Mark C. Tredecim's Blog, page 7

Aloha- Show me your mark!

Hawaii is a beautiful place to visit.  Despite the high cost of living and the congestion produced by tourists, there generally seems to be a more friendly and helpful spirit in Hawaii than found in most “blue” states.

For instance, in a recent visit we met a 60-ish Hawaii-born gentleman selling locally-made jewelry.  Let’s call him “Mike.”  He seemed more interested in talking with people than with his sales results.  Thus far, he has never left Hawaii, though Mike said he’d like to visit the mainland someday to see relatives, eagles, squirrels and snow.  Perhaps snow is the reason Mike described himself as a Minnesota Vikings fan.  Mike told us about growing up poor on a dirt road near the sugar mill.

Despite the hardships, Mike recalled many blessings from his past.  Mike credited his family upbringing and becoming a Christian.  He described our current American culture with a Hawaiian phrase that he said means “all twisted up” and dramatized this by a demonstration:  he attempted to walk with his legs crossed at the shins.  As we left Mike, he said “I’ll see you later” and then looked upwards toward Heaven to show his meaning.

Getting to Hawaii is far from heavenly.  On top of the usual TSA rigamarole of identity checks, clothing removal, scans and frisking, add the hours of non-stop mask-wearing on the plane.  Even worse, there are new protocols built around the premise of keeping the coronavirus out of Hawaii.  Prior to departing for Hawaii, U.S. travelers must upload their CDC vaccination information (or negative test results) to a Hawaii state “safe travels” website.  This website provides you with a personal QR-based digital ID to be used at the airport on arrival, in combination with your actual CDC papers.  As you exit the plane, a long line forms to bring you to the screening portal, where a gatekeeper assesses your information and decides if you are worthy of a “green” QR code or will be subject to quarantine.  If you are not sent to quarantine, you will use some combination of this green QR code and/or your CDC papers to gain access to car rentals, hotels/condos/resorts, restaurants, entertainment and recreational activities.

On the island of Maui, you are also required to have an approved contact tracing app on your smart phone.  Purportedly, this is just so they can notify you of any contact with an infected person.  The state website and the contact tracing app both promise that your personal information is private, protected and won’t be misused.  Hopefully that is all true, but the promise is shadowed by the many instances of data theft and abuse involving criminals, big tech and government.

Fortunately, we passed inspection and avoided the quarantine path, so we can’t describe how you would handle transportation, food or lodging while trapped in Hawaiian quarantine.  Perhaps they have adapted and reinstituted the 19th century practice for quarantining people in Hawaii with leprosy?  I.E., transport you by boat to an isolated part of the island of Molokai and drop you into the ocean (close enough that you can swim ashore).

These identification, control and monitoring protocols sound a lot like a “proof of concept” demonstration for something that the apostle John described in the Bible book of Revelation about 2,000 years ago.  During the upcoming horrific period called the Tribulation, the Antichrist will force “everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark……” (Revelation 13:16-17, NIV).

To be sure, these Hawaiian protocols do not constitute the implementation of the Antichrist’s mark of the beast.  But they do provide a “live” demonstration of these things:  (1) It is now possible to connect a person with a unique digital record and unique identity image like a QR code, and broadly use that image and data record to allow, restrict or deny access to things necessary for life.  (2) Many (perhaps most) people will accept such controls in order to obtain such necessities.

Identity papers, digital screen images, databases and mobile phone tracking apps are one thing.  But are people really ready to have a mark permanently applied to their right hand or forehead as described in Revelation?  That’s a hurdle, but it may not be all that big.  In the warm Hawaiian climate, a lot more tattooed skin is visible and tattoo parlors are found in many shopping areas.  Evidently, lots of people are willing to have permanent marks applied (even on the face) for artistic purposes, to show membership in some group, or to make a personal statement.  How much more so, when this becomes the requirement for employment, to obtain food, medical care and other necessities for yourself and those you love, and to show your submission to those in power?  This will become a particularly acute decision in the Tribulation period of intense war, famine, plague, natural disasters and supernatural events.

If you want to chat with Mike in Heaven, you can’t take that mark on your forehead or hand.  Revelation 14:9-12 makes it clear that everyone who takes that mark is barred from Heaven and destined for the eternal lake of fire.  My novel “The Great New Deal” provides more information about the Tribulation and how to avoid the Tribulation and the lake of fire.  The fictional tale in the novel occurs in the days prior to the emergence of the Antichrist and the institution of the requirement for a mark upon your hand or forehead.

The events depicted by the novel may be years in the future.  But the Hawaiian proof of concept (and similar identity/control systems around the world) and current political/social events and trends suggest the Tribulation is not too far away.  Fortunately, God’s end times plan provides for the rescue of everyone who has accepted Jesus as savior.  This is summarized in “Excerpts from Lifeline for the Lost Sheep,” book three within “The Great New Deal.”

Don’t take the mark!

Operation Sonic Boom!

In my novel, “The Great New Deal,” the President announces a recovery plan to address the impact of a cataclysmic event called “The Great Surprise.” That event has nothing to do with any pandemic (though the usual “experts” claim otherwise). The recovery plan is called “Operation Sonic Boom.” Sounds impressive, right? It’s a safe bet that most of the media would say so. But sonic booms are just a big noise, associated with the shock waves created when an object (such as an aircraft or meteor) travels through the air faster than the speed of sound.

The big noise of a sonic boom temporarily gets a lot of attention, but it doesn’t actually produce any benefit or accomplish anything. It may even cause some damage (such as broken windows). Thus, it perfectly described the plan promulgated by the fictional President in the novel. As life imitates art, it might also be the perfect metaphor for the current administration’s plans and accomplishments.

Review of the book “Is Atheism Dead?” by Eric Metaxas

This book is very well researched and documented.  The writing style makes it enjoyable reading.  The positive advance reviews contained in the book are well-earned.  My grade for the book: “Excellent start, but incomplete.”

The book shows how science and historical/archeological work have inflicted mortal wounds upon the dogma pushed by prominent atheists.  But this monster isn’t as near-dead as it may seem- it is at the core of progressive woke activism, which works to create a socialist God-free America.  This infection seems to be very advanced and likely to grow, until it is ultimately absorbed into the Satanic religion of the Tribulation period.

The Excellent Start:  In Part I (“Does Science Point to God?”) Metaxas shows the current scientific analysis and the many scientists pointing to a Creator for everything in the universe.  He presents compelling evidence.  The evidence he cites does show that whole universe (including the life on Earth) had to come from God.

The book presents the case from current science, that indicates everything in this universe must have started with a mysterious big bang, followed by 13 billion years of natural processes.  These are big problems for the atheist pseudo-science cult.  Thirteen billion years doesn’t provide enough time to support their theories about evolution and all the other intricate details of the universe.  They are left unable to explain where life came from or how Earth, of all places in the universe, became the perfect place for life.  The evidence points to an all-powerful and all-wise Creator.

In Part II (“The Stones Will Cry Out”), Metaxas provides substantial evidence (historical and archaeologic) as to the accuracy of the Bible and Biblical events.  Part III (“What is Truth?”) connects Christianity to science and scientists, and deflates various atheistic myths.  Further, Metaxas contrasts the great evils done under atheist regimes (Hitler, Stalin, Mao, etc.) and the goodness that can come only from Christ.

Metaxas concludes the book with these powerful words that connect the shaken disciples of Jesus after His crucifixion to us today:  “But as it happens, God- back then and again now- has revealed things to us that we did not know before, that we could not have known before, that we couldn’t have even imagined.  And based on these new things, then and again now, we can say something deeply and heartbreakingly beautiful and true:  God is not dead.  He is alive.  Rejoice.”

What’s Missing?  Unfortunately, this book does not take the next step, to deal with the gap between the thirteen-billion-year-old universe theory and the timeline established in the book of Genesis (from the Bible Metaxas has demonstrated to be trustworthy).  This theory and Genesis do not agree on the time line for Creation.

Many scholars have done the math connecting the Bible’s historical records of family trees, kingdoms and events, and have estimated that Adam and Eve were created around 4,000 BC.  Count back five more days and you have the start of Creation described in Genesis 1:1.

For example, read Luke 3:23-38.  You’ll see about 40 generations listed from Adam to Jesus.  At first (the patriarchs) some children were born to parents well over 200 years old.  But after Abraham, lifespans and child-bearing-years dropped to be much closer to our current patterns.  If the average generation for the entire Old Testament period is estimated to have been about 100 years, then 40 x 100 = 4,000 years from Adam to Jesus.  The record is clear that Jesus was born about 2,000 years ago.  And 4,000 + 2,000 = 6,000, not 13,000,000,000.

Perhaps God will facilitate further scientific discoveries that will bring updated scientific estimates for the start of the universe to be something closer to 6,000 years.  More likely, this is a mystery that He will not answer for us- He wants us to believe through faith, not just by the works of science.  His amazing Creation is just one reason we should have faith.

The 13-billion-year theory does not factor in the completeness of Creation.  God didn’t create Adam and Eve as zygotes or embryos.  He created a mature man and a mature woman and placed them in the exact spot that He had in mind on the day that He had planned.  He created mature animals that reproduced after their kind.  Likewise, God created everything else in the universe in the mature and complete state that He intended it to be and positioned everything where and when He wanted it to be.  He created the materials of the universe, formed them as He wanted, and brought energy, life, time and all the other “laws of science” into being.  All in a perfect sequencing and relationship.  Remember, Genesis says that God created both the Earth and light on Day 1.  Then He configured the Earth and established its environment on Days 2 and 3.  It was not until Day 4 (when light already existed) that He created the sun, moon and all of the stars.  And on Days 5 and 6, God created all animal life including man.

Conclusions.  “Is Atheism Dead?” does a great job proving there is a God and that He is all powerful and good.  That is the book’s objective (see “Introduction- The Grand Counter-Narrative”).  But just believing there is a God isn’t enough.  As the Bible says (James 2:19) “You believe that there is one God.  Good!  Even the demons believe that- and shudder.”  Beyond that belief, it is essential that you also understand that there is only one way to be reconciled with God, and that is through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Hopefully, Eric Metaxas is already working on another book, where he will fill in these blanks.  “Is Atheism Dead?” is well-worth reading and continues his track record for interesting, inspiring and informational books.

Supply and Demand (Inflation and Revelation)

Introduction:  You likely have heard about “supply and demand.”  I’ve written a short essay that explores how this term applies to both economic matters (including the impact of inflation) and to something even more important- your eternal destiny.  To read the full essay, follow this link: Supply and Demand Essay

The six-page essay explains these two Supply and Demand Charts:

To preview the charts, follow this link:  Supply and Demand Charts

Economic:  Economists often refer to the “law of supply and demand” to describe normal human behavior in the buying and selling of goods and service (in free societies).  This behavior is often visually presented in Supply and Demand charts.  Simply put, buyers seek to spend wisely and pay less when they can, while sellers want to price their goods or services to make a profit.  The economist charts show how these behaviors function and how a mutually beneficial balance can occur.

This balancing of supply and demand is one of the ways that our economy balances production and consumption and sets pricing for goods and services.  But it is fragile and can be disrupted by cataclysmic outside forces (e.g., wars, plagues, natural disasters, and bad government policies).

Bad government policies (particularly those pushed by the Biden administration and by “progressive” state and local politicians) are at the root of the current inflation plague.  These have acted to decrease product supplies, increase costs for suppliers, and artificially increase product demand.  The inflation rate is skyrocketing, especially on the everyday items needed by Americans.

As their costs increase and supply-chain problems occur, Sellers want higher prices.  Consumers temporarily have more money, so they want to buy more.  But they find product shortages and become anxious.   Eventually a new balance of Supply and Demand occurs- at a higher price and potentially with fewer units sold than before.  That’s inflation.

A big government spending spree is growing the federal budget deficit by trillions of dollars.  It is “funded” mostly through a combination of (1) increased government debt (as the debt ceiling is raised) and (2) excessive “printing” of money by the Federal Reserve.  Massive deficit spending feeds inflation and some day the bill will need to be paid (but progressives hope to push their socialist agenda through before Americans can see the looming danger and stop them).

My 2021 novel “The Great New Deal” is named after (fictional) future legislation to address an existential crisis:  decades of deficit spending and “kicking the (debt) can down the road” have pushed the U.S. economy to a tipping point, where America risks a devalued dollar and hyperinflation like 1920s Germany, Zimbabwe (since 2007) and Venezuela (since 2014).  Will this fictional tale soon become reality before our eyes?

Eternal Destiny:  “The Great New Deal” presents another Supply and Demand chart.  It has nothing to do with economics, but is a graphical presentation of God’s End Times plan to rescue people from sin and eternal punishment.  Characters in the novel use the chart as a resource to understand the times they are living in and to share this information with others.

This second chart demonstrates the interaction between the “Supply of Sin” (the level of sin evidenced in humanity) and the “Demand for Salvation” (the level of people who are becoming new believers in Jesus Christ) for the time period beginning around 1960.  These are troubling times.  This chart presents the current trends for this Supply and Demand, leading up to the next End Times events described in the Bible: the Rapture, Tribulation and Christ’s second coming.  

The chart visually answers the question, “What is God waiting for?  Why is He holding back on the promised “Day of the Lord?”  It also shows how the severity of the Tribulation judgments accelerates during the seven-year Tribulation, to catch the attention of those who will choose Jesus and punish those who reject him.

Though God will ultimately judge and punish all sin, He has provided the one merciful path to avoid such punishment and gain eternal life.  Jesus Christ has taken on the punishment that is rightfully yours and freed you from death’s sting, but only if you accept His gift.  Do not hesitate, no sins are too great for God’s mercy, when they are covered by the blood of His beloved Son, Jesus Christ.  This is the best Christmas gift you will ever receive!

Merry Christmas from Mark Tredecim                                         

Lend me your ears!

I am pleased to announce (drumroll, please):  The Great New Deal is now available in an audiobook edition from Amazon, iTunes, and Audible.

The audiobook includes the complete novel (the up-to-date 259-page edition sold in paperback and hardcover editions through Amazon).  It was produced (narrated) by David de Berg.  I am very pleased with the result and I encourage you to give the audiobook a try.  You can hear a free five-minute preview (which is the new prologue from the book) at Amazon.com and Audible.com.

The production length is five hours and 47 minutes.  Of course, this is digital media, delivered via the internet; no more smudged/scratched CD’s or cassette tapes to untangle.  You stream or download it and then listen using your favorite digital devices.

Limited time special offer:  Are you an audiobook aficionado?  Or perhaps this might be your first audiobook trial?  I have a few free promotional Audible “copies” to give out (while supplies last)- just send me an email (mark.c.tredecim@gmail.com) and request one.  I hope you will enjoy the audiobook from Audible and then share your assessment in a review at Audible.com.

Where’s Brandon?  (He makes a cameo appearance in the audiobook, but I’m not going to spoil the story).  This second special offer is for the first five Audible “readers” who send me an email that contains the correct answer to these three questions:  (1) What is the name of the character who speaks to Brandon?  (2) What does he say to Brandon?  (3) From the Audible time meter, how many hours and minutes are “left” in the recording when he says the word “Brandon?”  If they wish, these five lucky Audible readers will have their name used for a character in the sequel novel to The Great New Deal (if and when I write it).

The Timing of the Rapture and the Ezekiel 38 War

In the Bible book of Ezekiel (chapters 38 and 39), the prophet describes an upcoming one-day war.  Iran, Syria, Libya, and Russia team up to attack Israel.   God intervenes in this war, fully protecting Israel and bringing total destruction upon the powerful attacking forces.  The speed, nature and extent of Israel’s victory brings the parties to urgently pursue peace.  This seven-year peace treaty facilitates the rise of the Antichrist.

The modern nation of Israel has a great win-loss record in the several wars since it was established in 1948 (it is undefeated).  It is believed to have dozens of nuclear weapons and has a capable air force and air defense system.  Israel also has close ties with the U.S.

Today, Iran, Libya and Syria do have close relationships with Russia.  Considering all this, why would these four countries launch such an attack upon Israel, especially since the Bible tells how badly it will turn out for them?

The Bible also tells of the upcoming event (the Rapture) where all believers in Jesus Christ are instantly taken up to Heaven by Him, protecting them from the horrors of the seven-year Tribulation.  The Bible does not provide an explicit timeline for the sequencing of the Ezekiel 38 war and the Rapture.

My novel, The Great New Deal, depicts the Rapture as being before the Ezekiel 38 War, but many best-selling authors have put the Ezekiel 38 War before the Rapture in their books.

Why might this timing be important to you?  These events will have world-wide impact, though the Rapture and Ezekiel 38 War each take just one day (or less).  They will come suddenly and current world events suggest they will come soon.  Many people will die during these events; if they have not accepted Jesus as savior by then, they won’t get a second chance.  Others will be left behind to face the terrors of the Tribulation.

To read a short essay that explores the timing of these upcoming End Times events, follow this link.  God has already set this timing, and He will carry out His plan perfectly.

Recommended reading- “Apocalypse Never” by Michael Schellenberger

Michael Schellenberger has written an excellent and important book, “Apocalypse Never” (2020).  It’s well-researched and clear (285 pages with 105 pages of reference notes).  It’s fact-based and well-intentioned.

Environmental alarmists are pushing for massive expenditures (funded by taxpayers) and a major restructure of our energy sourcing.  These would increase the volatility of our economy and bring a lower standard of living.  Students are regularly subjected to inaccurate teaching and activist propaganda about climate and economics, parroted by most of the media.  Before we permit these progressive activists to sell their fables about a coming “green energy utopia,” everyone should read “Apocalypse Never” to get real facts and sound insights.

The book doesn’t dispute the existence of carbon emissions.  But it provides facts that deflate the climate alarmists’ “global warming” and “growing extreme weather deaths” balloons.  It also body slams the methods the alarmists propose for reducing carbon emissions.

If the goal is to reduce carbon emissions, meet our energy needs, and improve the environment, renewable energy sources (wind and solar) are a terrible idea.  Shellenberger points out the terrible net energy ratios from renewable sources (page 191).  Over their lifespan, solar facilities produce just 1.6 times the energy required to create them, wind 3.9 times.  Compare this to ratios of 30 times for coal/oil/gas, 35 times for hydro power, and 75 times for nuclear power.  If you want to reduce carbon emissions, build safe modern nuclear power plants.

Renewables are much less reliable, too.  Renewable power comes with high pollution risk from the materials in their construction and when the spent facilities must be dismantled.

Shellenberger presents the massive land requirements, environmental destruction and visual/sound blight from renewable energy facilities.  Animal and plant life is exterminated or endangered.  He estimates (page 191) that it would require 25 to 50% of the land in the U.S. to meet all of our energy from renewables.  Farewell to national parks and scenic vistas, hello to PPIMBY (Power-Plant-In-My Back Yard).

Shellenberger explains the need for more modern energy and modern farming methods to improve the lives of folks living in underdeveloped nations (better health, greater food supplies, and resilience to deal with weather and natural disasters). He takes on the activists who would deny better lives to these folks while living a pampered life in Europe and America (made possible by modern energy and agriculture).  As a result, people in underdeveloped nations continue to use energy sources and farming methods that endanger sensitive ecosystems and produce higher carbon emissions.

Considering all this, why are people pushing this activist agenda?  The book identifies several reasons.  Some people and organizations are making lots of money (he names some of them).  Some are doing it as a way to gain power or prestige.  Greed, hypocrisy, lust and narcissism are powerful drivers.

For others, this cause has become a secular pseudo-religion, satisfying a personal need for relevance.  Educational activists teach the cult’s dogma to the young.  Politicians and the popular media preach to all of us.  Like the Children’s Crusade of the 13th century, these acolytes are being led down the wrong path.

I agree with Schellenberger’s recommendations for (1) making smart energy choices (hydrocarbons, hydroelectric and nuclear), (2) protecting sensitive ecosystems and (3) advancing the lives of people in disadvantaged nations through the current technologies (agriculture and energy) that benefit the U.S. and Europe.

I disagree with Shellenberger on one very critical matter.  Actually, the events of the Apocalypse are coming soon.  The Bible (particularly the prophetic book of Revelation) describes the period leading to the End Times and the cataclysmic seven-year period called the Tribulation, in which billions of people will perish.

The book of Romans says it is sinful to worship God’s creation rather than God the Creator.  Nature-worship, secular environmentalism, and secular humanism all conflict with the first two of the Ten Commandments and that is a very bad idea.

In the days prior to the Tribulation, Christians should be good stewards of the environment, good neighbors (helping needful people), and lovers of the truth (rejecting the lies told by progressives and climate activists).

My 2021 novel, The Great New Deal, uses parody to expose the foolishness and danger of climate alarmism and the green new deal.  It also connects the events of today to the End Times prophecies set forth in the Bible.

READ THE BOOK “APOCALYPSE NEVER” NOW!

Michael Schellenberger has written an excellent and important book, “Apocalypse Never” (2020).  It’s well-researched and clear (285 pages with 105 pages of reference notes).  It’s fact-based and well-intentioned.

Environmental alarmists are pushing for massive expenditures (funded by taxpayers) and a major restructure of our energy sourcing.  These would increase the volatility of our economy and bring a lower standard of living.  Students are regularly subjected to inaccurate teaching and activist propaganda about climate and economics, parroted by most of the media.  Before we permit these progressive activists to sell their fables about a coming “green energy utopia,” everyone should read “Apocalypse Never” to get real facts and sound insights.

The book doesn’t dispute the existence of carbon emissions.  But it provides facts that deflate the climate alarmists’ “global warming” and “growing extreme weather deaths” balloons.  It also body slams the methods the alarmists propose for reducing carbon emissions.

If the goal is to reduce carbon emissions, meet our energy needs, and improve the environment, renewable energy sources (wind and solar) are a terrible idea.  Shellenberger points out the terrible net energy ratios from renewable sources (page 191).  Over their lifespan, solar facilities produce just 1.6 times the energy required to create them, wind 3.9 times.  Compare this to ratios of 30 times for coal/oil/gas, 35 times for hydro power, and 75 times for nuclear power.  If you want to reduce carbon emissions, build safe modern nuclear power plants.

Renewables are much less reliable, too.  Renewable power comes with high pollution risk from the materials in their construction and when the spent facilities must be dismantled.

Shellenberger presents the massive land requirements, environmental destruction and visual/sound blight from renewable energy facilities.  Animal and plant life is exterminated or endangered.  He estimates (page 191) that it would require 25 to 50% of the land in the U.S. to meet all of our energy from renewables.  Farewell to national parks and scenic vistas, hello to PPIMBY (Power-Plant-In-My Back Yard).

Shellenberger explains the need for more modern energy and modern farming methods to improve the lives of folks living in underdeveloped nations (better health, greater food supplies, and resilience to deal with weather and natural disasters). He takes on the activists who would deny better lives to these folks while living a pampered life in Europe and America (made possible by modern energy and agriculture).  As a result, people in underdeveloped nations continue to use energy sources and farming methods that endanger sensitive ecosystems and produce higher carbon emissions.

Considering all this, why are people pushing this activist agenda?  The book identifies several reasons.  Some people and organizations are making lots of money (he names some of them).  Some are doing it as a way to gain power or prestige.  Greed, hypocrisy, lust and narcissism are powerful drivers.

For others, this cause has become a secular pseudo-religion, satisfying a personal need for relevance.  Educational activists teach the cult’s dogma to the young.  Politicians and the popular media preach to all of us.  Like the Children’s Crusade of the 13th century, these acolytes are being led down the wrong path.

I agree with Schellenberger’s recommendations for (1) making smart energy choices (hydrocarbons, hydroelectric and nuclear), (2) protecting sensitive ecosystems and (3) advancing the lives of people in disadvantaged nations through the current technologies (agriculture and energy) that benefit the U.S. and Europe.

I disagree with Shellenberger on one very critical matter.  Actually, the Apocalypse is coming soon.  The Bible (particularly the prophetic book of Revelation) describes the period leading to the End Times and the cataclysmic seven-year period called the Tribulation, in which billions of people will perish.

The book of Romans says it is sinful to worship God’s creation rather than God the Creator.  Nature-worship, secular environmentalism, and secular humanism all conflict with the first two of the Ten Commandments and that is a very bad idea.

In the days prior to the Tribulation, Christians should be good stewards of the environment, good neighbors (help needful people), and lovers of the truth (rejecting the lies told by progressives and climate activists).

My 2021 novel, The Great New Deal, uses parody to expose the foolishness and danger of climate alarmism and the green new deal.  It also connects the events of today to the End Times prophecies set forth in the Bible.

Remembering America’s Truth Detector

HONORING AMERICA’S TRUTH DETECTOR AND DOCTOR OF DEMOCRACY

Chapter 9 (“The Truth Detector”) and Chapter 10 (“Freedom of Speech”) of The Great New Deal were originally written for my novella, The Brave New Year (published in October 2020), in appreciation of conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh.  At that time, Rush was still hosting his daily radio show (with the help of guest hosts when necessary).

Rush passed away on February 17, 2021 and I decided to adapt these two chapters to incorporate them within my new novel (published in April 2021), which supersedes the novella.  These two chapters are meant to honor the life and memory of Rush Limbaugh.

Sometimes, Rush would speak about growing up in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, his loving family and the lessons he learned (especially from his grandfather).  He told us about his youthful dream to be on the radio and his long, sometimes bumpy path from local radio disk jockey to The Rush Limbaugh Show. 

I imagined the fictional character of 12-year-old Rusty for Chapter 9, thinking about Rush at a similar age, growing up in the heartland of America.  Smart, inquisitive and loving his country and family.

For Chapter 10,  I thought of Rush being one of the masterminds behind the unstoppable USA1-FBCN podcasts and the mysterious unfindable broadcast facility.  Rush’s well-known radio voice and personality provided inspiration to me for the unidentified voice of the first podcast, depicted in Chapter 10.  Rush loved technology and excelled at exposing the foolishness and failings of the left.  I could easily imagine him leading a team to establish an advanced podcast platform, broadcasting truth to everyday people while vexing the people hell-bent on dismantling our great nation.  In many ways, USA1-FBCN would be the logical End Times successor to The Rush Limbaugh Show.

Rush re-invented talk radio with his incredibly-successful national daily radio show.  For three decades, Rush brought truth, encouragement and joy to millions of people, sharing generously of himself and his talents.  He used his sharp mind to assess political and cultural events and trends and to bring his views to the air.  His shows were entertaining, but also insightful.

Listeners felt like they knew Rush, because he talked with them, not at them.  He said what he thought and millions of people agreed with him.  Rush treated on-air callers respectfully and was especially kind and encouraging when speaking with kids.  His love of kids and America was evident in the “Rush Revere” history book series.

Rush also spoke with great love for his wife Kathryn and the team that supported him in the radio show and the many philanthropic and business activities.  Rush and Kathryn were enormously generous in their support of worthwhile charities and successfully encouraged others to join in this support.  During the 2020 “State of the Union” address, President Donald Trump presented Rush with the highest American civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.  It was a surprise to Rush that evening, but was very well-deserved.

He sometimes spoke about his battles with deafness and with cancer, but would not let these hardships define who he was.  Rush often shared his belief and confidence in Jesus Christ and now Rush is enjoying eternal life, hearing and speaking with his Lord and Savior.

Take a Look at the Lands Down Under

The Past, Present and Future of Australia and New Zealand

The Past:  In some ways, the histories of Australia and New Zealand mirror the history of America.  They were first colonized primarily by the United Kingdom (including exiled prisoners and indentured workers).  All three countries are currently democracies.  They stood up against the fascist socialism of Germany and the imperial regime of Japan, suffering great losses in WW2.  They had their dark chapters (the past mistreatment of the aboriginal and Māori/Islander populations and slavery in the United States). 

The Present:  Though Americans often lump them together, Australia and New Zealand are actually separated by more than 1,000 miles of ocean.  The climate of Australia is generally similar to California and Mexico while New Zealand resembles the Pacific Northwest and Northern California.  Their combined population is just 25 million people (sheep outnumber humans 6-to-1) and their combined land area is approximately equal to the continental U.S.

Australia and New Zealand feature beautiful scenery, geologic wonders, and exotic wildlife (scenery from the Great Ocean Road in southeast Australia provides a backdrop for this website’s home page).  Their people are heavily concentrated in the urban areas along the coasts.  Prior to the pandemic, these were great places for tourists to visit (friendly to Americans), but I wouldn’t recommend traveling there now as their governments’ response to the pandemic has been overbearing (an Australian friend recently said “the people in charge have gone bonkers”).

All three nations are in the crosshairs of Islamic terrorism and the Communist regime of Red China.

The Future:  They have something else in common- nothing in the Bible suggests any important role or special privileges for Australia, New Zealand or America during the impending End Times events (the final chapters in the war between good and evil).  Instead, the Bible prophecies focus on the Holy Land and adjoining territories in Africa, Asia and Europe.

This suggests that Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. will be removed from prominence before the Tribulation begins or during its early days.  The judgments described in Revelation will apply globally but some areas may be particularly impacted by the upcoming plagues, wars, famine, environmental disasters, geologic disasters, and strikes by astronomical bodies described in Bible prophecy.  For example, Revelation 6:14 talks about a great earthquake (early in the Tribulation) where “every mountain and island will be removed from its place.”  Ten chapters later, the Bible describes an earthquake that’s even greater.  The death and destruction during the Tribulation will be horrific.

The evil government and false religion led by the Antichrist and False Prophet will encompass the whole world- distance won’t protect the Aussies, Kiwis or Yanks from Satan’s minions.  Only God can protect you.

But wait, there is still hope!  In an instant, Jesus Christ will collect all Christians through the Rapture.  He will take them to the safety of Heaven prior to the horrors of the Tribulation. 

Further, during the Tribulation, God will send evangelists and messengers throughout the whole world delivering the Gospel message.  The people left behind into the Tribulation will have the opportunity to accept Jesus as savior, but the window of opportunity will be brief.  (Sadly, many people will reject this final invitation and seal their eternal fate- the Lake of Fire).

Folks in Australia and New Zealand who wish to learn more about these upcoming End Times events should consider reading my novel The Great New Deal.  The Kindle version is available for purchase at Amazon.com.au, but Amazon currently does not ship the paperback version “Down Under.”