May 24, 2013

Posts Comments

You are here: Home / 2012 / Archives for July 2012

A Birthday Wish

July 30, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Today I am going to venture off my normal beaten path of Headline News with Biblical Views for a more personal blog.  Today marks my youngest daughter’s birthday.  Because I understand the sensitivity of revealing a woman’s age, I will not go down that path, for self-preservation reasons if nothing else.  However, I would like to share with you what my research has taught me about birthdays:

Two sisters, Mildred and Patty Hill in 1893, composed the song “Happy Birthday to You”.  The song was released under the title “Good Morning to You” but was met with very little success.  It was not until the title was changed to “Happy Birthday to You” that the once mundane tune made it’s way into virtually every household across the globe…at least once a year.

Famous people born on July 30th:

  •  Henry Ford
  •  Arnold Schwarzenegger
  •  Lisa Kudrow
  •  Hilary Swank
  •  Justine Mayhew

 Happy Birthday to everyone born on July 30th…especially my favorite youngest daughter!!

Filed Under: Humor Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

2012 Olympics: Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Performance Required

July 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Today marks the “Opening Day Ceremony” for the 2012 Olympics.  As most of us are aware, the Olympics are not just about peak physical performance but mental and spiritual as well.  As far as the spiritual aspect goes, there is an organization this year attempting to help each athlete reach their potential.  The Bible Society will be offering free Bibles to all 2012 Olympic Game athletes.  The Bible Society will provide the Olympians a Bible when they visit the Olympic Village Religious Services Center in London.  Here is what a representative from the Bible Society had to say:

“There will be more than 3,000 copies made available, which will be of a commemorative English-language edition. 1,000 additional Bibles will be published in a host of other languages with the help of various national Bible Societies around the world.”

In several instances, the Bible draws a line of similarity between the challenges we face in life and the challenges of successfully competing in various sporting events, such as track and field or boxing: 

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.  Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.   No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” (1Corinthans 9:24-27)

Let us remember to pray for all the Olympians as they represent their countries to the best of their abilities.  Let us also remember to pray for the Bible Society and their tremendous effort to reach those in need of a Savior.

 http://global.christianpost.com/news/bible-society-providing-free-bibles-at-2012-olympic-games-78294/

Filed Under: Biblical Principles, Headline News Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Spiritual Warfare: Fact or Fiction?

July 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment

May I recommend you consider this blog as you contemplate whether or not spiritual warfare truly exists?  A simple act of receiving a copy of the New Testament as a gift in the mail caused an Israeli lawmaker to lose self-control.  It appears Michael Ben-Ari was so infuriated about receiving this gift that he not only tore up the New Testament and threw it away, but decided it would be a good idea to have his actions filmed while doing it.

 I understand that religion has a way of bringing out the best and the worst in people, but seriously, to perform such a disparaging act over a simple gesture seems a bit over-the-top.  Do you know of any other book that would generate such a strong reaction from a government official?  Does this story sound familiar?

“But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, ‘I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.’  Jesus said to him, You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.’  Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy;” (Matthew26:63-65).

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501713_162-57474509/religious-israeli-lawmaker-tears-up-new-testament

Filed Under: Biblical Principles, Headline News Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Aurora, Colorado: We Are Praying

July 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Photo By Ron Phillips/Warner Bros. Pictures

I am still speechless and it has been three days since the senseless and tragic shooting that occurred at the midnight showing of “The Dark Knight Rises” in Aurora, Colorado.

Please join me when you read this blog and pray for the families left behind…

“Speaking on behalf of the cast and crew of The Dark Knight Rises, I would like to express our profound sorrow at the senseless tragedy that has befallen the entire Aurora community. I would not presume to know anything about the victims of the shooting but that they were there last night to watch a movie. I believe movies are one of the great American art forms and the shared experience of watching a story unfold on screen is an important and joyful pastime. The movie theatre is my home, and the idea that someone would violate that innocent and hopeful place in such an unbearably savage way is devastating to me. Nothing any of us can say could ever adequately express our feelings for the innocent victims of this appalling crime, but our thoughts are with them and their families.” -Christopher Nolan (Director)

“Words cannot express the horror that I feel.  I cannot begin to truly understand the pain and grief of the victims and their loved ones, but my heart goes out to them.”- Christian Bale (Batman)

http://www.thedarkknightrises.com/

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-07-21/hollywood-puts-box-office-on-mute-after-shootings

Filed Under: Headline News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Apocalypse, Armageddon, and the End Times

July 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment

At the end of this blog I am going to ask you to click on the website below. The website is a digital video rendition, approximately (4) minutes long, of what would happen if a large asteroid collided with the earth.  At the conclusion of the video it will read something to the effect that evidence has shown this event has occured six times.  If it has occured six times, allow me to explain why I believe it will not happen again. 

Even in the book of Revelation, when God speaks of the “Apocalypse”, “Armageddon”, the “End Times”, we do not read that the entire human race is destroyed.  Yes, we read in Chapter 8 that a good portion of the earth’s living creatures take a beating and are wiped off the face of the earth, but never complete annihilation of mankind.  If you doubt me, check it out for yourself.  Revelation…it’s the last book in the Bible. 

If after you watch this video and/or read Revelation and you find yourself a bit freaked out, go to the book of Matthew.  It will be the cure for “End of the World” anxieties.  Matthew…it’s the first book in the New Testament.

http://www.jest.com/video/482/its-the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it

 

Filed Under: Biblical Principles Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Book 2: The Sequel

July 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The sequel to Donovan’s Law, working title Soul Survivor, is now complete.  The official manuscript has been sent to my book publisher, OakTara, and the fate of publication is now in their hands.  It has taken me six and half months to write this book, which is half the time it took to write Donovan’s Law and a third of the time it took to write Where Is That In The Bible?

How did I write this one so quickly?  The truth is I wrote most of it five years ago when I wrote Donovan’s Law.  I have spent the last six months augmenting the foundation I developed back then.  I had to develop three key areas:  the beginning so it tied into the ending from Donovan’s Law, the answer to the most frequently asked question “What happened to Louise?” and then the ending.  Finally, I had to go back and rewrite the story to match everything I had added.

I must be honest; I am truly excited about Soul Survivor.  Three separate reviewers read the entire manuscript and each one offered a different opinion.  Here is what they had to say:

  • Author of seven books and book reviewer for publishing houses – “WOW!  I sure enjoyed your story.  It was very thought provoking and riveting.”
  • 30 year veteran of the police force, retired Sergeant and homicide investigator – “It made me cry.”
  • My sister, (who may be a little partial to my stories, since it was her and I that collaborated on Donovan’s Law) – “I loved it!!!”

So why did I use a reviewer from the police department you may ask?   Well, unlike Donovan’s Law which was based around firefighters, Soul Survivor is coming from the perspective of police officers.  So it was important to me that the areas in the book which dealt with investigative specifics, seemed realistic to someone who had been there and done that…so to speak. 

Now…buckle up your emotional seatbelt.  The sequel to Donovan’s Law is going to take your soul on a roller coaster ride into the future…

If you have any questions about Soul Survivor I would be happy to answer them, as long as the answer does not give away any secrets from the book :)   You can send your questions to rickmayhew@hotmail.com

 

Filed Under: Biblical Principles, Humor Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Abduction of Another Pastor

July 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Pastor Michel Louis

I know I wrote on Facebook this past Saturday that I would release information regarding the recently completed sequel to Donovan’s Law.  However, I believe this news story about a real life incident will take priority over my fictional novel.  I hope you agree:

Last week my blog was to pray for Pastor Youef Nadarkhani.   Once again, I am sending a blog as a plea for prayer for the abduction of another pastor.  While taking a tour of biblical times, Pastor Michel Louis, along with a 39-year-old Boston woman in the group and a tour guide, were kidnapped in broad daylight Friday in Egypt.

“The abduction took place along the road linking Cairo to the sixth-century St. Catherine’s Monastery, located at the foot of Mount Sinai where the Old Testament says Moses received the stone tablets with the Ten Commandments. The route is a frequent target by Bedouins who abduct tourists to pressure police to meet their demands, which is usually to release a detained relative they say has been unjustly arrested.”

In this case, the kidnappers are claiming their uncle was unjustly arrested and must be released before they will let their captives go.  Please ask your prayer warriors to pray for the safe release of these kidnapped victims, especially Pastor Louis, who battles diabetes.

I know you agree this article is much more important than my book.  However, come back and visit me this coming Wednesday, July 18th.  God willing, I plan to release the information intended for today regarding the sequel entitled So… (Oops, I almost gave it away!).

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/07/15/boston-church-prays-for-safe-return-pastor-kidnapped-in-egypt/

 

Filed Under: Biblical Principles, Headline News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Amazon Kindle, The Bible, and a Hotel Room

July 13, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Want to know where you could find an Amazon Kindle, the Bible, and a hotel room all wrapped up in one neat little package?  Try the Hotel Indigo in Newcastle, Britain.  They are claiming to be the first hotel to offer the Gideon Bible found in most hotel rooms in an e-version.  They even plan on placing a Kindle in the drawer next to the bed where the Gideon Bible used to be located so the patrons can easily discover their new adaptation into the new millennium.  The hotel spokesperson indicated that there will not be a charge to access the Bible from the Kindle.  However, if a guest would like to read other books they can purchase those for around $8.00. 

I’m certain Gideon International will welcome this new technology since it will help distribute the Word of God much easier and quicker. I am also certain it will not slow down their progress for spreading the gospel message throughout the world and into key places such as hospitals, convalescent homes, medical offices, domestic violence shelters, prisons and jails.

Why do the Gideons believe so strongly in this form of evangelism?  Here is what their website offers as an answer:

“Distributing complete copies of God’s Word plants powerful seeds that God can use in His timing (I Corinthians 3:6).  Allows people to read the truth for themselves (John 8:32).  Provides a continuing witness when the Gideon is no longer present (Hebrews 4:12).  Makes it easier for the people we reach to, in turn, reach others with the truth about Jesus (2Timothy 2:2).  Makes it possible for new Christians to learn and grow through personal Bible study (2 Timothy 2:15).”

               

Filed Under: Biblical Principles, Headline News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

A Cashless Society

July 11, 2012 By Leave a Comment

A cashless society might just be around the corner.  My wife went to a Nordstrom’s clothing store the other day and tried to pay for an item with cash.  The cashier did not know what to do.  She called her manager and the manager indicated that cash is frowned upon.  I knew check writing was becoming obsolete, but cash?  This caused me to do some research and here is what I found:

”The store of the future will not feature long check-out lines or any lines for that matter, according to retail experts and a recent survey from CompTIA predicting that traditional point-of-sale (POS) solutions will soon look archaic.  Although only 13 percent of retailers polled said they’re currently testing a mobile POS, another 19 percent said they will begin tests in the next 12 months. And that number will steadily climb over the next few years as retailers look for ways to provide customers with faster and better service, said John Kenney, SVP of business development for Stella Nova Technologies Inc.”

Ready for a ride?  Now stay with me on this one…if check writing and cash will no longer be viable ways for sale transactions, then it is no wonder why identity theft is one of the top crimes in America today.  Therefore, in order to help the customer battle ID theft, we must come up with a solution.  What if we do away with bankcards and credit cards altogether to avoid the whole identity theft problem?  What if we just link our bank accounts to a number assigned specifically for each one of us and then place those numbers somewhere so only the owner of that number would have access to it?  But where… (Revelation Chapter 13, Verses 16 – 18)?

If this blog topic interests you, may I suggest you read the book Donovan’s Law.  People are reading it…4 maybe 5 people…but they said, “It’s a futuristic thriller based on today’s headlines”.  

http://www.selfserviceworld.com/article/196851/Go-mobile-or-go-home-Check-out-lines-are-disappearing

 

Filed Under: Biblical Principles, Headline News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

3 Years In Prison

July 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani

Back on March 16, 2012 I wrote a blog entitled Religious Freedom.   I blogged about Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani from Iran being jailed for speaking out about the mandatory Koran classes being required in his child’s school.  Here is a refresher about his case:

“Nadarkhani has been jailed since being arrested on Oct. 13, 2009, after he went to his son’s school to complain about them starting mandatory Koran classes. He was then charged with apostasy from Islam. He was found guilty by the Iranian Supreme Court and sentenced to death in 2010 and has been imprisoned ever since.”

It now appears that the Pastor will be facing new charges since he refuses to recant his faith in Christ and his complaint about the Koran.  No one truly understands what these new charges will do for his case. In the meantime, please forward this blog to your prayer warriors and pray for this man and his family as he continues to stand for the truth in Christ.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/07/06/new-trial-date-set-for-jailed-iranian-pastor-youcef-nadarkhani/?test=latestnews#ixzz1zrRxd9QV

Filed Under: Biblical Principles, Headline News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,
« Older Posts