FREE BIBLICAL LESSONS AVAILABLE
Some may know that we have courses of Biblical Theological Studies, that are entirely FREE to anyone who reads English. We are now making the lessons available to anyone who would like to do the course work, without any pressure and without any time frame. Anyone can study the lessons and can recieve a Diploma after they have completed the course work and written a thesis on what has impacted them about the Course.
The whole reason for this, is that Christians can get fed with the 'meat in due season' instead of the empty mush that is taught in many Churches and so called Biblical training centres.
The courses are written by Doctors of Theology from New Zealand and Australia and are very well researched and written. We will be posting an Enrollment form soon on the site, so that people who are serious about aloting the time to study the material can download the lessons at their own pace.
We will be adding lessons every few days. The course is written in a way, that does not support either Calvinism or Armenianism. We also believe in the Gifts of the Holy Spirit for our day, so the Course explains the Biblical answer to this often refuted teaching.
We also support Israel within the Course as God's Covenant people and do not accept replacement theology, which is a Devil inspired teaching that is intended to cause misery and extinction to Christ's literal brothers.
We also believe in the Rapture of the Church and that is also taught within this Course.
The link to the College blog is
http://wordandspiritbiblecollege.blogspot.com
May you be blessed
Pastor David
Wednesday, 24 November 2010
Saturday, 13 November 2010
ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, FIRSTBORN SON, ANY DIFFERENCE?
A few days ago, a poster on a forum I am subscribed to christian exjws asked a very valid question about the Sonship of Jesus Christ. The verse in Colossians 1:15 where the JWs try to prove that Jesus Christ is the firstborn of ALL creation. The NKJV, KJV and NIV render this verse as HE is the "firstborn over all creation"
So a number of exJWs and others believe that this verse is showing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the firstborn OF all creation, instead of firstborn OVER all creation.
So last night in an in depth study we had with Peter Sozou our fellow worker in Ministry, we explored various texts to try and find out what the scriptures are telling us about the "firstborn" or "only begotten Son" We looked at a few verses, but John 3:16 and this one in Colossians seemed to be awkward to explain to a JW or other Unitarian.
When Jesus spoke to Nicodemus, he told him that he needed to be Born Again. In those days a man went through 7 various births. Obviously his birth as a baby, but up till the age of 30 another 6 births. So Nicodemus wanted to know what Jesus meant.
Jesus pre human existance is explained in John 1:1 where we are informed that in the beginning wa sthe WORD (Logos) and the WORD was WITH God and the WORD was God. This shows that the WORD was within the Godhead at that time and proceeded forth when creation took place as the WORD is the creator.
When sin entered the world through Adams disobedience, a redeemer was needed and the WORD later became that redeemer by becoming a Man by natural birth by means of the Holy Spirit transferring him to the womb of Mary.
That is when the WORD became flesh or the Only Begotten Son of God. Paul wrote in Colossians that the Son is the image of the Invisible God and that he did the creating.
As we progressed through our study, Christine found the verse in Revelation 1:5 tells us that the risen Lord Jesus Christ is the "Firstborn from the DEAD", so now it all makes sense. As a man born from a Virgin Jewish Girl he is the "Only Begotten Son of God" but later he is called the "Firstborn Son" in Colossians 1 and in other verses such as Romans 8:29 and even verse 18 of Colossians 1, where he is also called the firstborn from the dead.
Jesus Christ opened up the way, by becoming the firstborn of the dead for all of those who calls his Sons and Daughters to be reborn with him into his death and life.
This is now an incredible Revelation to me and should be a superb teaching point to JWs and others who do not accept the true Divinity of our Lord and Saviour.
Many Blessings
Pastor David
So a number of exJWs and others believe that this verse is showing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the firstborn OF all creation, instead of firstborn OVER all creation.
So last night in an in depth study we had with Peter Sozou our fellow worker in Ministry, we explored various texts to try and find out what the scriptures are telling us about the "firstborn" or "only begotten Son" We looked at a few verses, but John 3:16 and this one in Colossians seemed to be awkward to explain to a JW or other Unitarian.
When Jesus spoke to Nicodemus, he told him that he needed to be Born Again. In those days a man went through 7 various births. Obviously his birth as a baby, but up till the age of 30 another 6 births. So Nicodemus wanted to know what Jesus meant.
Jesus pre human existance is explained in John 1:1 where we are informed that in the beginning wa sthe WORD (Logos) and the WORD was WITH God and the WORD was God. This shows that the WORD was within the Godhead at that time and proceeded forth when creation took place as the WORD is the creator.
When sin entered the world through Adams disobedience, a redeemer was needed and the WORD later became that redeemer by becoming a Man by natural birth by means of the Holy Spirit transferring him to the womb of Mary.
That is when the WORD became flesh or the Only Begotten Son of God. Paul wrote in Colossians that the Son is the image of the Invisible God and that he did the creating.
As we progressed through our study, Christine found the verse in Revelation 1:5 tells us that the risen Lord Jesus Christ is the "Firstborn from the DEAD", so now it all makes sense. As a man born from a Virgin Jewish Girl he is the "Only Begotten Son of God" but later he is called the "Firstborn Son" in Colossians 1 and in other verses such as Romans 8:29 and even verse 18 of Colossians 1, where he is also called the firstborn from the dead.
Jesus Christ opened up the way, by becoming the firstborn of the dead for all of those who calls his Sons and Daughters to be reborn with him into his death and life.
This is now an incredible Revelation to me and should be a superb teaching point to JWs and others who do not accept the true Divinity of our Lord and Saviour.
Many Blessings
Pastor David
Sunday, 7 November 2010
VISIT TO EPHESUS LAST WEEK
On the 26th October Christine and I along with Peter Sosou a brother who is connected to this Ministry flew to Turkey for a 3 night Christian Hospitality Network Getaway break. It was held in The hotel Korumar at Kusadasi, Turkey.
Our good friends Stathis & Carolynn and their daughter Emily who lives in Athens Greece also flew there from a different route.
We flew from the Northern Cypriot Airport called Ercan. The flight was good and actually arrived early. We attended along with many other missionaries who work in surrounding countries. We had Doctors laid on a Chiropractor and foot massage practitioners.
It was a pleasure to be with these loving people.
The talks each night were especially for us, or so they seemed.
We also had a free trip to Ephesus laid on and Peter Sosou, Carolynn, Stathis and me went along. Christine did not bother as it looked like rain and she is not that interested in ancient ruins.
It was great to see where the Apostle Paul walked and witnessed to the Ephesians. We saw the large Theatre where Paul wanted to Preach.
Many Blessings
Pastor David
Here as some Pictures.
Our good friends Stathis & Carolynn and their daughter Emily who lives in Athens Greece also flew there from a different route.
We flew from the Northern Cypriot Airport called Ercan. The flight was good and actually arrived early. We attended along with many other missionaries who work in surrounding countries. We had Doctors laid on a Chiropractor and foot massage practitioners.
It was a pleasure to be with these loving people.
The talks each night were especially for us, or so they seemed.
We also had a free trip to Ephesus laid on and Peter Sosou, Carolynn, Stathis and me went along. Christine did not bother as it looked like rain and she is not that interested in ancient ruins.
It was great to see where the Apostle Paul walked and witnessed to the Ephesians. We saw the large Theatre where Paul wanted to Preach.
Many Blessings
Pastor David
Here as some Pictures.
Tuesday, 21 September 2010
EVEN MORE AMAZING EVENTS THAT SHOW YAHWEH IS WITH ISRAEL
Triumphant in Travail
At long last in January 1949 (the year my wife was born) all fighting ended in the War of re establishment of the Nation of Israel, the small and ill-armed Jewish militia had developed into a seasoned fighting force supported by armour and fighter planes. Not only had the Jews survived, but they had increased their territory by six hundred miles. The final armistice gained them 21 percent more land than they had originally been given in the U.N. partition. They had been triumphant in their travail, and the world had to take notice.
Following the birth of the nation, the first official act of the State of Israel was to set aside the white paper quotas set by others, opening the doors of immigration of Jews everywhere. In the eighteen months following that action, 340,000 Jews arrived in their homeland. They poured in even during the war, and by June 30, 1953, the population had doubled. By the end of fifteen months following statehood, fifty-two displaced-persons' camps in Europe had been closed and all the inhabitants sent to Israel.
The prophesied return to Palestine of the children of Israel was happening. Isaiah had written: "Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth" (Isaiah 43:5,6).
They were coming Home from all directions they came.
They came from the East, West, North & South. The largest group arriving from the East came from Iraq, that included the ancient land of Babylon. At the time of the War of Independence, 135,000 Jews lived in Iraq. After the war, when they were allowed to return to Israel, they were required to leave all their wealth behind. It is estimated that they left assets worth five million dollars. Speaking of that exodus, Dr. Weizmann said, "Now we see the end of the Babylonian captivity."
They came from the West. Jews arrived from the West more slowly than from other directions because the largest group of Jews there had settled in the United States. Being comfortable in America, they were not eager to leave. However, the financial resources of American Jews allowed them to invest heavily in founding the national home.
There are nearly 6 million Jews in the United States, a number that exceeds the population of Israel (5 million). Their success here may have been the blessing of God for the very purpose of enabling them to give financial support to those settling in the State of Israel.
They came from the North. From Hitler's camps and the displaced-persons camps they came. From all the nations of Europe they came. Having learned the lesson of the holocaust, they came to Israel. They came home.
They came from the South. They came from Yemen and other lands South of Israel. The story of the Yemenite Jews and their return is a tale in itself.
Considering themselves exiles in Yemen, the Jews eagerly received the word that the State of Israel had been established and that a new David was in power (David Ben-Gurion, the first prime minister of Israel).
Gathering up what possessions they could carry, great numbers of them started the journey to Israel. When their countrymen in Israel heard of it, an airlift was organized. Converted bombers were prepared to bring the Yemenite Jews home. In his book, Israel, the Key to Prophecy, William L. Hull described the scene:
Large planes, converted bombers, were flown to Aden. They contained only benches running lengthwise in the plane and thus enabling up to 130 of the small undersized sized Yemenite Jews to be loaded into one plane. It was all new to the Yemenites. They were a primitive people and entirely unacquainted with machinery or modern scientific development. Only a handful of all the Jews in Yemen had ever seen a plane before or even an automobile. With considerable trepidation, the crew prepared for the first flight from Aden. What would be the reaction of these primitive people? Thousands were to be transported. The first flight would indicate what might be expected.
Slowly men, women, and children made their way up the steps, took their places on the benches, sitting cross-legged, and waited in wonder. The crew was wondering, too. The roar of the motors, the movement of the plane, the sudden lifting from the ground, any of these could cause a stampede in the plane. A rush to the door, a crowding of all to one side or an attack upon the crew might wreck the plane. But nothing did happen. Everyone sat quietly, open-mouthed, breathless. Then the plane moved off and was airborne. Soon it was flying smoothly with its strange human cargo. The Yemenites just smiled and explained that God has promised that "they shall mount up with wings as eagles." Here were the eagle's wings provided to bring them back to Zion. Surely it was time for the Messiah to come. Maybe He awaited them in Israel!
All together 48,000 Jews were flown to Israel from Yemen.
The Jews, a people noted for their business ability, made a total investment in the State of Israel. They came burning their bridges behind them. Sometimes they were required to leave the labour of a lifetime to start again as pioneers in a new land.
And yet this land was not new! Something within them had called them back to the land of their fathers. At last the Jews were coming home.
But are they home to stay? Those with Biblical insight will know that the written word of God is 'History Written In Advance' so we can have faith in what Yahweh has inspired to be written for our day. We will explore more on Modern day Israel on another post.
In the meantime keep praying for the Jewish people and their Covenant land and that their Messiah Yeshua will soon return to be their One and Only TRUE shepherd.
Please pray for all of those who are blinded by the enemy 2 Corinthians 4:4
Many Blessings
Pastor David
At long last in January 1949 (the year my wife was born) all fighting ended in the War of re establishment of the Nation of Israel, the small and ill-armed Jewish militia had developed into a seasoned fighting force supported by armour and fighter planes. Not only had the Jews survived, but they had increased their territory by six hundred miles. The final armistice gained them 21 percent more land than they had originally been given in the U.N. partition. They had been triumphant in their travail, and the world had to take notice.
Following the birth of the nation, the first official act of the State of Israel was to set aside the white paper quotas set by others, opening the doors of immigration of Jews everywhere. In the eighteen months following that action, 340,000 Jews arrived in their homeland. They poured in even during the war, and by June 30, 1953, the population had doubled. By the end of fifteen months following statehood, fifty-two displaced-persons' camps in Europe had been closed and all the inhabitants sent to Israel.
The prophesied return to Palestine of the children of Israel was happening. Isaiah had written: "Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth" (Isaiah 43:5,6).
They were coming Home from all directions they came.
They came from the East, West, North & South. The largest group arriving from the East came from Iraq, that included the ancient land of Babylon. At the time of the War of Independence, 135,000 Jews lived in Iraq. After the war, when they were allowed to return to Israel, they were required to leave all their wealth behind. It is estimated that they left assets worth five million dollars. Speaking of that exodus, Dr. Weizmann said, "Now we see the end of the Babylonian captivity."
They came from the West. Jews arrived from the West more slowly than from other directions because the largest group of Jews there had settled in the United States. Being comfortable in America, they were not eager to leave. However, the financial resources of American Jews allowed them to invest heavily in founding the national home.
There are nearly 6 million Jews in the United States, a number that exceeds the population of Israel (5 million). Their success here may have been the blessing of God for the very purpose of enabling them to give financial support to those settling in the State of Israel.
They came from the North. From Hitler's camps and the displaced-persons camps they came. From all the nations of Europe they came. Having learned the lesson of the holocaust, they came to Israel. They came home.
They came from the South. They came from Yemen and other lands South of Israel. The story of the Yemenite Jews and their return is a tale in itself.
Considering themselves exiles in Yemen, the Jews eagerly received the word that the State of Israel had been established and that a new David was in power (David Ben-Gurion, the first prime minister of Israel).
Gathering up what possessions they could carry, great numbers of them started the journey to Israel. When their countrymen in Israel heard of it, an airlift was organized. Converted bombers were prepared to bring the Yemenite Jews home. In his book, Israel, the Key to Prophecy, William L. Hull described the scene:
Large planes, converted bombers, were flown to Aden. They contained only benches running lengthwise in the plane and thus enabling up to 130 of the small undersized sized Yemenite Jews to be loaded into one plane. It was all new to the Yemenites. They were a primitive people and entirely unacquainted with machinery or modern scientific development. Only a handful of all the Jews in Yemen had ever seen a plane before or even an automobile. With considerable trepidation, the crew prepared for the first flight from Aden. What would be the reaction of these primitive people? Thousands were to be transported. The first flight would indicate what might be expected.
Slowly men, women, and children made their way up the steps, took their places on the benches, sitting cross-legged, and waited in wonder. The crew was wondering, too. The roar of the motors, the movement of the plane, the sudden lifting from the ground, any of these could cause a stampede in the plane. A rush to the door, a crowding of all to one side or an attack upon the crew might wreck the plane. But nothing did happen. Everyone sat quietly, open-mouthed, breathless. Then the plane moved off and was airborne. Soon it was flying smoothly with its strange human cargo. The Yemenites just smiled and explained that God has promised that "they shall mount up with wings as eagles." Here were the eagle's wings provided to bring them back to Zion. Surely it was time for the Messiah to come. Maybe He awaited them in Israel!
All together 48,000 Jews were flown to Israel from Yemen.
The Jews, a people noted for their business ability, made a total investment in the State of Israel. They came burning their bridges behind them. Sometimes they were required to leave the labour of a lifetime to start again as pioneers in a new land.
And yet this land was not new! Something within them had called them back to the land of their fathers. At last the Jews were coming home.
But are they home to stay? Those with Biblical insight will know that the written word of God is 'History Written In Advance' so we can have faith in what Yahweh has inspired to be written for our day. We will explore more on Modern day Israel on another post.
In the meantime keep praying for the Jewish people and their Covenant land and that their Messiah Yeshua will soon return to be their One and Only TRUE shepherd.
Please pray for all of those who are blinded by the enemy 2 Corinthians 4:4
Many Blessings
Pastor David
Monday, 20 September 2010
THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED
As soon as I read this article today, I was reminded of the scripture in Mark 13:24 that says:
"But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light",
Also in Matthew 24:29..........
"Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken"
Could this be Satellite 'stars' falling from heaven?
Solar powered products ALL NEED THE SUNS energy
Its seems like we are very close to the Lords return. All of those who really believe in the cleansing BLOOD of Yeshua are seeing through RELIGION and realising that it is ONLY about HIM and that HE is the ONLY one who can SAVE his elect. Let us pray that we can remain CLOSE to our Lord and Saviour through this time of testing.
The article follows:
Defence Secretary Liam Fox is due to highlight the threat to Britain's essential infrastructure, amid warnings by scientists that it could be paralysed by a once-in-a-century solar flare.
Liam Fox focuses on solar flare threat
Dr Fox is delivering the keynote address to an international conference on the vulnerability of electricity grids around the world to natural disaster and hostile attack.
Earlier this year, the US space agency Nasa warned that a peak in the sun's magnetic energy cycle and the number of sun spots or flares around 2013 could generate huge radiation levels.
The resulting solar storm could cause a geomagnetic storm on Earth, knocking out electricity grids around the world for hours, days, or even months, bringing much of normal life grinding to a halt.
Scientists are said to fear that a similar effect could be achieved by a hostile power exploding a nuclear weapon in space, producing a massive burst of electromagnetic energy known as a high altitude electromagnetic pulse.
In his speech, Dr Fox is expected to highlight the way that modern societies' dependence on technology leaves them vulnerable to such events.
"As the nature of our technology becomes more complex, so the threat becomes more widespread," he is expected to say.
"While we all benefit from the products of scientific advances so we also create vulnerabilities that can be exploited by our enemies.
"However, advanced we become the chain of our security is only as strong as its weakest link."
The conference, taking place at Westminster, is being hosted by the Electric Infrastructure Security Council and the Henry Jackson Society think-tank.
END OF ARTICLE
These people would be far better off wondering how close they can get to their Saviour YESHUA and he will deliver them from their enemies.
The problem is, when we trust in MANS inventions and schemes, there is ALWAYS a loophole or trade off.
Thank God for JESUS CHRIST and that he knows us and will preserve us through any difficulties that this World encounters.
Be blessed and keep looking up
Pastor David
Friday, 17 September 2010
THE DAY OF ATONEMENT, A VERY SIGNIFICANT DAY
I thought I would post an email Newsletter I got today from Orna in Israel. We are going up into the Mountains today and will also be reflecting on the DAY OF ATONEMENT. We will not be overly religious about this event, but will pary for Israel an dthat the Lords will be done in that place.
The atmosphere in Israel these days
In a few hours our nation will commemorate the annual Day of Atonement. The majority of Jews all over the world will eat a big meal around 4pm our time, and than fast for nearly 25 hours. Jews who do not Yeshua believe that God is closer to us during these days more than He is on any other day of the year. This is why they fill up the synaogues and plea for what we call a "Good Inscription" in the Book of Life (which means pleading for eternal life).
Many attend the synagogues only during this one day each year. At some point during the service they will beat their breasts, and plead for forgiveness. All transportation will stop completely during these 25 hours (except for emergencies). Children will flood the streets with their little bikes and other forms of little wheels, but even this won't do much to relieve the heavy atmosphere.
The common belief is that since the distruction of the Temple, atonement can be provided through prayer. This deception enables the average Jew to ease his conscience and not search for the True Atonement, who shed His blood once and for all.
All radio and TV channels will go silent in a couple of hours, until romorrow evening. Since these are mostly secular, the programs focus right now on the 1973 war. Today, nearly 30 years later, much talk is dedicated to reflection and wound-licking. The "Yom Kippur war" broke on the Day of Atonement and left our nation wounded for generations.
So if the Jews are on your heart in the next 30 hours or so, pray for a revelation, for a refreshing understanding of the necessity of atonement, for an openess to the real Messiah, that has already come.
Our ministry plans
Quite a lot is happening these days, but since this update turned to focus on the Day of Awe that is at our doorsteps, I will leave the report of our ministry plans for another one.
I will end with the blessings all Jews extend to each other these days:
"Shana tova" (a good year, since our year started last week) and "Hatima tova" (may you be inscribed for life).
Orna
We echo these sentiments and pray that the Modern Jews wake up to the real Messiah Yeshua.
Blessings
David
The atmosphere in Israel these days
In a few hours our nation will commemorate the annual Day of Atonement. The majority of Jews all over the world will eat a big meal around 4pm our time, and than fast for nearly 25 hours. Jews who do not Yeshua believe that God is closer to us during these days more than He is on any other day of the year. This is why they fill up the synaogues and plea for what we call a "Good Inscription" in the Book of Life (which means pleading for eternal life).
Many attend the synagogues only during this one day each year. At some point during the service they will beat their breasts, and plead for forgiveness. All transportation will stop completely during these 25 hours (except for emergencies). Children will flood the streets with their little bikes and other forms of little wheels, but even this won't do much to relieve the heavy atmosphere.
The common belief is that since the distruction of the Temple, atonement can be provided through prayer. This deception enables the average Jew to ease his conscience and not search for the True Atonement, who shed His blood once and for all.
All radio and TV channels will go silent in a couple of hours, until romorrow evening. Since these are mostly secular, the programs focus right now on the 1973 war. Today, nearly 30 years later, much talk is dedicated to reflection and wound-licking. The "Yom Kippur war" broke on the Day of Atonement and left our nation wounded for generations.
So if the Jews are on your heart in the next 30 hours or so, pray for a revelation, for a refreshing understanding of the necessity of atonement, for an openess to the real Messiah, that has already come.
Our ministry plans
Quite a lot is happening these days, but since this update turned to focus on the Day of Awe that is at our doorsteps, I will leave the report of our ministry plans for another one.
I will end with the blessings all Jews extend to each other these days:
"Shana tova" (a good year, since our year started last week) and "Hatima tova" (may you be inscribed for life).
Orna
We echo these sentiments and pray that the Modern Jews wake up to the real Messiah Yeshua.
Blessings
David
Wednesday, 15 September 2010
SOME HISTORY OF MODERN DAY ISRAEL
The Three-Way Struggle
After 12 years of genocide and hatred being meted out to the Jews and those who tried to help them, most caring people would have thought that the Allies should have helped these displaced and harrased people as much as they could. But as an English born person I am sad to say that the Government that was in power when I was born did everything they could to subdue the Jews and actually treated them badly and renaged on their promises to the Jews. This all contributed to the struggle that ensued.
In Palestine a three-way struggle continued between Jews, Arabs, and the BRITISH, with the Jews holding tenaciously to each hard-earned village and settlement. The attitude of the massive Arab and British forces about them must have created a situation reminiscent of an earlier return of Jews to their GOD GIVEN COVENANT land, when their enemies said: "What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?" (Nehemiah 4:2).
Now as then the Jews continued to develop their land in spite of dangers, and to protect themselves as had their forefathers under Nehemiah, who had written:
And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah. They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me (Nehemiah 4:16-18).
The U. N. Involvement
The continual struggle in Palestine was finally too much for the British. They were tired of the terrorism, the sabotage, the continual conflict between the Arabs and the Jews, and the expense. On April 2, 1947, Great Britain turned the fate of 'Palestine' over to the United Nations. It was an historic action that would ultimately bring about the establishment of the State of Israel.
On November 29, 1947, after careful investigation, the United Nations voted to partition Palestine, giving independence to the Jews. The partition gave the Jews only about one-fourth of the amount of territory they originally intended for their homeland. It was only ten miles wide at its middle and vulnerable to attack on nearly every side. But to the Jews, the decision for partition meant independence, and they hailed the United Nations' action with joy. At last they would have a home of their own.
The Birth of the Modern Nation
The date for statehood was finally set for May 15, 1948. As the occasion approached, Jewish excitement over independence was tempered by the threat of war with the Arabs. Being seriously undermanned and under gunned, they simply were not ready for war. Arms had been brought from Europe, but the British would not allow them to be used until after the mandate had ended. Arab leaders were promising a war of extermination. Having traveled the long trail from Hitler's camps to their homeland, it now appeared that another Nazi-like experience awaited the Jews. But regardless of the danger, the Jews proceeded with preparations for the birth of their nation.
At eight in the morning on May 14, (my birthday as well a year earlier) the British lowered the Union Jack in Jerusalem. By mid-afternoon there was a full-scale war on throughout the country between the Arabs and the Jews.
At 4:00 P.M. that day, David Ben-Gurion read the Declaration of Independence of Israel and it was broadcast from the Tel Aviv Museum. He began:
The land of Israel was the birthplace of the Jewish people.
Here their spiritual, religious, and national identity was formed. Here they achieved independence and created a culture of national and universal significance. Here they wrote and gave the Bible to the world.
Exiled from Palestine, the Jewish people remained faithful to it in all the countries of their diaspora (dispersion), never ceasing to pray and hope for their return and restoration of their national freedom.
Concluding the Declaration, Ben-Gurion said:
In the midst of wanton aggression, we call upon the Arab inhabitants of the State of Israel to return to the ways of peace and play their part in the development of the State with full and equal citizenship and due representation in all its bodies and institutions -- provisional or permanent.We offer peace and unity to all the neighboring states and their peoples, and invite them to cooperate with the independent Jewish nation for the common good of all.
Our call goes out to the Jewish people all over the world to rally to our side in the task of immigration and development and to stand by us in the great struggle for the fulfillment of the dream of generations -- the redemption of Israel.
The United States was the first country to recognize the State of Israel, with President Truman's statement of recognition coming at 6:10 P.M. on May 14.
On that day, the following editorial appeared in the New York Times:
This is the last day of British rule in Palestine. At midnight (6:00 this afternoon our time), Great Britain surrenders the mandate which she received from the League of Nations twenty-five years ago. The zero hour, awaited with hope and anxiety by the bitterly divided population, marks a fateful change in the status and government of a small country that has presented the United Nations with its hardest test to date and weighs more heavily than any other on the heart and conscience of the world.
Palestine will now be an independent entity for the first time in centuries
The long-awaited statehood had arrived. Israel was born.
Then THE War of Independence
On May 15, from Tel Aviv at 5:25 in the morning, Ben-Gurion was broadcasting Israel's thanks to the United States for prompt recognition of their statehood. A loud explosion interrupted his speech. After a pause, he said, "A bomb has just fallen on this city from enemy aircraft flying overhead." The War of Independence had begun.
To call it the "War of Independence" seems a contradiction. Most nations trace their histories to a war of independence after which statehood was won. In Israel's case, the long struggle for statehood was capped by a war of independence. Although there had been sporadic fighting throughout the country in the months preceding the end of the British mandate, the actual war began on the birthday of the nation. Although travail usually accompanies birth, in this historic situation travail and trouble continued after birth had taken place.
The War of Independence was bloody and desperate. Had the Arabs known how poorly the Jews were armed they might have pressed their advantage and quickly won the war. The Arabs had been able to purchase weapons on the open market because they were recognized nations. Europe was then a giant weapons market, a sort of postwar rummage sale, but the Jews had been hindered in purchasing arms because of their political status. They had been able to secure some World War II arms, but at the beginning of the war they had only four large howitzers of the type used by the French army in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870.
In one battle with forty-five Syrian tanks, only two of the ancient howitzers were available, having been hurriedly moved from Haifa to be used in the defense of the oldest kibbutz in Palestine. Colonel Moshe Dayan, the local commander, ordered his men to fire at the most advanced Syrian tank. The Israelis scored a direct hit, causing the column to turn around and retreat. They never returned. Had the Syrians known they had been fired upon with one of the only two weapons on hand at the time, they would have undoubtedly used their strength and firepower to win the battle.
Those of us who believe in the God of the impossible, will recognise that this was a typical David and Goliath situation and the Lord directed that hit, just like he directed the stone that defeated the Giant of 1000s of years ago. These moden day Philistines still do not realise that the God of Israel is the ONLY TRUE God and will defeat any other false god and its followers.
The Arab League nations that opposed Israel were Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, and Trans Jordan. They formed a formidable alliance against less than a million poorly armed Jews. Many of the Arabs fought well and Jewish casualties were high. Six thousand Israelis were killed during the eight months of war. Had American losses been that high proportionately during World War II, they would have reached two million, which is more than the number killed in both world wars.
We will continue our study on the birth of Israel in our next newsletter.
I have decided to put this article on the blog, as many people today do not understand the sacrifice that the Jews have made in order to regain THEIR God Given Land
May the Lord bless ISRAEL and the Holy City Yerusalem
Blessings
Pastor David
After 12 years of genocide and hatred being meted out to the Jews and those who tried to help them, most caring people would have thought that the Allies should have helped these displaced and harrased people as much as they could. But as an English born person I am sad to say that the Government that was in power when I was born did everything they could to subdue the Jews and actually treated them badly and renaged on their promises to the Jews. This all contributed to the struggle that ensued.
In Palestine a three-way struggle continued between Jews, Arabs, and the BRITISH, with the Jews holding tenaciously to each hard-earned village and settlement. The attitude of the massive Arab and British forces about them must have created a situation reminiscent of an earlier return of Jews to their GOD GIVEN COVENANT land, when their enemies said: "What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?" (Nehemiah 4:2).
Now as then the Jews continued to develop their land in spite of dangers, and to protect themselves as had their forefathers under Nehemiah, who had written:
And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah. They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me (Nehemiah 4:16-18).
The U. N. Involvement
The continual struggle in Palestine was finally too much for the British. They were tired of the terrorism, the sabotage, the continual conflict between the Arabs and the Jews, and the expense. On April 2, 1947, Great Britain turned the fate of 'Palestine' over to the United Nations. It was an historic action that would ultimately bring about the establishment of the State of Israel.
On November 29, 1947, after careful investigation, the United Nations voted to partition Palestine, giving independence to the Jews. The partition gave the Jews only about one-fourth of the amount of territory they originally intended for their homeland. It was only ten miles wide at its middle and vulnerable to attack on nearly every side. But to the Jews, the decision for partition meant independence, and they hailed the United Nations' action with joy. At last they would have a home of their own.
The Birth of the Modern Nation
The date for statehood was finally set for May 15, 1948. As the occasion approached, Jewish excitement over independence was tempered by the threat of war with the Arabs. Being seriously undermanned and under gunned, they simply were not ready for war. Arms had been brought from Europe, but the British would not allow them to be used until after the mandate had ended. Arab leaders were promising a war of extermination. Having traveled the long trail from Hitler's camps to their homeland, it now appeared that another Nazi-like experience awaited the Jews. But regardless of the danger, the Jews proceeded with preparations for the birth of their nation.
At eight in the morning on May 14, (my birthday as well a year earlier) the British lowered the Union Jack in Jerusalem. By mid-afternoon there was a full-scale war on throughout the country between the Arabs and the Jews.
At 4:00 P.M. that day, David Ben-Gurion read the Declaration of Independence of Israel and it was broadcast from the Tel Aviv Museum. He began:
The land of Israel was the birthplace of the Jewish people.
Here their spiritual, religious, and national identity was formed. Here they achieved independence and created a culture of national and universal significance. Here they wrote and gave the Bible to the world.
Exiled from Palestine, the Jewish people remained faithful to it in all the countries of their diaspora (dispersion), never ceasing to pray and hope for their return and restoration of their national freedom.
Concluding the Declaration, Ben-Gurion said:
In the midst of wanton aggression, we call upon the Arab inhabitants of the State of Israel to return to the ways of peace and play their part in the development of the State with full and equal citizenship and due representation in all its bodies and institutions -- provisional or permanent.We offer peace and unity to all the neighboring states and their peoples, and invite them to cooperate with the independent Jewish nation for the common good of all.
Our call goes out to the Jewish people all over the world to rally to our side in the task of immigration and development and to stand by us in the great struggle for the fulfillment of the dream of generations -- the redemption of Israel.
The United States was the first country to recognize the State of Israel, with President Truman's statement of recognition coming at 6:10 P.M. on May 14.
On that day, the following editorial appeared in the New York Times:
This is the last day of British rule in Palestine. At midnight (6:00 this afternoon our time), Great Britain surrenders the mandate which she received from the League of Nations twenty-five years ago. The zero hour, awaited with hope and anxiety by the bitterly divided population, marks a fateful change in the status and government of a small country that has presented the United Nations with its hardest test to date and weighs more heavily than any other on the heart and conscience of the world.
Palestine will now be an independent entity for the first time in centuries
The long-awaited statehood had arrived. Israel was born.
Then THE War of Independence
On May 15, from Tel Aviv at 5:25 in the morning, Ben-Gurion was broadcasting Israel's thanks to the United States for prompt recognition of their statehood. A loud explosion interrupted his speech. After a pause, he said, "A bomb has just fallen on this city from enemy aircraft flying overhead." The War of Independence had begun.
To call it the "War of Independence" seems a contradiction. Most nations trace their histories to a war of independence after which statehood was won. In Israel's case, the long struggle for statehood was capped by a war of independence. Although there had been sporadic fighting throughout the country in the months preceding the end of the British mandate, the actual war began on the birthday of the nation. Although travail usually accompanies birth, in this historic situation travail and trouble continued after birth had taken place.
The War of Independence was bloody and desperate. Had the Arabs known how poorly the Jews were armed they might have pressed their advantage and quickly won the war. The Arabs had been able to purchase weapons on the open market because they were recognized nations. Europe was then a giant weapons market, a sort of postwar rummage sale, but the Jews had been hindered in purchasing arms because of their political status. They had been able to secure some World War II arms, but at the beginning of the war they had only four large howitzers of the type used by the French army in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870.
In one battle with forty-five Syrian tanks, only two of the ancient howitzers were available, having been hurriedly moved from Haifa to be used in the defense of the oldest kibbutz in Palestine. Colonel Moshe Dayan, the local commander, ordered his men to fire at the most advanced Syrian tank. The Israelis scored a direct hit, causing the column to turn around and retreat. They never returned. Had the Syrians known they had been fired upon with one of the only two weapons on hand at the time, they would have undoubtedly used their strength and firepower to win the battle.
Those of us who believe in the God of the impossible, will recognise that this was a typical David and Goliath situation and the Lord directed that hit, just like he directed the stone that defeated the Giant of 1000s of years ago. These moden day Philistines still do not realise that the God of Israel is the ONLY TRUE God and will defeat any other false god and its followers.
The Arab League nations that opposed Israel were Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, and Trans Jordan. They formed a formidable alliance against less than a million poorly armed Jews. Many of the Arabs fought well and Jewish casualties were high. Six thousand Israelis were killed during the eight months of war. Had American losses been that high proportionately during World War II, they would have reached two million, which is more than the number killed in both world wars.
We will continue our study on the birth of Israel in our next newsletter.
I have decided to put this article on the blog, as many people today do not understand the sacrifice that the Jews have made in order to regain THEIR God Given Land
May the Lord bless ISRAEL and the Holy City Yerusalem
Blessings
Pastor David
Monday, 31 May 2010
ISRAEL'S ENEMIES ALL AROUND
Up to 15 people were killed after Israeli commandoes boarded ships carrying 10,000 tonnes of aid en route from Cyprus.
William Hague said the British embassy was in "urgent contact" with the Israeli government, asking for more information.
He said: "I deplore the loss of life during the interception of the Gaza flotilla. Our embassy is in urgent contact with the Israeli government.
"We are asking for more information and urgent access to any UK nationals involved."
Yes it was a not a wise decision of the Israeli military to board the ships the way they did, but this was a set up by the Hamas terrorist Islamists to provoke the rest of the World into condemnation of Israel THE ONLY DEMOCRACY in the Middle East.
It’s totally OK for Hamas to fire rockets and other weapons into Israel on a daily basis and yet when little Israel defends itself, the world screams murderers.
These protestors knew exactly what they were doing BREAKING THE LAW that was being enforced by Israel against a terrorist enclave. If terrorists were bombing the UK, USA, or any of the other countries who are protesting against Israel, they would fight them tooth and nail.
However when Israel defends itself everyone screams murder. However for those of us who know what the Bible says about ‘end times’ know that Israel’s enemies will be all around her and will be totally defeated by the Lord God Yahweh.
Islam is vowed to wipe out Israel and then the Christians, this is what the Quran commands the believer to do and many will try to make sure this will happen.
The people who try to placate the Islamists are fighting a losing battle as Muslims are allowed to lie and deceive in order to defeat the infidel its called HOODNA
Here is the proof from the Quran
The reason for this is because most of the west is not familiar with Taqiyya, which translates as Religious Deception. Due to the state of war that exists between dar al-Islam(House of Islam) and dar al-harb (House of War[i.e. any non-Muslims] ), reuses de guerre, i.e., systematic lying to the infidel, must be considered part and parcel of Islamic tactics. The parroting by Muslim organizations throughout dar al-harb that “Islam is a religion of peace,” or that the origins of Muslim violence lie in the unbalanced psyches of particular individual “fanatics,” must be considered as disinformation intended to induce the infidel world to let down its guard. Of course, individual Muslims may genuinely regard their religion as “peaceful” — but only insofar as they are ignorant of its true teachings, or in the sense of the Egyptian theorist Sayyid Qutb, who posited in his Islam and Universal Peace that true peace would prevail in the world just as soon as Islam had conquered it.
“If you fear treachery from any of your allies, you may fairly retaliate by breaking off your treaty with them.”
--Surah 8:51
THE QURAN PROMOTES DEATH TO JEWS AND CHRISTIANS
"...now that a Book confirming their own has come to them from God, they deny it...they reply: 'We believe in what was revealed to us.' But they deny what has since been revealed, although it is truth...Say: 'Whoever is an enemy of Gabriel' (who has by God's grace revealed to you [Muhammad] the Quran as a guide...confirming previous scriptures). .will surely find that God is the enemy of the unbelievers. '...And now that an apostle has come to them from God confirming their own Scriptures, some of those to whom the Scriptures were given cast off the Book of God behind their backs...The unbelievers among the People of the Book, and the pagans, resent that any blessings should have been sent down to you from your Lord. " (Surah 2:88-, 98-, 103-)
"Slay them wherever you find them...Idolatry is worse than carnage...Fight against them until idolatry is no more and God's religion reigns supreme." (Surah 2: 190)
"Fighting is obligatory for you, much as you dislike it." (Surah 2: 216)
"Men are tempted [in this life] by the lure of women...far better is the return of God. Say: 'Shall I tell you of better things than these, with which the righteous shall be rewarded by their Lord? Theirs shall be gardens watered by running streams, where they shall dwell for ever: wives of perfect chastity..." (Surah 3:14, 15)
"The only true faith in God's sight is Islam." (Surah 3:19)
"Believers, do not make friends with any but your own people...They desire nothing but your ruin....You believe in the entire Book...When they meet you they say: 'We, too, are believers.' But when alone, they bite their finger-tips with rage." (Surah 3:118, 119)
"They but wish that ye should reject Faith, as they do, and thus be on the same footing (as they): But take not friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of Allah (From what is forbidden). But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever ye find them; and (in any case) take no friends or helpers from their ranks." (Surah 4: 89)
"If you should die or be slain in the cause of God, His forgiveness and His mercy would surely be better than all the riches..." (Surah 3:156)
"To those that declare: 'God has commanded us to believe no apostle unless he brings down fire to consume an offering,' say: 'Other apostles before me [Muhammad] have come to you with veritable signs and worked the miracle you asked for...If they reject you [Muhammad], other apostles have been rejected before you..." (Surah 3:183)
"If you wish to replace a wife with another, do not take from her the dowry you have given her..." (Surah 4:20)
"Forbidden to you are...married women, except those you own as slaves." (Surah 4:20-, 24)"
Believers, do not approach your prayers when you are drunk, but wait till you can grasp the meaning of your words..." (Surah 4:43)
"Seek out your enemies relentlessly. " (Surah 4: 103)
"Try as you may, you cannot treat all your wives impartially. " (Surah 4:126)
"The Jews and Christians say: 'We are the children of God and His loved ones.' Say: 'Why then does He punish you for your sins?" (Surah 5: 18)
"The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His messenger and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be imprisoned; this shall be as a disgrace for them in this world, and in the hereafter they shall have a grievous chastisement"
“The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His messenger and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be imprisoned; this shall be as a disgrace for them in this world, and in the hereafter they shall have a grievous chastisement" (Surah 5:33
"Believers, take neither Jews nor Christians for your friends." (Surah 5: 51)
"The God will say: 'Jesus, son of Mary, did you ever say to mankind 'Worship me and my mother as gods besides God?' 'Glory to You, 'he will answer, 'how could I ever say that to which I have no right?" (Surah 5: 114)
"Believers, when you encounter the infidels on the march, do not turn your backs to them in flight. If anyone on that day turns his back to them, except it be for tactical reasons...he shall incur the wrath of God and Hell shall be his home..." (Surah 8:12)
"Make war on them until idolatry shall cease and God's religion shall reign supreme." (Surah 8: 36)
"If you fear treachery from any of your allies, you may fairly retaliate by breaking off your treaty with them." (Surah 8:51)
"And the Jews say: Ezra is the son of Allah; and the Christians say: The Messiah is the son of Allah; these are the words of their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before; may Allah destroy them; how they are turned away! Surah 9: 30 "
"...make war on the leaders of unbelief...Make war on them: God will chastise them at your hands and humble them. He will grant you victory over them..." (Surah 9:12)
"It ill becomes the idolaters [non-Muslims] to visit the mosques of God..." (Surah 9:17)
Fight and slay the pagans wherever ye find them and seize them, confine them, and lie in wait for them in every place of ambush" (Surah 9:5)
"Fight against such as those to whom the Scriptures were given [Jews and Christians]. ..until they pay tribute out of hand and are utterly subdued." (Surah 9:27)
"It is He who has sent forth His apostle with guidance and the true Faith [Islam] to make it triumphant over all religions, however much the idolaters [non-Muslims] may dislike it." (Surah 9:31)
"If you do not fight, He will punish you sternly, and replace you by other men." (Surah 9:37)
"Prophet make war on the unbelievers and the hypocrites and deal rigorously with them. Hell shall be their home." (Surah 9:73)
"Believers, make war on the infidels who dwell around you. Deal firmly with them." (Surah 9: 121)
"Say: 'Praise be to God who has never begotten a son; who has no partner in His Kingdom..." (Surah 17: 111)
"'How shall I bear a child,' she [Mary] answered, 'when I am a virgin...?' 'Such is the will of the Lord,' he replied. 'That is no difficult thing for Him...God forbid that He [God[ Himself should beget a son!...Those who say: 'The Lord of Mercy has begotten a son,' preach a monstrous falsehood... " (Surah 19:12-, 29-, 88)
"Fight for the cause of God with the devotion due to Him...He has given you the name of Muslims..." (Surah 22:78)
"Blessed are the believers... who restrain their carnal desires (except with their wives and slave-girls, for these are lawful to them)...These are the heirs of Paradise ..." (Surah 23:1-5)
"You shall not force your slave-girls into prostitution in order that you make money, if they wish to preserve their chastity." (Surah 24:33)
"As for the faithful who do good works and believe what is revealed to Muhammad...He will forgive them their sins..." (Surah 47:1)
"Muhammad is God's apostle. Those who follow him are ruthless to the unbelievers but merciful to one another." (Surah 48:29)
"Shall the reward of goodness be anything but good?...Dark- eyed virgins sheltered in their tents...They shall recline on green cushions and fine carpets...Blessed be the name of your Lord..." (Surah 55:52-66)
Hadith 9:4 "Wherever you find infidels kill them; for whoever kills them shall have reward on the Day of Resurrection. "
Hadith 9:50, 57 "No Umma (a member of Muslim community) should be killed for killing a Kafir (an infidel). . Whoever changes his Islamic religion, kill him."
Hadith Bukhari (52:177) “ Allah's Apostle said, "The Hour will not be established until you fight with the Jews, and the stone behind which a Jew will be hiding will say. "O Muslim! There is a Jew hiding behind me, so kill him.
"
Hadith Tabari 7:97 “ The morning after the murder of Ashraf, the Prophet declared, "Kill any Jew who falls under your power."
Hadith Tabari9:69 "Killing Unbelievers is a small matter to us"
Hadith Bukhari (52:260) "... The Prophet said, 'If somebody discards his religion, kill him.' "
Hadith Bukhari (89:271) A man who embraces Islam, then reverts to Judaism is to be killed according to "the verdict of Allah and his apostle."
As I have said before, the governments do not care that Israel is being pummelled daily by Islamist terrorist extremists, because the Arabs are sitting on most of the OIL in the World, they cannot afford to upset them. If the Arabs did not have any oil, do you believe that ALL the Nations would be defending them?
So we really need to pray for Israel and Jerusalem at this moment in time. The Lord is very near to those whom he regards as his brothers.
Blessings in Yeshua's Holy Name
Shalom
Pastor David
William Hague said the British embassy was in "urgent contact" with the Israeli government, asking for more information.
He said: "I deplore the loss of life during the interception of the Gaza flotilla. Our embassy is in urgent contact with the Israeli government.
"We are asking for more information and urgent access to any UK nationals involved."
Yes it was a not a wise decision of the Israeli military to board the ships the way they did, but this was a set up by the Hamas terrorist Islamists to provoke the rest of the World into condemnation of Israel THE ONLY DEMOCRACY in the Middle East.
It’s totally OK for Hamas to fire rockets and other weapons into Israel on a daily basis and yet when little Israel defends itself, the world screams murderers.
These protestors knew exactly what they were doing BREAKING THE LAW that was being enforced by Israel against a terrorist enclave. If terrorists were bombing the UK, USA, or any of the other countries who are protesting against Israel, they would fight them tooth and nail.
However when Israel defends itself everyone screams murder. However for those of us who know what the Bible says about ‘end times’ know that Israel’s enemies will be all around her and will be totally defeated by the Lord God Yahweh.
Islam is vowed to wipe out Israel and then the Christians, this is what the Quran commands the believer to do and many will try to make sure this will happen.
The people who try to placate the Islamists are fighting a losing battle as Muslims are allowed to lie and deceive in order to defeat the infidel its called HOODNA
Here is the proof from the Quran
The reason for this is because most of the west is not familiar with Taqiyya, which translates as Religious Deception. Due to the state of war that exists between dar al-Islam(House of Islam) and dar al-harb (House of War[i.e. any non-Muslims] ), reuses de guerre, i.e., systematic lying to the infidel, must be considered part and parcel of Islamic tactics. The parroting by Muslim organizations throughout dar al-harb that “Islam is a religion of peace,” or that the origins of Muslim violence lie in the unbalanced psyches of particular individual “fanatics,” must be considered as disinformation intended to induce the infidel world to let down its guard. Of course, individual Muslims may genuinely regard their religion as “peaceful” — but only insofar as they are ignorant of its true teachings, or in the sense of the Egyptian theorist Sayyid Qutb, who posited in his Islam and Universal Peace that true peace would prevail in the world just as soon as Islam had conquered it.
“If you fear treachery from any of your allies, you may fairly retaliate by breaking off your treaty with them.”
--Surah 8:51
THE QURAN PROMOTES DEATH TO JEWS AND CHRISTIANS
"...now that a Book confirming their own has come to them from God, they deny it...they reply: 'We believe in what was revealed to us.' But they deny what has since been revealed, although it is truth...Say: 'Whoever is an enemy of Gabriel' (who has by God's grace revealed to you [Muhammad] the Quran as a guide...confirming previous scriptures). .will surely find that God is the enemy of the unbelievers. '...And now that an apostle has come to them from God confirming their own Scriptures, some of those to whom the Scriptures were given cast off the Book of God behind their backs...The unbelievers among the People of the Book, and the pagans, resent that any blessings should have been sent down to you from your Lord. " (Surah 2:88-, 98-, 103-)
"Slay them wherever you find them...Idolatry is worse than carnage...Fight against them until idolatry is no more and God's religion reigns supreme." (Surah 2: 190)
"Fighting is obligatory for you, much as you dislike it." (Surah 2: 216)
"Men are tempted [in this life] by the lure of women...far better is the return of God. Say: 'Shall I tell you of better things than these, with which the righteous shall be rewarded by their Lord? Theirs shall be gardens watered by running streams, where they shall dwell for ever: wives of perfect chastity..." (Surah 3:14, 15)
"The only true faith in God's sight is Islam." (Surah 3:19)
"Believers, do not make friends with any but your own people...They desire nothing but your ruin....You believe in the entire Book...When they meet you they say: 'We, too, are believers.' But when alone, they bite their finger-tips with rage." (Surah 3:118, 119)
"They but wish that ye should reject Faith, as they do, and thus be on the same footing (as they): But take not friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of Allah (From what is forbidden). But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever ye find them; and (in any case) take no friends or helpers from their ranks." (Surah 4: 89)
"If you should die or be slain in the cause of God, His forgiveness and His mercy would surely be better than all the riches..." (Surah 3:156)
"To those that declare: 'God has commanded us to believe no apostle unless he brings down fire to consume an offering,' say: 'Other apostles before me [Muhammad] have come to you with veritable signs and worked the miracle you asked for...If they reject you [Muhammad], other apostles have been rejected before you..." (Surah 3:183)
"If you wish to replace a wife with another, do not take from her the dowry you have given her..." (Surah 4:20)
"Forbidden to you are...married women, except those you own as slaves." (Surah 4:20-, 24)"
Believers, do not approach your prayers when you are drunk, but wait till you can grasp the meaning of your words..." (Surah 4:43)
"Seek out your enemies relentlessly. " (Surah 4: 103)
"Try as you may, you cannot treat all your wives impartially. " (Surah 4:126)
"The Jews and Christians say: 'We are the children of God and His loved ones.' Say: 'Why then does He punish you for your sins?" (Surah 5: 18)
"The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His messenger and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be imprisoned; this shall be as a disgrace for them in this world, and in the hereafter they shall have a grievous chastisement"
“The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His messenger and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be imprisoned; this shall be as a disgrace for them in this world, and in the hereafter they shall have a grievous chastisement" (Surah 5:33
"Believers, take neither Jews nor Christians for your friends." (Surah 5: 51)
"The God will say: 'Jesus, son of Mary, did you ever say to mankind 'Worship me and my mother as gods besides God?' 'Glory to You, 'he will answer, 'how could I ever say that to which I have no right?" (Surah 5: 114)
"Believers, when you encounter the infidels on the march, do not turn your backs to them in flight. If anyone on that day turns his back to them, except it be for tactical reasons...he shall incur the wrath of God and Hell shall be his home..." (Surah 8:12)
"Make war on them until idolatry shall cease and God's religion shall reign supreme." (Surah 8: 36)
"If you fear treachery from any of your allies, you may fairly retaliate by breaking off your treaty with them." (Surah 8:51)
"And the Jews say: Ezra is the son of Allah; and the Christians say: The Messiah is the son of Allah; these are the words of their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before; may Allah destroy them; how they are turned away! Surah 9: 30 "
"...make war on the leaders of unbelief...Make war on them: God will chastise them at your hands and humble them. He will grant you victory over them..." (Surah 9:12)
"It ill becomes the idolaters [non-Muslims] to visit the mosques of God..." (Surah 9:17)
Fight and slay the pagans wherever ye find them and seize them, confine them, and lie in wait for them in every place of ambush" (Surah 9:5)
"Fight against such as those to whom the Scriptures were given [Jews and Christians]. ..until they pay tribute out of hand and are utterly subdued." (Surah 9:27)
"It is He who has sent forth His apostle with guidance and the true Faith [Islam] to make it triumphant over all religions, however much the idolaters [non-Muslims] may dislike it." (Surah 9:31)
"If you do not fight, He will punish you sternly, and replace you by other men." (Surah 9:37)
"Prophet make war on the unbelievers and the hypocrites and deal rigorously with them. Hell shall be their home." (Surah 9:73)
"Believers, make war on the infidels who dwell around you. Deal firmly with them." (Surah 9: 121)
"Say: 'Praise be to God who has never begotten a son; who has no partner in His Kingdom..." (Surah 17: 111)
"'How shall I bear a child,' she [Mary] answered, 'when I am a virgin...?' 'Such is the will of the Lord,' he replied. 'That is no difficult thing for Him...God forbid that He [God[ Himself should beget a son!...Those who say: 'The Lord of Mercy has begotten a son,' preach a monstrous falsehood... " (Surah 19:12-, 29-, 88)
"Fight for the cause of God with the devotion due to Him...He has given you the name of Muslims..." (Surah 22:78)
"Blessed are the believers... who restrain their carnal desires (except with their wives and slave-girls, for these are lawful to them)...These are the heirs of Paradise ..." (Surah 23:1-5)
"You shall not force your slave-girls into prostitution in order that you make money, if they wish to preserve their chastity." (Surah 24:33)
"As for the faithful who do good works and believe what is revealed to Muhammad...He will forgive them their sins..." (Surah 47:1)
"Muhammad is God's apostle. Those who follow him are ruthless to the unbelievers but merciful to one another." (Surah 48:29)
"Shall the reward of goodness be anything but good?...Dark- eyed virgins sheltered in their tents...They shall recline on green cushions and fine carpets...Blessed be the name of your Lord..." (Surah 55:52-66)
Hadith 9:4 "Wherever you find infidels kill them; for whoever kills them shall have reward on the Day of Resurrection. "
Hadith 9:50, 57 "No Umma (a member of Muslim community) should be killed for killing a Kafir (an infidel). . Whoever changes his Islamic religion, kill him."
Hadith Bukhari (52:177) “ Allah's Apostle said, "The Hour will not be established until you fight with the Jews, and the stone behind which a Jew will be hiding will say. "O Muslim! There is a Jew hiding behind me, so kill him.
"
Hadith Tabari 7:97 “ The morning after the murder of Ashraf, the Prophet declared, "Kill any Jew who falls under your power."
Hadith Tabari9:69 "Killing Unbelievers is a small matter to us"
Hadith Bukhari (52:260) "... The Prophet said, 'If somebody discards his religion, kill him.' "
Hadith Bukhari (89:271) A man who embraces Islam, then reverts to Judaism is to be killed according to "the verdict of Allah and his apostle."
As I have said before, the governments do not care that Israel is being pummelled daily by Islamist terrorist extremists, because the Arabs are sitting on most of the OIL in the World, they cannot afford to upset them. If the Arabs did not have any oil, do you believe that ALL the Nations would be defending them?
So we really need to pray for Israel and Jerusalem at this moment in time. The Lord is very near to those whom he regards as his brothers.
Blessings in Yeshua's Holy Name
Shalom
Pastor David
Saturday, 29 May 2010
EAGLES & LIONS
In the past year both Christine and I have been painting. I felt I wanted to try Eagles and lately I have painted my first Lion.
I thought you could have a look at my latest Eagle and my Lion. I am just about to start another Lion and I believe that it may have some kind of prophetic meaning.
Here is the Eagle
Hope you like them
Blessings
Pastor Dave
Monday, 5 April 2010
HOW IMPORTANT IS THE RESSURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST?
HOW IMPORTANT IS THE RESSURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST?
The resurrection of Jesus is important for several reasons. First, it witnesses to the immense power of God Himself. To believe in the resurrection is to believe in God. If God exists, and if He created the universe and has power over it, He has power to raise the dead. If He does not have such power, He is not a God worthy of our faith and worship. Only He who created life can resurrect it after death, only He can reverse the hideousness that is death itself, and only He can remove the sting that is death and the victory that is the grave's (1 Corinthians 15:54-55). In resurrecting Jesus from the grave, God reminds us of His absolute sovereignty over life and death.
Second, the resurrection of Jesus is a testimony to the resurrection of human beings, which is a basic tenet of the Christian faith. Unlike all other religions, Christianity alone possesses a founder who transcends death and who promises that His followers will do the same. All other religions were founded by men and prophets whose end was the grave. As Christians, we take comfort in the fact that our God became man, died for our sins, and was resurrected the third day. The grave could not hold Him. He lives, and He sits today at the right hand of God the Father in heaven.
In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul explains in detail the importance of the resurrection of Christ. Some in Corinth did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, and in this chapter Paul gives six disastrous consequences if there were no resurrection: 1) preaching Christ would be senseless (v. 14); 2) faith in Christ would be useless (v. 14); 3) all the witnesses and preachers of the resurrection would be liars (v. 15); 4) no one would be redeemed from sin (v. 17); 5) all former believers would have perished (v.18); and 6) Christians would be the most pitiable people on the earth (v. 19). But Christ indeed has risen from the dead and "has become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep" (v. 20), assuring that we will follow Him in resurrection.
The inspired Word of God guarantees the believer's resurrection at the coming of Jesus Christ for His Body (the Church) at the Rapture. Such hope and assurance results in a great song of triumph as Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:55, "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"
How do these concluding verses relate to the importance of the resurrection? Paul answers, "...you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain" (v. 58). He reminds us that because we know we will be resurrected to new life, we can suffer persecution and danger for Christ's sake (vv. 29-31), just as He did. We can follow the example of the thousands of martyrs through history who gladly traded their earthly lives for everlasting life via the resurrection.
The resurrection is the triumphant and glorious victory for every believer. Jesus Christ died, was buried, and rose the third day according to the Scripture. And, He is coming again! The dead in Christ will be raised up, and those who remain and are alive at His coming will be changed and receive new, glorified bodies (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Why is the resurrection of Jesus Christ important to salvation? It demonstrated that God accepted Jesus' sacrifice on our behalf. It proves that God has the power to raise us from the dead. It guarantees that those who believe in Christ will not remain dead, but will be resurrected unto eternal life. That is our blessed hope!
This is what it is all about
Blessings
Pastor David
The resurrection of Jesus is important for several reasons. First, it witnesses to the immense power of God Himself. To believe in the resurrection is to believe in God. If God exists, and if He created the universe and has power over it, He has power to raise the dead. If He does not have such power, He is not a God worthy of our faith and worship. Only He who created life can resurrect it after death, only He can reverse the hideousness that is death itself, and only He can remove the sting that is death and the victory that is the grave's (1 Corinthians 15:54-55). In resurrecting Jesus from the grave, God reminds us of His absolute sovereignty over life and death.
Second, the resurrection of Jesus is a testimony to the resurrection of human beings, which is a basic tenet of the Christian faith. Unlike all other religions, Christianity alone possesses a founder who transcends death and who promises that His followers will do the same. All other religions were founded by men and prophets whose end was the grave. As Christians, we take comfort in the fact that our God became man, died for our sins, and was resurrected the third day. The grave could not hold Him. He lives, and He sits today at the right hand of God the Father in heaven.
In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul explains in detail the importance of the resurrection of Christ. Some in Corinth did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, and in this chapter Paul gives six disastrous consequences if there were no resurrection: 1) preaching Christ would be senseless (v. 14); 2) faith in Christ would be useless (v. 14); 3) all the witnesses and preachers of the resurrection would be liars (v. 15); 4) no one would be redeemed from sin (v. 17); 5) all former believers would have perished (v.18); and 6) Christians would be the most pitiable people on the earth (v. 19). But Christ indeed has risen from the dead and "has become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep" (v. 20), assuring that we will follow Him in resurrection.
The inspired Word of God guarantees the believer's resurrection at the coming of Jesus Christ for His Body (the Church) at the Rapture. Such hope and assurance results in a great song of triumph as Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:55, "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"
How do these concluding verses relate to the importance of the resurrection? Paul answers, "...you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain" (v. 58). He reminds us that because we know we will be resurrected to new life, we can suffer persecution and danger for Christ's sake (vv. 29-31), just as He did. We can follow the example of the thousands of martyrs through history who gladly traded their earthly lives for everlasting life via the resurrection.
The resurrection is the triumphant and glorious victory for every believer. Jesus Christ died, was buried, and rose the third day according to the Scripture. And, He is coming again! The dead in Christ will be raised up, and those who remain and are alive at His coming will be changed and receive new, glorified bodies (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Why is the resurrection of Jesus Christ important to salvation? It demonstrated that God accepted Jesus' sacrifice on our behalf. It proves that God has the power to raise us from the dead. It guarantees that those who believe in Christ will not remain dead, but will be resurrected unto eternal life. That is our blessed hope!
This is what it is all about
Blessings
Pastor David
Friday, 5 March 2010
OUR AMAZING SAVIOUR GOD JESUS
MY PERSONAL SAVIOUR GOD
Many people believe that Jesus Christ was a very ‘good man’ and taught wonderful things, but that is about all they know. Obviously many do not accept that he is the Lord our God at all and that he is worthy of all honour and praise.
Being raised as a JW I was taught that Jesus existed before he came to the earth as a man and in his pre-human existence was the Word (Logos) who created all things. However we were also taught that when he came to earth, he was just a perfect man and merely came to earth too offer up his life as a sacrifice for mankind.
We were taught that he was the created Son of Jehovah the Almighty and that he was more or less just a secondary being that served the purpose of God to be the Lamb that takes away the sin of the World.
The odd thing is, much of what I was taught back then was true, but as you can see, it was riddled with error and a deliberate downgrading of the Lord we now know as out wonderful Saviour. So it is with that in mind that I have posted some excellent information that proves that our Lord is far more than a ‘right hand’ man of the Almighty God Jehovah.
The first scripture is in Luke, where it says:
"And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour." (Luke 1:47)
One of the most wonderful titles of the Lord Jesus Christ is that of Saviour. This word (Greek (soter) from which is derived our theological term "soteriology," the study of salvation) occurs 24 times in the New Testament and is applied only to Christ, "for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
It occurs first of all on the lips of the Virgin Mary in our text above, when she realized that she had been chosen to be the mother of the Saviour. It is significant that this first use of soter recognizes that our Saviour can be none other than God Himself--"God my Saviour"--and also that this fact should cause our spirits to rejoice, as Mary's did. He becomes our personal Saviour when we believe on Him, as did Mary. This humble woman realised she needed her Saviour just as much as any other human. This fact totally undermines the heresy taught by Catholic religions that Mary is ‘co-redemptrix’ along with her Son.
Our Lord Jesus Christ is "the Saviour of the world" (John 4:42; 1 John 4:14) and the "Saviour of all men" in the sense that His work on the cross is sufficient to save all who will receive Him. No other person, no co-redeemer, but just our Lord and Saviour God.
There are eight other verses in the New Testament in which "Saviour" is taken as synonymous with "God." The final occurrence of "Saviour" is one of these, and it is in one of the greatest doxologies of the Bible. "To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen" (Jude 25).
As mentioned above there are many today who see the man Jesus as a great teacher and example, but who reject His deity. There are many others who believe in a cosmic deity of some kind, often calling it ‘Christ Consciousness’ but are unwilling to believe that He could become uniquely incarnate in a perfect man. How urgent it is that we believe and teach that our Creator must also become our Saviour if we are ever to be saved. We must "trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, especially of those that believe" (1 Timothy 4:10). Then we can rejoice with Mary in "God my Saviour."
May we stay close to our dear Lord and King and keep under his Mighty Hand
Pastor David
Many people believe that Jesus Christ was a very ‘good man’ and taught wonderful things, but that is about all they know. Obviously many do not accept that he is the Lord our God at all and that he is worthy of all honour and praise.
Being raised as a JW I was taught that Jesus existed before he came to the earth as a man and in his pre-human existence was the Word (Logos) who created all things. However we were also taught that when he came to earth, he was just a perfect man and merely came to earth too offer up his life as a sacrifice for mankind.
We were taught that he was the created Son of Jehovah the Almighty and that he was more or less just a secondary being that served the purpose of God to be the Lamb that takes away the sin of the World.
The odd thing is, much of what I was taught back then was true, but as you can see, it was riddled with error and a deliberate downgrading of the Lord we now know as out wonderful Saviour. So it is with that in mind that I have posted some excellent information that proves that our Lord is far more than a ‘right hand’ man of the Almighty God Jehovah.
The first scripture is in Luke, where it says:
"And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour." (Luke 1:47)
One of the most wonderful titles of the Lord Jesus Christ is that of Saviour. This word (Greek (soter) from which is derived our theological term "soteriology," the study of salvation) occurs 24 times in the New Testament and is applied only to Christ, "for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
It occurs first of all on the lips of the Virgin Mary in our text above, when she realized that she had been chosen to be the mother of the Saviour. It is significant that this first use of soter recognizes that our Saviour can be none other than God Himself--"God my Saviour"--and also that this fact should cause our spirits to rejoice, as Mary's did. He becomes our personal Saviour when we believe on Him, as did Mary. This humble woman realised she needed her Saviour just as much as any other human. This fact totally undermines the heresy taught by Catholic religions that Mary is ‘co-redemptrix’ along with her Son.
Our Lord Jesus Christ is "the Saviour of the world" (John 4:42; 1 John 4:14) and the "Saviour of all men" in the sense that His work on the cross is sufficient to save all who will receive Him. No other person, no co-redeemer, but just our Lord and Saviour God.
There are eight other verses in the New Testament in which "Saviour" is taken as synonymous with "God." The final occurrence of "Saviour" is one of these, and it is in one of the greatest doxologies of the Bible. "To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen" (Jude 25).
As mentioned above there are many today who see the man Jesus as a great teacher and example, but who reject His deity. There are many others who believe in a cosmic deity of some kind, often calling it ‘Christ Consciousness’ but are unwilling to believe that He could become uniquely incarnate in a perfect man. How urgent it is that we believe and teach that our Creator must also become our Saviour if we are ever to be saved. We must "trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, especially of those that believe" (1 Timothy 4:10). Then we can rejoice with Mary in "God my Saviour."
May we stay close to our dear Lord and King and keep under his Mighty Hand
Pastor David
Saturday, 27 February 2010
A MESSAGE FROM A STRAIGHTALKING JEW
This email was sent to me recently and this is someone who tells it as it is.
This Guy contradicts what the PC brigade keep telling us. As Christians we know it is all a nasty satanic attack on Christianity.
The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.
My confession:
I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are, Christmas trees.
It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.
I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.
Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.
In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.
Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Hurricane Katrina).. Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'
In light of recent events.... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.
Then Dr Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said okay.
Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.
Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'
Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.
Are you laughing yet?
Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.
Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.
Pass it on if you think it has merit.
If not, then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.
My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,
Ben Stein
Let us all keep praying for one another as the anti-christ movement gathers momentum.
This is not a time to take a back seat and believe that everything will be alright. We are in end times and we need to be aware of any deception coming from any direction.
Blessings to everyone
Pastor Dave
This Guy contradicts what the PC brigade keep telling us. As Christians we know it is all a nasty satanic attack on Christianity.
The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.
My confession:
I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are, Christmas trees.
It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.
I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.
Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.
In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.
Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Hurricane Katrina).. Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'
In light of recent events.... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.
Then Dr Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said okay.
Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.
Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'
Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.
Are you laughing yet?
Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.
Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.
Pass it on if you think it has merit.
If not, then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.
My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,
Ben Stein
Let us all keep praying for one another as the anti-christ movement gathers momentum.
This is not a time to take a back seat and believe that everything will be alright. We are in end times and we need to be aware of any deception coming from any direction.
Blessings to everyone
Pastor Dave
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