Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Ancient Books Uncovered in Jordan May Date to Start of Christianity


One of the largest and best-preserved collections of ancient sealed books has been discovered in a cave in Jordan and are believed to be some of the earliest Christian documents, according to the BBC. The 70 tiny books could date back to the first century. Carbon dating tests found that a piece of leather found with the scrolls was over 2000 years old. Experts say the books, made of lead and copper and bound by rings, may be more significant than the Dead Sea Scrolls, BBC reports. More: http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/03/30/ancient-books-uncovered-jordan/

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

ISRAEL SEIZES IRANIAN ARMS BOUND FOR HAMAS AND HEZBOLLAH


The Israeli government announced its navy boarded and confiscated an Iranian shipment of arms headed for Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The shipment started in Syria and went to Turkey before being seized.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/netanyahu-arms-on-seized-ship-came-from-iran-via-syria-1.349358

Monday, March 14, 2011

EPISCOPALIAN PRIEST EMBRACES ISLAM FOR LENT


The Rev. Steve Lawler should have just given up chocolate or television for Lent.

Instead, Lawler, of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Ferguson, decided to adopt the rituals of Islam for 40 days to gain a deeper understanding of the faith.

On Friday, he faced being defrocked if he continued in those endeavors.

"He can't be both a Christian and a Muslim," said Bishop George Wayne Smith of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri. "If he chooses to practice as Muslim, then he would, by default, give up his Christian identity and priesthood in the church."

Lawler, a part-time rector at the church, didn't foresee such problems when he came up with the idea. He merely wanted to learn more about Islam, he said, especially in light of the ongoing congressional hearings on the radicalization of the faith.

On Wednesday, the first day of Lent, he began performing salah five times a day, by facing east, toward Mecca, and praying to Allah. He also started studying the Quran and following Islamic dietary restrictions by abstaining from alcohol, pork and fish.

During Holy Week, he planned to fast from dawn to sunset as Muslims do during Ramadan.

But in Smith's eyes, the exercise amounts to "playing" at someone else's religion and could be viewed as disrespectful.

Plus, he said, "One of the ways (Lawler) remains responsible as a Christian leader is to exercise Christianity and to do it with clarity and not with ways that are confusing."

When asked whether he would take punitive actions against Lawler if he continued with the rituals, Smith responded that yes, he would. He would be forced to depose him.

MORE: www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/faith-and-values/article_b3a20403-96c5-5766-af26-8fd662652a13.html

Radio confrontation: 'How can your group slit infant's throat?'


"Why should America continue to fund the Palestinian Authority when its own apparatus is responsible for incitement to murder and violence and terrorism and has carried out repeated terrorist attacks against civilians?"

This is just one of multiple questions fired away by WND senior reporter Aaron Klein on his WABC Radio show during an interview with PA spokesperson Dmitri Diliani.

The confrontational interview, audio from which is linked below, took place in the wake of the weekend's bloody massacre in which Palestinian assailants brutally stabbed to death five members of the Udi Fogel family, including a 3-month-old infant, inside their home in the Jewish village of Itamar.

More: www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=274749

Palestinian terrorist butchers Jewish family in Samaria


There is shock and sadness in Israel today over the brutal murder of one Jewish family murdered in their own home by terrorists. Amazingly, CNN seemed reluctant to call this killing a terrorist attack. Overall, there was little reporting of this incident on any of the US major networks.

www.israeltoday.co.il/NewsItem/tabid/178/nid/22695/Default.aspx

www.monstersandcritics.com/news/middleeast/news/article_1625553.php/Al-Aqsa-Brigades-claims-responsibility-for-West-Bank-killing

Saturday, March 12, 2011

PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE OF JAPAN AND SEND YOUR LOVE OFFERING TO SAMARITAN'S PURSE


SEEING THE PEOPLE, HE FELT COMPASSION FOR THEM, BECAUSE THEY WERE DISTRESSED AND DISPIRITED LIKE SHEEP WITHOUT A SHEPHERD (Matthew 9:36).

Please pray for the people of Japan in this their great hour of need. And when you have prayed consider sending a gift to Dr. Franklin Graham's organization Samaritan's Purse. Mark your contribution for Aid to Japan.


www.samaritanspurse.org/

Thursday, March 10, 2011

A Call to Prayer for Christians in Ethiopia

The following prayer request has been received from the Rev. Dr. Wakseyoum Idossa, President of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus via the Rev. Dr. Gemechis D. Buba, Missions Director of the NALC:

In the last few days over 41 churches and several evangelical mission stations or mission congregations were burned down. There are thousands of people expelled from their homes and some who are even badly beaten and killed. The perpetrators are Radical Islamist and Jihadist elements who are now operating in the western and south western parts of Ethiopia.

Read more: www.commonconfession.blogspot.com/2011/03/call-to-prayer-for-christians-in.html

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Clinton Supports Funding for Lebanese Army


U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is urging the Congress to continue its funding to the Lebanese Army.

She testified on Capitol Hill on Wednesday that Lebanon's army is professional, and non-sectarian, according to the Associated Press.

However, a number of Congress members noted that the increased participation of Hizbullah in Lebanon's government and in its military affairs raises the risk that the army may fall under the terrorist organization's control

More: www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/142650