Wisdom of Mark Twain:

 Wisdom of Mark Twain:

"When in doubt, tell the truth."

"Always do right. That will gratify some of the people, and astonish the rest."

"Patriotism is supporting your country all the time and your government when it deserves it."

"Love seems the swiftest, but it is the slowest of all growths. No man or woman really knows what perfect love is until they have been married a quarter of a century."

Darkness or Light

 Darkness or Light by Bill Wilson

As we enter the holiday season, there will be many opportunities to either shine the light of Christ or participate in the darkness of the world. How you respond could well determine the future of our nation.

There is disruption on all levels of our society, a lot of it spurred on by an out-of-control media pitting us against one another. There is no rest from disruption. It is so, because the media and the disrupters make it so. There they are making their noise, spewing forth hate, derision, suspicion and darkness. What is it to us?

We do not have to allow them to influence us. Their darkness does not overcome the light of Christ and the Holy Spirit in each of us. We are of another citizenship.

In John 8:12, Christ said, “I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

In Matthew 5:14-16, Christ affirms this transfer of light, saying, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it gives light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Philippians 2:14-15 says, “Do all things without murmurings and disputing: That you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.”

Proverbs 4:14-18 says, “Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away from it. For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shines more and more unto the perfect day.” Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

There is a pattern here that there is a path we all travel, but we do not have to travel in darkness because Christ is the light for the just. He transfers it to his disciples that they might also be the light of the world.

As you see friends and family during this festive season, you do not have to take part in the darkness around us. You can be that light to others, that joy in the midst of sorrow. Everyone seems to be at odds with everyone else. Peace is but a fleeting moment like an insincere greeting.

Remember, though, that as the light of the world, you are also an ambassador of Christ, an emissary of the kingdom of God. We don’t have to enter into the darkness because it already has been defeated by the King of Kings.

Renew your mind.

Have a perspective of light.

As is written in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love and of a sound mind.”

So let your light shine.

II Corinthians 11:30

 "If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness." 2 Corinthians 11:30

The King’s Grace

The King’s Grace by Darrin Compagner Scripture Reading: Revelation 22:12-21 "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen." Revelation 22:21

It has been said that the last pages of our Bible bend around to touch the first pages. They bring full circle the one big story of God’s love and salvation of the world. In the beginning, God the King creates the world and proclaims it good, good, very good. “Good” is the most important word describing God and God’s world in the beginning.

But much that unfolds later in this story—and in our world—is not good. There is sinful rebellion, guilt, shame, corruption, violence, injustice, and disintegration. The world is broken, and we feel it in the depths of our souls. The world’s history books and the daily news proclaim it unceasingly. But unceasing too in the Bible’s big story is something that transforms and redeems all this brokenness: grace.

The King’s grace is a phrase ­often used to refer to a king’s favor or presence or to simply a king himself. In the Bible, it is finally the King’s grace that gets the last word. Grace comes in the person and work of King Jesus. He is the one who is King of kings and Lord of lords. The first chapter of the Bible proclaims, “Good.” The last chapter proclaims what is greater still: “Grace.” God’s big story moves from good to grace.

Whatever we face in terms of struggle, guilt, or sorrow, the King’s grace gets the last word. The King’s grace is the world’s—and our—great hope!

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with all God’s people. Amen.

Grieving the Holy Spirit

Grieving the Holy Spirit by Dr. D. James Kennedy “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30

Did you know that the Holy Spirit is a person? The Bible makes it very clear that the Holy Spirit is not just a force, like electricity. Rather, He is a person who knows, loves, speaks, leads, guides, intercedes, teaches, cries, testifies, and approves or disapproves of what we do. And when we love a person very much, we don’t want to do anything that will make him or her sad. In the same way, we need to know that we can grieve the Holy Spirit, just as we can grieve any other person whom we care about.

The Holy Spirit lives in our hearts. When God calls us as Christians, He sends the Spirit to live inside us. This indwelling is called “being sealed” by the Holy Spirit. (John 6:27 tells us that Christ was also sealed by the Holy Spirit: “God the Father has set His seal on Him.”) Being sealed by the Holy Spirit brings us many blessings. It indicates that God has accepted us and that we’re precious in His sight. It testifies to a finished transaction: Jesus has paid for all our sins. It verifies our security: God has sealed our sins in a bag and buried them in the depths of the sea. It attests to ownership: We are His, and He is ours. It indicates authority: Anyone who tries to break the seal will incur God’s wrath. It verifies that we have a personal destiny: Heaven will be our home—the Holy Spirit has sealed us for the day of redemption.

Because the Spirit lives in us and loves us so much, how we live becomes much more than whether we obey certain laws. We must act in ways so as not to grieve Him. We grieve the Holy Spirit when we do not listen to His voice or seek His guidance, or when, having heard His guidance, we choose to disobey.

Do you listen for the Holy Spirit’s guidance? Do you willingly follow His directions? Or have you done something that would grieve Him? The Holy Spirit wants to guide you, to show you the way you should live your life. And He’ll forgive you when you confess going down your own sinful path. Ask Him to show you how you can live to please Him and bring Him joy, not grief, through your life.

Daniel 7:14

 "And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." Daniel 7:14

Today in History

Today in History 1954 Meteorite Strikes Alabama Woman

The first modern instance of a meteorite striking a human being occurred at Sylacauga, Alabama, when a meteorite crashed through the roof of a house and into a living room, bounced off a radio, and struck a woman on the hip.

The victim, Mrs. Elizabeth Hodges, was sleeping on a couch at the time of impact. The space rock was a sulfide meteorite weighing 8.5 pounds and measuring seven inches in length.

Mrs. Hodges was not permanently injured but suffered a nasty bruise along her hip and leg.

Ancient Chinese records tell of people being injured or killed by falling meteorites, but the Sylacauga meteorite was the first modern record of this type of human injury.

In 1911, a dog in Egypt was killed by the Nakhla meteorite.

Time of Testing

 Time of Testing

We as a nation find ourselves in a flood, as we are in a time of testing and we will see the deliverance of the Lord. We repented during Yom Kippur and had multiple rallies, and now is a time to remember that we are clean as a nation.

When you declare and decree clean, then God makes those who repent actually clean in spirit, soul and body. The spirit, soul and body of our nation are being cleansed and healed so we will start a new system where the roots of evil will be eradicated.

We are experiencing what we prayed for. I know we prayed for a godly president to rule, but the issues run much deeper. So as Americans let us stand together and continue to pray for God to clean the root system of our nation and bring about the true blessings of our Constitution and the unity, peace, justice, righteousness and the elements of a godly culture.

God loves His people and He loves this nation, and He will heal us and cleanse us to the core so we can shine brightly for His glory.

Global glory cannot come until root systems are cleansed. Wait, watch and listen as God will continue to reshape America for justice and righteousness.

Here was the prophetic word from Sunday, Nov.1, 2020 sent out on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020:

God Is Doing Mighty Things

God is doing mighty things! During this current Hebrew month of Cheshvan, rain and restoration are coming upon you, child of God. God is pouring down blessings upon your life! Last month and this month God said you will receive excessive rain and excessive blessings (Joel 2:23)!

But take heed: this is also a time of testing. Just as Noah was tested when God told him to build the ark, and to take aboard his family and two of every kind of animal, you will endure some tests. Rain came upon him for 40 days and 40 nights and flooded everything.

He had to put his complete trust in God for every moment of the journey. Yes, rains of blessing are coming upon you, but it's also a time of testing.

God doesn't want you to hold on to what you are receiving this month. He will send the rain and then ask you to release the blessing to someone else. He doesn't want you to be attached to it. It is so important that you trust God enough to release it as He tells you to.

When you do, you show Him you believe He is your provider and healer, that He is perfect love, life, joy, peace and all you need. Your actions tell God, "Lord, I really trust You for who You are!"

Problems come when you try to grab hold of the rain (blessings, provision). The more you hold on to it, the harder it will be to release it when the Lord tells you to. You must hold it loosely! God is sending things to you, but He could ask you to give them up as quickly as they come.

Imagine Noah in the ark with his family, trusting God to provide for their needs and to safely carry them to dry land—awesome faith! After the rain ended, the blessings came. They began to rebuild.

Be encouraged; your test isn't going to last much longer. You may be feeling like you are giving things away at a rapid pace, but God is testing your heart. God wants to make sure you don't love only the blessings and forget about Him.

Do you know that God your provider is all you need?

You have access to all you need from your ascension seat in Him.

The only thing that causes a blessing delay is fear. Fear is an element of separation that began in the garden. But good news! Jesus defeated death, sin and the grave! When He ascended into heaven, you were seated with Him in heavenly places and given access to His storehouse.

I hear the Lord saying, "Do not be concerned about health issues. I have your health in My hands. I am releasing what is necessary in order to bring healing to your body, mind and soul."

Hold on to this word.

Do not give place to fear. Hold onto the Word and release your faith. In other words, you may need to take an action step: take Communion, proclaim, declare and decree over your body the healing power of Jesus. "By His stripes, I have been healed. I'm ascended with the Lord and seated with Him. I have no pain." Then maintain your healing by standing on the Word in faith and staying focused on Christ.

With rain, the water flows. Get excited! God is doing great things. Thank Him for them and watch these great things come to pass!

"Father, remove any fear, worry or anxiety that pertains to health, finances, family or relationships. Jesus, release the rain of blessings from heaven upon them. Give them peace and let them know You have taken care of every need. Help all believers to release Your blessing instead of clutching it tightly in fear. Restore the finest of Your blessings to Your people, Lord. In Jesus' name, amen."

Declare this over your life:

I am a portal that is permanent. I will do whatever God asks me. I will thank the Lord in all things. I will honor and respect God my provider. I will release the blessings He pours upon me upon the dry and thirsty around me. I will not cling to God's blessings; I will cling only to Jesus.

Thoughts on Today's Verse

 "If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness." 2 Corinthians 11:30

Thoughts on Today's Verse by Phil Ware

One of Paul's recurring themes throughout 2 Corinthians is that God's strength is made perfect in weakness. In 1 Corinthians, he emphasizes that the strength, wisdom, and power of God are shown in what is normally a sign of weakness and humiliation — the Cross (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5).

Paul wasn't a wimp — remember all that he endured and kept on serving the Lord (2 Corinthians 11:24-27). He just knew that even with all his training and talent, he wasn't skilled, smart, or strong enough to do all that needed to be done for the Kingdom of God.

But he knew that when we recognize our insufficiency, God takes our weakness and uses it powerfully when we offer ourselves to him!

My Prayer...

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for all those times that you have strengthened me when I was under trial, given me wisdom when in a difficult situation, or empowered me when I faced situations and opportunities greater than my ability to handle.

I recognize that you saved me by your grace; but each day that I serve you, I am again reminded that your grace continues to propel me through my service to you. Thank you, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Colossians 3:17

 "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17

Today in History

Today in History 1929 Explorer Richard Byrd Flies over South Pole

On this day in 1929, American explorer Richard Byrd and three companions made the first flight over the South Pole, flying from their base on the Ross Ice Shelf to the pole and back in 18 hours and 41 minutes.

Richard Evelyn Byrd learned how to fly in the U.S. Navy and served as a pilot in World War I. An excellent navigator, he was deployed by the navy to Greenland in 1924 to help explore the Arctic region by air. Enamored with the experience of flying over glaciers and sea ice, he decided to attempt the first flight over the North Pole.

On May 9, 1926, the Josephine Ford left Spitsbergen, Norway, with Byrd as navigator and Floyd Bennet as pilot. Fifteen hours and 30 minutes later, the pair returned and announced they had accomplished their mission. For the achievement, both men were awarded the Medal of Honor.

However, some doubt lingered about whether they had actually flown over the North Pole, and in 1996 a diary Byrd had kept on the flight was found that seemed to suggest that the Josephine Ford had turned back 150 miles short of its goal because of an oil leak. In the late 1920s, however, few suspected Byrd had failed in his mission.

In 1927, Byrd’s prestige grew when he made a harrowing nonstop flight across the Atlantic with three companions. Famous as he was, he had little trouble finding financial backers for an expedition to Antarctica.

Byrd’s first Antarctic expedition was the largest and best-equipped expedition that had ever set out for the southern continent. The explorers set out in the fall of 1928, building a large base camp called “Little America” on the Ross Ice Shelf near the Bay of Whales. From there, they conducted flights across the Antarctic continent and discovered much unknown territory.

At 3:29 p.m. on November 28, 1929, Byrd, the pilot Bernt Balchen, and two others took off from Little America in the Floyd Bennett, headed for the South Pole. Magnetic compasses were useless so near the pole, so the explorers were forced to rely on sun compasses and Byrd’s skill as a navigator.

At 8:15 p.m., they dropped supplies for a geological party near the Queen Maud Mountains and then continued on. The most challenging phase of the journey came an hour later, when the Floyd Bennett struggled to gain enough altitude to fly safely above the Polar Plateau. They cleared the 11,000-foot pass between Mount Fridtjof Nansen and Mount Fisher by a few hundred yards and then flew on to the South Pole, reaching it at around 1 a.m. on November 29.

They flew a few miles beyond the pole and then to the right and the left to compensate for any navigational errors. Byrd dropped a small American flag on the pole, and the explorers headed for home, safely landing at Little America at 10:11 a.m.

In 1933, Byrd, now a rear admiral in the navy, led a second expedition to Antarctica. During the winter of 1934, he spent five months trapped at a weather station 123 miles from Little America.

He was finally rescued in a desperately sick condition in August 1934. In 1939, Byrd took command of the U.S. Antarctic Service at the request of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and led a third expedition to the continent.

During World War II, he served on the staff of the chief of naval operations. After the war, he led his fourth expedition to Antarctica, the largest ever attempted to this date, and more than 500,000 miles of the continent were mapped by his planes. In 1955, he led his fifth and final expedition to Antarctica. He died in 1957.

Thoughts on Proverbs 29:2 and Proverbs 16:2

 Thoughts on Proverbs 29:2

(2) When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice;

But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.

and Proverbs 16:2

(2) All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,

But the LORD weighs the spirits.

What if a ruler, the one to whom we are to submit, is an oppressive person? What if he is just incompetent or stupid, and we know better how to do the job that he is supposed to be doing? What if the person is sexually immoral or financially greedy? Does God still want us to submit? What protection do we have in these kinds of circumstances?

Abomination that it is, those in authority often do evil. They might have serious character flaws that catch their victims in the effects of their flaws. What is so maddening is that they justify their ways—seeing them as good—and they will turn around and blame the innocent for the evils that occur.

For example, the proverb says that "all the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes." The incompetent man does not think to himself, "I'm really dumb, stupid, idiotic, and shouldn't even have this job." The sexually immoral person does not see himself as perverse. Most prostitutes will say, "Yes, I'm doing wrong according to the law, but I am providing a needed and wanted service. If it weren't I would have no customers." They justify themselves; they are pure in their own eyes.

Consider the enemies of Jesus. They felt justified in taking His life on the grounds that He was stirring up the people. No one on earth has ever been more innocent, yet they justified what they were doing because the people were being stirred up by Him. They accused Him of being a revolutionary, a threat to community stability.

If we are in a position like this—under an oppressive ruler who justifies the way he is doing things, and we are suffering the effects of his actions—we feel like powerless pawns being taken advantage of. We feel that he is denying us the liberty to do what we want.

Should we submit or rebel?

To know what to do, we must look at what Jesus did in a similar circumstance. This is not an occasion in which the authority figure demands submission, and in submitting, we must break the law of God. The situation does not involve being forced to sin, but simply submitting to one who is unreasonable and oppressive.

John 19:10 is part of Jesus' trial for His very life before Pilate, and occurs after He was scourged: "Then Pilate said to Him, 'Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?"

He could choose to do either. Pilate was a corrupt official. His record, according to secular history, was not at all good. The Jews despised him for his harsh ways.

"Jesus answered, 'You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin'" (John 19:11). His response is very meaningful. It clearly shows His attitude, His approach, to every circumstance of His life.

To be in the same frame of mind, we must ask ourselves:

1. Do we see God?

2. Is He really a part of our lives?

3. Is He really running this creation?

4. Is He really sitting at the controls of things?

5. Is He really aware of us as individuals?

6. Does He have every hair on our heads numbered?

8. Are we really the apple of His eye?

9. Are our lives really in His hands?

10. Have we really given our lives to Him, or are we holding part of

ourselves in reserve?

"You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above." Jesus saw life very clearly and simply: that God was in complete control of everything going on in the universe. Not that everything was being directed by Him in the sense that He was causing it to occur, but that Jesus believed with every fiber of His being that God was with Him all the time, everywhere, and at every moment. He knew that His life was in His Father's hands and that Pilate could do nothing against Him unless God allowed it.

Would God have us submit, or be faced with submitting, to somebody who was cruel, hard-hearted, incompetent, sexually unbalanced, perverted, stupid, or financially greedy?

Would He have us live and work under such a person?

He put His own Son in that position!

Everything at Jesus' trial and crucifixion looked as though it was totally stacked against Him. Carnally, it seems as if He had every right to rebel. He could have replied, "Do you not know to whom you are doing this?"

Instead, He says, in paraphrase, "You would not have the power to do anything except that My Father passed on this. And He is now looking at Me to see how I am going to respond. Will I submit to the authority that He has permitted to be over Me right now?"

Do we see God in our lives like this? We have to begin to look at ourselves differently than the way people in the world look at themselves. We must decide whether we are in God's hand or not. Do we have the faith to trust that we are, and that these constituted authorities are also in His hand?

Do we believe that He is aware of what is going on and that He deeply cares about what we will do in each situation?

Obedience is better than sacrifice. Let us resolve to always obey our Savior and Lord.

The Return of the King

The Return of the King by Darrin Compagner Scripture Reading: Revelation 21:1-7 "He who was seated on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making everything new!'” Revelation 21:5

In the New Testament the word for “throne” shows up 62 times, including 47 times in the book of Revelation. This is a book of thrones, crowns, kings, ruling, and reigning. Some evil figures sit on or claim thrones, but the throne of God is the source of unmatchable power and judgment—and at the same time it is the center of glorious worship.

Much of the book of Revelation depicts struggle and chaos unleashed on the earth, yet we always see this guiding image: the throne is not empty. Jesus, the one seated on the throne, is both tremendously powerful but also incomparably loving. On the throne of God is the Lord Almighty, the King of kings, who is also the Savior of the world. And he says, “Look! . . . I am making everything new!”

Today, on the first Sunday of Advent, we are making plans for the return of the King as we head into the Christmas season. One day Jesus will come to wipe away all the sad things of this world. Grief will be gone. Death will be done. Pain will perish. The King of kings will have his rule fully recognized throughout all creation.

You are worthy, our Lord and King, to receive glory and honor and power! Come, Lord Jesus, COME! Amen.

Nationalism vs. Globalism

Nationalism vs. Globalism

The worldwide battle between the globalists and the nationalists is important to Christians!

When a conversation comes up about a globalist point of view or a nationalist point of view, most people assume it is about politics. While it is a political issue, it is also a very important issue for Christians. As nations around the world become more “global,” they also become less God-fearing, less Christian, and more atheistic. As the battle goes on in our country and others, it is not just a battle of political ideologies but is also a battle for the Christian faith.

The freedoms we have enjoyed for the past 244 years to worship and proclaim our faith freely is ultimately at stake!

To endeavor to counter the globalist agenda in our country, we must take action that includes the following:

1) Pray daily for the nation to turn back to the Lord.

2) Share the Gospel every day with people you know are not saved.

3) Share something Biblical daily via email.

4) Encourage every believer to vote Biblical values in each election.

5) ENCOURAGE OTHER BELIEVERS TO DO STEPS 1-4!

Obedience Is Better Than Sacrifice

 The Bible teaches us that to "obey is better than sacrifice." What an incredible truth this verse is for our day-to-day lives. It supports the verses of Ephesians 2:8 and 9 that tell us that our salvation is by faith and NOT of works.

While God is concerned about what we do with our lives, the fruit that we can produce for the Kingdom from our efforts, He is first and foremost concerned with our obedience. You see, our obedience flows from a heart that is yielded to Him, a life that is surrendered to do HIS will and not OUR will.

In reality, during the course of any given day there are many opportunities that we consciously choose to obey or rebel against God. But I want to focus on the very next decision that you have to make after reading these words. Begin right now to order your will to conform to the will of the Lord.

There are ALWAYS consequences for our rebellion. These consequences come in many forms but there is always a price to pay when we choose not to obey God.

Likewise, blessings will always follow our obedience to God. The greatest blessing of all is that peace that passes all human understanding we receive when we are living our lives the way God has asked us to. When we are living for Him, making choices that honor God, there is a peace and joy that you could never put a price on.

And the ultimate glorious result of obedience is that we will live with Jesus forever if we follow after Him.

Thoughts on Today's Verse

 "For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself." 1 Corinthians 11:29

Thoughts on Today's Verse by Phil Ware

The Lord's Supper is a precious time for Christians. We remember the incredible sacrifice Jesus made to save us from our sins. We also realize that when Christians gather together and take the Supper, we are the Body of Christ, his physical presence on this earth (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:17).

Whatever happens to one of us matters to the rest of the Body. Every time we take the Supper, let's remember the other members of Christ's Body around us. Let's also give thanks for Jesus, who offered his body and blood at Calvary to save us. At the same time, let's commit to be the presence of Christ in the world and do his work.

My Prayer...

Father, thank you for the first incarnation of Jesus when he became flesh and lived on earth. Thank you for his second incarnation through his Body, the Church. Please help me to value other members of his Body more. Please bless me with wisdom and courage as we who believe seek to truly minister as his presence in our world. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

De-emphasize Military

 De-emphasize Military

Joe Biden is reportedly seeking to de-emphasize using the U.S. Military, by far the most powerful military in the world, as a measure of national power in what is a clear reversal from the Trump administration’s peace through strength policy.

The claim was made in an Axios report that focused on several leading candidates that Biden is expected to choose from to be his secretary of defense.

“Biden is considering retired four-star General Lloyd Austin as his nominee for defense secretary, adding him to a shortlist that includes Jeh Johnson, Tammy Duckworth and Michele Flournoy,” Axios reported. “The Biden team wants to elevate diplomacy and de-emphasize the military as an instrument of national power.”

Biden’s judgment on foreign policy issues has come under increased scrutiny. Former Obama Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said in his memoir about the former vice president, “I think he’s been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades.”

Gates also suggested during an interview with CBS News in May 2019, in which he said he stood by that statement, that Biden’s age was concerning because “I’m not sure you have the intellectual acuity that you might have had in your sixties.”

Biden is set to take office with numerous serious national security issues looming on America’s horizon, including rising tensions with Iran, an increasingly aggressive communist China, instability in Latin America, and a global order that has been uprooted by a pandemic.

Currently, the most recent development on the world stage was the killing of scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, who led Iran’s clandestine nuclear weapons program. The move comes as U.S. allies in the region have taken what appear to be last-minute actions against Iran while they still have the support and backing of the Trump administration.

Biden’s past political stances and rhetoric indicate that his administration will be far weaker in confronting hostile nations like Iran. Some analysts have said that the strike against Iran’s top nuclear scientist was also a play to damage an attempt by Biden to reenter the failed Iran nuclear deal from the Obama-era.

The U.S. left the nuclear accord in May 2018 and embarked on a “maximum pressure” sanctions campaign. After restoring pre-deal sanctions, the Trump Administration has added new restrictions across the Iranian economy, which is rigged to enrich the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and elites in Tehran. The White House plans to announce more sanctions through Jan. 20.

The sanctions have succeeded in weakening the rogue regime. Today Tehran exports about a quarter of the 2.5 million barrels of oil a day it shipped when the U.S. was still in the deal. This deprives the government of $50 billion in annual revenue. The economy has shrunk, while the Iranian rial has lost 80% of its value against the dollar.

Iran has responded by increasing its violations of the nuclear deal. It now has 12 times the limit of enriched uranium allowed under the accord, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said this month. It also is enriching uranium to 4.5% purity, above the 3.67% allowed under the deal but far from the 90% concentration needed for a bomb.

That Iran was able to ramp up its nuclear production so quickly is a reminder of the agreement’s major flaws. The IAEA also said this month that Iran’s explanation was “not credible” after investigators found nuclear material at an undeclared site. “We continue to be extremely concerned by Iran’s actions, which are hollowing out the core non-proliferation benefits of the deal,” the United Kingdom, France and Germany said in a statement responding to the IAEA report.

Yet Mr. Biden has vowed to return to the deal if Tehran begins honoring its commitments. … But what kind of agreement? The original nuclear deal makes it easy for Iran to break out as its provisions sunset over the next decade. Meanwhile, it provided cash for Iran to expand its regional influence and terrorism. After signing the 2015 deal, Iran increased its military budget more than 30% between 2016 and 2018, and its proxies in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen benefited.

However, Biden will have the benefit of coming into office with multiple Islamic nations in the Middle East having recently entered into peace deals with Israel as a result of the Trump administration’s efforts.

Mounting Evidence of Election Compromise

A growing body of evidence shows the presidential election in Pennsylvania was compromised, a state senator said Saturday.

“There is mounting evidence that the PA presidential election was compromised. If this is the case, under Article II, Section 1.2 of the U.S. Constitution, the state legislature has the sole authority to direct the manner of selecting delegates to the Electoral College,” state Sen. Doug Mastriano, a Republican, said on Twitter.

“This power was given to the state legislature for the purpose of safeguarding the appointment of our president, specifically contemplating corruption and ensuring that the people are not disenfranchised through a corrupt election process,” he added. “Therefore, we are introducing a resolution to exercise our obligation and authority to appoint delegates to the Electoral College.”

Mastriano and other state lawmakers announced Friday they will soon introduce a resolution to dispute the results of the election, alleging that “documented irregularities and improprieties associated with mail-in balloting, pre-canvassing, and canvassing have undermined our elector process and as a result we cannot accept certification of the results in statewide races.”

The resolution calls on the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to recognize the alleged irregularities and improprieties and disapprove of what lawmakers describe as the infringement on the General Assembly’s authority to regulate elections.

Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar extended the mail ballot deadline without permission from the legislature. The U.S. Supreme Court earlier this month ordered Pennsylvania election officials to separate ballots that arrived after the previously-scheduled deadline up to the extended one while justices weigh whether the action was legal.

Pennsylvania lawmakers also said in the resolution they disapprove and disagree with the certification of election results, calling it “premature,” and want Boockvar and Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, to withdraw or vacate the certification. And they called on the U.S. Congress “to declare the selection of presidential electors in this commonwealth to be in dispute.”

Republicans control the House and Senate in Pennsylvania but it’s not clear if they have enough support to pass the resolution. Twenty-six of the House’s 203 members are co-sponsoring the resolution so far.

Mastriano has said the legislature is trying to claim its power to appoint the state’s electors to the Electoral College, an unusual mechanism that’s rarely been triggered in U.S. history. “We have a fight on our hands and we’re gonna fight. We’re gonna take the fight all the way to the Supreme Court if we have to,” he said.

Trump wrote on Twitter early Saturday that he “won Pennsylvania by a lot, perhaps more than anyone will ever know,” calling the election “RIGGED.” The current results show Democratic presidential nominee Biden won. Biden’s campaign has dismissed allegations of election fraud.

In a separate matter, a judge on Friday said Republicans who filed a lawsuit challenging a mail-in voting law passed last year will likely succeed.

“Petitioners appear to have established a likelihood to succeed on the merits because petitioners have asserted the Constitution does not provide a mechanism for the legislature to allow for expansion of absentee voting without a constitutional amendment,” Commonwealth Judge Patricia McCullough, who blocked the certification of Pennsylvania’s election results, wrote in her ruling.

Ivan Pentchoukov and Jack Phillips contributed to this report.

Live Longer

 Live Longer

To live longer, it is advised that you get in touch with your spiritual side. People who attend church regularly typically experience lower levels of anxiety or depression and have lower blood pressure, and are generally in better health than those who have no religious affiliation.

An 18-year study found that regular church attendance and Bible reading are linked to reductions in the body's stress responses, and worshippers were 55 percent less likely to die young.

You read that right: 55 percent less likely to die young!

Start by defining what spirituality means to you, and then join a church community where you can pursue your spiritual goals with others who share your faith.