Did you ever think about how God felt the day Adam and Eve left Eden?  They didn’t exactly leave of their own accord.  The Bible says that God “sent him forth from the garden...”.  We know, of course, that this was as a result of their rebellion.  As I pondered the passage mentioned here, which is taken from Genesis 3:23, I decided to read a few commentaries on this phrase, “sent them forth from the garden.”  One comment that really struck me was Matthew Poole’s commentary which says that this phrase is “the same word which is used concerning divorced wives.”   Certainly, separation is a painful experience.
Which of you parents could do that?  Divorce your child and put him out? How would you feel?  Would you follow after him or her with, “....and STAY out!”?  For the most part, I seriously doubt it.  Most likely, IF you put a rebellious child out, you would spend a lot of sleepless nights, and perhaps even devise a way to get that child back home. The Bible tells us that we are made in the image of God.  If we are made in His image, then--think about it--our feelings are a mere faint reflection of His. Of course, there’s the exception, but for a parent who loves their child, I believe that the pain in their heart would far exceed the fear of the future in the heart of the child.  Certainly, there’s just something enduring about the love of a parent.
I believe we need to carefully consider these facts as we contemplate the “time of trouble, such as never was”  Daniel 12:1.  The reason I believe this is because of the things I hear people so often say: a fearful heart’s hand-wringing statements such as, “I don’t want to live my life in fear!”, or “I’m afraid I’ll die before I perfect my character!”, or “I don’t want to be lost!!”, etc.  Right well we should fear an offended God, right?  I mean, after all, He could crush me with a thought!  Certainly, fear has produced her infidels.
The Bible paints a very different picture of God; one that I believe will turn our eyes away from a selfish concern for our own salvation.  Selfish?  How could I say such a thing?  Go again to the parent illustration.  Look at Luke15 and the familiar story of the prodigal son.  We know he was selfish; that he only wanted what “goods” his father had to offer.  He didn’t love his father.  That is an interesting fact I think we should seriously ponder!   “Although surrounded with the blessings of His love, there is nothing that the sinner, bent on self-indulgence and sinful pleasure, desires so much as separation from God. Like the ungrateful son, he claims the good things of God as his by right. He takes them as a matter of course, and makes no return of gratitude, renders no service of love.”  Christ’s Object Lessons, page 200.   Certainly God grieves, for He says, “Woe is Me for My hurt! My wound is grievous...My tabernacle is spoiled, and all My cords are broken: My children are gone forth of Me,”  Jeremiah 10:19, 20.  
In this story, as we are told in Christ’s Object Lessons, page 201, “The love of God still yearns over the one who has chosen to separate from Him, and He sets in operation influences to bring him back to the Father's house.”  That selfish one, the one who only wanted the benefits; that one, God yearns over.  “No sooner does the sheep go astray than the shepherd is filled with grief and anxiety.”  Christ’s Object Lessons, page 188.
And as that one “comes to himself”, and, still selfish, but softening, turns his steps toward his Father, “he knows not that one is watching for his return. But while he is yet "a great way off" the father discerns his form. Love is of quick sight. Not even the degradation of the years of sin can conceal the son from the father's eyes. He "had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck" in a long, clinging, tender embrace.”  Christ’s Object Lessons, page 203.  Would YOU run to meet a rebellious child who, broken and needy had turned his steps toward home?  You know you would run for all your might!  And God?  Certainly, “though all are precious in His sight, the rough, sullen, stubborn dispositions draw most heavily upon His sympathy and love; for He traces from cause to effect.”  Education, page 294. 
I find it interesting that Luke 15:17 says that the prodigal “came to himself.”  In Ecclesiastes 9:3, it says that “...the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live...”  This young man, while living in sin, was essentially insane, but when the Holy Spirit got through and he responded, he “came to himself.”  This is repentance!  Certainly, “we must know our real condition, or we shall not feel our need of Christ's help. We must understand our danger, or we shall not flee to the refuge. We must feel the pain of our wounds, or we should not desire healing.”  Christ’s Object Lessons 158.  Certainly, true love begins in our hearts with repentance!
What about “the other son” in the prodigal story?  There is a very important lesson here.  The elder son, the faithful, dutiful son, was very unhappy with the return of the penitent prodigal.  Why?  Certainly, pride has produced many infidels!  (See 2 Corinthians 10:12,18). 
“He who feels whole, who thinks that he is reasonably good, and is contented with his condition, does not seek to become a partaker of the grace and righteousness of Christ. Pride feels no need, and so it closes the heart against Christ and the infinite blessings He came to give. There is no room for Jesus in the heart of such a person. Those who are rich and honorable in their own eyes do not ask in faith, and receive the blessing of God. They feel that they are full, therefore they go away empty. Those who know that they cannot possibly save themselves, or of themselves do any righteous action, are the ones who appreciate the help that Christ can bestow. They are the poor in spirit, whom He declares to be blessed.”  Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, page 7.  Certainly (a warning to Laodicea) pride is the death knell to faith and love.
What does all of this have to do with “the time of trouble, such as never was” that we mentioned earlier?  Everything!  What would a parent do for a child in crisis?  (And which of those two sons was really in the greatest crisis?)  When the children of Israel were in the Egyptian captivity,  what did God do for His people who were enslaved and fearful? He sent Moses as a deliver.  Moses himself was about to walk into a long and serious time of trouble.  And to Moses, the representative of Jesus on earth, in his fear to stand before Pharaoh and to lead God’s children out, God said, “Certainly I will be with thee.” Exodus 3:12.
In their crisis Moses and the children of Israel were given an object lesson in Divine parenting tactics and in Divine Fatherhood in the wilderness tabernacle.  The Bible says in Isaiah 52:2 that, “your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear.”  Sin separates, and separation brings fear, just like it did in Eden and to the prodigal son.    But what did God do?  What did Love do?   Love said, “let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.”  Exodus 25:8.  Certainly, in separation, love gets as close as it can. 
We need to think now about Jesus, the Second Adam. (See Romans 5).  We need to think about Jesus on Calvary when He “feared that sin was so offensive to God that Their separation was to be eternal.” Desire of Ages, page 753.  With all the accumulated sin of the ages piled upon Him, crushing Him, separating Him from the Father, what did He say?  No!  What did He SCREAM? (Matthew 27: 46 says it was “with a loud voice”).  “My God, My God!  Why hast Thou forsaken Me?”  Did a child ever cry for a parents help when in trouble only to be voluntarily unheeded?  Jesus did. What would you do?  How would you feel, as a parent, not to be able to rescue your suffering child, let alone CHOOSING not to do so.  Certainly, God so loved that He gave...
Pondering this parental example, can we imagine that the God Who “brought us into existence because we were needed” (Signs of the Times, April 22, 1903) would do less than everything to rescue us?  Didn’t Jesus, in our flesh, experience a far greater test of faith than we could ever be called to endure?  When fear cries out, “The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.”, The Father responds, “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.”  Isaiah 49:14,15.  Certainly, God wants us in heaven far more than we want to be there! 
I remember that time when I was a child and I was riding my Mom’s horse in our round pen.  Something spooked the horse and we parted ways in spite of my efforts to hold on.  I don’t remember my flight, but I do remember that awful landing.  But you know, that landing was completely eclipsed by what I looked up to see.  Now, as you picture this, you have to understand that my mother is only 4’11”, and our round pen was at least as tall.  I looked up from my humiliation just in time to see my mom taking very large strides towards the pen and, without breaking stride, put one hand on top a post, swing her legs over the boards with the agility of a track star, and with another stride or two, scoop me up in her arms.  I’ll never forget it.  Remember now, we are created in God’s image.  Would God do less if His child were to fall?  Ah! Certainly, more than that, He says He is “able to keep you from falling.”  Jude 1:24.
So what is that element that will most readily lock the longing soul in fear for it’s own salvation, and thereby in a morbid fear of that “time of trouble?”  I believe it is ignorance of the love of God.  Certainly, “there is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”  1 John 4:18.  Certainly, when we understand God’s character then, “herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: (WHY?) because as He is, so are we in this world.”   1 John 4:17.  Therefore, in our own great time of trouble, “our only questions will be, What is God's command? and what His promise? Knowing these, we shall obey the one, and trust the other.”  Desire of Ages 121.  Certainly, “if you are right with God today, you are ready if Christ should come today.”  Maranatha, page 98.  Certainly....”Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32.
As I ponder the Father in the light of our parent/child illustration, and in the light of our tendency to waywardness, pride and fear, I can’t help but think of how He must long for this separation to end.  What normal parent could be happy knowing their child lived in fear that they were not loved, or in fear of being cut off from the family, or even in a pride “too good” to really come near?  The fear that the Bible says we are to have toward God is actually respect and love!  We must remember, it is love that truly keeps the commandments!  (John 14:15). Hasn’t our Creator suffered enough from our unbelief? Certainly there needs to be, in a very real way, “Salvation to our God,...and unto the Lamb.”  Revelation 7:10. 

The following guest editorial is written by retired pastor, Wayne Easley.  Pastor Easley is an avid birder and nature lover and we will also share nature editorials from him from time to time.  Enjoy!
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We had been in Costa Rica on a two week birding trip.  And now, we were on our way to the United States and back to our homes.  As we maneuvered through customs in San Jose, we found ourselves in a long line of passengers who were in the same situation as we were.  In glancing over at one of the ladies in our group, I noticed she was crying.  No, she was not just crying, she was in distress!  I walked over and calmly asked her,  "What's happening and how can I help you."  Through the tears she blurted out,  "I can not find my passport; I have looked everywhere."  I am sure she was having thoughts of spending the rest of her life in Costa Rica and that we would leave without her in a few minutes.  I motioned for her to step out of the line and suggested we ask the Lord to help us with this problem."  After petitioning the Lord to help us, I quietly suggested we do another search for the passport.  Sure enough, after a short search, there was the passport hiding at the very bottom of her suitcase. By the way, we learned something from that experience; we found out that she could have traveled on MY PASSPORT to our first destination in the United States which was New Orleans.  At that point she would have had to arrange to fly to Chicago but everything would  have been in English and it would have been much easier.  A second lesson we learned was THAT A PASSPORT IS VERY IMPORTANT WHEN YOU ARE TRAVELING OVERSEAS , maybe not the most important thing in life but MIGHTY IMPORTANT.  In my new series entitled, JESUS IS EVERYTHING TO US, I want to show how JESUS IS OUR EVERYTHING: He is our Savior, our peace, our forgiveness, our example, our brother, and our protector.  I want to point out our great need for Jesus and the fact that we are not going to make it without Him.


I love what the Apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 4: 13,  "I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS US."  Now, it does not say, "I can do a few things or I can do many thing through Christ."  It says,  "We can DO ALL THINGS."  A few verses later in the same chapter, Philippians 4: 19 we are told,  "My God (that is Jesus) shall SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEED according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."  I believe that one of the greatest texts in all of the Bible is what we are told in Matt. 6: 33, "Seek ye FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD (that is Jesus Christ) and his righteousness and ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE ADDED UNTO YOU."  And what are these things?  Look closely at the few verses that lead up to Matt. 6:33 and it becomes clear that the essentials of life are : FOOD AND DRINK, CLOTHING AND SHELTER.  These are things we need on a a daily basis and here we have the promise that He will supply them.  And further, another of my favorite texts is Ephesians 3: 20 and 21, " Now to Him (that is Jesus) WHO IS ABLE TO DO EXCEEDINGLY, ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL THE WE ASK OR THINK, ACCORDING TO THE POWER THAT WORKS IN US, TO HIM BE GLORY IN THE CHURCH BY CHRIST JESUS TO ALL GENERATIONS, FOREVER AND EVER, AMEN."  Wow!  That text seems to crescendo, adding more and more BLESSINGS as it continues.  Not only is Christ able to help us find our passport when we need it, He keeps adding more and more of the things that will help us and might I add, that will delight us.   He keeps adding on the blessings that will enrich our lives.  Psalm 103 records it like this, "Bless the Lord (that is Jesus Christ) and FORGET NOT ALL HIS BENEFITS; WHO FORGIVES YOUR SINS, WHO HEALS ALL YOUR DISEASES, WHO REDEEMS YOUR LIFE FROM DESTRUCTION AND CROWNS YOU WITH LOVING KINDNESS AND TENDER MERCIES AND SATISFIES YOUR MOUTH WITH GOOD THINGS SO THAT YOUR YOUTH IS RENEWED LIKE THE EAGLE'S." Are we aware of these benefits? Are we tapping into the Benefits that Jesus offers us?  Are you?  Am I?  We are if we believe that JESUS IS EVERYTHING TO US.  Next in this series is Part 2, "JESUS IS OUR SAVIOR!"  


Wayne Easley/written on May 2, 2023/in Sierra Vista, Arizona!

*This document is for educational purposes only and it not intended to diagnose, treat or prescribe in any way.  The reader and user of this document assumes full responsibility to do their own research and assumes all risk and liability for the use or misuse of the information contained herein.
How to do the parasite detox:
Components: Mimosa Pudica Seed, Anti-Parasite Blend, (optional: colon cleanse, activated charcoal)
*Please note that for a person who is relatively healthy, it will usually take at least 90 days to rid the body of a parasite infestation.  For one who has any chronic illness, it will likely take up to two years.  So be diligent.
Mimosa Pudica seed (MPS) is a very powerful anti-parasitic herb.  It has properties to mildly “stun” adult parasites, then suffocates them.  Nothing gets immune to suffocation, so it always works!  But as the adult parasites perish, they not only pass more eggs, but they send out chemical signals that “activate” cysts, which are essentially more eggs that were passed previously.  The MPS will not kill these cysts and eggs.  That’s where the anti-parasite blend (APB) comes in.  You will need both the MPS & the APB!  I tried it with just MPS once and terribly re-infested myself due to these thousands of eggs hatching out.
As the parasites die off they can create something that we actually call, “Die off”, or Herxheimer reaction.  This is the result of the toxins released as the parasites die and can make some people feel quite ill—like a mild case of the flu.  In order to help with that it can be very helpful not only to drink lots of water, but to take some Activated Charcoal powder, which can bind these toxins so that they can be safely passed in the stool. We usually recommend 1 tsp of Activated Charcoal powder in a large glass of water once or twice per day as needed for “die off” symptoms. The caution to using both MPS and Activated Charcoal is that both of them CAN cause some constipation.  This is one of the reasons why we use the Colon Cleanse product. For this product we start with one capsule of the colon cleanse, taken with food, and waiting a few days to see if the frequency of bowel movements increases.  If it does not, we increase by one capsule and again wait.  We do this until there are two bowel movements per day.

The definition of constipation is less than two bowel movements per day.  Really, no one should embark on a parasite detox until they are having two bowel movements per day and absolutely not if they’re not having at least one per day.  If your colon is plugged up, so is everything upstream.  If you think of your body as a funnel, the bottom part of the funnel representing the colon, you can see that if things are plugged up at the “bottom”, everything else will just overflow, and this can bring many issues including eczema, psoriasis, bad breath and much, much more.  If you haven’t watched our liver series on our YouTube channel, I encourage you to do so.  I go into great detail about the effect of both parasites and constipation on the liver and other parts of the body.  Here is a link for that playlist: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0-daQ7smSmHjQ4rUYz0rlib5FMPlncqn 
You can do the parasite detox basically two ways. Most people who have never done a parasite detox really need at least a solid month of taking the products daily, then switch to the “Full Moon Challenge.”  But if you choose to do the 90 days, you really need to do it for a few weeks, then give your body a break for a week or so, then come back to it again.  
Parasites are much more active during full moon, and this makes accessing them much easier and more effective, hence the Full Moon Challenge!
Either method works, it’s just that when you have to take it for a long time, as those with chronic illnesses will need to,  it gets old (and expensive) taking capsules every day.  The full moon makes it easier for a long term need.  And it works!  
Since Mimosa pudica seed works largely by its texture, be sure not to take it with any other supplement or food for at least 45-60 minutes before or after.  Only water—no juice, etc.  And again, it CAN cause some issues with constipation since it bulks up in the colon.  So make sure to keep your bowels moving at least twice per day.
For the full moon protocol, I like to start two days prior to full moon and take the product all the way through to two days after full moon for a total of 5 days.  I take 4-6 capsules twice daily, but it also depends on your size.  For example, I weigh a little under 100# and I take 5 capsules, my husband is around 170# and he takes 6.  I take these first thing in the morning with a big glass of water, then an hour or two before bedtime again.  How many months you will do this is entirely dependent on the results and your health conditions.  That’s not something we can give any definite time frame for, but personally I do the full moon challenge almost monthly and I almost always see parasites.  When you have a chronic disease (Lyme, mold toxicity, autoimmunity, cancer, etc.)  parasites really get a foothold in the body.  
For the Anti-parasite blend, we take 2-4 capsules per day, again, my husband takes more.  This can be taken with meals if you like.  (If you choose to use a tincture or extract blend instead of these capsules,  I use about 1/2-1 dropper full twice daily.  This can also be taken with food if you like.  Doesn’t really matter—just don’t skip it whether you get our capsules or a tincture or extract elsewhere!! ) 
Only about 30% of the parasites that you actually pass will be visible since their bodies begin to decay when they die.  It can take a day or two to pass a dead parasite, so be extra sure to keep the bowels open.  Do an enema if you need to, just do not allow yourself to go without having bowel movements!!  Often you will not see the parasites unless you take a stick and pull the stool apart. My husband passed what he thought was a normal stool once but when he got a stick and “excavated” it was actually parasites packed together with a little stool.  Gross, but if you want to know, this may be what it takes to see them.  Sometimes they’re readily visible though.
Often mucous strands are passed that are “garbage” from the colon mixed with MPS.  These can be mistaken for parasites.  Either way, it needs to be eliminated.  One of the nicknames of MPS is “gut scrubber”!
I really encourage you to check out our playlist above for a lot more information.  As a final note, it is my personal belief that everyone should do at least a quarterly parasite detox.   Many people are hesitant to do the parasite detox because they don't want to "see" what comes out of them.  But think about it...isn't "out" better than "in"?  They are eating your food, drinking your water and putting their waste inside of you!!  Evict the things already!!  Check our store tab for access to all of the products mentioned in this article.  Happy detoxing!  :-)

​The disciples of Jesus could not believe what they were hearing.  Jesus had just told them that the great stones of the temple would be torn down and not one stone would be left upon the other. And remember that one of those foundational stones was 44 feet in length and weighed over 50 tons. And what baffled the disciples is that the Master had seemed to tie the destruction of the temple to His coming again and the end of the age. See Matt. 24: 1  Pausing to rest on the Mount of Olives, the disciples eagerly questioned Jesus,  "TELL US WHEN WILL THESE THINGS BE? AND WHAT WILL BE THE SIGN OF YOUR COMING AND THE END OF THE AGE."  The reply that He gives here is found not only in Matt. 24, but also in Mark 13 and Luke 21.  We will CONCENTRATE ONLY ON THESE THREE GOSPEL PASSAGES: Matt. 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21.  We will look at SEVEN THINGS THAT WILL HAPPEN BEFORE THE LORD COMES AGAIN.


1-BEWARE OF DECEPTION: It is very interesting that in ALL THREE OF THESE PASSAGES, Jesus told His followers that DECEPTION OR LYING WOULD BE A HUGE PROBLEM.  The truths of the Bible would be controverted and would be presented as the New Doctrines.  It reminds one of the saying, "Old HERESIES COME BACK IN NEW CLOTHES BUT THEY ARE STILL LIES."  One of the biggest lies will be when Satan impersonates Christ. 1 John 2: 22-23 reads like this, "Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ?  He is Antichrist who denies the Father and the Son." The 9th Commandment as is recorded in Ex. 20 tells us "YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS AGAINST YOUR NEIGHBOR."  In other words, don't attempt to deceive your neighbor.  Don't lie to your neighbor.  Be truthful and develop a bond of trust.  It is said that in today's world we hear or come across from 10-200 lies each and every day.  The result is simple, the trust factor in our world of today is missing.  Lying is so commonplace, we tend to accept it and learn the hard way THAT MANY IN THIS WORLD OF TODAY CAN'T BE TRUSTED.


2-WATCH OUT FOR WARS:  Again in the three gospels that record the signs that tell us of the Coming of Jesus, war is listed as a sign of the end.  Matt. 7: 7, Mark 13 8 and Luke 21 10 talk of nations fighting against nations.  In the past century, we experienced two massive world wars which involved pretty much the whole world.  And now, just in the past few months, we have watched as Russia invaded neighboring Ukraine.  What makes war so frightening in today's world is that many of the nations possess nuclear weapons which could kill thousands in a single attack.  Nations such as Russia, China, Iran, North Korea and yes, our own nation of the United States have arsenals of nuclear bombs.  Just today, the news coming from the two countries that separate Korea is frightening.  It appears that North Korea, a communist country has fired missiles along the border with South Korea.  Would the dictator of North Korea be foolish enough to invade his southern neighbor or would he consider using nuclear weapons in an attempt to gain more power in the area. Only time will tell.  


3-FAMINES FAN THE FLAMES: In many parts of the world today, poverty is a very present evil.  I have lived in South America and Africa where a vast majority of the people are poor.  With food shortages looming will the people of Nigeria or Ethiopia survive?  Can the poor of Peru or El Salvador live through a world-wide famine.?  The answer is probably, 'NO'!   Already, we are seeing shelves that are empty in the local grocery stores.  I happen to be a vegetarian but I watched with amazement in a very large Super Walmart recently, crowded with shoppers, as no one, not even a soul was buying meat products.  The counter was long and well stocked and why was nobody buying meat for their tables?  One reason is the prices are outrageously high.  My daughter who is Food Service Director for Andrews University in Michigan sent me an e-mail she had received recently from one of her food suppliers, detailing the food shortages that are coming.  Heavy rains and hail have devastated many of the food and vegetable farms of Mexico and Central America. That is where we get a lot of our vegetables and fruits.  Crops of leafy vegetables: onions, beans, tomatoes, and melons along with many fruits will be in short supply.  When you tack on the massive hike in fertilizer prices, the world could be in big trouble. 


4-PESTILENCES BRING DEATH: Most of us watched as the whole world became aware of Covid-19.  The bad news swept across our population like a continuing nightmare.  We watched as scores of people died, others have experienced side-effects that may be with them for a long time.  We may never know exactly what happened but we do know that it has greatly altered life on planet earth.  Pestilences is mentioned in Matt. 24: 7.  Mark uses the term, 'TROUBLES' which he says is the "BEGINNING OF SORROWS". Since Mark uses that terminology right after the word famine, he likely is referring to pestilences.  Note, Doctor Luke does mention pestilences in Luke 21: 11.  Again, it has been incredible how this virus has affected not only the prosperous and modern cities of the world but also made its way into the most remote areas of the earth.  People in the Outback of Australia and those who live in the deep dark jungles of the Amazon were affected by Covid-19.  No area of the world was untouched!


5-EARTHQUAKES AND OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS WRECK HAVOC:  Matt. 24: 7 tells us of earthquakes in various places.  Mark 13: 8 uses the exact same words, while Luke 21: 26 warns,  "Men's hearts failing them for fear of WHAT IS COMING ON THE EARTH,  Natural disasters will pound the earth like something straight out of Dante's Inferno.  Earthquakes will resonate through the Ring of Fire, while volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and other calamities will take the lives of many.  Much of he last ten years of my life I have lived in the shadows of one of the most active volcanoes in the world. It is called the Turialba Volcano and it is near the city of Turialba, Costa Rica.  No, it was not life-threatening but those eruptions were strong and persistent.  I will never forget a visit from my middle son who also lived in Costa Rica.  He arrived about 4: 30 in the afternoon one day and when he came into the house he yelled at me,  "Dad we are covered up with ants, they are everywhere.  We have to drive them away from the house.  Get the brooms and a water hose."  After a half hour of intense effort. we were able to herd the ants away from the house.  They went up the hill into the forest.  Shortly we both forgot the whole episode and at 8:30 that evening, I was preparing to got to bed.  Suddenly, there was an extremely strong earthquake.  The ground shook violently.  We found out later that ants can predict earthquakes and because they live in tunnels in the ground, a strong quake can destroy their homes. THAT IS WHY THE ANTS WERE ON THE MARCH.  That led me to think,  "When it comes to signs related to Christ's soon coming. are ants smarter than human beings?"  It sure looks that way.  By the way, I just read that 153 people were trampled to death in a stampede during a Halloween Festival in Seoul, South Korea on Oct. 29, 2022. 


6-PERSECUTION IS IN OUR FUTURE:  Matt. 24: 9 puts it like this, "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation, AND KILL YOU AND YOU WILL BE HATED BY ALL NATIONS FOR MY NAME'S SAKE.  Mark 13: Verse 9 says, "You (the Christian) will be brought before rulers and kings, for my sake, for a testimony to them."  Later, in Mark 13: 13, it stresses that YOU WILL BE HATED BY ALL MEN FOR MY NAME'S SAKE. Later in Verse 19, it tells us, "FOR IN THOSE DAYS THERE WILL BE TRIBULATION, SUCH AS HAS NOT BEEN SEEN FROM THE BEGINNING OF CREATION."  Luke 21: 12 warns the Christian that THEY WILL LAY THEIR HANDS ON YOU AND PERSECUTE YOU."  And at this point, let's ask a very important question.  Why would the authorities: law enforcement and those leaders at Federal and State levels persecute the Christian?  Isn't the Christian the model for good living in the last days? One would certainly think so. One of the pioneers of the Adventist Church put it like this in a book called The Great Controversy. "In the end time, many Christians will be blamed when things go wrong."  Great Controversy P. 592  Later in the same book, the author pens it like this, "Those who honor the law of God will be accused of bringing judgements upon the world, and they will be REGARDED AS THE CAUSE OF THE FEARFUL CONVULSIONS OF NATURE AND THE STRIFE AND BLOODSHED THAT IS FILLING THE EARTH WITH WOE." Great Controversy P. 614  Using lies and deception, authorities will seek out someone to blame for the chaos that is sweeping the world and MANY CHRISTIANS WILL COME UNDER FIRE.  That is the reason why the good Christian will be persecuted.  But the great Prophet Daniel predicts in a prophecy for the end time, "And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time.  AND AT THAT TIME YOUR PEOPLE SHALL BE DELIVERED EVERYONE WHOSE NAME IS FOUND IN THE BOOK OF LIFE.:  So, victory is assured if OUR NAMES ARE WRITTEN IN HIS BOOK. Daniel 12: 1-3


7-THE GOSPEL WILL GO TO THE ENTIRE WORLD:  Certainly one of the greatest verses in all of the Bible is found in Matthew 24: 14 where it reads,  "AND THIS GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM WILL BE PREACHED IN ALL THE WORLD AS A WITNESS TO ALL THE NATIONS AND THEN THE END WILL COME."  And what is this Gospel that will be preached into all the world?  IN A WORD IT IS JESUS CHRIST.  He is our Savior and Lord.  He is our Peace and Forgiveness.  He is OUR SUFFICIENCY, OUR EVERYTHING.  And this text here in Matt. 24: 14 predicts that the message of Jesus Christ will go to the whole world.  That is great news.  How it will happen, we are not really sure.  Missionaries have labored long and hard but there is much more that needs to be done.  Technology may help but I doubt that it will be the final answer.  But most likely, it will happen as men and women and young people around this globe of ours are filled with the Holy Spirit in the Last Days and can't be stopped in sharing with others the good news of salvation.  Joel 2: 28 reminds us, "And it shall come to pass afterward THAT I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT ON ALL FLESH. YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY.  YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS, YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS."  Sometimes it is called the Latter Rain.  And when this happens, our text above says,  "THE END WILL COME!"  The next to last verse in the Bible, Rev. 22: 20 Jesus tells us, SURELY, I AM COMING QUICKLY!: And the Apostle John's earnest reply was,  "EVEN SO COME LORD JESUS." Rev. 22: 21 


Wayne Easley/written on Oct. 29, 2022/Harvey, North Dakota

It was one of the saddest days of my life.  My wife of some fifty-seven years passed away about midnight.  The date was May 20, 2013.  She had fallen victim to an aggressive cancer that ended her present life.  But in the meantime, I have been getting little gifts from her.  Yes, gifts from someone dear who is resting in a cemetery next to our Manfred Country Church here in North Dakota. And you would be quick to ask, "How can you still be getting gifts from your wife since she is sleeping in the grave?"  Simple!  She had given away a number of books and quite a few articles that I did not  know anything about before her passing.  And since her death, friends of ours and former church members are reminding me of some of the things they had received from my wife. "I have been wanting to tell you about this book that Wanda gave me or I finally ran across the article that Wanda gave me and I wanted to share it with you."  When that happens,  "I call these things 'GIFTS FROM WANDA' even though she did not intend them for me. It gives me courage to live my life in such a way that I can see Wanda again and thank her for these continuing gifts.  The Apostle Paul in Titus 2: 13 suggests that seeing our departed loved ones again is part of what is called THE BLESSED HOPE.


Just this week, one of our dear church members of the Goodrich Church sent me a letter with a story that Wanda had shared with her while she was still with us. This lady lives now in Kingsville, Missouri and, in the meantime, she too has lost her husband.  I just think she realized how much that story would mean to me and she wanted to share it.  The story is titled simply, SECRETS OF A HAPPY MARRIAGE.  


There was once a man and woman who had been married for over sixty years. They had shared everything.  They had talked about everything. They had kept no secrets from each other, except the little old woman had a shoe box in her closet.  She had cautioned her husband to never open it or to even ask about it.  For all of those years, the husband had never thought about the box but one day the little old lady got very sick and the doctor said she would not recover.


In trying to sort out their affairs, the little old man took down the shoe box and took it to his wife's bedside.  She agreed that it was time to open the box and that he should know what was in it.  When he opened it, he found two crocheted doilies and a stack of money totaling $25,000 dollars.  The little old man asked his wife about the contents of the box.  She replied, "When we were to be married, my grandmother told me the secret of a happy marriage.  She said WE SHOULD NEVER ARGUE.  My grandmother told me that if I ever got angry with you, I should just keep quiet and crochet a doily.  


The little old man was so moved, he had to fight back the tears.  THERE WERE ONLY TWO DOILIES IN THE BOX. That meant she had been angry with him only two times in all those years of living and loving.  He brushed tears from his eyes.  And then he asked his wife,  "Where did the money come from?"  Oh, she said that is the money I made from selling all those doilies."  


The story finishes with a wife's prayer.  It goes like this.  Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom to understand my man; Love to forgive him; and patience to deal with his moods.  BECAUSE IF I DON'T PRAY FOR STRENGTH, I WILL LIKELY  BEAT HIM TO DEATH.  Of course, we believe that marriage is a two-way street.  There can be faults on both sides and we have to learn to get along. And maybe, just maybe, we men might need to learn to crochet.   


Wayne Easley/written on Oct. 13, 2022 in Harvey, North Dakota