Joel C. Rosenberg: Lynn and I were invited to Jordan to meet King Abdullah II. Here’s a report on our trip and the threat ISIS poses to Jordan.

New post on Joel C. Rosenberg's Blog

In March, Lynn and I were invited to Jordan to meet King Abdullah II. Here’s a report on our trip and the threat ISIS poses to Jordan. by joelcrosenberg Last month, Lynn and I were blessed with the tremendous honor of spending several days in Jordan to meet with King Abdullah II. Our visit included tours of various military bases and the Zaatari refugee camp, briefings from senior military officials, and an up-close look at how His Majesty is dealing with the Syrian civil war, a tidal wave of refugees, and the growing threat of the Islamic State. We were deeply grateful for the opportunity and came away even more impressed with the king's leadership than when we arrived. But we also saw how urgently Jordan needs more help from the West and the Arab world -- before it's too late. This morning, The Jerusalem Post published an op-ed I wrote on my observations from the visit. Here it is in full. Please feel free to share it with others, and please keep the king, his family, and the people of Jordan in your regular, faithful prayers. Thanks. MEETING WITH JORDAN'S WARRIOR KING A first-hand look at how the West’s most faithful Sunni Arab ally is confronting Islamic State. By Joel C. Rosenberg, The Jerusalem Post, April 18, 2016 It isn’t often a novelist with dual US-Israeli citizenship has the opportunity to meet a Sunni Arab monarch, but last month I had the honor of spending time with Jordan’s King Abdullah II. It was absolutely fascinating to spend time with a moderate Muslim leader so deeply committed to defeating Islamic State (ISIS) and the forces of violent jihad. The king invited my wife and me on a five-day visit to the Hashemite Kingdom after reading my latest political thriller, The First Hostage. The novel focuses on a plot by ISIS leaders to launch catastrophic chemical weapons attacks against the US, Israel and Jordan, target the king and seize Jordan to become part of its caliphate. Upon arriving in Amman, my wife and I had a private luncheon with Abdullah at the National Crisis Center, a high-tech war room reminiscent of Jack Bauer’s fictional Counter-Terrorism Unit (CTU) headquarters in the TV series 24. From there, the king invited us to join him at a live-fire military exercise of Jordanian air and ground forces near Zarqa. The trip included visits to several Jordanian military bases – including one just a few miles from the Syrian border, and the King Abdullah Special Operations Training Center – and briefings from various generals and military officials. It also included a tour of the Zaatari Refugee Camp, home of some 80,000 Syrians who have fled from the Assad regime, ISIS and a seemingly never-ending civil war. One of the most special elements of the trip was a two-and-a-half-hour private dinner with the king and several friends at Beit al-Urdon, his personal palace. After getting a first-hand look at the king and his national security team, I came away with three observations. First, Jordan’s king is sitting on a volcano, nearly surrounded by a raging forest fire, bracing for a massive earthquake. To his north, Syria is imploding. To his east, Iraq has been massively destabilized. Some 1.3 million refugees have poured into Jordan from Syria alone, and more are coming every day, putting enormous pressure on Jordan’s struggling economy. ISIS leaders have publicly vowed to invade Jordan, “slaughter” the king, whom they denounce as an “ally of the Crusaders,” and raise their black flags over Amman. So far, some 3,000 Jordanians have joined ISIS, including the son of a Jordanian member of Parliament. “This is a message to the tyrant of Jordan,” the young man declared in a video he released just before going on a suicide bombing mission in Iraq. “Know, O Abdullah, son of Hussein, that you are an apostate.... Even if you manage to escape our punishment, you will not manage to escape Allah’s punishment.” A poll released in 2015 found that 74 percent of Americans fear a major ISIS attack inside the US, and 73% fear a major ISIS attack in Israel. But nearly two-in-three Americans (65%) also fear ISIS “will try to overthrow the King of Jordan – an important, moderate Arab ally of the United States – and use Jordan as a base camp to launch terrorist attacks against America and Israel.” I pray such scenarios never come to pass. But the threat is real and growing. Second, King Abdullah was born for this moment. As a 43rd-generation direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad, the 54-year-old monarch has real credibility with his people when it comes to countering the radical and apocalyptic theological narratives espoused by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and other ISIS leaders. His majesty not only strenuously opposes the ISIS claim that Muslims are required to engage in violent jihad – and even genocide – to re-establish the caliphate and bring about the End of Days, he is also one of the Islamic world’s leading reformers, working with clerics and scholars throughout Jordan and the region to define and advance a moderate, tolerant, peaceful vision of Islam. What’s more, as a career soldier trained at the best British military schools, and a natural leader who rose through the ranks to become the commander of Jordan’s Special Operations forces prior to ascending to the throne, the king is uniquely qualified to protect his people from the ISIS threat. He regularly meets with – and occasionally even trains with – his special forces commanders and units, and is directly involved in operations against extremists in Jordan and in the tactical leadership of Jordan’s efforts against ISIS in Syria. At his direction, Jordanian commandos, General Intelligence Directorate operatives and elite police units are taking down an ISIS or related cell inside Jordan every week. As a result of excellent intelligence and security work, Jordan hasn’t had a major terrorist attack inside its borders since 2005, certainly nothing like the recent jihadist attacks in Brussels, Paris, Istanbul, San Bernardino and elsewhere. This is directly attributable to the king’s impressive leadership at home, as well as his close working relationship with Israeli, Egyptian, Saudi and Gulf security and intelligence forces. Third, the king is ready, willing and able to be even more actively engaged in the fight against ISIS, and to continue caring for so many Muslim and Christian refugees, but he needs more US and international assistance to do this effectively. One example: Jordan currently has eight Blackhawk military helicopters, which it recently received from the US in early March, and for which it is very grateful. However, to conduct effective missions against ISIS jihadists in Iraq and Syria, Jordanian forces need at least 12 Blackhawks. Another eight Blackhawks have been promised by the US, but they aren’t expected to be delivered until the end of 2017. Why? Shouldn’t Washington immediately provide its most faithful Sunni Arab ally with as many military helicopters as it needs to wage war on ISIS? At the same time, while the international community has pledged billions in financial aid to help Jordan shoulder the enormous refugee burden, it is not delivering on its promises. In 2014, only 28% of the promised aid was delivered. In 2015, the number was only 35%. In this regard the US is doing far better than others. In 2012, the US gave Jordan $460 million in foreign aid. This year, Congress and the Obama administration will provide $1 billion in aid. But why isn’t President Obama pressing other countries to do more? Neither the Europeans nor wealthy Arab nations want millions of Syrian refugees living in their countries. Nor can they afford to see a moderate country like Jordan destabilized. They need to step up, now. I was already intrigued with Jordan’s warrior king before I met him. That’s why I made him a central character in both of my recent novels about ISIS. But spending personal time with him and his generals, and seeing the extraordinary lengths to which the king is going to defeat the forces of Islamic extremism, deeply impressed me. King Abdullah II is, without question, the West’s most faithful Sunni Arab ally. But as he engages in a hot war against a genocidal enemy he needs far more help from the US and the international community – and he needs it now. Let’s give him what he needs, before it’s too late. The author is a New York Times best-selling author. He has written two novels about the threat of Islamic State, The Third Target (published in January 2015) and The First Hostage (published in December 2016). He can be reached atwww.joelrosenberg.com. ————————– Order The First Hostage today — the new political thriller about ISIS plotting a chemical weapons attack against Israel, Jordan and the United States — is available in hardcover, e-book and audio formats. ——————- Subscribe (free) to the RSS feed (click here) and receive every new posting on this blog directly via email. Order THE THIRD TARGET today , the first in this new series — now out in paperback — the New York Times best-selling novel about ISIS capturing chemical weapons in Syria and plotting genocidal attacks. Make an investment in The Joshua Fund (www.joshuafund.net), our non-profit organization to help Christians care for Syrian refugees, educate and mobilize Christians to bless Israel and her neighbors in the name of Jesus, care for the poor and needy in Israel (both Jews and Arabs) with food and other humanitarian relief, care for Holocaust survivors, and strengthen the Church in the epicenter. Read our latest Donor Report, and make a tax deductible, secure, on-line contribution. Follow on Twitter — @joelcrosenberg joelcrosenberg | April 18, 2016 at 7:23 am | Categories: Uncategorized | URL: http://wp.me/piWZ7-4xr

Dozens Of Large Earthquakes Strike As Speculation Mounts That Japan’s Southern Island May Split - Michael Snyder THE ECONOMIC COLLAPSE BLOG

Dozens Of Large Earthquakes Strike As Speculation Mounts That Japan’s Southern Island May Split Posted: 17 Apr 2016  Michael Snyder  THE ECONOMIC COLLAPSE BLOG Over the past 48 hours, our planet has been hit by literally dozens of earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater, and scientists are acknowledging that what is taking place is highly unusual.  This strange shaking began toward the end of last week when the globe was struck by five major earthquakes over the space of just two days, and over the weekend the seismic activity just continued to escalate.   Very early on Saturday, Japan’s southern island of Kyushu was hit by a magnitude 7.3 earthquake, and on Saturday night a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off Ecuador’s Pacific coast.  It was the worst earthquake that Ecuador had experienced since 1979, and it was followed by at least 163 aftershocks.  Unfortunately, there are indications that what we have seen so far may be just the beginning. Because the Ecuador earthquake was bigger, it is getting most of the headlines at the moment, but the truth is that what is going on in Japan is potentially far more dangerous. Over the past week, Japan’s southern Island of Kyushu has been rocked by a series of devastating quakes, including two major ones in less than 48 hours.  The following comes from the Guardian… A second major earthquake in less than two days has shaken Japan’s southern island of Kyushu, with at least 34 people thought to have been killed, about 1,500 injured and more feared buried after building collapses and landslides. The 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck at about 1.30am on Saturday, waking people across the island – including the thousands already in crisis centres. It caused widespread damage, with several landslides and a village evacuated over fears a dam might burst. The mainstream media in the United States is using the term “landslides” to describe what has happened all over Kyushu, but the truth is that in many instances it would be far more accurate to say that “giant cracks” or “vast chasms” have formed.  The geography of Japan’s southern island has been fundamentally transformed, and this is beginning to cause huge concerns.  Here is more from the Guardian… One major landslide tore open a mountainside in Minamiaso village in Kumamoto prefecture, destroying a key bridge that could cut off food and other relief transport to the worst-hit area. Another landslide hit a road, collapsing a house that fell down a ravine. In another part of the village, houses were left hanging precariously at the edge of a huge hole. I want to show you a map which comes directly from the U.S. Geological Survey.  This map shows all of the earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or greater that have hit Japan’s southern island over the past week.  As you look at this map, do you see a pattern?… The dozens of earthquakes that have hit Japan’s southern island over the past week appear to form something of a straight line that divides the island in two.  Many are now speculating that geological forces are beginning to tear Kyushu in half, and if that is true, the earthquake activity that we have seen in Japan so far is probably just the tip of the iceberg. We could potentially be talking about an event that could ultimately have far more of an impact on Japan than the tsunami of 2011.  By the time it is all said and done, entire cities could be wiped off the map and millions upon millions of Japanese citizens could be displaced. Already, the seismic activity that has rocked Kyushu is having quite an impact on the Japanese economy… Earlier today Toyota was one of many Japanese companies to announce that it will suspend most car production across Japan as a result of critical supply chain disruptions caused by the recent destructive earthquake and numerous aftershocks. All of the major assembly lines will be shut down across its four directly-run plants, and Toyota will be halting production in stages at other group companies as well. According to the Nikkei Asian Review, most of the Toyota group in Japan will be effectively shut down through at least the end of this upcoming week, with a production loss of as many as 50,000 vehicles, including brands such as Prius, Lexus, and Land Cruiser. Our planet resembles something of a giant cracked egg, and the enormous tectonic plates that we are all living on are constantly in motion.  So if Japan’s southern island is in the process of slowly splitting in half, that shouldn’t exactly be a surprise.  After all, scientists assure us that Los Angeles and San Francisco will be directly next to one another someday. And it isn’t just Japan that we need to be concerned about.  All along the “Ring of Fire”, seismic activity is increasing, and this has many of the experts completely puzzled.  The following comes from an excellent piece by Alvin Conway… This has continued to baffle many of the world’s leading geologists, who still attest the rise in the number of large earthquakes is merely a random natural occurrence. For instance, the number of large earthquakes doubled in 2014. However, here’s what scientists had to say about it: “If you think there have been more earthquakes than usual this year, you’re right. A new study finds there were more than twice as many big earthquakes in the first quarter of 2014 as compared with the average since 1979. “We have recently experienced a period that has had one of the highest rates of great earthquakes ever recorded,” said lead study author Tom Parsons, a research geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in Menlo Park, California. If you are familiar with my work, then you already know that I believe that we have entered a period of time during which we will see seismic activity on a scale that none of us have ever experienced before. This great shaking will combine with other factors such as financial collapse, geopolitical instability and civil unrest to produce what many have described as a “perfect storm”.  Life as we know it is in the process of fundamentally changing, and right now we are only in the very early chapters of this change. Unfortunately, most people are ignoring the warnings and will continue to ignore them until it is far too late. *About the author: Michael Snyder is the founder and publisher of The Economic Collapse Blog. Michael’s controversial new book about Bible prophecy entitled “The Rapture Verdict” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com.*

The Miracle of Passover - Charles Gardner ISRAEL TODAY

The Miracle of Passover

Sunday, April 17, 2016 | Charles Gardner ISRAEL TODAY


Israel’s plight of being hemmed in on all sides by mortal enemies seems a particularly pitiful one. But it’s the best possible place for them to be, as the miracle of the first Passover reminds us.

Having seen their firstborn survive a plague of death through the blood of a lamb daubed on the doorposts of their houses, the way was now open for the Jews to escape slavery in Egypt as Pharaoh finally had his fill of disasters.

Sure, the blood of the lamb was the key to their salvation, but they needed to keep trusting the God of Israel for every step of their path to the Promised Land. And the first surprise was that a short cut was not the best route. That would have taken them through Philistine country, which was too dangerous. Instead he led them to an area where they were completely trapped, with the desert on one side and the sea on the other, and Pharaoh’s troops, having changed their minds about losing their services, now chasing down hard on their heels.

God takes us on a circuitous route in our discipleship for a reason. And when we find ourselves trapped and hemmed in on all sides, we are in Position A for a miracle. The Israelites panicked, but Moses said: “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today.” (Exodus 14.13)

The fearful Israelites were about to witness one of the greatest miracles of history; indeed, a picture of the coming resurrection of their Messiah Yeshua – and of all who follow him. They had nowhere to go; they were as good as dead. And that is just where God wanted them. In truth, there is never a situation when a believer has nowhere to go; even if he’s trapped in a war zone or a concentration camp, God is there. Notice that Moses’ instruction is not to retreat or do anything, but to “stand still” and let God do the work. He will bring about the miracle, but not if we interfere by trying to manipulate the situation. God will fight for you – “you need only to be still”.

How desperately we need to learn this lesson about taking our hands off the ’ark of God’s presence’ – remember when Uzzah tried to steady the Ark as it was being taken back to Jerusalem. He was struck down dead. (1 Chronicles 13.9f) We like to help God along with our puny efforts, but he doesn’t need them. He only wants our perfect trust.

Abraham, despite his legendary faith, couldn’t quite believe that God could provide a son through the aged Sarah, so he thought he’d give the Lord a hand by having sex with Hagar. And look what happened! We’re still suffering the consequences through the ongoing Arab-Jewish conflict.

I remember going through a very difficult time in my youth involving marriage, family and future, calling out to the Lord from the beautiful Yorkshire hills where I used to walk, and hearing the still, small voice of God saying: “Stand still, and see the salvation of your God!”

In time the Lord brought me through into verdant green pastures, but his timing is also vital as, over and over again since then, I have experienced the miracle of God’s perfect timing – not a moment too soon, and not a moment too late, as I usually discover afterwards. And I have found that music so often plays a part. I don’t know why that is; perhaps it’s because I so love praising and worshipping God as I go about my business that sometimes the Lord speaks back to me in song.

There was a time when I was struggling over issues concerning production of an evangelistic tabloid I started called New Life. As I anxiously mulled over the problems while driving to our offices, words of the Andrew Lloyd-Webber song Memory – “I must think of a new life, and I mustn’t give in…” – came over the car’s audio-cassette player and soothed my soul in a way I shall never forget.

On another occasion I was writing of my experiences in Israel for my book, Peace in Jerusalem, when I recalled the encouragement I felt as I passed a man singing the Leonard Cohen hitHallelujah in Zion Square. And at that precise moment, classical singer Katherine Jenkins struck up on my CD player with the very same song! I had forgotten it was on that album.

A third example of this occurred more recently during another turbulent time. I was writing an article entitled Bread of Heaven for a website, and not really sure I was doing the right thing. But as I was in the process of actually writing the words ‘bread of heaven’, a Welsh male voice choir echoed those very words (also on CD) – ‘Bread of heaven, bread of heaven, feed me now and evermore!’

It was of course the chorus of the well-known hymn Guide me O thou great Jehovah. I was ecstatic. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect, and that’s just it. You know that it’s God when you haven’t manipulated anything.

Yet even after he has taken us across the Red Sea as on dry land, and we have watched our pursuing enemies drown as the waters sweep over them, the journey to Canaan is not a quick one. But it’s in our years of wandering in the wilderness that we learn to trust in the God who provides manna from heaven and water from the Rock.

And yet Israel is now in the Promised Land, where they should be safe. But they are still hemmed in on all sides! The Jewish longing for what often seems the elusive hope of an eternal place of refuge has been beautifully expressed by some of their great modern composers and lyricists. I think of the “yellow brick road” leading to the magical castle of the Wizard of Oz, for which Over the Rainbow was such a hit, the breaking down of prejudice in South Pacific encapsulated in the song You’ve got to be taught to hate, and West Side Story’s “There’s a place for us, somewhere a place for us… peace and quiet and open air, wait for us somewhere… we’ll find a new way of living, we’ll find a way of forgiving, somewhere.”

Yet even in Israel the Jews are once again trapped, with nowhere to go, but God. “Then fly to His side (to adapt the lyrics from South Pacific’s Some Enchanted Evening) and make Him your own, or all through your life you will dream all alone!”

The lamb slaughtered for the enslaved Jews is now fulfilled by the Lamb of God, slain for the sins of the world, who “for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12.2)

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Run and not be weary; walk and not faint - Richard and Carolyn Hyde from Heart of G-d Ministries

Website  |  About Us  |  Music  |  Yeshua Project  |  Living Stones  |   Partner With Us Click above to see photos Shalom dear Friends and Prayer Partners, I scurried out the door on my way to the bus stop, not to catch a bus, but to catch a ride with whomever the L-rd would send along.  As I was walking there was a drop of rain here and there.  I looked up and decided to pick up my pace a bit.  Soon a few more drops began to fall and again I quickened the pace.  Not quite meeting His intended pace the heavens opened up causing me to run for the shelter of the bus stop.  As I arrived I turned around and put my hand out to catch a ride. Right away a woman with whom I shared the L-rd with a few years ago picked me up. As soon as I got in her car, the rain stopped but our conversation flowed.  My next ride came from a man in our neighborhood.  This again was someone I had already shared the Gospel with; it was a follow-up appointment!  We also had a wonderful conversation and he gratefully received a music CD.  Isn't it awesome how the L-rd will send rain or whatever He needs to send to pick up our pace so we can arrive in the right place at the right time to share with the right people! But they that wait upon the L-rd shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles;  they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.  Isaiah 40:31 Could Sardinia be ancient Tarshish? Click here to read more Recently the L-rd sent us on a journey to Sardinia, an island in the Mediterranean Sea.  We believe that a time is coming when Jews will need to "come trembling from the West", and travel by ship to Israel.  It seems the L-rd is preparing the hearts of Christians who will help in this Aliyah.  In fact, at this conference in Sardinia the L-rd gave Richard an opportunity to speak to several church leaders and pastors about G-d's heart for Israel in these last days and the church's role to play.  Many caught a vision for Israel and for Aliyah - Hallelujah! Carolyn was also invited to lead worship at the conference.  She gathered a team with a French guitarist-singer, an Italian singer, Lithuanian violinist and French bassist - it was indeed heaven on earth!  Praise G-d for this Aliyah conference where many who live in the Mediterranean basin now understand and want to help fulfill Isaiah 60:9! Surely the coastlands wait for Me and the ships of Tarshish will come first, to bring your sons from afar, their silver and gold with them.  For the name of the L-rd your G-d and for the Holy One of Israel because He has glorified you.  Isaiah 60:9  LIVING STONES EXPERIENCE Please come to our home for worship and Israeli folk dancing then hear how the Spirit of G-d is moving in the Land!  Then enjoy dinner up on our balcony with a magnificent view of the Kineret (Sea of Galilee), Golan and Jordan Valley! Jerusalem apartment available for rent during Passover! Central location, private, fully equipped and can sleep up to 3 people; includes free Wifi & parking.  This would really help and bless Avi and Liora so please contact them at +972(0)50-591-7177 or (0)50-812-2123 or oatmeal11000@yahoo.com       /   liora.hyde@gmail.com Apartment in our neighborhood for rent! Enjoy our dear neighbor's rooftop apartment with a gorgeous view similar to ours.  Fully equipped; can sleep up to six:    gabydanieli@012.net.il Outreach booklets and Worship CD's from Israel! Enjoy!  Download lead sheets here.   We truly thank you for your love, prayers and support!  Richard is doing well and we are looking forward to celebrating Pesach in the Land with family, friends and tour groups from many nations!   Chag Pesasch Sameach - Happy Passover! Blessings from Zion in Yeshua's love, Richard & Carolyn Hyde Heart of G-d Ministries Israel: PO Box 112, Poriya Kfar Avoda   15220   USA:  PO Box 461546, San Antonio, TX 78246 Canada:  First Century Foundations  * Canadian charitable tax #10780-1771-RR0001 Box 234 * Milton, ON * L9T 4N9 * Canada 1-877-628-2800* www.firstcenturyfoundations.com

We write L-rd and G-d in this way because it's a Jewish custom that Carolyn grew up with and it's done only out of reverence and honor for the name of the L-rd.  Thanks for understanding.  Copyright © 20XX. All Rights Reserved.