ISRAEL UPDATE

February 18, 2007 – The airwaves of Iran are full of Messianic declarations about the twelfth Imam (Mahdi) that is coming in their view to repair the ills of the world.  Broadcasts emanating from Tehran, a city long known for turbulence, violence, and fervor of fundamental Islamic practice, now declare, “We invite you to turn in to our next programs to see how the future will turn out to be.”

From the belief system of Islam come the concept that the world’s leaders and countries have precipitated the problems requiring “Messianic Intervention” to save mankind.  However, notice the issues created by the Islamic part of the world tyranically and oppressively looting the capital of oppressed nations.  I hope this includes Lebanon, Sudan, the Palestinians and a host of other nations, the very issue they decry.

Does the weakness of the family foundation include suicide bombers targeting civilians, crime, violence, narcotics and human trafficking and would surely have to include Syria and Afghanistan drug production or forced slavery in nations where Islam rules.

Finally anxiety and depression face the world and certainly Iran is leading the world in these areas as they fear nuclear proliferation.  

Sadly as the Islamic world looks for their coming redeemer Israel and America are blamed as the primary fault but the nations crying against these ills are in reality the ones creating the problem.

 

February 18, 2007 – In John the Baptist’s description of baptism he clearly defines the essence of how one approaches not just baptism but also the condition of the heart and the changes that follow.

When we read Luke 3:8 the Baptist tells the prospective candidates to first bring forth fruit or proof of repentance then tells them a notable lineage is not what changes the heart.

In verses 10-14 he declares to both Jew and Gentile alike what specific action to cease from and then even  more noticeably describes changes to make that define both the love of G_d and servant-hood of the disciple.

When people tried to equate John with the coming Messiah he emphatically declares how many more things Christ would do to complete the process after John’s coming.

The reason today for so much controversy in the church over doctrine such as baptism seems to be controversial for no real reason.

Without elaborating in depth on this passage the Bible clearly tells us what baptism is, should be and what our lives need to reflect both before and afterward.

It has been stated so many times we need to let the Bible interpret itself and this passage is but just one more classic example of just how real that principle is.

 

 To be continued…