My favourite Christian hymn is the King's Business. That's what I call it anyway, as I don't know its proper title. It gives me such hope and encouragement when I feel down and discouraged, for it reminds me that as a Christian, I serve another King and am a representative of another Country. Of course that Country is heaven, as the Bible states in Philippeans 3:20 and Hebrews 11:16. The words of that hymn are as follows.

I am a stranger here, within a foreign land;
My home is far away, upon a golden strand;
Ambassador to be of realms beyond the sea,
I'm here on business for my King.

This is the message that I bring,
A message angels fain would sing:
"Oh, be ye reconciled,"
Thus saith my Lord and King,
"Oh, be ye reconciled to God."

The theme of the song is taken from 2nd Corinthians 5:20, which states that we are ambassadors for Christ. That is, we have been sent by the Lord Jesus Christ into the world to be witnesses in His place, and as Paul states, the message that we bring is "be ye reconciled to God". I hope that the Lord would help me to be a greater witness and more faithful ambassador for Him, for I fall so far short of what that should be. But today I felt like drawing a picture on the computer of what goes through my head when listening to the first verse of that chorus being sung. It's not really that good, as I haven't spent a lot of time on it. But it's a picture of the heavenly country, to which I now belong, a land beyond the sea, where there is no night and where the King of that place wipes away all tears from their eyes.

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Quote: "But Abbas aide Yasser Abed Rabbo said: "We're watching a movie, where the thieves in Gaza fall out and one of them claims to be honest and brave and the other is the bad guy. Photo "This Hamas game fools no one. For Mashaal to present himself as bringing security is a fraud. The Army of Islam were collaborators with Hamas in undermining security ... He's trying to gain sympathy for creating a Taliban principality in Gaza."

The move by Hamas to secure the release of Alan Johnston by force was also criticized by British Foreign Office Minister Kim Howells as a "publicity stunt" aimed at winning favour with the West. And how could Hamas have gained better publicity for their cause, than to have Johnston and Haniyeh standing side by side with the world's press in attendance? Meanwhile, Corporal Gilad Shalit is still being held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, having been in captivity for over a year and with deteriorating health. Operation Summer Rains, an incursion into Gaza planned by Israeli Prime Minister Olmert, could not secure his release. Hamas had been in negotiations with Olmert for the possible release of around a thousand Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Shalit, many of whom were responsible for the deaths of Israeli civilians, but the deal fell through. Now with the release of Johnston, Haniyeh has the upper hand on Israel and Shalit.

Quote: "Haniyeh spoke at a joint press conference with Johnston, who had arrived at his home at the Shati refugee camp in Gaza several hours after his release. "If the Israelis think reasonably and rationally, and take into account the humanitarian issue and the suffering of the Palestinian prisoners, we will be able to reach a deal," the Hamas leader said.

Johnston's post in Gaza was due to expire shortly before his captivity, so it is unlikely that he will be able to be used much more by the Hamas terrorist organization to propagate their message. I am glad that Alan Johnston has been freed, even if he has been an instrument for Palestinian terrorism. The Bible reminds us that we are also willingly held captive, by our own sins. The Bible says that whoever commits sin is the servant of sin (John 8:34). Around 2000 years ago a Man came to earth, in order to effect the biggest hostage release ever undertaken. Our release demanded a high ransom, one that we were not able to pay. It demanded the blood of an innocent person, of one who could vindicate God's throne, as well as justify the sinner. That Person was the Lord Jesus Christ, who loved us so much that He gave His own life on the cross, so that we could be set free.

Luke 4:18-21
The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord (year of Jubilee). And he closed the book, and he gave [it] again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

Source Reuters, YNet News

Israel's Maariv daily newspaper has revealed that Jordan has been secretly purchasing real-estate around the Temple Mount, in the hope of gaining more control over the sacred site. A member of the Jordanian Royal Family has been petitioning Arab land owners to sell up to Jordanian shell companies, sometimes operating on behalf of the Waqf, the Islamic organization that administers the Temple Mount. 

Quote: "The Maariv story was first reported by WND four months ago in an exclusive report revealing Jordan has used shell companies during the past year to purchase several apartments and shops located at key peripheral sections of the Temple Mount. Israeli and Palestinian officials told WND Jordan also set up a commission to use the shell companies to petition mostly Arab landowners adjacent to eastern sections of the Temple Mount to sell their properties. They said profits from sales at any purchased shops would be reinvested to buy more real estate near the Mount and in eastern Jerusalem neighborhoods. 

This news comes shortly after it was revealed the Israeli security agency, Shin Bet, foiled a plot by Hamas terrorists to take control of the Temple Mount from the Jordanian Waqf. The terrorist organization took control of the Gaza Strip from President Abbas' Fatah party last month, and is actively working to do the same on the Temple Mount. 

Quote: ""Their goal is to gain full control over the Temple Mount," a security official said, adding that the Hamas terrorist party has built a bathroom and expanded its library and prayer rooms at the Temple Mount. Hamas, funded by Syria, Iran and other Arab nations, has invested millions of dollars in the Temple Mount site, where it has conducted tours and preached Hamas ideology. The terrorist organization has provided social services support to low-income Arabs living in eastern Jerusalem neighborhoods, thus cementing its support in the population. 

Today, the 17th day of the month of Tammuz according to Jewish calendar, Israel begins a three week mourning period for the loss of the First and Second Temples. Both Temples were destroyed on the exact same day of the year, the 9th of Av, the first by Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC, and the second by the armies of the Roman Empire under command of Titus in 70 AD. As Jews worldwide mourn this double-loss, many others are calling for the soon rebuilding of the Third Temple. The following quotation is from today's Temple Institute newsletter. 

Quote: "The world without the Holy Temple is an unacceptable proposition. It was forced upon us nearly two thousand years ago and we have toiled under the staggering influence of its loss from that day until this day. But what about tomorrow? Will the Holy Temple still not be standing tomorrow? Or should we ask the question more honestly: Will the Holy Temple continue being destroyed tomorrow? Our sages teach us that every generation that does not witness the rebuilding of the Holy Temple is a generation that has destroyed the Holy Temple. If we allow our listlessness and apathy to rule our lives then we are as guilty as if our own hands have destroyed the Holy Temple, G-d forbid! For unlike the resurrection of the dead, the rebuilding of the Holy Temple is not dependent solely upon the will of G-d. It is not a function of the suspension of the laws of nature. As with every one of the 613 commandments received by the children of Israel at Mount Sinai, the building of the Temple is ours for the doing. The building of the Temple is eminently achievable. The desire to draw nearer to our Creator, both as individuals, and as a nation, is what is needed to move our hearts and our hands into action. Dedication and determination is what will propel us forward towards completing our task.

Strictly speaking, the destruction of the Second Temple was not forced upon the Jewish people. It's destruction was prophesied in advance by the Lord Jesus Christ, and was a direct result of the nation's rejection of the Messiah. Forty years following the Lord's crucifixion, His words came to pass with startling accuracy. 

Luke 13:35
Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until [the time] come when ye shall say, Blessed [is] he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Matthew 24:1-2
And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to [him] for to shew him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

Luke 21:20-22
And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

Today the unbelieving Jewish nation thinks that through rebuilding the Temple, they can carry favour with God. Just recently, the Sanhedrin announced they were planning to send a letter to every nation on earth, calling on them to support the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. Daniel's prophecy predicts that a Third Temple will soon be rebuilt, and that the Jewish nation will enjoy a relative peace. But it will be short-lived, and will culminate in a time of unparalleled persecution for the Jews, when the Antichrist sits in the Temple and proclaims to be God. Only when Israel has come to an end of itself, will they call on the true Messiah Yeshua, and say "Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord". Will you be found worthy to "escape all these which shall come to pass, and stand before the Son of Man", Luke 21:36, or will you be left behind to face the judgement of a righteous God? Trust in Christ for salvation.

Source WorldNetDaily, Arutz 7