ISRAEL UPDATEApril 17, 2005 - The world can breathe a sigh of relief as of February 28, 2005, knowing that Sabawi Ibrahim al-Hassan al-Tikriti, the half-brother of deposed dictator Saddam Hussein, is now in custody.
Have you noticed that just a few short weeks ago Syria also turned in the al-Qaeda operatives that they had trained, just to placate U.S. leaders?
Now all the sudden the altruistic regime of Bashir Assad has captured a notorious leader such as al-Hassan…
The Assad government has taken these two key ploys and turned them into huge political maneuvers, causing people to think and believe that their interest is to help the United States in its war on terror.
There is not enough room in these articles to denounce Syrian policy and practice. Suffice it to say, as it continues to strengthen its ties with Russia, China, and Iran, their intent is to seduce our nation, forcing us into a position of squeezing Israel out of existence.
These token gestures are no more credible than Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas’ pledge to try to stop terror attacks in Israel. However, it does give false hope to the uninformed and great pleasure to the enemies of the Jewish state.
The Native Americans of Manhattan thought the petty trinkets they received were fair, generous, and proper. The Assad regime has impressed many, but his true agenda does not bode well for the United States or Israel, regardless of the “warm fuzzies” they try to project…
April 17, 2005 - Is there a prescribed timetable that creates in the believer a cause to function in a fuller, more active capacity?
Noah was in the Ark for 40 days and nights, yet he walked and communed with G-d for more than 100 years before the flood.
40 years of wandering in the wilderness for the Israelis only caused all of them to die off, not entering the Promised Land. Joshua and Caleb went to spy out the land; however, their character was molded long before they ventured into Canaan.
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Esther was pressed into service immediately, not because a training program was unavailable, but rather the situation required it.Peter, James, John, and all the rest had a program of discipleship that lasted three and one-half years.
Finally, Jesus’ temptation for 40 days and nights in the wilderness is not what qualified him to be the Messiah.
Matthew 3:15 says, “And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him.”
It was after His baptism that the Spirit descended from heaven in the form of a dove, and G-d declared this was His beloved son in whom He was well pleased. Matthew 3:17
It has been said the conversion of the soul is an instantaneous experience, but the making of a disciple is a lifelong experience. Forty is not always the magic number, and as shown, is not the reason why these people were great examples.
To be continued…