GNN

Hopefully this will make you think.

It's the Fanatics We Need to Worry About

A friend e-mailed me the following item. A man whose family were members of German aristocracy prior to World War Two owned a number of large industries and estates. When asked how many German people were true Nazis, the answer he gave can guide our attitude toward fanaticism. " Very few people were true Nazis "he said, " but many enjoyed the return of German pride, and many more were too busy to care. I was one of those who just thought the Nazis were a bunch of fools. So, the majority just sat back and let it all happen. Then, before we knew it, they owned us, and we had lost control, and the end of the world had come. My family lost everything. I ended up in a concentration camp and the Allies destroyed my factories. " We are told again and again by " experts" and "talking heads " that Islam is the religion of peace, and that the vast majorit y of Muslims just want to live in peace. Although this unqualified assertion may be true, it is entirely irrelevant. It is meaningless fluff, meant to make us feel better, and meant to somehow diminish the specter of fanatics rampaging across the globe in the name of Islam. The fact is that the fanatics rule Islam at this moment in history. It is the fanatics who march. It is the fanatics who wage any one of 50 shooting wars worldwide. It is the fanatics who systematically slaughter Christian or tribal groups throughout Africa and are gradually taking over the entire continent in an Islamic wave. It is the fanatics who bomb, behead, murder, or honor kill. It is the fanatics who take over mosque after mosque. It is the fanatics who zealously spread the stoning and hanging of rape victims and homosexuals. The hard quantifiable fact is that the "peaceful majority " the " silent majority " is cowed and extraneous. Communist Russia comprised Russians who just wanted to live in peace, yet the Russian Communists were responsible for the murder of about 20 million people. The peaceful majority were irrelevant. China 's huge population, it was peaceful as well, but Chinese Communists managed to kill a staggering 70 million people. The average Japanese individual prior to World War 2 was not a warmongering sadist. Yet, Japan murdered and slaughtered its way across South East Asia in an orgy of killing that included the systematic murder of 12 million Chinese civilians; most killed by sword, shovel and bayonet. And, who can forget Rwanda , which collapsed into butchery. Could it not be said that the majority of Rwandans were " peace loving " ? History lessons are often incredibly simple and blunt, yet for all our powers of reason we often miss the most basic and uncomplicated of points: Peace-loving Muslims have been made irrelevant by their silence. Peace-loving Muslims will become our enemy if they don ' t speak up, because like my friend from Germany , they will awake one day and find that the fanatics own them, and the end of their world will have begun. Peace-loving Germans, Japanese, Chinese, Russians, Rwandans, Serbs Afghans, Iraqis, Palestinians, Somalis, Nigerians, Algerians, and many others have died because the peaceful majority did not speak up until it was too late. As for us who watch it all unfold; we must pay attention to the only group that counts; the fanatics who threaten our way of life. For other posts on this topic see: Middle East and Bible Prophecy July 2 2007 If You're Not a Little Paranoid You're Not Paying Attention July 9 2007

Hell is NOT a Lie

From time to time you may notice a Google Ad in the sidebar of my blog that says "Hell Does not Exist" and "the big Hell lie". The only reason that ad is there is that Google chooses the ads that they think are "relevant" to my site. It doesn't mean that I agree with the ad (I Don't!!!)

I checked out this fellow's website to see what he was about. His biggest arguments against Hell are that :

a) eternal punishment would be be too cruel for God

b) God says that He is not willing that any should perish and can't God get whatever He wants? (He also denies the existence of free will for the same reason. God can get whatever He wants.) All will be saved because that's what God wants.

c) the Bible was miss-translated on all matters pertaining to Hell

d) Hell would be unfair to anyone who has not heard the gospel. (ie: people in Africa)

The answer to a) & b) is the same. God does not choose Hell for any of us. We choose Hell because there are only two choices, eternity with God or eternity without God. He's not willing that any should perish, He's also not willing that any should be forced to accept Him because His greatest desire is for us to love Him. It could certainly not be considered true love if someone were to kidnap you and brainwash you into "loving" them.

As for point c) the moment that you say the Bible was miss-translated, you call into question the veracity of the whole book. How can someone say that the Bible was miss-translated and then quote other portions of the Bible that make your point? (ie: God is not willing that any should perish) This person said that God can get whatever He wants. He then contradicts himself and says that after Divinely inspiring the Bible God was unable to preserve the integrity of that book by being unable to inspire the translation of it.

d) Remember his argument that God can do whatever He wants? God is perfectly capable of saving a person without the gospel being preached by a human being.

examples:

1) Job - long before Jesus lived or died on the cross Job said:

Job 19:25

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

2) Paul - Acts 9:1-22 Jesus Himself converted Paul, not any person.

3) Angels will proclaim the gospel during the tribulation

Revelation 14:6

And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

4) and finally all of creation

Romans 1:20

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Hell does exist because the Bible says it does. And everyone will be without excuse.

Me Church

Unfortunately this is becoming all to common.

Microchips

Microchip technology is in news again. CityWatcher.com, a provider of surveillance eqipment, has had microchips imbedded in the forearms of two of it's employees as a means of gaining access to certain secuity rooms. They simply scan their arm to open the doors much like a fingerprint reader or iris scanner.
Nightclubs in Spain, Holland, Scotland and Miami Beach have held "chip nights" where patrons are microchipped so that they do not have to wait in long lines to get past bouncers.
Mexico's Attorney General says that he and 18 staff members have been chipped for security reasons.
You can read the full story at the following link:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070721/ap_on_hi_te/chipping_america&printer=1;_ylt=Ag9ZmV6zFAW6r6rKbDI6B5Vk24cA

Revelation 13:15-18
He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.
He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads,
and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.

It's All About Love

The key to effective witnessing is LOVE. We are told in the Bible to love our God, to love our families, to love one another but the most difficult thing we are told to do is to love the unlovable.

Matthew 5:44-47
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

It may be difficult for you to feel love for a not so clean, not so sweet smelling, homeless person. Feeling love is not the key. The broken spirit does not require that you have a warm, fuzzy feeling for them. They require love that is a verb and not a noun. In other words we must practice our love even when we don’t necessarily feel it. This, of course, must not come across as a “ holier than thou” attitude. If we focus on our love for Jesus, and the fact that we know that He loves that person, it will be much easier to feel a real empathy for the lost person in front of you. Like any other activity, the more that we practise love, the easier it gets to feel it and to show it. (Note: Loving the unlovable is not just a suggestion, it is a command)

Matthew 25:42-45
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

The Correlation Between Forgivness, Gratitude, and Love

Before we can begin to feel real love, we must feel forgivness and gratitude in our heart.

“Our ability to receive forgiveness is directly related to our willingness to give forgiveness. Forgiveness unlocks gratitude which unleashes love. To activate gratitude we must remember the good memories, create new memories and see the work of God in the painful episodes.” (Pastor Roy Hubert)

The Truth About Angels

Just what are angels and what do they do?
Angels are simply another form of created beings. They were created before the world began. They are not people who have died. They do not have any power in their own right, but are servants and messengers of God.

Hebrews 1:13-14
But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

Demons, as well as Satan himself, are only fallen angels, angels who refused to accept God’s authority. Satan (or Lucifer, as he was then known) was the “head” angel, until the power of that position went to his head and he actually decided that he wanted to be God.

Ezekiel 28:14-15
Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

Isaiah 14:12-16
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms ....

God sends angels to do a variety of tasks:

He sends them to bring messages to people from God.

An angel told both Mary and Joseph that they were going to have a child. Luke 1:26-38 and Matthew 1:18-25. It was an angel that told Philip to go south in Acts 8:26 so that he could minister to the Ethiopian eunuch. In Acts 10:1-6 an angel gave Cornelius his instructions concerning how to find Peter.

Angels are sent to protect us.

Psalms 91:9-13
Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

Psalms 34:7
The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

God's angels engage in combat with Satan’s angels.

Revelation 12:7-9
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Angels are sent in answer to prayer.

Acts 12:5-7
Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.

Angels can give strength to humans

Daniel 10:18-19
Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me,
And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.

We are not to worship angels

Colossians 2:18
Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

Revelation 22 :8-9
And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

And just in case you don’t think you’ve ever seen an angel, remember:

Hebrews 13:2
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares

This is Plain Scary

A Chimera is a creature of Greek mythology with a lion head, a goat body and the tail of a serpent. The definition of Chimera is "when two or more species exist in one body".

In the last few weeks I have been horrified to hear some truly chilling stories of scientists creating human-animal hybrids, or Chimera, in the laboratory. The Chinese reported in 2003 that they had created a human-rabbit hybrid. Similar work is being done by the Americans. They are created by injecting animal cells or DNA into human embryos or human cells into animal eggs. Thankfully Canada has banned such experimentation. It is Great Britain that has been in the news recently. They have pending legislation that would allow the creation of these embryos but the scientists would not be able to allow them to develop past 14 days. At that time they would have to destroyed. Surprisingly, Catholic Bishops in the UK have stated that while these embryos should not be created in the first place, if they are then they should be allowed to implant them in a woman's womb if she wishes and if she has contributed the egg. The resulting baby would then be raised as a human being. The problem here is that we have no idea what the result of this tampering would be. Would the child have animal physical features and/or tendencies? Would natural instincts override parental and societal boundaries? God (or nature if you wish) never intended the mixing of the species. Occasionally it happens, as in the case of horses and donkeys and a mule is the result. In order to preserve the integrity of the species, these hybrids are almost invariably sterile and cannot reproduce. With genetic tinkering, would this still be the case or would the process used override this important safeguard? It is a slippery slope we are on and if we continue to play God with the very essence of human life we can expect to see catastrophic results.

I have included some links to other sites on this topic if you wish to get more information:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/06/26/nchimera126.xml

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/05/18/nembryo18.xml

http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/kovach/070705

The Window to the Soul

They say that the eyes are the windows to the soul. Eyes are the things of romance. Lovers gaze into their beloveds eyes. Poets wax eloquently about the eyes. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Albert Einstein - “Few are those who see with their own eyes and feel with their own hearts.”
Charles Robert Darwin - “To suppose that the eye with all its inimitable contrivances for adjusting the focus to different distances, for admitting different amounts of light, and for the correction of spherical and chromatic aberration, could have been formed by natural selection, seems, I confess, absurd in the highest degree.”
John Vance Cheney - “The soul would have no rainbow had the eyes no tears.”

Joseph Addison - “Our sight is the most perfect and most delightful of all our senses. It fills the mind with the largest variety of ideas, converses with its objects at the greatest distance, and continues the longest in action without being tired or satiated.”
Lord George Gordon Byron - “She walks in beauty, like the night Of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that's best of dark and bright Meet in her aspect and her eyes: Thus mellow'd to that tender light Which heaven to gaudy day denies.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson - “An eye can threaten like a loaded and levelled gun, or it can insult like hissing or kicking; or, in its altered mood, by beams of kindness, it can make the heart dance for joy. ... One of the most wonderful things in nature is a glance of the eye; it transcends speech; it is the bodily symbol of identity.”
“True friendship is seen through the heart not through the eyes.”

There are none so blind as he who will not see.

True Love Never Runs Smooth

aaaaaahhhhhhh!!! We picked up my car on Saturday (see: I've Got Wheels July 13 2007). Sunday evening the oil light started flashing. OK. That means we're down on oil or it needs an oil change. Right?? Checked the oil level and it was fine. We bought the car from a Ford dealership (a trade-in) but we called the Volkswagon dealership on Monday thinking they would know more about a Jetta. They said it probably needs an oil change. We got that done but were told that the light may stay on because it would need to be re-set and they didn't know how to do that. Tuesday morning we called Volkswagon again and asked them how to re-set the light. They then told us that this indicates an engine problem and we had better not drive it, we should get it towed in. We called Ford back because we bought the extended warranty. They told us they had put a new motor in the car before we bought it and that we should keep in mind that Volkswagon may have told us to tow it in because the dealership charges over $100.00 an hour for service work, but they were not advising us whether we should drive it or not. The service manager (for Ford) wasn't in the office and would not be back until tomorrow so we have to wait to see how he wants to handle the situation. We do have another vehicle and are not stuck by this problem but it is frustrating. When you buy a car shouldn't you be able to expect to drive it for more than one day without a problem?

Cherokee Indian Youth

This story was e-mailed to me. I don't know for sure if it's true or not, but if it isn't it should be.

Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of passage?
His dad takes him into the forest - blindfolded - and leaves him. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not take off the blindfold until the ray of sun shines through it. He is all by himself. He cannot cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the night he is a MAN. He cannot tell the other boys of this experience. Each lad must come into his own manhood.
The boy was terrified. He could hear all kinds of noise. Beasts were all around him. Maybe even some human would hurt him. The wind blew the grass and it shook his stump. But he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It was the only way he could become a man. Finally, after a horrific night, the sound of the night disappeared. He could feel the warmth of the sun. He removed his blindfold. It was then that he saw his father - sitting on the stump next to him - on watch the entire night.

We are never alone. Even when we do not know it, our Father is protecting us. He is sitting on the stump beside us.
All we have to do is take off our blindfolds.
Live Simply. Love Generously. Care Deeply. Speak Kindly.
Leave the Rest to God.

The Beasts of the Earth

It has been very hot here over the last few days and it is supposed to last at least another week. People are suffering from dehydration and other heat related ailments. But it seems that the heat may affect some people more than others.

For example:

Iranians arrest 14 squirrels for spying
Islamic Republic's intelligence agents allege rodents were carrying advanced Western spy gear
Dudi Cohen
Published:
07.13.07, 23:43 / Israel News

Iranian intelligence operatives recently detained over a dozen squirrels found within the nation's borders, claiming the rodents were serving as spies for Western powers determined to undermine the Islamic Republic.
"In recent weeks, intelligence operatives have arrested 14 squirrels within Iran's borders," state-sponsored news agency IRNA reported. "The squirrels were carrying spy gear of foreign agencies, and were stopped before they could act, thanks to the alertness of our intelligence services."
Iranian police commander Esmaeil Ahmadi-Moqadam confirmed the report, saying that a number of squirrels had been caught bearing foreign spy gear within Iran's borders.
"I heard of this but I have no specific knowledge on the subject," he said. He refused to give further details.
Recently, Iran has increased its efforts in combating espionage by the West. The use of rodents has not been documented in the past.

Revelation 6:8

And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

I've Got Wheels

Get your motor running,
Head out on the highway,
Looking for adventure,
In whatever comes your way.......This is my new wheels. A 2000 Volkswagon Jetta fully loaded. A.C., power windows, doors and power sliding sunroof and it's a diesel! I was a little afraid it would sound like a truck (or the Ministry Van) but it doesn't really. Ed negotiated a great deal on it for me. It should be ready for me to pick up this weekend. OK world, here I come!

If You're Not a Little Paranoid You're Not Paying Attention

Why is it that no one seems to believe Muslims when they come right out and say that their agenda is World Domination? Mahmoud Ahmedinejad has made no secret of the fact that he wants to provoke a nuclear conflict as a means to hasten the arrival of Mahdi, the Muslim Messiah. They also make no secret of their goal to wipe Israel completely off of the map or the fact that they hate America and everyone else who is not Muslim. The following is excerpts from an article published in WorldNetDaily July 9, 2007. For the complete article go to http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=56503

Muslims declare sovereignty over U.S., UK

Islamic leaders in London: 'Queen Elizabeth, go to hell!'
Posted: July 9, 2007 1:00 a.m. Eastern
By Art Moore© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

Across town from the site of the recent attempted car-bomb attacks, several thousand Muslims gathered in front of the London Central Mosque to applaud fiery preachers prophesying the overthrow of the British government – a future vision that encompasses an Islamic takeover of the White House and the rule of the Quran over America.

"One day my dear Muslims," shouted Anjem Choudary, "Islam will govern Britain!" Choudary was a co-founder of Al Muhajiroun, the now-banned group tied to suspects in the July 7, 2005, London transport bombings and a cheerleader of the 9/11 attacks. "Democracy, hypocrisy," Choudary chanted as the crowd echoed him. "Tony Blair, terrorist! Tony Blair, murderer! Queen Elizabeth, go to hell!"

Like the UK the U.S. has three major vulnerabilities to patient, fundamentalist Muslims who believe their purpose for living in the West is to help fulfill Islamic prophecies: The loss of border control, the inability to say no and lack of assimilation.

Abu Saif is believed to be a member of the group Hizb ut-Tahrir, the Party of Liberation, which states its aim is to unify Muslims and establish Islamic rule over the world. "Of course we want Islam to be a source of governance for all of mankind. And we also believe that one day America will be ruled by Islam." Abu Saif explained Islam, like Christianity, has a prophetic tradition. "One of the prophecies of the message of Muhammad was the hour will never come, i.e., the last day – which you also believe in – will never come until a group of the Muslims … will rise and conquer the white house." The reference, many Muslims believe today, is to America's symbol of executive power.
The Islamic leader admitted he believes Jews and Christians will always hate Muslims, because Allah has said it is so. "There is something you can do to be friends. You can become Muslim." He also had a simple solution to the conflict in the Holy Land. "We want the Jews to leave Israel, and to hand the whole of Israel, not just Gaza and the West Bank – the whole of Israel to the Muslims. Only then will the Muslims stop."

New British Prime Minister GordonBrown has issued a ban – prohibiting his ministers from using the word 'Muslim' in connection with the worldwide terrorism threat. He also has instructed his team to drop the phrase "war on terror," Britain's Daily Express reported.
The paper says the "shake-up is part of a fresh attempt to improve community relations and avoid offending Muslims, adopting a more 'consensual' tone than existed under Tony Blair."
The New York Times reported last week many Britons were happy with Brown's tempered approach to the foiled terrorist attacks just days after he succeeded Blair.
Brown, wrote London-based reporter Alan Cowell, "played down the threat, treating the episodes as a crime rather than a threat to civilization. Yet, his minimalist approach seemed to strike a reassuring chord with Britons, many of whom had expressed fatigue with Mr. Blair's apocalyptic view of terrorism."

A Day in the Park

We spent the day at Borden Park with our son Edwin, his wife Tina and the three grandkids, Katiara (4) Connor (3) and Natasha (1). We had a wonderful time playing on the swings and the slide, wading in the pool and, of course, taking pictures. A sweet old lady followed us across the park and recited a poem to us about the blessings of childhood. There was one misshap when a whole swarm of wasps came up through a sewer cover and one of them stung Connor on the forehead. That upset him for a time but he soon recovered and went back to playing and enjoying himself. We stayed until a thunderstorm chased us back to their place.

Psalms 127:3-5

Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

BRAD Awards

Today is the day of the 1st Annual BRAD Awards. (Blog Readers Appreciation Day Awards) This will be an annual event (each July 7) from now until perpetuity. I should know, I just invented it! I wanted to somehow show my appreciation to my loyal Blog Readers. There wouldn't be much point to having a Blog if no one read it, now would there? Please leave a comment so that I know you have been properly appreciated. And any of you Blog Readers who also have your own blog, please feel free to share this award with your own readers and to use the "Official BRAD Award" . Let's make the BRAD Awards a truly global event.

Greedy for the Sun?

I found the following article in the Sydney Morning Herald http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/human-greed-takes-lions-share-of-solar-energy/2007/07/02/1183351126304.html

I simply don't believe it! First we're using up to many non-renewable resources, then we're contributing to greenhouse gasses and causing global warming and now we're greedily using too much of the sun!!! I'm practically speechless........



Human greed takes lion's share of solar energy
July 3, 2007
HUMANS are just one of the millions of species on Earth, but we use up almost a quarter of the sun's energy captured by plants - the most of any species.
The human dominance of this natural resource is affecting other species, reducing the amount of energy available to them by almost 10 per cent, scientists report.
Researchers said the findings showed humans were using "a remarkable share" of the earth's plant productivity "to meet the needs and wants of one species".
They also warned that the increased use of biofuels - such as ethanol and canola - should be viewed cautiously, given the potential for further pressure on ecosystems.
The scientists, from Austria and Germany, who publish their results today in the journal of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, analysed data on land use, agriculture and forestry from 161 countries, representing 97 per cent of the world's land mass.
This showed humans used 24 per cent of the energy that was captured by plants. More than half of this was due to the harvesting of crops or other plants.
The human use of the natural resource varied across the globe, ranging from 11 per cent in Oceania and Australia, to 63 per cent in southern Asia.
An agriculture professor at the University of Melbourne, Snow Barlow, said the paper showed humans were taking up too much of an important natural resource.
"Here we are, just one species on the earth, and we're grabbing a quarter of the renewable resources … we're probably being a bit greedy."
Chee Chee Leung

Middle East and Bible Prophecy

The following is a long post but if you have any interest at all in the Middle East and Bible Prophecy it is also extremely interesting and informative.

The Arab States in Prophecy
This is an excerpt from Dr. Fruchtenbaum's Messianic Bible Study #mbs-008, dealing with a most relevant topic nowadays and directly related to Israel's future: the future of today's Arab countries according to the Word of God is a subject that most believers do not know much about. If you want to understand the conflict between the Arab nations and the Jewish people you will certainly enjoy this study.

THE ROOT OF THE CONFLICT
In dealing with the root of the conflict, we are concerned with two key individuals in Genesis—Ishmael and Esau. In Genesis 12:1-3, we have the origin of the Jewish people. The origins of the Arab peoples is found in Genesis 12:10-20, which might also be called "Abraham’s folly." Knowing that the Egyptian Pharaoh would likely kill him to gain his wife, Sarah, Abraham passed her off as his sister. His wife was taken from him and placed into the Pharaoh’s harem. Dealing with Abraham as Sarah’s brother and, thus, her official guardian, Pharaoh gave to Abraham the bride price (verse 16). Among the things Abraham gained in Egypt, in exchange for Sarah, were a number of maid-servants. Although Egypt and the Pharaoh had to give Sarah back to Abraham, he is allowed to keep all the gifts of the bride price. He brings all of these things, including maid-servants, back into the Land of Canaan. With the mention of "maid-servants," we have the origin of the Arab peoples. One of these Egyptian maid-servants, Hagar, will join with Abraham to parent a majority of the Arab states as we have them today.In Genesis 16:1-6, we are introduced to "Sarah’s folly." Though God had promised that she and Abraham would have a son, Sarah essentially gave up on this promise after waiting for ten years. In keeping with the laws of that day, Sarah provided her husband with a hand-maid with whom Abraham could produce children. We do not have a problem with immoral elements here, but rather a problem of a lack of faith because, in Genesis 12, God had already promised that Abraham was going to have a son and that son would come by means of his wife, Sarah. There was no need to resort to the laws of that day because the promise of God was made sure. Hagar is the hand-maid elected by Sarah and eventually conceives. In the ancient world, few women were more despised than those who were barren. Hagar, rather than remaining in submission to her mistress, began to clearly display her contempt for Sarah. In time, Sarah responded in kind and treated Hagar harshly, so much so that the pregnant maid-servant fled the house of Abraham. She then encountered the Angel of the Lord, who gave four prophecies in Genesis 16:10-12 regarding the son she was to bear: And the Angel of Jehovah said unto her, I will greatly multiply thy seed, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. And the angel of Jehovah said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son; and thou shalt call his name Ishmael, because Jehovah hath heard thy affliction. And he shall be as a wild ass among men; his hand shall be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell over against all his brethren.Whenever you see the expression the Angel of Jehovah, or the Angel of the Lord, always, in every case, it is the Old Testament appearance of the Second Person of the Trinity: Yeshua the Messiah. Never is the Angel of the Lord a common, ordinary angel. He is the Second Person of the Trinity Himself. It was He that appeared to Hagar at this point and gave certain prophecies regarding the nature of her son.Four things are stated about the son that Hagar is going to bear. The first prophecy is that "he is to be a wild ass among men." In Abraham’s day, there were packs of wild asses that roamed the desert. Ishmael and his descendants are characterized as being similar to these wild asses. Secondly, "his hand shall be against every man." The second characteristic of Ishmael was that of agression. He would be against every man, attacking those with whom he has contact. Thirdly, "every man’s hand shall be against him." As he displayed agression, he would bring upon himself retaliation. We have certainly seen this principle to be true in the History of Israel since 1948. On various occasions the Arab states have been aggressors against Israel, either by means of military conflict or terrorist action. This always nearly elicited some kind of Israeli response and/or retaliation in fulfillment of this prophecy. Fourthly, "he shall dwell over against his brother." The expression "dwell over against" is a Hebrew idiom meaning to dwell in a state of hostility. He would live side by side with his brother, but side by side in a state of hostility, as is the state of the Arab/Jewish situation today.With these four statements, the Angel of the Lord instructed Hagar to return to Abraham’s household and remain there. In the course of time she gave birth to Abraham’s first-born son, named Ishmael as God commanded. Eventually, Isaac was also born. In Genesis 21:8-9, we read that Ishmael soon began mocking his half-brother. The animosity that Hagar felt for Sarah was instilled in Ishmael. As a result, Ishmael and his mother, Hagar, were expelled from the house of Abraham in accordance with God’s command.The second father of the Arab states is Esau, and the beginning of his hostility is found in Genesis 25:27-34. Unlike half-brothers Ishmael and Isaac, Esau and Jacob were full brothers—twins, in fact. Nevertheless, as the first-born, Esau was entitled to inherit the double portion of his father’s inheritance. More importantly, his birth position meant that through him God would fulfill his divine program of the Abrahamic Covenant. We learn, however, that Esau did not want to be used of God to enact His program (verse 34). Jacob, on the other hand, wanted very much to be in the center of God’s plan. Thus, the birthright changes hands when Esau sells his status to Jacob for a bowl of soup. Then, of course, Jacob receives the patriarchal blessing in Genesis 27. The end product is in Genesis 27:41: And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him. And Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand. Then will I slay my brother Jacob. Not only is there Ishmael’s hatred toward Isaac, but now there is Esau’s hatred toward Jacob. The Arab states are all descendants of either Esau or Ishmael, and the root of the present-day conflict begins right here with these two individuals.

THE CONTINUATION OF THE CONFLICT
The hatred and animosities of Ishmael and Esau toward the Jews was instilled in their descendants. There has been a continuous, perpetual hatred of the descendants of Esau and Ishmael against the Jews characterized especially by the Ishmaelites, descendants of Ishmael and the Edomites, descendants of Esau. An example which shows how early the descendants had this animosity is found in Numbers 20:14-21:And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us: how our fathers went down into Egypt, and we dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians dealt ill with us, and our fathers: and when we cried unto Jehovah, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border. Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy land: we will not pass through field or through vineyard, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go along the king’s highway; we will not turn aside to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy border. And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass through me, lest I come out with the sword against thee. And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go up by the highway; and if we drink of thy water, I and my cattle, then will I give the price thereof: let me only, without doing anything else, pass through on my feet. And he said, Thou shalt not pass through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand. Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him.In the book of Judges we often read of Ishmaelites, Edomites, and other descendants of Ishmael and Esau inflicting damage upon Israel. In Psalm 83:1-8, the psalmist describes the situation in the Middle East in this time, as well as prophetically. He describes a united conspiracy and confederacy whose aim is to destroy the nation of Israel. It is no accident that various modern Arab leaders (Egypt’s Nassar, for example, just before the Six Day War) have virtually paraphrased these verses. In verses 6-8 the psalmist lists these various nations that come together against Israel. While these are all various ancient names, today they comprise the modern Arab states. For instance, in verse 6, Edom was in southern Jordan; Ishmael was the father of the Ishmaelites, one segment of the Arab world; Moab was in central Jordan; the Hagarenes were from Egypt. In verse 7, Gebal was up in Lebanon; Ammon was northern Jordan; Amalek was in the Sinai Peninsula; Philistia was in the Gaza Strip; Tyre was up in Lebanon. In verse 8, Assyria comprises all of what is today Iraq and quite a bit of Syria. Only since 1948 have all these nations combined forces against Israel. Such a total Arab alignment never occurred in ancient times. After the Six Day War of 1967, one Arab leader after another has clearly stated that the only way of gaining peace in the Middle East is by the total annihilation of Israel as a nation.There are other passages in the Bible which describe this perpetual hatred of the Arab nations against Israel, such as Ezekiel 35:1-5 and Obadiah 10-14.

THE FUTURE OF THE CONFLICT
Ultimately, there will be peace between Israel and the Arab states, but it will take one of three forms: (1) by means of occupation; (2) by means of destruction; or (3) by means of conversion. It is necessary to deal with the various Arab states individually to get a clearer picture.

A. Lebanon Peace between Israel and Lebanon will come by means of occupation. In Ezekiel 47:13 - 48:29 we are given the boundaries of the nation of Israel in the Messianic Kingdom. The tracing of the northern boundary shows that Israel will encompass all of modern-day Lebanon.

B. Jordan (Edom, Moab, and Ammon)It is Edom (southern Jordan) in particular that the prophets were concerned about. Several passages reveal that peace will come between Israel and southern Jordan by means of total destruction. Some of those passages are Ezekiel 35:6-9, Jeremiah 49:7-13 and 19-20, and Obadiah 5-9 and 17-21. The fact that Israel will help bring about the final destruction of Edom (and, thus, the total annihilation of all descendants of Esau) is portrayed in Ezekiel 25:12-14. Moab (modern central Jordan) will also suffer destruction, but it will not be total. A remnant of Moab will return according to Jeremiah 48:47. As for Ammon (present-day northern Jordan), it will become a possession of Israel but its destruction will not be total. That is depicted in Jeremiah 49:1-6.

C. Egypt Peace will come between Israel and Egypt initially by means of destruction and later by means of conversion, as comprehensively covered in Isaiah 19:1-22. Verses 1-10 reveal that because of her sins, Egypt will be characterized by civil war, desolation, and famine. The prophet states in verses 11-15 that Egypt will suffer because she has been led astray by her leaders. Under the dictatorship of Farouk, Nassar, and Sadat the nation went to war against Israel four times, resulting in heavy human and economic losses. Understandably, Egypt has developed a fear of Israel as prophesied in verses 16-17. This has come to pass only since 1948 and especially since the Six Day War . Prophetically, today is still the period described in Isaiah 19:16-17. Eventually, there will be total and lasting peace between Israel and Egypt, which in turn will give way to Egypt’s conversion in Isaiah 19:18-22.

D. Northern Iraq and Eastern Syria (Assyria)Iraq and portions of modern Syria are two other implacable Arab enemies of modern Israel. However, peace will come between Israel and these two Arab countries by means of conversion according to Isaiah 19:23-25. Verse 23 describes an economic unit that will encompass Egypt, Israel and Assyria. Assyria will become a blessing in the earth and will receive a blessing from God. The three former enemies will now have a spiritual unity as well as an economic and political one. God declares: Egypt [will be] my people, ... Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.

E. Saudi Arabia (Keder and Hazor)Peace will come between Israel and Saudi Arabia by means of destruction according to Jeremiah 49:28-33. The passage describes the total devastation of Saudi Arabia by war until the inhabitants are scattered and dispersed all over the world. As for the land itself, Jeremiah 49:33 states: And Hazor shall be a dwelling-place of jackals, a desolation for ever: no man shall dwell there, neither shall any son of man sojourn therein. Saudi Arabia’s desolation will last for all of the one thousand years of the Messianic Kingdom.

F. Persia or Iran (Elam)Iran is a Persian state rather than Arab, but it shares the same religion with the Moslem Arabs, Islam. Peace will come between Israel and Iran by means of destruction according to Jeremiah 49:34-39. However, the destruction of Iran will be partial, and the dispersion will be temporary. Eventually the inhabitants will return and resettle Iran. The future of Iran is similar to that of Egypt, but the length of time they will be in dispersion is not revealed. There will be a Nation of Elam---Persia or Iran, in the Kingdom.

G. Southern Iraq (Babylon)Southern Iraq is destined to be a desolate spot throughout the Messianic Kingdom (Isaiah 13:20-22; Jeremiah 50:39-40). Not only is this area to be a desolate waste throughout the Kingdom, Revelation 19:3 says that it will also be a place of continual burning and smoke through the Millennium. The animal inhabitants mentioned in Isaiah 13:20-22 and Jeremiah 51:39-40 cannot live in a place of continual burning. Therefore, they cannot be literal animals as we know them. What they actually are is explained by Revelation 18:1-2: After these things I saw another angel coming down out of heaven, having great authority; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried with a mighty voice, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and is become a habitation of demons, and a hold of every unclean spirit, and a hold of every unclean and hateful bird. This picture of continual burning and smoke will be a place of confinement for many demons during the Kingdom Period. It is clear from Revelation 9 and other passages that demons have animal-like features, and this is what the animals of the Isaiah and Jeremiah passages actually represent.

Copyright © 2005, Ariel Ministries. All Rights Reserved.The complete Messianic Bible Study of “The Arab States in Prophecy” is available as Catalog item #mbs-008 at www.ariel.org and click on Fruit at the bottom of the home page.

Happy 140th Birthday Canada

Today is Canada's 140th birthday. People all across this great country will be celebrating. May God continue to bless and prosper this land.

Deuteronomy 30:16

In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.