North Korea - A Second Quiz

North Korea's a pretty isolated place, but there are still quite a few things we know. Try these:

1. How big is the North Korean army?

2. How many Koreans have risked imprisonment and death by fleeing from this Communist "Paradise" ?

3. What percent of North Korea is mountainous?

4. What percent of NK's 18,000 miles of roads is paved?

5. What religion dominated the land before Christianity/atheism?

6. How long has Kim Jong Il reigned?

7. Is there any prosperity in North Korea?

8. What was Korea's name before it was called Korea?

9. Just how far back does Korean history go?

10. What is Korea's most famous food?

Answers:

1. Perhaps one million? It is the 4th or 5th largest in the world. It is the reason Korea can continue to wreak havoc on its people. It is the reason for the widespread starvation. It is the reason the man in the middle can turn an angry face to the West and spurn the world's warnings. Let us pray for the Lord of armies to do what only He is able to do...

2. Upwards to 50,000 are now living in Northeast China. Many others have fled to South Korea, Mongolia, other parts of China, even the United States.

3. 80. A truly rugged land.

4. 10

5. Buddhism (later overtaken by "non-religion" Confucianism)

6. Too long. Since 1994. But the Lord of all Lords knows what is going on and will rise up...

7. Yes. Obviously the government and the military show the world a face of fatness. The farther a visitor is able to travel from Pyongyang, the more the tragedy of North Korea is revealed. 8. For one thousand years prior to this era it was known as "Choson", the land of "morning calm." 9. Up to 5,000 years, but much of that is blended in with mythology. Fabled figure "Tangun" was said to have set up Korea's first dynasty sometime between Noah's flood and the days of Abraham. (2333 B.C.)

10. Kimchi. Spicy cabbage. Very hot.

Loving our neighbors involves knowing them. Please continue to pray for these descendants of the morning calm who long for the calm of morning to dawn on them. Oh may Christ be once more lifted up in this land!

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.

A Review of Catholic Gifts

As someone who has been a devout practitioner of Catholicism for as long as I've been breathing, it stands to reason that many of my family and friends are Catholics as well. People always gravitated to those who share similar values. This is comforting on many levels, and helps reinforce my faith all the more.

In addition, these are the people that I really care about and cherish in my life and I know what they hold dear. For the most part, because I know them so well, I can be sure that they'll appreciate receiving Catholic gifts on special occasions. It's becoming increasingly difficult for me to find stores in my area that carry Catholic gifts in their inventory, but because of the marvels of the Internet, I'm always able to find quality items. These days, there are numerous websites that are dedicated solely to selling Catholic gifts, which is great if you are shopping for baptisms, first communions, confirmations, Christmas. Whenever one of these occasions comes up for someone in my circle of family and friends, I always go online because I know there will be a plethora of high-quality and affordable Catholic gifts to choose from.

Are you curious to know what types of Catholic as I can purchase online? Well for starters anything you can buy at a regular store you can buy on the Internet. For example, there are many websites that offer reading materials such as inspirational books, faith-based living guides, Bibles, and more. There are books that are written for all ages from 3 to 93, so right there alone is a huge treasure trove of appropriate gift ideas.

Jewelry is another category of Catholic gifts that is always popular and always appreciated. Probably the most popular next to artwork. Again, there is a huge collection of choices, ranging from the very basic to the very exquisite. Necklaces in the form of gold or silver crosses, crucifixes, and medals are appropriate for both men and women, which really opens up the gift giving universe. Other jewelry products that make for fantastic Catholic gifts include chastity rings, prayer bracelets, and rosaries. Most of these items can be personalized with an inscription of your choice to truly make them a meaningful keepsake.

There are also Catholic gifts that would make wonderful decorations for the home. I'm talking about items such as wall hangings, framed prints, statues, figurines, plaques, and even holy water fonts. You can get all these products online and have them conveniently shift right to your door. This and that a lot better then jumping in the car and driving all over the place not nine if you can find anything to your satisfaction?

The next time the thought of giving Catholic gifts comes to mind, he did not advise and check out the World Wide Web. You might be surprised at all the terrific and affordable products that you can order right there at your fingertips!

Morgan Hamilton offers his findings and insights regarding religion. You can get interesting and informative information here at Catholic Gifts.

There is a Generation

Pro 30:11-14; There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.
There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men. There is a generation that Jesus spoke of, a generation that would see the end begun. A generation that would be unmerciful to parents, fathers against the sons and daughters against their mother in laws.

A generation without the love for God or self. This is a generation that will be self serving and full of greed and hate.
A generation that will be faithless and perverse. Today I read of men and women, marring animals, a woman to a cat, a man to a dog and another man to a spider.

Mat 24:32-34; Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:(This is a sign of the beginning of the end, or should I say the beginning for those that trust in the Lord. Israel was reborn in 1948 and has prospered to become the Major force in the Middle East.)
So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. (This verse is stating the truth, when you see all these signs of Israel being renewed, wars and rumours of wars, nations rising nations, kingdoms against kingdoms, famines, pestilences, earthquakes in divers places, and the Love of God waining away, fading away, these are the beginning of troubles.)

Mat 24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
and War, famines, Petulance and the others, it is near, even at the door. The door is almost open, the end is closer than you think. This generation is secpectable, with out faith nor knowledge in the word of God. This generation is full of hate, lust, greed and anti- Israel. This generation is looking for a fresh path, new things to do, their appetite is not satisfied with what was or is but they are looking for those things to come.

Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. The generation spoken of hear is not the generation that Jesus was speaking to but rather the generation of the end days. This generation that Jesus was speaking of is the generation that thinks upon fleshly lust and evil continually. The generation of free sex, animal husbandry, and homosexuality, as it was in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah, a generation that allows all manner of sin and debauchery. A generation that refuses to obey parents and the law of decency.

Deu 28:59 Then the LORD will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance. The plagues that are, and will begin to fall, will be of great measure, this generation will begin to curse God for the Heat and suffering of millions. Curse God for the plagues and suffering, the famines, pestilences, and earthquakes. This generation will run for the mountains seeking relief from the heat but will find no rest, they will call upon the rocks and mountains to fall upon them to hide them from the Face of Jesus. All these thing will this generation suffer but they will still refuse to worship God, they will refuse to believe in Jesus, they will suffer for their sins.

Ecc 1:4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever. All these things will this generation suffer and at the end, the Earth will remain, never to pass away. This is contrary to what may are teaching but the Bible is truth. Rev 16:9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. There is a generation that will curse their father and Mother, that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness, beauty will fade away, those with beautiful hair will be bald, those of fine appearance will not be noticed, the high will be brought low, the mighty will be brought down to weakness.

There is a generation whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth. There is a generation that will want the poor and weak to be eliminated, removed from among man. There is a generation that have Four kinds of hateful persons - (1) graceless children, (2) hypocrites, (3) the proud, (4) cruel oppressors, full of vanity, pride, and insolence. Is this the generation that we see? Is this the terminal generation that will fight against God and His Son Jesus? Is this the generation that will run to battle of Armageddon? Call upon the Name of the Lord and thou shalt be saved. Ars.

Rev 16:9 -
scorched: or, burned
blasphemed: Rev_16:10,Rev_16:11, Rev_16:21; 2Ki_6:33; 2Ch_28:22; Isa_1:5, Isa_8:21; Jer_5:3, Jer_6:29, Jer_6:30; Eze_24:13
and they: Rev_16:11, Rev_2:21, Rev_9:20; Dan_5:22, Dan_5:23; Luk_13:3, Luk_13:5; 2Co_12:21
to give: Rev_11:13, Rev_14:7; Jos_7:19; Jer_13:6; Amo_4:6-12

Pro 30:13 -
Pro_6:17, Pro_21:4; Psa_101:5, Psa_131:1; Isa_2:11, Isa_3:16; Eze_28:2-5, Eze_28:9; Dan_11:36, Dan_11:37; Hab_2:4; 2Th_2:3, 2Th_2:4

Temple of Spirit & Truth Ministries A.R.Smith Ministries http://www.ourchurch.com/member/a/arsmithsermons/

The Light Of God's Word

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth us from all sin (I John 1:7).

The word of God is light (Psalm 119:105) and the scripture tells us to walk in the light as God is in the light. In other words, we are to walk under the same light in which God dwells and functions. This means we are to walk in the light of God's word. The people of the world can not understand that light since they are not born into that realm of life. But we can walk in the light and have fellowship with God, because we are born of he world (I Peter 1:23).

Walking in the light as God is in the light means your judgments and opinions are based on the light of God's judgments and opinions are based on he light of God's word. Under that light, you do not see poverty, sickness, disease, death, failure or impossibilities. When you agree with what the word says about you, and then confess it and act that way, you are walking in God's light. God has given you his word to light up your path, so there would not be darkness or uncertainties as you journey through life.

The Bible lets us know that when you walk in the light, the blood of Jesus Christ automatically cleanses you from all sin. The world around us is full of sin: the newspapers, films, people and even the very air we breathe are defiled and God knows it. Then often times, we do things that are wrong without knowing, but thanks be unto God! He says when you walk in the light, you won't need to keep asking yourself, "what sin have I committed today?' the blood of Jesus Christ cleanse you automatically!

Learn to walk in the light as he is in light. That way, you will never be weighed down by the burden or yoke of sin, rather, you will be free to serve God and runt he faith race without hindrances.

Anita passionately writes to teach people all over the world about Jesus Christ. Recommended: Visit http://christianity.fateback.com for more gospel news, devotional and biblical articles that will bring the richness of God's Word into your life.

For the Testimony of Jesus

In the very heart of the new covenant is the testimony of Jesus. (Rev. 19:10 NLT):

"Then I fell down at his feet (i.e. the angel) to worship him, but he said, 'No, don't worship me. For I am a servant of God, just like you and other brothers and sisters who testify of their faith in Jesus. Worship God. For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus.'"

The great binding connection between Jesus and his new covenant is the key to learning the truth, and the essence of all of prophecy. The new covenant is God's golden key that unlocks God's rich treasure house of blessings for believers. When we move forward to enter his house all confusion and conundrums disappear. If He is all that matters to you (Col. 3:11), and not these other earthly kingdoms that lead away from him, then you have already gained much wisdom (I Co. 2:7; Eph.1:17; Col. 1:9, 2:3, 3:16).

The holy Scriptures specifically give "the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus" (II Ti. 3:15). We live by this faith in Christ, "not by sight" (II Co. 5:7. See also Heb. 11:8-18; Ro. 3:24-31; II Pet. 1:1).

"In him lie all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Col. 2:3). He opened up the new, life-giving way "through the sacred curtain, by means of his death for us" (Heb. 10:20). This wondrous sacrifice stands for all time (v. 10). There is no need whatsoever to be distracted from full attention to him in the rumored resumption of the earthly temple and animal sacrifices. If such obscenities are resumed in Jerusalem and He does return at this time, it will be to take vengeance upon those unbelievers and their supporters who have defiled the truth with blasphemies. Those who are giving a clear witness for Jesus today will shine forth as the sun in the new Jerusalem, the beloved holy city (Rev. 20:9, 21:2) of our God, where they will live with him forevermore.

Such blessed ones are not unbelievers who cling still to the earthly city where He was crucified by those who would not accept his rule, but they are the ones who have followed him all along the higher pathway of his new covenant that leads them directly into the most blessed place where they can draw very close to him, even today. Their faith in him alone has rewarded them with his richest blessings.

Follow this higher pathway today. It will take you into his beautiful city where there is no disappointment!

Anita Whalley has recently authored the Christian book entitled There Is A Kingdom, available in the Christian and inspirational books section in Amazon. com. There Is A Kingdom is the happy outcome of years of intense searching for real answers to the eschatological dilemma of the day. This is a compelling book that sticks to one, giving him a higher form of confidence, peace and joy than is readily available in a mere eschatological study alone.
Anita also authors a page entitled Significant Values on http://www.Blogger.com
Anita has pursued a career in healthcare, but is now retired from that. She continues with her personal Bible studies, though perhaps not as intensely as she did before the great breakthrough discoveries unearthed in Christ's new covenant, which went beyond the finding of just a mere answer to plaguey eschatological questions. She discovered just how truly transcendently enriching and fulfilling God has made his new covenant to be. A very spiritually uplifting experience this is for any child of God to run into and to enjoy, and his answer to our every prayer.

It's Not Cool to Worry

In our world today their is allot to be concerned about. Things like terrorism, crime, racism; or how about taxes, inflation and job loss. Truly we have allot we could be worried about. But I've found out that in order to function in life and overcome the obstacles we face, we need to give our cares,worries and frustrations to someone else. Someone stronger than us. We tend to lean and depend on our spouses or family and friends and that's awesome, but this support system can only take us so far and that's it. I've found on my journey that I really need a relationship with someone who's able to handle my worries and concerns that I face in my daily life. And that person is Jesus Christ.

I've found that through my relationship with Jesus I've been able to overcome some problems that would have taken me out of here if I had not have known Him. The bible says in 1st Peter 5:7 that we should cast all of our cares upon God because He cares for us and that includes worrying. When you worry you sin, and when you sin you miss the mark of God. Worrying about things can have a adverse affect on our body and it's ability to function properly. When improper stress enters the body it breaks down the body's immune system and causes us to become sick. Free radical cells come in when the body's immune system is weak, and worrying and stress help weaken your body's defense system.

To combat this we need to change a few things in our lives. First, we need to change our outlook on life. Start seeing the glass as half full instead of half empty. You can always find something positive in a negative situation. Second, fill your mind with good positive and wholesome materials such as: the bible, positive inspirational music, uplifting reading materials like books and magazines and most importantly prayer. Tell God your problems. He will listen and no one else will know about it, and because you pray you will find yourself at ease with what you thought was a problem.

So don't allow life to get you so uptight. Just do the best you can with what you have and give the rest to God through Jesus Christ. And you will find that life isn't that bad when the right person has your back. You think about that, God bless.

Always Winter, But Never Christmas

Always winter, never Christmas. Thus it was spoken of the land of Narnia in the C.S. Lewis classic, "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.". This is the unthinkable for a small child, and for bigger kids too, an unbroken winter. Such, it seems to me, is the plight for these many decades in North Korea. Surely there are bright moments. And Christ Himself has entered this heart and that. But in the main, the land is in darkness. That was the thought going through my head this Christmas Eve morning as I prayed for North Korea. A Scripture formed in my thinking and I realized I was in Isaiah, chapters 8 and 9.

This is the classic passage of Christ coming to Galilee, and to the world, bringing His dazzling Light to a desperate planet. It was desperate when He first came, it will be even more desperate when He comes again. And a picture of that desperation is daily painted for us by reflecting on ancient and modern Chosun. It was North Korea that I was seeing as I heard these words inside. They are spoken from the vantage point of a future time, when the regime has changed forever...

(8:22) Then they will look to the earth, and see trouble and darkness, gloom of anguish; and they [Chosun] will be driven into darkness. (9:2-4) The people who walked in darkness [Chosun] have seen a great light [Jesus]. Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death [Chosun] , upon them a light has shined. You [Jesus] have multiplied the nation and increased its joy. They rejoice before You according to the joy of harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For You [Jesus] have broken the yoke of his burden and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor..

(9:6-7) For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given. And the government [of Chosun and the world] will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

We may not know God's timing, but we know His heart, His zeal. This message is not welcomed with enthusiasm by most present world leaders, who can't accept that they and their dynasties are limited by the hand of the God they ignore. But when it's all over, only Jesus reigns! Lord haste the day! And preserve Your people until then.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.