ISRAEEL UPDATEMay 23, 2004 – The past several weeks of America's war in Iraq has brought home the brutal reality of what fighting against terrorists is really all about.
America feels the attitude of people that carry a mentality of mutilation of corpses, and dragging the bodies through the streets… as people of all ages cheer, dance and manifest their disdain of American greed. This is just what we saw in Iran after the aborted rescue attempt of American hostages.
Yet how many Americans seeing this insanity still criticize Israel - as it holds onto survival by a thread - fighting this same mentality.
America, hit by the trauma of 9-11, and now living between alternating levels of terror alerts, has but a small taste of what Israel has lived with for many, many years. That tiny sliver of a nation has never known a time free from terrorism.
Our military is learning firsthand what the Israeli Defense Forces have known for decades. . . There are no elegant victories, nor does any real satisfaction come from being able to declare a true victory.
In the next few months, as American forces withdraw from Iraq, they will feel the same sense of frustration that Israel did withdrawing from Lebanon.
Since terrorism does not fight with any rules - they make use of both children and civilians as combatants and victims, while masterminding the propaganda. The war on terror is a long and frustrating experience, and very expensive in lives and resources.
America is suffering just like Israel, showing us the need to wake up and realize who the enemy really is. Let us unite in the war against terrorism, instead of criticizing Israel.
May 23, 2004 - As Noah labored, building the Ark for more than a century, he no doubt felt lonely, isolated, and at times even asking G-d if what He told him about a coming flood was true.
The taunts and jeers of the cynics surely added to the strain of hearing G-d, but being faithful, Noah continued ahead.
However, when the rain began to fall, and the water started to rise, the cries of those left outside the Ark grew louder and more desperate, until there was an eerie silence.
Today, there are many who have abandoned the belief in the Rapture of the Church, for a different viewpoint - because it has not transpired yet.
Some Christians have abandoned this belief due to the extreme hyperbole projected by many so-called prophecy preachers.
Some do not believe in the Rapture because they say it is not taught anywhere in the Bible - so therefore the event will not occur.
However, Jesus said that it would be like the time of Noah just prior to His return. (Luke 17:26-27) We' are seeing the same pattern today.
Rampant sin, callousness and cynical mocking… asking where are the signs of His coming… everything remains the same. . .
But faster than the flood waters rising, the L-rd himself will, take away the Church, and just like Noah’s critics running for higher ground – those left behind will be scurrying for explanations. They will be trying to find a way to escape the Great Tribulation. Do not become discouraged; look up - for your redemption draweth nigh….
To be continued . . .