The situation in the Middle East is becoming more tense by the day. Last weekend two rockets were launched from within the Gaza Strip headed for Tel Aviv, the largest city within Israel. According to reports, Israel's Iron Dome defense system destroyed one of the incoming rockets, while the second landed harmlessly in a field. Residents living in Tel Aviv heard the sirens and headed for the nearest shelters. Having traveled through Tel Aviv on numerous occasions, I can only begin to imagine the confusion and chaos those sirens created.
Within hours of their launching, Israel's IDF retaliated striking over 100 targets associated with Hamas within the Gaza Strip. Later it was revealed that the two rockets launched from within the Gaza Strip had been fired in err. One might have thought that the leadership of Hamas would have been more careful, knowing the retaliatory impact of Israel.
To Israel's north more tunnels created by Hezbollah have been found. Recently the leadership of Hezbollah has stated that they now possess rockets that can strike any city within Israel, including both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Where did they get those rockets? you might ask. They are a gift from the people of Iran who have as a stated goal the complete destruction of the nation of Israel. As the Syrian Civil War appears to be in its waning days, it is clear that President Assad will be remaining in power. That means that he will retain his support base from Moscow and Tehran. Of course this will keep Israel on a high state of alert in the Golan Heights.
Meanwhile, the nation of Israel is in the midst of a national campaign to determine which political party will retain power following the April 9 elections. To further complicate the process, it appears that Prime Minister Netanyahu will be indicted for fraud and conspiracy charges. What will such an indictment have upon the Israeli voters on April 9? Could there be a changing of the political guard in Israel? If so, what will that look like?
Following the April 9 elections, it appears that President Trump will introduce his "Deal of the Century" that will bring peace in the Middle East. Much is unknown of this plan although some portions have been leaked to the press. One such leak has to do with the Temple Mount and the change from a Jordanian authority to a Saudi Arabian authority over the Temple Mount. Personally I wonder what impact this would have upon the Jewish access to the Temple Mount site. Would the Saudi's grant Israel the right to build the third temple upon the Temple Mount? Would the Jewish leaders build a temple next to the Dome of the Rock? These are some of the many questions that would be reflected upon. Another leak involved the separation of the Old City into two halves. Again, having walked through the streets and alleys of the Old City many times and discovering how one quarter leads to another, I wonder how such a division would work.
Let me be honest with you all. I do not believe that there will be any peace-accord in the Middle East until the end of the age. I read in Daniel 9:26-27 about a leader who is coming who will sign a peace agreement with the people of Israel. This agreement will be the commencement of that period of time we know as the Tribulation. That leader who will initiate this peace agreement will be the Antichrist. Is President Trump's "Deal of the Century" that peace accord? Probably not, but it might be the forerunner of such an accord.
Anyway, I believe the world is literally rushing toward that one-world government. The clamor among the political candidates in America is toward a progressive-socialistic government where the bureaucracy dictates what people earn. There is no lack to their imagination as to how to spend other people's money: from free college tuition to a guaranteed job to free medical care. Yet none of those things is truly free; someone has to pay for them. There is an increased dialogue about implanting infrared digital chips in humans as a way to manage buying and selling. John describes something very similar in Revelation 13. Could those chips be the mark of the beast? Interesting comparisons you have to admit. I am preaching this Sunday on the discussion Jesus had with His disciples in answer to their question of how the world would end. As I read and studied it was almost as if Jesus was peering into the 21st century. The accuracy is electric. Yes, the end is not far distant.
These are days in which we need to keep our eyes focused upon the truths within the Word of God and also focused upon those things happening within our world. The former will explain the significance of the later for us. And we need to keep our ears attuned to the sounding of the trumpet. In addition, we need to be busy working as the hands and feet of Jesus to help others to know the grace and love Jesus has for them. Yes, the Kingdom is coming.
Wednesday, March 20, 2019
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
Worldwide Persecution of Christians; The Impact of Technology upon Teens
I apologize for not getting a blog written last week. But Marlys and I had the opportunity of flying down to Phoenix where we met our daughter and grandson for some spring training. What a delight to go from winter white to desert brown, from subzero nights to balmy sunshine, from the sound of snowmobiles to the crack of a bat. Sort of rejuvenated our spirits. Spent time in the Rangers, Cubs, and Padres camps. Fun to see baseball once again.
But now we are home and some news items, some of which you probably never heard from the mainstream media. A week ago, Raymond Ibrahim published an article titled, "11 Christians Killed Every Day for Their Faith." It was published by the Middle East Forum and can be found at: www.meforum.org/57925/christians-persecuted-killed. He writes, "Last year, Christians were persecuted more than ever before in the modern era - and this year is expected to be worse: '4,136 Christians were killed for faith-related reasons,' according to Open Doors USA in its recently published World Watch List 2019 of the top 50 nations where Christians are persecuted. 'On average, that's 11 Christians killed every day for their faith.' Additionally, '2,625 Christians were detained without trial, arrested, sentenced and imprisoned' in 2018, and '1,266 churches or Christian buildings were attacked.'
"Whereas 215 million Christians faced persecutions in 2018, 245 million will suffer in 2019, according to Open Doors - a 14% increase, that represents 30 million more people abused for their faith. This means that '1 in 9 Christians experience high levels of persecution worldwide.'
"One of the most noteworthy trends concerns the 'shocking reality of persecution against women.' 'In many places, they experience a "double persecution" - one for being a Christian and one for being a woman. Even in the most restricted circumstances, gender-specific persecution is a key means of destroying the minority Christian community.'"
Ibrahim cites that the majority of the persecution of Christians comes from Muslim-dominated countries. Seven of the top 10 in the World Watch List are Islamic countries. Even in our country we are seeing the gradual escalation in the attacks upon Christians. Businesses have been impacted, lawsuits have been issued, harassment has been experienced. I recall the words from the pen of the Apostle John: "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed" (John 3:19-20). As we near the day of Christ's return, I believe that those who dare to stand upon God's truth will increasingly become the target of Satan's assaults. Oh how we need to be fully clothed with the armor of God (see Ephesians 6:10-18).
I was intrigued with an article written by Robin Smith and titled, "Many Teens Stressed, Depressed, Obsessed with Self." You can find this article at: www.patriotpost.us/articles/61671-many-teens-stressed-depressed-obsessed-with-self. I found this to be a fascinating and informative article. Allow me to quote portions of it. The author begins: "Inarguably, there is a rise in the incidence of depression, anxiety, serious mental illness diagnoses and, yes, suicide among teenagers and young adults. Why? There's no one cause and there are numerous risk factors. Among those cited by the Mayo Clinic for both depression and anxiety, there are a few that deserve a bit of discussion.
"There are environmental factors that impact mental health. Among those factors are parenting, specifically the presence of the father in the home. Not having a dad in the home doesn't necessarily predispose anyone to mental illness. But data is significant in volume and validity that children and students perform better in school when both parents are present in the home and have the long-term benefit of a more stable response to stress and traumatic experiences that, sadly, are relatively routine in life. Other environmental factors include exposure to either repeated stress or abuse, specifically physical, sexual or emotional abuse, as well as trauma, but conditioning is absolutely part of how our bodies respond and react.
"With reinforcement and repeated exposures, a behavior becomes 'normal.' There was a day when face-to-face conversation was normal with social interaction involving eye contact and personal interaction. Today, in the 'selfie' generation, it's more common and, yes, normal, to respond by emojis, texts, and photos posted in social media than to have the face-to-face stimulation and interaction of another human or group. We've become beings that are driven by content nor reasoning and discussion.
Now listen to what the author describes next. I found this so revelatory. "In this new normal of social media, absent physical presence and contact, several problems are inherent. First, whether in anger, frustration or emphasis of point, statements and communications via a device are not filtered by human empathy or care. There was a time that most would never dare say many of the things typed out in response via software platforms that safely distance individuals from personal accountability or thoughtfulness.
"Second, bullying, intimidation, and the declaration of false information as truth is not only easier, but a growing problem. When looking at the instances of bullying that have led to teens committing suicide or engaging in self-destructive behavior, too often, the posse of the platforms of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat are found as key ingredients, used to target and marginalize a person. Again, these platforms permit a degree of distance that direct communication does not afford."
The author closes with these words: "As careers and professions demand more and more employment of high-tech touches, a deliberate effort must be made by all to establish that nothing replaces the impact of family, friends, and the community right around us. We're seeing the deleterious long-term outcomes of kids with the inability to cope, to communicate and to deal with conflict due to the one-way communication of technology. It's time to embrace more than just the 'selfie' approach to life and live it."
This article was arresting for me. I remember as a boy growing up that if you wanted to talk with your friends you did one of two things: you either picked up the phone, dialed their number, and talked with them over the phone, or you met them at the drugstore or ice cream shop where you talked and drank a "Green River" or a "cherry phosphate." I looked back upon the past two weeks of my life and I cannot recall having a phone conversation. I sent many emails and many texts - most of which were short. Face-to-face conversations really are not very common today. If this is what has happened to my generation, what has happened to that generation that has always lived with "high-tech?" For them a conversation is done in 120 characters or less. You say what you want to say without considering the person being talked about. Life is not only about ourselves, but is to have its focus upon others.
Technology is a great tool, but let us not forget that God has created each one of us to be within a community. We are designed to be relational.
But now we are home and some news items, some of which you probably never heard from the mainstream media. A week ago, Raymond Ibrahim published an article titled, "11 Christians Killed Every Day for Their Faith." It was published by the Middle East Forum and can be found at: www.meforum.org/57925/christians-persecuted-killed. He writes, "Last year, Christians were persecuted more than ever before in the modern era - and this year is expected to be worse: '4,136 Christians were killed for faith-related reasons,' according to Open Doors USA in its recently published World Watch List 2019 of the top 50 nations where Christians are persecuted. 'On average, that's 11 Christians killed every day for their faith.' Additionally, '2,625 Christians were detained without trial, arrested, sentenced and imprisoned' in 2018, and '1,266 churches or Christian buildings were attacked.'
"Whereas 215 million Christians faced persecutions in 2018, 245 million will suffer in 2019, according to Open Doors - a 14% increase, that represents 30 million more people abused for their faith. This means that '1 in 9 Christians experience high levels of persecution worldwide.'
"One of the most noteworthy trends concerns the 'shocking reality of persecution against women.' 'In many places, they experience a "double persecution" - one for being a Christian and one for being a woman. Even in the most restricted circumstances, gender-specific persecution is a key means of destroying the minority Christian community.'"
Ibrahim cites that the majority of the persecution of Christians comes from Muslim-dominated countries. Seven of the top 10 in the World Watch List are Islamic countries. Even in our country we are seeing the gradual escalation in the attacks upon Christians. Businesses have been impacted, lawsuits have been issued, harassment has been experienced. I recall the words from the pen of the Apostle John: "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed" (John 3:19-20). As we near the day of Christ's return, I believe that those who dare to stand upon God's truth will increasingly become the target of Satan's assaults. Oh how we need to be fully clothed with the armor of God (see Ephesians 6:10-18).
I was intrigued with an article written by Robin Smith and titled, "Many Teens Stressed, Depressed, Obsessed with Self." You can find this article at: www.patriotpost.us/articles/61671-many-teens-stressed-depressed-obsessed-with-self. I found this to be a fascinating and informative article. Allow me to quote portions of it. The author begins: "Inarguably, there is a rise in the incidence of depression, anxiety, serious mental illness diagnoses and, yes, suicide among teenagers and young adults. Why? There's no one cause and there are numerous risk factors. Among those cited by the Mayo Clinic for both depression and anxiety, there are a few that deserve a bit of discussion.
"There are environmental factors that impact mental health. Among those factors are parenting, specifically the presence of the father in the home. Not having a dad in the home doesn't necessarily predispose anyone to mental illness. But data is significant in volume and validity that children and students perform better in school when both parents are present in the home and have the long-term benefit of a more stable response to stress and traumatic experiences that, sadly, are relatively routine in life. Other environmental factors include exposure to either repeated stress or abuse, specifically physical, sexual or emotional abuse, as well as trauma, but conditioning is absolutely part of how our bodies respond and react.
"With reinforcement and repeated exposures, a behavior becomes 'normal.' There was a day when face-to-face conversation was normal with social interaction involving eye contact and personal interaction. Today, in the 'selfie' generation, it's more common and, yes, normal, to respond by emojis, texts, and photos posted in social media than to have the face-to-face stimulation and interaction of another human or group. We've become beings that are driven by content nor reasoning and discussion.
Now listen to what the author describes next. I found this so revelatory. "In this new normal of social media, absent physical presence and contact, several problems are inherent. First, whether in anger, frustration or emphasis of point, statements and communications via a device are not filtered by human empathy or care. There was a time that most would never dare say many of the things typed out in response via software platforms that safely distance individuals from personal accountability or thoughtfulness.
"Second, bullying, intimidation, and the declaration of false information as truth is not only easier, but a growing problem. When looking at the instances of bullying that have led to teens committing suicide or engaging in self-destructive behavior, too often, the posse of the platforms of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat are found as key ingredients, used to target and marginalize a person. Again, these platforms permit a degree of distance that direct communication does not afford."
The author closes with these words: "As careers and professions demand more and more employment of high-tech touches, a deliberate effort must be made by all to establish that nothing replaces the impact of family, friends, and the community right around us. We're seeing the deleterious long-term outcomes of kids with the inability to cope, to communicate and to deal with conflict due to the one-way communication of technology. It's time to embrace more than just the 'selfie' approach to life and live it."
This article was arresting for me. I remember as a boy growing up that if you wanted to talk with your friends you did one of two things: you either picked up the phone, dialed their number, and talked with them over the phone, or you met them at the drugstore or ice cream shop where you talked and drank a "Green River" or a "cherry phosphate." I looked back upon the past two weeks of my life and I cannot recall having a phone conversation. I sent many emails and many texts - most of which were short. Face-to-face conversations really are not very common today. If this is what has happened to my generation, what has happened to that generation that has always lived with "high-tech?" For them a conversation is done in 120 characters or less. You say what you want to say without considering the person being talked about. Life is not only about ourselves, but is to have its focus upon others.
Technology is a great tool, but let us not forget that God has created each one of us to be within a community. We are designed to be relational.
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