Showing posts with label electoral college. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Can Prophecies Fail?

An interesting article from http://www.ucg.org/ about prophecy. This follows this post about Brexit. This follows this post about the immigration threat. For a free magazine subscription or to get the books recommended for free click HERE! or call 1-888-886- 8632.

Can Prophecies Fail?

by Mike Bennett Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

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The Bible is filled with prophecy, and much of it is for the end time. Many Christians look into the prophecies of the Bible, and especially the books of Daniel and Revelation, trying to figure out exactly what will occur next on the world scene and when.
To better understand prophecy, and especially to understand whether prophecies can fail, we first must understand why God gives prophecies.

Why prophecies of punishment?

What is God's purpose in prophecy? Is He eager to exact punishment?
“'Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,' says the Lord God. 'Therefore turn and live!'” (Ezekiel 18:30-32).

Prophecies that seem to fail

Fulfilled prophecy is a proof of God and the Bible, and the Bible warns about false prophets. Strangely, though, God is not upset when one of His prophecies doesn't come about exactly as He first stated it. In fact, God gives us an example of a prophet who was upset when his prophecy seemed to fail. God tried to help him see the bigger picture.
When Jonah finally went to Nineveh—a brutal enemy of Jonah's people—he reluctantly warned them, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” (Jonah 3:4).
Then an all-too-rare event occurred. The pagan people of Nineveh believed the God of Israel. The king proclaimed, “But let every man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?” (Jonah 3:8-9).
“God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it” (Jonah 3:10). This displeased Jonah, but not God. God wanted Jonah—and us—to see things as He sees them. Many prophecies are conditional—God wants us to repent so He can relent of the prophesied punishment.

What did Paul mean, “Whether there are prophecies, they will fail”?

In the famous “Love chapter” the apostle Paul wrote: “Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away” (1 Corinthians 13:8-10).
The main point here is that love is eternal and that prophecies and other gifts are only temporary. Even those prophecies that do come to pass are temporary, because once they come to pass, they become history. However, showing love and exercising vigilance (“watching” ourselves) can result in eternal benefits and protection from the tragic events at the end of the age (Luke 21:36).
The word fail can be misunderstood in this passage. The word fail has a narrower meaning now than it did when the King James Version was written, and unfortunately the New King James Version retained that reading. A better modern translation is, “Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end” (1 Corinthians 13:8, New Revised Standard Version).
Also, when considering whether prophecies fail, it's important to note that there is a big difference between the actual prophecies given in the Bible and the human interpretations and predictions that are based on applying those prophecies to world events. God's Word is sure, but we must not think that our specific interpretation is the only way a prophecy can be fulfilled. Far too many students of prophecy have fallen into that trap.

Good news: prophecies that will come to pass

When we point out sins and the prophesied punishment they will bring, we pray and hope these prophecies won't have to come to pass. But we know the overall framework of prophecy will come to pass. And that is good news! The end of all the prophecies tells of Jesus Christ's return and the establishment of the peaceful and prosperous Kingdom of God.
Read more about the wonderful world beyond today's troubles in the last couple of chapters of our booklet You Can Understand Bible Prophecy : “The Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ” and “Beyond the Millennium.” You need this encouraging good news!

prophecy Christians Jonah Whether there are prophecies they will fail understanding prophecy News and Prophecy Fulfilled Prophecy The Bible

Beyond Today -- Christ's Second Coming: When Predictions Fail

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Editorial: Civil War on November 9?

Editorial

Regardless of who wins the election, will there be a civil war in the U.S. the next day?

Clinton supporters already believe that their candidate is ten points ahead in the polls and if she loses, they won't be able to believe that the media had lied that badly to them. There have already been threat of moving to Canada by many and states like California are threatening to "build a wall" against Trump's America.

Trump supporters on the other hand, believe that if they don't win this election, that the flood of people from Mexico, Syria, and elsewhere, could make this the LAST presidential election. Many are planning to bunker down, feeling there is nowhere else in the world to go, and states like Texas and others could possibly try to secede.

On the other hand, both parties have members within that don't like their own nominee and many others don't like either candidate!

Will a civil war be the likely outcome of all this?

http://www.vdare.com/articles/hillarys-climate-of-hate

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Demographic shifts changing the face of America

An interesting article from http://www.ucg.org/ about demographics and the electoral college. This follows this post about Gaza. For a free magazine subscription or to get the books recommended for free click HERE! or call 1-888-886- 8632.

Current Events & Trends

Demographic shifts changing the face of America

by Scott Ashley Listen Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

MP3 Audio (6.1 MB)

People inside a train station. — These reported trends have sobering implications for the nation.

“At its core, demography is the act of counting people,” begins a new report from the Pew Research Center about U.S. population changes. “But it’s also important to study the forces that are driving population change, and measure how these changes have an impact on people’s lives.”
The report went on to summarize 10 demographic changes that are reshaping the United States in significant ways. Among them are:
• Immigration is making the country more racially and ethnically diverse . Almost 60 million immigrants have come into the country over the last 50 years, largely from Mexico and Asia (“Asia” in this case being primarily the Middle East, Pakistan and India rather than China and Japan). The percentage of America’s foreign-born population has nearly tripled over the same time to 14 percent, meaning one out of every seven were born outside the United States.
• The numbers of Asian and African immigrants are rising, while the number of net immigrants from Mexico has leveled off and is slowly decreasing.
• Millennials, those born after 1980, likely now outnumber the “Baby Boomer” generation (born 1946-1964)—and differ from them significantly. They are racially diverse (43 percent are non-white), politically more liberal, and more highly educated—with the result that many struggle with student debt and still live at home.
• Mothers are now the sole or primary wage earner in 40 percent of all households with children. This means that large numbers of children spend little time with either parent. More than a quarter of all children under 18 live with a single parent; 5 percent live with no parent at all.
• American families are changing in other ways. The percentage of Americans over 25 who have never been married is the highest ever at 20 percent. This is more than double the 9 percent of never-married adults in 1960. About one in four young adults aged 25 to 34—the prime childbearing years—are not married but living with a partner.
• The middle class is shrinking. In 2015, after four decades in which middle-class families were the majority, only half of U.S. adults lived in middle-income households. As the middle class has shrunk, the gap between the “haves” and “have-nots” has grown.
• The percentage of Americans identifying as Christian is shrinking while the number of those religiously unaffiliated is growing. From 2007 to 2014, the percentage claiming Christianity dropped from 78 to 71 percent while the religiously unaffiliated climbed from 16 to 23 percent.
These trends have sobering implications for the nation. The changes due to immigration show that America’s leaders are repeating the mistake that is currently bringing so much chaos to Europe—opening doors to millions of immigrants from other cultures and religions who will never fully assimilate into American culture.
The changes in family life show that the nation is drifting farther from the God-designed family model (of a husband and wife bound in a loving marriage and bringing up children who are taught godly principles and values). Veering from God’s design brings only greater personal and societal costs.
And rejection of biblical Christianity to embrace other religions (or none at all) leads to only further moral, cultural and societal breakdown as people look to human government or themselves to find solutions for their problems. As Proverbs 14:12 said some 3,000 years ago, “There is a way that seems right to man, but its end is the way of death.”
To learn more about where these trends are leading and why, download or request our free study guide The United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy . (Source: Pew Research Center.)

United States social trends

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Monday, June 17, 2013

Editorial: ERIC HOLDER is Redrawing Texas District Maps. This affects the National Electoral College! CALL TO ACTION BUMPED & UPDATED

Editorial

Eric Holder is Redrawing Texas' District Maps!

Texas is in the midst of a Special Legislative Session on redistricting. The most likely outcome of this is a new map that will punish the party that has helped Texas become a prosperous state and will also reward "Sanctuary Cities" by giving them more electoral clout by rewarding their non-enforcement of immigration laws.

Even if you do not live in Texas, you will be affected by the imbalance that this will do to the national electoral college.

We are asking you to contact the following legislatures and ask them to use the electoral map that passed both Houses of the 2011 legislature and not punish the party of prosperity nor reward "Sanctuary Cities."

Governor of Texas: http://governor.state.tx.us/contact/

Lt. Governor of Texas: http://www.ltgov.state.tx.us/contact.php

Attorney General of Texas: greg.abbott@texasattorneygeneral.gov

State Senate Republicans: http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/senmem.htm (Remember to focus on the Republicans)

State House Republicans: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/ (Remember to Focus on the Republicans from the following list and click the second page on your contact list)

Directory of House Members

Your cooperation is appreciated. Remember Texas will affect you in the national electoral college!

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Editorial: Texas Redistricting & National Electoral College CALL TO ACTION

Editorial

Texas is in the midst of a Special Legislative Session on redistricting. The most likely outcome of this is a new map that will punish the party that has helped Texas become a prosperous state and will also reward "Sanctuary Cities" by giving them more electoral clout by rewarding their non-enforcement of immigration laws.

Even if you do not live in Texas, you will be affected by the imbalance that this will do to the national electoral college.

We are asking you to contact the following legislatures and ask them to use the electoral map that passed both Houses of the 2011 legislature and not punish the party of prosperity nor reward "Sanctuary Cities."

Governor of Texas: http://governor.state.tx.us/contact/
Lt. Governor of Texas: http://www.ltgov.state.tx.us/contact.php
Attorney General of Texas: greg.abbott@texasattorneygeneral.gov
State Senate Republicans: http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/senmem.htm (Remember to focus on the Republicans)
State House Republicans: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/ (Remember to Focus on the Republicans from the following list and click the second page on your contact list)

Directory of House Members

Your cooperation is appreciated. Remember Texas will affect you in the national electoral college!

Monday, November 19, 2012

Look On The Bright Side—Electoral College Gives GOP A (Small) Window To Act

A very interesting post from www.Vdare,com about the electoral college for future Presidential elections. This follows this post about things you can do if you don't like the way politics is going. This follows this post about a race hoax at U.T. Austin. This follows this post about Emmit Till. In the meantime, you can read a very interesting book HERE.

Look On The Bright Side—Electoral College Gives GOP A (Small) Window To Act

http://www.vdare.com/articles/look-on-the-bright-side-electoral-college-gives-gop-a-small-window-to-act

By Washington Watcher
The Main Stream Media and its sockpuppet Republican strategists drone on about the GOP’s dire need to appeal to Hispanics and VDARE.com writers respond, as I did myself in my last VDARE.com piece, that it is essentially impossible for the Republican Party to win a higher proportion of the Hispanic vote. But while the importance of the Hispanic vote in this election was overhyped, this does not change the reality that the size of the Hispanic electorate will continue to increase. [An Awakened Giant: The Hispanic Electorate is Likely to Double by 2030, Pew Hispanic Center, November 14, 2012]

Many on the real Right have interpreted these two facts to mean that the GOP is now forever doomed not to win the presidency. Thus Patrick J. Buchanan has written:

When the country looks like California demographically, it will look like California politically. Republicans are not whistling past the graveyard. They are right at the entrance.

My response: I do agree that, absent some serious changes to our immigration policy, the GOP is indeed eventually doomed. But I think it’s important to note that the Electoral College system will keep Republicans competitive for a few cycles more than the raw demographic data suggests.

This might seem counterintuitive after this election. Obama ended up winning the popular vote narrowly, 50-48%, but he racked up an impressive 332-206 victory in the Electoral College (62%-38%). New York Times quant blogger Nate Silver has calculated that Romney would have had to win the popular vote by 3% (assuming his gains were shifted evenly across all the states) in order to have won the presidency in 2012.

But there are two factors that can lead to a candidate doing better in the Electoral College than in the popular vote:

First, electoral votes are determined by the total number of Senators and Congressmen in each state.

Thus winning states with small populations gives you a disproportionate number of electoral votes.

Secondly, the Electoral College is winner-take-all in each state.

A candidate who wins the swing states by a small margin, but gets blown out in the states that were never in play to begin with, can still win the election.

It is this latter factor that could make the Republicans still competitive—even as the racial demographics of the country shift yet further in favor of the Democrats. The Hispanic electorate is overwhelmingly concentrated in non-swing states. And most swing states are whiter than the rest the country.

Although much is made out of the fact that Hispanics made up 10% of the electorate (there’s some dispute about this, but let’s accept it, arguendo), much of the Hispanic vote was in states that were never in contention. At least 42% of Hispanic votes were cast in the states of California, Texas, Arizona, New York, or New Mexico, which represent a combined 138 electoral votes or less than 26% of the total electoral votes. Each of these states went for Romney or Obama by at least 10%. It is reasonably fair to assume that the gradual increase in Hispanic voters in Texas and Arizona will not likely be enough to swing those states to the Democrats in 2016 or 2020.

There are three swing states with large Hispanic electorate: Florida, Colorado, and Nevada. Perhaps they may be competitive for the GOP for another Presidential election cycle or maybe even two, but not much longer. Combined with the aforementioned non-swing states, these states make up 182 or 34% of all electoral votes. Approximately 58% of all Hispanics voted in these 8 states.

(Note: I calculated these numbers from the CNN exit polls, by dividing the Hispanic Share of the electorate by the state share of the electorate. When I calculated these numbers, the results were not completely in at either the state or national level—CNN had reported 118 million voters at the time, while pollsters estimate approximately 126 million people voted in the election. Also, CNN did not conduct exit polls in Texas, so I simply used the 2008 share of the Hispanic votes. Assuming the Hispanic vote increased as it did in the rest of the country, this would mean that I actually undercounted the total Hispanic vote in non-swing states. You can see the figures I used to compute the data here.)

Thus the rest of the country, including most swing states, will have a much lower proportion of Hispanic voters than the 10% national figure that is being repeated by the talking heads. Hispanics made up 2% of the electorate in Iowa, 3% in New Hampshire, Michigan, and Ohio, 4% in North Carolina and Wisconsin, 5% in Virginia, and 6% in Indiana and Pennsylvania. Correspondingly, with the exception of North Carolina and Virginia, all of these states had a higher percentage of white voters than the national electorate.

Similarly the black population is heavily concentrated in the South. Whites vote en bloc in these states, making them solidly Republican, with the exception of North Carolina and Virginia—and even here whites still vote in higher percentages for the GOP than do whites nationwide. This dilutes the importance of the black vote in the Electoral College.(The New York Times recently editorialized against the very existence of the Electoral College: The Tarnish of the Electoral College, November 15, 2012)

Thus, Republicans could conceivably lose the heavily Hispanic swing states of Florida, Nevada, and Colorado and still win by sweeping the South (save Florida) and winning most of the white Rust bowl and Midwestern states.

Of course, this is easier said than done. While the GOP successfully turned Indiana back red in 2012, they lost Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Iowa. Republicans would have to win all but one of these states if they cannot win any of the heavily Hispanic swing states. And some, such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, have not gone for the GOP since 1988.

Still, Republicans performed well in all of these states in 2010. The problem is that they then used their victory to pursue anti-union, free trade, and anti-Medicare policies; while refusing to do anything about popular issues like immigration. As Pat Buchanan wrote,

Tuesday, these ex-Reagan Democrats came out to vote against some guy from Bain Capital they had been told in ads all summer was a big-time outsourcer who wrote in 2008, "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt!"

As much as I personally object to him, Rick Santorum would have probably done very well among these voters, though he would have likely scared off more Independent voters in swing states like Virginia, Florida, and Colorado with his views on social issues. I am confident that someone like Santorum, without the social baggage, who would also be solid on immigration, could be competitive for at least a couple more election cycles.

That person, by the way would not be Marco Rubio or Paul Ryan. However, if someone like Kris Kobach or Lou Barletta manages to get elected as Senator or Governor, they could easily appeal to these voters.

When immigration tips Texas and Arizona to the Democrats, the GOP is indeed finished.

But the party has a small window where it can still get elected to national office and halt and even reverse the demographic trends that will otherwise render it (and the historic American nation) irrelevant.

"Washington Watcher" [email him] is an anonymous source Inside The Beltway.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

"To Your Tents, O Israel!"

An interesting article from http://www.ucg.org/ about the Kingdom of Israel and the Kingdom of Judah splitting up after Solomon's rein. This follows this post about the war on morality! For a free magazine subscription or to get this book for free click HERE! or call 1-888-886-8632.

Profiles of Faith: Jeroboam - King of the Northern Ten Tribes

article by Jerold Aust

Many in the mainstream Christian world have not learned this vital lesson from the life of King Jeroboam. The practices he set in motion—substituting his own days, methods and kinds of worship for those God commanded—have continued down to this day.

Jeroboam, an effective administrator under King Solomon, pleaded Israel's cause before Solomon's son and successor, Rehoboam: "Your father made our yoke heavy; now therefore, lighten the burdensome service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you" (1 Kings 12:4Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee.

See All...).

Jeroboam, chosen spokesman for most of the tribes of Israel, addressed Rehoboam at Shechem, not Jerusalem. That their meeting was in this northern city added to Rehoboam's troubles, for he knew the northern tribes were chafing at the heavy-handed tax and labor policies administered from Jerusalem.

Under Solomon's long and peaceful rule, Israel had lived in the lap of luxury, attributable at least in part to a heavy tax burden that allowed Israel to militarily and economically dominate the area and control its profitable trade routes. But this tax burden eventually generated considerable resentment among the people.

Rehoboam wanted to keep his father's affluent kingdom intact. But Jeroboam had different ideas: He planned to rule over a new kingdom to be formed from 10 of the 12 tribes of Israel, and Rehoboam unwittingly played right into his hands.

King Rehoboam needed a little time to consider his position and determine his response: "Depart for three days, then come back to me" (verse 5).

In the privacy of his court, Rehoboam turned to the elders who had counseled his father and asked: "How do you advise me to answer these people?"

The elders answered wisely: "If you will be a servant to these people today, and serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever" (verses 6-7).

This is wise advice in any age, particularly so at such a critical time.

Although Rehoboam was the son of the wisest of men, he didn't inherit his father's wisdom: "But he rejected the advice which the elders had given him, and consulted the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him. And he said to them, 'What advice do you give? ...' Then the young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, 'Thus you should speak to this people who have spoken to you, saying, "Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter on us" ... "[But, he replied] whereas my father laid a heavy yoke on you, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!' " (verses 8-11).

The third day Jeroboam and other representatives returned to Rehoboam. "Then the king answered the people roughly, and rejected the advice which the elders had given him; and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men ..." (verses 13-14).

Rehoboam's abrasive words quickly drove a wedge among the 12 tribes: "Now when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, saying: 'What share have we in David [Rehoboam's grandfather]? ... To your tents, O Israel! Now, see to your own house, O David!' So Israel departed to their tents" (verse 16).

The northern 10 tribes proclaimed Jeroboam king over their newly formed kingdom. Rehoboam was left with only two tribes—Judah and Benjamin—along with a good portion of the tribe of Levi, which was interspersed among all the other tribes of Israel. Thus Israel was split into two kingdoms: Israel in the north, ruled by Jeroboam, and Judah in the south, ruled by Rehoboam from Jerusalem.

Jeroboam's Background

Jeroboam had significantly gained prominence during King Solomon's reign. "The man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor; and Solomon, seeing that the young man was industrious, made him the officer over all the labor force of the house of Joseph" (1 Kings 11:28And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph.

See All...).

First-century Jewish historian Josephus adds further details: "... When Solomon saw that he was of an active and bold disposition, he made him the curator of the walls which he built round about Jerusalem; and he took such care of those works, and the king approved of his behaviour, and gave him, as a reward for the same, the charge of the tribe of Joseph" ( Antiquities of the Jews, book VIII, chapter vii, section 7).

However, relations between Solomon and Jeroboam would not remain so respectful and peaceable.

As Solomon grew older he fell increasingly into idolatrous worship. He so disgraced himself through his worship of idols that God rebuked him: "I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant [Jeroboam]" (1 Kings 11:11Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.

See All...).

Jeroboam's ascendancy wasn't the product of his own righteousness but came about, rather ironically, by Solomon's idolatry.

A Message from God

Privately the prophet Ahijah revealed to Jeroboam God's intention to make him the ruler of a new kingdom: "... When Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem ... the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met him on the way; and he had clothed himself with a new garment, and the two were alone in the field. Then Ahijah took hold of the new garment that was on him, and tore it into twelve pieces.

"And he said to Jeroboam, 'Take for yourself ten pieces, for thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: "Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and will give ten tribes to you ... because they have forsaken Me, and worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the people of Ammon, and have not walked in My ways to do what is right in My eyes and keep My statutes and My judgments, as did his father David." ' " (1 Kings 11:29-33 [29] And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field:

[30] And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces:

[31] And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:

[32] (But he shall have one tribe for my servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:)

[33] Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.

See All...).

Here we see the reason for the kingdom of Israel splitting into two nations: idolatrous worship, or the rejection of the manner of worship God had prescribed in His Word.

Ahijah continued God's message: "However I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand, because I have made him ruler all the days of his life for the sake of My servant David, whom I chose because he kept My commandments and My statutes. But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand and give it to you—ten tribes ... So I will take you, and you shall reign over all your heart desires, and you shall be king over Israel" ' " (1 Kings 11:34-37 [34] Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant's sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes:

[35] But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes.

[36] And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there.

[37] And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel.

See All...).

Josephus complements the biblical account: "Being a young man of warm temper, and ambitious of greatness, he could not be quiet." Jeroboam decided to seek control of the northern tribes immediately, and "he endeavored to persuade the people to forsake Solomon, to make a disturbance, and to bring the government over to himself" ( Antiquities of the Jews, book VIII, chapter vii, section 8). Solomon, who learned of Jeroboam's subversive design, responded by trying to kill him. But Jeroboam fled to Egypt, where he remained until the king died (1 Kings 11:40Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. And Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.

See All...).

Confrontation with Rehoboam

After Solomon's death and Rehoboam's ascension of the throne, Jeroboam's countrymen summoned him from Egypt. Shortly thereafter he and Rehoboam had the confrontation.

After the northern 10 tribes announced their intention to reject the House of David, Rehoboam became desperate: "... He assembled all the house of Judah with the tribe of Benjamin, one hundred and eighty thousand chosen men who were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, that he might restore the kingdom to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.

"But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, 'Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, saying, "Thus says the Lord: 'You shall not go up nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel. Let every man return to his house, for this thing is from Me.'...' Therefore they obeyed the word of the Lord, and turned back, according to the word of the Lord" (1 Kings 12:22-24 [22] But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying,

[23] Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the people, saying,

[24] Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the LORD, and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD.

See All...).

Jeroboam: The Good and the Bad

Jeroboam had a golden opportunity to succeed, even during a time of great division. The Bible says little of his early life, although his parents are named. His father, Nebat was deceased, for Scripture identifies his mother, Zeruah, as a widow (1 Kings 11:26And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon's servant, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow woman, even he lifted up his hand against the king.

See All...).

Jeroboam was from the tribe of Ephraim (1 Kings 11:26And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon's servant, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow woman, even he lifted up his hand against the king.

See All...), one of the most powerful tribes among the 12. He was talented, ambitious, brave and industrious in his responsibilities. Though Jeroboam showed himself diligent in his early duties, his weaknesses eventually grew apparent.

In one of his first acts, Jeroboam chose Shechem—between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim in northern Israel—as his new capital and set about rebuilding and fortifying it (1 Kings 12:25Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel.

See All...). Shechem's strategic location was geographically as well as religiously significant. Its religious ties went back not only to the patriarchs but to the Canaanites. Jeroboam sought to distance himself and the people from the influence of the kings of Judah in Jerusalem (verses 26-27).

Jeroboam was also apprehensive about his people's religious life, which centered around the temple and priesthood in Jerusalem. He devised a cunning plan, creating two golden calves for the people to worship, and strategically placed them at the northern and southern ends of the country (verses 28-29). The one in the south he placed at Bethel, on the main road to Jerusalem. Those among the northern tribes who intended to travel to Jerusalem for God's feasts (Leviticus 23) then could be easily diverted to worship at Bethel instead.

Jeroboam also established idolatrous worship on high places and appointed his own priests from other than the tribe of Levi (1 Kings 12:31And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.

See All...). Perhaps his greatest single change was to tamper with God's annual Holy Days. Instead of observing the Feast of Tabernacles in the seventh month as God had commanded, Jeroboam instituted an alternate feast in the eighth month, "in the month which he had devised in his own heart" (verse 33).

The king's terrible spiritual blunders were to bring untold suffering on the House of Israel and Israel's descendants. Under Jeroboam's leadership the northern tribes soon drifted away from the pattern of religious worship God had commanded. It was bad enough before the national schism (1 Kings 11:30-33 [30] And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces:

[31] And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:

[32] (But he shall have one tribe for my servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:)

[33] Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.

See All...), but the degeneration only worsened after the nation separated. In the south religious worship and morality similarly suffered a sharp decline (1 Kings 14:22-24 [22] And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed, above all that their fathers had done.

[23] For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree.

[24] And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.

See All...).

Degeneracy and Destruction

Jeroboam's counterfeit religion, with its own priesthood, gods and religious festivals and observances, was destined to play a major role in Israel's downfall.

Through Ahijah God had encouraged Jeroboam to rule properly: "... You shall reign over all your heart desires, and you shall be king over Israel. Then it shall be, if you heed all that I command you, walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then I will be with you and build for you an enduring house, as I built for David, and will give Israel to you" (1 Kings 11:37-38 [37] And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel.

[38] And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee.

See All...).

But Jeroboam failed to exploit his remarkable opportunity. Rather, he instituted an idolatrous form of worship as the official religion of the new kingdom. In spite of God's warnings, Jeroboam refused to turn from his idolatrous ways.

God pronounced a sobering final edict against Jeroboam: "Because I exalted you from among the people, and made you ruler over My people Israel, and tore the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it to you; and yet you have not been as My servant David, who kept My commandments and who followed Me with all his heart, to do only what was right in My eyes; but you have done more evil than all who were before you, for you have gone and made for yourself other gods and molded images to provoke Me to anger, and have cast Me behind your back—therefore behold! I will bring disaster on the house of Jeroboam ..." (1 Kings 14:7-10 [7] Go, tell Jeroboam, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Forasmuch as I exalted thee from among the people, and made thee prince over my people Israel,

[8] And rent the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it thee: and yet thou hast not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in mine eyes;

[9] But hast done evil above all that were before thee: for thou hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back:

[10] Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone.

See All...).

A Legacy of Tragedy

Summarizing Jeroboam's and his successors' rule, the Bible says: "Then Jeroboam drove Israel from following the Lord, and made them commit a great sin. For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they did not depart from them, until the Lord removed Israel out of His sight, as He had said by all His servants the prophets. So Israel was carried away from their own land to Assyria, as it is to this day" (2 Kings 17:21-23 [21] For he rent Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drave Israel from following the LORD, and made them sin a great sin.

[22] For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them;

[23] Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day.

See All...).

So Jeroboam's sins had far-reaching consequences. They led to the removal of God's blessings on the 10-tribed nation because not one of Israel's kings who followed Jeroboam initiated the necessary reforms that would have led the nation back to God's way of worship. Instead, all continued in his sins (2 Kings 3:3Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.

See All...; 10:29; 13:2; etc.). God does not give us a choice on how we are to worship Him (Deuteronomy 12:32What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

See All...). He gives us a choice of whether we will worship Him according to the instructions He has given.

Israel was instructed to worship the Eternal God, not two golden calves. God's people were told that the Feast of Tabernacles was to be observed in the seventh month of the year, not the eighth month. Not one of Israel's kings restored the true worship of God. The result was a horrific national captivity for all 10 tribes.

Many in the mainstream Christian world have not learned this vital lesson from the life of King Jeroboam. The practices he set in motion—substituting his own days, methods and kinds of worship for those God commanded—have continued down to this day.

God tells us in His Word when and on which days we are to worship. He does not want us to invent our own special festivals or borrow them from the pagan practices of yesteryear. (If you are not already familiar with the true biblical Sabbaths, both weekly and annual, request our two free booklets Sunset to Sunset: God's Sabbath Rest and God's Holy Day Plan: The Promise of Hope for All Mankind .) GN

.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

SuperStorm Sandy brings out the Looters. Will the election results do the same?

A very interesting post from www.dailymail.co.uk about looting in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. This follows this post about self defense in New York and New Jersey. This follows this post about the San Francisco Giants celebratory riots. This follows this post about a race hoax at U.T. Austin. This follows this post about free phones for welfare recipients. This follows this post about Emmit Till. This follows this post about the likelihood of urban warfare in the U.S. and this about violent Flash Mobs which can result in activities such as Knockout King. You can read a very interesting book HERE.

'Even momma got outta house to loot new shirt': Looters brag on TwitterPolice have arrested 13 people in New York City on suspicion of looting

Looters have especially targeted Queens and Brooklyn, some even posting photos of their bounty

National Guard deployed 1,175 troops to protect New York City and Long Island amid fears

Borough President has begged for more troops to be deployed to storm-ravaged South Brooklyn

A mob of more than 50 thieves rampaged through Coney Island, stealing alcohol, flat-screen TVs and even diapers or Kit-Kats

By Adam Shergold and Daily Mail Reporter

PUBLISHED: 10:09 EST, 31 October 2012
UPDATED: 17:02 EST, 4 November 2012

Comments (180) Share

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Several brazen thugs have robbed their neighbors and their local shops of everything from basic food stuffs to expensive electronics and they are taking to Twitter to broadcast their spoils.

'Check out this laptop I scored,' SevenleafB tweeted earlier today. 'It's easy just reach out an grab it.'

It appears the looters are organizing through the hashtag #SANDYLOOTCREW.

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz has now called on New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to put a stop to the crime-wave sweeping South Brooklyn.

Scroll down for video

Looting for clothes: Tevon D'sean Jackson proudly announced on the social network that his mother had stolen him a new shirt

Catnapper: One person using the alias SevenleafB bragged about stealing a cat from a house during a looting-tour of New York

Police have so far arrested nearly a dozen people for the crime, but Mr Markowitz said that the FDNY, police, and other first responders are overwhelmed in the borough and desperately need relief.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg, however, has stated that the only people he wants on the streets are New York's finest.

More...One in four New York buildings without power... and Bloomberg warns Manhattan blackout could last for days

After the storm: True scale of Sandy's devastation across Eastern Seaboard emerges as death toll hits FIFTY and damage set to top $50BILLION

The moment the bodies of two boys, aged 11 and 13, were removed from the home where they were killed by a falling tree during Superstorm Sandy

'Governor Cuomo also acted quickly by activating the National Guard prior to the storm, and I urge him to allocate as many troops as possible to Brooklyn—troops from New York or any other states that can spare them,' said Mr Markowitz in a statement.

'The devastation is so widespread and overwhelming that it’s in the best interest of all of our residents for a more significant National Guard presence to supplement the great work being done by our brave—but overwhelmed—first responders.

'In addition to flooding, power outages, lack of utilities, sanitation and water issues, and no transportation in neighborhoods such as Coney Island, Sea Gate, Brighton Beach, Manhattan Beach, Gerritsen Beach, Mill Basin, Sheepshead Bay, DUMBO, Red Hook and others, there have been unfortunate incidents of looting in some locations.

Recruiting: As if the cat and the games was not enough, brazen thief SevenleafB also encouraged others to loot in the wake of Hurricane Sandy

'All of our resources have been stretched to the limit, but in the name of public safety we need to send more National Guard personnel into Coney Island, Manhattan Beach, Gerritsen Beach, Red Hook and any other locations the governor deems appropriate.'

Neighborhoods like Brighton Beach and Coney Island are still without electricity, and suffering form a lack of basic services, causing residents to fear the worst and either stay inside their ravaged homes or risk the streets.

A mob of more than 50 thieves made the most of the opportunity on Coney's Island, starting down Mermaid Avenue on Tuesday morning as the water receded.

'People were running in and out of Rent-A-Center carrying these big flat-screens,' witness Aisha John, 20, told the Daily News. 'They were holding on tight. I couldn't understand how someone could steal a big TV in broad daylight, but no one cared.'

She said people were running out of a nearby Rite Aid with bags of diapers and wipes.

A young man calling himself Jesse James claimed he had helped himself to a TV at the Rent-A-Center. 'Look, they've been looting our wallets for too long,' he added.

Looters used tools to break through the steel security gates of Joann’s Discount Wine and Liquors at around 11.30am.

Prepared: A boarded up pizza restaurant in Hoboken, New Jersey

Ron Troyano, owner of said the atmosphere was one of 'complete lawlessness'.

The thieves then shattered his storefront and helped themselves to thousands of dollars worth of Hennessy and Grey Goose, he said.

Two police guarded Joann’s over night but failed to stop more looters from sneaking in through the roof and passing bottles down to each other from there.

Mr Troyano said that between the flooding and plundering, his losses were too high to calculate and he is not sure when he will reopen.

'We are supposed to come together as a community during times of crisis, not pick at each other like vultures,' he said. 'Next time I'm getting a gun.'

Looters also hit The Fresh Market five blocks down, 'destroying everything', according to employee Fernando Mendoza.

'They stole anything they could get their hands on,' he said yesterday. 'Someone even ran off with the cash register.'

'It was a mob of people. Fifty to a hundred. They were just running down the street grabbing anything that wasn't nailed down.'

A Rite Aid employee, who declined to give her name, said: 'They were literally walking out with shopping carts full of merchandise. They didn't even look worried. They looked like they were casually shopping.

'I saw an elderly lady walking away with batteries and a bag of Kit Kats.'

Urgent request: Brooklyn Bourough President Marty Markowitz (pictured) urged New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg to send the National Guard to Brooklyn in order to put an end to looting

Although there have only been reports of a dozen or so arrests related to lootings, media coverage and online accounts indicate the actual problem is much more widespread.

Thieves have posted photographs of everything from video games to subwoofers to dehumidifiers.

Twitter user @OG_MLK posted a photo of a man grabbing hold of a big screen television with the caption Pics of my boy Demarcus swiping that tv #SANDYLOOTCREW.'

Another user posted a photo of a woman running on the street with a mannequin wearing a white shirt with the caption 'Last night even Momma got outta her house to loot me a new shirt... Luv U Momma #SANDYLOOTCREW'

Some accounts that claim they are participating in the illegal activities are clearly fake with only a few previous tweets. Others appear to be genuine.

Other people have used the hashtag to announce their disgust at the actions of the self-proclaimed 'loot crew.'

'Can we track down all the people on the #SandyLootCrew and give them the death penalty? Disgusting behavior in a tragic time,' said @randomscreenname.

Abandoned: Thousands of shops and businesses were boarded up before the superstorm struck, including this branch of Saks on Fifth Avenue in New York

Mayor Bloomberg has rebuffed Mr Markowitz's call for support, saying that the does not want the National Guard in Brooklyn.

'The NYPD had 80 light towers up last night in areas with power outages and the goal is to have 100 more for tonight,' he said earlier today.

Residents have said they are afraid to leave their apartments, even though they have no hot water nor electricity.

'People are turning on each other -- they're attacking each other,' said Dena Wells, of Ocean Towers.

'Even when there's no disaster, this building is disastrous,' the 39-year-old told the Huffington Post. 'But after the hurricane, it just got crazy. We have to get out of here.'

Photographs of alleged looters breaking into abandoned stores have been widely published, as well as tweets announcing the illegal intentions of some Brooklynites.

'It's getting dark, and it's real dangerous out here -- that's why there's a cop on every block,' said one NYPD officer. 'You could get your stuff stolen.'

Anybody in there? Firefighters believed the collapsed building in the north of Philadelphia was empty until they heard the man crawling out of the wreckage

The situation has been different in Lower Manhattan, however, and nearby Newark where the police have reported no instances of looting.

'There’s been no problems out here,' said one NYPD officer who asked not to be named to Fox News. 'It’s been really quiet and everyone’s been really helpful.'

Some Lower Manhattan residents have said that the neighborhoods above the devastated Financial District bustle as usual during the day and are desolate at night.

'It’s like a curfew,” Gina Williams, Lower East Side resident, said. 'As soon as it gets dark everyone goes upstairs because nobody wants to be out here.'

Newark Mayor Cory Booker announced on Twitter that his city came together after the hurricane.

'Police have reported ZERO looting or crimes of opportunity in Newark. And ceaseless reports of acts of kindness abound everywhere #Gratitude,' he said yesterday.

Emerging from the wreckage: The man raises a smile as he drags himself out of the collapsed building in Philadelphia... but he was arrested shortly afterwards on suspicion of looting

Looters, however, are becoming more greedy and more clever.

One cab driver described seeing the thieves in action when he returned to his home in Brooklyn’s Gerritsen Beach.

Eric Martine, 33, told the New York Post: ‘Guys were looting, pretending they were Con Ed and holding people up. It was sick.’

Police have allegedly warned locals that looters were disguising themselves as utility workers.

A police source told the Post that the ‘scumbags looting’ will not be tolerated and will be arrested ‘on sight’.

In the Rockaways, Queens, eight suspects were arrested: three at a petrol station, three at a Radio Shack electronics store and two at a clothing store.

The Rockaways were particularly badly hit by the storm. More than 80 homes in the Breezy Point section of the peninsula were destroyed by a fire whipped on by violent winds.

Furthermore, Queens and Brooklyn officers had an especially tough time tackling the looters as some police precincts had to be evacuated on Monday due to flooding.

None of the crimes were reported to have been violent and no one was injured.

History repeated: New York's 1977 blackout prompted riots, looting and mayhem causing millions of dollars worth of damage

Meanwhile, in South Street Seaport - a stone’s throw from Manhattan’s Financial District - multiple stores were allegedly ransacked.

While a visible police presence is deterring any potential looters, some businesses have also enlisted private security.

Mayor Bloomberg reassured residents and business owners on Tuesday that there is a ‘very heavy police presence’ in the areas worst hit.

Shortly before the super-storm hit New York, thousands of National Guard troops were mobilised to prevent looting sprees on homes and shops.

Scores of trouble makers took to Twitter threatening to ransack stores and burgle abandoned homes as Sandy passed.

Prepared: Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo quickly activated the National Guard before the storm

The online threats prompted the New York National Guard to deploy 1,175 troops in New York City, Long Island and the Hudson Valley to maintain law and order.

The National Guard said they had been mobilised to 'provide command and control and logistical support', adding that one of the troops' main duties would be to 'protect against looting.'

The move came as President Obama declared a 'major disaster' in New York and Long Island after the Superstorm hit overnight on Monday, leaving the area looking like the set of a disaster movie.

Sandy hit the mainland at 6.30pm local time on Monday, having battered the eastern coast all day with 13ft waves, causing widespread flooding, damage to buildings and power cuts.

On Wednesday morning, the storm had claimed the life of at least 50 people, 22 of whom were killed in New York.

The damage caused by Hurricane Sandy is estimated to be $50 billion (£31 billion).

Members of the National Guard load a truck heading to flooded areas caused by Hurricane Sandy in the New York area

On Monday, a Philadelphia man rescued from the wreckage of a collapsed building was promptly arrested for looting.

The abandoned three-storey building in the north of the city had been reduced to rubble after Superstorm Sandy battered the east coast.

Firefighters working to make the building safe didn't think anyone was inside, until they heard someone crawling out of the rubble.

After helping him to safety, police officers arrested him for disorderly conduct on the suspicion that he had crawled in to the building, located on Cumberland Street, looking for things to loot.

The exact cause of the building's collapse is still unknown but Philadelphia was buffeted by 50mph gusts as a result of the storm.

Help: A member of the Army National Guard delivers emergency drinking water to the Hoboken Homeless Shelter to aid victims from Hurricane Sandy earlier today

Saviors: A member of the National Guard takes charge of an evacuation of elderly victims in New Jersey

Stepping in: A man walks his dog past two National Guard vehicles in central New York as the city tries to recover from the after effects of Sandy

The use of Twitter to organise looting has echoes of last year's London riots and follows a phenomenon of 'flash robberies' in America in which organised mobs descend on stores or individuals to steal goods.

The plans are made on social networking sites such as Facebook or by e-mail.

One Twitter user called 'GT: OpTic TUMES' wrote on Monday: 'Just started a looting clan. LL - Luscious Looters. Message @OpTicPauL. for tryouts must have mask. #HurricaneSandy.'

Another, Matt Worman, posted on Sunday: 'Bout to do some looting when this hurricane finally hits...gonna get a new laptop and tv...this hurricane might be the best thing to happen.'

Lucas Emil wrote: 'If this hurricane gets real bad I'm looting stores! I always wanted to do that...'

Looters often take advantage of hurricanes to loot - the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 became notorious for large scale lawlessness in New Orleans.

The practice became so commonplace that police officers were eventually told not to stop people ransacking stores.

Police were caught on camera looting a Wal-Mart store, later claiming 'they had received permission from superiors to take necessities for themselves and other officers.'

Evacuees: Victims in New Jersey were picked up by the National Guard and taken to safety

Hoping for a rescue: Brooklyn Borough President Markowitz has asked for the National Guard to be deployed to Brooklyn to bring order among looters

Abandoned homes were also pillaged during Hurricane Irene last year.

Some New Yorkers will remember the city's 1977 blackout which prompted riots, looting and mayhem that caused millions of dollars worth of damage.

Lightning knocked out electricity for 25 hours on July 13, 1977, at a time when the city was suffering from a financial crisis and high unemployment levels.

Reports at the time included 50 cars being hot-wired and driven out of the showroom to be dismantled for parts, and hundreds hospitalised after fires and fighting broke out.

Around 4,500 people were arrested after the blackout chaos which caused damage estimated at around 61 million.

VIDEO: The moment the man came crawling out...

Read more:

Looters 'swipe' up the mess in chaos zones - m.NYPOST.com

Hurricane Sandy Looting, Fights Plague South Brooklyn (PHOTOS)

Hurricane Sandy: Residents of NYC's Loisaida Neighborhood Scramble for Food, Water & Entertainment Read more: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2012/10/31/hurricane-sandy-residents-nyc-loisaida-neighborhood-scramble-for-food-water/#ixzz2Auf4x9Gl

Police have reported ZERO looting in Newark

Looters target Coney Island after Sandy sweeps through

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2225663/Superstom-Sandy-looters-brag-Twitter-Even-momma-got-outta-house-loot-new-shirt.html#ixzz2BTBNn6XJ

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brianlee

Tuesday, November 8, 2016