Tommy John Surgery 

     While baseball season is coming to an end, we take a break from world events to remember Tommy John, who died in August at 83. A pitcher for the Dodgers and Yankees, he tore an ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow. Until then, that injury ended careers.  

     John underwent an experimental elbow reconstruction surgery by a team doctor who harvested a replacement tendon from elsewhere in John's body. He returned better than before, finishing second in the Cy Young Award in 1977 with the Dodgers, and again in 1979 with the Yankees. He finished his career in 1989 with 288 wins. 

The Border Barrier  

     Have you, like me, wondered how the border wall is coming. Well, it's only 38 percent complete, despite congressional funding. President Trump's 2016 campaign promise to build a wall at the southern border has had building delays and legal issues, despite Congress funding.  

     The border wall completed in Trump's second term is 64 miles. The money authorized by the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act is $46.5 billion. The share of the southern border on private, tribal or state land is 70 percent. There have been legal proceedings to gain title to erect border barriers. The government filed more than 100 eminent domain cases between 2017 and 2020. 

         Jimmy

From War to Peace 

     What's going to happen? Find the answer in Zechariah, chapter 14, written around 480 B.C., give or take. You can open your Bible to Zechariah. Or we can summarize chapter 14 for you. We also have some commentary by experts. This short period in history - yet to come - will change life on earth, for all nations. 

     The world, including many Americans, are being taught lies about Israel. Some wish Gaza was the beginning of the end. Zechariah, a priest and prophet, reveals God's report. Here's what God told him to write:

     All nations will send men to fight Israel, but God will turn them on each other. There will be a great panic. Half the population will go into exile for safety. 

     Christ will return to the Mount of Olives, landing on the great valley east of Jerusalem. The mountain will split in two, half to the Mediterranean Sea and half to the western sea. The Bible says Christ will bring with him all his "holy ones." 

     Land will flatten out, with the land on which Christ will live and rule the world, slightly higher. There will be no daytime or nighttime. There will be "living" water year around, from Jerusalem to the Mediterranean and the Dead seas. When all settles, everyone living on earth will be believers, entering the Millenium. 

     David will take charge of Jerusalem. Christ will engage with the Jewish, year around. Everyone in the world will be expected to attend the annual Feast of Tabernacles. Those who don't attend, will suffer something like a lack of rain. Zechariah doesn't say how everyone in the world will travel to Israel and back. We assume there is a surprise of some sort. 

     Everything and everyone will be holy, dedicated to worship and service of the Lord. No more immorality or wickedness. For more of "living water" you might look up Psalm 46:4, Ezekiel 47:1-12 and Joel 3:18.

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The God Who Hears 

  part 2 of 2

     The man Arman found the love of Jesus. It replaced the hatred and pain he carried, and led him to a life of evangelism, with special concern for Muslims in Iran. After leaving Iran, he found himself a political refugee in Europe. 

     Though still considering himself a Muslim, he brought his growing despair to the church. "I cried all the time when I went to the church," Arman recalled. "People prayed for me over and over. They were so kind." 

     One evening he slept at a friend's home. Startled from a deep sleep, the suffering in his heart welled up and threatened to overwhelm him. He got up and felt compelled to pray - not to Allah, but to Jesus Christ. "If you are real, show me a sign," he said. "They tell me that Jesus is love, that Jesus is God. If all these things are real, show me a sign."

     Days later, Arman received a letter granting him asylum. He shared it with friends at the church and realized this was his sign. "For 29 years I wasted my life on Islam," thinking about the silence he felt when he prayed to Allah. "But when I accepted Jesus, he immediately answered me." 

     "After I received the love of Jesus," Arman said, "I grew in knowledge and all the teaching from the pastor. Even my personality changed and I started to serve ... without anger. Everything changed." He saw hundreds of people come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ as he shared with them. 

     In 2023 he changed his job to driving taxi. He estimates that almost 150 people have come to faith in Christ through conversations in the cab. Arman leads a team of online evangelists that reaches into Iran through the internet. This includes Muslims who want to attack Christianity, but some who level threats end up giving their hearts to the Lord. 

     There is more to his story, like words from Isaiah 49:6. 

Tomorrow, the final war

  

 

First With Hate, Then Love 

     An Iranian named Arman had grown up with Muslim parents who were strict, controlling and cruel. He described their religion as "without any knowledge, without any purpose and without any love." 

     "Some of the extreme treatment hurt me a lot," he said. 

     "Twice driven to despair due to his home life and the brutalities of the hardline Shia Islamic theocracy of Iran, Arman tried to take his own life. He begged Allah for help but heard nothing but silence. So, he channeled his frustrations, disillusionment and anger into political protest against the government. When he finally fled Iran at age 29, he carried with him a burden of bitterness toward his parents and the harsh Islam they represented." 

     "I hated them," he said, "and before I left Iran I told them, 'I will not forgive you, never.' He considered what might cause them the most pain, and going to a Christian church seemed to be just the thing. 'It was the first motivation,' Arman admitted. 'But after that I found the love of Jesus.'" 

     "This love eventually replaced the hatred and pain he carried in his heart, and led him to a life of evangelism, with special concern for Muslims in Iran."

Arman's story concludes tomorrow

    

 Love Versus Hate in Iran 

     Over the past century or so, martyrdom, the killing of Christians, has increased around the world. "The Voice of the Martyrs" organization has published news coming out of Iran, one of the world's worst persecuting nations over the past 40 some years. 

     They report, "The Iranian government is among the most oppressive regimes in the world. Leaving Islam is illegal, and Christians face the threat of imprisonment for owning Bibles or even talking about Christ. Christians remain prime targets for a government fixated on silencing their witness to Christ. Iranian Christians face the constant threat of imprisonment and torture. Those who dare to bring God's Word to Iranians do so at extreme risk." 

     "Today, many of those who committed their lives to Islam and Islamic rule are filled with despair. This has opened new doors for the gospel, which is sweeping across the nation by Christian media and bold evangelists in Iran's growing house church movements. Bible distribution efforts are increasingly effective as the ongoing "war" draws attention away from them."

     "The Voice of the Martyrs provides encouragement, support and training for former prisoners rebuilding their lives. VOM's global ministry also provides discipleship and leadership training for current and future Christian leaders. And they partner with Bible smugglers who are dedicated to getting God's Word to believers." 

Tuesday: A former Muslim's story

 Only in the Christian life does surrender bring victory.

             - the late Billy Graham 

     Views still anticipates a Monday restart, with incredible news from Iran. 

                      Jimmy

Friday evening 

God protect the people of Alabama and western Florida 

Monday's coming