Sunday, August 31, 2008

Warning signs...

Space Weather News for Aug 31, 2008
http://spaceweather.com

Sky watchers across the USA and Europe are reporting unusually colorful sunsets and sunrises. The cause appears to be the August 7th eruption of the Kasatochi volcano in Alaska's Aleutian islands. The volcano hurled a massive cloud of ash and sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere; high winds have since carried the aerosols over parts of the USA and Europe. "Violet domes," long pink rays crossing the sky, campfire-red aureoles around Venus--these are just a few of the sights documented on Spaceweather.com in recent days. When the sun goes down tonight, look west. You may be in for a treat.

Ongoing coverage of the phenomenon may be found at Space Weather

I put this on my own blog as well, as I think it important for us to be continually aware of what's happening in the world, not just politically, but also with regard to what's going on beneath the earth's surface. The area, known as the Ring of Fire is showing increasing activity, with more earthquakes in China in the past few days as well as in Alaska as noted above, and in Vancover, Canada, where a fairly strong earthquake hit four days ago. You might want to read Isaiah 13 and Joel 3, for these are future predictions made by the Lord, along with a promise: "but the Lord will be the hope of His people and the strength of the children of Israel." Isaiah 13:16

Confirmed: Jerusalem is on negotiating table

This is so sad. They are finally admitting that part of the city is for sale, and are looking for a peace deal by the end of the year. However, they are about to find out that God will have the last word.

Zech. 12:3
And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.

Joel 3:2
I will gather all the nations
And bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat
Then I will enter into judgment with them there
On behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel,
Whom they have scattered among the nations;
And they have divided up My land.


Confirmed: Jerusalem is on negotiating table
After months of denials, Israel admits 'mechanism' for 'dealing with holy city'

August 31, 2008
1:35 pm Eastern

By Aaron Klein
© 2008 WorldNetDaily

JERUSALEM – After months of denials the status of Jerusalem is on the table during negotiations, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office today confirmed to WND that a mechanism has been created to deal with the issue of the holy city in U.S.-backed Israeli-Palestinian talks aimed at creating a Palestinian state by the end of the year.

"Of all the final status core issues, the issue of Jerusalem is probably the most difficult and unlike some of the other issues, we have yet to start negotiating the future of Jerusalem. Therefore in order to not let the process fall victim to its weakest link, we have the establishment of an agreed upon mechanism that would continue to deal with Jerusalem. That mechanism was created in such a way that it would address the concern of both sides," Mark Regev, Olmert's spokesman, told WND.

More of the story here:
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=73965

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Dead Sea Scrolls..



God is amazing in that He daily confirms His Word to the just and the unjust... all are without excuse... All can come to the saving knowledge of His Son, Yeshua HaMashiach!

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Dead Sea Scrolls Link Past and Present

By Chris Mitchell
CBN News Mideast Bureau Chief
August 24, 2008

http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/431829.aspx

CBNNews.com - JERUSALEM, Israel - Just over 60 years ago, a Bedouin boy stumbled on one of the greatest treasures in history. He discovered the first of the Dead Sea Scrolls, which constitute the oldest evidence for the Hebrew Bible.

On the edge of the Dead Sea, deep in the heart of the Judean wilderness in a place called Qumran, came some of the most significant artifacts of modern times: the Dead Sea Scrolls.
For two millennia, the scrolls lay hidden in 11 caves throughout the Qumran area. Their discovery marked the most important archaeological finds of the 20th century.


To learn more about the Dead Sea Scrolls, CBN News hiked up to one of those 11 caves with Stephen Pfann, founder of the University of the Holy Land and an expert on the Dead Sea Scrolls.

When asked why the Dead Sea Scrolls were so important to us today, Pfann said, "because they confirm the Bible that we have. There's variants, but basically it's [that] you can barely tell the difference between the two texts, [the one] that we have in Qumran and in our Bibles."

The Dead Sea Scrolls provide a 2,000-year-old link between the Scriptures during the time of Jesus and today.

More story at the above link...

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

The Mediterranean along Israel's coastline

Judean Hills

Eilat Mountains

View of Jerusalem from Mount Scopus

Israel, O Israel, how I long for you. What I wouldn't give to traverse your land and breathe in the sacred air of your past, feel the sands of your present days, and weep at the wall for your immediate future. I long to sit on the Mount of Olives and listen to the ancient trees share about the life of Yeshua, watch the sunrise reverently kiss Jerusalem's walls. I know in my heart of hearts that there is a glorious awakening for you in the coming Messianic kingdom, but for now I close my eyes and reach across the miles in my spirit...knowing someday, when I open them, I will embrace your Holy Land and walk in the ways of the Righteous. Look for me, you who are beloved of the Father!

Monday, August 25, 2008

Someday Israel will trust in the Lord, not in the IDF

Read Isaiah 51 and 55 ~ Someday Israel will trust in the Lord for her deliverance and not in her own strength...



IDF Begins Major Move to the Negev
by Hillel Fendel

A Hercules jet will take off Monday afternoon from central Israel to the new Nevatim Israel Air Force base in the Negev, marking the start of the herculean IDF move to the Negev.

The move marks today's closing of the IAF's main transport base, in Lod, and its replacement in Nevatim. The new base will be formally dedicated later this week in the presence of President Shimon Peres and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi

At the same time, infrastructure work is beginning on the new army city in the Negev, to be called Ir HaBahadim, or City of the Training Bases. Construction was long delayed because of environmental concerns. Defense Minister Ehud Barak is in attendance for a ceremony marking the construction.

The new town is set to be built on an area of 1,065 dunams (263 acres, just over a square kilometer), and and will house the IDF's Armaments School, Logistics Training School, Military Police, and more. Ir HaBahadim will also include an inn for visitors, a shopping mall, a country club and theaters, and is expected to provide a welcome economic boon for the sparsely-populated area - as well as boost for the IDF, technologically and manpower-wise.

The move to the Negev, called "Project IDF Ascent to the Negev," is being termed by security network personnel "one of the largest and most important military projects in the history of the State of Israel." Some 11,000 soldiers, both in the standing army and career officers, will serve on the technological campus of the 4CI Branch - the army's Command, Control, Computers, Communications and Information Branch. Another 9,000 soldiers will serve in other branches there.

Ir HaBahadim (Bahad is an acronym for Bsis Hadrachah, or Training Base) has long been in the planning, and will feature state-of-the-art elements in the training and preparation spheres.

Lost Tribe of Israel making Aliya

1st time: Entire 'Lost tribe of Israel' allowed 'home'
Indian group believes its lineage includes biblical patriarch Joseph
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: August 22, 2008
12:05 am Eastern

By Aaron Klein
© 2008 WorldNetDaily

Bnei Menashe men in India reciting traditional Jewish prayer (photo: Shavei Israel)
JERUSALEM – After years of diplomatic wrangling, the Israeli government has given permission to a community of Indian citizens who believe they are one of the "lost tribes" of Israel to move legally to the Jewish state.

This decision, first reported in Israel's Maariv newspaper, clears the way for the arrival here of 7,232 members of the Bnei Menashe. They believe they are the descendants of Manasseh, one of the biblical patriarch Joseph's two sons and a grandson of Jacob.
Read the rest of the story here: Lost Tribe

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Preparing the Ornamental Crown for the Brass Laver

The Keter for the Copper Laver

WORK CONTINUES APACE ON THE NEW COPPER LAVER being produced by the Temple Institute, and this past Wednesday, (19 Av, 5768/August 20, 2008), an important step forward was taken: the copper keter, or ornamental crown, which will be affixed to the top of the laver, was completed and delivered to the Acco based factory of Shlomo Buchbut, where the laver is being prepared.

THE BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED KETER IS THE WORK OF CHAIM ODEM, renowned Israeli metalsmith. Chaim has taken part in the design and manufacture of many of the metal vessels produced by the Temple Institute, most notably the golden menorah. For months Chaim has been busy at work on the keter, a process which began with his own artistic rendition of a crowning ornament worthy of adorning the Holy Temple-bound copper laver. Once having acheived a suitable design, Chaim then had to create molds and templates, only after which did he begin the painstaking task of hammering by hand the design into the copper sheet.

THE LAVER IS A SANCTIFIED TEMPLE VESSEL, and as such, it is forbidden to store water in the laver itself overnight. A Second Temple High Priest by the name of Ben Kattin devised a separate reservoir which sat atop the laver, in which the water could be stored, thereby improving the efficiency of the laver, while maintaining the vessel's sanctity. This reservoir was called the muchni. It is upon the muchni's modern-day equivalent that the ornamental crown will sit.

More of the story at this link:
http://www.templeinstitute.org/kiyor-keter.htm

Be sure to watch the entire slideshow presentation from the link. Beautiful workmanship!

Don

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Unique Biblical Discovery at City of David Excavation Site

18 Aug 2008

Head archeologist Dr. Eilat Mazar:  "It is not very often that such a discovery happens in which real figures of the past shake off the dust of history and so vividly revive the stories of the Bible."

A 2,600 year old clay seal impression, or bulla, bearing the name Gedaliah ben Pashur has recently been uncovered completely intact during archeological excavations in Jerusalem's ancient City of David, located just below the walls of the Old City near the Dung Gate.

The name appears in the Book of Jeremiah (38:1) together with that of Yehuchal ben Shelemayahu, whose name was found on an identical clay bulla in the same area in 2005. The two men were ministers in the court of King Zedekiah, the last king to rule in Jerusalem before the destruction of the First Temple.

According to Dr. Eilat Mazar of the Hebrew University  who is leading the dig, this is the first time in the annals of Israeli archeology that two clay bullae with two Biblical names that appear in the same verse in the Bible have been unearthed in the same location. 

"It is not very often that such a discovery happens in which real figures of the past shake off the dust of history and so vividly revive the stories of the Bible," Mazar noted.

The first bulla was uncovered inside an impressive stone structure, which Mazar believes to be the Palace of David, while the second bulla was found at the foot of the external wall of the same structure, under a tower that was built in the days of Nehemiah.

Both bullae, clearly preserved, measuring 1 cm. in diameter each and lettered in ancient Hebrew, were found among the debris of the destruction of the First Temple period (8th to 6th centuries BCE).

Dr. Eilat Mazar recently completed the third phase of her excavation of what she believes to be King David's palace at the City of David site.

More finds are expected as archeologists continue to sift through the rubble from the dig, which was sponsored by the Ir David (City of David) Foundation together with the Israel Antiquities Authority, the Hebrew University, and the Shalem Center.

The City of David is the original hilltop upon which King David dedicated ancient Jerusalem as his capital 3,000 years ago.

Deep underground, the City of David is revealing some of the most exciting archeological finds of the ancient world, while above ground, the site is a vibrant center of activity and popular tourist attraction for families, complete with visitor's center, 3D exhibition and guided tours through the excavations that include Warren's Shaft, ancient water systems such as Hezekiah's Tunnel and the Second Temple Shiloah pool.

During the busy summer and festival periods, the site offers added family-friendly attractions, festivals, concerts, guided tours etc.

www.biblicaldiscovery.jpg

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

God’s Cleansing Agent

Yesterday our Pastor preached on Ezekiel 37. Very often during preaching, I will read the referenced scriptures in context, often many verses before and after the one being discussed. Yesterday was one of those days. I want to share with you what I "saw" and how it blessed me even though it was not the same context as yesterday's sermon:

Ezekiel 36:24-28
"For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God."

When I read, "I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols…" I saw a picture of the Israel's Messiah. The Word of God is the cleansing agent – Yeshua IS the Living Word, the Living Torah. It is by the Word that God's people Israel will be cleansed and purified, their stony heart turned to flesh. For Israel, the Word is the revelation of the Messiah.

My prayer, even while sitting in church yesterday, was "Lord, cleanse Your people Israel and make them holy by the washing with water through the Word in order that they may be presented to You radiant and without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish … holy and blameless."

Ezekiel saw this very same cleansing that Paul referred to in Ephesians 5:26. He saw the people Israel, whose hearts had been transformed from stone to flesh, who were cleansed from all impurities and idols, become radiant with the washing with water through the Word…the Messiah.

What a picture of God's passion toward His people Israel. After all that has been said and done, He reaches out to embrace His very own, opens their eyes, transforms their hearts, and cleanses them with the Living Torah, the revelation of the only true and prophesied Messiah, Yeshua haMashiach!

Lord, may it be accomplished according to Your infallible Word! Amen!

Love,
Jan

Monday, August 18, 2008

Unique Biblical Archeological Discovery

I love to see evidence of Biblical history brought to light with discoveries such as this one. More and more it's being proven with hands-on, real life material evidence that God's Holy inspired Word, both the OT and NT, is not just a collection of stories, but the living eternal Truth. Perhaps this will help to cause the nay-sayers to rethink their position.

Don

Unique biblical discovery at City of David excavation site
18 Aug 2008

A 2,600 year old clay seal impression, or bulla, bearing the name Gedaliah ben Pashur has recently been uncovered completely intact during archeological excavations in Jerusalem's ancient City of David, located just below the walls of the Old City near the Dung Gate. The name appears in the Book of Jeremiah (38:1) together with that of Yehuchal ben Shelemayahu, whose name was found on an identical clay bulla in the same area in 2005. The two men were ministers in the court of King Zedekiah, the last king to rule in Jerusalem before the destruction of the First Temple.

According to Dr. Eilat Mazar of the Hebrew University who is leading the dig, this is the first time in the annals of Israeli archeology that two clay bullae with two Biblical names that appear in the same verse in the Bible have been unearthed in the same location.

"It is not very often that such a discovery happens in which real figures of the past shake off the dust of history and so vividly revive the stories of the Bible," Mazar noted.

Full story at link...

http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Israel+beyond+politics/Unique+biblical+discovery+at+City+of+David+excavation+site18-aUG-2008.htm

Under His Wings - entry #2

Isaiah 43:1-3a NKJV
But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior..."

In that Scripture the Lord said, "I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine." Wow! What a powerful statement and promise from God to Israel!

Even though Israel was unfaithful, God still loved her and promised her release from captivity. The Holy One of Israel created her, He redeemed her, He promised to be with her through all trials and difficult times, and He will protect her - for Zion is desired as His dwelling place and resting place forever (Ps. 132:13,14).

Just as it is with Israel, we can also claim His promises. When we repent and and by faith alone accept Jesus into our life as Savior and Lord, we instantly become royalty. We become sons and daughters of the most-high sovereign God Who not only made those promises to Israel, but rules today and will rule and reign forever. As a child of the King, we become worthy heirs to the kingdom of heaven. Revelation 3:4 promises that the faithful in Christ will walk with Him in purity and righteousness. The Apostle Paul stated in Galations 3:29, "If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."

Can you claim the promises in God's Word as your own? Do you belong to Him? Can you say with absolute confidence and assurance that, "I am His, and He is mine?" If so, then one day soon you will hear Jesus say, "My child, I have redeemed you, your sins once as scarlet are now whiter than snow - you are Mine forever!"

John 10:27,28 NKJV
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.


Don

Promises

Isaiah 66:8-14

Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed , she brought forth her children.
Shall I bring to the birth , and not cause to bring forth ? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth , and shut the womb? saith thy God.
Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:
That ye may suck , and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out , and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.
For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck , ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees.
As one whom his mother comforteth , so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice , and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the LORD shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies.

More promises for future Israel. Peace like a river with the Glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream. Those who align themselves with Israel will be comforted in Jerusalem. Right now there is fear and uncertainty but in that day, God says our hearts will rejoice, and our bones will flourish like a growing plant. We who love Israel and mourn for her will be glad and rejoice...we will know the hand of the Lord, not his judgment reserved for His enemies. Get rooted and grounded in the word now. Let the Lord open your eyes to the Truth about Israel. Beware of emergent church doctrine, replacement theology and those who would put God's promises in the past tense. There is much more to come!! Are you ready for it??

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Under His Wings - entry #1

As the Lord leads, I will periodically write and post a series of short devotionals related to God's everlasting love for Israel, including the personal relationship we can have with Him as well. God bless!

Don


Jeremiah 31:35,36 NIV
This is what the LORD says, he who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar— the LORD Almighty is his name: "Only if these decrees vanish from my sight," declares the LORD, "will the descendants of Israel ever cease to be a nation before me."

Our awesome God of the universe, the One who created all things, the One who is in complete control, the One who never slumbers or sleeps, and the One who has numbered the hairs of our head will never allow Israel to cease from being a nation, nor will He ever turn away from them.

Israel is the apple of God's eye (Zech, 2:8). God will protect, deliver and rescue Israel (Is. 31:5). In Jerusalem, which He has chosen, His name will be there forever (2 Chr. 33:7).

Just as Almighty God cares for Israel, He also cares for you and me - for we are all precious in His sight. Just imagine! He holds the whole world in the palm of His hand, yet He can curl up inside our heart if we just let Him into our life.

Psalm 91:4 NIV
He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

Friday, August 15, 2008

Prodigal Son~Masab Yousef

This will encourage you like no other article... God is moving among the Muslims today. He is demonstrating His love to all who will abandon their rebellion against Him and believe in and accept His Son, Yeshua HaMashiach as their Lord and Savior. Our God is an Awesome God!!
Prodigal Son

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Promises

(Zechariah 12:1,2, 9,10)

The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.
Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.
...
And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced , and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

This promise thrills me! It leaves no doubt as to God's heart towards His people. In that day when the world comes against Jerusalem to destroy the nation of Israel, God will turn the tables on them. Then He will remove the veil that has blinded Jews from receiving Jesus (Yeshua) as their messiah and pour out His grace upon them!!

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Promises

As often as I can, I am going to post one of God's promises to His chosen people, Israel, and to His chosen city, Jerusalem. Knowledge of the Word is a defense against error and deception. Too many churches today are resorting to the writings of men and changing or placing little importance on what God says, even to the point of abandoning it altogether.

(Isaiah 51:17, 22-23)
Awake, awake!
Stand up, O Jerusalem,
which has drunk at the hand of the LORD
The cup of His fury;
You have drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling,
And wrung it out.
...
Thus saith your Lord,
The LORD and your God,
that pleadeth the cause of His people:
"Behold, I have taken out of thine hand
The cup of trembling,
The dregs of the cup of My fury;
Thou shalt no more drink it again.
But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee,
Which have said to thy soul,
'Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body
as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over.'"

This is a future promise to the nation of Israel that after she has endured God's fury against her people and her land, she is to awaken and stand up to see Him pour out His fury against those who have come against her and threatened to destroy her.

Monday, August 11, 2008

Israel, God's Passion

The more I read, the more I pray, the more I realize that so many Christians are missing it. The focus is too much on "we" and "us" and not the object of God's passion.

God is committed to His people Israel. He is in covenant with them ... not "was" but "is". Although they have strayed, many are coming back--more and more as time goes on. But even more than that, God's Word says that His relationship with Israel WILL be restored. In fact, the plan of God not only merely includes restoration of His people Israel unto Himself, His purpose throughout the ages leads to full restoration.

Thank you to Don and Mid for sharing your hearts, for keeping us informed and for praying that the Church will see God's purpose for His people Israel. I join you in praying for the Peace of Israel because she is indeed God's Passion!

Love to you both...
Jan

More about the situation in Georgia

Joel Rosenberg has information, pictures and maps of what's happening between Georgia and Russia. This is important to understand in light of Ezekiel 38 and 39, as Don mentioned in his posts below.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

War in Georgia: The Israeli connection

For past seven years, Israeli companies have been helping the Gerogian army prepare for war against Russia through arms deals, training of infantry units and security advice. Will Russia retaliate militarily against Israel for her involvement with Georgia? Israel must be alert for that possibility.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Ps. 122:6)

Don


War in Georgia: The Israeli Connection
by Arie Egozi ~ ynet news

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3580136,00.html

(below are excerpts from that article)

The fighting which broke out over the weekend between Russia and Georgia has brought Israel's intensive involvement in the region into the limelight. This involvement includes the sale of advanced weapons to Georgia and the training of the Georgian army's infantry forces.
.
.
.
It was clear that too many unmistakable Israeli systems in the possesion of the Georgian army would be like a red cloth in the face of a raging bull as far as Russia is concerned," explained a source in the defense establishment.
.
.
.
It's important that the entire world understands that what is happening in Georgia now will affect the entire world order. It's not just Georgia's business, but the entire world's business.

Georgian Jews Flee from Russian Border

Geographically, Georgia separates Russia from Iran, the Middle East, and Israel. In my opinion, it would seem logical that Russia must have control of Georgia in order to pave a clear pathway when Russia, Iran and others come against Israel as recorded in Ezekiel 38 & 39.

The invasion of Israel will happen. Perhaps today we are beginning to see the removal of that 'Georgia obstacle' - preparing the way for Ezekiel's prophesy to be fulfilled very soon!

Don


Russia and Georgia at War
by Hana Levi Julian ~ Israel National News

(IsraelNN.com) As fierce battles that are rapidly developing into a war heat up between Russia and Georgia, approximately 200 Georgian Jews have fled their homes in the Gori area while the two forces lock horns over the separatist region of South Ossetia.

The new refugees, who fled the combat zone at the advice of the Jewish Agency, headed for the comparative safety of the Georgian capital of Tbilisi after Russian jets bombed the city of Gori and oil pipelines in the area.

Georgian soldiers had reportedly retreated Sunday morning from South Ossetia following fierce fighting with Russian troops for control of the separatist region. The two forces had been fighting for control of the city of Tskhinvali, capital of the mountainous rebel region, according to Georgian Interior Ministry communications director Shota Utiashvili. “They have been withdrawn completely because of the heavy civilian casualties Georgia has suffered,” he told the Reuters news agency."

Full story at link...

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/127133

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

When Churchill Wept... Stan Goodenough

Please read this important article just posted on Stan Goodenough's Website, Jerusalem Watchman. Here is an excerpt:

"Winston Churchill was vehemently opposed to Hitler’s taking possession of “the mountain defense line which marks the ancient boundaries of Bohemia and was specially preserved to the Czechoslovak state as a safeguard of its national existence.”

On learning of the fait accompli, Churchill first wept, then rounded on cabinet members and furiously denounced Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain’s actions as “sordid, subhuman and suicidal.” It was, he thundered, “the grossest act of bullying treachery” that amounted to not only the sacrifice of England’s honor but the resulting “sacrifice of lives—our people’s lives.”

Forty-eight hours after hosting Chamberlain in his lair, the Nazi leader ordered his storm troopers into the surrendered land. Czechoslovakia lay ripe for the picking. Within months, the fuehrer would swallow it whole.

Instead of securing “peace for our time” (Chamberlain’s ostentatious assertion upon returning from Munich), the sacrifice of the Sudetenland toppled the world into war. With Prague in his pocket, Hitler could threaten, and invade, Poland.

England added shame to shame as Chamberlain fished around desperately for an excuse, any excuse, to not honor Britain’s treaty to come to Poland’s aid.

As he dilly-dallied, two million German troops smashed into the country, the Luftwaffe poured its bombs onto Warsaw, and panzer tanks sliced up the Polish countryside. Tens of thousands were slaughtered in the blitzkrieg.

Trying to convey his feelings of devastation and embarrassment to Polish Ambassador Edward Raczynski, a helpless Churchill (he was not yet prime minister) falteringly voiced his hope “that Britain will keep…will keep its…”

Voice breaking, he began to cry.

...Churchill knew how wrong it was to push Czechoslovakia into paying the price for England’s peace.

Pressuring another people to surrender their land to a mutual enemy for promises of peace was indefensibly immoral then. It is indefensibly immoral now…

Friday, August 1, 2008

The Third Temple

I'd like to delve deeper into the current interest in building the Third Temple in Jerusalem. Israel is God's timepiece for the last days. The Jews, who have a veil over their eyes of understanding concerning the Messiah, recognize the "signs" of our times. That should be a signal to us, as believers, to take notice of what's going on and try to understand it according to Scripture and not in light of man's view points or biased interpretations. To make myself clear on this, I am not inviting debate on the subject...I'm just making some observations in light of Ezekiel's third temple. Please don't be offended if I don't publish everyone's views on this. I understand there are different sides and interpretations...there always will be until Scripture proves Itself. What I find interesting is the fact that Torah-studying Jews think now is the time to build the third temple, which they believe will usher in the appearance of their "Messiah". I'm going to do some independant study, comparing scripture with scripture, devoid of other's interpretations of the matter and post what I come up with as food for thought.

Here are some aspects I find interesting:

Search for the Crimson Worm
The Priest's Garments
Red Heifer
Temple Mount(Moriah

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