Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13

Ukraine
Apr 20th, 2014
Daily NewsCMI News
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

We continue to see reports of Ukrainians on edge, as the military prepares for war with Russian invaders. How should we respond to the Ukrainian crisis?

Anatoliy Cherepinskiy, a Ukrainian church planter and Church Ministries Institute alumni, describes how he and his team are finding creative ways to use this crisis to share the Gospel, and to build bridges with the residents of a village where they are planting a church in Southern Ukraine.

Here is a recent not from Anatoliy describing the unique opportunity he has taken advantage of to share the Gospel in the midst of this crisis.

“I would like to share with you how we again have clearly seen the hand of God. In the village of Limaniy, we visited the husband of our sister (in Christ), and he sincerely repented. On April 1st we buried him. People from the village listened to the sermons and our singing. There was no alcohol on the table, and people responded very well to us. Praise God!

Ukrainian military units were stationed seven kilometers from the village. We brought them milk and groceries, and learned that they were in need of showers. Throughout the week we brought them with us to our church building in groups of 8-12, where they warmed up in our sauna. Along the way, we got acquainted, shared the Gospel with them, and handed them Gospels. We socialized with them in the church building, fed them, and prayed with them. We also drove them to the regional center, where they purchased stove pipes and other items.

In all, about 90 soldiers and officers heard the Gospel in detail, and saw our ministry to them in practice. They were so very thankful. In the village, we often heard good reports about our church. People also remembered how we cared for the electricians who lived with us in the church building after the ice storm, and other occasions.

We rejoice that the Lord is using us in sowing the Word of God, with the help of your support and prayers for us. Glory to Our Great God!”

The post Ukraine’s Crisis Brings Unique Opportunities to Share the Gospel appeared first on Church Ministries Institute.

Riots Force Out Top U.S. Rabbi from Temple Mount
Apr 20th, 2014
Daily NewsINN - Gil Ronen
Categories: Today's Headlines;The Nation Of Israel

Rabbi Meir Soloveichik’s tour of the Temple Mount was cut short this morning when violent rioting broke out at the holy site. It was the first time that the Temple Mount had been open to Jews since the beginning of the observance of Passover this year.

The riots forced Rabbi Meir Soloveichik and his family, who were accompanied by Temple Institute International Director Rabbi Chaim Richman, to leave the site within two minutes of ascending to the Mount. Two police officers were injured in the confrontation, and 24 arrests have been made.

The visit provided an opportunity for the influential American rabbi to join the struggle for Jewish prayer and presence on the Temple Mount and to hear about the preparations that The Temple Institute has actively made for the Third Holy Temple.

Rabbi Meir Yaakov Soloveichik is a world renowned American Torah scholar, teacher and leader. He is the son of Rabbi Eliyahu Soloveichik, grandson of the late Rabbi Ahron Soloveichik and the great nephew of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik – all of whom are credited for founding what has become the Modern Orthodoxy movement of Judaism.

After graduating from Yeshiva College in New York City, Soloveichik received his rabbinic ordination at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, and went on to receive a PhD in religion from Princeton University.

Aside from his teaching and writing, Rabbi Soloveichik proudly became the first Orthodox rabbi to give the invocation at the opening session of the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida. He currently serves as rabbi of the Sephardic Congregation Shearith Israel in New York City, the oldest Jewish congregation in the United States. Rabbi Soloveichik was a rumored frontrunner to replace Jonathan Sacks as Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom.

“We are honored to welcome Rabbi Soloveichik,” said Rabbi Richman. “His visit to the Temple Mount this morning was both spiritual and emotional for all involved. Above all else, his visit sends a strong message to World Jewry that we cannot abandon our holiest site, emphasizing that visits to the Temple amount are not only Halakhically acceptable but are a halakhic imperative for all Jews.”

Rabbi Soloveichik was witness to the deteriorating security situation on the Temple Mount and saw, first-hand, Jews being ushered quickly and expelled from the holy site when Muslim rioters began throwing rocks. He expressed consternation at the desecration of the holy site.

“Under the current circumstances, even to go to the Temple Mount for two minutes was a tremendous privilege,” said Rabbi Soloveichik. “I am very much in favor of ascending the Temple Mount according to Halakha and after taking the appropriate halakhic precautions. It is critical for Jews to understand the importance of the Temple Mount. I applaud the increasing number of Orthodox rabbis and heads of yeshivot that are going to the holy site, and I predict we will see even more Jews ascending in the future.”

The Temple Institute is an educational, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the Biblical commandment of building a Holy Temple in Jerusalem. The Institute’s multi-disciplinary studies and outreach focus on the universal significance of the Holy Temple as a house of peace and prayer for all nations. Since its establishment 25 years ago, the Temple Institute has become the primary authority on all Temple related matters. The Institute has published tens of books, in multiple languages, including The Illustrated Encyclopedia of The Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

Neo - Nazism Raging in Ukraine?
Apr 20th, 2014
Daily NewsINN
Categories: Today's Headlines;Antisemitism

Ukraine's prime minister voiced outrage at reports that masked men in east Ukraine's main city handed out leaflets demanding Jews register or be expelled, NBC News reported Saturday.

Members of the Jewish community in the pro-Russian protest hub of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine said Friday that they were left shaken by the distribution of tracts demanding the registration of Jews.

Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said he wanted to "make a clear statement and urge the Ukrainian military and security forces and Ukrainian Department of Homeland Security urgently to find these and to bring them to justice," he said in excerpts of an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press" to air in full on Sunday.

The incident happened as around 20 Jews were leaving the synagogue earlier this week. The three hooded men handing out the pamphlets were carrying a Russian flag and the symbol of the separatist Republic of Donetsk.

Reports of the anti-Semitic tracts sparked international concern, with US Secretary of State John Kerry branding the distribution of the pamphlets as "grotesque" and US President Barack Obama expressing "disgust."

But responding to the incident, Denis Pushilin, the pro-Russian protest leader whose signature was on the documents, strenuously denied that he had anything to do with the demands.    

"The documents were handed out in our name but this was a provocation. My signature was forged," Pushilin said at a press conference on Friday.

Senior Jewish leaders in the region seemed to accept that the appearance of the anti-Semitic literature was likely designed to inflame tensions in Kiev's shadowy struggle against the eastern separatists.

"What happened of course smells of a provocation. As to who is behind it - that is an open question," the region's chief rabbi Pinkhas Vyshedski said.

But reports of the anti-Semitic tracts sparked international concern with US Secretary of State John Kerry branding the distribution of the pamphlets as "grotesque".    

"In the year 2014, after all of the miles travelled and all of the journey of history, this is not just intolerable, it's grotesque. It is beyond unacceptable," Kerry said on Thursday.    

The head of the World Jewish Congress urged all sides in the conflict to refrain from using anti-Semitic propaganda to further political goals.  

"All sides must ensure that any form of anti-Semitism is condemned and fought vigorously. Unfortunately, the Ukrainian Jewish community is caught up in a situation for which it bears no responsibility, and it needs to be protected against unfair attacks, no matter where they may come from," said WJC President Ronald Lauder in a statement.    

Moscow has repeatedly levelled allegations of anti-Semitism at the authorities in Kiev, accusing them of being controlled by far-right groups that played a prominent role in protests to oust Kremlin-backed president Viktor Yanukovych.    

The unrest in Ukraine has brought with it a rise in anti-Semitic attacks on the region's Jewish population, highlighted by such events as the stabbing of the Deputy Commander of ZAKA Kiev and Hatzalah Kiev Chairman Rabbi Hillel Cohen.

Tzvi Magen, the former Israeli ambassador to Russia, told Arutz Sheva on Wednesday night that Russia is orchestrating the confrontations in an attempt to seize greater control over Ukraine

Let the Headlines Speak
Apr 20th, 2014
Daily NewsFrom the Internet
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

80% of Syrian chemical weapons shipped out: monitors
Syria has shipped out or destroyed approximately 80 per cent of its declared chemical weapons material, the head of the international team overseeing the disarmament process said. Sigrid Kaag, special coordinator of the joint mission of the United Nations and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), said if the momentum was sustained, Syria should be able to meet its April 27 deadline to hand over all declared chemical agents.  

Ohio couple married 70 years die 15 hours apart
When Helen Felumlee passed away at the age of 92 Saturday morning, her family knew her husband Kenneth Felumlee, 91, wouldn't be slow to follow her. The couple couldn't bear to be apart very long, and Kenneth passed away only 15 1/2 hours after his wife of 70 years. "We knew when one went, the other was going to go," said daughter Linda Cody to the Zanesville Times Recorder. "We wanted them to go together, and they did."  

Giant lasers could control the weather
Zeus, God of the Sky, may be out of work, as scientists at the University of Central Florida believe they've developed a technique -- which involves pointing a high powered laser at the sky -- to induce clouds to drop rain and hurl thunderbolts.  

25 years later, western Germany is still pumping money to the east
Twenty-five years after the reunification of East and West Germany, western cities and districts continue to contribute funds to the federal budget for the east’s development, under the government’s fiscal equalization plan. But frustration at the burden has been on the climb, and a growing number of people in the donor districts argue that the transfer system is draining revenue they badly need themselves, and that it’s time for Germany to rethink its notion of "solidarity."  

Rioting After Police Limit Muslim Access to Temple Mount
Tens of Palestinian Arab youths rioted at the Temple Mount Sunday morning, after police limited Muslim access to the Mount after another series of clashes on Saturday night. Police have dispersed the riot and arrested 24 rioters; two officers suffered light injuries. The Temple Mount has now been closed to all visitors, including Jews.  

Is US as Religiously Diverse as You Think? 'No' Says Pew Study
While many Americans take pride in the country's religious diversity, a new study by the Pew Research Center shows that the United States cannot be seen as a highly diverse country, at least not from a global perspective. The U.S. ranks 68th out of 232 countries and territories on Pew's Religious Diversity Index, which shows that 95 percent of the country's population is either Christian or religiously unaffiliated, while all other religions combined account for just 5 percent of Americans.  

Turkey mulls leaving World Wide Web, minister says
Lütfi Elvan, Minister of Transport, Maritime and Communication, has said Turkey may leave the World Wide Web (www) to establish its own "ttt" protocol, amid the Turkish government's efforts to rein in global websites including Twitter and YouTube.  

Western states hold summit on controlling federal land, say 'It's simply time'
Lawmakers from Western states said Friday that the time has come for them to take control of federal lands within their borders and suggested the standoff this month between a Nevada rancher and the federal government was a problem waiting to happen.  

Human Microchipping: Under Your Skin
Apr 20th, 2014
Daily NewsSydney Morning Herald
Categories: Today's Headlines;Prophecy

Thousands of technology enthusiasts use it as the ultimate app, enabling them to lock and unlock their homes, cars, computers and mobile phones with a simple wave of a hand. But there’s a catch: they must have a microchip inserted into their bodies.

The idea may seem weird, and painful, but human microchipping appears to appeal not only to amateurs, who call themselves biohackers, but also to governments, police forces, medical authorities and security companies.

It involves using a hypodermic needle to inject an RFID (radio-frequency identification) microchip, the size of a grain of rice, usually into the person’s hand or wrist. The same kind of chip is used for tracking lost pets.

The implants send a unique ID number that can be used to activate devices such as phones and locks, and can link to databases containing limitless information, including personal details such as names, addresses and health records.

RFID chips are everywhere. Basically, if you have to swipe a card, your ID is encoded in the magnetic stripe. If you touch it to a reader, as with Myki, it has an RFID chip with your number on it linked to the relevant database with your info on it. The latest credit cards have both stripe and RFID.

Some RFID tags have a tiny battery or other power source, enabling them to operate at hundreds of metres so they don’t need to be within line of sight of a reader. As far as we know, this type cannot yet be made small enough to embed in humans.

Cybernetics scientist Dr Mark Gasson of the University of Reading, in Britain, became the first human to be infected with a computer virus, after he injected himself with a microchip in 2009 to control electronic devices in his office.

The virus was replicated on the swipecards of staff accessing his building and infected the university’s database. Nonetheless, Gasson and other scientists say a new world with mass populations of computerized people is imminent and inevitable.

Egypt Demands Compensation for 10 Plagues
Apr 20th, 2014
Daily NewsIsrael Today - Staff
Categories: Today's Headlines;The Nation Of Israel

“We demand that the State of Israel pay compensation for the ten plagues that our forefathers in Egypt suffered thousands of years ago as a result of the curses of the Jewish forefathers.” So wrote prominent Egyptian columnist Ahmad Al-Gamal shortly before the Jewish Passover, causing a great stir.

“What is written in the Torah is that Pharaoh discriminated against the children of Israel. What have we to do with it? We therefore need not suffer!” exclaimed Al-Gamal, drawing a clear difference between the Egyptian kingdom of the Pharaohs and Islamic Egypt of today. Islam accepts the biblical narrative as historical evidence.

The columnist suggested that the government in Cairo press charges against Israel: “The Jews caused the land to be stricken with locusts and all agriculture destroyed, turned the Nile red with blood so that one could drink its waters, sent darkness, frogs and killed the firstborn.”

Al-Gamal continued: “During 40 years of wandering in the desert, the Children of Israel enjoyed our goods, which they stole before abandoning us.” He also recommended that Egypt bring charges against France, Great Britain and Turkey for those nations’ historical conquests of Egypt.

The Egyptian column was picked up by the Israeli press, especially religious news outlets, which readily acknowledged all that Al-Gamal wrote as historical fact. Some Israeli columnists retorted that Egypt need first compensate Israel for keeping the Jewish forefathers as slaves and for killing all male Jewish babies in the generation prior to the Exodus.

Believe what God says he will do for us
Apr 20th, 2014
Thought For The WeekA. W. Tozer
Categories: Commentary;Exhortation

True faith requires that we believe everything that God has said about Himself, but also that we believe everthing He has said about us!

Until we believe that we are as bad as God says we are, we can never believe that He will do for us what He says He will do. Right here is where popular religion breaks down. It never quite accepts the severity of God or the depravity of man. It stresses the goodness of God and man,s misfortune. It makes sin a pardonable frailty and God is not too much concerned about it - He merely wants us to trust in His goodness.

To believe thus is to ground faith upon falsehood and build our eternal hope upon sand. God has spoken. We are all under solemn oligation to hear the affirmations of the Holy Ghost.

To manipulate the Scriptures so as to make them excuse us, compliment us and console us is to do despite to the written Word and to reject the Living Word. To believe savingly in Jesus Christ is to believe all He has said about Himself and all that the prophets and apostles have said about Him.

A dreamy sentimental faith which ignores the judgments of God against us and listens to the affirmations of the soul is as deadly as cyanide. A faith which passively accepts all of the pleasant texts of the Bible while it overlooks or rejects the stern warnngs and commandments of those same Scriptures is not the faith of which Christ and His apostles spoke.

Repent ye therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Acts 3:19 A.W.Tozer

Abbas Threatens to Disband the PA
Apr 20th, 2014
Daily NewsINN
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas hinted at plans to dismantle the Palestinian Authority (PA) over the weekend, according to a report in Yediot Aharonot, and thus enact a serious blow to Israel through international legislation. 

According to the daily, dismantling the PA would transfer all responsibility for the Palestinian Arabs to Israel, dissolving the Oslo Accords. But it would also leave Israel vulnerable to litigation over the "settlements" in international courts - and change Israel's demographics to tip the religious and ethnic majority. 

Abbas first hinted at the plan when he complained of failure in an interview with the Egyptian press. 

"A new generation arrives and asks us: 'What have you done?' I am now 79 years old, I cannot escape from passing off the flag [of the PA to someone else]," he said, in an interview with Al-Masry Al-Youm.

Blaming "settlements," he added, "the new generation sees the two-state solution is becoming less and less likely, and that there is no escape from the one-state solution."

Political Chess

PA sources told Yediot Aharonot Sunday that, in practical terms, this means that Ramallah is "seriously considering" declaring themselves a "government under occupation" at the Geneva conventions. The PA would dismantle its security forces as part of the move - which, the sources added, has already been announced as a possibility to Israeli officials. 

The proposal is apparently gaining steam on the PA side, according to the sources. 

"There are people under the leadership of the PLO and the Palestinian Authority who believe that this is the right step," the sources said. "Senior Fatah official Jibril Rajoub, for example, has already raised this proposal."

The Central Command of the PLO would have to approve the proposal, which will be raised in a special meeting next Saturday - three days before the deadline for negotiations ends. PA sources stressed, however, that there is no telling whether the move will be accepted. 

"The proposal may be raised during the meeting, but it is still unclear whether or not it will be approved," sources explained. "The meeting will see several options put on the table, and the PLO will debate them now." 

Member of the PLO Executive Committee Hanan Ashrawi said in an interview yesterday that the meeting will, in any case, include important decisions regarding the negotiations with Israel and the US.

Israelis React. . .with Skepticism

While Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has yet to react publicly to the news, at least one MK has dismissed the threat as another PA ploy. 

"Threats to dismantle the PA threaten, first and foremost, the rulership of Mahmoud Abbas," MK Orit Struk (Jewish Home/Bayit Yehudi) stated Sunday. "In one blow he will change from a man of status, power, and prestige to a has-been who will have to pay the price for his actions thus far." 

"It will be much easier and cheaper for Israel to be concerned with the humanitarian needs of Israeli Arabs in Judea and Samaria once it can dock the budgetary costs of the PA police forces (who do not deal with terrorism to begin with), releasing terrorists, and Abbas's deposits to his and his family's foreign bank accounts," she added. 

Later Sunday, Jewish Home Chairman Naftali Bennett also scoffed at the threat. 

"Abbas encourages terror as the head of the PA, and now he threatens us by saying he will resign from his post," Bennett stated. "With threats like this, who needs good blessings?"

"If he wants to leave, we won't stop him," he continued. "The Jewish people will not negotiate with a gun to their heads." 

Another Day, Another Empty Threat

The threat is the latest development in the breakdown of peace talks, which fell apart several weeks ago after Abbas reneged on the talks' terms by applying for membership in fifteen different international conventions. 

Many fear the PA will apply for legitimacy and statehood by enacting the move, and that Israel will be tried in international courts for settling its own - legal - land in Judea and Samaria. 

But, as Bennett himself noted earlier this month, any unilateral moves are likely to hurt none other than the PA itself. 

"A lawsuit against us in the Hague will have Israel join the ranks of other distinguished countries brought to court there, such as the US and UK, and no one is telling London to withdraw from their land over it," he stated. 

If anything, according to Bennett, "Israel and other countries should bring the PA to the Hague over war crimes." 

"There are two reasons for this: first - the PA's killing and terror against innocent people," he continued. "The Palestinians deliberately fired thousands of rockets at schools, hospitals and kindergartens. Shooting to harm civilians is clearly a war crime." 

The second accusation Israel should launch against the PA, according to Bennett, is over its ongoing incitement against Israel. 

"Every month the PA issues stipends to murders of women and children that Israel released [as part of preconditions to negotiations - ed.], as well as to those who are still in prison" Bennett noted. "They tell murderers: go kill a Jew and instead of receiving compensation now, you'll receive compensation later."