Dead Fish, Dead Rivers And A Dead Economy!

The Marilyn Monroe Death Anniversary Reminds Us About Eternity

The iconic Marilyn Monroe was born Norma Jeane Mortenson June 1, 1926 and died August 5, 1962 under suspicious circumstances. This past weekend marked the 50th anniversary of her death. I found an article on the Huffington Post about her life which was entitled "Marilyn Monroe:  50 Years Dead And More Alive Than Ever". Here is a portion of that article...

Marilyn's early passing, the scandals and speculations about her death and her life (especially her love life) have fueled interest in her. She remains a vital part of 2012 pop culture. But even during her lifetime, despite Hollywood's disdain, she was a star apart; there was something different, strange, endearing about her. It was a quality that could never quite be explained.

Natalie Wood said, shortly before Monroe's death, "When you look at Marilyn on the screen, you just don't want anything bad to happen to her." The New York Times in its obituary, referred to MM in its first sentence as "One of the greatest stars in Hollywood history." An astounding compliment--in her brief career Monroe had left only a handful of superior films. No longer a legend, she is now a mythological figure, an historical charter. She's up there with Cleopatra and Marie Antoinette, Joan of Arc! When she was alive, a story went that a man ventured into the wilds of Borneo, and encountered some natives. The adventurer announced he was from America. One native said: "America. Marilyn Monroe!" Probably apocryphal, but it gives you an idea. 

I think that it is fair to say that Marilyn is a historical charter and a mythological figure. I also believe that the title of the Huffington Post article has a spiritual message for us as well. It is true that Marilyn is more alive than ever. You see, the Bible says that all of humanity will live forever...somewhere. The Scriptures speak of two eventual destinations for every living soul and that is Heaven or Hell. I do not know the eternal destination of Marilyn Monroe because I just don't know the details of her life and I don't know if there was ever a time if she trusted Christ as her Savior. But I do know that she is more alive than ever...somewhere.

I read this article and was instantly reminded of a statement made by the great evangelist of the 19th century, Dwight Moody. Here is the famous quote that he made about the day he would die...

"Some day you will read in the papers, 'D. L. Moody of East Northfield is dead.' Don't you believe a word of it!

"At that moment I shall be more alive than I am now;
I shall have gone up higher, that is all,
out of this old clay tenement into a house that is immortal --
a body that death cannot touch, that sin cannot taint;
a body fashioned like unto His glorious body.
I was born of the flesh in 1837.
I was born of the Spirit in 1856.
That which is born of the flesh may die.
That which is born of the Spirit will live forever.

Those were the words of a man who knew where he was going to spend eternity! Those words can be the words of any man, woman, boy or girl who will simply place their faith, their trust, in what Christ did on the cross and His resurrection from the dead. Have you trusted Christ? Make that decision today because you will be more alive than ever a hundred years from today.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

English Standard Version (ESV)

¹¹ He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

Is War With Iran Imminent? Khamenei Says It Is "Weeks" Away

On July 27, just before Friday prayers, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei summoned top Iranian military chiefs for what he called “their last war council.“We’ll be at war within weeks,” he told the gathering.
Meanwhile Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Tuesday, July 31, that he hasn’t yet reached a decision on attacking Iran. He then went on to say, “The ayatollahs have inscribed Israel’s destruction on their banner” and stressed his personal commitment “not to permit Israel to come under Iranian atomic threat.”
U.S. Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta said this week "I think the president has made clear that the United States stands with Israel and the international community in making very clear that we will not allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon,"
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that we are heading to a showdown in the Middle East. More and more characters are entering the stage too. This past week saw the movement of a Chinese Navy vessel into the region. This move is unprecedented and indicates just how perilous the situation is growing. The fulfillment of the great Gog / Magog war is coming into focus. While the Iranian drama continues to intensify the Syria conflict is racing to what may soon be fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy concerning the destruction of Damascus.

Isaiah 17:1-3

King James Version (KJV)

17 The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.

² The cities of Aroer are forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid.
³ The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the Lord of hosts.

It should be clear even to the most casual Bible reader that we are living in pivotal times. Big changes in the way we live and perhaps where we live are coming very soon. Do you  know Jesus as Savior? Have you come to the point in your life where you know for certain that if you were to die today you would go to Heaven? You can know for sure and this certainty can only come by trusting Christ. Watch the little video in the right sidebar. Let me know if you have trusted Jesus. I would like to rejoice together with you!