Dr Chris

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  • The 4th of July

    Almost every adult American has a basic understanding of the 4th of July. But the meaning is deeper than we see on the surface. The real reason of America’s foundation is nothing like what is being taught today; it is being taught separate from our godly beginning.

    America’s founding is based on God. The Pilgrims left England so they could worship God freely. Our nation was founded on God and the Bible. The first documents of our country declared that God gave us rights that cannot be taken away by man. I wrote the following in my book “God In Schools.”

    “On July 4th, we celebrate the Declaration of Independence, which was based upon Biblical truths. America was established as a truly Christian nation; a fact seems to have been lost today. After the signing of the Declaration of Independence, it is documented: John Hancock echoed the reliance upon God and the belief that the destiny of nations is in the hand of God as he said: ‘Let us humbly commit our righteous cause to the great Lord of the Universe…let us joyfully leave our concerns in the hands of Him who raises up and puts down the empires and kingdoms of the earth as he pleases.’

    This firm reliance upon God was so universally adhered to among those in America that the First Continental Congress insisted it be included in the Declaration of Independence. While reviewing Thomas Jefferson’s original draft of the Declaration, the committee assigned to the task added the words, ‘they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights’… Most of the revisions of Jefferson’s original work had to do with the Lord. Thus we see the Continental Congress declaring to all the world their Christian convictions” (Beliles and McDowell 149). (Van Horn, 19-20).

    The Declaration of Independence is the document that declared America was a free country, separate from England. It was founded on the teachings of God. The principles in the Bible were used in writing this document. It says that all people are created equal by God. The U.S. Constitution set forth rules for America’s new government with principles were inspired by God.As declared by President Eisenhower in 1956, “In God We Trust” became the official motto of the United States. This is written on all US money since then.

    I would like to recommend two books for you that explain the true Christian origins of the United States. They are: •“American’s Providential History” by Mark Beliles and Stephen McDowell•“Original Intent” by David Barton (Wallbuilders, Inc.).

    These are a must-read for all adults who want to know the true origins of the founding of the United States and what our Founding Fathers fought to obtain for us. We must continue on their pathway.

    I want to close this blog series with a quote from President Ronald Reagan. This should give every adult pause if you are truly concerned for our country. Heed his words, please.

    “But freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it on to our children in the bloodstream. The only way they can inherit the freedom we have known is if we fight for it, protect it, defend it and then hand it to them with the well-thought lessons of how they in their lifetime must do the same. And if you and I don’t do this, then you and I may well spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it once was like in America when men were free” (President Ronald Reagan).

    Thank you for loving America. Reflect on it this holiday patriotic season.Wishing you and your family a beautiful and blessed 4th of July!

    Dr. Christine Van Hornwww.drchris.cochris@drchris.co

  • The Pledge of Allegiance and Patriotism

    The Pledge of Allegiance was written over 100 years ago by a pastor from New York. It means we are loyal to the flag and to the United States of America. It is a promise to defend the rights and freedom of all Americans. You may be able to recite the words, but could you explain the true meaning to your children? You should. Here are the words.

    “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America; and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

    Let me explain the words so that you can better explain them to your children.

    •Pledge = give •Allegiance = loyalty•Republic = country in which the citizens have the right to vote•For which it stands = which is one of our foundations•One nation = we are together•Under God = we are under the protection of God•Indivisible = cannot be divided•With liberty = freedom•And justice for all = fair treatment for everyone

    When we say the Pledge of Allegiance, it means that we give our loyalty to America. America is a Republic, in which citizens have the right to vote, which is one of our foundations. We are one nation together under the protection of God. We cannot be divided. We have freedom and give justice and fair treatment to all.

    Now take a look around at our culture today. How much better we would be as a nation if we truly embraced the meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance. Our nation did so in decades past and they stood more firm in their patriotism. That is a term we do not hear about enough these days.

    Let’s take a look at what Patriotism really means. Patriotism is defined as:

    devoted love, support, and defense of one’s country; national loyalty (dictionary.com).

    When you look around the country, you see the older generations wearing caps with their branch of service, where they served and in what war. We see them as patriotic. We see their devoted love for their country as well as a national loyalty. Younger persons can be very patriotic too, but they may not have the battle scars behind them. As adults, we need to reinforce the patriotism in the lives of our children. As we move farther and farther away from the older generation who openly displayed their patriotism, the younger generations are at more of a disadvantage from seeing patriotism in action. Ask their grandparents to explain patriotism to them. Please make this a family discussion this Memorial Day or 4th of July. We must stir up a love for America in our younger generation. Encourage your parents and grandparents to talk with your children about patriotism. If you child has a special project to do at school, one idea is for him or her to go to the American Legion or VFW Post and interview a veteran.

    We also need to pray for our country; we are called by God to do that. This could be an excellent thing to pray in family prayer time.

    “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV).

    Looking forward to sharing more with you next week,

    Dr. Christine Van Hornwww.drchris.cochris@drchris.co

  • Honoring Our Veterans

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]We need to honor all our veterans, both alive as well as those who have passed away. My Dad was a US Navy Veteran who served in WWII. My sisters and I were raised to have a patriotic spirit and honor all those who served in the U.S. military to fight for our freedom.

    Are any of your family members or friends or their parent’s military veterans? If you are reading this post in another country, honor those who served in the military in your country. That honoring spirit continues with me even to this day. We need to pass this along to our children. In this patriotic season, use everything you can to teach your children about this.

    My Dad lived with me in the last time of his life. Until his last day of life, he wore hats that represented the U.S. Navy, the ship he was on, or that he was a WWII Veteran. Look around in the coming months and look for hats or t-shirts of those who served in the military and thank them for their service.

    I spend a great deal of time in Branson, Missouri. I love the patriotism in this town. At the shows, they ask the military veterans to stand when the song for their branch of the service is played. People are always thanking the veterans for their service to this country. Shops have many patriotic items for sale. Branson is a patriotic town. This is how every town in America should be. If people spent more time on honoring our veterans than fighting with each other, there would be more safety in this country. We have a trend of turning away from honor.

    After my Dad passed away, I realized that I would not hear any more of his war stories firsthand anymore. It made me sad that I have not recorded more of them. But I decided to use the framework for the stories I had and seek out more stories from other veterans of the Greatest Generation. The Greatest Generation is the generation that lived through the Great Depression in the 1930s and WWII in the 1940s. Many of them served in the military. Others worked in the factories on the home front making the wartime supplies, raising their families so their husbands could serve in the military or supported them in other ways.

    “What The Greatest Generation Knew – That We Don’t”I determined that I would give this generation a voice, one more time. I am in process of writing a book called “What The Greatest Generation Knew – That We Don’t.” This book focuses on the character that these men and women had as they willingly fought to preserve world freedom. They knew that they may give their lives for this mission, but they went to the frontlines of battle anyway. The first and last chapters are already written and discuss their character, such as: courage, perseverance, patriotism, honor and respect. The major portion of the book is their stories. And I have room for many more.

    I am looking to still interview WWII Veterans or their families, as there are not too many of them still alive. These are the questions they can consider if they want to provide their stories to society;

    •What you remember about growing up as a child during the Great Depression.•How you decided to fight for world freedom in WWII.•What you did during WWII or what experiences you had.•The most important thing you learned from serving in WWII.•What words of wisdom would you like to leave as a legacy.

    If any WWII veterans or their families have a story they would like to tell, please contact me. This is one more opportunity to leave their legacy to a world that needs to hear it. My email address is:

    chris@drchris.co (not .com).

    Honor FlightThis is one of the ways I am honoring military veterans. Please seek out ways you can too. If you can participate in an “Honor Flight” in which military wartime veterans are brought to Washington DC for a day to go to the patriotic sites there. They are seeking escorts for the veterans. Their mission and vision are:

    Our mission is one of gratitude. For their service, sacrifice and selflessness. Join us as we proudly celebrate America’s veterans with a day of honor in our nation’s capital.

    Our vision – a Nation where all of our veterans experience the honor, gratitude and community of support they deserve.

    Please check out their website at: honorflight.org.

    We need to honor all veterans, no matter when they served and if they were in a war or not. Respect them and thank them. Let me leave you with this quote.

    “The willingness of America’s veterans to sacrifice for our country has earned them our lasting gratitude” (Jeff Miller, Former US Representative, Florida).

    Looking forward to sharing more with you next week,

    Dr. Christine Van Hornwww.drchris.cochris@drchris.co[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

  • What Is Memorial Day?

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  • Good Friday to Easter Sunday

    Dr. Chris’ Easter Blogs 2023

    Week 4

    Good Friday to Easter Sunday

    Good Friday (continued)What was it like for the Jews on that day when Jesus died on the cross for them? The high priestwould have offered up the Passover lamb as an atonement for their sins. When the sacrifice wascompleted, the trumpets would have sounded and the smoke from the offering arose to heaven.Then he would have uttered the words “It is finished” which signified that Israel’s sins wereatoned. For 1200 years, they had practiced it exactly this way. Millions of people were inJerusalem at this time for the Passover sacrifice. This was being done at the exact time Jesusuttered His same words and died. The true Passover Lamb died for them that day, and theymissed it, just like they missed seeing the Messiah be revealed to them on Palm Sunday (LambSelection Day).Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earthquaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of thesaints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after Hisresurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. So, when the centurionand those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that hadhappened, they feared greatly, saying, ‘Truly this was the Son of God!’ (Matthew27:50–54; author’s emphasis).When Jesus died and the rocks were split and there was so much power of God present thatpeople were raised from the dead, just like had occurred in the Garden of Gethsemane. At theChurch of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem over Calvary, you can actually see the large rockthat split. I have seen it.After Jesus died, the veil of the Temple was torn in two. This signified that Jesus had opened theway for all men to be able to enter the Holy of Holies and into the presence of God. This rendingof the veil of the Temple from top to bottom when Jesus died has incredible significance. Theveil separated the priest from the Holy of Holies in the Temple where the presences of Goddwelt. When the Temple veil was split in two, it opened up the pathway between man and God.At the same time as Jesus was dying on the cross, the High Priest Caiaphas was making thePassover sacrifice. He was about to step past that veil. He was planning to offer the blood of thePassover lamb. Rick Renner explains that just as he was about to enter the Holy of Holies, theveil was torn by the divine hands of God.Imagine how shocked Caiaphas must have been when he heard the ripping sounds abovehis head and then watched as the veil was torn in half, leaving two sides of the oncemassive curtain lying collapsed to his right and his left. Just think about what must havegone through this evil high priest’s mind when he saw the Holy of Holies was opened –and that God’s presence was no longer there!

    You see, when Jesus was lifted on that Cross, the Cross became the eternal mercy seat onwhich the blood of the final sacrifice was sprinkled. Once that sacrifice was made, it wasno longer necessary for a high priest to continually make sacrifices year after year, forJesus’ blood had now settled the issue forever!For this cause, God Himself ripped the veil of the temple in half, declaring that the wayto the Holy of Holies was now available to everyone who came to Him through the bloodof Jesus! (Renner. 2003, 274)Pastor James Ward in his “The Blood Covenant” message at Family Harvest Church (nowInsight Church in Tinley Park, IL) explains more about the precious blood of Jesus. He explainsthat the father’s blood is in the baby and not the mother’s blood. Because Adam’s blood passeddown the sinful, tainted, guilty and defective blood to all his children, God needed another planfor Jesus. It was like God said “For my Son to come as the Redeemer, there can be no earthlyman to pass along the defective earthly blood to My Son. Jesus was conceived of the HolySpirit. It was God’s DNA that conceived and sired Jesus Christ and not the defective blood of aman.” The breath and life of God was flowing in Jesus’ veins to sustain His life. Jesus’ blood issupernaturally powerful because it contains the life of God Himself. It is the most powerfulsubstance in the world.John Hagee explains it this way in his CD series Prophecy of the Seven Feasts. CD #3 is on the“Feast of First Fruits” and he states in minute twenty that “Jesus only had the blood of God andnot one drop of Mary’s blood. If He had it, the blood would not be worthy to cleanse our sins.God put His seed in Mary’s womb, blood included.”I pose this for consideration. The authenticity of the Shroud of Turin as Jesus’ burial garmenthas been questioned for centuries. The proof of authenticity would be to sample the stains andanalyze the blood. It would prove that it is not the blood of man. But who on earth is evenworthy to touch the blood of Jesus? No one.Holy SaturdayWhen Jesus’ body was lying in the tomb, He was really in Hades taking back the keys to theearth from Satan (Revelation 1:18). During this time, the Jews were oblivious to what wasoccurring, and were celebrating the Feast of Unleaven Bread. The Feast of Unleaven Breadbegan the day after Passover and lasted 7 days. It was a celebration remembering the Israelitesand how they fled Egypt so quickly that they did not have time to let the leaven bread rise. In theBible, leaven symbolizes sin. Jesus was the only sinless person. He was the Unleaven Breadand fulfilled this Feast Day. When Jesus’ body was in the tomb it did not decay according toPsalm 16:10. That is because He had the life of God in His blood, which was still in His body.Easter SundayThen on Resurrection Sunday, when the Jews were celebrating the Feast of Firstfruits, Jesus rosefrom the dead. The Feast of Firstfruits occurs on the second day of the Feast of Unleaven Bread.Thus Passover, the first day of Unleaven Bread, and the Feast of First Fruits occur onconsecutive days. The barley harvest was beginning to ripen. The first fruits of the barleyharvest were harvested and presented to the Lord in a ceremony at the Temple. During the

    celebration of the Feast of First Fruits, Jesus was raised from the dead. He was our First Fruits.Mary Magdalen was the first to see Jesus after He had risen from the dead.Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go toMy brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to MyGod and your God.’” (John 20:17; author’s emphasis)This was because Jesus had to first present His blood before the Father in the Tabernacle ofHeaven before He could be touched again on earth.At the same time that the High Priest was presenting the Firstfuit barley offering to God, Jesuswas presenting His blood to the Father. Jesus fulfilled another Feast Day on this very day. Hewas the fulfillment of the Feast Day of Firstfruits, and again the Jews missed it.After forty days, Jesus ascended into heaven where He sits at the right hand of the Father. Heremains THE Lamb of God but is coming again soon as both the Lamb of God and the Lion ofthe Tribe of Judah. AMEN!!

    Please read my book “The Lamb Eternal” for more in-depth information onthese teachings.

    Wishing all of you a Happy Easter. May you experience it with a deeperunderstanding.

    Dr. Christine Van Horn

  • Good Friday

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    Dr. Chris’ Easter Blogs 2023

    Week 3Good Friday

    I want to highlight some key points about Jesus on Good Friday.The soldiers led Jesus from the Mount of Olives into Jerusalem to the house of the High Priest,Caiaphas. His house has been discovered in recent times, and you can see the “pit” where Jesuswas probably held overnight and whipped. I have been there to see it and it is a humbingexperience to think of what Jesus suffered there.Jesus let them lead Him like a lamb, as Rick Renner explains in Sparking Gems from the Greek.Jesus demonstrated that they were not able to take Him by force, but that He allowed Himself tobe led. He explains that they led Him away, in the same way that one would lead a lamb with arope around his neck. This is probably what the soldiers did with Jesus – put a rope around Hisneck and led him down the path, just as Isaiah had prophesied (Renner. 2003. 232). Jesus onceagain acted as a lamb.Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, ‘Are You the Christ, the Son of theBlessed?’ Jesus said, ‘I AM. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand ofthe power and coming with the clouds of heaven.’ Then the high priest tore his clothesand said, ‘What further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy!What do you think?’ And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death (Mark14:61–64).When Jesus answered, He said that He was God, and they said it was blasphemy. Jesus was notcondemned to death because of anything He did. It was because of Who He said He was!He was then taken to Pilate. So, Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no fault inthis Man” (Luke 23:4). Pilate found Jesus guiltless and in doing so, he actually declared Jesus asa spotless lamb – THE Spotless Lamb. His declaration made the proclamation for Jesus to bedeclared without fault or defect – just like what was needed for the Passover lamb. What Pilatesaid was prophetic. If Pilate had ordered the crucifixion of Jesus, it would have been anexecution. Instead, the Jewish priests asked for Pilate to give Jesus to them, which he did. Thismade Jesus’ death a sacrifice because the priests offered sacrifices. This is a key fact inunderstanding the sacrificial death of Jesus.They beat Him, whipped Him until near death, mocked Him and injured Him until He wasterribly disfigured. They put a crown of thorns on His head. But through it all, He remained as alamb. His reaction to all the punishments He received was prophesied in the Book of Isaiah.He was oppressed and He was afflicted,Yet He opened not His mouth;He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,So, He opened not His mouth (Isaiah 53:7; author’s emphasis).

    In fact, all of Isaiah Chapter 53 is a prophesy about the death of the Lamb of God. Psalm 22does also. Here are a few verses from Psalm 22 that show the accuracy of this prophesy. Thewords Jesus spoke on Calvary are from Psalm 22.Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. Andabout the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lamasabachthani?’ that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Some of thosewho stood there, when they heard that, said, ‘This Man is calling for Elijah!’Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on areed, and offered it to Him to drink. The rest said, ‘Let Him alone; let us see if Elijahwill come to save Him.’ And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up Hisspirit (Matthew 27:45-50).Before Jesus died, there was great darkness over the land. Jesus experienced a great separationfrom His Father. One man (Adam) created this separation, and one man (Jesus) had to win itback.These words “it is finished” are recorded in John 19:30 in the Greek accounting term –“tetelestai.” This is a declaration that everything has fully been accomplished. This debt wasaccomplished between God the Father and His Son. It was a perfect covenant. Jesus was thePassover Lamb that was slain. He was God’s perfect substitute.Jesus chose when to die and at the precise moment that the Passover Lamb was slain in theTemple. Jesus was the perfect substitute at the perfect time. God came down to earth andbecame the Passover Lamb on exactly the same day and at the same time when the sacrifice hadoccurred – for centuries. Those past Passover lambs simply foreshadowed Jesus. The ninth hour(3:00 in the afternoon) has had a long-standing meaning in the Jewish faith, so they should haveseen this as another sign that Jesus was the Messiah. This was at the same location of MountMoriah (and the exact time of the ninth hour), where centuries before, Abraham was willing tosacrifice his son, Isaac, at the direction of the Lord.

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  • The Last Supper & the Garden of Gesthemane

    The Last Supper & the Garden of Gesthemane

    Week 2: The Last Supper and the Garden of Gethsemane

    The days between Lamb Selection Day and Passover are the days when the family was supposed to fall in love with their lamb before it is offered as a sacrifice for their sins.  During this actual Holy Week with Jesus, His people were supposed to be falling in love with Him for all He was doing for them.  But that did not occur.

    Several days after Lamb Selection Day, the Feast of Passover was celebrated.  It began at sundown on the fourth day, after the family’s lamb had been loved and cherished by them for these days.  As we have discussed, the first Passover was during the time of Moses.  Faithfully the Jews celebrate that Passover memorial every year.  They remember what God did for the Israelites in the time of Moses and the promises He made to them.  God commanded that Passover be memorialized forever and in a service (Ex 12:14, 25). When Jesus was celebrating what we know as “The Last Supper” He was actually celebrating Passover (just as from the time of Moses).  He was explaining the true meaning that would be fulfilled in Him. 

    His Apostles asked where they should go to prepare to eat the Passover meal.  He directed them to a large upper room.  That evening, He was the leader of this Passover service.  When they were together, He told them that one of them would betray Him.  He explained that He was about to become the Passover Lamb,  but they did not comprehend what He said. 

    And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body.’  Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it.  And He said to them, ‘This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many.  Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.’  And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives (Mark 14:22–26).

    What we call the “Last Supper” has a much deeper meaning that we first may realize.  Imagine the part in the Passover meal when God’s redemption is celebrated.  Now is the true time that God’s promise of redemption is about to be fulfilled in Jesus.  The next day He would be crucified.  They sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.

    When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives, He prayed to His Father.  He had Peter, James and John with Him.  He was deeply grieved and asked them to stay with Him, but they did not.  Jesus prayed to the Father that this cup of suffering be taken from Him but then submitted to the will of His Father.

    Jesus knew the hour of His betrayal was upon Him.  All that He faced was such a great stress upon Him, that He sweat great drops of blood.  Modern day medicine has explained that this can occur when the small blood vessels break under great duress.  The blood exudes out of the pores.

    Jesus knew the plan of His Father.  God had to provide the blood between Himself and man because neither man nor animals could provide blood with everlasting significance.  Jesus had to become man in order to have the blood to provide.  As in the covenant with Abram, God Himself walked between the sacrificial pieces to finalize the covenant, because He knew that man would not be able to do it.  Now the time had drawn near for this redemption from God to take place, and the blood of God would have to be poured out for mankind’s salvation. 

    After a time, Jesus saw the guards coming for Him.  Judas betrayed Him with a kiss.  When the Roman Guard came for Him, Jesus was asked if He was the One they were seeking.  He replied, “I AM” and the power of God knocked down the entire Roman guard.  In this statement, Jesus made known that He was God.  When God had spoken to Moses from the burning bush, God told Moses that He was “I AM.”  Jesus then let Himself be taken, as they could not take Him (John 18:6). 

    For further explanation, please read Chapter 5 (specifically pages 75-80) and Chapter 6 (specifically pages 81-83) in my book “The Lamb Eternal.”

  • Palm Sunday Easter 2023

    Palm Sunday Easter 2023

    Week 1: Palm Sunday

    This is the first blog post to help us prepare for Easter Sunday.  Many churches celebrate Lent leading up to Easter, and that has already begun.  This is an important time to prepare our hearts to reflect on the true meaning of Easter –Jesus giving His life for the salvation of men.  Jesus is THE Lamb of God.  The information in these blogs is summarized from my book “The Lamb Eternal.”  If you want to learn more about what I am posting here, you can purchase my book through the link on my website (www.drchris.co) or through Amazon.  All Scriptures are NKJV unless otherwise noted.

    Where does the story of Easter begin?  It begins before time began, in God’s eternal past.  Revelation 13:8 states that Jesus is “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”  This means He always has been THE Lamb.  Before God created man, Jesus was “THE Lamb.”  Even before He created man, God knew that man would fail and that He needed a plan to redeem mankind.  We will study about the end of Jesus’ life – Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday.

    Jesus is “The Passover Lamb.”  But what is Passover?  The first Passover was just before Moses led the Israelites out of their bondage in Egypt, towards the Promised Land.  Pharaoh would not let God’s people leave Egypt, even when God sent a series of plagues.  God had one final plague to send upon them – the death of the first male children in the Egyptian households.  God had protected the Israelites children from all of the plagues, and He would do the same for this last one.  This protection from the final plague was called the “Passover.” 

    The Israelites took the blood of lambs and put it on the doorposts (and the crossbar over the doorposts) of their dwellings.  Death overshadowed the land that night but passed over the homes of the Israelites who put the lamb’s blood on their doorposts.  Death “passed over” their homes and spared their eldest sons.  That is where the name “Passover” comes from.  This was their blood covering and foreshadowed what Jesus would do for mankind on Calvary.  That night, the firstborn of the Egyptians households was killed and eventually Pharoah let the Israelites leave Egypt.  They crossed the Red Sea after God parted the waters, and Pharoah then had a change of heart.  His armies went out after the Israelites, and those armies were drowned in the sea when God had safely let the Israelites cross and put the waters back into place.  Please read Exodus Chapter 12 for the full understanding. 

    God told them also that Passover was an everlasting ordinance, which means it is to be kept as a Feast of the Lord.  The Jewish people today still remain faithful in celebrating Passover.  Christians should celebrate it too because it is a Feast Day of the Lord and is not just for the Jewish people. 

    Let us turn to Jesus’ day and what we know as Palm Sunday.  When Jesus was before the Jewish people during the final Passover timeframe of His life on earth, the people did not recognize Him.  That timeframe started on what we know as Palm Sunday.  For the Jews in Jesus’ Day, it was Lamb Selection Day.  It commemorated the day the Israelites selected their lambs that would be slain on Passover.  Jesus came before them as THE Lamb, and they did not recognize Him.

    The time of Jesus’ announcement of being the Messiah (which He did on that Palm Sunday) and His death was prophesied in Daniel 9:25-26 – about 500 years in advance.  This is in what we know as the “70 weeks of Daniel” prophecy.

    This prophecy sets forth a starting time (when the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem).  It says that the Anointed One (Jesus) would “come” (that is be announced as the Messiah) and be killed at the ending time of the sixty-two sets of seven (years).  It also explains that after this, Jerusalem and the Temple will be destroyed, which occurred in 70 A.D.  This is the reason why Jesus wept on the Mount of Olives on Palm Sunday.  He knew that they missed the time of their visitation and received Him not.  He knew the destruction of the city and the Temple that lie ahead.

    In this following passage from the Book of Daniel, God spoke through Daniel to tell him when the Messiah would be announced.  It is calculated in years – seven sets of seven years and sixty-two sets of seven years.  It gives the starting date and then can be calculated.

    Now listen and understand!  Seven sets of seven plus sixty–two sets of sevenwill pass from the time the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem until a ruler—the Anointed One—comes.  Jerusalem will be rebuilt with streets and strong defenses,despite the perilous times.  After this period of sixty-two sets of seven,the Anointed One will be killed, appearing to have accomplished nothing, and a ruler will arise whose armies will destroy the city and the Temple. (Daniel 9:25–26 NLT; author’s emphasis)

    Please read Chapter 4 (specifically pages 64-68) in my book “The Lamb Eternal” for a detailed explanation of this prophecy.  But it points to the exact day when the Messiah would be made known — and then states He would be killed.  If the Jews, who thought they were true students of Scripture, had studied what this prophecy meant, they would have known the EXACT day ahead of time when the Messiah would “come” – be announced to them – and then He would die for them.  Then it says the city and Temple would be destroyed.  There is so much in these two verses – but they did not figure it out.  It is when Jesus presented Himself as the Messiah. 

    It was prophesied in Zechariah 9:9 which says that He will come to them, riding on a donkey’s colt.  Scripture they had studied also told them this other fact that also pointed to Jesus being the Messiah.

    Rejoice, O people of Zion!

    Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem!

    Look, your King is coming to you.

    He is righteous and victorious,

    yet He is humble, riding on a donkey —

    riding on a donkey’s colt. (Zechariah 9:9; author’s emphasis)

    If the religious men of that day were the well-learned men of God that they said they were, they would have calculated the date of the Messiah’s announcement to the world, and figured out who Jesus was.  But they did not.

    Palm Sunday was actually “lamb selection” day.  It was the day that the Jews found their lamb that would be offered for their family at the Passover sacrifice.  After they selected the lamb, they tied it up by their house so that they would become close to it and love it.  When the lamb would be sacrificed on Passover, it would have heartfelt meaning to them.  On that Palm Sunday, THE real Lamb of God came before them, but they did not recognize Him.  They missed the time of their visitation. 

    Do not miss the time of the visitation of God in your life.  Remember Palm Sunday, which for us is the start of Holy Week.

  • “The Greatest Generation” Book

    I am excited to tell you about the next book I am writing, and I need your assistance.  This book is to honor to the men and women who grew up during the Great Depression and served our country during WWII.  These men and women may be those who fought in the military, worked in the factories at home supporting the production of equipment needed for the war efforts, or who remained on the home front taking care of their families so their loved ones could fight.  The WWII generation has been called “The Greatest Generation” and they truly were.  They had values and character that we do not see as prevalent today.  We can learn so much from them, but there are so few still remaining.  My goal is to capture their stories to still learn what we can from them.  The world is in need of their wisdom at this moment in time.  My book is called “What The Greatest Generation Knew – That We Don’t.”

    My Dad was a WWII Vet who lived with me during the latter part of his life.  When he passed, I was filled with an emptiness.  I also was sad that I would no longer hear of his early life and war stories.  He did leave some of them and I began to write about the things he told me.  I realized that there are so many stories out there from these honorable men and women and we need to capture them now.  They have great wisdom to share about their WWII experiences and they can still mentor the people of today and leave a legacy.

    I am still searching for stories to put in my upcoming book.  I am looking for:

    • WWII veterans and other members of the Greatest Generation who are willing to let me interview them or have their families help them write their own stories
    • Family members whose siblings, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles served in WWII, and you have information that you are willing to share with me.  This information could be in the form of things they wrote, books that were published about their military units, and stories they told you or wrote down. 

    Possible things to discuss in the stories:

    • Growing up as a child during the Great Depression
    • How you decided to fight for world freedom in WWII
    • What you did during WWII or what experiences you had
    • The most important thing you learned from living through and serving in WWII
    • What words of wisdom you would like to leave the world today as a legacy

    I am looking to write one chapter for each person.  I can interview you and help putting this information into a story format unless you would like to write the story yourself. 

    I am looking to start each chapter with a quote of theirs or something they would still say if they could.  The body of the information is all about their experiences.  I want to end each chapter with the things they learned from WWII and their words of wisdom to leave as a legacy to society today.

    Please share this request with family and friends who may be interested in sharing their WWII stories for this book.  If you are the WWII Vet who wants to submit your story, please ask your family and friends to help you document this, or I can interview you and write the story.  I live in the Chicago area but can talk over the phone (including a Face Time call), or a Zoom call.

    All stories will be subject to the approval of the Vet and/or the family prior to publishing.  Stories should be about 2-3 type-written pages or up to 1500 words in length.  (As an example, this blog is about 800 words so it could be up to 3 times as long).  That will retain chapter size consistency.  You may submit photos (up to 3 per story).  I am in process of talking to my book publisher regarding the number of photos I may use for the entire book.

    There is another benefit for writing these stories.  The written story (even if you decide not to submit it to me), becomes a family legacy.  The world is a better place because of those who served our country and the world during WWII.  I want the world to hear their words of wisdom.

    Thank you for being willing to read this and blessings if are willing and able to assist.

    The best way to contact me is via email at:

    chris@drchris.co   (not .com)

    I have published 6 other books, so I am an experienced author.  If you want to see the other books I have written, please check out my website at:

    www.drchris.co  (not .com)

    Thank you –

    Dr. Christine Van Horn

  • Was There Really No Room In The Inn?

    Was There Really No Room In The Inn?

    Dr. Chris’ Christmas Blogs 2022

    Week 4

    In his article “The Birth – Revisited” haRold Smith explains that tradition makes us think that Joseph and Mary had no place to go and became “stuck” in an animal stable as a last resort to give birth to the Messiah.  He says that Scripture does not support this. 

    The Greek word for “inn” is “kataluma,” which means “guest chamber” – and of the family home.  Jewish family homes had a “guest chamber – kataluma” which was available for the family guests.  Kataluma is translated in Luke 2:7 as “inn,” however in Luke 22:11 when Jesus is seeking a place to celebrate Passover, it is translated as guest chamber.  The term guest chamber is certainly a valid interpretation and is much more in keeping with Jewish family life of that time.

    Scripture says that “while they were there” the time had come for Mary to give birth.  In all likelihood they did not start on their journey right before Mary gave birth.  They probably had been in Bethlehem for a while before it was the time for Jesus to be born arrived.  They would have been staying in the guest chamber of the family home in Bethlehem.

      They were both descendants of King David, as were their families.  This would have been a nice home in which they were staying.

    However, when a Jewish woman gave birth, she became “ceremonially unclean.”  She needed to be separated from the family, so that they also would not become unclean by her blood, released during childbirth. 

    Joseph and Mary needed to move out of the guest chamber of the family home.  Their family would not have ostracized them and forced them to move to an animal stable at a time of childbirth. 

    Where did they go? 

    They went to the Watchtower of the Flock. 

    How did they know?  Did the Lord tell them?  Did an angel appear to Joseph in another dream? 

    Did they understand from Scripture? 

    Being of the linage of King David, they would know of the prophecies about the birth of the Messiah.  They knew that Mary was carrying the Messiah. 

    They understood what the Bible said about the birth of the Messiah, and how He would be revealed from Migdal Eder.  The birth chamber would be ceremonially clean for the sacrificial lambs; thus, clean for the birth of the Messiah.  The Bible does not say explicitly, but they went there for Jesus to be born.  But the angels sent the shepherds of the Temple flock to certify to the world that the Messiah was born.

    Let us close this study with Luke Chapter 2 and see how all we have studied fits so well into these verses.

    1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.  2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.  3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

    4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.  6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.  7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 

    8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.  10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.

     11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”  13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

    15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.”  16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.  

    17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.  18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.  19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.  20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them (Luke 2:1-20 NKJV – author’s emphasis).

    Wishing all of you a blessed Christmas.  

    May you experience it with a deeper understanding.

    Dr. Christine Van Horn

    Christmas 2022