Faith, Politics and Other Stuff

"Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart." Ps 34:4

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Watchmen From Jerusalem

A Biblical Perspective On The News
Issue No. 4, Year 2007

Shalom friends,
We are blessed to welcome Bethany into our family. The Lord has joined her and our eldest son Michael in marriage. Our younger son Jed, is still in the IDF on the Lebanese border. We appreciate your prayers and support so that, by His grace, we can glorify Yeshua in the work to which He has called us.

For My Holy Name’s sake – Ezekiel 36:22

God has promised to restore Israel and to protect her by making her a mighty army. [See verses below.] We see this being fulfilled today. Yet there is another vital aspect to these promises for those who love the God of Israel and pray for His people.

Although much of the world and the Church condemn Israel when she defends herself by killing her enemies, yet according to the following verses, God enables Israel to defend herself for His glory. Hear His words:

“Now also many nations are gathered against you, that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion. But they know not the thoughts of LORD, neither understand they His counsel: for He shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor. Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make your horn iron, I will make your hoofs brass: and you shall beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto LORD, their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.” (Micah 4:11-13)

“Fear not, you worm Jacob, and you men of Israel; I will help you, says LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. Behold, I will make you a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: you shall thresh the mountains…make the hills as chaff. You shall fan them, the wind shall carry them away…and you shall rejoice in LORD, and glory in the Holy One of Israel.” (Isaiah 41:14-16)

So pray for Israel’s army – that God Himself will get the glory.

Wars and Rumors of Wars

Israel could soon be in another war. Hizbullah to Israel’s north, Syria on the Golan border, Hamas in Gaza, and Iran in missile range, are all tools of the current manifestation of the spirit of Islam. Yet the world seems paralyzed when dealing with Islam

- JP columnist Singer says “the West has entered a ‘post-post-9/11’ era,” noting that at the June G-8 summit, “the focus was on global warming, Africa, globalization, missile defenses in Europe – anything but the rising Islamist menace.” (“Quiet, America is sleeping,” Saul Singer, JP Op-ed, 14 June 2007)

How should we pray?

- Pray for a quick and decisive Israeli victory. This will result in mercy for Israel and her enemies. Israel at times has shown more mercy to her defeated foes than God Himself desires (1 Kings 20:31-43). Islamists deal barbaro- usly with defeated enemies: grisly tortures, beheadings, slavery, rape, forced conversions, etc. Also as one former Middle East [ME] dictator said, the Arab nations can lose 99 wars against Israel, yet if Israel loses once – she loses all.

- Pray that God would protect believers in the IDF, and make them salt and light. Ask God to anoint them with all spiritual gifts as needed – healings, words of knowledge, exhortation, etc.

- Beseech God for the sake of your nation that it would not hinder Israel when she deals with her enemies.

The un-civil war in Gaza…

in June, between Hamas and Palestinian Authority [PA] Chairman Abbas’ Fatah (two terrorist groups that lead the PA), was partly an answer to prayer: “Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion” (Psalms 129:5).

“The wave of violent Hamas-Fatah clashes is one of the most brutal the PA has known, especially considering that it broke out only a short while after signing the Mecca Agreement, which was supposed to put an end to their mutual fighting.”

Who was at fault? Fatah accused Hamas of “staging a coup against the PA.” A senior PA official said, “A strong smell of Al-Qaeda is rising from what is being done in Gaza…” And Hamas “accused Fatah of collaborating with the US and Israel…”

Egyptian Intelligence Chief Suleiman said Iran and Syria were behind the violence. A senior Fatah official agreed, saying “Iran and Syria have poured millions of dollars into Hamas’ coffers… The goal of [Iran’s] mullahs is to establish a Shi’ite-run ME.”(“Iran, Syria push Hamas to take Gaza,” Jerusalem Newswire, 13 June 2007)

Palestinian writers were furious at both groups. “You have ruined our world, castrated our nationalism, prostituted our resistance…Take your government, militias and gangs and go to hell.”

Another said, “Oh murderers, you are the Satan of Palestine.”

An Israeli-Arab weekly reported, “People in Gaza are hoping Israel will re-enter the Strip, wipe out both Hamas and Fatah, then withdraw again.” One day she will return for good. (Zeph. 2:4-7)

Journalist M. Azzam wrote, “The [only] thing that prevents the chaos and turmoil in Gaza from spreading to the West Bank is the presence of the Israeli occupation…” (MEMRI: “We Are Facing a 2nd Nakba,” C. Jacob, 13 June 2007)

The frightening aftermath

“If it had not been LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say…” (Psalms 124:1). After Fatah and Hamas killed each other, demonstrating a viciousness that should prove that neither group is capable of ruling over anyone – the West now says we have a “window of opportunity” to establish a Palestinian state because Abbas is really a “moderate” and now that Fatah terrorists are not linked to Hamas terrorists, we can give Fatah money and land and weapons, etc. This is total deception, with America in the lead.

White House press secretary Snow: “We want to get back to the situation where the Palestinians can get something they’ve been robbed of too many times…peace in their streets, democracy in their government, and…two nations, sovereign, living peacefully, side by side.” Yet Palestinians have always robbed themselves, and it will likely be the same in the future. (“US to Use Hamas Upheaval to Squeeze Israel For Concessions,” Arutz 7, 15 June 2007)

The bottom line is that a Palestinian state on God’s land is not His will (Joel 3:1-2; Amos 9:13-15; Obad. 17-21)!

JP’s C. Glick wants an answer to this simple question: “Why would a handover of Judea and Samaria to Abbas’ Fatah produce a better outcome than Israel’s 2005 handover of Gaza to Abbas’ Fatah?” (“Grounded in fantasy,” Caroline Glick, JP Op-ed, 18 June 2007)

JP editor David Horovitz wrote that although “Hamas has taken over the Gaza Strip, with a display of ruthless brutality toward its own people,” still their primary goal remains Israel’s destruction.

Yet now Israel is being asked to ignore “the inconvenient issue of the Hamas takeover…and the consequent emboldening of its fundamentalist ideology,” to forget the “escalating threat posed by Hamas’ full control of what is now an overt arms supply route via the Philadelphi Corridor from Egypt. Instead it is being urged… to seize the moment to advance substantive peace talks with the suddenly tough-talking but hitherto demonstrably impotent Abbas over the fate of the next slice of territory Hamas is eyeing, the West Bank.” (“Leverage in Hamastan,” D. Horovitz, JP Op-ed, 21 June 2007)

America’s Unbiblical Stance

In mid July, US President Bush made a major ME policy speech. “Bush reaffirmed his commitment to help birth a Palestinian Arab state in Israel’s biblical heartland and pledged nearly $200 million of US taxpayers’ dollars to Abbas…” (“US intelligence: Backing Abbas not the way to peace,” Israel Today, 17 July 2007)

Yet when interviewed on Arabic-language radio, US Sec. of State Rice claimed that Bush said, “the occupation of the West Bank will have to end,” and Palestine must “be established.” But Bush did not demand an Israeli withdrawal from all “the West Bank.” Rice’s statement “set a new standard for US officials…in opposition to Israel’s presence in Judea and Samaria. Rice did not deal with…what to do with the 240,000 Jews living” there and a similar amount living in Jerusalem neighborhoods built beyond the pre-67 borders. (“Secy. Rice: Israel Must End Occupation of ‘West Bank’,” Arutz 7, 26 July 2007)

Rice reaffirmed her stance on July 31st by signing “a joint statement with Egypt, Jordan and six Persian Gulf states, endorsing the 2002 Arab peace initiative as” foundational for ME peace. “The initiative offers Israel normalized relations with all Arab countries in return for a full withdrawal from territory Israel captured in 1967.”(“US endorses Arab peace plan as foundation for ME peace,” Ha’aretz, 1 Aug. 2007)

Israelis living in Judea and Samaria issued their own statement informing Rice that they do not live in “‘occupied territory,’ but the biblically-mandated heartland of the Jewish people…”(“Israelis inform Rice the West Bank is not ‘occupied’,” Israel Today, 27 July 2007)

Here is one way to pray to stop these anti-biblical “peace” talks. “In a move that could scuttle the Bush Administration’s fresh momentum in the Israeli-Palestinian peace track, both Fatah and Hamas officials acknowledged…they are conducting secret talks.” PM Olmert’s office said these talks will have “severe ‘diplomatic ramifications’ and lead to another Israeli boycott of a Palestinian unity government…

“Arab governments and even Russian officials are reportedly brokering the…talks in hopes of bringing the rival militias back together.”(“Fatah, Hamas in Reconciliation Talks,” ICEJ News, 8 Aug. 2007) What a world we live in when we can pray for “unity” in order to stop something that is against God’s will.

Gaza Disengagement review

Israeli public figures “who supported or helped implement the unilateral withdrawal from Gaza and N. Samaria and have since expressed regret.” Here are just two examples.

H. Halkin, author and political commentator admitted he was wrong. “Gaza has become more, not less, of a military menace to Israel; Palestinian politics and the Palestinian street have become more, not less, radicalized; Israel’s public image as an occupying country has not significantly improved in the world…”

Y. Lapid, TV personality and commentator: “We left Lebanon and Hizbullah attacks us from Lebanon. We left Gaza and terror groups attack us from Gaza. The region that is most quiet right now is Judea and Samaria. Even the biggest leftists are faced with the creeping heretical thought: perhaps it wasn’t the occupation?” (“Public Figures Express Regret For Disengagement,” Arutz 7, 31 May 2007)

Land for “peace” still being pushed

Even with all this proof that the current means to obtain peace between Israel and her neighbors is not working, the “peace” idol still causes many Israelis to try just one more time…

In late July the JP noted that things were again moving on the diplomatic front. In a short span of time Olmert met with Abbas, Bush gave that ME policy speech, EU foreign policy chief Solana, the Quartet’s new ME envoy Blair and then foreign ministers of Jordan and Egypt all flew in for talks in Israel, followed by a visit by Rice and another Olmert-Abbas meeting. One Israeli diplomatic official said there is a sense of “cautious optimism.” Ominously, this means “Olmert’s realignment plan… to withdraw from most of the West Bank that [he] unveiled before the elections, and which seemed so dead just a few short months ago, is making a reappearance on the national agenda.”

Also making a return is the idea of working “out an accord on …what a Palestinian state would look like, how its economy would run, what its relations with Israel would be – and then deal with the more difficult issues later,” i.e. Jerusalem, settlements, refugees, security and borders.

This signals an “abandonment of the road map,” where the path to peace “was seen as a sequential, stage-by-stage process with security” first. Israel is now turning back to the Oslo approach – “first you make peace…sign an agreement, shake hands, [agree on principles], then everything else, including security, naturally falls into place.” This approach never worked because the real goal of the Palestinians is not peace with Israel – but all pieces of Israel.

Yet Israeli officials, urged “on by the international community, are saying that the newly reconstituted PA [i.e., Fatah] is…trying to put its house in order, but if Israel waits until the PA uproots the terrorist infrastructure in the West Bank, it would be waiting a very long time indeed. And time…is very much of the essence.”

Why? Because now there is a “historic window of opportunity.” “This needs to be done quickly, before Hamas, well oiled from Iran, is able to strengthen its hold on Gaza and expand into the West Bank.”(“The return of an Oslo state of mind,” H. Keinon, JP Features, 26 July 2007)

Since PM Olmert is leading Israel in a very unbiblical, thus dangerous path, pray for God to either turn his heart (Prov. 21:1), or turn him out of office. Recently he and Abbas “agreed to meet regularly to prepare for” a US ME summit this fall. Olmert said, “The aim is to achieve President Bush’s vision of two countries for two peoples, living in security and peace side by side’.” (“Olmert Agrees to Speed Up Talks to Establish PA State,” Arutz 7, 7 Aug. 2007)

E. Gordon says two recent polls show, “just how surreal all the talk of…diplomatic momentum is…” A Peace Index poll, “found that for the first time in years, a majority of Israeli Jews oppose a broad West Bank withdrawal, even under…a peace treaty…”

And the latest Pew Global Attitudes poll, “found dramatic, almost across-the-board drops in Muslim countries’ support for suicide bombings…[except] the PA – where a whopping 70% considered suicide bombings sometimes or often justified…”

Gordon connects the dots. “It is precisely because Palestinian enthusiasm for murdering Jews remains undimmed after 14 years of the ‘peace process’ that Jewish Israelis have stopped believing territorial concessions will bring peace…”(“Surreal diplomacy,” Evelyn Gordon, JP Op-ed, 8 Aug. 2007)

A Dangerous International “Peace” Conference

Yet in mid-summer Israel was being pressed to do just that. “As the US, Jordan, the PA and others prepare for a high-level [US sponsored] ME summit in November, a squeeze on Israel to agree to a Palestinian state just kilometers from Tel Aviv is feared.”

Likud Knesset Member Y. Shteinitz said this summit must be strongly opposed, because it “could well lead to a Palestinian state, with clear Hamas and Iranian influence, right on the doorstep of Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Ben Gurion Int’l Airport.”

IDF Col. (res.) M. Yogev warns against complacency. Israeli Cabinet ministers are “trying to give between 70 and 90% of Judea and Samaria to the PA for a state…Even if implementation is put off, it will still be an international Israeli commitment.”(“US Pressure on Israel For a Palestinian State Foreseen,” Arutz 7, 12 Aug. 2007)

Let us “strongly oppose” this summit in prayer. Sign up for the IFI Friday Prayer Alerts and follow how the Lord leads us to pray here in Jerusalem. [IFI’s website is www.ifij.org]

Tony is moving south

UK’s former PM Tony Blair has not retired. Instead, he has his sights on being a (the?) “man of peace,” by bringing peace to the Arab-Israeli conflict. He is now the special ME envoy for the Quartet – the US, EU, the UN and Russia, i.e., the world – which wants to divide God’s land, and give Islam another Arab nation. Satan is working hard to destroy Israel – whom God calls His witnesses (Isaiah 43:10,12; 44:8).

Then June 28th – this press release: “Former British PM Tony Blair is joining the Foundation Board of the World Economic Forum,” a powerful NGO meeting in Davos Switzerland yearly, with increasing worldwide influence. (www.weforum.org).

Our last newsletter quoted Tony’s deceived view of Islam. Yet with his latest move up the ladder of global influence, other things he said in that speech – things that line up with a prophesied One World Order – become even more alarming. For example:

“We have to show that our values are not Western… [but] universal values that should be the right of the global citizen.”

His answer to terror “is the universal application of global values; the answer to poverty and injustice is the same…the struggle for global values has to be applied…to the whole global agenda.” Yet he still managed to single Israel out. “We need to reenergize the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians …A settlement would be the living, visible proof that the region and world can accommodate different faiths and cultures…”

“We need to construct a global alliance for global values…” Different faiths and cultures with global values is an oxymoron. Welcome to the last days. (“A Battle for Global Values,” T. Blair, Foreign Affairs, www.foreignaffairs.org, Jan/Feb. 2007)

Islam is inherently anti-Semitic

“As a central anti-Jewish motif, the Koran decrees an eternal curse upon the Jews (2:61; 3:112) for slaying the prophets and transgressing against the will of Allah (2:91;3:55;4:155,157).”

Sura [Koranic verse] 5:60says Allah transformed Jews into apes and swine. Sura 5:64, used by Abbas in a speech this year, “accuses the Jews…of being ‘spreaders of war and corruption’…” Sura 7:168 sees the Jews’ exile as “proof of Allah’s rejection.”

Muslims are warned not to “take Jews as friends” (5:51), and to beware of the inbred hatred Jews bear towards them (5:82). “The Jews…are the devil’s minions (4:60) cursed by Allah…(4:47), and if they do not accept the true faith of Islam…[will] burn in Hell-fires (4:55,5:29,98:6,58:14-19).”

Al-Maghili (d. 1505), an important Muslim theologian, said, “Love of the Prophet [Mohammed], requires hatred of the Jews.”(“An Apology for Koran’s Anti-Semitism?” A. G. Bostom, FrontPageMagazine .com, 23 Apr. 2007)

Anti-Semitism, Palestinian style

In a JP interview, Palestinian Media Watch director Marcus said, “We…live in an Islamic ME where most Muslims believe Allah has determined Israel must be destroyed…A peace agreement will not cause Hamas and its…supporters to reinterpret their beliefs to secular humanist Islam.” (“Got it?,” H. Rettig, JP Features, 21 May 2007)

In June, “Shocking footage broadcast on Hamas’ Al-Aqsa TV… showed Palestinian kindergarten children dressed like terrorists, chanting sinister slogans during their graduation ceremony. Five-year-old boys…were asked ‘What is your most lofty aspiration?’, they replied in unison: ‘Death for the sake of Allah!’” (“Arab kindergarten students taught to seek death,” Israel Today, 4 June 2007)

Farfur, PA TV’s version of Mickey Mouse, starred in a Hamas run children’s TV program which preached global domination by Islam and encouraged children “to become shahids (martyrs) in suicide bombings against Israelis…

Farfur was killed in the final episode…by an actor posing as an Israeli official trying to buy Farfur’s land.” Farfur’s TV friend said, “Farfur was martyred while defending his land…by killers of children’.” (“Death of the PA Mickey Mouse,” Arutz 7, 1 July 2007)

“I will curse those who curse you…”

The Word is clear that if you curse Israel – you shall be cursed by God (Gen. 12:3; 27:29; Num. 24:9). And if you try to divide His Land and thus scatter His people – you will end up in the valley of His judgment (Joel 3:1-2).

Palestinians are living under this curse

When women try to blow themselves up – that is a curse. “Time reports that since 2002, 88 Palestinian women have attempted suicide bombings,” with 8 ‘successful’ attacks. (“Palestinian moms becoming martyrs,” ICEJ News, 14 May 2007)

Israeli security forces arrested two Gazans, “a pregnant mother of 8, and her niece, a mother of 4,” who planned a two-pronged suicide attack in two big Israeli cities. “They took advantage of Israel’s humanitarian policies, receiving a fraudulent medical permit to enter Israel.

Israel is often castigated by left-wing, humanistic organizations who complain that Palestinians “wait at checkpoints for security checks, and are allegedly denied medical care.” Officials point out that as in this case, many “Arabs attempt to take advantage of Israel’s humanitarian policies in order to murder Israelis.”(“Mother of 8 Planned Suicide Terror Attack in Israel,” Arutz 7, 14 June 2007)

Palestinians also desire to scatter God's people. This also comes back on them. Alarmed by the growing number of emigrees, the PA’s Islamic leader issued a religious decree “forbidding Muslims to leave. Sources in the PA Foreign Ministry [said] some 10,000 Palestinians have filed requests to emigrate from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the year.”

One official said, “at least 45,000 emigration applications” are being reviewed by different nations. Most are young men seeking work in the West. Between 50,000 to 80,000 left the first few years after the 2nd intifada started in Sept. 2000. (“Fatwa forbids PA Muslims to emigrate,” JP, 10 June 2007)

The Arabs under a curse

This Saudi Arabian newspaper editor sees that all is not kosher in Arabia. “One has to wonder if the Arab world is set on a course of self-destruction. The fratricidal violence between Palestinians, between Iraqis, the conflict in Sudan, the violence in Algeria, Al-Qaeda militants trying to murder their way to power throughout the region…all bloodily proclaim that suicidal politics have taken root in the minds of too many…The Arab world is staring catastrophe in the face…”(“Too Many Fires,” Arab News Editorial, [Saudi], IMRA, 15 June 2007)

Europe is cursed as well

As the EU has steadily pushed us to divide our land, she has been visited by severe weather. “According to meteorological research, the last few years have been hottest on record…[Yearly now] around 50,000+ forest fires burn in EU territory causing not only loss of human lives, but immeasurable devastation to the environment.” (“Dry Europe: Over 50,000 Forest Fires Per Year,” Intercessors For America, 11 May 2007)

While Southern Europe suffered a heat wave, including some deaths, England was hit by “unusual weather, with severe flooding caused by torrential rain.” There were also deaths and multitudes were “forced from their homes.” (“Global warming cited as Europe reels from new weather extremes,” JP, 29 June 2007)

How is this linked to Israel? Robin Shepherd, the senior fellow for Europe at Chatham House, London, wrote that in late June, the 27 EU nations signed a treaty which included a more coordinated foreign policy. Then in late July, foreign ministers from 10 mainly Mediterranean countries wrote “an open letter to new ME Envoy Blair…” containing four recommendations relating to the Israeli-Palestinian peace track:

1) Negotiate on final status issues “without pre-requisites.” 2) Use an “international force…to police a cease-fire” in “occupied” territories. 3) Israel must aid Abbas by “transferring tax revenues and releasing prisoners.” Also Israel must “freeze settlements.” 4) Do not take any actions to “cause Hamas to ‘up the stakes’,” and Israel must relax restrictions on Gaza’s borders.

Shepherd is awed. “At least five immediate demands are made on Israel; none whatsoever on the Palestinians.” (“Europe gets more ‘awkward’ on Israel,” Robin Shepherd, JP Op-ed, 24 July 2007)

America under the curse

America is having it’s own spate of “acts of God.” Considering that Bush and Rice are leading the charge to establish “Palestine” on God’s land, expect the severity of these judgments to increase.

America has “Colony Collapse Disorder, a phenomenon that has resulted in the mysterious deaths of 2.4 million bee colonies and 10 billion bees in the US…” Albert Einstein thought that “mankind would become extinct four years after honey bees disappeared from…the earth.” (“A mystery disease has killed 10 billion [US] bees…” JP, 15 June 2007)

The US is also “facing its worst summer drought since the Dust Bowl years of the Great Depression. Or perhaps worse still. From the mountains and desert of the West, now into an 8th consecutive dry year, to the wheat farms of Alabama, where crops are failing because of rainfall levels 12 inches lower than usual, to the vast soupy expanse of Lake Okeechobee in southern Florida, which has become so dry it actually caught fire a couple of weeks ago, a continent is crying out for water.”

R. Seager, a leading climatologist at Columbia University said, “The 1930s drought lasted less than a decade. This is something that could remain for 100 years.” (“The Wrath of 2007: America’s Great Drought,” The Independent, UK, 15 June 2007).

The US has also been hit by heavy rains, flooding and wildfires. In Minnesota, a bridge collapsed in a Minneapolis neighborhood known as “the West Bank.” The bridge was built in 1967 and fell – causing deaths and injuries – 40 years later. Minnesota is the 1st state with a Moslem Congressman, Keith Ellis. He took the oath of office with his hand on the Koran instead of the Bible. Just minutes before the bridge collapse, Ellis had announced he was returning to the ME to help Israel and the PA set final boundaries for a Palestinian state in the “West Bank.”

The Golan Heights for peace? Never

The Golan was part of the land Moses conquered for Israel (Josh. 13:12). One of the six cities of refuge was located there (Josh. 21:27). Yeshua asked, “Whom do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” at Banias, in the Golan foothills (Matt. 16:13). And God promised that His people would return and dwell there (Jer. 50:19; Micah 7:14).

Yet now it is back on the trading block for “peace” with Syria. But the Israeli people are not in agreement with Olmert’s plans. A recent poll showed. “84% of the public opposes a full withdrawal from the Golan.” (“Nation Up in Arms at Golan Offer,” Arutz 7, 8 June 2007)

Former Israeli negotiator with Syria, Y. Ben-Aharon, says talk of giving up the Golan encourages Syrian aggression. “It’s time we stop dreaming about peace…and concentrate on co-existence, meaning we must be very strong and our deterrence power must never, ever be perceived as weakness.” (“Former Negotiator: Talk of Ceding Golan Encourages Syrian Threat,” Arutz 7, 11 June 2007)

Iran – the Good news

The Voice of the Martyrs’ – a ministry to persecuted believers in the world – has contacts in Iran who report increased persecution. “Iranian security forces prompted by the Islamic leadership and Iranian president are trying to wipe out Christianity in Iran. They are angry that many Iranian Muslims are choosing to follow Christ.” (“IRAN – Increased Persecution against Christians,” VOM Prayer Update, 10 July 2007 www.persecution.com)

A new find revealed

Recently one of the oldest manuscripts of the Tanach was placed on display at the Shrine of the Book, the Jerusalem museum that houses the Dead Sea Scrolls. This manuscript, dating from the 7th century AD, contains Exodus 13-16. Here are a few verses to consider as we watch Israel placed under tremendous pressure to be a nation like all the other nations.

“Fear not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD,

which He will show to you today: for … the LORD shall fight

for you, and you shall hold your peace.” (14:13-14)

“The LORD is my strength and song,

and He is become my salvation…

The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is His name.” (15:2-3)

“Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? who is like You, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” (15:11)

Intercessors For Israel – check us out at www.ifij.org

Sign up to receive current prayer burdens for Israel each week.

Chuck’s Future Ministry – Lord Willing!

UK – May 11-27, CFI-UK, rod@cfi.org.uk

UK – with IFI. June 15-26, Ellel Ministries, info@grange.ellel.org.uk; info@scotland.ellel.org.uk

Sources & Websites: Arutz-7 = arutzsheva.org; BFP = Bridges For Peace, bridgesforpeace.com; CFI = Christian Friends of Israel, cfijerusalem.org; ICEJ = International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, icej.org.il; IMRA = Independent Media Review & Analysis, imra.org.il; Israel Today = israeltoday.co.il; JP = Jerusalem Post, jpost.com; JNW = Jerusalem Newswire, jnewswire.com; MEMRI = Middle East Media & Research Institute, memri.org; PMW = Palestinian Media Watch, pmw.org.il; YnetNews = ynetnews.com

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Thursday, August 23, 2007

Talk Radio

From the days that I traveled all the time I started to listen to talk radio. I still enjoy talk radio and normally listen to at least a little every day. Since I don't travel any more I normally listen to KCMO which is a Fox News affiliate. I like a local KC show, Chris Stigall, in the mornings, sometime Laura Ingram and Dave Ramsey. Late morning and early afternoon I enjoy Dave Ramsey talking to people with severe debt problems. In the afternoon I usually listen to some of Sean Hannity. He is followed by Michael Savage.

For some strange reason I enjoy listening to Michael Savage. He is one of the most negative people I have ever heard. I don't agree with hardly any of his positions, even though he claim to be a conservative. Maybe he is too conservative?

If you have the opportunity find him on the dial and listen maybe you will find him interesting. He get on rants about some of the silliest things. Sometimes I think he might have multiple personalities or, maybe, he's bi-polar. Sometimes, he gets on my nerves but most of the time I think he is amusing.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

"Fraidy" Cats

As far as I know none of the Democratic presidential candidates have agreed to appear on Fox New Channel, either in debate or specific shows. They all feel Fox leans to far right, to conservative. In other words, they are uncomfortable defending their positions in a conservative platform.

If they are afraid of Fox News what in the world will they do if elected and presented with the task of a confrontation with the likes of Iranian President Ahmadinejad, North Korean Premier Kim or, heaven forbid, an attack on Israel as promised by Ahmadinejad.

It is not unreal to expect Iran to attack Israel. Ahmadinejad has threatened this since his election in 2005. It is not unreal to expect that attack to be nuclear. We better expect and plan for the attack. This man, who denies the Holocaust, is radical and capable of anything.

There has been no real advancements in stopping Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Iran has repeatedly lied, stalled and confused the world regarding their nuclear aspirations. It is time that America, the European Union, United Nations, Russia and the rest of the civilized world stop Iran's nuclear ambitions, once and for all. If stopping Iran requires a preemptive strike, then we better do it now!

I have not heard or read where any presidential candidate stands on the defense of Israel. As Christians we must be concerned with the defense of Israel... God's chosen people. As Christians we must make the defense of Israel a platform that all candidates must address to the American people. As Christians we must know that our President and Congress will support and defend one of our most loyal allies, Israel.

At the VFW Convention: Presidential Candidates

Kansas City, through the VFW convention, has played host to four (4) presidential candidates. Monday, Senators John McCain and Hilary Clinton spoke; Tuesday, Senator Barack Obama and former Senator Fred Thompson. All four speeches are available in video format on the KCTV5 web site.

Wednesday, the President will be speaking tot he group.

As a conservative Republican, obviously, I was more interested in the Republican's speeches than the Democrats.

Senator Hilary Clinton spoke twice as long as any of the other candidates but I must say I think it was one of her better speeches. It was the first time I have heard her speak without yelling or sounding like she was yelling. She, made promises about what she would do if elected but didn't make much in the way of monetary promises. She spoke a great deal about legislation that she supports pertaining to veterans. As bad as I hate to admit, she probably made the best "presidential" speech.

Senator John McCain made a passionate and compassionate speech concentrating primarily on two things. He spoke of his and his family's military careers; and, his support of the Iraqi war. He, too, is supportive and insistent that we must win the war. I have been a supporter of Sen. McCain for many years but got "turned off" over his support of the immigration bill. I think he made a mistake on this issue and it has cost him dearly in this campaign. He might gain some support back if he admitted that he made a mistake but I don't believe that he thinks it was a mistake. I really think Sen. McCain could be one of our greatest presidents we have had, and, obviously, one that can work across party lines (which we need).

Senator Obama was really a disappointment to me. He spent a great deal of his time making the typical political promises that so many candidates often make. He made all the promises to his audience that they wanted to hear... more money for veterans, more money for the veterans' hospital, etc. Unfortunately, he has to have the support of Congress to produce on most of his promises. He only needed a few babies to kiss and be photographed with. He was the "classic" presidential candidate.

Former Senator Fred Thompson, whom I currently support, was eloquent and could probably become the next "Great Communicator" only surpassed by President Ronald Reagan. He was supportive and defensive of the Iraqi war insisting that we must win the war in order to protect our own homeland. I was a bit disappointed that he didn't have more "meat" to his talk.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

It's the Message, Not the Messenger

What an awesome Lord we have! I am still amazed at how the Lord works in my life to show me the way. I received the following video from a friend this morning. It is really pitiful what this man is doing to his congregation. Be sure to watch the entire video because there are actually two parts to it.

I read the Bible every day by a schedule provided by First Family Church in order to read it completely through in a year. After I watched the video I got my Bible out to read the scriptures for today. Today, I am starting 1 Corinthians. My Bible, Nelson's NKJV Study Bible, has commentary throughout to explain various things. Today, the "InDepth" commentary was titled "The Message, Not the Messenger." It discusses the divisions of Christians in the early church in Corinth and that they were confused and began following the various messengers instead of the message. Paul admonishes them to set them back on track. It goes on to say:

"We might be tempted to write off this problem, attributing it to "those silly, immature Corinthians," if it were not for the fact that the tendency to exalt dynamic leaders is still prevalent today. Witty, engaging Christian speakers and vibrant, charismatic spiritual leaders still have the power to mesmerize and motivate believers today. And there is nothing inherently wrong with such power. The danger comes when the speaker or leader, and not the message, becomes the focus of attention.

"Christian speakers and leaders are merely vessels through who God's Word is communicated. Exalting them for the message they proclaim is a misunderstanding of their purpose. Put simply, it's the message, not the messenger.

"As believers today, we must guard ourselves against identifying too closely with human leaders or placing too much emphasis on them. Our loyalty and identification belong only to Jesus Christ and His message."

Amen and Amen!

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Covet

"You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." Exodus 20:17

"You shall not covet your neighbor's wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor's house or land, his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." Deuteronomy 5:21

"What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, "Do not covet." Romans 7:7

"The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Romans 13:9

I attended Central Church of the Nazarene this morning for the first time. Pastor Prince spoke on coveting. One of the stories he told was about an elderly lady in a previous church that he described as a "prayer warrior." He admitted that he often visited her so she could pray for him. One of her favorite saying and often in the middle of a payer she would say something to the effect of: "Let us covet only our Lord God."

What a strong statement! And all Gods people said: "Amen."

(New International Version; BibleGateway.com)

Friday, August 17, 2007

More on a Corrupt Congress

For more on Speaker Pelosi's "most ethical Congress ever" check out this article from today issue of Human Events:

"King Corruption" Reigns by Robert Novak

More reasons why I keep saying...

Don't re-elect incumbents!

House of Corruption?

From today edition of HumanEvents.com.

House of Corruption?

by Robert Novak

Posted: 08/13/2007

With the midnight hour approaching Saturday Aug. 4 near the end of a marathon session, Democratic and Republican leaders alike wanted to pass the Defense appropriations bill quickly and start their summer recess. But Republican Rep. Jeff Flake's stubborn adherence to principle forced an hour-long delay that revealed unpleasant realities about Congress.

Flake insisted on debating the most egregious of the bill's 1,300 earmarks placed in the Defense money bill by individual House members that authorize spending in their districts. Defending every such earmark was the chairman of the Defense Appropriations subcommittee: Democratic Rep. John Murtha, unsmiling and unresponsive to questions posed on the House floor by Flake.

Murtha is called "King Corruption" by Republican reformers, but what happened after midnight Aug. 5 is not a party matter. Democrats and Republicans, as always, locked arms supporting every earmark. It makes no difference that at least seven House members are under investigation by the Justice Department. A bipartisan majority insists on sending taxpayers money to companies in their districts without competitive bidding or public review.

Claims of newly established transparency were undermined by the Saturday late night follies. Flake, who ran a Phoenix, Ariz., think tank (the Goldwater Institute) before coming to Congress in 2001, is immensely unpopular on both sides of the aisle for forcing votes on his colleagues' pork. He burnished that reputation by prolonging the marathon Saturday session and challenging selected earmarks.
What ensued showed what a sham are claimed earmark reforms. With debate on each earmark limited to five minutes per pro-and-con and roll calls also pressed into five minutes, the House was mainly interested in finishing up and defeating Flake with huge bipartisan majorities. The mood of annoyance with Flake was personified by the 17-term Murtha, who as subcommittee chairman defended and retained every earmark (including notorious infusions of cash to his Johnstown, Pa., district).

Republican Rep. John Campbell, an Orange County, Calif., auto dealer and five-year California state legislator who is serving his first full year in Congress, is a rare ally of Flake. Campbell began the Saturday debate by challenging a $2 million no-bid award to the Sherwin-Williams paint company for a "paint shield" against "microbial threats." The Pentagon did not want this, but Murtha delivered his usual contemptuous retort: "We don't apologize for [earmarks] because we think the [House] members know as much about what goes on their district as the bureaucrats and the Defense Department."

Flake then forced votes on pet Murtha projects -- starting with "something called the Concurrent Technologies Corp." in Johnstown. In the brief time at his disposal, Flake tried to explain to an inattentive House how the company survives as an "incubator" for earmarks "just by getting more earmarks." He next challenged a $39 million earmark for the National Drug Intelligence Center in Johnstown, which the Pentagon does not need or want. Murtha was coldly dismissive, denying the reality that these no-bid awards do not allow taxpayers to recapture any benefit that the corporations derive from federal expenditures.

Other Democrats were silent during the sham debate. Nearly every one voted with Murtha, Speaker Nancy Pelosi's powerful lieutenant -- fearful of reprisal against their own spending schemes. Rep. Jim Cooper, a moderate from Tennessee, was the only Democrat consistently voting against the earmarks.

Republicans split so that motions by Flake and Campbell lost overwhelmingly. House Minority Leader John Boehner voted against most earmarks, but did not make it a party issue as the rest of the GOP leadership backed Murtha. Two former Republican chairmen of the Appropriations Committee -- Jerry Lewis of California and Bill Young of Florida -- eagerly joined the debate on Murtha's side. Lewis, one of the House members under Justice Department investigation, defended one of his own earmarks and treated Flake with sneering contempt for wasting the House's time.

Flake lacked the time he needed on the House floor to explain complicated interlocking relationships with contributors who benefit from Murtha's earmarks. Claims of transparency are meaningless when all earmarks survive amid inattention from the news media. But few Republican congressmen are frustrated by GOP complicity as the House of Representatives fast becomes the House of Corruption. Joined by a few like-minded senators, they contemplate publicly repudiating their party leaders.


Mr. Novak is a syndicated columnist and editor of the  Evans-Novak Political Report, a political newsletter he founded in 1967 with Rowland Evans. Click here to get a free subscription.

See, just one more reason why I keep insisting...

Don't re-elect incumbents!

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Dr. Effie Jane Wheeler

This a beautiful passage for Christian and non-Christians alike. I just love the peace she expressed within herself and her ability to bring peace to each reader. It would have been interesting to take one of her classes.

From "Peace With God" by Billy Graham:

"For many years Dr. Effie Jane Wheeler taught English and literature where I attended college. Dr. Wheeler was noted for her piety as well as for her knowledge of the subjects she taught. In May of 1949, on Memorial Day, Dr. Wheeler wrote the following letter to Dr. Edman, then president of the college, her colleagues, and former students.

"I greatly appreciate the moment in chapel that may be given to reading this, for before you leave for the summer I should like to have you know the truth about me as I learned it myself only last Friday. My doctor at last has given what has been his real diagnosis of my illness for weeks--an inoperable case of cancer. Now if he had been a Christian he wouldn't have been so dilatory or shaken, for he would have known, as you and I do, that life or death is equally welcome when we live in the will and presence of the Lord. If the Lord has chosen me to go to Him soon, I go gladly. Please do not give a moment's grief for me. I do not say a cold goodbye but rather a worm Auf Wiedershen till I see you again---in the blessed land where I may be allowed to draw aside a curtain when you enter. With a heart full of love for every individual of you. (Signed) Effie Jane Wheeler."

"Just two weeks after writing this letter. Dr. Wheeler entered the presence of her Savior, who had kept his promise to take the sting out of death."

Friday, August 10, 2007

Democrats Steal Vote

If you can't win just turn off the tally board and close the vote! New tactics and Speaker Nancy Pelosi backs the "new deal!"

This will cause the American taxpayers millions by allowing illegal immigrants subsidies. Do you support this?

One more reason why I keep saying...

Don't re-elect incumbents!