ISRAEL UPDATEApril 22, 2001 - Wheaton College is probably the leading evangelical college in the nation. It is known for its pursuit of excellence in scholarship and high standards for entrance and has produced the likes of men like Billy Graham.
Breaking a 70-year tradition, Wheaton College has removed their mascot of a lance-wielding crusader and is seeking a replacement.
In January of last year the student newspaper began this movement by stating the crusader image was one that portrayed an anti-Christian message of rape, pillage and murder to Jews and Muslims alike.
One student asked what type of image was imagined considering the Crusades communicated everything but love, gentleness, and sensitivity.
While many will maintain the Crusades, Pogroms and Holocaust were not performed by "true Christians", still we must realize this is the only Jesus some have ever seen.
Let us remember Jesus' words in Matt 7:22,23, "Many will say to me in that day, L-rd, L-rd, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
The move by Wheaton was bold and will be considered by many to be controversial, but it is a move in the right direction of portraying a proper image of Christianity.
April 22, 2001 - The Greek drachma, Europe's oldest currency, 2650 years old, surviving war and turmoil, has finally succumbed and the banks of Greece will now exchange the Euro dollar instead.
The drachma, believed to be first minted in 650 B.C., was widely used, valued at a handful of arrows and spread around by Alexander the Great's armies.
Revived in the 1830's after Greece's Independence from the Ottoman Turks, it was used in an attempt to revive the classical Greek Empire.
Greece was originally rejected from joining the European Union for failure to comply with the style of currency requirements.
The warm memories and pride of the former Greek Empire have been integrated into the EU and the Grecian economy has been revived.
Eleven nations have already implemented the Euro dollar and the Vatican has stated it will adopt the Euro as its official currency.
Truly we are now seeing the fruition of all the attempts for integrating, global positioning and the blending military, political and religious and financial powers formulating one system of the Beast.
Look up for your redemption draweth nigh!
To be continued…