At a recent conference by AIPAC, a congressional lobbying group for the support of Israel, a discussion arose over the apparent erosion of American support for Israel. Speeches have been made by our President and members of Congress to the contrary, but there have been actions taken by those same leaders that could cause a group such as AIPAC to perceive things in such a manner.
I see it myself, and I’m not a member of AIPAC. It is a sign of the times we are living in, and whether the softening of support for Israel is real or perceived, it will happen. Some will say it is because we need closer ties with Saudi Arabia – they have oil and Israel does not. Others will believe that if we stay out of the turmoil in the Middle East, we will make ourselves less of a target for Islamic terrorist attacks. Oddly, fifty years ago or so it would have been chalked up to anti-Semitism, but I do not believe that there can be a case made for that today with our modern ‘diversified’ society. I could be wrong.
This is not a political column and I’m not heading in that direction if you are wondering by this point. There are more than enough political columns out there, with rhetoric from every angle of the spectrum. Not just on the subject of the Middle East, but spirited discourse from/for any and every section of the globe.
Our ties will eventually be broken with Israel because the Bible tells us so. The Bible has a very clean track-record in the area of forecasting world events, for those who pay attention to what is recorded there. “And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.” That verse is recorded in Zechariah Chapter 12, and it would do us all good to read and mediate on what is written there – that time Zechariah wrote about is getting close to becoming a reality in our very own current day and age.
I was thinking about this the other day, and it gave me pause, wondering if there was anything else “I” could do. If it is set in stone that it is going to happen just that way, by all that I believe in, should I simply sit back and wait for it to happen? I decided that I could pray for the nation of Israel. Yeah, that would do it for me. I’d feel better about it, at least for a little while anyway. But a certain ‘still, small voice’ told my heart that there was something else that I could do.
God promised Abram in Genesis 12 that He would make of Abram a great nation. He did just that; changing Abram’s name to Abraham and blessing his descendents to the point that they are still the nation of Israel today. But God also made another promise in the third verse of that chapter and it is one that still applies to us today. “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” We (Gentiles) were blessed through Abraham by Jesus Christ (a Jew) redeeming us by paying the ultimate penalty for our sin on the cross. All the families of earth were blessed by this, and it is simply a matter of acceptance on our part to get that blessing into our own hearts and lives.
But God also promised us that if we choose to ‘bless’ Abraham’s seed, we would be blessed. If we choose to ‘curse’ Abraham’s seed, the polar opposite is true. Today I choose to bless the nation of Israel. A quick search on Google, and within seconds I had several hits on charities in Israel. Reading what I could (because you have to be careful today) I chose ‘American Friends of Magen David Adom’ which is, in essence, the Israeli version of our American ‘Red Cross’. I used my debit card and sent them a small donation, joined their mailing list, and browsed the web-site for examples of the work they perform. I was impressed – they spend millions each year helping the victims of terrorist acts that occur on an almost daily basis within their borders. I am going to play this one by ear, with a starting goal of making a monthly contribution. It will be small, due the current state of my household economics, but it will be constant. I have faith that God will use it for His people.
In so doing, I may have thrown down the gauntlet on God’s Word and the promise found within this verse. Yet still, it will be very hard in my eyes for God to bless me more than He has already done so.
To make your own contribution: http://www.afmda.org/
I Prefer You
From the BBC this morning, I read an article on the Argentine ant. The species has spread (with accidental human help) from Argentina to the four corners of the earth. The ants have been found on every continent except Antarctica, and on island-nations such as Japan. They just might be the most far-reaching species on earth with the exception of human beings.
The article did not go into a lot of details about such things as do they sting or bite humans, other than to say that they attack native plants and animals in their new environments once they have been established. I’d say that is a clue that they would appear to have a tendency to do so. My experience with ants revolves around the fire-ants native to my area, and they are no picnic to be around at all. (Slight pun intended!)
Argentine ants will not attack each other, even if they are from different colonies. This is quite unusual if you think about it. The report explained this fact by saying that they seem to ‘know’ each other when they meet. They touch their antennae together and possibly something genetic lets them know that they have met a member of their own kind. It’s as if they can recognize a friend no matter where on earth they may happen to find themselves.
That’s amazing for an ant. In fact, it is amazing for any animal once you've considered it. Unfortunately, the same cannot always be said for humans. We seem to find very little in common with other members of our species in other parts of the world. A chance encounter (and I’m speaking explicitly for myself) is apt to arouse suspicion and bring out the defensive nature that has been instilled inside each of us for thousands of years.
However, I do not feel that way when I meet another Christian. When I realize a person I may happen to meet is truly born again and loves the Lord, despite the circumstances of our encounter I know I have found a friend. And it matters not in areas of race or gender. Paul writes in Romans that we should, “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;” All Christians should live this way – we should be able to put aside our petty differences, culture, and even skin color because we share a common bond that is larger than all of those things. Paul goes as far as to say that we should prefer each other.
I’ve enjoyed writing this blog so far. I’ve enjoyed writing my thoughts here for others to read, and then listening to the comments and reading the emails from readers just like yourself. I’m hoping that you have continued to read because you see things posted here that you can identify with from your own life. In other words, I’m hoping that we do share a common bond. Feel free to comment if you haven’t yet done so already, or send me an email. I know you’re out there.
Let me know if something touches your heart. If I am getting 'off-base' - tell me about it. Let me know when I am getting too ‘preachy’. I like hearing from you – just don’t touch me with your antennae.
The article did not go into a lot of details about such things as do they sting or bite humans, other than to say that they attack native plants and animals in their new environments once they have been established. I’d say that is a clue that they would appear to have a tendency to do so. My experience with ants revolves around the fire-ants native to my area, and they are no picnic to be around at all. (Slight pun intended!)
Argentine ants will not attack each other, even if they are from different colonies. This is quite unusual if you think about it. The report explained this fact by saying that they seem to ‘know’ each other when they meet. They touch their antennae together and possibly something genetic lets them know that they have met a member of their own kind. It’s as if they can recognize a friend no matter where on earth they may happen to find themselves.
That’s amazing for an ant. In fact, it is amazing for any animal once you've considered it. Unfortunately, the same cannot always be said for humans. We seem to find very little in common with other members of our species in other parts of the world. A chance encounter (and I’m speaking explicitly for myself) is apt to arouse suspicion and bring out the defensive nature that has been instilled inside each of us for thousands of years.
However, I do not feel that way when I meet another Christian. When I realize a person I may happen to meet is truly born again and loves the Lord, despite the circumstances of our encounter I know I have found a friend. And it matters not in areas of race or gender. Paul writes in Romans that we should, “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;” All Christians should live this way – we should be able to put aside our petty differences, culture, and even skin color because we share a common bond that is larger than all of those things. Paul goes as far as to say that we should prefer each other.
I’ve enjoyed writing this blog so far. I’ve enjoyed writing my thoughts here for others to read, and then listening to the comments and reading the emails from readers just like yourself. I’m hoping that you have continued to read because you see things posted here that you can identify with from your own life. In other words, I’m hoping that we do share a common bond. Feel free to comment if you haven’t yet done so already, or send me an email. I know you’re out there.
Let me know if something touches your heart. If I am getting 'off-base' - tell me about it. Let me know when I am getting too ‘preachy’. I like hearing from you – just don’t touch me with your antennae.
Intemperate Thoughts?
A quick perusal of the news this morning offers little hope for the world we live in today. North Korea is threatening to ‘annihilate’ the U.S., California is bankrupt and the situation looks grim for economic recovery across the country, taxes are going to go up, and record high temperatures are rocking the South. Riots and protests are happening in Iran and are being violently cracked down upon. Swine flu may or may not make a deadly return in the fall. The jobless rate continues to rise.
A new Supreme Court justice is likely to be appointed that has had nine of her decisions she made as she served on a lower court overturned as ‘unconstitutional’. Nine! My guess is that she won’t have that problem once she makes the bench of the Supreme Court.
Up until a few weeks ago, I would listen to talk radio on the way home from work each day. As a result, I found myself becoming more and more despondent over the way things appear to be going in this once-great nation of ours. I’m back to my iPod now, or simply driving in silence. It’s easier that way. I arrive home in a much better mood.
I have to wonder if in fact we have entered the days of vengeance prophesied by Jesus in Luke chapter 21. He said those days would arrive in order “that all things which are written may be fulfilled”. It’s a scary thought when you ponder it for any amount of time, yet it is something that each Christian should be thinking about.
Jesus goes on to add: “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.” It sounds dramatically close to what I see on the news each and every night. My wife refuses to watch the news with me any longer. The general consensus seems to be that no one knows what is going to happen next. Will the economy recover? Will the war on terror ever end?
My personal quandary is to wonder if we are in fact no longer a Christian nation. Have we abandoned and blasphemed God so often and for so long that He is no longer going to bless the nation we live in? Have we replaced our worship of God with our worship of the Government, depending on our leaders to solve every problem from economic concerns to global warming?
That’s pessimistic, I know. It might also be construed as being just a tad bit on the cynical side as well. But it’s Wednesday and I can do that today.
Just about the time I find myself at the point where it looks as though there is no hope to be found, I’ll recall the rest of the chapter. Jesus said, “And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”
When I arrive at the traffic light on the north end of town, if as I am approaching it happens to turn from green to yellow - I have no doubt in my mind at all what is going to happen next. Because it is electro-mechanically designed to turn red after being yellow, it will do so. There is no way it can go back to being green again, without first turning red. The process signals, relays, and devices have been set in motion, and they will run their course. No amount of wishing, hoping, or pining either by me or by anyone else approaching that light can prevent it from happening.
In the world today, the signals are all apparently turning yellow. Jesus is coming back. It doesn’t matter if you don’t believe in Him. It will not matter if you aren’t ready for his return at that point. There is no way to stop it. Now is the accepted time, today is the perfect day, and tomorrow just may be simply too late.
I find myself looking up a lot these days…
A new Supreme Court justice is likely to be appointed that has had nine of her decisions she made as she served on a lower court overturned as ‘unconstitutional’. Nine! My guess is that she won’t have that problem once she makes the bench of the Supreme Court.
Up until a few weeks ago, I would listen to talk radio on the way home from work each day. As a result, I found myself becoming more and more despondent over the way things appear to be going in this once-great nation of ours. I’m back to my iPod now, or simply driving in silence. It’s easier that way. I arrive home in a much better mood.
I have to wonder if in fact we have entered the days of vengeance prophesied by Jesus in Luke chapter 21. He said those days would arrive in order “that all things which are written may be fulfilled”. It’s a scary thought when you ponder it for any amount of time, yet it is something that each Christian should be thinking about.
Jesus goes on to add: “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.” It sounds dramatically close to what I see on the news each and every night. My wife refuses to watch the news with me any longer. The general consensus seems to be that no one knows what is going to happen next. Will the economy recover? Will the war on terror ever end?
My personal quandary is to wonder if we are in fact no longer a Christian nation. Have we abandoned and blasphemed God so often and for so long that He is no longer going to bless the nation we live in? Have we replaced our worship of God with our worship of the Government, depending on our leaders to solve every problem from economic concerns to global warming?
That’s pessimistic, I know. It might also be construed as being just a tad bit on the cynical side as well. But it’s Wednesday and I can do that today.
Just about the time I find myself at the point where it looks as though there is no hope to be found, I’ll recall the rest of the chapter. Jesus said, “And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”
When I arrive at the traffic light on the north end of town, if as I am approaching it happens to turn from green to yellow - I have no doubt in my mind at all what is going to happen next. Because it is electro-mechanically designed to turn red after being yellow, it will do so. There is no way it can go back to being green again, without first turning red. The process signals, relays, and devices have been set in motion, and they will run their course. No amount of wishing, hoping, or pining either by me or by anyone else approaching that light can prevent it from happening.
In the world today, the signals are all apparently turning yellow. Jesus is coming back. It doesn’t matter if you don’t believe in Him. It will not matter if you aren’t ready for his return at that point. There is no way to stop it. Now is the accepted time, today is the perfect day, and tomorrow just may be simply too late.
I find myself looking up a lot these days…
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