In the History of California, it can be seen that California became a U.S. state on September 9, 1850.  That was 175 years ago today.

Statehood took place during the California gold rush period from 1848 to 1855.  The peak year of the immigration of gold-seekers was 1849, which initiated the term “forty-niners.”

News of the discovery of gold brought an influx of about 300,000 people into California, from other parts of the U.S. and other places in the world, to seek their fortunes of gold.  Only a relatively few people received great wealth from the gold, but it did enhance the American economy.

Should followers of Jesus read or study the book of Revelation?  At Olive Tree Ministries this weekend, Pastor Josh Schwartz talked with Pastor Gary Hamrick of Cornerstone Chapel, Leesburg, Virginia.  Pastor Gary has just written an insightful new book, Standing on the Edge of Eternity: The End Times According to Revelation.  Find it in our online store.

In the Extended Version, Pastor Josh and Pastor Gary discussed how believers should be the best citizens in the countries where they live.  Extended Version begins at 27:58.

         

         
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Today’s program, lasting 43 minutes, can be heard here:

       
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Today is Labor Day in the United States.  It always is the first Monday in September, and it is the last national holiday during the summer season.  In Canada, Labour Day also is celebrated on the first Monday in September.

The New York legislature was the first state legislature to introduce a Labor Day bill.  However, Oregon was the first state to make Labor Day an official public holiday in 1887.

By the time it became an official federal holiday in 1894, thirty U.S. states observed Labor Day.  More information about this day can be found at the United States Department of Labor website here:

Is the Earth flat?  Did America make it to the moon?  Is there a global Cabal?  Conspiracy theories are everywhere.  At Olive Tree Ministries this weekend, Ken Mikle and Pastor Josh Schwartz talked with Lee Brainard about many important issues, including apologetics.

Why are evangelicals invested in theology but not eschatology?  And why should we study Bible prophecy?

         

         
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Today’s program, lasting 48 minutes, can be heard here:

The San Andreas Fault (SAF) is a major geological fault in California.  It extends about 750 miles (1,200 kilometers) and forms the boundary between the Pacific and the North American tectonic plates.  This fault is a right-lateral strike-slip transform fault, meaning that the two sides of the fault slide past each other horizontally.

The SAF is divided into three main segments: northern, central and southern.  Each segment has different characteristics and varying degrees of earthquake risk.  The average slip rate along the entire fault ranges from 20 to 35 mm (0.79 to 1.38 inches) per year.  The fault is known for its potential to produce very significant earthquakes.

Major historical earthquakes on the San Andreas Fault include the following:

1989 Loma Prieta earthquake: magnitude 6.9

1906 San Francisco earthquake: magnitude 7.9

1857 Fort Tejon earthquake: magnitude 7.9

       
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This is the first full day of the season of Teshuvah, which began yesterday at sunset.  It is a 40-day season each year, with the first 30 days (the “days of repentance”) extending to Rosh haShanah = Feast of Trumpets and the final 10 days (the “days of awe”) ending on Yom Kippur = Day of Atonement.

The season of Teshuvah always begins on a new moon.  This is an example of how God uses lights in the sky (particularly the sun and the moon) as “signs to mark seasons and days and years” (Genesis 1:14).

Most likely, it was during this 40-day period that Jesus was fasting in the desert, after which He was being tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1-11).  Yet, He resisted all of Satan’s temptations, which was an example to all who believe in Him and follow Him: Yeshua Messiah.

During this time, we mortal people are to examine our lives, repent of our sins and transgressions, turn back to God in revival and with refreshing and be restored back to an active relationship with God and with other people, with whom relationships may have been damaged.  A common chapter in the Bible to read during this time is Psalm 51:1-19.

We all have times of personal rebellion against God.  This is a time to ask Him to show us favor, according to His faithful love and vast compassion, to wipe out our manifold rebellions.  In Hebrew (translated into English), the following is read each day (from right to left):

The world is crying out for peace and safety.  Will it happen, or is more conflict coming?  At Olive Tree Ministries this weekend, Ken Mikle and Pastor Josh Schwartz talked with Pete Garcia, a combat veteran and aviator.

What is next on God’s timeline of Biblical Eschatology?  What’s behind the accusations that Trump is the Antichrist and why is this not possible?

         

         

         
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Today’s program, lasting 48 minutes, can be heard here:

The Atlantic hurricane season spans the six-month period from June 1 to November 30.  Five days ago, Tropical Storm Erin strengthened into Hurricane Erin.  It was the fifth named storm, first hurricane and first major hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean this season.

It took about 24 hours for Erin to explode from a Category 1 storm to a monster Category 5 hurricane three days ago, with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph.  The hurricane’s eye had one of the largest 24-hour pressure drops (which causes the hurricane’s wind speed to strengthen) ever recorded in the Atlantic prior to September.  Although Erin’s intensity declined over the weekend, it strengthened back into a Category 4 hurricane yesterday.  Today, the winds dropped down to Category 3 strength.

Hurricane Erin is not set to make landfall in the U.S.  However, several states will be impacted by the Category 4 hurricane.  It will make its way north, just off the U.S. Atlantic coast this week.  Flood warnings have been issued for Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina for the next two days.  A coastal flood advisory has been issued for New Jersey and Delaware later this week.  Beachgoers along the Atlantic coast are urged to stay out of the water, heed posted warnings and avoid jetties or piers where currents are the strongest.

I listened quite a bit to American Family Radio (https://afr.net) this weekend, as I often do.  One program that I often find interesting is “I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist” with Dr. Frank Turek.  Saturday’s program was “What is the Story of Reality?”

Turek interviewed Dr. Greg Koukl, founder and president of Stand to Reason.  They discussed portions of Greg’s book: The Story of Reality: How the World Began, How It Ends, and Everything Important that Happens in Between.

These are among the topics that they talked about:

What makes Christianity different from every other religion?

Does evil disprove God, or does it point to His existence?

Why is Jesus the only solution to humanity’s biggest problem?

What are the problems associated with the beliefs of atheists?

The podcast of this program can be heard below.  It is a little over 48 minutes in length.

A video of this discussion can be seen below.  It is under 50 minutes in length.

On weekends, I listen to various Christian programs on American Family Radio.  One program I always like a lot is The Christian Worldview.  The host is David Wheaton, who previously was a professional tennis player.

This weekend, the program was The Predictable Result of Educating Children Without God.  I found it very interesting.  Alex Newman gives details about the untold history behind government education and its founders.  I found his information to be extremely interesting and very descriptive of what has happened in the public education system from the 1800s until now.

This 54-minute program originally was aired over three years ago on July 23, 2022.  Since then, the education system has proceeded increasingly more and more like what Alex Newman described at that time.  A continual decline in society’s standards and values was to be expected after things focusing on God, such as prayer and the Bible, were removed from public schools.  The broadcast can be heard on the following page:

At Olive Tree Ministries this weekend, Ken Mikle and Pastor Josh Schwartz talked with Brett Meador, Pastor at Athey Creek Church, Portland, Oregon.  We are seeing a staggering rise in antisemitism worldwide, and Zionism is often misunderstood.  Is this a deception or a new level of understanding?

What does the Bible teach?  And why is it so important to have a consistent and literal hermeneutic at a time when deception and delusion cause such confusion?

         

         

         
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Today’s program, lasting 45 minutes, can be heard here:

Today, President Donald Trump flew from Washington D.C., U.S., and President Vladimir Putin flew from Moscow, Russia, to Anchorage, Alaska.  They met together in a non-public summit, lasting nearly 3 hours, discussing a possible ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war.  This extremely deadly war has been going on since February of 2022.

Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was not invited to attend the discussion with Trump and Putin.  However, Trump said that he would call Zelenskyy and European Union leaders and update them on the talks.  It is unknown if there will be a future meeting with Trump, Putin and Zelenskyy.

Hundreds of reporters were present at the news conference.  However, neither Trump nor Putin took questions from any reporters.  In the video below, Putin and Trump do not arrive on the stage and begin talking until 32 minutes 50 seconds after the video begins.

       
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To those who are left-handed: Happy Left Handers Day!  Although left-handed people are only about 10% of the world’s population, they have some advantages over right-handed people.

People who are most likely to become severely ill are those with certain medical conditions.  These include cancer, heart disease, diabetes, COPD and other conditions.  Also, obesity may increase the risk for dementia and severe illness.  It is a good idea to know what your Body Mass Index is.

It is easy to calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI).  All you need to know is your height (in feet and inches) and your weight (in pounds).  Adults can use the calculator below.

In case the BMI calculator does not appear above, you can see it here:

At Olive Tree Ministries this weekend, Ken Mikle and Pastor Josh Schwartz talked with Catherine Austin Fitts.  Immunity to the law, and exemption from taxes, suggest there are two groups of people.

Are there global players behind the scenes pulling the strings?  Satan’s deceptive scheme is in progress.

         

         
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Today’s program, lasting 27 minutes, can be heard here:

Today, and three days from now (Aug. 9), mark the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, by the United States, on August 6 and 9, 1945.  The uranium bomb dropped on Hiroshima was called “Little Boy,” while the plutonium bomb dropped on Nagasaki was called “Fat Man.”

Japan had not responded to an ultimatum, the Potsdam Declaration, on July 26, calling for the unconditional surrender of their armed forces.  On August 15, following the bombings, Japan surrendered to the Allies.  World War II officially ended on September 2, 1945, when the Japanese government signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender.

Over the decades, here has been a continual debate over the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  No doubt, these debates will continue indefinitely.

The pilot who dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, exactly 80 years ago today, was Paul Tibbets from Iowa.  The plane he was flying was the Enola Gay, named after his mother.

Jesus Christ is the Messiah or Anointed One.  In Hebrew, He is known as Yeshua Hamashiach.  At the end of this age, He will return to Jerusalem.  At that time, the Millennium will begin, Yeshua will set up the Kingdom of God on earth, and He will rule and reign over the whole world for 1,000 years.

Today is Tisha B’Av or the 9th of Av, which actually began at sunset last evening.  It is a day of mourning to commemorate the many tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people in the past, including the Holy Temples in Jerusalem.  It is considered to be the saddest day on the Jewish calendar.

At Olive Tree Ministries this weekend, Ken Mikle and Pastor Josh Schwartz have a conversation with Melissa Dougherty.  She fell into the trap of the New Thought Movement.  Now she is combating New Age, New Thought, and Progressive Christianity.  Have you fallen into the traps of New Thought or Progressive Christianity?

He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.  Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.  For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. (1 Peter 3:10-12)

         

         

         
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Today’s program, lasting 33 minutes, can be heard here:

Today, officials in the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) announced that it would be keeping its benchmark interest rate unchanged in the 4.25% to 4.50% range, although President Trump had recommended that the rate should be lowered.  They cited that their decision was due to elevated uncertainty over the nation’s economic outlook.  They also had left the rate unchanged in the four previous meetings this year (on Jan. 29, Mar. 19, May 7 and June 18).

Fed Chairman Jerome Powell voted to keep the interest rate unchanged.  However, two FOMC members, Fed Governors Michelle Bowman and Christopher Waller (both appointed by Trump), voted in favor of lowering the central bank’s short-term rate.  This was a rare show of dissent at the Fed.  It was the first time since 1993 that two members of the Fed’s Board of Governors did not vote along with the chairman.

According to FactSet, economists currently predict a 63% likelihood that the Fed will cut rates at its next meeting.  Powell stated that the decision will be based on economic data released between now and the FOMC’s next meeting.  The remaining meetings in 2025 will take place on September 16 & 17, October 28 & 29 and December 9 & 10.

In other news, this morning a massive 8.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula.  It is rated as a great quake on the Earthquake Magnitude Scale.  This took place at about 11:30 a.m. local time.  Soon after the quake occurred, the Klyuchevskoy volcano on the peninsula began erupting.

Although there were several injuries, no casualties were reported.  There did not appear to be a great deal of building damage in eastern Russia, evidently attributed to solid building construction.

Tsunami warnings and evacuations reverberated through Russia, Japan and Hawaii.  Tsunami advisories were issued for the Philippines, Indonesia, and as far away as New Zealand, U.S. west coast, Ecuador and Peru.  However, the waves that hit these areas caused little to no damage.  The earthquake’s rupture pattern did not create the vertical deformation needed to generate massive waves.

Today’s megaquake is tied with the 1906 Ecuador-Colombia quake and the 2010 Chile quake as the sixth-strongest earthquakes ever recorded.  The 9.0 Tohoku earthquake in Japan, on Mar. 11, 2011 (updated to a magnitude 9.1 quake in 2016), was the fourth-strongest earthquake ever recorded.  Here are the five largest earthquakes ever recorded:

Valdivia Earthquake, Chile: magnitude 9.5, 1960

Great Alaska Earthquake, U.S.: magnitude 9.2, 1964

Sumatra-Andaman Islands Earthquake: magnitude 9.1, 2004

Tohoku Earthquake, Japan:: magnitude 9.1, 2011

Kamchatka Earthquake, Russia:: magnitude 9.0, 1952

At Olive Tree Ministries this weekend, in Part 1, Jan Markell talks with Michele Bachmann about events that are a warning to believers that should be concerning.

In Part 2, Ken Mikle and Pastor Josh Schwartz talk with Jan Markell in a review of this program over 25 years.  This is Jan Markell’s final radio program as the three look back.  Ken Mikle and Josh Schwartz will host future programs, which will last about half an hour.

         

         

         
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Today’s program, lasting 57 minutes, can be heard here:

I listened quite a bit to American Family Radio (https://afr.net) this weekend, as I often do.  One program that I often find interesting is “I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist” with Dr. Frank Turek.  Sunday’s program was a repeat of one of his programs from a few days ago.

Turek interviewed Dr. Jay Smith, an American Christian evangelist and apologist to Muslims.  They discussed the historical and theological cracks in the foundation of Islam.

These are among the topics that they talked about:

Did the prophet Muhammad actually exist?

How did the Qur’an come into existence?

Did Islam really begin in Mecca?

The podcast of this program can be heard below.  It is a little over 48 minutes in length.

A video of this discussion can be seen below.  It is over 49 minutes in length.

At Olive Tree Ministries this weekend, in Part 1, Jan Markell talked with Michele Bachmann about rapidly-changing events and alignments that are threatening.  They challenged outrageous statements recently made by Tucker Carlson at a Charlie Kirk event and remind people and presidents that one issue cannot be mishandled or a nation pays for it.

In Part 2, Ken Mikle and Pastor Josh Schwartz talked with Tyler Hamrick about the key role of being a watchman, as outlined in Ezekiel 33.

         

         

         
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Today’s program, lasting 57 minutes, can be heard here:

At Olive Tree Ministries this weekend, in Part 1, Jan Markell interviewed Kari Hoffmann, whose son Landen survived a demonic attack against all odds.  She related a gripping yet uplifting account.

In Part 2, Ken Mikle and Pastor Josh Schwartz talked with talked with David Tal.  The key to understanding the times is Israel’s prophetic role playing out today.  And what about those sleeper cells supposedly loose in America?

         

         

         
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Today’s program, lasting 57 minutes, can be heard here:

Inside of each person’s eye is a crystalline lens.  It is located behind the round colored iris, which has the pupil (a round black opening) at its center.

Light from objects that we are looking at passes through the pupil and the lens.  The lens focuses the light onto the retina at the back of the inside of the eye.  Small muscles change the shape of the lens so that it can focus on objects far away and close up.

Usually with age, and sometimes due to systemic diseases, the lens can become cloudy.  This is due to the formation of a cataract, which causes the image focused on the retina to be blurry.  In time, usually a cataract surgery is necessary to remove the cloudy lens and replace the lens with a clear artificial intraocular lens or lens implant.

At Olive Tree Ministries this weekend, in Part 1, Jan Markell talked with White House correspondent Bill Koenig.  Is America headed towards consequences for its policies?  Hear the open letter to President Trump.

In Part 2, Ken Mikle and Pastor Josh Schwartz talked with Christian apologist and author Frank Turek.

         

         

         
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Today’s program, lasting 57 minutes, can be heard here:

Two days ago on July 1, the U.S. Senate passed Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” (BBB) after a very lengthy voting session.  All Democrats voted against the bill, which is over 900 pages in length.

Three Republicans also voted against the bill.  They included Senators Thom Tillis (NC), Susan Collins (ME) and Rand Paul (KY).  That brought the vote to a 50-50 tie.  The tie was broken by Vice President Vance, who voted for the megabill, resulting in a 51-50 win.  Then the legislation was sent to the House.

Early this morning, at 4:52 a.m. EDT, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) began a speech that lasted for 8 hours and 44 minutes.  It set a record for the longest speech delivered on the House floor.  Voting on the bill could not begin until his speech had ended.

Finally, the House vote on the BBB took place.  It passed by a vote of 218-214.  All Democrats voted against the bill.  Two Republicans also voted against the bill.  They included Thomas Massie (KY) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA).

Today, the bill will be sent to the White House.  Donald Trump is expected to sign it into law tomorrow afternoon, which is Independence Day.