OUR WORLD: WELCOME TO PALISTINE by Caroline Glick, Jerusalem Post

The Jerusalem Post one of the main sources of media in Israel. I am posting this, not because I don't love Muslims who have been terribly deceived and brainwashed, but because most Americans don't have a clue what it's like here. We have friends in ministry in Gaza, and in the West Bank (Judea and Samaria). It is utter insanity that the US is putting $ and weapons in the hands of Fatah, who has taken credit for the suicide bombing last week in Eilat. I think all US politicians should be required to go visit some of these places for a few days to open their blind eyes. The Bible says the "Truth will set us free."  Please continue to pray fervently for Jesus to invade these areas in dreams and visions and sending believers as witnesses--AND for protection for those brave believers. Nothing is too hard for God. If you are interested in reading a perspective of Israelis in the aftermath of the bombing in Eilat please visit my friend Christine's blog: http://christine-theview.blogspot.com/

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The Jerusalem Post Internet
Edition

Our World: Welcome to Palestine
by Caroline Glick
THE JERUSALEM POST Jan. 30, 2007
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In the world of international diplomacy few issues receive
more wall-to-wall support than the notion that it is
essential to establish a Palestinian state. Leaders
worldwide are so busy speaking of how essential it is for a
State of Palestine to be founded that none of them seems to
have noticed that it already exists.

This state was officially founded in the summer of 2005,
when Israel removed its military forces and civilian
population from the Gaza Strip and so established the first
wholly independent Palestinian state in history. Israel's
destruction of four Israeli communities in Northern Samaria
and curtailment of its military operations in the area set
the conditions for statehood in that area as well.

And so it is that as statesmen and activists worldwide
loudly proclaim their commitment to establishing the
sovereign State of Palestine, they miss the fact that
Palestine exists. And it is a nightmare.

In the State of Palestine 88 percent of the public feels
insecure. Perhaps the other 12 percent are members of the
multitude of regular and irregular militias. For in the
State of Palestine the ratio of
police/militiamen/men-under-arms to civilians is higher than
in any other country on earth.

In the State of Palestine, two-year-olds are killed and no
one cares. Children are woken up in the middle of the night
and murdered in front of their parents. Worshipers in
mosques are gunned down by terrorists who attend competing
mosques. And no one cares. No international human rights
groups publish reports calling for an end to the slaughter.
No UN body condemns anyone or sends a fact-finding mission
to investigate the murders.

In the State of Palestine, women are stripped naked and
forced to march in the streets to humiliate their husbands.
Ambulances are stopped on the way to hospitals and wounded
are shot in cold blood. Terrorists enter operating rooms in
hospitals and unplug patients from life-support machines.

In the State of Palestine, people are kidnapped from their
homes in broad daylight and in front of the television
cameras. This is the case because the kidnappers themselves
are cameramen. Indeed, their commanders often run television
stations. And because terror commanders run television
stations in the State of Palestine, it should not be
surprising that they bomb the competition's television
stations.

SO IT WAS that last week, terrorists from this group or that
group bombed Al Arabiya television station in Gaza. And so
it is that Hamas attacks Fatah radio announcers and closes
down their radio station claiming that they use their
microphones to incite murder. Because indeed, they are
inciting murder. What would one expect for terrorists to do
when placed in charge of a radio station?

And so it is that in the State of Palestine, journalists -
whether members of terror groups or not - are part of the 88
percent of their public who are afraid. Sunday they
protested outside the offices of one terror faction or
another that controls the Palestinian Authority.

Speaking to The Jerusalem Post, reporter Ala Masharawi
explained, "No one goes outside, no one moves without
thinking twice. Gaza's streets have become terrible streets,
especially at night. Gaza is a ghost town."

As the Post's Khaled Abu Toameh reported last week, in the
State of Palestine, Christians are persecuted, robbed and
beaten in what can only be viewed as a systematic campaign
to end the Christian presence in places like Bethlehem. As
Samir Qumsiyeh, owner of the Beit Sahur-based private
Al-Mahd (Nativity) TV station lamented, "I believe that 15
years from now there will be no Christians left in
Bethlehem. Then you will need a torch to find a Christian
here."

MANY GOVERNMENT ministers and commentators seek strategic
meaning in the strife in the State of Palestine. Foreign
Minister Tzipi Livni, for instance, goes on and on about the
need to strengthen the "moderates" - that is, the Fatah
terror group - over the "extremists" - that is, the Hamas
terror group.

Helping her to propound this nonsense is PA Chairman and
Fatah chief Mahmoud Abbas. Abbas and his men tell Westerners
how pro-Western they are at the same time as they name
streets and schools financed by US aid after Saddam Hussein
and build sports facilities on the American taxpayers' tab
in memory of terrorists who killed American soldiers in
Iraq.

For the umpteenth time, on Sunday Fatah spokesmen in PA
Chairman Mahmoud Abbas's office blamed Iran and Syria for
the escalating violence in Gaza and Judea and Samaria that
has killed 29 people, including two children, in four days.
"Iran and Syria are encouraging Hamas to continue fighting
against Fatah," they alleged.

And yet, just last Thursday the Shin Bet arrested Omar
Damra, a Fatah terrorist in Nablus. Damra is accused of
manufacturing suicide bomb belts and attempting to smuggle
them into Israel. He also stands accused of plotting to
place explosive devices along roads in Judea and Samaria
with the intention of blowing up IDF patrols.

Damra and his partner and fellow Fatah terrorist Mahmad
Ramaha, who was arrested a month ago, were working under the
instruction of Hizbullah - that is, under the direction of
Iran. According to the Shin Bet, Hizbullah - that is, Iran -
has taken over Fatah operations in Nablus. Since Israel's
withdrawal from northern Samaria in August 2005, the Shin
Bet has noted that, like Gaza, the Nablus area has become a
mini-Afghanistan.

So not only are Hamas terrorists operating under Iranian and
Syrian direction today, Fatah terrorists are as well. Yet
this doesn't stop the US and Israel from pouring guns and
money into the hands of Fatah terror chiefs. They fail to
recognize that what you see is what you get.

These guns are not used to encourage moderation. These guns
are used against Israelis and Palestinians alike in a turf
battle between terror groups over money, guns and power that
will never end. And it will never end because fighting and
killing for money, guns and power is what terrorists do.

FOR THE past 13 years, since the Palestinian Authority was
established in 1994, the contours of the State of Palestine
have taken form in front of our eyes. Starting with Yasser
Arafat's abrogation of the rule of law and murderous
campaign against land dealers and journalists, with each
passing year and with each move to further empower the PA,
the situation has only grown worse. And yet, international
pressure on Israel from Arabs, Europeans and the US to
surrender more territory, curtail its authority, abrogate
its claims to the areas set for Palestine, and finance the
Fatah terror group have only grown in intensity.

And with each passing year, as the reality of Palestine has
become clearer, the Israeli leadership's will to resist this
pressure is increasingly eroded.

So it is that last week Defense Minister Amir Peretz
announced that he supports negotiating with Hamas. Peretz
laid out his "vision" for the reinstatement of the so-called
peace process with the Palestinians, and stated that, to
"empower" the Palestinians, he supports extending the ban on
IDF operations from Gaza to Judea and Samaria. It should go
without saying that such IDF operations are aimed at
preventing massacres of Israeli civilians like the one that
happened in Eilat Monday morning.

LIVNI, FOR her part, has become the international champion
of Fatah. Gushing to an audience of international peace
processors in Davos, Switzerland, last week, Livni said, "In
order to achieve peace and in order to promote a process, we
must stick to this vision of a two-state solution and
examine what the best steps to take are."

Of course, neither Livni nor Peretz, who insist that
Israel's most urgent priority is to establish Palestine, is
willing to recognize that Palestine exists already. They
refuse to acknowledge what we already know: Palestine is a
terror state and an economic basket case fully funded by the
international community. Indeed, over the past year since
Hamas won the Palestinian elections, international
assistance to the Palestinians has increased dramatically.

As Ibrahim Gambari, the UN under-secretary-general for
political affairs, noted last Thursday, official Western aid
to the Palestinians, not including Arab and Iranian support
for Hamas and Fatah, increased by 10 percent in 2006 over
2005, and stood at $1.2 billion.

The Palestinians, who receive more aid per capita than any
people on earth, are needy not because they lack funds. They
are poor because they prefer poverty, violence and war to
prosperity, peace and moderation. So it is that 57 percent
of Palestinians support terror attacks against Israel.

The multitude of protesters worldwide who demand an end to
the so-called "occupation" and the establishment of
Palestine should be made aware of the fact that Palestine
already exists. The hordes of political leaders mindlessly
squawking about "visions" and "two-state solutions" should
know: This is Palestine. Enter at your own risk.

The Jerusalem Post Internet
Edition article

Face to Face

I was standing on the sidewalk just outside the Old City of Jerusalem in prayer, looking toward the ancient city of David and the Mt of Olives. There was a fair amount of traffic, tour buses and cars passing by. A small narrow tractor used to deliver goods down the narrow walking streets in the Old City passed me, then stopped, blocking traffic. An Arab man walking on the side walk walked up and with a warm greeting, reached for the other Arab man's hand who was driving the tractor. They proceeded to shake with one hand, and embrace with the other--while kissing each other on both cheeks--not once--but twice! By this time about 5 cars were honking with all their might--Israeli style. Working men, embracing like this share much more than words. Their smells, their sweat, their lives become intermingled in those moments.

The man was so cheered by this greeting that as he left the tractor, which began to slowly move, he waved heartily, with a huge smile at the Jewish man in the first car, who was of course blowing his horn the loudest. And the Lord immediately spoke to me.

In America, men shake hands. I was a woman in corporate America for a time, so I did some of that ritual handshaking as well. It is a brief clasp of the hand, the pressure and length of the handshake tells you something about the person's personality. In any case, it is a brief encounter. At church, sometimes you may get a hug along with the handshake--church is more like family in that regard.

In the Middle East, this type of greeting I saw is more common. In fact I have often seen people stop whatever they are doing to embrace in a warm and sincere greeting similar to this. This time was a pretty extreme case, stopping traffic and all. But hospitality, close friendships and relationships in general are more meaningful in this culture.

What kind of greeting would God desire? Jesus was born and raised in the middle eastern culture. I imagine he would greet the disciples much like these two men did. With hearty, sincere joy of their encounter. Of course, the Lord is well aware of the different cultures we were all brought up with. Some families don't do much "touching" at all. Others are very "touchy-feely". The Lord has indicated that He will always meet us where we are at.

But what is His desire? The Bible tells us that our Lord is an intimate, passionate God. He desires intimacy with us. Read the Song of Solomon! He gave us His Word so that we could get to know Him, see Him as He is. We can get glimpses of His personality, His heart, His desires and His love--from reading the Word and meditating on it. If we only open our Bible's at a church service, it is like greeting your friend without even a handshake. If you open your Bible occasionally, perhaps this is like a handshake--you are genuinely happy to spend this short time with Him. And so-forth, until you come to the place where you spend enough time with Him that you desire to see Him face to face. You spend time reading the Bible and praying, then while you work, play and worship--you are meditating on the Word of God and His character. When you pray and when you speak of God with your family, friends and acquaintances--you know He is there with you. If He were to walk into the room at any moment during your day you would jump up, run to Him and greet Him. Maybe you would even stop traffic! That greeting would be like the one I witnessed yesterday. A handshake, an embrace, kisses on both cheeks--twice--a meeting Face-to-Face. May our lives become intermingled with the Life of the Living God frequently!

Treasure in Earthen Vessels

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 2 Corinthians 4:6

I have heard many prophets and ministers lately, giving the examples from the Bible about our lives being like clay in the Potter's Hand. Over the years I've contemplated that God has indeed shaped and moulded my life to be a fit vessel unto His honor. I have been cracked and broken and the Master Potter has skillfully mended me better and stronger than I was originally, even though it was my own mistakes that caused my brokenness. I remember meditating on this at least 20 years ago and I nod my head in agreement, our God is Amazing.

Today I received a new perspective of us as clay pots. Clay pots can be fashioned by hand, or turned on a wheel, some are poured into molds and other are fashioned from coils of clay pressed and moulded together. Small children take clay and just press the lump into a bowl or pot type shape. In some countries clay is left in the sun to dry. As it dries it hardens, but if not properly conditioned it can become brittle. I had the opportunity while growing up to take ceramic classes at a relative's home. She was a talented teacher and artist, so I learned a lot from her.

She used clay 'slip' to pour into molds, which were then dried on shelves in the warm room. The art students would carefully smooth the edges created by the molds and then the clay vessel is 'fired'. This would harden and strength the clay. Afterwards a glaze is applied and the piece is 'fired' again, at a higher temperature. Glaze seals the porous clay, or ceramic, making it lustrous and waterproof. If the piece is to be preciously detailed with 'china paint', the artist carefully mixes powdered paint with lavender oil and medium(another oil substance). This 'china paint' (usually reserved for fine china) is fired at a very high temperature to seal the vivid colors of the details into the glazed piece. Finally, if a gold or silver trim is desired, they use some a real precious metal mixture and tiny, thin brushes to carefully place the treasured trim. Then the piece is again 'fired' yet again, causing the brilliant gold or silver to come forth for all to admire.

1 Peter 4:12-13 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

James 1:2-12 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations[fiery trials]; Knowing that the trying of your faith works patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and upbraids not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withers the grass, and the flower thereof falls, and the grace of the fashion of it perishes: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Clay pots have the ability to pass through very high temperature firing. If a piece of paper or something should get stuck to the bottom, it will burn up in the kiln (oven). This reminds me of how the Bible tells us, that all that is not of God in our lives, will burn as wood or stubble. I am reminded that our life trials are strengthening, and beautifying our lives to make us not only fit but beautifully decorated vessels, that reflect the glory of God and are useful for His intended purposes. The number of times we find ourselves in the furnace can vary according to our purpose and decoration. A plain earthen pot that requires no glaze, may only take a single firing. Whereas one who is to glisten with the beauty and artistry to give glory to the Master, may take many, many firings. Both are according to His purposes.

Then I am also reminded that our God is a consuming fire. (Deuteronomy 4:24, Hebrews 12:29)Those which are our own works, or those done by the will or strength of man will either burn up completely, or the firing will show the forgery, and the need for the Master to do some corrective work on the piece. Those most intricate glazings, and delicate hand paintings done by the Master, take special oils mixed with the paint. The oils always speak of the Holy Spirit's anointing on our lives. God never takes over our lives, but gently guides and leads us, so that it is our own will that chooses God's will and purpose for our lives.

As believers, we have no need to fear that when we stand in God's presence, even face to face, we will be consumed. Because in His wonderful wisdom he made us earthen vessels. The simplest earthen vessel can contain the treasures of God's salvation freely given to us. He planned it that way! We don't have to become perfect and mature to become His treasure chest. Yet our Heavenly Father, The Master, has a beautiful plan for each vessel--and He sees each of us as simple unfired pots and our full potential at the same time. And He adores each and every one that He has formed(or created). For we are each created to carry His glory!

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 2 Corinthians 4:6-7

Trust in the Lord with all your heart... PROVERBS 3:5,6

I awoke on Sunday, December 31 with a strong feeling about the parable of the 10 virgins found in Matthew Chapter 25. Usually I study the "wise" virgins, because of course we want to be ready, as they were, in this parable told by Jesus. In fact I have often encouraged friends with that scripture and even given gifts from Israel of tiny oil lamps as a reminder that we all need to be diligent to be ready. But in waking on Sunday morning my focus was on the 5 foolish virgins. My heart ached for them.

There was a sentence that pounded through my head concerning them, they have fallen... fallen. I cannot remember the exact words, perhaps they weren't in English, but the meaning was there. It wasn't until reading an email from Chuck Pierce today, that this feeling hit me again.

Now as I rehearse the story in my head once again, I picture all 10 of these virgins huddled together at the beginning talking about the coming wedding, the handsome bridegroom--the beautiful bride, who would be at the feast, what a glorious time it would be. Each time they hear footsteps approaching they look up in anticipation, is it the bridegroom? But as the sun sets and darkness creeps in around them they pull their cloaks closer around them. Some of them look for a comfortable place to sit and wait.

Half of them wonder why the others are carrying around the extra supplies they had brought, as unnecessary additional burdens. In fact, as they all nap, they may even spill some of the extra oil on themselves and be stained before the feast. Some begin to talk about other things not related to the wedding feast at all. Perhaps the bridegroom won't come until morning, so we need not jump up at every footstep we hear. Probably he will wait until morning, and come with the freshness of a new day, as the sun rises in the east... They convince themselves that they are adequately prepared for their perceived understanding of the bridegroom. While the 5 who have prepared for a long night, are still looking expectantly to every footstep which approaches. Perhaps he will tarry, but they are prepared regardless. They all fall asleep feeling they are prepared.

When the announcement came in the middle of the dark night, they all trimmed their wicks that their lights might shine. But there was no reserved oil for those foolish virgins. They had not prepared for a long night. They ran to buy more oil when it was too late. They were shut out. They knew the bridegroom, they knew where he was at the feast--yet they were not allowed in. In fact his response is, "I don't know you." What a crushing blow! It reminds me of the scripture

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you...." Matthew 7

You see, just knowing that Jesus is the bridegroom isn't enough. The devil and his servants know who He is, and tremble (James 2:19) but that will not save them.

We have been in a preparation time for a very long time. Some have been quite satisfied with their level of understanding and service in the Kingdom of God. But there are some who seem to be "redeeming the time, for the days are evil" Ephesians 5:16, living each day for God in active pursuit of learning, growing and serving in whatever ways the Lord puts before them. These are those who have been storing up that extra oil in prepared vessels.

The day is coming when there will be a separation between those who profess to know God and those who are truly serving him. If you are one who looks to going to heaven or some kind of "rapture" to deliver you from this cruel world--or difficulties to come, I earnestly ask you to examine yourself to see if you have extra oil, or even a vessel to put it in, and are you carrying it with you everyday--all day and night. The current events of this world should be shaking each of us to consider our lives in light of eternity. When the world finishes shaking, the only ones left standing will be those firmly established and trusting in God. You see you cannot get your oil from someone else, the wise virgins could not share their oil. You must have your own, in your own vessel.

Read the Bible, the Word of God. Spend time talking to Him, as those in the Bible did. Learn to fully trust God today--and you will be prepared for tomorrow.

Lord, have mercy on us. Shake us, wake us up, that none of us would be complacent. Do whatever it takes to make us wise, that we might be prepared for your soon coming. Make us encourager's of one another, not to just be ready, but to place our absolute trust in You in all things--TODAY. Have Mercy...