Showing posts with label England. Show all posts
Showing posts with label England. Show all posts

Saturday, May 6, 2017

Jerusalem Log #6 - Friday 05.05.17 Jerusalem, Israel - “Ice Cream in All Flavors”


 “Ice Cream in All Flavors”
Steve Martin
Jerusalem Log #6 - Friday 05.05.17


Greetings from the land of Israel.

I certainly have enjoyed writing these brief daily logs. I hope you have found pleasure in reading them!

We each have our favorite flavor of ice cream. For some, the standard, foundational choices of vanilla, chocolate and strawberry satisfy just fine. Neapolitan I believe if you want all three at once. For the bold and adventurous type, Rocky Road, Mint Chocolate Chip or Carmel Pecan does it for you.

For me – it’s Rocky Road baby! (Mint chocolate is a close second.)

When it comes to the inhabitants and amazing cultures in Israel, here too there are many flavors. Just among the Jews themselves you have variations ranging from the Ultra-Orthodox, the Messianics, the secular, and a few in between each.

Birthday party near Jerusalem

Then there are the Arab Christians, the Arab Muslims, and I suppose just Arabs. I know a few shop owners in the Old City who would probably adhere to one label, but really not devoted to religion but primarily their daily business.

And within the mix of all this, especially in the larger cities of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Eilat and Tiberias, of course you have the tourists. Now there for sure is a wide choice of creams in all colors, shapes and sizes.

Not only have the Jewish people returned to their Land permanently with aliyah, to join those already living here, you also have in the Land at all times the tourists coming for a few days or a few weeks. They too have arrived from England, France, Germany, Russia, China, Japan, India, Brazil, Kenya, Canada, and of course the good old US of A, from where I reside in the Charlotte, North Carolina area. Walking through the historical and spiritual sites, you hear all the different languages and thank the Lord that He is not a “one flavor” God. He creates and loves them all.

Tourists from India in Bethlehem

For those who have had the great joy of coming to Israel on a tour or to visit friends as I do, you know what I am talking about. For the ones reading this who never have, and hope to, I am glad to share my heart in words, pictures and videos with you. May you experience a taste of Israel through these, and enjoy your favorite ice cream while you do! (Pass the chocolate syrup please.)

Ahava (love) and Shalom (peace) from Israel!

Steve Martin
Founder/President
Love For His People

Thursday, April 13, 2017

COMMENTARY: Easter Message for London - Charles Gardner ISRAEL TODAY

COMMENTARY: Easter Message for London

Thursday, April 13, 2017 |  Charles Gardner  ISRAEL TODAY
“He laid down his life for each one of us.”
An appropriate comment to hear around Easter/Passover, I’m sure you’ll agree.
The words are those of Jonathan Osborne, senior chaplain to London’s Metropolitan Police, speaking about the brave officer who died confronting a terrorist trying to attack Parliament.
Khalid Masood stabbed PC Keith Palmer after mowing down pedestrians with his car on Westminster Bridge, leaving another three dead, while a further victim later died of her injuries.
Monday’s funeral of PC Palmer was a sad day indeed for all of us, and for me it coincided with the funeral of a much-loved pastor as well as with the anniversary of my late wife Irene’s burial 17 years earlier.
But then I realised how it was all happening around Easter when Jesus, the Jewish Messiah and Saviour of the world, also laid down his life for us all.
As the innocent Passover Lamb without blemish, he was led to the slaughter for our sake. For “we all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53.6)
I don’t wish to belittle what PC Palmer did – it is true that he gave his life to preserve our freedom, as so many soldiers have done over the years. And he is worthy of being called a hero. But our nation needs to remember afresh the debt we owe to our Lord Jesus, who gave his life that we might truly live, knowing and serving God without fear because of our certain hope in the resurrection to come, for which Christ has paved the way.
That’s why neither of the two personal funerals to which I have referred was without hope. There was sadness, of course, at the earthly passing of loved ones, but it was accompanied by the joy of knowing they have gone to a better place and that we who believe will one day be reunited with them in glory.
Yes, Jesus suffered the cruellest possible execution – and could have summoned legions of angels to rescue him. But he hung there for our sake. “For he was pierced for our transgressions…” (Isaiah 53.5) But “after he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied”. (Isaiah 53.11)
The risen Jesus appeared to more than 500 witnesses. (1 Corinthians 15.6) That he conquered death is a fact of history. But if you too want a certain hope of the resurrection, you must believe in Him. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3.16)
The Apostle Paul writes of Christians: “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Corinthians 15.19f)
That fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah 25.8 – that “he will swallow up death forever” – and of Hosea 13.14: “Where, O grave, is your destruction?”
And Paul answers the rhetorical question with a resounding: “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” (1 Corinthians 15.54-57)
I am so encouraged that the words of Jesus will be displayed on many London buses this Easter, thanks to the vision of Revelation TV founder Howard Conder. How appropriate too, coming in the wake of the London terror attack, that the iconic red buses should be reminding us all of how Jesus died for us.
As we continue to celebrate 500 years since the start of the Reformation, we would do well to remember one of England’s greatest heroes, William Tyndale, who gave his life so that the entire English-speaking world would be able to know the resurrection power of Christ. He defied the leaders of church and state by translating the Bible (then only available in Latin) into English so that “even a ploughboy” could understand it.
And he was burnt at the stake for his troubles. But in doing so he lit a flame for the gospel, and for freedom, that has since fired the hearts of millions to know, love and serve the Saviour who died on a cross in Jerusalem that first ‘Good Friday’.
The Roman authorities, religious Jews and our own sin all played a part in the crucifixion of Christ, but ultimately it was God’s doing for, as Isaiah foretold, it had to happen – because “the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53.6) and “it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer…” (Isaiah 53.10)
When Irene died all those years ago, I remember so well how, at the funeral, I looked at the coffin and wondered how I was going to bear up, especially in giving the eulogy, when God spoke clearly into my spirit: “She is not here; she is risen!”
May that be your hope too this Easter and Passover tide!

Charles Gardner is author of Israel the Chosen, available from Amazon, and Peace in Jerusalem, available from olivepresspublisher.com
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Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Passover Slaughter - Welsh Christians Honor Blood of the Martyrs - Charles Gardner ISRAEL TODAY


Passover Slaughter - Welsh Christians Honor Blood of the Martyrs

Wednesday, April 12, 2017 |  Charles Gardner  ISRAEL TODAY
A group of British Christians have honoured the memory of 1,200 believers who paid with their lives for refusing to stop celebrating the Passover.
The special Passover celebration was held at Bangor-on-Dee in North Wales on Monday (April 10) as a memorial to all who have died in obedience to the Lord and as a sign that there are still those who refuse to bow the knee to any other god.
The event was organised by the Father’s House congregation at Shotton, Deeside.
Like their Jewish forbears of the early church, Christians in the British Isles continued to celebrate the biblical feasts until bishops from Rome – under orders from the emperors of the time – demanded they switch the Sabbath to Sunday and Passover to Easter, both in honour of pagan gods.
Christians under the influence of St Patrick and St Columba had long continued the tradition of marking the appointed feasts as outlined in Leviticus chapter 23, all of which point to Yeshua (Jesus, the Messiah), especially in the case of Passover which was clearly seen as fulfilled by the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, who plainly stated that he had not come to abolish the Law (Old Testament commands) but to fulfil it (Matthew 5.17).
But from 644 AD onwards, after the Christian community established by St Columba on the Scottish island of Iona were duped into changing the days and names of the feasts, a new era had begun apparently designed to distance Christianity from its Hebraic roots.
And in 722 Rome tried to enforce this new practice on believers in Wales, but were met with stiff resistance as the Welsh Christians refused to comply. This led to the slaughter of 1,200 believers in one day at the village of Bangor on the banks of the River Dee.
Father’s House leader Mike Fryer said the enforced changes were “rooted in the anti-Judaism and anti-Semitism of the newly-appointed bishops of the Empire, put in place by the emperors themselves”.
It had started in 321 with Constantine ordering worship of the ‘Unconquerable Sun’ on Sunday and exchanging Passover for celebration of the fertility goddess Oestre.
But the unadulterated message of the gospel survived this spiritual onslaught and spread to faithful believers elsewhere including the British Isles, where they discreetly continued to keep the feasts for the next 500 years.
“Every credible historian and theologian accepts there was a strong anti-Semitic motive behind these mass murders and it is agreed that these motives were also the seeds of both the Inquisitions and the Holocaust,” said Mike. “Indeed Christendom has been anti-Semitic throughout its history.
“I have been teaching this aspect of the history of the early church in the British Isles for 15 years and our congregation has been celebrating Shabbat, Passover and all the biblical feasts.”
He said he had been inspired by the example of King Hezekiah who, by restoring true worship and the keeping of Passover, brought great blessing on Israel.
PHOTO: Illustration - a Christian group celebrates Passover in Israel. Edi Israel/FLASH90
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Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Cindy Jacobs Releases Prophetic Words and Declarations for UK - ELIJAH LIST CHARISMA MAGAZINE

A man carries flowers to a memorial set up for the victims of the London attack.
A man carries flowers to a memorial set up for the victims of the London attack. (Reuters)

Cindy Jacobs Releases Prophetic Words and Declarations for UK

CINDY JACOBS/ELIJAH LIST  CHARISMA MAGAZINE
Prophetic Insight, from Charisma Media
We've recently heard the terrible tragic news of the terrorist attack near Parliament in England, and I just wanted to pray for you and just share a little bit of what I am hearing for our friends in England and London and the whole of U.K. and Europe also.

This is what I feel the Lord saying: 
As enemy has come in like a flood. God is going to raise up a standard. There's going to be a standard of protection come in a unique way for the nation. The Lord is going to bless the intercession of people who are crying out for revival and awakening in England. Even in Parliament, you're going to see a rising up of righteousness and people who are righteous, and there will be an outcry against this kind of behavior. It will end up unifying the nation, not dividing the nation.

I feel that as the Christians in England and the broader of the U.K. and Europe pray for the Muslims, there's going to be great visitations come. I see signs and wonders and miracles. I see many people of the Islamic faith coming to Christ—God visiting them in unique ways with angelic hosts and things like this and sending more laborers. I believe all of these terrible things Satan meant, even the people who have died, which is so awful, we can't even imagine how awful that is. And we are grieving with you here in the United States—God is going to release such evangelism, such great things are going to impact the Muslim people in a great way. It's not time for hating. It's time for praying. Let's not be haters; let's be prayers. 

To London, I pray for God to strengthen and bless you.
What the enemy meant for evil, God will turn for good in such unique ways you cannot imagine. You're going to see some things exposed because of this. It's like the enemy went too far. I see there's like a red line in the sand now, and there's going to be secret exposures of some other rings, other terrorist rings, and I think this man might have been a lone wolf, but there's someone who is radicalizing who's going to be exposed. Particularly there is one radical voice who lives in the U.K. who's been under observation, but will actually come to light, that he's radicalizing particularly 20- to 30-year-olds and in fact, not only men, but women. You're going to see this be exposed, but it's going to avert many more possible disasters, and God is going to give great wisdom to the secret services community there to protect the nation. 
Let's just pray.
Father I pray the God of all comfort for those individuals who've lost loved ones. Father I pray in the name of Jesus for healing of those who were hurt. Father I pray that You comfort even the government, the government leaders, that You give them extraordinary wisdom, the members of Parliament, the House of Lords, the prime minister. And Father I thank You, Lord, that You will do this, and I thank You for the great churches in England, the unity, the John 17 unity, that is coming out of this, the prayer meetings that will spring out of this. Father we thank You, and we say together, "Enough is enough, this is a line in the sand. Satan has gone too far, and we're going to rise up and pray for the nation!" 
Cindy Jacobs is an author, speaker and teacher with a heart for discipling nations in the areas of prayer and prophetic gifts. She and Mike—her husband of 43 years—co-founded Generals International in 1985.
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Thursday, March 2, 2017

Street Preachers Convicted of 'Abuse' for Proclaiming the Gospel - CHRISTIAN CONCERN


Two street preachers have been convicted of public order offenses after a public prosecutor claimed that quoting parts of the King James Bible in the context of modern British society "must be considered to be abusive and is a criminal matter". (Courtesy)
Join us on our podcast each weekday for an interesting story, well told, from Charisma News. Listen at charismapodcastnetwork.com.

Street Preachers Convicted of 'Abuse' for Proclaiming the Gospel

Two street preachers have been convicted of public order offenses after a public prosecutor claimed that quoting parts of the King James Bible in the context of modern British society "must be considered to be abusive and is a criminal matter".
The prosecutor had argued that free speech must yield to multicultural reality in modern Britain, and that there was a clear threat to violence due to the words of the preachers and the criticism of Islam.
Michael Overd and Michael Stockwell were convicted Feb. 28 at Bristol Magistrates' Court. On Friday (Feb. 25), the court dismissed the case against a third man, Adrian Clark, ruling that there was no case to answer.
During the four-day trial, prosecutor Ian Jackson, claimed:
"To say to someone that Jesus is the only God is not a matter of truth. To the extent that they are saying that the only way to God is through Jesus, that cannot be a truth."
The men were found guilty under Section 31 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, for using "threatening or abusive words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress, thereby, and the offence was religiously aggravated."
Michael Phillips, who represented the street preachers, said:
"This prosecution is nothing more than a modern-day heresy trial—dressed up under the public order act."

Free to Criticize Islam?

Mr. Stockwell had quoted a Bible verse in which Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the life" (John 14:6) and that he is the only way to heaven.
Mr. Stockwell said:
"If you are trying to come through Catholicism, through Jehovah Witness, through Mormonism, the Bible says you're a thief and a liar, and a thief comes to steal and destroy. But Christ came that we may have life."
He also entered debate with a Muslim gentleman in which both individuals stated opposition to the other's religious beliefs.
Mr. Stockwell said: "Men should be able to proclaim the truth and have diverse differences in the public forum, agreeing to disagree without harm or repercussions. Truth today is the new hate."
He continued: "I am an American, and there is no free speech in England. You criticize Islam; and a group of individuals don't like what you say and threaten violence to silence speech they disapprove of. The police and court shut down the 'free speech' to avoid public disorder. It is a green light to the Islamists and any other radical groups to silence speech. The police should be protecting us."
Mr. Overd said: "You can't have the threat of violence and public disorder to stop us criticising Islam and other lifestyles. Where is our freedom? If you don't like what I said, just move on and let others heard the message, but they want to end the free speech."
The court has awarded legal costs of £2016 against both Mr. Overd and Mr. Stockwell. A Criminal Behavior Order is being pursued against Mr. Overd, with the hearing delayed until May 2017.

'Over the Top'

Mr. Overd and his three friends were preaching in Bristol's Broadmead Shopping Centre last year (July 6, 2016).
They took it in turns to preach, and as they did so, a crowd gathered. At points, the crowd was loud and aggressive, with some swearing and being abusive towards the men. There was also, however, debate between the preachers and members of the crowd, especially on the differences between Islam and Christian belief. Several hecklers appeared to be supportive of Islam.
Police did not arrive on the scene until about an hour into the preaching. A police officer approached Mr. Clark, asking him to turn off his amplification, which he did.
Shortly afterwards a mounted police officer asked Mr. Clark to stop preaching so that she could speak to him. Whilst Mr. Clark spoke with the officer, Mr. Overd took over the preaching.
Soon afterwards, another police officer approached Mr. Overd and told him that he was "causing a disturbance" and "not welcome".
The officer told Mr. Overd that he was going to give him a Dispersal Notice. But instead of doing so, he forcibly removed Mr. Overd from the scene, despite Mr. Overd (who suffers from chronic back pain) crying out in pain.
The officer is later heard asking for advice on whether the men could be charged with offences, saying that Mr. Overd has "gone over the top" and "he's just wound up people".

Public Order Offenses

Mr. Overd and his friends were eventually taken to Patchway Custody Center, Bristol, held for several hours and released on police bail to return for questioning.
They were charged under Section 31 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 for using "threatening or abusive words or behavior or disorderly behavior within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress, thereby, and the offence was religiously aggravated."
The charge against one of the men was subsequently dropped, however.
But the remaining three were additionally charged with offenses under the Public Order Act 1986 and summonsed to appear in court in early 2017.

Freedoms at Stake

Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Center, which is supporting the preachers, says the case raises huge questions about the state of freedom of speech and freedom of religion in this country and will be appealed. People will be shocked that a court now considers the Bible itself to be a form of hate speech, she says.
Andrea Williams said: "The Bible and its teachings are the foundation of our society and provided many of the freedoms and protections we still enjoy today. So it is extraordinary that the prosecution, speaking on behalf of the state, could say that the Bible contains abusive words which, when spoken in public, constitute a criminal offense. Today's ruling, in effect, states that Bible is offensive and contains illegal speech which should not be shared in public. This is a very serious state of affairs, and the men will be considering next steps to challenge this decision.
"'Offense' is a very subjective thing and is easily manipulated to shut down viewpoints that people simply don't like. Any suggestion that there is a right not to be offended must be strongly resisted. In today's democracy, we need the freedom to debate, challenge and disagree.
"Mike Overd and Michael Stockwell were saying nothing that wouldn't be heard at speakers' corner in Hyde Park—presenting the claims of the Bible, answering the crowd's questions and objections and responding calmly to abuse which was hurled at them. For a court to rule that this breaks the law is extraordinary." 
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Saturday, February 25, 2017

Three Christian Evangelists Standing Trial on Ridiculous Accusations - CHRISTIAN CONCERN


Three Christian Evangelists Standing Trial on Ridiculous Accusations

Join us on our podcast each weekday for an interesting story, well told, from Charisma News. Listen at charismapodcastnetwork.com.

Three Christian evangelists were to appear at Bristol Magistrates' Court Feb. 23, charged with public order offenses. 
They are being supported by the Christian Legal Centre and will be represented in court by allied solicitor Michael Phillips.
Michael Overd, Adrian Clark, Michael Stockwell and another friend were preaching in a Bristol shopping area last July. They took it in turns to speak and to respond to questions, objections and abuse from the crowd that gathered.  
The men explained the difference between Islam and Christianity, using the Bible and references to the Quran. They spoke of God's love and the uniqueness of Jesus Christ.
After about an hour, however, Overd's preaching was interrupted by a police officer. He was then forcibly removed from the scene by the officer.
Video evidence from Overd's bodycam shows him falling to the floor and crying out in pain.

'Challenging Muslims'

The video also records the police officer saying that Overd was "challenging homophobia" (sic) and "challenging Muslims," to which Overd responded that he and his friends were "just saying what the Bible says."
The recording goes on to show the police officer asking for advice on whether Overd can be charged with any offenses, but only after Overd had been forcibly removed from the scene.
Overd had previously been arrested and stood trial for his street preaching but successfully contested the charges, citing the importance of freedom of speech. 
He and his friends have been charged with offenses under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and the Public Order Act 1986.

'Over the top'

Overd and his three friends were preaching in Bristol's Broadmead Shopping Centre on July 6 last year.
They took it in turns to preach, and as they did so, a crowd gathered. At points, the crowd was loud and aggressive, with some swearing and being abusive toward the men. There was also, however, debate between the preachers and members of the crowd, especially on the differences between Islam and Christian belief. Several hecklers appeared to be supportive of Islam.
Police did not arrive on the scene until about an hour into the preaching. A police officer approached Clark, asking him to turn off his amplification, which he did. 
Shortly afterwards a mounted police officer asked Clark to stop preaching so that she could speak to him. While Clark spoke with the officer, Overd took over the preaching.
Soon afterwards, another police officer approached Overd and told him he was "causing a disturbance" and was "not welcome."
The officer told Overd that he was going to give him a dispersal notice. But instead of doing so, he forcibly removed Overd from the scene, despite Overd (who suffers from chronic back pain) crying out in pain. 
The officer is later heard asking for advice on whether the men could be charged with offenses, saying that Overd has "gone over the top" and "he's just wound up people."

Public order offenses

Overd and his friends were eventually taken to Patchway Custody Centre, Bristol, held for several hours, and released on police bail to return for questioning.
They were charged under Section 31 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 for using "threatening or abusive words or behavior or disorderly behavior within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress, thereby, and the offense was religiously aggravated."
The charge against one of the men was subsequently dropped, however.
But the remaining three were additionally charged with offenses under the Public Order Act 1986. 
Overd, Clark and Stockwell will argue that the case raises crucial issues of freedom of speech and freedom of religion. They highlight that they simply explained the Bible's teaching and sought to respond to questions, comments and objections raised by those in the crowd.
The men say that they cannot and should not distort the plain teaching of the Bible that Jesus is God's Son and the only way to God.
Given that much of the debate centered on objections to their teaching about key differences between Islam and Christianity, the men have submitted a report from an expert witness, highlighting that their explanation reflects what the Bible and Quran say.

'Shut out of public debate'

Commenting on the importance of the case, Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre said:
"Mr. Overd and his friends are motivated by love. They want to share the good news of Jesus with people who might not otherwise hear it. Sometimes that means addressing the false claims of other religions or ideologies. 
"Robust debate is sometimes necessary, especially when objections are being raised or abuse hurled. We shouldn't be afraid of it.
"The aggressive treatment of Mr. Overd and his friends by the police and prosecution is shocking. The police should be defending freedom of speech, not clamping down on it. 
"'Offense is a very subjective thing and is easily manipulated to shut down viewpoints that people simply don't like. Any suggestion that there is a right not to be offended must be strongly resisted. In today's democracy, we need the freedom to debate, challenge and disagree. 
"But this was not just an attack on freedom of speech but an abuse of power. We will not only be seeking the acquittal of these Christian men but seeking an apology from the Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset police, compensation and assurances that officers are better trained to protect freedom of expression." 
"We cannot allow the Gospel to be shut out of public debate. Please pray for a successful outcome to this important case." 
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Thursday, January 5, 2017

A Tale of Two Nations - Charles Gardner ISRAEL TODAY

A Tale of Two Nations

Thursday, January 05, 2017 |  Charles Gardner  ISRAEL TODAY
The effect of the shameful anti-Israel resolution at the UN has, it seems, been quite literally earthshaking.
reported last week on how, after Britain voted for the motion, a leading UK journalist accused our government of anti-Semitism in an open letter to Prime Minister Theresa May.
Now I learn from New Zealand friends that the November 14 earthquake – one of the most powerful ever to strike the Pacific nation – came just minutes after a closed meeting at which a draft of the resolution was allegedly discussed between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Prime Minister John Key.[1]
The Obama administration is widely believed to have been behind the motion, which condemned all Israeli settlement activity as illegal and even delegitimized Jewish claims to Jerusalem’s Old City, which has an unbroken link to Judaism over thousands of years.
And we know that it was New Zealand who co-sponsored the resolution (with Senegal), which saw 14 out of the 15 Security Council members vote in favour, with the U.S. abstaining rather than casting its veto as it usually does on issues relating to borders, thereby giving it added credence.
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu called for ambassadors of those countries voting in favour to be reprimanded, and called home envoys to the sponsoring states. And it seems that the Judge of all the earth has sent tremors to the proposers as a warning to those who would touch the ‘apple of his eye’ or divide up his land (Zechariah 2.8, Joel 3.2).
My friend described it as ‘Genesis 12.3 in action’ – the Bible verse reading: “I will bless those who bless you (the seed of Abraham), and whoever curses you I will curse…”
Another friend, from north of Auckland, pointed out that New Zealand were given the “ignominious honour” of fronting the resolution when Egypt (once an enemy of Israel) stepped back from doing so. The Bible does teach that, in the last days, Egypt will become a friend of Israel (see Isaiah 19).[2]
The resolution effectively legitimizes the Palestinian narrative that Israel has no entitlement to land that is historically theirs – the same line taken by the butchers of Islamic State and similar terror groups who have caused such mayhem over Christmas in Cairo, Berlin and Istanbul.
Israel’s Education Minister Naftali Bennett issued a defiant response to the UN action from a snowy Mt Hermon in the Golan Heights: “Five minutes from here, the Syrian government and ISIS have butchered over half-a-million men, women and children. The UN resolution suggests that this is occupied territory and should be handed over to those enemies… You have Israel thriving and a terror state five minutes from here in an abyss of murder. We will prevail.”[3]
Christians in Egypt, meanwhile, have followed their Saviour’s example by responding to the bombing of a Cairo church, which left 25 dead, with forgiveness for the perpetrators.
Arabic TV host Mona Roman is quoted as saying: “We had a lot of phone calls from Muslims saying, ‘We are killing you; we are destroying your churches, and you are saying we forgive you, we are praying for you.’ In fact, two Muslim men called in after the attack to give their lives to Christ. They said, ‘All that we see from you is love and forgiveness. You never answer us with explosions or weapons or hate speech. You are very strong people in love. We are the ones who are weak.’”
Witnesses said that, when the bomb went off, the priest was presiding over communion, repeating the words of Jesus, ‘This is my body, broken for you’. The women (separated from the men in the Coptic Church) were standing with arms lifted in worship of Jesus when, a moment later, they would have been standing in front of Him in heaven.[4]
PHOTO: Prime Minister Netanyahu meets with New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully (Haim Zach / GPO)

  1. This quake, of a 7.8 magnitude causing extensive structural damage, struck just after midnight on November 14 near Christchurch, which suffered a devastating tremor five years ago. Just a week later, a second quake struck central New Zealand, with the epicenter some 200km north-east of Wellington, the capital. Although this measured 5.6 on the Richter scale, my sister Penny, who lives over 100 miles away on the west coast, felt the earth shaking – a truly frightening experience.  ↩
  2. To be fair, many New Zealanders have protested their country’s role in this debacle and the nation has become a favourite destination for young Israeli tourists.  ↩
  3. Jerusalem News Network, December 30 2016, quoting Arutz–7  ↩
  4. Egypt’s tragedy…and a story of forgiveness by Bonnie Brown of ASSIST News Service  ↩
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