ChangingWind.Org

Apologies in advance, this hasn't been to the editor as it is a part of my personal story and I wanted to state it as seamlessly as possible from my head, even if maybe grammatically incorrect and somewhat incomprehensible, all are minor details when compared to controverting a publicly claimed fact about the cause of the space shuttle Challenger Disaster.

What I am about to tell you I don't know if it is meant to be, was, or was not, classified, but I know it was subject to clearances that I didn't have, and, it won't jibe with what I've been told (as I didn't watch it) is the public story about the Challenger Space Shuttle “O-ring.” I am going to figure that after 30 years has passed, where for some it won't matter, I can post this one of few things I did for my country, as merely my personal account.

I don't recall how they contacted me, nothing nefarious or mysterious, I just don't remember how an old friend who was an Electronic Engineer for a company in Orange County California contacted me to explain he was working on a project for some company, and that he talked them into having me take a look at it since they had come up against a brick wall. He wouldn't go into any details and just asked me to come down to their office.

I arrived, they took me to a meeting room, and the first thing they brought up is the Challenger disaster that occurred at least a month prior, this meeting may have been 2 or 3 months later, and how their company was a subcontractor to Morton Thiokol, that their subcontract is to design and build a system to use NDT, Non-Destructive Testing, to analyze the O-ring. My first reaction, as I'd been a mechanic too, was disbelief. In my head an “O-ring” is a rubber grommet of some sort that usually fits in the lip of something to form a seal, so I naturally thought that's what they were using NDT on (A quick search at writing of this article instantly brought up an article suggesting the same, http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1986/12/10/morton-thiokol-getting-off-easy/).

NDT uses a transducer that physically transmits electrons at very high frequencies, 10 Gigahertz or greater, through a medium such as water, and, transmitting the signal through material submerged in the water, and then similar to radar, using the “echo” to create an image, like an X-ray, of the thing being tested, probably more similar to ultrasound since it is considered ultrasonics. You can imagine that I almost started laughing at the idea of using NDT on rubber grommets, I believe I asked, not to seem completely oblivious, “how many of these rubber O-rings are on the shuttle?” That's all I could think of for justifying some project to use NDT on them, a mass scan of thousands of them at once.

I was taken into a room, probably the size of 6 or so 4 car garages all together, and in the middle of it was a circular track inside a tank that I later learn is to hold the water. It was then explained to me, “The O-Ring will sit on this track [that I recall being around half-elevated in the tank], and then a device will take a stepper motor, manipulating, x, y, z, and theta to run a transducer at a 90-degree angle through each one of the weld holes prior to the O-ring being welded on the bottom of the main fuel tank for the large booster rocket. The theory is that one of the welds was cracked prior to the O-ring being welded on and that this leaked fumes causing the shuttle to explode.”

Now they got my absolute attention, though still in disbelief that I am there, so I asked, “Okay well you guys look like you have this all under control, what do you need from me?” And then they explained, “We've been working on this for 2 and a half weeks, Morton Thiokol is losing $250,000 a day. The military gave us this stepper motor controller.”

The stepper motor controller looked like it had been in a war and then stored for 20 years, more like some early stereo equipment. Though it was solid state, it was as though it had some of the first transistors ever made. It was about the size of an original IBM PC with twice the weight, mounted on a rolling cart. In retrospect I figure it was probably loaded with technology to avoid interference or lacked being subject to some forms of interference due to its age.

They continued, “Morton Thiokol requires us to use this device, which is also required by the Military. We need to interface it to this computer here (showed me an 80386 DX running at 40 Mhz) using a serial cable. This stepper controller doesn't support any speed beyond 9600 baud [1/6 the speed of a 56k dial-up modem].”

They then pulled up a program written in BASICA, typed a command to the stepper motor controller and pressed enter, and a set of different characters appeared a second later, and my Electronic Engineer friend explained to me, “This is supposed to be an echo of the text I sent the stepper motor controller, it's a way to authenticate and verify the command sent and this controller requires echoing the command, which can be logged, before acting on the command sent.” I don't recall what command he sent, it seemed to be just some text to echo back to show it wasn't working. I decided to type in “Bozo” and hit enter, a second later the reply came up with a mix of characters you couldn't think derived from Bozo.

In any event, after around 6 and a half hours time I ascertained that the problem was that the stepper motor controller had a 1khz processor, and that it was taking around 1/5th second for this processor to process each character of the text we sent from a 40 Mhz processor. I modified the program with a routine to send each character of the string one at a time with a “For I = 1 to 1000: Next I” in between each character send, once the entire string was sent a Chr$ (13) was sent for enter, and then the string echoed back exactly what was typed, eventually I could lower the delay loop to “1 to 200” and get the same result, I had used 1000 as a starting point.

Well, they were shocked that I had been there less than a day and figured out what had them baffled for 2 and a half weeks, and they then explained they were authorized to pay me well for my time. I was taken away from the Engineers and the other workers by one of the owners of the company, up to their business office to see a document entitled “Presidential Purchase Order” at the top, with a red stamp that I believe said something like “Clearance Required” at an angle of around 15-30 degrees, with text underneath it reading something like this:

“America's Space Shuttle Program is vital to our defense and national security. Determining the cause and devising a solution for the Challenger disaster is absolutely imperative, and I, George Herbert Walker Bush, authorize use of any and all means necessary to get our Space Shuttles flying again ASAP.”

Signed “George Herbert Walker Bush” in pen, a genuine wet signature in blue ink.

I scanned it again a few times, pretty amazed, pretty shaken by learning I actually worked on something that mattered, that meant something to my country. I had never been raised for any of that, taught the exact opposite by a Progressive family, Progressive parents, and a Progressive educational system throughout my life, and only starting, at the time of the Challenger Disaster, to investigate the truth of what I'd been told and believed most of my life that I now know was entirely wrong, even anti-American. I’m sharing all of this to illustrate how important one event can be in one’s life, how significant it can be to change one’s character.

So they said to me, “you've really saved our fat from the fire so make out your invoice for whatever you want.” And I explained instantly, “Well, I have a simple hourly rate, I was here for 6 and a half hours, so all I ask is what I normally charge for my time.” They immediately raised an eyebrow, and asked, “Are you sure? This type of thing doesn't happen often. I am planning to frame that Purchase Order when this is all over as I've never seen one before.” And I replied, “Yes, I am absolutely sure. I wouldn't feel right charging any more than what I walked in the door expecting to charge for my time. I am just glad I was able to help.”

Yeah sure, it may seem as though they're exploiting the situation, and that's what I thought at the time too. Yet, as he said, it doesn't happen often, and, again in retrospect, I believe he meant that there was a greater opportunity for me to work on other things like this, and by paying me gratuitously for what to them was a marvel in comparison to their struggle for 2 and a half weeks that would have gained me notice by the major contractors and other sub-contractors, so I could do this work, which I greatly enjoy, a lot more often. Understand, I didn't realize this at the time and instead thought of it as exploiting the situation, short-sighted and not realizing that I could have been problem-solving all over the country, a recommended vendor, that maybe I could help solve a lot of things that, though likely, and not from such a horrific disaster as significant as this, would be significant to my country.

So I handed him my invoice for $227.50 and he handed me a check immediately.

I had no clearances, and anyone who wants to dispute that this welded ring the size of 6-4 car garages was the O-Ring that failed, believe what you want to believe. Sure my memory is foggy after 30 years and, as I am well aware clearances were required, I've deliberately “forgotten” a few minor details and remembered a few of them differently to assure I do not compromise those who were involved, should this happen to still require some sort of clearance to disclose. This American company gave me a great opportunity to help my country, which was followed by more over the course of the next few years, and I begrudge them nothing, wish them no ill-will whatsoever. However, the O-ring that had been welded on to hold the main booster is the O-ring, and I believe 30 years after the Challenger Disaster it's only right that the American people know exactly what “O-ring” failed on the Challenger Space Shuttle, and without any apologies from this innocent computer programmer who was brought by a good friend to help a company charged with figuring out a system to secure future shuttle launches will not have the same problem. My efforts on their behalf forever changed me and are a significant source of my pride in being an American and for the honor and privilege to do something meaningful for my country.

Looking back, this was the beginning of my turning point, the beginning of me becoming a Conservative, which was finalized shortly after 09-11-2001, http://changingwind.org/index/news.php?item.299.

As always, May Jesus Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords, Bless you and I thank you for reading and sharing this,

Toddy Littman

There is a rising tide of Christmasphobia that stems directly from a deeper fear – that of the truth.

Phobia denotes an irrational fear of something that can’t harm you, which is why the term “Islamophobia” is a misnomer in that Islamic terrorists are a real threat, not imagined. What the worldly, atheistic and polytheistic suffer from is what they refuse to understand, and the most common type of fear that exists is that of the unknown, even if the subject is only unknown due to willful ignorance. And the Word is the quintessence of apprehension to anyone who prefers adherence to their own thoughts and conclusions despite evidence proving them faulty.

As the day celebrating the birth of Christ approaches, a fear-based hate of anything Christmas becomes more fervent although the Western world now wallows in commercial gain borne directly from the holiday’s roots. It is something akin to self-hate where one enjoys the fruit of their endeavors but can’t stand what they did to reap it.

The question is, why do those who like to celebrate the holiday so despise the reason for its establishment? As stated above, it is the fear of the basis for it, Christ and for what He stands – the embodiment of God’s Word: “And the Word was made flesh,” (John 1:14). It’s obvious to see why that would make unbelievers so uncomfortable… who wants to acknowledge something they vehemently deny exists? Even if that something is the underlying cause of what they celebrate, name changes notwithstanding?

Bit of an oxymoron, isn’t it. However, in this world of self-proclaimed nonjudgmental righteousness, good sense can be overlooked, and is, in favor of nonsense.

Every day, there is a new spate of denial of every kind of in-your-face fact, whether it’s political (these days everything is political), scientific or faith-driven. Too many people are convinced that the three are at odds and cannot be amalgamated, which is flatly untrue. But then, truth is the one factor these folks can’t stomach.

Trouble is, too many Christians share a dread of truth that rivals the non-believers. They avoid reading the Bible for fear that what they want to believe will not be substantiated within its pages.

Take note that Solomon’s metaphoric “strange woman” in the following scripture is the voice of any who contradicts, perverts or ignores the truth:

Proverbs 5:1 My son, attend unto my wisdom,
and bow thine ear to my understanding: ² that thou mayest regard discretion,
and that thy lips may keep knowledge. ³ For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb,
and her mouth is smoother than oil: ⁴ but her end is bitter as wormwood,
sharp as a twoedged sword. (KJV)

Read Chapter 5 through to verse 14 to understand the need of wisdom to counter feel-good falsehood; and wisdom is found in the Word.

The Word, Christ, challenges what we want to believe, that which is not the truth. We are afraid of leaving our comfortable deceit. For everyone, truth is not easy to accept but living a sham guarantees disappointment when the wishing something to be true simply doesn’t make it so. And wishing Christmas to go away by renaming it and denying Christ, whose very birth gave us the Gregorian calendar by which we measure the days, will not do away with Him.

May we all open our hearts to receive the living God’s love that gave earth the gift of Emmanuel, God among us, and have a blessed and Merry Christmas!

A. Dru Kristenev

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+5%3A1-14&version=AKJV

One who opposes war as a solution but values might when required to affect a solution.

One who values their life in relation to a cause important to their nation.

One who stands proudly to salute their flag as an icon of their nation and values they hold dear.

One whose humility stands out more than any other.

These are the attributes of the Veteran.

I say to one of them, “Thank you and your family for your service and sacrifice, we owe you a debt to hear this from at least one of us every day.” And they reply, “No thanks necessary, it was my honor to serve.” It is their reply that reveals the spirit of the Veteran, an unofficial title of Honor and respect due to those who served for the true hero they are.

There are those in our society undermining and demeaning what a Veteran is, using the term to distinguish time in a job, or as some title in a computer game for “experience earned.”

There are those in government whose political views oppose war and they therefore oppose all Veterans for the sake of politics, the Veteran a pawn in their game of thrones.

There are those in society who opposed a particular war at one time and continue to oppose its Veterans, and interpose the noble reason of a government imposed draft to justify supporting their nation's enemies and creating chaos within their own country as protected acts done under the guise of a statement of Freedom of Speech and Expression, people who, in the least of their actions, spit on our returning Veterans, in uniform, even while injured in a wheelchair.

Some who hate Veterans may, in the course of their business or job, be it banking, insurance, a restaurant, etc., will do heinous deeds on behalf of their hatred: deny a loan, deny a policy or needed care, add their bodily fluids to food (in a restaurant or similar business due to the patron Veteran wearing their uniform or another in the premises overheard mentioning another patron is a “Veteran”).

Yet with all of this, as well as a true oxymoron “Veteran's Administration” to which the attribute “dysfunction” is, and has been, a most graceful understatement of the situation for more than 50 years, the Veteran, who has faced death as a tool to be used or at the loss of a fellow Soldier more often than those who hate them, continues humbly to move through their life. Be it in a cardboard box, providing for their family now and in the future, or to assure a warm and healthy meal every day, the Veteran continues to “take that hill” and overtake all opposition as a matter of course, conviction, self-worth, and, most importantly, Honor.

Therein is the source of the Veteran's heroism and humility, their Honor, an Honor to serve.

Please, if you see or run into a Veteran, especially on Veteran's Day, say a simple thank you for their service and sacrifice, show them you Honor their Honor, that you appreciate the slice of their life they put forward on America's behalf, standing for your nation, irrespective of the outcome or the government's reason for war. These people served by choice but it is a contractual obligation that they cannot walk away from, or, they were drafted, the government assuming their life a “resource,” repugnant to the Veteran's very reason for fighting, “...endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life,...” Veteran's deserve our heartfelt appreciation just because they are Veterans, the remaining American blood and Treasure of a group of Americans who continue to serve America with their Honor.

God Bless you and thank you for reading and sharing this,

Toddy Littman

What I ask every American who reads this to consider is: How do we say we're sorry for America as it is today? These are the words that come to mind, a list that is not exhaustive by any measure:

- We're sorry Soldier that we let you down?

- We're sorry Soldier that the truth of what the fallen fought for has been commercialized by those that are in denial we have enemies, and/or think our enemies aren't intelligent?

- We're sorry Soldier that we see no way to put an end to how we've treated you but the next election irrespective of us repeatedly voting in those who fail to take their Oath seriously?

- We're sorry Soldier for voting in the most dishonorable people and not putting much into researching the candidates, and thereby failing to give the greatest weight to the sacrifice of your life?

- We're sorry Soldier we wasted yours and your fellow soldiers' blood spilled while we politicize your existence, your life, your death, your survival? We're sorry Soldier we're so petty as a people and you died in vane? We're sorry Soldier we're ready to throw your sacrifice out as though a meaningless gesture and do not recognize our callous disregard?

- We're sorry Soldier to your family for their lives to be lived in the persistent pain of your loss and that all we have ever given is lipservice and lousy representation, consistently disgracing your life and loss?

- We're sorry Soldier for the United States of America coming to be because of Freedom and that you died for Freedom?

- We're sorry Soldier that your American ancestor Soldiers believed in themselves, in America, and in Freedom as we who live today would never do?

None of these will do for they do nothing more than unnecessarily state the obvious. Yet, how do we apologize? We the People are why the Soldier fought, why they died or were injured, and why America still exists as a nation on the world stage. So, how do we apologize, especially with so many things we must apologize for to our fallen, to America's ancestry of Freedom loving patriotic militias and military? How many are we apologizing to that our apology only insults and diminishes their death, their reason for fighting, their commitment to America? How many ways can we undermine ourselves through such apologies that do nothing about the wrongful politicized use of the word, “War” (i.e. “War on drugs,” “War on women,” “War on poverty,” etc.) while some media campaign to get rid of the word “bossy” is taken up by those who claim to be so concerned with language and so-called “political correctness?”

The closest I can come to an apology worth saying:

“Soldier, I want to apologize to you and your family, your brothers and sisters in arms, as well as thank each of you, for giving the ultimate sacrifice for a nation who hasn't been all that good to you. You have a greater heart than I do in giving so much. I am so sorry We the People haven't made sure your fellow soldiers who returned have healthcare. We haven't made certain of their ability have gainful employment when they leave the military. We haven't made sure to welcome as heroes those who return home from every war, that they are received with open, gentle, and appreciating arms, especially those drafted for war as they were in Vietnam. We, Soldier, are a wretched people who didn't fight for Freedom as you who died or your fellow soldiers that were injured, and we haven't appreciated that simple fact that you did so for Freedom, or we wouldn't carry on like school children and wrongfully treating the firm soil founding our nation with the seeds of heinous political weeds, fertilized by hate, and watered with your blood. We do not deserve your sacrifice. In all candor We the People do not deserve the founding of our nation Soldier for we don't even know, let alone appreciate, what America stands for: Freedom.

“And that Constitution, Soldier, that you took an Oath to, I can't apologize enough for electing those who take an Oath little different than yours that then appear to find every way imaginable to destroy your purpose in fighting. Soldier, the only way I can explain this is that political parties and their power have become the greatest offenders of America, they wrongfully seize every opportunity to diminish and undermine the value and security of Freedom assured by the very Constitution you swore to uphold and defend, and did fight for!

“We the People have failed you, Soldier. We have failed your self-less sacrifice in your self-interest of the future of America, the country we, and it breaks my heart to say, seem to share in name only. You, brilliant Soldier, know America defines the future of the world, that Freedom as a fundamental part of the life of an Individual, is a Principle that would be lost around the World without America; that this is our Founding Principle, the whole point in our American experiment in self-government that established the notion of Individual Liberty by a written Constitution Limiting Government's power, a fundamental of Freedom that most Americans don't know or have forgotten.

“I for one know that We the People owe you Soldier, owe you, your family, and everyone who served a great debt we have, so far, only repaid with our ignorance of you. We ignore your death but for sake of a day we can crow about it with other Americans who crow for sake of the comradery of having something different to do – our boredom and not the celebration of the Freedom you fought for is our unworthy self-interest on Memorial Day. When we remember you we do not cry over the loss of your life or limb for sake of our Freedom and make a meaningful vow of difference in the future. And, Soldier, most of the time we've ignored the whole point of war and why America goes to war for sake of the latest gadget, television show, or youtube video. No this isn't to blame technology, it is to blame us for our curiosity being more important than to remember those who died and why they died! Our testament to your sacrifice is to equate your death with our existence in a meaningless littany of, “so we can enjoy this technology” and not a meaningful rememberance of your reason, “so America and its people continue to thrive in Freedom!” To know these conveniences and take for granted, just assume, they would be here without your Noble work as America's Soldier is foolish, and, at best, a most indirect way of appreciating you who we should be learning the genuine meaning of Freedom from for what you gave for our country, for it is in your sacrifice we find the meaning, the true value, of American Freedom.

“It is all of these things and more that I genuinely apologize for to you Soldier, and that I vow I will do everything I can to make sure your sacrifice, the sacrifices of every soldier, are not relegated to talking points of parties whose ambition of power is their only purpose in ever caring about you. Whether the fallen or injured Soldier, you deserve our efforts to assure your Freedom from America's politicsI It is time Americans stop seeing a budget line-item where an American Soldier fighting for Freedom who has died or is injured is the only one that matters and that Americans make it clear in the most uncertain terms that politicians and bureaucrats will see pink slips and public obliquy for ignoring you, the American Soldier.”

Thank you for reading and sharing this, God Bless you,

Toddy Littman

If there was a ‘dark age’ in man’s past, the period of relative quiet between the writing of the last great biblical prophecies concerning Christ and the end of the age is probably the best candidate to retain the title, despite the fact that secular historians apply that appellation to the medieval period. In most translations of the Bible this interval of about 400 years, where the Jews awaited the messiah, lacks written accounts. There are, however, books that were penned during that time when Persia lost its empire to Alexander the Great, and then his divided conquests were swallowed up by Rome. Only a few of these books hold a place among Canon, whereas most have been allocated to a grouping of writings called Apocrypha. Among them are the chronicles of the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid Empire, one of the remaining thirds of Alexander’s realm.

During this period prophets were few if not completely absent from Judea (1Maccabees 9:27 – ^“And there was a great tribulation in Israel, such as was not since the day, that there was no prophet seen in Israel.”). The books of the Maccabees tell of the rebellion led by the priestly Hasmonean family against the abominations forced upon the Jews by Antiochus IV Epiphanes, including atrocities against the populace and profane sacrifices on the altar in the temple in Jerusalem.

1Maccabees 1:57 – “On the fifteenth day of the month Casleu, in the hundred and forty-fifth year, king Antiochus set up the abominable idol of desolation upon the altar of God, and they built altars throughout all the cities of Juda round about:”

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Maccabees+1&version=DRA

The battles won (only by God’s grace when you read about the overwhelming odds confronting Simon and Judas Maccabee, the “hammer”) led to their wresting the sacred places out of the hands of defilers and the subsequent cleansing, sanctification and rededication of the temple. The lamps were then lit for eight days to dedicate the sanctuary and the newly rebuilt altar, thenceforth becoming an annual winter festival that commenced on the 25^th day of the month Chisleu to celebrate the victory of light (God) over darkness (unbelief, paganism).

The His-story of Jesus’ birth is one of universal knowledge, where most all are aware who have lived within hearing of the publishing of this plain fact that occurred more than 2000 years ago. The light of the world (John 8:12 – “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”) was foretold (2 Samuel 23:3 – ^“The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. ⁴ And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.”) and a festival of the Jews pointed to that coming light – the feast of dedication, Hanukkah. This is considered a minor festival that is not given the weight of those feasts instated by God, the details supplied to Moses, nor is it deemed a type to be fulfilled in Christ. Yet, in its way, it was a foreshadow of Christ that occurred during those dark years between the time of the prophets and the New Testament.

The wise men traveling from the East had been following the portents laid out in scripture, adding up the years told by the prophets and watching the heavens for the sign they knew was imminent. When the unmistakable star was seen in the sky they knew the time had arrived and they set forth to follow the instruction from Micah 5:2 (“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”) pointing them toward Bethlehem. Along the way they paid homage to Herod who was also aware of the nearness of the prophecy’s fulfillment.

Matthew 2: 9 – ^“When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.”

Then was seen the brilliance of God’s glory revealed to the shepherds nearby:

Luke 2: 8 – ^“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. ¹⁰ And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

Where the type becomes evident is in the words of the Gospel of John, which makes known that Jesus (who had already told many that He is the light of the world, John 8:12) arrives at the temple’s porch on the very celebration of the Maccabean cleansing of the holy place from the desecrations 200 years before.

John10:22 – “And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. ²³ And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. ²⁴ Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. ²⁵ Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.”

The pointing of the heavenly light to Jesus’ birth, by both a star and angelic hosts, was the first part of His fulfillment of the promise to bring light to the world. The dedication of the rebuilt altar in Solomon’s temple (Hannukah) holds forth as a type for the dedication (raising) of the new temple, which is Christ’s resurrection on the third day.

Mark 9:9 – “ And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead. …³¹For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.”

The fabric of prophecy, even in a time where prophets were scarce, comes full circle as Christ reminded the Pharisees that they denied even what their eyes had seen, the giving of sight to a man who was blind from birth (John 9). And He did so on the very feast of lights, shedding light that opens blind eyes to recognize who stood before them if only they would see: John 10: 30 – “I and my Father are one.”

The Light of the World is revealed by light: light of dedication of a cleansed temple; light of the star shining upon where Christ lay; light of the heavenly host proclaiming His coming; the words of Christ Jesus witnessing who He is. John 9:5 – “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

On Christmas day, recall how light heralded the coming of Light to a world filled with darkness; darkness that can only be overcome by the clarity of God’s spirit among us – a babe who is Emmanuel.

Have a blessed Christmas!

A. Dru Kristenev

Author

the Baron Series

Fact-based Political Suspense

Scripture Led Politics: Mutual Exclusivity Be Damned

changingwind@earthlink.net

ChangingWind.Org

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Merry Christmas!

A very good friend of mine who passed away on September 20^th, 2013 remains in my heart and in my memories. I will miss them.

The soldiers, be it the civil ones like Chris Stevens and Sean Smith, or their military counterparts, of whom Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods represent “being all you can be” in not standing down when directed and saving as many lives as they could on September 11^th, 2012; or the Navy Seals, Seal Team 6, whose ranks dropped rather quickly in what appears a doomed helicopter flight lacking the normal protocols; or those forgotten soldiers, Jaime Zapata and Brian Terry, foot soldiers at our borders whose deaths appear were caused by guns America's government arranged to be in the hands of “gangsta” drug cartels in Mexico, all of these people are and remain in my mind as those who didn't make it to celebrate another Thanksgiving after their tragic deaths, if not murders, that their families are still waiting for answers only punctuates why it is we, the American People who must remember them.

Of course, in looking at the likely future, my heart and Prayers further go out to those who lost their health insurance. May you stay healthy until you find your way to sue the government for this wrong that they caused to you (the alienation of your Healthcare Rights in the Health Insurance Contract you had) or that you find a suitable replacement if you're willing to just further tolerate another trespass on your rights. I can only hope you pave the road for the 10s of millions of Americans who will likely lose their employer provided Health Insurance coverage next year.

Yes, I am sure many think I am talking about “politics.” Alas, I've expressed realities, truths of this day that we are to be thankful we get to celebrate once more, another year of our traditional American Holiday these many others won't get to see.

Behold, I turn on the computer and go to some online game, and today the chat, as every other day, features “America are [sic] a bunch of greedy pigs,” or “America is Israel's tail,” and other similar vile hate speech. Of course these games are originating from other countries, such as New Zealand, Korea, China, and many others, where none of this is instantly seen as hate speech, as “racism” as though being an “American” isn't claiming a birthright above and beyond ANY anywhere else in the world, these people lodging insults incapable of recognizing people are born Americans and that this is pure and unadulterated racism; unable to appreciate America is a “nation” exceptional to any other, where this birthright is yours irrespective of color, creed, religion, or other division that plagued the world with wars and atrocities for more than the 1776 years of our Lord's Era prior to America's birth on July 4th of that year.

I am an American, and that is what I am thankful for, because, with my other fellow Americans, even when we disagree, I aid and help to the best of my ability because it is the right thing to do. This used to be a British principle, well adopted by the population of America in accepting their being raised to the stature of Sovereign of their nation, of Lawgiver, each a Chief Executive Officer of their own destiny, of their Rights and Liberties, their Freedoms as a private matter of their own management. Just like the Crowned heads of Europe carried on free market trade to the complete exclusion of their subjects, save the noble classes, until America's rise to power, or, of course, until these European Despots, these, as Jefferson describes the King of England in the Declaration of Independence, “tyrannies” figured and still figure they have an upper hand and can dispose of their neighbor's difference and views by just taking their land, their people, and their resources entire. World War II illustrates this persistent view of State educated and dictated reality of recent history, less than a century old and yet persistent.

Yeah, as an American I spent the last few days helping a friend, David Graham, better known as @antikommie with a paper he's writing, a speech he hopes to give one day. First, his computer lost what he wrote. He luckily had a hard copy and scanned it in, but no text recognition software, so I took it upon myself to re-type it in for him, the one talent these old hands still seem to be able to carry on. Then Dave gave me the Honor of Honors, asking me for input. I am sure much of what I added will not be added on to his well done work since I am a bit more verbose than most, and may appear off-point to some extent, at least within the context of what is believed by the audience being addressed. But what could be more important, more American, than to, during this Thanksgiving week, be carrying on what is the normal routine of my day in all I've done since finding Christ and Christ finding me, than to be helping, to be “thankful to be giving,” to a friend who could use a friend themselves over this Thanksgiving Holiday.

America is just this easily summed up as the most generous nation on Earth, a people who love giving what they can, both to Americans and to others around the world such as in the Philippines, where dog is a food menu item. It is this indomitable spirit that led to America’s Freedom and has persisted for more than 200 years amongst the people, irrespective of a government that appears has been dead-set on dictating their collective destinies as though automatons, irrespective of their unique individual desires and right to pursue them. And it is this very spirit that I count on to bring Americans together once more to, as Thomas Jefferson put it, “throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”

Calm down, this isn't a call for rebellion, as “government” is as simple as the sense of restriction you feel imposed upon you by those who don't even read the laws they allegedly voted “for,” “thrown off” as easily as a person recognizes their thoughts and ideas are still their own. It is a returning recognition of an assertion numerous government agents have testified to regarding the procedure manuals explaining how to do their job, as “merely a guide.” It appears we're finally realizing that if they can come up with an excuse to get away with applying their own discretion to a non-discretionary situation, using some claimed uniqueness required their unique application of the rules to the exclusion of, and as an excuse from, the rules governing their job, this had to originate with We the People and we have a Natural Right to the very same prerogative.

Being an American means to forever be the rebel to those telling us what to do. This is in our American DNA, whether the descendant of a former slave or European subject, we oppose the oppressive, subjective, and humiliating presumption of the lack of any right of cognizant thought in our ancestors. This right-of-opposition continues to prevail and persist amongst us. I submit this is our calling card for unity against the notion of government force being used as a tool of oppression by those who enthusiastically claim authority to govern our very minds (like suggesting what we should discuss on Thanksgiving day with our relatives). It is a simple historical truth of what binds us all as Americans really, and one that we can no longer let ourselves be distracted away from due to uses of today's profanities, such as “racism,” and “wealth,” or the yet to be FCC banned “cracka.” The messaging coming from our Party Political Institutions that profit-in-power by ruling these divisive underpinnings in mind to keep us divided – A conquered people with a broken will to which I, an American, will be a part of no more.

Yes, there are many American heroes and loved ones to remember, some of newsworthy sensationalism, others most will not have any reason to remember but those close to them. Yet, pervading all of these is the very spirit of who America is, the reason for the sensationalism of these heroes to assure a celebration of them, the reason this American finds is the most compelling to be thankful this Thanksgiving Day: Enjoyment of the Freedom to choose one's own path and giving to others if we can.

God Bless you all and thank you for reading as well as sharing this,

Toddy Littman

Thomas Jefferson's hand wrote well of Freedom, wrote well of our unalienable Rights, including, but not limited to, Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness, and that all of these are endowments from Our Creator.

Almost 20 years later a group of men gathered together at the urging of Alexander Hamilton to correct an instrument in error after the Declaration of Independence so boldly proclaimed Freedom to be managed by a union of States, though each independent, and laying the foundations for a rightful Feudal taking, by a people of a land free from the footprint of the Sovereign, that final step of claiming a Feudal right over land, and a loophole to which this nation owes its Founders for their sheer grit in asserting, to then assure Liberty through Our Written Constitution, the result of Alexander Hamilton's call to amend the Articles of Confederation.

The world of instruments of legality, of privilege and right, suddenly turned on its head on July 4th 1776 when a People proclaimed their Rights by God, and ushered in the manifest existence of a nation according to the Age of Enlightenment discovery that “man is sentient,” all man, each and every single one of us – helps understand how conception is the moment of birth, the moment when the Life according to our Creator has been endowed, the Creator's creation in existence. Our nation was born of the same cloth, of the same genus.

Freedom's existence is as a child in the whole of time as we measure it, a mere 500 years at best of people in Freedom, and living not as savages but as a civilization in self-government where each Constituent of that government lives in confidence of their Individual Liberty, assured by their written Constitution that the Constituent ratified and thereby Constituted representative (republican) government. This is the “headstand” of instruments of legality as it was unlike the charters of old where the Crown, or some body politic acting like a Prince (Parliament) decreed the rights of those they deem important, while forever maintaining a slave's standard for the serfdom in a persistent existence of peonage at the hands of those decreeing the “rights” of the privileged by patronage – yes the same patronage that lubricates the gears of Progressivism.

So, I say to you all, it is this history without Patronage, without the assumption “some men are sentient, while others are not and need the State, need a collective to manage their lives” that we celebrate every July 4^th. Every time we celebrate our Declaration of Independence and the documents that founded America on self-government as the Sovereign principle upon which we based our claim to have this land separate from feudal tenures, feudal rule and the courts of the realm with their presumption of rights granted by the government, is a celebration of our replacing this with a government of servants acting always in support of Our Written Constitution and Declaration of Independence (which is our claim to this land).

Our existence as a nation depends on We the People remembering this foundation of our nation, with the full spirit of what it means to know Freedom, and to well appreciate being able to act upon our own Liberty, to move freely without the constraints of government, to think for ourselves, and be accountable for our own lives, including our wrongs, as a matter of Right, for it is our “Life, Liberty, and pursuit of Happiness” that we live out, our bias a constant in our view of everything; deciding we're not self-serving and are merely benevolent, is a conscious decision, made by one person about themselves and their lives, and remains that person's Life, Liberty, and pursuit of Happiness alone, no matter how many others may join and agree with them. Freedom and Liberty are immediately threatened when this collective of those in agreement makes the effort to force their view on others, to use politics to gain the political means of government and organize these means to take from one class to pay for another class and their ideas.

Please, I urge you as an American to consider carefully where you stand, for there are those amongst us who wish to neutralize all knowledge of our nation's founding by asserting “it's all a left-right paradigm,” who are further urging a new Constitution, who are treating our Founding as out of date and a wrong that needs correction, which for this American is their admission to being an enemy of America (and they are often from another country as well).

I write to you today of what American Soldiers have died for in history. I write to you of what this Nation's Founders meant, intended, and fought numerous wars over. I write to you of the Principles of Freedom that Abraham Lincoln violated and led a nation into Civil War once upon a time, and to tell you that the divisiveness that brought this breach of our Nation is upon us again, and if we do not pay very close attention to what is important, to who America is in history, to what Our Founders did and why they did it, we'll succumb to these assaults, wittingly or unwittingly. Today, the greatest sobriety of all is required, a sobriety that sets aside ego, sets aside the petty concerns of party, sets aside the notion of election as the grand expression of Freedom, and embraces that once again it is time for We the People to rise to the occasion and assure our government reaffirms its sole role as our servant, curtailing, inhibiting, stifling, and ending the falsehood that government is the answer to Freedom.

We aren't the ones we've been waiting for, we're the ones who were here over 200 years ago and still are, as their “Posterity.” The blood coursing through their veins, ours by the mere embrace of their cause, their purpose, their intention, their design, and acting upon this with the full vigor of our heart's desire in Freedom.

Be still no more! Be heard, stand tall, and take action! I will not parse civil means or otherwise, I will not denounce the use of violence, as it would be wrong of me to assume others may not find themselves in a position where this truly is their only means of action to correct the wrongs, save that I do hope it truly is their only means, that I further hope they do not look for an excuse to act in violence for their only moral right to act is if it truly is their only means, their last resort. And do not confuse this with condoning violence, I do not. I hope and Pray violence is not used.

To help better understand why I cannot just denounce violence, just say “do not be violent,” I give you our government's handiwork in violence they've committed by acts (including omission according to their laws) to which none will stand and be held accountable, excusing away the most blatant with, “what difference does it make” statements, as though a Dictator on high who gets to choose what is important to the People, gets to choose the value of “Life” as though another's life (maybe even ours in their view) was endowed to government to decide:

Brian Terry -- http://www.cbsnews.com/

Jaime Zapata -- http://www.examiner.com/

Chris Stevens, Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods, Glenn Doherty -- http://www.utsandiego.com/

Seal Team 6 Members & those with them -- http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=14728

No answers nor actions to investigate and do anything about anyone who may have been involved; no effort to even discover who had a hand in how any of these people have died as we watch some be promoted, these events treated as though they aren't to be recognized, where Americans -- some who were instrumental in the death of Osama Bin Laden, heroes, were killed -- and yet nothing of accountability, of responsibility for these deaths, to their families nor the American People has come from the government, no accountability whatsoever. In fact, government is fighting all efforts to achieve accountability of any in government who are responsible, the President even asserting executive privilege over Congress investigations of Fast & Furious to stifle discovery of information (Maybe we should be asking the NSA?). This all leaves a bitter taste, one that shouts indignantly that to our government the People are not important in America, that government has arranged for itself alone to decide as our Master what is done in America's name.

So you can see why I, as a responsible person, could not in good conscience claim that violence isn't truly the last resort for someone else. This doesn't mean I condone or encourage its use, for I do not. I just will not pretend it may not be a necessity to someone else to preserve their Life, Liberty and pursuit of Happiness, some American somewhere else in the world, like Benghazi.

Thank you for reading and please enjoy the Fourth of July 2013 with Honored memories of these people above, may their Spirit be brightened in knowing they haven't been forgotten,

Toddy Littman

It had been 22 years between my visits to New York when I arrived there in the fall of 2010. I had come to town for multiple reasons: to visit with my longtime friend, a resident of that great metropolis since the 70s; to assist with a ministry; and to gather up-to-date background for my forthcoming book, Blood Barons.

The effervescence that had pulsed up and down the arterials stretching the length and breadth of Manhattan in 1988 was noticeably absent this time around. The weather was beautiful for October… sunshine, soft breezes and the trees in Central Park just beginning to take on that hint of fall color. Strolling through the streets, enjoying a break at a sidewalk café here and there, I was able to compare the snippets of idle conversation that drifted past to what I had heard years past. The tone had changed dramatically.

I’m not certain if New Yorkers realize any difference that time and one particular event has done to alter the energy pervading their city, but it was palpable to me, an outsider. Years earlier, a snowfall had swamped the streets just before we’d flown into town. It was still awash with vitality as people rushed about their business, avoiding the mounds of snow piled by the corners. We spent the few days catching up with friends and family, taking in a couple of Broadway shows and doing the usual tourist thing.

This time, the air of expectancy and dynamism was missing. The friendly banter overheard told more about stress-laden lives, employment woes, relationship strains and, well, melancholy. One of the women in our ministry group had grown up in the city and I put the question plainly, “What happened?”

“Nine eleven,” was her answer. She told me how that day had virtually changed the underlying temperament. There had been a shock of violation as the dust from the twin towers’ collapse permeated the air. She did tell me how people quickly relied more on each other for support and bucked up to do what needed to be done. Jumping back into the fray as the economy came back to life with a roar, people worked with a renewed drive, but in many ways, New York, and the rest of the country, still hadn’t recovered to that previous level of vitality.

The installation of a new administration in the White House had brought a brief flicker of hope that was snuffed with a breath of wind, as the economy continued its nosedive. When I arrived in 2010, a sense of resignation lingered. The aftereffects of 9/11 left a mark of vulnerability that had yet to be erased.

The people of this great city had bonded after that brutal attack and those following attempts by sick individuals to recreate the horror, hoping to beat them into submission, only strengthened their core. But it has been tempered by the fatalism of the current administration constantly telling us that, not only could no one have brought us out of the economic slump, but we are stuck with it and the steady outpouring of wealth in a failed attempt to prolong the decline. With leadership like this, no wonder the New York malaise was so tangible to me and those with me.

The tale of 9/11 is one of camaraderie in hard times. It is not an acceptance of mediocrity, which is what the President has been pushing us, the citizens of this nation and especially the survivors of tragedy in New York, D.C. and Pennsylvania, the heroes of the day, to tolerate.

We can take hold of the faith and true hope that these, our neighbors, embodied, and throw off the pessimism that is preached from the Oval Office. There is too much at stake to allow a mindset of demise and frailty to be the legacy of 9/11. We are stronger and more confident than that, just as the populace of NYC was buoyant in going about their daily business in 1988. What’s changed? The people haven’t. The vision, or lack thereof, of America by our government has.

May we recall the courage that was demonstrated both on that day and each one following, taking heart that this nation, under God, is blessed as we institute real change and not transformation Obama-style.

A. Dru Kristenev

changingwind@earthlink.net

A. Dru Kristenev is a citizen of the great Northwest United States, former journalist and author of the Baron Series, novels of political intrigue, world markets and presumptive power brokers based on research of the underpinnings of real-time political and global financial maneuvering, and who’s instigating it.

Visit ChangingWind.Org for news links and insightful postings by a legal researcher as Toddy Littman, “Gold Baron” character, who reappears in the sequel “Energy Barons.” You can also find Toddy on twitter "@ToddyLittman" or http://twitter.com/?_twitter_noscript=1#!/ToddyLittman

Read all three books now available in soft cover!

Land Barons https://www.createspace.com/3862324

Gold Baron https://www.createspace.com/3884628

Energy Barons https://www.createspace.com/3885322

Or PDF e-books at ChangingWind.Org

Watch for the release of the final book in the Baron Series, Blood Barons, October 2012.

John 11: 25-26

25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Romans 1:4-6

4 And declared [to be] the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

Romans 6:3-11

3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also [in the likeness] of [his] resurrection:

6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Philippians 3

1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed [is] not grievous, but for you [it is] safe.

2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:

5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, [of] the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ,

9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [i], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, [that they are] the enemies of the cross of Christ:

19 Whose end [is] destruction, whose God [is their] belly, and [whose] glory [is] in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

1 Peter 1:3-25

3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see [him] not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

9 Receiving the end of your faith, [even] the salvation of [your] souls.

10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace [that should come] unto you:

11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning [here] in fear:

18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, [as] silver and gold, from your vain conversation [received] by tradition from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, [see that ye] love one another with a pure heart fervently:

23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

24 For all flesh [is] as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

Matthew 27:50-54

50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,

53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

Matthew 28

1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first [day] of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead [men].

5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.

9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.

10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

11 Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.

12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,

13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him [away] while we slept.

14 And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.

15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.

17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.

Mark 16

1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the [mother] of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

2 And very early in the morning the first [day] of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.

3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?

4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.

6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.

8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any [man]; for they were afraid.

9 Now when [Jesus] was risen early the first [day] of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

10 [And] she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.

11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.

12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.

13 And they went and told [it] unto the residue: neither believed they them.

14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with [them], and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Thank you for reading,

Toddy Littman

P.S. Credit to About.com for having a basic list of Easter Bible Verses to build upon, http://christianity.about.com/od/holidaytips/qt/easterbiblevers.htm.