Impending war?

Israel Considers Pre-Emptive Attack On Iran: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to rally support in his cabinet for an attack on Iran, according to government sources. Read more>>

Israel test-fires missile as Iran debate rages: Israel test-fired a missile from a military base on Wednesday, two days after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned of the "direct and heavy threat" posed by Iran's nuclear program. Read more>>

Iran Rattles Saber at Israel, US: Iran would cause serious damage to the United States and Israel should Jewish state strike the Islamic Republic's nuclear program, Iran's top military official said on Wednesday. Read more>>

A 1611 King James Version was digitized by the University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections to celebrate its 400th anniversary. 

Available to view at http://umanitoba.ca/libraries/units/archives/digital/bible/index.html.

Personal Discovery of the WORD of God: An interesting talk by Bro. Stephen Palmer on studying God's Word - the link will open a page from which the talk can be downloaded.

Jerusalem: The Struggle

An interesting multi-media resource looking at the issues surrounding Jerusalem:

Challenges in Defining an Israeli-Palestinian Border

Global Financial Crisis

An entire system of global trade is at risk: Sir Mervyn King, the Governor of the Bank of England, this week called the current financial crisis “the most serious… since the 1930s, if ever”, in justification for a further £75 billion of “quantitative easing”. Since Sir Mervyn cited the chaos of the inter-war years, it seems appropriate to quote Winston Churchill: “Want of foresight, unwillingness to act when action would be simple and effective, lack of clear thinking, confusions of counsel, until the emergency comes, until self-preservation strikes its jarring gong – these are the features that constitute the endless repetition of history.” Read more>>

Echoes of 2008: Here we go again: The Europeans are pushing the global banking system to the edge. European bankers have been saying things are fine for weeks now, even as their exposure to indebted euro-zone countries strangles their access to funding. Read more>>

Solving the euro-zone crisis: The plan to have a plan: Policymakers are a long way from forming a coherent strategy. Banks’ woes have stolen the headlines this week. But the real reason to worry about Europe is that policymakers are still flailing in their efforts to come up with a big plan, fast, to get to grips with the region’s debt crisis. Read more>>

Syria's Threats

Report: Assad threatens to attack Tel Aviv in case of NATO strike: In meeting with Turkish FM, Syrian president discusses possibility of NATO strike, says 'I won't need more than six hours to transfer hundreds of rockets to Golan to fire at Tel Aviv'. Read more>>

Putin's Eurasian Union

Russia's Putin says wants to build "Eurasian Union": Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said he wants to bring ex-Soviet states into a "Eurasian Union" in an article which outlined his first foreign policy initiative as he prepares to return to the Kremlin as the country's next president. Read more>>

Dead Sea Scrolls Online

The dead sea scrolls can be viewed online at the following link: http://dss.collections.imj.org.il/

Importance of the Old Testament

Luke 24v44-45

"And he (Jesus) said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.  Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,..." 

2 Timothy 3v16-17
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." 

Israeli Alliances in Middle East Wavering

Israel watches its old alliances crumble:  The overthrow of President Mubarak in Egypt, the estrangement of Turkey and a UN vote on Palestinian statehood combine to make an intractable set of problems. Read more>>

Beyond Cairo, Israel Sensing a Wider Siege:  With its Cairo embassy ransacked, its ambassador to Turkey expelled and the Palestinians seeking statehood recognition at the United Nations, Israel found itself on Saturday increasingly isolated and grappling with a radically transformed Middle East where it believes its options are limited and poor. Read More>>

U.S. seeks to calm Middle East tensions: In the wake of last Friday's ransacking by protesters of the Israeli Embassy in Cairo, U.S. officials have engaged in a flurry of diplomatic activity intended to calm tensions in the Middle East. Read more>>

US nervous as ties fray between Israel, neighbors:  The Obama administration is watching warily as relations among its allies Israel, Egypt and Turkey deteriorate, threatening Mideast stability and U.S. goals for the region. The simultaneous trouble between the Jewish state and two Muslim nations that have been a security and diplomatic bulwark for Israel comes as the Palestinians prepare to seek statehood recognition at the United Nations this month. The U.N. action, which the U.S. has fought without success, is likely to further complicate peace efforts, leave Israel even more isolated and force the Obama administration into the uncomfortable position of appearing to side with Israel over other allies and partners. Read more>>

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>>

Psalm 89:11-14

"The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fullness thereof, thou hast founded them. The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name. Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand. Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face."

Israel's Cultivation in Prophecy

The land of Israel was condemned to desolation by God as a judgement:

"I will bring the land into desolation...Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths, as long as it lieth deslate, and ye be in your enemies' land; even then shall the land rest, and enjoy her sabbaths" 

Leviticus 26v32-34

"The generation to come of your children that shall rise up after you, and the stranger that shall come from a far land, shall say, when they see the plagues of that land, and the sicknesses which the LORD hat laid upon it; and that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein...even all nations shall say, Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this land?" 

Deuteronomy 29v22-24

Nineteenth Century travellers from Western Europe commented on it:

"From Kane-Leban to Beer, amidst the ruins of cities, the country, as far as the eye of the traveller can reach, presents nothing to his view but naked rocks, mountains, and precipices, at the sight of which pilgrims are astonished, balked in their expectations, and almost startled in their faith." 

(From Maundrell's Travels, quoted in Benson, Tony, Stormy Wind Fulfilling His Word: The place of Weather, volcanoes and earthquakes in fulfilling Bible prophecy, p.31 ) 

However, the land was to change and become fruitful again as prophecied in Ezekiel:

“But ye, O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people of Israel; for they are at hand to come. For, behold, I am for you, and I will turn unto you, and ye shall be tilled and sown: and I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, even all of it, and the cities shall be inhabited, and the wastes shall be builded” 

Ezekiel 36v8-10 

“And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by. And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; …”

Ezekiel 36v34-35

The following is an extract about agriculture in Israel today:

"Agriculture is of major national importance; in certain areas, such as the Arava and the Jordan Valley, it provides the sole means of livelihood for the population. In 1996 approximately 73,500 people were involved in farming, constituting about 3.0 percent of the country's workforce.

In monetary terms, Israel produces almost 70% of all its food requirements. It imports much of its grain, oilseeds, meat and fish, and its the sugar, coffee and cocoa. However, these imports are offset by exports of agricultural produce valued at around $800 million and $600 million worth of processed foods per annum. Today, just under a quarter of the income of Israel's farmers derives from the export of fresh produce, including items such as flowers, avocados, out-of-season vegetables and certain exotic fruits grown for export. In 1996 some 140,000 tons of fruit and vegetables - 14 percent of the entire crop - were sold to factories for processing and export.

This is a far cry from the situation a century ago. When Jews began resettling their historic homeland in the late 19th century, their first efforts were directed towards reclaiming the mostly semi-arid land, much of which was rendered untillable by deforestation, soil erosion and neglect. Rocky fields were cleared and terraces built in the hilly regions; swampland was drained, and systematic reforestation begun; soil erosion was counteracted, and salty land washed to reduce soil salinity.

Since Israel attained its independence in 1948, the total area under cultivation has increased from 165,000 ha. to some 435,000 ha. and the number of agricultural communities has grown from 400 to 900 (including 136 Arab villages). During the same period, agricultural production has expanded 16-fold, more than three times the rate of the population growth."

Extract from "Israeli Agriculture: Coping with Growth" By Jon Fedler (Editor of Agrictech Israel Magazine)  Available online here 

The Mystery of Godliness

"Whereof I [the apostle Paul] am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily."

Colossians 1v26-29

"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory."

1 Timothy 3v16

"Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen." 

Romans 16v25-27

Netanyahu's Speech to Congress - May 24

Click here for the full text of Netanyahu's speech to Congress

News article: Netanyahu in Congress: Jerusalem Must Remain Undivided

Russia & Lybia

"Son of man, set they face against Gog [Russia]...and prophesy against him, And say, Thus saith the Lord God...I will bring thee forth,...and all thine army...Persia [Iran], Ethiopia, and Libya with them...Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah [Turkic people] of the north quarters, and all his bands; and many people with thee. Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them." 

 Ezekiel 38v1-7

Russia Slams NATO Strikes on Lybia
Russia has once again slammed NATO for its air strikes on Libya, calling for the deployment of international peacekeeping forces to end the violence in the North African country. Read more>>

Stop targeting Libyan civilians, Russia tells Qaddafi envoy

Russia hosted an envoy of the Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Qaddafi yesterday, telling Tripoli to obey UN resolutions on Libya as Moscow seeks to position itself as a mediator in the conflict. Read more>>

Russia Urges Peacekeeping Force in Libya, Condemns NATO Strikes

Russia called for peacekeepers to be deployed in Lybia and condemned NATO strikes for violating the United Nations Security Council resolution that authorized military action in the North African state. Read more>>

Libya: The position of the Russian Federation

The UN Resolution 1973 and the ceasefire offered by Libya is a victory for the diplomacy of the Russian Federation, which has managed to implement what Moscow suggested a few days ago, and managed to hinder the more belligerent impulses of certain international partners. Read more>>

Israel - U.S. relations

PM slams Obama call for ‘Palestine’ based on ’67 lines
"Those borders are not defensible," PM rages as he flies off to Washington; Palestinian state must not come "at Israel’s expense"; US President urges resumed talks, focused on territory, security. Read more>>

Netanyahu to Obama: Don't sweep problems under the rug
PM en route to Washington says "sometimes being right also means being smart," stresses he will bring up "principal matters" regarding Israel's existence with US president during meeting. Read more>>

Israel: U.S. 'does not understand reality'
Israel said the United States “does not understand reality” as its leader arrived in Washington on Friday after President Barack Obama endorsed a longstanding Palestinian demand on borders of a future state. Read more>>

Ami Ayalon: Obama speech offers 'opportunity' for Israel
Former Shin Bet chief presents his take on a two-state solution; "we don't see settlers as the enemy." Read more>>


Obama and Netanyahu face tense meeting on Mideast
U.S. President Barack Obama's endorsement of a longstanding Palestinian demand on the borders of their future state sets the stage for what could be a tense meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday. Read more>>


Face to face, Netanyahu rejects Obama on borders
In a blunt display of differences, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the idea of using his country's 1967 boundaries as the basis for a neighboring Palestinian state on Friday, declaring his objections face-to-face to President Barack Obama who had raised the idea just 24 hours earlier in an effort to revive stalled Mideast peace talks. Read more>>

Hallowed be thy name

"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be thy name…"

"Hallow" (Oxford dictionary)

• verb - honour as holy
• adjective is "hallowed" : make holy; consecrate; greatly revered or respected.

"God's name is of course already hallowed: whether or not we pray this prayer, God is and always will be holy.  He is "the Holy One"; and though His holiness in one sense separates Him from His creation, it is a quality which actually draws Him to His people. He desires to be sanctified, glorified, hallowed by those who serve Him....

We hallow God's Name by our worship and praise, but also by all that we do in lives of service to Him: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). And those who hallow God's name will themselves be changed in the process..."Neither shall ye profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am the LORD which hallow you" (22:32).

When we say, "Hallowed be thy name", we are therefore, first, acknowledging God's holiness; second, seeking to make known God's holiness; and third, striving to manifest that holiness in our own lives.  Our Lord did all of these and in recognition of what he accomplished we are called upon not only to hallow the Father's name, but to "sanctify in your hears Christ as Lord" (1 Peter 3:15, RV) - or, "in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy" (ESV)."

The Path of Prayer, John Morris, p.66

"Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy."

1 Peter 1v13-16

Unrest on Israel's Anniversary

Arab protesters descend on Israeli borders: Mobilized by calls on Facebook, thousands of Arab protesters marched on Israel's borders with Syria, Lebanon and Gaza on Sunday in an unprecedented wave of demonstrations, sparking clashes that left at least 15 people dead in an annual Palestinian mourning ritual marking the anniversary of Israel's birth. Read more>>

Israel-Palestinian violence erupts on 3 borders:Israeli troops shot Palestinian protesters who surged towards its frontiers with Syria, Lebanon and Gaza on Sunday, killing up to 13 people on the day Palestinians mourn the creation of the state of Israel. Read more>>

More in store from Syria after easy breach of Israel's Golan border: 
On Sunday, May 15, Israel's enemies breached three of its borders in an operation that caught its government, army and intelligence napping. Their reaction to the massive violation of its Syrian, Lebanese and Gaza borders showed all three to be muddled and incapable of an organized, rational tactical response to a multiple security crisis. This weakness ("maximum restraint"), which was no doubted noted in Tehran, Damascus, Beirut and Ramallah, may be expected to lead to the next Syrian step to recover the Golan – not this time by thousands of civilians, but by military and terrorist forces. Read more>>

Abbas: Those killed in Nakba Day clashes are martyrs: PA president says protesters "precious blood will not be wasted"; Hamas calls Nakba Day events "a turning point in the Israeli-Arab conflict"; Hezbollah condemns the "Israeli aggression on unarmed civilians." Read more>>

State of Israel - 63 years today

Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.

I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.  

Isaiah 43v10-12

Today is the 63rd anniversary of the State of Israel.

Christadelphians expected this before it occurred, based on Bible prophecy, as is shown by the writings of John Thomas.  In his book Elpis Israel, written in 1849 - 99 years before the establishment of the State of Israel - he wrote (pp.474-475):

"There is, then, a partial and primary restoration of Jews [to the holy land] before the manifestation [of Christ in the earth], which is to serve as the nucleus, or basis, of future operations in the restoration of the rest of the tribes after he has appeared in the kingdom. The pre-adventual colonization of Palestine will be on purely political principles; and the Jewish colonists will return in unbelief of the Messiahship of Jesus, and of the truth as it is in him. They will emigrate thither as agriculturists and traders, in the hope of ultimately establishing their commonwealth, but more immediately of getting rich in silver and gold by commerce with India, and in cattle and goods by their industry at home under the efficient protection of the British power....But to what part of the world shall we look for a power whose interests will make it willing, as it is able, to plant the ensign of civilization upon the mountains of Israel? ...I know not whether the men, who at present contrive the foreign policy of Britain, entertain the idea of assuming the sovereignty of the Holy Land, and of promoting its colonization by the Jews; their present intentions, however, are of no importance one way or the other, because they will be compelled, by events soon to happen, to do what, under existing circumstances, heaven and earth combined could not move them to attempt." 

Read The Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel

But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went.

Therefore say unto the house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.

And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.

For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.

Ezekiel 36v21-24 

(prophecy fulfilled in 1948 when the State of Israel was established)

Deity Names Defined

1. A'don: Lord, Sovereign Ruler.
2. Ado'nai: Lords; plural of Adon.
3. Ado'nai-Yah'weh: Lords of Him who shall be: therefore he is "Lord of Lords".
4. Ail: Strength, or Power.  The One Supreme Omnipotent Spirit-Power of the Universe, dwelling in unapproachable light.
5. Ail-Shaddai': The Strength of the Mighty Ones.
6. Eh'yeh: same as Yahweh or Jehovah.
7. Eh'yeh Ash'er Eh'yeh: "I am that I am," Exodus 3.14; correctly rendered, "I will be who I will be;" i.e. God manifested in flesh.
8. Elah': The Chaldee for Eloah.
9. Elo'ah: A Mighty One, a member of "the heavenly host".
10. El'ohim: plural of Eloah.
11. Imma-nu-ail: God with us; Holy Spirit nature, or God veiled.
12. Joshua (or Jesus): Called Jehoshua and Oshea, Numb. 13.16, Acts 7.45, Heb. 4.8, is composed of Jah (Jehovah), and Oshea; a Savior, the God-Saviour.
13. Kurios: Lord; the Greek word for Adon.
14. Lo'gos: The Word, God manifested in Jesus Anointed. John 1.1.
15. Malahch': One sent, a Messenger; frequently rendered, angel.
16. Shaddai': Mighty or Powerful Ones.
17. The'os: The Almighty Disposer and Former of all things; the Eternal Spirit; the Greek equivalent of Ail.
18. Tzoor: Rock; a metaphor for strength.
19. Yah: An abbreviated form of Yahweh....
20. Yah'weh: He who shall be:....
21. Yah'weh-El'ohim: He who shall be Mighty Ones.
22. Yahweh-Tz'va'oth: He who shall be hosts.
23. Yehohvih': same as Yahweh.

Excerpt from 'Names and Titles of the Deity.'  W.H. Boulton pp.118-119

King James Bible - 400 year anniversary today

By Advance at nl.wikipedia [Public domain],
from Wikimedia Commons

The 400th anniversary of the King James Bible is today.


Read about the Bible:

• The Miracle of the Bible 
• The Divine Origin of the Bible
• History of the English Bible

News articles:

• At 400, King James Bible still No. 1 
• First Edition King James Bible now in exhibition at National Library of Wales

Law of sin & death versus law of the mind

The law of sin and death is hereditary, and derived from the federal sinner of the race; but the law of the mind is an intellectual and moral acquisition. 

Elpis Israel, John Thomas, p147

"To be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace" Romans 8v6

The Hebrew Language

The Ins and Outs of the Holy Hebrew Language
Interest is growing in the 4th Annual Conference for Devotees of the Holy Tongue, to be held in Jerusalem this coming Wednesday. One of the purposes of the get-together is to encourage Torah study based on the linguistics of Hebrew. Read more>>

• Google Timeline on the history of the Hebrew Language

Peace agreements?

Netanyahu hints of unilateral pullback again
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu once again hinted yesterday, during a meeting in Jerusalem with the Spanish crown prince, that if the deadlock in the peace process persists, Israel would take unilateral steps. Read more>>

Israel may let new flotilla reach Gaza
Israel is considering allowing the Freedom Flotilla 2, due to sail next month, to reach Gaza, to prevent a repeat of last summer’s clash between flotilla participants and Israeli forces. Read more>>

Barack Obama to launch new Mid-East push
BARACK Obama is to plunge back into Arab-Israeli politics with a new push for a peace agreement as UN pressure on Israel grows. Read more>>

Obama must broker a new Mideast peace
The “Arab Spring” that is flowering in fits and starts in most countries of the Middle East has significantly altered the geopolitical situation in the region, and is likely to have a profound effect on American interests. Read more>>

A Palestinian state by September?
Israelis are growing anxious over the international community’s renewed rush to impose a peace settlement on Israel and the Palestinian Arabs. And the world’s impatience is being fueled by Palestinian threats to unilaterally declare statehood in September, even in the absence of a final status peace deal. Read more>>

Gas in Israel

The Next Big Lebanon-Israel Flare-Up: Gas: For most countries, the existence of a massive fossil-fuel deposit within its sovereign territory would be gratefully welcomed as an economic windfall. But the delight in Israel at the recent giant gas discovery off its northern coastline is tempered by the knowledge that it could provide the spark to ignite the next war between the Jewish state and its mortal foe to the north, Lebanon's militant Shi'ite Hizballah. 

Read more>>

Related articles on the gas drilling in Israel
Israel Discovers Gas!: The Houston-based Noble Energy company, drilling for Israel’s Delek fuel company, announced that it has discovered a huge deposit of natural gas under the Mediterranean Sea near Haifa. Read more>>

Israel Drills Big Gas Prospect: Oil companies in Israel, led by Texas-based Noble Energy Inc. this week are expected to start drilling one of the world's most promising natural-gas prospects of recent years, according to executives. Read more>>

Lebanon asks UN to guard gas from Israeli drilling: Lebanon has asked U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to ensure that Israel's plans to drill for gas in the Mediterranean do not encroach on its own offshore reserves, the National News Agency said on Tuesday. Read more>>

UN refuses Lebanon request to intervene in Israel gas drilling
Lebanese FM urged Ban Ki-moon to prevent Israel from exploiting Lebanon's maritime wealth, but UN spokesman says it won't demarcate border. Read more>>

Wise Cogitations - Proverbs 3

When reading Proverbs 3 the other day, it reminded me why it was one of my favourites.  It is full of really great wisdom and advice.

Some of the verses that I love from this chapter, that I think should be really pondered, are:

v3-4: Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart. So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

v5-6: Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understaing.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

v7: Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

v11: My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: for whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

v27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

Arab States, Russia, China v. Western Coalition

• Putin likens U.N. Libya resolution to crusade calls: Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin Monday likened the U.N. Security Council resolution supporting military action in Libya to medieval calls for crusades.

• Coalition air strikes see waning support from Arabs, China and Russia: Arab League and China express regret as Moscow suggests US-led coalition is going beyond its mandate. 

World Watch

With all that is happening around the world recently, Andy Walton's Weekly World Watch is an interesting read.

• Click here to read this week's Weekly World Watch (Will open in Power Point)

German-Israel Relations

• A Deepening Rift Between Germany and Israel: Germany has made it plain to Israel that it cannot expect unqualified support if it allows the conflict with Palestinians to drag on.  It marks a major change in Mrs. Merkel’s attitude toward Israel, which she had unswervingly supported since she took office more than five years ago.

• Deciphering German foreign policy toward Israel and Iran: The so-called German-Israeli ‘special relationship’ is clouded by Berlin’s tight relations with Tehran.

Faith

Hebrews 11v1-3

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

"The Name and the Faith are terms comprehensive of the whole subject. "There is One Faith," says Paul, "and one Hope of the Calling." 

...when "faith" is used in connexion with "name" it embraces the things associated with it by Paul in his definition of it in Heb. 11 : 1. In this place, he says, "Faith is a hypostasis of things being hoped for, and elegchos of transactions not seen." Here faith, or belief, is said to be hypostasis and elenchos; that is, faith is reality and proof. The person who has it, embraces certain things promised as realities, and certain transactions as things proved. Hence, faith is the assured hope of things promised, the conviction of the truth of transactions not witnessed by the believer."

John Thomas, Eureka (Volume 1), p.284

Tekhelet

Click the link for an article about the colour blue that is mentioned as on various parts of the tabernacle and on the fringes of garments: 

Rediscovered, Ancient Color Is Reclaiming Israeli Interest

Blue or "tekhelet" in Strongs Concordance (#8504):

תּכלת

tekêleth

tek-ay'-leth

Probably for H7827; the cerulean mussel, that is, the color (violet) obtained therefrom or stuff dyed therewith: - blue.

Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them. 

Exodus 26v1

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring:  That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.   I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD your God. 

Num 15:37-41

Psalm 133

Psalm 133

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the  beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;

As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

Mt. Hermon

Christchurch Earthquake

Our continuing thoughts and prayers are with those in Christchurch, New Zealand. You have the love of so many of us around the world.

May God be with you, may He help you to remain strong in your faith and spirit. May He be with you as you carry on with your lives after this devastating event.

Prayers also for Christ's soon return, and the end of all death and destruction.

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Revelation 21v3-4

Latest on Suez warships & Saudi Arabia chides U.S.

• US warships box in Iranian flotilla, delay Suez passage: The repeated delays and contradictory statements about the two Iranian warships' transit of the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean is accounted for by a standoff between the Iranian flotilla and five US warships deployed in recent days at the waterway's southern entrance and along its course Read More>>

• Saudi Arabia chides U.S. for vetoing UN resolution on Israeli settlements: Saudi Arabia voiced regret on Monday over a U.S. veto of a U.N. resolution condemning Israeli settlements in the West Bank, in a rare criticism of Washington by its close Arab ally. Read More>>

EU & Turkey in Middle East

• EU seeks more presence in the Middle East: this article also includes a particularly interesting wording of 'political earthquakes' in Tunisia and Egypt. Read more>>

• Turkey plays growing political role in Middle East: As Egypt erupted a few weeks ago, one fellow Muslim country insistently urged President Hosni Mubarak to respond to popular demands. That country was Turkey. Read more>>

UN Resolution Veto, Sinai Troops, Tunisia Jews, Middle East

• Netanyahu lets Egypt build up its Sinai army to 4,000 troops: Without serious aforethought, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak have waved through another 3,000 Egyptian troops into North Sinai, topping their number up to 4,000 and virtually scrapping the key demilitarization clause of the 1979 peace treaty. Read more>>

• Anti-Jewish Demo Raises Fears for Tunisian Jews: Tunisian Jews have raised concerns for their community's safety following an anti-Jewish rally outside the country's main synagogue. Read more>>

• Strategic Puzzle Shifts in Mideast: For more than two decades, the Middle East fell easily into neat strategic pieces like a puzzle: A rock-solid peace treaty tied Egypt and Jordan to Israel; stable, pro-U.S. monarchies lined the length of the Persian Gulf oil channels; autocratic governments across North Africa seemed unshakable. Read more>>

• If Obama opposes Israeli settlement activity, why did US veto UN vote?: In its first United Nations veto, the Obama administration on Friday voted against a resolution condemning Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem as "illegal." Read more>>