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US Secretary of State John Kerry is working on a document spelling out America’s basic principles for a peace agreement that both sides – with reservations – are to agree to follow as a framework for continuing Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, Israeli officials said Monday.
The comments came as Kerry left the region after five days, and as Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu briefed his Likud faction on the progress of the talks.
Kerry is expected to return next week.
Netanyahu told the Likud MKs that there will be elements inside the American declaration of principles that Israel will not like, and there will be elements that the Palestinians will not like.
The so-called "polar vortex" of dense, frigid air that dropped temperatures in some parts of the country to near-record lows and grounded over 3,000 flights on Monday, is now spreading to southern and eastern parts of the country, keeping many schools and businesses shuttered.
The Northeast will be hit with cold on Tuesday, according to The Weather Channel, with single-digit highs expected in most parts of the region while temperatures will be in the teens in Boston, New York City and Philadelphia. Tuesday's high of 14 degrees in New York City will be more than 40 degrees less than Monday' high of 55 degrees.
The Midwest was hit the brunt of the cold on Monday, with temperatures plunging to 40 below zero -- the coldest in the nation -- in Brimson, Minn., as of Monday morning, according to the National Weather Service.
Nearly 3,200 flights -- one out of every 10 domestic departures -- were canceled Monday morning, following a weekend of travel disruption across the U.S. Airline officials said de-icing fluid was freezing, fuel was pumping sluggishly, and ramp workers were having difficulty loading and unloading luggage.
Americans in two dozen states from the Midwest to the Southeast and Northeast are shivering this week courtesy of a distorted polar vortex. The rush of cold air it's sending southward is the biggest visitor from the North Pole since Santa Claus. The gifts it brings, however, are chilling and generally unwelcome. Much of the United States has plunged into a deep freeze from record low temperatures.
CNN International senior meteorologist Brandon Miller answers a few pressing questions about this phenomenon.
What is a polar vortex? What distinguishes it?
The polar vortex, as it sounds, is circulation of strong, upper-level winds that normally surround the northern pole in a counterclockwise direction -- a polar low-pressure system. These winds tend to keep the bitter cold air locked in the Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It is not a single storm. On occasion, this vortex can become distorted and dip much farther south than you would normally find it, allowing cold air to spill southward.
-15 recorded at O'Hare at 7 a.m. breaks existing low set on this date in 1894 and 1988
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| Tuesday, Jan 07, 2014 01:46:30 AM EST Voices from the vortex: Polar temps have us asking, ‘Is this Antarctica?’ | Tuesday, Jan 07, 2014 01:13:22 AM EST Kerry: Saudi king backs Israeli- Palestinian peace push | Tuesday, Jan 07, 2014 01:07:19 AM EST Edward Snowden has more US-Israel secrets to expose, Glenn Greenwald says |
| Monday, Jan 06, 2014 01:47:28 AM EST Biblical Archaeology's Top Ten Discoveries of 2013 | Monday, Jan 06, 2014 01:21:22 AM EST Steinitz: Israel Rejects US Plans for the Jordan Valley | Sunday, Jan 05, 2014 03:21:23 AM EST 'If We Withdraw from the Jordan Valley, Hamas Will Take Over' |
| Saturday, Jan 04, 2014 03:03:50 PM EST Abbas said to reject Kerry call to recognize Israel as Jewish state | Saturday, Jan 04, 2014 12:48:48 AM EST At halftime in peace talks, US mulls moving the goal posts | Friday, Jan 03, 2014 01:15:14 AM EST Hezbollah Moving Long Range Missiles From Syria to Lebanon |
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White House News |
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| Tuesday, Jan 07, 2014 01:34:59 AM EST Mark Obama, Barack's Jewish Brother | Tuesday, Jan 07, 2014 01:30:40 AM EST Obama resubmits more than 80 nominees | Tuesday, Jan 07, 2014 01:14:22 AM EST ObamaCare enrollment figures still far short of administration's own goal |
| Tuesday, Jan 07, 2014 01:01:37 AM EST Obama’s Top Foreign Policy Successes Imperiled by Iraqi Violence | Monday, Jan 06, 2014 01:55:17 AM EST White House offers 'grand bargain' on tax cuts and infrastructure | Monday, Jan 06, 2014 12:57:26 AM EST Obama's deception on health care 'hurting the economy,' Romney says |
| Monday, Jan 06, 2014 12:52:35 AM EST Obama returns to Washington from Hawaii | Sunday, Jan 05, 2014 02:38:13 AM EST Obama's birthday gift to wife: time alone in Hawaii | Saturday, Jan 04, 2014 01:17:04 AM EST Administration Rebuts Nuns in Obamacare Case |
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Inspired by God
"The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees. He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness, in other pursuits than seeking God will make poor headway seeking Him the rest of the day. If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, He will be in the last place the remainder of the day." - E. M. Bounds
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| Friday, Aug 16, 2013 01:44:04 AM EDT January 7: Contentment - Streams in the Desert | Tuesday, Mar 05, 2013 02:57:42 AM EST January 7: Intimate With Jesus - Oswald Chambers | Tuesday, Mar 05, 2013 02:56:46 AM EST January 7: A Spiritual Pottery Lesson - Charles Stanley |
| Thursday, Mar 12, 2009 10:36:42 AM EDT A.W. Tozer's Daily Devotional | Thursday, Mar 12, 2009 10:35:45 AM EDT Charles Spurgeon's 'Morning and Evening' Daily Devotional | Thursday, Mar 12, 2009 10:34:26 AM EDT Daily Light 'Morning and Evening' Devotional - Jonathan Bagster |
| Friday, Aug 08, 2008 08:36:37 AM EDT Charles Stanley's Audio Messages | Sunday, Dec 09, 2007 08:35:44 AM EST McLean Bible's Internet Services - Pastor Lon Solomon: Services are "live" Sunday' at 9 am, 10:45 am, & 12:30 pm (Eastern-US), rebroadcast Monday at 2 pm (Eastern-US) | Wednesday, Jan 31, 2007 04:14:46 PM EST Pastor Lon Solomon, McLean Bible Church, McLean, Virginia - Sermons by Date, Series and Podcasts |
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--RAPTURE READY NEWS PERSPECTIVE
7 Jan 14
07 Jan 14
New Quinnipiac study stops gun-grabbers in their tracks
A study by Mark Gius, an economist at Quinnipiac University, shows states with restrictive concealed weapons laws had higher gun-related murder rates, and that assault weapons bans had no real impact on murder rates at the state level. “These results suggest that restrictive concealed weapons laws may cause an increase in gun-related murders at the state level,” Gius wrote in his summary.
FBI quietly drops 'law enforcement' as its primary mission
The FBI's creeping advance into the world of counterterrorism is nothing new. But quietly and without notice, the agency has finally decided to make it official in one of its organizational fact sheets. Instead of declaring "law enforcement" as its "primary function," as it has for years, the FBI fact sheet now lists "national security" as its chief mission.
Only a miracle could help Sharon, hospital director says
“Despite the stabilizing of his heart, we didn’t see stabilization in other systems: the kidneys, liver and lungs,” said Prof. Zeev Rotstein, director of the Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer near Tel Aviv, during a daily update on the condition of the ailing Sharon.
Officials reject concerns over 500 percent radiation increase on California beach
The video, “Fukushima radiation hits San Francisco,” has been viewed nearly half-a-million times since being uploaded to YouTube on Christmas Eve, and its contents have caused concern among residents who fear that nuclear waste from the March 2011 disaster in Japan may be arriving on their side of the Pacific Ocean.
Former White House Official Admitted Obama Not Good at Governing
CNN reporter Peter Hamby recounted a recent conversation with the Democratic official and quoted him as saying, "He's really good at campaigning. Maybe not governing."
HUGE SUNSPOT TARGETS EARTH
One of the biggest sunspots in years is crossing the center of the solar disk, putting Earth in the way of potential eruptions.
‘It’s Not a Hate Thing’: Boy Scouts Face Monumental Loss After Choice to Allow Openly-Gay Members
While those in support of the new-found policy are frustrated that gay leaders are still not permitted to take part, others who oppose the amendment believe that the group is abandoning its Christian heritage. Among the denominations that may cut off support for the Scouts is the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). Church leaders, according to CNN, are planning to urge the religious order’s 45,000 congregations and 16 million members to officially cut ties with the Boy Scouts.
Satanic Group Unveils Monument Planned For Oklahoma City Capitol — Here’s the Rendering
The New York-based Satanic Temple released an artist’s rendering of the monument Monday. A spokesman says the group has formally submitted its application to a panel that oversees the Capitol grounds. The statue features a horned demon sitting in a pentagram-adorned throne with children next to it.
Asia’s Worst Nightmare: A China-Japan War
Let’s not understate the likelihood of war in East Asia or kid ourselves that the United States can remain aloof should China and Japan enter the lists. It’s tough for Westerners to fathom the nature of the competition or the passions it stokes. From an intellectual standpoint, we have little trouble comprehending the disputes pitting the Asian rivals against each other.
Japan Earthquake Today 2014 Strikes Yonakuni
Officials tell news that a 5.1 magnitude Yonakuni quake began just after 2:49 am local time. The quake however had substantial depth. USGS indicates to news that the Japan earthquake started one hundred forty-two miles below sea level. As a result the quake was not felt across a large area.
‘Polar Vortex’ pushes subzero temperatures into much of U.S. Midwest
The polar air will next invade the East and South on Tuesday, bringing with it the prospect of more records falling. Highs in the single digits were expected in Georgia and Alabama, and wind chill warnings stretched as far south as Florida, with forecasts calling for minus 10 in Atlanta and minus 12 in Baltimore.
Indonesian Volcano Erupts 77 Times in 24 Hours
Mount Sinabung has displaced nearly 20,000 people from their homes since sporadic eruptions began in September. Experts have placed it under the highest alert status among the 127 active volcanoes in Indonesia, which is home to more active volcanoes than any other country and has some of the world's most lethal volcanic activity.
US woman known as Jihad Jane sentenced to 10 years in plot
An American-born woman who calls herself Jihad Jane was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Monday for a failed al-Qaeda-linked plot to kill a Swedish artist who had depicted the Prophet Mohammad's head on a dog.
Magnitude 5.1 quake off Alaska Peninsula
The Alaska Earthquake Information Center says the quake reported at 9:07 p.m. Alaska time was felt in Sand Point and Perryville. There were no immediate reports of damage.
Giant Sunspot AR 1944 Keeps on Growing
Giant Sunspot AR 1944 continues to grow, it is now almost dead centre of the Sun (compare the images above taken on the 7th (today) and the 5th). I could still easily see it this afternoon with just eclipse viewing glasses despite the thin haze of cloud.
Israeli Arabs: We don't want to be part of Palestinian state
Residents of predominantly Arab 'Triangle' see Lieberman land swap plan as unrealistic, say most would move to stay in Israel: 'The population won't agree to give up their citizenship'
Group unveils Satan statue design for Oklahoma
A satanic group unveiled designs Monday for a 7-foot-tall statue of Satan it wants to put at the Oklahoma state Capitol, where a Ten Commandments monument was placed in 2012. The New York-based Satanic Temple formally submitted its application...including an artist's rendering that depicts Satan as Baphomet, a goat-headed figure with horns, wings and a long beard that's often used as a symbol of the occult.
Iraq violence: US speeds up supply of military equipment
The US says it is speeding up the supply of military equipment to Iraq to help its government fight militant groups in western Anbar province. The White House said additional surveillance drones would be delivered within weeks and more Hellfire missiles sent in the next few months. Fighting in Anbar has led to some of the heaviest clashes in Iraq for years.
Russia's first WTO trade dispute targets EU duties
Russia has taken aim at the EU, filing its first trade dispute to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in protest against anti-dumping duties imposed by Brussels. In a statement on Monday (6 January), the Swiss-based WTO, which arbitrates on international trade, said that Moscow was seeking consultations with the EU over levies on Russian steel products and ammonium nitrate, which is mainly used in fertilisers.
US failed over Syria: Saudi Prince
President Barack Obama "made mistakes" and the United States failed in its dealing with the Syrian conflict, an influential member of the Saudi Arabian royal family, told CNBC.
Libya's lurch toward Shariah sends chill through Christian community
Libya's recent edict that its coming constitution will be based on Shariah law has sent a chill through the North African nation's small Christian community. Libya's Coptic Christians, who number about 300,000, or 5 percent of the population, were allowed to practice their faith under dictator Muammar Qaddafi. But since the strongman was ousted from power, and ultimately killed, Muslim fundamentalists have increasingly filled the power void. Last month, the national assembly voted in favor of making Koranic law, or Shariah, the basis of all legislative decisions, meaning Islam will shape all future banking, criminal and financial cases.
Hundreds of Turkish police officers dismissed
Turkey has removed 350 police officers from their posts in the capital Ankara, following a corruption probe targeting people close to the government. Officials, mostly from outside the city, are to replace them. Hundreds of police have been dismissed or reassigned across the country since last month's corruption investigation. Three cabinet ministers resigned after their sons were detained in the raids.
Iraq violence: US speeds up supply of military equipment
The US says it is speeding up the supply of military equipment to Iraq to help its government fight militant groups in western Anbar province. The White House said additional surveillance drones would be delivered within weeks and more Hellfire missiles sent in the next few months.
Kerry: Saudi king backs Israeli-Palestinian peace push
As U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's latest visit to the region concludes, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu again highlights Palestinian incitement against Israel • Kerry says Saudi King Abdullah offered "enthusiastic support" for U.S. diplomatic effort.
Ariel Sharon, Modern Warrior
The Warrior is about to go to his fathers. If press reports are accurate, 85-year-old Israeli legend Ariel Sharon is near death. In a coma for almost eight years, “Arik” is slipping from life. Not wanting to falsely anticipate his demise (we still remember the early Titanic headlines: “All Saved!”), I do want to offer a tribute to the titanic personality.
New CNN Poll Finds Americans' Support For Legal Weed Is Soaring
A new CNN poll has found that 55% of Americans surveyed believe that pot should be legal — a sharp increase from the past decades. The number of Americans who supported pot in 1987 was just 16%, according to CNN. It has steadily been increasing since then and was up to 43% two years ago.
RAPTURE READY Nearing midnight PERSPECTIVE
Jan 6, 2013
Trouble Brewing in the Canary Islands
The Canary Islands are a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 60 miles west of the border between Morocco and Western Sahara. There are 7 main islands in the chain with tall volcanoes and steep canyons. The Canary Islands have long been a major tourist destination with over 12 million visitors per year.
Geological properties that make the Canary Islands popular with tourists also make them some of the most dangerous islands on the planet. Because these islands are made out of brittle basaltic lava and subject to collapse, they have the potential to generate very large landslides. Geologists have found evidence of at least 14 large landslides, which have occurred on the banks of the Canary Islands. Two of the islands are particularly prone to this type of event.
El Hierro is the smallest and most volcanically active island of the Canary Islands. It is where the most recent landslide occurred—the El Golfo. It involved the collapse of the northern flank of the island. The landslide formed the El Golfo valley and created a debris avalanche with a volume of 111 cubic miles.
La Palma doesn’t see as many earthquakes as El Hierro, but it has a feature that warrants watching. Following a volcanic eruption in 1949 nearly half of the island’s southern flank, moved westward by several feet. It now has a crack that runs 2.5 miles in the volcanic basalt. This sword of Damocles is waiting for the next seismic event to send it crashing into the sea.
Energy released by such a large-volume landslide would create a mega-tsunami. Within minutes the coast of Africa would be hit by a deluge of water over 330 feet high. The city of Casablanca, Morocco would be wiped off the map, and almost the entire population of Western Sahara would be swallowed up by the Atlantic Ocean.
and Portugal would see wave heights reaching 120 feet. After four hours it would reach Britain sending water up the Thames River and flooding London with 20 feet of water. The low lying countries of the Netherlands and Belgium would see vast tracks of land swallowed up by the seismic waves.
The tsunami would lose much of its energy as it crossed the Atlantic ocean, but it would still generate a tsunami 80 feet high as it hit the U.S. coast. Only the tallest and sturdiest buildings in cities like New York, Washington and Boston would offer protection from the surge of water. To give you an idea of the power that the people on the American coast would have to deal with, during a previous mega-tsunami, boulders the size of houses were ripped from the shore and carried several hundred feet inland.
South America would also be devastated. The northern shore of Brazil sticks out directly facing the Canary Islands, and it would experience wave heights of 140 feet.
There is no historic disaster to compare to a Canary Island tsunami. The most deadly tsunami was the one that struck the coast of Indonesia in 2004, killing 240,000 people. A repeat of El Golfo would be 30 times bigger, resulting in a death toll of tens of millions.
Any one sounding the alarm bell over the chance of a mega tsunami needs to contend with the fact these events take place over large time scales—but recent events make the warning necessary. In the past few weeks, there have been a string of earthquakes around the island of El Hierro. On December 27th, El Hierro saw its largest earthquake ever—a 5.4 magnitude trembler that struck off the coast at a depth of about ten miles. In the week that followed, over 500 earthquakes rattled the island.
There has been little coverage of the earthquake activity by the mainstream media. I’m sure it’s because the consequences are so horrible that ignorance is bliss. For someone living in Florida, which has an elevation of 14 feet above sea level, there is not much a southern resident of that state could do if they knew an 80 foot wall of water was headed their way at 500 mph.
There is a positive side to the fact the world faces mega tsunamis and other disasters of equal intensity. Jesus said He would come back to save his church from what will be the darkest hour for mankind. The tremors in El Hierro may be one more warning sign to: Get Ready.
“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. 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” (Luke 21:8-11, 25-28).
--Todd
Trouble Brewing in the Canary Islands
Global Warming Guffaws
In thinking on former Vice President Al Gore’s travels in his carbon footprint-spreading private jet while he preaches the globalist gospel that has at its center "global warming," it is impossible not to enjoy a good guffaw at his and the climate-change Charlies as the temperatures invariably fall, as does freezing precipitation wherever and whenever they hold their meetings.
I’m sorry to invoke schadenfreude here, but when one writes on topics as serious as ours usually are in these commentaries, one must take one’s laughs when one can--especially when they are handed to one on a silver platter…well…a white platter, perhaps is more to the point. Such a time of enjoyment over the misfortune of a group of Mr. Gore’s fellow ideological travelers presented itself in recent days.
A shipload of "researchers" has made its way into the summertime of the Antarctic. Strangely, mainstream news sources as of this writing have not explained the purpose or mission of these mateys as they neared their destination. I suppose it is cynical to hazard a guess as to why the mainstream media hasn’t reported the purpose of the mission, but the reason for the laxity of forthcoming journalistic honesty becomes obvious as the global warming hunters became landlocked–well—ice-locked, to be exact.
It seems that, like Mr. Gore, his ideological kinsmen–and kinswomen—don’t have a lot of luck in finding the elusive global warming they seek.
Could it be a curse cast by Mother Earth for their attempting to become too familiar with her intimate weather cycle doings? Mr. Gore certainly seems to have stirred some sort of irate behavior by the goddess he and his fellow environmental elitists so doggedly revere. Or, could it just be that global warming is a phony-baloney pursuit to extract from the rest of us confiscatory carbon emissions taxes to fund the one-world order they seek to build and rule over?
Hmmm...ya think?
At any rate, the following excerpted story is a hoot, in my estimation. You might have heard about it a number of times, but it is simply too delicious to not repeat here.
Somewhere far, far to the south where it is summer, a group of global warming scientists are trapped in the Antarctic ice. If you missed the irony of that situation, it is because much of the mainstream media has glossed over that rather inconvenient bit of hilarity. As an example here is an Associated Press story that avoids mentioning the real mission of the scientists aboard the icebound Russian ship:
The Snow Dragon icebreaker came within 7 miles (11 kilometers) of the Russian ship MV Akademik Shokalskiy, which has been stuck since Christmas Eve, but had to retreat after the ice became too thick, said expedition spokesman Alvin Stone. The Akademik Shokalskiy, which has been on a research expedition to Antarctica, got stuck Tuesday after a blizzard's whipping winds pushed the sea ice around the ship, freezing it in place. The ship wasn't in danger of sinking, and there are weeks' worth of supplies for the 74 scientists, tourists and crew on board, but the vessel cannot move… The scientific team on board the research ship — which left New Zealand on Nov. 28 — had been recreating Australian explorer Douglas Mawson's century-old voyage to Antarctica when it became trapped…
Um, there is a bit more to the expedition than merely following in the footsteps of a century-old voyage. But what that mission really is, AP won't say. If AP is vague about the mission's purpose, Reuters provides even less information… The expedition is being led by Chris Turney, “climate scientist”, who has “set up a carbon refining company called Carbonscape which has developed technology to fix carbon from the atmosphere and make a host of green bi-products, helping reduce greenhouse gas levels.” The purpose of the expedition is “to discover and communicate the environmental changes taking place in the south.” It seems they found out what the “environmental changes taking place in the south are.” ("MSM Glosses Over Irony of Global Warming Scientists Trapped in Antarctic Ice," NewsBusters, 12/30/13)
Ah, so now we see the mainstream media's reluctance to flat out state why the scientists are in the Antarctic. Anything to avoid an inconvenient (but accurate) headline like this:
GLOBAL WARMING SCIENTISTS TRAPPED IN ANTARCTIC ICE
They are reported to have plenty of heat, food, and lots of snow from which to make water, and the ship isn't in any danger of being squashed, apparently. Plus, a Russian icebreaker, which is also stuck as of this writing, and yet another icebreaker are on the way to free the global warming research vessel from the fifteen-foot-thick ice pack. In an update on Friday, January 3, I see the global warmists have been rescued by several carbon emission-gushing helicopters and icebreakers (yet another of one which also got stuck in the growing ice). The global warming "scientists" seem happily on their way to less hostile environs. So no harm done with the schadenfreude.
-- Terry
Prophecy UPDATE PERSPECTIVE
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1/6/14
IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
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Gloom in Kerry's party over widening Israeli-Palestinian gaps - Jordan rejects Palestinian security on its border -http://www.debka.com/article/23575/Gloom-in-Kerry's-party-over-widening-Israeli-Palestinian-gaps-Jordan-rejects-Palestinian-security-on-its-border
US Secretary of State John Kerry returns Sunday night, Jan. 5 for another shuttle between Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas after taking time-out for dropping in on Amman and Riyadh. debkafile reports that Kerry has ordered his team to shelve the proposed framework accord he presented to Netanyahu in 12 hours of talks and eight with Abbas Friday and Saturday. He concluded that the gaps between them on the core issues of the dispute were getting wider instead of narrower.
The Palestinians reject any Israeli security presence on the West Bank. However, in Amman, Secretary Kerry found Jordan's King Abdullah just as adamantly opposed to any Palestinian security presence on their common border along the Jordan Valley, or their participation in future security arrangements for the West Bank.
The monarch told Kerry in no uncertain terms that he doesn't trust Palestinian security and intelligence organs. According to our sources, the Jordanian ruler said he found totally unacceptable the Palestinian plan for defending their future borders, which Palestinian intelligence Chief Gen. Nidal Abu Dohan presented last week in Amman.
The Secretary proceeded from Jordan to Saudi Arabia later Sunday in search of some lead for energizing his Middle East peace effort. According to our sources, he planned to ask Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah for a public gesture, such as a joint economic enterprise, for luring Netanyahu into accepting a greater measure of his proposed framework. However, it is doubtful whether he found the 92-year old monarch and his advisers in any mood for attending to Israel and the Palestinians, after the Obama administration had offered Iraq's Shiite prime minister advanced weapons for fighting - not just Al Qaeda but also the Sunni Arab tribes of western Iraq.
John Kerry Sunday night faced five major difficulties:
1. The Palestinians insist on Jerusalem being registered in any agreement as the capital of their future state. The Prime Minister is flat against this.
2. Mahmoud Abbas is totally opposed to recognizing Israel as the Jewish State. His last conversation with the Secretary in Ramallah Saturday morning is described as "very tough." Kerry informed him that Netanyahu's demand for Israel's recognition as the Jewish state had been adopted as official American policy. When he heard this, the Palestinian leader dug his heels in still deeper against relenting on this point.
3. Abbas turned aside the critical refugee question by telling the US secretary that the decision was not up to him and would in any case not be binding on a single Palestinian refugee.
4. The clause in the US framework relating to the Jordan Valley border is opposed by Israel, the Palestinians and the Jordanians.
5. Neither has agreement been reached on the sum total of land the Palestinians will receive or Israel will cede.
The Palestinian leader accused Israel of establishing a new settlement bloc stretching from northern Jerusalem to Binyamin and forming a barrier between Ramallah and Jerusalem.
The prime minister for his part asked Kerry to stop interfering in Israeli domestic politics by organizing a faction opposed to government strategy in the negotiations with the Palestinians. Netanyahu said: "I am holding negotiations with you and the Palestinians, not with Israelis."
The US Secretary promised that contacts with Israeli politicians would be handled solely by the US embassy and Ambassador Dan Shapiro. Other channels would be discontinued.
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The presentation of the Palestinian Authority's argument is really pitiful - Barry Rubin - http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Columnists/The-Region-The-presentation-of-the-Palestinian-Authoritys-argument-is-really-pitiful-337189
The situation of the Palestinians is due to decisions made by Palestinian rulers, negotiators and terrorists.
Take, for example, the December 25, 2013, New York Times op-ed by Ali Jarbawi, "The Coming Intifada."
"These days, life appears to be going along as normal for Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. Appearances can be deceptive, however.
Prior to the 1987 intifada, too, things appeared to be normal - until they exploded, much to everyone's surprise. But no one should be surprised if a new intifada erupts in the next few months. Many experts, even those within the Israeli security apparatus, like the former Mossad chief, Meir Dagan, are predicting it."
Note that this is supposed to be the victimization argument. Thus, even if Palestinians refused the UN Partition Plan (1947) as well as Camp David (2000) and don't even pay their electric bills, they are nonetheless eternal victims; their problem does not have anything to do with their actions.
Actually, ex-Mossad chief Meir Dagan did not predict an intifada. He said it was possible that an intifada could occur. In fact, the Mossad report said that it was quite possible that an intifada would not occur. Dagan was thus misquoted, and an intifada is not definite.
"We Palestinians are living through the worst situation in years. And, despite surface appearances of normal, mundane, routine everyday life under occupation, four significant factors have begun to interact that may disrupt the seemingly stable status quo," wrote Jarbawi.
Indeed, it is certain that the conditions of the Palestinians have not improved over time - despite having received billions of dollars in aid, much of which was stolen or wasted.
And if they truly are in the worst situation in 50 years, who is to blame? The situation of the Palestinians is due to decisions made by Palestinian rulers, negotiators and terrorists.
"The first, and most potent [factor], is the collapse of any hope that the occupation will ever end and Palestinians will attain their freedom and independence. This hope had allowed Palestinians to endure the daily injustices of occupation in the expectation of a better future. It is this same hope that led them to support negotiations with Israel and the idea of a two-state solution."
Again, this is an extremely selective view of the situation over the past half-century. For example, "The Palestinians' strategic mistake was to think that conceding 78 percent of the land of historical Palestine in 1993 would be enough." Note the subtlety here, as the author is in fact hinting that the Palestinians should have demanded a one-state solution.
The peace negotiations (1993-2000) were based on the premise that there would be a two-state solution. "It didn't occur to them that Israel wanted to split this remaining land with them, leaving them with - in the best of cases - a state of leftovers. And the price that is being demanded for this state is so exorbitant that the Palestinian Authority cannot sell it, nor can the Palestinians accept it."
In fact, the "exorbitant" price for the Palestinians consisted of the recognition of a Jewish state in exchange for the recognition of an Arab state, the cessation of terrorist attacks on Israel, and other similar conditions. Yet in the previous month alone there were at least five murderous attacks on Israelis, a bomb on a bus within Israel, a border attack against Israel from Gaza, and the - especially creative - effort of a member of the PA security forces who had requested to be treated for an eye injury in Israel, intending to use that humanitarian gesture as an opportunity to commit a terror attack on an Israeli hospital.
Every day, there are verbal attacks on Israel as well. In other words, Israel is only offered peace as a propaganda measure.
"The promised Palestinian state will be nothing but a shadow entity completely ruled by Israel," Jarbawi continues. Remember that if the Gaza Strip is being included in the 22% allegedly offered to Palestinians, Gaza is not controlled by the PA . Therefore the PA has no authority to be negotiating about Gaza and Hamas is not ready to accept Israel under any conditions.
Meanwhile, another op-ed, "Israel's Jim Crow Treatment of Palestinians Continues" by Ahmed Tibi in The Hill - a publication that is widely read by Congressional staff - claims that in the negotiations on a two-state solution Israel is subjecting Palestinians to "'Jim Crow' treatment." In other words, Tibi's claim is that the problem is not a conflict between two national groups, but rather a systematic racist one, in which Palestinians are always the victim.
Note that since 1994, Palestinians have had self-government and have voted to determine who would rule in the West Bank and Gaza. After two decades of Palestinian self-rule, including its own armed forces and economy, and after having received billions of dollars in aid, Tibi is arguing that the Palestinians should never be held responsible for ruling themselves.
In a recent poll, two-thirds of Jewish Israelis agreed that they would hear the Palestinian narrative in school. Can you imagine the opposite? Of course not. Some years ago, I actually lectured at a Palestinian university and apparently my affiliation was omitted from the syllabus.
Despite 50 years of cross-border terrorist attacks against Israel, missiles fired against Israel, attempts of boycotts against Israel, and failure to pay Israel for providing electricity to the Palestinian territories, The New York Times article claims, "The Authority's financial insolvency is creating more problems for Palestinians in the Occupied Territories, especially the young." If a PA government that has existed for two decades wants a situation in which stability is impossible, how can the virtual state of war be blamed on Israelis? Note that when Israel withdrew from the Gaza settlements in 2005, the equipment that was left behind was either stolen or broken by Palestinians. And who started the rocket wars? For 50 years, Palestinian attacks and victims have been bragged about.
The basic construction of the argument is this: We fought and attacked Israelis and yet throughout the years, only the Israelis were responsible for our suffering. How can the PA make peace with Israel? How credible can it be? After two decades of self-rule, Palestinian public figures can say that Israelis don't want peace and that Jews subject Palestinian to Jim Crow treatment, yet Israelis and Jews say nothing of the kind and yet are condemned as horrible oppressors and racists.
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Israel Matters: A One-State Solution - Jim Fletcher -http://www.raptureready.com/rap15.html
Much has been made of course of the existence of Jewish communities in the biblical heartland of Israel. Some call this area the West Bank (a term coined years ago by Jordan's King Hussein) and some call it Judea-Samaria.
All call it complicated.
But is it?
Amid the chaos that has followed the clumsy Oslo Peace Process, the world's ostensible "most brilliant minds" have attempted to solve the Rubik's Cube of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They can't do it, can never do it, yet they keep forcing the template onto the international stage.
My personal view is that this form of insanity is encouraged by spiritual forces most of us are incapable of grasping. There must be reasons for smart people bashing their heads against a steel and cement wall infinitely thick...for 20+ years.
The elephant-in-the-room is the intransigence of the Palestinians. The leadership has always been corrupt and intent on murdering Jews, and this in turn has formed an overall barbaric culture. That isn't talked about in polite company, though, and since political correctness is all the rage the world over, this situation isn't likely to change. It has always been easier for the cowards in Western diplomatic circles to blame Israel first, middle, and last.
Yet listen to a man who actually lives there, and has seen the whole Jewish "settlement" enterprise from the beginning. Pinchas Wallerstein, whose parents emigrated from Poland in the 1930s, lives at Ofra, and he favors a one-state solution, a Jewish state, from the Jordan to the sea. In other words, a view that is hateful to most of the international community.
Wallerstein was recently interviewed by The Jerusalem Report (a quick aside, The Report is published by the Jerusalem Post, and I highly recommend you consider subscribing; I do), and the conversation is fascinating.
He favors a "one-state" solution, with Israel continuing as the Jewish state. All sorts of frightening demographic numbers have been thrown about for two decades, claiming that the Palestinians will one day out-number the Israelis. But as with most things, there are opposing data, which suggest otherwise.
And now, with Netanyahu appearing to approve new construction in Judea and Samaria, the Palestinians and their international community friends are enraged. There is renewed talk of even more American pressure on Jerusalem. The boss, Obama, directs his hirelings like John Kerry and Martin Indyk, to carry his displeasure to the Israelis. There will be the inevitable calls for a halt to Jewish building and communities in this tiny patch of land that is the obsession of the global politics.
The fact is, that despite the international displeasure/hatred shown Israel for settling its biblical heartland...they are there. It is the Jewish state. This was foretold in the Bible.
The status quo will eventually be upended. It seems crystal-clear to me that events and players are being moved into place for a supernatural conclusion to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. How pitiful then will the efforts of certain men and women be-those who have sought to divide the land.
Pinchas Wallerstein is one of about 400,000 Jews now living in the biblical heartland. What an amazing, amazing front-row seat they have!
The biblical view has always been of a one-state solution. So it shall be.
The Highways and Byways - By Tim Cameron -http://www.raptureready.com/soap/cameron35.html
Walking along Interstate 44, his face weathered by wind and time, Harold turned and held up his thumb, his faith low and his pessimism high as he observed the annoyed looks and scowls.
You wouldn't look at me that way if you knew what I did for you, he thought to himself. Car after car passed Harold. He kept walking ahead but his thoughts were bound to the past. Years of surviving enemy jungles, hot humid nights spent watching and wondering if he would ever make it home alive-had taken their toll-leaving Harold hardened, scarred and bitter. Failed marriages, rejected and abandoned by his kids, and the loss of jobs had left Harold feeling defeated and disrespected.
"No respect," he said aloud.
They wouldn't treat me this way if they knew what I did for them, for this country. Finally making it to an old truck stop along the interstate, Harold made his way through the open door of the busy gathering place. His long graying hair ratted, his hands filthy, his clothes tattered. He sensed the stares.
"Bum, loser, deadbeat..." just a few of the names he heard hurled at him. He was certain others who weren't lashing out were having the same thoughts, though.
Sitting down at a booth, Harold lit up a cigarette. A friendly man approached him.
"Sir, my name's Jack. What can I get for you?" the young man asked.
"How about a million dollars and a cup of coffee," Harold cracked.
"Well, if I had a million dollars, I wouldn't be working here, but I'll definitely get you that coffee," Jack said with a smile.
Harold, taken aback by the man's pleasant tone and warm nature, found it in himself to smile as well. He quickly became aware of his surroundings. Nervously and skeptically, Harold looked around the room assuming the scorn of others. Running his hands through his hair and then rubbing his eyes, he felt defeated and worn out. But Jack interrupted Harold's thoughts of despair.
"Here's that coffee and if you don't mind, sir, I'd like to buy you a special meal," the young man said.
"Nah, that's not necessary," Harold spoke with pride rising up.
"Well, listen, I don't have a million dollars, but this restaurant's mine and I reserve the right to 'treat' whomever I want. You're a first time guest in my restaurant, and first time guests get to eat free!"
Harold looked around sheepishly as if he were part of some sort of joke. Quickly realizing it wasn't a joke, he reluctantly agreed with a sheepish nod and said, "That's mighty kind of you. You're right. I am a first time guest. So tell me, what's good?"
Jack smiled, "Tell you what, I'll bring you a menu and whatever looks good to you, I'll make sure it's cooked just the way you like it."
Harold exhaled. "Well, this is different," he thought to himself.
Having never felt welcomed anywhere before, he now sat at the table of a genuine restaurant owner, almost feeling like royalty.
Who am I kidding, this is just someone who thinks I'm a charity case, Harold thought, as his pessimistic side reared its ugly head. It's the least the guy should do, especially if he knew all that I've done for him, Harold said to himself.
Jack, walking back could see the hard countenance on Harold's face and had to choke back a tear. "Lord, I know you brought this one in, please move through me for your glory in Jesus' name," he prayed.
"Well here you go, take a look at whatever suits your fancy and I'll be glad to get it for you. Oh, and I didn't catch your name earlier."
"Uh, oh, um, thanks, Harold...or Sergeant Harold Anderson if you will," Harold replied.
"You don't say?" Jack stated and continued, "Well, Sergeant Anderson, it's my honor to have you here. Please, order whatever you want."
It had been a long time since Harold could order up like this. Feeling ashamed and unworthy, he wrestled to ask for all that his stomach begged.
"I'll have your 'special,'" Harold said with thankfulness in his voice. "On the sign up there it says, two eggs, bacon and toast - $4.99."
Off Jack went but minutes later he and two ladies came out from the kitchen rolling a tray. On the tray were eggs, bacon. In addition pancakes, biscuits and gravy, oranges, grapes and much more.
"What in the world? What is all this?" Harold asked.
"It's our Champion's Breakfast-only rolled out to our very special guests," Jack replied.
Harold's eyes surveyed it all. Because of his pride, part of him wanted to bark at the young restaurant owner, I'm no charity case! But there was something deep down inside that wanted to know: Why? Why me? Why now? Harold thought.
The reality was that Harold was starving. He gratefully began to devour the meal. (For the first time in a long time he began to feel full and it felt so good.) As Harold was finishing off his last bite, a young lady walked up to clear his table.
"May I?" as she removed the dishes and his glass.
"Sure thing...all done," Harold replied.
With a smile on her face she asked, "What did you think?"
"It was the best meal I've had in a long time," he said with a smile.
"Well great, Jack will sure be glad to hear you say that," she said.
"Jack sure seems like a nice guy," Harold said, as he took in a sigh from feeling overstuffed.
"Yeah, he is. I have to tell you, before this job and meeting Jack, I'd never stepped a foot into a church. Thankfully, the Lord knew that and he put Jack in my path."
The young lady continued with her story: "Meth, broke, a single mother and hopeless was all I felt for many years, but one night I stumbled into this place and boom...JESUS! Jack is all about JESUS! And He's for real."
"Jack?" Harold asked, puzzled.
The lady grinned, "The JESUS that Jack preaches...HE'S FOR REAL. And if you knew what He had done for you, you'd want to know him too."
Then just as fast as the young helper had made her way to clean-up, she was gone.
Harold sat in his booth full from his meal. Suddenly a feeling of confused emotions overwhelmed him. But why me, why now? Harold thought to himself.
Approaching toward the table from the kitchen area was Jack, walking with a big old grin on his face, his smile almost taking Harold aback.
"I hear you liked the food?" he said with a smile.
"Yeah, it was delicious. I really appreciate it." Harold quickly replied.
Expecting that it was now "sermon time," Harold suddenly put up a wall.
Jack looking at Harold, asked, "May I?"
With Harold nodding his approval, Jack took a seat and sighed, "Thanks, it's nice to take a break, you know?"
Jack sat there and took a great interest in hearing Harold's story. He asked where he was from, where he had been and where he was headed.
"Not real sure where I'm headed," Harold answered, "Any place I'm welcome, I reckon."
Jack feeling a lump in his throat and swallowing back the tears, offered a solution: "Tell you what Harold, I have an old farm house near the edge of town. It used to belong to my parents. It has plenty of room and you're welcome to stay there as long as you like. Maybe help with some chores, put out hay for the cattle, that type of thing. You can stay there until you've had your fill. How does that sound?"
Harold, upon hearing those words, sat fidgeting in his seat. This kind of generosity wasn't normal. Harold looked puzzled, "Can I ask you something? Are you a weirdo or what? Why on earth would you allow a total stranger into your world?"
Jack, had to chuckle. "No, I'm not a weirdo, Harold. Besides, you're wrong about something. It's not my world. What I have belongs to my Lord. He's told me to share it with whoever comes and needs it. You wouldn't be just my guest, but an invited guest of God Almighty."
"You don't say?" Harold caught himself sarcastically responding, "I'm sorry, forgive me, but I'm not too much into the God stuff."
"That is quite alright Harold because He is totally about, you. When you hear all He's done for you, you will understand," Jack answered.
Jack helped Harold with his bag and drove him out to the farm. He helped him settle into his new living quarters.
"Shower is over here...towels are over there. Help yourself to whatever you like. I'll be back to check on you in the morning," Jack said.
Harold stood stunned and silent as he watched Jack drive off into the night.
Why? Why so kind? Why so kind to me? he kept thinking.
Jack, driving off into the distance, could barely see the road for the tears that were pouring out of him. His heart breaking, as God the Father allowed Jack to share what he too, was feeling - hurt and desire to see this precious lost and lonely soul find what his heart longed for. Jack prayed, "Father, please, let your WILL be done. Please touch Harold's life in a way that only you can." As Harold prayed those words, deep inside him he heard these words, "I AM and I WILL. The heart you have for Harold is not of you, but of ME. I am moving in you and will continue to do so. I love Harold with an everlasting love. Trust and obey me and you will see my glory."
Realizing he was hearing directly from his Heavenly Father, Jack pulled his car aside to the edge of road. He got out and lifted his hands toward the starlit night and began to worship.
Praising God, he whispered, "Thank You Jesus...Thank You for moving in me, Lord. Thank you for your heart that NONE should perish. Thank you for your hope, mercy and grace. It's YOUR goodness that leads us to turn to you. Thank you for who you are."
Meanwhile a few miles back at the old farmhouse, Harold carefully studied his new surroundings. He slowly paced the house, staring at old family pictures. He came to one picture in particular and froze in his tracks. He quickly lifted it up off the end table nestled close to the couch. It was a picture of Jack dressed in military gear. The frame surrounding it had the outstretched arms of Jesus and right beside the picture was an old book titled: Prayer Journal.
Harold looking around sheepishly, but with great curiosity, opened and read what it said. It was written by Jack's mother. Its words were more than profound...
Jack's First Day at War
Dear Lord,
With great angst I write this prayer. Heavenly Father, I realize you know all too well what it means to send a son into harm's way. I thank you so much for the fact that you sent your ONLY Son to die for me and my family. Lord, I fear I fall short. As I watched my son board the plane to fly into harm's way, I did NOT want to let him go. But I realize the duty and the call. I know your Word says you send angels to keep charge over us. I BEG YOU NOW Lord, that each and every moment that my son is gone that you, oh Lord would send angels to keep charge over him. Keep guard over him and bring him home safe and sound, in Jesus' name. Amen.
Harold scanned through the pages...
Day 20, day 70, day 300, day 365. Thank you Lord for keeping him safe as I continue to stand in the gap and pray that you would continue guard over his life, spirit, soul, and body...
Jack's Second Year at War
THANK YOU JESUS, JACK'S COMING HOME - ALIVE! They told me had the bullet been any closer, he'd be dead. But by your grace he's alive! I know by whom that miracle was wrought Lord and all I can say is: THANK YOU JESUS!
Harold studied the journal. Must be nice, he thought, wish someone had been praying for me like that. Choking back tears, profound loneliness invaded Harold's thoughts.
RING. RING. RING...
There in the kitchen, the telephone was ringing. Harold paused and decided to answer, "Hello?"
"Hey Harold, so glad you picked up," Jack's voice said on the other line. "I forgot to tell you about the shower. The cold knob is really the hot and the hot knob is really the cold."
Harold interrupted with laughter, "Is that right?"
Jack continued, "Well anyway, didn't want you to scald yourself."
Harold promptly responded, "Well no, I wouldn't want that either, thanks. And by the way, thanks again, this is mighty kind of you."
"Well you are very welcome to stay as long as you need and hey, get a good night's rest will you?" Jack said with a laugh.
"Will do," replied Harold.
Harold hung up the phone and again had to ask, Why me?
The next morning, Harold sat up in bed and stretched big with a yawn. Clean-shaven and feeling so refreshed from sleeping in such a comfortable bed, he jumped up and ran to take another shower.
Wow, two showers in two days. This is the life, he thought, I could get used to this.
But no sooner had those thoughts come, Harold's pessimistic side kicked in: Just who am I kidding? This ain't real and this ain't for me.
Depression began to settle in once again. Walking out of the shower and over to his old shaggy and tattered clothes, Harold realized he would have to put on his same old clothes. He somberly climbed back into bed wanting to hide from the world.
Suddenly there was a knock at the door, "Harold, you awake?"
It was Jack. He was holding a cup of coffee in his hand and carrying a duffel bag. Harold hurried to open the door-quickly putting on the robe he had found by his bedside the night before. Jack stood smiling ear to ear startling Harold back to his new reality.
"Good morning! Did you sleep well? Hope the bed was comfortable. Hey, I brought you some coffee and HERE...hope these, fit. I have some clothes that don't quite fit me. I think they might fit you better."
Harold was so stunned that he couldn't say a word, as Jack continued, "I think I got this last year for Christmas. But hey - they must think I'm skinnier than I am," he said laughing.
Harold still in silence and shock opened the duffel bag to see new clothes - something he hadn't worn, since God only knows when.
"Well, uh yeah, these should work just fine. If you don't mind I'll step in there and put 'em on."
Jack with a smile on his face said, "Oh yes, by all means please do."
Harold stepped into the bathroom and into the new clothes. Taking a look in the mirror, Harold felt a tear on his weathered cheek.
How long, he tried to remember, how long since anyone had given him the time of day or taken any kind of notice?
Feeling humbled and unworthy but all the while so thankful, he stepped out of the bathroom, sheepishly.
"What can I say but thanks? I clean up pretty good, huh?"
Jack responded, "Well that's just a start. I've got more clothes that don't fit, but it appears they might be just your size. Say, you must be starving and I need to get to the restaurant. How does another Champion's Breakfast sound?"
If you keep feeding me like that, these clothes might not be my size for too long," Harold said with a chuckle, "but sure, yeah. How can I say no to that?"
Getting into Jack's vehicle, Harold noticed right away the Bible sitting in the tray. A wooden cross hung from the rearview mirror and a sticky note that read, "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, to give you a hope and a future."
Jack got into the truck and closed the door.
"You sure must be a religious fellow Jack," Harold said shaking his head. "I've never taken to religion - didn't reckon it could do me much good."
Jack paused and looked at Harold, "You're right Harold. It wouldn't do you any good."
Jack tuned the key and started the engine.
Harold's eyes grew wide, "Why not me?" he asked.
"Well, you see, religion does NOBODY any good," Jack responded.
"But you obviously put it into practice. You have a Bible and you do good deeds," Harold replied.
Jack turned to Harold and with great compassion said, "It's NOT RELIGION Harold, its JESUS. Knowing Him is what makes me want to do good things and it's Him whom I seek; to know Him, to actually get to know Him."
Harold could hear the passion in Jack's voice as he continued, "Look out there Harold what do you see? You see the morning sun, the dew, the grass, the trees, and the birds. Do you hear them? The one who made all that - the very one who woke you up this morning and gave you another day, desires that you and I would seek to KNOW HIM. Isn't that amazing? And Harold, you will want to KNOW HIM, when you realize all that He's done for YOU."
Seeing that Harold was uncomfortable with the conversation, Jack said, "We can talk more Harold, but let's get going, breakfast is calling."
Jack put the truck in drive and started down the road. Harold looked out and around him as he and Jack drove toward the restaurant. Jack's words reverberated in his mind: "The very one who woke you up this morning and gave you another day...desires that you and I would seek to know Him."
This is really awesome, Harold thought to himself as he bit into the sausage.
The biscuits and gravy were delicious. Eggs and bacon cooked to perfection, just as they were the day before. Diving in full bore, Harold ate until his could hold no more.
Once he finished, he sat looking around the restaurant. Over in a corner, he saw Jack and his crew huddled in a circle. They were all holding hands and their heads were bowed. Harold's curiosity caused him to turn an ear in their direction.
He leaned over and tried to silence the other background noises as he heard, "Heavenly Father, we ask that each and every person that steps foot into this place today would sense your presence and know that this place is different. We pray Lord that this would be a place of refuge. As we have prayed so many times before, we are praying believing that this truly is a 'table in the wilderness' in Jesus' name, AMEN."
The circle broke. The cook and waitresses scattered to resume their daily duties.
Heading toward Harold, Jack asked, "Well? How's it, tasting today?
Harold nodded his head in approval, "Great! It tastes great!"
Harold sat in the booth, his stomach full and his heart warming. He watched silently as he noticed one of the waitresses take a hearty breakfast to what appeared to be a single mom and her three young kids.
Straining to hear her words, the waitress spoke, "This breakfast is compliments of the owner. He has said that you are his very special guests of the day."
Harold could see the emotion in the mother's face, "Thank you, thank you," she was saying to the waitress.
Jack with his usual smile, walked up alongside the waitress, "Ma'am, just want you to know...the King of all kings has instructed us to take good care of you today. Is there anything else we can do for you?"
The mother began to sob, "I had just prayed, God if you are real, please show me."
Jack kneeled down to her side and motioned for a couple of other waitresses to come over. "Ma'am, if you don't mind, I'd like to take this time and not only tell you that, yes, He is real, but I'd also sure like to introduce you to Him. I want to share with you all He has done for you."
Harold sat in the distance, watching and listening as Jack told this single young mother..."Before you were even formed in your mother's womb...God Himself had spoken of you. You are His handiwork and you have been fearfully and wonderfully made. For years the Lord has given you day after day as a gift...hoping you would ask, 'Who made me? And who put me here?' There have been many who claimed to be the one who did, but there was only ONE in particular who came to this earth, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed many miracles, and that Man was Jesus. He announced that, 'You (meaning all of mankind) will put me to death BUT in three days' time I will be alive again...and whoever calls upon ME shall NEVER DIE...for I am the resurrection and the life and they that believe upon me, though they were dead, YET shall they LIVE.'"
Jack continued on with his plea and then asked permission to help invite Jesus into her life. The mother nodded with approval. Jack and the waitresses formed another circle with the young mother. As Jack was starting to close his eyes to begin to pray, he felt a tap on his shoulder. It was Harold's hand.
"Jack, can I invite Jesus into my life, too?" he asked with a broken voice.
Jack could not contain his emotion and began to cry as he answered Harold's question, "MOST CERTAINLY."
Feeling the presence of God in his restaurant that day, Jack decided to be bold and invite all of his customers to join in prayer.
"Please, if I may - this is a most glorious day, a day like no other. You are all invited to join us as we call upon the Savior - your Creator - Jesus Christ. If you too, want to know for certain that when your time ends on this earth that you can and will have eternal life in heaven, please come join this circle."
Jack, through his obedience witnessed the glory of God as he was allowed to see God's Spirit move in him and through him to touch his world and those around him.
That night, back at the old farmhouse, Harold got on his knees and began to thank Jesus for all that He had done for him and for bringing him to this town.
Across town, that same single mother of three tucked in her young children. "Mommy, since we all asked Jesus into our hearts that means we are going to be a family forever?" the youngest child asked.
"Yes Honey, that's what the nice man said. Remember, he said whoever believes in Jesus shall be saved forever. So yes, we are going to be a family forever," she replied.
"That's good mommy, I want you to be my mommy forever..."
No sooner had she pulled the covers around her little girl, A LOUD TRUMPET SOUNDED followed by a mighty shout: "COME UP HERE!"
Jack, Harold, the single mom and her children joined millions of believers worldwide as they ascended to their glorious destiny. Jack found himself face down before the Lord crying his heart out. The glorious presence of God encompassed them all. Jesus came, lifted up Jack and brought him to the Father.
"Here he is Father..."
Jesus said, "WELL DONE MY CHILD." This was heard all throughout heaven.
"I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was homeless and you gave me a bed."
Jack broke down once again and began to cry, "When Lord, when did I give you a drink. When did I feed you? As he stood there shaking and trembling in wonderment, he felt a tap on his shoulder.
It was Harold. "Thank you Jack for sharing Jesus with me so I can be here with our awesome Lord in this incredible place and saved for eternity," he said.
He gave Jack a huge hug and they both wept with great joy.
They had made it...They were both ready for that glorious day!
FOOTNOTE
This is the first of a series of short stories from my, Sounding the Alarm Preludes to the Rapture collection. Please feel free to download the stories as formatted and use them as witnessing material.
Tim Cameron
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A Covenant With Death - A Bible Study by Jack Kelley -http://gracethrufaith.com/end-times-prophecy/a-covenant-with-death/
Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scoffers who rule this people in Jerusalem. You boast, "We have entered into a covenant with death, with the grave we have made an agreement. When an overwhelming scourge sweeps by, it cannot touch us, for we have made a lie our refuge and falsehood our hiding place."
So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed.
I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line; hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie, and water will overflow your hiding place. Your covenant with death will be annulled; your agreement with the grave will not stand. When the overwhelming scourge sweeps by, you will be beaten down by it. (Isaiah 28:14-18)
I first wrote about this passage from Isaiah in 2005. At the time Israel was in the process of giving up the Gaza Strip in the hopes of moving closer to peace with the Palestinians. Of course it didn't work and since then things have only gotten worse for the Jewish people. Every effort they've made to accommodate world opinion has left them weakened, while their enemies have become stronger.
As I read the ongoing accounts of Israel's current situation, Isaiah's words still come to mind. Some believe that in his prophecies Isaiah was sending the Southern Kingdom three messages simultaneously. The first had to do with the near term and warned them of a coming judgment at the hands of the Babylonians. It would be similar to the one the Northern Kingdom was about to receive from the Assyrians. The second message concerned the times surrounding the first coming of the Messiah, and the third described events at the End of the Age. Scholars who hold this view claim that in some places Isaiah refers to all three time frames at once. If so Isaiah 28:14-18 is one of them.
What's He Talking About?
The meaning of the passage is clear. By making treaties with countries committed to their demise, the Israelites were fooling themselves into believing that they'd be exempt from those countries' plans for expansion and conquest. In truth Israel's policies of appeasement would generate agreements based on wishful thinking that would be quickly broken whenever the enemy found it convenient to do so. It proved to be true with the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Syrians of Greek times, the Romans, and lately the "Palestinians." This policy will finally culminate in the ultimate self-deception. Having rejected the One who came in His Father's name they will accept the one who comes in his own name (John 5:43). The coming treaty with the anti-Christ will just about bring them to ruin.
The Lord had Isaiah warn His people that there was only one man in the world they could trust, and that was their Messiah. Only He would deal justly and righteously with them. All others, even their supposed friends, would lie to suit their own purposes, which would always run contrary to Israel's.
Those of us with Biblical background and prophetic understanding watch closely as Israel's current leaders are being pressured from all sides to once again evict their own people from God-given land, explaining that by doing so they're achieving peace with their neighbors. (In Israel, the West Bank is known by the Biblical names of Judea and Samaria, both of which were part of the original Promised Land.)
As you read this, US Secretary of State John Kerry is in Israel discussing the latest US "framework" for peace. It calls for Israel to hand over 92.8% of the "West Bank" to the Palestinians. Eighty percent of all Jewish settlers on the West Bank would be confined to four major settlement blocs, which Israel would annex. The remaining 20% (about 80,000 people) will have to either be absorbed into these settlements or be moved to other locations inside Israel.
Jerusalem would be divided to create a capitol city for "Palestine" but sovereignty over the heart of the Holy City, with its unique and historic concentration of Jewish, Christian and Muslim shrines, would pass to an international commission comprised of the US, Israel, the Palestinians, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
Personally, I don't think Bible prophecy favors a successful conclusion to this current round of negotiations, at least not in any long term sense, because I think the goal is to leave Israel permanently weakened to the point where they can never again be a threat to Middle East Peace. Our leaders never seem to learn that a weakened Israel has always made war more likely, not less so.
Who You Gonna Call?
But there is an ultimate fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy coming, and when it does it will signal the commencement of Daniel's 70th Week. Before their eyes are finally opened to the fact that Jesus is and has always been their Messiah, Israel will pin its hopes for protection on a man made covenant one final time. A Muslim coalition led by Iran and armed by Russia will take advantage of Israel's careless assumption that peace has come and will mount a mammoth sneak attack, intending to destroy the Jewish nation once and for all.
Ezekiel 38-39 tells us this coalition will be soundly defeated by God Himself. Following that battle, the one we know as the anti-Christ will rise to enforce a seven-year treaty that includes provisions for building a temple in Israel (Daniel 9:27). Israel will realize that the One who put the attacking forces to flight was God Himself, and will renew their Old Covenant, dormant for so long, for its final seven years. Old Covenant worship requires a temple and for reasons of his own the anti-Christ will help them get one.
In the middle of the seven years their supposed benefactor will pull the ultimate betrayal, proclaiming himself to be their God (2 Thes. 2:4). Then he will set about to destroy every last one of them. He'll do this from the very temple he helped them build, and then he'll bring the military resources of every nation on Earth to bear against them. Betrayed by friends and beset by enemies, they'll have no one to turn to and with Jerusalem surrounded it will look like the end is upon them at last. In desperation they'll call upon the Lord once again.
"Come, let us return to the LORD," they'll cry. "He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence."
"Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth." (Hosea 6:1-3)
And their Messiah Jesus, Who has been waiting for 2000 years for them to say this, will respond. "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. (Zech 12:10)
On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity. (Zech 13:1)
Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights in the day of battle. On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. (Zech.14:3-4)
The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name. (Zech 14:9) The One Who is faithful and true will have fulfilled His every commitment to them, and as King of the whole Earth He'll have the power to make it stick.
If you're like me, you grieve over the current plight of God's people. Know that the Lord grieves as well. Know also that even as conditions steadily worsen for them, their victory and ours is is coming steadily closer. For the One Who watches over Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps, and is ever alert for any sign that His people are ready to return to Him.
In the meantime Psalm 122:6-7 instructs us on the proper response to the events of our time. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels." If you listen closely, you can almost hear the footsteps of the Messiah.
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