Keith

I haven't seen that to be the case here, Sam. Everything you've said comes from your point of view and nothing else. That's what "your understanding" means. If you think I'm speaking of my own understanding, then you clearly didn't read my very first reply to this thread, and I suggest you do. You've made a lot of assumptions in this thread. Who's living in fear? That's a broad, over-generalization without facts. It's a tactic used by people who try to bolster their point of view without facts. I'm not trying to be unkind, but that's the truth. At 20 years old, you do not yet have the life experience to understand war, foreign policy or the why's and how come's governments do what they do. (Not that they always act correctly, either.) That's why there's a minimum age limit that a person must be at least 35 years of age to be president. That age limit is there because a person needs life experience. The youngest person to ever be elected was John F. Kennedy when he was 43. Yes, you're allowed your opinions. But I hope you have not only the wisdom to realize that you don't know everything in situations like this, but the maturity to listen respectfully and learn from those who do. That's not to say those of us who are older are always right either, but we do have the life experience that you lack and that should be respected and not have accusations and assumptions tossed our way.

Absolutely, 100% correct. The moment we stop relying on Him for anything and everything, we've strayed off the narrow path. When we start looking to our own ___(fill in the blank)____ we're in disobedience. He has to remain our focus in, for and through all things. Isaiah 64:6, "We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away."

Be careful. Jesus is our focus. Always. When you focus on anything, or anyone, else, it becomes a distraction and a trap. Even idolatry. Don't camp out at the signs. Recognize them, pray about them, but continue to run your race and occupy until He comes.

Sam, it's important to remember that you don't have all the facts. You know only what you hear on the news - a notorious entity for lies and propaganda. Have you ever visited Iranian news sites and seen first-hand what they say? Do you understand Islam and how it shapes their government and policies? Do you understand the Qu'ran's eschatology and see how that shapes their decisions? Even their decisions to choose not to attack the U.S. yet? You're relying too much on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding."

Exactly. While I don't think the U.S. government is honorable either, the Iranian government is at least forthright in how they feel. They call the U.S. "the big satan" and have stated repeatedly that there will never be any agreements between the two governments. They've also proven that any agreements they have made in the past, can't be trusted. The only thing that can be trusted about them is that they won't hold up their end of any bargain. Just like Hamas can't hold a truce.

What bothers me the most about the blood moons is John Hagee and how he's written his book, coming out as an authority on the matter, when he is NOT the one who discovered this theory in the first place. Mark Biltz did, and John Hagee has yet to acknowledge that. That lack of integrity, and omission of truth, really bothers me. He's making money off of someone else's insight and work. Not cool.

For the record, I'm not out to convince anyone or to debate the matter. (Especially since I've never once seen a debate sway anyone!) I'm simply speaking my thoughts on the matter. People are free to consider or reject them. I'm certainly not the last word on the matter. Yes, blood moons and tetrads have occured at varying times in history. Some singularly and some in tetrads. Some on feast days and some not. However, the pattern comes into play when all four of the blood moon in a tetrad do fall on feast days, also known as "appointed times" by God in Genesis 1:14. When each blood moon of a tetrad has occurred on a feast day, major, notable, prophetic events for Israel have happened. This is why I can't ignore it.

The difference, though, is when the four blood moons of a tetrad all fall on feast days. Historically, when that's happened, major events have happened. I don't think it's wise to ignore the patterns so casually. Of course, it's also unwise to go in the opposite direction and use it for date setting, which isn't right, either. The key to looking at events like this is to stay away from extremes (the date setting and the dismissing). Look at the event through the lense of scripture and its historical pattern. Then pray and trust God, all the while keeping about the Father's business. Don't dismiss it and don't camp out on it, allowing it to become a distraction or your focus. Like I said, signs are just that... signs.

I'm with you. I can't work it out either. Obama favors and coddles Islam and refuses to acknowledge their terrorism or lay any blame for anything at their doorstep. Yet, at the same time, the U.S. is working to destroy the Iranian and Russian economies with our very low oil prices. And it's working. Neither Russia's, nor Iran's, economies can last much longer under this strain. Personally, I don't even try to understand anything anymore. Seriously. I hear about something, lift it in prayer, and leave it with God. We're not called to stress out about these things (or anything). Just to see recognize them and pray about them. I trust God completely that the events in the world are in His hands and that He will receive glory out of it in the end. I came to the conclusion that I'm just not able to understand everything and I quit trying to. Especially not at the cost of losing His peace. So, to answer the OP's question, "Do we have a deal with Iran?" My personal response is: "I don't know and I don't care." (I don't mean that flippantly. It's just that, since we will never know all the details, much less the truth of what's really going on, I choose to simply pray about it and leave it in God's hands.)

I use plastic bags to scoop the litter box, and to put food items in that I don't want to put in the trash because of the odor they'll emit. For example, I don't put banana peels, or any fruit/veggie scraps in the garbage. I put them in plastic bags and put the bag in the freezer until I take the trash out. No odors. I use paper bags for trash bags. I haven't had to buy plastic trash bags in years.

The Bible does say in several places that the sun will turn to darkness and the moon into blood. In Matthew 24:29-30 it says that this happens at the end of the tribulation period, before the second coming of Jesus. (Also in Mark and Luke.) Revelation 6:12 describes the same thing happening at the opening of the sixth seal judgment, during the tribulation period. But there have been other instances where the sun and moon have been used by God as signs, too. In Joshua 10:13 and 2 Kings 20:9-11, signs in the sun and moon were given to Joshua and Hezekiah as confirmation of God's deliverance. (God actually stopped time! I love that! That's a sign that no false god has ever been able to do.) So, God has used the sun, moon and stars as signs and confirmations, but usually to mark time and events in some way. My favorite is the star used to mark the birth of our Jesus! In the case of the current blood moon tetrad, they're being used to not only mark time, but as a warning to the world to not divide the land of Israel. I believe that's why the four moons are visible in different places around the world each time, ending with the final blood moon, a Super Moon, being visible in Israel itself.

I can understand your confusion. There has been a lot of information, and misinformation, about the blood moons. Personally, I don't know anyone who has said that the blood moons are a sign of the rapture. There's nothing in scripture connecting the rapture to blood moons. Like I said in my post above, I look primarily at two things. What does the Bible say about blood moons, and what does history show us? History has shown us that when a blood moon tetrad occurs, all of them on the feast days, that they've been major signs involving Israel and end times prophecy. Not the rapture. I believe it's worth consideration and prayer at the very least. Should it be an obsession? Our focus? Absolutely not. Signs are just that... signs. Signs let you know where you are on your journey. They point you in the right direction. But you don't camp out under them. Instead, your focus is on your destination. For us, that's Jesus! It's not even the rapture. The rapture is just a mode of transportation. POOF and the rapture is over. The rapture is our HOPE, but Jesus is our focus. For those who are concerned about, or don't understand the blood moon tetrad "prophecy," please don't worry, fear, or stress out about it. We're called to watch for the signs. So do that. Watch and pray.

I just wanted to post to add my voice, and enthusiasm, in support of KPaulG's original post. Personally, I think it's too easy to take the cynical route and pass it off as nothing, or coincidence, espeically so casually. There are too many "coincidences" for a wise person to not at least consider prayerfully the significance of these events. It all goes back to Genesis 1:14, "And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years," It clearly says that God made the sun and the moon to send signals on Passover and Sukkot, the moadim. Most people who read this scripture (English readers) see "seasons" and think winter, spring, summer and fall. But the word "seasons" there means "appointed times." So, I take God at His word. He said He created them to send signals on His feast days, and, here they're coming on His feast days. And from a scientific standpoint, look at the patterns and what happened in 1967 and 1948, etc., So, I think we need to be watching and praying to see what could be coming. I'm not prophesying anything. I'm just seeing the pattern and what we've seen happen in the past. In '48 you have a war involving Israel. In '67 you have a war involving Israel. There could be a chance - a good probability - of a war involving Israel again. What gets me is in Joel where it talks about the moon being turned black, or to blood, and not seen. It talks about it in the context of God judging the nations who have parted His land. So, I see this as a warning. I think the four blood moons are a warning to Israel, and all nations, not to divide their land, or there will be consequences. This last one, in October 2015, on the Feast of Tabernacles, is a Super Moon. The moon's orbit around the earth is elliptical. It starts out far away and gets closer, then far away, then closer, etc., When the moon is at it's closest point to the earth, for the month, it's called being at "perigee." But, when it's at perigee, it's not always a full moon. It could be a new moon and you don't even see it, so it's not called a Super Moon then. If it's a full moon, at perigee, then it's known as a Super Moon because it appears 14% larger because it's so close to us. So, what are the odds that, when the moon is at perigee, it's a full moon? I say all that to say this: Look at the odds. 1. First, you have to have a full moon. 2. It's at perigee (And, in 2015, it's at perigee for the entire year.) 3. It's on the Feast of Tabernacles. One of God's "appointed times" or seasons. 4. It is seen in Jerusalem. 5. And it's a total lunar eclipse. And, on top of that, it's a Shemitah year. In Deuteronomy, the men were only required to be in Jerusalem three times a year - Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot. The women and children weren't required. But, every seventh year - the Shemitah year - it specifically says on the Feast of Sukkot, every man, woman, child, foreigner, stranger, had to come and hear the King of Israel read from the Torah. So, here we have, this year (2015) on Sukkot, a Super Blood Moon at it's closest point for the whole year, seen in Jerusalem, in a Shemitah year. How can that be taken lightly or casually passed off? One of the main feasts that God will require in the Millenium is the Feast of Sukkot. In Zechariah 14 it says that the nations that don't keep it will get the plague and no rain. These feasts are dress rehearsals for the reign of Jesus during the Millenium. And God told us in the first chapter of Genesis, during the creation of the earth, that He created the sun and the moon to be signs for His appointed times. So, yes, I believe the blood moon tetrad has prophetic impact.

I don't know if you're familiar with Rabbi Jonathan Cahn (The Harbinger) but this revelation is very enlightening. I've never posted a video on this site, so if it comes out wrong, I hope a moderator will correct my mistake.

What you're saying is true... and that's the problem, because the culture HAS permeated the church and become just like the culture. The church doesn't stand out because they're no different than the culture around them. They've adopted and embraced it, attempting to use it to "grow" their member numbers and financial giving. Church is now a business and attending is now a duty for "good people."

I agree with you. This is something that I've wept over many, many times. Today, in fact. It's the thing I struggle with the most because I crave true Christian fellowship so deeply that I feel it physically. I've done everything I know to develop relationships with people in the church. I've shown up early to enjoy coffee and fellowship. I've stayed until I was the last person to leave after services. I've even sat through both services. I've joined bible studies, community involvement groups, prayer teams, and even social groups intended for fellowship and relationship building. They're fine if you want short, superficial, non-personal, shallow chats about sports, work, entertainment and every other worldly pursuit. Everyone wears masks. But, talk about Jesus, the sermon, what the Holy Spirit is doing in each other, and you're met with silence or the pat, "Yeah, service was great..." Conversation over. After service, people spend a polite five minutes wearing their masks and feigning to be doing well and asking their "how are you's" before rushing out the door to get home for the game or go out to eat or some activity. Went to church. Check that off my duty list. I've been the initiator of conversations and trying to get to know people. I've also tried patience and letting others come to me. I've spoken to pastors and elders about it. All that happens is people's walls go up and the responsibility for that portion of "church" falls to someone else in charge of it. I've laid aside my own desires and feelings and really reached out to others, sincerely being interested in their lives and making myself available to them and being there to help with their needs. (Nothing pushy or intrusive. Keep in mind, I've tried all of these things I'm listing many times over many, many years.) I'm either met with suspicion, or people only interested in what they could get out of it and then move on. "Busy" is the secret word to get out of everything. I've sincerely wept over this for years. It's an epidemic in the west. It's unscriptural. The western church looks precious little like true churches in scripture. I quoted your post to agree with you wholeheartedly. This is definitely a huge part of the problem. It's become "natural" for people to seek what they can get out of something in order to assess the value of it for them. But that's not "natural" for biblical Christians who are focused on Jesus and have an active, steady relationship with Him. Many people who attend church are just as self-absorbed, self-entitled, and entertainment-driven as unbelievers. Going to church, in part, to have your fellowship needs with true believers is not being part of the problem. It's scriptural, not selfish. First and foremost, going to church is to meet with, worship, hear from, and glorify God as His body - a family of like-minded individuals. That, in itself implies close fellowship with those worshiping around you. The problem is that the church is full of self-professing Christians who don't know Christ at all and live lives of compromise. Matthew 7:21-23 is proof of this. The scriptures are chock full of warnings and reminders that, while many are called, few are chosen. The narrow way is sparsely populated. Few make it. Many church attenders are indistinguishable from people in the world. They have no desire to get involved and they're too busy to get to know others. Most of them (yes, most) are so focused on their own lives and problems that feel justified in not getting involved with others. This is even the case with many true believers. I can say that confidently because, if it weren't true, the church would be effective and causing the world to sit up and take notice, wondering what Christians have that makes them so loving and powerful in the lives of others. The church is silent where it shouldn't be. It's inactive where it should be bold. It's powerless when it should be powerful. It's self-absorbed when it should be reaching out. It's become worldly when it should be set apart and holy. It's become a business (and a duty) when it should be focused on Jesus and making disciples.

otherone - I'm hoping I won't have to worry about it for this tax season after all, according to the hardship exemptions. The Filing Threshold for a single person (me) is $10,300. Being that I made only $7800, I'm not even legally required to file taxes and that's considered an automatic exemption. Another one I qualify for is having received a shut-off notice from my utility company (when I was unemployed), according to the link above. I just can't figure out why they go by 2013 income instead of 2014. If they go by 2013 income, I may be able to qualify for an exemption via the utility disconnect notice route. But then, that would exempt me next year from the penalty because of 2014's income of only $7800. But, it's going to be what it's going to be, so I'm leaving it in God's hands. shiloh - I completely agree with you. It's not right, legal or constitutional. But, apparently is was deemed so, no matter how questionably: SOURCE A tax that they openly call a "penalty"?

I was just read the following in a local news article: "For the first time under the Affordable Care Act, most Americans will have to certify that they had health insurance coverage in 2014 to avoid a tax penalty." Then, upon researching it, I read this: How are folks handling this? I was unemployed for the first four months of 2014, and made less than $7,800 the rest of the year only working part-time, with the majority of that being rent credit, and not monetary income. Granted, I'm sure that qualifies as "financial hardship" but I can still be required to pay some sort of fine and get their state health insurance. I don't have health insurance and I'm fine without it. Haven't used it in years. But, I don't want to lie on my tax forms. I also don't want to raise red flags with them and be "on their radar" to watch. How do they expect people to "certify" that they had health care coverage in 2014? How can religious objections get us out of it? The article goes on to say that no matter what your financial status, they will "work with you" to make sure you get health insurance and that it doesn't cost you too much, basing it on a percentage of your income. Maybe I'm naive, but I don't understand how they can force people to have health insurance, especially when they can't afford it. Thoughts?

I don't disagree that there are poor folks with a huge love of money. It's just as much a danger as it is to the wealthy. But I wasn't trying to write an all-inclusive comment about everybody, whether rich or poor. The article was about the 1% and how much of the world they own. And yes, there are wealthy folks who don't have that kind of love of money. My comments were based on two things: those of the 1% who are known through the media, and the conviction placed on my heart when I read that story. I don't think it was a bad assumption. I would rather assume wrongly, if I did, and have that assumption bring me to prayer, than to read a story like this and not think about it at all. Are there Christians in the 1%? It's likely. I hope so. Are there non-Christians in the 1%? Chances are, more than there are Christians. When I read what the scriptures say about the last days, and the warnings about the dangers of wealth, that's where my thinking naturally goes, instead of just seeing it as a news story regarding the economy. My intention wasn't to cause an argument, but to bring a biblical viewpoint to the story.

I didn't say the 1% were at fault. My comment was concerning their souls. I'm looking at the article with eternity in mind, not as economic facts or responsibility. When I read the many warnings in scripture about the love of money, and how difficult it is for the rich to receive eternal life, and then see the excess of riches owned by these people, I can't help but wonder how many of them have fallen for the traps that come with great wealth. How many of them see their great need for Jesus, in spite of their wealth?

I couldn't agree more. There are times in my life when I've had decent money. Not wealthy, but more than enough. And there have been times when I've had absolutely nothing. I just came off of a time of being unemployed, with no assistance of any kind, (no family and every friend deserted me) for eight-and-a-half months. I just started working a part time job this past April 28th. I made $7,800 last year. But, you know what? I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. It truly was one of the happiest, albeit most difficult, years of my life! The spiritual growth and contentment that developed in my life last year has changed my life more than being given $100 million ever would have. God miraculously, without my mentioning my needs to anyone, met every need! I would much rather live in daily reliance on Him for that day's food than to be rich and fall into the deception that I'm doing great and don't need Him. Money means nothing to me because I came to know Him as my Source and my Provider. Not money. Not a job. While a job is important and I believe people should work, He is still our Provider.

They make most of their money through investments and business income, with 35% of it coming from investments. SOURCE. That's why the plan to tax their compensation isn't the answer. Personally, I don't care what "the answer" is. God is in control and I know that nothing happens without His knowledge. That brings me a lot of comfort, knowing that I dont' have to have the answer. I don't have to know what to do. I'm not responsible for the results. My job is to bring the issue to prayer, leave it with Him, rest in His peace, and continue abiding in, and obeying Him. From my perspective, the souls of the 1% do weigh on my heart. I want Jesus to have the reward of His suffering. When I pray about the situation, that gets the bulk of my prayer time, not the economic state of the world.

It depends on how you see things, I guess. I don't begrudge anyone being rich. There have been rich people throughout history. Ridiculously rich. I don't care if people are rich or not, although the disparity of the wealth in this world is disturbing. But, I've changed. I now see things through the lenses of souls and eternities. Throughout the Bible there are warnings to the rich, and plenty of examples as to why there needs to be. 1 Timothy 6:7-10, "For we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs." In Mark 10, Jesus showed how riches can be a stumbling block to people spiritually, through his conversation with the rich young ruler. In Matthew 19, Jesus says that it's "easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." In general, the 1% aren't content and want more. It's about power and control. It's the love of money and the lack of contentment. Many grow richer while their regular employees struggle. For example, how much money does WalMart or McDonald's need while their employees are working and still qualify for food stamps? And yet, this point isn't even part of why I say I feel sad for them and they need our prayers. (Although how they make their money is important to God.) I'm concerned about their souls and their eternities. Even that of those who make their fortunes honestly. There are plenty of godly men in scriptures that were rich and struggled with sin, too. The apostles used everything they had to win others to Christ. I know we can't expect an unbelieving world to do that, but I do know that God wants the 1% for Himself, just as He wants the poorest of the poor. It's just much, much harder for the wealthy, especially the 1%, to surrender to Jesus. ETA: I also find it sad that, by next year, the 1% will own more than the rest of the world combined. At the same time, one in nine people don’t have enough to eat and more than a billion people live on less than $1.25 a day.

I just find this so sad. This is definitely a group of people who need our prayers. Richest 1% to own more than rest of world, Oxfam says The wealthiest 1% will soon own more than the rest of the world's population, according to a study by anti-poverty charity Oxfam. The charity's research shows that the share of the world's wealth owned by the richest 1% increased from 44% in 2009 to 48% last year. On current trends, Oxfam says it expects the wealthiest 1% to own more than 50% of the world's wealth by 2016. (article continued at the link above.)

Matthew 5:48 - God is perfect and, so, the standard that He sets is perfect. It can be nothing less or God would be compromising His own perfection. Even the standard of the law is perfection. But, it's an unattainable standard for people to meet. But that's the glory of the gospel. Jesus met that standard for us, on our behalf. 2 Corinthians 12:9 - Being that God is perfect, so is everything about Him, including His strength. I love that the verb tense in this scripture is present tense, not past tense. God's strength IS perfect in our weaknesses. His grace IS sufficient. They're constantly available. What's being said in this scripture is that God's grace and strength shine through our weaknesses. The weaker we are, the more they shine through. James 1:4 - This scripture is a reference to our spiritual maturity, not sinless perfection. The testing of our faith is intended to drive us deeper into communion, trust and faith in Jesus. Those are qualities that make us complete, or whole. 1 John 4:18 - Again, God is perfect. And, since God IS love (it's not just an attribute of His), that Love is perfect. Love is the confidence we have in fear and judgment. Romans 7:14-24 tells us that as long as we're in our bodies, we're going to struggle with our sinful nature. Sinless perfection won't be reached until we get to heaven. But, as we go through life's trials (and blessings) we're BEING perfected and sanctified. We're maturing. It's an ongoing process, one that we should always be striving to move forward in. The disciples all that they weren't perfect. They all struggled with sin. We can't claim otherwise. Jesus' perfection is imputed to us, even though we are continually maturing in holiness. Hebrews 10:14, "For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified."