This Week's 66/40 Radio Broadcast

Articles and Commentary

• A Halloween Tale: The Witch of Endor
• Unwanted Side Effects: Gardasil and RFID
• Upcoming Events

Important News Headlines

Memory Verse of the Week

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***WATERSHED TIMES****

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This week a dear friend of K- House Africa returned to Zimbabwe. I had sent him the article from Oxfam on the link below.

Munyaradzi Mujuru is doing his masters degree in Bio-Chemistry and teaching students on Genesis and the Bible as part of his thesis. His reference, The Holy Spirit and the Genesis DVD series from Chuck Missler. We need to lift brothers and sisters like him for the Lord to continue to Bless them with His Wisdom and Grace. Please read his article on the comment line link.

Comment Line

http://www.oxfam.org/en/programs/development/safrica/southafrica_water

 

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This 2 X CD audio set covers all the history and tradition  behind Halloween. Do we as Christians have the correct perspective. See Chuck's article on Halloween an Invitation to the Occult and you decide. The 2nd Disc Witch, Which is Which is a insight into the occult and Happy Mediums.

The fact that very few Christians know that the 31st October also commemorates the start of the Reformation, purely coincidental?

Special Price R 119.00

A HALLOWEEN TALE: THE WITCH OF ENDOR .

Halloween seems like an appropriate time to review what is perhaps one of the strangest events recorded in the scriptures: the account of King Saul's encounter with the Witch of Endor.

The Impending Battle

In his preoccupation with the pursuit of his rival David, King Saul had neglected the growing Philistine threat to Israel. Meanwhile, the Philistines undertook a new strategy and marched into the Jezreel Valley where they could use their chariots to advantage, thus cutting Saul off from the northern tribes. (This same valley is destined to be the site of the future battle of Armageddon.) The Philistines were encamped at Shunem, a city in the Valley of Jezreel situated on the south slope of the Hill of Moreh. The Israelite forces were camped five miles to the south at Mount Gilboa.

When Saul saw the Philistine army he was so afraid that his heart "greatly trembled." He was gripped with fear. Saul inquired of the Lord, but there was no answer. The prophet Samuel was dead. No encouraging word from the Lord would be forthcoming.

Consulting the Witch

With the heavens silent, Saul sought out a medium to enable him to determine the outcome of the battle with the Philistines. God had commanded Saul to rid Israel from those delving in the realm of the occult. However Saul was informed by his servants that at Endor, between Mount Tabor and the Hill of Moreh, there lived a medium who had escaped the purges. The Old Testament law forbade occultic practices of any kind and called for the death penalty on any who would consult mediums. This would be fulfilled literally in the case of Saul himself.

Saul disguised himself and traveled under the cover of darkness to Endor to consult the medium. Assuring her that she would not be punished for practicing her forbidden profession, he requested that she bring up Samuel from the dead. The medium carried out Saul's instructions, but rather than using the tricks of her trade to deceive Saul, she herself was shocked to see an old man appear, whom Saul identified as Samuel!

Alternative Views

Some have suggested that the appearance of Samuel was psychological - in the mind of Saul. However, the woman also saw Samuel, and Saul actually talked with Samuel. Some of the early church fathers held the view that a demon impersonated Samuel and appeared to Saul. But the message in 1 Samuel 28:16-19 would have hardly come from a demon.

Still others have concluded that the medium was a fraud and tricked Saul into thinking that he saw Samuel. Yet the medium was surprised herself by Samuel's appearance and that would not have been the case if it were a contrived trick.

The Rabbinical View

The traditional rabbinical view is that these verses record a genuine appearance of Samuel that God Himself brought about. There are at least five arguments that favor this view:

1) The medium was surprised, indicating that something happened that she was not expecting;

2) Saul identified the figure as Samuel and bowed down in respect for the prophet. It is unlikely that Saul, who knew Samuel so well, would have been easily tricked by an impersonation;

3) The message that Samuel spoke was clearly from God;

4) The Biblical text itself says that the figure was Samuel. It is clear that the intent of the Scripture is for the reader to understand that Samuel actually appeared to Saul.

5) A similar appearance of one returned from the dead occurred at the Transfiguration - when Moses and Elijah appeared and spoke with Jesus.

The Prophet's Counsel

Samuel proceeded to remind Saul that the kingdom had been taken from him because of his disobedience in the Amalekite war, and then predicted Israel's defeat and the deaths of Saul and his sons at the hands of the Philistines. Samuel never really answered Saul's initial question, "What should I do?" There was nothing that could be done. Because of his disobedience, his fate was sealed.

Saul was understandably terrified because of the message of doom that Samuel had communicated to him. Judgment was imminent and certain. All that had been Saul's as king would soon be lost because of his rebellion and contempt for God's will.

The Defeat at Mount Gilboa

The battle was a disaster from the beginning. Saul's army was quickly routed, then slaughtered, including Saul's sons: Jonathan, Abinadab and Melchishua. The king himself was wounded by an arrow. In agony, Saul begged his armor-bearer to thrust him through with a sword but he refused. In desperation, Saul fell on his own sword and ended his life in ignominy.

So great was Israel's defeat that many of the cities in northern Israel were abandoned as their citizens fled to regions safe from the Philistine menace. As a result, the Philistines were able to occupy many Israelite cities. When Saul's body was found by the Philistines, they dishonored it by cutting off the head, stripping off the armor and hanging the naked body on a wall in the open square of Beth-Shean. The armor was put on public display in a temple. The inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead, whom Saul had helped early in his reign, at great risk removed the bodies from the wall of Beth-Shean and gave them a proper burial. A week of fasting as a sign of public mourning for the king was observed.

Saul appeared to be full of promise as a young man, but proved impulsive, prideful, and ended his own life in disgrace. The great failure of Saul as king was his lack of obedience to the will and Word of God.

A Halloween Project?

There is a great deal of controversy about whether or not Christians should celebrate Halloween. On the surface Halloween appears to be a harmless celebration defined by costumes, candy, pumpkins, and other fun family traditions. Those traditions may seem very innocent, but we cannot forget that Halloween has a dark side. Satan is an expert at parading as an "angel of light." If he did not make evil look attractive, people would not be deceived and drawn in by it. Witchcraft is practiced in the real world today and it has been made to look appealing. However, the Bible absolutely condemns witchcraft and sorcery, consulting with "familiar spirits" or attempting to contact the dead. The Bible clearly says:

"There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee (Deuteronomy 18:10-12)."

We have additional information and resources available for those of you who would like to know more about the origins of Halloween and what the Bible has to say about it. Several years ago, we sponsored a contest for the best script of Saul and the Witch of Endor, a Biblically based play suitable for high school students or youth groups to use as an alternative to Halloween. Copies of those plays are available on our website free of charge. See the list of links below for these and other resources we have available.

Related Links:

UNWANTED SIDE EFFECTS: GARDASIL AND RFID

During the past century, technological breakthroughs have given us such wonders as iced coffee, toaster ovens, and the Internet. Inventors work overtime to make our 21st century lives more convenient and long lasting. Yet, while technology has its benefits, it also often brings less desirable side effects, raising the constant question, "Is technology actually improving our lives?"

Gardasil

A vaccine meant to protect young women against cervical cancer has been linked to as many as 11 deaths as well as "adverse reactions" in over 3,400 patients since it was approved by the FDA in 2006. According to the FDA and CDC, the Gardasil vaccination only causes minor soreness around the injection area, and the adverse symptoms that women have experienced are merely coincidental, and not caused by the vaccine.

However, Judicial Watch argues that the link is stronger than the FDA admits. For instance, a Judicial Watch press release says, "Of the 77 women who received the vaccine while pregnant, 33 experienced side effects ranging from spontaneous abortion to fetal abnormities. Other serious side effects continue to be reported including, paralysis, Bells Palsy, Guillain-Barre Syndrome, and seizures."

Gardasil is a vaccine that has been marketed as a way to prevent cervical cancer. It is specifically a vaccine against certain types of the human papillomavirus (HPV), including the types that can cause cervical cancer. According to the U.S. National Cancer Institute, over 3600 women in America will die of cervical cancer in 2007.

Even though Gardasil is relatively new to the market, the widespread infection of HPV and connected cervical cancer deaths have led lawmakers in more than 20 states to consider making Gardasil vaccinations mandatory for 12-year-old girls in the public schools. While most of the bills introduced to state legislatures allow parents to opt their children out, there is concern that Gardasil should be more thoroughly tested before being injected into middle school children en masse - especially since HPV is most commonly transmitted only through sexual contact.

RFID

Radio Frequency ID tags have been have been linked to cancer in laboratory mice, raising the question of whether they might also cause tumors in other animals and, ultimately, the humans who get "chipped."

RFID tags have been injected into cattle, dogs, and even children in recent years as a way to easily identify the chip-bearer. They've been marketed as a way to give hospital doctors quick information about Alzheimer's patients. Only about 2000 chips have been injected into human beings so far, but millions have been injected into pets and farm animals.

Several studies have shown that malignant tumors called sarcomas have been found to encase the chips injected into lab mice. A 1997 study in Germany showed that 1 percent of mice had the tumors while a study done in Connecticut in 1998 showed a 10 percent cancer incidence. A more recent study done in France in 2006 found that 4.1 percent of 1,260 microchipped mice had tumors.

These studies do not have a final say on the matter; none used non-microchipped mice as a control group. There is also the fact that mice bodies might react to microchip transponders in a different way than human bodies. Still, the findings should encourage researchers to look deeper into the matter. Dr. Cheryl London, a veterinarian oncologist at Ohio State University, noted: "It's much easier to cause cancer in mice than it is in people. So it may be that what you're seeing in mice represents an exaggerated phenomenon of what may occur in people."

Human knowledge certainly does increase every year that goes by, but technology will never "save" us. It seems that everything man does carries with it some reminder that, no matter how hard we try, we are still in a fallen world. And while we are called to keep going and continue in well doing (Galatians 6:9), we can praise God that we have a perfect world to look forward to, one where every tear will be wiped away.

And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. -Revelation 22:3-5

Related Links:

UPCOMING EVENTS -

Strategic Perspectives Conference - Coming Soon!

The second annual Strategic Perspectives conference will be held at the resort in beautiful Coeur d'Alene, Idaho on November 9th and 10th, 2007 with an optional Brunch Cruise on the 11th (cruise seating is limited and selling quickly so don't wait until the last minute or you'll miss out). This exciting event brings together some of today's brightest Christian thinkers to share their insiders perspectives on today's events and how they relate to the Bible. Last year's conference sold out, so be sure to purchase your tickets early to insure your seat! To learn more click on the link below.

Speakers at this year's conference include Tim LaHaye, author of the Left Behind series; Joseph Farah, founder of World Net Daily; Dr. Jerome Corsi, author of the new book The Late Great USA; Walid Shoebat, a former PLO terrorist; and more!

Berean Bible Study Tour - Israel 2008

Mark your calendar! Join Chuck and Nancy Missler in the Holy Land for the Berean Bible Study Tour! Our next trip to Israel is scheduled for March 25th to April 4th of 2008, with an optional Petra extension from April 4th to April 6th. More details coming soon! For more information contact Sharon Stolebarger at sharon@khouse.org

Related Links:

Japan and China Lead Flight from Dollar - October 23, 2007
Japan and China led a record withdrawl of foreign funds from the United States in August, heightening fears of a fresh slide in the dollar. The IMF warned that the dollar was still overvalued and likely to depreciate further. Telegraph

Link to First Temple Found - October 23, 2007
Archaeologists overseeing contested Islamic infrastructure work on Jerusalem's Temple Mount have stumbled upon a sealed archaeological level dating back to the First Temple period. Archaeologists uncovered fragments of ceramic tableware and animal bone. Jerusalem Post

Quarry Used to Build Second Temple Found - October 23, 2007
Israeli archaeologists said they have discovered a quarry that provided King Herod with the stones he used to renovate the biblical Second Temple compound — offering rare insight into construction of the holiest site in Judaism. FOX News

Bin Laden Calls for Jihad in Darfur - October 23, 2007
Al-Qaida leader Osama Bin Laden has called for a holy war against a proposed peacekeeping force in Sudan's war torn region of Darfur. Bin Laden called on Muslims to drive out any foreign forces in the region. AP

RFID Implants May Cause Cancer - October 23, 2007
Radio frequency identification (RFID) implants could pose dangerous health risks - and may even cause skin cancer - according to new research. PRN

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