False Prophets among us

There is nothing new under the sun, including false prophets. What is often seen as a new thing is, many times, a renewal of the old. This documentary details the dangers of false prophets and how we can tell the difference between true and false.

ABOUT THIS BOOK

Are there false, fruitless and insidious predators in the pulpits of the modern church? If so, are these deceivers leading multitudes to the worship of false gods through their damnable heresies? Are seeker-friendly”churches creating a new class of “Christians” who have no concept of authentic, Biblical Christianity? Are there leaders who are building their own kingdoms in lieu of God’s and doing so on your dime? Are we hearing the full counsel of the LORD from those in leadership, or the psychology and programs of mere men? Are beguiling emissaries in our midst drawing believers away from pure devotion and intimacy with Jesus Christ? Do these things exist within your local fellowship? Are you truly being instructed in the right ways of the LORD? Explore the answers to these and many more questions in this bold, insightful, and resourceful look at the church world today.

345 pages first published April 6, 2014

WHERE WAS GOD ON 9/11/2001 BY GOT QUESTIONS.ORG

On September 11, 2001, God was exactly where He always is – in Heaven in total control of everything that happens in the universe. Why, then, would a good and loving God allow such a tragedy to happen? This is a more difficult question to answer. First, we must remember, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9). It is impossible for finite human beings to understand the ways of an infinite God (Romans 11:33-35). Second, we must realize that God is not responsible for the wicked acts of evil men. The Bible tells us that humanity is desperately wicked and sinful (Romans 3:10-18, 23). God allows human beings to commit sin for His own reasons and to fulfill His own purposes. Sometimes we think we understand why God is doing something, only to find out later that it was for a different purpose than we originally thought.

God looks at things from an eternal perspective. We look at things from an earthly perspective. Why did God put man on earth, knowing that Adam and Eve would sin and therefore bring evil, death, and suffering on all mankind? Why didn’t He just create us all and leave us in Heaven where we would be perfect and without suffering? It must be remembered that the purpose for all creation and all creatures is to glorify God. God is glorified when His nature and attributes are on display. If there were no sin, God would have no opportunity to display His justice and wrath as He punishes sin. Nor would He have the opportunity to show His grace, His mercy, and His love to undeserving creatures. The ultimate display of God’s grace was at the Cross where Jesus died for our sins. Here was unselfishness and obedience displayed in His Son who knew no sin but was “made sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). This was all to the “praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:14).

When thinking of September 11, we tend to forget the thousands of miracles that occurred on that day. Hundreds of people were able to flee the buildings just in the nick of time. A small handful of firemen and one civilian survived in a tiny space in a stairwell as the one of the towers collapsed around them. The passengers on Flight 93 defeating the terrorists was a miracle in and of itself. Yes, September 11 was a terrible day. Sin reared its ugly head and caused great devastation. However, God is still in control. His sovereignty is never to be doubted. Could God have prevented what happened on September 11? Of course He could, but He chose to allow the events to unfold exactly as they did. He prevented that day from being as bad as it could have been. Since September 11, how many lives have been changed for the better? How many people have placed their faith in Christ for salvation as a result of what happened? The words of Romans 8:28 should always be in our minds when we think of 9-11, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, and are called according to His purpose.”

THE MYSTERY BEHIND P.S. 125

 

The Mystery of PS 125

Erin
January 16, 2015

Looking at Google Maps, it is plain to see that PS 125 in Brownsville has been abandoned for quite some time. When did the oldest school in the neighborhood close, and why? This researcher started this blog assuming that these would be easy questions to answer. It turns out there is no clear answer to either one.

From its creation in 1900, PS 125 was ill-equipped to handle the influx of Jewish, mostly Russian and Polish, immigrants streaming over the newly opened Williamsburg Bridge from the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Four new schools opened in Brownsville between 1905 and 1912, yet this did little to alleviate overcrowding. According to a Brooklyn Daily Eagle article, PS 125 was renovated in 1917 to include 38 classrooms, 13 of which were "activities" rooms dedicated to classes in drama, workshop, science, cooking, drawing, and other special skills.

PS 125 in 1908, seven years after it opened

A booming population combined with the politics of racial segregation paralyzed progress at the school. PS 125 emerged as a predominantly Black school between 1933 and 1940, when Black children went from being one-third to two-thirds of the student population. From 1940 to 1950 the Black population in Brownsville doubled due to a flood of migrants, mostly from the South. In response, the heavy-handed City Planner of New York, Robert Moses, initiated construction of the Brownsville Housing Projects, which increased the population density of the area. To this day, Brownsville has the highest density of NYCHA-owned buildings in New York City.

Schools in Brownsville were so jam-packed that many students never had access to a full day of schooling. By the 1950s, PS 125 had an enrollment of 767 students (30% over capacity). Around this time, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported that the waitlists for schools in the area were so long that some parents stopped signing their kids up for school entirely. PS 125, like other overburdened schools, operated in shifts. This made life hectic for parents with more than one school-age child trying to coordinate childcare and meals.

Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 1950

While Black schools were utterly congested, the white schools in the borough were nowhere near capacity. According to Brownsville, Brooklyn: Blacks, Jews, and the Changing Face of the Ghetto, a "1955 government report found that almost all elementary schools in predominantly Black neighborhoods were full or exceeding capacity, while 80,000 seats were vacant in predominantly white schools. The school board refused to enroll Black students in schools located in white neighborhoods, choosing instead to move students amongst overcrowded schools."

Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 1950

The reality of racial segregation in Brooklyn appears most starkly in the New York City Planning Commission's Plan for New York City. It shows the "Utilization and Enrollment" at Brownsville schools from 1967-68. At PS 125, there were zero "White" students, 83 "Puerto Rican" students and 375 "Negro" students enrolled. Overall, students of color made up 97.6% of all students in the Ocean Hill-Brownsville district at that time.

New York City Planning Commission's Play for New York City (3) Brooklyn, 1969
PS 125's statistics are displayed in the second row from the top

Racial tensions began to heat up further in the 1960s, as Black parents lead protests for more community control over school policies and practices. By 1968, the school had likely started the decentralization pilot program with a cluster of other schools in the Ocean Hill-Brownsville school district, as mentioned in the New York Times. This new program was designed to give predominantly Black neighborhoods more control and influence over how their schools were run.

These are the last bits of evidence regarding PS 125 and its existence. This researcher has checked public databases and called people at the Department of Education, Department of Buildings, Brownsville Heritage House, Brownsville Community Board, a real estate company that works with the building's current owners, the President of the Brownsville Business Improvement District, and a friend who works at an architecture company, but have yet to find an official closing date for PS 125. (I'm thinking we should post a reward for such information, as it seems absolutely crazy that there is no known record of a public school's closing.) This researcher even took to Twitter to ask Brownsville born-and-raised artist Elaine Del Valle (@brownsvillebred) about the school, where her father worked as a janitor, but she wasn't sure. She thought maybe 1981, but didn't know the reason behind the closure.

"Brooklyn Tomorrow," 1964

Notice on the above map from 1964 that PS 125 is not even listed as an "existing" building where it would be located in the northwest corner of "Brownsville Housing." Perhaps it was already abandoned by this point, rendered structurally deficient, regardless of teachers' strikes or overcrowded classrooms. One can see that the residents of Brownsville had hopes of creating an "Educational Park" between Watkins Street and Rockaway Ave at Livonia Ave, surrounded by middle-income housing, though this dream never came to fruition.

Whatever the story of PS 125's closing, it remains a mystery! One thing is for sure, the journey to that non-answer provides an intriguing history of Brownsville's intense political past.

If you're interested in reading more about Brooklyn's schools and the fascinating stories behind them, check out these other Brooklynology blogs: The Mermen of Brownsville, Borough Park's P.S. 131, a trove of school history, Brooklyn Schools: A Look at Ephemera and More, We Don't Need No Education and stay tuned for our third blog this month on school history to be posted next week.

Also, don't be a stranger! Come visit the Brooklyn Collection and check out our current exhibition on "The Education of Kings" which will be up through February 13, 2015.

Come visit us at the Central Library in Grand Army Plaza!

 

This blog post reflects the opinions of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of Brooklyn Public Library.

 

Leonard Ravenhill: The man who spent 8 hours a day in study and prayer

Would you like to have more intimacy with God? Get our two exclusive eBooks: The Power of Prayer + 60 Days of Prayer: A Devotional Journey — and deepen your prayer life and walk with God. https://hotm.art/thepowerofprayer

HOW TO DEAL WITH A BLABBER MOUTH CON ARTIST MOTHER IN LAW

 

STEP #1

TELL HER SHE'S

A BLABBER MOUTH

 &THROW HER OUT

OF YOUR HOUSE!

STEP #2

UTILIZE THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES

A con artist mother-in-law often displays patterns of manipulation, deception, and boundary-pushing to gain control, money, or sympathy. Unlike simple family drama, these actions are typically calculating and self-serving, with a history of preying on others. 

Here are red flags to help you identify and recognize a con artist mother-in-law.

Money and finances

• Constant money troubles. She frequently has "emergencies" that only you can solve, and her financial situations are often vague or confusing. When questioned, she may become evasive.
• Borrowing with no intention to repay. She might ask to borrow money for a series of misfortunes but offers inconsistent or changing explanations about her need for funds.
• Exploiting crises. She uses family emergencies or personal crises as an opportunity to ask for money, counting on your immediate, emotional reaction to prevent you from thinking clearly.
• Insisting on specific payment methods. She might demand money via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency—methods that are harder to trace.
• Targeting vulnerable family members. She may attempt to scam other family members, particularly those who are elderly or who recently experienced a personal crisis, such as the death of a spouse. 

Manipulative and controlling behavior

• Guilt trips. She uses guilt to control your actions, making you feel responsible for her feelings or problems. If you refuse her request, she might frame it as a sign that you don't love or care about her.
• Blame-shifting. She refuses to take responsibility for her actions and instead twists situations to portray herself as the victim, making you feel like the aggressor.
• Disrespecting boundaries. A manipulator will ignore your clear and repeated "no" and push boundaries until you give in. When confronted, she may act confused or indignant.
• Gaslighting. She denies past events or conversations that you know happened, causing you to doubt your own memory and sanity.
• Love bombing and flattery. Early in the relationship, she may have overwhelmed you with excessive praise, gifts, or attention to win your trust. Once she has what she wants, the affection dwindles.
• Bringing out your worst traits. Skilled manipulators exploit your vulnerabilities like greed, fear, or insecurity to get what they want. 

Deceptive and unreliable patterns

• Inconsistent stories. Her stories are elaborate but often contain strange inconsistencies or details that don't add up. When you ask questions, she may have trouble keeping her lies straight.
• Charm and smooth talk. Con artists are often charming and professional on the surface. They work hard to sound and look impressive, which helps them gain trust.
• Elaborate backstories. She may offer a story about her wealth or success that sounds too good to be true, but there is no proof to back it up.
• A transient history. An inability to maintain long-term friendships or jobs can be a red flag. Manipulators often leave situations once their true nature is exposed.
• A "fair-weather" friend. She may seem very friendly when she wants something from you, but contact becomes sparse or disappears entirely once she has it. 

How to protect yourself

• Trust your gut. Your intuition is a powerful tool. If an interaction with her leaves you feeling confused, drained, or guilty, pay attention to that feeling.
• Document everything. Keep a detailed record of manipulative behavior, including dates, specific requests, and your interactions. This can help you recognize patterns and provide clarity.
• Create distance. A con artist thrives on constant interaction to manipulate you. Create emotional or physical distance by limiting how often you see her and how much information you share.
• Establish and enforce boundaries. Clearly communicate your boundaries to your mother-in-law and your spouse. Do not give in when she inevitably tests them.
• Maintain a united front with your spouse. It's essential that you and your partner are on the same page. If she tries to create division by badmouthing you or triangulating, talk it through with your partner so you can stand together.
• Seek professional guidance. A therapist or counselor can provide valuable support and coping strategies for dealing with manipulative family members. 

3RD & FINAL STEP

INSTALL A PAD LOCK

TO YOUR FRONT DOOR

AND A WARNING SIGN

ARE YOU WONDERING WHY PRESIDENT TRUMP DESIGNATED ANTIFA AS A DOMESTIC TERRORIST GROUP?

 DR. MARK BRAY

AKA DR. ANTIFA 

IN VIDEO BELOW DR. TURLEY

REVEALS WHAT DR. BRAY'S

BOOK PICTURED ABOVE IS ALL

ABOUT AND HOW IT HAS BECOME

A VALUABLE ASSET TO ANTIFA

FOX NEWS NATION SHEDS

MORE LIGHT ON DR. BRAY'S

BOOK IN VIDEO BELOW

Antifa has become one of the most polarizing forces in modern American politics. Labelled by critics as a violent extremist group and by supporters as anti-fascist defenders, its true identity lies somewhere between the headlines and the chaos in the streets. But where did Antifa come from, and how did it rise to prominence in the 21st century?

In this episode, we trace Antifa's ideological roots back to pre-WWII Europe, where militant resistance groups first confronted fascist movements. We explore how those ideals evolved over decades and crossed into the U.S., merging with elements of anarchism, socialism, and direct-action activism. The video examines major flashpoints—from Berkeley to Portland—and how Antifa’s decentralized structure complicates efforts to define or confront it.

Through investigative reporting, protest footage, and historical context, we break down how Antifa operates, what it believes, and the implications of labeling it a domestic terror threat. Is Antifa a legitimate resistance to authoritarianism—or a threat to civil discourse and public safety? Watch to decide for yourself.

Written and hosted by Colin D. Heaton. Forgotten History is a 10th Legion Pictures Production.

RECOMMEND READING

THE FOLLOWING BOOK

CLICK ON LINK BELOW

TO ORDER YOUR COPY

https://a.co/d/24MFpWC

‘Dr. Antifa’ Professor Blocked From Flying After Trump Roundtable

Designating Antifa as a Domes

tic Terrorist Organization