ISRAEL UPDATEMarch 27, 2005 - Have you noticed how moral the world has become over the nation of Lebanon in the past few months?
Starting with the Civil War of 1975-76, and including the decades that have followed, the nation of Lebanon has been reduced to a puppet state of Damascus.
Apparently the fact that a once a sovereign, independent democracy was raped, pillaged, and the blood of Jews, Muslims, and Christians alike have flowed in the Lebanese streets, has escaped the world’s attention.
Syria, one of Israel's loudest critics, is also without a doubt the greatest threat to her survival. It has flaunted its relationship with Iran, China, and Russia… and in a perfect position to destabilize the region in the name of intervention.
Israel's fate stands to be far worse than that of Lebanon, as non-conventional weapons flow into her enemy’s coffers, while the U.S. foreign policy makers attempt to negotiate for the Golan Heights…. Interesting to note that this transpires as Iran and Syria “handle” Lebanon's occupation, meanwhile they seek Israel's total annihilation.
Understanding all of these details, if you think this token gesture of the capture of Sabawi Ibrahim al-Hassan al-Tikriti, Saddam Hussein's half-brother means something . . . it most definitely does.
It is just one more of many subtle deceptions of the Arab world. They are expert at manipulating public opinion, lulling the world’s leaders into a false sense of security and peace - as they sharpen their swords preparing for Armageddon…
March 27, 2005 Few events in history have caused as much controversy and derision, as the bodily Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The debate continues in spite of irrefutable evidence. No doubt, the discussion and arguments will go on until the day Jesus returns and settles it for all eternity.A question still arises… How does the anti-Resurrection crowd reconcile the Roman legion confirming the reality of our Risen L-rd to their leaders? The narrative of Matthew 28:10-15 tells us some of the guards went to the council, telling them what happened.
“Then Jesus said to them, Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me. While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, You are to say, His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep. If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble. Therefore, the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.” NIV
What is incredible is that any Roman guard falling asleep on the job was put to death. If they fled, their superiors would go to their village and kill their families. Knowing this, why would these Roman soldiers risk all to tell a story about falling asleep and messing up?
Whether or not these men chose to follow Jesus we cannot say, but the Gospel narrative clearly tells us what they experienced was worth the risk of telling their superiors. They confirmed the reality of the Resurrection that set Jesus apart from all other religious figures.
To be continued…