"That whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." - John 3 V15

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5 V8

Christ died for me and for you. He died and rose from the grave and all who believe in His name get eternal life in His kingdom. We may see the world debating over who killed Christ, whether it were the Jews or the Romans but the fact is that Christ willingly chose to die and it was my sins and your sins that crucified Christ as a living sacrifice. If you have never known Christ or have never accepted Him as your Lord and Saviour, then today is the day. Accept the Saviour in your heart, who loved us and died for us.

The New York Times reported today that the Israeli Air Force have undertaken a massive exercise to prepare themselves for the eventuality that military action against Iran becomes necessary. Around a hundred F-15 and F-16 fighter airplanes took part in the drill, which involved flying around 800 miles over the eastern Mediterranean Sea and Greece. The pilots practiced manoeuvres that would be used in a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, including mid-air refuelling and flight tactics. Iran is located a thousand miles to the east of Israel, and Iran's nuclear facilities are spread across the country. Israeli officials declined to comment on the exercise, but US sources have stated that Israel is seeking to send a signal to America, Europe and Iran that they are prepared to take matters into their own hands if Iran cannot be persuaded to halt its nuclear programme.

Quote: "A Pentagon official who the Times said was briefed on the exercise, said one goal was to practice flight tactics, aerial refuelling and other details of a possible strike against Iran's nuclear installations and long-range conventional missiles. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said a second goal was to send a clear message that Israel was prepared to act militarily if other efforts to stop Iran from producing bomb-grade uranium fail. "They wanted us to know, they wanted the Europeans to know, and they wanted the Iranians to know," the Pentagon official said, according to the Times. "There's a lot of signalling going on at different levels."

When it comes to the proliferation of nuclear weapons, the tiny nation of Israel has saved the world many times over. On the 7th of June 1981, the Israeli Air Force sent six F-15 escort fighters and eight F-16 bombers to destroy the Osirak reactor in Iraq. And in September of last year, the Israeli Air Force sent a similar number of fighters into Syria to destroy a nuclear reactor in that country. Both governments have supported terrorist organizations that are bent on the destruction of Israel, and there is no telling what would have happened if these groups had managed to acquire nuclear weapons. Israeli intelligence experts believe that Iran will have nuclear weapons capability by 2009 at the latest. And with the Iranian President having repeatedly called for Israel's destruction, Israel is sending a message to the world that they are not prepared to stand idly by and watch that happen. But President Ahmadinejad has not counted on one thing. Israel may be a tiny nation, but they have a big God. The Mighty God of Jacob...

Genesis 49:22-26
Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb: The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.

And for those who have trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation, we can say the same. The God of the Old Testament is the God of the New. Jesus Christ is that Good Shepherd (John 10:11). He was the Stone that was rejected by the builders of the nation of Israel (Matthew 21:42). He is the One who was separate from His brethren. He bore the punishment for our sins upon the cross. Is He your Shepherd? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31).

Source YNet News, Jewish Virtual Library

"Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body." - 1 Corinthians 6 V18

"Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." - 2 Timothy 2 V22

Flee temptations for it is a tool of the devil and he uses it to deceive men. We in our entirety belong to Christ and so let our Lord use us for His glory. It is better not to get into situations that leads to temptation. Pray to God for He is the source of our help in all situations. Remember, Christ knows our feelings for He too was tempted and He stood victorious. Pray to Christ and He will keep all who call upon Him from falling into temptation.

This link from my friend Tony. Middletown School District in the state of Rhode Island have announced a pilot programme to monitor the movements of students through the use of RFID. The programme is being run by MAP Information Technology Corporation, and will involve eighty students at the Aquidneck School. Students will have a tiny RFID chip implanted in their school bag, which will pass through a scanner as they board the school bus. The buses will be equipped with GPS, and can transmit their exact location to an internet site, along with a record of which children are on the bus. Parents and teachers will be able to log onto the website to access this information. While the aim of the programme is to improve child protection as they travel to and from school, some have expressed concern that the information could actually be exploited by paedophiles seeking to target children.  

Quote: "The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has criticized the plan as an invasion of children's privacy and a potential risk to their safety. "There's absolutely no need to be tagging children," said Stephen Brown, executive director of the ACLU's Rhode Island chapter. According to Brown, the school district should already know where its students are. "[This program is] a solution in search of a problem," Brown said. The school district says that its current plan is no different than other programs already in place for parents to monitor their children's school experience. For example, parents can already check on their children's attendance records and what they have for lunch, said district Superintendent Rosemary Kraeger.

As we have seen recently with the Bilderberg gathering in Washington D.C., RFID is fast becoming a part of everyday living. We now have the technology to fulfill the prophecies concerning the Mark of Beast. It's not a question of if but when these things begin to come to pass. The fact that efforts are already being made to identify certain people groups, whether it's soldiers, prisoners, Alzheimer patients or school children, shows us just how far we have come. As we saw with the Asian Tsunami in December 2004, it would not take a great deal of persuasion to convince people to have a chip implanted in their right hand or forehead, in the event of some global catastrophe or crisis. Just one example. Imagine that food prices continue to spiral, as the Bible predicts they will (Revelation 6:6). The government starts rationing food, and in order to receive your daily allowance, you have to prove your identity. So they suggest everyone has a chip inserted in their right hand or forehead, so as to speed the process of identification and reduce fraud. Those that don't get the chip don't get the food. The Bible does say that no man should buy or sell save he have the Mark (Revelation 13:17). During this time there will be great disasters happening on earth, such as killer hail (Revelation 16:21), a meteor strike (Revelation 8:8), earthquakes (Revelation 16:18-19) and global war (Revelation 9:15-19). It will be a terrible time for those who dwell on earth. But mankind must reap what he has sown. The time of the end is drawing near. Jesus Christ is coming back. Are you ready to meet Him? Have your sins been forgiven? Jesus Christ died for you. He bore God's punishment for your sins when He died upon the cross. All who believe on Him for salvation shall have everlasting life, and shall not come into judgement, but have passed from death unto life (John 5:24). Repent of your sins and believe on Jesus Christ for salvation today.   

Source Natural News

Israel and Hamas are reported to have agreed a cease fire that is to begin Thursday morning and is hoped will last around six months. The announcement comes after weeks of negotiations between the two parties under the mediation of Egypt. Israel has agreed to ease the blockade of Gaza on Friday morning, and will reopen the crossings for all commercial goods the following week. Israel, Hamas, the Palestinian Authority and the European Union will then commence talks on the reopening of the Rafah border with Egypt. Negotiations on the release of Corporal Gilad Shalit are expected to resume within the coming days. The Syrian government has expressed its support for the truce between Israel and Hamas. Israel and Syria have just completed a second round of indirect talks through the mediation of Turkey, and are expected to enter a third round in July. Both sides are reported to be satisfied with the progress being made. On Sunday Israeli President Shimon Peres stated that if Syria was interested in peace, that they should move to direct talks. The leaders of the two nations are expected to attend the upcoming conference in Paris on July 13th, which aims to establish a Mediterranean Union comprising of the European Union and many Middle East states.

Quote: ""The Syrian president will be there, sitting next to, at the same table, as the Israeli (prime minister)," Kouchner told parliament. Israel and Syria on Monday wrapped up a second round of indirect talks in Turkey and agreed to hold more meetings in July. But Kouchner did not confirm reports that a meeting could be held in Paris between Assad and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on the sidelines of the July 13 summit. "We welcome the fact that the Syrians are talking to the Israelis. On that day, it will be possible for them to do that if they want to," he said.

Peace in the south, peace in the east, and now Israel is seeking peace on its northern front. Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev has proposed that Lebanon agree to hold "direct, bilateral" peace talks aimed at resolving "every issue of contention" between the two countries. But Lebanon has so far rejected these proposals. And then of course we have continued efforts by the international community to bring about the establishment of a Palestinian state before the end of the year. I made the comment last week, before the war with Iran heats up - if the war with Iran fulfills Ezekiel's prophecy, Israel first needs to be at peace with her enemies. Ezekiel 38:11 describes the state of Israel at the time of this invasion as being a "land of unwalled villages", and its occupations being "at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates". Today Israel is seeking peace with her enemies. And in a few short weeks we are expecting to see the formation of a Mediterranean Union, bringing Israel and the surrounding nations ever closer to that pact of Daniel 9:27. Could this be the year? Could this year see the beginning of Daniel's 70th week? I don't know about that, but there is no doubt we are living in profound days. Jesus Christ's return is near. Are you ready to meet Him? Have your sins been forgiven?

Matthew 25:5-6
While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

The Bridegroom cometh! "Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light", Ephesians 5:14. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31).

Source BBC, YNet News, YNet News, YNet News