The Update

On May 30, 2026, Paul Niehoff will present the sermonette, titled, “Pride, a Great Danger,” and Rene Messier will present the sermon, titled, “The Purity of The Most High God.”

The live services are available, over video and audio, at http://eternalgod.org/live-services/ (12:30 pm Pacific Time; 1:30 pm Mountain Time; 2:30 pm Central Time; 3:30 pm Eastern Time; 8:30 pm Greenwich Mean Time; 9:30 pm Central European Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.

In a world like this, which we all have to live in, we often find it hard to accept certain situations for what they are. Not everything can be understood, explained, or even changed. Many paths are rocky, many decisions are difficult, and some burdens must be carried for longer than one could ever have expected.

As the saying goes: There’s nothing in this world that comes easy. Everything that truly matters – trust, love, patience, maturity, or inner strength – usually arises from trials, disappointments, or experiences that shape us. Yet it is precisely in these moments that the depth of life reveals itself: that people do not grow only on good days, but often especially on the difficult ones.

Recently, I read something that really got me thinking. The words stirred something within me, as if a process had been set in motion deep within my thoughts – one that was necessary to bring about real change.

Sometimes you come across phrases or thoughts that don’t just touch you for a brief moment but continue to work within you. They put their finger on something that may have been slumbering within us for a long time. And that is precisely when this change begins – not on the outside, but first on the inside, in our thinking, our hearts, and our view of ourselves and how we live.

The phrase was: “Learn to accept the things you cannot change, have the courage to change the things you can change, and the wisdom to distinguish one from the other.”

This quote can touch upon one of humanity’s deepest inner struggles, perhaps prompting us to ask ourselves: “What should I make peace with, and what should I continue to fight for?”

Most people suffer not only when facing very serious problems, but often also when they try to control things that are beyond their power. Things like the past, other people’s behavior, injustice or illness, loss through death, or other unpleasant events. And that is precisely where discouragement, bitterness, anger, or despair can sometimes arise.

And that is exactly when we must say: “Do not give up but recognize your limits and do not waste your strength on things that God has not placed in your hands.” This is precisely what Jesus Christ spoke about, and the Bible generally has a great deal to say on the subject.

For example, in Matthew 6:25, 27, we read an appropriate statement by Jesus Christ: “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life… Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?”

In this way, Christ shows us that people often desperately try to grasp hold of things they cannot control at all. At the same time, the Bible also teaches us not to live passively.

God said in Joshua 1:9:

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

And in Romans 12:21, Paul wrote: “…overcome evil with good.”

This means: Acceptance does not mean approving of everything. Humility is not weakness and letting go does not mean indifference. The difficulty lies in recognizing: When do I continue to fight out of love for the Truth, and when am I merely fighting out of disappointment, pride, anger, or a wounded ego?

The Bible strongly links this wisdom with humility. Solomon wrote in Proverbs 3:5:

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding…”

Humans often see only a small piece of the mosaic, while God sees the whole picture. And that is precisely why we should not seek our peace in wanting to control or determine everything, or in impatiently demanding something that is not our responsibility, but rather, in trusting completely that God will ultimately make everything right.

In Philippians 4:11-13, Paul wrote:

“Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

This is precisely what deep spiritual maturity looks like. Not every external situation should be allowed to influence and dictate our inner peace. Sometimes, of course, people cling to things—to friends and family, to times past, to recognition, to control, or to ideas about life—even though much of it has long since been broken and is even predestined.

Yet it is precisely this desperate clinging and controlling that can often cause even more harm.

Solomon describes something similar in Ecclesiastes 3:1 with the words: “To everything there is a season” – a time to build and to tear down, to gain and to lose, to hold on and to let go.

This is often difficult because people seek security. Yet spiritual maturity is often shown in the realization that we do not have to control or change everything to find peace.

And perhaps this is the hardest lesson of our lives: God wants us to learn to accept the fact that not every wound heals, not every question is answered, and not everyone acts justly – and that we must not let our hearts become discouraged or hardened because of it.

Initial translation: Daniel Blasinger

By Norbert Link 

We begin with the never-ending story about the Iran War and a possible “deal,” with conflicting statements from both sides and highly dubious and questionable announcements from Donald Trump and the White House, as well as strong criticism from GOP “allies” and Benjamin Netanyahu.

We speak on Trump’s crazy AI postings; his and Rubio’s desire to take over Cuba; and the forgotten civil war in Sudan.

We address Germany’s future military role in Europe; America’s confusing and incompetent decisions regarding troops in Poland; Trump’s intentions regarding Greenland; warnings of severe natural catastrophes in 2026; and Tulsi Gabbard’s resignation.

We address Trump’s horrible new rules regarding current and prospective green-card holders; and we conclude with interesting information on Jens Spahn and the Holocaust. Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Trump’s War Against (Almost) ALL Foreigners in the USA”

The Iran War—Trump’s Dreamworld

Deutsche Welle wrote on May 23:

“US President Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that an agreement had been ‘largely negotiated, subject to finalization’ between the United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and various other countries. ‘Final aspects and details of the deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly,’ Trump said, adding that ‘the Strait of Hormuz will be opened.’… Trump said the chance of an agreement was a ‘solid 50/50,’ while threatening to ‘blow them to kingdom come’ if talks fail. Earlier in the day, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke of ‘slight progress’ in negotiations… Rubio also refused to rule out a resumption of US attacks on Iran if negotiations fail.

“Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, meanwhile, told state broadcaster IRIB that Tehran was in the final stages of drafting a framework for a deal, but said a final accord would take more time. ‘Within a reasonable period of 30 to 60 days, the details of these points will be discussed and a final agreement will ultimately be concluded,’ Baqaei told IRIB. He added that major gaps remain between both sides and that an end to the US blockade of Hormuz be part of the framework. .. While Rubio restated US demands that Tehran hand over highly enriched uranium linked to Iran’s controversial nuclear program, Baqaei insisted nuclear talks would not be part of the initial deal….

“Progress in the talks caused Trump to abruptly cancel plans to attend his son’s wedding on Friday to stay in Washington due to ‘circumstances pertaining to government.’ This move fueled speculation that talks had entered a sensitive stage or that Trump could order fresh military action. US media outlets Axios and CBS News reported that the White House is considering renewed strikes, while Rubio told NATO foreign ministers gathered in Sweden on Friday that there must be a ‘Plan B’ in case talks fail. In turn, Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf vowed a ‘crushing’ response from Tehran, warning Trump against ‘another act of folly,’ insisting that Iran’s armed forces had been rebuilt during the initial ceasefire.”

It was reported that Iran had agreed to give up its stockpile of enriched uranium—believed to be enough to build 11 nuclear bombs—as part of the deal announced by President Trump Saturday. We highly doubt the accuracy of that report, or if it were correct and Iran had agreed to this, it would only be for the purpose of gaining more time to be able to produce more weapons. A real and lasting peace deal agreeable to both sides does not seem to be likely, if at all possible.

Trump’s Strange AI Postings

Aljazeera wrote on May 23:

“President Donald Trump has posted a photo of the United States flag covering the map of Iran, with the question: ‘United States of the Middle East?’… It carries the potential to roil both regional allies and foes alike given Washington’s past intervention in the Middle East, most notably during the US invasion of Iraq from 2003 to 2011, as well as the Trump administration’s push to increase its influence abroad. The sentiment also appears to run counter to the Trump administration’s repeated statements that it is not seeking a prolonged occupation of Iran.”

The Times of Israel wrote on May 24:

“US President Donald Trump posts an AI-generated image captioned ‘Adios’ showing a US drone destroying an Iranian navy ship, amid reports of an emerging deal to end the war with Iran. It is unclear what message Trump is trying to convey with the post amid the ongoing talks with Tehran.”

Intended Only for Americans?

Bild Online reported on May 24:

“U.S. officials and intermediaries have privately urged Tehran during indirect talks to ignore Donald Trump’s Truth Social posts. This is reported by Fars News, a news agency close to the Revolutionary Guards. The posts, the intermediaries reportedly explained, are directed primarily at a U.S. audience and do not reflect Washington’s negotiating position.”

Trump also posted another AI image regarding Greenland (see article below).

US Military Irrelevant

On May 25, Ron Paul wrote in his weekly column:

“The pattern of media reports – based on White House leaks – that an agreement with Iran is almost completed has become predictable… It is dangerous to have a US Administration that no one in the US or the rest of the world believes. When White House ‘sources’ claim a deal is in sight only to have President Trump post another AI graphic of the US military – or himself – firing missiles at Iran, the futility of engaging with the United States becomes reinforced to the rest of the world…

“A US government whose word is no good will soon find a world that refuses to speak with it… A world that sees force as the only way to negotiate with the United States may not attack us immediately. But it will prepare to do so… while it is true that we have a powerful military, more expensive than most others combined and capable of projecting force worldwide, it is also irrelevant…

“Just a few weeks of fighting has nearly depleted our arsenal while barely denting that of Iran.  Despite the US Administration’s initial claims that 90 percent or more of Iran’s military was destroyed, we now know that the opposite is the case: nearly 90 percent of Iran’s military remains intact.”

Concerns and Skepticism

Newsmax wrote on May 23:

“President Trump announced Saturday that the United States and Iran are on the verge of reaching what he described as a broad ‘Memorandum of Understanding pertaining to PEACE,’ signaling a potentially dramatic pause in what many feared was an imminent return to war in the Middle East. Yet even as diplomatic momentum accelerated, critics in Washington and Israel warned the proposed agreement could ultimately strengthen Iran, weaken regional deterrence, and merely postpone a larger conflict until after the U.S. midterm elections…

“Senator Lindsey Graham issued a pair of sharply worded statements on X warning that any deal perceived as allowing Iran to retain long-term leverage over the Strait of Hormuz or Gulf oil infrastructure could dramatically alter the regional balance of power… Graham warned that such perceptions could embolden Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iranian-backed Shiite militias in Iraq while undermining Israeli security’…

“Israeli concerns have also intensified behind the scenes. According to Israel’s Channel 12, Israeli officials believe U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff is attempting to secure an agreement ‘at any cost’ and has been urging Trump not to resume military action…

“Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, warned that a 60-day cease-fire extension based on vague Iranian promises could effectively eliminate U.S. military leverage… Dubowitz also warned that Iran could emerge with billions in sanctions relief while continuing to use the Strait of Hormuz as leverage against global energy markets.”

The Hill wrote on May 23:

“Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) sparred with one of President Trump’s outside advisers on social media Saturday…

“‘I am deeply concerned about what we are hearing about an Iran “deal,” being pushed by some voices in the administration,’ Cruz wrote on the social platform X… ‘If the result of all that is to be an Iranian regime—still run by Islamists who chant “death to America”—now receiving billions of dollars, being able to enrich uranium & develop nuclear weapons, and having effective control over the Strait of Hormuz, then that outcome would be a disastrous mistake,’ the senator wrote.

“His criticism echoed that of several other hawkish Senate Republicans who also agreed on Saturday that any deal that allows the current Iranian regime to remain in power could embolden them — a rare moment of discord between the president and his usually steadfast GOP allies.”

Focus wrote on May 23:

“Military expert Phillips O’Brien also sharply criticizes the deal. ‘If this is true, it would be a complete capitulation by Trump and would go down in US history as the fastest and most decisive defeat in war.’

“Iran expert Danny Citrinowicz wrote on X: ‘It is hard to overestimate just how much… Netanyahu perceives this moment as a potential personal and political defeat. An agreement between the US and Iran under Trump would be a severe blow to him—primarily diplomatically, but above all, politically.’”

Trump’s deal has been compared with Obama’s deal which Trump had strongly condemned in the past. He is saying now his deal would be the exact opposite (?) and that he makes no bad deals. Really?

And On We Go!

Bild Online reported on May 26:

“On behalf of Iran’s senior cleric, Mojtaba Khamenei (56), a message with explosive implications was published at the start of the annual Muslim Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. ‘In various parts of Iran and the world—and in the days following this blessed period—“Death to America” and “Death to Israel” will be the rallying cries shared by the Islamic community and the oppressed peoples of the world,’ the document states… According to a separate statement posted on Mojtaba Khamenei’s Telegram channel, the U.S. can no longer rely on the Gulf states to provide protection for its military bases in the future. The message asserts that there will no longer be any safe haven for the U.S. within the region…

“On Monday night, U.S. and Israeli fighter jets attacked the Iranian Navy in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as other targets. U.S. Central Command stated that American forces had struck missile launch sites in Iran, along with boats that were attempting to lay mines. The attacks were described as defensive in nature, serving to ‘protect troops from threats posed by Iranian forces.’…

“The U.S. insists that Iran surrender its entire stockpile of enriched, weapons-grade uranium. Tehran strictly rejects this demand. At the same time, the mullahs have declared they will only reopen the Strait of Hormuz if they are permitted to levy tolls on passing vessels. Furthermore, Tehran insists that Iran’s assets currently frozen abroad by the U.S. be released. Experts estimate the value of these assets at more than 100 billion U.S. dollars.”

More Fighting

Times Now News wrote on May 29:

“The US-Iran conflict has entered another volatile phase after fresh American strikes in southern Iran triggered retaliatory threats from Tehran and heightened tensions across the Gulf. Iranian forces warned of ‘more decisive’ action after attacks near Bandar Abbas, while military activity around the Strait of Hormuz intensified with naval confrontations and renewed concerns over maritime security. At the same time, Israel expanded its Lebanon operations with sweeping displacement orders, as aid agencies warned of a humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in the south.

“With military strikes, naval confrontations, economic pressure and fragile diplomacy unfolding simultaneously, the Middle East remains at one of its most dangerous moments in recent years, with fears of broader regional war continuing to grow.”

Trump Threatens Oman

The Guardian wrote on May 28:

“In a casual aside during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Donald Trump threatened to ‘blow up’ Omana US ally, if it failed to ‘behave’ over the reopening the strait of Hormuz… ‘The strait is going to be open to everybody,’ Trump said. ‘Nobody’s going to control it. We’re going to watch over it… Oman will behave just like everybody else. Or else we’ll have to blow them up. They understand that.’”

The Jerusalem Post added on May 28:

“Oman has historically been a friend of the US. However, many US partners and friends abroad have found themselves getting the cold shoulder in recent years from the US administration. Whether it is NATO allies, or Denmark, Ukraine, or Taiwan, many countries feel the US is moving away from historic partnerships. In recent days, America’s Gulf friends and allies have also been put under pressure to join the Abraham Accord.”

This push has been strongly rejected by Trump’s “Gulf friends.”

Tense Phone Call Between Trump and Netanyahu

The U.S. Sun wrote on May 21:

“DONALD Trump has said Benjamin Netanyahu will ‘do whatever I want’ after the pair reportedly had a tense phone call over the Iran war. The ‘lengthy and dramatic’ chat was focused on Trump’s decision not to restart airstrikes on Tehran after the US president claimed he was just minutes from launching a fresh round of attacks on Monday.

“Netanyahu has been clear from the start that his war aims are to abolish Iran‘s support for regional militias such as the Houthis, dismantle their nuclear programme and destroy all missile capabilities. Israel is yet to be convinced any of these three key goals have been achieved. But Trump said yesterday he is in ‘no hurry’ to begin strikes again…

“Israel’s Channel 12 said it was a ‘lengthy and dramatic’ call. Netanyahu’s ‘hair was on fire’ after the call… Trump later told reporters that he managed to convince the Israeli PM to agree to his point of view… ‘He’s [Netanyahu] fine, he’ll do whatever I want him to do…’

“Trump also told reporters on Wednesday that he ‘could run for prime minister’ in Israel – and believes he could even win. He said after his second, and final, term in the Oval Office: ‘I’ll go to Israel, run for prime minister. I had a poll this morning. I’m 99 per cent, so that’s good.’…”

Trump and Netanyahu do NOT see eye to eye on the Iran War. Ultimately, the USA and Israel will become enemies, not friends.

Experts Surprised by Israeli Weakness

Focus reported on May 23:

“For several weeks now, the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia has been intensifying its attacks on Israel using kamikaze drones… Israel is struggling to devise effective countermeasures.

“Since March, the Lebanese Hezbollah has increasingly relied on so-called FPV (First Person View) drones, which provide pilots with a real-time visual feed of their target. Several Israeli soldiers have lost their lives in these attacks, and many others have been injured. What particularly concerns Israeli military experts is this: an increasing number of these drones are controlled not via radio, but via fiber-optic cables. Their signals are transmitted to the pilots through thin cables unwound from a spool. The result: both locating the drones and jamming their communications… is virtually impossible using conventional electronic warfare methods…

“Given a trend that has been emerging for years, many observers are puzzled that even Israel’s military does not appear better prepared… A tank costing tens of millions of dollars can now suddenly be attacked by an FPV drone that can be purchased on Alibaba for just $400.”

Cuba Next?

BBC wrote on May 21:

“Cuba poses a ‘national security threat’ to the US and the likelihood of a peaceful agreement is ‘not high’, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said. His comments come just a day after the US charged Cuba’s former president Raúl Castro with murder over the 1996 downing of two planes resulting in the killing of US nationals… [Rubio] also accused Cuba of being ‘one of the leading sponsors of terrorism in the entire region’, which [Foreign Minister Bruno] Rodríguez vehemently denied in a post on X. The Cuban foreign minister criticised Rubio for trying to ‘instigate a military aggression’…

“Trump has repeatedly sought to exert pressure on Cuba and has openly discussed toppling its communist regime… Wednesday’s indictment of the former Cuban president is seen by some as reminiscent of Trump’s seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January… Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who announced the charges in Miami on Wednesday, said the US ‘expect he [Castro] will show up here, by his own will or another way.”

It appears that an American invasion of Cuba is highly likely.

Sudan… The Forgotten War

The Los Angeles Times wrote on May 24:

“The civil war in Sudan… enters its fourth year: a staggeringly brutal conflict where stagnating front lines have given way to intense drone campaigns targeting rear-guard cities, many after sunset… While much of the world’s attention in recent years has focused on Gaza and Ukraine, the Sudan civil war has killed well over 150,000 people — and that count is more than a year old. Some estimate the death toll is more than triple that number… Nearly 880 Sudanese civilians were killed in drone strikes between January and April, making drones… far and away the leading cause of civilian deaths…

“The war is a power struggle between the Sudanese army and its onetime ally, a paramilitary force called the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, for control of the country… The Sudanese army has received UAVs and military support from Iran, Turkey, Russia and Egypt; the latter is running drone operations from a base near Sudan’s border. Saudi Arabia is giving Sudan billions of dollars’ worth of UAVs and air defenses purchased from Pakistan, and even fifth-generation Chinese fighter jets…

“How the RSF appears to have an inexhaustible supply of drones has been the subject of speculation, but observers say it has a wealthy Persian Gulf patron of its own in the United Arab Emirates. The Emirates has consistently denied those claims and insists it backs no side in the war. But Sudanese officials, U.N. investigators and open-source experts say the UAE has created what they describe as a transcontinental logistics pipeline utilizing airports, seaports and transit highways — in Chad, South Sudan, Libya, Somalia, Ethiopia and the Central African Republic — to deliver drones and the mercenaries who operate them to the RSF.”

The conflict has already forced more than 14 million people out of their homes.

Germany Ready for NATO Leadership Role

Deutsche Welle wrote on May 21:

“Ahead of a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in the Swedish port city of Helsingborg on Thursday, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stressed Berlin’s readiness to assume greater leadership responsibility in NATO. ‘Our goal is a new burden-sharing arrangement that reflects Germany’s and Europe’s economic and military potential,’ he said in Berlin before departing for Sweden, adding that ‘Germany is accepting its leadership responsibility.’

“‘We want a stronger NATO with a greater role for Europe,’ Wadephul said. ‘To achieve this, we want to pool the capabilities of our industries through more intensive defense cooperation.’”

Germany will become the military leader of Europe.

Now Trump Wants to Send 5,000 Troops to Poland

Newsmax wrote on May 21:

“President Donald Trump said Thursday that an additional 5,000 U.S. troops will be sent to Poland, reversing a decision announced last week. The move comes amid a broader effort to scale back America’s military footprint in Europe …

“Trump announced the move on Truth Social, citing the election last year of Karol Nawrocki as Poland’s president. Nawrocki is considered a staunch Trump ally, but the decision to withdraw the deployment of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Cavalry Division, known as the ‘Black Jack’ brigade… blindsided him.”

The Daily Beast wrote on May 22:

“Pete Hegseth apparently created a huge mess for Donald Trump in his rush to keep the 79-year-old president happy. Insiders have revealed that the defense secretary’s abrupt maneuver to cancel the deployment of U.S. troops to Poland triggered an angry phone call from Trump, who was forced to explain that Poland was not one of the European allies that had earned his wrath. Hegseth, 45, blindsided officials on both sides of the Atlantic last week when he canceled the deployment of 4,000 troops to Poland at the eleventh hour. The decision stirred confusion within the Pentagon and quickly sparked a firestorm of criticism from American lawmakers and European allies…. Trump phoned Hegseth to demand an explanation for his decision to cancel the troop deployment, 

“White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told the Journal that ‘President Trump appreciates all the secretary has done—and will continue to do—in executing the America First agenda within our military and prioritizing our warfighters like never before.’…

“Trump changed course on the deployment of troops to Poland in a bizarre Truth Social post on Thursday night that invoked the election win of Polish President Karol Nawrocki—which occurred almost a year ago.”

What confusion and embarrassment. What incompetence on Hegseth’s part. What ridiculous comments by White House spokesperson Anna Kelly and Donald Trump.

But there might be more going on behind the scenes, explaining Trump’s sudden “change of mind.” Note the next article.

Trump’s “Change of Mind”

The Associated Press wrote on May 22:

“NATO allies and defense officials expressed bewilderment on Friday at U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to send 5,000 U.S. troops to Poland just weeks after he had ordered 5,000 troops to be pulled out of Europe… ‘It is confusing indeed, and not always easy to navigate,’ Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard told reporters… U.S. defense officials were also confused. ‘We just spent the better part of two weeks reacting to the first announcement. We don’t know what this means either,’ said one of two officials…

“NATO allies have been blindsided, despite a U.S. pledge to coordinate troop deployments… About 80,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Europe. The Pentagon is required to keep at least 76,000 troops and major equipment stationed in Europe unless NATO allies are consulted and there is a determination that such a withdrawal is in U.S. interests. The withdrawal of 5,000 troops might drop numbers below that limit.”

Greenland—Time and Again

Die Welt reported on May 23:

“Donald Trump has sparked speculation with a post on his platform, Truth Social. He posted a photomontage in which he is depicted peeking out from behind the mountains of Greenland, accompanied by the caption: ‘Hello, Greenland.’ Trump has repeatedly characterized Greenland—an island with a population of 57,000—as strategically vital for curbing the influence of Russia and China in the Arctic. The U.S. maintains an active military base there. Since his return to the White House, Trump has repeatedly asserted claims of ownership over Greenland—which belongs to the NATO and EU member state of Denmark—thereby plunging NATO into a deep crisis…

“Last week, Greenland’s Head of Government, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, met with U.S. Special Envoy Jeff Landry. Afterward, Nielsen stated that he perceived no change in the U.S. position regarding the dispute over the Arctic island… ‘We have unequivocally reaffirmed that the people of Greenland are not for sale and that Greenlanders possess the right to self-determination,’ Nielsen emphasized. Greenland’s Foreign Minister, Mute Egede, also stated that the U.S. government has not abandoned its intention to acquire the island. ‘We have our red lines. The American stance, too, remains unchanged,’ the Foreign Minister said.”

Trump will not easily give up his idea to acquire Greenland… by whatever means.

“UNESCO Warns a Tsunami in the Mediterranean Is Inevitable”

Science Daily wrote on May 20:

“The French Riviera may look like an unlikely place for a tsunami disaster, but scientists warn the threat is far more real than most people realize. Historical events and new modeling show that destructive waves have already struck the Mediterranean coast — and could hit again with very little warning.

“Some tsunami scenarios could reach beaches in under 10 minutes, leaving almost no time for traditional alerts.”

Potential 2026 Disaster Could Echo 1877 Catastrophe

Daily Mail wrote on May 19:

“Scientists have warned that an imminent ‘super El Niño’ could be even more powerful than a previous event which caused over 50 million deaths. The 1877 El Niño was one of the most severe climate events in recorded history, triggering a global humanitarian disaster known as The Great Famine.

“Climate reconstructions suggest water temperatures in a key region of the Pacific Ocean rose by 2.7°C (4.86°F), which caused disruption to rainfall patterns around the world. Estimates indicate the resulting scarcity of food and disease outbreaks killed up to four per cent of the Earth’s population at the time. That would be the equivalent of at least 250 million people if it happened today.

“Now, forecasts suggest water temperatures could potentially exceed 3°C (5.4°F) above average later this year – making the upcoming super El Niño even more powerful than the one nearly 150 years ago…

“India was among the worst–hit regions as monsoon rains disappeared, while Northern China suffered devastating dry spells that led to harvest failures. In Brazil rivers dried up and agriculture collapsed, while parts of Africa, southeast Asia and Australia also experienced severe drought and forest fires. The resulting famine weakened societies, intensified colonial control in some regions, accelerated migration and exposed how vulnerable global food systems were to climate shocks. There were also outbreaks of malaria, plague, dysentery, smallpox and cholera across weakened populations…

‘While it is not yet certain, this is a very strong sign that a powerful El Niño weather pattern is brewing.”

Tulsi Gabbard Steps Down as Director of National Intelligence

The Guardian wrote on May 22:

“Tulsi Gabbard’s tumultuous 15-month tenure as the nation’s top intelligence official ended Friday, when she submitted her resignation as director of national intelligence. Gabbard was an unconventional choice for the role: the former Democrat lacked an intelligence background and her foreign policy views at times diverged with Donald Trump, particularly on questions of overseas military intervention. And yet she also took unusual measures to ingratiate herself to the president by vowing to root out politicization across US spy agencies and embracing his agenda of election denial.

“Over time, Gabbard became increasingly sidelined by the president, who excluded her from key national security conversations on Iran and Venezuela… Gabbard said Friday that she was resigning from office because her husband had been diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer…”

Politico added on May 22:

“During her tenure as a Democratic member of the House, Gabbard regularly critiqued America’s national security establishment. She backed Trump’s 2024 campaign in part because he vowed to keep the country out of costly foreign wars. But Trump’s second-term foreign policy quickly proved far more muscular than his first, and Gabbard’s position in his administration had seemed uncertain for months. She was not a major player in the three major military operations Trump has launched since returning to office.

“She was not with Trump in Mar-a-Lago when the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in late February, and she did not participate in the initial briefings to Congress about the decision to strike. When the Trump administration launched a surprise military raid to capture Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro in early January, she was back in her home state of Hawaii. And, she was not at Camp David when Trump decided to bomb three Iranian nuclear sites last summer…

“Last June, she posted a video warning of nuclear holocaust that was not well received by Trump, who mused about firing her shortly thereafter. Trump reportedly considered firing Gabbard again in April after she failed to strongly endorse the war in Iran during testimony before Congress, but he was talked out of this.

“In an administration that prized loyalty above all else, she could never fully dispel concerns that she was not totally on board with Trump’s military decision-making. Her troubles were magnified this March when one of her top aides, Joe Kent, resigned in protest over the war and questioned whether Iran had posed an imminent threat to the U.S…”

When you cross Trump, you are history.

Horrible New Rules for Green Card Applicants

The Associated Press wrote on May 22:

“Foreigners in the U.S. who want a green card will need to leave and apply in their home country, the Trump administration announced Friday, in a surprise change to a longstanding policy that sowed confusion and concern among aid groups, immigration lawyers and immigrants. For over half a century, foreign nationals with legal status have been able to apply for and complete the entire process for permanent residence in the United States — including individuals married to U.S. citizens, holders of work and student visas, and refugees and political asylum seekers, among others.

“The announcement from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is the latest step by the Trump administration making legal immigration more difficult for foreigners already in the U.S. and for those hoping to come here. The changes comes on top of steps the administration has already taken to restrict and limit entry for people from dozens of countries. In some cases, there are outright bans on travel from those countries, while people from others face pauses in visa processing. Experts and attorneys warned that forcing people from those countries to return home to apply for a green card would result in them being barred from coming back.

“‘If families are told that the non-citizen family member must return to his or her country of origin to process their immigrant visa, but immigrant visas are not being processed there, it’s a Catch-22. These policies will effectively create an indefinite separation of families,’ wrote World Relief, a humanitarian and refugee resettlement organization….”

These are terrible developments.

Trump’s “Exceptions”

NPR added on May 22:

“In an emailed statement to the Associated Press the agency said people who provide an ‘economic benefit’ or ‘national interest’ could likely stay in the U.S. while others would have to go abroad to apply… immigration lawyers and aid groups pushed back, saying it was longstanding practice for many groups to be able to adjust their status in the U.S. and that many people couldn’t return home because it wasn’t safe or they had no embassy to apply at. The U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan, for example, has been closed since the U.S. pullout in August 2021…

“‘USCIS is trying to upend decades of processing of adjustment of status,’ said Shev Dalal-Dheini, senior director of government relations at the American Immigration Lawyers Association. ‘This all applies very broadly to anyone seeking a green card.’ Among them could be individuals married to U.S. citizens, immigrants with humanitarian protection who are applying for a green card, and holders of work visas — including doctors and professionals — as well as student and religious visa holders, the attorney noted.At some U.S. consulates abroad, wait times for a visa appointment could take up to more than a year, said Dalal-Dheini.”

People of national interest are apparently only those who do not dare to criticize Trump.

Most Anti-Legal Immigration Administration in US History

The Hill added on May 22:

“The Trump administration on Friday announced prospective immigrants would need to return to their home country to apply for green cards, a move that would stifle the most common pathway used for legal immigration. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) portrayed the new policy memo as ‘returning to the original intent of the law,’ [which is utter nonsense] while immigration advocates said the change was a cruel and disruptive move targeting those in the country legally [indeed, it is.].

“Under the new USCIS policy, those who have already legally lived and worked in the U.S. for years would have to return to their home country to apply to return. Meanwhile, the State Department has halted immigrant visa processing in 75 different countries…

“David Bier, director of immigration studies at the libertarian Cato Institute… wrote on the social platform X, directing his message to USCIS Director Joseph Edlow. ‘This admin continues to prove itself to be the most anti-legal immigration admin in US history. [That is undoubtedly true.] The harms this will cause to legal immigrants is incalculable. Impossible to explain how stupid and evil this policy is. [We agree.] It’s intended to cost people their jobs and their families.’…

“HIAS, an immigration and refugee resettlement agency previously known as the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, blasted the policy as the latest effort to target immigrants. ‘The administration’s new policy could force thousands of people to be separated from their families, their jobs, and their homes in order to wait for years outside of the country for their green card,’ the group’s president Beth Oppenheim said in a statement. ‘It echoes again and again the notion that no one is permanent here, unless they fit a particular notion of what it means to be worthy of protection. And that simply cannot stand.’…”

Again, worthy of protection if you agree with Trump.

Yahoo!News also quoted Bier as follows:

“These are all people who qualify to stay here permanently and Congress clearly wanted them to have a way to stay,’ he wrote Friday. ‘He’s telling them to leave America.’”

The New York Post added on May 22:

“Under the new policy, green card petitioners will be required to wait for their application to be processed outside the country through consular processing via the State Department.”

This new directive might face legal challenges. Many immigration attorneys and advocacy groups argue that this sweeping requirement violates the statutory framework established by Congress, which has historically allowed many visa holders to “adjust their status” from within the United States to prevent family separation and job disruption. Critics expect the policy to be heavily litigated in federal court.

Trump’s immigration policy is designed to get foreigners out of the USA or to prevent them from becoming permanent residents and ultimately US citizens. And if they do not leave voluntarily, other measures will be used against them. Trump’s fight against DACA and birthright citizenship are more examples.

Green Card Holders BARRED From Entering USA

The Guardian wrote on May 23:

“US authorities have temporarily banned green-card holders from entering the country if they have traveled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Uganda or South Sudan in the last 21 days.

“The order issued on Friday is part of an expanding attempt to prevent Ebola from entering US borders. A previously announced travel restriction blocked only people without US passports who had visited those countries from entering but exempted US citizens and lawful permanent residents….

“The order added that green-card holders may maintain stronger ties to families and communities outside the US than US citizens and nationals, ‘such that prohibiting their entry is comparatively less burdensome’… In a separate statement, the CDC said that ‘applying this authority to lawful permanent residents for a limited period of time provides a balance between protecting public health and managing emergency response resources’… The entry ban on green-card holders coming from the African region is for an initial 30 days.”

It is doubtful that this order is legal. A green-card holder can only be barred from entering the USA under highly specific and limited circumstances, which are: abandonment of residence; serious criminal record; national security threats; immigration fraud; and pending deportation. Undoubtedly, the US government will claim that green card holders who have been in certain African countries pose a national security threat. During times of alleged epidemics, everything goes, as the coronavirus circus has proven.

Jens Spahn – Private

Bild Online wrote on April 4:

“‘As a child, the first thing I associated with Easter was the Easter egg hunt. Faith was a given in our home. We went to church every Sunday or Saturday evening. For someone like me, who is more of a cultural Christian, but still a Christian, Easter is simply a beautiful holiday.’… For the Christian Democrat, religion is more than ritual. This upbringing in faith remains his foundation to this day. ‘Knowing that someone is there gives me a deep inner serenity and peace. My faith sustains me, especially when things get difficult.’

“Jens Spahn has been married to Daniel Funke (44) since December 22, 2017. That he speaks so naturally of ‘my husband’ wasn’t always conceivable. Because while he was an altar boy and sat in the pews on Sundays, he had long since realized that he didn’t feel the same way as many of his friends… And his faith and the Catholic Church? His answer is surprising in its… sobriety: ‘To be honest, I was never interested in the Church’s stance on homosexuality.’”

Watch Jens Spahn!

“Historian Götz Aly (79) Reveals Bitter Truth”

Bild Online wrote on May 23:

“The Holocaust and other crimes were no secret during the Nazi era. Many Germans participated in them, profited from them, or were aware of them. And what’s more: According to Aly, the leadership even wanted the population to know about the crimes – in order to motivate them to fanatical resistance…

“‘Many steps of the Holocaust took place in full public view,’ says Aly… Many citizens profited from the expropriation of Jews. In Hamburg alone, 400,000 people participated in the auctions of ‘non-Aryan property’… Knowledge of the systematic extermination of Jews by so-called Einsatzgruppen, as well as the mass murder of Soviet prisoners of war, spread rapidly within the Wehrmacht and among the general population, the historian argues…

“The Nazi dictatorship… wanted the German population to be involved in the crimes or at least aware of them. ‘In my book, I refer to this as the transition from the national community to the community of crime,’ says Aly. ‘Community of crime doesn’t mean that everyone is actively involved in crimes—but passively. Through small gains, through silence, through passive, silent support.’…

“This resulted in a great fear of defeat and a fanatical fight against the Allies. Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels spoke of ‘strength through fear’… Götz Aly sees a direct connection between the crimes of the Germans and their fanatical conduct of the war. It is now ‘to be assumed with certainty’ that the Holocaust contributed to ‘strengthening the resilience of the German people’… Because of their crimes and the resulting fear of possible revenge, the Wehrmacht fought until its complete collapse.”

Most will follow the beast and become thereby actively and passively involved in his crimes.

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer:

These Current Events are compiled and commented on by Norbert Link. We gratefully acknowledge the many contributions of news articles from our readership. The publication of articles in this section is not to be viewed as an endorsement or approval as to contents or accuracy of the selected articles, but they are published for the purpose of pointing at worldwide developments in the light of biblical end-time prophecy and godly instruction. Our own comments are provided in italics.

In the first Q&A in this series, we looked at the malevolent nature and influence of Satan the devil and started to look at false assumptions that many may make about different situations and teachings in the Bible. We know that Satan’s influence is everywhere and in every sphere, and is recognised by those faithful believers in the one true God.

Let us continue with further false biblical assumptions.

FALSE ASSUMPTION  No. 3

Many think that Jesus didn’t own a home and that He was a vagabond – a person who had no home, without a job and who travelled from place to place.    

In Matthew 8:20, we read: “And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.’”  We read the following on page 49 in our booklet, “Do You Know the Jesus of the Bible?” 

“While Matthew 8:20 is not as specific as to the timing, the parallel passage in Luke 9:58 is given in the context of when He was on a journey with His disciples and the Samaritans refused to grant them shelter (compare Luke 9:51–56; note verse 57: ‘NOW it happened as they journeyed on the road…’). There were times when Christ and His disciples did not encounter hospitality while they were on their missionary journeys, and it was that fact which Jesus stressed when He spoke about the sacrifices one must be willing to make when he or she wants to follow Christ (compare verses 57–58).”

On page 48 of this same booklet mentioned above, under the heading “Jesus Built and Owned Houses,” we read:

“There are numerous passages indicating that Jesus owned His own house—or perhaps even more than one. He grew up in Nazareth, but He later lived or ‘dwelt’ in Capernaum (Matthew 4:13), ‘His own city’ (Matthew 9:1). Luke makes this possible distinction when referring to Nazareth as the city where Jesus ‘had been brought up’ (Luke 4:16). It appears that at some point in time, then, Jesus made His adult home in Capernaum. We read that when in Capernaum, Jesus would go into ‘THE’ house, and that people would visit Him there when they found out that He was in the house (compare Matthew 13:1, 36). 

“Many commentaries say that this is a reference to Peter’s house in Capernaum, but it would be strange that in a few passages, it is specifically said that He entered ‘Peter’s house’ (Matthew 8:14), while in most cases, it is only stated that He was in THE house. It was obviously a dwelling place that was well known to the people—they knew where to go when they heard that He was in THE house. The strong indication is that it was actually Christ’s house where He would live when He was dwelling in Capernaum and when He was not on a missionary journey. 

“For instance, in Mark 2:1, some commentaries feel that the phrase, ‘He was in the house,’ should be rendered, according to the original Greek, as ‘He was at home,’ which would strongly indicate that Christ either owned a house in Capernaum, or that He was renting one, still showing that this was ‘His home.’ 

“Later, when Jesus went up from Capernaum to Nazareth, we read His words in Matthew 13:57, which could refer to His relatives and/or to visitors in His own house: ‘A prophet is not without honor except in his own country [or: hometown, compare New American Standard Bible] and in his own house.’ And so, He did not do many works in His hometown where He had grown up, ‘because of their unbelief’ (verse 58).”

Therefore, the assumption that Jesus didn’t own a home and that He was homeless is false.

FALSE ASSUMPTION No. 4:

Another false assumption is about the so-called “Lord’s Prayer.” We read that Jesus, in Matthew 6:7-8, gave the following instructions:

^“And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”

And then comes the prayer in verses 9-13:

^“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

In mainstream churches around the world, this outline prayer is mouthed every Sunday, word for word, in about 30 seconds, without any time made available to think about what all of those words truly mean. It can become meaningless. But as we will explain below, this is just an outline of subjects to consider, not a prayer to be repeated word for word. 

A former UK Prime Minister was reported to have said the “Lord’s Prayer” when a terrorist atrocity happened in the UK many years ago, which was the sign of a decent person but was somewhat misplaced. The prayer should have been about the immediate situation where people were killed, maimed and injured but there is this misplaced “understanding” that just mouthing the words of the “model prayer” is sufficient for all occasions. When you see prayers in a “Christian” movie, it is almost inevitable that it will be just the “model prayer”; in fact in one movie, the early Christians kept repeating the same words faster and faster; almost as if they were in a trance!

The prayer that Jesus gave His disciples then, and today, is an outline. We should pray to the Father, not to Mary or some saint, but to the greatest Being in the universe.  On page 3 of our booklet “Teach Us to Pray,” we read:

“There is absolutely no Biblical basis for praying to anyone but God. Even [the Apostle] John, on two occasions, was so overwhelmed and filled with awe by the visions revealed through one of God’s angels, he reacted by falling down to worship the angel, but the angel corrected him, saying: ‘Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God”’ (Revelation 22:9; compare Revelation 19:10).”

On page 14 of the same booklet, we read: “Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John [the Baptist] also taught his disciples.’” Christ then proceeded to give them an outline, which is recorded in Luke 11:2–4 and in Matthew 6:9–13.

“Note that this is just an outline—a guideline, if you will—on how to pray. It is not a prayer per se, to be repeated, word for word, over and over. Most professing Christian churches routinely require their members to recite the ‘Our Father’ prayer, verbatim, in their services. Priests may even instruct their parishioners to pray ten or twenty ‘Our Father’ prayers in order to become absolved of certain sins. This is NOT Biblical! Christ never intended such a custom! In fact, He specifically warned His disciples not to use “vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words” (Matthew 6:7). 

“We find, in John 17, the words of Christ’s prayer to the Father, just prior to His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. When reading that prayer, you will see that it does not at all contain the exact words that were recorded in Matthew 6, but it does contain some of the concepts listed in that prayer outline. 

“Christ gave His disciples this prayer as an outline, essentially setting forth the basic principles for prayer. We are to expand on those basics and go on to develop a meaningful conversation with God. We are not to present Him with an endless cycle of repetitive words. Think about it! When you converse with friends or family, or if you were to give a speech to a group of people, how long would they listen to you if all that came out of your mouth was a drone-like, repetitive cycle of repetitive words?”

The belief that this outline prayer just has to be continually repeated word for word each and every time is another false assumption. In passing, the “Hail Mary” (Ave Maria) prayer is totally wrong and must not be prayed by a true Christian. Mary is dead and in her grave, without consciousness. She was not resurrected and did not ascend to heaven. She is sometimes referred to as the “Queen of Heaven.” However, the idea that a “Queen of Heaven” is in heaven who has become our Mediator is an old pagan belief which is strongly condemned in Scripture (compare Jeremiah 7:18; 44:17-25). It is, in part, based on the apocryphal book of Enoch which contains many demonic concepts.

FALSE ASSUMPTION No. 5:

The many errors about Christmas are manifold but most people either don’t know or are not interested in them, as they enjoy many days off work to celebrate something that is not biblical; not that that worries many people today in this secular society.

In our Q&A: “Was Jesus really born on December 25?”, we clearly show from just two books in the Bible that it can be proved that Jesus was born around late September/early October, but if God had wanted us to celebrate Christ’s birthday, He would have given us the exact date.  

We’ve all seen the general nativity scene; mother and child, Joseph, with shepherds, angels and the wise men (the Magi). All of this is false as it never happened that way, although many churches and ministers know this, but go along with the false representation about the birth of Jesus.

In Halley’s Bible Handbook, we read: “Matthew 2:1–12 VISIT OF THE WISEMEN on page 418. This must have occurred in the period when Jesus was between 40 days and two years old (2:16; Luke 2:22, 39). It would have taken the Magi (or Wise Men) some time to get to Jerusalem after they first saw the star (verse 7), although probably quite a bit less than two years. And it took some time before Herod realized that the Magi weren’t coming back. So Herod, in order to be sure, took the outside limit. We know that the child was no longer in the manger, as is sometimes pictured, but in the house (verse 11; see on Luke 2:6–7)…”

Of course, Christ could have clearly been about two years old by that time, as Herod had carefully inquired as to His age. Continuing with the above-mentioned commentary:

“We may know the Christmas carol ‘We Three Kings’ which recounts the story of the three Magi or Wise Men. The false assumption is that there were only three wise men. They were men of high standing, for they had [been given] access to Herod. They are commonly spoken of as the ‘Three Wise Men.’  But Scripture does not say how many. There were probably more, or at least they were with an entourage of scores or hundreds, for it would not be safe for a small group to travel a thousand miles over desert wastes that were infested with bandits.” 

According to many traditions, there were actually twelve wise men visiting Jesus; each representing one of the twelve tribes of Israel. 

We state the following in our Q&A, “Who were the magi or wise men in Matthew 2? How many were there?”:

“Surprisingly to many, the ‘magi’ were neither ‘astrologers,’ nor did they visit Joseph, Mary and the Christ Child in the inn, nor is it biblically revealed how many there were. However, there are traditions which would support the idea that they were twelve, not three, as commonly assumed… The Bible describes at times angels as stars (compare Revelation 1:20; Isaiah 14:13; Job 38:7); so it appears certain that this ‘star,’ which was not always visible to the ‘magi,’ was an angel who showed them the way to the place where Christ dwelled. At that time, Christ was no longer in a manger or an inn. Rather, He was now in a house (compare Matthew 2:11)… 

“According to Matthew 2:16, Christ was at that time perhaps as old as two years, since King Herod had all children two and under killed, based on the information which he had received from the wise men…

“The P.M. magazine published an article some time ago, entitled, ‘What do we know about the Three Holy Kings?’ It pointed out:

“’That they… became kings, can be accredited to the theologian Tertullian (160 until 220). He wrote, “in the east, Magi were normally kings.”… According to Persian tradition, these Magi were descendants of the ancient Median priesthood… In the gospel, we are not told how many they were. The oriental churches speak of twelve Magi.

“’Jacob of Edessa (640-708), one of the most important ancient writers of the Church of the Jacobites, writes: “The Magi were from Persia, but they were not three, as portrayed by artists for the people, as derived from the threeness of the gifts of gold, myrrh and frankincense, but rather twelve, as can be seen in many traditions. Those who came were princes and well-respected persons from the country of Persia. Many people, more than a thousand men, accompanied them, so that Jerusalem became very excited when they arrived.”‘

“The article also speculates that the number of the Magi was reduced to ‘three,’ not because of the three types of gifts mentioned, but because another argument for the Trinity was searched for. Allegedly, the remains of the ‘three kings’ rest today in the dome of Cologne in Germany. However, P.M. notes that ‘the garments, in which the bones are wrapped, were made in the second or third century after Christ in Syria.’”

“… historical and biblical evidence reveals that the Magi of Matthew 2 were not astrologers whose observations of heavenly bodies led them to the Christ Child. Instead, they were representatives of the tribes of Israel in exile who were led to their King by an angel…

“Since the Jew Daniel was one of the righteous ‘magi,’ and he and many other Jewish exiles lived in Babylon as captives, after King Nebuchadnezzar had conquered the house of Judah, and since the Parthian Empire subsequently absorbed the Babylonian Empire, it stands to reason that Jews continued to live in the Parthian Empire, and that they still dwelled there at the time of the birth of Christ. The tradition that it was TWELVE magi who visited Christ would be quite interesting, in that the magi could have been representatives of ALL the twelve tribes of Israel AND Judah (being descendants of the TWELVE sons of Jacob or Israel), who were led by an angel to their King.”

Under the heading “Don’t Mix Pagan Customs With the Worship of God” in our booklet “Don’t Keep Christmas,” we read on page 20: “Do you know that you can be sincere in your worship of God and Christ, and still worship in vain? Christ clearly said in Matthew 15:7-9: ‘Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.”’ Who can doubt that the celebration of Christmas and the observance of its customs are pursuant to the commandments of men? Nowhere in the Bible are we told to do these things! And Christ said, this kind of religious worship which is based on men’s traditions is ‘in vain’ – it is useless. Rather, we are expressly told how to worship God.”

The additional Santa Claus myth is just another “add-on” to a time not sanctioned by the Bible.  There are so many false assumptions about the birth of Jesus, as well as the Christmas tree, Christmas carols, the exchange of gifts, etc.

For much more information, please see our booklet: “Don’t Keep Christmas”. 

(To be continued)

Lead Writers: Brian Gale and Norbert Link

Compiled by Norbert Link

“Trump’s War Against Almost ALL Foreigners in the USA” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:

“Cruel and stupid,” “disruptive and evil” new rules for green card applicants and green card holders have just been announced by the US government. They are in line with additional attempts by the Trump Administration to get foreigners out of the country or to prevent them from becoming US citizens. But God condemns those efforts and such conduct in no uncertain terms and wants us to understand WHY all of this is so ungodly and wrong.

“Trumps Krieg gegen (fast) ALLE Ausländer in den USA“  is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This German program covers the same topics as described above.

“Signs of the End Times: The Third Temple” is the latest short video which has been posted on YouTube. 

Eric Rank’s Pentecost sermon, titled, “Written on a Heart of Flesh”, is now posted.

Here is a summary:

The day of Pentecost is the holy day when the first church received the Holy Spirit. This is the Helper that Jesus Christ promised to them and us that allows us to understand and live by the law of God. As part of God’s plan, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit coincides with the replacement of the stony heart of the carnal people we are with a heart of flesh, willing to surrender to God. 

Frank Bruno’s offertory for Pentecost, titled, “2300 Words in the Future Kingdom” , is now posted. 

Here is a summary:

In this Offertory message, we will consider the importance of the Sermon on the Mount in Jesus’s ministry, and how it must convict true followers of Christ. We do not prepare an offering to God on the Feast of Pentecost simply because we are commanded to do so. We do this because we believe each word of the Sermon that Jesus preached, and we know that we glorify God with our obedience and our thirst for righteousness. 

We posted last week’s German sermon from Manuel Mueller, titled, “Ein Brausen vom Himmel” (“A Roaring from Heaven”).

We posted Manuel Giermann’s German sermonette, titled, “Die Schäden durch Unzucht” (“The Damage of Fornication”).

We posted Robert Macher’s German Pentecost offertory, titled, “Wie mit sexueller Sünde aufhören” (“How to Stop Sexual Sin”).