls say? Both sides are idiots. The Republicans for starting it and the Democrats for turning it into Obamageddon and making things worse on purpose just to make Republicans look bad (as if they needed any help).

Frankly, both parties look like spoiled brats and the world is worried  (and rightly so) that they won't get their act together in time for the October 17th debt ceiling deadline.

According to Taiwan's China Post:

"This shutdown is widely seen as a mere precursor to the upcoming congressional fight over the U.S. debt ceiling. If Congress fails to pass a ceiling hike, the U.S. will have to default on its debt for the first time in history. Many economists say they simply have no idea what the consequences of such an unprecedented event will be."

Dr. Paul Craig Roberts (remember him--the guy who wondered if there's intelligent life in D.C.?) says, "The danger of default is the rest of the world dumps dollars...the whole system blows up. The banks fail. The markets collapse...it's Washington committing hari-kari. It removes the United States as a superpower." He believes the debt ceiling will be raised and disaster averted.

Let's hope he's right, and intelligent life is found in Washington D.C. after all.

A wise man once said: "Every country has the government it deserves." Joseph Marie DeMaistre--French Diplomat

"Then He will appoint children to rule over them, and anarchy will prevail."  Isaiah 3:4

News:

• CNBC: Stocks surge 323 points on hopes of a temporary debt ceiling deal.
• NBC News.com: Government shut down crippling tourist town near Grand Canyon by shuttering the world famous park.
• FNC: Government shut down prevents families from receiving soldiers' death benefits until shut down is over; private foundation to pick up the tab.

 

"ObamaCare Glitches + Govt. Shutdown = Distraction"

Between the rollout of ObamaCare and the government shutdown this week, most people missed the really important news:

Israel's worst nightmare is coming true.

Last week, Iran's new president, Hussan Rouhani, a perceived moderate cleric who replaced hard-liner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, was the life of the party at the UN General Assembly.

In an all-out media blitz, dubbed the 'charm offensive', Rouhani has managed to beguile everyone but the kitchen sink.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu urged the world not to believe a word Rouhani says, calling him a "wolf in sheep's clothing" using "soothing rhetoric". Rouhani's purpose?

• To buy Iran time in its relentless pursuit of nuclear weapons
• To convince the U.S. to let up on crippling economic sanctions
• To isolate Israel by calling on the international community to demand their disarmament

At the same time, Russia has decided to create an international conference to eliminate WMD in the Mideast.

A mere coincidence or an orchestrated plan designed to take the heat off Iran while convincing the court of public opinion that Israel, not Iran is the problem.

Meanwhile, Rouhani is telling anyone willing to listen (which is just about everybody) that his country "has never had nuclear weapons ambitions and never will."

World leaders seem to be eating it up. Everybody except  House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rodgers (R-MI) that is. "Iran has been and continues to be aggressive in pursuing and accelerating its nuclear program," Rodgers said. "Rouhani was chief negotiator for Iran's nuclear program before becoming president earlier this year."

And get this: In 2006, Rouhani bragged about stalling European negotiators while continuing to build up Iran's nuclear program!

The Bible paints a bleak picture for Israel in the last days, one devoid of allies "though all the nations of the earth are gathered against it" (Zechariah 12:3).

The dynamics are beginning to shift into place as the world perceives Israel as an obstacle to peace. Netanyahu told the UN, "Israel will not allow Iran to get nuclear weapons. If Israel is forced to stand alone, Israel will stand alone."

The Bible predicts Israel will indeed stand alone, but the victory belongs to the Lord (Proverbs 21:31).

A wise man once said:  "In our time Biblical prophecies are being realized. As the prophet Amos said, 'they shall rebuild ruined cities and inhabit them. They shall plant vineyards and drink their wine. They shall till gardens and eat their fruit. And I will plant them upon their soil never to be uprooted again.' Ladies and gentlemen, the people of Israel have come home never to be uprooted again." 

-- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Amos 9:14-15)

News:

• NBCNews.com: China struggles to control an aggressive species of giant hornet that has killed 42 people and injured over 1,600
• Fox News Channel: Israeli PM Netanyahu says, "Iran developing ICBMs capable of targeting U.S." 

Today marks the end of an era as Pastor Chuck Smith, founder of Calvary Chapel, finished his faithful service on earth this morning, and went home to heaven.

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing (2 Timothy 4:7-8). 

Our prayers go out to his family.