Quote: "The Rev. Joel C. Hunter, senior pastor of Northland Church in Longwood, FL, said: "There is a part of the evangelical family, which is what I call Christian Zionists, who are just so staunchly pro-Israel that Israel and their side can do no wrong, and it's almost anti-Biblical to criticize Israel for anything. But there are many more evangelicals who are really open and seek justice for both parties."

Christian Zionists do not believe Israel "can do no wrong", far from it in fact. We apportion blame to those to whom it is due, and sad to say that is Palestinian terrorist organizations and Arab states more often than not . Prior to June 1967, Israel occupied none of the territory now under contention, yet half a dozen Arab states not only refused to recognize the Jewish state, but actively sought to destroy it. Nor did Transjordan ever offer to create a Palestinian state on territory it captured during the War of Independence in 1948. It is Israel that must constantly concede to the demands of those that still refuse to recognize its right to exist. Where we differ from these liberal theologians is, we do believe that Israel has a God-given right to the land, that Israel's regathering is a fulfilment of Biblical prophecy, and that the situation that is playing out before our eyes will result in the division of God's land as prophesied in Joel 3:2. But apparently many of Pastor Joel's own congregation had no idea he held such unscriptural views, and some decided to organize a protest in response to the Pastor's call for the creation of a Palestinian state in Judea and Samaria. 

Quote: "The Sunday protestors were outraged at the pastor's stance so blatantly against the Bible whose message he preaches. John Hellein, of a church just two miles away, told Arutz-7, "I heard the news while riding my bicycle and listening to an Ipod radio broadcast - and I nearly fell off my bicycle. I was amazed that the pastor of a church so close to home would say something so opposed to the Bible. I knew right then that I wanted to organize some kind of protest." Hellein said that many of the church members were unaware of the controversial stance their pastor had taken, and "thanked us for informing them of it and protesting. This is not to say that everyone agreed; there were also other opinions."

Two Jewish radio hosts, Ari Abramowitz and Jeremy Gimpel from Arutz 7's "Light unto the Nations" programme, asked Pastor Joel to come on their show to explain his views, from purely a religious standpoint. But the Pastor declined, his assistant stating that this "just isn't the best forum for Dr. Hunter to explain his position on this issue". How sad that a Pastor of all people should decline such an opportunity to witness for Christ and to give a reason for the hope that is in him! But he eventually conceded to a debate with Jeremy Gimpel, which will be broadcast on BBC Radio this Thursday, August 30th, at 10:20 AM EST. Abramowitz and Gimpel said Pastor Joel would be wise to heed the warning from his namesake, the prophet Joel, who warned that God would judge the nations that were responsible for scattering His people and parting His land.

Quote: "Abramowitz told Arutz-7 he is happy to be able to debate the issue in purely religious terms. "There are many truth-seekers in the Christian community who are willing to stand with Israel even if they have to defy their own leaders," he said. "Truth resonates. As the Jewish people, we are not seeking allies; we have a responsibility to share the truth and clarify it to a world that may not want to hear it."

If find it particularly sad that it should be left to two Jews, perhaps not even believers at that, to debate with a Christian Pastor on Israel's rightful place God's prophetic calendar, a Pastor who is supposed to be led by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. As Abramowitz stated, it is mainstream Christian organizations and theological colleges that are churning out this anti-Semitic teaching. They wilfully ignore secular history by supporting the creation of a Palestinian state. They turn a blind eye to the truth of Scripture in calling for the division of God's land. And they are replacing God's absolute law with the world's shifting standards of morality, in their moral equivalence of Palestinian terrorism and Israel's right of self-defence.

Source NY Times, Arutz 7

The European Commission is considering whether to set up a rapid reaction force that will be capable of responding to natural disasters and other emergencies. Greece has declared a national state of emergency as wildfires continue to ravage much of the country. Nations from around the world have offered their assistance in tackling wildfires, which have so far been responsible for the deaths of around 63 people. The European Union has mobilized its biggest ever relief effort for another member state, but as extreme weather conditions become more commonplace, with Britain's costliest natural disaster also occurring this year, the EU is considering establishing a permanent force that will be capable of dealing with such problems.

Quote: "The commission is currently co-ordinating relief efforts through its monitoring centre in Belgium. But it is now looking at setting up a permanent civil protection force to respond to natural disasters, and possibly also terrorist attacks and industrial accidents. "The costs of not doing enough in a co-ordinated way far outweigh the costs of doing it... in a co-ordinated, better way," says commission environment spokesperson, Barbara Helfferich. "We are in a position to do so and we should do it," she says.

Javier Solana, the High Representative for the European Common, Foreign and Security Policy, already presides over the civilian crisis-management machinery of the EU. According to Recommendation 666, drafted by Solana himself, he has the power to convene the Council of the European Union in the event of a national emergency.

Quote: "12) Support proposals for the WEU Secretary-General and CFSP High Representative to preside over the PSC (Political and Security Committee) and civilian crisis-management machinery and give him powers to convene the Council of the European Union in the event of an emergency;

I didn't hear much from Solana on this latest crisis. In fact I didn't hear much from Europe during the torrential flooding in this country. It may be as well that the EU does set up such a force, for the Bible states that during the tribulation period, the kingdom of the Antichrist will be singled out for special judgement from God.

Revelation 16:10-11
And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

Source BBC, Assembly WEU

This link from my friend Mike. Tomorrow evening at 5:52pm (in the US), the Moon is due to enter its first central total eclipse for seven years, during which the Earth will pass between the Moon and the Sun. The Earth will cast a dark shadow across the face of the Moon, which will eventually turn to a blood red colour, as only light refracting through Earth's atmosphere is reflected off its surface. The event will be best viewed from the southern hemisphere and the West coast of America. So if you're living in the UK like me, there's nothing much to get excited about!

Quote: ""The red ring is due to sunlight being refracted through the Earth's atmosphere; the refracted light has the blue component preferentially scattered out (this is also why the sky appears blue from the surface of the Earth), leaving a faint reddish light to illuminate the Moon during the eclipse. It is the reason why the moon is not black but reddish during a total lunar eclipse," Discovery said. All phases of the eclipse will be visible from the islands of the Pacific Ocean, New Zealand and eastern Australia. The network said the various stages of the eclipse would be in progress at moonrise for eastern Asia while the penumbral phase of the eclipse would start at about 3.53 p.m. "But most observers will not be able to visually detect the shadow until about 4.30 p.m. All of North America will witness some portion of the eclipse, but western observers are favored," the Discover Channel added.

The last total eclipse of the Moon occurred in March of this year, during the Jewish Feast of Purim. The shadow of the Moon crossed North Africa and the Middle East. The Feast of Purim is a time when the Jewish people celebrate their deliverance from their enemies. The Moon is representative of the Messiah in Jewish teaching, and being shrouded in darkness on that date may signify the troublesome time Israel must soon endure, as the Lord conceals Himself from the nation for a brief period of time. Genesis 1:14 states that one of the main reasons God created celestial bodies was to mark signs, seasons, days and years. Unusual astronomical events have occurred in the past marking special events in God's prophetic plan, for example the star in the East that was seen by the Magi, who recognized its significance and came to worship the King of the Jews. I don't know if tomorrow's event will have any particular significance, for as far as I know it falls on no auspicious date. But as the Bible states, it is a warning of a future day...

Joel 2:30-2
And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

Source ABS CBN News