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Daily Devotional, Year 2 – APRIL 25

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It’s A Carnegie Hall World!

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One day in Midtown Manhattan, an elderly gentleman was stopped by a very young man clutching his violin case, obviously in a hurry. And trying to gather his breath, the young man anxiously asked, “Kind sir, can you please tell me how I might get to Carnegie Hall?”

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The elderly gentleman paused, and thought for a moment, and then said with a wry grin, “Yes, my young fellow…Practice! Practice! Practice!”

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Oh yes, that’s an old joke. But like so many things in this very unusual world, it carries with it a certain wisdom which can easily be translated into the spiritual realm.

Carnegie Hall – Manhattan New York – Wikipedia – C.C. Share-alike License

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 “FINALLY ARRIVED!”

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Now of course, Carnegie Hall has long been considered to be that place where a musician knows for certain, that he or she has, “finally arrived”.

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It is the “Mecca” for the quintessential musician to showcase his virtuosity before the American aristocracy! And of course, nobody gets to play at Carnegie Hall, without, “Practice, Practice! Practice!”

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But how can this little American Dream Machine, called Carnegie Hall, be translated into spiritual terms on a grand scale?

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Question Marks – At a loss – svg – Wikimedia Commons – Share-Alike License

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A CARNEGIE HALL WORLD?

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Well, this world itself, is a type of Carnegie Hall. Oh yes it is!

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This world is merely the grand stage in which any gifted virtuoso has the opportunity to perfect his or her talent, whatever that talent may be, for all the appreciative multitudes to behold and admire!

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And there have been many hard-working persons over the years and centuries, who strove for greatness and finally achieved fame and honor, being lauded upon the world-stage before the vast multitudes of on-lookers, in this ‘Carnegie Hall World’!

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The Globe Theater audience – Wikimedia – CC public Domain

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MANY “WINNERS-IN-LIFE”

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From world-class athletes, to Hollywood actors and directors, to great politicians, to classic authors, to inquisitive scientists, to aspiring singers and musicians, to ingenious inventors and clever engineers, and even more-than-a-few ambitious theologians and evangelists!

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Yes, these and myriad others who ultimately achieved stardom in countless areas of endeavor, are considered the “winners-in life”, by those who control the “star-maker-machinery” of this ‘Carnegie Hall World’!

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Pierre Auguste Renoir, La loge (The Theater Box) – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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A CARNEGIE HALL VILLAGE

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But even upon the local stage of little towns and neighborhoods, this same proud principle applies!

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Yes, even the little guy goes after fame and fortune, in one respect or another!

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To become richer than most others in your little town or even in your own neighborhood brings you a certain amount of respect and honor! Or, maybe you can become the best golfer in your country club. Or the highest selling realtor in your town. Or the most beloved teacher in your school. Or even the most notorious “gang-banger” in your gang! 

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Or whatever other “badge of honor” that might be achieved on a local level.

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Yes, it’s a Carnegie Hall World, even down to the lowest levels of society! Human Pride is literally oozing from every pore of society!

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Hells Angels Rally, New York City, Tompkins Square Park – Wikimedia – Creative Commons License

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WHO IS THE MASTER ORCHESTRATOR?

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But who is the operator that drives all this self-seeking machinery?

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Because it’s the height of simple-minded naivety to ever image that this world could ever be such a well-running mechanism by its own power! Anybody knows that a well-oiled machine must have an operator. So, there has to be some Grand Master Orchestra Director, directing this Carnegie Hall World?

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Well, of course, it’s none other than the one who tried to be the most beloved “star” in the courts above: that grand-master-maestro-musician in Heaven! Yes, Lucifer became so adored and admired in the heavenly courts among a third of the angels, he actually began to covet the throne of God!

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And so, God, in His great wisdom, decided to allow Lucifer to have his very own world, in which he would eventually be exposed for who and what he really is!

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Gustave Dore – Paradise Lost illustration – Lucifer becomes Satan – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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THE MASTER-DIRECTOR OF THIS WORLD!

“…and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast”

Revelation 13:3, 4

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And Lucifer (now in the office of “The Devil”) orchestrates this planet as his own world.

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And being the very cunning deceiver that he is, he merely creates a self-seeking world, with all its selfish wares and proud ambitious ways! And these wares and ways are merely tokens of Lucifer’s sinful attributes, gilding them with the fool’s gold of false-goodness and outward-morality.

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And then he directs his unseen evil-angels to work in the hearts of Mankind, causing them to imitate Lucifer, their god!

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And so, by doing the same things as Lucifer did, yet in our own little realm and sphere, we unknowingly pour our costly ointment of praise and honor upon Satan, “the god of this world!” That’s how we worship “His Satanic Majesty”! 

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Satan presiding at the Infernal Council – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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GET OFF THE MERRY-GO-ROUND!

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And so, O faithful Christian, hopefully you and I have both decided to cease from striving to gain fame, honor, and fortune, in our own little sphere.

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Hopefully we have already shunned this Carnegie Hall World, and are now seeking only for glory and honor in the heavenly courts, as we conform our hearts and lives into the humble image of Jesus. 

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A HIGHWAY OF HOLINESS

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And God has placed before us a pilgrim’s pathway which leads out of this world, and onward and upward into the Celestial City of God!

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We can choose which world we want: this dying world, or the next everlasting world.

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But we cannot choose both!

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(Oh yes, Lucifer even has his own false, look-alike gospels which offer both worlds! But those gospels only lead downward to destruction of the soul.)

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So, if you are tired of striving for the proud and selfish attributes that this world is all about, then please come along on the pathway for weary pilgrims, such as you and I.

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We have nothing to loose but our shackles of sin and death!

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ABOVE PICTURE right: Castor and Pollux – The Narrow Gate – The door which leads To Life Everlasting – Narrow Gate Stars (Castor and Pollux of the Gemini Constellation) – www.signsofheaven.org

ABOVE PICTURE left: Wide Gate (the two brightest stars of the Auriga Constellation)

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, I’m tired of playing this foolish game. Get me off this crazy merry-go-round world, and on to the upward pathway that leads to Heavenly Paradise which awaits all who desire to find it with all their heart…

Woman Praying – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… ““Vanity Fair” & The False Prophet”, or you can also read… “January 27th (It’s a Brand-X World)” 

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

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THE NARROW WAY: THE PILGRIM’S PATHWAY

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That world-shaking allegory, Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan, picked up the theme of the Narrow Gate. The hero of the story was Christian, a man who was warned to flee from the City of Destruction (the world), and to embark on a journey to the Heavenly City. And along the way, Christian encountered many adventures and dangers. This first of its kind allegorical book absolutely rocked the western world, and became perhaps the first million seller book (along with the Bible).

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But God has also given this same Narrow Way parable in the night heavens! Incredible? Yes, incredible…and amazing too! And though these two stars can hardly be considered a constellation, but when sitting next to the two stars which comprise the Broad Gate, well, it makes a powerful statement, for the people of God. 

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So please come along on this journey and find out just why this pathway graces the night heavens, and perhaps you might find yourself embarking on your own pilgrimage up that very same Narrow pathway.

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John Bunyan – Wikipedia – Public Domain

Pilgrim’s Progress Enters The Wicket Gate – Wikipedia – public domain

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LOCATION

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This most amazing phenomenon is seen throughout the winter. Although it can be observed most of the winter, it is seen best when it is the western part of the sky, at winter’s end (The end of winter being the final scene of this heavenly Gospel story). Orion , the Dragon, and the Glorious White Horse are beginning to descend into the western horizon (sketch to right is Winter Constellations descending into western horizon. This can actually be seen as early as December, in the pre-dawn hours).

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And at this point it is apparent that the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation  is veering toward the two bright stars, known as Castor and Pollux (sketch to left). But the Wide Gate Stars are composed of the two brightest stars of the Auriga Constellation, known as the star, Capella, and the star, Menkalinan. The two stars, Castor and Pollux, make up the concept of the Orion’s Narrow Gate Stars.

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This can even be observed into June in the western sky (for a short time just after dark). While a dark night is best for seeing the Woman Constellation, the 4 stars which comprise the Narrow Gate/Wide Gate Stars can be seen even under mediocre conditions. It begins with the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation (AKA Ursa Major) going towards these two doors.

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The sketch to left shows, the two doors are each composed of two bright stars. The two bright stars that comprise the Narrow Gate are the two brightest stars of the Orion the Reaper’s sickle. The two stars that comprise the ‘Wide Gate’ Stars are the two brightest stars of the wave of water that comes out of the Dragon Constellation’s mouth (for explanation of “Wave of Water”, just click here). The stars that make up the ‘Narrow Gate’ are about half the width of the Wide Gate (see sketch below left).

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(For more information on Orion’s sickle, just click here, “Orion The Reaper”.)

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Editor’s note: These sketches on this page are merely sketches. The stars are not in their exact place. However, they are close enough to find them in the night sky. But as with most stars, it takes persistence to finally locate them.

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Revelation 12 Woman & The Narrow Gate Stars (Orion’s Gate to Heaven)”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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TOMORROW…

“APRIL 26 (To Die Is Gain!?! Part 3: “Heavenly Joy!”)”

Virtuous Woman with Bible – Braet von Überfeldt – 1866 – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH 

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ALL‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

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THIS STUDY #481 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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Those who are interested in using photos on this page may click on provided link below each photo, to get to Wikimedia Commons for various licensing details & tags, and all other necessary information on any particular photo. Most tall, narrow photos have been cropped or reduced by this website to make them a better fit on phone screens.