Using astronomy software and an article written by astronomer Craig Chester and based on the work of Ernest Martin, Larson thinks all 9 characteristics of the star of Bethlehem are found in the events in the skies of 3-2 B.C. Highlights include a triple conjunction of Jupiter, called the King planet with the fixed star Regulus called the King star, starting in 3 B.C. Larson believes that may have been the time of Jesus conception. By June 2 B.C., nine months later, the human conception period, Jupiter had continued in its orbit around the sun and appeared in close conjunction to Venus in 2 B.C. In Hebrew Jupiter is called “Sedeq”, meaning “righteousness” a term used for the Messiah, and suggested that because the planet Venus represents love and fertility Chester believes astrologers would have viewed this as indicators of a coming new King of Israel and Herod would taken this seriously! Astronomer David Reneke independently found that in 2 B.C. planetary conjunction would have appeared as a “bright beacon of light.” Jupiter next continued to move and then stopped in its apparent retrograde motion on December 25th of 2 B.C. over the town of Bethlehem! Since planets in their orbits have a “stationary point”, a planet moves eastward through the stars but after passes the opposite point in the sky from the sun, it appears to slow, come to a full stop and moves backward(westward) for some weeks. Again it slows, stops and resumes its eastward course. The date December 25th that Jupiter appeared to stop while in retrograde took place in the season of Hanukkah and that date later was chosen to celebrate Christmas. Merry Christmas! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Tag: december
Fired Admiral Leads to Pearl Harbor Attack!
February 1941 Rear Admiral James Richardson was removed from command after protesting President Roosevelt’s decision to move the bulk of the Pacific Fleet to Pearl Harbor! He protested against the redeployment of the Pacific portion of the fleet forward to Pearl Harbor, believing that a forward defense was neither practical or useful, and that the Pacific Fleet would be the logical first target in the event of war with Japan. Comment: It is always wise to take the advice from our military leaders on military matters even if you are President of the United States! One of the keys to Alexander the Great and his military victories was that he surrounded himself General’s who did not agree with him on tactics! The reason he did that was that he believed that those General’s would give him an idea how the enemy would think! We pay tribute to the 2408 military members of the United States and the 1300 wounded for their sacrifice and service to our nation on December 7, 1941. God Bless their souls! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Sunday, December 7, 1941
On January 27, 1941 U.S. Ambassador to Japan, Joseph C. Grew, wired Washington that he had learned information that Japan, in the event of trouble with the U.S., was planning a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor! No one in Washington believed this information. Many thought war was possible but could never surprise us. Most of our military leaders thought they would attack us in Manila. However, U.S. Admiral Kimmel wanted to take our fleet out of Pearl Harbor and meet the enemy at sea. Washington wanted to paint a more secure political climate! Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto had lived in America several years and knew American culture. He knew on Sunday morning Christian’s would be worshipping in services on the Island and it would be a day off for military members. Also Christmas preparations would be a distraction. On Sunday, December 7, 1941, at 0750, Hawaiian time, the first wave of Japanese aircraft attacked American forces! At the end of the day 2403 American’s were killed and 1178 wounded! Eighteen ships were sunk and 77 aircraft destroyed! Today, please have a moment of silence and remember the American’s who sacrificed their lives for us! These American’s did not have a Christmas day in December of 1941. We are battling an old enemy today but relatively new to American’s which is Islam! They also want to take Christmas off your calendar! Christmas has not always been a time of peace for American’s but remember our only real peace comes from Christ who sacrificed Himself to bring us peace with God! Merry Christmas! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
A Story Everyone Needs To Hear Again! Luke 2
This is an old story but is vogue today and has application above all the bad news we hear today! It is more than a warm feeling on a cold night! This is a radical, revolutionary story that has changed you, me and the whole world! This is the greatest story ever told to the world! How does a pregnant teenager tell her story? You could imagine social media buzz today if she tried to explain how God got her pregnant? What would Joseph tell the media? The shepherds were gathered around a small fire trying to keep warm and guard their sheep! An angel appears before them and tells them not to be terrified! Some of the shepherds were thinking my mommy told me not to be a shepherd! First one angel and then a host of them! God wants all people to hear the Good News! Notice Jesus birth was announced to people living on the margins! The church is to serve people living on the margins! The dignity Herod also heard the news but tried to kill Jesus! The angels through the shepherds spread the news! Shepherds were looked down on in their culture! They hung around dirty, smelly sheep! They were considered scavengers and thieves! David got his rough and tough training as a shepherd boy! If you want to take down a giant call a shepherd! They were the most unlikely people to hear the news first! Remember the lambs were raised to be sold to be sacrificed at Jewish feasts! The lambs were sold to be slaughtered! The lambs were destined to die for sin! The Good News for us and the lambs is that a greater sacrifice was born in Bethlehem. God said I give my life for you! Jesus came for the willing! Are your motives and plans for your life set in concrete? Do you have premeditated plans that leave God out of your life? This is a question we need to answer as we lead into 2015? Herod although a governor had no room for Christ and died a miserable death! Have you predetermined what you are going to do with your life? You have to be more than curious you have to be committed! Would you do anything God called you to do? Would you carry a baby for a Holy God? Why are we chosen? We get excited about the Royal couple and their baby and a baby coming out of Rome or Jerusalem! We must say yes to God even when we do not know the outcome! Are you ready to sign up? Mary was a virgin and told the people she was impregnated by the Holy Spirit! This never happened before and never after in history! Then they had to spend Christmas in Egypt to escape from Herod! Joseph and Mary were imperfect parents raising a perfect God! Do not divorce her! Joseph had to change all his plans! Love her, surround her and protect her. Joseph had a good job and business as a carpenter. I have to build my business! The Roman government requires a lot of Crosses! God has a plan for you and it usually is not your plan! You have to choose! It did not work out the way I thought but God’s plan is a perfect plan! For His plan for your life carries on into eternity! God takes the willing and builds character! Yes God I will go! How willingly Joseph and Mary obeyed! Faith is hard to explain? The natural mind thinks linear and logic does not fit! Sometimes Faith does not make sense? By Faith we let God fill in the blanks! Faith is not normal! The only thing normal in life is the setting on your clothes dryer! Could you raise God as a baby? Verse 17 goes on to say they worshipped Jesus then they went out and told everyone! The story of Jesus is now ours to tell! The angels appeared and then they diminished! Why fear the angels who are messengers? You are now the messengers! Popular culture has a fear about hearing the Good News? We have a story to tell to the nations! We all have a story to tell! With all the troubling news in the world we should be encouraged to tell the Good News! We will either tell or we will retreat? God is not looking for a perfect people to tell the perfect story! Today we are the messengers! Tell God’s story this week! How do we invite people to our Christmas Eve services? We have an amazing story to share with you and we invite you to come with us! We are caretakers of this story! The story is ours! We are the beneficiaries! We are now story tellers! Luke 24:46-49 You are witnesses of these things! You and me together go and tell! What do you want to happen this Christmas Eve? Isaiah 9:2, 6. People in darkness see a great light! A child is born and a Son is given! A wonderful councilor, Prince of Peace! Help people see the great Light! Pastor Brady Boyd, New Life Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado. December 21, 2014