A Reality Check For the Coming New Year, Just in Case You Haven't Been Paying Attention

A Warning From the Lord Regarding America's Future

If She Doesn't Change Her Ways

by Pastor Paul J. Bern

To view this on my website, click here :-)

For my final posting for 2017, I'm going to pass along another warning from the Lord regarding the future of our country, or the future of the USA if the reader lives elsewhere. First, let me point out that prophecy doesn't mean being able to foretell the future. That's called divination, which is of the occult, which is essentially a form of Satanic worship. Prophecy, in the scriptural sense, simply means affirmatively declaring the Word of God, or of conveying the will of God and letting it be known with precision. For example, if I say, “Jesus will return next Christmas Eve”, that's a prediction of the future, and in this case a pretty bad one. But if I say, “Everyone act, think and live as if Jesus will return by next Christmas, for He will return at an hour when many do not expect him”, then I have prophesied the Word of God by allowing myself to be used as a vessel for God's Word to humankind, or as a conduit for God's awesome power (which is beyond all human imagination). And so allow me a few paragraphs and yourself several minutes to relate what I believe is this important Word from the Lord God Almighty through his Son, Jesus Christ, the Lamb that was slain and yet lives!

As it was in the times of the prophets of old, so it is today – “my people perish due to a lack of knowledge”. Everyone today seems filled with book knowledge, and yet can't perform basic life skills like preparing a budget, reading a local bus schedule or changing a flat tire. America's days as a superpower, both militarily and economically, are just about over. Do you not see what is happening all around you? Your government is printing money at maximum speed to keep your rigged capitalist economic system, a system based on indebtedness and greed that is a laughingstock both up in heaven and down in hell, from imploding. It is as plain and bright as the daytime sunshine God created that America's pyramid-schemed economic system has run its course. It will soon be exactly as it was written by my beloved son and apostle John, “In her heart she boasts, 'I sit as queen, I am not a widow, and I will never mourn'. Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning, and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her. When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her. Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry, 'Woe! Woe, oh great city, O Babylon, city of power! In one hour your doom has come!'” (Revelation chapter 18, verses 7-10)

A controversy has been raised for centuries regarding the identity of “Babylon, city of power” mentioned above. In times of old, most people of faith concluded that it was the Vatican. More recently, Islam has been declared the culprit, but I'm not sure that's the case either. Granted, the Islamic nations are mentioned in Ezekiel chapters 38 & 39 as being in alliance with “the king of the north”, which likely includes Russia. So we can rule out the Catholic and Muslim faiths. Guess what modern country is left? Is there anyone who still doubts that this passage of Scripture was written about our country, the United States? Go back and read that again, or better yet, read Revelation chapter eighteen in its entirety, it's all right there in black and white. “In one hour her doom (will) come”....

The US is the world's biggest (by far) military power. We're also #1 globally in homicides, the production of pornography, first in the number of people in prison, and the only developed industrialized nation that withholds medical care and higher education from its population unless we pay exorbitant prices to obtain them. Never mind that medical care, together with higher education and internet access, are fundamental, basic human rights. When the government – any government – sins against its own people, it sins collectively against God! So how else is the US government sinning against God? Our dollar, or more accurately the rate they are being printed, makes a major currency devaluation likely, possibly even in the near future. This is particularly true if the abuses on Wall Street, as well as Washington, DC, continue unabated. This huge cover-up of the abuse of power will result in America's destruction unless it is all forcibly stopped immediately! If the US does not repent of these egregious sins and get its house in order, God will punish our country with more economic hardship, natural disasters and plagues than it has ever seen in her lifetime. I know there are those who will not take my warning seriously, but I remind you that the future of our country is at stake. I do not speak for myself, but I speak on the Lord's behalf through Christ Jesus his Son. He is the composer of this message; I'm just a courier of his.

We have taken the earth that God created and ruined it. Everything is polluted, even our own bodies. Oil residue still exists on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico and western Florida more than 7 years after that oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico; the seafood (not OUR seafood, since it all belongs to God) is contaminated with mercury and hundreds of tons of scrap plastic; our livestock are catching deadly new strains of the flu, and our IQ's become ever more diminished due to ingesting fluoridated water for decades. Autism, once thought to have originated from childhood vaccines, is now being more correctly understood as having environmental rather than medical causes and origins. We're doing all this to ourselves. Humanity has collectively become suicidal, and we're taking the whole stinkin' planet with us on the way out. We have collectively become insane, and it's all because of a group of psychopaths that have hijacked the US for their own enrichment. Since it is ourselves, the bottom 99%, who are on the receiving end of all this abuse, we will have to band together to get out of this untenable situation. For some ideas on how you can peacefully fight back, get a copy of my book “Occupying America: We Shall Overcome” from this link.

Hard times are coming, of that we can all be sure. Wars threaten to break out everywhere we look. God has shown me that gas rationing and food rationing are both in America's future. Poverty will increase by leaps and bounds, creating a permanent underclass of Americans who will become the spearhead of a Second American Revolution. Civil unrest is definitely coming, the likes of which haven't been seen since the 1960's. Rioting may occur in (hopefully) isolated areas, and people may have to stay barricaded in their homes and apartments for days and weeks at a time. With 70% of America's economy dependent on consumer spending, this is ominous to say the least. If and when the dollar collapses – a very real possibility – all these things will be much worse (God forbid). The Bible warns us that “a day is coming when no one will be able to work”. We have been taking our privileged lives for granted for too long. God is a patient and loving God who is slow to anger but swift and sure regarding his punishment for those who willfully disobey. When we take a look around us, we see our neighborhoods, subdivisions, schools, churches, businesses, and industries, and all the infrastructure associated with them. Yet God is warning you all that even the tallest tower – which here in Atlanta is just over 52 stories – will not be left standing upon the arrival of the great and dreadful Day of the Lord. It is only then, when the arrival of Christ Jesus splits the Mount of Olives in two, that “every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord”. You children of his are all just about out of time.

A major 'thank-you' to all my friends, followers, contacts and book customers

I wish to take the time to stop and extend a huge 'thank-you' to everyone this year who had a part in the success of this ministry, which is partly on-line and partly out in the streets as an ambassador and servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. As some of you know, this website and ministry are administered on a 100% voluntary basis. Aside from the sale of a few books here and there, I derive no salary from this Web based missionary work.

But some serious progress has been made this year, most of it recently. Progressive Christian Ministries of Greater Atlanta Inc. is now a 501c3 nonprofit, after spending most of this past year setting aside enough money for the filing fee, which is substantial. Also, we put out a call earlier this year for donations for a replacement computer. I am writing this message on that computer now, and a photo is just below. There is also a photo of all five of my published titles. These are reduced to $9.95, and they're tax deductible since we're a 501c3 nonprofit. All digital versions reduced to $3.99, they're also available in audio format!


This is the computer. It's an HP Pavilion G7, AMD A8 processor, 4GB ram, 750GB hard disk drive, 17" screen, Windows 7 SP1. Not bad for a $230.00 investment.

This week's ongoing Bible study will be part 1 of Luke chapter 24

Where Did Jesus Go?

[Luke chapter 24, verses 1-16]

To view this on my website, click here :-)

Last week as we left off at the conclusion of Luke chapter 23, Jesus had just died and been buried in a borrowed grave belonging to Joseph of Arimethia. Although no one saw the significance of this at the time, Jesus being laid in a borrowed grave for 3 days – since that was all he needed it for – confirms what Jesus said earlier in Luke's gospel. In Luke 14, verse 14 it reads, “Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous”. Jesus spoke of this as part of his 'parable of the great banquet'. For the full context, check out Luke chapter 14, verses 12-24. This week as we begin the 24^th and final chapter of Luke's gospel, we have a mystery on our hands. The grave that Jesus' body was entombed in has been found empty. Of course, we all know the story of Jesus' resurrection from the dead, but have you ever examined the details involved in this occurrence? Starting this week, and for the next 3 weeks afterward, we'll be doing exactly that as we delve into this week's lesson. So let's plunge right in to the refreshing waters of the Gospel of Luke chapter 24, beginning at verse one.

“On the first morning of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, 'Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he is risen! Remember how he told you, when he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' And they remembered his words.” (Luke 24, verses 1-8)

So these women – Luke did not specify how many, but I would say roughly 5 or 10 – have gone to Jesus' borrowed tomb in the predawn hours of the morning to dress his body with spices to alleviate the stench of a decaying human body, as was the custom back in those days. It was the equivalent to modern-day embalming procedures. When they arrived, the large stone that blocked the tomb's entrance had been rolled off to one side. (This rock must have weighed at least 3-5 tons) The size of the tomb's entrance was roughly that of the interior of a minivan – just enough for two men in a crouched position to drag the body that Joseph had wrapped in the cloths (see Luke 23:53) into the cave. “....when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.” So these women are standing there speechless at the entrance to the tomb peering into an empty grave. They knew they didn't have the wrong grave site because they had followed Joseph and his helpers there after Jesus had been taken down from the cross on which he died.

“ While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground....” As these ladies are standing there, presumably with their facial expressions ranging from puzzled to bewildered, the 2 men in shining clothes abruptly appear. Who were these men? Some say the archangels Michael and Gabriel, others teach it was Moses and Elijah. The truth of the matter is that nobody knows, and anyone who insists that they do should be avoided. One thing is for certain – the 2 men were not demonic in nature. “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he is risen!” Now I ask you, would demons be overjoyed at our risen Savior and for the fulfillment of Scripture and of the prophets? No way! Demons know Jesus rose from the dead, and the very thought puts terror in their hearts.

“Remember how he told you, when he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' And they remembered his words.” All the times Jesus had told his followers and taught his apostles that he must be handed over to be killed, and then rise from the dead, they must have thought Jesus was talking to them in parables like all the other parables he had spoken. They could not have understood he meant what he said literally. But they definitely understood clearly now. With that in mind, let's move on to the 2^nd half of Luke 24 starting at verse 9.

“When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of cloth lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened. Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.” (Luke 24, verses 9-16)

So the women, who the apostle Luke already stated had accompanied Jesus and the Eleven from Galilee to Jerusalem, and to the crucifixion, are making their way back to tell the others as quickly as they can run. I can almost hear them saying, “This is so unreal”, or, “I can't believe what we just saw”, or, “If Jesus isn't there, then where is he?”, and so on. But when the apostles first heard the news, they didn't believe the women, and even ridiculed them. All except for Peter, who had denied Jesus three times before the rooster crowed back in chapter 22. Although I cannot say for sure, Peter's motivation to go and see the opened tomb was – in his mind – his own second chance at redemption before Christ.

“Bending over, he saw the strips of cloth lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened. Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus....” So now it's Peter's turn to go back to Jerusalem muttering to himself, since he had no one to accompany him like the ladies did. In the following verse, the “two of them” walking together were most likely Luke and either James or John. Since the apostle Luke is the writer, we can presume he was one of the individuals in his narrative since it it written in the 'first person'. It is at this point that Jesus catches up to them as they are walking along the road. The Bible reads, “Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.” It doesn't say how this happened, whether this inability to recognize our Risen Savior was Spiritual in nature, or whether Jesus was wearing some sort of hooded garb like Obi-wan Kenobi in the movie “Star Wars”. At any rate, at this point is the best place to leave off for this week's study. It is just after this point that the conversation between the two apostles and the as-yet-unrecognized risen Lord Jesus Christ begins. So until then, I hope everybody had a tremendous Christmas this year, and mine was just fine. I spent the day with the Lord!

Are America's Pastors Blind to the Coming Nuclear War with China?

This week's guest post is from Neil Vermillion

My Guest Post for This Week

by pastor Paul J. Bern

To view this on my website, click here :-)

During this Christmas holiday, I will be spending some time with friends and giving myself a chance to take time for some R&R. While I'm away, I would like to introduce you to a colleague and acquaintance of mine, Neil Vermillion. Neil has a Web ministry as I do, but his is focused more on prophecy (see link below), whereas mine is focused on preaching and teaching the Word while juxtaposing it with modern events. I chose this posting because it fits the current holiday season by reminding us of the origins of Christmas. Christmas is an inherently Christian holiday. Yet it is celebrated globally year after year. So here's a little piece about the origins of Christmas as it applies to the uniqueness of Christianity.

What Makes Christianity Unique?

Neil Vermillion — September 18, 2013 — 45 Comments

The answer to this question is actually quite involved.
Rather than attempt to create an exhaustive resource to answer this I’d rather give you key points to consider – key ideas you can take with you, right now about what makes Christianity unique from other religions.

This way you won’t get bogged down in memorizing details and facts (there are plenty), but instead walk away with key ideas to pray about, think about, and ask more questions about.
The first thing that makes Christianity unique is that it really is all about Jesus.

Jesus himself made the claim he was the only way (John 14:6). The original founder of our faith, the one we follow as believers and followers of Jesus, said himself He was the only way. 
 
He didn’t apologize for it, or make this claim as though he was embarrassed or unsure of it. In fact, he made this claim with great boldness and confidence, even though he knew it would turn everything around. 
 
Without compromising he said, “It’s all about me”, so to speak. In essence he said, no one gets into heaven, no one lives eternal life, no one sees The Father, except through me.
Jesus was unique in that he himself said he was the only way. Other religions talk about finding the right path, working to make the right decisions, learning the right lessons, or doing the right things, but Jesus simply said it was all about him. Jesus said, “follow me”.



How Do I Know Christianity Is The Right Religion?



Christianity is not only about following a set of teachings and principles, but about following a man, which also is what makes Christianity a unique religion.

Jesus told his disciples to “follow me”, not “obey my teachings”. Jesus said, “If you love me you will obey my commandments”, so yes, we do need to learn, follow, and obey, but it’s not about following rules, or followings concepts, it’s about following a man, a person, our teacher, lover, protector, savior.
It’s not religion. It’s a relationship with Jesus Christ (click here to tweet this).

It’s not about obeying rules for the sake of obeying rules, it’s about growing in knowledge and experience of a person through a relationship that grows in intimacy. This relationship is intensely personal, not dogmatic, not religious.



What Makes Christianity Different From Other Religions?



Christianity is not based on works, or getting it right, or figuring it out.
It’s more about receiving a free gift. Not free in the sense it has no value, but free in the sense we didn’t have to pay for it. Of course the price of salvation is very expensive, but we didn’t have to pay for it (we never could).It’s not about getting it right…

Instead Jesus paid the price for our sin debt on our behalf, making salvation freely available to all who would choose to receive it.

This free gift is part of the offense of salvation and the message of God’s grace. This grace is thought of by many as an extreme demonstration of God’s love for us. Some have even referred to it as “vulgar grace“.



How is Christianity Different?



Christianity is not about man finding God, redemption, truth, love, light, eternal life, or anything else, but rather is about a perfect, loving God reaching down to bridge the gap to reach down to humanity to pursue dirty, fallen, imperfect humans. God made a way for us when there was no way. It wasn’t man’s idea, or knowledge, or ingenuity, but rather God’s burning love and passion for people, inspiring him to make a tremendous sacrifice, as an extravagant demonstration of his love for us. Yes, our God is a flaming fire, burning with white-hot passion for us in his pursuit of revealing his love, mercy and grace.
Christianity is God pursuing man, not just man pursuing God (tweet this).

Humans didn’t finally figure it out, and work their way up to God. God came down, and made a way for us.



Is Christianity The One True Religion?



Every other leader, founder, teacher of every other religion or teaching is dead. They’ve passed on into their place in eternity, but Jesus himself rose again from the dead.
Jesus rose from the dead…

No other religion can make this claim, which without a doubt, makes Christianity unique and set apart from all others.

These are my own personal thoughts as to the basis of what makes Christianity different than any other religion or set of beliefs, but I already know I don’t know everything. So please share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Free book excerpt # 17 from author, blogger and Web pastor Paul J. Bern

“The Apostles In Plain English Vol. 1: the Apostle Paul” by Rev. Paul J. Bern 

(c) 2017 by Rev. Paul J. Bern and CreateSpace.com

 

Five years in the making, this first of a series is a lot more than just a compilation of Bible studies. This collection of Paul's writings presents them from a broader perspective that are much more applicable to modern life than one might expect. 

 

This study of Paul's writings is done from a whole new 21^st century perspective that is sure to educate while making the process enjoyable. Over 500 pages of enlightenment! A must-read for believers, whether they attend church or not! An inspirational guide for secular folks too!

Watch the video at https://youtu.be/N4RXD3iOnxI

The Love Chapter

[1^st Corinthians chapter 13]

Today in our continuing study of 1^st Corinthians we will cover chapter 13, which is sometimes called “the love chapter” by ministers, Bible scholars, and independent pastors like myself. This 13^th chapter is not only a deeply meaningful and eloquent piece of scripture, it has literary beauty as well. The words flow like a gently running stream through a magnificent landscape of cascading spirituality, defining what true love is and how it is shared between ourselves and others in compassionate and tender fashion. Let me begin this lesson at verse one right away. This chapter of 1^st Corinthians is so good it won't wait!

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.” (1^st Cor. 13, verses 1-3)

When the apostle Paul wrote these words he was not writing about love in a physical sense and he was not commenting on being married vs. remaining single. He was writing about the kind of love that Jesus said we should all have in abundance as He taught us about the two greatest commandments. When asked about this during His ministry, Jesus replied, “These two commandments are that you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, and that you must love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commands rest all the law and the prophets.” And so it doesn't matter what we do for God if we have no love for serving others and do not practice putting them before ourselves as I try to do with this ministry. All the effort in the world will come to nothing if we have no love in our hearts. Paul then goes on to point out the meaning of that statement.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (1st Cor. 13, verses 4-6)

I could say that this passage is pretty much self-explanatory and move on, but before I do let me comment on what the inverse of this scripture looks like. When Paul wrote that love is patient and kind, he was warning us against being impatient, demanding, unkind and mean. Paul was also telling us that there will be no bullies in heaven. Bullying is completely un-Christian, and this kind of behavior must be opposed in the name of Jesus at every turn. Moreover, when Paul wrote that love is not envious, boastful or proud he was warning us – and the entire Church – against being jealous, arrogant, obnoxious and conceited. When Paul wrote that love is not rude or self-seeking, he was reminding us to be considerate of others while warning us not to be belligerent, controlling or manipulative because such behavior never comes from God. 

 

When Paul wrote that love is not easily angered and keeps no record of wrongs, he was reminding us to control our tempers, to never hold grudges (especially for very long), and to never be abusive towards others for any reason. When Paul wrote that love rejoices with the truth and never delights in evil, he was reminding us that standing against social and economic injustice and the abuse of power is the responsibility of Christians everywhere, as Rev. Dr. King Jr. (who was himself a minister of the Gospel) so memorably reminded us of a generation ago. If love always protects, then it is never negligent nor does it lack diligence. If love always trusts then it is never dishonest. If love always perseveres, then love is relentless, never giving up. Let me now continue our study of this truly beautiful passage of Scripture.

“Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away;For we know in part and we prophecy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.” (1^st Cor. 13, verses 8-10)

“Love never fails”. Even though the world around us is coming apart at the seams, love will still be standing when it implodes because God, who is eternal, is the personification of love. Even though marriages fail, love will drive men or women to seek another relationship to replace it. Even though our country's unsustainable debt-based economic policies threaten to crash the capitalist financial system straight into the ground (and make no mistake, that is exactly what will ultimately occur), love will still be standing even when your money is no good anymore (and that day is also coming, so take heed). Even though nations go to war, love always rebuilds the population when the war finally ends. And it is love from which we derive compassion and empathy, two more human virtues that similarly never fail.

Before I move on, let me comment briefly on verse 10, “For we know in part and we prophecy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.” Knowing and prophesying in part is an acknowledgment of our one-on-one relationship with Christ Jesus. We know Him through our daily walk with Him, through being in an ongoing state of prayer, and we proclaim his Word because we have read it, understood it and are actively obeying it. We only know Jesus in part because we have never actually seen Him, but our faith in Him makes up the difference. Still, until He returns, we only know Him “in part”. “But when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears”. The word perfection in this verse symbolizes and is used as a synonym for Christ. So when He returns, our imperfect relationship with Him will be made perfect because we will have seen Him and in so doing we will be achieving Spiritual fulfillment. Now that I have analyzed this I will move on and finish this up.

“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1^st Cor. 13, verses 11-13)

Paul is comparing maturing from a child to an adult to our growth in faith in Christ as we are first transformed from lost nonbelievers to born-again Christians and then subsequently becoming ever stronger in our walk with our Savior. As of now, we can only hope to emulate Jesus as best as we can, and we freely choose to believe in Him and to uphold the sacredness of His name even though we have never seen Him. But one fine day we shall all see Him face to face, and we will all instantly recognize Him. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully...; our journey as Christians does not end until we are with Jesus in heaven in New Jerusalem, to dwell with Him forever.

Love is the greatest virtue, it has no equal and thus reigns supreme because its source is from God, a supreme being. True Christian love is unconditional, with nothing held back. It is not selfish or egocentric, it is not used cynically to manipulate or control people, nor is it given in exchange for anything, but instead it is distributed freely and always without expecting anything in return. The three greatest virtues as Paul names them are faith, hope and love – but “the greatest of these is love”. Jesus said in the gospel of John, “A new command I give you, that you are to love one another”. If we just focused all our energy on this one thing, the world would quickly become a far more enjoyable and much safer place to live. And that's a worthwhile goal anytime.

Get the digital edition on Kindle ($7.99) at https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=node%3D154606011&field-keywords=the+apostles+in+plain+english+1%3A+the+apostle+Paul 

Buy direct from the author ($19.95) at http://www.pcmatl.org/#!books-and-donations/c17et 

Get it in audio format on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Apostles-Plain-English-Vol-Appearance/dp/B0746TTGBN/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1503076680&sr=1-1&keywords=the+apostles+in+plain+english+vol.+1%3A+the+apostle+Paul 

Watch the video at https://youtu.be/N4RXD3iOnxI

Happy holidays from Rev. Paul J. Bern 

This week's Bible study will be part 4 of Luke chapter 23

Jesus Dies and is Buried

[Luke chapter 23, verses 44-56]

To view this on my website, click here :-)

Last week in our ongoing study of the writings of the apostle Luke, we left off at the place where one of the condemned men on the cross had just asked Jesus to “remember me when you come into your kingdom”. Jesus told that man, “....this very day you will be with me in paradise.” From this brief exchange we have learned that it's never too late to ask Jesus for forgiveness for something from our past, no matter how bad it may be. Even people who have received the death penalty can be forgiven by Jesus if only they will ask him to. So that brief exchange on the cross between Christ and the condemned man shows us that one can be condemned on earth and saved by Jesus, all at once, but only if we place our complete faith in him. This week as we take up where we left off, the apostle Luke relates the death and burial of Jesus, along with a few details and observations. So let's begin this week's study starting at verse 44.

“It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out in a loud voice, 'Father, into your hands I commit my Spirit.' When he had said this, he breathed his last. The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, 'Surely this was a righteous man.' When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.” (Luke 23, 44—49)

So we know that it became like night time in the middle part of the day. The references to the 6^th and the 9^th hour is how time was recorded back then. Hours were counted from sunrise to sunset, so apparently this took place from around noontime until about 3PM, the hour of our Lord and Savior's death. The following sentence referring to the temple's curtain being torn in two requires a little more explanation. In the Old Testament is a detailed explanation of how the Lord's Temple was to be constructed (see Exodus 36: 33-36). The Temple curtain separated the Ark of the Covenant from the rest of the inner sanctuary, and there was a second one at the entrance to the inner sanctuary from the outer court. But it was the one in the inner sanctuary that Luke referred to in his gospel. The gospel of Matthew also describes an earthquake that was the cause of the Temple curtain being torn in two (see Matthew 27: 51), but Luke's gospel does not mention this for some unknown reason. The darkness that overtook the land for three hours were when God could not look upon his Son and so forsook him. This is what happens when the “light of the world” (see Matthew 5: 14-16) gets taken out of the world. What we get in the absence of the Savior and Redeemer of humankind is total darkness, both figuratively and literally.

“Father, into your hands I commit my Spirit.” Jesus trusted his Father implicitly with his fate. Shouldn't we be doing the same? Into your hands, O God, I commit my body, mind and spirit all day long, 24/7. Nothing else but him. Let nothing get in the way of your personal relationship with Jesus! Not money or material pursuits, not our pursuit of success or fame, nor a spouse or family, nor hobbies or travel, and not our careers – nothing can be allowed to interfere with our relationship with God. “When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away.” Back in those days, men beating their chests in a remorseful manner was common for those who had just suffered a serious loss or misfortune of one kind or another. Those who did beat their breasts must have known that Jesus was the Son of God. Even the centurion guarding the three men on the cross knew Jesus' true identity. So if the centurion on duty there, who was most likely a pagan, could readily identify Jesus as the Son of God, how much more could those who already believed? Just as it is written: “But all those who knew him.... stood at a distance, watching these things.” All the believers and followers, presumably including Luke himself, watched from a distance – not as wide-eyed believers, but as a group of apostles and devotees who were seeing what they thought was the death of a movement and a cause. Jesus the savior, redeemer and healer had just died in full view of everyone. The sadness that overcame them must have been deep and profound. And now let's conclude this week's lesson starting at verse 50.

“Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the council, a good and upright man, who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimethia and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body. Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.” (Luke 23, verses 50-56)

Joseph of Arimethia was a biblical figure who played an important role in the burial of Jesus Christ. His account can be found in each of the four Gospels: Matthew 27:57–60; Mark 15:42–46; Luke 23:50–53; and John 19:38–42. He is called “Joseph of Arimethia” in verse 53 because “he came from the Judean town of Arimethia” and to distinguish him from other Josephs in the Bible. After Jesus’ death on the cross, Joseph, at great risk to himself and his reputation, went to the Roman governor Pilate to request Jesus’ body. While there is not much information in the Bible about Joseph of Arimethia, there are certain things we can glean from the text. In Luke 23:50, we learn that Joseph was actually a part of the Council, or Sanhedrin—the group of Jewish religious leaders who called for Jesus’ crucifixion. However, as we read on to verse 51, we see that Joseph was opposed to the Council’s decision and was in fact a secret follower of Jesus (see also Mark 15:43). Joseph was a wealthy man (Matthew 27:57), although the source of his wealth is unknown.

I also find it noteworthy that there were some women who had followed Jesus from Galilee all the way to Jerusalem and to his public execution – a slow, agonizing walk at that – and onward to the cross. That works out to roughly 90 miles, quite a distance on foot. I wonder – do we have this kind of devotion to Jesus today? Would we follow him on foot for 90 miles in a land devoid of convenience stores? Because if we don't, then we have our work cut out for us. Let's spend this week checking ourselves and our devotion level towards our Lord and Savior. And next week we'll start on chapter twenty four of Luke's gospel.

A Different Sort of Christmas Message for 2017

Does Anybody Really Know What Time This Is?

Does Anybody Really Care?

By Web pastor Paul J. Bern

To view this on my website, click here :-)

This week's commentary is titled the same as that 1970 song by “Chicago”. The holiday season is what time it is. Question is, does anybody really care about the original reason we celebrate Christmas? Thanksgiving is long gone, Christmas is this coming week, and it will be 2018 before you know it. Some will say to themselves, “I'm so glad it's the holidays, I love this time of year”, and really mean it. Others will say the same thing but inwardly they are always relieved when it's all over and done with. And then there are still others who struggle to get through the holidays, those for whom this is a stressful time. Is it any wonder people get stressed about this time of year? All the frenzied shopping and materialistic acquisition of the latest gadgets, the most up-to-date technologies, the loveliest jewelry, the finest watches and accessories for men and women, and all the new clothes, are soon followed by all the returns, swaps and refunds, and let's not forget the miserable traffic jams while we're at it. Let's remind ourselves one more time – why are we doing this? Because it's the holidays, and everybody loves the holidays because everybody loves to shop! Right? I mean, we all do think and act like everyone else as we're supposed to, right? Or is that anywhere near being a correct statement?

The ugly truth is that we have been programmed to behave this way. For generations we have been bombarded with advertisements via the media. First it was newspaper, then radio, then TV became the biggest player in advertising and marketing until the Internet came along, and the Web will soon eclipse them all in terms of sheer volume. Back in the days before the Internet some sales were made in stores, but many other products were sold door-to-door, and a lot of people wouldn't buy anything that way because they were afraid to trust door-to-door salespeople, and sometimes for good reason. Well, the large volume of advertisements of all variations that we see today on TV or the Internet, or that we hear on the radio, are a lot like those door-to-door salespeople of a generation or two ago. People don't listen to or watch the ads for the most part. They are regarded as a nuisance that one can't do much about. Suppose, just for a moment, that the Internet didn't exist. What if all those TV, radio and Internet ads were door-to-door salespeople? It would be like going back to 1960! It would also mean your doorbell would ring once every minute 24/7! That works out to 1,440 doorbell rings per day, 365 days a year. Well, if nobody would put up with that, why do they put up with all the ads? The answer is because we have been brainwashed, conditioned to accept advertisements not as just a part of everyday living – there will always be ads, even in space someday – but as a necessary part of life.

OK, let's step back and look at this from a broader perspective. It is indisputable that we are programmed to spend, and this is true throughout the Western hemisphere. Who benefits from this bastardization of the birth of our Lord and Savior? Where does all the money we spend at Christmas time wind up? Walmart? Target? Sears? Amazon? Their stockholders get a portion, granted, and the company gets better capitalized, that's true. The rest of it goes to the top 1% of the richest people in America and Western Europe, and let's not forget Canada and Japan while we're at it. There are about 400 families globally who control roughly 40% of the liquid assets of the entire world. They are the ones who are ultimately pocketing our money after all the counting is done after Christmas. They are the ones running the ads with all the subliminal messages while directing them at your children and grandchildren. They are the ones who want to get in between your ears and mess around with your brain. Why knock on your door to sell you something when they can come at you right through your television or computer screen? The only solution to this is to unplug your TV's and unsubscribe from your cable or satellite company.

The 400 richest families mentioned above are also the ones who fund the international banking system with portions of their proceeds. This means these 400 families help fund Monsanto so they can poison the ground we grow our food in, they fund 'Big Pharma' so we can be pumped full of drugs of often questionable value, and they help fund the “black projects” like HAARP and the blanketing of our earth with “chemtrails” that poison the air. They also fund the Wall Street bankers who are stealing us blind. And all this is being marketed and advertised by way of those ads we all get thrown in our faces on a continuous basis. I won't presume to speak for anyone else here, but is anybody else besides me fed up with the current state of affairs to the point that we are ready to join a revolt – or perhaps even lead one? Moreover, don't you think this is the complete opposite of what Jesus would want us to do to celebrate his birthday? By poisoning the world his Father created and the people and animal life that inhabit it? “Jesus”, the worn out cliché goes, “is the reason for the season”. Well if that is the case, then why do we celebrate Christmas every year by enriching 400 families who already have more money than they could ever physically spend in their lifetimes? What is it going to take to get you all to rise up against our oppressors?

As I wrote in a Christmas message from a couple years ago, Jesus wasn't born on December 25^th anyway. He was born on the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles, which is in late September or early October by our Western calendar, depending on the year (the Jewish calendar has 360 days). So I won't be redundant by restating that. But the holidays are not just about the birth of Jesus. Christmas is a time for a celebration of his life. Normally we have celebrations of people's lives at their funerals. But, since Jesus rose from the dead and still lives, Christmas is a time of celebration for what Jesus accomplished with his life. Jesus is far more than a little baby boy born in a manger (A 'manger', by the way, is a feeding trough for livestock. “This is my body, broken in remembrance of me....”). He was an apostle for 12, and later for 72, a healer of multitudes, a performer of miracles, a bouncer of demons, a teacher of humanity, a Savior of the world, and a King of the universe. He sits at the right hand of God, his only begotten Son, and his Holy Spirit inhabits the hearts of all who will humble themselves enough to ask him in. At Christmas time we celebrate the life of the man who died on a wooden cross by being nailed to it. Once this was done, that cross was stood straight up and dropped into a hole in the ground so that Jesus was about 5 or 6 feet off the ground. He was likely tied to the cross with ropes to keep him from slipping off the nails. I cannot conceive of having to endure such agony. Jesus' only consolation as he hung on that cross was his occasional relief from the pain as he slipped in and out of consciousness due to the great loss of blood.

That is what we are actually celebrating – not just Jesus' birth, but his life and how he lived it! “I have come so that you may have life, and have it to the fullest.” (John 10: 10) Jesus' life, and the eternal life he has offered to everyone in exchange for our undying faith in him, is what Christmas is really all about! It's about the birth of Jesus, granted, but there is so much more to it than that. It's all about what Jesus did with his life once he was born. Christmas isn't a solitary calendar date, it's a starting point for a process that is still ongoing as each of us blossoms into the creation we were meant to be. Just as the Father enabled Jesus and his 3 ½ year ministry to blossom into all that it was meant to be. So this Christmas, let's do more than just celebrate Jesus' birth. Let's celebrate Christmas as the starting point to His magnificent life.

This week's ongoing Biblical teaching will be part 3 of Luke chapter 22

Jesus On the Cross

[Luke chapter 23, verses 32-43]

To view this on my web site, click here :-)

 Last week when we ended our ongoing study of the writings of the apostle Luke, we left off at verse 31 of chapter 23, where Jesus was being led off to be crucified. A crowd of people followed after him, mourners who knew his fate and who wept and wailed at the sight of our Lord and Savior. No wonder! By this time Jesus had been beaten with fists and whipped with a whip with multiple cords on it for the maximum and most gruesome effect. Jesus had been beaten so badly he was nearly unrecognizable. And he hadn't even been crucified yet! This week we will pick up at verse 32, Jesus is being nailed to the cross in what has to be the saddest part of the Bible. But it's only that way on the surface of things as they stand, because of what will happen three days later. So let's all get started, OK?

“Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him along with the criminals – one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, 'Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.' And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, 'He saved others, let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.' The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered wine vinegar and said, 'If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself.'” (Luke 23, verses 32-37)

In the Bible's original Hebrew-to-Greek translation that occurred about the turn of the 2^nd century AD, the word for “the place called the Skull” is 'Golgotha', the word from which the modern term 'Gothic' has its roots. Although I've never been there myself, I understand this place is a hill with what appears to be the upper half of a human skull on one side of it, with just the eyes and nose visible along with a prominent crown. So our Lord and Savior was crucified that day in between two criminals who had received the death penalty, presumably for murder or attempting insurrection against the Roman Empire who ruled the Middle East of that time with an iron hand, or some other capital offense. They crucified Jesus Christ as a common criminal, but he was also crucified because he was viewed as a threat to the establishment. Although our Redeemer didn't set out to be one, Jesus ended up receiving capital punishment for being a revolutionary. A revolutionary for what, you ask? Jesus preached and taught all about equality, an issue that some people are just now figuring out after 2,000 years. He taught that God had a Son who was an intermediary between God and humankind, something previously unheard of. He accused the religious establishment of his day of apostasy, of misleading the people and of spiritual dereliction of duty because they were so hypocritical. When he overturned the tables and chairs of the money-changers in the Temple before driving them out with a whip he had made, that was just the icing on the cake that was the Lord's ministry – a wedding cake! This would be a wedding cake for his Bride, who is the church. The fact that Jesus used a home made whip to drive them out of the Temple was the primary reason Jesus was whipped so badly on the morning of his crucifixion.

Despite everything that was being done to him, all our Savior could say was, “'Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.' And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.” OK, let's all get some perspective on this. Jesus is in the process of being nailed to a cross. He has already been bound to the cross with rope to hold his hands and feet down to keep them firmly in place, so that when they drove the nails through it would be impossible for him to move. Plus, there were soldiers there holding Jesus' limbs in place anyhow. The pain must have been excruciating to the point of being off the scale. Jesus had already been beaten half to death, even to the point where someone else had to be commandeered to carry his cross. And yet, instead of calling those who were driving those nails every curse or swear word ever invented like any of us would have done (including myself), or screaming out in pain, “Why? Why?”, Jesus simply asked his Father in heaven to forgive them. I'm sure he was crying out in pain as he did so, which makes this all the more remarkable. Even as the Roman soldiers gambled for his clothes – meaning Jesus was hanging on the cross in his underwear in early to mid April in early to mid morning, with the air temperature ranging from the upper forties to near 60 degrees Fahrenheit – Jesus asked the Father to forgive them anyway, even while his teeth chattered in the chilly Passover morning air that day.

“The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, 'He saved others, let him save himself....” By “the rulers”, I'm sure the apostle Luke meant the Temple rulers as well as the governing authorities there in Jerusalem. For three and a half years the religious leadership of that day – the Pharisees, Sadducee's, the Chief Priests and teachers of the Law – had expended enormous time and resources following Jesus around, testing him and trying every way they knew how to trip Jesus up, or to catch him in a contradiction, or to find an angle from which to attack him from a Biblical standpoint. Now they had Jesus right where they wanted him – nailed to that cross ten feet up in the air, with his fate as Lord, Eternal Savior and Kinsman Redeemer of all humankind sealed for all eternity! This is why we go to church every Sunday: To honor Jesus' supreme sacrifice that he made on the cross for all of us by dying in our place for our sins against God. Whether we intended to sin or not is besides the point – we have all still sinned at least once in our lives. When it comes to God, even one sin is too much because God is purity personified. Sin, on the other hand, however innocent or harmless or fun it may have seemed at the time, causes us to fall short of the glory of God. So although Jesus declined to save himself when he was challenged to do so, it was because this was destined for 3 days into the future, something no one else understood at that time. And now let's conclude today's study starting at verse 38.

“There was a written notice above him which read: 'This is the King of the Jews'. One of the criminals who hung there with him hurled insults at him: 'Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!' But the other criminal rebuked him. 'Don't you fear God', he said, 'since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.' Then he said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.' Jesus answered him, 'I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.'” (Luke 23, verses 38-43)

The message in these last few verses is unmistakable! It doesn't matter who condemns, insults or attacks you if God is still on your side. It doesn't matter who you are, or what you have done (or not), or where you have been – not even as a condemned criminal hanging on a cross right next to God's promised Messiah or Anointed One, right where he can see you. Jesus isn't interested in your background. In fact, he really couldn't care less about that, in my estimation. What Jesus is most interested in is your destination in eternity. Jesus isn't interested in your past, he's focused on your future. Another thing that stands out here is the stark contrast between the two criminals Jesus was crucified with. One of them taunted Jesus because he hadn't saved himself and the others. But then, “....the other criminal rebuked him. 'Don't you fear God', he said, 'since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” One recognized Jesus as being not only an innocent man, but also as being the Son of God, or the Jewish Messiah, depending on your point of view. The other condemned man clearly did not, as you read. Prior to this, neither had followed Jesus even though they likely had both heard of him. But it was not until they met on the day they were crucified that the two criminals had a decision to make – a decision for or against Christ. Do we believe in Him or not?

“Don't you fear God?”, asked the second condemned prisoner to the first. He was likely quoting the Bible when he asked that question: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” (Proverbs 1: 7) What followed was one of the most memorable exchanges between Jesus and those he saved. “Then he said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.' Jesus answered him, 'I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.'” The man on the cross who asked Jesus to remember him – effectively asking for his final absolution – was the one whose soul got saved. We can safely conclude that it was the contrite heart as well as the faith of the second man that saved his soul. It wasn't because he led a great life, because he had not. He was a condemned criminal. But his willingness to take responsibility for his sins and his expressed faith in Jesus as the man who would save his soul – that is what saved him. And that, in the end, is all that can save our souls. Our deeds can't save us, no matter how well intentioned and numerous they may be. Nevertheless we are commanded by Christ to “love your neighbor as yourself”. Moreover, a complete lack of faith will condemn us no matter how much we may selflessly help others. Our deeds can't help us there either – unless they are combined with unwavering faith in Jesus Christ as our living, risen Savior. And next week we'll move on to part 4 of Luke chapter 23.

What the 'Fake News' Media Hasn't Told You About the Wildfires in California and Elsewhere

Various Wildfires in the Bible

by Web Pastor Paul J. Bern

To view this on my website, click here :-)

Everything in the world is in agitation. The signs of the times are ominous. Coming events cast their shadows long before their arrival. The Spirit of God is withdrawing from the earth, and calamity follows calamity by sea and by land. There are hurricanes, tornado's, earthquakes, deadly wildfires, floods, mass shootings and murders of every description. Who can read the future? Where is security? There is assurance in nothing that is human or earthly. The only true security can be found in Jesus Christ. When our lives are over and our bodies inevitably wear out and die, we can't take any of our stuff with us. Too many people live their lives to see how much they can accumulate while they're still here. What we should be doing instead is to live our lives to see how much of a legacy we leave behind when we're dead and gone.

Isaiah 30 verse 27 says, “See, the name of the Lord comes from afar, with burning anger and dense clouds of smoke; his lips are full of wrath, and his tongue is a consuming fire.” One of the things that impressed me most about the west coast wildfires is they can spread faster than a human can run. That is, they can overtake and consume someone who is trying to flee without a vehicle. God's Word, the Bible in whatever format or version you choose, is a “consuming fire” that spares nothing and no one, even to the very soul! The fires of hell are just as real as those wildfires you've been watching on the news, or preferably on Alternative Media. Jesus said as much in Matthew 5 verse 22: “....I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca', is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'you fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.” “Raca” is an Arabic gesture of contempt, like calling someone an expletive or talking down to them as if they are worthless. That person may well seem worthless to their accuser, but the accuser forgets that God made them both.

In Mark's gospel chapter 9, verse 43 mentions the fires of hell too. “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go to hell, where the fire never goes out.” Wildfires, no matter how out of control they may become, are all eventually put out. Not so with the fires of hell. And if Jesus tells us that hell is a real place, you had best believe it is because Jesus cannot lie – it's just not possible for the Son of God to do that. In the same way that none of us could swim in a swimming pool filled with hydrochloric acid, Jesus cannot lie any more than a house cat can transform itself into a leopard. So hell is real, and any person who says otherwise is in a state of denial. No apologies. The apostle Paul wrote about what occurs in instances like the California wildfires, or the huge hurricanes we had earlier this year, when people put their faith in the wrong things. “....his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to the light. It will be revealed with fire, and fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.”

“The Day” is a reference to the Biblical return of Jesus to reign forever here on earth. The “Day of the Lord”, as the Bible calls it, will be marked by the wholesale destruction of everything man-made. Just as God destroyed the earth once before by the Great Flood, as he destroyed earth before with water he will soon destroy again with fire. Our legacies cannot be consumed by fire, only our material goods, together with ourselves in a worst case scenario. “If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.” Just as those who made it through the ferocious fires out in California escaped with only the clothes on their backs, so those who hoard possessions and wealth in this life will have the least in the next, if they make it to be with the Lord at all! You materialistic people – you know who you are – are living your lives all wrong! Some don't realize it and others just don't care. As a famous preacher once said, “People who don't care leave holes in time.” One final thought just below about the California wildfires, and that will be all for this week. Be blessed in Jesus' mighty name!

The Jerusalem Fire, a Sign or Coincidence?

Commentary By: Gordon King at https://endtimebibleprophecy.wordpress.com
Signs of the times, or mere coincidence? I don’t know, you be the judge.

This year has been a year of devastation and disaster as we see not only economic, social, and political disaster, but also man-made and natural disaster.

We see wildfires all across the Western United States, huge massive fires endangering lives, causing mass evacuations, and threatening property.

One of these fires located in Northern California is named “The Jerusalem Fire”.

I am not saying that this is a sign, yet isn’t it odd, the Jerusalem fire? Jerusalem, the middle of controversy for the entire world. Jerusalem, “it shall be a burdensome stone”. It’s something to think about.

If it’s not a sign, then it should at the least be a wake up call! Things in the world are just not right, the world is on fire! And the center of the world, Jerusalem, is in the middle of a fire storm.

Don’t take my word for it, read the holy scriptures, the Bible, see for yourself what the Lord says regarding the end times.

God bless! Maranatha! To view the original article on the Web, click here!