Oof! My heart aches for you, friend. I can hear your loneliness and the edge of despair.
First - this isn't a replacement for in person relationships, but getting some strong Biblical teaching in your life right now will help you orient quickly and confidently - it will also take the edge off of feeling alone.
He teaches A LOT on exactly the questions you asked regarding the End Times. My wife and I found that church when nearly every other church closed down during Lockdowns in Southern CA and it has REALLY boosted our confidence and understanding in what we are going through right now as well as where we are to focus and do during this as Jesus Followers.
At that church link, there are services streamed online (you can watch on Roku too) on Sundays and Wednesday nights.
But the timing? No one knows except for God the Father - not even Jesus.
And according to examples in the Bible, God has in the past delayed judgement on cultures, based off those cultures returning to Him - but they eventually come.
Therefore, because we don't know the day or the hour, the Bible (Jesus said it Himself) instructs us to know the signs - and when we see them, be on the lookout for the return of Jesus.
The Bible also tells us that we should be living our lives - not cowering in fear of that day - but in anticipation of it - like a bride before her wedding. Getting ourselves ready and Leading others to Christ.
Three years ago I couldn't have told you any of that with the certainty and confidence and joy that I just did. I learned it all through the very well done teaching that happens at Calvary Chapel.
Jack is also a huge Patriot - and has the guts to call out the WEF and Schwab directly as instruments of things the Bible told us to look out for in the last days.
99.5kkla (radio station) is another good one to check out - it's full of sermons throughout the day/night that will keep you grounded and strong in the truth of the Word of God. You can put that on your phone as an app or listen to it stream over the internet.
Yeah, Calvary Chapel is great. I never attended one, but the church I had really based my foundation on (and where I met those girls I dated) was the Vineyard. Chuck Smith and John Wimbur had parted ways over some trivial theological disagreement, and so I believe Vineyard is an offshoot of Calvary. Regardless of differences, both are pretty sound. I'll give those links you provided a listening this weekend.
And yes, I have been pretty close to despair. My best experiences of fellowship with Christians was back when I was in college, in the young singles group at that church, back when I was friends with the girl from Ireland. I know that when one makes the decision to draw closer to God, the enemy will attack more strongly. That is what I have been going through, even fighting thoughts of accusation that she ended up so tragically because I didn't marry her instead of the girl I did marry. Satan is the accuser who brings guilt and condemnation, whereas God guides us with conviction. Big difference. I just cannot take past relationships lightly, even from so long ago, and I am convinced that it was God who prompted me to pray begin praying for her back in November so strongly, telling me that she was in trouble and in need of prayer. So I contacted her out of the blue. She didn't respond, but at least she gave her dad my contact info. He contacted me and confirmed that I do need to pray for her. That she thought enough of me to tell him about me contacting her gives me a glimmer of hope, some thread of affection between us for which my hopes and prayers might tightrope walk across the world to connect to her heart somehow. My name's not even Steve, but I'd named my pet fish after her brother when I was in college, thus my username/website name I've kept for so many years. I now shoulder her father's burden to pray for his family, and 3 of 5 of his children have turned away from God. Even the oldest daughter, who had encouraged me to fly to Japan to propose to the girl I am now married to.
I only have one child, and I fear that I'm inadequate by myself to raise her to follow God. There are just no positive church experiences I can provide for a young girl where there are only a scattering of tiny churches comprised of primarily elderly people. And when school club activities have students busy even on Saturday mornings, Sundays are her only chance to take it easy. Japanese schools can really suck the life out of kids, but at least it keeps them out of trouble.
@stevethefish76
Oof! My heart aches for you, friend. I can hear your loneliness and the edge of despair.
First - this isn't a replacement for in person relationships, but getting some strong Biblical teaching in your life right now will help you orient quickly and confidently - it will also take the edge off of feeling alone.
Check out Jack Hibbs, who teaches at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills - https://calvarycch.org/sermons/
He teaches A LOT on exactly the questions you asked regarding the End Times. My wife and I found that church when nearly every other church closed down during Lockdowns in Southern CA and it has REALLY boosted our confidence and understanding in what we are going through right now as well as where we are to focus and do during this as Jesus Followers.
At that church link, there are services streamed online (you can watch on Roku too) on Sundays and Wednesday nights.
Additionally they have a youtube channel where you can see other sermon series and get other little lessons of encouragement - https://www.youtube.com/@RealLifeJackHibbs/videos
You asked if all of this is Inevitable. Yes.
But the timing? No one knows except for God the Father - not even Jesus.
And according to examples in the Bible, God has in the past delayed judgement on cultures, based off those cultures returning to Him - but they eventually come.
Therefore, because we don't know the day or the hour, the Bible (Jesus said it Himself) instructs us to know the signs - and when we see them, be on the lookout for the return of Jesus.
The Bible also tells us that we should be living our lives - not cowering in fear of that day - but in anticipation of it - like a bride before her wedding. Getting ourselves ready and Leading others to Christ.
Three years ago I couldn't have told you any of that with the certainty and confidence and joy that I just did. I learned it all through the very well done teaching that happens at Calvary Chapel.
Jack is also a huge Patriot - and has the guts to call out the WEF and Schwab directly as instruments of things the Bible told us to look out for in the last days.
99.5kkla (radio station) is another good one to check out - it's full of sermons throughout the day/night that will keep you grounded and strong in the truth of the Word of God. You can put that on your phone as an app or listen to it stream over the internet.
Yeah, Calvary Chapel is great. I never attended one, but the church I had really based my foundation on (and where I met those girls I dated) was the Vineyard. Chuck Smith and John Wimbur had parted ways over some trivial theological disagreement, and so I believe Vineyard is an offshoot of Calvary. Regardless of differences, both are pretty sound. I'll give those links you provided a listening this weekend.
And yes, I have been pretty close to despair. My best experiences of fellowship with Christians was back when I was in college, in the young singles group at that church, back when I was friends with the girl from Ireland. I know that when one makes the decision to draw closer to God, the enemy will attack more strongly. That is what I have been going through, even fighting thoughts of accusation that she ended up so tragically because I didn't marry her instead of the girl I did marry. Satan is the accuser who brings guilt and condemnation, whereas God guides us with conviction. Big difference. I just cannot take past relationships lightly, even from so long ago, and I am convinced that it was God who prompted me to pray begin praying for her back in November so strongly, telling me that she was in trouble and in need of prayer. So I contacted her out of the blue. She didn't respond, but at least she gave her dad my contact info. He contacted me and confirmed that I do need to pray for her. That she thought enough of me to tell him about me contacting her gives me a glimmer of hope, some thread of affection between us for which my hopes and prayers might tightrope walk across the world to connect to her heart somehow. My name's not even Steve, but I'd named my pet fish after her brother when I was in college, thus my username/website name I've kept for so many years. I now shoulder her father's burden to pray for his family, and 3 of 5 of his children have turned away from God. Even the oldest daughter, who had encouraged me to fly to Japan to propose to the girl I am now married to.
I only have one child, and I fear that I'm inadequate by myself to raise her to follow God. There are just no positive church experiences I can provide for a young girl where there are only a scattering of tiny churches comprised of primarily elderly people. And when school club activities have students busy even on Saturday mornings, Sundays are her only chance to take it easy. Japanese schools can really suck the life out of kids, but at least it keeps them out of trouble.