The "spiritual side " of Carl Sagan by Dave Hunt.

Dave Hunt

It is astonishing that Christians seem quite pleased when a Carl Sagan sounds a spiritual note—as though they now hold a belief in common that unites them, when in fact they are as far apart as heaven and hell. Sagan is an atheist. His use of "sacred" is dishonest. In every sense a pagan, this "high priest of cosmos worship" has said, "If we must worship a power greater than ourselves, does it not make sense to revere the Sun and stars?" Of course it doesn't! Sagan is expressing the neopantheism of academia called ecotheology. 

 

Another of its advocates, Georgetown University professor Victor Ferkiss, says it "starts with the premise that the Universe is God." Like Sagan, he seems convinced that this belief will "prevent the environmental exploitation of the Universe."6 Even if it did, that would not make it true—but who cares about truth anymore? In comparison with the ecological crisis we face, the question of truth seems abstract and impractical.

 

Moreover, to believe that the universe is God would not prevent environmental exploitation. On the contrary, it would encourage it. If the universe is "God," then each of us is part of "God" and can do no wrong. Thus the very term "exploitation of the Universe" would be meaningless. Sagan and Ferkiss and others who espouse their beliefs are simply restating the old paganism in new terms.

 

 It is astounding that so many evangelicals involved in the environmental movement seemed pleased with talk of "reverencing the cosmos," as though this had something in common with belief in the God of the Bible. They ought to know that Sagan's cosmos worship stands in total opposition to God and is the sworn enemy of the gospel.

 

A Cortina Inevitável - Jean-Louis Mondon

 A Cortina Inevitável

Metamorfose

Composto e publicado Março 2023 por 

Jean-Louis Mondon

Original  em Francês composto Agosto 2010

O sonhos da juventude brotam

E transformam-se em casulos de laços sedosos

Tecidos pacientemente ao longo de laços sem fim

 

Asas de borboletas sobrecarregadas

De lágrimas do céu almejam

Encontrar seu sossego eterno

Entre flores murchas

Colhidas no caminho

 

Memórias escondidas

Em nossas caixas de música

Soltam seu controle fugaz

Para despertar mais uma vez

As queridas vozes do passado

E os passos da dança

Abrandam e desapareçam

Discretamente atrás da cortina

Quando a caixa fica fechada

As notas da melodia soam de novo

Na prateleira de nossos pensamentos.

 Jean-Louis 

Don Moen Ultimate Praise and Worship Music Playlist (ft. Lenny LeBlanc)

Deeper Understanding (Pastor Charles Lawson)

Language Adaptation as the Best Defense for the Immigrant

 One of the primary survival skill to ensure success in your immigration long lasting process after becoming a resident.

 Written and published by Jean-Louis Mondon

Chameleon (Hebrew Koach "ko'-akh"): adapts to any climate, any situation or circumstance and creates the resources necessary - an atmosphere conducive - to it's own success.

After having spent an incubation period of six years in a chameleon egg, my eye sight afflicted by its innate stereoscopy woke up to its environment. I had gone through a metamorphosis that went beyond my sense of Cartesian analysis. The mirror only reflected kaleidoscopic dimmed lights whose alternance never ceased to engulf me in a deep and disquieting instability.

The more I looked at myself in my new habitat, the more my perception of public approval of my appearance of a weird animal in the cultural show window did not stop me from being aware of a certain internal protection against an imperceptible, but yet strongly felt erosion. This provoked in my being, a profound malaise similar to what happens to a sailor on a drifting boat, I had let go of my moorings, my roots had no more soil in to hold on to.

On the other hand, with the passing years, I have learned to accept this new nature of the chameleon. After all, it doesn´t wonder if its instinctive protection system follows the latest trends if the political, intellectual, social or artistic winds are in vogue, if he must today clothe himself in blue, red or as the order of the day dictates in green or with a bizarre costume. Adaptation , including a new language learning acquisition, if only a change of accent is a must if the immigrant´s career or being an integral part of society depends on his willingness to integrate and assimilate to his new environment.

Can we accuse the chameleon of being a weather vane? Of course not, the weather vane is blown by and follow the direction of the wind whereas the chameleon confronts the changing winds and his alarm system allows him to detect incoming danger and to trigger his inoffensive yet effective security device.

Or could we chide or blame the long lasting statesman Marquis de Talleyrand of having survived several successive governments or rulers without losing his head. Perhaps was it his reptilian composure (in French: cold blood) that allow him to keep it attached to his shoulders?

This is simply one of the adaptation mechanisms I had to develop along my life experience, without resorting to human psychology therapy, without artificial prescription or other drugs creating a false peace and illusory and ephemeral contentment.

Note from the author: Born in Algeria from 3 generations French parents, life carried me through 3 immigration processes that demanded acquiring survival skills. Learning a new language is a passport or a visa to a new way of life and demands efforts, courage, resilience and perseverance in the face of numerous challenges.

I have already survived 3 immigration successful processes and I am about to embark on another exciting journey on my 4^th. Adventure. Going back home to Europe. Wish me well. 

Jean-Louis 

Create in Me a Clean Heart- I Love You Lord // Feat. Greta and Ricky Ges...

A Testimony of God’s Tender Loving Care

Written and published by Jean-Louis Mondon August 2015

“A BATTERED REED HE WILL NOT BREAK OFF, AND A SMOLDERING WICK HE WILL NOT PUT OUT, UNTIL HE LEADS JUSTICE TO VICTORY. Isaiah 42:3 and Matthew 12:20. NASB

This scripture is very dear to me.

It reminds me of an experience that happened some years ago around 1995. A neighbor used to come to my house about once a week to ask for prayer and encouragement.

She had a very traumatic childhood, abused repeatedly by a stepfather,  had gained a lot of weight, didn´t do well at school, didn´t know how to read or write (she was in her mid-twenties) when I knew her.

She was a poor afflicted soul, who was on medication for a number of ailments and chronic depression. But she was sweet tender soul who loved the Lord and grateful in spite of all her life of suffering. She was also married to a wonderful, good husband who loved the Lord and loved her and took good care of her and their children.

One morning she came to talk to us as was her custom. After a chat, I wanted to pray.

You know by now that I am not a prophet, nor claim to be. At some rare times during my life the Lord in his mercy has seen it fit to show me some things, mostly for the benefit of others, insights for understanding and direction and at times to simply help or warn me or others of a dangerous, even life threatening situation.

So as I was praying and asking the Lord to show me in his Word how to minister and comfort her, suddenly I saw in my mind´s eye a candle barely burning about to be snuffed out by the movement of the air around it. I felt bad, but waited in silence to see what would happen next. Then, a hand came into view in front of the candle with a glass chimney for an old fashioned kerosene lamp and protected the weak flame from being extinguished.

Then I knew what to pray. Of course this verse came back to me and I described the scene to her explaining that the Lord was going to keep her from getting worse, that he loved her and protected her and gave her the verse. After the prayer, her whole countenance had changed, her smile came back and her face was glowing.

This picture is very similar to the holder that I gave my friend.

I got up and found in the kitchen closet a small wooden frame with a mirror and a holder for a candle and of course a chimney just as I had seen.

To help her remember this divine encounter, I gave her the candle holder and the verse on a piece of paper with the date, which she put on the wall of her living room as a reminder of God´s faithfulness and blessing.

Then, as a practical illustration and memory exercise, we reenacted the scene. She lit the candle and blew on it up to the point of almost extinguishing it and then she was so happy to place the protective chimney to illustrate the verse. What a lesson it was for all of us! Those are the altars that the patriarchs of old erected in the desert as a remembrance of the goodness and the mercy of God.

Something wonderful happened to her. From that day on, she got much better, happier, her condition improved in all areas of her life. She became more confident, registered with a free reading program with a one on one tutor. Her goal was to be able to read the Bible.

One day, two years later, she announced that she had gotten her diploma and was proud to be able to show me that she could finally read the Word. What a joy and burst of thanksgiving that was as we praised the Lord loudly with tears of joy!

God is faithful and will do what he has declared and his Word will not return void but accomplish what he has sent it to do. Amen!

The Lord never ceases to amaze me how he knows exactly what we need at the precise moment we need it.

A Menina de Tranças

Composto e publicado por Jean-Louis Mondon

Abril 2010

Espero na plataforma

O trem atrasado,

O trenzinho da serra levando

Os sonhos da menina.

Nunca deixarei escapar

O balão cheio do precioso tesouro 
Dos seus ternos pensamentos
Que sua mão num gesto generoso

Confiou ao fiel mensageiro. 

O caminho da serra

É o mais árduo de trilhar

Até chegar ao luar.

 

Ondas no mar

Nuvens no ar

Cada um seguindo

Seu próprio destino.

Mas, para nós

O amor é a mais

Curta distância entre

Duas olhadas cúmplices

Descortinando-se em silêncios confiáveis

Vestindo-se de suspiros inefáveis

Na longa esperança do retorno.

Jean-Louis.

Breaking News: Israel is in a Dangerous Situation

How far in the future are the Bible's prophesied events?

 By Dave Hunt

How far in the future are the Bible's prophesied events? Isaiah’s prophecies end with Israel restored to her land and the Messiah reigning in peace over the entire world. We seem to be experiencing right now the very things that Isaiah foretold would lead up to the final restoration.

 

The language...is riveting:

"Who hath heard such a thing?"

"Who hath seen such things?"

"Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children."

"Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the Lord: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God."

"Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her…"

 

Surely, a nation “born in a day” can refer only to the rebirth of Israel in 1948. It was an event unprecedented in the history of mankind.

And, as Isaiah describes, it was also a birth that was not completed in a moment. It has been in process for the more than a century and has been coming to a climax over the past sixty years. God is causing “to bring forth,” the womb is open, but Israel will not be fully birthed until she possesses all of the territory that God gave to her, as described in Genesis 15:18-21. That miraculous birth now being in process, God will not “shut the womb.” This rebirth cannot continue much longer without a full deliverance of Israel.

 

As soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. The greatest travail in Zion’s history was without doubt the Holocaust. Had it not been for that horror and the momentary twinge of conscience among the nations of the world, the United Nations would never have voted for partition of Palestine. That vote gives Israel a legitimacy—which the UN votes against today, the Arabs still deny, and which, bit by bit, the “peace process” has been taking away. 

 

There are eyewitness reports that many Jews went to their deaths in Nazi gas chambers singing psalms of faith in God. Surely, in their distress, many must have believed in God’s promise of the Messiah and understood what it meant to them personally for eternity. No doubt many cried out to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and found mercy according to His promise: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” There was no miraculous intervention for the victims of the Holocaust—but there will be at Armageddon.

 

Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth?...shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? This is language of assurance. We have come a long way in history. Israel has been brought to birth once again in her own land; she is surrounded by enemies who are all united to destroy her; the technology and weapons are at hand to fulfill prophecies that could not have been understood in prior generations.

 

Many prophecies are being fulfilled before our eyes. God is not going to shut it all down and wait a few more centuries. The day is at hand when Israel will be brought fully to birth! Now is the time for all mankind to make an eternal choice.