ISRAEL UPDATE

April 29, 2007 – Look out on the horizon and you can plainly see that war is looming between Iran and forces of the west in the very near future.

Then just look west of Iran and you can see Syria and Lebanon and as Syria continually prepares for war with Israel one can’t help but see that conflict is most likely unavoidable.

Syria’s arrogance comes from several areas.  First, her receipt of the most modern weapons supplied by the great “voice of peace,” Russia.  Also during this time Syria has strengthened her ties with Iran, helped bolster terror groups such as Hezbollah, al Qaeda and Hamas which can readily come to her assistance.

Syria, as it has demanded Israel to relinquish more land has at the same time continued to build a large series of trenches and bunker complexes that are stockpiled, ready for immediate use.

Syrian president, Bashar Assad, looks on the horizon and believes when he sees plumes of smoke, hears the artillery shells, and missiles falling on Israeli soil as he unleashes hordes of armor and infantry troops on the Jewish state believing it will fall.

Of course, Assad of Syria, Ahmadinejad of Iran and all the rest are not looking high enough as they watch the horizon because the G-d of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps!

Bashar’s Father, Hafez al Assad spend his life trying to destroy Israel and never did.  Bashar has the same goal but won’t succeed and destruction will come to his nation when the time comes!

 

April 29, 2007 – I don’t think the Apostle Paul meant for the church to go into hiding when he penned Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to the world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your minds.”

Any scriptures we find dealing with holiness or separation can be easily overturned and taken out of balance.  There are those that say if you wear modern shoes or sport the newest hairstyle that you are being conformed to this world.   But really, did the clothing and shoes that Jesus or Paul wore indicate they were conformed to this world’s system?

I believe the Apostle Paul was a genius when it came to his approach to spreading the Gospel with whomever he came in contact with.  He would speak Hebrew to the Jews at the Synagogue and then could quote from the Hellenistic philosophers to gain the respect and attention of the Greek Gentiles when the need arose.

Neither Jesus nor Paul were culturally conformed but they were culturally relevant and that is why people responded to the Gospel message.

Those confined to the inside of the church or monastery can never reach those lost in the world.  The good news must be relevant but that in no way indicates being diluted, it needs to be presented properly.

 

To be continued…