Quote: "Mr Reaney, from Colwyn Bay, North Wales, hailed the ruling as a significant victory in equality for gay and lesbian Christians. He said: "I'm delighted that the Bishop of Hereford has lost this case. "It demonstrates to many lesbian and gay Christians working for God within the Church of England that they are entitled to fair and respectful treatment." A hearing has yet to be arranged to set his compensation. There is no upper limit on payouts.

In reality, it demonstrates the depth of depravity that this nation has fallen to, and in particular the spiritual condition of the "Church" in this country. Not only has the government legalized sin and is now enforcing its acceptance on those who would naturally repudiate such a lifestyle, but those claiming to know the Scriptures are prepared to "go to law" with their brother in order to have their sins sanctioned by the Church (1st Corinthians 6:1). Have we forgotten what the Lord said, "Be ye holy for I am holy", 1st Peter 1:16? And again, "let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity", 2nd Timothy 2:19. According to the Scriptures, every true believer in Christ is a priest unto God (1st Peter 2:9). Our bodies are to be presented as a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable to God (Romans 12:1). In the book of Revelation, the Church of Pergamos was upbraided by the Lord for turning a blind eye to those in its fellowship who held to the doctrine of Balaam. Balaam attempted to defeat the nation of Israel by corrupting it through idolatry and sexual sins. The Lord's warning to Pergamos applies just as much today as it did 2000 years ago, "Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth", Revelation 2:16. 

1st Peter 2:9-10 
But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past [were] not a people, but [are] now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Source Daily Mail

I found these two articles on the internet, published on the same day, and they really spoke to me about how much our world has turned its back on God to be so blinded to the truth of the Scriptures.

New research carried out by scientists at the Imperial College of London has revealed how the island of Great Britain was severed from continental Europe during a catastrophic flood. Scientists believe that the countries of England and France were once connected by a land bridge at the Dover straits. Some time in the distant past, a massive amount of water poured over this land bridge, dissolving the chalk and permanently separating Great Britain from the mainland. For the first time, sonar recordings have revealed deep gouges in the sea bed at the Dover straits, which could only have been created by a massive amount of water over a very short period of time. 

Quote: "The images detail deep grooves and streamlined features, the hallmarks of landforms that have been gouged by large bodies of fast-moving water. At its peak, it is believed that the megaflood could have lasted several months, discharging an estimated one million cubic metres of water per second. And from the way some features have been cut, it is likely there were at least two distinct phases to the flooding.

If they read the Bible, they would know exactly how long this megaflood lasted...

Genesis 7:24 
And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days (five months).

They talk about megafloods lasting months, and yet they deny the fact that a global flood ever took place. I find it a very sad thing indeed that scientists can spend millions of pounds on research, only to come to the same conclusions that were written in the Bible around 4000 years ago. In another news article, new research has proven that human race originated in Africa. A study on some 6000 human skulls from across the world has revealed that variations in their shapes and sizes decrease as distance from the African subcontinent increases. This shows that mankind originated in Africa, and migrated outwards.

Quote: "Manica and colleagues wrote in the journal Nature that variations in skull size and shape decreased the further a skull was away from Africa, just like variations in DNA. The decrease reflects the fact that, while the original African population was stable and varied, only a small number of people embarked on each stage of the multi-step migration out of Africa. This effectively created a series of "bottlenecks", which reduced diversity. The highest level of variation in skull types was seen in southeastern Africa, the generally accepted cradle of mankind.

And again, if they read the Bible they would know exactly where mankind originated from...

Genesis 8:4 
And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat (on the Turkish border).

The question the evolutionists must ask themselves is, if we have been evolving for millions of years, why is earth's population so low? If you plot a graph beginning with earth's present population of 6 billion souls, and work backwards in time using the census records of ancient civilizations, you will find you start running out of people around 3000 BC. Evolutionists must also ask the question, why did people bother to migrate out of the Middle East? And might different languages have something to do with these "bottlenecks"? And how did all the different languages evolve if we all lived in the same place a relatively short time ago? Once again, the Bible holds the answer to man's questions...

Genesis 11:6-8
And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.

The Bible states that just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man (Luke 17:26). The people scoffed at Noah when he warned them of God's coming judgement upon their sins. They didn't believe such a thing as a global flood could happen. Scientists are now proving - whether they know it or not - that such an event did occur just like the Bible states. The Scriptures also warn us that just as the previous civilization was destroyed by a flood, our civilization will be destroyed by fire (2nd Peter 3:7). Today mankind mocks the idea of a judgement, while possessing the capability of destroying this world many times over. Like in Noah's day, there is an ark of salvation - the Lord Jesus Christ. Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation today, and when the judgement comes, you'll be lifted high.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Source BBC, Reuters

Researchers from the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev are warning that the likelihood of a large earthquake in Israel is increasing, as the region nears the 100th year since the last major event. The three most destructive earthquakes to strike the region occurred in 1759, 1837 and 1927. Working on those statistics, researchers believe the next one could occur around the year 2011. Through analysing earthquake statistics in Europe, they also believe that around 17% of the houses in Jerusalem that were built around the time of the founding of the nation could be significantly damaged. 

Quote: ""The 80-year birthday of the last earthquake brings us into a new period called 'the range of statistical error,'" he said in an interview with the Jerusalem Post. "[From] what we know regarding the previous destructive earthquake, the time that another destructive earthquake will return, like what occurred in 1927, is about 100 years."

A panel of geologists also warned last year that the state of Israel is not prepared in that event that a killer earthquake should strike the region. Many of the recent earthquakes in Israel have had a seeming spiritual or prophetic significance. In October 2005, an earthquake struck the Jordan valley on the eve of the Jewish New Year - Rosh Hashanah. This event followed a lunar eclipse just the day before. Two moderate earthquakes also struck Israel the day following the announcement in Mecca that Fatah and Hamas had agreed to form a unity government. Earthquakes mentioned in the Scriptures have often occurred during prophetic events, such as the crucifixion (Matthew 27:54) and resurrection of Christ (Matthew 28:2). Earthquakes will continue to mark significant prophetic events, according to the book of Revelation. The largest earthquake the world has ever witnessed, which will literally shake earth out of its orbit (as was seen during the Asian Tsunami), will occur near the latter end of the tribulation period (Revelation 16:18-19, Isaiah 24:20). At the return of Christ to the Mount of Olives, an earthquake is also prophesied to split the mountain in two, providing a means of escape for the Jewish nation from the onslaught of the Antichrist (Zechariah 14:4-5). 

Concerning today's news, the Scriptures do prophesy that such an earthquake will occur, significantly damaging the city of Jerusalem during the tribulation period. This article predicts one in six houses will be damaged, while the book of Revelation states that one in ten will be destroyed. This is perhaps the only earthquake in the history of the world where the death toll has been recorded in advance of the actual event. Perhaps that is why those remaining alive in the city give glory to God, for they realize that just as the Lord prophesied this would occur, that the rest of the prophesies concerning Christ's return must shortly come to pass.

Revelation 11:13 
And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

Source WorldNetDaily

Tony Blair is due to travel to the Middle East tomorrow, on what will be his first visit to the region as Special Envoy for the Quartet (EU, US, UN, Russia). He has received strong backing in his new role from the United States, when it was announced that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would be aiding him in his dealings with the Palestinian Authority. Previously US diplomats had stated that Blair would not be involved in mediating a covenant between Israel and the Palestinians, and that this role would remain the sole domain of the Secretary of State. Javier Solana, the High Representative for the European Common, Foreign and Security Policy, had also objected to Tony Blair's new role, fearing it would detract from his own efforts in the region. Perhaps that is the reason why Solana will accompany Blair on his trip to the region this Wednesday.

Quote: "On Solana's trip to the region, he will hold talks with Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. On Thursday, he plans to travel to Portugal for a meeting of senior officials from the EU, United Nations, Russia and United States - the powers that make up the Quartet of would-be Middle East peacemakers. "We are going into a very critical and decisive phase there," said Portuguese Foreign Minister Luis Amado, whose country holds the EU's rotating presidency. Amado told a panel of the European Parliament that he hoped the Lisbon meeting would "give a new boost to the peace process."

Blair's mission to the Middle East will be officially launched in Lisbon on Thursday, following a meeting of the Quartet to discuss recent developments in the region - namely, the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, money transfers to the new Palestinian Authority government, the situation in the Gaza Strip and the election of Shimon Peres as President. Blair is intending to spend much of his time in the Middle East, and knowing Blair, I believe this may give a significant boost to the peace process in the region. 

Quote: "Blair said he would stay in the region for one week every month. He has appointed as his chief of staff Nick Banner, who worked with Sir Nigel Sheinwald, Blair's foreign policy adviser in Downing Street. He intends to add staff members from the USAID agency, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia. A suitable building for Blair's office in Jerusalem has not yet been found due to high real estate prices.

I thought the last quote was interesting. It reminds me of the passage which states that Jerusalem will become the base of the Antichrist during the tribulation period. 

Daniel 11:45
And he (Antichrist) shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.

Zechariah 8:3
Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.

Source International Herald Tribune, Haaretz

A second strong earthquake shook Japan on Monday just hours after an earlier tremor killed at least seven people, injured hundreds of others and sparked a fire and leak at a large nuclear power plant.