The UN General Assembly was busy last week hearing the rants from many of the world's leaders. Perhaps the most controversial one - as he has been for the past few - was Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who ranted and raved about how oppressive the Israelis were and how colonial the United States was. Fortunately, many of the delegates vacated the chambers as he began. I probably would have as well. When you read his speech it is nothing but a hateful diatribe against democracy and the western nations, singling out Israel as the greatest threat in the world. He has become a very evil man.
Of interest to many of us were the speeches given by President Obama and then by PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Personally, I believe our President did a great job of supporting Israel's position as a Jewish State. And most conservative commentators also cheered him, but with this disclaimer - that Obama was trying to regain the Jewish vote in America that he has lost in recent days. For the first time - perhaps since he has become President - I found myself agreeing more with him than disagreeing. Sort of startled myself.
The Palestinian Authority President and Chairman Abbas did what he had threatened to do: present a request to the Security Council that Palestine be declared unilaterally as a state with its borders being determined as they existed on the evening of June 4, 1967 - just prior to the 67 War. He also declared that East Jerusalem, including the Old City and the Western Wail - Israel's most holy site -would become the capitol. In his speech, Abbas claimed that the Israelis were solely responsible for the failure to achieve peace in the region. He described Israel as "an occupying power who has committed ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people, pushing them away from their ancestral homeland." He also said, "Our people will continue their popular, peaceful resistance." However, he ignored mentioning the thousands of rockets that have been launched from Gaza into Israel, or the many Israeli citizens who have been murdered by terrorists from both the West Bank and Gaza.
Following the speech, Abbas quickly declined invitations by the Quartet (Russia, Europe, the UN and the United States) to resume negotiations with Israel. The Palestinian "eggs" are now in the Security Council "basket." I just read that discussion on this request should begin in early October.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke to the Assembly after Abbas. His speech was a powerful declaration of historical truth. Once again he extended his hand to the Palestinians in friendship and in the offer to sit down to negotiate a just and lasting peace. The Prime Minister knew he was in a hostile environment. I quote from his speech: "I know that this is not exactly the image of Israel that is often portrayed in this hall. After all, it was here in 1975 that the age-old yearning of my people to restore our national life in our ancient biblical homeland was branded shamefully as racism. It was here in 1980 that the historic peace agreement between Israel and Egypt wasn't praised. It was denounced. And it's here, year after year, that Israel is unjustly singled out for condemnation. It's singled out for condemnation more often than all the nations of the world combined." He then went on to say, "Today I hope that the light of truth will shine, if only for a few minutes, in a hall that for too long has been a place of darkness for my country." Unfortunately, few delegates were listening.
If you get the opportunity to read the Prime Minister's speech, it is certainly worth reading. Also read the PA Chairman's speech. Then you can make the comparison.
Two other news-worthy items. Reuters reported today that Iran raised the prospect of sending military ships close to the United States Atlantic coast. The Iranian head of the Navy said, "Like the arrogant powers that are present near our marine borders, we will also have a powerful presence close to American marine borders." When I read this, I could not help but recall those scenes in one of Joel Rosenberg's novels about Iranian nuclear missiles being fired from ships off shore.
And, have you been paying attention to what is happening in Russia. Putin simply won't go away. Now he has declared his candidacy for President once again in elections to be held in March 2012. And he will win - and with an overwhelming vote besides. Since he left that office, the length of term for the Russian President has been extended from four years to six, which means that he could hold that office for two terms or twelve years. As one reporter said, we will have a new Russian Czar. And I think that is exactly what Putin wants to see happen. He is positioning Russia for greater influence. Do I hear the sounds of Ezekiel 38-39 on the horizon?
When I look out over the world and see what is happening, I am so encouraged to know that God is in total control. Nothing happening catches Him by surprise. He is in charge! Therefore our confidence needs to be completely in Him. Keep looking up!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Nehemiah: A Lesson for Today
Are you ready for a crazy few days at the United Nations? Friday is supposed to be the big day when Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, after addressing the General Assembly, will present his case for a unilateral declaration of statehood for the Palestinians before the Security Council. He will need nine affirmative votes out of the 15 member nations on the Security Council, as well as no veto by any of the five permanent members of that Council: China, Russia, Britain, France, and the United States.
This morning one of the lead stories in the "Artuz Shev Daily Israel Report" stated that the latest strategy being discussed in order to "save face" for all the participants is to have Abbas present his request and then the Council will table it for discussion later on and encouraging the PA to resume talks with the Israelis for a negotiated settlement. (This renewed negotiation is almost impossible as the PA had made so many conditions that Israeli leaders will never accede to).
Abbas is not absolutely certain he has the nine votes needed for passage and he is certainly not certain of what the United States response would be: a veto, an affirmative vote (probably not), or an abstention. If Abbas would fail to get the nine votes needed, it would mean political failure for him and chaos in the ranks of the PA. Abbas has pretty much staked his future on the passage of this unilateral request for a Palestinian State.
If the request is tabled it gets the United States out of, at least, a temporary problem. If they should veto the PA request, they risk further angering the Arab world which is not looking with much kindness on our nation right now anyway. Last week the Saudi King announced that if the United States vetoed the PA request, then they would lose their status as friends with Saudi Arabia. However, if the United States approved the PA request, then it would further damage already strained relationships with Israel. An abstention would probably anger both sides. Thus, the indefinite tabling methodology looks appealing.
This past week, in my preparation for a time with a group of men beginning a three-year training for leadership in their homes, in our community, and in our church, I was in Nehemiah 2. (Our focus for the first eleven weeks of study is this book). When Nehemiah gets to Jerusalem he immediately encounters strong opposition from those who were benefited by the failure of the Jews to rebuild that city. The opposition included Sanballat, the leader of the Samaritans - who lived north of the city; Tobiah, one of the chief officials of the Ammonites - who lived east across the Jordan River; and Geshem the Arab, one of the most powerful men of his day as he led the coalition of Arab tribes that dominated the southern regions as far as Egypt.
Let me share with you verse 20: "I answered them by saying, 'The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.'" Wow! What an incredible statement for Nehemiah to make in his day! And, upon further analysis, it would be a great statement for Jewish leaders to make today. Let's break the verse apart.
First, Nehemiah declares that Sanballot, Tobiah, and Geshem have no historic claims to Jerusalem or the surrounding area. "You have no share in Jerusalem." Nehemiah is saying, "If you look into the historical records, you have no history here. This is a Jewish city. This is Jewish land." Today, Palestinians have been attempting to prove that they have an ancient history with Jerusalem, but, as our guide in Israel says, "we have yet to uncover an ancient mosque anywhere around the city, or in Israel for that matter."
Second, Nehemiah states that these three men have no present rights for any claim: "or any claim." In other words, they do not belong there. They can present no evidence for the authority they have had in the past.
Finally, Nehemiah affirms that Sanballot, Tobiah and Geshem and their groups have no future in Jerusalem: "or historic right to it." In other words, Nehemiah is stating strongly that Jerusalem and the surrounding countryside will always be Jewish.
Nehemiah stood boldly before those who had taken advantage of the Jewish absence during the Babylonian exile and had staked a claim for themselves. Nehemiah says, "We are back; it is time for you to move out and never come back. This place is now ours once again." Did not something similar happen in 1948, again in 1967, and still again in 1973? Did not the nation of Israel declare to the world that "we are back home! It is time for you to leave." That does not mean that Israel would run rough-shod over others; in fact, just the opposite has occurred: Israel has helped those who lived in the land, Israeli-Arabs are very prosperous, among the most prosperous Arabs in the world. And those Israeli-Arabs enjoy a freedom not found in the rest of the Arab world.
I believe Israeli leaders need to stand firm as did Nehemiah. And, when he did, good things happened.
This morning one of the lead stories in the "Artuz Shev Daily Israel Report" stated that the latest strategy being discussed in order to "save face" for all the participants is to have Abbas present his request and then the Council will table it for discussion later on and encouraging the PA to resume talks with the Israelis for a negotiated settlement. (This renewed negotiation is almost impossible as the PA had made so many conditions that Israeli leaders will never accede to).
Abbas is not absolutely certain he has the nine votes needed for passage and he is certainly not certain of what the United States response would be: a veto, an affirmative vote (probably not), or an abstention. If Abbas would fail to get the nine votes needed, it would mean political failure for him and chaos in the ranks of the PA. Abbas has pretty much staked his future on the passage of this unilateral request for a Palestinian State.
If the request is tabled it gets the United States out of, at least, a temporary problem. If they should veto the PA request, they risk further angering the Arab world which is not looking with much kindness on our nation right now anyway. Last week the Saudi King announced that if the United States vetoed the PA request, then they would lose their status as friends with Saudi Arabia. However, if the United States approved the PA request, then it would further damage already strained relationships with Israel. An abstention would probably anger both sides. Thus, the indefinite tabling methodology looks appealing.
This past week, in my preparation for a time with a group of men beginning a three-year training for leadership in their homes, in our community, and in our church, I was in Nehemiah 2. (Our focus for the first eleven weeks of study is this book). When Nehemiah gets to Jerusalem he immediately encounters strong opposition from those who were benefited by the failure of the Jews to rebuild that city. The opposition included Sanballat, the leader of the Samaritans - who lived north of the city; Tobiah, one of the chief officials of the Ammonites - who lived east across the Jordan River; and Geshem the Arab, one of the most powerful men of his day as he led the coalition of Arab tribes that dominated the southern regions as far as Egypt.
Let me share with you verse 20: "I answered them by saying, 'The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.'" Wow! What an incredible statement for Nehemiah to make in his day! And, upon further analysis, it would be a great statement for Jewish leaders to make today. Let's break the verse apart.
First, Nehemiah declares that Sanballot, Tobiah, and Geshem have no historic claims to Jerusalem or the surrounding area. "You have no share in Jerusalem." Nehemiah is saying, "If you look into the historical records, you have no history here. This is a Jewish city. This is Jewish land." Today, Palestinians have been attempting to prove that they have an ancient history with Jerusalem, but, as our guide in Israel says, "we have yet to uncover an ancient mosque anywhere around the city, or in Israel for that matter."
Second, Nehemiah states that these three men have no present rights for any claim: "or any claim." In other words, they do not belong there. They can present no evidence for the authority they have had in the past.
Finally, Nehemiah affirms that Sanballot, Tobiah and Geshem and their groups have no future in Jerusalem: "or historic right to it." In other words, Nehemiah is stating strongly that Jerusalem and the surrounding countryside will always be Jewish.
Nehemiah stood boldly before those who had taken advantage of the Jewish absence during the Babylonian exile and had staked a claim for themselves. Nehemiah says, "We are back; it is time for you to move out and never come back. This place is now ours once again." Did not something similar happen in 1948, again in 1967, and still again in 1973? Did not the nation of Israel declare to the world that "we are back home! It is time for you to leave." That does not mean that Israel would run rough-shod over others; in fact, just the opposite has occurred: Israel has helped those who lived in the land, Israeli-Arabs are very prosperous, among the most prosperous Arabs in the world. And those Israeli-Arabs enjoy a freedom not found in the rest of the Arab world.
I believe Israeli leaders need to stand firm as did Nehemiah. And, when he did, good things happened.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
A Postscript to 9-11 Anniversary
So where do I begin this week? Let's see: There was the remembrance this past Sunday on the tenth anniversary of the 9-11 attack. Memorial services were held around our country. Following one of our services at church on Sunday, one member came to me and exclaimed, "Pastor Max, that certainly was a tragic day." I agreed, but then added, "The greatest tragedy is that we failed to learn from the experiences of that day!" He got kind of a quizzical expression on his face. We did not have time to complete our conversation, but here is what I wanted to say to him, "I believe 9-11 was a wake-up call to our country that we were walking down the wrong side of the highway. We had decided to abandon God in our journey as a nation. Immediately following 9-11 churches were full, people were asking important questions about life and its meaning. But, in a matter of a few weeks, it was back to 'business as usual.' Our trust was now in the resources of our military who were seeking out and punishing those who had perpetrated that heinous act." What did we learn? Really nothing. Is the world a safer place because of 9-11? Ask those who live in neighborhoods in Detroit who cower in fear. Ask those believers living in Egypt. Ask the Christians in Sudan. And the list goes on and on. 9-11 was a call that should have resulted in repentance and fear of the living God. Instead, we have tolerated all gods because we don't want to offend any of them.
Can I share something with you? Well I am, anyway. For the past forty plus years I have been diligently studying the Old Testament. I see a remarkable resemblance between those days with ancient Israel and America in the twenty-first century. How many times did God sound the alarm admonishing the people that they were traveling down the wrong side of the road? Over and over again. Sometimes it was through natural catastrophes: earthquakes, plagues of locusts, famines. Sometimes it was through defeat by their enemies: Philistines, Assyrians, Babylonians. Sometimes God warned them through the prophets. What was the response of the people to such warnings: an immediate turning to God, followed by the continuation of their lives as they had been in the past. The lingering effects of God's warnings really changed nothing concerning sinful society. In fact, to be perfectly honest, when you study the pages of the Old Testament you come to the conclusion that sinful practices became embolden as a consequence of the people's failure to heed God's warnings.
Do you see a pattern here with our world today? Just look where we have come since 9-11. The homosexual agenda has exploded where now it is a crime to even mention that you believe such practices are wrong. The status of marriage has crumbled to the point where States are actually having to have voter referendums on how to define marriage. Unthinkable that that should even have to happen.
I truly believe, friends, that God's anger toward our nation will shortly be released upon us. He has given us opportunity after opportunity, warning after warning, and yet we continue to hide our faces in the sand and continue in our sinful ways. Israel tried that approach for 200 years; but finally the day came when the armies of Assyria not only knocked on the doors of Samaria, but crashed through the doors. 150 years later something similar happened in Jerusalem when the armies of Babylon arrived.
I have been sharing with people that it is time for Christians to get right with God personally. Jesus is coming and we want to be ready ourselves. It may be too late to save our nation - and I only say those words with great sadness - but we can prepare ourselves. We can strengthen the witness of our churches with a renewed commitment to holiness, resulting in snatching a few more from the fires to come.
I am challenged with these words of Jesus: "When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8). Something to chew upon.
Postscript: Next week I will focus upon the United Nations vote to recognize Palestine as a nation. This vote is scheduled for next Tuesday. The repercussions of such a vote could be devastating. Stay tuned.
Postscript 2: By the way, the Middle East is about ready to explode. Over the weekend Turkey announced that it will be sending some of its warships to accompany the next flotilla destined for Gaza. And this past week the Turkish military removed equipment from their fighter jets that had indicated that Israeli planes were friendly; the Turks are not so friendly anymore. And then there was the assault in Cairo of the Israeli embassy there. Interesting to compare notes with that event and a similar one in Tehran in 1979 - the only difference being that it was the American embassy attacked there. If you want to read a definitive account of those days, I would encourage you to read Dore Gold's book: "The Rise of Nuclear Iran." It is powerfully written.
Can I share something with you? Well I am, anyway. For the past forty plus years I have been diligently studying the Old Testament. I see a remarkable resemblance between those days with ancient Israel and America in the twenty-first century. How many times did God sound the alarm admonishing the people that they were traveling down the wrong side of the road? Over and over again. Sometimes it was through natural catastrophes: earthquakes, plagues of locusts, famines. Sometimes it was through defeat by their enemies: Philistines, Assyrians, Babylonians. Sometimes God warned them through the prophets. What was the response of the people to such warnings: an immediate turning to God, followed by the continuation of their lives as they had been in the past. The lingering effects of God's warnings really changed nothing concerning sinful society. In fact, to be perfectly honest, when you study the pages of the Old Testament you come to the conclusion that sinful practices became embolden as a consequence of the people's failure to heed God's warnings.
Do you see a pattern here with our world today? Just look where we have come since 9-11. The homosexual agenda has exploded where now it is a crime to even mention that you believe such practices are wrong. The status of marriage has crumbled to the point where States are actually having to have voter referendums on how to define marriage. Unthinkable that that should even have to happen.
I truly believe, friends, that God's anger toward our nation will shortly be released upon us. He has given us opportunity after opportunity, warning after warning, and yet we continue to hide our faces in the sand and continue in our sinful ways. Israel tried that approach for 200 years; but finally the day came when the armies of Assyria not only knocked on the doors of Samaria, but crashed through the doors. 150 years later something similar happened in Jerusalem when the armies of Babylon arrived.
I have been sharing with people that it is time for Christians to get right with God personally. Jesus is coming and we want to be ready ourselves. It may be too late to save our nation - and I only say those words with great sadness - but we can prepare ourselves. We can strengthen the witness of our churches with a renewed commitment to holiness, resulting in snatching a few more from the fires to come.
I am challenged with these words of Jesus: "When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8). Something to chew upon.
Postscript: Next week I will focus upon the United Nations vote to recognize Palestine as a nation. This vote is scheduled for next Tuesday. The repercussions of such a vote could be devastating. Stay tuned.
Postscript 2: By the way, the Middle East is about ready to explode. Over the weekend Turkey announced that it will be sending some of its warships to accompany the next flotilla destined for Gaza. And this past week the Turkish military removed equipment from their fighter jets that had indicated that Israeli planes were friendly; the Turks are not so friendly anymore. And then there was the assault in Cairo of the Israeli embassy there. Interesting to compare notes with that event and a similar one in Tehran in 1979 - the only difference being that it was the American embassy attacked there. If you want to read a definitive account of those days, I would encourage you to read Dore Gold's book: "The Rise of Nuclear Iran." It is powerfully written.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Tensions Growing in the Middle East
Tensions continue to mount in the Middle East after the terrorist attack in late August that resulted in the deaths of eight Israelis near the southern port city of Eilat. The terrorists, affiliated with a Sinai branch of Al-Qaeda, had crossed the now porous Egyptian border. Israel was quick to retaliate but in a more restrained way than at other times. Yet the border incursion reminds us that the situation within Egypt regarding Israel and the continuation of the Camp David Accords of 1979 are tenuous at best.
This past weekend Turkey broke off diplomatic and military relations with Israel, recalling their ambassador from Tel Aviv and expelling Israel's ambassador to Ankara. This was prompted by the recent Palmer Report to the United Nations concerning the May 2010 Israeli commando raid on the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara in which nine Turkish protesters were killed. This ship was part of the flotilla seeking to break the Israeli naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. The Palmer Commission Report affirmed Israel's right to blockade Gaza, and also strongly criticized Israel for its use of force on the ship. Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Erdogan had stated that Turkey would take drastic actions unless Israel apologized, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to do. Now, relations between these two nations are more fractured than ever. Just another sign that Turkey is pointing in a more easterly direction for support than in a westerly one as in the past.
Also, this past weekend, IDF Major General Eyal Eisenberg, chief of Israel's Home Front Command, speaking before the Institute for National Securities Studies in Tel Aviv, said that, in his opinion, "the likelihood of an all-out war is increasingly growing." he went on to say, "Iran has not abandoned its nuclear program.... In Egypt, the army is collapsing under the burden of regular security operations, and this is reflected in the loss of control in the Sinai and the turning of the border with Israel into a terror border, with the possibility that Sinai will fall under the control of an Islamic entity. ... In Lebanon, Hezbollah is growing stronger within government arms, but it has not lost its desire to harm Israel." ("Arutz Sheva, September 6, 2011). Eisenberg described this as a "radical Islamic winter," and warned that "this raises the likelihood of an all-out, total war, with the possibility of weapons of mass destruction being used."
And, what is the United States doing? In a piece published by journalist Jeffrey Goldberg (who is no friend of Israel), he quoted former Defense Secretary Robert Gates as saying that Prime Minister Netanyahu was an "ungrateful ally." Gates went on to say, "Netanyahu is not only ungrateful, but also endangering his country by refusing to grapple with Israel's growing isolation and with the demographic challenges it faces if it keeps control of the West Bank." So much for friendships.
This weekend marks the tenth anniversary of the 9-11 attack. What has changed since that day? Is the world a safer place? Just ask Israelis. Just ask Pakistanis. Just ask Afghans. Or citizens of Norway. Or the Coptic Christians in Egypt. Has terrorism been even slowed down? Even our own law-enforcement leaders are concerned, not about another 9-11 style attack, but about the one or two individuals who are living next door and are plotting an attack upon a nearby restaurant or shopping mall. It seems that the evil in the world is growing at an alarming rate. One wonders what it will be like when God finally takes the Restrainer from the world's scene (2 Thessalonians 2). I don't even want to begin to imagine.
Friends, I would invite you to continue praying for the peace of Jerusalem. We are commanded to pray thusly in Psalm 122:6. Pray for Israel's leadership that they might seek God's will and direction. And pray that our leaders will remember that promise given to Abraham of old: "I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you" (Genesis 12:3). God's purposes will be accomplished. Keep looking up.
This past weekend Turkey broke off diplomatic and military relations with Israel, recalling their ambassador from Tel Aviv and expelling Israel's ambassador to Ankara. This was prompted by the recent Palmer Report to the United Nations concerning the May 2010 Israeli commando raid on the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara in which nine Turkish protesters were killed. This ship was part of the flotilla seeking to break the Israeli naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. The Palmer Commission Report affirmed Israel's right to blockade Gaza, and also strongly criticized Israel for its use of force on the ship. Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Erdogan had stated that Turkey would take drastic actions unless Israel apologized, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to do. Now, relations between these two nations are more fractured than ever. Just another sign that Turkey is pointing in a more easterly direction for support than in a westerly one as in the past.
Also, this past weekend, IDF Major General Eyal Eisenberg, chief of Israel's Home Front Command, speaking before the Institute for National Securities Studies in Tel Aviv, said that, in his opinion, "the likelihood of an all-out war is increasingly growing." he went on to say, "Iran has not abandoned its nuclear program.... In Egypt, the army is collapsing under the burden of regular security operations, and this is reflected in the loss of control in the Sinai and the turning of the border with Israel into a terror border, with the possibility that Sinai will fall under the control of an Islamic entity. ... In Lebanon, Hezbollah is growing stronger within government arms, but it has not lost its desire to harm Israel." ("Arutz Sheva, September 6, 2011). Eisenberg described this as a "radical Islamic winter," and warned that "this raises the likelihood of an all-out, total war, with the possibility of weapons of mass destruction being used."
And, what is the United States doing? In a piece published by journalist Jeffrey Goldberg (who is no friend of Israel), he quoted former Defense Secretary Robert Gates as saying that Prime Minister Netanyahu was an "ungrateful ally." Gates went on to say, "Netanyahu is not only ungrateful, but also endangering his country by refusing to grapple with Israel's growing isolation and with the demographic challenges it faces if it keeps control of the West Bank." So much for friendships.
This weekend marks the tenth anniversary of the 9-11 attack. What has changed since that day? Is the world a safer place? Just ask Israelis. Just ask Pakistanis. Just ask Afghans. Or citizens of Norway. Or the Coptic Christians in Egypt. Has terrorism been even slowed down? Even our own law-enforcement leaders are concerned, not about another 9-11 style attack, but about the one or two individuals who are living next door and are plotting an attack upon a nearby restaurant or shopping mall. It seems that the evil in the world is growing at an alarming rate. One wonders what it will be like when God finally takes the Restrainer from the world's scene (2 Thessalonians 2). I don't even want to begin to imagine.
Friends, I would invite you to continue praying for the peace of Jerusalem. We are commanded to pray thusly in Psalm 122:6. Pray for Israel's leadership that they might seek God's will and direction. And pray that our leaders will remember that promise given to Abraham of old: "I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you" (Genesis 12:3). God's purposes will be accomplished. Keep looking up.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
A Response to Richard Dawkins
This past Friday, on the Opinion Exchange page of the Minneapolis "Star-Tribune," there appeared an editorial, written by Richard Dawkins and titled "View on evolution say a lot about a candidate", that literally caused my blood-pressure to rise to dangerous levels. What grabbed my attention was the sub-headline which read: "Evolution is a fact, as securely established as any in science. Those who deny it are likely ignorant in other fields as well." I trust that your blood is beginning to get a little warmer just reading those two statements.
Richard Dawkins is an atheist and avowed evolutionist. In his most recent book, titled, "The God Delusion", he basically states that God does not exist and has never existed. To adapt from the teachings of Karl Marx, religion - for Dawkins and others of his ilk, that would mean any worldview that even fosters some concept of a god - is merely an opiate (or a crutch) for the people.
Dawkins began his editorial - originally published by the "Washington Post" - by focusing upon Texas governor and Republican Presidential Candidate Rick Perry who has championed the cause for the teaching of both creationism and evolution within the Texas school systems. Listen to what Dawkins thinks of Governor Perry: "...There is nothing unusual about Perry. Uneducated fools can be found in every country and every period of history, and they are not unknown in high office. What is unusual about today's Republican Party is this: In any other party and in any other country, an individual may occasionally rise to the top in spite of being an uneducated ignoramus. In today's Republican Party 'in spite of' is not the phrase we need. Ignorance and lack of education are positive qualifications, bordering on obligatory." Now are you getting a little fired-up? Let me rephrase what Dawkins has said just in case you missed it: If you are a Republican and you do not accept the evolutionary theory, then you must be some type of ignorant, red-necked, back-woods, uneducated fool; you certainly have no hope of advancing in the world where real knowledge is maintained."
Friends, that was just the first column of the five column editorial. Ready for column two? Now Dawkins begins his thrust against creationism and his defense of evolution. "Evolution is a fact, as securely established as any in science, and he who denies it betrays woeful ignorance and lack of education, which likely extends to other fields as well." Stop here! Because I don't accept evolution, according to Dawkins, then I will probably be ignorant and lacking educational foundations for business, for literature, for politics, for medicine - for that matter, any other field of learning. Wow! I do feel ignorant in some fields - electronics, for example - but I didn't realize I was that far off base in other areas. I wished someone had told me this a long time ago - it would have spared me some headaches along the way.
Dawkins then continues, "Evolution is the stunningly simple but elegant explanation of our very existence and the existence of every living creature on the planet. Thanks to Darwin, we now understand why we are here and why we are the way we are. You cannot be ignorant of evolution and be a cultivated and adequate citizen of today." Feeling good about yourself about now? Or is your blood-pressure beginning to rise?
"Darwin's idea is arguably the most powerful ever to occur to a human mind. ... A theory that assumes most of what it is trying to explain is a bad theory. That is why the creationist or 'intelligent design' theory is such a rotten theory." Hold the fort! Has Dawkins forgotten all the "missing links" in his "scientific fact of evolution?" Since Darwin first published his book in the mid-part of the 19th century not one single "missing link" has been found. Friends, that is a fact. And yet those "missing links" are the foundation for the supposed incontrovertible fact of evolution? It seems to me, that by Dawkins's definition, evolution is a bad theory.
Dawkins then seeks to help us to understand the complexity of the body of a bird - and he does a great job of defining its complexity. He then states, "The whole machine is immensely improbable in the sense that, if you randomly shook up the parts over and over again, never in a million years would they fall into the right shape." And you know, he is right. But here is where Dawkins misses the point. What if there was a Master Designer who actually made that little bird? Could He not once again assemble those millions of parts to create another bird? Friends, is that not what God does with each new birth. Last Saturday we attended the Minnesota State Fair. One of the buildings we stopped at was the "Birthing Barn." What a crowd was there! And what were we observing?- the miracle of birth - of chickens, turkeys, calves, lambs, and piglets. I was reminded of those powerful words of David in Psalm 139, speaking of his own creation in his mother's womb: "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made..." (Psalm 139:13-14).
Finally Dawkins states, "The rival theory to explain the functional complexity of life - creationism - is about as bad a theory as has ever been proposed. It is such a bad theory it doesn't deserve to be called one at all, and it certainly doesn't deserve to be taught alongside evolution in science classes." Did you hear what he was saying? Creationism is only worthy of being tossed into the trash. Throw God into the dumpster, if you will. Through Darwin we have figured out this thing we call life. Frankly, friends, I don't want to be standing any where near Richard Dawkins on Judgment Day. If you and I are angry - at least I know I am angry - can you imagine what God is feeling when He knows this man's heart?
Let me share one more quote from this long editorial: "To die in ignorance of its (evolution) elegance, and power to explain our own existence, is a tragic loss, comparable to dying without ever having experienced great music, great literature or a beautiful sunset." My response to Richard Dawkins is this: "Richard, you are the one who has lost. You have gone through life and never known what great music really is. You have experienced life and have never known the real beauty of the world around you. You have been the greater loser because you have failed to know the great and awesome God behind everything you see. Richard, in your eyes I may be one of the greatest ignoramuses that ever lived, but a day is coming when you will realize how ignorant you have truly been. Only then, Richard, it will be too late to make any changes."
Richard Dawkins is an atheist and avowed evolutionist. In his most recent book, titled, "The God Delusion", he basically states that God does not exist and has never existed. To adapt from the teachings of Karl Marx, religion - for Dawkins and others of his ilk, that would mean any worldview that even fosters some concept of a god - is merely an opiate (or a crutch) for the people.
Dawkins began his editorial - originally published by the "Washington Post" - by focusing upon Texas governor and Republican Presidential Candidate Rick Perry who has championed the cause for the teaching of both creationism and evolution within the Texas school systems. Listen to what Dawkins thinks of Governor Perry: "...There is nothing unusual about Perry. Uneducated fools can be found in every country and every period of history, and they are not unknown in high office. What is unusual about today's Republican Party is this: In any other party and in any other country, an individual may occasionally rise to the top in spite of being an uneducated ignoramus. In today's Republican Party 'in spite of' is not the phrase we need. Ignorance and lack of education are positive qualifications, bordering on obligatory." Now are you getting a little fired-up? Let me rephrase what Dawkins has said just in case you missed it: If you are a Republican and you do not accept the evolutionary theory, then you must be some type of ignorant, red-necked, back-woods, uneducated fool; you certainly have no hope of advancing in the world where real knowledge is maintained."
Friends, that was just the first column of the five column editorial. Ready for column two? Now Dawkins begins his thrust against creationism and his defense of evolution. "Evolution is a fact, as securely established as any in science, and he who denies it betrays woeful ignorance and lack of education, which likely extends to other fields as well." Stop here! Because I don't accept evolution, according to Dawkins, then I will probably be ignorant and lacking educational foundations for business, for literature, for politics, for medicine - for that matter, any other field of learning. Wow! I do feel ignorant in some fields - electronics, for example - but I didn't realize I was that far off base in other areas. I wished someone had told me this a long time ago - it would have spared me some headaches along the way.
Dawkins then continues, "Evolution is the stunningly simple but elegant explanation of our very existence and the existence of every living creature on the planet. Thanks to Darwin, we now understand why we are here and why we are the way we are. You cannot be ignorant of evolution and be a cultivated and adequate citizen of today." Feeling good about yourself about now? Or is your blood-pressure beginning to rise?
"Darwin's idea is arguably the most powerful ever to occur to a human mind. ... A theory that assumes most of what it is trying to explain is a bad theory. That is why the creationist or 'intelligent design' theory is such a rotten theory." Hold the fort! Has Dawkins forgotten all the "missing links" in his "scientific fact of evolution?" Since Darwin first published his book in the mid-part of the 19th century not one single "missing link" has been found. Friends, that is a fact. And yet those "missing links" are the foundation for the supposed incontrovertible fact of evolution? It seems to me, that by Dawkins's definition, evolution is a bad theory.
Dawkins then seeks to help us to understand the complexity of the body of a bird - and he does a great job of defining its complexity. He then states, "The whole machine is immensely improbable in the sense that, if you randomly shook up the parts over and over again, never in a million years would they fall into the right shape." And you know, he is right. But here is where Dawkins misses the point. What if there was a Master Designer who actually made that little bird? Could He not once again assemble those millions of parts to create another bird? Friends, is that not what God does with each new birth. Last Saturday we attended the Minnesota State Fair. One of the buildings we stopped at was the "Birthing Barn." What a crowd was there! And what were we observing?- the miracle of birth - of chickens, turkeys, calves, lambs, and piglets. I was reminded of those powerful words of David in Psalm 139, speaking of his own creation in his mother's womb: "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made..." (Psalm 139:13-14).
Finally Dawkins states, "The rival theory to explain the functional complexity of life - creationism - is about as bad a theory as has ever been proposed. It is such a bad theory it doesn't deserve to be called one at all, and it certainly doesn't deserve to be taught alongside evolution in science classes." Did you hear what he was saying? Creationism is only worthy of being tossed into the trash. Throw God into the dumpster, if you will. Through Darwin we have figured out this thing we call life. Frankly, friends, I don't want to be standing any where near Richard Dawkins on Judgment Day. If you and I are angry - at least I know I am angry - can you imagine what God is feeling when He knows this man's heart?
Let me share one more quote from this long editorial: "To die in ignorance of its (evolution) elegance, and power to explain our own existence, is a tragic loss, comparable to dying without ever having experienced great music, great literature or a beautiful sunset." My response to Richard Dawkins is this: "Richard, you are the one who has lost. You have gone through life and never known what great music really is. You have experienced life and have never known the real beauty of the world around you. You have been the greater loser because you have failed to know the great and awesome God behind everything you see. Richard, in your eyes I may be one of the greatest ignoramuses that ever lived, but a day is coming when you will realize how ignorant you have truly been. Only then, Richard, it will be too late to make any changes."
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Wow! What a Week!
Wow! What a week this has been and it is only Wednesday. Where does a person begin? Well, let's start with the earthquakes this past week. First, there was one on Monday in southwestern Colorado near the New Mexico border - nearly a 5 on the Richter scale. Some damage done, but not extensive. Then, yesterday there was a 5.8 quake epicentered near Richmond, VA. But the quake was felt as far north as Maine and as far west as Chicago. Some minimal damage done, but the assessments are still ongoing. Strongest earthquake to hit the East Coast since 1897. It was interesting that over the weekend Marlys and I had been talking about what is happening in the world and she commented, "Honey, you know we have not had an earthquake that made news for awhile." Guess she spoke too soon.
Continuing along the weather-front, Hurricane Irene has its eyes set upon the Eastern seaboard. Depending upon the weather-service one listens to, this could be either a Category 3 or 4 storm as it slams into the Carolina coastline this weekend. Evacuations are already underway. Some say it could be the strongest storm to hit the East Coast in decades. An East Coast earthquake followed by a strong East Coast hurricane - just a coincidence, you say. I don't think so!
Let's turn our attention to the continued saga of the Middle East. Last Thursday armed terrorists crossed the Egyptian Sinai border into southern Israel attacking buses and cars just north of the Israeli port city of Eilat. Eight Israelis were killed, including six civilians. Hamas also fired over 100 rockets from Gaza into Israeli communities, reaching as far north as Ashdod and as far east as Beersheba where another civilian was killed. IAF planes were scrambled and retaliated against Hamas strongholds within Gaza. The immediate question concerned Israel's response with Egypt. A firefight ensued as IDF soldiers pursued the terrorists back into the Sinai. Sadly three Egyptian soldiers were killed. Now emotions against Israel have deepened within Egypt. The cold-peace that Israel has had with Egypt for the past 32 years is now threatened. Could another war in the Middle East be imminent? With elections supposedly to happen in Egypt in September, the prognosis does not look good.
Speaking of the Middle East, the status in Libya is still uncertain. Has Qaddafi been deposed? Where is he? Who is in charge? I know there are lots of cheers within the streets of Tripoli by the rebels claiming victory. Even American journalists have voiced delight similar to those scenes within Cairo back in January. Yet, if there is a lesson to be learned from what happened in Egypt it is that a dictator maintains a measure of stability. For all those years that Mubarak ruled in Egypt - yes, I know he was a dictator and probably a crook - Egypt still maintained a presence on the world's stage and Egypt maintained relationships of peace with its neighbors. Now look at the situation in Egypt. Will something similar happen in Libya? I am fearful that lying quietly in the background in Libya is the presence of the Muslim Brotherhood and other radical Islamist groups. They are poised to claim power there as they have in Egypt.
Democracy is not just the freedom from a dictator's rule. Democracy is the freedom to enjoy privileges and rights that were not present during a dictator's rule. Freedom to give expression to one's beliefs. Freedom to share in opportunities for personal advancement. Again, using Egypt as the model since the Arab Spring uprisings, are there more freedoms of expression in Egypt now as compared to the days of Mubarak. Ask the Coptic believers. Persecution of Coptic Christians has hit an all time high, with churches being burned and some pastors even being martyred for their faith. Democracy in Egypt - I hardly think so. Friends, I have said this before and it bears repeating, democracy is something that must be learned from another. It is not something that happens automatically. As leaders of the Free-World since World War II, we have failed to teach the world the principles of democratic rule. We have had the mistaken belief that all the world needed to do was to observe us and they would understand what democracy was. That strategy has not worked well, has it.
Let me use another analogy. Many Christians have the idea that all they have to do is live a Christ-honoring life before others. Their neighbors, family, and friends will observe them and then come to know Christ. But the Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 10:14-15 that people need to hear the vocal message of Christ. In other words, we need to teach them.
What an incredible week thus far! The days are hastening onward toward the appearance of the King. These are days filled with hope and assurance for those of us who know Christ as Savior and Lord. These are days filled with opportunities to share Him with others who do not share our hope. May we remain faithful in our service for the King!
Continuing along the weather-front, Hurricane Irene has its eyes set upon the Eastern seaboard. Depending upon the weather-service one listens to, this could be either a Category 3 or 4 storm as it slams into the Carolina coastline this weekend. Evacuations are already underway. Some say it could be the strongest storm to hit the East Coast in decades. An East Coast earthquake followed by a strong East Coast hurricane - just a coincidence, you say. I don't think so!
Let's turn our attention to the continued saga of the Middle East. Last Thursday armed terrorists crossed the Egyptian Sinai border into southern Israel attacking buses and cars just north of the Israeli port city of Eilat. Eight Israelis were killed, including six civilians. Hamas also fired over 100 rockets from Gaza into Israeli communities, reaching as far north as Ashdod and as far east as Beersheba where another civilian was killed. IAF planes were scrambled and retaliated against Hamas strongholds within Gaza. The immediate question concerned Israel's response with Egypt. A firefight ensued as IDF soldiers pursued the terrorists back into the Sinai. Sadly three Egyptian soldiers were killed. Now emotions against Israel have deepened within Egypt. The cold-peace that Israel has had with Egypt for the past 32 years is now threatened. Could another war in the Middle East be imminent? With elections supposedly to happen in Egypt in September, the prognosis does not look good.
Speaking of the Middle East, the status in Libya is still uncertain. Has Qaddafi been deposed? Where is he? Who is in charge? I know there are lots of cheers within the streets of Tripoli by the rebels claiming victory. Even American journalists have voiced delight similar to those scenes within Cairo back in January. Yet, if there is a lesson to be learned from what happened in Egypt it is that a dictator maintains a measure of stability. For all those years that Mubarak ruled in Egypt - yes, I know he was a dictator and probably a crook - Egypt still maintained a presence on the world's stage and Egypt maintained relationships of peace with its neighbors. Now look at the situation in Egypt. Will something similar happen in Libya? I am fearful that lying quietly in the background in Libya is the presence of the Muslim Brotherhood and other radical Islamist groups. They are poised to claim power there as they have in Egypt.
Democracy is not just the freedom from a dictator's rule. Democracy is the freedom to enjoy privileges and rights that were not present during a dictator's rule. Freedom to give expression to one's beliefs. Freedom to share in opportunities for personal advancement. Again, using Egypt as the model since the Arab Spring uprisings, are there more freedoms of expression in Egypt now as compared to the days of Mubarak. Ask the Coptic believers. Persecution of Coptic Christians has hit an all time high, with churches being burned and some pastors even being martyred for their faith. Democracy in Egypt - I hardly think so. Friends, I have said this before and it bears repeating, democracy is something that must be learned from another. It is not something that happens automatically. As leaders of the Free-World since World War II, we have failed to teach the world the principles of democratic rule. We have had the mistaken belief that all the world needed to do was to observe us and they would understand what democracy was. That strategy has not worked well, has it.
Let me use another analogy. Many Christians have the idea that all they have to do is live a Christ-honoring life before others. Their neighbors, family, and friends will observe them and then come to know Christ. But the Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 10:14-15 that people need to hear the vocal message of Christ. In other words, we need to teach them.
What an incredible week thus far! The days are hastening onward toward the appearance of the King. These are days filled with hope and assurance for those of us who know Christ as Savior and Lord. These are days filled with opportunities to share Him with others who do not share our hope. May we remain faithful in our service for the King!
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
What If - A Palestinian State is Created by the United Nations?
The clock continues ticking down to the September 20 date when the Palestinian Authority is scheduled to present to the United Nations its plan for a unilateral declaration of statehood. At present it appears that their Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has enough votes within the membership of the General Assembly to secure passage of his proposal. However, the status of the proposal within the Security Council is not as assured. The United States has indicated that it will not vote for the proposal, but American leaders have not stated whether they would veto or just abstain from the vote. A veto is crucial, as a mere abstention would allow the proposal to be adopted.
Let's look for a few moments at what the Palestinian Authority (PA) is asking. According to the 1933 Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States - this is the prevailing legal standard defining what constitutes a state - a state is defined as "a person of international law possessing the following qualifications: a) a permanent population; b) a defined territory; c) government; and d) capacity to enter into relations with other states. (Taken from an article titled, "The Palestinians' Imaginary State" by Steven J. Rosen, found at the Middle East Forum website - www.meforum.org).
In that article the author states that there are presently two Palestinian states that would meet the criteria of the 1933 Montevideo Convention. The first is the state of Gaza. It has a permanent population. It has a defined territory. It has a government under the leadership of Hamas, howbeit, one that certainly has not been recognized by most of the civilized world. And it has already entered into relationships with other nations, Iran being an example.
The second Palestinian state already in existence is known as the West Bank. It has a permanent population. It has a defined territory. It has a government under the leadership of Fatah. And it has already entered into relationships with other nations.
However, the state that will be presented to the United Nations General Assembly is a state that does not presently exist. It is a unification of Gaza and the West Bank into one nation. However, there are some serious difficulties here. Both entities are under different political parties, and in spite of their agreement earlier this summer to form a unified government, no such unification has occurred; instead the rift between Hamas and Fatah has seemed to widen. Furthermore, there is great concern about the legitimacy of the government of Abbas and the PA. His term of office expired in 2009, and although it was extended to 2010, new elections have not been called for within the West Bank. (Note: Abbas has hinted that he would have elections early next year, but don't take that word to the bank quite yet). Abbas has traveled extensively in Europe and South America seeking support for his proposal.
What will happen if, in September, the United Nations unilaterally declares a sovereign Palestinian State made up of Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem? According to Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, in an interview with reporters on August 7, there will be war. To quote him, "The Palestinian Authority is getting ready for bloodshed on a scale we haven't seen. The more they speak about non-violent action, the more they are preparing for bloodshed." He believes that once a declaration is adopted, Arabs from the West Bank and Gaza will flood the various checkpoints, forcing their way past IDF soldiers and into Israel's major cities.
So, as you can see, the situation pending before the United Nations in September has grave consequences. Some of you might be saying, "So, what! Why should I care?" Just last week, in a meeting with a United States Congressional Delegation visiting Ramallah, PA Chairman Abbas stated that he wants a NATO force, under the leadership of the United States, to guarantee and to guard the security of the new Palestinian state. Do you know what that means? American soldiers will be stationed in East Jerusalem, Jericho, Ramallah, Nabullus, Bethlehem, and other strategic locations along the newly created Israeli-Palestinian border. We thought Iraq and Afghanistan were bad; this will be worse. Would American forces fire upon Israeli forces? Would a situation like this totally destroy any relationship still existing between Israel and the United States?
I also see such a declaration, if it comes to pass, to be the match that lights the fuse of what we know as the Psalm 83 War. All the pieces are in place; just lacking the trigger mechanism.
What can you do? First, you can pray for Prime Minister Netanyahu, that he will remain firm in his resolve on behalf of the people of Israel. You can pray that American leadership will stand firmly behind Israel and not waver in the face of worldwide opposition. Second, you can write your legislative leaders and encourage them to tell our American Ambassador to the United Nations to veto any proposal toward a unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state.
One other interesting piece of news, not reported by the Main Stream Media. Iranian General Mohammed Reza Naqdi, commander of Iran's Basij (volunteer) forces, announced that he is ready to dispatch Iranian forces to London to act as peacekeepers. He told the Iranian Fars news agency last Thursday, "If the UN General Assembly approves, the Basij Organization is ready to send a number of Ashura and al-Zahra brigades to Liverpool and Birmingham as peacekeepers to monitor observation of human rights laws and deter use of force." Friends, that would be like having the fox guard the hen house. Protecting human rights? From a nation that has violated every human right known? From a nation that is still executing people every day as a means of quelling unrest in its own country? Oh the world has gotten crazy!
Friends, it is time we steadfastly keep our eyes on Jesus. These are not days to waver in our focus. If we do, the waves of the turmoil around us will suck us under. It is time that we warn others of the dangers of continually neglecting Jesus as there is not much time remaining.
Let's look for a few moments at what the Palestinian Authority (PA) is asking. According to the 1933 Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States - this is the prevailing legal standard defining what constitutes a state - a state is defined as "a person of international law possessing the following qualifications: a) a permanent population; b) a defined territory; c) government; and d) capacity to enter into relations with other states. (Taken from an article titled, "The Palestinians' Imaginary State" by Steven J. Rosen, found at the Middle East Forum website - www.meforum.org).
In that article the author states that there are presently two Palestinian states that would meet the criteria of the 1933 Montevideo Convention. The first is the state of Gaza. It has a permanent population. It has a defined territory. It has a government under the leadership of Hamas, howbeit, one that certainly has not been recognized by most of the civilized world. And it has already entered into relationships with other nations, Iran being an example.
The second Palestinian state already in existence is known as the West Bank. It has a permanent population. It has a defined territory. It has a government under the leadership of Fatah. And it has already entered into relationships with other nations.
However, the state that will be presented to the United Nations General Assembly is a state that does not presently exist. It is a unification of Gaza and the West Bank into one nation. However, there are some serious difficulties here. Both entities are under different political parties, and in spite of their agreement earlier this summer to form a unified government, no such unification has occurred; instead the rift between Hamas and Fatah has seemed to widen. Furthermore, there is great concern about the legitimacy of the government of Abbas and the PA. His term of office expired in 2009, and although it was extended to 2010, new elections have not been called for within the West Bank. (Note: Abbas has hinted that he would have elections early next year, but don't take that word to the bank quite yet). Abbas has traveled extensively in Europe and South America seeking support for his proposal.
What will happen if, in September, the United Nations unilaterally declares a sovereign Palestinian State made up of Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem? According to Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, in an interview with reporters on August 7, there will be war. To quote him, "The Palestinian Authority is getting ready for bloodshed on a scale we haven't seen. The more they speak about non-violent action, the more they are preparing for bloodshed." He believes that once a declaration is adopted, Arabs from the West Bank and Gaza will flood the various checkpoints, forcing their way past IDF soldiers and into Israel's major cities.
So, as you can see, the situation pending before the United Nations in September has grave consequences. Some of you might be saying, "So, what! Why should I care?" Just last week, in a meeting with a United States Congressional Delegation visiting Ramallah, PA Chairman Abbas stated that he wants a NATO force, under the leadership of the United States, to guarantee and to guard the security of the new Palestinian state. Do you know what that means? American soldiers will be stationed in East Jerusalem, Jericho, Ramallah, Nabullus, Bethlehem, and other strategic locations along the newly created Israeli-Palestinian border. We thought Iraq and Afghanistan were bad; this will be worse. Would American forces fire upon Israeli forces? Would a situation like this totally destroy any relationship still existing between Israel and the United States?
I also see such a declaration, if it comes to pass, to be the match that lights the fuse of what we know as the Psalm 83 War. All the pieces are in place; just lacking the trigger mechanism.
What can you do? First, you can pray for Prime Minister Netanyahu, that he will remain firm in his resolve on behalf of the people of Israel. You can pray that American leadership will stand firmly behind Israel and not waver in the face of worldwide opposition. Second, you can write your legislative leaders and encourage them to tell our American Ambassador to the United Nations to veto any proposal toward a unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state.
One other interesting piece of news, not reported by the Main Stream Media. Iranian General Mohammed Reza Naqdi, commander of Iran's Basij (volunteer) forces, announced that he is ready to dispatch Iranian forces to London to act as peacekeepers. He told the Iranian Fars news agency last Thursday, "If the UN General Assembly approves, the Basij Organization is ready to send a number of Ashura and al-Zahra brigades to Liverpool and Birmingham as peacekeepers to monitor observation of human rights laws and deter use of force." Friends, that would be like having the fox guard the hen house. Protecting human rights? From a nation that has violated every human right known? From a nation that is still executing people every day as a means of quelling unrest in its own country? Oh the world has gotten crazy!
Friends, it is time we steadfastly keep our eyes on Jesus. These are not days to waver in our focus. If we do, the waves of the turmoil around us will suck us under. It is time that we warn others of the dangers of continually neglecting Jesus as there is not much time remaining.
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