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Sep 14, 2016

Waiting on GodBy: C4i

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You wouldn't think it, but sitting still is one of the hardest things to do.

Many of us are natural doers. In our society, being willing and able to take the initiative is seen as a virtue, a personality trait we try to adopt in our day-to-day life and instil in our children through example. We want to get out there, move, make things happen! Entire industries are based on this impulse. Look at Home Depot, would it exist if there wasn't for home DIY enthusiasts? If everyone who had a leaky pipe called in a plumber, would we have entire aisles dedicated to fittings, wrenches, and pipes? No, when something is broken, we're taught to spring into action, to try and fix it on our own. We take matters into our own hands.

But what about those times when its out of your hands? When what's broke isn't some home amenity, but something larger and scarier. When the problem isn't going to be solved with a pipe wrench and a YouTube tutorial? These are the times when we have to turn to God. We have to put our worries in his care and our trust in his divine wisdom.

And that means waiting. 

God doesn't work according to our sense of timing. When we bring out concerns before the Lord, we know that He is listening and that He cares, but that does not mean we're promised a speedy or obvious answer. No one takes a number outside of God's office and has their personal issue settled in the order in which it was received. He doesn't keep posted hours of business.

As a culture of doers and take charge workers, this can be hard to accept. We've been trained to believe that we need to immediately take action. That if something isn't being done fast enough, we should get out there and do it ourselves. But, we need to remember that the virtues our culture holds dear aren't always the virtues that God holds dear. God values patience and faith.

In Galatians 5:22, patience is listed as one of the fruits of the spirit. One of the qualities that a life in Christ should develop. When it comes to taking our prayers to the Lord, Psalm 37:7 directly tells us to "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.” But how do we know that our prayers will be answered? Well, we read in Deuteronomy 7:9  "Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.” God always keeps his word.

When we turn our problems over to the Lord, that means we turn them over to him. We've recognized that there is a problem that is just too big to handle by ourselves, a job we're just not equipped to deal with, and we've called in the ultimate contractor to take care of it. Now, you have to let Him do His work. It's not our place watch over His shoulder, tapping our watch and wondering if it can't be done faster.

Wait on God. Wait with patience and faith. When you struggle to let things go, when you feel anxious that God isn't moving fast enough, remember that God always keeps his promises. That He is the greatest of covenant keepers, and while it might not always seem like it, things are moving right on schedule according to his plan. 
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Sep 13, 2016

‘FACEBOOK REMOVED 95% OF TERROR INCITEMENT REQUESTED BY ISRAEL’:By: Colin Wingfield

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Facebook cooperates with the authorities the vast majority of the time the government asks the network to remove content inciting to terrorism, Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked said 12 Sept. 2016, shortly after she and Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan met with a senior delegation from the social media giant. According to Shaked, Facebook removed 95% of 158 inciting posts, while YouTube, owned by Google, removed 80% of 13 videos, at the government’s request. "These are impressive numbers; however, we understand that there is too much online incitement, and we must continue to increase our efforts,” Shaked said in a speech to the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism’s World Summit in Herzliya, Israel. (Arutz-7) Please continue to intercede that all incitement to terror and all anti-Semitic, anti-Israel material will be removed from social websites. [Comment]

Sep 13, 2016

MILITARY AID PACKAGE TO ISRAEL TO BE THE LARGEST IN USA HISTORY:By: Colin Wingfield

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USA Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro said that the United States will be signing its largest ever aid package to Israel, and that the aid package will cover all of Israel's security needs until 2029. He was speaking at the opening of the 16th World Summit of the International Institute for Counter Terrorism in Herzliya on Sunday 11 Sept. 2016. "The next decade of American military support for Israel is spelled out in a Memorandum of Understanding our countries have been discussing in recent months. "The new agreement with Israel will guide our military assistance until 2029 and will be the single largest military assistance package—with any country—in USA history,” the Ambassador said in his speech. He went on to describe that the United States will continue to help Israel maintain its qualitative edge in the region by providing the Jewish state with next generation fighter jets, helping to finance anti-missile technology, and investing in tunnel detection technology. (Ynet) Continue to pray that Israel as a people, while appreciative of military aid from the USA, will look to the Lord as their ultimate defender and provider in every circumstance. [Comment]

Sep 7, 2016

You don't need to be a minister to ministerBy: C4i

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You might not work for the Church. You might not have a fancy title. You probably never went to seminary. But guess what? God still calls on you for ministry.

The call to evangelize isn't limited to people who have dedicated their lives and careers to professional ministry. It isn't an option or a bonus add-on you can choose to do for extra credit. The bible tells us that it is the responsibility of every Christian to do what he or she can to spread the word and love of Christ as far as they can. Jesus himself said it in no uncertain terms in Mark 16:15 where "He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.'”

But why would God call upon you to minister? Why, when there are more qualified, trained, and experienced servants of God out there in all branches of the church, would you be expected to pick up the torch and act as His messenger?

Because you can make a difference.

Think about the people in your life. The people you work with, your friends, the acquaintances you're chummy with. Think about the guys in your fantasy football league, the lovable goofs who clutter up your Facebook profile with the same joke lists every other week. Think about your extended family members, the weird cousins you only see during the Holidays (and maybe not even then). 

How many of them are non-Christians? Probably more than a few given the sorry state of the world these days. But more than that, how many of them are actively proud of being non-Christians? How many aren't just members of another religion, or politely agnostic, but proudly and loudly proclaim how they wouldn't be caught dead in a church? We all know some of these people, the truly lost.

Now who do you think has a better chance of reaching that person and bringing them into the ligh of the Lord? You, a friend they know, respect, and trust? Or a minister from some church they openly scoff at?

That's why God calls on you. 

You may not realize it, but you are on the front lines of a spiritual battle. Everyday, you may be the only shot a person has at avoiding eternal damnation. The devil has worked so very hard to weaken the church over the past few decades. Hacking at its roots and reducing it from an institution of our culture to being seen as something stodgy and faintly ridiculous. To make it easy to ignore the good works of the church and the people who are part of it. 

But the people in your life don't ignore you. They don't brush you off like a bad door-to-door salesman. When you really internalize your responsibility of ministry, when you begin to live your life as an example to others and summon the courage to extend an open hand and minister when the opportunity arises, you become a guide post in a dark world. You can reach people that the church never could.

You're training doesn't matter. What you do for a day job doesn't matter. Christ calls on you to minister. So be ready to step up. Don't wait for the lost, scared, and needy to somehow stumble into a church. Bring the word to them.

Remember, Jesus wasn't a minister, a rabbi, or a priest either. He was a carpenter.  A carpenter with the greatest ministry the world has ever seen. 
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Sep 1, 2016

WITH SCHOOL YEAR AROUND THE CORNER, NETANYAHU SAYS ‘STUDY BIBLE’: By: Colin Wingfield

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"Excellence and Zionism,” with an emphasis on Bible study, are the root of an education "revolution” the government wants to bring about, PM Benjamin Netanyahu said at a cabinet meeting held 30 August 2016, two days before the start of the new school year. "First of all the study of the Bible,” he said. "We must make a major effort, this is the basis for why we are here, why we have returned here, why we stay here.” In addition, he said, it is important to teach about Jewish contributions to civilization, as well as general history and knowledge. "Knowledge is a critical word,” he said. "We want to give it to every child in Israel, Jews and non-Jews as one, religious and secular. This is the basis of the new world, and the basis of Israel as a strong nation in the world.” (J. Post) Prime Minister Netanyahu’s educational thrusts and goals are indeed the very roots of the faith that are needed for the nation of Israel today and in the future. Pray that educational resources towards these ends will be introduced into school rooms across the Jewish nation. "A wise man is strong, yes, a man of knowledge increases strength.” Prov. 24:5 [Comment]

Sep 1, 2016

3,000 YEAR OLD TREASURES DATED TO THE TIME OF KING DAVID UNVEILED:By: Colin Wingfield

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The Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem offered a unique preview on Mon. 29 August 2016, of an exhibition showcasing 3,000 year-old artifacts recovered from Khirbet Qeiyafa which archaeologists believe could be the biblical city of Sha'arayim, meaning 'Two Gates', that is mentioned in the story of the battle of David and the Philistine giant, Goliath. Khirbet Qeiyafa, overlooking the Elah Valley southwest of Jerusalem, is an ancient fortified city that was discovered around a decade ago. But it was not until the second year of excavations in 2008 that archaeologists realized they had stumbled upon what was possibly the earliest physical evidence of a Davidic city dating back to the 11th Century BC. Over the course of seven years, excavations revealed a walled city with two equally large and dominant gates - a highly unusual feature for a relatively small city.

The Elah Valley divided the lands of the Israelites and the Philistines, whose champion warrior was felled by the young shepherd David's slingshot. When archaeologists excavated the gates they were reminded of the ancient city of Sha'arayim that featured in the famous story. Other significant clues that pointed to the presence of a Judean stronghold are the absence of pig bones among the scores of animal remains, and most significantly, two inscriptions that were found on a jar and a pottery fragment which are believed to be the earliest known example of Hebrew writing. The Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem director, Amanda Weiss, agrees that the evidence, when considered in its entirety, points strongly to a Davidic period site. The Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem will open the new exhibition on 5 Sep. 2016, entitled "In the valley of David and Goliath," which will provide an opportunity for visitors to go back in history to the time of Israel's greatest King David. (J. Post) [Comment]

Aug 31, 2016

Celebrating Jewish icons: Golda MeirBy: C4i

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In the face of ongoing violence and strife in the Middle East, it is important to remember just how much difference one person can make. That despite what may seem like intractable conflicts and hopeless disagreements, good people can still make an impact.

One such person was Golda Meir. You may know her as Israel’s fourth Prime Minister, but Golda started as just another Jewish girl lost in a world that seemed set against her. So she changed it.

Like many Jews of her generation, Golda's youth was characterized by uncertainty, fear, and travel. Born in Keiv, Russia in 1898, as Goldie Mabovitch, she would spend her earliest years witnessing firsthand the madness and terror of antisemitism run amok. One of her earliest memories was of her father boarding their home's windows and doors, desperate to protect his family from the racist violence of the 1905 Keiv pogrom. The brutal act of mob violence would claim the lives of over 100 Jewish people and serve as an impetus for  the Mabovitch family to flee the mounting hostility of Europe and relocate to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Golda flourished in America, finding her natural aptitude for leadership and a fierce intellectual voice. As a teenager she would lead fundraising efforts to supply disadvantaged students with text books and was named valedictorian of her graduating class. Despite her mother's desire to see her marry and settle into the stable life of a housewife, Golda had other plans. She went to live with her sister and her husband, the Korngolds, in Denver for a time. The Korngold house thrived on debate and academia, and it was here that Golda became passionate about the ideals of Zionism, the promise of returning Jews scattered around the world by diaspora to a shared homeland. It was also where she would meet her future husband, Morris Meyerson.

Golda would return to Milwaukee for a period of time to teach, but felt the call to return to the Holy Land. She was active in a local Yiddish Folks Schule alongside Morris, and despite the chaos of WWI throwing their plans for resettlement into disarray for a time, the two were able emigrate to Palestine in 1921, officially Hebraizing their name to Meir.

In Palestine, Golda's natural inclination for leadership would drive her forward. She would represent her fellow workers of her kibbutz, advocating for hardworking families trying to provide for their own after resettlement. In 1924 the couple again moved to Jerusalem where Golda's political efforts only intensified. She was elected secretary of Moetzet HaPoalot (Working Women's Council) and served as a delegate to the World Zionist Organization. All efforts to improve the lives of Jewish people around the world and bring them back to their rightful home.

Her political efforts made her a natural choice as the Jewish observer at the Évian Conference, a multinational discussion on the plight of Jewish refugees' fleeing Nazi persecution and violence. As most of the various nations invited all expressed sympathy for the Jewish people, but demurred when it came to making concrete promises or efforts to actually help them, Golda became more and more convinced that if the Jewish people were to survive they would need their own state to protect them.

During WWII, Golda fought fiercely for the the Zionist movement and advocated for Jewish immigrants. She agitated for the need of a Jewish state, organizing fundraisers and speaking groups. She also demonstrated on behalf of Jewish refugees being held under arrest in Britain for violating British immigration policy, something done by necessity of the madness and strife gripping continental Europe.  

Golda was one of the signatures on Israel's declaration of independence in 1948. A bracing triumph for someone who had dedicated her life to ensuring Jewish independence. But she wasn't done yet.

Golda would serve in the Israeli government as minister to Moscow, then later as an elected member of the Israeli Parliament, a career spanning decades of tireless work. She would be one of the voices behind the National Insurance Act of 1954, a social safety net that would protect the most vulnerable Israelis, she helped establish thousands of homes, hospital, and schools for arriving Jewish resettlers, and would serve as Foreign Minister during the Suez crisis. 

Diagnosed with lymphoma in the early '60s, Golda wished to retire from public life. However, despite her serious medical condition, she answered the call of Prime Minister Levi Eshkol to serve as secretary-general of Mapai. After Eshkol's sudden death in '69, Golda was elected as Israels' first woman Prime Minister. 

It was not a fortunate time to be Prime Minister, and her term was marked by conflict. She negotiated agreements with Egypt over on-going territory disputes, navigated Israel through the height of the Cold War hostilities between competing super powers who would both attempt to use Israel like a chess piece, and through the trauma of the Munich Olympics. Golda herself authorized the Mossad to retaliate against the leaders and agents of the Black September terrorist group - a defender of her people at all times.

As Prime Minister, Golda Meir had the unenviable task of dealing with the events of the Yom Kippur War, a conflict that posed a immediate threat to the Jewish people, but also placed the Israeli government in a precarious position of alienating their Western allies if they were perceived as being too aggressive or hostile in meeting the threat. Golda tried to find a middle-line, mobilizing the full deployment of Israel’s forces, but in a defensive posture rather than launching a preemptive attack. The political landscape of Israel’s government would be preoccupied with infighting and recriminations in the aftermath, eventually leading an ailing Golda to resign in 1974.

While Golda would succumb to her cancer in 1978, her legacy lives on today in the hearts and homes of Israeli citizens. 

Born into a world characterized strife, fear, and intimidation, Golda Meir did not falter, turn away, or wait for someone else to make a change. She worked tirelessly to improve the lives of Jews around the world, fought for the rights of immigrants, the dignity of the downtrodden and disadvantaged, and the right for Jews to live safely and control their own destiny with their own state. Her example should be an inspiration to us all.
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Aug 29, 2016

SYRIAN JEWS SECRETLY EVACUATED TO KENTUCKYBy: Colin Wingfield

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Three of the last Jewish families in Syria have been resettled in the United States after posing as Christians to enter Sweden earlier this year, Point of No Return has reported. The Jewish refugees, numbering some 13 people, including 7 children, had been living in Damascus, in the midst of a bloody civil war raging since 2011. Four months ago the three families were accepted into Sweden while posing as Christian Arabs. The refugees were described as multi-lingual and financially successful. Recently the refugees were quietly resettled in Louisville, Kentucky, following the efforts of a local Conservative synagogue, which worked with local and federal authorities to streamline the operation. Louisville has absorbed thousands of refugees from the Middle East over the past five years. It is also home to a small but thriving Jewish community with five synagogues and a kosher butcher. (Arutz-7) Pray for the Syrian Jews rescued from Damascus to be able to find peace and their needs met abundantly in their new Kentucky community. May they meet with kindness and assistance and welcome in their surroundings.

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Aug 24, 2016

Dealing with spiritual burnoutBy: C4i

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It's not something many of us are comfortable  discussing, but most of us will encounter it at some point or another in our Christian lives - spiritual burnout. 

How do you know when this is happening to you? It's hard to say, but there are signs. It could be when you find yourself going through the motions without really feeling them, keeping up appearances instead of really living in Christ. When  prayer doesn't seem to offer the solace it once did. Or when the idea of going to church doesn't promise communion with your brothers and sisters in Christ, but an early morning out of bed that could be used to catch up on some sleep. 

It happens to everyone at some point, but it doesn't have to last. Here are some tips to put the fire back in your soul and get excited about your Christian walk again.

Don't be a hero

Suffering in silence is just about the worst thing you can do. It's leads to a self-reinforcing downward spiral. When experiencing spiritual burnout, it's easy to see yourself as a "bad Christian,” to feel ashamed of what's going on inside you and not want to tell anyone. But all that time burrowing inward only makes other people's spiritual walks look more and more effortless, which in turn makes you feel even worse for struggling, and on and on it goes.

Reach out to other Christians. Let them know your struggling and more than likely they'll be all too happy to share with you about how they've been struggling themselves. The myth of the flawless, effortless Christian is just that, a myth. We all have our bad days, our personal difficulties, and temptations. Each of us is flawed, but together we are strong. Lean on your Christian brothers and sisters, and let them lean on you in turn.

Change your routine

Spiritual burnout could be a sign that your regular routine isn't right for you anymore, or at least that you need to change things up a bit. If you've divvied up your spiritual life like a schedule of tasks – bible reading before bed, prayer before a meal, church group on Thursday, and so on, don't be surprised if it starts to feel like work after awhile.

Try something different. Instead of trying to stay away and read the bible through blurry, sleepy eyes, try taking it out of the house. Find a nice place outside and try reading it during the day, or at lunch, or whenever works with your schedule. Take God's word out into the world. You might be surprised what a change of scenery can do.

If a Church group or other regular meeting isn't working for you anymore, take a break for a few weeks. Let the passion return naturally. Or, if that doesn't work, find a new group. It's never been easier to organize or stay in touch with people than it is today, so take advantage of that.

Refill the tank with prayer

Too often, prayer becomes routine. A rushed and muttered sentiment before digging into a plate of mash potatoes, or a quick recitation of worries before bed. But that isn't what prayer should be. The miracle of prayer, of open and direct communication with the most high should be appreciated for what it really is – the greatest blessing we have.

When you are feeling spiritually burnt out, take it to God. Pray, earnestly and honestly for his guidance and assistance. Take it all to him, all your worries, your self-doubt, your shame, and God in his infinite love will show you the way.

Burnout happens to us all, but it doesn't have to define us. As long as we are willing to make a few changes, open our hearts to our fellow Christians, and put our faith in God, the spark can always be found again.
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Aug 17, 2016

Understanding Israels' Iron DomeBy: C4i

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Peace is something that is easy to take for granted when you don't have to think about it. But, imagine living in a place where at any moment, a rocket could crash through your kitchen window, or turn the backyard where your children play into a crater.

For millions of Israelis, this fear is a daily reality. Sustained terror campaigns by hostile groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah routinely pummel Israeli cities with rocket fire and mortars launched from the Gaza Strip. Lazily targeted at major population centers, these rockets are directed at whatever innocent people are unfortunate enough to be near the blast. Since 2005, more than 11,000 rockets and mortars have been fired into Israel. That's more than three a day.

That's where the Iron Dome comes in. A high-tech defensive system, the Iron Dome is the overall name for a joined network of various anti-rocket and missile defenses that aim to knock incoming missiles out of the sky before they have the chance to hurt anybody. A mission it is accomplishing at an astounding success rate.

Those of us who remember the original Gulf War might be slightly confused by why this is such a technological triumphant. The American Patriot Missile system was touted to do much the same task during the last days of the Cold War and was trumpeted as a success during Operation Desert Storm. However, reports of the systems actual effectiveness were largely blown out of proportion as part of a propaganda effort to demoralize America's enemies at the time. Independent verification of its effectiveness placed individual Patriot missiles as having a less than 10% success rate. Not great odds when you're depending on something to save lives or deter a nuclear weapon. 

While the Iron Dome system was inspired by the Patriot, and even still uses some of its launchers in the system (albeit to target aircraft, an exponentially slower and larger target than a rocket or missile), the technology involved is light-years beyond what was capable in the late '80s and early '90s. Seeing its first field usage on April 7, 2011, the system successfully shot down a Grad rocket (a deadly munition originally of Soviet design adopted by Hamas) in the first true test of its real-world capabilities. Since then the system has proven itself again and again, shooting down over 1500 rockets since the start of its operations.

Technological advances are part of the Iron Domes success story, the other is necessity. While plenty of militaries and arms companies spend time thinking about rocket defense, for Israel, it is a reality that must be faced on a daily basis. They had to find a way to protect themselves from terror attacks, so they did. And as tensions in the area mount, Hamas searches for more sophisticated means of attack, and Iran steps up its rhetoric, so must Israel strengthen its defensive measures as well. 

David's Sling, an anti-ballistic missile designed to intercept in atmosphere and low-orbit rockets (like the kind that are attached to nuclear warheads) from further ranges (ideally outside of Israeli territory), is slated to be added to the system in the near future. The IDF is also bracing for a new form of terror on the horizon, drone attacks. As drone technology proliferates and becomes more affordable and available for terrorist groups such as Hamas, attacks using the technology are all but an inevitability. Iron Dome is being designed to respond to those threats as well. 

The Iron Dome isn't just a piece of fancy military hardware, it's a symbol of Israels' unique plight in the modern world. No other country on Earth has to defend itself from hostile actions as frequently and chronically as Israel. No other nation is so heavily criticized for defending itself against such brazen assaults as Israel that it has to limit its operations to a purely defensive posture.

The Iron Dome is an achievement. But we should be working towards a world where it is no longer needed.
[Comment]

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