Israel - know your candidate's stand

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Promises, promises – the candidates on Israel

By MICHAEL D. EVANS

The White House is sending mixed messages in advance of President George Bush’s first presidential visit to Israel this week – stressing his steadfast support for Jerusalem, but also pushing for a settlement freeze.

Freezing settlements is one obligation Israel undertook under the 2002 Road Map formulated by the Quartet of the United States, United Nations, European Community, and Russia. But on the other side of the map, the Palestinians undertook to stop terrorism and dismantle their terrorist infrastructure. Israel has been meeting its obligation, while the Palestinians continue to terrorize the population of southern Israel with daily rocket attacks launched from the Gaza Strip.

It is anybody’s guess what this trip by a lame-duck president will contribute to the cause of Middle East peace. But Bush’s trip is taking place just as the campaign to elect his successor is getting under way. The views of the major candidates for their parties’ nomination on some of the major issues may prove instructive. For example, does any support the Road Map or a Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital?

Sen. John McCain
Republican McCain’s offers a traditional approach to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, recently explaining that a gradual solution in line with the incremental goals of the Road Map is preferable to trying to impose a settlement. He also links the conflict with an American victory in Iraq, which he says is a necessary precondition for a successful Israeli-Palestinian agreement.

While McCain supports establishing a Palestinian state at the end of the process, the Arizona senator believes America must give Israel whatever equipment and technology it needs for defense. With this in mind, he is wary of Iran’s nuclear intentions, saying, “They are still state sponsors of terrorism — Hamas, Hizbullah, still dedicated to the extinction of the State of Israel, still an oppressive and repressive government.”

Mitt Romney
At Israel’s Herzliya Conference in Jan. 2007, Romney expressed a keen understanding of the jihadist enemy: “Contrary to the Baker-Hamilton Commission,” he said, “resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict will not magically mollify the jihadists.

“No, what we should have realized since 9/11 is that what the world regarded as an Israeli-Arab conflict over borders represented something much larger. It was the oldest, most active front of the radical Islamist jihad against the entire West. It therefore was not really about borders. It was about the refusal of many parts of the Muslim world to accept Israel’s right to exist – within any borders…Israel stands on the front lines of the struggle against radical Islam’s jihad, whose goals are not confined to the Middle East.”

Mike Huckabee
An ordained Southern Baptist minister who has made his Christian faith a prominent feature of his campaign, Huckabee has been outspoken about Iran’s threat to Israel. “I condemn Iran’s irrational call for the destruction of Israel and its reckless defiance of the international community by its continued pursuit of nuclear weapons and other hostile actions,” he said before the recent Iowa caucus. “I urge Iran to stop enriching uranium and accept monitoring by the IAEA, to recognize the right of Israel to exist, and to end its support of all terror groups, such as Hamas, Hizbullah, and Islamic Jihad.”

Huckabee’s position on Israel, as stated on his Web site, is uncompromising:
“I am a steadfast supporter of Israel, our staunch ally in the War on Terror, the only fully-functioning democracy in the Middle East, and our greatest friend in that region. The United States must remain true to its long-standing commitment to the Israeli people. As president, I will always ensure that Israel has access to the state-of-the-art weapons and technology she needs to defend herself from those who seek her annihilation.”

Rudy Giuliani
Giuliani is not at all certain that a Palestinian state is in America’s of Israel’s best interest, as he recently explained in an article for Foreign Affairs.

The former New York mayor is famous for two symbolic gestures that endeared him to Jewish voters: in 1995, he had the late PLO leader Yasser Arafat ejected from a Lincoln Center concert and he returned a $10 million donation from a Saudi prince after 9/11 for badmouthing Israel.
He has received the heartfelt endorsement of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert: “I have found no better friend of Jerusalem in America than Rudy Giuliani.” (AP)

Some Giuliani remarks on Israel: “Israel is an oasis of freedom in a desert of authoritarianism and worse. It is an outpost of democracy where democracy is unique…There is no moral equivalent between the State of Israel and the Palestinian Authority.There is a difference between a nation based on law and democracy and one that harbors terrorism.” (Rally In Support Of Israel, Washington, DC, 4/15/02)

Sen. Barack Obama
Obama chose a meeting of the pro-Israel lobby, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, in March 2007 to deliver his presidential candidacy’s first foreign policy speech.

“Nobody has suffered more than the Palestinian people from the failure of the Palestinian leadership to recognize Israel, to renounce violence, and to get serious about negotiating peace and security for the region,” he said during an MSNBC debate.

After making his first visit to Israel in January 2006, where he toured the security fence, Obama stated: “Our starting point must always be a clear and strong commitment to the security of Israel.” Obama’s top Middle East adviser is Dennis Ross, who served in the same position during the Clinton administration.

Obama was the only candidate to refer to the Road Map by name, in a speech in August 2007: “Our job is to never forget that the threat of violence is real. Our job is to renew the United States’ efforts to help Israel achieve peace with its neighbors while remaining vigilant against those who do not share this vision. Our job is to do more than lay out another road map; our job is to rebuild the road to real peace and lasting security throughout the region.”
While Obama has expressed a commitment “to ensure Israel’s qualitative military edge,” this has so far not been enough for him to supplant Sen. Hilary Clinton among Jewish voters. In a recent American Jewish Committee poll, his favorable rating was 38 percent, while hers was 53 percent.

Sen. Hilary Clinton
The senator for New York and former first lady is the only candidate to express support for moving the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Israel’s capital, Jerusalem.

She is strong on Israel’s security: “It is important that we help Israel keep its qualitative and technological military edge in an increasingly dangerous region…The United States must continue to support our ally, Israel, as it defends itself against these attacks and insist that Hamas cannot be recognized until it renounces terrorism and recognizes Israel’s right to exist.”

Clinton champions Israel as “a beacon of what democracy can and should mean.” As she told an AIPAC conference in 2005: “Israel is an important ally and strategic partner of the United States. Our nations are united by shared values, a commitment to democracy, and a belief in the dignity of men and women. We are also united by a common strategic interest in fighting back against the forces of terrorism and nihilism.”

John Edwards
The former senator for North Carolina has said that Iran poses an enormous threat to Israel and to the Israeli people. He has also expressed the campaign-issued statement of support to “maintain Israel’s qualitative edge and keep Israel strong and safe in a dangerous region.”

“Israel can take more steps to advance peace like bolstering Abbas against Hamas,” Edwards told the 2007 Herzliya Conference. “While Israel is willing to go back to negotiating table, little has been seen on the Palestinian side. We instead have seen chaos and violence on the street, and no revocation of violence against Israel.

However, Edwards is still trying to spin out of the effects of a remark he made at a Hollywood fundraiser in February 2007. “Perhaps the greatest short-term threat to world peace,” Edwards was quoted as saying, “was the possibility that Israel would bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities.” Edwards’s spokesman denied the quote, saying Edwards had actually said that one of the greatest short-term threats to world peace is Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon. Variety stood by the accuracy of its report.

Dr. Mike Evans is the New York Times #1 Bestselling author of , The FinalMove Beyond Iraq, and the publisher of the Jerusalem World News.

BUSH PREDICTS PEACE TREATY BY END OF 2008

* * * FLASH TRAFFIC: WASHINGTON UPDATE * * * *

BUSH PREDICTS PEACE TREATY BY END OF 2008
But first, don't divide Jerusalem. Stop the rockets from Gaza. Protect Palestinian Christians.

By Joel C. Rosenberg

(Washington, D.C., January 10, 2007) -- A comprehensive Israeli-Palestinian peace treaty by the end of 2008? Is President Bush dreaming? Is this merely wishful thinking? Or are the parties actually that close? While skeptics abound -- and many an American president has believed he could finally bring security and stability to a troubled region -- we should not write off this possibility too quickly.

Behind the scenes, the Arab-Israeli peace process actually has been accelerating in a strange sort of way for several reasons:

* the death of Yasser Arafat and the rise of Mahmoud Abbas, a slightly-more moderate tactician who seems intent on striking a deal with the Israelis if he can first survive assassination at the hands of Hamas or other radicals;

* the sudden demise of Ariel Sharon due to a stroke and the improbable rise of Ehud Olmert, a man who seems almost desperate for a peace deal with the Palestinians, even if that means dividing Jerusalem (a terrible idea we should strongly oppose -- sign Natan Sharansky's petition to keep Jerusalem the eternal, undivided capital of the Jewish State);

* the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime and the rise of a moderate if currently weak regime in Baghdad that does not threaten Israel directly;

* the rising threat that Iran and other radical Muslims pose to moderate reformers in the region (a dynamic that is reminding the moderates who their real enemies are, and Israel is not really on that list);

* and finally the determination of President Bush to get a deal done before he leaves office, as evidenced in part by his current trip to the epicenter.

For all these reasons, it is not entirely out of the question that some sort of treaty could be struck by year end, despite -- or perhaps because of -- the growing Iranian, Syrian and Hizbullah threat to Israel. What's more, while Bible prophecies such as Matthew 24 and Luke 21 indicate that there will be wars, rumors of wars and revolutions in the Middle East in the last days, Ezekiel 38 also indicates that for a season at least the Jews will be living "securely" in the land prior to the apocalyptic War of Gog & Magog (the Russian-Iranian alliance to destroy Israel).

This could suggest the possibility of some sort of treaty being agreed to in the not-too-distant future, though it should be noted that no treaty is specifically mentioned in the text and the word "peace" -- shalom -- is never used in Ezekiel 38. Separately, the prophecies of Daniel 9 actually do indicate that Israel and her neighbors will sign a peace treaty -- albeit a false, deceptive and short-lived one -- in the last days, though Bible scholars are not clear as to which prophecy will come true first, Ezekiel's or Daniel's.

Bottom line #1: Expect all manner of contradictions and cross-currents in the epicenter in the years ahead -- wars and rumors of wars, as well as intense efforts to bring peace, prosperity and security. Which brings me back to our operating motto at The Joshua Fund these days: "Pray for peace, but prepare for war." For no one but the Lord Himself knows for sure what 2008 holds.

Bottom line #2: We must urge President Bush and Prime Minister Olmert to protect -- not divide -- Jerusalem. We must also urge the President, Prime Minister and Palestinian Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to aggressively fight radical Palestinian terrorism, and specifically stop the rockets that keep getting fired from Gaza into southern Israeli border towns and cities such as Sderot and Ashkelon (2,500 since 2005, and 25 just since President Bush arrived in Israel). What's more, we must urge all of these leaders to fight to protect the human rights, civil rights, freedom of the press and religious freedom of all Israelis and Palestinians, especially Palestinian evangelical Christians in the West Bank and Gaza who are being targeted, threatened and attacked on a daily and weekly basis.
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Excerpt from Haaretz: "U.S. President George W. Bush said Thursday that he is confident that the Israelis and the Palestinians will reach a peace deal in 2008.Bush was speaking in Ramallah after meeting with Palestinan President Mahmoud Abbas. The U.S. president is on a three-day visit to Israel and the West Bank to show support for renewed Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.He arrived at Abbas' headquarters on Thursday for his first-ever visit to the Palestinian territories. Abbas greeted Bush as he emerged from his car in the walled compound. The two men walked side by side along a red carpet, flanked by Palestinian security in olive-and-gold uniforms. 'In order for there to be lasting peace, President Abbas and Prime Minister Olmert have to come together and make tough choices,' Bush said at a joint press conference after meeting with Abbas. 'And I'm convinced they will. And I believe it's possible - not only possible, I believe it's going to happen - that there be a signed peace treaty by the time I leave office (in January 2009). That's what I believe.'"

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Iran Accuses U.S. of Faking Persian Gulf Video

By NAZILA FATHI

Published: January 10, 2008

TEHRAN — The Revolutionary Guards in Iran accused the United States on Wednesday of fabricating a video showing Iranian speedboats confronting United States Navy warships in the Persian Gulf over the weekend, according to a report carried by the semi-official Fars news agency and state-run television.

“Images released by the U.S. Department of Defense about the Navy vessels are from archive, and sounds on it are fabricated,” an unnamed Revolutionary Guards official said, according to Fars. The news agency has close links to the Revolutionary Guards. The comments were Iran’s first on the video, which the Pentagon released Tuesday. (Full article)

President Ahmadinejad and his government are living in a fantasy world. This man is as crazy as they come.

Including the rocket fired into Israel from Lebanon, there are too many incidents in the past few days. I believe Iran is trying to get away with something and trying to divert attention from something. But again, it may be just trying to scare Israel while President Bush is in the area. In any event, Iran is up to something and the possibilities are endless.

In my opinion, The U.S. ships should have blown the Iranian boats out of the water and let Ahmadinejad deal with the aftermath on the world stage. This is why we need a strong President who won't back away from the Iranians, Syrians and Russians.

Judy, Judy, Judy

Abraham Intercedes for Sodom

Genesis 18:23-33

And Abraham came near and said, “Would You [the Lord] also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it? Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
So the LORD said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.”
Then Abraham answered and said, “Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous; would You destroy all of the city for lack of five?”
So He said, “If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it.”
And he spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose there should be forty found there?”
So He said, “I will not do it for the sake of forty.”
Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Suppose thirty should be found there?”
So He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”
And he said, “Indeed now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: Suppose twenty should be found there?”
So He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty.”
Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?”
And He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.” So the LORD went His way as soon as He had finished speaking with Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place.(NKJV; BibleGateway.com)

Tell me we don't have a patient God! Can you imagine talking to our Lord this way... negotiating with our omnipotent God? Does this take gall or what?

Or, does it take a personal, close, comfortable relationship with him? It is obvious that Abraham had this type of relationship with God, after all God had called on him and he had always obeyed God and would continue to obey him. He would obey him to the point of being willing to sacrifice his son, Isaac.

Not many of us are to this point in our relationship with God... I know I'm not. I don't think I would have the "guts" to continue to question him when he informs me of what he intends to do. I would like to think that someday I will have this kind of relationship with my Lord but, at this point, I just have to continue to pray, and read and study his word. Amen and Amen.

2008 Top Ten Predictions

A friend send these 2008 predictions to me.  I hope you will take them and remember them throughout this new year and throughout your life.  Here they are:

The Top Ten Predictions for 2008

1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praises to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost.

Bin Laden vows to destroy Israel

Published: 12/30/2007

Osama bin Laden vowed to destroy Israel.

The fugitive Al-Qaida leader issued an audio recording Saturday in which he came out against Palestinian and other Arab leaders who have recognized the Jewish state.

"I would like to assure our people in Palestine that we will expand our jihad there," Bin Laden said. "We intend to liberate Palestine, the whole of Palestine, from the river to the sea."

"We will not recognize even one inch for Jews in the land of Palestine as other Muslim leaders have," he said.

Al-Qaida is believed to have set up cells in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, but its influence is limited given doctrinal opposition from ruling local groups like Islamist Hamas.

In his message, Bin Laden also mocked Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Hezbollah, over the fact that the U.N. peacekeeper presence has grown in southern Lebanon since last year's war with Israel. The peacekeepers, Bin Laden said, "protect the Jews."

Israel eyes Al-Qaida threat

Published: 12/31/2007

Israel is taking seriously a renewed threat by Osama bin Laden to attack it.

After Al-Qaida issued a recorded message this week vowing to "liberate Palestine" - a reference to Israel, the West Bank and Gaza Strip - Israel stepped up its scrutiny of Palestinian terrorist groups.

"Al-Qaida has many admirers within Israel's borders, mainly in Judea and Samaria and Gaza," Tzahi Hanegbi, chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, told Israel Radio on Monday.

"Thus the chances of active Al-Qaida cells being set up here, with strong motivation to carry out major attacks, is something we should prepare for and thwart. Security officials have, in recent years, identified 'Global Jihad' elements in the territories who are predisposed to view Bin Laden as their leader and to draw their jihadist spirit from Al-Qaida."

Hanegbi noted that Bin Laden's recent message differed from previous ones by appearing to threaten attacks on targets in Israel. "There is a chance that his operatives will view this as an order to operate, even if up until now they did not think this was important," he said.

Yediot Acharonot reported that intelligence warnings had been received of possible Al-Qaida attacks being planned against Israeli tourists in Turkey. Jerusalem officials had no immediate comment.

The United States should not tolerate any attack by Al-Qaida on Israel! We should be protecting Israel as the Holy Bible tells us to do:

"I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." Genesis 12:3

Bill Clinton and his administration allowed Bin Laden to go free thus attacking us. The Bush administration missed signs of 9/11 attack. We must not allow this to happen again and we must not allow it to happen to Israel.

If Al-Qaida attacks either country we must retaliate and retaliate hard with bombers. Bombers should strike every know or suspected Al-Qaida strong hold regardless of the location or population. If "civilian" population are in the area then they must be considered part of the problem and harborers of the enemy.

US senator says Syrian president is ready for peace with Israel

American congressman says Syria ready to make peace with Israel after two-day visit in Damascus; says Golan Heights at 'core of the deal'

Associated Press

Published: 
12.30.07, 22:11 / Israel News

President Bashar Assad is ready for peace with Israel, US Senator Arlen Specter said Sunday after talks with the Syrian leader.

Specter said Israel will have to return the Golan Heights for peace, adding that the United States has the potential to ''bridge the gap'' between Israel and Syria, who have not held peace talks since 2000.

Specter, a Republican from Pennsylvania, and Rep. Patrick Kennedy, a Rhode Island Democrat, held talks with Syrian President Bashar Assad on the last day of their two-day visit to Damascus. Full story.

Several months ago Speaker Pelosi did this same "trick." I condemned her for it and I condemn Senator Specter and Representative Kennedy.It is not their job to establish policy with our enemies. I see this as unpatriotic and not in the best interest of the United States or Israel.

US evangelicals support Jews leaving Iran

by Daniel Blake

Posted: Friday, December 28, 2007, 12:28 (GMT)

On Christmas Day this year, 40 Jews arrived secretly in Israel having defected from Iran, a long time enemy of the world's only Jewish state.

Each of the arriving Jews received a gift of $10,000 from American evangelical Christians.

According to the Jewish Agency for Israel, this year the number of Iranian Jews moving to Israel tripled to reach 200. The agency is a quasi governmental organisation promoting immigration to Israel.

A spokesman for the agency said the increase was the result of a stipend programme financed by donations to the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ), a Christian Zionist organisation.

Michael Jankelowitz, a spokesman for the agency, said, "The money is a major consideration [for people coming to Israel]. These people come with the clothes on their back and their suitcase. Iranian money has no value,” reports Washington Times.

According to AP, the Jewish immigrants were given a warm welcome by family members, who threw candy at them at the reception hall of Ben Gurion International Airport.

Details of the immigrants journey from Iran were not released by the Jewish Agency and their identities were kept secret out of fear that releasing such information could endanger Jews still living in Iran.

continue to read

Flip flop

Nol, it isn't Hillary doing another flip flop, it's me.

I have removed the Huckabee logo from my blog, thus I am dropping my support for him. Although I still believe in his stand on most issues, particularly, right to life and the defense of Israel I know longer believe he is the best person to be our next president.

I am shifting my support back to John McCain. Senator McCain had my support in 2000 because I felt he was the best person for the job. Although I do not agree with his stand on the immigration issue I believe he is what this country needs for at least the next four years, if not eight.

After the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Bhutto yesterday I came to realize that the war on radical Fascist Islamists is and must remain the focus of this country. I believe that Senator McCain is the only candidate with the experience, skills and courage to lead this country in this war.

I also see Senator McCain as the one to negotiate with Congress and get us out of the Congressional quagmire we have been in for the past year. He can be strong yet is not afraid of compromise. Even though I disagree with his stand on immigration I have to give him credit for standing up for what he believes when so many were opposed.

He has received many endorsements but the one endorsement that impresses me is Senator Joseph Lieberman's. When McCain wins the Republican nomination I hope he chooses Senator Lieberman as his running mate for Vice President. Just imagine what a team they will be... a true Republican compassionate conservative and an Independent Democrat that sure acts like a compassionate conservative.

I am supporting McCain for President as long as he is in the race!

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The ridiculous!

These two stories just stuck me as ridiculous! The story about the Hiltons even made the national news tonight. Obviously, they were groping for some thing to fill the time.

Priests brawl at Jesus' birthplace

BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) -- Greek Orthodox and Armenian priests attacked each other with brooms and stones inside the Church of the Nativity as long-standing rivalries erupted in violence during holiday cleaning on Thursday.

The basilica, built over the grotto in Bethlehem where Christians believe Jesus was born, is administered jointly by Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic authorities.

Any perceived encroachment on one group's turf can touch off vicious feuds.

On Thursday, dozens of priests and cleaners were scrubbing the church ahead of the Armenian and Orthodox Christmas, celebrated in early January. Thousands of tourists visited the church this week for Christmas celebrations.

But the clean-up turned ugly after some of the Orthodox faithful stepped inside the Armenian church's section, touching off a scuffle between about 50 Greek Orthodox and 30 Armenians.

Palestinian police, armed with batons and shields, quickly formed a human cordon to separate the two sides so the cleaning could continue, then ordered an Associated Press photographer out of the church.

Four people, some with blood running from their faces, were slightly wounded.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press.

 

Paris loses out: Hilton fortune pledged to charity

Wed Dec 26, 2007 8:38pm GMT

By Michelle Nichols

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. hotel heiress Paris Hilton's potential inheritance dramatically diminished after her grandfather Barron Hilton announced plans on Wednesday to donate 97 percent of his $2.3 billion (1.16 billion pounds) fortune to charity.

That wealth includes $1.2 billion Barron Hilton stands to earn from both the recent sale of Hilton Hotels Corp. -- started by his father Conrad in 1919 when he bought a small hotel in Cisco, Texas -- and pending sale of the world's biggest casino company, Harrah's Entertainment Inc.

That money will be placed in a charitable trust that will eventually benefit the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, raising its total value to about $4.5 billion, the foundation said in a statement.

Barron Hilton, chairman of the foundation, intends "to contribute 97 percent of his entire net worth, estimated today at $2.3 billion, including the created trusts, at whatever value it is at the time of his passing," the foundation said.

Paris Hilton was not immediately available for comment on her grandfather's plans for his fortune.

Jerry Oppenheimer, who profiled the Hilton family in his 2006 book "House of Hilton," has said Barron Hilton is embarrassed by the behaviour of his socialite granddaughter Paris and believes it has sullied the family name.

Barron Hilton, who is 80, has not commented on Oppenheimer's remarks.

The foundation supports projects that provide clean water in Africa, education for blind children, and housing for the mentally ill. Its aims, based on Conrad Hilton's will, are "to relieve the suffering, the distressed and the destitute."  Continued...

In the line of ridiculous, did I say I don't like cats! I don't like cats on my patio; I don't like cats in my house; I don't like cats in movies; I don't like cats in TV shows; I don't like cats on my TV; I don't like cats in front of my TV; I don't like cats in emails; I don't like cat web sites; And, I don't think cats are cute: I don't like cats with hats; I don't like cats with puppies; I don't like cats with babies; I don't like cats! EVER! I Promise!

WHY BENAZIR BHUTTO'S ASSASSINATION MATTERS

* * * * FLASH TRAFFIC: WASHINGTON UPDATE * * * *

WHY BENAZIR BHUTTO'S ASSASSINATION MATTERS

By Joel C. Rosenberg

(Washington, D.C., December 27, 2007) -- Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated Thursday by Islamic radicals. A leading pro-democracy and pro-Westerner political reformer in the Muslim world, Bhutto had just finished addressing a campaign rally of supporters in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi. Jihadists opened fire on the once and possibly future premier using automatic weapons, hitting her in the neck and chest. A suicide bomber then blew himself up at site, leaving Bhutto dead and killing at least 20 others.
The attack is certainly another tragedy for Bhutto's family (her father, who was premier in the late 1970s, was hanged by radicals in 1979) and we should be praying for their peace and comfort during this difficult time. But why else does Bhutto's death matter?
To be blunt: Pakistan and her nuclear weapons are in danger of falling into the hands of Islamic radicals. Such radicals have attempted to assassinate Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf multiple times in the last few years, hoping to seize control of the government and impose sharia law. Today's attack is a sobering reminder that Pakistan is just one coup d'etat away from Osama bin Laden or one of his fanatical, murderous allies suddenly gaining control. It is difficult to imagine a more nightmarish scenario than al-Qaeda in possession of Pakistan's nuclear arsensal, but this is not an impossibility.
For several years, and certainly throughout 2007, Musharraf has been severely criticized by Western leaders -- including those here in Washington, D.C. -- for imposing martial law and employing other heavy-handed tactics in an attempt to crush the radicals and safeguard the country from their control. He has deserved some of this criticism, but we must also keep things in perspective.
While we all want Pakistan to become a fully-developed democracy -- peaceful, prosperous and healthy in all respects -- we must be very careful never to underestimate the danger that Musharraf and his colleagues are in from the radicals. They are in a battle not just for the soul but the very survival of their country. I personally have serious concerns about how truly committed Musharraf is to Jeffersonian democracy. But I do not believe that he is the worst-case scenario for Pakistan. Bin Laden (or bid Laden-ism) is the worst case scenario.
Let us, therefore, take great pains not repeat the mistakes that President Jimmy Carter made in the late-1970s when he pressed so hard for democracy and human rights in Iran that the Shah eventually was forced to flee the country and the Ayatollah Khomeini took over. As deeply flawed as the Shah was, can anyone effectively argue today that Khomeini was better for the people of Iran, the people of the epicenter, or the world at large?
FYI: Benazir Bhutto, it should be noted, became the first woman prime minister of a Muslim country on December 2, 1988 and served until August 6, 1990. She was later reelected Prime Minister, serving from October 19, 1993 through November 5, 1996.
FYI: Agence France Presse reports that "there have been more than 40 suicide attacks in Pakistan this year that have left at least 770 people dead" and notes that "the deadliest terror attack in Pakistan's history targetted her homecoming rally just hours after her return, leaving 139 people dead".
FYI: The New York Times reports that "the attack Thursday...is the latest blow to Pakistan's treacherous political situation. It comes just days after President Pervez Musharraf lifted a state of emergency, imposed in part because of terrorist threats. Ms. Bhutto, 54, returned from self-imposed exile to Pakistan this year to present herself as the answer to the nation's troubles: a tribune of democracy in a state that has been under military rule for eight years, and the leader of the country's largest opposition political party, founded by her father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, one of Pakistan's most flamboyant and democratically inclined prime ministers. But her record in power, and the dance of veils she has deftly performed since her return -- one moment standing up to the Pakistan president, General Musharraf, then next seeming to accommodate him, and never quite revealing her actual intentions -- has stirred as much distrust as hope among Pakistanis."

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Thank You

The link below will take you to an important web site regarding gratitude and and how to say "thank you."

http://www.gratitudecampaign.org/fullmovie.php

Secret Santa Hands Out Crisp $100 Bills

Our original Secret Santa was revealed and passed away from cancer this year. For years his identity was known only to a TV news reporter and her cameraman who accompanied him each year on his gift giving tour.

Donor Distributes Money for Good. Only Catch: He Wants You to Pay the Kindness Forward

One secret Santa has decided to give out cash this holiday season.  (ABC News)

Dec. 24, 2007

A wealthy Kansas City businessman is a real live "Secret Santa."

He wears the big red Christmas suit, passes out his own money to those in need, and all he asks is that he remains anonymous.

"It isn't about the money. It's about the human spirit. It's about touching someone's life for just a moment, and the hope and the inspiration that it may give to them," said the bearded man.

This Santa follows the legacy of his dear friend, Larry Stewart, the original Secret Santa.

Before making a fortune in the telecom industry, Stewart was homeless. Once he had money to spare, Stewart started giving it away, and over 30 years, he passed out more than $1 million.

Late last year, in the final days of his battle with cancer, Stewart revealed his identity. At his deathbed, the current Secret Santa pledged to continue his incredible mission to keep his work and memory alive.

"Good Morning America" caught this Santa in the act of handing out crisp $100 bills, talking about Stewart's legacy.

"He'd hand him a hundred dollars, just like I'm handing you," Santa said to one lucky recipient. "All he would ask is that you do something nice for somebody, and pass the kindness on," Santa told another.

In his first year on the job, this new Secret Santa has, so far, changed the fortunes of 600 strangers. "If $100 can inspire 1,000 people to commit a random act of kindness and pass it on, that's the best investment I can get on my money," he said.

One special stop for Santa this year was the Kansas City Thrift Shop.

"I want to do something special for you this Christmas. I know you don't get paid a lot," Santa said, as he passed out money to the employees, amid great cheer. "You spend all your time helping people ... I want you to have the best Christmas you possibly can."

Secret Santa is currently training eight more Santas to spread this kind of joy in other cities.

Click here to learn more about Secret Santa and his world at SecretSanta.net.

11:21 a.m. (repost)

The following is from a friend of mine. He didn't know who wrote it but it truly beautiful.

You are in your car driving home. Thoughts wander to the game you want to see or meal you want to eat, when suddenly a sound unlike any you've ever heard fills the air.

The sound is high above you.

A trumpet?

A choir?

A choir of trumpets?

You don't know, but you want to know.

So you pull over, get out of your car, and look up. As you do, you see you aren't the only curious one. The roadside has become a parking lot. Car doors are open, and people are staring at the sky. Shoppers are racing out of the grocery store.

The Little League baseball game across the street has come to a halt. Players and parents are searching the clouds. And what they see, and what you see, has never
before been seen.

As if the sky were a curtain, the drapes of the atmosphere part. A brilliant light spills onto the earth. There are no shadows. None. From whence came the light begins to tumble a river of color spiking crystals of every hue ever seen and a million more never seen. Riding on the flow is an endless fleet of angels. They pass through the curtains one myriad at a time, until they occupy every square inch of the sky.

North.

South.

East.

West.

Thousands of silvery wings rise and fall in unison, and over the sound of the trumpets, you can hear the cherubim and seraphim chanting, Holy, holy, holy. The final flank of angels is followed by twenty-four silver-bearded elders and a multitude of souls who join the angels in worship.

Presently the movement stops and the trumpets are silent, leaving only the triumphant triplet: Holy, holy, holy. Between each word is a pause. With each word, a profound reverence. You hear your voice join in the chorus. You don't know why you say the words, but you know you must.

Suddenly, the heavens are quiet. All is quiet.

The angels turn, you turn, the entire world turns and there He is.

Jesus.

Through waves of light you see the silhouetted figure of Christ the King.

He is atop a great stallion, and the stallion is atop a billowing cloud.

He opens his mouth, and you are surrounded by his declaration: I am the Alpha and the Omega.

The angels bow their heads. The elders remove their crowns. And before you is a Figure so consuming that you know, instantly you know:

Nothing else matters.

Forget stock markets and school reports. Sales meetings and football games.

Nothing is newsworthy..

All that mattered, matters no more....

for Christ has come.

What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see!

Originally posted by Bill at 2:44 PM Friday, December 1, 2006

Free advertising is never good advertising

Tough calls in transplant case

A Northridge teen dies shortly after her insurer reverses its refusal to pay for a treatment it called experimental.

By Molly Hennessy-Fiske, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
December 22, 2007

The case of a Northridge teenager taken off life support just as her insurance company reversed itself and agreed to pay for a liver transplant is highlighting tensions among physicians, patients and insurers over the definition of experimental procedures.

Nataline Sarkisyan's family blames their insurance company, Cigna HealthCare, for the teenager's death Thursday. A leukemia patient, 17-year-old Nataline had been in intensive care at UCLA Medical Center for about three weeks after suffering complications following a successful bone marrow transplant Nov. 21, relatives said. She was covered under the policy of her mother, a real estate agent.

Doctors treating Nataline told the family and Cigna in a letter that patients in similar situations have a 65% chance of living six months if they receive a liver transplant. Doctors had qualified Nataline for a transplant Dec. 6 and a liver became available four days later, the family said. But the transplant was not performed because Cigna had refused to approve and pay for the procedure, they said. (Complete Article.)

For a long time I have said that "free advertising" is never good advertising. In this case Cigna is getting a lot of national media coverage that I would bet they wish they could avoid.

First, I think the Hospital, in this case, has some liability. The Hospital should have preformed the transplant when the liver became available.

Second, I can sympathize with the family and the hospital from the standpoint of negotiating with Cigna. I experienced a similar situation a few years ago when my doctors were advising a autologous (my own) stem cell transplant.

Kansas City has a cancer clinic that does autologous stem cell transplants but my insurance company (Humana) insisted that I go to another city, like Omaha, St. Louis, Nashville, Houston, etc. Finally, they agreed that I could have it done here but there was going to be a $25,000 annual co-pay. Well, we didn't and don't have that kind of money sitting around even in a life and death situation. Fortunately, the cancer clinic and hospital worked with us so I could have it done locally. In addition, I met people in the hospital that were referred to the Kansas City clinic from the Omaha clinic.

Third, Healthcare insurers have too much power and it takes too long to appeal decisions. Too often the patient can't last long enough, as in the case above, to even hear the results of the appeal. Don't misunderstand my complaint; I'm NOT in favor of government nationalized healthcare and am strongly opposed to every Democratic presidential candidate healthcare plan. While undergoing chemotherapy I met a person who had come here from Australia to escape their national healthcare. Unfortunately, they delayed treatment in Australia long enough to cause the young man (early twenties) to lose one of his legs.

When you have cancer, you learn a lot about cancer. You also learn a lot about medicine, insurance, compassion and most of all you must keep a personal advocate with you at all times to help look out for you!

Christmas In The Trenches

by Jim Wallis

"Silent Night," by Stanley Weintraub, is the story of Christmas Eve 1914 on the World War I battlefield in Flanders. As the German, British, and French troops facing each other were settling in for the night, a young German soldier began to sing "Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht." Others joined in. When they had finished, the British and French responded with other Christmas carols.

Eventually, the men from both sides left their trenches and met in the middle. They shook hands, exchanged gifts, and shared pictures of their families. Informal soccer games began in what had been "no-man's-land." And a joint service was held to bury the dead of both sides.

The generals, of course, were not pleased with these events. Men who have come to know each other's names and seen each other's families are much less likely to want to kill each other. War seems to require a nameless, faceless "enemy."

So, following that magical night the men on both sides spent a few days simply firing aimlessly into the sky. Then the war was back in earnest and continued for three more bloody years. Yet the story of that Christmas Eve lingered - a night when the angels really did sing of peace on earth.

Folksinger John McCutcheon wrote a song about that night in Belgium, titled "Christmas in the Trenches," from the viewpoint of a young British solder. Several poignant verses are:

"The next they sang was "Stille Nacht," "Tis 'Silent Night'," says I.
And in two tongues one song filled up that sky
"There's someone coming towards us!" the front line sentry cried
All sights were fixed on one lone figure coming from their side
His truce flag, like a Christmas star, shone on that plain so bright
As he bravely strode unarmed into the night.

Soon one by one on either side walked into No Man's land With neither gun nor bayonet we met there hand to hand
We shared some secret brandy and we wished each other well And in a flare-lit soccer game we gave 'em hell. We traded chocolates, cigarettes, and photographs from home These sons and fathers far away from families of their own Young Sanders played his squeeze box and they had a violin This curious and unlikely band of men.

Soon daylight stole upon us and France was France once more With sad farewells we each began to settle back to war But the question haunted every heart that lived that wondrous night "Whose family have I fixed within my sights?" 'Twas Christmas in the trenches, where the frost so bitter hung The frozen fields of France were warmed as songs of peace were sung For the walls they'd kept between us to exact the work of war Had been crumbled and were gone for evermore."

My prayer for the New Year is for a nation and world where people can come out of their trenches and together sing their hopes for peace. We here at Sojourners will carry on that mission, and we invite you to continue on the journey with us.

Blessings to you and your families.

Israeli officials: Russia doesn't want nuclear Iran

From the Jerusalem Post.

By HERB KEINON AND AP

Despite Russia's first shipment of nuclear fuel to Bushehr on Monday, Moscow has no interest in seeing Iran gain an independent nuclear capability, senior Israeli diplomatic officials said Thursday.

According to the officials, the Russians genuinely believe that safeguards will be in place to keep Iran from using the reactor or the nuclear fuel for a weapons program.

"The Russians are not naive," one of the officials said, and in the final analysis want to keep neighboring Iran from gaining a nuclear weapon. At the same time, he said, there is a very wide gap between the Russia assessment of how far along Teheran is in its nuclear development, and Israel's assessment. (Full article.)

Without a doubt the Russians are not naive. But, are they trustworthy? I believe Putin has proven himself the past several months as not trustworthy. If his intentions were reliable he would not be setting himself up to become the next Czar of Russia. Israel, as well as the U.S., should not believe this propaganda and should continue to seek sanctions against Iran through the United Nations, even though the United Nations is no more trustworthy than Russia and Putin.

Pray for peace for Israel and a untied Jerusalem under Israel!

Urgent Prayer request for Missionaries Charles and Tressa Rouch in Zambia

I received this late last night from a close friend:

Dear Sarafaye, Preacher & Darci,

We are writing to ask you to go to immediate prayer with us again regarding an urgent matter occurring tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. here in Zambia  (1:00 a.m. EST). 

We are to appear in court regarding false allegations with respect to a ministry project we started some years ago on a rented piece of land. Charles was on the witness stand for an hour on the 12th. Our attorney here feels there will be closure one way or another tomorrow, so we are asking you to pray with us. This was supposedly finalized 4 years ago, but has now been brought back up in court and of course we are the foreigners, so that makes it very different. We know this is Satan trying his best to harm this ministry and remove our family from the country. We are not the only missionary's fighting these types of things right now in this country. These are serious allegations and we covet your prayers. We are trusting the Lord to intervene and put a stop to "unreasonable men".  Pastor Cheelo has traveled up from Livingstone to testify, as well as Pastor Kunda here in Ndola.  Satan is obviously busy here right now, so we wanted to include you in this newest tactic wasting our time from what we have been called here to do.  At 1 or 2 AM Fri. morning your time,  we will be in court here at 9:00 AM.  Please, please pray much now. 

We will send an update as soon as we can tomorrow. 

In His Service,

Charlie & Tressa Rouch

Chanukkah

I'm a little late with this but it is still important information that I felt was interesting. Judaism 101 is a great web site and very informative about all the Holidays and customs of the Jewish people. The following is from Judaism 101:

On the 25th of Kislev are the days of Chanukkah, which are eight... these were appointed a Festival with Hallel [prayers of praise] and thanksgiving. -Shabbat 21b, Babylonian Talmud

Chanukkah, the Jewish festival of rededication, also known as the festival of lights, is an eight day festival beginning on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev.

Chanukkah is probably one of the best known Jewish holidays, not because of any great religious significance, but because of its proximity to Christmas. Many non-Jews (and even many assimilated Jews!) think of this holiday as the Jewish Christmas, adopting many of the Christmas customs, such as elaborate gift-giving and decoration. It is bitterly ironic that this holiday, which has its roots in a revolution against assimilation and the suppression of Jewish religion, has become the most assimilated, secular holiday on our calendar.

The Story

The story of Chanukkah begins in the reign of Alexander the Great. Alexander conquered Syria, Egypt and Palestine, but allowed the lands under his control to continue observing their own religions and retain a certain degree of autonomy. Under this relatively benevolent rule, many Jews assimilated much of Hellenistic culture, adopting the language, the customs and the dress of the Greeks, in much the same way that Jews in America today blend into the secular American society.

More than a century later, a successor of Alexander, Antiochus IV was in control of the region. He began to oppress the Jews severely, placing a Hellenistic priest in the Temple, massacring Jews, prohibiting the practice of the Jewish religion, and desecrating the Temple by requiring the sacrifice of pigs (a non-kosher animal) on the altar. Two groups opposed Antiochus: a basically nationalistic group led by Mattathias the Hasmonean and his son Judah Maccabee, and a religious traditionalist group known as the Chasidim, the forerunners of the Pharisees (no direct connection to the modern movement known as Chasidism). They joined forces in a revolt against both the assimilation of the Hellenistic Jews and oppression by the Seleucid Greek government. The revolution succeeded and the Temple was rededicated.

According to tradition as recorded in the Talmud, at the time of the rededication, there was very little oil left that had not been defiled by the Greeks. Oil was needed for the menorah (candelabrum) in the Temple, which was supposed to burn throughout the night every night. There was only enough oil to burn for one day, yet miraculously, it burned for eight days, the time needed to prepare a fresh supply of oil for the menorah. An eight day festival was declared to commemorate this miracle. Note that the holiday commemorates the miracle of the oil, not the military victory: Jews do not glorify war.

Traditions

Our rabbis taught the rule of Chanukkah: ... on the first day one [candle] is lit and thereafter they are progressively increased ... [because] we increase in sanctity but do not reduce. -Shabbat 21b, Babylonian Talmud

Chanukkah is not a very important religious holiday. The holiday's religious significance is far less than that of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Passover, and Shavu'ot. It is roughly equivalent to Purim in significance, and you won't find many non-Jews who have even heard of Purim! Chanukkah is not mentioned in Jewish scripture; the story is related in the book of Maccabees, which Jews do not accept as scripture.

The only religious observance related to the holiday is the lighting of candles. The candles are arranged in a candelabrum called a menorah (or sometimes called a chanukkiah) that holds nine candles: one for each night, plus a shammus (servant) at a different height. On the first night, one candle is placed at the far right. The shammus candle is lit and three berakhot (blessings) are recited: l'hadlik neir (a general prayer over candles), she-asah nisim (a prayer thanking G-d for performing miracles for our ancestors at this time), and she-hekhianu (a general prayer thanking G-d for allowing us to reach this time of year). See Chanukkah Candle Lighting Blessings for the full text of these blessings. After reciting the blessings, the first candle is then lit using the shammus candle, and the shammus candle is placed in its holder. The candles are allowed to burn out on their own after a minimum of 1/2 hour.

Each night, another candle is added from right to left (like the Hebrew language). Candles are lit from left to right (because you pay honor to the newer thing first). On the eighth night, all nine candles (the 8 Chanukkah candles and the shammus) are lit. See animation at right for the candlelighting procedure. On nights after the first, only the first two blessings are recited; the third blessing, she-hekhianu is only recited on the first night of holidays.

Why the shammus candle? The Chanukkah candles are for pleasure only; we are not allowed to use them for any productive purpose. We keep an extra one around (the shammus), so that if we need to do something useful with a candle, we don't accidentally use the Chanukkah candles. The shammus candle is at a different height so that it is easily identified as the shammus.

It is traditional to eat fried foods on Chanukkah because of the significance of oil to the holiday. Among Ashkenazic Jews, this usually includes latkes (pronounced "lot-kuhs" or "lot-keys" depending on where your grandmother comes from. Pronounced "potato pancakes" if you are a goy.) My recipe is included later in this page.

Gift-giving is not a traditional part of the holiday, but has been added in places where Jews have a lot of contact with Christians, as a way of dealing with our children's jealousy of their Christian friends. It is extremely unusual for Jews to give Chanukkah gifts to anyone other than their own young children. The only traditional gift of the holiday is "gelt," small amounts of money.

Another tradition of the holiday is playing dreidel, a gambling game played with a square top. Most people play for matchsticks, pennies, M&Ms or chocolate coins. The traditional explanation of this game is that during the time of Antiochus' oppression, those who wanted to study Torah (an illegal activity) would conceal their activity by playing gambling games with a top (a common and legal activity) whenever an official or inspector was within sight.

A dreidel is marked with four Hebrew letters: Nun, Gimel, Hei and Shin. These letters stand for the Hebrew phrase "Nes Gadol Hayah Sham", a great miracle happened there, referring to the miracle of the oil.

The letters also stand for the Yiddish words nit (nothing), gantz (all), halb (half) and shtell (put), which are the rules of the game! There are some variations in the way people play the game, but the way I learned it, everyone puts in one coin. A person spins the dreidel. If it lands on Nun, nothing happens; on Gimel (or, as we called it as kids, "gimme!"), you get the whole pot; on Hei, you get half of the pot; and on Shin, you put one in. When the pot is empty, everybody puts one in. Keep playing until one person has everything. Then redivide it, because nobody likes a poor winner.

Marshall Family's Animated Christmas Lights; Wichita, KS '07

The 20 y/o engineering student that did this is the grandson of close friends who live in Hutchinson, Kansas. Hope you enjoy this as much as I have.

KISSINGER SPEAKS FOR MCCAIN

This is a pretty big endorsement for McCain.

Posted: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 1:38 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC’s Bethany Thomas

At Faneuil Hall in Boston, Henry Kissinger told a crowd of McCain supporters that he “doesn’t usually get involved in things like this,” but given today’s conflicts in the world, he couldn’t stay away from the political scene. (Kissinger endorsed McCain earlier in the year.) Kissinger said he first met McCain in 1972 at the White House after he was released as a POW and has been a fan ever since.

Kissinger described the current international struggle: “There’s never been a period in history where so many things were in movement at the same time.”

“Now we need to deal with the world that I’ve described to you and that requires leaders who have spent some time thinking about it,” Kissinger said. “The senator had five years in solitary, figuring out who he is and why he is serving his country. He has never had any other political motive….He has had a unique experience in his life and he has, sometimes to his short-term disadvantage, only asked one question, ‘What is best for America, but also what is best for freedom in the world.’

“This is why I have supported him for 30 years; this is why I am doing something that I have not done before, and this is why I think John McCain will be the best person to lead America through the turbulent, but also hopeful period that is ahead of us.”

McCain took questions from the audience and also commented on Time Magazine’s choice for “Person of the Year.” “I noticed that Time Magazine made President Putin the Time Magazine ‘Man of the Year,’” McCain said. “I understand that probably, but my man of the year is one General David Petraeus, our general who has brought success in Iraq.”

Also, on yesterday’s Senate vote: “I had to go to Washington last night because for the 40th time on the floor of the Senate, the Democrats tried to impose a date for withdrawal and even cut off the funding for the mission and the young men and women that are in Iraq,” McCain said. “I regret that. I regret that because I don’t think any objective observer could draw any other conclusion than the fact that we are succeeding in Iraq.”

Emphasis added.

TIME NAMES PUTIN "PERSON OF THE YEAR": A Czar is rising.

From the blog of Joel C. Rosenberg:

Time magazine has just named Russian President Vladimir Putin "Person of the Year" for 2007, noting: "When this intense and brooding KGB agent took over as President of Russia in 2000, he found a country on the verge of becoming a failed state. With dauntless persistence, a sharp vision of what Russia should become and a sense that he embodied the spirit of Mother Russia, Putin has put his country back on the map. And he intends to redraw it himself. Though he will step down as Russia's President in March, he will continue to lead his country as its Prime Minister and attempt to transform it into a new kind of nation, beholden to neither East nor West. TIME's Person of the Year is not and never has been an honor. It is not an endorsement. It is not a popularity contest. At its best, it is a clear-eyed recognition of the world as it is and of the most powerful individuals and forces shaping that world—for better or for worse. It is ultimately about leadership—bold, earth-changing leadership."....by that measure, Time is right....Putin is emerging as one of the most dangerous men on the planet....he fashions himself a rising Russian Czar....he is steadily seeking to expand his power, territory and global influence, and is willing -- almost eager -- to arm "Axis of Evil" countries such as Iran and North Korea, despite the dangers is so doing....it now seems more clear than ever that he will not truly step down from office in 2008....his title may change (though even that remains to be seen), but his stranglehold over the Russian people most assuredly will not....watch him closely....once he consolidates power, his true global ambitions will finally become known.

posted by Joel C. Rosenberg @ 9:03 AM

It takes all kinds...

 

Woman Accused of Groping Mall Santa

1 hour ago

DANBURY, Conn. (AP) — Santa Claus says that a woman who sat on his lap was naughty, not nice.

A Santa at the Danbury Fair mall said the woman groped him.

"The security officer at the mall said Santa Claus has been sexually assaulted," police Detective Lt. Thomas Michael said of the weekend complaint.

Sandrama Lamy, 33, of Danbury, was charged with sexual assault and breach of peace. She was released on a promise to appear in court on Jan. 3.

Police quickly found and identified Lamy because the woman was described as being on crutches, said Capt. Bob Myles.

A call seeking comment from Lamy was answered by a recording Tuesday morning. A woman later called back and said: "It's a false report and I don't have any idea."

Police did not give the name of the disconcerted Santa, but they said he is 65 and felt badly because children were waiting to see him. "He was apparently shocked and embarrassed by the whole incident," Myles said.

A man who teaches hundreds of prospective Santas a year — "Santa Tim" Connaghan, president of RealSantas.com — said he's never heard of a similar incident, though it's not unusual for adults to want to pose with Santa.

"I've had some very nice ladies sit on my lap," said Connaghan, who did not train the Danbury Fair Santa. "Once in a while they'll say 'I hope Mrs. Claus isn't going to be upset.' You have to be discreet and kind and say 'Oh no, she'll be OK. You can sit here, but only for one photo.'"

A spokeswoman for Cherry Hill Photo, the company that coordinates Santas for Danbury Fair, declined to comment Tuesday.

Lieberman: McCain can reunite our country

In my opinion, this endorsement could have a significant impact on the race. These two would make an awesome team.

(CNN) -- Sen. Joe Lieberman is crossing party lines and endorsing Republican Sen. John McCain for president.

Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Connecticut, is endorsing Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, for president.

"Being a Republican is important. Being a Democrat is important. But you know what's more important than that? The interest and well-being of the United States of America," the Democrat-turned Independent said in announcing his decision Monday morning in New Hampshire.

"Let's put the United States first again, and John McCain is the man as president who will help us do that," he said.

Lieberman, the Democrats' vice presidential nominee in 2000, said the next president needs to "break through the reflexive partisanship that is poisoning our politics today and stopping us from getting anything done in Washington."

In accepting Lieberman's backing, McCain said, "It is one of the great honors of my political career to have known him, to have worked with him and to have received his endorsement."

The Connecticut senator decided to endorse McCain because he considers him "the most capable to be commander in chief on day one of his administration, and the most capable of uniting the country so that we can prevail against Islamic extremism," a Lieberman aide said earlier.

The Lieberman aide insists the senator does not see this as a "commentary on or an endorsement of the Republican party, only the person."

The endorsement could help emphasize McCain's experience on national security issues, demonstrate his ability to work across party lines and perhaps help persuade Independent voters in New Hampshire to support his 2008 presidential bid, as many of them did during his first campaign in 2000.

McCain also picked up key endorsements this weekend from two of the most influential papers for voters in Iowa and New Hampshire, The Des Moines Register and The Boston Globe.

To read the full article click here.

Waterboarding

Meaning of "The Twelve Days of Christmas"

People often think of The Twelve Days of Christmas as the days preceding the festival. Actually, Christmas is a season of the Christian Year that last for days beginning December 25 and lasting until January 6 - the Day of Epiphany when the church celebrates the revelation of Christ as the light of the world and recalls the journey of the Magi.

From 1558 until 1829 people in England were not allowed to practice their faith openly. During this era someone wrote 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' as a kind of secret catechism that could be sung in public without risk of persecution. The song has two levels of interpretation: "the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of the church." Each element in the carol is a code word for a religious reality.

1. The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus Christ.
2. The two turtledoves are the Old and New Testaments.
3. Three French hens stand for faith, hope and love.
4. The four calling birds are the four Gospels.
5. The five gold rings recall the torah (Law) the first five books of the Old Testament.
6. The six geese a-laying stand for the six days of creation.
7. Seven swans a-swimming represent the sevenfold gifts of the Spirit.
8. The eight maids a-milking are the eight beatitudes.
9. Nine ladies dancing are the nine fruits of the spirit.
10. The ten lords a-leaping are the Ten Commandments.
11. Eleven pipers piping stand for the eleven faithful disciples.
12. Twelve drummers drumming symbolize the 12 points of belief in the Apostles Creed.

There you have it, the HIDDEN meaning of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" and the secret behind the song.

Straight No Chaser

Kansas AG Paul Morrison resigns

This afternoon Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison announced his resignation effective January 31, 2008. Basically, he stated that the problems in his personal life were beginning to affect the Attorney General's office.

My hope in this is that the next Attorney General will investigate the Johnson Country District Attorney's office under Phill Kline. As a Republican I find it offense that the Republican leader in the County appointed him in the first place.

Phill Kline should never have been elected Attorney General prior to Paul Morrison and he sure shouldn't be District Attorney replacing Paul Morrison. I have no doubt that if Phill Kline were to be investigated there would be abuses in the Johnson County District Attorney's office.

This entire escapade is just one more reason to...

Don't re-elect incumbents!

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus

Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York's Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history's most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps.

"DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.
"Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
"Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.'
"Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?

"VIRGINIA O'HANLON.
"115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET."

VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.
Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Commissioners OK Phill Kline’s request for investigation

FRED BLOCHER | The Star

Johnson County District Attorney Phill Kline conferred with the then head of his office's administration, Linda Carter, during a June "retreat" between the attorney general's office and the county commission. Carter says she had a two-year affair with Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison that began when Morrison was Johnson County district attorney. She also says Morrison used the relationship to try to obtain sensitive information about one of Kline’s abortion clinic investigations.

Johnson County commissioners today authorized District Attorney Phill Kline to spend an initial $25,000 to investigate alleged wrongdoing that Kline said involved blackmail and telephone harassment.

Kline said he had evidence of criminal wrongdoing, but refused to confirm who the target of the investigation was. However, the inquiry is believed to involve allegations surrounding a sex scandal involving Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison.

The money would be used for Kline to hire a special prosecutor. Kline told commissioners that his office could not investigate the matter because some of his staffers could be witnesses.

I have absolutely no doubt that this investigation is politically motivated and vengeful. Phill Kline was not good the the State of Kansas as Attorney General. How could the leadership of the Republican Party in Johnson County think he would be good for Johnson County? These "leaders" are the people who appointed him District Attorney to replace Paul Morrison who defeated Kline for Attorney General. Not only should Phill Kline be removed from office but these Republican leaders should be removed from leadership positions in the party.

Phill Kline should be under investigation for the charges that the Kansas City television station made against him. They claim he does not live in Johnson County and is only working 29 hours per week. In addition, the county could not provide parking records for him for many weeks. Those weeks, one must assume, he was not at work. The claims by the county that the records are arbitrarily erased by the program is not believable. If this is the case then the County should be hiring new a auditing firm because the current firm is not doing there job!

Going back to our "home town"

"Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that He departed from there. When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?” So they were offended at Him.
But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.” Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief." Matthew 13:53-58 (New King James Version)

Jesus wasn't appreciated in his own home town when people realized who he was. They discounted things he tried to tell them because they remembered who he was and who is family was.

I can sympathize with this passage. I, too, am typically discounted when I go to the town where I grew up. "Oh, I remember when you were little Billy and..." Is this not how it is with most of us, especially when our family still lives in our "home" town? People who have known us all our life have a tendency to discount our capabilities and question our advice on subjects that we may be professional about.

Help us to look beyond how others may view us negatively. Help us to see the bigger calling you have given each of us. Amen

Remembrance of Advent with a Friend - 2 (repost)

During the years that our families attended Park Place Christian Church at Christmas time Paul would always sing "Sweet Little Jesus Boy" in this strong baritone voice. He sang it in a style of old southern slavery blues. Since his passing I have searched for recordings comparable to his voice. I haven't found one but there is a version by Natalie Cole that comes pretty close.

Oh, how I miss Paul and can't wait to see him at the "Pearly Gate."

The following was originally posted last year:

This is from Paul Berry for Christmas, 2002.

God did not send into our tormented world
technical aid,
Gabriel with a group of experts.
God did not send food,
not discarded clothes of angels.
Even less did God extend long term loans.
Rather God came to us,
born in a stable,
starved in the desert,
naked on a cross,
and sharing with us God became our bread
and suffering with us God became our joy.

Someone
Said it was over,
when it ís only just begun.
So keep your lights ablaze as friends come around to call
but above all be aware that

Someone
has come to us in this winter light,
at the dark time of the year,
when comets blaze, and starlight falls,
and the remaining green trees speak of endless life,
and candy canes are shepherds' crooks,
while carols sing of "peace on earth,"
and the New Year comes when we may give and know
and nurture love,
as we grow in grace, and the glad heart sings
of the gifts of joy that his presence brings.

The Bell (repost)

The Bell

I KNOW WHO I AM

I am God's child (John 1:12)

I am Christ's friend (John 15:15)

I am united with the Lord (1 Cor. 6:17)

I am bought with a price (1 Cor. 6:19-20)

I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1)

I am a personal witness of Christ (Acts 1:8)

I am the salt & light of the earth (Matt. 5:13-14)

I am a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27)

I am free forever from condemnation (Rom. 8: 1-2)

I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant (Phil.3:20)

I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31-34)

I am a minister of reconciliation for God (2 Cor.5:17-21)

I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph 2:18)

I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6)

I cannot be separated from the love of God (Rom.8:35-39)

I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor.1:21-22)

I am assured all things work together for good (Rom. 8: 28)

I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16)

I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3: 12)

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13)

I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15: 1-5)

I am God's temple (1 Cor. 3: 16). I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10)

I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3). I have been justified (Romans 5:1)

I am God's co-worker (1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1). I am God's workmanship (Eph. 2:10)

I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected (Phil. 1: 5)

I have been redeemed and forgiven (Col. 1:14). I have been adopted as God's child (Eph 1:5)

I belong to God

Do you know

who you are!?

Israel Insists That Iran Still Seeks a Bomb

I must say that I agree with the Israelis. The American intelligence agencies have been wrong too many times in the past and now the same agencies that said Iran was seeking the "bomb" now say they aren't. Which report are we to believe? Personally, I have more confidence in the Israeli intelligence than our own!

By STEVEN ERLANGER and ISABEL KERSHNER

Published: December 5, 2007

JERUSALEM, Dec. 4 — Israel said Tuesday that it remained convinced that Iran was pursuing nuclear weapons and that it had probably resumed the weapons program the Americans said was stopped in the fall of 2003.

The defense minister, Ehud Barak, rejected the American assessment of “moderate confidence” that Tehran had not restarted its nuclear weapons program by mid-2007 and that the end to the program “represents a halt to Iran’s entire nuclear weapons program.” He suggested that Israel would not rest in its efforts to stop Iran’s activities.

“It is our responsibility to ensure that the right steps are taken against the Iranian regime,” Mr. Barak told Israeli Army radio. “As is well known, words don’t stop missiles.”

He added: “It is apparently true that in 2003 Iran stopped pursuing its military nuclear program for a certain period of time. But in our estimation, since then it is apparently continuing with its program.”

In other words, whereas the Americans say Iran has stopped its nuclear weapons program while continuing to enrich uranium as rapidly as it can, Israel contends that Iran has resumed its nuclear weapons program with the clear aim of building a nuclear bomb. ...

The complete article.

Letter from a friend

I received the following letter from a friend of mine and, in my opinion, he is "dead on." I have removed his last name for security purposes.

My Dear Friends,

Something happened today that will change America forever.  Our President, Mr. George Bush, backed down to Russian Primere [sic] Vladimir Putin.  You see about three weeks ago Mr.Putin in a very stern manner told Mr. Bush to leave Iran alone or there will be grave consequences.  Today Mr. Bush announced that Iran really isn't really hell bent on building a nuclear arsenal.  He states that there is new intelligence to back this up.

Please explain to me Mr. President why they are still enriching uranium.  Please explain why our best friend in the Middle East, Israel, is livid.  They know you are wrong.  You just turned your back on them.  Not only that you showed Russia they can push us around.  How long will it be before they are calling the shots in the Middle East.  Perhaps it is already too late. What has Mr. Putin said to you in private that has you so afraid?

While you have been fighting with Iraq,  Russia has been supplying our enemy's with weapons.  Why haven't you stood up to them a long time ago?  Maybe it is time to tell America the real reason we are fighting Iraq. It is because your buddies in Saudi Arabia were afraid of Saddam Hussein and didn't have the guts to fight their own battles.  We all saw you hugging and kissing these guys.  What kind of promises did you make them?  Now you have us embroiled in a quagmire that has cost thousands of lives and billions of dollars.  Remember when you said "Either you are with us or the terrorists"? Well if someone is supplying them with weapons whose side are they on?  Stop the supply source and you stop the ability to fight. 

My friends we are already suffering the consequences for these actions.  The once Mighty America is beginning to crumble.  These actions have opened a door in  the Middle East that will change the whole world.  Read Ezekiel chapter 38 and you will begin to understand what we are seeing happen right before us.  Rosh (Russia) is teaming up with the Muslims to attack Israel.  We have no way of knowing how soon this will take place, but the stage is being set. 

Please pray for our friend Israel. 

Sincerely,

Tom

Remembrance of Advent with a Friend (repost)

From Advent 2006...

Advent always reminds me of my friend Paul Berry. In his last season of Advent of his life on earth he blessed me and others with a few Advent devotionals. Although I am late, I wanted to share what he wrote for the first Sunday of Advent, 2003:

Hello,

Just a short note to wish each of you a blessed Advent Season of reflection, fulfillment and adventure as the world whirls through space. May these coming days open with joy and opportunity for each one of you.

Below is a devotional for the 1st Sunday of Advent--

for this season I am including a reading from the Psalter which, I believe, expresses beautifully the time and season of celebrating journey on the travel toward a certain manger.

May you find it useful.

Grace and Peace be yours--

with love,

Paul

Read Psalm 150

After 149 songs of praise and penitence, of lament and loud Alleluias, of prayers for leaders and against enemies - the Book of Psalms ends with a Doxology - a call to all of us - and all of creation - to praise God.We are called to praise God with all that wehave at our disposal: from stringed instruments to blaring horns, from melodious voices to tapping feet, and more. Because the Book of Psalms is the collection of songs about the whole human condition, not just the "good" parts of life, we know we can praise God with all that we are:
pain-bearers are encouraged to lift that unbearable
burden to God;
mourners are invited to merge their tears with
those streaming down God's cheeks;
those who stumble in the shadowed corners of
life can bring their bruised shins to the One
who will bandage them;
those who feel most abandoned by God can rage
against the throne of heaven, knowing their
alienation is as welcome as all the alleluias

lifted in joy;

AND, all the rest of us, if any have been left out.

YES! All of us,
every single one of us -

We

are invited to praise the Lord!
Prayer:

Praise, sometimes faint, sometimes faltering,

yet with a desire to be faithful is lifted to you,

God who has done great things.
Prayers, sometimes hesitant, sometimes
halting, always hopeful, are lifted to you,

God who will do marvelous things.

May we make joyful praise and thankful prayer as much

a part of this readying and waiting time as are the fun of parties and gifts.

Amen.

Originally posted 12/5/2006 9:09 PM

The 7 Ups!

1. Wake Up !!

...Decide to have a good day.
"This is the day the Lord hath made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Psalms 118:24

2. Dress Up !!

...The best way to dress up is to put on a smile.
A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.
Man looks at outward appearance,
But the Lord looks at the heart."
I Samuel 16:7

3. Shut Up!!

...Say nice things and learn to listen.
God gave us two ears and one mouth,
So He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking.
"He who guards his lips guards his soul."
Proverbs 13:3

4. Stand Up!!

...For what you believe in.
Stand for something or you will fall for anything.
"Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time,
We will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good..."
Galatians 6:9-10

5. Look Up !!

...To the Lord.
"I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me".
Philippians 4:13

6. Reach Up !!

...For something higher.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not unto your own understanding.
In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path"
Proverbs 3:5-6

7. Lift Up !!

...Your Prayers.
"Do not worry about anything; instead
PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING."
Philippians 4:6

A POSITIVE THOUGHT

If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.
If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it.
He sends you flowers every spring, and a sunrise every morning.

Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen.
He could live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.
What about the Christmas gift He sent you in Bethlehem;
Not to mention that Friday at Calvary.
Face it, He's crazy about you.