It's getting closer every day!

I believe that it is just a matter of time before the U.S. political leadership will break its alliance with Israel. Last week a United Nations resolution condemning the building of Israeli “settlements” as illegal was vetoed by the U.S. But behind the scenes it look completely different
According to ABC News:

“Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called Israeli settlements ‘illegitimate’ shortly before the United States vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning continued Israeli settlement expansion as illegal.” 

ABC News anchor Christiane Amanpour interviewed Clinton last week, and the secretary of state had this to say:

"I think it is absolutely clear to say, number one, that it's been American policy for many years that settlements were illegitimate and it is the continuing goal and highest priority of the Obama administration to keep working toward a two-state solution with both Israelis and Palestinians."

In any event, this kind of weak stance on Israel is noticed by our enemies, which recognize that America will no longer oppose them.
According to a Reuters article this past week:

“The Brotherhood is viewed with suspicion by Washington but is seen as the only truly organized bloc in Egypt and reckons it could win up to 30 percent of votes in a free election.

“In another sign of the transformation of Egyptian politics, al-Gama'a al-Islamiya (Islamic Group), which took up arms against Mubarak's administration in the 1990s and was crushed by security forces, held its first public meeting in 15 years.

"’Our position is to turn a new page with the new regime,’ said Assem Abdel-Maged, a group member who spent years in jail for his role in the 1981 assassination of President Anwar Sadat. ‘We will perform any positive role we can to help society.’"

 Whatever happened to refusing to recognize terrorist entities?

Viewing with suspicion at the same time one recognizes them is identical to the above “illegitimate” vs. “illegal” stance.

All this comes at a time when Israel continues to maintain its vigilance against vicious, close enemies, at the same time they produce miracle after miracle in other arenas (such as medicine and economics).

Israel’s economy grew 7.8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010!

It is beyond me, how people can miss the sovereign will of God in the life of modern Israel.

The Bible is easy to read and it states quite clearly that at the time of the end, Israel’s enemies will go down to historic defeat. Can we take God at His word? God says that when Israel’s enemies gather for a final attack against His people, that His “fury” will rise in His face…and the enemy that comes against Israel (actually they are coming against God, but they can't get Him so they will come against His people) will be defeated. There are a lot of people worried over Israel’s safety. We need to continue to pray for Israel, but maybe we also need to direct some of our praying for their enemies.


Because on the day they turn to attack the Jewish state, God will rise and He will act. And when he gets through with them, the blood-spatter will reach the moon.


I never thought nI would see the day that my beloved nation would turn their back on Gods chosen people, but they have and they will and soon I may be going home...to be with God, and my Savior, my older brother, who died for me on the cross of Calvary.


Can you say this as well, "Even so come Lord Jesus."

What's In A Name?

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, Ephesians 4:1 (KJV)

Believers who have been saved by the atoning blood of Jesus Christ have a spiritual family name. We are called "Christians."

In the New Testament, the name Christian was first given to the disciples in Antioch by those who noted their behavior (read Acts 11:19-26). Two things defined these early believers. (1) They talked about the good news of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ every where they went (v. 20). And they (2) eagerly learned the Scriptures as Barnabas and Saul taught them for a whole year (v.26).

The name Christian means an "adherent to Christ" in other words, literally one who "sticks" to Christ. Today, many people call them selves Christians, but really should they?

If you call yourself a Christian, does your life tell others who Jesus is? Are you hungry for God's Word in your life? Do your actions bring honor or shame to the Name of Christ?

Just saying you're a Christian doesn't mean you are one!

So, what's in a name? When the name is Christian, there is so much more, indeed!

A Christian reflect Jesus Christ! What about you? This is an Eternal Question?

The Circle Is Tightening Around Israel

If you are watching the news with any interest, you are realizing that Bible prophecy is being fulfilled at warp speed.

After Egyptian officials telling them "no", Iran is now arranging with them to have two of its warships use the Suez Canal. This comes from the Iranian state-run Press TV. The Suez Canal Authority said after the report that no Iranian naval vessels had been granted permission to sail through the waterway.

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said yesterday that Iran was planning later that day to send two gunboats through the canal to Syria, which would involve heading through the eastern Mediterranean, off Israel’s coast. He called the move a “provocation.”

“Until now we don’t have any information or a license from any ministry in Egypt,” the authority’s head of traffic, Ahmed El Manakhly, said in a phone interview. Earlier, he said Egypt’s Defense Ministry must approve any vessel’s use of the canal.

Press TV cited an unidentified naval official as saying Iranian officials were in contact with Egyptian officials to arrange passage for the warships, and that Egyptian authorities believe there was nothing wrong with their planned journey. The broadcaster said the official was confirming previous reports that Iranian warships would use the waterway.

Oil prices rose after the Iranian report, with Brent crude increasing 42 cents to $104.20 a barrel. In New York, crude rose 23 cents to $85.22 a barrel. The Swiss franc strengthened 0.8 percent to 1.2914 per euro as of 1:52 p.m. in London, and appreciated 0.7 percent versus the dollar to 95.25 centimes.

The 120-mile (190-kilometer) Suez Canal carries about 2.5 percent of world oil output, according to Goldman Sachs Group Inc., and is a key route for ships carrying Asian consumer goods to Europe.

“According to the rules which govern navigation through Suez -- international rules -- we cannot forbid any vessel from passing through the Suez Canal if there is no war between Egypt and that country,” El Manakhly told Bloomberg Television in an interview before the Iranian report. “Any vessel can pass through the canal if we have prior approval from the Ministry of Defense.”

What is interesting is that Iran hasn’t sent warships through the canal in “many years.” The ships in question are a British- built, 1960s-era Mk-5 frigate and a supply vessel, according to Israel's Yedioth Ahronot newspaper.

Israeli leaders have voiced concern that Iran may exploit the instability in the region following the Feb. 11 ousting of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Iran has sought to crush anti- government protests at home, including one on Feb. 14 inspired by the revolts in Egypt and Tunisia, where the president was ousted last month.

Iran has accused the U.S. and Israel of stoking dissent in the country and rejects international sanctions against its nuclear program. Iran has said discussions of Israel’s nuclear development should be part of any talks on its own atomic work. Israel hasn’t confirmed or denied possession of nuclear weapons.

“The international community must understand that Israel can’t ignore forever these kinds of provocations,” Lieberman said in the speech in which he discussed the ships.

It is wonderful to think that today could be the day that Christ returns to rapture the Church. 

"Are you ready"

What will happen in Egypt now?

From Israel Today comes this startling report.

Israel watched with muted concern over the weekend as former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak resigned after 30 years in power. The region has seen this kind of thing before, and historically it has not turned out well. But Israel has more immediate worries as Egypt is concerned.

First, while the peace between Israel and Egypt under Mubarak was cold, it still served to balance Israel’s rivalry with Iran and mounting tensions with Turkey. As the situation stands now, there is no regional Arab superpower tipping the scales in Israel’s favor.

“Egypt has completely lost its status in the area, while Turkey and Iran are on the way up,” former Israeli Ambassador to Cairo Zvi Mazel told Israel’s Ynet news portal. “As long as we had Mubarak, there was no void in our relations with the region. Now we’re in big trouble.”

Mazel also cautioned Egyptians not to get too optimistic. They may have removed Mubarak and his martial law, but Egypt will now be directly ruled by the military until new elections can be held and a consensus government can be formed, which could take a year or more. And when elections are finally held, there is no telling who will emerge as Egypt’s next president, and whether or not he will ultimately become a dictator.

At present, former International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) directory Mohammed ElBaradei is emerging as the leading opposition figure. But ElBaradei is aligned with the radical Muslim Brotherhood, which has vowed to return Egypt to a state of war with Israel if it ever came to power. The Brotherhood has said it will not directly contest the presidency, but exercising influence over a puppet like ElBaradei would be enough to drastically and catastrophically alter the regional balance that existed prior.

On Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked the Egyptian military for announcing that it will continue to honor all of Egypt’s international agreements. But there is no guarantee that won’t change once a new president is elected, depending on which party he hails from. It should be remembered that Mubarak’s former boss and predecessor, Anwar Sadat, was assassinated by the Muslim Brotherhood because he made peace with Israel.

There is also growing concern in Israel that amidst the chaos, Egypt will lose control of the Sinai Peninsula, which will become a new terrorist breeding ground. Already there are reports that Egyptian police forces are abandoning positions that are coming under attack by local Sinai Bedouins.

“There is real concern that if the Egyptians don’t get the Sinai back under their control, it could develop into a major threat to Israel,” a senior government source told The Jerusalem Post.

And then there is US President Barack Obama and his role in this regime change and its aftermath. Throughout the two weeks of anti-government protests when Obama was joining with many Egyptians in demanding Mubarak’s immediate ouster, the US president consistently failed to insist that whoever takes over Egypt next must honor its peace treaty with Israel.

Other world leaders, such as Germany’s Angela Merkel, felt it was fitting to directly address the issue. “We also expect future Egyptian governments to pursue peace in the Middle East so that the contracts that were signed with Israel, are respected and that Israel’s security is guaranteed,” read Merkel’s statement released on Saturday.

Obama’s much longer response to Mubarak’s downfall did not mention Israel or Egypt’s peace agreement with the Jewish state at all.

Israeli media analyst Dr. Aaron Lerner summed up why this is so disconcerting to Jerusalem:

“The very unfortunate message from Mr. Obama to the Egyptians in particular and the Arab world in general is that as far as he is concerned, Egypt honoring peace with Israel is at best of tertiary importance in his eyes.”

Is God Trying To Get Our Attention

In the wake of increasing violence, violent weather, natural disasters, and other calamities befalling mankind, some might ask, "What does it all mean?" Many of the signs of His soon return we are witnessing today are designed to wake us up from our slumber.

He is trying to get our attention.

God does not pour out His wrath without first warning us.

God wants us to know He will return. God's seeming delay in bringing about the consummation of all things is a result not of indifference but of patience in waiting for all who will come to repentance. God is giving us every chance to repent of our sin and return to Him. He is being patient with us because He wants everyone to come to repentance.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. [2Peter 3:9]

The delay of Christ's return is also related to the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom to the whole world. God wants everyone to hear the gospel and does not desire anyone to perish eternally (1Tim. 2:4).

This does not mean that all will be saved, for if a person rejects God's grace and salvation, then he or she remains lost.

Islamic-Friendly Whit House

This week we learned that the Islamic-friendly White House supports replacing the Egyptian government with a coalition that includes the radical terrorist sponsoring Muslim Brotherhood. This move, supported by the Secretary of State and the president, will undoubtedly usher in a new era of terrorist-based instability in the Middle East and cause grave consequences for the United States and Israel for decades to come. 

As you may recall, the president’s first major speech supported and glorified Islam in Cairo. It is likely no prophetic coincidence that since then there has been great economic calamity, oil disaster, violence on the borders, and political unrest. The more America concerns herself with Egypt, the more consequences are likely.

On National Public Radio, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, “Today we learned the Muslim Brotherhood decided to participate, which suggests they at least are now involved in the dialogue that we have encouraged.” Clinton is holding strong to the White House line that America is supporting democracy in Egypt. Despite warnings from Israel, veteran foreign policy experts and conservatives, this White House is buying the lie that the Muslim Brotherhood will participate in a democratic government. The man in the Oval Office said, “Now, it is not the role of any other country to determine Egypt’s leaders...Furthermore, the process must include a broad spectrum of Egyptian voices and opposition parties.”

It seems that we haven't learned any lessons  from our actions regarding Iran, Iraq, and the Palestinian Authority. When President Jimmy Carter helped depose the Shah of Iran-- a ruler friendly to the United States and one who kept the balance of peace in the Middle East--the result was the birth of a new era of terrorism. 

When President George W. Bush “liberated” Iraq and established “democracy” there--the people adopted a Sharia-law type of Constitution where religious freedom is essentially nonexistent. When “democratic” elections were held by the Palestinian Authority, the majority that were elected were members of the terrorist group Hamas.

Islam is a tyrannical political system disguised as a religion. Islam can embrace “democracy” because it feeds into Islam’s totalitarian political goals. By encouraging the engagement of the Muslim Brotherhood in a so-called democratic system, the American leadership is paving the way for persecution of Christians and Jews and the escalation of a new Islamic order. 

Isaiah 59:8 says, "The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.” 

Islam will only be emboldened by the unwise actions of the American leadership. 

Ezekiel 7:25 says, “Destruction comes; and they shall seek peace and there shall be none.”

Sin That Ensnares Us

Therefore since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that lies before us.—Hebrews 12:1

Sin is our most persistent, determined, and pernicious enemy. Sin seeks to rob us of every good thing God has designed for us. Paul tells us that sin brings death (Rom. 7:11). Yet it is very subtle. Sin creeps into our lives when and where we least expect it. It packages itself so attractively that we are lulled into thinking that it cannot really harm us (2 Cor. 11:14–15).

Sin stealthily and relentlessly entangles our lives. We will never be able to run the race marked out for us as long as we are entrapped in sin. We free ourselves from sin's bondage only if we recognize it for what it is. If we call sin a “mistake,” a “bad habit,” or a “weakness,” we will never escape its grasp. We must not blame our sins on others. We must not allow pride to convince us it is too humiliating to admit the sin in our lives. Sin can blind us to its presence. It does not always command our attention but rather, it subtly and pervasively robs us of the spiritual power and victory that could be ours. The good news is that there is no extent to which sin can entangle us that God's grace does not abound still more to free us (Rom. 5:20).

Has sin robbed your joy? Has it prevented you from being the best husband, wife, son, daughter, or friend you could be? Is it keeping you from spiritual maturity? If you have become entangled with sin, God can release you immediately, no matter how desperately entangled you may have become!

Let God release you today!

A Time As Never Before

It is looking to be the greatest drama to shake Egypt since the killing of Anwar Sadat in 1981. Huge nationwide protest have challenged the long rule of President Hosni Mubarak, threatening to dislodge him. At the present time, the denouncement remains unwritten. One wonders if it will match Tunisia, where this past month a popular uprising sent another president into exile, toppling the ruling party and supposedly opened the way to a democracy. Or it also could look like Iran in 2009, where a hardline regime crushed a popular protest movement with iron-fisted resolve.

Iran has spoken up in support of the demonstrators, hoping that the toppled Mubarak administration will be replaced by an Islamic government that would be friendly toward Iran's ayatollahs. The Muslim Brotherhood, which gave rise to Hamas, has been banned from running for office in Egypt. It sees this time as an opportunity to make a move toward more influence in Egyptian politics. 

The upheavals in the Middle East spell possible disaster, not just for heavy-handed regimes like those in Egypt and Tunisia, but for the Jewish island in a growing sea of Islamic power. Israel faces a strengthened Hezbollah in Lebanon and turmoil in Jordan and Egypt, where Islamic powers are positioning to snag control. A hostile Iran glares from the east, and less-than-warm relations with the current United States administration offer little comfort. 

Keep Benjamin Netanyahu and the Knesset in your prayers, and pray for God's excellent purposes to be accomplished in the land of Egypt.