Psalm 49 - Ian White

Israel frontline: from desolation to restoration

Jerusalem is Israel´s capital

IS 'hides fighters among refugees'

Reblogged from www.news.com.au  May 17, 2015 12:58PM

Islamic State is exploiting the Mediterranean refugee crisis by smuggling fighters into Europe. Source: AAP

 

ISLAMIC State is exploiting the Mediterranean refugee crisis by smuggling fighters into Europe, an investigation has found. 

THE extremist group is working with human trafficking gangs to transport its members into the west by hiding them among refugees on boats, intelligence analysts said.
Sources claim IS is also capitalising on the emergency in the region to fund its terrorist activities by taxing people smugglers. Abdul Basit Haroun, an adviser to the intelligence service of the Libyan government, said he had spoken to boat owners who operate in IS-controlled areas who told him the group takes a 50 per cent cut of their income. The proceeds can run to tens of thousands of US dollars per vessel.

He told BBC 5 live Investigates: "They use the boats for their people who they want to send to Europe as the European police don't know who is from IS and who is a normal refugee or not. "They sit down separately, they come alone and in the boat they are not scared at all. They are for IS - 100 per cent." The investigation also uncovered separate claims that two Egyptian brothers travelled from the Libyan city of Sirte to Europe in March after they were told by human traffickers that IS offered easier, safer and cheaper journeys to the West. They revealed how IS offers people wishing to migrate the chance to stay and fight in Libya. If they insist on leaving for Europe, all migrants are given one week of religious education, which they are told is to safeguard them against Europe's temptations. 

Earlier this year, European border agency Frontex warned it is possible that foreign fighters are using "irregular migration routes". Frontex warned in its annual risk analysis that with record numbers of migrants crossing the border illegally, resources are devoted to their immediate care "rather than screening and obtaining information on their basic characteristics such as nationality". 

Another report published earlier this week raised concerns about the involvement of IS in the human trafficking trade. The analysis, produced by the Global Initiative against Transnational Organised Crime, said the lucrative coastal migrant trade in Libya "dwarfs any existing trafficking and smuggling businesses in the region, and has particularly strengthened groups with a terrorist agenda, including the Islamic State". 

This week Scotland Yard revealed that more than 700 British extremists are now known to have travelled to Syria, with a "significant proportion" making the journey to join IS.

Netanyahu: Jerusalem is the capital of the Jewish people alone

Islamic extremism threatens city and entire world, premier says at Jerusalem Day ceremony; President Rivlin says Jerusalem belongs to all of it citizens – Arabs and Jews.

By Barak Ravid | May 17, 2015 | 8:46 PM | 5

Netanyahu at Ammunition Hill, May 17, 2015. Photo by Emil Salman

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Jerusalem was always the capital of the Jewish people alone – and not of any other nation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday night during a Jerusalem Day address at Ammunition Hill.
"This is our home and here we will stay," the prime minister added.
That said, Netanyahu stressed that Israel ensures that Jerusalem will be an open and tolerant city.
"Only under Israeli rule is the freedom of worship in Jerusalem guaranteed for all religions," he said. "Believers pray at their holy sites, not despite our control over the city but because of it."
The prime minister described Jerusalem as a "touchstone that puts us to the test: To what extent are we willing to hold onto it and defend it?"

Netanyahu vowed that Israel will never come to terms with terror and will hunt down its proponents. "We will fight incitement, which stems from denial of our attachment to Jerusalem and our heritage."
"Who opposes our presence in Jerusalem?" the prime minister asked.  "Those who refuse to accept out right to live as a sovereign nation in our country. They regard us as a foreign weed that needs to be pulled out of this ground." 

In a more conciliatory speech, President Reuven Rivlin said that, while Jerusalem for him is both "Zion and Zionism," it doesn't belong only to its history.
"It belongs first and foremost to its people, to all its residents – secular, religious and Haredi; Arabs and Jews," Rivlin said. "In united Jerusalem there is a west and an east. It has no step-children."
"We must be honest with ourselves when we look at the massive gulf between the west of the city and the east," the president urged his audience. "We may have united the city, but we have barely begun the task of bringing about its economic and social unity.
"While western Jerusalem is achieving impressive progress and development, in the east we find neglect and despair." 

Clashes in Damascus Gate
Netanyahu and Rivlin's speeches were made as an annual 'flag march' made its way through the Old City, sparking clashes between Palestinians and police and between Jewish and Palestinian protesters.
The flag march, held by national-religious participants, passed through the Muslim quarter of the Old City after a petition by left-wing groups to change its route was rejected by the High Court of Justice.

The last few days have seen a concerted effort by rabbis, police commanders and organizers of the march to persuade participants to abstain from violence, which characterized such events in previous years. Hundreds of policemen are expected to secure the march, while leftist activists from an organization called “Jerusalem Won’t Tolerate Racism” are planning a demonstration opposing the march of flags.
Palestinian demonstrators are confronted by Israeli police during the 'flag march' in Jerusalem's Old City, May 17, 2015. (AFP)
 
Dozens of Palestinians threw rocks at policemen, injuring two officers. One of the officers sustained head injuries. Earlier, police stopped a brawl between Jews and Palestinians and arrested one Palestinian.
In the Jerusalem neighborhood of Ramat Sharet, ultra-Orthodox children threw rocks at firemen. In Silwan, firemen were also pelted with rocks, and Border Police arrested a 17-year-old Palestinian. Border Police also arrested a Palestinian man suspected of throwing rocks in Isawiya in north Jerusalem.
A few hundred left-wing activists are protesting the march at Safra Square, near city hall, yelling slogans such as "Jerusalem will not be silent, outlaw racism."
The new Public Security Minister Yariv Levin said in Jerusalem that he was briefed by the precinct commander and that so far he has seen "an orderly and reinforced deployment on all fronts."

Jonathan Cahn at the Capitol - Follow Baal and go to Hell

How All Things Can Work Together for Good

Via www.blogos.org/ 
By Laurel J. Davis
See Laurel's blog at The Reluctant First Lady

Romans 8:28 promises that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. That's encouraging news for all of us who are going through some things. For no matter what you face or fear, if you love God and you're willing to allow His purpose to be fulfilled in you (that's His purpose for you, not your purpose for you), good will sooner or later come out of it for you.

Of course, such words spill out easily on a keyboard. But how do we actually lay hold to them so that we can put them into operation in the very real problems we face every day? Until God's done working it all out for our good, how do we deal with things in the meantime?

The first thing we must do is this: Have faith in God (Mark 11:22; cf. Hebrews 11:6). Notice, we're not supposed to just have faith but to have faith in God. Oh, how often we end up having faith in everybody and everything else but the Almighty! This may solve some of our problems some of the time, but for how long and how well? No, there's nothing better than to put our faith in the love, power, wisdom and mercy of our Majestic Deliver!

To have faith in God, do these few things:

1. Trust God with all your heart and don't try to figure it all out on your own limited wisdom (Proverbs 3:5).

2. Faith in God to help you through your troubles comes from reading and understanding His Word, the Bible (Romans 10:17). Scripture is profitable. It equips your life (2 Timothy 3:16). Read and know it for yourself and your faith in God will be strengthened.

3. Seek God's will and guidance in everything you do, and He will point the way (Proverbs 3:6).

4. Don't focus so much on your circumstances to the point that you feel overwhelmed and discouraged. Instead, focus on the all-knowing and all-powerful help of your faithful heavenly Father (1 Corinthians 5:7).

5. Trusting God includes accepting the fact that His way is best.

The next step in dealing with our daily problems is to obey God. The promise of Romans 8:28 is for those who love Him. But Jesus said, If you love Me, keep My commandments (John 14:15-16). And, of course, in order to know what His commandments are, you have to read the Bible. God gives us more than just Ten Commandments. The New Testament is just as rich as the Old Testament with the Lord's guiding instructions that are intended to protect us in this world. God doesn't need your cooperation in order to help you. But He certainly expects it. See what Jesus said about the man who obeys Him versus the man who doesn't, in Matthew 7:24-27 (cf. Luke 6:47-48). Who endures?

A third thing to do is to stand. That means to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might by putting on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:10-11). The "whole armor of God" consists of truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith above all to quench the devil's "fiery darts," salvation, and the Word of God which is a sword (vv. 14-17). Plus, of course, there is prayer and watching (v. 18) because standing in the strength and power of God has to include diligent communication with Him, along with persevering anticipation for deliverance.

Realize that we are at war in this world, and that God doesn't promise to keep us trouble-free but to keep us protected when the trouble comes. If you truly yield your life to God, then the battles you face will indeed all work together for your good.

Trust God, love and obey Him, persevere (stand) in Him with all prayer and patience. Then watch your victory come.

What things should I give up to follow Jesus?

Reblogged from http://www.blogos.org/christianlifeandgrowth/give-up-follow-Jesus.php#.VVFepKXhPsM.facebook
Hailey Vansell

A common misunderstanding that occurs in Christianity is the belief that we have to "earn" God's favor. Every religion that exists (besides Christianity) requires human effort in order to gain eternal life, salvation, or entrance into paradise. This is what makes Christianity so radical: it requires nothing on the part of the person except faith in the work that Christ already accomplished on the Cross. Any Christian group that claims you have to do something in order to earn salvation is teaching false doctrine and misunderstands the entirety of the Gospel. "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast," (Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV). As this verse says, salvation is, in no way, based off of our efforts to earn God's favor. It is a gift, given by God, based on the grace He chooses to show.

Although salvation is given as a gift and requires nothing in return in order to receive it, Jesus does call us to give up certain things in order to follow Him. I understand that this can be confusing, but just to clarify, salvation is given as a gift alone; nothing is required in return for the gift of salvation. On the other hand, once we have received the gift of salvation, Jesus Christ desires and commands certain things from us. One of the first things He commands us to do is to give up our self-reliance and self-trust in order to trust in Him alone. Before coming to Jesus Christ, human beings have nothing to trust in besides themselves. They trust in their knowledge, jobs, appearance, and possessions to bring them meaning in life. They trust in themselves for security, safety, and control. When you come to Christ, He commands you to give this up and to find those things (satisfaction, contentment, security, trust, etc.) in Him alone.

Along these same lines, Jesus calls up to give ourselves up to Him and His sovereign control and will (Matthew 6:25-26). Before we come to Christ, we pursue the things that we believe will bring us meaning, purpose, and satisfaction. Instead, God calls us to give up our desires and to follow Him. This is exactly what the majority of missionaries do. Often, these God-following people do not desire to live in an impoverished nation or in the jungle (without electricity and running water) for the rest of their lives simply because it sounds like a fun vocation. No, the majority of missionaries desire to honor God with their lives and they desire to do what they have been called to do more than they desire their own selfish goals/dreams/ambitions. God calls us to place His desires above our own, Him above our family, and His Will above our will. As difficult as this sounds, you will never find more joy and peace than when you are living your life according to God's Will.

I would encourage you to read through the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in the New Testament). The Gospel accounts recount the life of Jesus Christ (God in the flesh) during His life and ministry on earth. Jesus talked with many people about what He calls them to give up in order to follow Him. Ultimately, it boils down to your affections. God calls you to give up anything that you love more than Him.

 If you love friends, family, money, or yourself more than you love Him, He is calling you to either give it up or love Him more. God is a jealous God (Exodus 34:14) and He does not want to compete for your affections. God is more precious and beautiful than any treasure you could possibly acquire on earth. Instead of pursuing the temporary things of this life, pursue Christ (for He is of infinite worth and value). "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?" (Matthew 16:26). 

This should be our mindset during our life on earth. We need to focus on Christ and pursue Him instead of pursuing the temporary treasures this world has to offer. If we lose our soul, what worth will our temporary possessions and reputation earn us after we die? Absolutely nothing. On the other hand, if we have absolutely NOTHING on earth, except for Christ, then when this life ends, we have EVERYTHING to gain through Christ.

Mental Health and Life Transitions: Personality Disorders

Reblogged from http://www.blogos.org/christianlifeandgrowth/Christian-personality-disorder.php

 

Introduction

By T. Jaden Ozwell

This is a series about the impact personality disorders, depression, and anxiety have on the life transitions of twenty-somethings and beyond. The fourth and final article will address how mental illness has affected me spiritually.

Part 2: Depression
Part 3: Anxiety Disorders
Part 4: The Church

Mental illness is always a difficult topic to have a discussion about. Those who have a mental illness are often wary of speaking of it because of the stigma and poor responses that society — and the church — often give. Those who do not have mental illness often struggle, understandably, to grasp how such illnesses affect the daily lives of their parishioners, friends, and loved ones.

As a twenty-something with mental illness, I would like to offer my perspective to the discussion. Specifically, I'd like to speak to the ways mental illness affects the life transitions which twenty-somethings — and in many ways all ages — already find so daunting. Transitioning from school to work, from home to on-your-own, from one type of "free" to another and very different type of "free," on and on to marriage and kids and...and...

My own story is the only one I can speak from, so I will use myself as examples throughout this series. I have been diagnosed with a Personality Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, and a couple kinds of Anxiety Disorders to boot. So, I will write on each of these major sectors of mental illness, with a fourth and final article addressing how these disorders have affected me spiritually, and how the church might be of help.

I will start with how my Personality Disorder has affected my twenty-something transitional experiences. Read More 
 

Jerusalem

Yerushalayim Shel Zahav / Jerusalém de Ouro

Ouçam essa canção em homenagem a Jerusalém. "Orai pela paz de Jerusalém; prosperarão aqueles que te amam." (Salmos 122:6)Confiram a tradução abaixo. Quem gostar, compartilha.Jerusalém de OuroO vento das montanhas, claro como o vinhoE o cheiro dos pinheirosÉ levado pela brisa do crepúsculoJunto com o som dos sinos.E no sono profundo da árvore e da pedra,Presa em um sonho,Está a cidade solitáriaE no seu coração - um muro.Voltamos aos poços de água,Ao mercado e à praçaO shofar chama no monte do temploNa cidade velhaE em cavernas nas montanhasMilhares de sóis brilhamDescemos novamente ao Mar MortoPelo caminho de JericóJerusalém de ouroDe bronze e de luzPor que não ser eu o violino para todas as suas canções?Porém hoje venho cantar para tiE te elogiarEu sou o menor dos teus filhos jovensE um dos últimos poetasTeu nome queima os lábiosComo o beijo de um serafimSe eu te esquecer JerusalémQue é toda de ouroJerusalém de ouroDe bronze e de luzPor que não ser eu o violino para todas as suas canções?Por que não ser eu o violino para todas as suas canções?

Posted by Marcos Pereira on Saturday, May 2, 2015