"Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing?" - Psalm 2 V1

"A man's steps are of the Lord; How then can a man understand his own way?" - Proverbs 20 V24

God is in control! He created everything and He owns everything. He knows everything and He watches every step we take. Christ said "Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered." Matthew 10 V29, 30.It is better to consult the Lord before we execute the plans of our heart.

The United Methodist Church has decided to withdraw its decision to divest from Caterpillar, which manufactures earth-moving equipment that has been used by Israel to demolish the homes of Palestinian suicide bombers. The denomination was planning to divest its $5 million worth of shares from the firm as a way of indirectly punishing Israel for its 'oppression' of the Palestinian people. But the United Methodists have decided not to divest from Caterpillar following an announcement from the company that they do not condone the illegal or immoral use of any of their equipment and expect their customers to use their products in ways that respect human rights and international humanitarian law. A statement released by the United Methodist Church reveals just how much contempt they have for the Jewish state...

Quote: ""Caterpillar equipment, fitted with armored plating, is used by Israeli Defense Forces to destroy Palestinian homes, orchards and olive groves in the Occupied Territories, and to clear Palestinian land for illegal Israeli settlements, segregated roads and the separation barrier," UMC noted in a statement. The denomination has about $5 million of its estimated $17 billion pension portfolio invested in Caterpillar stock, according to a press release on the UMC website.

Not one word of condemnation for Palestinian terrorism... The only homes Israel has destroyed are those belonging to Palestinian suicide bombers, and those being used for the transportation of weapons across the Gaza border. This present Israeli government has actually refused to demolish hundreds of illegal Palestinian settlements in Judea and Samaria. And as for segregated roads and the separation barrier, these have prevented an untold number of terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians. In their statement, it seems that the United Methodist Church is trying to portray Israel as a racist, apartheid state, when in reality it is the Palestinian Authority and Hamas that are the ones who are racist and apartheid. The only Jew left in the Gaza Strip is being held hostage by an illegal terrorist organization, and you can be assured that no Jews will be permitted to enter a future Palestinian state. Yet Arabs living in Israel still have more freedoms than those living in any other Islamic state in the Middle East.

The Bible warns us that in the last days, men would possess a form of godliness but would deny the power of it, which is the Gospel of Jesus Christ (2nd Timothy 2:3-5). In other words, in the last days there will be people who will have a certain morality about them, but their morality will not be Christ-centred. And today, many of these liberal denominations are replacing the Bible's absolute moral authority with the Christ-less morality of the world. You don't need to look very far to see how the world's standards of morality have crept into our churches. Just look at some of the recent statements made by the leaders of the Episcopalian Church USA. They, along with several other mainstream denominations, have publicly praised a man who has called for the Jewish state to be wiped off the map. They have denied the Lord that bought them, in stating that Jesus Christ is not the only way of salvation (John 14:6). They have said that the Lord created homosexuality, making God the author of sin. And they have denied the Father and the Son, in praying to God in the feminine form (1st John 2:22). This is the world's standard of morality. As you can see, compared to God's standard, it is utterly depraved. When the Church starts adhering the world's standard of morality, you know what the outcome must be...

2nd Peter 2:1-3
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.  

There is no doubt we are now living in the age of Laodicea, of which church the Lord had not one single word of commendation for (Revelation 3:14-22). But let us not be followers of men, but let us be followers of Jesus Christ, that we be not ashamed at His coming.

Philippians 3:17-20
Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

Source Christian Post

Former US President Jimmy Carter met with Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal in Syria yesterday, in hope of negotiating a cease fire between Israel and the terrorist organization. And while the Hamas leadership was talking of peace with Carter, they were giving the green light for their operatives to launch the most ambitious attack on Israeli forces since their withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005. The attack came on the eve of one of Israel's holiest days, the Feast of Passover, and was designed to cause maximum carnage. Under the cover of heavy fog, two armoured vehicles approached the Kerem Shalom crossing at the southern end of the Gaza Strip. One was laden with explosives, and detonated close to a group of Israeli soldiers who were manning the crossing. The second vehicle did not detonate. After the initial attack, Hamas terrorists in a third vehicle began to approach the crossing, opening fire on the soldiers while another cell provided cover with rocket and mortar fire. The occupants of this vehicle were subsequently killed in a shootout with Israeli forces. Then a fourth armoured vehicle began to approach the crossing, and this was taken out by an Israeli airstrike before it could reach the border.

Quote: "Defense officials have said the attack was probably the result of months of planning, and its perpetrators probably aimed to kill as many soldiers as possible as well as abduct others. The soldiers' readiness and quick response prevented a much deadlier attack on the eve of Pessah, they said. "This is an escalation that could be dangerous if we do not stop it," a high-ranking official told Channel 10 News after the attack. "In this case, the incident ended with a relatively low number of casualties, compared to what [Hamas] had planned, but it should raise a red flag over our operations in the area." He added that the IDF "must investigate how the gunmen managed to gather so much intelligence [in preparation for the attack] without the IDF knowing about it." 

Ironically, Carter is in Syria trying to negotiate an end to the Israeli 'blockade' of Gaza, while Palestinian terrorists are attacking the very crossings that are keeping their people alive. This incident reminds me of when another US President visited my own country. Bill Clinton was President at the time, and he came to Northern Ireland to try and encourage progress in the peace process. While he was shaking Gerry Adams' hand for the cameras, the IRA was planning the Canary Wharf bombing, which occurred just a short time later and officially ended the Republican ceasefire. It was sickening. Even though we have a measure of peace now, there is still no justice in this country. The Bible states that those who rule over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God (2nd Samuel 23:3). Real peace only comes through righteousness and justice. Righteousness, when the law is upheld by the people. And justice, when those who break the law are held to account. We are law all breakers, for we have all broken God's commandments. The Bible has declared that "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God", Romans 3:23. As a result we must face God's justice. God would not be a righteous God if He let our sins go unpunished. You would not like to see a criminal be set free after being found guilty of committing a terrible crime. Yet you want to be set free after having committed sins against God? Our sins demand that we must die. The Bible says "the wages of sin is death", Romans 6:23. But Jesus Christ, who is righteous and was the only Person that ever lived and kept God's law to perfection, was punished by God for sin. But not for His own, for He had none. He was punished for our sin. And through His sacrifice on the cross, all who believe on Him for the forgiveness of sins can receive His righteousness, and be set free from the penalty of sin. Trust in Jesus Christ for salvation today. He took your place, and died for you.

Matthew 27:21-26
The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.     

Source  Jerusalem Post

The year 2008 will mark the sixtieth anniversary of the rebirth of the state of Israel. And there is much to celebrate, despite the mainstream media's demonization of the Jewish state. Israel's very existence is a miracle. Never before in the history of the world has an ancient people been regathered to their original homeland after nearly 20 centuries of separation. And never before has an ancient tongue been successfully revived and used as a native language. Not only have we witnessed these amazing miracles take place, but the Bible foretold that these things would happen, over 2500 years ago. And since May 14th, 1948, Israel has fought and won over half a dozen wars with the surrounding Arab nations, against incredible odds. Sixty years on, the Jewish state is still a nation of contrasts. Despite their ancient history and despite these modern miracles, Israel is still a very secular nation. Until I went to Israel I didn't really understand how someone could be a secular Jew. Our Israeli tour guide was secular, and as he explained, it is very difficult for them to understand how they could be related to the Orthodox Jews. At the other end of the scale you have the ultra-Orthodox, who reject Zionism completely, and refuse to recognize the modern state of Israel. As external pressures mount on Israel to divide the land and their Holy City, Israeli President Shimon Peres is intending to call for the reconciliation of both secular and Orthodox Jews in his public address on independence day, in an attempt to unite the country under his leadership. Peres believes that the physical revival of Israel had to come first, and hopes that a spiritual revival amongst the people will soon follow.

Quote: "Peres told the rabbis that he would address "first secular people, before complaining about the ultra-Orthodox and others. I'll say: Let's examine ourselves before preaching to others. After all, we're the majority. This is no way to behave, with disrespect, with lack of restraint. I hope this voice will be heard in all the communities. This issue must become part of the public discourse." "Our fathers, who revived the Jewish settlement in Israel, acted in two ways. First physical national revival, for we were a nation without land. Then spiritual revival - reviving Jewish culture and heritage, which I see as no less important than the physical revival," Peres said. The conversation was reported by Yossi Elitov. Peres said he hoped the second part of the plan - the spiritual revival - would begin soon. "Let's return to our roots," he said.

The Bible does say that national revival would come to the Jewish people before they would be spiritually revived (Hosea 6:2, Ezekiel 36:24-27). In the mountains of Jerusalem stands a monument which is dedicated to the memory of those who lost their lives in all Israel's wars. It is called the Scrolls of Fire. On the outside of the scrolls are depicted the many sufferings of the Jewish people, ranging from the Babylonian captivity to the Nazi Holocaust. On the inside of the scrolls are two verses from the prophecy of Ezekiel, written in both Hebrew and English... 

Ezekiel 37:12,14
Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel... And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken [it], and performed [it], saith the LORD.

Today the Jewish people have been physically revived as a nation, but nationally speaking there is still no breath in them. The Lord has not yet poured out His Spirit upon all flesh (Joel 2:28). The nation is still blinded as to the identity of their Messiah, whether that is by religion or by secularism. While I was in Israel I couldn't help but think what it would take before the Jewish people would turn to the Saviour. We are given a brief insight in Scripture into what will befall the nation during the tribulation period... Their expulsion from east Jerusalem (Zechariah 12:2, Revelation 11:2), the defilement of their Temple (Mark 13:14), the Har-Megiddon war (Revelation 16:16). Only when they have nowhere else to turn will they cry out, "Blessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord", Luke 13:35, and mean it of the One they once rejected. But Jesus Christ will come and will deliver them, just as He delivered us when we called upon Him for salvation. Have you called upon Jesus Christ for salvation? What will it take before you will turn to the True and Living God? Trust in Him for salvation today.

Zechariah 12:10
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for [his] only [son], and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for [his] firstborn.

Source Haaretz

"Who can say, "I have made my heart clean, I am pure of my sin"?  " - Proverbs 20 V9

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" - Jeremiah17 V9

No matter how much one tries, all efforts to make oneself pure is pointless. Christ is the only way and only through Christ shall we be represented sinless before the Father. The heart is deceitful and wicked, let us trust Christ in leading us to heaven and not our works.