Israel - Egypt - Hamas

Israel-Egyptian peace shaken by Israel's mishandling of Palestinian terror: Egypt is to withdraw its ambassador to Israel to protest what it calls "breach of the peace treaty" over the deaths of five Egyptian security personnel. In its statement Saturday morning, Aug. 20, Cairo referred to an incident alleged to have occurred Thursday as Palestinian terrorists coming from Sinai attacked Israel's Eilat highway. Read more>>

Hamas Ends ‘Ceasefire’ with Israel: As the situation in southern Israel escalates, Hamas' military wing announces the artificial ceasefire with Israel is over. Read more>>

Israel & Lebanon Relations; Russia & Iran

Minor incidents between Israel and Lebanon could spark war, UN envoy warns: Incidents such as the exchange of gunfire that took place across the Israeli-Lebanese border earlier this week must be avoided, the United Nations envoy for Lebanon has stressed, warning that they can easily flare up into something more dangerous. Read more>>

Russia reaches out to Iran: A recurring feature of the Russian-Iranian relationship is that it mostly languishes on the horizon but can be trusted to move to the center stage whenever there is a criticality in the Middle East situation. Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi made a point recently in an interview with the Russian media when he described Iran as the "most significant neighbor" of Russia, which stands in the way of the Western strategy to encircle Russia. Read more>>

Israel, Lebanon & Gas; U.S. support for Israel

The New Flare-Up between Israel and Lebanon Over Gas: The basis for a future confrontation between Israel and Lebanon is being sown today. But unlike the past, the scene of the next armed conflict between the two neighboring Mediterranean states might be confined to the gas and oil concessions scattered along their common but disputed maritime border. The potential oil and gas fields off the Lebanese and Israeli coasts look set not only to become a potential long-term source of heavenly bounty - but also a source of conflict in the years ahead. Read more>>


US voices commitment to Israel in defense talks
The United States on Thursday reiterated its support for a strong military in Israel as Defense Minister Ehud Barak held talks with top leaders in Washington. Read more>>

Europe in the Middle East

As U.S. Steps Back, Europe Takes Bigger Role in Mideast Peace Push: It is a truism of Middle East peacemaking that the United States is the pivotal player — the most credible broker between the Israelis and the Palestinians. But with talks at a standstill, the Obama administration now finds itself on the sidelines, and Europe is emerging as the key diplomatic actor.  Read more>>

Baptism

Baptism is a demonstration on the part of the believer that the flesh profits nothing, and that its desires must be denied, or modified, in accordance with the will of God.  He comes to the waters of baptism with a consciousness of sins enlivened in him by his knowledge of God’s will and purpose; he passes under the water and his past sins are “covered over”, “washed away” or forgive; he rises therefrom a new creature in Christ Jesus; he commences a new life with the realisation that he can through the Lord, derive strength to conquer (Philippians 4:13), and that he has access to the Father for the forgiveness of sins.  He now lives in communion with God, and in constant awareness of Him.

Taken from a pamphlet produced by the Christadelphians 'Baptism: essential to salvation'

Click here to read why baptism really matters.

The First Commandment

Deuteronomy 6v5
"...thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."


Joshua 22v5
"...take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul."


Mark 12v29-31
"And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.  And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these."

Iran, Russia, China and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)

China and allies back Russia against U.S. missile shield: Russia won the backing of China and other members of a regional security body in criticizing U.S. plans for a missile shield, saying on Wednesday it could undermine global security.

"The Russian bear sits in its lair, and the NATO huntsman comes over to his house and asks him to come hunt the rabbit. .... Why do your rifles have the caliber to hunt the bear, not the rabbit?" Russia's NATO envoy Dmitry Rogozin said at a panel talk at London's Royal United Services Institute think-tank. Read more>>

Ahmadinejad's New Friends: The leader of nuke-bound Iran joins Russian and Chinese counterparts at a meeting of a group formed to rival NATO. No wonder Moscow resists U.S. missile defense. Read more>>

Russia, China warn West against Arab interference: Russia and China oppose outside interference in the unrest in the Arab world, the two presidents said on Thursday in a declaration, as the West seeks their support for increasing pressure on Syria. Read more>>

Russia, China defend Iran's right to nuclear power: Russia and China defended Iran and North Korea's rights to peaceful nuclear power on Thursday. Read more>>

Russia has no plan to reconsider relations with Iran: Moscow has no plan to reconsider its stance on Iran in order to please the U.S. and NATO, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said Tuesday. Read more>>