Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13

The UN Approves Palestinian Nonmember Status By a Wide Margin
Nov 30th, 2012
Daily Newsdebkafile
Categories: Today's Headlines;The Nation Of Israel

The UN General Assembly Thursday night voted 138 in favor, 9 against and 41 abstentions for the Palestinian application for nonmember observer status. Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas delivered a virulent speech accusing Israel of murdering Palestinians, apartheid, brutality and aggression as demonstrated in its Gaza operation. He omitted to mention the long Palestinian missile blitz of Israeli civilian locations. When Abbas’ Fatah activists went around trying to whip up popular celebrations in Palestinian West Bank towns, they met general apathy.

The Tipping Point: Embracing the Muslim Brotherhood
Nov 30th, 2012
Daily NewsFrank Gaffney
Categories: Commentary;Warning

The Obama administration chose the eve of the holiday marking our Nation's birth to acknowledge publicly behavior in which it has long been stealthily engaged to the United States' extreme detriment: Its officials now admit that they are embracing the Muslim Brotherhood (MB or Ikhwan in Arabic). That would be the same international Islamist organization that has the destruction of the United States, Israel and all other parts of the Free World as its explicit objective.

On Thursday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton tried to downplay the momentousness of this major policy shift by portraying it during a stopover in Budapest as follows: "The Obama administration is continuing the approach of limited contacts with the Muslim Brotherhood that have existed on and off for about five or six years." In fact, as former federal prosecutor Andrew McCarthy points out in a characteristically brilliant, and scathing, dissection of this announcement, Team Obama's official, open legitimation of the Brotherhood marks a dramatic break from the U.S. government's historical refusal to deal formally with the Ikhwan.

To understand why the Obama administration's embrace of the Muslim Brotherhood is so ominous, consider three insights into the organization's nature and ambitions:

First, here's the MB's creed: "Allah is our objective. The Prophet is our leader. The Qur'an is our law. Jihad is our way. Dying in the way of Allah is our highest hope." (Source: Husain Haqqani and Hillel Fradkin, "Islamist Parties: Going Back to the Origins.")

Second, here's the Ikwhan's mission in America:

"A kind of grand jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within, sabotaging its miserable house with their [i.e., Americans'] hands and the hands of the believers so that it is eliminated and God's religion is made victorious over all other religions." (Source: Muslim Brotherhood's "Explanatory Memorandum on the General Strategic Goals of the Group," entered into evidence by the Department of Justice in the 2008 Holy Land Foundation terrorism-finance trial. Archived at the NEFA Foundation.)

Third, here are excerpts from the Muslim Brotherhood's "phased plan" for accomplishing that mission:

Phase One: Discreet and secret establishment of leadership.

Phase Two: Phase of gradual appearance on the public scene and exercising and utilizing various public activities. It greatly succeeded in implementing this stage. It also succeeded in achieving a great deal of its important goals, such as infiltrating various sectors of the Government.

Phase Three: Escalation phase, prior to conflict and confrontation with the rulers, through utilizing mass media. Currently in progress.

Smilingly Leading You to Hell
Nov 30th, 2012
Commentarychallies.com
Categories: Contemporary Issues;Warning

One of these is unlike the others: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, niceness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. According to Paul's letter to the church at Galatia, all but one of these is what he refers to as the fruit of the Spirit, which is to say, visible evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of a Christian. If you are a Christian, your life will necessarily be marked by this kind of character. But which one is foreign to the list? Niceness.

Humans seem to be naturally drawn to niceness. Niceness is comfortable. To be nice is to be pleasant in manner, to be agreeable, to adhere to social conventions. We like to be around people who are nice at least in large part because we are comforted by their pleasant words or deeds and by their adherence to whatever social custom dictates. It is an attractive quality, but it can also be a deceptive one. It is, after all, an external trait, and one that has no necessary correlation with what is going on at an internal, spiritual level.

Brian McLaren may well be the nicest guy around. He recently faced a good bit of criticism for leading a commitment ceremony following his son's same-sex wedding -- a ceremony that included "traditional Christian elements." In the aftermath, McLaren was as nice as he has ever been. On his blog he answered a former fan who now understood that he could no longer see McLaren as a mentor....McLaren's answer was nice; it had the appearance of humility and genuinely sorrowful affection. Yet it was radically opposed to the Bible. He rashly changed the way we interpret Scripture, denying what the Bible makes so clear. If you allow him to, Brian McLaren will "nice" you straight to hell.

And he is far from the only one. Both the history of the church and contemporary Evangelical church are replete with nice people who are in complete rebellion against God. Is there anyone nicer than Joel Osteen? Yet is there anyone whose message has less of the gospel and more anti-biblical nonsense? You can watch him [online], sitting with Oprah, receiving accolades, nicely, smilingly leading an eager crowd farther and farther from the cross. He is nice, but he, too, will nice you straight to the gates of hell, flashing that brilliant smile all the while.

Christians are called by God to stand firm on what the Bible says is true, no matter how counter-cultural, and no matter how odious to the spirit of the age....It may be impossible to be nice when we stand with firm conviction on what the Bible says about marriage, about the value of unborn children, or any other area where culture conflicts with Scripture. We need to be okay with that, as long as the fruit of the Spirit is present in its place. If we are to be nice at all, we must first be full of love, patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control, and the other character qualities that are genuinely reflective of the Spirit.

Niceness is not a bad trait. It is not wrong or sinful to be nice. But we vastly overestimate it and at the same time confuse it with those traits that matter so much more. It may be good to be nice, but it is so much better to be holy.

Palestinians Win Implicit UN Recognition of Sovereign State
Nov 30th, 2012
Daily NewsNewsmax
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

The 193-nation U.N. General Assembly on Thursday overwhelmingly approved the de facto recognition of a sovereign Palestinian state after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on the world body to issue its long overdue "birth certificate."

There were 138 votes in favor, nine against and 41 abstentions. Three countries did not take part in the vote to upgrade the Palestinian Authority's observer status at the United Nations to "non-member state" from "entity."

The assembly approved the upgrade despite threats by the United States and Israel to punish the Palestinians by withholding funds for the West Bank government. U.N. envoys said Israel might avoid harsh retaliation as long as the Palestinians did not seek to join the International Criminal Court.

The much-anticipated vote came after Abbas denounced Israel for its "aggressive policies and the perpetration of war crimes" from the U.N. podium, remarks that elicited a furious response from the Jewish state.

"Sixty-five years ago on this day, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 181, which partitioned the land of historic Palestine into two states and became the birth certificate for Israel," Abbas told the 193-nation assembly after receiving a standing ovation.

"The General Assembly is called upon today to issue a birth certificate of the reality of the State of Palestine," he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded quickly, condemning Abbas' critique of Israel as "hostile and poisonous," and full of "false propaganda."

"These are not the words of a man who wants peace," Netanyahu also said in a statement released by his office in Israel.

At least 17 European nations voted in favor of the Palestinian resolution, including Austria, France, Italy, Norway and Spain. Abbas had focused his lobbying efforts on Europe, which supplies much of the aid the Palestinian Authority relies on. Britain, Germany and others chose to abstain.

The Czech Republic was unique in Europe, joining the United States, Israel, Canada, Panama and tiny Pacific Island states likes Nauru, Palau and Micronesia in voting against the move.

After the vote, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice called for the immediate resumption of peace talks.

"The Palestinian people will wake up tomorrow and find that little about their lives has changed save that the prospects of a durable peace have only receded," she said.

"The United States calls upon both the parties to resume direct talks without preconditions on all the issues that divide them and we pledge that the United States will be there to support the parties vigorously in such efforts," Rice said.

She added that both parties should "avoid any further provocative actions in the region, in New York or elsewhere."

Margaret Macdonald Who?
Nov 30th, 2012
CommentaryTodd Strandberg
Categories: Exhortation

I have visited just about every anti-rapture web site on the internet. One common point used on nearly every one of these sites to oppose the pre-tribulation doctrine is the claim that the rapture theory was started by a Scottish girl named Margaret MacDonald. Many critics of the rapture declare that MacDonald received her vision from demonic origins, and that she then passed on the message of that vision to infect the church. Being a staunch pre-tribulationist, I'm at a loss to explain the connection between Margaret MacDonald and my beliefs in the rapture. I cannot recall ever hearing pre-tribulation prophetic speakers say, "I believe in the rapture because Margaret MacDonald told me so."

After reading and listening to a number of web sites, books, and radio programs that promote the idea that Margaret MacDonald started pre-tribulationism, I decided to look into the matter.

To be certain that I made no oversight, I searched through my library of prophecy books for references citing Margaret MacDonald as the founder of the rapture teaching. My hunt turned out to be in vain. It was like looking for the cartoon character "Where's Waldo" -- only in this case, no Waldo was to be found.

If MacDonald was the founder of the pre-tribulation rapture, as most anti-rapture proponents say, then someone needs to explain why rapturists have failed to give her credit. You would expect to find dozens of books that expound upon her every word.

When one closely examines MacDonald's vision, it becomes clear that her vision could not have been a pre-tribulational one. MacDonald looked for a "fiery trial which is to try us," and she foresaw the church being purged by the Antichrist....John Bray, an anti-rapturist, said himself that Margaret MacDonald was teaching a single coming of our Lord Jesus. This contradicts current rapture doctrine, which teaches a two-staged event -- first, Christ coming for His church and second, seven years later His return to earth.

With so many contradictions between MacDonald's vision and today's pre-tribulationism, it is difficult to see any linkage.

Let the Headlines Speak
Nov 30th, 2012
Daily NewsFrom the Internet
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

Atomic Energy Agency server hacked: Demands are made, or else
The experts whose email addresses were leaked should sign a petition demanding that IAEA investigate the activities at Dimona, the hacker group said, claiming that it has evidence of "beyond-harmful operations" taking place at the site. Parastoo threatened to published information on the whereabouts of every single individual on the list together with their personal and professional details, saying that all of them could be considered responsible if an accident was to happen at Dimona.

Entire nations intercepted online, key turned to totalitarian rule
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says all the necessary physical infrastructure for absolute totalitarianism through the internet is ready. He told RT that the question now is whether the turnkey process that already started will go all the way.

Kamchatka Volcano Eruption Destroys Science Camps
The two camps were located 10 kilometers from the volcano. The eruption has been already assigned a Red Code status as the volcano is throwing clouds of ash to the height of 3,000 meters with the potential for ash explosions up to 10 km. Residents of nearby villages have been advised not to leave their homes as massive ash falls in the area are filled with toxic sulfur fumes.

North Korea Preparing for Launch?
Rocket sections are apparently being trucked into North Korea's northwest launch site, but some analysts are asking whether it's just a calculated bluff meant to jangle the Obama administration and influence South Korean voters ahead of presidential elections in three weeks.

CHANCE OF STORMS
NOAA forecasters estimate a 55% chance of polar geomagnetic storms today, Nov. 30th, when a coronal mass ejection (CME) is expected to hit Earth's magnetic field. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras.

Is Egypt's president fulfilling biblical prophecy?
Obama stood in the Grand Foyer of the White House and triumphantly declared, “The people of Egypt have spoken, their voices have been heard, and Egypt will never be the same.” But the fruit of this change quickly became bitter to the Egyptian people. It is now becoming clear that the Egyptian people have traded a more secular autocrat for an Islamist dictator.

5.2 Magnitude Earthquake Shakes 57 miles south of Mexico, and SW of Guatemala
... a 5.2 magnitude earthquake hit 57 miles south of Suchiate, Mexico and 43 miles south-west of Champerico, Guatemala. Early reports from people living near the quake’s epicenter say they felt a jolt shake their place of residence followed by a sustained rumble which shook the ground below. Experts have been quite vocal with their warnings that Mexico should be prepared for a large earthquake in the short future.

Russia's Envoy Warns Against NATO Missiles in Turkey
Planned deployment of Patriot air defense systems at the Turkish-Syrian border will mean NATO’s involvement in the Syrian conflict, Russia’s envoy said on Friday. Alexander Grushko, newly-appointed envoy to NATO, said he reiterated Russia’s concerns over the deployment plan at a meeting with the NATO-Russia Council in Brussels.

A Series of Earthquakes Hit Alaska
A series of earthquakes have attacked the state of Alaska during the last two hours. It started with a 2.5 quake 43km S of Tanaga Volcano, Alaska. This quake was followed by a much more signification seismic movement, detected as a 5.0 earthquake 57km west, south-west of Attu Station, Alaska. The last quake to hit in this series came 12 minutes later and registered as a magnitude 3.1 quake east, north-east of Cape Yakataga, Alaska. At the time this report was being fashioned, a 3.0 quake hit Puerto Rico.

Hospitals will see massive layoffs, decline in 2013
Hospitals are expected to cut some 93,000 jobs in 2013 in anticipation of ObamaCare. A former presidential candidate and conservative advocate says America needs to prepare for major changes in the medical industry.

'Hi, deliver me from evil': Church sets up an exorcist hotline to deal with demand
The Monsignor said he knew of one exorcist who had been seeing up to 120 people a day. “But with so little time per client he was only able to offer a quick blessing. That’s not enough,” he said. ”There should be two to four appointments a day, no more, otherwise it’s too much.” It’s not clear why the number of suspected possessions has risen so sharply. But Monsignor Mascheroni said that part of the increase might be explained by the rising numbers of parents having difficulty controlling disobedient teenagers.

Drought worsens in High Plains; winter outlook not good
Drought is tightening its grip on the central United States as winter weather sets in, threatening to ravage the new wheat crop and spelling more hardship for farmers and ranchers already weary of the costly and ongoing dry conditions.

Feds: $100,000 to teach teen girls 'condom negotiation'
The administration is funding a $100,000 study of pregnant and "at-risk" 14-17-year-old girls on probation in Houston, Texas, to...help them choose safer lifestyles and avoid pregnancy, including better "condom negotiation" tactics. The National Institutes of Health...is providing a University of Houston researcher the money because of the lack of study of female teen juveniles in trouble with the law.

GOP Congressman: Muslim Brotherhood "Advising" The Obama Admin
...policies that have resulted in the Obama administration embracing Islamists at home as well as abroad and finding itself I would argue squarely on the wrong side of history as far as freedom is concerned, may be a function of these Muslim Brotherhood associated individuals who are serving in or advising the Obama administration.

65 years after approving partition plan, UN General Assembly upgrades ‘Palestine’ to nonmember observer state
The United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly Thursday to upgrade “Palestine” to nonmember observer state status, a long-sought victory for the Palestinians but an embarrassing diplomatic defeat for the United States. The resolution upgrading the Palestinians’ status to a nonmember observer state at the United Nations – the same status as The Vatican — was approved by a more than two-thirds majority of the 193-member world body, in a vote of 138-9, with 41 abstentions.

Bread that lasts for 60 days could cut food waste
An American company has developed a technique that they say can make bread stay mould-free for 60 days. The bread is zapped in a sophisticated microwave array which kills the spores that cause the problem. They claim it could significantly reduce the amount of wasted bread, which in the UK alone amounts to almost a third of all loaves purchased.

Asean chief Surin Pitsuwan warns on China's ship patrol plan
The head of Asean has said China's plan to board ships in disputed areas of the South China Sea could escalate tensions. Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan told Reuters news agency that Beijing's plan was "a very serious turn of events". On Thursday China said that it granted its border patrol police the power to board and search ships in the area.

UN vote marks EU defeat for Israel
Just one EU country - the Czech Republic - voted against Palestine's bid to become a UN "observer state" on Thursday (29 November). Fourteen others - Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Spain and Sweden - voted in favour. The rest, including Germany, until now a firm ally of Israel, abstained.

Egypt's assembly finalizes new constitution
An Islamist-led assembly finalized a new constitution early on Friday aimed at transforming Egypt and paving the way for an end to a crisis that erupted when President Mohamed Morsi gave himself sweeping new powers last week. Morsi said his decree halting court challenges to his decisions, which provoked protests...from Egyptians fearing a new dictator was emerging ...after they ousted Hosni Mubarak, was "for an exceptional stage."

After UN vote, widespread calls for peace talks
Washington labels Palestine upgrade "unfortunate" as Vatican hails recognition of state, calls for special status on Jerusalem. Not every diplomat and official who spoke after the UN General Assembly voted to upgrade the Palestinians' statehood status Thursday night was thrilled with the result, but nearly all of them made emphatic calls for a return to bilateral peace talks.