Christianity for Today

Just Some Miscellaneous Thoughts on a Spring Day in Early March

2012-03-14T11:41:00.002-07:00

Believe it or not Spring has actually arrived early here in the Twin Cities. Shirt-sleeves is almost unthinkable for the 14th of March, yet with temperatures into the 70's, shorts are commonly seen. This really was the year without a winter - or at least a winter as it has been known in recent years. Minimal snowfall. Moderate temperatures. Amazing! Of course the downside is that unless we can get some rainfall in the coming weeks, the drought that began last fall will continue. So, is the glass half-full or half-empty? Guess it depends upon with whom you talk, but I have liked not having to shovel snow or endure bitter temperatures. So, I am not complaining.

So where are we in the world today? Well, I guess it all depends upon which day of the week Greece is having a financial crisis. One can almost get dizzy watching this drama unfold. First there seems to be a resolution with the Greek government ordering severe austerity measures with the assurances of capital infusion from the European Central Bank. Then, the crisis reappears and world markets teeter once again. So, more severe austerity plans are put into place with even stronger assurances from the Central Bank. So now, at least for the moment, Greece has been taken out of the picture. Yet, you know that another financial crisis is just a few liabilities away from being the next crisis that threatens all of us.

The Middle East continues to be a very troubled place. This past week insurgents within the Gaza Strip launched dozens of rockets into Israel. Israeli warplanes responded quickly killing at least two major militant leaders. Of course that necessitated more rockets. The Egyptian government brokered a cease-fire which lasted about as long as a snowman on the Fourth of July. There was an interesting story on the IsraelInternationalNews.com website today that intimated that Iran is using this recent crisis to ascertain the Israeli resolve. I guess we could say that through Hamas, their proxy, they are trying to determine if the Israeli government really means what it says. Perhaps this might be the prelude to an even greater crisis on the horizon.

I know that many of you were in prayer last week when Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu was here in the States. His speech before the AIPAC convention was powerful. You can hear it by going to their website. It is under the heading of AIPAC Policy Conference. We need to keep praying for this man and for his administration that they know the wisdom of God. We also need to pray for our President.

I was reminded of Paul's words to Timothy: "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:1-4). Now you must remember that Nero was the Roman emperor as Paul was writing these words. We would hardly say that he was a man worthy of prayer. But Paul prayed for him. Did he agree with Nero's administrative practices? Absolutely not! But, nonetheless, Paul prayed for him. We may not agree with either the President or the Prime Minister's position, but we are still encouraged to pray for them. May we do this with diligence as unto the Lord. Perhaps if we prayed more and criticized less, God might accomplish greater things. Just a thought!

Well, March Madness begins this week. By now your brackets have been filled out. Come Sunday evening most of us will just sit back and watch as our teams will have fallen by the wayside. Nonetheless, enjoy some great basketball. By the way...Go ISU Cyclones!

The World Today as It Approaches the Purim Celebration

2012-03-07T08:10:00.003-08:00

Today, March 7, is celebrated in Israel as the Fast of Esther. It commemorates the three-day fast that Esther and Mordecai observed prior to Esther's going into see King Xerxes (Esther 4:15). Tonight Jews will gather in their synagogues for the reading of the Esther Scroll. Tomorrow and Friday will be the celebration of Purim, a feast that has its initiation in the book of Esther (Esther 9:18-28). It is the celebration of God's deliverance of Israel from the hateful ambitions of Haman to have all Jews destroyed. We read in Esther 3:5-6, "When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. Yet having learned who Mordecai's people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai's people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes." But, as we know, God worked through Mordecai, Esther, and even King Xerxes to bring about a great victory for Israel, thus sparing His people from annihilation.

I found it very significant that when Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu had his meeting with President Obama in the Oval Office this past Monday, that the Prime Minister gave our President an elaborately decorated scroll of the Book of Esther. I believe it was more than just a gesture of good-will. I believe it was a symbolic gift. It was as if the Prime Minister was saying, "President Obama, I want you to read this story. Here an evil leader, living in the ancient country of Persia, sought to annihilate the people of God, the Jews. But, God intervened and the Jews defended themselves against this annihilation and the enemy was destroyed. President Obama, today there is another leader in this same country, Iran, who has threatened the annihilation of the people of God from the face of the earth. This time he has the added threat of using nuclear weapons. But, President Obama, I want you to know that with the intervention of God, the people of Israel will be victorious." When I shared this with a group this week, someone asked me, "Do you think President Obama will read the scroll?" I don't know if he will, but his eyes would be opened if he did.

How was President Obama's speech received this past Sunday at the AIPAC conference. AIPAC stands for American-Israel Public Affairs Committee, being the largest American-Jewish coalition in this country. I have read most of President Obama's remarks. And I have some strong reservations about his sincerity. Friends, here is the critical problem. The world knows the steps that Iran is taking toward creating a nuclear weapons capability. Right now the United States and Europe have taken the initiative to develop economic sanctions that hopefully will force Iran to stop its nuclear weapons ambitions. The United States has indicated to Israel that there is a "red-line" that, when crossed by Iran, will cause the United States to respond appropriately. Israel has also identified a "red-line" but it is not the same as the one described the United States. Israel knows what its military is capable of doing and what its limitations are. By his speech President Obama was asking the Israeli people to trust him that he would respond appropriately when the time came. The dilemma for the Israeli leadership is whether they trust this Administration to act as they say they will.

I have also read most of the speech Prime Minister Netanyahu delivered to the same AIPAC group on Monday. It was a powerful speech outlining the reasons why Israel must do what is in its best interests whether the world agrees with it or not. Against the backdrop are the remembrances of the Holocaust and of those words, "Never again." Israel views the threat from Iran as being very real. For them, time is running out.

One final note, this past Sunday Vladimir Putin was elected as President of Russia. The election was not even close. Putin had served as Russia's president from 2000-2008, but according to Russian Constitution was prohibited from serving a third term. The first to send congratulatory remarks was President Ahmadinejad from Iran. Surprised? Look for the ties between Iran and Russia to only strengthen in the coming months. Just more indications that the stage is being set for the Ezekiel 38-39 War.

So, what should we do as believers? First, we are to remember that God is still sovereignly in control of all that is happening. It may seem like chaos to us, but it is not that to God. Second, we need to keep praying for Israel and for peace to come to Jerusalem. That is our biblical admonition. Third, we are to be more diligent in our witness to others, to help them to understand their need for Christ as Savior, to help them to know that the end is getting very close. Finally, we are to keep looking heavenward because our Redemption soon draws near.

Earnest Prayer Is Needed

2012-02-29T07:38:00.002-08:00

I want to begin my blog this week with an urgent call to prayer for an imprisoned Iranian pastor who is under a sentence of death. His name is Yousef Nadarkhani, a husband and father of two small children. He was arrested in 2010 and convicted of converting from Islam to Christianity. His trial before an Iranian court resulted in his receiving a death sentence. His lawyers appealed his case to the the equivalent of the Iranian Supreme Court which in the fall of 2011 rejected that appeal. In January, the Court released Pastor Yousef to be hanged. As of today, that sentence has not been carried out, and the outcry from across the world is great for his release. Even representatives from both sides of the aisle in Washington have co-sponsored a resolution that will be presented to the United States Congress in a few days strongly requesting the Iranian government to release Pastor Yousef.

As I have been sharing this request with many these past few days, I was strongly reminded of the account in Acts 12 where Peter and James had been imprisoned for their faith. The Bible tells us that Herod Agrippa I had James put to death with the sword. Peter's trial and death could await the end of the Passover. I love verse 5: "So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him." I wonder how much "earnest prayer" is made by the church today? I am afraid that too often our prayers are weak and anemic, certainly not powerful and effective as the prayers of a righteous man should be (James 5:16).

As the church prayed, God worked, sending an angel to appear before Peter and telling him to get up. When Peter did, the text tells us that his chains fell off. Now that should have told Peter something. But Peter was still in a daze, thinking this was all a dream. Finally when he walked outside the prison, he came to his senses. He knew this was a miracle of God. His first thought was to go to the house where he anticipated people would be praying. I will not elaborate on what he found there, except to say that the people had prayed but had difficulty in believing that God would act on their prayers. Pretty common malaise among Christians today, by the way. We pray with so little faith to believe.

I have been praying that God would open those prison doors in Iran for Pastor Yousef and bring him forth so the world will know that it was God who had acted strongly on Pastor Yousef's behalf. Do you think that if this happened many of the Iranians might come to Christ?

Perhaps, as you are praying for Pastor Yousef and his family, you will be reminded of others whom you know that are in some type of bondage and need freed by God's grace. It might be a relationship or marriage. It might be a job situation that is difficult. It might be with neighbors or friends. It is time that you pray for God to open those prison doors and release the "peters" there. Our God is still able to do this. His power has not diminished one iota since the day He brought forth Peter from that prison in Jerusalem. Our God truly is mighty to save!

One other matter for prayer: This coming Monday, March 5, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with President Obama in Washington. From all indications, it will be a rather cool reception by the President. Word has come from several sources indicating that Israel has already informed our government that they will not be given an information concerning any pre-emptive strike Israel might take against the Iranian nuclear program. Please join with me in praying for this meeting on Monday that the Prime Minister might have courage and boldness to share the feelings of the Israeli people well and that our President might have a listening heart. I will keep you posted as to the outcome of that session.

A Call for Reality in the Midst of Exuberance

2012-02-22T08:39:00.000-08:00

As I turned on the television this morning to catch the headlines that were attracting attention, the lead story was the Dow crossing the 13,000 point barrier briefly yesterday. It has not crossed that threshold since the great collapse back in 2008. Some of the pundits were excited and predicted that the Dow would be even higher at the close of the year. Yet, I do not want to be the bearer of bad tidings, but look at reality:

Gasoline prices are nearing record territory, in fact, in some places those records have already been smashed and it is still February. Forecasters are saying that gasoline will reach $5 per gallon as early as Memorial Day. And, if there is some type of conflict between Iran and Israel in the near future, the price of oil and gasoline will sky-rocket into ranges never before even pondered, let alone realized. Every dollar that does into the gas tank is another dollar less to spend elsewhere.

Food prices are soaring especially beef prices. Because of the drought in West Texas that began last summer, ranchers sold their herds because of the price of hay. There will be a shortage of beef for the next couple of years until those herds can be rebuilt, and that rebuilding process will be dependent upon the drought being broken. By the way, food prices will soar even higher if the price of fuel continues to climb. Consumers are always the end of the line.

Although there have been slight decreases in the number of homes being foreclosed, there yet remain many home owners who are under water. The question is when will these homes come onto a market already struggling to find some stability?

And the global financial situation has not improved greatly. Yes, the Europeans have solved the problem with Greece, thus preventing a major default by the Grecian government. But who will be paying for the impending crises in Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Ireland? Where is all this money going to come from? And, who is going to buy the projected 1.3 trillion dollar deficit the present Administration is proposing for fiscal year 2013?

Yes, for those of us who have money invested in the stock market, a rising Dow average is good news. The monthly statements are much easier to receive now than they were several months ago. Yet I believe too much exuberance is very much premature.

And the news coming from the Middle East continues to keep us on the edge. Just today, the Russians, in an article published by the Reuters featured this statement: "Russia warned Israel on Wednesday that attacking Iran would be disastrous and played down the failure of a U.N. nuclear agency mission to Tehran, saying there is still a chance for new talks over the Iranian atomic programme." (www.flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com). Also this week, senior Iranian officials threatened that Iran would launch its own pre-emptive missile attack against Israel accompanied by a wave of suicide bombings in the U.S. In recent weeks we have seen what Iranian-backed terrorists have been able to do in Thailand, India, Georgia, and other places around the world. I think we are only fooling ourselves if we think those cells do not exist here in our country.

For those of you who have been following this blog for the past few years will understand that, I believe, the Bible declares an upcoming war in the Middle East known as the Psalm 83 War to be followed by the Ezekiel 38-39 War. I believe the stage is being prepared for either or both of those to occur. Certainly the players are there. I think we are just waiting for the Director to announce "lights, camera, and action!" But it won't be long!

Friends, be encouraged as you read the Scriptures. Our hope is not in our armies or in our government or in our financial plans. Our hope is in Jesus Christ...everything else is sinking sand.

P.S. Again, for those of you who live in Central Iowa, I will be speaking on Friday night and Saturday morning at the Westchester Evangelical Free Church on many of these matters. Would really enjoy meeting you. Please call the church office for times.

Of Iran, Lipstick, and School Lunches

2012-02-15T11:23:00.000-08:00

Among the headlines today was Iran's loading nuclear fuel rods into a research reactor despite repeated warnings from the international community and the United Nations to stop their nuclear development program. In addition, the Iranians have moved one of their nuclear testing sites into a deep underground facility near the city of Qoms. It is likely that in a few months all of Iran's nuclear facilities will be housed in underground bunkers which will make for difficult military targets, whether Israeli or American or United Nations.

And we have been hearing this week of attempts made on the lives of Israeli diplomatic personnel in India, Georgia, and Thailand. Israeli authorities have placed the blame on Iranians and their proxies Hezbollah. Fortunately no one was killed, although the wife of one Israeli diplomat in India was severely injured, yet thankful that her children were not in the car with her. These attacks come in response to Iranian accusations that the Israeli Mousad has been behind the recent string of assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists, which involvement Israeli authorities have strongly denied.

Continuing our focus on the Middle East. This past Sunday a new poll was released by the Independent Palestinian Center for Public Opinion that indicated that if elections were held now, Palestinians would re-elect President Mahmoud Abbas over Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal by a 49.9 to 29 percent margin. In addition the poll suggested that 40 percent of Palestinians believe that their economic plight will only deteriorate under a unified Fatah-Hamas government. This poll came after Abbas and Mashaal had signed a reconciliation deal a few days earlier in Qatar, which gave Abbas the title of President and Prime Minister. Hamas leaders in Gaza have been furious over the deal because they were not included in the planning. One thing is for certain: this new deal will not advance the cause of peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

Let me ask you: Aren't you glad that your government is watching out for you? Ladies, aren't you glad that the government has said that certain lipsticks you have been using "might" contain enough lead to cause medical problems. As I read that article in this morning's paper, I thought to myself: how can the government protect me from all the risks that come because I am alive? Life necessarily brings risks. If I undergo surgery, there are risks for infections. If I eat at a restaurant, there are risks of e-coli bacteria that might be present. If I use a cell phone there are risks of electrical waves that might cause brain cancer. If I get into my car and drive to my office at the Church, there are risks that I might have an accident. Yet I do drive to my office; I do use my cell phone; I do enjoy eating at various restaurants; and I will have surgery when the need arises. I do not need the government to monitor my life telling me how to avoid risks. Maybe I am over-reacting, but I do not believe that it was the intention of the framers of our American way of life that the government should be intrusive into every area of that life.
Even Jesus, when asked why 18 people died when the tower in Siloam fell on them, basically said that there are risks in life and that one needs to be prepared for what occurs when death does come (Luke 13:4).

What really got me angry was reading an article out of Raeford, NC, where a young preschooler at the West Hoke Elementary School had a state agent inspect his lunch which his mother had packed for him. The lunch included a turkey and cheese sandwich, a banana, apple juice and some potato chips. The agent said that the lunch "did not meet US Department of Agriculture guidelines." In other words, it was not "healthy" according to Federal guidelines. The preschooler was then given a school-lunch and a note was sent home saying that the child owed $1.25 for the three chicken nuggets which he ate off the tray. Really makes you wonder what goes on behind closed doors in Washington?

Yet there is good news, friends. Jesus is coming! How we need to keep clinging to that powerful truth!

Rumors of War Are Increasing - What's Next?

2012-02-08T07:26:00.000-08:00

Over recent days I have had numerous requests to share my perspective on what is happening in the Middle East. Tensions in that region are mounting, perhaps greater now than they have been since the Second Lebanon War of 2006. War seems to be on the minds of many international leaders and editorials in many newspapers and news magazines around the globe are speculating about not if there will be war, but when.

Let's consider the Syrian situation. The removal of President Assad was dealt a crippling blow last weekend when the Russians and Chinese vetoed a strong United Nations Security Council Resolution demanding that Assad step down from office and allow democratic reforms within Syria. Almost immediately after the veto reports began to circulate of increased violence in Homs and elsewhere with a rising death toll. The Russians and Chinese have shown their hands. They are willing to commit arms and resources to keep the present Syrian regime in power. For the United Nations to authorize any type of military intervention into Syria, like that of NATO into Libya, would be to invite a war against Russian and Chinese military, as well as invite Assad to launch an attack at Israel either directly or through the Syrian proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon. I believe the only way Assad will be forced to leave is if there is a mass defection of Syrian soldiers from the military - which seems highly unlikely. Civil War is inevitable unless the Russians and Chinese are persuaded to change their minds.

Now for the escalating rhetoric between Iran and the rest of the world. This week the Iranian parliament's official website published an article that appeared in the Alef News Agency calling on the Iranian government to attack Israel before the end of the year. The target, according to the article, would be the area between Jerusalem and Lod (including Tel Aviv). Last Friday, February 3, the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said that "Israel is a cancerous tumor that should be cut and will be cut. ... From now on, in any place, if any nation or any group confronts the Zionist regime, we will endorse and we will help. We have no fear expressing this." Khamenei also had these warnings for the United States: "A war would be 10 times deadlier for the Americans... These threats indicate America's weakness and the Americans need to know that the more threats they make, the more they damage themselves." One Iranian computer engineer stated that Israel could be annihilated in a matter of nine minutes with a coordinated rocket assault.

Also, it has been learned that the Iranians are mass-producing anti-ship cruise missiles. The Zafar missile is capable of destroying both small and medium sized targets with great precision. They can be mounted on speed boats which we know the Iranians use in patrolling the Persian Gulf and the Straits of Hormuz. Even more alarming was the docking of an Iranian naval vessel in the Saudi port city of Jeddah over the weekend. The captain stated: "This mission aims to show the power of the Islamic republic of Iran on the open seas and to confront Iranophobia." What makes this so interesting is that relationships between Iran and Saudi Arabia have greatly deteriorated over the past year or so.

So will Israel launch a pre-emptive strike upon Iran's nuclear facilities? That is the $64,000 question. It is almost certain that Israel will not sit back and watch Iran continue its pathway toward nuclear warhead production. And Israel's intelligence community knows that Iran is acting quickly to bury their nuclear facilities into deep underground bunkers. When those bunkers are finished the task of removing the nuclear threat through air strikes alone will be significantly decreased. Israeli Defense Ministry Ehud Barak, this past Friday, said: "The world has no doubt that Iran's nuclear program is steadily nearing readiness and is about to enter an immunity zone. If the sanctions don't achieve their goal of halting Iran's nuclear weapons program, there will arise the need of weighing an operation."

A report in the "Washington Post" by columnist David Ignatius stated that US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta believed there is a strong likelihood that Israel will strike Iran in April, May or June. The United States wants to continue pressing economic sanctions against the Iranian regime. But, according to Ephraim Kam, deputy director of Tel Aviv University's Institute for National Security Studies, "It will take at least six months to see whether sanctions are effective and by then it may be too late." Speaking of the difference between Israeli attitudes and those expressed in Washington, Kam said, "We're definitely using different clocks."

Nicole Gaouette and Jonathan Ferziger, in an article published on the Bloomberg News, quoted an interview with Mahdi Khalaji, an Iranian specialist at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Khalaji said that he doubted that the US or Iran would launch a military strike this year, but cited the possibility that Iran might stage a provocation and use any response as an excuse to launch an asymmetrical attack against US and Israel targets using proxies such as Hezbollah.

So we play the waiting game. Will Israel act without first gaining American permission, or will Israel act first? In the past Israel has been successful when it has been pre-emptive. The 67 Six-Day War is a classic example, while the 73 Yom Kippur War is an example of what happened when they yielded to American pressures and did not act pre-emptively.

Whatever happens we know it will part of God's plan and certainly the Middle East is the centerpiece for that plan.

P.S. For those of you who live in the Des Moines (IA) area, I will be speaking at a Prophecy Conference at Westchester Evangelical Free Church, on Friday night, February 24, Saturday morning, February 25, and Sunday morning, February 26. Among the topics we will be addressing are: Israel and the Land and God's Promises, the Rise of Anti-Christ and the Spirit of the Age, and questions and answers about current news events. Please call Westchester Church for further details.

Sermons - What is Truly Being Said

2012-02-01T07:42:00.000-08:00

The other day I received a flier in the mail from one of the newer churches that has been planted in our community. The flier was attractively done and showed a young family having fun, headlining the series of topics for the month on the family. But here is what attracted me even more. One of the bullet points for the church was this: we have short sermons that will not bore you.

Is boredom created on Sunday morning because of long sermons? Are shorter sermons less boring than longer ones? In fact, does length of time have anything to do with the matter at all? Let's see, Jesus preached some long sermons - the Sermon on the Mount being among His longest. But there was also His long sermon about the Kingdom (Matthew 13) and His long lecture about the End Times (Matthew 24 and 25). But Jesus also was the master at shorter sermons and dialogues, using picture stories to draw attention to strong biblical truths. His parables are classic examples.

The Apostle Paul also knew the value of using both shorter discourses as well as longer ones. Perhaps his longest sermon resulted in the death of one of those listening. We read these words in Acts 20:7-11 - "On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. 'Don't be alarmed,' he said. 'He's alive!' Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left." Now that was one long sermon - and at least one person thought it boring enough to fall asleep. Probably Eutychus did not consider the rest of the sermon boring after being brought back to life. In fact, I doubt whether he ever went to sleep in church again...at least he did not sit in a window seat.

Friends, the length of the service is not where our focus should be. The focus is on what is being taught. In many churches today, the message is being distorted and watered down so as to be more attractive to people. After all, we certainly don't want to drive people away. What is it that people are really searching for today? Some are longing for acceptance and approval of the lifestyle they have already adopted. Others are looking for some type of reassurance that they are okay - they want to feel that slap on the back and the words, "Charlie, you are a good man!" One way the Church has responded to these people is to create a message that states: "God loves you just the way you are!" Friends, I think if this is the only message we proclaim, then it is a message of deception. It results in people feeling good about who they are in their sin. It results in people feeling that God's love just accepts everyone no matter what.

I know some of you will say, "Max, but isn't it true that God loves each of us just the way we are?" And my response is "Yes, He certainly does. But, when I encounter God's love I am forever changed. I am not the same person as I was previously." I remind my congregation that God accepts us as we are, but He does not leave us that way. He truly changes us. And it is this message of change that is missing today. "Come, hear a short message and you will leave feeling good about who you are." Is that truly what the Gospel message is all about? No! It is about changed lives with changed purposes and with changed attitudes.

As you listen to the sermon this week, whether it is 15 minutes or 45 minutes, ask yourself this question: "Is this message merely telling me that I am a good person?" or "Is this message asking me to change to become the person God wants me to be?"

Egypt - A Year Later

2012-01-25T06:47:00.000-08:00

Today marks the first anniversary of the "Arab Spring" uprising in Tahrir Square in Cairo. You will remember images of young people marching for democracy. Pressure was applied upon President Mubarak to step down and to turn the reigns of Egyptian government over to the people. Let's see what has happened over the course of this past year?

President Mubarak was forced to resign and went into exile at his home near Sharm-el-Shiek, along the Red Sea. His cancer became worse and eventually he and his sons were arrested. Presently they stand trial for crimes against the government. Mubarak is in such a weakened condition that he attends the court proceedings lying upon a cot. Of course the crowds roar for their execution. Let's see - is this democracy at work? Rather reminds me of the actions of the people during the French Revolution: heads must roll.

So, when Mubarak stepped down, did the people get a voice? No! The Egyptian military, which has controlled Egypt since the days of General Nassar, remained in power. This Council is now known as the SCAF (Supreme Council of the Armed Forces). Often they brutalized the people. A year later, General Tantawi and the SCAF still hold the reigns of power in Egypt.

But, you will ask, what about the elections that the Egyptians have just completed? Yes, what about those elections? The big winners were the religious Islamists. When the new Egyptian parliament convened earlier this week, 72% of the seats were held by either members of the Muslim Brotherhood or the Salafist parties (360 out of 498 seats). And, according to reports published on January 10 in the newspaper "El-Badil" election fraud was very high. According to that paper, only 40 million Egyptians were eligible to vote, yet over 52 million votes were cast. Some people voted at least 32 times. (Sort of reminds me of the quote we heard while living in Chicago in the early 1980's - "Vote early and vote often.") Now there are calls to annul the elections and to conduct them once again.

It is very interesting, of course, that the winning Islamists were excited about the outcome of the elections. In fact, one of the leaders of the Salafi party - Tal'at Zahran, said unapologetically that it was their Islamic duty to be dishonest - "It is our duty to forge elections; God will reward us for this."

Of course now come speculations about the type of government Egypt will have. Will those members of the Parliament, now in the majority, be able to swing Egypt into the Sharia Law camp? What will be the response of the military leadership? Will generals step down and relinquish control to the "people?" These are some very interesting questions.

We know that members of the Muslim Brotherhood have been meeting with General Tantawi . Although no definitive results have been published, speculation abounds that a deal has been struck that will allow the Muslim Brotherhood to push a certain portion of their agenda, but at the same time have the SCAF in control of the government. According to Daniel Pipes in an article titled, "Don't Ignore Electoral Fraud in Egypt," General Tantawi will continue to hold the reigns of power; the generals desired an Islamic victory. He closed his article with this statement: "We are witnessing not an ideological revolution but a military officer corps staying dominant to enjoy the sweet fruits of tyranny."

What do I believe is going to happen in Egypt? Let me relate two things near term and one far term. First the near term events. I believe that the days of relative freedom of expression for Egyptian women is nearing an end. Egyptian women have benefited from a secular Islamic control. They could dress how they pleased. They could become educated and express themselves. I believe that will soon change. The hagib will soon be the garb for all women. Secondly, I believe that persecution of Egyptian Jews and Christians will increase. I see the day coming when Christians will be rare in Egypt. How we need to pray for those believers that God will prepare them for what is to come.

Now for the long term. In Isaiah 19, the prophet tells us that a day will come when Egypt will be united with both Israel and Iraq (the ancient nation of Assyria) and will come to worship the living God in Jerusalem. One can only imagine what that will be like. But, God said it and I will believe that it will happen. God is not finished with the Egyptian people just yet. God still has a role for them to play in the great symphony that will crescendo when the King arrives. What a day that will be! The orchestra is tuning up...it is not long until the concert will begin!

Jesus Said, "Give Me a Drink"

2012-01-18T10:45:00.000-08:00

Among the goals I have set for myself during 2012 is the reading of Oswald Chambers' classic devotional, "My Utmost for His Highest." It has been years since I last read this powerful presentation of biblical truths. And, to be quite frank, I did not get much out of the reading. Perhaps I was hampered by the stiff and stilted English that Chambers used. But I have a new updated version written in today's English, edited by James Reimann. Now I am underlining sections each day as they take on new meaning for me.

In today's devotional - January 18 - I was reminded once again how disoriented we often are in our walk with Christ. Chambers cites the words of Jesus to the woman at the well in John 4:7 - "When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, 'Will you give me a drink?'" He then makes this bold and rather startling statement: "How many of us are expecting Jesus Christ to quench our thirst when we should be satisfying Him!" Wow! That statement gives one a jolt!

I don't know about you, but I find it so very easy to ask God to do something for me. All right, many times I command God to do something for me. As our congregation has been learning through two weeks into the Book of Malachi, the defining problem of the people of Israel in the 5th century BC was that they believed God was their servant, rather than they being God's servants. The problem with this mentality is that when God does not do what we command Him to do then we come to the conclusion that He either does not love us any longer or that He has moved away from us.

Chambers did not cite Psalm 103 in his devotional, but he could have with great emphasis. There David writes so succinctly: "Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless your holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of his benefits" (Psalm 103:1-2, KJV). I so want God to bless me, but how often do I want to bless Him? How often do I simply give to God because my soul, my innermost being, desires to do that? The Lord asks, "Give me a drink" and our response generally is, "Okay, but here is what I want from You, Lord."

This past Sunday I gave my congregation a homework assignment - guess it is still the Village School within me. The assignment was to take 30 minutes and write down a response to this question: "How do I know the love of God?" Then, at the bottom of the page, they were to write these words: "Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so!" Then they were to post this sheet somewhere that could be seen and to know daily that God loved them. When we realize how much God truly loves us and all that He has done and continues to do for us, should we not then "give Him a drink?"

Friends, may we discover anew the joys of blessing the Lord, of sharing with Him a drink of cold water.

Where Is the Leader We Can Follow?

2012-01-11T06:27:00.000-08:00

I know many of you are tyring to keep up with the political climate here in the States right now. Both Iowa and New Hampshire have registered their decisions, yet, if the exit polls conducted yesterday in New Hampshire are accurate, one in three Republican voters would have liked to have voted for "None of the Above." There is a need for real leadership today, for someone to tackle the issues, not hurl accusations at others.

I recently read a book on Abraham Lincoln and his cabinet. It was titled, "A Team of Rivals," written by Doris Kearns Goodwin. By the way, this is a book that I highly recommend. As you know, Lincoln guided this nation through some of its most perilous days. He made lots of enemies during the course of the 1860 election. Yet, interestingly enough, some of those political opponents that were most vocal against Lincoln, he appointed to his cabinet after his election. Why? Because they were most qualified for the positions they would hold. And, although Lincoln was castigated mightily by newspaper editors, military leaders, Congressmen and Senators, as well as some of his own cabinet members, Lincoln never retaliated. He just led. He stayed the course. He addressed the issues of his day with forthrightness and courage. And, in the end, he lived to see victory accomplished, at least victory in the war effort. Tragically, he never lived to see victory in the reconstruction.

At the church where I serve as Preaching-Teaching Pastor, Buffalo (MN) Covenant Church, I am working with two groups of men in discipleship-leadership development. We spent the fall studying the book of Nehemiah. This winter we are studying John Maxwell's book, "The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership." Yesterday morning our focus was upon the Law of Influence. I cited as an example Daniel. Daniel was a man of character that is clearly shared with us in chapter 1. Daniel was also a young man who cultivated relationships with others, especially those in leadership roles: King Nebuchadnezzar and King Darius especially. And Daniel was a man who was faithful to his ideals and principles for seventy years, for when those who sought his demise tried to find skeletons in his closet with which to accuse him, they could find none (Daniel 6:4-5). I am confident that that would not be the case among our leaders today. We could say of Daniel, "He was a true leader."

I believe that is what many Americans are looking for today: someone they can have confidence in to lead our nation back to a position of strength and respect within the community of nations. They are looking for someone who will stand for principles even when those principles may be viewed unfavorably by others.

Friends, the world sits precariously close to the edge of the precipice. The European financial crisis has not gone away - Greece is still within a stone's throw of financial default with others clinging tenaciously to their own thread of survival. Iran, sensing the demise of the American presence and power in the Middle East, has issued one threat after another causing further unrest in an already troubled region. Stability in Egypt teeters toward radical Islamic rule after recent elections provided the Muslim Brotherhood and the radical Salafists with majority status in the new parliament. China's military is flexing its newly found muscles in the Pacific rim. With untested leadership North Korea could become even more rogue than in the past. And, here at home, people are clinging to any thread of hope they can find.

Yes, there is a crying out for real leadership. Who will be our Daniel? Who will be our Lincoln? Who will be the one who will lead confidently with courage and resolve?

As We Enter 2012...

2012-01-04T07:55:00.000-08:00

The 2012 political year is now officially underway. It is a long time until November 6 and most of us will become inordinately tired of the attack ads on radio and television. The Iowa Caucuses really did very little to clear the Republican picture. Rick Perry and Michelle Bachmann, because of their poor showing, will reassess their campaigns and, in all likelihood, will both drop out of the race before the week closes. That leaves four still standing: Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum - who finished in a virtual tie, and Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich. These four will leave to campaign in New Hampshire and then in South Carolina and Florida. By the end of January the race will be down to two. It will be interesting to see how quickly, if at all, the Republican Party will coalesce around its candidate. Stay tuned, it could be an interesting year politically.

Over the Christmas week our Congress did it once again - kick the proverbial can down the road a little further. This time the can was kicked out for two months as the extension to the payroll tax roll-back was approved through February. What does that mean? It means that Congress, upon its return from the Christmas break, will once again wrestle with how to reign in spending. There seems to be an intense fear in Washington to do the right thing; so all I am anticipating is another kicking of the can down the road for another few months. This will certainly become one of the great campaign issues of 2012.

Meanwhile tensions continue to mount in the Middle East. Without an American military presence in neighboring Iraq, Iran now has the latitude to become the regional bully that it has desired to be. Just yesterday the Iranian government threatened to close the Straits of Hormuz if American warships re-enetered the Persian Gulf. I don't think Iran wants a war, but it feels free to intimidate. The Iranians know that Americans would not readily accept another Middle Eastern War. Thus the strong talk backed up with just enough military muscle that others will back away. The response from the Saudis was a request, which was granted by the Obama Administration, for purchase of more F-15 fighter jets for the Saudi air force. The Saudis simply do not trust the Iranians.

Also yesterday the Palestinian Authority and Israelis sat down in Amman, Jordan, at the invitation of King Abdullah, to attempt to reignite the peace process. Nothing was accomplished. The Palestinians came with a long list of preconditions - including a freeze on all Israeli building in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, along with agreement to the 1967 borders as initial boundaries. Of course Israel refused to accept these pre-conditions, but politely attended. King Abdullah is wary of what might happen on his western border if Hamas and Fatah create a unified Palestinian government. In many ways King Abdullah is trying to fill that vacuum left when Egyptian President Mubarak was overthrown last February. Time will tell if there will be any success, but I highly doubt there will be.

Speaking of Egypt, yesterday marked the third phase in the election of a new Egyptian Parliament. According to an article I read in this morning's Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the Egyptian military is conversing with the Muslim Brotherhood about some kind of unity government. Friends, the handwriting is on the walls: the new Egypt will not look like the old Egypt; the new Egypt will be governed by Islamic Sharia Law. The result will be a continued and increased persecution of Christians living in Egypt. So much for the 2011 "Arab Spring."

One final note, 2012 will prove to be an interesting year for Europeans. The European Union is still reeling from the collapse of the Euro and the near financial collapse of Greece, Italy, Spain, and Ireland. Will other nations join in teetering near the edge in 2012? I would not want to bet against it.

As we enter into 2012, many are talking about this being the year that the world comes to an end - December 21, 2012. Friends, this is our opportunity to share with people that there is still time for them to put their trust in Jesus Christ. There is hope to be found only in Him. There is peace to be found only in Him. Let us not become people filled with despair, but let us seize the moment - carpe deim - and live triumphantly for Jesus Christ as we await His soon return.

A Christmas Greeting

2011-12-21T07:32:00.000-08:00

We are now just hours away from celebrating one of the most joyous announcements the world has ever heard - "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10-11). I shared with my congregation last Sunday, as we examined this carol of Christmas, God did not send to the world an advisor. The world had more than enough advisers. Neither did God send the world a reformer; reformation had been tried - the list included Joash, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, Josiah, Nehemiah and Ezra - but was only short-lived. No, what the world needed was a Savior - someone who could bring lost mankind back into a relationship with a holy and loving God.

Amid the din of those times, only a few listened to this glorious announcement. A few shepherds heard and risked their very careers by leaving their flocks unattended as they hurried to worship the Savior who lay in a manger. And a few magi (wise men) risked their very lives as they traveled hundreds of miles to come and worship the Savior and to share gifts with Him. Simeon and Anna, two elderly saints, heard and offered their final praises to God upon seeing the Savior.

Sadly the majority of the world failed to listen to the message. Herod sought to protect his throne. The Pharisees sought to protect their religion. And the common folk sought to protect their ignorance.

This Christmas Season the response to the announcement that the angels shared with a terrified group of shepherds has not changed. The majority of the world continues to pay little heed. Many seek to protect their religious rites and rituals. Others seek to protect their careers and livelihood. Multitudes seek the protection of their ignorance. In fact, the battle cry is whether to call December 25 and this season of the year "Christmas" or just a "holiday." Schools no longer have "Christmas programs;" if they have any program at all it is a "winter program." Clerks in stores are fearful of losing their employment if they dared to respond with a "Merry Christmas" to a customer. It is as if the world cries out, "Let's have Christmas but without Christ." If Christ be taken out of Christmas what remains? December 25 becomes just another day. Christ is so much more than Christmas, but Christmas finds its significance only in the person of Jesus Christ.

Through the years of time since that first Christmas a few have heard the message and have hurried to the manger as did the shepherds. For them to know Christ is to experience Christmas. I trust that you have come to know Jesus Christ as your Savior. If you have not, then I invite you to accept the gift He came to give - the salvation from your sins and acceptance into the family of God. Then you will experience what Christmas truly is: Jesus Christ.

We do not know what 2012 holds for us - many say the world will end in 2012; but I am prepared if it should, are you? The world will continue teetering on the edge of the abyss; there will be more wars and rumors of wars; there will be more unusual weather patterns impacting millions around the globe; the financial markets will continue riding the roller coaster of highs and lows. But, friends, behind each event will be the hand of God directing each act toward His intended climax - the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, our King.

Marlys and I want to wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a blessed beginning to the New Year.

A Message of True Peace

2011-12-14T09:05:00.000-08:00

The message of the angelic choir to the shepherds guarding their flocks on the hillsides outside of Bethlehem that very first Christmas Eve was this: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests" (Luke 2:14). This may be one of the most misunderstood statements in all of the gospel accounts.

Many have interpreted this statement to mean that Jesus came to bring peace on earth. Certainly this was what the Jews had hoped would happen. If only the presence of Rome could be expunged from their land real peace would come. Others reasoned that if the power of the Roman tax collectors could be eliminated, then there would be financial peace. And still others hoped that there might be relief from the oppressive legalistic practices the Pharisees had imposed upon the people, all in the name of a "loving" God.

Did Jesus Christ come to bring peace to the world? If one examines the historical evidence, the answer is a most assured "no!" Even Jesus Himself died at the hands of violent Roman executioners. Within three decades of His death, the Roman armies destroyed the city of Jerusalem and its temple and sent tens of thousands of Jews to either their death or to slavery. And, how many wars have there been since then? How many people have been killed in those wars? The answer would be countless millions. Peace - hardly!

What about those who cried out for relief from the oppressive legalistic practices of the religion of the day? It seems that the rules became more oppressive, especially after the temple with its ritual sacrifices was destroyed. Peace - hardly!

No much has changed in our world of the twenty-first century. Once again the world teeters on the brink of war. Reports this week included the news that the Syrians have armed 600 missiles with chemical warheads. The Iranians have announced that they will conduct war games in the Persian Gulf and will close the Straits of Hormuz to all shipping. Sectarian violence continues in many parts of the world. Even within our own country we have seen thousands take to the streets, often using violence, to voice their strong disapproval for the widening gap between the "haves and the have-nots." Peace in our time - hardly likely!

So, what was the message of the angelic choir that night? Let's reread the carol: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." Earthly peace - no! Religious peace - no! A restored relationship with God - absolutely! Jesus Christ came as a savior, not as a king. He came to change the hearts of men, not to change the circumstances of men. He came to do that which mankind could not do for themselves. He came so that, those who would believe in Him, might know the peace of God. That they might know that the condemnation of an angry God was removed forever. Paul expressed it this way: "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1).

Will the world ever experience the peace that its seeks? Yes, that will occur when Jesus Christ returns to claim His throne. Then He shall be known as the Prince of Peace. But until that day, we celebrate this Advent Season the wonderful news of the peace we can have with God. May we not take this gift lightly.

Christmas: Its a Miracle

2011-12-06T17:41:00.000-08:00

We are now half way through the Advent Season. All around us are the trappings of Christmas - brightly lit trees gleam in the darkness of the cold winter evenings, bells ring beside red Salvation Army kettles informing us that many will be without a Christmas unless we respond, and everywhere people are rushing too and fro looking for that "perfect" gift. For those of us who live in the northern climes, the ground has its first dusting of snow and the temperatures have plunged to the near-zero range. It certainly begins to feel like Christmas.

But what is Christmas? This is the season of the year that rings so hollow for many. Psychologists inform us that December ranks among the highest months of the year for suicides. Depression grips the hearts of countless others. Where is the joy? Where is the peace? Are we missing something?

I believe the answer is "yes, we are!" We are missing Jesus. We get so caught up in all that happens at the Christmas Season that we forget the reason why we celebrate Christmas in the first place. Without Jesus, guess what?; there would be no Christmas. If there is no incarnation, there is no reason to light the trees, ring the bells, or shop for that "perfect" gift. Without the incarnation, the line from C. S. Lewis' "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" rings true: "It is always winter and never Christmas!"

I know it is not Christmas just yet, but I would like to share my favorite Christmas verse with you. We live in a world that is daily filled with news that, at times, turns our stomach and causes our blood to boil. But let me share some good news. "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). Friends, this is perhaps the greatest text on the incarnation of Jesus we have in the Bible. But, in order to more fully understand it, we need to go back to the very first verse of John: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." You got that? Hard to comprehend, isn't it? The first two parts are easy to understand: fact #1 - there was the Word in the beginning; fact #2 - this Word was alongside of God. But it is that third fact - the Word was not only equal with God, but was in fact God - that really causes our minds to spin.

Then John shares that this Word - who was God - became flesh; He became a man. God became a man. Not just a man, but a baby! I have often wondered what Joseph thought as he cradled the baby Jesus in his arms, knowing that he held the God of the universe. But now that God needed to be fed. He needed to have His diapers changed. He probably cried when hungry, perhaps keeping Joseph and Mary from sleep. God became a baby! Can you fully imagine that thought? The One who spoke the worlds into existence now needed to learn how to speak. The One who had crafted everything with His almighty hands now learned how to sharpen a saw-blade and to drive a nail. Amazing, isn't it?

But there was a reason for this incarnation. It was not just so God could experience what it was like to be a man. No, God took upon Himself flesh as the only way in which to reach a lost mankind with His love. He had tried the impersonal way through sacrifices and regulations, but those had failed. Now He came to show love with the greatest demonstration coming at the cross.

Yes, without Christ there is no Christmas. It is sad that for many this is a holiday, but it is not Christmas!

Is the Middle East Ready to Explode?

2011-11-30T06:48:00.001-08:00

What an incredible week this is turning out to be! Hang with me as we try to work through the major prophetic news items in just the past three or four days.

First, elections toward a new parliament in Egypt began on Monday. Thousands of Egyptians participated in the first of several steps involved in the first truly free elections in Egypt in over 60 years. The first day went peaceful, but I read this morning that yesterday a few demonstrators got violent and out of control. Who will be the big winner in these elections to be ultimately decided by late spring 2012? Most pundants see the Muslim Brotherhood coming out on top. And you remember that one of their top initiatives is the total destruction of Israel. I look for increase tensions in the coming months along the Egyptian-Israeli borders in the Sinai. I also look for a continued emboldening of Hamas in the Gaza Strip as they are granted less restrictions by the Egyptian military government.

Second, the situation in Syria continues to deteriorate significantly. Over the weekend the Arab League imposed some strict economic sanctions upon President Assad. Their concern was the mounting death toll of Syrians who have opposed the Assad regime. There has been no response fr9m Damascus, but yesterday four Katyusha rockets were fired from Hezbollah bases in southern Lebanon into northern Israel. With tensions mounting the United States has ordered the evacuation of all Americans from Syria and has placed a carrier group off the Syrian coast. Many feel this is a sign of an American-led NATO military operation against Assad, like what the European Union and NATO did against Libya that brought down the regime of Qaddafi.

Here comes the interesting question: What will be Iran's response to any attack upon Syria - its proxy in the region? You can rest assured that Israel is rather nervous right now.

Speaking of Iran, have you been following the series of mysterious explosions that have been occurring on their military bases? So far each one has been labeled as an accident, but a series of accidents? Stay tuned for further news on this front.

Meanwhile, all is not quiet on the Jordanian frontier either. A steady stream of refugees from Iraq and from Syria are crossing the borders. That, coupled with the increasing presence of the Muslim Brotherhood, creates a climate where King Abdullah and his government are rather nervous. One worry that the Jordanians have was expressed this way by Oded Eran of the Institute for National Securities Studies: "The U.S. final withdrawal from Iraq may cause anarchy there, which in turn will increase the flow of Iraqi refugees to Jordan." Another concern the Jordanians have is the prospect of a unity government in the West Bank between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority (PA). One of the consequences of such a unity government would be the inevitability of another Palestinian Intifadah against Israel, resulting in many Palestinians fleeing to Jordan for refuge.

Can any one say "Psalm 83 War?" I wake up each morning expecting to hear the headlines on the 6 o'clock news saying that war has broken out in the Middle East. I keep wondering how long the tides of war there can be held back. Yet I know all things are in God's hands. He is still the Sovereign God of His universe. But another Middle East war between Israel and her neighbors is inevitable because He has said it would happen. So now we just watch the pages of God's calendar turn day by day. Of course, we have a lot to do as we watch. Our mission for Christ has not changed just because the earth is unraveling. We are still to go and make disciples of all nations. May we do this faithfully and prayerfully as we wait patiently.

Egypt, Syria, Iran, and a God Who Is in Control

2011-11-23T09:50:00.000-08:00

I trust you have been following carefully what has been happening in the Middle East, particularly in Egypt and in Syria. Let's begin with Egypt. This past weekend, demonstrators once again took to the streets of Cairo and in Tahrir Square. You might remember that it was in Tahrir Square in January that the "Arab Spring" was launched, resulting in the overthrow of then President Mubarak. And you remember that the Egyptian military assumed control of the country - in actuality, they have been in charge for the past 60 years or so, as both Anwar Sadat and Mubarak were military leaders. The military leaders promised the people that democratic elections would be held this fall, but they never occurred. Now the military is saying that those elections would be held next summer.

I listened to a news report this past weekend that related the concerns the Egyptian military has with having elections so quickly. According to the analysts, the Egyptian military leaders - many of whom are classified as secular Islamists - have a fear of the Muslim Brotherhood. The later is very well organized and poised to gain significant seats in a nationwide election. The Muslim Brotherhood has not been quiet in its desire for a Sharia-led government. So there is a philosophical and ideological battle being waged. So far the military has held the upper hand. But one wonders how long that will last now that the second "Arab Spring" has materialized. Nearly three dozen demonstrators have been killed by Egyptian soldiers. And, unlike in Syria where many within the military are defecting toward the side of the demonstrators, the Egyptian military seems to be holding firm. Egypt is definitely in crisis, and it is one you need to pay close attention to.

Meanwhile the government of President Bashir Assad in Syria holds the reigns of power tightly. But with many of his military leaders defecting and with increased isolation even from the Arab world, one wonders how much longer he can remain in power. Just days ago, King Abdullah of Jordan, until recently a supporter of the Syrian regime, said that it was time for Assad to go. The Arab League has gone on record as opposing the use of violence by Assad. One wonders how much support Assad is getting from his friends in Tehran these days. After all, he has served them well with his continual pressure upon Israel. The major concern with Syria is the vacuum that will be created when Assad steps down from power. Will the Muslim Brotherhood step into the gap? Will Iran exert more pressure through its proxy Hezbollah in neighboring Lebanon? And what will the absence of Assad mean for the Israelis and the security along the Golan Heights? This is another of those area of strong interest and vital concern.

And, lingering over the entire Middle East is the threat of a nuclear Iran. I can assure you that the Saudis are very nervous about having a nuclear Iran as its neighbor, especially if Iran begins to impose its weight in Iraq following the withdrawal of American forces there in a matter of a few weeks. Iran already bullies many of the smaller Arab states that lie along the eastern side of the Arabian peninsula. And, remember, the leadership in Riyadh is getting old. One wonders when the "Arab Spring" will come to Saudi Arabia.

When one thinks of a nuclear Iran, the next question is: What will Israel do to prevent it? From editorials in several Jewish papers, the conclusions range from an imminent air assault, possibly before Christmas, to doing very little unless there is cooperation with the United States and NATO. I think the last thing this Administration and Congress want is to engage in another Middle Eastern war, therefore support for Israel might only be of the verbal variety.

Among the attributes of God for which I am most thankful this year is His sovereign control over the affairs of this world. I don't know about you, but I am so grateful that the apparent senselessness of what is happening all around us makes complete sense to our God. In fact, it is part of His purpose and plan to bring in the inauguration of His Son.

I would like to close with the words to a great old hymn of the Church that celebrates God.
"Immortal, invisible, God only wise, In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days, Almighty, victorious - Thy great name we praise."

May you and your families have a blessed Thanksgiving.

Occupy Wall Street - What Is Really Going On?

2011-11-16T12:29:00.000-08:00

I have to admit that I am having a very difficult time with the Occupy Wall Street protest mobs. Yes, I will use that term to describe them. They have a mob-mentality. They act like a mob. And, in many cities, the local authorities are treating them like a mob. Of course, the actions of the local police have come under review. The use of tear gas...now, that is just nasty. The use of night sticks...that is so harsh. Yet examine for just a moment what these mobs, that seem to now occupy almost every governmental center and/or park in the major cities in our nation, have accomplished.

Are the people on Wall Street, their supposed targets, paying any attention? Absolutely not! Business on the Street continues with most Americans watching the ebb and flow of their 401(k) and IRA investments. Are the major banks and lending institutions paying any attention? Well, some might say that the recent decision of Bank of America to back away from its $5 per month fee for using its debit cards was a victory. But, I contend, that victory came not through the obnoxious cries of those within the mob, but the statement made by many of BoA's clients as they changed banks. Although they held on longer than I would have thought, eventually the leaders at BoA saw the light and rescinded the fee. But there has been one group that has been paying attention: the liberal media. It seems that almost nightly there is a report on one of the "Occupy" groups with negligible negativity. (If this were the Tea Party, these would be described as being terrorists.)

So, if the Occupy Wall Street mobs have had no impact upon those they have targeted, what have they done. Well, they have destroyed property. They have defecated and urinated on public property. They have committed criminal acts - vandalism, rape and sexual assault, just to name a few. They have caused cities to take police from regular beats and put them into security positions, thus raising the chances for crime to rise in local neighborhoods. And cities have been forced to use precious tax-payer resources to pay for protection, emergency medical assistance, and clean-up.

What is it that these protesters want? A few, mind you it is a very small percentage, truly are seeking for something better, perhaps at least a job. But the majority want something for nothing. As one protester was heard to exclaim, "I want to have a full time pay, but not have to work." A large percentage of these mobsters - there I said it! - pay no income taxes; they are receiving food stamps and other forms of governmental assistance. They feel that someone needs to contribute more so they can better themselves.

I remember reading E. Gibbons classic study, "The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire." In its latter days, before the invasion by the barbaric hordes, Rome had become a state filled with those who received entitlements. They were on the public payrolls. When those who received governmental handouts exceeded those who paid taxes to the government, society began to rapidly collapse. I believe we are seeing a repeat of that decline here in America today.

I am asked if anything can be done. Honestly, I don't know. I shared with a friend this past week that Humpty Dumpty has certainly fallen off the wall and I am not sure all the king's men can put him together again. These little acts of anarchy - for I believe that is what they truly are - are merely reminders of a greater anarchy that is yet to come after the Church has been raptured away. I invite you to read about those times in 2 Thessalonians 2.

Anyway, keep looking up for that is where our hope comes from. And don't forget to share that hope with someone who desperately needs to come to Christ.

Anything Happening of Importance?

2011-11-09T13:29:00.000-08:00

Yesterday the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) released its report on the Iranian nuclear project. The conclusion to the report stated: "After assessing carefully and critically the extensive information available to it, the agency finds the information to be, overall, credible. This information indicates that Iran has carried out activities relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device." This has been the contention held by most of the western world leaders since Iranian President Ahmadinejad announced that Iran was developing a nuclear capability back in 2005. Of course he indicated that it would be for the generation of electricity, but the world had strong suspicions.

According to one US based report, Iran presently has enough low-enriched uranium (LEU) to create four nuclear warheads. And we know that Iran has already developed a more sophisticated missile arsenal to deliver those potential warheads to Israel and into southern Europe. And with their recent threat to have Iranian ships patrolling international waters off America's east coast, one can imagine what might happen if one of those ships carried a missile armed with a nuclear device.

Last week, prior to the IAEA's report, Israel successfully tested its newest long-range ballistic missile, code-named Jericho 3. It has an effective range of over 4600 miles and is capable of delivering a nuclear warhead. Also, last week, we learned that the Israel Air Force (IAF) had participated in some NATO-led military exercises over the skies of Italy, and then had invited both the Italian and Greek air forces to practice over the skies of Israel. Immediately speculation was raised that these exercises were a precursor to a NATO strike against Iran. The validity of that speculation is yet to be seen.

We have now entered the most dangerous phase of this "cat and mouse" game. Iran has the capabilities of instantly closing the Straits of Hormuz driving up the price of oil by shutting off all export from the Persian Gulf. High priced oil could topple a world economy that is perilously close to plunging off the cliff. Yet a rogue Iranian government, possessing several nuclear warheads, is a threat to not only the security in the Middle East, but to the rest of the world. Will the nations of the free-world step to in prevent that from happening? What would be the response of the Russians and Chinese who have strong alliances with Iran? Will Israel act alone? Stay tuned as I believe these questions might soon be answered.

One final thought. Friday the United Nations Security Council has scheduled a vote to grant a declaration of statehood to the Palestinian Authority (PA). However, in today's edition of Arutz Sheva, IsraelInternationalNews.com, a report stated that PA Foreign Minister Riad Malki told Associated Press, "It is clear now, with the U.S. counter effort and intervention, that we are not going to have these nine votes." Even the sub-committee that was appointed to examine the bid introduced by PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas in September, was deadlocked in whether to accept or reject the application. In all likelihood, the request will be rejected because the nine votes will not be secured. This certainly gets the United States out of a precarious position. It had promised to veto any resolution granting statehood, but that would have greatly angered an already anti-American Arab world. If the votes had been present and the United States would have abstained, then Israel would have been left hanging over the edge.

Perhaps that last statement has little relevance in the light of the comment President Obama made in response to a off-hand remark from French President Sarkozy at last week's G-20 summit in Cannes, France. Sarkozy, thinking his microphone was silenced, said concerning Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, "I cannot stand him. He is a liar." To which, President Obama replied, "You're fed up with him, but I have to deal with him every day." The Anti-Defamation League issued this statement: "President Obama's response to Mr. Sarkozy implies that he agrees with the French leader. In light of the revelations here, we hope that the Obama administration will do everything it can to reassure Israel that the relationship remains on a sure footing and to reinvigorate the trust between President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu, which clearly is not what it should be."

And so the world continues to implode. I don't have time to write about the new economic crisis in Europe that caused the DOW to plunge nearly 400 points today. Italy is the new crisis nation, and from what I have read, their crisis makes the Greek crisis look small. Could be a rocky week in the markets.

Hey, keep looking up. Someday soon we will be gathered to be with Jesus in a world that knows no crises. Praise God!

Another Cry for a New World Currency

2011-11-02T08:41:00.000-07:00

The world's economic collapse continues. This past Monday the stock market dropped nearly 300 points based on the news that, in spite of a proposed European bailout of the immense Greek debt, the Greek Prime Minister said that the proposal would have to be put to the vote of the Greek people. Because of the severe austerity built into the bailout agreement, it is highly unlikely that the Greek people will give their approval. Like so many today they have come to view hand outs from the government as entitlements. Wall Street's fear, joined by all the world markets, is that Greece's default on debt will be imminent, creating a possible snowball effect in countries like Spain and Italy that are already teetering on the brink. Are we seeing the collapse of the Eurozone? Quite possibly. I read where some of the Greeks simply said, "Well, we can go back to printing drachmas once again." In other words, we will simply print our own money. Does that sound familiar?

In the light of the European financial crisis and with the continued struggle the United States has getting its own financial house in order, the cries for a one-world economic system complete with a one-world currency continues to be heard. On October 24, The Vatican called for
radical reform of the world's financial systems, including the creation of a global political authority to manage the economy. A proposal by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace calls for a new world economic order based on ethics and the 'achievement of a universal common good.' It follows Pope Benedict XVI's 2009 economic encyclical that denounced a profit-at-all-cost mentality as responsible for the global financial meltdown." (www.foxnews.com/world/2011/10/24/vatican-calls-for-new-world-economic-order)

In previous blogs we have cited the concerns of the BRICS nations over the declining confidence in the dollar as well as the Euro. You remember the BRICS nations are: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. These are the nations to which we owe the greatest debt. They have called for a new world currency to replace the dollar. So far their call has not gained much traction, but it still lingers out there.

Then, on Monday, I received a report from WorldNetDaily, written by Aaron Klein. It was titled: "Next target of protesters: U.S. dollar? Group seeks global currency to replace each nation's financial system." Let me quote from the article: "A group working with Occupy Wall Street (OWS) is proposing a global alternative currency system to replace the currencies of individual nations. ... The group calls itself OWS Currency. ...Occupy Wall Street and subsequent occupations prove that the people are eager for a new system, states OWS Currency. Let's help them build it."

Whether one is a student of the End Times or not, one has heard that some type of one-world governmental organization will occur at the end of time. We know this as the government of the Antichrist. You can read about his economic administration in Revelation 13 and 18. From Scriptures it appears that he will step onto the world's scene just when it seems that all is hopelessly lost. He will have a plan to save the earth from financial and political chaos. It will come at the price of peoples and nations surrendering themselves to his leadership. He will have the answers. He will have the solution to all the troubles - both economically and politically. And people will listen and respond.

Some of you are saying to yourself, "This simply cannot happen." But, something similar has happened before. I have been reading a new history of World War II, titled - "The Storms of War" - and written by Andrew Roberts. After the defeat of Germany and the Axis powers in World War I, the French and British punished Germany financially. It was a country humiliated and decimated. In the early 1920's a rogue from Austria came onto the landscape. At first people paid no attention to him. In fact he was arrested and imprisoned for several years. But during that imprisonment he fleshed out his ideas to create a super world. Upon his release, his ideas began to resonate with the German peoples; and, well you know the rest of the story of Hitler and his powerful influence over the German people.

Is there a solution to the world's financial difficulties? I don't know. But the Bible implies that Satan does have a strategy that will be revealed through his puppet - the Antichrist. Is the stage being set for his appearance? I believe that it is and from the announcement of the Vatican and from the Occupy Wall Street Currency people, perhaps it is nearer than we think.

So, keep rejoicing in the hope we have in Christ Jesus. He is coming soon.

A Message from a Strong Leader

2011-10-26T14:13:00.000-07:00

I would like to write on something very different from past blogs. I would like to focus upon one passage found in the book of Nehemiah that God has recently impressed upon my heart. First, let me explain my interest in this book. At Buffalo Covenant Church - the place where I am serving as Preaching-Teaching Pastor - I have the privilege this fall of leading nearly 50 men through this book. It is a class we are calling Deep Waters, whose purpose is to prepare men for leadership roles in the home, in the workplace, in the community, as well as in the church. Nehemiah truly represents a man with profound leadership skills.

Let me set the background for this text. Nehemiah and the people have been working on rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem for nearly two months. It has not come without its share of trials and frustrations. There was the constant harassment of Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem and their friends (chapter 4). There were the internal difficulties associated with severe financial stress (chapter 5). And here in chapter 6, as the work nears its completion, the enemy makes one last determined effort to stop the work. This time they begin by inviting Nehemiah to attend a conference. Perhaps it is one on "Effective Wall-Building" or "How to Be More Tolerant to Your Neighbors." Nehemiah assumes that the purpose of this meeting was to bring him harm - and he was probably right.

But it is how he responded that has ignited my own heart. Listen to his words: "I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?" (Nehemiah 6:3). To paraphrase: "I am really busy right now and cannot take time off. Why don't you give me a call in a week or so?"

I have found that one of Satan's most effective tools is to get us sidetracked from what our real purpose and mission is. We lose sight of our vision. Without vision leadership fails and people soon perish. Because Nehemiah was driven by his vision of a city surrounded with solid walls and strong gates, he could refuse an invitation that, if not costing him his life, certainly would have delayed the completion of the project. Nehemiah kept his focus on his vision.

I believe one of the reasons why many churches are in trouble today is because they have lost their vision. I also believe a lost vision is the reason why America is headed in the wrong direction. We have forgotten why our nation was founded 235 years ago. We talk about greatness, but we have lost the vision of what generated that greatness.

I am grateful that Nehemiah never lost sight of the vision within his mind and his heart. And I am confident that the people of Jerusalem were equally grateful. Sometimes, as leaders, we need to say "no" in order to complete the work God has given to us.

I would encourage you to work slowly through this amazing book. I know that God will touch your heart with the life of this giant of a leader.

What Is the Value of a Human Life?

2011-10-19T07:02:00.000-07:00

What is the value of a human life? In the field of medicine, a life is so valuable that we will spend thousands of dollars to treat an illness, conquer a disease, or provide normalcy for someone with a disability. In the field of business, hundreds of dollars are spent to train an individual with needed skills to fill a company vacancy. In the field of sports, a team will often sacrifice the future by trading high draft choices to obtain a player that will provide instant help for a struggling team.

Yesterday we learned the value of one soldier's life in Israel. After spending more than five years in captivity in the Hamas-held Gaza Strip, Gilad Shalit was exchanged for 1,027 Palestinian terrorists, murderers, and men convicted of other crimes within Israel. The nation of Israel has as part of its ethical philosophy that they will leave no soldier behind. So one soldier's life was valued at over one thousand lives of others. Was everyone in Israel rejoicing in this prisoner exchange? To quote from the family whose 15-year old daughter had been stabbed in the heart by one of those Palestinians released yesterday, "We feel like our daughter has been murdered all over again." The question being asked among many Israelis is this: How much more Jewish blood will be spilt by those who have been set free? We know that during their incarceration in Israeli prisons, these men did not have pangs of conscience that told them to change their ways. Many , if not most of them, will quickly be persuaded to return to their terrorist and murderous ways. One of the military leaders of Hamas has gone on record to state that Hamas will attempt even more kidnappings of Israeli soldiers until all Palestinian prisoners have been set free with future prisoner exchanges.

What is the value of a human life? Let's ask God that question. And what is His response? "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Now that is an incredible statement affirming human value. God loved us enough that He sent Jesus Christ, His Son, to die for us. Now here is the amazing thing: Gilad Shalit had been a loyal soldier in the IDF before his capture - perhaps we could say that he was worthy to be redeemed. But, you and I were enemies of God. The Apostle Paul proclaims that we were strangers and aliens from Him (Colossians 1:21). There was nothing worthy about us at all. And yet God still redeemed us with the life of His Son. This is one of those biblical truths that defies our comprehension. But praise God it is true!

What is the value of a human life? It is worth the life of God's Son! That fact alone should give meaning and purpose to all of life. I truly am special because of what God did for me there on the cross. And, as an old preacher once said, "Jesus Christ would have come and died for you if you had been the only person on the face of the earth." Think about that truth for a moment or two!

From my heart I echo these words from the pen of Charles Wesley: "Amazing love! How can it be! That Thou my God shoulds't die for me?" Gilad Shalit is free today because the Israeli government released 1,027 prisoners in exchange for his life. I am free today because God willingly sacrificed His Son on a cross in exchange of my life. Have you experienced that freedom today? Have you discovered the value of your life?

What a Messy and Interesting World!

2011-10-11T13:42:00.000-07:00

Saturday night riots erupted in Cairo, Egypt that quickly spread through the streets of that city reaching Tahir Square, the site of the Arab Spring revolution this past January. Unlike that protest which was peaceful, this one resulted in the deaths of 24 Egyptians, including 3 Egyptian soldiers. What made this protest so unusual was the initial participants. Coptic Christians had taken to the streets in protest of the lack of governmental intervention to the increasing attacks upon Coptic churches by Muslim radicals. And, furthermore, making this protest even more interesting was that many Muslims joined the protest. The target of the protests was the Egyptian military regime that has ruled Egypt since the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak back in January. As one analyst said, the Egyptian military has tried to tread the middle ground, but it has not been working very successfully.

The Egyptian leadership has called for elections beginning in November. The process will take until at least March 2012 to complete (still shorter than the American election process). Speculation abounds that the Muslim Brotherhood could be the big winner...and I underscore the words "could be." Presently they are one of a few organized opposition groups to the military leadership in Egypt. We already know that one of the strong agenda items on the platform of the Muslim Brotherhood is the elimination of the State of Israel. But would they act immediately upon that threat? Would they threaten but show no response because of their need for the continuation of American economic aid to Egypt? Not sure I want to go out on the limb to make a guess as to what will happen, but I can assure you that it is imperative that Christians keep their eyes upon what is happening in Egypt. I believe it holds a key to the entire well-being of the Middle East.

On another front, this afternoon I was reading an article focusing upon a problem that I have not given much thought to lately. It is a re-visitation of the area of human cloning and genetic engineering. The thrust of the article written by Ken Klein was that we have very little idea of how the world of human cloning has evolved over the past few years. This past spring I had read an article about a genetic engineering firm in Britain that was experimenting with mixing human and animal genes. The goal was to develop a super human race that could withstand disease, etc.

In the article, based upon his documentary film titled "Trans-Humanism", Ken Klein develops upon the concept that God took centuries - beginning with Abraham, through David and Solomon down to Mary - to prepare the genetic line for the body that Jesus Christ was to inhabit here on earth. Could it be, Klein asks, that Satan is presently preparing a body for his representative, the Antichrist, to inhabit. This would not be a normal human body, but one that has been genetically prepared for him.

Honestly, I had never given this any consideration before. Still have lots of questions - sort of is too much science fiction for me. But the thought, I must admit, intrigued me. I will want to do some further study on this idea. We do know that there is experimentation being done today that borders on the absurd. Hitler wanted to create the super-race. Could it be happening once again? To be sure, it is not happening without being under the watchful eye of our Almighty God. He is orchestrating every thing that is happening with the express purpose of announcing the entrance of His Son and our Savior as the King.

So, friends, whether it is Egypt, Israel, Syria, the United States, Europe, or some genetic laboratory out in the middle of nowhere, God is working out His purposes. We may not fully understand them - in fact, let's just be honest - we won't fully understand them - but we must have a heart that trusts Him. The world may seem to be spinning out of control, but I can assure you that it is not! God still has it firmly in the palm of His hand. As the old spiritual says, "He's got the whole world in His hands." Amen!

One Headline That Raises Serious Questions

2011-10-05T07:12:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe that we are into October already. Here in Minnesota it feels like summer with record setting heat and drought. But the colors of the trees has been fantastic. How creative is our God in His selection of paints from His magnificent palette.

The headlines just keep reaffirming daily the eternal truths of the Scriptures. Now I know that the vast majority of those writing for the various reporting agencies are not students of the Bible, but at times their writings certainly cause a person to focus in that direction.

Let's begin with the headlines in this morning's Minneapolis Star-Tribune - "Bernanke: Economy Near Faltering." The article, written by Binyamin Appelbaum of the New York Times, goes on to quote the Federal Reserve Chairman: "the recovery is close to faltering. We need to make sure that the recovery continues and doesn't drop back." Bernanke has repeatedly called on Congress to adopt a plan for paying down the nation's debt and to close the many tax loopholes. This news from the Federal Reserve Chairman, coupled with the increasing fears of a total collapse of the Euro-Zone economies, has caused the financial and stock markets around the world to teeter precariously near the brink. Will Greece survive? The opinion of many financial experts is a resounding no. Then I hear this morning of the riots taking place in Greece as people are demanding their rights...even though the Greek government has no money to give to them. (Because Greece is part of the Euro-Zone, it is unable to print its own money). Unless the people are swilling to make the sacrifices, which it appears they are unwilling to do, it looks as if Greece will default. Who knows what will happen them. And many of those same financial experts state that it is only a matter of time until Italy will be the next to fall. Standing in line are Spain, Portugal, Ireland, and France. And the German people are saying that they want no more German taxes gong to bailout these faltering governments. (By the way, I think the British are giving thanks that they never got involved in the Euro-Zone confederation).

Here comes the hard question: Are we willing to make the tough sacrifices that will be asked of us in order to divert an economic collapse here? My gut-instinct tells me that we will riot just as the Greeks are presently doing. We are already seeing the forerunners in the many Wall Street demonstrations taking place around our country. Government: do something about the high prices. Government: do something about the lack of jobs. Government: do something about the inequities around us. What has happened to the American ideal of ingenuity and hard work? What has happened to that American spirit that says "together we can do anything?" We have become to dependent upon someone else orchestrating our lives, solving our problems, taking away the pain. We have forgotten what it is like to work together as a people for a common goal and purpose. This is the nation that built the transcontinental railroad. This is the nation that carved a canal through the jungles of Panama. This is the nation that sent men to the surface of the moon. What have we labored together to accomplish lately? What has happened to that spirit of cooperation between the public and private sectors of our country? Cooperation has been replaced with competition. The result has bordered on the catastrophic.

I am asked if our nation can be turned around. My response is usually very negative, I am saddened to admit. I just do not see a spirit of sacrifice among the American people. Our demands are too great. Our dependency is too entrenched.

I believe that leadership for any type of turn around must begin with those who are called by Jesus Christ. It is time for us to take our focus off the things of this world and begin to prepare ourselves for that which is to come. It is time for the Church to become the hands and feet of Jesus. David Plat is correct when he writes in his best-seller "Radical" that Christians need to begin down-sizing and to begin focusing upon the needs around them.

One headline in today's paper. Is my hope based upon an economy that is near faltering? Or is my hope based upon a coming King and His kingdom?

The UN, Iran, and Putin

2011-09-27T18:25:00.001-07:00

The UN General Assembly was busy last week hearing the rants from many of the world's leaders. Perhaps the most controversial one - as he has been for the past few - was Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who ranted and raved about how oppressive the Israelis were and how colonial the United States was. Fortunately, many of the delegates vacated the chambers as he began. I probably would have as well. When you read his speech it is nothing but a hateful diatribe against democracy and the western nations, singling out Israel as the greatest threat in the world. He has become a very evil man.

Of interest to many of us were the speeches given by President Obama and then by PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Personally, I believe our President did a great job of supporting Israel's position as a Jewish State. And most conservative commentators also cheered him, but with this disclaimer - that Obama was trying to regain the Jewish vote in America that he has lost in recent days. For the first time - perhaps since he has become President - I found myself agreeing more with him than disagreeing. Sort of startled myself.

The Palestinian Authority President and Chairman Abbas did what he had threatened to do: present a request to the Security Council that Palestine be declared unilaterally as a state with its borders being determined as they existed on the evening of June 4, 1967 - just prior to the 67 War. He also declared that East Jerusalem, including the Old City and the Western Wail - Israel's most holy site -would become the capitol. In his speech, Abbas claimed that the Israelis were solely responsible for the failure to achieve peace in the region. He described Israel as "an occupying power who has committed ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people, pushing them away from their ancestral homeland." He also said, "Our people will continue their popular, peaceful resistance." However, he ignored mentioning the thousands of rockets that have been launched from Gaza into Israel, or the many Israeli citizens who have been murdered by terrorists from both the West Bank and Gaza.

Following the speech, Abbas quickly declined invitations by the Quartet (Russia, Europe, the UN and the United States) to resume negotiations with Israel. The Palestinian "eggs" are now in the Security Council "basket." I just read that discussion on this request should begin in early October.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke to the Assembly after Abbas. His speech was a powerful declaration of historical truth. Once again he extended his hand to the Palestinians in friendship and in the offer to sit down to negotiate a just and lasting peace. The Prime Minister knew he was in a hostile environment. I quote from his speech: "I know that this is not exactly the image of Israel that is often portrayed in this hall. After all, it was here in 1975 that the age-old yearning of my people to restore our national life in our ancient biblical homeland was branded shamefully as racism. It was here in 1980 that the historic peace agreement between Israel and Egypt wasn't praised. It was denounced. And it's here, year after year, that Israel is unjustly singled out for condemnation. It's singled out for condemnation more often than all the nations of the world combined." He then went on to say, "Today I hope that the light of truth will shine, if only for a few minutes, in a hall that for too long has been a place of darkness for my country." Unfortunately, few delegates were listening.

If you get the opportunity to read the Prime Minister's speech, it is certainly worth reading. Also read the PA Chairman's speech. Then you can make the comparison.

Two other news-worthy items. Reuters reported today that Iran raised the prospect of sending military ships close to the United States Atlantic coast. The Iranian head of the Navy said, "Like the arrogant powers that are present near our marine borders, we will also have a powerful presence close to American marine borders." When I read this, I could not help but recall those scenes in one of Joel Rosenberg's novels about Iranian nuclear missiles being fired from ships off shore.

And, have you been paying attention to what is happening in Russia. Putin simply won't go away. Now he has declared his candidacy for President once again in elections to be held in March 2012. And he will win - and with an overwhelming vote besides. Since he left that office, the length of term for the Russian President has been extended from four years to six, which means that he could hold that office for two terms or twelve years. As one reporter said, we will have a new Russian Czar. And I think that is exactly what Putin wants to see happen. He is positioning Russia for greater influence. Do I hear the sounds of Ezekiel 38-39 on the horizon?

When I look out over the world and see what is happening, I am so encouraged to know that God is in total control. Nothing happening catches Him by surprise. He is in charge! Therefore our confidence needs to be completely in Him. Keep looking up!

Nehemiah: A Lesson for Today

2011-09-21T08:16:00.001-07:00

Are you ready for a crazy few days at the United Nations? Friday is supposed to be the big day when Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, after addressing the General Assembly, will present his case for a unilateral declaration of statehood for the Palestinians before the Security Council. He will need nine affirmative votes out of the 15 member nations on the Security Council, as well as no veto by any of the five permanent members of that Council: China, Russia, Britain, France, and the United States.

This morning one of the lead stories in the "Artuz Shev Daily Israel Report" stated that the latest strategy being discussed in order to "save face" for all the participants is to have Abbas present his request and then the Council will table it for discussion later on and encouraging the PA to resume talks with the Israelis for a negotiated settlement. (This renewed negotiation is almost impossible as the PA had made so many conditions that Israeli leaders will never accede to).

Abbas is not absolutely certain he has the nine votes needed for passage and he is certainly not certain of what the United States response would be: a veto, an affirmative vote (probably not), or an abstention. If Abbas would fail to get the nine votes needed, it would mean political failure for him and chaos in the ranks of the PA. Abbas has pretty much staked his future on the passage of this unilateral request for a Palestinian State.

If the request is tabled it gets the United States out of, at least, a temporary problem. If they should veto the PA request, they risk further angering the Arab world which is not looking with much kindness on our nation right now anyway. Last week the Saudi King announced that if the United States vetoed the PA request, then they would lose their status as friends with Saudi Arabia. However, if the United States approved the PA request, then it would further damage already strained relationships with Israel. An abstention would probably anger both sides. Thus, the indefinite tabling methodology looks appealing.

This past week, in my preparation for a time with a group of men beginning a three-year training for leadership in their homes, in our community, and in our church, I was in Nehemiah 2. (Our focus for the first eleven weeks of study is this book). When Nehemiah gets to Jerusalem he immediately encounters strong opposition from those who were benefited by the failure of the Jews to rebuild that city. The opposition included Sanballat, the leader of the Samaritans - who lived north of the city; Tobiah, one of the chief officials of the Ammonites - who lived east across the Jordan River; and Geshem the Arab, one of the most powerful men of his day as he led the coalition of Arab tribes that dominated the southern regions as far as Egypt.

Let me share with you verse 20: "I answered them by saying, 'The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.'" Wow! What an incredible statement for Nehemiah to make in his day! And, upon further analysis, it would be a great statement for Jewish leaders to make today. Let's break the verse apart.

First, Nehemiah declares that Sanballot, Tobiah, and Geshem have no historic claims to Jerusalem or the surrounding area. "You have no share in Jerusalem." Nehemiah is saying, "If you look into the historical records, you have no history here. This is a Jewish city. This is Jewish land." Today, Palestinians have been attempting to prove that they have an ancient history with Jerusalem, but, as our guide in Israel says, "we have yet to uncover an ancient mosque anywhere around the city, or in Israel for that matter."

Second, Nehemiah states that these three men have no present rights for any claim: "or any claim." In other words, they do not belong there. They can present no evidence for the authority they have had in the past.

Finally, Nehemiah affirms that Sanballot, Tobiah and Geshem and their groups have no future in Jerusalem: "or historic right to it." In other words, Nehemiah is stating strongly that Jerusalem and the surrounding countryside will always be Jewish.

Nehemiah stood boldly before those who had taken advantage of the Jewish absence during the Babylonian exile and had staked a claim for themselves. Nehemiah says, "We are back; it is time for you to move out and never come back. This place is now ours once again." Did not something similar happen in 1948, again in 1967, and still again in 1973? Did not the nation of Israel declare to the world that "we are back home! It is time for you to leave." That does not mean that Israel would run rough-shod over others; in fact, just the opposite has occurred: Israel has helped those who lived in the land, Israeli-Arabs are very prosperous, among the most prosperous Arabs in the world. And those Israeli-Arabs enjoy a freedom not found in the rest of the Arab world.

I believe Israeli leaders need to stand firm as did Nehemiah. And, when he did, good things happened.

A Postscript to 9-11 Anniversary

2011-09-14T06:23:00.000-07:00

So where do I begin this week? Let's see: There was the remembrance this past Sunday on the tenth anniversary of the 9-11 attack. Memorial services were held around our country. Following one of our services at church on Sunday, one member came to me and exclaimed, "Pastor Max, that certainly was a tragic day." I agreed, but then added, "The greatest tragedy is that we failed to learn from the experiences of that day!" He got kind of a quizzical expression on his face. We did not have time to complete our conversation, but here is what I wanted to say to him, "I believe 9-11 was a wake-up call to our country that we were walking down the wrong side of the highway. We had decided to abandon God in our journey as a nation. Immediately following 9-11 churches were full, people were asking important questions about life and its meaning. But, in a matter of a few weeks, it was back to 'business as usual.' Our trust was now in the resources of our military who were seeking out and punishing those who had perpetrated that heinous act." What did we learn? Really nothing. Is the world a safer place because of 9-11? Ask those who live in neighborhoods in Detroit who cower in fear. Ask those believers living in Egypt. Ask the Christians in Sudan. And the list goes on and on. 9-11 was a call that should have resulted in repentance and fear of the living God. Instead, we have tolerated all gods because we don't want to offend any of them.

Can I share something with you? Well I am, anyway. For the past forty plus years I have been diligently studying the Old Testament. I see a remarkable resemblance between those days with ancient Israel and America in the twenty-first century. How many times did God sound the alarm admonishing the people that they were traveling down the wrong side of the road? Over and over again. Sometimes it was through natural catastrophes: earthquakes, plagues of locusts, famines. Sometimes it was through defeat by their enemies: Philistines, Assyrians, Babylonians. Sometimes God warned them through the prophets. What was the response of the people to such warnings: an immediate turning to God, followed by the continuation of their lives as they had been in the past. The lingering effects of God's warnings really changed nothing concerning sinful society. In fact, to be perfectly honest, when you study the pages of the Old Testament you come to the conclusion that sinful practices became embolden as a consequence of the people's failure to heed God's warnings.

Do you see a pattern here with our world today? Just look where we have come since 9-11. The homosexual agenda has exploded where now it is a crime to even mention that you believe such practices are wrong. The status of marriage has crumbled to the point where States are actually having to have voter referendums on how to define marriage. Unthinkable that that should even have to happen.

I truly believe, friends, that God's anger toward our nation will shortly be released upon us. He has given us opportunity after opportunity, warning after warning, and yet we continue to hide our faces in the sand and continue in our sinful ways. Israel tried that approach for 200 years; but finally the day came when the armies of Assyria not only knocked on the doors of Samaria, but crashed through the doors. 150 years later something similar happened in Jerusalem when the armies of Babylon arrived.

I have been sharing with people that it is time for Christians to get right with God personally. Jesus is coming and we want to be ready ourselves. It may be too late to save our nation - and I only say those words with great sadness - but we can prepare ourselves. We can strengthen the witness of our churches with a renewed commitment to holiness, resulting in snatching a few more from the fires to come.

I am challenged with these words of Jesus: "When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8). Something to chew upon.

Postscript: Next week I will focus upon the United Nations vote to recognize Palestine as a nation. This vote is scheduled for next Tuesday. The repercussions of such a vote could be devastating. Stay tuned.

Postscript 2: By the way, the Middle East is about ready to explode. Over the weekend Turkey announced that it will be sending some of its warships to accompany the next flotilla destined for Gaza. And this past week the Turkish military removed equipment from their fighter jets that had indicated that Israeli planes were friendly; the Turks are not so friendly anymore. And then there was the assault in Cairo of the Israeli embassy there. Interesting to compare notes with that event and a similar one in Tehran in 1979 - the only difference being that it was the American embassy attacked there. If you want to read a definitive account of those days, I would encourage you to read Dore Gold's book: "The Rise of Nuclear Iran." It is powerfully written.

Tensions Growing in the Middle East

2011-09-07T06:41:00.000-07:00

Tensions continue to mount in the Middle East after the terrorist attack in late August that resulted in the deaths of eight Israelis near the southern port city of Eilat. The terrorists, affiliated with a Sinai branch of Al-Qaeda, had crossed the now porous Egyptian border. Israel was quick to retaliate but in a more restrained way than at other times. Yet the border incursion reminds us that the situation within Egypt regarding Israel and the continuation of the Camp David Accords of 1979 are tenuous at best.

This past weekend Turkey broke off diplomatic and military relations with Israel, recalling their ambassador from Tel Aviv and expelling Israel's ambassador to Ankara. This was prompted by the recent Palmer Report to the United Nations concerning the May 2010 Israeli commando raid on the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara in which nine Turkish protesters were killed. This ship was part of the flotilla seeking to break the Israeli naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. The Palmer Commission Report affirmed Israel's right to blockade Gaza, and also strongly criticized Israel for its use of force on the ship. Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Erdogan had stated that Turkey would take drastic actions unless Israel apologized, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to do. Now, relations between these two nations are more fractured than ever. Just another sign that Turkey is pointing in a more easterly direction for support than in a westerly one as in the past.

Also, this past weekend, IDF Major General Eyal Eisenberg, chief of Israel's Home Front Command, speaking before the Institute for National Securities Studies in Tel Aviv, said that, in his opinion, "the likelihood of an all-out war is increasingly growing." he went on to say, "Iran has not abandoned its nuclear program.... In Egypt, the army is collapsing under the burden of regular security operations, and this is reflected in the loss of control in the Sinai and the turning of the border with Israel into a terror border, with the possibility that Sinai will fall under the control of an Islamic entity. ... In Lebanon, Hezbollah is growing stronger within government arms, but it has not lost its desire to harm Israel." ("Arutz Sheva, September 6, 2011). Eisenberg described this as a "radical Islamic winter," and warned that "this raises the likelihood of an all-out, total war, with the possibility of weapons of mass destruction being used."

And, what is the United States doing? In a piece published by journalist Jeffrey Goldberg (who is no friend of Israel), he quoted former Defense Secretary Robert Gates as saying that Prime Minister Netanyahu was an "ungrateful ally." Gates went on to say, "Netanyahu is not only ungrateful, but also endangering his country by refusing to grapple with Israel's growing isolation and with the demographic challenges it faces if it keeps control of the West Bank." So much for friendships.

This weekend marks the tenth anniversary of the 9-11 attack. What has changed since that day? Is the world a safer place? Just ask Israelis. Just ask Pakistanis. Just ask Afghans. Or citizens of Norway. Or the Coptic Christians in Egypt. Has terrorism been even slowed down? Even our own law-enforcement leaders are concerned, not about another 9-11 style attack, but about the one or two individuals who are living next door and are plotting an attack upon a nearby restaurant or shopping mall. It seems that the evil in the world is growing at an alarming rate. One wonders what it will be like when God finally takes the Restrainer from the world's scene (2 Thessalonians 2). I don't even want to begin to imagine.

Friends, I would invite you to continue praying for the peace of Jerusalem. We are commanded to pray thusly in Psalm 122:6. Pray for Israel's leadership that they might seek God's will and direction. And pray that our leaders will remember that promise given to Abraham of old: "I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you" (Genesis 12:3). God's purposes will be accomplished. Keep looking up.

A Response to Richard Dawkins

2011-08-31T06:08:00.000-07:00

This past Friday, on the Opinion Exchange page of the Minneapolis "Star-Tribune," there appeared an editorial, written by Richard Dawkins and titled "View on evolution say a lot about a candidate", that literally caused my blood-pressure to rise to dangerous levels. What grabbed my attention was the sub-headline which read: "Evolution is a fact, as securely established as any in science. Those who deny it are likely ignorant in other fields as well." I trust that your blood is beginning to get a little warmer just reading those two statements.

Richard Dawkins is an atheist and avowed evolutionist. In his most recent book, titled, "The God Delusion", he basically states that God does not exist and has never existed. To adapt from the teachings of Karl Marx, religion - for Dawkins and others of his ilk, that would mean any worldview that even fosters some concept of a god - is merely an opiate (or a crutch) for the people.

Dawkins began his editorial - originally published by the "Washington Post" - by focusing upon Texas governor and Republican Presidential Candidate Rick Perry who has championed the cause for the teaching of both creationism and evolution within the Texas school systems. Listen to what Dawkins thinks of Governor Perry: "...There is nothing unusual about Perry. Uneducated fools can be found in every country and every period of history, and they are not unknown in high office. What is unusual about today's Republican Party is this: In any other party and in any other country, an individual may occasionally rise to the top in spite of being an uneducated ignoramus. In today's Republican Party 'in spite of' is not the phrase we need. Ignorance and lack of education are positive qualifications, bordering on obligatory." Now are you getting a little fired-up? Let me rephrase what Dawkins has said just in case you missed it: If you are a Republican and you do not accept the evolutionary theory, then you must be some type of ignorant, red-necked, back-woods, uneducated fool; you certainly have no hope of advancing in the world where real knowledge is maintained."

Friends, that was just the first column of the five column editorial. Ready for column two? Now Dawkins begins his thrust against creationism and his defense of evolution. "Evolution is a fact, as securely established as any in science, and he who denies it betrays woeful ignorance and lack of education, which likely extends to other fields as well." Stop here! Because I don't accept evolution, according to Dawkins, then I will probably be ignorant and lacking educational foundations for business, for literature, for politics, for medicine - for that matter, any other field of learning. Wow! I do feel ignorant in some fields - electronics, for example - but I didn't realize I was that far off base in other areas. I wished someone had told me this a long time ago - it would have spared me some headaches along the way.

Dawkins then continues, "Evolution is the stunningly simple but elegant explanation of our very existence and the existence of every living creature on the planet. Thanks to Darwin, we now understand why we are here and why we are the way we are. You cannot be ignorant of evolution and be a cultivated and adequate citizen of today." Feeling good about yourself about now? Or is your blood-pressure beginning to rise?

"Darwin's idea is arguably the most powerful ever to occur to a human mind. ... A theory that assumes most of what it is trying to explain is a bad theory. That is why the creationist or 'intelligent design' theory is such a rotten theory." Hold the fort! Has Dawkins forgotten all the "missing links" in his "scientific fact of evolution?" Since Darwin first published his book in the mid-part of the 19th century not one single "missing link" has been found. Friends, that is a fact. And yet those "missing links" are the foundation for the supposed incontrovertible fact of evolution? It seems to me, that by Dawkins's definition, evolution is a bad theory.

Dawkins then seeks to help us to understand the complexity of the body of a bird - and he does a great job of defining its complexity. He then states, "The whole machine is immensely improbable in the sense that, if you randomly shook up the parts over and over again, never in a million years would they fall into the right shape." And you know, he is right. But here is where Dawkins misses the point. What if there was a Master Designer who actually made that little bird? Could He not once again assemble those millions of parts to create another bird? Friends, is that not what God does with each new birth. Last Saturday we attended the Minnesota State Fair. One of the buildings we stopped at was the "Birthing Barn." What a crowd was there! And what were we observing?- the miracle of birth - of chickens, turkeys, calves, lambs, and piglets. I was reminded of those powerful words of David in Psalm 139, speaking of his own creation in his mother's womb: "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made..." (Psalm 139:13-14).

Finally Dawkins states, "The rival theory to explain the functional complexity of life - creationism - is about as bad a theory as has ever been proposed. It is such a bad theory it doesn't deserve to be called one at all, and it certainly doesn't deserve to be taught alongside evolution in science classes." Did you hear what he was saying? Creationism is only worthy of being tossed into the trash. Throw God into the dumpster, if you will. Through Darwin we have figured out this thing we call life. Frankly, friends, I don't want to be standing any where near Richard Dawkins on Judgment Day. If you and I are angry - at least I know I am angry - can you imagine what God is feeling when He knows this man's heart?

Let me share one more quote from this long editorial: "To die in ignorance of its (evolution) elegance, and power to explain our own existence, is a tragic loss, comparable to dying without ever having experienced great music, great literature or a beautiful sunset." My response to Richard Dawkins is this: "Richard, you are the one who has lost. You have gone through life and never known what great music really is. You have experienced life and have never known the real beauty of the world around you. You have been the greater loser because you have failed to know the great and awesome God behind everything you see. Richard, in your eyes I may be one of the greatest ignoramuses that ever lived, but a day is coming when you will realize how ignorant you have truly been. Only then, Richard, it will be too late to make any changes."

Wow! What a Week!

2011-08-24T06:16:00.001-07:00

Wow! What a week this has been and it is only Wednesday. Where does a person begin? Well, let's start with the earthquakes this past week. First, there was one on Monday in southwestern Colorado near the New Mexico border - nearly a 5 on the Richter scale. Some damage done, but not extensive. Then, yesterday there was a 5.8 quake epicentered near Richmond, VA. But the quake was felt as far north as Maine and as far west as Chicago. Some minimal damage done, but the assessments are still ongoing. Strongest earthquake to hit the East Coast since 1897. It was interesting that over the weekend Marlys and I had been talking about what is happening in the world and she commented, "Honey, you know we have not had an earthquake that made news for awhile." Guess she spoke too soon.

Continuing along the weather-front, Hurricane Irene has its eyes set upon the Eastern seaboard. Depending upon the weather-service one listens to, this could be either a Category 3 or 4 storm as it slams into the Carolina coastline this weekend. Evacuations are already underway. Some say it could be the strongest storm to hit the East Coast in decades. An East Coast earthquake followed by a strong East Coast hurricane - just a coincidence, you say. I don't think so!

Let's turn our attention to the continued saga of the Middle East. Last Thursday armed terrorists crossed the Egyptian Sinai border into southern Israel attacking buses and cars just north of the Israeli port city of Eilat. Eight Israelis were killed, including six civilians. Hamas also fired over 100 rockets from Gaza into Israeli communities, reaching as far north as Ashdod and as far east as Beersheba where another civilian was killed. IAF planes were scrambled and retaliated against Hamas strongholds within Gaza. The immediate question concerned Israel's response with Egypt. A firefight ensued as IDF soldiers pursued the terrorists back into the Sinai. Sadly three Egyptian soldiers were killed. Now emotions against Israel have deepened within Egypt. The cold-peace that Israel has had with Egypt for the past 32 years is now threatened. Could another war in the Middle East be imminent? With elections supposedly to happen in Egypt in September, the prognosis does not look good.

Speaking of the Middle East, the status in Libya is still uncertain. Has Qaddafi been deposed? Where is he? Who is in charge? I know there are lots of cheers within the streets of Tripoli by the rebels claiming victory. Even American journalists have voiced delight similar to those scenes within Cairo back in January. Yet, if there is a lesson to be learned from what happened in Egypt it is that a dictator maintains a measure of stability. For all those years that Mubarak ruled in Egypt - yes, I know he was a dictator and probably a crook - Egypt still maintained a presence on the world's stage and Egypt maintained relationships of peace with its neighbors. Now look at the situation in Egypt. Will something similar happen in Libya? I am fearful that lying quietly in the background in Libya is the presence of the Muslim Brotherhood and other radical Islamist groups. They are poised to claim power there as they have in Egypt.

Democracy is not just the freedom from a dictator's rule. Democracy is the freedom to enjoy privileges and rights that were not present during a dictator's rule. Freedom to give expression to one's beliefs. Freedom to share in opportunities for personal advancement. Again, using Egypt as the model since the Arab Spring uprisings, are there more freedoms of expression in Egypt now as compared to the days of Mubarak. Ask the Coptic believers. Persecution of Coptic Christians has hit an all time high, with churches being burned and some pastors even being martyred for their faith. Democracy in Egypt - I hardly think so. Friends, I have said this before and it bears repeating, democracy is something that must be learned from another. It is not something that happens automatically. As leaders of the Free-World since World War II, we have failed to teach the world the principles of democratic rule. We have had the mistaken belief that all the world needed to do was to observe us and they would understand what democracy was. That strategy has not worked well, has it.

Let me use another analogy. Many Christians have the idea that all they have to do is live a Christ-honoring life before others. Their neighbors, family, and friends will observe them and then come to know Christ. But the Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 10:14-15 that people need to hear the vocal message of Christ. In other words, we need to teach them.

What an incredible week thus far! The days are hastening onward toward the appearance of the King. These are days filled with hope and assurance for those of us who know Christ as Savior and Lord. These are days filled with opportunities to share Him with others who do not share our hope. May we remain faithful in our service for the King!

What If - A Palestinian State is Created by the United Nations?

2011-08-17T07:32:00.000-07:00

The clock continues ticking down to the September 20 date when the Palestinian Authority is scheduled to present to the United Nations its plan for a unilateral declaration of statehood. At present it appears that their Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has enough votes within the membership of the General Assembly to secure passage of his proposal. However, the status of the proposal within the Security Council is not as assured. The United States has indicated that it will not vote for the proposal, but American leaders have not stated whether they would veto or just abstain from the vote. A veto is crucial, as a mere abstention would allow the proposal to be adopted.

Let's look for a few moments at what the Palestinian Authority (PA) is asking. According to the 1933 Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States - this is the prevailing legal standard defining what constitutes a state - a state is defined as "a person of international law possessing the following qualifications: a) a permanent population; b) a defined territory; c) government; and d) capacity to enter into relations with other states. (Taken from an article titled, "The Palestinians' Imaginary State" by Steven J. Rosen, found at the Middle East Forum website - www.meforum.org).

In that article the author states that there are presently two Palestinian states that would meet the criteria of the 1933 Montevideo Convention. The first is the state of Gaza. It has a permanent population. It has a defined territory. It has a government under the leadership of Hamas, howbeit, one that certainly has not been recognized by most of the civilized world. And it has already entered into relationships with other nations, Iran being an example.

The second Palestinian state already in existence is known as the West Bank. It has a permanent population. It has a defined territory. It has a government under the leadership of Fatah. And it has already entered into relationships with other nations.

However, the state that will be presented to the United Nations General Assembly is a state that does not presently exist. It is a unification of Gaza and the West Bank into one nation. However, there are some serious difficulties here. Both entities are under different political parties, and in spite of their agreement earlier this summer to form a unified government, no such unification has occurred; instead the rift between Hamas and Fatah has seemed to widen. Furthermore, there is great concern about the legitimacy of the government of Abbas and the PA. His term of office expired in 2009, and although it was extended to 2010, new elections have not been called for within the West Bank. (Note: Abbas has hinted that he would have elections early next year, but don't take that word to the bank quite yet). Abbas has traveled extensively in Europe and South America seeking support for his proposal.

What will happen if, in September, the United Nations unilaterally declares a sovereign Palestinian State made up of Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem? According to Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, in an interview with reporters on August 7, there will be war. To quote him, "The Palestinian Authority is getting ready for bloodshed on a scale we haven't seen. The more they speak about non-violent action, the more they are preparing for bloodshed." He believes that once a declaration is adopted, Arabs from the West Bank and Gaza will flood the various checkpoints, forcing their way past IDF soldiers and into Israel's major cities.

So, as you can see, the situation pending before the United Nations in September has grave consequences. Some of you might be saying, "So, what! Why should I care?" Just last week, in a meeting with a United States Congressional Delegation visiting Ramallah, PA Chairman Abbas stated that he wants a NATO force, under the leadership of the United States, to guarantee and to guard the security of the new Palestinian state. Do you know what that means? American soldiers will be stationed in East Jerusalem, Jericho, Ramallah, Nabullus, Bethlehem, and other strategic locations along the newly created Israeli-Palestinian border. We thought Iraq and Afghanistan were bad; this will be worse. Would American forces fire upon Israeli forces? Would a situation like this totally destroy any relationship still existing between Israel and the United States?

I also see such a declaration, if it comes to pass, to be the match that lights the fuse of what we know as the Psalm 83 War. All the pieces are in place; just lacking the trigger mechanism.

What can you do? First, you can pray for Prime Minister Netanyahu, that he will remain firm in his resolve on behalf of the people of Israel. You can pray that American leadership will stand firmly behind Israel and not waver in the face of worldwide opposition. Second, you can write your legislative leaders and encourage them to tell our American Ambassador to the United Nations to veto any proposal toward a unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state.

One other interesting piece of news, not reported by the Main Stream Media. Iranian General Mohammed Reza Naqdi, commander of Iran's Basij (volunteer) forces, announced that he is ready to dispatch Iranian forces to London to act as peacekeepers. He told the Iranian Fars news agency last Thursday, "If the UN General Assembly approves, the Basij Organization is ready to send a number of Ashura and al-Zahra brigades to Liverpool and Birmingham as peacekeepers to monitor observation of human rights laws and deter use of force." Friends, that would be like having the fox guard the hen house. Protecting human rights? From a nation that has violated every human right known? From a nation that is still executing people every day as a means of quelling unrest in its own country? Oh the world has gotten crazy!

Friends, it is time we steadfastly keep our eyes on Jesus. These are not days to waver in our focus. If we do, the waves of the turmoil around us will suck us under. It is time that we warn others of the dangers of continually neglecting Jesus as there is not much time remaining.

Thoughts for Tish B'Av

2011-08-09T11:17:00.001-07:00

Today is a very special day on the Jewish calendar. It is known as Tish B'Av - the ninth of Av. It is a day of fasting, mourning, and special prayers. Special prayer services are held at the Western Wall (the Kotel). I know you are asking, "Why should I care what Tish B'Av is?" Let me share with you what that day signifies.

In the year 586 BC, the armies under Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon assaulted and destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem. Nothing was left standing in place. Those residents of the city and of the country of Judea who survived were led captive into the land of Babylon where they would remain for seventy years. Upon their return from captivity during the days of Cyrus in 536 BC, the Jews began rebuilding their Temple, but work was stopped because of the complaints of Jerusalem's neighbors. Finally, Zerubbabel completed the project in 516 BC. This Temple paled in comparison with the one Solomon had built. When Herod the Great ascended the throne in Jerusalem as King of the Jews, he began to rebuild the Temple - a project that would take over 60 years to complete. Then in 70 AD, while putting down a Jewish revolt, the Roman army under Titus destroyed the Temple once again. Now, here is where the story gets very interesting: both destructions occurred on the very same day, some 656 years apart: Tish B'Av.

What makes this day so interesting is that in the year 1492, on Tish B'Av, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain ordered that all Jews be exiled from Spain. It was also on Tish B'Av in 1914 that World War I began, which would eventually culminate in the rise of the anti-Semitic Nazis and their leader Adolph Hitler. I think now you can begin to understand why it became a day of national mourning.

But, what about us? Yesterday we witnessed one of the six worst days in the history of Wall Street. Millions of Americans saw their portfolios decline by thousands of dollars. Now our leaders are playing the blame game as to who is responsible. I have the answer - are you ready to hear it? We all are responsible! For too long we have grown accustomed to our government helping us out, whether it was with cheap student loans, guaranteed mortgages for our homes, subsidized prices for our crops, well, you can add to the list. It has brought us to the point where now our government has more obligations than it has cash to pay for them. Something had to give.

Then witness what happened over the weekend in London. Riots that literally set portions of that great city on fire. And I am sure that many of those taking to the streets have no idea why they are rioting. London is a portrait of what could happen across Europe.

Finally, there was the tragic loss of 31 American servicemen with the downing of their helicopter in Afghanistan. Just another reminder that after ten years of war there, we seem no closer to seeing the end. Now the cry is to bring all of our troops home. Mission: unaccomplished. Could it be another Vietnam all over again? It seems that as Americans we have lost the will to win! Since World War II - which, by the way, was a great victory of the American people and their spirit - we have not won a war.

Tish B'Av - a day of mourning for the past. Tish B'Av - a day of mourning for the present. Tish B'Av - a day of mourning for the future? That certainly appears to be the case unless we can resolve to do the difficult things. Unless we can determine that it is no longer about who we are as individuals, but what our nation is all about. Unless we once again adopt that phrase from John Kennedy's inaugural address in 1961 - "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."

Tish B'Av - as God destroyed that symbol of His presence among His people Israel, so God is beginning to destroy those symbols that we have clung to for so long. Will this mourning lead us to a turning to God, or to an anger directed toward others? Something to think about on this Tish B'Av 5771, or August 9, 2011.

Lessons from a Great American

2011-08-03T06:00:00.001-07:00

I want to do something rather different for my blog this week. I know that a lot is happening around the world - more earthquakes in Japan, continued economic unrest, the trial of former Egyptian President Mubarak now underway in Egypt, a lingering war in Libya, and a growing famine in the horn of Africa. Then there is the incessant heat wave that has literally camped out over the nation's southwest and central plains. Each of the above could provide material for many blogs. But I want to focus this week upon a comparison and contrast.

Last week Marlys and I had the privilege of traveling to Springfield, IL with our kids from Rochester. Our goal was to introduce our two granddaughters to one of my heroes - Abraham Lincoln. And we were not disappointed. Friends, it is worth the time and effort to visit the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum there in Springfield. We spent over six hours there, and I am sure we could have spent more time. It is an amazing place with special theatre presentations and remarkable displays to help us in our understanding of our nation's 16th President.

As many of you know, Mr. Lincoln was not always a success. He failed twice in business as a store clerk and owner. (You can visit his two stores located in New Salem, just northwest of Springfield). He often was defeated in his pursuit of political office - being elected only once to the United States House of Representatives, and being defeated twice for the United States Senate seat from Illinois. But he developed a successful legal practice in Springfield and was renown throughout central Illinois for his honesty.

The year 1858 was a pivotal year for this young lawyer from Springfield. He ran against Stephen Douglas, known as the "little giant," for the Senate seat. A series of seven debates throughout Illinois began to put Abraham Lincoln upon the national political map. And, although he lost the election - in those days, senate seats were filled by appointment by the state legislatures, the nation took notice of this 6 foot 4 inch giant from America's heartland.

And, as we know, in November 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected the 16th President of the United States. He knew that the task before him was a great one. Putting his politics aside, he began to assemble his Cabinet. Three of the men who had so strongly opposed him during the Republican convention held in 1860 in Chicago were invited to serve on his Cabinet. Lincoln wanted the best gifted men in those strategic positions.

Here is what challenged me as I toured through the Museum. Lincoln had a unwavering vision of a united America. He could not and would not accept the rush toward secession that was occurring through the South. His goal was to unify our nation; and it was with that intent that the Civil War was begun in April 1861. Only later did Lincoln come to the conclusion that the emancipation of slavery should be included as an outcome of the war.

I think it safe to say that Abraham Lincoln embodied bipartisan politics. He was an American before he was a Republican. And he had a strong commitment to his vision for America. This determination, I believe, ultimately led to the North winning the Civil War and to the reunification of America. At times I am convinced he might have been tempted to retreat from that vision - his four years as president were a challenge that unequalled any other, but he did not.

After spending several hours at the Museum, we returned to our hotel. Turning on the television we focused on the debacle happening in Washington over the "debt ceiling" crisis. I made a comment to Marlys about the contrast between what we had just observed at the Museum and were observing now in Washington. It seems that today men and women are politicians first, then are Americans. Where is a vision for a united America? Who is up to the challenge of standing upon principles, not of party, but of country? Who is willing to perhaps forfeit another election for the sake of doing what is right?

As we drove away from Springfield last Sunday, I was encouraged in heart by the life and example of one of the greatest Americans who has ever lived. We can and need to learn much from his life.

Norway - A Wake-Up Call

2011-07-27T07:53:00.000-07:00

The world was shocked this past weekend with the terrorist acts in Norway. As with all acts of terror there was much about these acts that defy our understanding. And we keep learning more about the perpetrator of those acts.

Anders Behring Breivik is a 32-year old Norwegian right-wing extremist. For the past nine years he plotted an attack that would stir Europeans into action against the growing Muslim influence in Europe. Over the course of that time he wrote a 1500 page manifesto that detailed how he believed the Muslims had invaded Europe with the intent of overthrowing governments and creating a Muslim state. He had watched as nation after nation had seemingly capitulated to the demands of those immigrants, some even adopting the Shariah law that the Muslims had advocated. He believed it was only through an act of war such inroads could be stopped.

Twice before in history the European took up arms to stop an advance of Islam. The first was on October 10, 732 at the Battle of Tours (France) where the Frankish army under Charles Martel defeated the larger Muslim force. Historians recognize this battle as one of the great turning points of history. It literally stopped the seemingly unstoppable advance of Islam into Europe. As a consequence of that battle, the Muslims retreated back into Spain and then eventually into Northern Africa. The second was on September 12, 1683 at the Battle of Vienna where, after a two-month besiegement by the Ottoman Turks, an army of Central European powers defeated the Turks, thus saving Europe once again.

Anders Breivik believed that it would take another act of war to turn the tide of Europe against the subtle Muslim invasion. As his lawyer stated yesterday, Mr. Breivik knew what he did, but believes himself to be innocent because it was an act of war.

Throughout Europe we are beginning to see the eyes of European leaders being opened to the threat that the expansive Islamic immigration has brought. Switzerland has banned the construction of minarets. France has banned the wearing of burkhas. Other nations are following suit. Earlier this year the German Chancellor Merkel stated that the German experiment with diversity had not worked. Perhaps it is too little too late - only time will tell.

You remember those words of Jesus as He described the conditions of the last days. He said that there would be "wars and rumors of war." When we think of wars we usually think of Iraq and Afghanistan. But what of the psychological warfare between the East and the West. But what of the economic warfare between the haves and the have nots. But what of the strategic warfare for power and control. I know you will say, "But, Max, these have been going on for centuries; they are as old as man himself." True, but I am not certain we have seen the intensity of such warfare literally encircle the globe - at least not since the days of World War II.

It is time to awaken out of our apathy both as a nation and as a Church. It is time to focus upon what is right and what is wrong; and, if we are not certain as how to discern between them, then we need to get back into the Word of God and make that discernment. It is time to "Wake Up!" and then to "Stand Up!"

The Financial Storm Gets More Intense

2011-07-20T06:41:00.000-07:00

I have a friend who is in the financial planning business. He is also a strong student of the Scriptures, particularly of the end times. Dennis and I have shared in many over-lunch discussions on the prevailing economic morass that the world is facing. Because of his business relationships, Dennis reads extensively from financial reports around the globe.

Well, this week I read an article written by Caroline Glick. She is the managing editor of the "Jerusalem Post" and her articles often appear in some of the leading US papers, as well as on the conservative website: www.townhall.com. This particular article appeared on July 18. The article was titled, "Caution: Storm Approaching." I would like to share just a few thoughts from this article.

Glick first focuses upon the economic condition of Egypt that grows more desperate by the moment. Since the revolution of January/February, Egypt's wealthy elite as well as foreign investors are taking their money out of the Egyptian economy and investing it elsewhere. This "capital flight" is happening throughout the Arab world, but affecting Egypt and Syria most directly. (That is because neither country has any oil to export). She quotes from an article by David Goldman and published in the "Asia Times Online" that states: "There is a capital flight and $500 million a week are leaving the Arab world....Most of the capital flight is coming from Egypt, and at an annual rate roughly equal to Egypt's remaining reserves." The bottom line is this: Egypt will soon be broke financially and unable to feed its starving people. Some analysts believe Egypt could begin defaulting on its loans as early as the end of this year.

Then there is the situation in Syria. President Assad is spending a lot of his country's reserves to pay for political loyalty and to protect the Syrian currency. Even if Assad survives and remains in power, financially his country is nearing the edge of the precipice.

And, of course, there is the situation in Greece. In spite of severe austerity movements by the Greek Parliament, one wonders if the seemingly inevitable can be avoided. If the Italian government goes into default, and it is perilously close, the ramifications for both the United States and European banking systems will be devastating. Then there are the economic woes of Ireland, Portugal, and Spain. The Germans and British have assumed overwhelming debt loads of other nations and are now in peril themselves.

Then Glick makes reference to the financial challenges here in the States. The current United States debt level stands at 98% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Many of the European countries debt level is over 100% of GDP. According to Glick, an American commitment to more tax-and-spend policies can only have dramatic and drastic implications. We simply cannot keep changing credit cards and hope that the inevitable day of reckoning will never come.

In contrast, there is the Israeli economy. She writes, "Israel is likely to find itself in the unlikely position of standing along China and India as among the only stable, growing economies in the world." I had read elsewhere that Israel's economy was expected to grow at an annual rate of over 6% this year - one of the best growth rates in the world. God has not forsaken His people even though they are still in a condition of unbelief. That is because He still has a plan and purpose for them to accomplish.

Friends, I don't believe that either the American or the world economic conditions will change for the better any time soon. For too long we have put our confidence as people into the financial resources we have. I am reminded of these words from the ancient prophet Zephaniah, who wrote concerning the days before the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC. His words still have meaning today: "Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the LORD's wrath." (Zephaniah 1:18). The tottering world economies are another reminder that our hope is to be built - not on stocks and bonds, or on bank accounts and IRA's - but on Jesus Christ. He alone is our solid Rock.

A Crisis In Leadership: Where Is It Heading?

2011-07-13T06:39:00.000-07:00

I find it absolutely fascinating how God is preparing the world for a coming one-world leader - one who, according to the Scriptures, will be full of empty promises of peace and prosperity that people will quickly gravitate toward.

Last week I was in a conversation with a friend of mine and we were talking about the stalemate here in Minnesota that has led to a two-week shut down of many governmental services. Both the Republican-controlled legislature and the Democratic governor seem to have hunkered down for a long and protracted stalemate. The members of the legislature, many of whom were newly elected last fall, have heard the cry of needing to balance state spending with the revenue sources available - sort of like what you and I have to do with our families. That does not mean that we don't borrow money occasionally, but only after considering how those borrowed funds would be repaid. And the governor wants to increase taxes, howbeit only a small percentage of the Minnesota population, but also increase entitlement spending that will cause future deficits down the road. Where are the leaders?

Then one looks at the political maneuvering being done in Washington. Does it really make sense to raise the debt-limits when we are having trouble paying the debts we already have incurred as a nation? As my friend and I talked, where is the leadership?

Now look at the crises in Europe. Greece - near to default, only postponed because the government finally took drastic measures to enable it to get more money; but the people are in revolt. Italy - now joining Spain, Portugal, and Ireland as being ready to collapse monetarily. Who will step forward as leaders?

As I continue my study of the Scriptures, I only see this getting progressively worse, friends. I no longer believe that there will any "Happy Days" appearing on the scene. Like those in ancient Rome, we have become too accustomed to the "free bread" and the entitlements we believe we should have. Rome perished because of its excesses in government and because it lacked leadership. The stories of the last emperors of the Roman Empire are pitiful to read.

Bottom line, friends, the world is looking for someone to step forward, take the "bull by the horns" and give leadership. When such a person steps forward, he will be so persuasive that the people will literally follow him into hell. Such will be the person of the Antichrist. All these impasses in governments around the globe today, I believe, are merely indicators that we are getting closer to the curtain rising on the Devil's man. But, praise God, he will have term-limits! Then the eternal King will come and all will be well.

Independence Day Revisited

2011-07-06T08:48:00.000-07:00

This past week our nation celebrated its 235th anniversary. Much has happened. Our country has come a long way since those days when 55 men, meeting in Philadelphia, signed their names to a document declaring independence from Great Britain. That document - the Declaration of Independence - is among the most significant in the world.

This year I have been reading through William Bennett's "The American Patriot's Almanac." (By the way, I highly recommend this for anyone who has an interest in history). The insights and stories for each day have brought new meaning to being an American. I would like to share with you what he wrote for July 5. Dr. Bennett quoted from a speech that President Calvin Coolidge gave on July 5, 1926 in Philadelphia commemorating the 150th anniversary of the writing of the Declaration. I was moved by what President Coolidge said. Read through it carefully:

Our forefathers came to certain conclusions and decided upon certain courses of action which have been a great blessing to the world....They were a people who came under the influence of a great spiritual development and acquired a great moral power.

No other theory is adequate to explain or comprehend the Declaration of Independence. It is the product of the spiritual insight of the people. We live in an age of science and of abounding accumulation of material things. These did not create our Declaration. Our Declaration created them. The things of the spirit come first. Unless we cling to that, all our material prosperity, overwhelming though it may appear, will turn to a barren scepter in our grasp. If we are to maintain the great heritage which has been bequeathed to us, we must be like-minded as the fathers who created it. We must not sink into a pagan materialism. We must cultivate the reverence which they had for the things that are holy. We must follow the spiritual and moral leadership which they showed. We must keep replenished, that they may glow with a more compelling flame, the altar fires before which they worshiped.

Did you hear what President Coolidge said? The Declaration of Independence is really a spiritual document. It was written by men who had a spiritual purpose about them. And that the success we have enjoyed as Americans over the years has been because of these spiritual roots that have held our nation together these many years. People, especially political leaders, do not talk like that any more. Seldom is any reference made to God, except at the close of a speech with those perfunctory words, "God bless America." In fact, it seems that we are doing everything possible to eliminate all references to God from our history and from our contemporary culture. I think if President Coolidge were here today he might say to us, "It is time to return to those roots that made our nation what it truly was. It is time to get back to those principles of faith that guided our founding fathers." Sadly that does not seem to be the language our politicians share today.

Friends, God cannot bless America if our nation's leaders and educators continue their bent to walk as far away as possible from those principles of biblical truth. The day will soon come when God will deal with us as He dealt with Israel of old - we will be ruined from forces from the outside but not before we have been ruined from forces within. It is time to wake up and to heed those words of 2 Chronicles 7:14.

Now They Understood the Words

2011-06-29T07:59:00.000-07:00

I would like to depart this week from my usual foray into the world of prophecy and current events, to examine a passage of Scripture that I read this morning that intrigued me greatly. It is found in Nehemiah 8. First let me establish the context. Nehemiah has come to Jerusalem with the express purpose of rebuilding the walls of the city which, although the people had been back in the land from exile for nearly 100 years, the walls remained as they had since that fateful summer day in 586 BC when the armies of Nebuchadnezzar had pulled them down. Through some extra-ordinary leadership skills, Nehemiah witnessed the rebuilding of those walls. Now it was time to celebrate.

The people gather before the Water Gate and Ezra, the scribe, brings out the Law of Moses to read before the people. The text tells us that it was the first day of the seventh month - the month that includes Rosh Hashanah, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles. Situated on a high platform where he could look out over the people, Ezra began reading from the Law. But, in addition to just the reading, I noticed in verse 8 that Ezra and others made the Law clear and gave meaning to the words so that the people could understand what was being read.

The people responded with weeping when they heard the words being read and the explanation being given. In other words, the Scriptures had spoken to their hearts. Ezra and Nehemiah shared with the people that it was not a time for mourning and weeping but for joy and celebration. Then I read verse 12: "Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them." "Now they understood the words" - this phrase grabbed my heart. How liberating it is when we understand the Word. Then I found verse 17: "The whole company that had returned from exile built booths and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated it like this. And their joy was very great."

Here is what the Lord seemed to lay upon my heart: How many times do we get involved in ritual with understanding? The people of Israel had celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles for almost one thousand times since the days of Joshua and the conquest. But the celebration had become one that had lost its purpose. They did it because the Law demanded it, but they did not understand its significance. Don't we do the same in the Church today. We can even celebrate Communion as something we "always do" and when Communion is not at its regular time each month we complain. We often just go through the motions. Communion for us has become more a matter of time and place than of purpose with understanding.

As a Bible-teacher God impressed upon my heart this morning that my role is that of Ezra of old - to help people to truly understand what the Word of God has to say. Worship will then acquire a new meaning. Communion will take on a new meaning. The Word will become more exciting because people will begin to have an understanding of it.

Friends, don't go through the motions of a ritual; instead, ponder its significance for your own heart. Linger in a text until you truly understanding its meaning. Seek someone's guidance to help you in your understanding. Then true joy will come to your heart and soul.

What in the World Is Going On?

2011-06-22T11:17:00.000-07:00

Here it is the second day of summer and the temperatures are about 15 degrees below normal for this time of year. What a spring it was here in Minnesota! More days of clouds than sun. Rain much above normal. With the exception of two days in early June, temperatures have been well below normal. Perhaps this is the new normal.

It seems that everywhere weather conditions are drastic. Wildfires in West Texas, Arizona and New Mexico almost defy imaginations by their magnitude. Flooding in North Dakota is of historic proportions with no immediate end in sight due to the incredible amounts of snow yet to be melted in the mountains of Montana. Parts of the nation are still recovering from devastating tornadoes earlier this spring. I was in conversation with a friend a week or so ago and we were talking about the weather phenomenon that even has seasoned meteorologists talking. Are these signs of the approaching end of the age? Could this be God's judgment upon us because of our failure to repent of our sins? Is there a relationship between these weirdly abnormal weather patterns which really are impacting many nations around the world and the world's intent to divide Jerusalem and the land of Israel into two parts? I am not sure I have answers to those questions but I do believe these are not just coincidental occurrences. They are part of God's plan.

Eyes have been focused upon Greece and their severe economic problems. It looks as if the IMF will give them the necessary loan to keep the country going, but the cuts in programs and social services will be severe. Over the weekend we saw Greek people rioting in the streets over the forced cuts in pay and services. When a people become accustomed to the "handouts" that come from government and begin to develop a mentality that they are entitled to those "handouts," then there is cause of rioting when they disappear. I no longer know what to do for myself. Where do I now turn for medical care; the government has always told me what to do. Where do I go for food and other necessities; the government has always given me food stamps. There is a spirit of helplessness because we have forgotten how to take care of ourselves. These are the consequences of an entitlement mentality. I believe what we have seen in Greece is only a small mirrored image of what will happen here when the inevitable collapse happens. How we need to be prepared NOW!

Although the Palestinian Authority (Fatah) and Hamas have agreed in principle to a unity government, they have agreed on little else when it comes to the implementation of such a government. PA Chairman, Mahmoud Abbas, has stated that the PA should decide who the next Prime Minister should be, and, of course, he has chosen his own Prime Minister for that post. Hamas leadership has cried "Foul!" So, a major stumbling block from the very first. Truthfully, about the only thing they can agree on is the need for the destruction of Israel as a nation.

The presidential campaigns are beginning to heat-up, now that we are getting closer to July 4. Perhaps you are like me in not having a candidate that you are strongly behind. But it is time to pray for God's hand to be upon the right candidate of His choosing. What happens in 2012, I believe, will have a decisive influence upon the future history of our nation. So, I am not taking these early days of jockeying by the candidates lightly. And neither should you!

Let me close by saying that the attitude you have toward what is happening in the world can be a major testimony. If you are terrified and fearful of what tomorrow will hold, how can you then witness to an unsaved colleague and tell them of the peace that Jesus brings? But, if you are full of hope and eagerly anticipating the return of Christ, then that optimism will draw responses from those around you. Keep looking up. Keep a joyful look within your heart. Be a model of God's peace to others.

What Is Going On?

2011-06-15T07:20:00.001-07:00

Sorry I missed sharing with you last week. I had the privilege of being in Dallas to share a few days with my two grandsons there. My Mother shared in this trip as Marlys had to work. We had a wonderful time. Weather was ideal - nice and warm! Watched some of two Mavericks games (so happy they won the finals!), attended a Rangers' ballgame (which they won, by the way!), and got to see Ethan play in a ballgame. Even got to take my grandsons to the driving range to hit a few golf balls; I had not hit a golf ball in nearly five years. Felt good, and we had a great time.

So, what is happening in the world? Is the economy any better? Well, that depends upon who you listen to. From the devastation we observed traveling through Joplin, MO and parts of Oklahoma, there should be an increase in construction jobs. But, the price of building materials will probably escalate as well. We saw lots of acres that were not planted yet because of spring floods or spring droughts; that can only mean that food prices will continue to rise. And the worldwide economic crisis continues - Greece appears to be ready to declare bankruptcy as a nation (I can never remember this happening in my life time!). The head of the IMF has been indicted for criminal assault and has been forced to resign, leaving the IMF in a state of turmoil. In our own country, June 30 is looming on the horizon; that date marks the end of QE2 - or simply put, the government stops printing lots of money. When the presses stop, what will that do to our economy? And, unless the President and the Congress agree to a compromise, our government soon will begin to default on its obligations. In my opinion, the news on the economic front does not sound too encouraging to me.

Concerning the Middle East, instability continues to reign. In Libya, Qaddafi continues to hold out against rebel assaults. So far the majority of the military seems to be behind him. In Syria, the Assad regime has turned its weapons on its own people; one can only wonder how long before he does something drastic to pull his nation back together - an invasion and war with Israel might be the trick. In Jordan, King Abdullah is trying to placate those who want reforms; time will tell if those placations will help. The Egyptian government has now officially opened its borders with the Gaza Strip. One can only guess at what is now traversing through into Hamas hands. Meanwhile in Bahrain, the Iranians are trying to pick a fight with the Saudis. And in the midst of all this sits Israel. With cautious eyes Prime Minister Netanyahu observes the actions of those around his tiny nation.

Finally, what about this crazy weather that is happening all over. Snows in the mountains of the West - ski resorts still open as we approach the middle of June. Torrential rains in the Upper Plains, along with melting of last winter's record snowfall, creating unheard of floods along the Missouri River. And those waters will eventually reach St. Louis and the Mississippi River and then begin the journey down to New Orleans. Wildfires burn out of control in Arizona; West Texas is burning up; Northern California has been exceptionally cool. Then there are the volcano eruptions in Iceland and in Chili. I know that weather patterns are cyclical, but I am not sure we have seen the magnitude of weather phenomena as we are today. Could God be trying to tell us something? If so, I am not sure we are listening.

Keep your eyes focused upwards, my friends, as our Redemption is drawing near. These are days of excited hopefulness.

Jerusalem Day: A Spiritual Lesson

2011-06-01T10:36:00.000-07:00

According to the Jewish calendar, today - June 1 - marks the 44th anniversary of the unifying of the city of Jerusalem during the 1967 Six Day War. In an interview with the "Arutz Sheva Daily Israel Report" Rabbi and former MK (member of the Knesset) Chanan Porat described the events of that day in June 1967. He told how his unit had been headed toward El-Arish on the Egyptian border when news came that the Jordanians had begun to bomb the city of Jerusalem. Their unit was then quickly dispatched toward Jerusalem. He said, "It was no longer a war to defend our existence but a war over Jerusalem, a war of redemption."

After reaching the Temple Mount, Rabbi Porat related, "Truthfully, on the one hand we had the great privilege of getting to the Temple Mount, but on the other hand we were not yet ready to understand the significance of regaining the Temple Mount. ... We were simply not prepared for the spiritual level of the Temple Mount, for the possibilities that had opened up, we did not yet recognize that we need to stand on the Temple Mount and take steps to rebuilding the Temple."

As you might remember, Israeli General Moshe Dayan agreed to return the Temple Mount to the Moslem Waqf to control. That may have been one of the worst decisions ever made in the brief 63 year history of the State of Israel.

Perhaps Rabbi Porat's statement helps us to understand why General Dayan did what he did. Perhaps Prime Minister Abba Eban and his staff had never considered what would happen if the Temple Mount should become theirs. I am not sure they felt that Jordan would enter the war, and if Jordan did not enter the war, there was no possibilities that Jerusalem would be unified. But Jordan did enter the war. The city of Jerusalem was unified. The Temple Mount became a possession of the nation of Israel, however briefly.

I believe there is a spiritual lesson here. Always be prepared! Always be ready! Let me draw a parallel from one of my favorite Old Testament leaders. His name was Nehemiah. While serving the Persian King Artaxerxes, Nehemiah heard the distressing news that the walls of Jerusalem had not been rebuilt even though the people had returned nearly a century before. So what did this great man do? He prayed and he planned. He prayed that God would open doors to share his concern with the king. And he planned for what he would say when that opportunity came.

Too often we simply pray and hope and dream that God would do something. Then, when that door is opened we do not know what to do or how to respond. We are like Rabbi Porat and his men - we are spiritually unprepared. I wonder what the Middle East would be like today if, in 1967, the leaders of Israel had been prepared for the taking of the Temple Mount. Pray - yes!
But don't forget to plan!

Two Leaders Speak Out - Which One Will Be Heard?

2011-05-25T10:28:00.000-07:00

Two world leaders spoke this past week on the topic of the Middle East. While one leader introduced a new formula for obtaining peace in that region, the other spoke with realism. Last Thursday, May 19, President Obama gave a policy speech on the Middle East while visiting the State Department. Instead of stating, as others have in the past, that the borders for two states in the region would be based upon negotiation, President Obama declared that the pre-Six Day War of 1967 should be the starting point. The leaders of Hamas were quick to go even further, stating, in an article in one of today's Jerusalem papers, that they wanted to go back to the lines drawn up by the United Nations in 1947. Funny, though, as in 1947 the Arab world rejected those borders outright. The pre-armistice borders of 1949 would shrink Israel even more.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in his speech before a joint session of Congress this past Tuesday, reiterated that the Pre-67 borders are not negotiable as they would create an indefensible border for Israel. He recalled that in 1967 then Prime Minister Abba Eban had called those borders the "Auschwitz borders" because no one could defend them; they would be the target of constant attack.

President Obama, in a speech before the AIPAC convention in Washington on Sunday evening, somewhat backtracked on his statement at the State Department. Now he indicated that Israel might include some "land swaps" to include major Jewish centers now in the West Bank. You remember playing the "swap game" as kids: I'll swap you my red marble for two of your green ones. That might work in marbles, but hardly in the Middle East. One problem is who will make the determination of value. What will I have to trade to get a Hebron? How much land will I have to give up to keep Jerusalem as a whole entity? I would not want some United Nations committee making those decisions, and I am sure that Israel would not want that either.

Prime Minister Netanyahu clarified the Middle East when he stated: "Israel is not what is wrong in the Middle East; it is what is right." Israel is not the cause of the problems; really it is the solution to the problems. The freedoms that many in the Arab world are seeking, Israeli-Arabs have enjoyed for decades. Instead of looking at Israel as being the villain, we need to look at Israel as being the lifeline.

Two men with two ideas for resolving one of the most troubled areas in the world. One spoke with an idealism that has been found wanting in the past; the other spoke with a realism that has been ignored in the past. Time will tell as to whose viewpoint will prevail, but I know whose I am hoping will rise to the top.

Just a quick word about Harold Camping and his failed prophecy of the world coming to an end on May 21 at 6:00 p.m. Obviously that did not happen. Now he has gone on record as stating that he missed the mark by five months - the new date is October 21. Friends, if we lived in Old Testament times, Mr. Camping would now be buried beneath a pile of stones with this marker placed upon it: "A False Prophet Gains His Own Reward." Jesus told His disciples that no one - and that includes Mr. Camping - knows the day or the hour of His return. So, don't count days; just be ready when the trumpet sounds.

Revisionist History and Truth in the Middle East

2011-05-18T11:31:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, in an Op-Ed piece for the "New York Times", Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas outlined not only his plans of the unilateral declaration of a Palestinian State but also described the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. To be brutally honest, his view of the history of the conflict is certainly seen through the eyes of a revisionist. Abbas made this statement, "The last time the question of Palestinian statehood took center stage at the General Assembly, the question posed to the international community was whether our homeland should be partitioned into two states. In November 1947, the General Assembly made its recommendation and answered in the affirmative. Shortly thereafter, the Zionist forces expelled Palestinian Arabs to ensure a decisive Jewish majority in the future state of Israel, and Arab armies intervened. War and further expulsions ensued."

Let's examine that statement. First, Chairman Abbas is correct when he states that the last time the United Nations General Assembly considered the question of the Middle East - the actual vote came on November 29, 1947 - the land was partitioned into two states: one Arab and one Jewish. But that is the only truth in his statement. When, on May 14, 1948, Israel's first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, declared that Israel was a new sovereign nation born within the partitions agreed by the UN General Assembly, war was declared by five neighboring Arab states on May 15. The Arab world rejected the two state solution in 1948 just as they had in 1936 when the British Foreign Secretary Lord Robert Peel made his report outlining a two state solution to end the hostilities between the Jews and Arabs. Israel did not declare war in 1948; they were forced into defending that portion of land which had been granted to them by the United Nations. It was not the Jews who left, but the Arabs who left their homes behind, not because of war, but because of the urging of their leadership that the war would soon be over and to the victor would go the spoils - of course, they felt they would be the victors.

Now the Palestinian leader wants the United Nations in September to declare unilaterally that a Palestinian state exists within the borders of the 1948 ceasefire agreement. Furthermore, he wants the United Nations to agree that the descendants of those Arabs who fled their homes in 1948 be given the right to return - a number conservatively estimated to be around six million Arabs. Of course he has already gone on record as saying that not one single Jew will be found in the new Palestinian state.

On Thursday, President Obama gives a major speech on the Middle East, outlining his strategy for the creation of two states. My guess is that it will be the same old worn out ideas. Then on Friday he will be meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu at the White House. One can only hope that this meeting will go better than previous ones have.

Meanwhile Hamas and Fatah leaders continue their work in Cairo hammering out the details of their newly created unity government. According to reports, Fatah leaders have agreed with the principles of Hamas, namely that Israel must be destroyed. The Hamas charter puts its this way: "The hour of judgment shall not come until the Muslims fight the Jews and kill them. Peace initiatives, so-called peaceful solutions, and the international conferences to resolve the Palestinian problem, are all contrary to the beliefs of the Islamic Resistance Movement." so much for peace.

May I recommend an excellent resource if you would like to read a very well written and yet unbiased report of the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The book is titled, "War without End" and was written by Anton La Guardia. I think you will find it a most helpful read. Or, if you are more into historical fiction, I would recommend the "Zion Chronicles" series by Bodie Thoene. Makes for some great summer reading.

A Birthday and a Threat

2011-05-11T12:17:00.000-07:00

I want to begin by wishing my friends in Israel a very happy 63rd Independence Day celebration. On the Jewish calendar, the day for celebration was yesterday; on our calendar, it is this coming Saturday, May 14. It was on that date in 1948 that David Ben Gurion, the first Prime Minister of Israel, officially declared that Israel was a free and independent nation and the Israeli flag - the Star of David - flew over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. You will then remember that five Arab nations - Jordan, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia - declared war against the newly created nation. But, through a series of miracles, the nation of Israel survived and has now grown to one of the most powerful nations on the earth. So, happy 63rd Birthday, Israel. May God bless you with many more.

It has been a while since we have touched base with what is happening in Egypt since the overthrowing of President Mubarak last January. Our media has been quick to assert that the forces of democracy have been victorious and a new Egypt will arise out of the failed and corrupt policies of its now deposed president. But, is that the real story? Let's take a look inside Egypt.

First, the persecution of the Coptic Christians in Egypt has escalated tremendously since the demise of Mubarak. Churches have been burned; Egyptian Christians have been murdered or severely beaten. The Coptic Christians, who comprise 10% of the Egyptian population have now become the main target of those who want Egypt to become an Islamic state rather than continue as a secular state. Democracy - certainly not according to Western definitions.

Second, the Pew Research Center conducted a recent poll among a thousand Egyptians in April. These were face-to-face interviews. 89% of those interviewed said that the new Egyptian government "should follow the values and principles of Islam." 62% want laws to enforce Shariah Law. 84% favored the death penalty for people who abdicate their Muslim faith; 82% support the stoning of adulterers; and 77% believe that thieves should be punished by having their hands cut off. Democracy - not sure I would want to live there.

Third, again the Pew Research Center poll discovered that nearly 8 in 10 Egyptians still hate the United States. 54% of those polled said that the new Egyptian government should nullify the treaty of 1979 that Egypt made with Israel; only 36% spoke in favor of retaining the treaty. Democracy - doesn't sound that way to me.

Here is the problem Western leaders and media personnel have with the Middle East. We have this idea that those who oppose a government that has been in power for decades are fighting for democracy. Nothing could be further from the truth. They simply want to replace one autocratic leader with one of their choosing. In the case of Egypt, the new leadership will be strongly influenced by the Muslim Brotherhood, who, in spite of the acclaim given to it by our White House and State Department, is committed to the destruction of Israel. The new Egyptian government will be strongly anti-American and anti-Israel. People will lose even those freedoms that they now enjoy. You might remember that back in January I related what would happen with these rushes toward democracy. The evidence gathered by the Pew Research Center poll bears out the validity of that argument.

How we need to remember in prayer the persecuted Church in Egypt. We need to pray for God's strength to be supplied to them. And then we need to pray that the eyes of our leaders might be opened to truly see what is happening in the nations of the Middle East today. It is not democracy they are seeking but the destruction of Israel.

An Agreement That Could Change the World

2011-05-04T11:57:00.000-07:00

Today an event is happening that many around the world will never learn about. Yet it is an event that has the potential of literally changing the face of the Middle East. No, I am not talking about the continued vicious attacks and counter-attacks in Syria and whether President Bashir Assad will retain his power. No, it is not about the potential for a trial for former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarek. No, it is not about the escalating violence in Libya as Moammar Qaddafi clings to his power. This event is happening today in Cairo, Egypt. It is the signing of an agreement between the Palestinian Authority (Fatah- the party of Yasir Arafat) and Hamas.

A little background and history. In 2006, in elections held in the Palestinian West Bank and Gaza, (at the insistence of the American government, I might add) Hamas was clearly the winner. Because they have as one of their strong commitments the destruction of Israel, immediately the American government ruled the elections void. Hamas retreated to the Gaza Strip and there in 2007 forcefully took command of the Strip. Since 2007 the Gaza Strip has become a haven for terrorists, especially those against Israel.

One Israel support group, known as Americans for a Safe Israel (AFSI), wrote, "Mahmoud Abbas, our supposed 'peace' partner, has now joined forces with Hamas, the acknowledged terrorist group. This is actually a declaration of war against the State of Israel since Hamas has never disguised its intentions of destroying Israel." Former President Jimmy Carter stated, as reported by his Carter Center, "Based on my years of contacts with Fatah and Hamas, I am confident that, if handled creatively and flexibly by the international community, Hamas' return to unified Palestinian governance can increase the likelihood of a two-state solution and a peaceful outcome." But, is that their intent? Absolutely not!

The Hamas government in the Gaza Strip is one of a handful of Arab countries that actually mourned the death of Osama bin Laden. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said, "We condemn the assassination and the killing of an Arab holy warrior. We ask God to offer him mercy with the true believers and the martyrs."

Elections will be held next year in those areas controlled by the Palestinians. Let's just suppose that Hamas wins the majority of the vote - which, by the way, is probably what will happen, at least that is what many political scholars are thinking. Hamas wins. They begin to transport their brand of terrorism, sponsored by the Iranians, to the West Bank (Judea and Samaria). Now there will not any place within Israel that will escape the possibilities of a rocket attack.

How will Israel respond? Their very security is at stake. A pre-emptive strike against Ramallah and Gaza City might seem like logical options. Could it be the shot that ignites the Psalm 83 War? Quite possibly. At least it might coalesce the now hotly divided Arab world around the cry of the destruction of Israel.

Nightly News with Brian Williams and the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric will probably not feature a story on this historic meeting in Cairo today. And, tomorrow you will have to search into the bowels of your newspaper to find its story, if it is there at all. But, friends, this agreement has all the potential of changing the face of the Middle East.

Jerusalem: The Holy City

2011-04-27T11:20:00.000-07:00

One of the most amazing cities in the world is Jerusalem. Excitement builds on a tour in Israel until it reaches its crescendo when the tour leader announces, "Today, we go up to Jerusalem!" It is almost as if we were being drawn by a large magnet. Finally, with the strains of that great classic "The Holy City" still emanating from the CD player on the bus, one catches his/her first glimpse of the city itself. Slowly the bus winds through the crowded streets and climbs to the summit of Mount Scopus. There a person captures his first glimpse of the Old City. The golden Dome of the Rock glistens in the waining sunshine. The City now has your complete undivided attention. You almost feel like you are home. It feels right!

As you gaze upon the city, the tour leaders opens his Bible and begins to read these words from Psalm 122: "Jerusalem is built like a city that is closely compacted together. That is where the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, to praise the name of the LORD according the statue given to Israel. There the thrones for judgment stand, the thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 'May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.' For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, 'Peace be within you.' For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your prosperity."

Jerusalem is such a diverse city. On the one hand there is the modern city, much of it being built since the days of the War of Independence in 1948. The white Jerusalem stones which adorns every building within the city shine brilliantly in the sunlight. The shops along Ben Yehuda street are reminiscent of store fronts along the Nicollet Mall here in Minneapolis; only the prices are in shekels rather than dollars. On the other hand there is the Old City surrounded by its famous wall with its seven gates. As one enters it is almost as if one is stepping back into time. The Arab souks have changed little over the years. There you can literally purchase everything from soup to nuts. Your senses wrestle with the sights, sounds, and smells as you walk down the crowded streets. And you begin to picture in your mind what Jerusalem might have looked like during the days of Jesus.

Then questions enter into your mind as to what Jerusalem might look like when the King reigns enthroned within the temple on the temple mount. Will the streets be even more congested? Will language continue being a barrier to the people who do commerce within its shops? We know that there will no longer be the ever-present military and police presence as there is today for the Prince of Peace will be reigning upon the throne. The security fence that borders Jerusalem will also be gone. As I walked through those streets, the electricity grew within as I realized once again that this city is an eternal city - the city where God has chosen to share His name.

Friends, as you read earlier, the Scriptures encourage us - yea, they command us - to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Are we doing this faithfully? Is Jerusalem in your thoughts every day? As you pray for its peace you are in essence praying that the Prince of Peace will come, for only then will Jerusalem truly know peace.

Chag Pesach Sameach

2011-04-20T08:20:00.000-07:00

I want to begin by wishing you a Chag Pesach Sameach - a joyous Passover Holiday. This important Jewish celebration actually began at sunset this past Monday and will conclude at sunset next Monday. Passover, itself, is actually one day, with the Seder meal being observed the first night of the eight-day holiday. The remaining days are known from the Bible as the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

You remember the story of the very first Passover. It is found in the book of Exodus. After forty years of exile in the wilderness of Midian, Moses has returned to Egypt with a message from God to Pharaoh: "Let my people, the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, go into the wilderness to worship me." And, as you also remember, Pharaoh, in no uncertain terms, said "No way that is going to happen!" So, God sent one plague after another upon the Egyptians - each plague is carefully recalled during the Passover Seder. Still there was reluctance on the past of Pharaoh. Finally God told Moses that He would strike the firstborn of all living things in Egypt with death; but, how to spare the children of Israel?

Here was God's plan. Each Hebrew family was to carefully select one lamb - one without anyspot or blemish - in other words, it was perfect. This lamb was then to be killed and its blood was to be drained into a basin. Then carefully, using a branch of hyssop, the blood was to be painted on the mantel and the door frames at each house. As the angel of death went through the land that evening, he would pass over each of the houses where the blood had been applied.

Meanwhile, the Israelites were to roast the lamb, eating it with unleavened bread - they did not have time for the yeast to take affect in a normal loaf of bread - and with vegetables. They were to be dressed for leaving. It was not a meal to be lingered over, but to be eaten in haste because the time for the exodus had arrived.

Today's Passover Seder is a retelling of that story so that the participants do not forget God's great deliverance of Israel from Egypt some 3400 years ago. It is a meal that focuses upon family, with both parents and children participating during the evening. It is a meal that is not eaten with haste, but lingered over as the story becomes embedded in the memory once again.

As Christians we associate the Passover with the last meal that Jesus had with His disciples just before His betrayal and His death. It is from this meal that the elements of our Communion are taken.

If you have never had the opportunity of participating in a Passover Seder, I would trust that you would have that opportunity soon. The biblical account of the Exodus story will become more real to you. You will also connect with Jewish friends around the world. And you will begin to have a deeper understanding of your own participation in the Communion services held in your local church.

So, again I wish you a Chag Pesach Semeach. And I also wish you a Blessed Easter. He is risen...He is risen, indeed!

Israel: Back from the Land

2011-04-13T09:02:00.000-07:00

I am just returned from two weeks leading a tour group to Israel. What an incredible experience God provided for us in that place! Allow me to just share with you a couple of highlights that blessed my own heart. First, the hillsides of Galilee were alive with a palette of colors. From the deep crimson of the anemones (we might call them poppies) to the bright yellow of the mustard, and from the pure whites and passionate pinks of the wild cyclamens to the fading blues of the remaining lupines the hillsides spoke powerfully of their Creator. As we drove through the hillsides of both the Upper and Lower Galilee Mountains, my heart was drawn to that passage in the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus says these words to His followers: "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these" (Matthew 6:28-29). I am convinced that Jesus gave this Sermon in the spring of the year when the wild flowers were sharing their beauty before their Lord. Israel is truly magnificent in the spring of the year. Second, it was a bright, nearly haze-free morning when we boarded the boat that would take us onto the Sea of Galilee. Excitement ran high as we anticipated the experience of being on the Sea. Something happened early on that ride that profoundly touched many of us. As is customary, the American flag is hoisted and our national anthem is played. It is an amazing feeling to be singing our anthem in a foreign setting. But, then we listened as the Israeli national anthem was played. As the words of that anthem - expressing the hope of the people of Israel - were being sung, the two flags - one from the United States and one from Israel - seemed to embrace as one. I noticed tears in the eyes of many. Oh that our nation would embrace the people of Israel as those two flags did on that sun-kissed boat. Jerusalem was a sea of people, at times you literally could not fall down. The walk up the Via Dolorosa from the Antonia Fortress to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was an arduous one. At times you felt like you were hemmed in on every side with little breathing room. Then I thought of that Good Friday when Jesus, weak from a sleepless night and from the horrific beatings He had experienced, was forced to carry His cross through a similar mob scene. I think I received a new appreciation for all that He endured for me. People asked if I felt safe. The answer is a strong yes. While we were in the Negev we heard the Israeli planes flying over head. In one place, we were told that we could not take pictures focusing in a certain direction because secret military exercises were being done in the area. And while in Jerusalem, we witnessed many young recruits who were being initiated into their particular military field. Friends, I would strongly encourage you to consider taking a journey to His Land. It will bring the Scriptures into a sharper focus for you, as well as instill within you a sense of what God is presently doing in His Land. A journey to Israel is one way in which we can share with the world that we are standing with its people.

Another Cycle of Revenge?

2011-03-23T11:56:00.000-07:00

Today a suitcase bomb was exploded near the Central Bus Station in Jerusalem. Two buses, filled with students and market shoppers were heavily damaged resulting in a 59-year old woman being killed and approximately 30 others wounded, some seriously. No one has claimed responsibility for this act of terrorism - the first attack upon an Israeli bus since 2004 - but suspects include Hamas, Hamas, and Hamas. Also, in recent days Hamas has stepped up its rocket assaults from the Gaza Strip, launching dozens of rockets and mortar shells. Most of these have caused very little damage.

Why this sudden increase of attacks? Let me share a statement from the "Daily Israel Report" published by the IsraelNationalNews.com: "Hamas has considerably stepped up its missile attacks on Israeli civilians in the past week. Some analysts see the belligerence as an attempt to divert Gazans' attention away from demonstrations in favor of a reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah. [My note: Fatah is the organization founded by Yasir Arafat and is presently in control of the West Bank areas of Judea and Samaria. Fatah is under the leadership of Mahmoud Abbas. Recently Abbas invited Hamas to join in elections in all the Palestinian Authority territories this summer, but Hamas has refused]. Others see it as a result of Hamas' heightened confidence following recent events in Egypt. [My note: Hamas has long hoped that the Muslim Brotherhood would gain control in Egypt and establish an Islamic government there]. Still others see it as an attempt to divert the civil rights denied Gazan population, especially the Fatah sympathizers among them, from joining the wave of popular uprisings throughout the Middle East." Perhaps it is a combination of all three. How does Hamas get attention? It is only by attacking Israel.

What will be Israel's response? My guess is that they will conduct some surgical air attacks deep into the Gaza Strip. If the attacks persist, the Netanyahu government might even consider a second counter-attack such as Operation Cast Lead in 2009.

As I read the reports coming out of Jerusalem today, my heart was saddened at the loss of life and how almost effortlessly some can seek to destroy life. Now more lives will be taken in retaliation.

I am reminded of the tragic biblical story of Samson, really a study in terrorism. Samson's response to the Philistines was one of revenge, followed by the Philistines acting in a greater manner of savagery. Of course, that angered Samson, so he responded by destroying fields. Then the Philistines had to counter that. You can read the story in Judges 14-16. It is sad. Even when he died, Samson was still seeking retaliation for the taking of his eyes. This cyle of retaliation and revenge occurs when one of the parties refuses to sit down and dialogue about differences and how those can be resolved. In the present case, Hamas has refused the dialogue. Their focus - like that of the Philistines - was to seek the destruction of Israel. [One could say that that was Samson's focus - the destruction of the Philistines].

Just another reminder of how we need to pray for peace to come to Jerusalem.

Speaking of Jerusalem, next Wednesday Marlys and I will be taking a group of 40 others to Israel. Am I excited? Yes. Am I nervous? No. But I know our group will greatly appreciate your prayers for us those days we are in Israel. The dates are March 30-April 12. Upon my return I will give you a firsthand report of what God is doing there in that land. My next blog posting will be on April 13. Until then, keep looking up - our redemption is getting closer.

Japan's Apocalyptic Images

2011-03-16T10:47:00.000-07:00

The images coming from Japan seem surreal and, at times, almost apocalyptic. Large ocean-going ships tossed about as if they were plastic toys played in a child's bath. Automobiles piled one on top of another like cords of wood beside a fire pit. Buildings crumbling as if they were made of match-sticks. And everywhere there are the cries of those who survived looking for and mourning those who did not. Honestly, I do not remember seeing such destruction ever in my lifetime.

Two thoughts come to my mind when I view those images. First, the magnitude of the clean-up. Where do the Japanese people begin? How does one begin removing the thousands of cars that awaited transport to the United States and now are only fit for the scrape heap? How does one begin untangling the hundreds of cargo containers that look as if they could grace the front of a giant jigsaw puzzle? Miles upon miles of devastation. Where does one start? And then one begins to ponder who long will it take. (We are still cleaning up after Hurricane Katrina and it has been five years). Then I remembered a statement from Ezekiel 39 - "Then those who live in the towns of Israel will go out and use the weapons for fuel and burn them up - the small and large shields, the bows and arrows, the war clubs and spears. For seven years they will use them for fuel (Ezekiel 39:9). After the war with Gog and Magog, it will take Israel seven years to remove the debris. As I watched those images from Japan, I thought of the impending day when Israel will be faced with an even greater challenge - a clean up that will take them seven years to complete. (It will be finished just in time for the return of their King!)

The second image concerns the earthquake itself. What power the world only rarely sees! The consequences of this 9.0 earthquake almost stun one's beliefs. The island of Japan is now eight feet closer to us; the axis of our earth has been changed by four inches; and last Friday was shortened by a fraction of a second. Now it takes a pretty strong force to move an entire island. But then I remembered reading in Revelation about an even greater earthquake yet to come. John writes, in Revelation 16 - "Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since man has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. ...Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found" (Revelation 16:18-20).

The Japanese quake was one of the largest ever recorded. But it will pale in significance to that final quake that God will send just before the arrival of His Son. Mountains will disappear! Islands will not only move, but flee away! Every city on earth will collapse and be destroyed! This quake in Japan is a foreshadowing of a greater one yet to come!

We do need to be in prayer for Japan. This is a great opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus in that desperate place. And, as we minister to the physical needs to the people of Japan, may God open their hearts so that He might minister to their spiritual needs.

What about Hell?

2011-03-09T11:30:00.000-08:00

One of the inevitable facts of life is death. Since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, the curse of death has been man's history. To date, only two individuals have escaped its clutches: Enoch and Elijah. "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27 KJV). That is the Sword of Damocles that hangs over mankind.

If there were only something we could do about death. Well there is. We cannot avoid it - unless the Rapture comes - but we can avoid its sting. When Jesus Christ died on the cross and later rose from the grave, He removed the power of death over us. Paul wrote: "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:55-57 NIV). So, when I accepted Christ as my Savior, the sting of death was removed.

But there is a second question: What happens after a person dies? For many Christians down through the centuries, the answer has always been - either heaven or hell. Heaven is the place for those who have accepted the eternal life that Jesus Christ came to give; hell is the place for those who have rejected that gift. There seems to be abundant biblical evidence for both locations. Even Jesus described hell as a place of torment - a place where the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched (Mark 9:48 NIV).

Yet, there is a spirit afoot among evangelicals to deny the reality of hell; to call into question the very statements of Jesus about that place. A new book, to be released next week, by Rob Bell, the renown pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, MI, has taken the evangelical community by storm. In the book he describes as "misguided and toxic" the dogma that "a select few Christians will spend forever in a peaceful, joyous place called heaven, while the rest of humanity spends forever in torment and punishment in hell with no chance for anything better" (from Star Tribune article, March 6, 2011). Bell joins a growing list of evangelical scholars, including the late Clark Pinnock, to deny the existence of hell.

If there is no hell, does that mean that all will go to heaven? If all will go to heaven, does that mean that we don't need to evangelize any longer? If we don't have to evangelize what is the purpose of the Church? These are the questions that proceed from a dialogue about the reality of hell.

The Bible is very clear on the reality of hell and of those who will go there. Take a few moments and read Revelation 20:11-15, especially that final verse: "If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." That seems to be the exclamation point, at least in this blogger's mind.

The dangers of the teachings of a Rob Bell is that it leads to universalism - everyone will be saved. That is a dangerous position to take as your eternal life might hang in the balance.

Don't Despair...God Delights Over You

2011-03-02T11:16:00.000-08:00

The eyes of the world continue to focus upon what is happening in Libya. Forces loyal to Qaddafi battle for control of strategic locations against those forces demanding that he step down from power. The nation has become embroiled in a civil war. What should be the response on the part of nations around the globe? Economic sanctions are being empowered. There has even been talk of a military intervention. Personally, this last idea surprised me. Just as we are beginning a pull back from Iraq, are we so quickly to engage in another conflict in Libya?

Qaddafi appears to have lost credibility with many in Libya. Because of this conflict we are learning of his involvement in the Pan Am flight disaster over Lockerbie, Scotland, years ago. He was a madman then, he remains a madman. And yet many are willing to die for him.

As I listened to portions of his speeches last week and watched the responses of those who applauded him, I began to understand once again the power of delusional thinking. Qaddafi has believed the lie that he can do no wrong; that everyone in Libya loves him, in fact, they would gladly die for him. And some would. I believe that the Antichrist will hold a similar sway over his followers. They will have believed the lie that he foisted upon them. They will have committed themselves to him even to the point of death. It is only the truth that we have through Jesus Christ and His Word that can truly liberate a person from bondage. This is the great need that Libya truly has.

A second place the world has focused attention upon in recent weeks is in neighboring Madison, Wisconsin. Could this be the beginning of another American Revolution? Whether you agree with the plan Governor Walker has put in place, you have to applaud the fact that he is taking leadership for that plan. He believes in that plan. He is willing to put his political career on the line for that plan. I believe that if he succeeds, a spark will have been lit that will blaze brightly in other statehouses around our nation and, perhaps, even reach Washington itself. We are bankrupt financially and morally. There are no longer any "rainy day" funds available. Yes, probably taxes will have to be increased, but first there needs to be a measured response in the form of significant spending cuts. Yet, I believe the Bible correctly describes that a coming economic disaster is about to overtake the entire world. You can read about it in Revelation 6. Inflation will once again be in a run-away mode. Prices will be soaring. The chasm between the financially well-off and those who are not will be widened greatly. So, what happens eventually in Madison will only have a limited impact. Ugly financial days are forthcoming.

All is not lost. There is still much for which to celebrate. God is still in control. I want to close with a great verse that really shares so powerfully God's commitment to us, His children. It is found in Zephaniah 3:17. And it states: "The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Pretty amazing, don't you think? When things get bad this week and you tend toward despair, just recite Zephaniah 3:17 to yourself and celebrate the fact that God delights in you and enjoy being quieted with His love.

"These are the days of Elijah"

2011-02-23T10:39:00.000-08:00

I am often accused of getting carried away with my attempt to relate the events transpiring in the world today with what the Bible says. Many times I have had people say, "Well, Max, things have been bad before. So, what makes you think that we are near the end now?" And then I begin to reiterate how, never before in the history of mankind, have so many of the events prophesied by both the prophets and Jesus Himself been realized at the same time. Let's just look at a few:

Lawlessness: America's prisons today are over-crowded, to the point that the State of Minnesota is seeking to release back into the public violent sexual offenders who have served their prison sentences, and yet who have not demonstrated any change in behavior. Reason why: simply no room for them any longer. Over this past week, a gang of about 50 young people entered a convenience store and robbed the store of merchandise. These "mob robberies" are becoming more frequent.

Religion without power: Success in today's church is measured by attendance and programs. We have compromised biblical truth in order to entertain the lost and carnal. Our goal is to make people feel better about themselves. Forgotten is any discussion on God's holiness or His justice and, although we talk much about His love, we really have failed to grasp what His love is all about.

Earthquakes in various places: Just this week a devastating quake struck Christchurch, New Zealand, bringing death and destruction. Two weeks ago, another quake in Chili. Since October, over 700 quakes in the state of Arkansas alone. And the intensity of the quake activity in and around Yellowstone National Park is growing.

Famines: Escalating food prices is what prompted the uprising in Tunisia last month. And, in case you hadn't noticed, food prices in America are rising higher than the inflation rate. Why? because of adverse weather conditions around the globe that have caused crop failures: no wheat in Australia this year (floods); no wheat in Pakistan this year (floods); no soybeans or corn in Brazil this year (floods); no wheat in Russia this year (drought).

Wars and rumors of war: The reality of war has almost become commonplace today. China is expanding its military, and I am not sure it is only for national defense. Iran keeps working toward a nuclear capability, and it is not solely to produce electricity, as the presence of its warships this week traveling through the Suez Canal can testify. The Arab world is sitting on a powder keg ready to explode.

Should we make anything of these signs? Let me share with you that the Shiites do. Iranian President Ahmadinejad stated that the Twelfth Imam is now managing the revolution going on in Egypt and in other Arab nations. He said, "We will soon see a new Middle East materialising without America and the Zionist regime and there will be no room for world arrogance (the West) in it." He continued, "The final move has begun. We are in the middle of a world revolution managed by this dear (12th Imam). A great awakening is unfolding. One can witness the hand of Imam in managing it." [from Joel Rosenberg's blog]. So, the Shiites are saying that the events of today are pointing to the imminent coming of their messianic deliverer, the Twelfth Imam.

Then, today, Joel Rosenberg shared that Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky stated, "People have come to me and said that it's 'Gog and Magog.' We cannot know. But it's probable that any unrest that God creates shows that the Messiah is coming, and that we must begin to prepare for it and become stronger." So, many among the ultra-Orthodox in Judaism are saying that the events of today are pointing to the imminent coming of their Messiah.

These are not days to have our eyes blinded, nor to be apathetic about what is happening. There is purpose behind these events. The Rabbi is right: we must begin to prepare for His coming and become stronger. It is only the scoffers who fail to see any connection between what is happening and the promises of His return. These are days of preparation. What are you doing to get ready?

The Dominoes Are Falling!

2011-02-16T08:03:00.000-08:00

The dominoes in the Middle East are beginning to tumble - one after the other. What began a few weeks ago in Tunisia over escalating food prices and unemployment has led to the toppling of two long-termed regimes inTunisia and most recently in Egypt. Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak clung to the reigns of power until his strength waned under the continued pressures of the people's revolt. With the Egyptian military now in control, the Egyptian people have traded a few freedoms for no freedoms in the hopes that they might have many freedoms. Will this gamble work? The answer will be known in September, if not before.

Now uprisings are threatening the autocratic governments in Yemen, Bahrain, and Libya. The situation in Yemen is of utmost concern. President Ali Abdullah Saleh, holding the reigns of power for 32 years, and is known for friendly dispositions toward the United States and the West, teeters on the brink of collapse. The nation of Yemen is already embroiled in two civil wars and has become a stronghold for Al Qaeda. If the government collapses, most analysts believe that a radical Islamic faction will take control, thus imposing a serious threat to the West and to Israel.

Yesterday, riots began in Libya, the playground of Moammar Gadhafi since 1969. Will the people be successful there as they were in Egypt? Gadhafi has been one of the strongest dictators in the region. Since being in power, he has built strong ties with the Russians. You are asking me, why is Libya important? It is the biblical nation of Put, mentioned in Ezekiel 38 - part of the coalition with Russia and the invasion of Israel.

Bahrain, one of the wealthiest Arab Gulf States, has been ruled by one family since 1820 - the Al Khalifa royal family. Other nations embroiled in uprisings by their citizens include Algeria, Jordan, and Lebanon. Reported this morning by IsraelNationalNews.com, former Lebanese Prime Minisgter Saad Hariri is planning a mass rally in Beirut on March 14. His goal is to have one million demonstrators rallying against Hezbollah.

Even the Palestinian Authority has not been immune to the protests. This past week, Prime Minister Salam Fayyad submitted his resignation to President Abbas. The entire Cabinet in Ramallah resigned. A new government has been formed with Fayyad still acting as Prime Minister. President Abbas has called for new elections, no later than September,but already Hamas has said they would not participate in those elections.

One almost needs a map in front of him to keep up with the current activities in the Middle East. So, what are we to make of these events? Will the democracy that is looming large over the Middle East be realized? Lingering among the shadows is the ever-present Muslim Brotherhood and other radical Islamic sects. These people have a history of being opportunistic and they know when to demonstrate their presence. In the meanwhile, we are seeing God's hand at work. Israel must be in a position of safety before Russia, Iran, Libya, and others invade, seeking the mineral and petroleum reserves there in Israel. Israel is hardly in such a position today. Another war with her neighbors is inevitable. Perhaps God is using these events to align those nations for His purpose - their grand defeat.

The Continuing Unrest in the Middle East - Where Is It Heading?

2011-02-10T11:19:00.000-08:00

Unrest continues almost unabated around the world. Many of the countries in the Middle East are watching with great interest the drama being played out in Egypt. Will President Mubarak go into exile, being driven out by the persistent voices of the people? Will Vice President Suleiman be able to create an interim government that will fill the void until the September elections? What role will the Muslim Brotherhood have in a new government? What form will democracy take in a new Egypt?

The Western news media has been so focused on Egypt that it has paid little attention to what has been happening in Tunisia. Late last month, the people rose up in protest because of high food prices, resulting in the exiled flight of their long termed president Ben Ali. Now, new violence has filled the streets of Tunis. There has been looting and even the burning of a small Jewish synagogue. The interim President Mebazaa is ruling by decree without any influence from the Parliament. Corruption, so prevalent in the Ben Ali days, is still rampant. Fears are mounting that this new wave of violence will lead, not to democracy, but to the rise of another radicalized Islamic state.

Could something similar happen in Egypt? Absolutely. How does a country make sudden changes? It is almost an impossibility. Time is needed, and in the case of both Tunisia and Egypt, time is not an ally but an opponent.

In near-by Jordan, protests are increasing, even though King Abdullah has appointed a new Prime Minister and a new Parliament. Will he call for new elections soon? Of interest to the protesters, is that of Jordan's Queen who has been accused of corruption. I have stated before in these blogs, that it is my belief that if Egypt falls, so will Jordan. Historically Jordan has played on the hems of Egypt's robes...not always to the best intentions of the Jordanians, I might add.

About the only country that is weathering this storm of protests is Syria. Last Saturday was to be a "Day of Rage" in Damascus, only no one showed up. The streets were vacant. The reporters were there, but no protesters. It seems, at least for the time being, President Assad is secure. However, the more I study Middle Eastern history, the more I am aware that nothing is as it appears. Perhaps it is because the Middle East is built upon sand...and the sands are ever shifting.

As believers in Jesus Christ and expecting His soon return, the events happening in the Middle East should excite us tremendously. I believe that God is preparing the way for the entrance of the King. There are still events that will need to be played out before He comes. God is causing nations to begin to align themselves for Psalm 83 War and beyond. Soon the trumpet will blow...don't get caught with plugged ears.

Democracy in the Middle East - Can It Work?

2011-02-02T11:38:00.000-08:00

Wow! Things are happening in the Middle East pretty quickly right now. Egypt is still in an uproar. Last night Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak went on Egyptian television and stated that he would not leave his office, but pledged not to seek re-election in September. Earlier in the day he had appointed a new Prime Minister to create a new government. Mubarak said, "This dear country is my country...and I will die on its land." Today, opposition leader, Mohammed ElBaradei gave Mubarak an ultimatum that he leave the country by Friday or, to put it in his words, "he will be a dead man walking."

You will remember that ElBaradei was the former head of the IAEC (International Atomic Energy Commission) and had the oversight of the Iranian situation. We know at least two things about this man: 1) he is very pro-Iranian, and 2) he is very anti-Israel. Need we say more. And, last night in his brief speech, President Obama stated that the Egyptians needed to include opposition parties in the formation of any government. Friends, standing in the wings is the Muslim Brotherhood, one of the oldest and most radical of the fundamentalist Islamic sects. I am fearful that allowing them a position at the table will result in what happened in Lebanon when Hezbollah was granted a role in the formation of a government - they soon took over.

And, keep your eyes on Jordan. King Abdullah, seeing what was on the horizon, quickly dismissed his government and selected a new Prime Minister to create a new government more responsive to the people's needs. The one thing the King has going for him that President Mubarak doesn't is that he is still popular with the Jordanian people.

I want to take a few moments to share my thoughts about democracy in the Middle East. To date there is only one country in that region of the world that has a viable democratic process - Israel. Oh, there are pseudo-elections held in Egypt and in Syria and in Lebanon and even within the Palestinian Authority. To date we have not seen democracy work there. Yet America keeps pushing for democratic reforms. In 2006, Secretary of State Rice and the Bush Administration urged the Palestinians to have elections. Yet, when the winner was announced - Hamas - we tried to void the elections because the ones we hoped would win, in fact did not. Hamas, whose strength was in the Gaza Strip took over that area later that year, filling the void left after the 2005 disengagement by Israel. I see where President Abbas has now called for elections this year for the Palestinian Authority. He, too, is trying to stave off a popular uprising.

Why doesn't democracy work well? I believe there are two reasons. First, these nations have a strong history of autocratic rule: the Hussein family has ruled Jordan since 1951; Hosni Mubarak has governed Egypt since 1981; the Assad family has led Syria since 1970; the Saud family has been Saudi Arabia since 1931. So we have entire generations that have known nothing but an autocratic leader. (To be sure, some have been friendly to the West, while others have not). So, if there is to be a democratic change, the people need to be instructed as to what democracy fully entails, and we have failed to teach them.

Second, democracy succeeds upon the foundation of a Judeo-Christian values structure. Democracy has worked in Europe and in many places in the Western World. Why? Because of the Judeo-Christian foundation of Constitutions and Civil structure. The Muslim religion provides no such structure. Therefore I have a very difficult time trying to understand how democracy will work.

Please remember our Christian brothers and sisters living within these countries. Pray for God to protect them. And pray, also, for those Jews who have stayed. These demonstrations can only increase the likelihood of more persecution.

So much going on, and we have not even touched the wacky weather most of us are experiencing. Praise God He is in control. That is what gives me peace at heart. I hope it does you as well.

Egypt - What Is It All About?

2011-01-29T08:48:00.001-08:00

This is a special Weekend Edition of "Christianity for Today." I received an e-mail yesterday from one of my students asking if I would write about what is happening in Egypt. I am sure that by now you have seen the pictures of the mass demonstrations occurring in Cairo, Alexandria, and Suez. Tens of thousands of Egyptians have taken to the streets demanding that President Hosni Mubarak step down after 30 years of autocratic rule. These protests followed those occurring in Tunisia two weeks ago when Prime Minister Ben Ali was ousted from office following 23 years of corruption and power. Now similar scenes are occurring in Yemen. Will Jordan and Saudi Arabia be far behind.

We are so used to having a transition of power in government every four years. Since the days of Franklin Roosevelt, the American people have limited the term that a president can serve to no more than eight years. However, that has not been the case in the Middle East. Take Egypt for example. President Mubarak assumed power after the assassination of President Anwar Sadat in 1981. Both men were military leaders. In fact, since the days of General Nassar in the 1950's, the military has been the defacto leader in Egypt. President Mubarak is now 82 years of age and is suffering with cancer. Rumor had it that he had designated his son, Gamal, to be his successor. Now the people are saying they have had enough of a Mubarak ruling their country.

If you look at these Arab states, the primary causes for unrest include: high unemployment and devastating poverty. These are among the wealthiest nations because of their oil reserves, but most of that wealth is kept within the ruling families. I am amazed at how much aid the American people give to these wealthy nations. Not much of it filters down to the people. Now the people want their share of the pie.

I know what you are saying, "Max, why should I be interested, let alone concerned, about what is happening in far off Egypt and Yemen?" The answer is two fold -one very pragmatic, the other very biblical. First for the pragmatic response: Since the protests began in Tunisia, have you noticed how oil prices have risen dramatically, approaching $100 per barrel. You know what you are paying at the pumps now. Suppose these protests impact Saudi Arabia, the world's leader in oil production. Can you imagine what that will do to oil prices. Some analysts believe it is possible to have oil reach $200 per barrel. I will let you do the math regarding fuel prices. Not only will you pay it at the gas pump, but at the clothing store and the grocery store as those costs will be passed along to the consumer. Pragmatically, what is happening right now, today, in the Middle East could decimate the world's fragile economic conditions.

But, there is also a biblical concern. From the surface these protests seem to have a democratic flavor to them. In fact, I was reading in the paper this morning that President Obama is applauding those in Egypt who have dared to stand up. However, always lurking in the shadows is radical Islamic extremists. In Egypt, it is the Muslim Brotherhood. In Yemen, it is Al-Quaida. In Lebanon, it is Hezbollah. And we know what the intent of these organizations is: the destruction of the Western World and the extermination of Israel. Might not these organizations seize this opportunity? I found it very interesting when you look at these nations that are in turmoil, the map begins to look very much like that of the Psalm 83 War. Might we be seeing the birthpangs of that war? I don't want to commit myself, but I do not think it is merely a coincidence.

My friends, it is time to become aware of what is going on. It is also time to be excited that God is still in control. Stay tuned.

A Growing Backlash

2011-01-26T13:20:00.000-08:00

Last week I wrote about the recent uprisings in Tunisia and the overthrowing of that country's long termed dictator - President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. I stated at the time that the eyes of many other leaders in the Arab world were looking at this event with wary eyes.

Yesterday, riots dominated the urban cities of Egypt. Thousands of people protested in the streets of Cairo, Suez, Alexandria, and Mansura demanding the end of the Mubarak regime. President Hosni Mubarak has governed Egypt since the assassination of Anwar Sadat in 1981. Although he has had friendly ties with the West during the past 30 years, his government has also been plagued with corruption. In recent years the Muslim Brotherhood, founded in Egypt and one of the most radical arms of Islam, has sought to overthrow his government. Many believe that the Muslim Brotherhood was behind the protest demonstrations yesterday. Could the Mubarak government of Egypt be toppled by the masses of the people as was that of Tunisia? It certainly seems possible. An article in the IsraelNationalNews.com today stated that the Egyptian President had sent his wife and son Gamal, whom many see has his successor, to London, along with 97 suitcases of undescribed stuff. (My personal guess is that much of that stuff was in the form of dollars or even gold). Keep an eye upon Egypt - it bears watching.

There were riots yesterday in Beirut as well. Protesters took to the street against the Hezbollah-appointed new Prime Minister Najib Mikati. I shared with you last week that Hezbollah had withdrawn from the Harir-led government, leading to its collapse. They then proceeded to install their own prime minister. The new prime minister is a close associate with Syrian dictator Bashar Assad. In response to the pending violence in Lebanon, the United States has sent two nuclear carriers with a total of 210 planes to patrol the waters off the coast of Lebanon. The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) have been put on high alert along Israel's northern frontier with Lebanon. Once again the Middle East teeters on the brink.

Finally there was the suicide bombing of the International Airport in Moscow on Monday, killing 35 and injuring at least 180. To date no one has yet taken responsibility for the bombing, but most experts believe it was associated with Chechnyan militants who have attacked Russia before. How will the Russians respond? That is the great unanswered question at the moment.

Once again I am drawn to those words of Jesus found in Matthew 24. You remember that His disciples had asked Him "What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" Among the signs Jesus announced were these: "You will hear of wars and rumors of war...Nation will rise again nation, and kingdom against kingdom." (Matthew 24:6-7). What I find significant with what is happening in the Middle East right now is that the riots in Egypt and in Lebanon underscore the great animosity that people have for Israel. We know that it is the stated purpose of the Muslim Brotherhood and Hezbollah to see the destruction of the State of Israel. Could we be seeing the shadows of the impending Psalm 83 War? I don't know for sure, but I do know that God has a purpose for what is happening there.

Yesterday during our semi-monthly prophecy lunch, we discussed, among other news items, what is happening China and its growing influence around the world; the continuing impact of our national debt which staggers our imaginations; and the growing persecution of Christians around the world. This is not the time to bury one's head in the sand, but to look up, see the signs of our times, and remember that Jesus' coming is our great hope.

Of Tunisia, Russia and the Middle East

2011-01-19T11:22:00.000-08:00

I was engaged in a conversation a few days ago and I asked, "What do you think about what is happening in Tunisia?" The people I was with got that "deer in the headlight" look. Some had no idea where Tunisia was on the map. Yes, it is a country that has flown under the radar screen of many of us since 1987 when President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali came to power in a bloodless coup that removed the founder of modern-day Tunisia. Ben Ali has ruled Tunisia ever since.

He was a very corrupt dictator lavishing himself and his family while the people he supposedly served became entrenched in abject poverty. The Europeans knew what was happening in Tunisia but turned their heads and pretended not to see the corruption. Shortly before Christmas, a young Tunisian college-educated street vendor burned himself to death after Tunisian police had confiscated his vending cart. Without his cart he had no means of employment and so committed suicide. That led to initial protests, first against unemployment, but later against government corruption. Leaked documents from the American embassy in Tunis, intercepted by Wikileaks, became public and a nation-wide revolt occurred.

Over this past weekend, President Ben Ali fled the country to Saudi Arabia. According to published reports, interim president Foued Mebazaa has promised a "total break" from the past actions of the government and has committed himself to a more democratic rule.

"So, what is the story?" you are asking. "Why should I be interested, let alone concerned?" There is a great fear among many totalitarian Arab states that what has happened in Tunisia might advance into other parts of the Arab world. We know that many of the Arab leaders operate under at least the suspicion of corruption, if not actually being corrupt. Just today, a protester was arrested in Saudi Arabia. Fears also have been expressed in Algeria, Libya, Egypt, and Jordan. Even the leaders of Hamas have voiced concerns. Is there a biblical role for this type of revolt? I am not sure, but it does fascinate me. I will keep you posted.

One other part of the world to keep your eye on is Russia and its growing influence in the Middle East. Russian President Medvedev is touring the Middle East - of course he is not visiting Israel. Yesterday he was in Ramallah, the capital of the Palestinian Authority. Although not officially stating that he would recognize a Palestinian State, he nonetheless indicated that he would give it consideration. A Russian recognition of a unilaterally declared Palestinian State would be significant. Friends, the Russian bear is stirring. Could Ezekiel's War be taking shape?

There is always something exciting happening these days. God certainly is not silent; neither should we be.

Tucson and History

2011-01-12T12:35:00.000-08:00

On Saturday, January 8, an act of violence in the city of Tucson, Arizona, shocked this nation once again. A crazed gunman stalked a member of the US House of Representatives Gabriel Giffords and shot her while she was sponsoring a rally for constituents there in Tucson. Although she is likely to survive her horrible wounds, six others, including a nine-year old girl were killed before the gunman was apprehended.

The scenes from Tucson brought back memories of those on the campuses of Virginia Tech University and of Columbine High School, and, yes, from Oklahoma City and the World Trade Center Towers in New York. Although it seems that such scenes are becoming increasingly more frequent, I trust that we will not become numb to them.

Immediately after the reports of the gunshots in Tucson hit the airwaves, the blame game began. The central person upon whom blame was cast was Sarah Pallin, Alaska's former governor and the Vice Presidential candidate of John McCain. Questions were raised about the increase in the incendiary rhetoric in today's political realm. Is the tone of rhetoric increased today compared to previous generations?

As some of you know, I enjoy reading the history of our great nation. The period of the American Civil War is my favorite, but I have been reading about those days of the founding of our great nation. Let me ask you: According to many historians, what national election brought about the greatest animosity and vitriol from the contestants? Think about that for a moment. Some of you might say that the past election was certainly not a stroll among gentlemen. Neither, for that matter, were the two campaigns of George W. Bush. The 1860 campaign between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas was fiercely contested. Yet, the most heated campaign was that of 1800 between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. It was the first election between two political parties. Oh the language that was used by both sides. Oh the attacks made. A friendship was torn asunder that would take two decades to heal. (Interestingly and ironically, both Adams and Jefferson died on the same day - July 4, 1826,)

Heated rhetoric has been part of the history of the American Congress. On May 22, 1856, during the intense days of pro- and anti-slavery debate, South Carolina Congressman Preston Brooks attacked Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner while the later was writing at his desk. Brooks hit Sumner with a cane so intensely that the later was severely injured, resulting in a three-year rehabilitation before he could resume his senate seat.

Let's not blame rhetoric for this vicious attack. Instead, let us look at the philosophy that this young man - Jared Loughner - had begun to believe. His two favorite books were the Communist Manifesto and Mein Kampf, not exactly books that inspire acceptance of democratic ideals. I believe that one motive for the attack is that Representative Giffords was Jewish. We know that both Karl Marx and Adolph Hitler despised and even hated Jews.

How will our lives be impacted because of Tucson? Because of 9-11 we now must proceed through long lines of security before we can board an airplane. Because of the Oklahoma City bombing, we must go through screenings before entering into a federal building. Will we now have to go through security screenings before we can meet with our Congressmen or those who represent us?

The Bible tells us that in the last days, lawlessness will increase. Sure doesn't create a very exciting view of our world, does it? Yet our hope still remains in God! Yes, the Righteous One is coming.

Of Frosts, Bees, and Famines

2011-01-05T10:38:00.000-08:00

Already descending those marbled steps that bordered the southern walls of the Temple Mount, Jesus is greeted by His disciples. They were enthralled with the magnitude of the buildings that dotted the mountain before them. Jesus quickly shares with them that the day was soon coming when not one stone would be left upon another in that place. Of course, that necessarily led the disciples to ask Jesus the sixty-four-million-dollar question: When will this take place? Their curiosity had been peeked.

Jesus then began to share with them many signs that would point to the time of the end of the age. Among those Jesus cites are these: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains" (Matthew 24:7-8).

Earthquakes are becoming so commonplace that they hardly make the news, unless they create major chaos and death. Why, just last week there was an earthquake centered in Indiana and felt as far away as Wisconsin. And there was a rather strong earthquake that rocked portions of Chile once again. But, we seemingly are learning to live with the thoughts of earthquakes.

But, the word that intrigued me was that of famines. Now we usually think of famines as a result of drought, a lack of rain. One thinks of the famines that ravage the sub-Saharan regions of Africa. But, might there be other causes of famines. I recently heard a news reporter saying that the freezing conditions that the American deep south experienced just before and immediately after Christmas, could bring a famine of fruits and vegetables that could last well into this year. When was the last time you associated famine with frost? I sure hadn't linked the two.

Then, just this morning, I read an article from AOL News titled, "US Bumblebee Population in Sharp Decline." The article begins, "The population of bumblebees in the United States is in a kind of free fall, dropping 96 percent over the past two decades, according to a new study that has scientists alarmed." Those scientists are theorizing that the sharp decline in bumblebees is due to an increased fungal infection and genetic defects from inbreeding. But here was the interesting quote from Sydney Cameron, the head author of the study and professor at the University of Illinois: "The bumblebee is wild, but it pollinates commercial crops from tomatoes to coffee, and its disappearance would have a dire effect on food sources." He didn't use the word famine, but you know that was what he was thinking.

A declining bumblebee population, coupled with the already well-recorded decline in the honeybee population, and there should be cause for alarm. Without proper pollination, plants will not produce their fruits. Could the lack of bees be another indicator that we are living in the end times? I don't think it is a mere coincidence that record-setting frosts and now a study of declining bee populations both occur within days of each other.

Famines - a reality that seems to have the ability to grow even stronger in the coming year. Just another reason to be ready to hear the trumpet.

A New Year's Crystal Ball

2010-12-29T12:04:00.000-08:00

We are nearing the end of another year. Where did 2010 go? As one looks back over the past year there are so many things to remember with fondness, and so many things that one hopes will quickly be forgotten in the recesses of our minds. Oh for the opportunity of doing some things over again - for a second chance, but alas, that never happens. One can only hope that better judgments will prevail in the coming year.

As one looks ahead to the coming year, one asks "What will the year hold for us?" Of course the correct answer is "We do not know, only God knows that." But it is fun to do some crystal-balling. So, here is my list of what MIGHT happen in the coming year.

1. I believe there will be some very strange political posturing in the coming year. In Washington, Republicans will control the spending as they control the House of Representatives. The question is: will they hold to their fiscal conservatism - the banner under which most of them were elected this past November? How will the President respond to this change in ideology? The politics in Washington will be very interesting, to say the least.

2. Then there is the question of Iran. According to a report in the December 29 issue of IsraelNationalNews.com, Israel's Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Ya'alon said that "we are talking in terms of three years before the Islamic Republic of Iran can achieve its presumed aim of producing a nuclear weapon." The recent damage from the Stuxnet virus on the Iranian computers has been more severe than first indicated. Furthermore, reports from inside Iran indicate that the sanctions are beginning to have an affect upon the common people, leading some analysts to state that an Iranian revolution might be at hand. I know that Iran will keep the world guessing in the coming year. (So, also, I might add, will North Korea).

3. The Middle East seems poised on the verge of a tremendous explosion in the coming year. Although he will deny reports, PA President Abbas seems to be moving ahead with having the United Nation make a unilateral declaration of Palestinian statehood sometime in late summer of 2011. Later this week, Abbas will lay the cornerstone for a Palestinian embassy in Brazil, which, along with Argentina, Paraguay, and Bolivia have announced the recognition of a Palestinian State. If such a declaration is forthcoming, it will only lead to war. What will happen to the nearly half million Israelis now living inside what the Palestinians claim will be their State? You remember that the Palestinians have already declared that there will be no Jews living in Palestine. What about the possibilities of Hamas taking over the West Bank and creating another terrorist camp? I am glad that I am leading a group to Israel in the Spring - the summer might get very hot, in more ways than one.

4. I believe that attacks upon Christians around the world will increase significantly. And, I believe that American believers will be persecuted, and even imprisoned, for their faith. This has not happened on American soil in many years. It is time for the Church to begin preparing their members on how to respond to this coming persecution: to have a resolve as did Daniel.

5. Finally, I believe that 2011 will see the continued separation of churches from the truths of the Word of God. Many have already started down that pathway. More will yet follow. The goal will be to become relevant and tolerant to culture. In the process truth will be cast aside and the Word of God will become just another book. Oh to remain biblical in these days! It is going to be increasingly more difficult to do.

There you have five items I am keeping my eyes upon as we enter 2011. Friends, it is time to focus upon Jesus. He is coming! Will it be in 2011? I don't know! I had hoped for His return in 2010, but the "fullness of time" is not yet. So, as we wait and watch for His return, we need to be at work because the fields are white unto harvest.

I do want to wish you a blessed New Year filled with the special favor of God.

Of Angels and Advents

2010-12-22T08:07:00.000-08:00

That first Christmas so long ago an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to a group of shepherds who were tending their sheep on the hillsides near Bethlehem. Later this angel was joined by a multitude of angels in a rapturous anthem.

On Christmas Eve I will be preaching on the actions and attitudes of the shepherds, those to whom the angel appeared. But, in my reflections and preparations, I noticed something startling about the proclamation(s) of the angel(s). I share these with you as my Christmas greeting.

First, the angel of the Lord quieted the hearts of these fear-filled men, and then spoke these words to them: "do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger" (Luke 2:10-12 NASB). This was the strong message of the First Advent. A Savior had come! One had arrived on the world scene who would take upon Himself the only way that sinful man could be successfully reconciled to a holy God. The message encompassed an announcement of a manger (immediate) and of a cross (future: Savior - the term itself implied a sacrifice). That angelic proclamation is still the message of Christmas now two millennias removed. Jesus was born to die so that you and I might live. It is the message that should quiet our fearful hearts.

Then the angel was joined by a multitude of other angels who, in turn, proclaimed another anthem: "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased" (Luke 2:14 NASB). Although this angelic anthem has become such an integral part of the Christmas story, I would like to believe that the message this angelic host proclaimed was not centered on the First Advent but the Second. Jesus Christ did not come to bring peace on earth. He Himself said that He came to bring the sword. But the day is coming when His peace will be upon men with whom He is pleased. It will be that day when He returns to reign from the throne of His father, David, in the city of the great King, Jerusalem.

So, friends, the entire story of Christ is presented to the shepherds that first Christmas so long ago. Did those shepherds truly understand the entire story? I am not convinced they did. But they believed enough that they were convinced and then eagerly told others about what they had heard and seen. Their example should become our passion.

I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas. Listen carefully to the message of the angels and you will hear them say, "He is coming soon!" Amen!

An Ancient Rabbi, Tevet, and Christmas

2010-12-15T07:12:00.000-08:00

I want to write about something entirely different for most of us - The Tenth of Tevet. I know what you are saying, "What is a Tevet?" Tevet is the fourth month of the Jewish Civil Calender. (You need to remember that there are two calendars our Jewish friends follow: the civil calendar which begins with Rosh Hashana in the fall, and the religious calendar which begins with Passover in the spring).

I know you are really scratching your head now: What significant event happened on the Tenth of Tevet? Great question. The answer is that it was on that date that King Nebuchadnezzar began his siege of Jerusalem which would eventuate in the destruction of the city and the Temple. Because it was just the first day of the siege very little damage was done and no one was killed that we know about. So, why is it celebrated? It is because of the eventuality that the siege caused: the Temple's destruction and the exile of the Jewish people into captivity in Babylon.

What intrigued me as I read about this fast-day was the story of one of the rabbis of those days. His name was Rav Chiyah. The story is told that he knew the impending outcome of the siege. So he killed a deer, tanned its hide and made one copy of each of the five books of the Torah. He then gave one book to each of five children he had selected. He taught each child that book which they had received. Then he instructed them to teach one another what they had been taught. He believed that you could only teach what you yourself had been taught.

As I read this story, the truth hit me that I have a responsibility to share with others what I have learned. I cannot share what I do not know - that would be perpetuating ignorance, and this world has more than enough ignorance. I was reminded of the words of Peter and John as they approached the Temple and saw the beggar on the steps begging alms. You remember what Peter said: "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk" (Acts 3:6). "What I have I give to you." What I have been taught is what I can share with others. What I have mined of God's Word for myself is what I can share with another.

O the wisdom of Rav Chiyah. He taught each child one book. They, in turn, taught that one book to the other four. Then those five could teach another five children those five books. And so the multiplication begins.

Here at Village Schools this truth energizes us. What you learn you are to share with others. What you experience is yours, not just to keep, but to share.

This Christmas Season, let me ask you, what are you sharing? What are you imparting to others? What special memories of Christmas can you relate to others?

A Christmas Carol

2010-12-08T08:43:00.000-08:00

One of the greatest story-writers of all time wrote one of the best-known Christmas stories of all time. Of course I am referring to Charles Dickens, who in December 1843 published a 66-page novella titled originally, "A Christmas Carol in Prose: Being a Ghost Story of Christmas." The title has been shorted to just "A Christmas Carol." Since its publication in 1843, this little story has never been out of print - a remarkable feat, when you come to think of it.

The story has been adapted for both stage and screen. Perhaps the classic adaptation is the 1951 screen version starring Alastair Sims. According to critics, he portrays the Ebenezer Scrooge that would have met with Dickens' approval. My Christmas Season is not complete until I have watched this masterpiece. A strong rival would be the 1984 adaptation for television starring George C. Scott as Scrooge. He does a remarkable job with the role. Either film clearly portrays the heart of Dickens as he wrote in the fall of 1843.

That was the time the Industrial Revolution was radically changing the landscape of England. What gripped Dickens heart was the forced labor many of England's children endured. He himself had experienced this early in his life when his father was imprisoned for several months. Historians tell us that Dickens, from that time on, had a love-hate relationship with his father. The character of Scrooge portrayed both those relationship.

Of course we best remember Scrooge for his "Christmas! Bah-humbug!" statement. Haven't we all felt that way once or twice? Come on. You know what I mean. Another program to attend. Another trip to the mall to buy another gift. Another card to send. I don't know about you, but there are times when Christmas can become a "Bah-humbug!" I want to hurry through it...to get it over with. That is the way Ebenezer Scrooge looked at Christmas.

What caused the change in his heart? Was it the three spirits who visited him? I am sure the very presence of a ghost would cause alarm. But I think it was what the spirits showed him. As you read the story or view the filmed adaptations, the focus is upon family. There is hardly a mention of gifts being exchanged. The only gifts were the ones being raised by a few businessmen to provide food and drink for the poor. The great scene at Mr. Fezziwig's party focuses upon family and friends. There is the Christmas morning scene at the Cratchetts as the goose is cooking and the pudding is singing in the copper. Its about family.

As I have reflected upon that first Christmas carol, recorded in Luke 2, it was an invitation to become part of a family - the family of God. So when the spirit of "Bah-humbug" creeps into your heart, focus on family, beginning with your relationship with Jesus Christ. Perhaps then everything else will come into a proper focus. Then you and I can sing with Tiny Tim, "God bless us, everyone!"

Happy Hanukkah!

2010-12-01T12:28:00.000-08:00

Happy Hanukkah! Yes, that very special Jewish celebration known as "the festival of lights" begins tonight at sundown. It will conclude at sundown on December 9. Just what is Hanukkah and why should I care? Among Jewish celebrations, Hanukkah is a relatively recent addition. Its history goes back to the second century BC during the times of the Maccabees. In the year 168 BC, the Syrian King, Antiochus IV Epiphanes sacked the city of Jerusalem. He was sort of ticked off because he had lost a battle with the Egyptians and on his way home he was feeling very ugly. Jerusalem stood in the way. He had strong feelings against the Jews so why not stop and bolster his fractured ego with taking Jerusalem. After killing many of the inhabitants, he went into the temple, erected an image of his god Zeus and then offered a pig upon the altar where sacrifices were made. This act came to be known as the "abomination of desolation."

Now enter into the story an aged priest by the name of Mattathias. He lived in the little village of Modiin, a few miles northwest of Jerusalem. A Greek officer and some soldiers gathered all the people of that village together and demanded that they bow to an idol and eat the flesh of a pig (perhaps a ham sandwich!). Mattathias refused to take part, but another villager stepped forward to initiate the required sacrifice. Mattithias drew his sword, killed the villager and also the Greek officer. He and his five sons, along with many of the villagers escaped to the hills. There an army was assembled, under the leadership of Mattathias' son - Judas Maccabeaus (Judas "The Hammer"). This revolt, known as the Maccabean revolt, eventuated in the recapture of the city of Jerusalem in December 165 BC. The temple was in complete disarray so the cleansing began. Enough oil was found to light the menorah for one day, but miraculously the menorah stayed lit for eight days.

Hanukkah commemorates this miracle of the oil. It celebrates the freedom of the Jewish people from the enslavement to the Syrians and their Greek culture. It is a time of great festivities that last for eight days. One important part of Hanukkah is the lighting of the Menorah. The Hanukkah Menorah has eight branches and one servant or host branch. This host is lit and then one of the eight branches is lit on each of the succeeding days of Hanukkah. These menorahs come in many shapes and sizes, but the flames of the lamps must not look too big and resemble a pagan bonfire.

Among the popular foods for Hanukkah are latkes. These pancakes are made from grated potatoes mixed with eggs, onions, and flour, then fried in vegetable oil. Served hot, they are topped with either sour cream or appleasauce. Another very popular food for Hanukkah is known as sufganiyot. These are jelly-filled donuts without a hole. They are fried in oil, then covered with either powdered sugar or cinnamon. I am getting hungry just describing these.

Another strong tradition of Hanukkah is the dreidel. This is a four-sided spinning top with a Hebrew letter inscribed on each of the sides. It is very popular among children. The children spin the top and then bet on which letter will appear when the top stops. Betting is made with chocolate coins covered in foil, or other pieces of candy, nuts, or other goodies. If the one who spins the top has the top land with the letter nun - which means "nothing" - then the spinner does nothing; he gets nothing, nor does it cost him anything. If, however, the top lands with the letter gimmel - which means "everything" - then the spinner gets all the candy that is in the pot. If the top lands on the letter hey - which means "half" - the spinner then gets only half of the pot. finally, if the top lands on the letter shin - which means "Put in" - then the spinner must add one piece to the pot. Sounds like a game for those who have a sweet tooth.

So, now you know about Hanukkah. And I want to wish you and your family a very happy celebration, even if are not Jewish. Perhaps you can use these special days to say a prayer for Israel and for the people there. Especially pray that God would send them rain. This has been an historically dry winter so far. They desperately need the rains and the snows. Pray that God would bless their Hanukkah Season with abundant rains.

Netanyahu and Clinton: Not Exactly a Marriage Made in Heaven

2010-11-17T11:03:00.000-08:00

The United States is up to its old tricks again when it comes to dealing with its only true ally in the Middle East: Israel. Last Thursday Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Secretary of State Clinton in New York. At the top of the discussion list was the status, or should I say non-status, of the peace process between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. As I have shared with you in previous blogs, the 10-month moratorium on Israeli building in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank, as the world calls it) was allowed to expire on September 26. PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas followed through on his demands that unless the building freeze was re-instituted, there would be no more negotiations. So, there have been no more negotiations.

Prime Minister Netanyahu stated in early October that he would return to the negotiating table with Chairman Abbas if the Palestinians would declare that Israel would be a Jewish State. You would have thought that he asked for the Dead Sea to becoming living. Of course the Arab world would never acknowledge that Israel is a Jewish State. That would have consequences that would be detrimental to their plans to eventually destroy Israel, if not from without, then from within.

Last Thursday Secretary Clinton made the following offer to the Israeli Prime Minister: In return for extending the building freeze in Judea and Samaria another 90 days, the United States would provide Israel with 20 jet fighters, as well as an automatic veto of any anti-Israel resolution or demand in the United Nations. On the surface this looks like a win-win for Israel. The 90 day building moratorium cannot be renewed and Israel gets needed fighter planes as well as the promise of United States support in the United Nations.

But, as Israeli Minister of Infrastructure Uzi Landau stated to the IsraelNationalNews.com reporters, "All the American promises share a similar characteristic - they lack specifics, and are not carried out if they are found to be damaging to American interests." He goes on to state, "You see that the Americans are demanding that we come to a full agreement with the PA in order for the benefits to kick in. You only get the benefits in the event of a final-status agreement - only when everything is over." Furthermore Minister Landau was concerned that America's veto interest in the United Nations on behalf of Israel was now something that could be negotiated.

It is also interesting to note that the Palestinians are not happy with this newest American proposal since the 90-day building freeze does not include those areas around Jerusalem that the Palestinians claim as belonging to them. So, the likelihood of their coming to the negotiating table seems rather remote at best.

As of today, November 17, the Israeli Knesset has not voted on accepting this newest American proposal. Prime Minister Netanyahu is leaning in the direction of accepting it; a near majority of the members of the Knesset are opposed. Could this topple the Netanyahu coalition government? Quite possibly.

We need to be in prayer for the leadership within Israel. These are critically important days. We are instructed in Psalm 122 to "pray for the peace of Jerusalem." May God soon sent the Prince of Peace.

The Canadians Got It Right!

2010-11-10T11:33:00.000-08:00

Our President is now on another of his foreign junkets, this time to India, Indonesia, South Korea, and Japan. (I find it very interesting that in his first two years in office he has made numerous trips overseas, but he has never visited the nation of Israel. I wonder why?) His purpose is to shore up trade relations with those nations and to secure cooperation in the war against terror. Plus, he has had the opportunity of doing some tourist events - like visiting the Taj Mahal in India. He has made some statements that seem confusing to me. While in India he was asked why he was traveling in India because so many American jobs have been outsourced to India. There is even a network television program based upon this outsourcing. His response, "Well, he has helped create 50,000 jobs in India." How will those jobs help create jobs in our country? I don't know. Perhaps he will explain that when he returns on Sunday evening.

I find it very interesting that while our President is overseas visiting, among other places the nation with the largest Muslim population in the world, the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, is visiting our country. While addressing a large Jewish Convention meeting in New Orleans, the Prime Minister informed the audience that Israel would build another 1300 housing units in Jerusalem, primarily in what is known as East Jerusalem. Our President's response was swift, "This kind of activity is never helpful when it comes to peace negotiations. I'm concerned that we're not seeing each side make the extra effort involved to get a breakthrough....Each of these incremental steps can end up breaking trust."

Let us review history for just a few moments. It was last December that the Israelis imposed a building moratorium both in the West Bank and in East Jerusalem in order to bring the Palestinians to the peace-table. That was what PA Chairman Abbas had demanded. Nine months elapsed with no inclination on the part of the Palestinian Authority (PA) to come to the table. Then, when Israel announced that it would not extend the building moratorium, the PA said that they would not come to the table unless the building freeze was extended. On September 26 that building freeze was lifted.

The Prime Minister's response to our President's statement was this: "Jerusalem is not a settlement; Jerusalem is the capital of the State of Israel." Good for him, for that indeed is what this city is. Although only recognized by the Israeli people and a few world governments (not the United States, I am saddened to say), all of Jerusalem is the capital of Israel.

I read in Joel Rosenberg's blog today about the actions of Canada's Prime Minister, Stephen Harper. Listen to his words: "As long as I am prime minister, whether it is at the UN or the Francophonie or anywhere else, Canada will take that stand, whatever the cost. Not just because it is the right thing to do but because history shows us, and the ideology of the anti-Israeli mob tells us all too well, that those who threaten the existence of the Jewish people are a threat to all of us." He went on to say, "When Israel, the only country in the world whose very existence is under attack, is consistently and conspicuously singled out for condemnation, I believe we are morally obligated to take a stand." There is a lot about Canadian policies that I do not agree with, but with this one they hit the target squarely.

I have shared with you in previous blogs these past three years that I still believe in the promise God gave to Abraham nearly four millenniums ago: "Those who bless you I will bless; those who curse you I will curse." Let's see, would I rather be on the side of the blessing of God or the curses of God? The decision is not even close.

Continue to pray for the "peace of Jerusalem." We know it will happen when Jesus returns. Oh Lord hasten that return.

Persecution: It's Coming!

2010-11-03T12:31:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was an historic day. The balance of power took a decidedly different look both in Washington and here in the state of Minnesota. The cry of "out with the old and in with the new" rang true in many places - among the exceptions were Nevada and California. The incoming class of freshman Representatives will be one of the largest in history. We can only hope that those elected yesterday will have their ears to the voices of the people. The American people still desire change, but they certainly spoke loudly yesterday that the change being offered the past two years was not the change they desired. Perhaps now we will truly see cooperation between the parties in Washington. I know a lot of prayer was offered for the election yesterday. But it is not time to stop; we need to pray even harder now for those who have been elected.

Earlier this week news from Iraq sounded a tragic note. Reports vary as to total casualties, but we know that over 50 people died and nearly that number were injured when a radical Islamic faction took over an Iraqi Church. The casualties were incurred when commandos stormed the church to free the hostages. Then, yesterday an Arab Church in East Jerusalem - founded by the Christian and Missionary Alliance nearly a century ago - was firebombed. Suspects include a radical extremist Jewish sect. Fortunately a group of tourists who were staying in the church escaped unharmed.

Persecution is becoming increasingly more common around the world. Christians have become the target of every radical extremist group. And I wonder how much longer before similar events will be happening here in our country. Christians are the centerpiece of the late-night comedians. Christians are often portrayed on both the big-screen and the small-screen as people who are out of balance. Christians are known as being so intolerant and narrow-minded. So far Christians have escaped loss of life for taking a stand for Christ.

I have been working on a message for November 14 - International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. It is based on Matthew 5:10-12 where Jesus invokes a blessing upon those who are persecuted for the cause of righteousness. In fact, this statement is the capstone of the Beatitudes. It is as if Jesus is saying to us, "Better expect persecution so as to respond to it appropriately." But, we have not come to expect persecution. Persecution happens in China, in Indonesia, in the Arab world, and in South America. But persecution is coming. In my study for the message I was drawn to the words of Jesus to His disciples: "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also." (John 15:18-20)

We are not to be seeking the approval of the world. The world's system is not God's system. The way the world conducts its business is not the way God's people ought to conduct the business of reaching the world. The Church marches to the drumbeat of Someone greater. Yet, sadly, the Church has tried to reach the world by adopting the world's practices. It is as if we were saying, "If we become like you, will you be inclined to become like us?" And the response has been a resounding "no!" The more the Church becomes like the world, the less it has to offer to the world. And what we have to share with the world is Jesus Christ - the very One that the world crucified on a cross; the very One that the world falsely accused of blasphemy; the very One that the world hated with a passion, unless He was feeding them or healing their sick. Throughout the history of the Church, those times when the Church was most successful in its witness for Christ were those times when it so strongly differed from the world that it was persecuted because of the difference.

Churches commandeered in Iraq and firebombed in East Jerusalem. When will we begin experiencing this in the United States? I believe it will happen when the Church begins to take a stand for truth and for the Word of God. May God help prepare us for those coming days.

Just a reminder to those of you living in the Greater Des Moines area. This coming Friday evening and Saturday morning (November 5-6), I will be sharing in a Prophecy Conference at Westchester Evangelical Free Church. Friday night begins at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m. I would love to connect with you while there.

Shocking News! There Is No Longer a Chosen People!

2010-10-27T12:29:00.000-07:00

Are all God's promises still valid for us today? Or have some of them expired? Or have some of them been rendered invalid? When it comes to Israel, the debate over God's promises becomes a testy one, often resulting in heated arguments.

At a recent meeting of the Synod of Bishops at the Special Assembly for the Middle East, the Greek-Melkite Archbishop Cyrille Salim Bustros of Newton, MA, said "the concept of the promised land cannot be used as a base for the justification of the return of Jews to Israel and the displacement of Palestinians." He further stated that "sacred Scripture should not be used to justify the occupation by Israel of Palestine." The archbishop further stated that "There is no longer a chosen people."

Did you read that correctly - NO LONGER A CHOSEN PEOPLE? Wait a minute! Has someone told God about this? Has someone shared with Him that He no longer has a chosen people? Has someone explained to Him that, because of the current situation in the Middle East, He no longer can have a chosen people? Have you ever heard of anything more blasphemous than that statement - "There is no longer a chosen people?"

Have we forgotten the promises that God made to Abraham concerning descendants (which would be greater than the sand on the seashore and the stars in the sky) and a certain piece of property that bordered the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea linking three continents of the world? Furthermore God stated that these were "forever" promises. Now, does "forever" have an ending? Can we safely state that "forever" will run out in the year.......? Of course not! "Forever" is just that - forever. And this "forever" promise was reiterated to Isaac and to Jacob and to the people of Israel through Moses and Joshua. It was affirmed through the centuries by judges and prophets.

Somehow today we have become smarter than God, or at least we think we have. So now we can declare, "There is no longer a chosen people!" Nonsense. I think it would be easier to change a leopard's spots than to nullify one of God's promises. Furthermore, if His promise concerning Israel being His chosen people is no longer valid, then how can we accurately state that His promises concerning our salvation are still valid? Perhaps those have been nullified as well.

The problem is that Israel is settling on land they justifiably took during the 1967 Six-Day War and then successfully defended during the 1973 Yom Kippur War. I find it very strange that the world community does not demand that North Viet nam give up its claim to South Viet nam. Seems to me that the same principle applies - the North Vietnamese won the war. Israel has willingly given control over certain portions of their land to the Palestinians. What have they received from these peace-offerings? A continual state of terror and threat of war. Yet the present Israeli government is willing to negotiate.

So, is there no longer a chosen people? God forbid! as the Apostle Paul would say. I doubt if we will ever understand why God chose the Hebrews to bear His name before the world, but we cannot deny that He made that choice. It is not for us to debate their validity, but to accept it. And they will continue to be His chosen people long after the Archbishop from Newton, MA has disappeared from the world's stage.

Of Bees, Pop, Grandsons, and Biblical Truth

2010-10-20T13:27:00.000-07:00

Our daughter, Beth, and her two boys were with us for a few days a couple of weeks ago. They live in Dallas, TX and had come up for my Mother's 85th birthday celebration. One day we drove to a nearby orchard to select some pumpkins and to enjoy all that an orchard in the fall offers. As Ethan - he is 8 years old - and I sat on a picnic table, we noticed a yellow-jacket trying to get into a nearby partially empty soda can. We watched him first fly and land on the top of the can, then fly away. Soon he would return and the routine would start all over again.

Ethan said, "Grandpa, what is that bee trying to do?" I responded, "Ethan, he wants to get into the can because he wants the sweet pop that is left inside." "Well, what will happen if he gets inside?" Ethan replied. I said, "He will die!" Then Ethan asked the most important question, "Grandpa, if he will die, then why does he want to get inside?"

How would you respond at that moment with an 8-year old grandson? I knew God had given me an unique moment to share a biblical truth with him. I said, "Ethan, the pop inside that can is like sin. And that bee is like you and me. Sin always looks like something we want. And we say to ourselves, 'If only we can have it.' But, when we finally get inside the can, we find the effect of the sin to only be death." Then I reminded Ethan of that verse, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus" (Romans 6:23).

I hope my grandson will remember that illustration always. Sin is attractive. When was the last time you saw a television ad for beer showing broken families or broken bodies lying on the highway? Of course those ads don't exist; they show people having a great time laughing and having fun. Sin is always wrapped up in shiny ribbon, just as that pop was contained in a shiny can. But, once the wrappings are removed, we see the deadliness of what is inside. Yes, sin is death!

But praise God there is an answer that is found in the person of Jesus Christ. His death provided the antidote for sin, and it is 100% effective. And this gift is free to anyone who would call upon Him.

Don't be like that bee finally succumbing to the temptations of the pop inside the can. He would never be freed from it alive. But, rather accept the free gift God has given you in the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. He will help you to see through the wrappings to the dangers of the sin inside.

More Thoughts on Middle East Peace

2010-10-13T12:41:00.000-07:00

Have you been paying attention to what is happening in the Middle East in recent days? From a biblical perspective these are exciting days. Let me share why.

For what has seemed like decades the Israelis and the Palestinians have been negotiating about a two-state solution. At times there have been more bullets in the air than words around a table, but that is sort of the mentality of Middle East negotiations. In early September the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Palestinian Authority Chairman Abbas met in Washington DC to begin face-to-face negotiations. Two weeks later the two met in Sharm-el-Sheik, Egypt to continue the dialogue, with more negotiations later that same week in Jerusalem. But since that time, the dialogue has ceased with the rhetoric becoming increasingly more intense.

To further compound a delicate situation, on September 26 the Israeli government lifted the self-imposed 10 month construction freeze on settlements within Judea and Samaria (the West Bank). Of course this aroused the ire of the Palestinians who had only decided to come to the negotiating table after nine-months of the freeze had expired. They have stipulated that they will not continue any face-to-face dialogue unless the freeze is extended. Interestingly, this past weekend, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu offered a two-month extension of the freeze; the only condition being that the Palestinians recognize Israel as being a Jewish State.

What do you think has been the response of PA Chairman Abbas? Of course it is a resounding "no!" Once the Arabs recognizes Israel as being a Jewish State they have lost all their leverage on the issue of "right to return," one of the critical components of any peace deal for the Arabs. They are demanding that the descendants of those Arabs who left their homes during the 1948-49 War of Independence be allowed back to their ancestral homes. This numbers several millions of Arabs. But, if Israel is recognized as being a state for Jews...well, you get the picture.

Chairman Abbas has threatened to resign as head of the Palestinian Authority, which, if he does, will throw the West Bank into chaos. Elections will undoubtedly be held and the great fear is that Hamas will be the great victor. You remember what happened when they took over the Gaza Strip back in 2007.

If Israel sees her existence being threatened not only from Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah along the northern border, but from Hamas along a long front in Judea and Samaria (West Bank), Israel will go to war. It will almost be forced to do so for survival. Now, does this sound familiarly similar to what the ancient choir director Asaph recorded in Psalm 83? Of course it does.

Now, just to make things really interesting, today (October 13) the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is traveling for a state-visit to Lebanon. (You might remember from other blogs that Hezbollah is being financed by Iran). Tomorrow he has asked for permission to travel to the border between Israel and Lebanon. He wants to throw some stones across the border. I guess he needs to get rid of his anti-Semitic aggression. One person, jokingly said to me, "I hope someone shoots him." My response, "You had better hope that not happen! That would be the prelude to World War III." For it was just something like this that ignited World War I.

Friends, if you would wake up tomorrow morning and hear on the Today Show that war had broken out in the Middle East, please don't be surprised. All the elements are in place for such a war. The only thing that is missing is the match that will light the fuse. Yet, we must not be distressed because God is still in control. His plan is being accomplished. His will is being done. Israel's victorious war over her enemies would be just another step toward the establishment of the King upon His Throne.

Of Worms, Computers, Peace-Talks and War

2010-10-06T13:05:00.000-07:00

It has been especially quiet on the Iranian nuclear front in recent weeks. There was much build up to the mid-August fueling of the Bushehr nuclear plant by the Russians. Yet, now we read that that plant will probably not be in operation for another two months at least. The reason: a worm called Stuxnet. Yes, I know you have not heard of that worm before, and neither had I. It is not a worm that lies in the soil, but finds its living quarters within the hard drives of computers. Yes, the great computers operating the nuclear machinery of Bushehr fell victim to this worm. And the interesting thing about this worm is that the more a person, or in this case a nation, worked to correct the worm, the more damage the worm caused. How did this computer worm get into Iran? That is the unanswered question; but we know that it came via the route of China, India, and Indonesia. Many believe that it was a collaborative effort between the United States and Israel. This might possibly be true. Computers within nuclear facilities in Iran may be protected from "bunker-busting" bombs, but not worms.

Some have asked where the Middle East peace talks stand. Right now they are on an indefinite hold. Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Abbas was meeting in Cairo today with the leaders of the Arab League. He is strongly urging them to back his leaving the peace table because Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu lifted the construction freeze in Judea and Samaria and in East Jerusalem. I was so grateful that the Israeli PM honored the pledge he had made to the Israeli people last winter when he announced the freeze. It is time that someone call the Palestinian bluff. Do the Palestinians really want peace? Let's see: yesterday rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip into the surrounding Israeli farmlands. Fortunately there were no injuries or serious damage. Is that a sign of peace? Riots occurred over the weekend in East Jerusalem with cars being burned and rocks being thrown. Is that a sign of peace? Sadly, even Jews on the far-left are joining in those who wish to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza. Is that a sign of peace? King Abdullah of Jordan stated last week that, unless the peace talks resumed and the building freeze was reinstated, the region could be engulfed in war before the end of the year. Is that a sign of peace?

I believe that we are continuing to see the build up toward what is known as the Psalm 83 War. (For those of you who live in the Des Moines, IA area, I will be speaking at Westchester Evangelical Free Church on Friday evening, November 5, on this very topic. You can contact the church for times and directions. I will also be speaking that evening on the War of Gog and Magog - Ezekiel 38-39; on Saturday morning the topics will be "How the End Will Come" and "A Timeline for the End Times"). Who knows perhaps we will be in the midst of another Middle War by then. Seriously, the Palestinians do not want a Jewish state on what they consider to be their land. They will only be satisfied when Israel is driven into the sea. All this peace-talk is merely posturing so that the ultimate destruction of the nation of Israel might be realized.

Keep looking up. Keep listening for the trumpet. I believe it will soon sound. Are you ready to meet Jesus?

Dancing with the Creator

2010-09-29T10:44:00.000-07:00

I never cease to be amazed at what I can learn from studying the feasts and festival cycles of Israel. For years I simply paid no attention to their significance, even though I taught Old Testament classes in both churches and college classroom settings. My response was usually, "These are for Israel and not for us today." Now I have learned that that response was only half correct: yes, the feasts and festival cycles were given for Israel to guide them in their relationship with a holy God; but, also yes, they can share much with us today.

Last year I made a determined effort to read through the Torah - the first five books of the Bible, also known as the Pentateuch or the Books of Moses - as they were being read in the synagogues around the world. I found a brief devotional book, written by a young rabbi, who shared thoughts associated with each of the scripture portions. God literally began to open those often difficult portions of Scripture to my heart. I began to notice truths I had not seen before. Perhaps it was because I was taking time to ponder those passages in a new way.

Today marks the final day of the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot. Tonight will be the final meal served in the sukkahs and then they will be dismantled and put away for another year, much like we do our Christmas decorations at the end of December. But there is one final event to mark the end of Tabernacles. It is known as Simchat Torah, or the Rejoicing in the Torah.

Friday will mark the observation of this special day. On this day the Torah scrolls will be removed from the "aron kodesh" (holy ark) - the place where the scrolls are contained in the synagogues - and will be embraced and celebrated with dancing and rejoicing. Priestly blessings are recited with many synagogues huddling all the children under the tallit (prayer shawl) to receive the words Jacob gave to his children so many years ago, as recorded in Genesis 48:16).

Friends, when was the last time you held the Word of God in your arms and danced in joy before the Lord because of it? If you are honest as I was, it has never been done. Somehow I never think of handling the Word and dancing as being related. But, remember David danced before the Ark of the Lord. The Psalmist said that God turns our mourning into dancing. The Word of God is to be our joy. Perhaps we could learn something from our Jewish friends and clasp the Word in our arms and rejoice over it. Perhaps then it will become for us more than just another book, but what it truly is - the inspired, inerrant, infallible Word of God!

As part of Simchat Torah, the final Torah portion for the year will be read - the closing two chapters in Deuteronomy, and the first Torah portion for the coming year will also be read - the opening chapters in Genesis.

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Ancient words. Words read every year about this time. Words expounded upon by many rabbis in synagogue services this weekend. Yet words that carry a new sense of excitement and wonder. God created! Things did not happen by chance! There was no magic pool from which life began! There was no lightning strike that ignited the protein molecules and sent them on their way! (I always wondered where the lightning came from and how the protein molecules got into that pool and, for that matter, how the pool came to be - never got any answers!)

I would encourage you, sometime this weekend, to reread Genesis 1 and 2 and give some reflection to the powerful truth that God is your Creator. Perhaps you might want to take a stroll in the woods - in Minnesota this is truly one of the most amazing season - and praise God for creating such brilliant colors. Celebrate the Word and your Creator! Perhaps that will be your personal Simchat Torah!

"Chag Sukkot Sameach"

2010-09-22T12:40:00.000-07:00

Sunset this evening will begin the seven day Jewish celebration known as Sukkot - the Feast of Tabernacles. So I want to wish each of you a "Chag Sukkot Sameach" - "A joy-filled Sukkot."

This is the final festival in a month of important Jewish events. You might remember that on September 8-9 was Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year. That was followed on September 17-18 with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. We conclude this first month of the Jewish calendar - Tishrei - with this celebration.

The Feast of Tabernacles or Booths was one of the three so-called "pilgrimage feasts" cited in the Bible. All Jewish males were to make the trek to Jerusalem for this time of remembering God's provisions during the forty-years wandering in the wilderness. One aspect of this feast was that the Israelites were to erect booths - sukkot. In such structures all meals will be eaten and men will sleep. The sukkot are made of various materials - including wooden panels, curtains, even cardboard - and the roofs are covered with branches, allowing enough opening so that the stars are visible. Today some sukkot are very elaborate, while others are very simple; it all depends upon the resources available. Moses commanded the people in Leviticus 23:42-43: "Live in booths for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in booths so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in booths when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the LORD your God."

Another aspect of Chag Sukkot is the recitation of blessings over the Four Species that represent four types of Jews that comprise the people of Israel. These include the etrog (citron) - a fruit that has a good taste and fragrance, representing those people who have both good deeds and are filled with the wisdom of the Torah. The second Species is the lulav (palm frond) - it is edible, but has no fragrance, representing those people who have the wisdom from the Torah but are lacking in good deeds. The third Species is the hadassim (myrtle tree sprigs) - these have a very good fragrance but cannot be eaten, thus representing those people who have good deeds but lack wisdom from the Torah. The fourth Species is the aravot (branches from the red willow) - branches that have no taste and no fragrance, thus representing people who lack both wisdom and good deeds. Yet, on this particular occasion, all of these people come together to represent the entire people of Israel.

I find it fascinating that the Jewish year begins with two closely aligned celebrations. Yom Kippur is a reminder that only God can be our salvation; it is only through God that our sins can be atoned. The Sukkot is the reminder that God is the source of our provisions, as the people remember God's faithfulness during those 40 years of wilderness wandering. Think about those two truths for a moment: God is our salvation and God is our provision. What a great way to enter into a new year with those two thoughts upon hearts.

I know it is not time for our New Year. But I wonder what would happen if, during January, believers in Jesus Christ would take time to celebrate the salvation that we have in Him and to remember with joy the blessings we have in Christ. Perhaps then we might keep our focus upon Him more readily during the year.

So, once again I wish you a "chag sukkot sameach" - a "joy-filled sukkot."

Peace Talks: Who Is Driving the Car?

2010-09-15T08:53:00.000-07:00

These are very interesting days if you are a prophetic watcher of the times. Peace talks continue today in Jerusalem between the Israeli government, headed by Prime Minister Netanyahu, and the Palestinian Authority - claiming to represent the Palestinian people, but that is hardly an unanimous acclamation, just ask Hamas - and their Chairman Abbas. Of course Hillary Clinton and George Mitchell are there representing American interests, or at least what they claim to be American interests - to be honest, they are not my interests.

The subject is peace in the Middle East. I know I have written on this topic almost endlessly since I began this "Christianity for Today" blog over two years ago. But, it is important, not only from the standpoint of today, but from a biblical one as well. Remember, the land whose division is being proposed is the land God gave to Israel as their forever inheritance. It was a promise God made to Abram in Genesis 13 and 17. And, friends, when God makes a promise He does not renege on it.

Since 1948, Israel has been a member of the family of nations in the world. Its birth was predicated upon being a home for Jews, especially those who survived the Holocaust. And, according to the Israeli Constitution, freedoms are accorded all people who live within its borders. There is room in Israel for both Arab and Jew. [You won't find that to be true regarding the Arab lands...they only have room for Arabs...no Jews in Gaza today]. Israel has been threatened and attacked by her neighbors; the 1967 Six-Day War resulted in Israel reclaiming much of the land that God had promised to her, including the Old City of Jerusalem. Armistices were declared creating a greater Israel. Of course the world did not recognize the fruits of war, still using terms like "West Bank" or "Occupied Territories" for identification. [I wonder if I live in an "occupied territory" here in Minnesota; land taken by force from the Indians who lived here first. Ouch! I know that steps on toes!]

Do the Palestinian leaders really want peace? Do they really want to create a Palestinian State that will live in harmony with its neighbor Israel? To gain an answer, I would encourage you to view some of the video clips offered by the Palestinian Media Watch. Just this past Sunday - remember this is only days before talks about peace resume - Fatah TV (run by Chairman Abbas) stated that even cities like Joppa and Haifa should belong to a Palestinian State. Also, on Sunday, the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO, which is part of the Palestinian Authority, headed by Chairman Abbas) envoy to Iran stated that if the Arab world would unite the "complete eradication of the fabricated regime of Israel" would happen. Sounds like real interest in peace, doesn't it? Then, today the Palestinian Media Watch shared portions of a Fatah TV documentary released last Thursday for Rosh Hashana, that showed the Western Wall - Judaism's most holy site - and the text stated, "They (Israelis) know for certain that our (Arab) roots are deeper than their false history. We, from the balcony of our homes, look out over (Islamic) holiness and on sin and filth (referring to the Jews praying at the Western Wall)". Another real incentive for peace, don't you think?

Friends, what greatly disturbs me is the American attitude of conciliation toward the Palestinians. Chairman Abbas can do no wrong; Prime Minister Netanyahu is criticized at every turn. It is always pressure upon the Israeli government and the Israeli people to make concessions: give in to whatever demands the Palestinians place upon them. And what of Israeli demands of the Palestinians: forget those!

On this eve of Yom Kippur (which begins at sunset on Friday), the holiest day in Judaism, the day when the high priest would enter into the Holy of Holies and make atonement for the sins of the nation, Israel is positioned to be the sacrificial lamb so the world might have peace. Will there be peace? There might be a document of peace signed by all parties; but that will not mean peace! The Arab world will not recognize peace until Israel is driven into the sea. Peace can only come with the Prince of Peace arrives in Jerusalem to claim the throne that is rightly His! Until that time comes, we will watch with interest the "pseudo-peace" talks in the city of the King.

Shana tova on this Rosh Hashana

2010-09-08T12:53:00.000-07:00

"Shana tova" to all of you and a Happy New Year. No, I have not lost my marbles, although I think I might have misplaced a few or they have gotten glued together. Today is Rosh Hashana, the beginning of the year 5771 on the Hebrew calendar. Actually it begins at sundown this evening. So, if you hear trumpets sounding in your neighborhood, I want you to know what it is all about.

In the Bible this celebration is called the Feast of Trumpets. Leviticus 23:23-25 states: "The LORD said to Moses, 'Say to the Israelites: "On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts. Do no regular work, but present an offering made to the LORD by fire."'" Rosh Hashana occurs on the first day of the month Tishri, which is the seventh month in the Jewish calendar. It is a two day celebration. The festival begins with the blowing of the trumpets or shofar, thus the name Feast of Trumpets. One of the traditions for the Rosh Hashana is the dipping of apples into honey, expressing the strong desire that the coming year be filled with sweetness. Also, the bread bakers produce round loaves of the challah bread, representing the circular aspect of time - another year has come.

In the Jewish Talmud - the ancient rabbinical commentary on the Torah - the rabbis suggested that the world was created during the month of Tishri; others taught that man, himself, was created on Rosh Hashana.

The term Rosh Hashana means "head of the year." And the greeting "Shana tova" literally means "the year is good." There is something about the way the Jews express their ideas that I find fascinating. We go around on January 1 and say "Happy New Year." But, will the year be filled with happiness? It usually is not, as problems, heart-aches, and difficulties arise. The Jews are not oblivious to the problems that will come during the year either. But, in their greeting of "the year is good" there is the hint of a purpose, I believe. "The year is good" because it is another year given by God. "The year is good" because we will find purpose during our traversing through it. We may not know what the year will hold, but we do know that important lessons will be learned, friendships will be established, life will become fuller because of the year; thus the "year is good".

So, my friends, "Shana tova" and welcome to the year 5771. May it be a time of renewed commitment to Christ. May you know the goodness that comes from the hand of the Lord.

Let There Be Peace...?

2010-09-01T11:04:00.000-07:00

How should we define the word "peace" today? Is it merely the absence of armed conflict? If all the armies and navies in the world suddenly disarmed themselves would there be peace? Or, is peace merely the good intentions of trying to live together in harmony? We often say that peace comes into a family when Mom and Dad and the kids no longer are shouting at each other. If the world stopped "shouting at each other" would there be peace?

The dictionary defines peace: 1. freedom from war or civil strife; 2. a treaty or agreement to end war; 3. freedom from public disturbance or disorder; public security; law and order; 4. freedom from disagreement or quarrels; harmony; concord; 5. an undisturbed state of mind; absence of mental conflict; serenity; 6. calm; quiet; tranquillity. If I could summarize these definitions, I think one could say that "peace is the absence of any problem that causes people to be at odds with one another."

Peace is NOT a signed peace treaty. Following the surrender of Confederate General Robert E Lee, the armed conflict known as the Civil War stopped, but the hatred continued for years and, in some respects, continues even until today. Treaties, in and of themselves, do not bring peace. Just ask the Israelis who thought peace was finally theirs following the 1993 Oslo Accords being signed ending a long six-year Palestinian Intifadah. But, just because signatures were on the paper did not bring peace.

I have been thinking about how the world goes about providing for peace. This is probably because of what is taking place in Washington DC today and tomorrow. As you know - or at least you should know - President Obama has invited the leaders of the Palestinians and the Israelis, along with the heads of State for Jordan and Egypt, to our nation's capital to begin dialogues about peace. The goal is to have peace in the region within one year's time. (Now remember that the Arabs have threatened and attacked Israel since that May 14, 1948, day when Israel was born...62 years of hatred and violence. And this will be resolved in a year?!)

From accounts I have read the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is coming with a list of pre-conditions, although no pre-conditions have been invited to the table. He wants Israel to continue the building freeze in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank). He wants Jerusalem to be divided and patrolled by an international police force. And, he has threatened to walk out on the talks should his demands not be met. Does he want to be there? Not really. And, I believe in yesterday's attack by Hamas upon a car carrying four innocent Jewish civilians near Hebron and causing their deaths, we have the response of many Palestinians. Their only wish is for Israel to disappear back into Europe's ghettos (remember Helen Thomas's famous statement) or into the sea (the wishes of Iran's leader).

On the other hand, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is under pressure from many back in Israel that he return immediately because of that attack. This would be a strong statement that the Israelis will not dialogue unless and until safety is guaranteed to every Israeli. So far the only thing the Prime Minister has done is to issue a statement strongly denouncing that murderous act.

A new treaty will not bring peace to Jerusalem, the Middle East, nor any other place. An international police force will not cause the citizens of Jerusalem to rest more easy. Supplying the latest military hardware to Middle Eastern countries will not bring peace by creating a military standoff.

Friends, real peace will only come to Jerusalem, Israel, the Middle East, and the entire world when the Prince of Peace comes. He will then establish a government that people will trust and respect because it is founded upon the eternal principles of God. The ancient prophet Isaiah spoke of those days: "Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this" (Isaiah 9:7). Did you see those words "justice and righteousness?" "Righteousness" refers to the vertical component of life - to our relationship with God. When the Prince of Peace reigns, the world will be rightly configured with God through Him, thus resulting in peace. "Justice" refers to the horizontal component of life - to our relationships with others. When the Prince of Peace reigns, the world will be rightly configured with each other, thus resulting in lasting peace.

Until that day, the world will continue playing the game of "finding peace." More treaties will be created and signed - many of them broken within hours of the signing ceremonies. More conferences will be called to discuss peace with resolutions being passed to promote peace, only to have the peace shattered with an act of violence.

Let me close with a statement Jesus made to His disciples upon a mountainside in Galilee. It is the seventh Beatitude: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for their will be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9). It is the will of God that we should help people find peace. That peace comes when we lead them to Jesus who, through forgiving of their sins, truly sets them free. And that peace comes when we help people to be reconciled to one another.

Let there be peace...? Absolutely a worthy goal, but not attainable until Jesus comes!

Iran Is Now Nuclear - What's Next?

2010-08-25T08:51:00.000-07:00

The past ten days have been interesting as one continues to observe the defiance of Iran to the demands of the rest of the civilized world. Suspense built last week as the Russians announced that they would begin fueling the nuclear reactor at Bushehr on August 21. You might remember that this was the nuclear plant that they began building in Iran nearly a decade ago. Almost immediately the former United States Ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, stated that Israel would have to do something before those fuel rods were placed into the reactor. If Israel failed to launch an attack against the Bushehr facility, then the world would have to live with the knowledge that Iran had joined the handful of nations possessing the capabilities of having a nuclear weapon. Saturday, August 21, came and went. National news media showed pictures as the rods were placed into the reactor; Israel never sent its military aircraft to Bushehr. Had Israel accepted the fact of a nuclear Iran?

The answer came in an article written by Jeffrey Goldberg and published in the "Atlantic Monthly". He wrote that there was a better than 50-50 ;chance that Israel would attack Iran after next July, but that many Israeli officials believed a better solution to the Iranian nuclear threat would be an American strike on Iran's nuclear facilities. Goldberg wrote that the Holocaust echo of "Never Again" will cause Israel to strike Iran, even without seeking US permission. The alternative would be the Iranian annihilation of the Jewish State. So, is Israel just biding time? As the pages of the calendar of 2011 begin to turn, we will learn the answer.

In the past few days Iran has been showing off its new military weapons. One was is the unmanned bomber aircraft that has been named "ambassador of death." It is capable of carrying up to four cruise missiles and has a range of 620 miles -not able to hit Israel yet. And yesterday (August 24) Iran tested a new version of its Fateh missile. With a range of only 125 miles, it is not a threat to Israel. But, hold that thought. According to Iranian sources, Lebanon has requested military hardware from Iran for its Lebanese army. This comes after the United States Congress ordered a halt to the $100 million in military aid pledged to Lebanon. The reason cited for this weapons cancellation was fear that American military hardware would come into the possession of Hizbollah militants, who form a good portion of the regular Lebanese army. So, now that 125 mile range missile becomes an immediate threat to Israeli security.

One final thought. September 2 will be an important day in the on-and-off peace-negotiations between the Palestinian Authority and the Israelis. PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have been invited to Washington to begin direct face-to-face dialogues. Also present will be Egyptian President Mubarek and Jordanian King Abullah. There will be lots of photo ops, but very little substance. The Palestinians are coming to the table only because the United States has told them to come. They want all construction in East Jerusalem and in Samaria and Judea to cease...Israel has said "that won't happen." In spite of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's remark that peace can be achieved in less than a year, I wouldn't take that as fact. Both sides have been here before. And, in each instance, the Palestinians have walked away. But it will make for some interesting media events.

I keep reminding myself that God is in control. Almost daily I am drawn to that powerful statement declared by a formerly pagan King Nebuchadnezzar: "The decision is announced by messengers; the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men" (Daniel 4:17). It took this King many years before he came to understand that truth that God was in charge, not him. This fact changed his life. This fact gives me peace today. It is time that we begin preparing for the celebration of the King!

Bonhoeffer's Challenge Now Becomes Ours

2010-08-18T08:06:00.000-07:00

I have been listening to a dramatized story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer produced by Focus on the Family. It is part of their Radio Theatre productions. (By the way, these are excellent. The seven part series on the Chronicles of Narnia are outstanding!) Some of you probably have read, or are at least familiar with, Bonhoeffer's classic work "The Cost of Discipleship." This really should be required reading for every believer.

But what struck me this morning as I was re-listening to this story was the fact of what happened in New York City when Bonhoeffer came as a student at Union Theological Seminary in 1930-31. There he became part of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem and grew in friendship with an international cadre of students and religious leaders. It was there that he was confronted with racial discrimination and was faced with the question of how one people believed they had the right to rule over another.

One day a friend asked him a question that would forever change Bonhoeffer's theology and his world. The question was: "Dietrich, if you are forced to choose between obedience to your government or obedience to the Scriptures and to Jesus Christ, whom will you choose?" At that moment in time events were already transpiring in Germany that caused many to fear as to Hitler's intents; but Dietrich waved them off casually as being just emotions of the moment. But still that seed was planted.

As you might remember, Dietrich became a leader in what was known as the Confessing Church, that part of the Lutheran body in Germany that did not subscribe to the teachings of the Nazis. Bonhoeffer became active in helping others to know what the Nazis really stood for. He was arrested and tried for treason, and in 1944 was hung for his crimes. Yes, he had to choose.

As I listened this morning that question, asked of Bonhoeffer that day in 1931, became very real to me. Our nation seems to be as theologically and ethically confused today as was Germany in the 1930s. The Church's voice has been more silent than it has been vocal toward the ills that are pervading our society today. Accommodation and toleration has become the operative words. Yet, on the horizon lies the imprint of a radical homosexual agenda. Will I speak out and speak biblical truth if the government rules that I could be arrested and imprisoned because of those words?

Friends, these are sobering times. Times for each one of us to re-evaluate our commitment to Christ. Will you and I have the boldness of a Peter and John who stated enthusiastically to the Sanhedrin, "We must obey God rather than men!" (Acts 5:29)? Or will we quietly walk away and yield to the will of those who rule over us?

You might be saying, "It won't happen here!" But that is precisely what Bonhoeffer thought in 1931; yet it happened. He had to make a choice; his choice cost him his life.

There is a line from an old hymn that speaks so powerfully: "Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid/Your heart, does the Spirit control?" Powerful questions for today's Christians. How will I answer? How will you answer?

A Warning from the Minor Prophets

2010-08-11T07:07:00.001-07:00

For the past three months I have been spending two days a week working through the Minor Prophets. I must admit that as I began I had no idea of what God might teach me from these often forgotten final books in the Old Testament. To be honest, in twenty-six years of preaching ministry I had only preached through four of them: Hosea, Jonah (of course, everyone preaches this book), Habakkuk, and Malachi. And, although I teach Minor Prophets as part of our "Cover-to-Cover" Bible Survey, I still felt uncomfortable with many of these books which had been part of the Old Testament canon for over two millennia.

Because God always honors His Word, my heart began to get both excited and challenged as I read and pondered biblical truth. One of the recurring themes, I found, has tremendous importance for the evangelical world today. That theme: the perils of a false religion.

Now, I know what you will respond: "I go to an evangelical, Bible-teaching church. That is certainly not a false religion." Perhaps you are correct; if so, praise God. But, perhaps your worship has become as routine as that of ancient Israel. Perhaps it is time that we listen to the prophets.

Both Hosea and Amos were prophets in the days of the Northern Kingdom. It was the closing days of the reign of Jeroboam II, a competent king who brought prosperity and peace to his kingdom. If you read carefully the account in Amos 6:4-7 one gets the picture of a people who have too much money, too much idle time, and too little purpose for living.

One of the areas of alarm for these men of God was the watering down of religion. The term used is that of syncretization. It is defined as the union of something false with something true. It was the marrying of paganism with the worship of God Himself. Hosea expresses it this way: "They consult a wooden idol and are answered by a stick of wood. A spirit of prostitution leads them astray; they are unfaithful to their God" (Hosea 4:12). Yet these same people continued the pretense of offering sacrifices to God: "When they go with their flocks and herds to seek the LORD, they will not find him; he has withdrawn himself from them" (Hosea 5:6).

Amos expresses this same truth with even more defined language: "Go to Bethel and sin; go to Gilgal and sin yet more. Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three years. Burn leavened bread as a thank offering and brag about your freewill offerings - boast of them, you Israelites, for this is what you love to do, declares the Sovereign LORD" (Amos 4:4-5). Bethel was the place where Jeroboam I had built his first altar to the calf-god he appointed to be Israel's god after the division of the kingdom. Gilgal, the place where Joshua led the people in a renewal of their covenant vows to God after crossing the Jordan River, had become a scene of mixed worship. Amos is declaring that the people performed religious rites so that they could boast about them: how wonderful their worship was, how many offerings were given on a particular day; how many people came. I wonder - don't we do something similar today? We meet with other ministry leaders and compare notes: how big is our congregation; what type of worship music do we use; how big is our budget; how many people we have on staff.

But then Amos is particularly clear about how God views this syncretistic, all-inclusive, focus-on-me worship: "I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps" (Amos 5:21-23). As I read these verses and others from the pens of these ancient spokesmen for God, I began to ponder what Hosea or Amos would say from God about our worship today. How much of what we do on a Sunday morning is mere ritual, done so thoughtlessly? How many of our songs are mere noise to God because we merely sing with our lips instead of from our hearts? How many of our sermons are focused on helping people feel good about themselves, rather than challenging them to become what God would desire them to be?

Friends, I don't have easy answers to these questions. But I am concerned about the direction the Church is going. Michael Horton in his masterful treatise titled, "Christless Christianity," (this is must reading) stated: "Instead of ambassadors, heralds, reporters, and witnesses, pastors become entrepreneurs, managers, coaches, therapists, marketing gurus, and communication specialists. With this transition, the focus necessarily falls on what we do and Jesus' s role is reduced to an example." He continues, "This means that much of our ministry today is law without gospel, exhortation without news, instruction without an announcement, deeds without creeds, with the accent on 'What Would Jesus Do?' rather than "What Has Jesus Done?' None of us is immune to this indictment that we are losing our focus upon, confidence in, and increasingly our knowledge of the greatest story ever told."

So, let us heed the warning from the prophets. Before society can change, the Church needs to change. It needs to rediscover its purpose. It needs to rediscover the Gospel. It needs to redefine its purpose for worship. It needs a new awakening with God!

The Heat Is On in Israel

2010-08-04T09:52:00.001-07:00

The heat is really building in Israel these days. Yes, it is one of the hottest summers on record there. Drought conditions are beginning to take a toll on some of the olive trees and other crops. Water, which is always a precious commodity even during cooler days, has become a critical issue. How much lower can the Sea of Galilee drop?

But heat is building in another way as well. As you may have heard, although many American news media ignored the story or simply tucked it away in the middle of the paper, the IDF (Israel Defense Force) was involved in a firefight with the regular Lebanese army along the border yesterday (August 3). According to some Jewish papers, the attack was a well-planned ambush by the Lebanese army, accompanied by media. The attack began when the IDF attempted to uproot several trees within Israeli territory in order to remove the branches that were interfering with the electronic detection devices. In the firefight, one IDF officer was struck in the head and died; another IDF officer was hit in the chest and is in serious condition. When the IDF returned fire, three Lebanese soldiers and one media journalist were killed. David Dolan, a former CBS reporter and now a free-lance journalist living in Israel, reported that, as a result of this attack, the Israeli military was on high alert.

Not only was there an attack on the northern border, but on Monday morning (August 2), the Israeli port city on the Gulf of Aqaba - Eilat -was hit with five Katyusha rockets. Thankfully, they caused no casualties and little damage. However, one rocket did strike the Jordanian city of Aqaba resulting in the death of one individual. This morning (Wednesday, August 4) Egyptian sources admitted that the rocket attack was launched from within Egyptian territory in the Sinai. Many suspect that Hamas was responsible.

Finally, this morning (Wednesday, August 4), the IDF killed a Gaza terrorist and wounded two others as they approached the security fence in Gaza. Just last Friday (July 30), IDF planes struck a Hamas stronghold, killing a Hamas commander. This followed a Hamas rocket attack on the Israeli city of Ashkelon, just north of the Gaza Strip.

Are these attacks mere coincidences? Was this a coordinated plan? Could this be the beginning of the next Middle East War - a war I refer to as the Psalm 83 War? Are the Egyptians involved in that war? Yes. Are the Lebanese involved? Yes. Is the Gaza Strip and Hamas involved? Yes. Is war an option on the table? At least according to PA President Mahmoud Abbas, the answer is yes. According to the Palestinian Media Watch (July 18), Abbas told the Arab leaders that "If you want war, and if all of you will fight Israel, we are in favor. But the Palestinians will not fight alone because they don't have the ability to do it."

Friends, keep your Bibles open these days because God is literally bringing many of the Old Testament prophecies to life. Can the return of the King be that far away? Can the sounding of the trumpet be near? Stay tuned as God continues to reveal His story.

Of Timelines

2010-07-27T15:50:00.000-07:00

As I sit and write this blog, the clouds are beginning to thicken and to grow darker gray with each passing minute. Right now - 6:00 p.m. CDT - it is 93 outside with a heat index of 104. Feels like the tropics. The storm clouds are gathering. The watches have been posted. The sirens are in place. It is summertime in Minnesota.

Today was our end of the month prophecy lunch. A group of about 30-35 of us meet twice a month to discuss current events in the light of prophetic truth. We have now completed our third year. Our eyes have been opened in a new way to see what God is doing in His world. We have become more aware of His sovereignty over the nations. We have not always been grateful for how God has directed - the 2008 elections being a case in point - but, nonetheless, we are confident that God is in control.

The topic for today was the continued development of our prophetic timeline. Today we waded through the book of Revelation in 90 minutes. We examined the time markers within the book, identifying three that are fairly concrete. The first is the beginning of the tribulation which is clearly defined for us, not in Revelation, but in Daniel 9:27. The tribulation will begin the moment the ink is dry on an agreement, a covenant, between the Antichrist and the nation of Israel. When will that occur? The Bible does not tell us, but there are many signs that point toward its being soon. The second concrete date is found in Revelation 11 and 13. We know it as the midpoint of the tribulation, or three and a half years after it begins. At that point, the two witnesses who have bothered the heck out of the Antichrist will be killed; the world will celebrate (you will notice in Revelation that this is the only occasion of celebration recorded during the time of the tribulation); the voice of heaven will summon these two into glory; and the Antichrist will then erect an image of himself in the temple and force everyone to worship him. The third and final concrete date is found in Revelation 19 and comes at the end when Jesus Christ comes to destroy the forces of evil at Armageddon and to claim His throne in Jerusalem.

Those are the only markers we have on our prophetic timeline. All the other events such as the Rapture of the Church, the Ezekiel 38-39 campaigns of Gog and Magog, the Psalm 83 War, and the events of the tribulation are placed on the timeline, not with a concrete absoluteness, but with an "I-think-so" based upon an understanding of the text.

While it is interesting to create and to discuss timelines of prophetic truth, the real focus is upon the various texts themselves. It is the Word of God that leads us to truth, not timelines of our creation.

If you are in the Twin Cities area on either the second or fourth Tuesday of the month, I extend an invitation for you to join us for one of these lunches. We meet from 11:30 until 1:00 p.m., or until the last question has been asked and the last comment has been made. The calendar is also posted on our website: www.vsb.net.

Keep looking to the sky. Storm clouds are on the horizon, not just for a physical storm, but the clouds that indicate the Lord is soon to return.

Thoughts on Tish B'Av

2010-07-20T18:49:00.000-07:00

Everyday is a special day in that each one is a gift to us from God. How often do we take a day for granted. We just assume that we will wake up in the morning and go to bed in the evening. For many of us, days become just that...days. We fight the traffic on the way to our office, fulfill our responsibilities, fight the traffic on our return trip home, swallow a meal without thinking, then head off to the gym or to a meeting of some type or other, finally ending in bed for a fitful sleep. We awaken in the morning and begin all over again.

But what if days took on a new meaning? What if there was a specialness about some of the days? Well, today, July 20, is one of those special days in Judaism. It is known as Tish B'Av - the ninth day of the month Av. Yes, I can hear what you are thinking...what does this Tish B'Av have to do with me; I am not Jewish? You are correct, but I hope that, after you hear about Tish B'Av, you will have a better understanding of why this is an important day in Israel and in Judaism.

According to Jewish history and tradition, it was on this day in 586 BC, that the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the first temple as well as the city of Jerusalem. This came as a consequence of Israel's rebellion against God and their forsaking of the covenant God had made with them. The captivity in Babylon would last for seventy years. Another temple would be built, first by Zerubabbel, then expanded by King Herod the Great. This was the temple that Jesus visited on numerous occasions, including twice when He drove out the money-changers. Jesus told His disciples that this temple, too, would be destroyed. And, on the same day - Tish B'Av - the Romans, under Titus, destroyed the temple and the city of Jerusalem. So both the first and second temples were destroyed on the same day...just 656 years apart.

Troubles seem to have their beginnings for the Jews on this day. On Tish B'Av in 1095, Pope Urban II called for the First Crusade which resulted in the murder of over 10,000 Jews by eager Christians on their way to liberate the Holy Land. It was on this day, in 1492, that all the Jews were expelled from Spain by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella (of Christopher Columbus fame). It was on Tish B'Av that World War I began in 1914, that resulted in the devastation of Europe and set the stage for the rise of Hitler and Nazism. And it was on Tish B'Av in 1942 that the mass deportation of Jews began from the Warsaw Ghetto en route to Treblinka.

This is a day of fasting and mourning for our Jewish friends as they remember the anguish caused by this day throughout their history. On Tish B'Av, there is no eating or drinking (it is a fast day); no washing or bathing; no application of creams or body oils; and no sexual relations. As part of the rituals for Tish B'Av is the reading of the Book of Lamentations. You will remember that this book was written by Jeremiah in 586 BC as he watched the destruction of his beloved city of Jerusalem. Perhaps at least parts of this book were written on Tish B'Av.

But it is with Lamentations that I wish now to turn for a few moments. This is a book of death and destruction; of judgment because of sins. It is not an easy book to read, nor is it a particularly exciting book to teach or to preach from. Yet, almost smack-dab in the middle of this book of holocaust proportions are these words: "Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, 'The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.' The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young." (Lamentations 3:22-27).

Do you hear what Jeremiah is saying? Everyday is a special day because everyday is filled with the newness of God. Ordinary days with God? Hardly! They are filled with His presence and reminders of His faithfulness. Boring days with God? Hardly! They are only boring because we are not watching with expectations for those acts of God's faithfulness.

Tish B'Av - a day of fasting and mourning for our Jewish friends. But it is also a day when we are reminded that God is still faithful to His Word and to His promises. So, enjoy this day and tomorrow and the day after that, etc. as being a gift from Him.

Obama and Netanyahu: A Photo Op or Real Substance?

2010-07-07T07:43:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, July 6, President Obama welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House. Unlike the previous five visits over the course of the past 14 months, our President rolled out the red carpet for the leader of the only democratic government in the Middle East. You might remember that earlier this year, when the Prime Minister was at the White House, President Obama left him for a dinner engagement and basically told the Prime Minister to call when he was ready to talk. Tensions then increased between the American and Israeli governments.

Yesterday, however, was a piece of scripted perfection. As Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Michael Oren, said, there were more photographers at the White House than had been at the Academy Awards ceremony this spring. The photos of both leaders adorned with smiles and engaged in a hefty hand-shake dotted the front pages of the major newspapers around the world. This indicated that all is now well...correct?

As I have had the opportunity of reading several international papers this morning, particularly from Israel, I am left wondering at exactly what was said during their 79 minute talk. What conclusions did these two leaders reach on resolving the nuclear threat from Iran? What promises were made concerning the settlement issue in east Jerusalem and the West Bank? What timetables were established for the continuation of talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians toward a two-state solution? Reporters are unsure as to what was discussed. But the platitudes flowed freely from the lips of both the President and the Prime Minister. You might have thought that they were bosom friends.

I have a guarded caution about yesterday's meeting. I am well aware that political leaders have a propensity for telling the press and the people what they want to hear. Accolades are spoken and promises made that merely linger on the lips. The track record of the Obama Administration with regard to Israel has certainly not been consistent. He has told one thing to the Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas, when he visited Washington in June. Now he declares American fidelity to Israel. One would like for the real Barak Obama to step forward.

Friends, the more I read the Old Testament prophets, the more I am becoming increasingly aware that the nation of Israel will be isolated from the world community before Jesus Christ comes to claim His throne. Their only ally will be God Himself. Of course He is the best ally for anyone to have. Therefore I am not surprised at how America is distancing itself from Israel. It is part of God's prophetic plan.

Before I sign off I want to just remind you of one significant passage. It is Joel 3:2 - "I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will enter into judgment against them concerning my inheritance, my people Israel, for they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land." Did you notice that last phrase? God will judge the nations because they "divided up His land." Two states? God says, "NO!" A divided Jerusalem? God says, "NO!" Just something to think about.

I will be taking a couple of weeks off from my blog, spending some time with our family in Texas. But, remember to keep your eyes focused upon the Word of God and keep your ears in readiness to listen for the trumpet. It could sound any day. "Come quickly, Lord Jesus!"

The Prophet Micah and Today's God

2010-06-30T07:39:00.000-07:00

I have been spending some quality time this week working through the Book of Micah. As I have shared with you before, my favorite book in the Bible is Isaiah. What a grand book that is! And, when I teach Old Testament Survey, I devote almost an entire evening just to Isaiah. And I have always apologized to Micah, whose book is also taught that same evening. Well, after my time this week, I just may have to rescind that apology and spend more time sharing with my students the wonderful truths that flow from his pen.

Micah was a contemporary with Isaiah. While the latter was engaged in sharing with Hezekiah and the court, Micah was out working the streets. His was a message that the laypeople truly needed to hear. It is full of judgment, yet also hope, especially as built around the Shepherd-King would come from Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). Micah also describes Him as the Breaker-King (Micah 2:13).

But, one passage that greatly intrigued me was Micah 2:6 -' "Do not prophesy," their prophets say. "Do not prophesy about these things; disgrace will overtake us." ' The religious leaders are highly critical of Micah's message and demand that he stop his preaching immediately. Their reason being that what Micah is preaching is running counter to what they are proclaiming. If I could paraphrase this verse it would say, "Micah, stop your preaching immediately. You are making us look bad in front of the people."

Now, as I read this passage, my heart immediately raced toward those words of the Apostle Paul to his young colleague Timothy. You remember those words: "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths" (2 Timothy 4:3-4). Is that not exactly what is happening today? People attend church and want to leave feeling good. I call it "the I'm OK, you're OK" Syndrome. Don't rock the boat! Don't make people feel uncomfortable! Don't challenge their thinking! Don't encourage them to have a life-change!

Recently I read an article written by R. Albert Mohler, president of Southwest Baptist Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. The article was titled, "Moralistic Therapeutic Deism - the New American Religion." You can read the article at: www.christianpost.com. Allow me to share a few quotes from the article, which was based on research done by Christian Smith and the National Study of Youth and Religion at the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill).

"As described by Smith and his team, Moralistic Therapeutic Deism consists of beliefs like these: 1. A god exists who created and ordered the world and watches over human life on earth. (You might remember that song from years ago titled, God is Watching Over Us from a Distance - my note). 2. God wants people to be good, nice, and fair to each other, as taught in the Bible and by most world religions. 3. The central goal of life is to be happy and to feel good about oneself. 4. God does not need to be particularly involved in one's life except when God is needed to resolve a problem. 5. Good people go to heaven when they die." Friends, I think that is a pretty apt description of what most preaching is like today. Let's make our congregants feel good about themselves. Let's assure them that all is well!

The article continued: "Moralistic Therapeutic Deism is also about providing therapeutic benefits to its adherents. As the researchers explained, 'This is not a religion of repentance from sin, of keeping the Sabbath, of living as a servant of sovereign divinity, of steadfastly saying one's prayers, of faithfully observing high holy days, of building character through suffering, of basking in God's love and grace, of spending oneself in gratitude and love for the cause of social justice, et cetera. Rather, what appears to be the actual dominant religion among U.S. teenagers is centrally about feeling good, happy, secure, at peace. It is about attaining subjective well-being, being able to resolve problems, and getting along amiably with other people.'"

So, who is this Moralistic Therapeutic Deistic god? "In short, God is something like a combination of Divine Butler and Cosmic Therapist: he is always on call, takes cares of any problems that arise, professionally helps his people to feel better about themselves, and does not become too personally involved in the process."

This is the god of today's young people. This is the god that they will bring into the churches they elect to attend as adults. This is the god they will rely upon in their hour of crisis. Yet, this god is just as pagan as were the idols that were paraded down the streets of Jerusalem during the days of Micah. Perhaps it is time for us to be as confrontation as was Micah. After all the real God did not call us to achieve success in a popularity poll. He has called us to be salt and light - salt, which irritates, and light, which exposes. Neither is particularly pleasant, but, if the world is to hear truth, we must recommit ourselves to being just that.

The Small People

2010-06-22T18:43:00.000-07:00

Last Wednesday, June 16, after a day of intense grilling in the White House, the Chairman of British Petroleum, better known as BP, Carl-Henric Svanberg, stopped and delivered a statement to reporters. Then he decided to respond to a few questions. Among the comments that he made were these: "He (speaking of President Obama) is frustrated because he cares about the small people and we care about the small people. ... I hear comments sometimes that large oil companies are greedy companies or don't care. But that is not the case in BP. We care about the small people."

Immediately the media had a hay-day with that term "small people." They accused the Chairman of being insensitive to the small business owners along the Gulf Coast who have had their livelihoods either threatened or destroyed because of the oil spill. They said that this was the attitude of big-business to look out for only themselves and not to care about others. The next day, a spokesman for BP said that Mr. Svanberg's comments were due to a language barrier: Mr. Svanberg is a Swede and his abilities to communicate in English were not the best.

As I listened to the replays of his comments, I knew what he meant. And I think every American knew what he meant. It was not a derogatory term. He was not looking down upon the shrimp and oyster fisheries or the tourist shops or the restaurants that are suffering because of the lack of business. I think, in his own way - limited by language, he was saying that he truly cared about those who were suffering.

But that term "small people" got me to thinking about a statement Jesus gave to His disciples. They were coming from the temple during Jesus' final week of life. They had asked Jesus to share with them signs about the coming of the kingdom. Jesus then told them about the separating of the sheep from the goats on that last day. Listen to these words of Jesus: "Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me" (Matthew 25:34-36). Of course that elicited a response from His disciples as to when that had happened. Pay attention to what Jesus says next: "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these my brothers of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40).

In this passage I believe Jesus was describing "small people." These were the people that are easily overlooked in the everyday humdrum of life. These are the people that we sometimes go out of our way to avoid, much like the Levite and priest did to the wounded traveler in the story of the Good Samaritan. These are people that we are tempted to think cannot amount to much in the world. But Jesus challenges us to care for them; to provide for their needs; to have compassion upon them.

As I have done some re-reading of the Gospels, I continue to marvel at the time Jesus willingly took for those people that were looked down upon by the elite of His day. Jesus delighted in caring for the small people of Galilee and Judea and even an outcast woman in Samaria.

Mr. Svanberg said that the people at BP care about the small people. Should we not also as believers?

Mr. Svanberg, I knew what you meant. And I am glad that you do care and I hope that caring truly flows, not just from the big pocketbook of BP, but from the heart of everyone associated with your company. And, thank you for reminding me of those words of Jesus to be mindful of the small people around us. They are very important to Him.

What Would Jesus Say about the Oil Spill?

2010-06-16T07:33:00.000-07:00

Oil...it is dominating our news these days. It is not the high prices, although they have been quietly climbing in recent days. It is not the threat of an Iranian closure of the Straits of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf, although the Iranians have not hesitated to declare that such a closure is a distinct possibility if Israel were to attack it. No, the oil that is dominating our news is what is flowing from a ruptured well in the Gulf of Mexico. In late April, one of the many oil platforms that dot the Gulf along the southern coasts of the United States exploded sending the platform down to the bottom of the sea. At first the experts stated that the damage would be minimal, but then the rupture grew and more and more oil was leaked into the Gulf. It is now nearly two months since that accident happened. And, although diligent efforts have been made by BP, the petroleum giant who operated the well, oil continues to spew from the ruptured pipe.

Immediately people responded by doing what we do best these days - cast blame. To hear the talk of some, this was no accident; it was part of a great conspiracy to force through stronger environmental legislation and to penalize the oil giants. Water-cooler conversations included accusations that BP should have responded differently; they should have had a plan. Others blamed the government for not stepping in sooner.

Was this a deliberate act? I highly doubt that the officials at BP sat in a closed room and discussed how they could ruin their company. This was an accident. Accidents do happen every day. Tires blow out causing a car crash. Airplane landing doors fail causing a worker to die. Bleachers collapse at a sporting event sending many to the hospital. Friends, the list goes on and on. Accidents are a part of life.

I have been drawn to an often overlooked portion of the Gospel of Luke. In the early verses of chapter thirteen, Jesus is listening to conversations around the water-cooler. (I put this into a modern context so we can better realize what Jesus is saying). "Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices" (Luke 13:1). That news story probably headlined the local papers. We are not given the background for this attack at the Temple, but several people had died when the government stepped in. Listen to Jesus' response: "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish" (Luke 13:2-3). Notice, Jesus did not cast blame either upon those who died or upon the government who caused their deaths. The event simply happened. What Jesus did state very powerfully was the truth that we do not know when our lives will end; therefore, we need to be ready.

But, another headline appeared: "Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them - do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?" (Luke 13:4). Faulty construction? Shoddy workmanship? Architectural flaws? No! Jesus simply said it was an accident. But, listen again to His warning: "I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish" (Luke 13:5). Jesus is saying, "Accidents happen! Life is short! You have no guarantee for tomorrow! Be prepared now!"

That being said that accidents do happen and that this crisis caused by the exploded well was an accident, BP has two responsibilities and one opportunity. First, they have the responsibility to cap the well as quickly as possible. They have tried short-term strategies which have not worked. The long-term strategy is taking time. Perhaps they can be faulted for not having a redundancy plan in place. But, they did not plan for this accident to happen. After all, the last time there was an oil platform explosion resulting in the platform descending to the bottom of the Gulf was 40 years ago. Those types of accidents do not happen with any sense of frequency. So, they never dreamed this would happen to their well or platform.

Second, they have the responsibility to capture as much of the oil that has flowed into the Gulf as possible. After all, the oil technically belongs to them. This will be an incredible task that could take years to accomplish.

And what is their opportunity? They are aware of the hundreds of lives that have been impacted because of this accident. What an incredible opportunity for the leaders of this giant multi-national corporation is send representatives to the little villages that dot the coastlines of Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida to offer assistance to businesses to recover. Perhaps it might include an investment of capital. Perhaps it might include enlisting their ideas as to how something like this could be prevented. Perhaps it is just to say, "we care!" Such acts would go a long way, I believe, to replace the stereo-type of the irresponsibility of big business that most Americans have.

And there is one thing that all the oil giants need to learn from this experience: Be prepared for any accident or emergency. I believe that is what Jesus would tell them. Have a plan in place and then hope you never have to use it.

Friends, earthquakes happen (a 7.2 magnitude quake just this morning in Indonesia; and a 5.7 magnitude quake over the weekend in Southern California). Tornadoes and floods occur (the tragedy in Arkansas over the weekend). And oil rigs can explode causing death and an oil spill. They are simply reminders that the world we live in is still under the curse placed upon it because of the sin of Adam and Eve. And, until the King arrives, we can and should expect those accidents to occur.

Why Be Concerned about What is Happening Around Us?

2010-06-09T10:05:00.000-07:00

Are you making any sense of what is happening in the world today? Any thoughts on the "flotilla story" that continues to dominate the media? Any sense in the direction our country is headed economically, politically, morally, and especially in relation to Israel? I have found that, when I engage a person in a conversation about today's world and their understanding of it, they either shrug their shoulders and state, "I really am not interested," or they admit that they are interested by don't know where to turn for answers. Sadly, the first group of responders is much greater than the second group.

Where do we turn for answers? The only adequate response is the Scriptures. I have had people ask me why they should care about what is happening in the world. Here is my response: Because Jesus said we should. In Matthew 16:1-3, Jesus is confronted by the Pharisees and Sadducees with a question: "The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. He replied, 'When evening comes, you say, '"It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,"', and in the morning, '"Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.'" You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times."

In Matthew 24, that passage we often call Jesus' Olivet Discourse, Jesus continually commands His followers to be discerners of the times, to be observers of what is happening in their world. "Watch out that no one deceives you" (verse 4). That means to pay attention to what is happening and how it might impact your life. We are not to go around with our heads buried in the sand about what is happening around us. Again Jesus declared, "So when you see standing in the holy place the abomination that causes desolation spoken of through the prophet Daniel - let the reader understand" (verse 15). Again comes the challenge to be cognizant of events taking place before our very eyes. Jesus continued, "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. (verses 32-33). Could that statement be any clearer? Just as we observe the various stages of the agricultural cycle - anticipating the time of harvest - so we are to observe the various events happening in our world - anticipating the time of spiritual harvest.

Finally, Jesus commands us: "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come" (verse 42). How can a person keep watch when his eyes are closed? How can a person keep watch when his mind is closed to the events happening all around him?

I know that many of you are very good at discerning the signs of good or bad weather. I have had people share with me that they believe it will be a hot, dry summer because of the way this plant or that insect is behaving. Others of you are very good at discerning the success or failure of your favorite ball team - mine, the Cubs...well, let's just say it is "wait until next year." Why should we be so reticent in discerning the events happening around us?

It is time that we wake up so that we can watch for our Lord's return. In so many ways I believe He is announcing to us that His coming is near. Oh Lord Jesus, come quickly!

A Flotilla of Peace? I Don't Think So!

2010-06-02T10:46:00.000-07:00

Once again the eyes of the world are focused upon the Middle East. And, once again, the nation of Israel is caught in the cross hairs of public opinion. As you know by now, this past Sunday commandos from the Israeli navy boarded six ships in a flotilla whose destination was the Gaza Strip. The ships were filled with Palestinian sympathizers from around the world as well as 10,000 tons of humanitarian supplies. The Israeli navy had tried to direct the ships into the Israeli harbor at Ashdod where the supplies could be off-loaded, inspected for contraband and weapons, and then loaded on trucks for the Gaza Strip. In the light of the recent smuggling of arms into the Gaza Strip through the border with Egypt, this seemed like a sensible request on the part of the Israeli government.

Five of the six ships were successfully boarded with no incidences of violence. But the sixth ship was a different story. Aboard this ship, flying the Turkish flag, were militants armed with knives, metal rods, and other weapons. As the Israeli navy commandos descended from their helicopters, they were attacked. I have seen the video footage shot from the helicopters. Armed with only paintball guns and side-guns, the Israeli commandos sought permission to return fire. When the request was granted, in the exchange of gun fire nine militants were killed and many more were wounded, including several Israeli soldiers.

Immediately the world was condemning of Israel. The Turkish government recalled its ambassador from Israel. Other European countries denounced the actions of the Israeli military. Protests were staged around the world before a media that displayed a feeding frenzy. "Israel is guilty" was the instant declaration.

Perhaps the facts speak otherwise. First, the world views the Gazans are prisoners locked in a cage. While it is true that Israel and Egypt together provided a naval blockade of the Gaza Strip following the Hamas take-over in 2006, it is not true that humanitarian aide is not getting to the Palestinians living there. During the first three months of 2010, Israel supplied over 94,500 tons of relief supplies - including 48,000 tons of food supplies, 40,000 tons of wheat, 2760 tons of rice and 1987 tons of clothing and shoes. (The flotilla of six ships carried a meager 10,000 tons of supplies).

Second, the Israeli government did not prohibit the supplies from reaching Gaza; they merely asked that the ships off-load at Ashdod so that the supplies could be inspected for illegal weapons and other contraband, and then sent off to Gaza. From a nation that has experienced over 10,000 rockets from Gaza over the past 3 years, this seemed like a logical request.

Third, supposedly the participants in this flotilla were peace-activists. By the very term that should have denoted men and women given to non-violent ways. Instead of promoting peace, they instigated conflict. As one Muslim activist on one of the ships exclaimed, "There are two possible happy endings; either we will reach Gaza or we will achieve martyrdom." Doesn't sound very peace-loving to me, does it to you?

Fourth, according to a report from Al-Jazeera television, you know this station from its broadcasts of the ben-Laden tapes, the Muslim activists were shouting, "Khaybar, Khaybar, oh Jews, the army of Muhammed will return." Khaybar was Jewish settlement that was viciously attacked by Muhammed; 628 Jews were massacred.

Now, as I write this piece, two more ships are headed for Gaza. The Israeli navy has threatened to intercept them as well. This does not sound like peace; it sounds like provocation to me.

Does this assault have any biblical importance? I believe that it does. It is another step in the isolating of Israel from the world community. As I continue reading and studying the writings of the prophets, I am becoming increasingly aware that God will separate His people from the nations of the world in the end times. He has a special work that He desires to accomplish through them during those days. This will not be the first time the Jewish people have been isolated; in fact, when one carefully studies their history, isolation is almost a Jewish thing.

What I do find sad, though, is the lack of support from our nation's government. Although invited to the White House for a meeting with President Obama yesterday, according to a leading Israeli paper, Prime Minister Netanyahu was told that President Obama did not want him to use the White House as a stage on which to present Israel's side of the story. Thus the Prime Minister returned to Israel.

Friends, the focus of our attention should continue to be on the Middle East. You can rest assured that the Iranians are loving this diversion of attention. Now the eyes of the world are off them allowing them to pursue their goals of nuclear armament. The bulls-eye has been moved over a nation no larger than New Jersey. Satan has hated Israel since the time of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. His one desire would be to see Israel totally destroyed. And with that desire, the Bible tells us that he will be defeated.

Some Reflections on Memorial Day

2010-05-26T08:17:00.000-07:00

Monday is Memorial Day. As a child growing up the day meant two things: a picnic at my grandparents' farm and a visit to the cemetery to place flowers on the graves of people whom I had never met. I remember the brightly colored flags that draped the small driveways and the cheery peony bushes that dotted the landscape. I came to associate the peony as the cemetery flower. We especially took time before the graves of those who had fought either in World War I or II. To be brutally honest, as a child the picnic was much more exciting than the cemetery visit.

As a parent I can hardly remember taking my own children to the cemetery on Memorial Day. I am not sure exactly why I didn't. Perhaps it was because I had grown apathetic about those freedoms that I had come to take for granted. Perhaps it was because my generation had not been touched by a war that brought unity rather than riot. Perhaps it was because I had simply lost touch with my past.

I am nearing the completion of preaching a series through the book of Joshua. What God has shown me through my study is the value of remembering, the value of memorial stones. Throughout the book, Joshua and the people of Israel erect several memorial stones; some are to commemorate great victories, while others are reminders of the consequences of sin. These memorial stones literally dotted the landscape of the newly conquered Promised Land. Each stone had a story that needed to be retold to the next generation. It was as if God wanted His people to be connected to the past and its lessons.

One of the great failures of the Church today is to connect its people with the past. There are no memorial stones in today's Church. There are no cemeteries, if you will, where a person can wander and discover roots and stories and truths. We have failed to help believers to connect with men and women who gave their lives contending for the faith. We have very few heroes and heroines. We have become so absorbed with the present that we have lost touch with the past, resulting in a cloudy future.

So, this Memorial Day weekend I want to enjoy a picnic with family and friends. Perhaps I will spend some time enjoying the peony bushes in my yard and be reminded of days gone by. And, although I will probably not get to the cemetery where my Dad is buried or where my grandparents are buried, I want to pause for a few moments to remember their influence upon my life. I want to reconnect to the past so that I can have a better understanding of who I am.

Thoughts on the Feast of Shavuot

2010-05-19T10:18:00.000-07:00

Today, May 19, 2010, is Pentecost, or as it is observed in Israel - the Feast of Shavuot or the Feast of Weeks. It marks the fiftieth day since Passover. Shavuot was one of the three pilgrimage feasts as outlined by God in the Law of Moses. We read in Leviticus 23:15-16: "From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering (this is a reference to the Feast of Firstfruits, celebrated immediately following Passover), count off seven full weeks. Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the LORD." The passage in Leviticus then proceeds to describe the various offerings that were to be presented to God at Shavuot.

What I found very interesting were two commands in conjunction with this festival commemorating the harvest. The first is found in Deuteronomy 16:10: "Then celebrate the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God by giving a freewill offering in proportion to the blessings the LORD your God has given you." Notice, there was no stipulation as to the precise amount to be given to God. At other times, a certain amount was prescribed, but not now. This was truly a freewill offering. As God had blessed the harvest I was cutting, so I was to be inclined to give proportionally to Him, not out of obligation, but out of joy.

In this light I am reminded of the advice the Apostle Paul gave to the Corinthians: "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7). The size of the gift is left to the discretion of the giver; and whatever the size of gift, it should be presented with great joy. I have always said that the most joyful part of any worship service should be the presentation of tithes and offerings. Yet, unfortunately, it is often the most somber, almost funeral-like. Are we that attached to what God has loaned to us?

But I discovered a second truth about the celebration of Pentecost. It is found in Leviticus 23:22 - "When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God." What a statement! Not only were the children of Israel to bring a freewill offering to the Lord, but they were not to completely harvest everything in their fields. They were to leave some of it standing so the poor and others who were disenfranchised could gather provisions for sustaining life. It is like God was saying to them: "Give Me a gift first, then leave a gift for the poor, and you will still have sufficient for yourselves." Pretty amazing principle, don't you think?

One final thought concerning the Feast of Shavuot: it was on this day that the Church was given birth. You will find that story in Acts 2. It was as if the receiving of the Holy Spirit came as God gave to us His freewill offering. And then He urged us to share that gift with others.

So, my friends, I wish you a joyous Pentecost.

Jerusalem Day!

2010-05-12T08:21:00.000-07:00

What day is today? Strange question you might ask. It is Wednesday, May 12, 2010. And that is correct. But it is also something else. This is Jerusalem Day. It was 43 years ago that the Israeli armed forced captured the Old City of Jerusalem during the Six-Day War. Previous to that time, the Jordanians ruled over that part of Jerusalem. Of course, the greatest prize was the Western Wall which Israeli Jews had not seen since the War of Independence in 1948.

Last night, in a speech on the eve of Jerusalem Day, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu quoted from Isaiah 62:1 - "For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch." He went on to say, "The battle for Jerusalem is a battle for truth. ... There can be no justice without truth and if there is a perversion of justice vis-a-vis our city and nation, it means the truth has been perverted, because the truth is that Jerusalem is our city and we never compromised on that, not after the destruction of the First Holy Temple, nor after the destruction of the Second. We were a majority in the city until the 9th century and we returned 2000 years later and witnessed the city's destruction once again. There is no other nation that feels this deeply about a city. ... We will continue to build Jerusalem, a city that is full of life."

But, as you are aware - or, at least I hope you are aware; you need to be aware - there is incredible pressure being placed upon Israel to give up its claim to the Old City, including its spiritual treasure in the Western Wall. In its eagerness to pacify the Arab world, our nation's leaders, along with those of Europe, have demanded that Israel hand over East Jerusalem to the Palestinians. Thus the city would once again be divided. The holy sites would be in jeopardy.

My friends, the longer I study the prophetic texts, the more assured I become that Jerusalem occupies a great place in God's heart. It is the city of His choosing; not Washington DC, or Paris, or London, or Tehran. This is the place where He inscribed His name. This is the place where He paid the ultimate sacrifice to redeem a lost mankind. This is the place where a handful of followers of Jesus Christ were sent out to change the world.

Yes, Jerusalem has more suffering to do. The Scriptures indicate that. In fact, one of the great battle scenes of Armageddon will occur just outside its walls. Yet, when the King of kings descends in power and glory, it will be to Jerusalem that He will come. And it will be from Jerusalem that He will reign for those millennial years.

How I wish I could walk with each of you through the crowded streets of Jerusalem! There is a certain electricity that is felt with each step. It is as if you were treading on holy ground; and, it is holy. It is holy because of what happened there in the past; and it is holy because of what will happen there in the future.

So, I wish you a blessed Jerusalem Day. Why not take some time today to read Psalm 122. There you will read: "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels. For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, 'Peace be within you.' For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your prosperity." (Psalm 122:6-9).

Long may the banner of Jerusalem fly high!

Listen: Joel Is Trying to Warn Us!

2010-05-05T12:16:00.000-07:00

Last evening I began a study that will take me most of the summer. It is a comprehensive study of the Minor Prophets - all twelve books, all 67 chapters. This is in preparation for a class that I will be teaching in January-February 2011. I have wrestled with some of the major teachings in each book as part of the 36-week "Genesis-Revelation" study that I have been teaching these past 11 years. But I have never truly delved into each of the books individually.

I began with Joel - not sure why, but that is where I began. The central truth of that first chapter is of a series of four devastating locust invasions, followed by an intense summer heat that has completely destroyed the crops, even to stripping the bark off trees. The ground is so parched that nothing can grow. Even the cattle and flocks moan because there is nothing for them to eat. Because of the lack of grain and wine, the grain offerings and drink offerings cannot be provided in the temple; thus the incompleteness of the burnt offerings, resulting in the worship of God being compromised (Joel 1:9).

The reason for such devastation is not directly stated in the chapter, but it is certainly implied. The cause - sin. The prophet entreats the religious leaders to "declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly" (Joel 1:14). This is a national crisis. Resolution will not be found in governmental programs or ideas, but in a genuine turning to God in repentance - a national repentance. The prophet further declares: "Alas for that day! For the day of the LORD is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty" (Joel 1:15). In other words, judgment is certain!

But what truly grabbed my heart as I was reading this chapter was this thought: God was powerfully making a statement to Judah through a series of catastrophic natural disasters. It was to be a wake-up call to them. It was to be a time for them to re-evaluate their relationship with Him. It was a time to mourn, to grieve, and to cry out to God. It was a time for change because something worse might happen if the people continued to persist in their sinful practices.

2010 has certainly been a year of unusually powerful natural disasters. From the powerfully destructive earthquakes in Haiti and Chili to volcanic eruptions in Iceland, from historical winter snows in Europe to record flooding in America's southeastern region - it is as if God were trumpeting His strong warnings. But are we listening? Has there been a turning to God? Are people repenting of sin? Yes, in some cases people are responding back to God. But so many more are not. I keep wondering what God will do next to get our attention.

Observing first the locusts and the devastation they caused, then the intense drought, the prophet Joel declares that God's judgment is imminent. Might we say the same today as we observe the cries from the natural world? If these are truly the birth pangs, then friends, we had better begin falling on our knees before a holy God because the Judge will soon walk through His chamber doors and take His throne.