Rumors of Wars!

For Friday, January 16, 2026:

Matthew 24:6 NLT: Jesus speaking: “You will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately.”

Jesus is teaching about warning signs, signs that the end times is drawing near. One of those signs is wars and rumors of war. Rumors would be threats from one nation to another before actual fighting takes place. No war seems to start without some words being thrown first.

Some wars are new; some have been going on for thousands of years. Palestine has been upset ever since God settled Jews in the Promised Land. That’s a long time!

More recently, last week, the US took over Venezuela. It wasn’t exactly a war. Venezuela was so disorganized under a corrupt leader that fighting back wasn’t an option, and many in the country welcomed the intervention. Nonetheless, their president was deposed, and the US president is now setting policy for that country.

Afghanistan and Pakistan can’t agree on the border between their two countries. Russia is still trying to annex Ukraine. At least eight countries are undergoing civil wars, unable to agree on a government within their own country. The US did that in the 1860’s. Other governments are threatened by gangs and terrorists, mostly involving drugs. Illegal drugs represent a lot of money, and to find the source of the conflict, just follow the money! By the way, illegal drugs are only valuable because there’s a huge market for them. That’s our country’s problem!

Note that Jesus doesn’t say that these wars are the end. “The end won’t follow immediately.” But each war is a step closer to the end. These are times to lock in our commitment to Jesus and to God’s way. As God reveals the New Heaven and the New Earth, believer’s salvation will also be revealed. If we stick with Jesus, we’ll be given a ticket for eternal life in God’s forever heavenly Kingdom.

All aboard!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Warning Signs!

For Wednesday, November 5, 2025:

Luke 21:29 NLT, Jesus speaking: “Notice the fig tree, or any other tree. When the leaves come out, you know without being told that summer is near.”

"Sign, sign, everywhere, a sign!” There are good signs, and bad signs. A good sign is a good reminder. If there are far too many signs, no one will pay attention to any of them.

For close to ten years, I helped manage a non-profit organization with nearly 200 signs on the walls of its seven-room complex. “Replace your chairs as you found them. No gossip! Turn the lights out when you leave. Push the water button only once. Switch the coffee machine ‘off’ when empty. Respect confidentiality. Don’t leave trash in the building!” I would counsel them that the large number of taped-up signs made us appear less professional. The good we were doing appeared less competent. I didn’t have much luck with my campaign. Every time something happened that someone else didn’t like, up would go another sign. I can’t say that any of them were ever truly effective!

Jesus didn’t leave us with word signs. We were given prophetic signs so that when we’d see them, we’d know what was happening. Jesus gave us signs pointing to the second coming and the end times, and he told us so. Just as new leaves on a tree tell us that summer is near, the end times signs tell us that Jesus is returning soon. In a way, it’s a warning to get your house in order – or else! The anticipated day of judgment is imminent, and it’s time to claim our promise of salvation.

The prophetic signs are warnings for those who will witness the end times scenario. Those witnesses are the people who can utilize Jesus’ signs, informing them of what’s about to happen. Jesus said that the generation seeing these signs will not pass until the prophesied things have taken place. So keep your eyes open! We may end our lives in a different reality than the one into which we were born!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship