Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13

The Earth is Full of the Goodness of the Lord - Psalm 33:5
Nov 14th, 2019
Morning MeditationF.B. Meyer
Categories: Meditation;Inspirational;Book Study

The Psalmist means that there is no spot in it where the traces and footprints of God's love may not be discerned, if only the eyes and the heart are opened. Just as every corner of a room which faces the south is filled with the morning sunlight, unless artificial and violent means are adopted to keep it out, so every part of human life is full of God's loving-kindness; but may not your eyes be blinded? May there not be more than you suppose? May you not be so occupied with the one irksome thing in it as to be oblivious to ten thousand marks of tender compassion and unobtrusive mercy!

Your chamber is very bare and comfortless; but it is part of the earth, and it is therefore full of God's loving-kindness. Your home seems uncongenial and trying; but it must be full to the brim of loving-kindness. Your daily life is hard and difficult; but there is as much loving-kindness in it as if it were easy and prosperous. There is indeed more loving-kindness in these trying and difficult surroundings than in happier ones. It costs God more to give us pain. We need more love, and we get it. We should rejoice in it if our eyes were opened.

The loveless heart can detect nothing but disappointment and unkindness. But the heart that loves, and sings, and rejoices in the Lord, detects the evident tokens of God's love; just as the child of nature knows when friend or foe has passed through the forest-glade, by indications which would be un-intelligible to our unpractised eye. Echo always answers in the same key in which we address her!

Security Challenges Awaiting the Next Israeli Prime Minister
Nov 14th, 2019
CommentaryYAAKOV LAPPIN/JNS.ORG
Categories: The Nation Of Israel

Whichever Israeli government ends up coming to power will be faced with a set of urgent security challenges in a range of arenas all at the same time. Critical decisions on these challenges will be the order of the day for the prime minister and his Security Cabinet.

The fragile state of the current security situation was summed up in a brief yet telling statement by IDF Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi. He said both the northern and southern fronts are tense and "might deteriorate into conflict, despite the fact that our enemies are not interested in war. The IDF has executed an accelerated preparation process."

Kochavi identified the northern front as Israel's top strategic challenge, which takes two forms. The first is the establishment of the Iran-led attack axis in Syria. The second is the Hezbollah-Iranian program to convert unguided rockets into precision-guided missiles in Lebanon and point them at sensitive Israeli strategic sites.

"Iran leads both of these efforts by utilizing the territory of states with limited sovereignty," Kochavi warned.

In recent weeks and months, the Israeli defense establishment has been dealing with a significant increase in Iranian attack plots against Israel throughout the Middle East, particularly in Syria. Attack attempts have risen, both qualitatively and quantitatively.

The Iranian Quds Force, commanded by Gen. Qassem Soleimani, has stepped up efforts to organize and orchestrate the attacks.

As a result, the IDF has been on high alert on the Syrian front. The next Israeli government will have to make tough decisions about the future of the "war between wars"--Israel's ongoing low-profile military and intelligence campaign to disrupt Iranian entrenchment in Syria. The war between wars has been very successful at disrupting Tehran's regional force buildup without plunging the Israeli civilian home front into a full-scale conflict.

Allowing Iran to build a war machine in Syria, as it has already done in Lebanon, is not an option Israel can live with. But Tehran is vowing to retaliate for future Israeli preventative strikes, meaning the risks of an escalation are significantly higher than they were in the past.

Israel must not allow Iran to benefit from the illogical idea that it is free to construct missile, drone, and terror attack bases in Syria, but that Israel must be punished for eliminating these threats when it detects them.

Russia's potential role in any future escalation with the Iranian axis in Syria is a question mark that must be carefully taken into account by any future government. Russia's military presence in Syria means it has become Israel's neighbor, with all the ensuing implications.

Meanwhile, as part of its face-off with the Trump administration and in response to American sanctions, Iran is gradually reactivating parts of its nuclear program. The next Israeli government will have to gauge American willingness to take military action in the event of an Iranian break-out to the bomb and decide what Israel's own red line would be in such a scenario.

In light of growing American isolationist tendencies, Israel must be prepared for the possibility of finding itself alone in a military confrontation with Iran and its proxies--including a situation in which it alone needs to target Iran's nuclear sites and deal with the war against Hezbollah and Gazan terror factions that would likely follow.

Gaza, for its part, represents the least stable arena in Israel's environment. Hamas is currently avoiding an escalation as it seeks to follow through on talks with Egypt and the international community aimed at searching for ways to avoid an economic meltdown in the Gaza Strip. But should those efforts fail, Hamas could turn to escalation to avoid the prospect of a domestic revolt. 

The Iranian-backed Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) has been testing Hamas's control over Gaza in recent months, initiating escalations with Israel as it competes with Hamas for power and prestige. PIJ is free from Hamas's governing woes and has no responsibility for Gaza's two million inhabitants or economic problems.

The next Israeli government will have to formulate a policy that first decides how far Jerusalem is willing to go to try to avoid an escalation by assisting Gaza's economy without allowing the terror factions to build up their forces freely. If those efforts fail, it will have to formulate the objective of a new Israeli operation in Gaza in response to an escalation.

Some 40,000 well-armed Hamas and PIJ operatives are active in Gaza, and the two terror factions have a combined arsenal of over 20,000 rockets, all pointed at Israeli cities. Should the Gaza arena catch fire, the next Israeli government will urgently have to define what it wants out of an operation: should it adopt the goal of severely harming Hamas while keeping it in power, or of toppling the Hamas regime altogether? 

The latter scenario would in turn raise the prospects of armed jihadist gangs running Gaza in the style of Somalia or Israel occupying the crowded Strip indefinitely, establishing military rule, and getting bogged down in years of draining security operations.

The second Palestinian arena, the West Bank, also remains highly flammable, although Israel is far more able to influence this area due to its presence on the ground. This presence is what enables a tight intelligence network and nightly counter-terrorism raids. The ongoing security coordination in place with the Palestinian Authority has proven highly beneficial to both sides.

The defense establishment's formula of "mowing the lawn" in the West Bank, through security raids that target terrorists while minimizing disruption to the remainder of Palestinians and encouraging economic opportunities, has succeeded for the time being at maintaining relative calm.

Yet the future of the West Bank represents a loaded political-diplomatic-security issue that the next Israeli government will have to engage. The government will need to decide whether the status quo is viable, particularly after P.A. leader Mahmoud Abbas departs the scene.

Meanwhile, domestically, the government will need to approve a new budget for the IDF's next multi-year program, which will be essential for restructuring the IDF and preparing it for future battlefields. Navigating the friction between the ministries of defense and finance, and coming up with the necessary defense budget to meet Israel's very large security needs, will be another formidable challenge the future government will have to address.

Let the Headlines Speak
Nov 14th, 2019
Daily NewsFrom the Internet
Categories: Today's Headlines

Elkin: If Hamas does not stop the rocket fire – it will be harmed
“If Hamas does not act to stop the Islamic Jihad from firing – it will be harmed. It has no immunity,” Elkin said in an interview with Reshet Bet radio. “We see Hamas as responsible for what is happening in the Gaza Strip.”

Rabbi blesses Trump: Who hast imparted honor to flesh and blood
Rabbi Yosef Yitzhak Yaakovson blesses President Trump ahead of election conference. ‘President who cares for every person and every Jew.’ (video)

Assassination of Terrorist Mastermind Foretold in Torah
On Monday night, the IDF succeeded in eliminating Baha Abu Al-Ata, one of the most powerful leaders of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, in an airstrike deep inside Gaza…. “It is clear we are in the days before the final redemption and everything should be understood in that context,” Rabbi Fish told Breaking Israel News as a preface to his statements. He noted the Biblical source for the terrorist’s name appeared in Abraham’s Covenant of the Parts from the Torah portion that was read just three days ago.

After Bombarding Tel Aviv, Islamic Jihad Now Threatens to Attack Jerusalem
A massive barrage of rockets have been fired from Gaza into Israel on Tuesday following Israel’s overnight assassination of Islamic Jihad leader Abu Al-Ata. Now, in a recent announcement, the Islamic Jihad, who has been firing non-stop rockets onto Israel’s southern and central region, has said that they are now focusing their sights on Jerusalem reports Kol Hair. The capital’s Mayor, Moshe Leon, has convened an emergency meeting with municipal security agencies.

Rocket barrages on the south, IDF continues to strike
The rocket fire from Gaza into Israeli territory continued on Tuesday evening. Sirens were sounded in Ashkelon and in a number of communities in the Gaza envelope. Meanwhile, the IDF continues to attack from the air terror targets in the Gaza Strip. Among the targets that have been attacked in recent hours: An underground launching pad belonging to the Islamic Jihad in northern Gaza from which rockets were launched earlier on Israeli territory, an observation post used by the terrorist organization, an underground site for weapons production and underground military infrastructure.

Supreme Court allows Sandy Hook families to sue gunmaker Remington over its AR-15 used by school shooter
The U.S. Supreme Court has decided to allow families of Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims to sue Remington Arms, the manufacturer of the AR-15 rifle used in the deadly 2012 shooting that left 26 dead.

U.S. drone captured footage of Turkish-allied fighters targeting Kurdish civilians
The Wall Street Journal reports that the United States has drone-based footage of Turkish-backed fighters targeting civilians during the sweep into northern Syria, both a war crime and evidence that the Turkish incursion was not, as the Turkish government has claimed, aimed solely at Kurdish militants. It is not the only video evidence of apparent war crimes—the Journal reports that the U.S. sent up a monitoring drone after multiple videos posted to social media showed roadside executions and the assassination of a Kurdish politician as U.S. troops were retreating from the area.

5.4 magnitude earthquake in SE France; Nuclear power plant shut down
Southeast France experienced a 5.4 earthquake on Armistice Day. It occurred at 11:52 yesterday morning local time (5:52 AM eastern standard time), with the epicenter near the boundary between the Drôme and Ardèche départements. There was some damage to structures, including churches and houses. Four people were injured, one gravely: a woman was severely injured when scaffolding collapsed and fell on her. Another concern is France’s nuclear fleet. Two nuclear power generating stations are located in the area: the Cruas-Meysse plant in the Ardèche (23 km, or 14 mi. from the epicenter) and the Tricastin plant in the Drôme (26 km, or 16 mi. from the epicenter). While neither plant reported damage, Le Monde is reporting that the three operating reactors at Cruas were shut down as a precautionary measure.

Islamic Jihad says not ready for ceasefire; PM: Israel will do what’s needed
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened to continue targeting Palestinian Islamic Jihad on Wednesday as the terrorist group announced that it was far from ready to engage in ceasefire talks. “We are not talking of mediation, it’s not appropriate to talk about it,” A spokesperson for Palestinian Islamic Jihad said.

Israel threatens to assassinate Islamic Jihad leader in Damascus – report
Israel has reportedly threatened Palestinian Islamic Jihad that it will assassinate the group’s leader Ziad al-Nakhla if the rocket fire continues… Al-Nakhla is said to be based in Damascus. According to a report in the Arabic language al-Hayat newspaper, Israel’s message was delivered to the Palestinian terrorist faction by United Nations Special Envoy for the Middle East Nickolay Mladenov.

Egyptian mediators launch bid to secure Israel-Gaza truce
Egyptian officials said on Tuesday Cairo is attempting to de-escalate tensions between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza amid the worst bout of fighting in recent months. The officials say Egypt’s general intelligence agency has stepped up communications and has “opened channels” with the U.S. and the European Union.

Israel Under Attack As Over 160 Rockets Fired From Gaza Strip By Palestinian Terror Group Islamic Jihad, Netanyahu Says ‘Prepare For Days Of Fighting’
As money and missiles provided by Iran continue to flow into the hands of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad, the attacks coming out of Gaza Strip against Israel continue to increase in both frequency and ferocity. In the early morning hours today, after 6 hours of unending rocket fire from Gaza Strip, the IDF roared into action and began neutralizing targets.

NSW, Sydney, QLD bushfires live updates: Police investigate 7 fires
After firefighters faced harrowing conditions across NSW yesterday, and conditions are worsening in Queensland today.

‘Scores of people’ injured as very large tornado hits KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
A very large tornado hit New Hanover and Greytown, north of Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal (KZN), South Africa on November 12, 2019, destroying homes, downing trees and power poles, and leaving ‘scores of people’ injured. The tornado was just one part of severe weather affecting KZN today in which at least 3 people lost their lives.

Major Arctic storm hits USA and Canada, record cold temperatures spreading into southern Plains
The Arctic airmass that has settled into the Plains will continue to spread record cold temperatures south and eastward into the Ohio Valley and down into the southern Plains today, November 12. The storm is also affecting Canadian Maritimes since November 11.

Judge Slams Foster Parents for ‘Westernizing’ Muslim Children, Letting them Eat Bacon
A judge has slammed a pair of foster parents, describing their behavior as “abhorrent” over claims they fed Muslim children bacon while in their care.

Sweden to Use Money from Dead Swedes to Fund Drag Queen Story Hour Events
The Swedish Government is investing large sums of money from dead Swedes to fund Drag Queen Story Hour events across Sweden.

New San Francisco DA okays hookers, peeing in public
As of this weekend, the City by the Bay has a new, incoming District Attorney. Chesa Boudin ran on a social justice platform that’s pretty far to the left, even by San Francisco standards. And now that he’s taking charge, the police are going to have a lot less work clogging up their schedules. That’s because Boudin plans to “decriminalize” a whole raft of lower-level crimes. These include public urination, camping on the sidewalks and peeing in public.

Google Responds To Reports Of Its Not-So-Secret Health Data Collection
oogle responded to a report that revealed the tech giant was working on a secret project to collect health data on millions of Americans.

School Passes Out Flyer To Seven-Year-Olds Discussing ‘Implants, Pills, Condoms And More’
A children’s elementary school distributed a flyer to children as young as second grade that promoted a clinic hosted by a medical volunteer corps. There was one problem: one side of the flyer advertised “free birth control and pre-pregnancy services” as well as free “implants, pills, condoms and more.”

Are You Ready For A Catastrophically Cold Winter? Here’s What The Mainstream Media Won’t Tell You…
Experts are warning us that this will be a “freezing, frigid, and frosty” winter, and even though the official beginning of winter is still over a month away, it already feels like that in much of the country right now.

Horowitz Report Will Be Damning, Criminal Referrals Likely
The question as to what extent the senior intelligence and federal law enforcement officials weaponized the most trusted institutions in our nation should be answered and made public for the American people…

World’s Ultra-Rich Preparing For Market Crash, UBS Warns
“The rapidly changing geopolitical environment is the biggest concern for investors around the world.” 

Culture Wars - Silencing Voices Opposed to Lgbt Worldview
Nov 14th, 2019
CommentaryJONATHON VAN MAREN/BRIDGEHEAD.CA
Categories: Warning

Earlier this week, I wrote that things in Canada are moving very, very quickly to the point where the LGBT movement has the power to begin imposing the worldview of the Sexual Revolution on the country--including Christian communities. 

Angry, abusive mobs are attempting to de-platform anyone who refuses to say that biological men can become women. Alberta's NDP attempted to shut down Christian schools that refused to host gay clubs (and would have done so if they'd won a second mandate). And in just a few days since I noted that things are getting worse, two more very concerning indicators of where we're at have surfaced.

First, a seventeen-year-old girl was suspended from Stonewall Collegiate high school this week--for disagreeing with the decision to replace the black and red poppy that has been traditionally used to honor veterans with a rainbow poppy that has apparently been created to celebrate the LGBT contribution to Canada's military. 

According to the girl -- Natalie -- teachers, counselors, and some of the students began pushing to switch to the rainbow poppy, and she disagreed. She "typed up papers on a computer, printed them off, and taped them up in the halls" to express her respectful disagreement, including a few quotes from some news stories on the issue. 

Teachers promptly tore the papers down and took them to the principal, who hauled Natalie into the office and berated her with the vice-principal, yelling at her and accusing her of "hate speech" and "endangering the physical safety of a group of individuals [LGBT students.]" 

They were so angry that they brought her almost to tears, but says she "had to be the voice for all those families who were greatly disrespected and offended"--there are several World War II veterans in her own family. She remains suspended for "hate speech," although her father told the media that he was very proud of her for taking a stand. 

It is not particularly surprising that expressing even mild disagreement with the LGBT agenda can get you kicked out of a Canadian public school these days, but it is jarring that the controversy revolved around a rainbow poppy, a thing I didn't even know existed until this story broke. 

Remembrance Day has always been a uniquely unifying event in Canada, where those of us from all backgrounds can gather to commemorate and honor those who died to fight for freedom overseas. It seems that the LGBT movement cannot even leave that alone, but must forcibly insert themselves into this day of commemoration and demand that people take a side on their ideological agenda.

The second event this week is something I've noted would happen eventually: Conservative party leader, Andrew Scheer, was asked by a journalist, whether or not he thought "homosexuality was a sin." 

We are now at the point where socially conservative leaders will be interrogated not on policy, but on what their personal religious beliefs are--and if they refuse to say that they believe specific sexual behaviors or lifestyles are good and moral, than they are promptly pilloried in the press (most of whom don't even believe in the concept of sin to start with, except with the possible exception of "homophobia.") 

The media knows that Andrew Scheer has a reputation for being the sort of Christian who actually believes in the teachings of the Church, and thus they want to out him as bigot unfit for office.

Scheer answered the question, but it was not what they were looking for: "We made it very clear during the election, in the last few months and years, that our party is inclusive. We believe in equality of the rights of all Canadians. My personal opinion is that I respect the rights of every single Canadian. And my personal commitment is to stand up -- that is my personal opinion -- my personal commitment to Canadians is to always fight for the rights of all Canadians, including LGBTQ Canadians." 

To which the media's collective response was: Okay, whatever, but what do you specifically think of the sexual things they do in the bedroom? Do you or do you not approve of those? Canadians want to know!

The immediate media consensus was that if Scheer refuses to march in a Pride Parade (he has consistently affirmed that he will not) or come out and announce his specific moral and religious approval of homosexuality, then he probably could never be prime minister. 

Global News announced that "Scheer's silence on a question of 'sin' a barrier to Conservative election hopes." Maclean's published an op-ed on the homosexuality "question that haunts Andrew Scheer." And the insufferable radio host Charles Adler took the whole thing even farther, tweeting that: "Millions of Canadians are living together without being officially married. 

Someone might frame a question this way: 'Andrew Scheer, if 2 Cdns are living together without being officially married, are they living in sin?' The answer is 'NO, I wish to serve Cdns, not judge them.'"

Got that? It is not enough that Andrew Scheer says that the issue of same-sex "marriage" is settled, or that he believes that all Canadians have inherent value. The media response to that is: Yes, but do you approve of what they are specifically into, sexually speaking? 

The LGBT movement and their media puppets now demand that the state come into the bedroom and remain there to applaud any and all goings-on. It doesn't matter that millions of Canadians have the same moral beliefs on sexual matters that Scheer does, including Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, and Orthodox Jews. 

Trudeau and Singh don't get the same questions because the media knows that they are hypocrites who publicly repudiate non-negotiable tenets of their respective religions, but that Scheer appears to actually believe the teachings of his Church.

I think we may have finally arrived at the point where the media simply reads out Bible verses to Christian politicians and then demands to know whether or not said politician will repudiate those passages, especially those that discuss sexuality. 

Western democracies have long rejected the idea of a religious test for office, and grilling politicians on their moral convictions is, as many secular commentators have already noted, deeply disturbing. But as the LGBT movement continues to conquer cultural ground, nothing is safe.