Yesterday I read an article written by Joe Kovacs and posted at the World Net Daily website: www.wnd.com/2014/09/Christian-singer-jesus-may-have-lied-about-adam-noah. "Michael Gungor, lead singer of the Grammy-nominated worship band Gungor, suggested Jesus may have been wrong about the creation story, or possibly even lied about it to fit in with popular culture." The article then quotes Mr. Gungor: "I think you're making a lot of assumptions based in a perspective that was handed to you from our culture, and the way we think in the modern world is very different than how people thought in the pre-modern world. To just see a few words that somebody said, that Jesus said about Noah, and you assume that you can get into Jesus' mind and know exactly how he thought about the whole situation, and how He considered history versus myth versus whatever - how do you know? And even if He was wrong, even if he did believe that Noah was a historical person, or Adam was a historical person, and ended up being wrong, I don't understand how that even would deny the divinity of Christ. The whole idea of the divinity of Christ being fully human and fully God, that God lowered Himself to become a human being with a human brain, in a human culture with human language and human needs and human limitations. The point is it wouldn't freak me out if He was wrong about it, in His human side. But I still don't see the issue. If Noah and Adam were mythical ideas, the point of what Jesus was saying still applies to me. It has very little to do, in my perspective, with Jesus trying to lay out a history of the world for a historical-minded people. Even if Jesus knew that Noah and Adam were mythical, but knew He was talking to people who thought they were real, that's another possibility. Jesus was just referring to a story he was part of to these Jewish people that know that story."
This article came on the heals of a comment by an anonymous responder to my blog from last week. (By the way, I never post comments from anonymous people to my blog). That person wrote, "There is not a single piece of historical evidence to prove that Jesus ever existed. Not one single scholar or historian from the first century AD mentioned even a single word about Jesus. ... The truth is - Jesus never existed."
Now Mr. Gungor and Mr. Anonymous have a similar problem. They have a faulty view of Jesus Christ. For Mr. Anonymous, it is a question of whether Jesus ever lived or not. And the basis for his refusal to believe in an historical Jesus is that there is no first-century historical evidence for the existence of Jesus. My response would be - what about Dr. Luke? Certainly he was an historian and he lived in the first century. He had access to those people who saw Jesus personally. Dr. Luke wrote from the perspective of someone outside the inner circle of Jesus' followers. He also wrote from the perspective of at least two decades after the death and resurrection of Jesus. He had access to Peter, to John, to Mary, and to a host of others who had interacted with Jesus. He had, as a best friend, the Apostle Paul who had an encounter with the resurrected Christ. And, I think what really captured Luke was the fact that Paul and others were willing to suffer and even to die for the truth of the historical Jesus. Yes, Mr. Anonymous, there is credible evidence for the historical Jesus. You deny his existence because you deny the historical-reality of the Bible. Those accounts that we know as the Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John - are as historically reliable as would be any account given by a Cicero or a Plato or any other ancient writer.
The problem Mr. Gungor has is that he simply cannot reconcile the divine and human natures of Christ. Mr. Gungor's problem has deep roots in Gnosticism, a philosophy that became prevalent in the Early Church during the later decades of the first century and onward into the second, third, and fourth centuries. The Gnostics believed in a form of dualism: there was a good God, who was spirit; there was an evil god, who was flesh. They believed that a good God would never inhabit that which was evil, therefore the whole idea of God becoming flesh was repulsive to them. There was no incarnation. There was no John 1:14. By the way, the Apostle John wrote his Gospel and his three epistles as treatises to help the Early Church counter Gnosticism. Friends, in a way we do not fully understand, there was a complete blending of both the human and divine natures in the person of Jesus Christ. Could Jesus have lied? Absolutely not! Why? Because He was the Son of God and God cannot lie. Could Jesus have believed something that was a myth? Absolutely not! Why? Because He was God-in-the-flesh. Here is where Mr. Gungor has a gap of incredible proportions: if Jesus lied about Noah and Adam, stating that they were real historical figures when He knew they were just mythological imaginations, then how can we trust Jesus when He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me?" Because of Jesus' claim to be equal with the Father - remember He said, "I and the Father are one" - then either all of Jesus' statements are true, or none of them are true. We cannot pick and choose which ones to accept as truth and which ones to accept as myths.
Here is what I find so troubling, especially with the statements of Mr. Gungor. He is writing music that is being used in worship services across our nation. But the Jesus he is writing about is not the Jesus I have committed my life to. Oh the words sound pretty, but my Jesus believed that there was a real Noah who survived a real flood. My Jesus believed that it was a real Adam and Eve who sinned in the Garden and whose sin was then inherited by all men everywhere. Perhaps it is time that we simply do not use a song because the words sound good. Perhaps it is time that we carefully research to know the heart and mind of the song writer. Is the Jesus they are singing the same Jesus we worship? Perhaps He is not!
Friends, there was and is an historical Jesus. He was and is the eternal Son of God. He was and is "God in the flesh." He was and is the embodiment of absolute truth. The Apostle John was so correct when he wrote, "He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life" (1 John 5:12). I have chosen to commit my life to this historical Jesus, and He has made all the difference. And I look forward to that day when this historical Jesus will return to claim the throne in Jerusalem that is rightfully His and will reign over the earth as no one has reigned over it before. The angels there upon the slopes of the Mount of Olives were so correct when they announced to a sad group of disciples, "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11). That's my hope! I trust it is yours as well!
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
A Cease-Fire, But Only Until...
I awakened this morning to news that Israel and Hamas have agreed on an open-ended cease-fire. Several cease-fires have been declared before, but each was broken by rocket fire from Gaza into those Israeli communities along the Israel-Gaza border. Each cease-fire infraction was met by an Israeli response with air-strikes upon Hamas targets. Now there is a cease-fire of an undeclared duration. I am not holding my breath that this will last long.
What is the purpose of a cease-fire? It is a declaration by both sides that fighting will stop, at least temporarily. It was a cease-fire that brought Israel's War of Independence to an end. It was another cease-fire that brought both Israel's Six-Day War in 1967 and the Yom Kippur War in 1973 to an end. The stated purpose for this cease-fire is to provide humanitarian relief to the people living in Gaza. An estimated 100,000 Palestinians were left homeless in Gaza. And thousands of Israelis living along the border were forced to evacuate from their homes. According to news sources, under this Egyptian-brokered cease-fire, Israel agreed to ease some of its import restrictions to Gaza, including materials needed for reconstruction of infrastructure and homes. Israel also agreed that, after thirty days, they will meet in talks aimed at some of the major issues - Hamas' demand to construct a seaport and an international airport in Gaza. Israel's only demand is that Hamas and Gaza become a demilitarized zone - a demand that Hamas has consistently said it would not do. I keep wondering why Hamas gets to call all the shots when clearly they were the losers. Sometimes I have to admit that I simply do not understand politics.
I was reading in the paper this morning a quote from Mahmoud Zahar, a senior Hamas leader , who promised to rebuild homes that had been destroyed in this seven-week old war. He then said, "We will build and upgrade our arsenal to be ready for the coming battle, the battle of full liberation." Other reports indicate that the government of Qatar is sending money to help Hamas rearm itself. Hardly sounds like Hamas is intent on this being a long-lasting cease-fire or that they are very interested in improving the lot of the people living in Gaza.
I was troubled with the statement this past week from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey. He stated rather strongly that he was not inclined for the United States to do too much against IS (the Islamic State - formerly known as ISIS or ISIL) because he did not see them as a threat to the American homeland. To me, that is head-in-the-sand thinking. Making the front page of this morning's "Minneapolis Star-Tribune" was an article about a 33 year old, Douglas McCain, a graduate from Cooper High School in Robbinsdale, MN (a suburb of Minneapolis) who was killed in Syria fighting for IS. He is the first known American to die fighting for this terrorist state. And, from all indications and intelligence reports, he is not the only American fighting for IS.
Back to General Dempsey's statement. If you remember back in the late 1990's, Americans thought that al-Qada would never reach the homeland. Bin-Laden was just some crazy terrorist there in the mountains of Afghanistan. But then 9-11 happened and suddenly Americans took a deeper interest in Bin-Laden and al-Qada. Is it going to take another 9-11 event for us to wake-up and realize that IS is a real threat to America and the civilized world? Are we prepared for another 9-11 event and for the response that will be necessary afterwards? In a recent conversation I had with a retired colonel, he sadly shared with me that the status of America's armed forces today would make any type of response nearly impossible. Instead of strengthening our military, this administration has chosen to reduce its strength both in numbers, in leadership positions, and in armaments. We have forgotten those words from President Theodore Roosevelt - "speak softly, but carry a big stick." Instead we draw lines in the sand and then take away the "big stick."
Recently, while listening to a talk-show while driving home from the office, I heard an expert on terrorism make the statement that America's inner-cities are the perfect breeding ground for terrorist recruiting. Pretty scary!
But there is hope - it is found in the Lord Jesus Christ. Not in Washington politics. Not in cease-fires. Not in armed forces. Only in Jesus. And that is the message the Apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 5 that we are to take to a lost world: there is reconciliation between sinful man and a holy God, but only through the Lord Jesus. So, let's not be children filled with despair or fear. Let us be ambassadors of reconciliation, of love, and of hope. Remember: we are on the winning side!
What is the purpose of a cease-fire? It is a declaration by both sides that fighting will stop, at least temporarily. It was a cease-fire that brought Israel's War of Independence to an end. It was another cease-fire that brought both Israel's Six-Day War in 1967 and the Yom Kippur War in 1973 to an end. The stated purpose for this cease-fire is to provide humanitarian relief to the people living in Gaza. An estimated 100,000 Palestinians were left homeless in Gaza. And thousands of Israelis living along the border were forced to evacuate from their homes. According to news sources, under this Egyptian-brokered cease-fire, Israel agreed to ease some of its import restrictions to Gaza, including materials needed for reconstruction of infrastructure and homes. Israel also agreed that, after thirty days, they will meet in talks aimed at some of the major issues - Hamas' demand to construct a seaport and an international airport in Gaza. Israel's only demand is that Hamas and Gaza become a demilitarized zone - a demand that Hamas has consistently said it would not do. I keep wondering why Hamas gets to call all the shots when clearly they were the losers. Sometimes I have to admit that I simply do not understand politics.
I was reading in the paper this morning a quote from Mahmoud Zahar, a senior Hamas leader , who promised to rebuild homes that had been destroyed in this seven-week old war. He then said, "We will build and upgrade our arsenal to be ready for the coming battle, the battle of full liberation." Other reports indicate that the government of Qatar is sending money to help Hamas rearm itself. Hardly sounds like Hamas is intent on this being a long-lasting cease-fire or that they are very interested in improving the lot of the people living in Gaza.
I was troubled with the statement this past week from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey. He stated rather strongly that he was not inclined for the United States to do too much against IS (the Islamic State - formerly known as ISIS or ISIL) because he did not see them as a threat to the American homeland. To me, that is head-in-the-sand thinking. Making the front page of this morning's "Minneapolis Star-Tribune" was an article about a 33 year old, Douglas McCain, a graduate from Cooper High School in Robbinsdale, MN (a suburb of Minneapolis) who was killed in Syria fighting for IS. He is the first known American to die fighting for this terrorist state. And, from all indications and intelligence reports, he is not the only American fighting for IS.
Back to General Dempsey's statement. If you remember back in the late 1990's, Americans thought that al-Qada would never reach the homeland. Bin-Laden was just some crazy terrorist there in the mountains of Afghanistan. But then 9-11 happened and suddenly Americans took a deeper interest in Bin-Laden and al-Qada. Is it going to take another 9-11 event for us to wake-up and realize that IS is a real threat to America and the civilized world? Are we prepared for another 9-11 event and for the response that will be necessary afterwards? In a recent conversation I had with a retired colonel, he sadly shared with me that the status of America's armed forces today would make any type of response nearly impossible. Instead of strengthening our military, this administration has chosen to reduce its strength both in numbers, in leadership positions, and in armaments. We have forgotten those words from President Theodore Roosevelt - "speak softly, but carry a big stick." Instead we draw lines in the sand and then take away the "big stick."
Recently, while listening to a talk-show while driving home from the office, I heard an expert on terrorism make the statement that America's inner-cities are the perfect breeding ground for terrorist recruiting. Pretty scary!
But there is hope - it is found in the Lord Jesus Christ. Not in Washington politics. Not in cease-fires. Not in armed forces. Only in Jesus. And that is the message the Apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 5 that we are to take to a lost world: there is reconciliation between sinful man and a holy God, but only through the Lord Jesus. So, let's not be children filled with despair or fear. Let us be ambassadors of reconciliation, of love, and of hope. Remember: we are on the winning side!
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Ferguson and the ISIS Threat
If American concerns about the intentions of ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) were not focused on the images of the slaughter of Christian refugees fleeing from Mosul and other northern Iraqi villages (and I must admit some of the images are almost too awful to view), then news that an American photo-journalist, James Foley, was beheaded by militants belonging to ISIS should. One can only wonder about the possible fate of the remaining 25 journalists that are missing in Syria.
We sit here in our little corner of the world, thousands of miles removed from Mosul and the Kurdish border and say to ourselves, "Well, why should I get involved? Why should I care? After all, they are so far away?" It is time to wake-up. Did you see the sign that appeared among the protesters in Ferguson, MO? The sign read "ISIS here." And, did you see the photos of the new Islamic State flag held in front of the White House last week?
In an article written by Bob Unruh and posted on the wnd website - www.wnd.com/2014/08/isis-terrorists-were-here-in-ferguson - the author begins: "A sign carried by a protester in Ferguson, Missouri, declaring the presence of the Islamic State or ISIS, is an act of intimidation, warning Americans they should fear the Middle Eastern Islamic jihadist group even in their own homes, according to an expert. Islam analyst Robert Spencer, whose Jihad Watch website (www.jihadwatch.org) monitors Islamic jihad worldwide, said the sign, which says, "ISIS here," is 'in line with supporters of the Islamic State taking photos of the Islamic State flag held in front of the White House and other landmarks.' 'The object is to "strike terror into the hearts of the enemies of Allah" (Quran 8:60) and to emphasize the desire of Islamic State jihadis to strike within the U.S.,' he said. 'The fact that they have supporters here in the U.S. who can hold the banner in Missouri and the sign at the White House shows that that is a very real possibility,' he warned."
The article then quotes from several sources cited in an article published by The Daily Mail in the United Kingdom. I share several of these with you, but I must warn you, they are frightening:
"I believe that all #IS members in America should travel to Ferguson and prepare to establish a revolutionary Islamic state." - Amarka Al-Ahlam.
"It's time to strike fear into the hearts of the oppressors. #FergusonUnderIS." - Amreeki Witness.
"Any and all #IS members in the kufar lands - I urge you to travel to #Ferguson and form brigades there, to take the unrestful land Inshallah." - another social media jihadist.
Are these just smoke-screen threats? One cannot discount the intense hatred these people have for the Western world. One cannot discount the intense hatred these people have for Christianity and for the civilized world. These people have only one goal in mind: to see the entire world under the rule of Sharia Law. And, they will stop at nothing in order for that goal to be realized. They are efficient and effective murderers of any and all who stand in their way - whether it be Iraqi Christians or a photo-journalist. These people are not the JV-team, as our President once proclaimed. They are the varsity. And here is what is so amazing, ISIS strikes fear within the hearts of many in the Muslim world. Do you think the Jordanians are fearful of this neighbor on their doorstep? Do you think the Lebanese have real concerns? What about the Saudis whose influence in the region is threatened by this Islamic State?
Friends, there is a seriousness to ISIS that I have not yet seen realized in our nation. During the offertory song used this past Sunday at our Church, our Worship Leader shared pictures from the mountaintop there in Iraq where Christians have taken refuge. It was so powerfully effective - reminding us that those people are our brothers and sisters in Christ - reminding us that what has happened to them could easily happen to us here. Those unnamed faces spoke volumes to our hearts. The time for apathy is gone. The time for being naïve is gone. It is time to wake up and realize that we are in a battle that has profound spiritual implications. But, praise God, we know who will win in the end!
We sit here in our little corner of the world, thousands of miles removed from Mosul and the Kurdish border and say to ourselves, "Well, why should I get involved? Why should I care? After all, they are so far away?" It is time to wake-up. Did you see the sign that appeared among the protesters in Ferguson, MO? The sign read "ISIS here." And, did you see the photos of the new Islamic State flag held in front of the White House last week?
In an article written by Bob Unruh and posted on the wnd website - www.wnd.com/2014/08/isis-terrorists-were-here-in-ferguson - the author begins: "A sign carried by a protester in Ferguson, Missouri, declaring the presence of the Islamic State or ISIS, is an act of intimidation, warning Americans they should fear the Middle Eastern Islamic jihadist group even in their own homes, according to an expert. Islam analyst Robert Spencer, whose Jihad Watch website (www.jihadwatch.org) monitors Islamic jihad worldwide, said the sign, which says, "ISIS here," is 'in line with supporters of the Islamic State taking photos of the Islamic State flag held in front of the White House and other landmarks.' 'The object is to "strike terror into the hearts of the enemies of Allah" (Quran 8:60) and to emphasize the desire of Islamic State jihadis to strike within the U.S.,' he said. 'The fact that they have supporters here in the U.S. who can hold the banner in Missouri and the sign at the White House shows that that is a very real possibility,' he warned."
The article then quotes from several sources cited in an article published by The Daily Mail in the United Kingdom. I share several of these with you, but I must warn you, they are frightening:
"I believe that all #IS members in America should travel to Ferguson and prepare to establish a revolutionary Islamic state." - Amarka Al-Ahlam.
"It's time to strike fear into the hearts of the oppressors. #FergusonUnderIS." - Amreeki Witness.
"Any and all #IS members in the kufar lands - I urge you to travel to #Ferguson and form brigades there, to take the unrestful land Inshallah." - another social media jihadist.
Are these just smoke-screen threats? One cannot discount the intense hatred these people have for the Western world. One cannot discount the intense hatred these people have for Christianity and for the civilized world. These people have only one goal in mind: to see the entire world under the rule of Sharia Law. And, they will stop at nothing in order for that goal to be realized. They are efficient and effective murderers of any and all who stand in their way - whether it be Iraqi Christians or a photo-journalist. These people are not the JV-team, as our President once proclaimed. They are the varsity. And here is what is so amazing, ISIS strikes fear within the hearts of many in the Muslim world. Do you think the Jordanians are fearful of this neighbor on their doorstep? Do you think the Lebanese have real concerns? What about the Saudis whose influence in the region is threatened by this Islamic State?
Friends, there is a seriousness to ISIS that I have not yet seen realized in our nation. During the offertory song used this past Sunday at our Church, our Worship Leader shared pictures from the mountaintop there in Iraq where Christians have taken refuge. It was so powerfully effective - reminding us that those people are our brothers and sisters in Christ - reminding us that what has happened to them could easily happen to us here. Those unnamed faces spoke volumes to our hearts. The time for apathy is gone. The time for being naïve is gone. It is time to wake up and realize that we are in a battle that has profound spiritual implications. But, praise God, we know who will win in the end!
Friday, August 15, 2014
A Postscript to Death: Remembering our Daughter-in-law Carol
I just wanted to share how much our family has appreciated prayers during these past few days. On Thursday, August 7, our daughter-in-law, Carol Frazier, went home to be with the Lord after a nearly 12 year battle with MS. Although we will greatly miss her, we rejoice in the freedom she now has in the presence of the Lord. For the past nearly two years, Carol had been a prisoner in her own body - being unable to do anything for herself. Her mind was still pretty strong and she was able to communicate with Barry and her children up to the final couple of months, when even that ability to communicate was taken from her. Our entire family was able to be together for a couple of days to celebrate her life. And how we appreciate the strong support Barry and his family have received from their church family at Westchester Evangelical Free Church there in Des Moines.
Carol was only 44, having just celebrated that birthday on July 28. Certainly not old by today's standards. Her death raises a myriad of questions which simply cannot be answered this side of glory. Why was she stricken with such a debilitating form of MS? Why was she taken so soon from her husband and children? Why didn't God answer the many prayers raised on Carol's behalf for her healing? Oh the many questions. I sometime feel as did Job - always asking questions, never receiving any answers. And yet we all have that peace that God was in total control. Carol belonged to Him. She was His child. He only loaned her to our family for a short time of 20 years. And when she breathed that final breath that Thursday afternoon, she was set free to enjoy that eternity that God had provided for her through Jesus Christ.
Friends, death takes no account of age or position or power. We are not promised a certain number of days upon this earth. The only guarantee that comes with our birth is the certainty of our death, unless the Lord returns for His Bride. Only God has numbered our days. Only God sees the end from the beginning. Only God knows. We are instructed to be ready when that day comes for us. Carol was ready, having trusted Christ as her Savior when she was a child. And, as we gathered around her casket there in that cemetery this past Tuesday morning, there was a confidence that can only be described as the presence of Jesus Christ. Yes, there were tears - but we did not sorrow as do those who have no hope. Pastor Dave kept reminding us that Carol was not there in that casket; she was in heaven with Jesus. And someday we will have a sweet reunion with her.
Yes, there is a finality about death, but it does not have to be the victor over you. Jesus tasted all of death for you when He died upon the cross. The Apostle Paul was right when he wrote to the Corinthians, "Death is swallowed up in victory." Carol knew that victory. And so can you. You just need to acknowledge your need for a Savior and believe that Jesus Christ died in your place. When you confess your sins and invite Him to be part of your life, then you, too, will know that peace. You, too, will have that victory when God summons you to His home. I urge you to not put it off - remember, only God knows how many are your days.
Before closing, I just want to make a brief comment about the still-holding ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. Negotiations are ongoing in Cairo with Egypt acting as the chief negotiator. America's role in the Middle East has become secondary. I remember those days when Israeli leaders would think of doing nothing without first consulting their American allies. I think the Israeli Prime Minister summed it up well when, speaking of President Obama, he said, "Don't ever second guess me again!" And the exclamation point was indeed just that - an exclamation point filled with anger and almost disdain. Will there be some type of truce achieved? I believe it is highly unlikely. Israel will not accede to the demands of Hamas and Hamas certainly will not acquiesce to recognizing the legitimacy of the State of Israel. So, the fighting will stop, at least for awhile. Hamas will seek opportunities to rearm and reposition itself. And Israelis will rest easier for awhile, yet always being alert to the potential for rockets from Gaza. The role of the United States will continue to be lesser than in the past, at least until a new Congress is convened in January after the midterm elections - a Congress that will hopefully be more favorable to Israel.
I will write about IS next week. What a monstrosity that is becoming! And we are seeing what its intentions really are as they persecute those minority groups, including Christians, living in Iraq. And their eyes are set upon Lebanon and Jordan. They are like a cancer - and the only way to treat a cancer is to remove it. Meanwhile, keep praying for "the peace of Jerusalem." God is in control.
Carol was only 44, having just celebrated that birthday on July 28. Certainly not old by today's standards. Her death raises a myriad of questions which simply cannot be answered this side of glory. Why was she stricken with such a debilitating form of MS? Why was she taken so soon from her husband and children? Why didn't God answer the many prayers raised on Carol's behalf for her healing? Oh the many questions. I sometime feel as did Job - always asking questions, never receiving any answers. And yet we all have that peace that God was in total control. Carol belonged to Him. She was His child. He only loaned her to our family for a short time of 20 years. And when she breathed that final breath that Thursday afternoon, she was set free to enjoy that eternity that God had provided for her through Jesus Christ.
Friends, death takes no account of age or position or power. We are not promised a certain number of days upon this earth. The only guarantee that comes with our birth is the certainty of our death, unless the Lord returns for His Bride. Only God has numbered our days. Only God sees the end from the beginning. Only God knows. We are instructed to be ready when that day comes for us. Carol was ready, having trusted Christ as her Savior when she was a child. And, as we gathered around her casket there in that cemetery this past Tuesday morning, there was a confidence that can only be described as the presence of Jesus Christ. Yes, there were tears - but we did not sorrow as do those who have no hope. Pastor Dave kept reminding us that Carol was not there in that casket; she was in heaven with Jesus. And someday we will have a sweet reunion with her.
Yes, there is a finality about death, but it does not have to be the victor over you. Jesus tasted all of death for you when He died upon the cross. The Apostle Paul was right when he wrote to the Corinthians, "Death is swallowed up in victory." Carol knew that victory. And so can you. You just need to acknowledge your need for a Savior and believe that Jesus Christ died in your place. When you confess your sins and invite Him to be part of your life, then you, too, will know that peace. You, too, will have that victory when God summons you to His home. I urge you to not put it off - remember, only God knows how many are your days.
Before closing, I just want to make a brief comment about the still-holding ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. Negotiations are ongoing in Cairo with Egypt acting as the chief negotiator. America's role in the Middle East has become secondary. I remember those days when Israeli leaders would think of doing nothing without first consulting their American allies. I think the Israeli Prime Minister summed it up well when, speaking of President Obama, he said, "Don't ever second guess me again!" And the exclamation point was indeed just that - an exclamation point filled with anger and almost disdain. Will there be some type of truce achieved? I believe it is highly unlikely. Israel will not accede to the demands of Hamas and Hamas certainly will not acquiesce to recognizing the legitimacy of the State of Israel. So, the fighting will stop, at least for awhile. Hamas will seek opportunities to rearm and reposition itself. And Israelis will rest easier for awhile, yet always being alert to the potential for rockets from Gaza. The role of the United States will continue to be lesser than in the past, at least until a new Congress is convened in January after the midterm elections - a Congress that will hopefully be more favorable to Israel.
I will write about IS next week. What a monstrosity that is becoming! And we are seeing what its intentions really are as they persecute those minority groups, including Christians, living in Iraq. And their eyes are set upon Lebanon and Jordan. They are like a cancer - and the only way to treat a cancer is to remove it. Meanwhile, keep praying for "the peace of Jerusalem." God is in control.
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Thoughts on Israel's Conflict and the Rise of Anti-Semitism
The now three-week old war between Israel and Hamas has intensified. IDF units have uncovered a series of massive underground tunnels from Gaza into southern Israel. It was through these tunnels that Islamic militants would enter into Israel with the express purposes of killing or kidnapping Israeli soldiers and/or civilians. Over thirty such tunnels have been found and destroyed, making one wonder just how many tunnels there are.
And still the rockets keep flying from Gaza into Israel, many flying deeper into the heart of Israel threatening Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. One rocket actually struck close to Haifa in the north of Israel. Fortunately Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile defense system has destroyed many of those rockets before they reached their intended targets. Because the threat is no longer just upon Sderot and the other Israeli towns that border Gaza, more Israelis are enthusiastic about what the IDF is doing during their incursion into Gaza. According to a recent Israeli poll, Prime Minister Netanyahu's approval rating is at an all-time high, even among those who are part of the opposition parties within Israel. Many Israelis have become impatient with their government not taking decisive action against Hamas. And now that it is doing something, there is applause and support. And the Prime Minister has stated that IDF troops will not leave Gaza until the tunnels are destroyed and the infrastructure within Gaza that support those rocket attacks has been severely crippled.
Western media has flooded Gaza with reporters and photo journalists. We have seen the images of children with shrapnel wounds. We have witnessed the anguish of a mother who has lost her child. We have seen the images of schools destroyed. Of course the reporters are quick to condemn Israel for these atrocities. Just this morning I was reading an article published by the IsraelInternationalNews.com website. "An Italian journalist who until Tuesday was embedded in Gaza has backed the IDF's account of a rocket strike on a school playground in central Gaza's Shati refugee camp on Monday. At least 10 people were killed in the attack - most of them children - and some sources claimed the death toll was as high as 30. Palestinian sources were quick to blame Israel, claiming that an Israeli fighter jet fired missiles directly at the playground and nearby hospital. Israel denied the accusations, saying that Hamas rockets aimed at Israel from the area misfired, and struck both the school and the hospital." That is what the world heard. But, the article continued, "But returning from a stint in Gaza, and safe from what he ominously referred to as potential 'Hamas retaliation,' Italian journalist Gabriele Barbati broke the media silence by tweeting the following message, confirming that Hamas terrorists rushed to cover up evidence of what was indeed errant rocket fire aimed at Israel. ...During the 23 days of Operation Protective Edge a handful of journalists have defied, purposefully or inadvertently, Hamas's restrictions on negative information from Gaza - only to backtrack soon after. Two cases in particular highlighted earlier this week. In one, Wall Street Journal reported Nick Casey tweeted evidence - and veiled criticism - over Hamas's leadership's use of Shifa Hospital in Gaza as a command center, shedding more light on the group's use of human shields. Hamas reacted furiously, and a Hamas-affiliated twitter account blacklisted him as a journalist 'who lies for Israel' - a potentially deadly accusation for anyone in Gaza, let a lone a foreigner. Shortly afterwards, the tweet was promptly removed by Casey." I quote from the concluding paragraph of the article: "The use of human shields by Gazan terrorist groups during the current conflict has been repeatedly documented. Both Hamas and Islamic Jihad have stored and fired rockets from within densely-populated civilian areas, making Israeli attempts to stop them without causing collateral damage near to impossible. To compound the problem, Hamas has openly encouraged civilians to act as human shields, glorifying their actions as heroism. Terrorists have also used hospitals and schools as command centers and military bases. On Tuesday, the United Nations Work and Relief Agency (UNWRA) admitted that it had discovered rockets stored in one of its schools for the third time." You won't hear that report on your nightly news.
One of the websites I view every day is www.jerusalemonline.com. It is a news source from Israel's Channel 2 news rooms. Recently they interviewed Mosab Yossef, better known to use as the Son of Hamas - by the way if you have not read his story, you need to do that - whose father was a pioneer leader in Hamas. During the interview, Yossef said, "Hamas teaches children to shed innocent blood. ... Hamas does not care about Palestinian lives, Israeli lives, or American lives. They do not care about their own lives. They see death as part of their ideology. It is an expression of faith. ... Hamas is looking for conquest and domination. ... Hamas is not looking for a compromise by living beside another country. Hamas mosques taught us that without the shedding of innocent blood in the name of the ideology, we cannot build an Islamic nation. They prepare us from age five. This is the ideology that Hamas feeds us."
Anti-Semitism has exploded around the world. Massive demonstrations in France, Germany, England, and here in the United States. As reported in The Washington Examiner on July 26, "A Facebook page calling for the death of Israeli Jews does not violate the social network's 'community standards,' according to multiple messages sent by Facebook in response to user complaints. The page in question is named 'Death to zionst baby killer Israeli jews. The page, which spells "Zionist" incorrectly, features an image of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a vampire with blood dripping down his chin as he feasts on a child. It was started on July 25." Then yesterday, Facebook removed that page. "A Facebook spokesman confirmed to FoxNews.com Tuesday that the page had been taken down, saying, 'We've removed this page for violating our Community Standards. Although the page was previously reported, it was mistakenly allowed to stay on Facebook. We removed the page as soon as we were made aware of this error. We apologize for the inconvenience.'" Let's see - multiple messages over the course of five days before this offensive page was removed? At first it didn't violate our community standards, and then it did? I wonder how quickly such a page denigrating gays or Muslims or other minorities would have been removed? But it was only Jews - open game for everyone to shoot at these days.
Friends, the news about the Facebook page really alarmed me. Over the years I have read many books detailing those years preceding World War II and particularly the Holocaust. I have seen the images from the attacks upon Jewish businesses and homes during Kristelnacht. I have read those editorials in German papers that encouraged people to lash out at their Jewish neighbors, even to reporting them to authorities. America did nothing in the 1930's as Nazism and anti-Semitism grew across Germany. And those early reports about death camps was viewed as fabrications and distortions. No one rallied to the defense of the Jews, except of hundreds of individuals and families who secretly hid Jews from their persecutors - often becoming persecuted themselves. What will America do today with this rising tide of Anti-Semitism around the globe? Our government, since the declaration by President Truman in 1948 supporting Israel's Independence, has gone on record of supporting Israel - although at times that support has not been as forthcoming as it should have been. (I just finished reading a fascinating book that I highly recommend - Steven Pressfield's newest book, "The Lion's Gate" which is the story of Israel's Six-Day War in 1967. I learned that our government refused to offer any aid to Israel as it prepared for the war they knew was inevitable with Nasser's Egypt and her allies.)
Before leaving the subject of Israel, I want to point you to two powerful articles found at the Middle East Forum website. The first is by Raymond Ibrahim and is titled, "New Islamic Caliphate Declares Jihad on ... Muslims." You can find it at the following web address:
www.medforum.org/4754/new-islamic-caliphate-declares-jihad-on-muslims.
The second article was written by David P. Goldman and is titled, "The One-State Solution Is on Our Doorstep." You can find it at the following web address: www.meforum.org/4753/Israel-one-state-solution. Both these articles are very enlightening.
One final note, a positive one, about Israel. I share an article by Tova Dvorin, published on July 28 on the IsraelInternationalNews.com website. "The Temple Institute, an organization in Jerusalem which works toward the rebuilding of the Third Temple, began a revolutionary campaign on Sunday to literally rebuild the Third Temple - through the power of crowdfunding. Headlined under the title, 'Don't make history. Make the future, Build the Third Temple,' the indiegogo campaign promises that this generation of children is ready to see the center of Jewish worship rebuilt, once and for all. ... Now is the time for one of its most ambitious projects yet: completing architectural plans for the actual construction, fusing ancient texts and modern technology, the campaign's description states, 'While strictly adhering to the religious requirements set forth in Biblical texts, the Third Temple will also be equipped with every modern amenity: full computerization, underground parking, temperature control, elevators, docks for public transportation, wheelchair access, and much more. The Temple Institute has engaged an architect to map out as practically as possible the modern Third Temple's construction." Many of you have visited the Temple Institute with me during our tours to Israel. It has been exciting to see the progress in the completion of the articles for temple worship. In the midst of war, many in Israel are still pointing toward their future. And the Bible does strongly declare that this Third Temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem. Just another indication that the End will soon be at hand and the trumpet will sound.
And still the rockets keep flying from Gaza into Israel, many flying deeper into the heart of Israel threatening Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. One rocket actually struck close to Haifa in the north of Israel. Fortunately Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile defense system has destroyed many of those rockets before they reached their intended targets. Because the threat is no longer just upon Sderot and the other Israeli towns that border Gaza, more Israelis are enthusiastic about what the IDF is doing during their incursion into Gaza. According to a recent Israeli poll, Prime Minister Netanyahu's approval rating is at an all-time high, even among those who are part of the opposition parties within Israel. Many Israelis have become impatient with their government not taking decisive action against Hamas. And now that it is doing something, there is applause and support. And the Prime Minister has stated that IDF troops will not leave Gaza until the tunnels are destroyed and the infrastructure within Gaza that support those rocket attacks has been severely crippled.
Western media has flooded Gaza with reporters and photo journalists. We have seen the images of children with shrapnel wounds. We have witnessed the anguish of a mother who has lost her child. We have seen the images of schools destroyed. Of course the reporters are quick to condemn Israel for these atrocities. Just this morning I was reading an article published by the IsraelInternationalNews.com website. "An Italian journalist who until Tuesday was embedded in Gaza has backed the IDF's account of a rocket strike on a school playground in central Gaza's Shati refugee camp on Monday. At least 10 people were killed in the attack - most of them children - and some sources claimed the death toll was as high as 30. Palestinian sources were quick to blame Israel, claiming that an Israeli fighter jet fired missiles directly at the playground and nearby hospital. Israel denied the accusations, saying that Hamas rockets aimed at Israel from the area misfired, and struck both the school and the hospital." That is what the world heard. But, the article continued, "But returning from a stint in Gaza, and safe from what he ominously referred to as potential 'Hamas retaliation,' Italian journalist Gabriele Barbati broke the media silence by tweeting the following message, confirming that Hamas terrorists rushed to cover up evidence of what was indeed errant rocket fire aimed at Israel. ...During the 23 days of Operation Protective Edge a handful of journalists have defied, purposefully or inadvertently, Hamas's restrictions on negative information from Gaza - only to backtrack soon after. Two cases in particular highlighted earlier this week. In one, Wall Street Journal reported Nick Casey tweeted evidence - and veiled criticism - over Hamas's leadership's use of Shifa Hospital in Gaza as a command center, shedding more light on the group's use of human shields. Hamas reacted furiously, and a Hamas-affiliated twitter account blacklisted him as a journalist 'who lies for Israel' - a potentially deadly accusation for anyone in Gaza, let a lone a foreigner. Shortly afterwards, the tweet was promptly removed by Casey." I quote from the concluding paragraph of the article: "The use of human shields by Gazan terrorist groups during the current conflict has been repeatedly documented. Both Hamas and Islamic Jihad have stored and fired rockets from within densely-populated civilian areas, making Israeli attempts to stop them without causing collateral damage near to impossible. To compound the problem, Hamas has openly encouraged civilians to act as human shields, glorifying their actions as heroism. Terrorists have also used hospitals and schools as command centers and military bases. On Tuesday, the United Nations Work and Relief Agency (UNWRA) admitted that it had discovered rockets stored in one of its schools for the third time." You won't hear that report on your nightly news.
One of the websites I view every day is www.jerusalemonline.com. It is a news source from Israel's Channel 2 news rooms. Recently they interviewed Mosab Yossef, better known to use as the Son of Hamas - by the way if you have not read his story, you need to do that - whose father was a pioneer leader in Hamas. During the interview, Yossef said, "Hamas teaches children to shed innocent blood. ... Hamas does not care about Palestinian lives, Israeli lives, or American lives. They do not care about their own lives. They see death as part of their ideology. It is an expression of faith. ... Hamas is looking for conquest and domination. ... Hamas is not looking for a compromise by living beside another country. Hamas mosques taught us that without the shedding of innocent blood in the name of the ideology, we cannot build an Islamic nation. They prepare us from age five. This is the ideology that Hamas feeds us."
Anti-Semitism has exploded around the world. Massive demonstrations in France, Germany, England, and here in the United States. As reported in The Washington Examiner on July 26, "A Facebook page calling for the death of Israeli Jews does not violate the social network's 'community standards,' according to multiple messages sent by Facebook in response to user complaints. The page in question is named 'Death to zionst baby killer Israeli jews. The page, which spells "Zionist" incorrectly, features an image of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a vampire with blood dripping down his chin as he feasts on a child. It was started on July 25." Then yesterday, Facebook removed that page. "A Facebook spokesman confirmed to FoxNews.com Tuesday that the page had been taken down, saying, 'We've removed this page for violating our Community Standards. Although the page was previously reported, it was mistakenly allowed to stay on Facebook. We removed the page as soon as we were made aware of this error. We apologize for the inconvenience.'" Let's see - multiple messages over the course of five days before this offensive page was removed? At first it didn't violate our community standards, and then it did? I wonder how quickly such a page denigrating gays or Muslims or other minorities would have been removed? But it was only Jews - open game for everyone to shoot at these days.
Friends, the news about the Facebook page really alarmed me. Over the years I have read many books detailing those years preceding World War II and particularly the Holocaust. I have seen the images from the attacks upon Jewish businesses and homes during Kristelnacht. I have read those editorials in German papers that encouraged people to lash out at their Jewish neighbors, even to reporting them to authorities. America did nothing in the 1930's as Nazism and anti-Semitism grew across Germany. And those early reports about death camps was viewed as fabrications and distortions. No one rallied to the defense of the Jews, except of hundreds of individuals and families who secretly hid Jews from their persecutors - often becoming persecuted themselves. What will America do today with this rising tide of Anti-Semitism around the globe? Our government, since the declaration by President Truman in 1948 supporting Israel's Independence, has gone on record of supporting Israel - although at times that support has not been as forthcoming as it should have been. (I just finished reading a fascinating book that I highly recommend - Steven Pressfield's newest book, "The Lion's Gate" which is the story of Israel's Six-Day War in 1967. I learned that our government refused to offer any aid to Israel as it prepared for the war they knew was inevitable with Nasser's Egypt and her allies.)
Before leaving the subject of Israel, I want to point you to two powerful articles found at the Middle East Forum website. The first is by Raymond Ibrahim and is titled, "New Islamic Caliphate Declares Jihad on ... Muslims." You can find it at the following web address:
www.medforum.org/4754/new-islamic-caliphate-declares-jihad-on-muslims.
The second article was written by David P. Goldman and is titled, "The One-State Solution Is on Our Doorstep." You can find it at the following web address: www.meforum.org/4753/Israel-one-state-solution. Both these articles are very enlightening.
One final note, a positive one, about Israel. I share an article by Tova Dvorin, published on July 28 on the IsraelInternationalNews.com website. "The Temple Institute, an organization in Jerusalem which works toward the rebuilding of the Third Temple, began a revolutionary campaign on Sunday to literally rebuild the Third Temple - through the power of crowdfunding. Headlined under the title, 'Don't make history. Make the future, Build the Third Temple,' the indiegogo campaign promises that this generation of children is ready to see the center of Jewish worship rebuilt, once and for all. ... Now is the time for one of its most ambitious projects yet: completing architectural plans for the actual construction, fusing ancient texts and modern technology, the campaign's description states, 'While strictly adhering to the religious requirements set forth in Biblical texts, the Third Temple will also be equipped with every modern amenity: full computerization, underground parking, temperature control, elevators, docks for public transportation, wheelchair access, and much more. The Temple Institute has engaged an architect to map out as practically as possible the modern Third Temple's construction." Many of you have visited the Temple Institute with me during our tours to Israel. It has been exciting to see the progress in the completion of the articles for temple worship. In the midst of war, many in Israel are still pointing toward their future. And the Bible does strongly declare that this Third Temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem. Just another indication that the End will soon be at hand and the trumpet will sound.
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
The World Seems to be a Giant Conflict Zone
Have you ever wondered what it might be like to live in an Islamic Caliphate? I read two very disturbing articles today that give us an inside look at life in a Caliphate, at least for businesses and for Christians. The first article was on the Fox News website: www.foxnews.com/world/2014/07/23/purged-by-isis-iraq-christians-appeal-to-world-for-help. "Iraqi Christians are begging for help from the civilized world after Mosul, the northern city where they have lived and worshiped for 2,000 years, was purged of non-Muslims by ISIS, the jihadist terror group that claims to have established its own nation in the region. Assyrian Christians, including Chaldean and Syriac Catholics, Syriac Orthodox and followers of the Assyrian Church of the East have roots in present day Iraq, Turkey, Syria and Iran that stretch back to the time of Jesus Christ. While they have long been a minority and have faced persecution in the past, they had never been driven completely from their homes as has happened in Mosul under ISIS. When the terror group ordered all to convert to Islam, pay a religious tax or face execution, many chose another option: flight. ... Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, included 60,000 Christians in 2003. By last month, the number had dwindled to just 35,000. It now stands at zero, according to Ignatius Yousef Younan III, patriarch of the Syrian Catholic Church. Yousif Habash, the Iraqi-born bishop of the Syriac Catholic Church exclaimed, 'Where is the conscience of the world? Where is the United Nations? Where is the American administration to protect peace and justice? Nobody has said a word.' ... Dr. Sallama Al Khafaji, a member of the Iraq High Commission for Human Rights, reportedly told a local news agency that ISIS militants forced their way into the home of an Assyrian family in Mosul, demanding a 'jizya' or poll tax. When the family said they could not produce the money, three jihadist militants raped the mother and daughter in front of the husband and father, who later committed suicide." So, here is the message: Christians, you have a choice - either you convert, or face death, or pay a tax. If you were a Christian in Mosul, what would have been your response?
On the breitbart.com website, there were these headlines today: "Islamic State Says Mannequins Must Wear Veils." The brief article said, "The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) [which, by the way is another name for ISIS] told shopkeepers in Mosul the mannequins must wear veils. The veil is in accordance with Sharia law since 'the human form is not depicted in statues or artwork.' Both genders of mannequins are to wear the veil." These people have an agenda that they certainly are not keeping hidden from sight. The world knows where these militants stand and what their objective is. And we are their ultimate target.
Reports out of Ukraine today were tragic. Two Ukrainian fighter planes were shot down by missiles in the same area where the Malaysian Airliner was shot down last Thursday. Was that act of murder of 298 innocent people who were just getting on with their lives a planned act or an accident? Perhaps we will never know for sure. But the Cold War of the 1970's and 1980's is back and is threatening to become a hot war between Russia and Ukraine. Sanctions imposed upon Russia have done little to halt their support of the rebels in Eastern Ukraine. I think Russian President Putin knows that we will not take a hard stand. President Obama is no President Reagan, of that Putin is very confident. The Russian Bear is stirring from its slumber and is focusing upon recreating that powerful entity we once knew as the USSR. Will Putin be successful in its recreation? When one reads the Scriptures, especially those passages in Ezekiel 38 and 39, I believe it will happen. Will it happen under Putin's leadership? Quite possibly, but if not, at least Putin is setting the table for Gog.
And the fighting continues unabated in the Gaza Strip. Richard Engel, reported from Gaza tonight on NBC Nightly News about the overcrowding of Palestinian hospitals with the wounded. He then said, "There is one less hospital in Gaza tonight because it was bombed by Israel." According to a report from the IsraelInternationalNews.com website this morning, "The IDF has struck a terrorist position in Gaza's Al Wafa hospital, illustrating the highly sensitive and illegal use of civilian targets as human shields by Hamas and other Gazan terrorist groups. IDF sources say that the controversial decision to attack the position was taken after several days in which ground forces came under heavy fire from gunmen positioned inside the hospital grounds. The fire reportedly included both light weaponry and heavy anti-tank missiles directed toward IDF armored vehicles. 'The hospital premises were being used as war rooms and command centers by the terrorist groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad,' said an IDF spokesperson. The military added that it had repeatedly warned international agencies and the Palestinian head of the hospital directly about the gunfire from the hospital, as well as several other senior Palestinian officials - but to no avail. Instead, in the past several hours the intensity of the attacks has only increased, posing a real and imminent danger to the lives of soldiers operating in the area, forcing the IDF to respond with fire of its own."
And The Jerusalem Post, in an article written by Ariel Ben Solomon, and published today, had a headline that read, "Jihadi cleric calls for Muslim fighters to join the fighting in Gaza." "A new jihadi media outlet called Al-Fawaris released a video calling on Gazans to endure the military operation, saying that victory looms and that Muslims all over the world support them. According to a report published on Monday by the MEMRI (Middle East Media Research Institute) Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor, the video also features jihadi cleric Abu hareth Al-Maqdisi threatening Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, saying his demise is coming soon. ... 'Oh our brothers in Gaza, know that you are fighting an enemy following Satan's path, whereas you are fighting in the way of [Allah] the merciful,' Maqdisi said. He added that he and his fighters want to join the fighting in Gaza. 'True, we are fighting in Syria, but our heart yearns to arrive and fight the sons and brothers of the apes and pigs [the Jews],' MEMRI reported Maqdisi as saying. The jihadi cleric said that Gazans must be patient and wait for either victory or martyrdom, adding that Allah will soon send 'extraordinary soldiers who will fight and defeat the Jews. The days of defeats have passed. Our concept today is offensive and therefore you must attack them [the Jews] so they won't attack you, hold on, fortify yourself and trust in Allah so you may succeed,' Maqdisi said."
Does Hamas want a cease-fire? Absolutely not, at least they give no indication that they desire such. Hundreds of rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel today. And so Israel will keep moving forward with both its ground and air operations.
I have wondered what the Gaza would be like today had Israel not disengaged from the Strip back in 2005. Israeli leadership, really under pressure from the Bush administration, agreed to give peace a chance by withdrawing all Jews from the Gaza Strip. Did peace come? Did the Palestinian leadership take the reins to improve the lots of the people of Gaza? No, for in spring 2006, Hamas succeeded in winning the election in Palestine and then took control of the Gaza Strip. And it has been a hotbed for kidnappings, rockets, and terror ever since. Should Israel just wipe out Hamas? That would only create another leadership vacuum, so common in the Middle East, that would be filled with another terrorist group. Should Israel re-annex the Gaza? Not unless the Strip becomes an armed Israeli camp. What about a ceasefire? It will only happen when Hamas believes it would be to its advantage to accept one, but not until then. They really do not care how many civilians are killed. I don't hear any Hamas leaders anguishing about the high numbers. That angst is only coming from Western media who do not understand the nature and history of the conflict.
All around us conflicts are raging. Jesus said that in the last days there would be "wars and rumors of war." Just another indication that we are nearing the end. "Come quickly, Lord Jesus" should be our battle cry.
On the breitbart.com website, there were these headlines today: "Islamic State Says Mannequins Must Wear Veils." The brief article said, "The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) [which, by the way is another name for ISIS] told shopkeepers in Mosul the mannequins must wear veils. The veil is in accordance with Sharia law since 'the human form is not depicted in statues or artwork.' Both genders of mannequins are to wear the veil." These people have an agenda that they certainly are not keeping hidden from sight. The world knows where these militants stand and what their objective is. And we are their ultimate target.
Reports out of Ukraine today were tragic. Two Ukrainian fighter planes were shot down by missiles in the same area where the Malaysian Airliner was shot down last Thursday. Was that act of murder of 298 innocent people who were just getting on with their lives a planned act or an accident? Perhaps we will never know for sure. But the Cold War of the 1970's and 1980's is back and is threatening to become a hot war between Russia and Ukraine. Sanctions imposed upon Russia have done little to halt their support of the rebels in Eastern Ukraine. I think Russian President Putin knows that we will not take a hard stand. President Obama is no President Reagan, of that Putin is very confident. The Russian Bear is stirring from its slumber and is focusing upon recreating that powerful entity we once knew as the USSR. Will Putin be successful in its recreation? When one reads the Scriptures, especially those passages in Ezekiel 38 and 39, I believe it will happen. Will it happen under Putin's leadership? Quite possibly, but if not, at least Putin is setting the table for Gog.
And the fighting continues unabated in the Gaza Strip. Richard Engel, reported from Gaza tonight on NBC Nightly News about the overcrowding of Palestinian hospitals with the wounded. He then said, "There is one less hospital in Gaza tonight because it was bombed by Israel." According to a report from the IsraelInternationalNews.com website this morning, "The IDF has struck a terrorist position in Gaza's Al Wafa hospital, illustrating the highly sensitive and illegal use of civilian targets as human shields by Hamas and other Gazan terrorist groups. IDF sources say that the controversial decision to attack the position was taken after several days in which ground forces came under heavy fire from gunmen positioned inside the hospital grounds. The fire reportedly included both light weaponry and heavy anti-tank missiles directed toward IDF armored vehicles. 'The hospital premises were being used as war rooms and command centers by the terrorist groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad,' said an IDF spokesperson. The military added that it had repeatedly warned international agencies and the Palestinian head of the hospital directly about the gunfire from the hospital, as well as several other senior Palestinian officials - but to no avail. Instead, in the past several hours the intensity of the attacks has only increased, posing a real and imminent danger to the lives of soldiers operating in the area, forcing the IDF to respond with fire of its own."
And The Jerusalem Post, in an article written by Ariel Ben Solomon, and published today, had a headline that read, "Jihadi cleric calls for Muslim fighters to join the fighting in Gaza." "A new jihadi media outlet called Al-Fawaris released a video calling on Gazans to endure the military operation, saying that victory looms and that Muslims all over the world support them. According to a report published on Monday by the MEMRI (Middle East Media Research Institute) Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor, the video also features jihadi cleric Abu hareth Al-Maqdisi threatening Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, saying his demise is coming soon. ... 'Oh our brothers in Gaza, know that you are fighting an enemy following Satan's path, whereas you are fighting in the way of [Allah] the merciful,' Maqdisi said. He added that he and his fighters want to join the fighting in Gaza. 'True, we are fighting in Syria, but our heart yearns to arrive and fight the sons and brothers of the apes and pigs [the Jews],' MEMRI reported Maqdisi as saying. The jihadi cleric said that Gazans must be patient and wait for either victory or martyrdom, adding that Allah will soon send 'extraordinary soldiers who will fight and defeat the Jews. The days of defeats have passed. Our concept today is offensive and therefore you must attack them [the Jews] so they won't attack you, hold on, fortify yourself and trust in Allah so you may succeed,' Maqdisi said."
Does Hamas want a cease-fire? Absolutely not, at least they give no indication that they desire such. Hundreds of rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel today. And so Israel will keep moving forward with both its ground and air operations.
I have wondered what the Gaza would be like today had Israel not disengaged from the Strip back in 2005. Israeli leadership, really under pressure from the Bush administration, agreed to give peace a chance by withdrawing all Jews from the Gaza Strip. Did peace come? Did the Palestinian leadership take the reins to improve the lots of the people of Gaza? No, for in spring 2006, Hamas succeeded in winning the election in Palestine and then took control of the Gaza Strip. And it has been a hotbed for kidnappings, rockets, and terror ever since. Should Israel just wipe out Hamas? That would only create another leadership vacuum, so common in the Middle East, that would be filled with another terrorist group. Should Israel re-annex the Gaza? Not unless the Strip becomes an armed Israeli camp. What about a ceasefire? It will only happen when Hamas believes it would be to its advantage to accept one, but not until then. They really do not care how many civilians are killed. I don't hear any Hamas leaders anguishing about the high numbers. That angst is only coming from Western media who do not understand the nature and history of the conflict.
All around us conflicts are raging. Jesus said that in the last days there would be "wars and rumors of war." Just another indication that we are nearing the end. "Come quickly, Lord Jesus" should be our battle cry.
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Isaiah Was Right about the Israeli-Hamas Conflict
With regard to the current conflict between the Hamas-led government of Gaza and the Israelis, a verse from Isaiah came quickly to mind. Isaiah writes: "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter" (Isaiah 5:20). Isaiah is writing about a time when values were upside-down. People were confused as to what right and wrong really were. Now you are going to ask me, "How does this verse relate to the present situation between Hamas and Israel?" The answer is pretty obvious when one looks at how the world views this situation.
First, who is viewed by the world as being the aggressor? Who is viewed by the world as being the victims? The answer to the first question in the eyes of the world is obviously Israel. They are the big "bully" in the Middle East. They are the ones throwing their weight around. That is how the world sees Israel. And, just who is the victim? It is the poor, innocent civilians living in Gaza. Last night, on the NBC Nightly News, two reports were shared from the conflict. In the first report, only short images were shared of the fear as Israeli's headed to bomb shelters, but the majority of that first report showed the damage Israeli planes had inflicted upon Gaza, including a family whose home had been destroyed. I thought to myself, I wonder what the second report would be like. It was a reporter inside Gaza who was in a local hospital. The images were of crying children, weeping mothers, distraught, over-worked doctors. Upon whom did these people place the blame for their troubles? Was it upon their own government, Hamas, who actually fired the first 150 rockets into Israel before the Israeli planes were sent skyward on their missions? Of course not! Over and over the world saw that it was all Israel's fault. Then I opened the pages of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune this morning and two images of the conflict were in the article: a very small picture showing Israeli's rushing toward bomb-shelters, and a much larger picture of a woman in grief in Gaza. Which image do you think the editors of this newspaper wanted its readers to remember?
Let's look at what has happened so far in the eight days this conflict has been raging. The radical Islamists have fired hundreds of rockets into Israel, some reaching as far north as Haifa, with many hitting portions of Tel Aviv and few even to Jerusalem. Damage, so far, has been light with only one Israeli killed. Why the lack of casualties? It is because of two factors. First, Israel has deployed its Iron Dome anti-missile defense system which has been 87% accurate in destroying enemy rockets before they can reach their intended targets. Second, Israel has created a massive system of bomb-shelters where its civilians can flee when the sirens are sounded. This, too, has saved many lives. For the government of Israel, it uses its rockets to save lives, and it has invested millions of dollars in order to offer this protection. I heard that each Iron Dome missile that is fired costs the Israeli government $50,000 - but they consider that a small price to pay to protect its citizens - both Israeli Jews and Israeli Arabs.
Israeli planes have conducted over a thousand sorties over Gaza, targeting rocket-launching sites, warehouses where rockets are stored, and locations where Hamas leaders live and work. Yes, sadly there have been nearly 200 civilian casualties. Why such a high casualty count? The Hamas-led government has built no system of bomb-shelters for its people. In fact, they have encouraged people to house rockets in their homes. It is a known fact that Hamas has placed its rockets on the tops of schools, hospitals, nursing homes, etc., in the hopes that more civilians will be killed. Those images of bodies make great public relations news for them. The world sees those images and the blame is placed upon Israel.
Let's see: Hamas began this conflict with the intent that their rockets, aimed at Israel's population centers, would create damage and casualties. They were the aggressors. Israel responded, after weeks of patience, with air strikes aimed at destroying those missiles. The world sees them as being the aggressors, the Palestinians as being the tragic victims. Isaiah was right: good is evil and evil is good.
Then this morning I was reading a headline story from IsraelInternationalNews.com. Headlines; "Terrorists Offer 10-year Truce." "Palestinian Arab sources reported Wednesday that Hamas and Islamic Jihad have drafted a ceasefire offer that would involve a 10-year truce with Israel." The article lists the terms Israel must meet if this truce is to become a reality. The list includes the following: 1) all crossings into Gaza opened; 2) an international airport to be opened in Gaza; 3) the Rafah (the crossing between Gaza and Egypt) to be opened up to international traffic, with UN supervision and international observers along the borders; 4) withdrawal of IDF tanks from areas they entered in Operation Protective Edge; 5) a complete removal of the blockade on Gaza; 6) an international sea port; 7) no more flights by Israeli aircraft over Palestinian territory; 8) an expansion of the fishing zone to 10 km from the shoreline; 9) Israel to release all terror prisoners who were freed in the Shalit deal and re-arrested in Operation Brother's Keeper (Israel's round-up of Hamas suspects after the deaths of the three Jewish teenagers); and 10) Israel will not interfere with the activity of the Palestinian unity government. Friends, as I read this list I thought to myself: This would be like Germany wanting the Allies to make concessions after World War II. In the minds of the leaders of Hamas, they have won this conflict. And why do they think they have won? It is because they know the world's sympathies lie with them because of the images and stories coming out of Gaza.
Friends, I am tired of the one-sided reporting Americans and the world are getting. I have neither heard a news story on any of the major television news services, nor read a report from any of the print media describing how Israeli trucks are daily bringing food and medical supplies into Gaza. There is little reporting of how Israeli planes drop leaflets over entire communities strongly urging citizens to leave before an airstrike happens. It is time the whole story is told.
What should the government of Israel do? I am not sure I have an answer. My mind tells me that they should enter into Gaza and wipe out the leadership and the infrastructure that has allowed the rockets to be fired into Israel. But I also know that if Israeli forces should do that, the world will definitely accuse Israel of being the aggressor and "bad guy." Israeli leaders know that any cease-fire or truce will only be used by Hamas to re-gather its strength and to re-supply its rockets.
Ah, but a solution is coming some day when the Messiah comes and will establish His Kingdom and reign from Jerusalem. What a great day that will be! Until that day happens, we need to pray that prayer of David: "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 'May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.' For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, 'Peace be within you.' For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your prosperity." (Psalm 122:6-9).
First, who is viewed by the world as being the aggressor? Who is viewed by the world as being the victims? The answer to the first question in the eyes of the world is obviously Israel. They are the big "bully" in the Middle East. They are the ones throwing their weight around. That is how the world sees Israel. And, just who is the victim? It is the poor, innocent civilians living in Gaza. Last night, on the NBC Nightly News, two reports were shared from the conflict. In the first report, only short images were shared of the fear as Israeli's headed to bomb shelters, but the majority of that first report showed the damage Israeli planes had inflicted upon Gaza, including a family whose home had been destroyed. I thought to myself, I wonder what the second report would be like. It was a reporter inside Gaza who was in a local hospital. The images were of crying children, weeping mothers, distraught, over-worked doctors. Upon whom did these people place the blame for their troubles? Was it upon their own government, Hamas, who actually fired the first 150 rockets into Israel before the Israeli planes were sent skyward on their missions? Of course not! Over and over the world saw that it was all Israel's fault. Then I opened the pages of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune this morning and two images of the conflict were in the article: a very small picture showing Israeli's rushing toward bomb-shelters, and a much larger picture of a woman in grief in Gaza. Which image do you think the editors of this newspaper wanted its readers to remember?
Let's look at what has happened so far in the eight days this conflict has been raging. The radical Islamists have fired hundreds of rockets into Israel, some reaching as far north as Haifa, with many hitting portions of Tel Aviv and few even to Jerusalem. Damage, so far, has been light with only one Israeli killed. Why the lack of casualties? It is because of two factors. First, Israel has deployed its Iron Dome anti-missile defense system which has been 87% accurate in destroying enemy rockets before they can reach their intended targets. Second, Israel has created a massive system of bomb-shelters where its civilians can flee when the sirens are sounded. This, too, has saved many lives. For the government of Israel, it uses its rockets to save lives, and it has invested millions of dollars in order to offer this protection. I heard that each Iron Dome missile that is fired costs the Israeli government $50,000 - but they consider that a small price to pay to protect its citizens - both Israeli Jews and Israeli Arabs.
Israeli planes have conducted over a thousand sorties over Gaza, targeting rocket-launching sites, warehouses where rockets are stored, and locations where Hamas leaders live and work. Yes, sadly there have been nearly 200 civilian casualties. Why such a high casualty count? The Hamas-led government has built no system of bomb-shelters for its people. In fact, they have encouraged people to house rockets in their homes. It is a known fact that Hamas has placed its rockets on the tops of schools, hospitals, nursing homes, etc., in the hopes that more civilians will be killed. Those images of bodies make great public relations news for them. The world sees those images and the blame is placed upon Israel.
Let's see: Hamas began this conflict with the intent that their rockets, aimed at Israel's population centers, would create damage and casualties. They were the aggressors. Israel responded, after weeks of patience, with air strikes aimed at destroying those missiles. The world sees them as being the aggressors, the Palestinians as being the tragic victims. Isaiah was right: good is evil and evil is good.
Then this morning I was reading a headline story from IsraelInternationalNews.com. Headlines; "Terrorists Offer 10-year Truce." "Palestinian Arab sources reported Wednesday that Hamas and Islamic Jihad have drafted a ceasefire offer that would involve a 10-year truce with Israel." The article lists the terms Israel must meet if this truce is to become a reality. The list includes the following: 1) all crossings into Gaza opened; 2) an international airport to be opened in Gaza; 3) the Rafah (the crossing between Gaza and Egypt) to be opened up to international traffic, with UN supervision and international observers along the borders; 4) withdrawal of IDF tanks from areas they entered in Operation Protective Edge; 5) a complete removal of the blockade on Gaza; 6) an international sea port; 7) no more flights by Israeli aircraft over Palestinian territory; 8) an expansion of the fishing zone to 10 km from the shoreline; 9) Israel to release all terror prisoners who were freed in the Shalit deal and re-arrested in Operation Brother's Keeper (Israel's round-up of Hamas suspects after the deaths of the three Jewish teenagers); and 10) Israel will not interfere with the activity of the Palestinian unity government. Friends, as I read this list I thought to myself: This would be like Germany wanting the Allies to make concessions after World War II. In the minds of the leaders of Hamas, they have won this conflict. And why do they think they have won? It is because they know the world's sympathies lie with them because of the images and stories coming out of Gaza.
Friends, I am tired of the one-sided reporting Americans and the world are getting. I have neither heard a news story on any of the major television news services, nor read a report from any of the print media describing how Israeli trucks are daily bringing food and medical supplies into Gaza. There is little reporting of how Israeli planes drop leaflets over entire communities strongly urging citizens to leave before an airstrike happens. It is time the whole story is told.
What should the government of Israel do? I am not sure I have an answer. My mind tells me that they should enter into Gaza and wipe out the leadership and the infrastructure that has allowed the rockets to be fired into Israel. But I also know that if Israeli forces should do that, the world will definitely accuse Israel of being the aggressor and "bad guy." Israeli leaders know that any cease-fire or truce will only be used by Hamas to re-gather its strength and to re-supply its rockets.
Ah, but a solution is coming some day when the Messiah comes and will establish His Kingdom and reign from Jerusalem. What a great day that will be! Until that day happens, we need to pray that prayer of David: "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 'May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.' For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, 'Peace be within you.' For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your prosperity." (Psalm 122:6-9).
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