TUESDAY TALKS ON JERUSALEM

STORMS HURRICANES-TORNADOES

LUKE 21:25-26
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;(MASS CONFUSION) the sea and the waves roaring;(FIERCE WINDS)
26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

Texas rushes Ike relief as health crisis looms By Tim Gaynor SEPT 15,08

GALVESTON, Texas (Reuters) - Texas officials warned of a health crisis on Monday and urged thousands of people to leave Galveston, where relief supplies were scarce for hungry, exhausted residents of the island city ravaged by Hurricane Ike. In Houston, millions struggled to cope without power in the U.S. energy hub.About 2,000 people have been plucked from flooded areas by helicopters and boats in the largest rescue effort in the state's history as searchers scoured battered communities along the coast and Galveston Bay.Galveston, a city of 60,000, was decimated when the hurricane made landfall there on Saturday morning and 15,000-20,000 people remained in quickly degrading conditions.There's nothing to come here for, Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas told residents still on the island. Please leave.She called in a cruise ship to house recovery teams, and the city was bringing in a refrigerated mobile morgue.We cannot accommodate people who are getting sick, said Galveston City Manager Steven LeBlanc. You have the potential for a health crisis.More than 4 million people, several oil refineries and many businesses and gas stations around Houston remained without power. Government agencies will distribute ice, water and packaged meals from tractor-trailers.President George W. Bush will view storm-damaged areas in Texas on Tuesday. He still is trying to rebuild his image as a disaster manager after he was widely criticized for a botched relief effort in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.The relief roll-out appeared to defuse tensions that had flared between the Federal Emergency Management Agency and local officials after Houston Mayor Bill White vowed to hold FEMA accountable for delivering on its commitments.

FEMA AIN'T BEEN BY

Officials from Texas -- which sheltered some 200,000 evacuees when Katrina devastated New Orleans -- pressed for equal treatment from federal aid agencies.I have asked the president and the administration to just treat us as fairly as they treated Louisiana back during Katrina, said Texas Gov. Rick Perry. Texans will take care of the rest.FEMA said it will deliver 7.5 million meals over the next few days, along with 5.1 million gallons of water, 19.2 million pounds (8,700 tonnes) of ice, and 80,000 tarps.Residents of Texas and Louisiana are in for tough times, FEMA Administrator David Paulison said. Some people will be out of their homes for not only weeks, but months, he said.In Galveston, shocked and bewildered residents staggered through the streets as food and water grew scarce. There was little sign of any federal relief efforts.FEMA ain't been by, nobody, said disabled retiree Vivian Matthews, who was stranded at her flooded apartment for two days. They don't give a damn if we live or die.Four deaths were reported by officials in Galveston -- scene of the worst U.S. weather disaster when a hurricane killed more than 8,000 people in 1900. One person was also killed in the Houston suburb of Pasadena, the mayor said.

VERY FRUSTRATED

Bush said Texas residents are very frustrated by the slow pace of recovery but my message will be that we hear you and we'll work as hard and fast as we can to help you get your lives back up to normal.Power outages were the main obstacle to recovery and authorities have warned that some people could be without it for days. Electricity is the lifeblood of Gulf Coast refineries that process about a quarter of the country's fuel. Power provider CenterPoint Energy reported it had restored power to 500,000 customers but about 1.6 million remained in the dark, including big Houston-based corporations. U.S. crude oil futures shrugged off supply concerns and settled down $5.47 at $95.71 a barrel after hitting seven-month lows. Ike caused minimal damage to oil refineries along the Gulf Coast and companies are preparing to restart operations at the 14 oil refineries in Texas and Louisiana that remained shut due to Ike, the Energy Department said. Houston, the fourth biggest U.S. city and home to a booming economy thanks to energy demand, was still under a dusk-to-dawn curfew due to lack of power. Authorities urged residents to boil water as protection against contamination and disease. Across Houston, where the car is king, hundreds of drivers waited in long gas station lines. Residents lined up thousands deep at relief centers to get ice, water and food. The city's two main airports resumed partial operations. But with debris still littering its streets and windows blown out of office buildings, it could be weeks before the city of more than 2 million people returns to business as usual. (Additional reporting by Chris Baltimore, Erwin Seba, Eileen O'Grady, Anna Driver and Bruce Nichols in Houston and Randall Mikkelsen in Washington; editing by Ed Stoddard and Mohammad Zargham)

HOARDING OF GOLD AND SILVER

DOCTOR DOCTORIAN FROM ANGEL OF GOD
then the angel said, Financial crisis will come to Asia. I will shake the world.

JAMES 5:1-3
1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.

REVELATION 18:10,17,19
10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,
19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

EZEKIEL 7:19
19 They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumblingblock of their iniquity.

REVELATION 13:16-18
16 And he(FALSE POPE) causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:(CHIP IMPLANT)
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.(6-6-6) A NUMBER SYSTEM

Meltdown in US finance system pummels stock market By PATRICK RIZZO and JOE BEL BRUNO, AP Business Writers SEPT 15,08

NEW YORK - The upheaval in the American financial system sent shock waves through the stock market Monday, producing the worst day on Wall Street in seven years as investors digested the failure of one of its most venerable banks and wondered which domino would be next to fall. The Dow Jones industrial average lost more than 500 points, more than 4 percent, its steepest point drop since the day the stock market reopened after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. About $700 billion evaporated from retirement plans, government pension funds and other investment portfolios.The carnage capped a tumultuous 24 hours that redrew U.S. finance. Lehman Brothers, an investment bank that predates the Civil War and weathered the Great Depression, filed the largest bankruptcy in American history. A second storied bank, Merrill Lynch, fled into the arms of Bank of America.It was by far the most stomach-churning single day since a financial crisis began to bubble up from billions of dollars in rotten mortgage loans that have crippled the balance sheets of one bank after another and landed mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac under the control of the federal government.We are in the middle of a deep, dark recession, and it won't end soon. Here it is, and it is pretty nasty, said Barry Ritholtz, who writes the popular financial blog The Big Picture and is CEO of research firm FusionIQ.And the fallout was far from over. American International Group, the world's largest insurer, was fighting for its very survival: New York Gov. David Paterson moved to allow the company to tap one of its subsidiaries for an emergency loan to stay above water.AIG still remains financially sound, Paterson said, even as the company's stock tumbled almost 60 percent. Almost $20 billion was wiped off AIG's balance sheet on Monday.In Washington, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, who refused to toss a financial lifeline to Lehman, was unapologetic as the Bush administration signaled strongly that Wall Street shouldn't expect more rescues from Washington.The American people should remain confident in the soundness and resilience in the American financial system, Paulson told reporters at the White House.Six months ago, Paulson moved to prevent the collapse of Bear Stearns, brokering a deal for JP Morgan Chase & Co. to buy the firm at a fire-sale price with Federal Reserve backing. Earlier this month, he stepped in to help the government seize Fannie and Freddie in hopes of reversing the housing and credit crises.

But Monday, Paulson said he never once considered it appropriate to put taxpayer money at risk to resolve the problems at Lehman Brothers, which was saddled with $60 billion worth of soured real estate holdings.The result was one of the most momentous days in Wall Street history since legendary banker J. Pierpont Morgan helped broker the rescue of financial markets during the Panic of 1907.The Dow industrials dropped 504.48 points to close at 10,917.51, the first time since July they have finished under 11,000. It was the sixth-largest point drop ever and the worst since Sept. 17, 2001, when the average fell 684.81 points on the first day of trading after the terror attacks.In percentage terms, the fall for the Dow on Monday was its worst since the summer of 2002. The index has shed nearly a quarter of its value since its record high last October.Broader stock indicators also fell. The Standard & Poor's 500 index lost more than 4 1/2 percent, and the Nasdaq composite index lost more than 3 1/2 percent.Financial stocks fell as investors worried about the strength of banks' balance sheets. Washington Mutual Inc. 27 percent to $2 a share, while Wachovia Corp. fell 25 percent to $10.71.While Lehman Brothers was filing for Chapter 11 and AIG was scurrying to find financing to stay afloat, Merrill Lynch was avoiding a similar fate with a $50 billion transaction to become part of Bank of America Corp.The deal would create a financial giant rivaling Citigroup Inc., the biggest U.S. bank in terms of assets. Bank of America has the most deposits of any U.S. bank, while Merrill Lynch is the world's largest and most widely recognized brokerage. It was an opportunity of a lifetime, said Ken Lewis, Bank of America's chairman and CEO. Lewis made the announcement at a news conference where he was flanked by a smiling John Thain, Merrill's chief executive. The two put the deal together in 48 hours, while they were taking part in marathon discussions at the New York Federal Reserve over the weekend to save Lehman Brothers. Merrill stock rose a penny Monday. One huge concern is that the Lehman bankruptcy will probably trigger even tighter credit — making it more difficult for everyone from large companies to small businesses to American homebuyers to borrow money. It was a dark day for Lehman workers, too. Many of them brought gym bags, shopping totes and Lehman travel bags to cart home personal files and pictures from their desks at the company's midtown Manhattan headquarters. Gawkers lined up behind metal barricades, and bystanders took pictures with their cell phones.

The failure of Lehman and probable job losses at Merrill are also a blow to the New York City economy, which is still trying to absorb a blow from shrunken tax revenues after the collapse of Bear Stearns in March. The city and its outlying suburbs rely heavily on taxes paid by workers in the financial services industry. In marathon sessions Friday night, Saturday and Sunday, government officials and the chief executives of major U.S. and foreign banks huddled at the New York Fed's fortress-like building in downtown Manhattan, trying to work out a way to save Lehman. They failed at that. But a group of 10 banks that includes JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs and Citigroup formed a $70 billion pool that banks or brokerages can tap to cover short-term funding needs. There were also worries that Lehman's problems would infect other financial companies and spread to global stock markets, further harming the U.S. and global economies. The Fed meets Tuesday to decide interest rate policy. It's widely expected to keep rates at 2 percent, but some economists believe it could lower them to soothe Wall Street's frazzled nerves. The financial turbulence could also further derail consumer confidence in the economy just as stores prepare for the critical holiday shopping season. The upheaval in the financial system also means that those consumers with marginal credit history will have an even harder time getting loans, cutting into consumer spending. The backdrop even without this was tough. This certainly adds to the worry level, said Michael P. Niemira, chief economist at The International Council of Shopping Centers. Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain assailed greed and corruption on Wall Street and promised to clean it up, while his Democratic opponent, Sen. Barack Obama, blamed White House policies and said his opponent would only deliver more of the same. Obama called it the most serious financial crisis since the Great Depression. McCain declared in a new TV ad that our economy is in crisis and that only he and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, could fix it. McCain also told voters in Jacksonville, Fla., The fundamentals of our economy are strong.Associated Press writers Jeannine Aversa in Washington, Ieva M. Augstums in Charlotte, N.C., and Rachel Beck, Tim Paradis, Ellen Simon, Vinnee Tong and Stephen Bernard in New York contributed to this report.(This version CORRECTS to American International Group, not American Insurance Group. .)

AIG workers on edge as once-safe company in turmoil By Bob Margolis
SEPT 15,08

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Disbelief and anxiety were written on the faces of staff at American International Group Inc as they grappled with the idea that their company, which was once the largest insurer in the world and one of the safest places to work, was struggling for its survival. Workers at the company's lower Manhattan offices, one block from Wall Street, said there were more lunch deliveries than usual, as staff opted to stay inside rather than brave a phalanx of news reporters and cameras camped outside.There was a bigger police presence than normal in the Wall Street area and security guards were double-checking ID's of everyone who came in or out of the AIG building.Some workers at the 89-year-old institution were shocked that the company could find itself in a crisis like the ones at Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc, which just filed for bankruptcy protection after failing to find a rescuer, or Bear Stearns, acquired earlier this year in a shotgun merger.

I came to this company because it was a big company, and big companies tend to stick around, said one male AIG employee who declined to give his name.There's a massive culture of uncertainty within the building, said a woman who has been in the insurance business for 20 years.I'll be the guy to turn out the lights and lock the door, joked a man who said he had a senior-level position at the company.I think the idea is to take a nap at my desk and be woken up when this is all over, another woman said.One woman who went through the Black Monday stock market crash of October 19, 1987 played down the gravity of the current situation. This is nothing compared to that, she said.New York State officials said they had reached an agreement with AIG allowing the insurer access to $20 billion of its own capital. Under the plan, AIG will be able to shift the funds from its insurance subsidiaries to the parent company. That news helped lift employees' mood somewhat.New York Insurance Superintendent Eric Dinallo is appealing to the federal government on AIG's behalf to provide additional access to capital, New York Gov. David Paterson said.But Paterson stressed it was not a government bailout. We will not expose the taxpayers of this state to any risk, he told reporters.Like all New Yorkers I am deeply concerned about the financial crisis that has engulfed the markets, Paterson said, noting that Wall Street brings in 20 percent of the state's revenue.Some companies have served as a bedrock of the system... and one of them is AIG, he said. The company employs 6,000 people in New York City and another 2,500 elsewhere in the state. AIG has 116,000 employees worldwide.AIG contributes to New York's position as a world financial leader, the governor added.

AIG's problems come after Lehman Bros filed for bankruptcy protection and Merrill Lynch & Co Inc agreed to sell itself to Bank of America Corp, months after Bear Stearns' near collapse and acquisition by JP Morgan Chase & Co with financial backstopping from the U.S. government.AIG, an insurance and financial services company, is also known to millions as the shirt sponsor of current European and English champions Manchester United, one of the world's leading soccer clubs.

According to the 2008 Forbes Global 2000 list, AIG was the 18th-largest company in the world. The company was founded by Cornelius Vander Starr, who traveled to Shanghai with just 300 yen in his pocket in 1919 after serving in World War One. AIG now has operations in approximately 130 countries and holds assets of over $1 trillion.(Writing by Steve James; Editing by Gary Hill)

JERUSALEM DIVIDED

ZECHARIAH 12:1-5 King James Bible
1 The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.
2 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.
3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.
4 In that day, saith the LORD, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness.
5 And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the LORD of hosts their God.

JOEL 3:2
2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.

ZECHARIAH 14:1-9 King James Bible
1 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.
2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.
4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. 5 And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.
6 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark:
7 But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light.
8 And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.
9 And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.

PAPAL ADDRESS AT FRENCH INSTITUTE
http://www.zenit.org/article-23614?l=english

POPES ADDRESS AT NOTRE DAME
http://www.zenit.org/article-23611?l=english

ON THE TRAIL FOR ISRAELI SOLDIER GILAD SHALIT
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article4723995.ece

Tuesday Talks on Fate of Capital
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu SEPT 15,08

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority (PA) chairman Mahmoud Abbas will met Tuesday to discuss the future of Jerusalem and the PA demand that millions of foreign Arabs move to Israel, Channel Two television reported. The Prime Minister's Kadima party will vote the following day on a successor to lead the party and try to form the next government.Prime Minister Olmert may step down immediately, if one of the four candidates in the Kadima primaries wins 40 percent of the vote on the first round. However, Olmert is going ahead with a business as usual approach. Channel Two said that he, and not Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, is talking with the PA about the future borders of the capital.The Shas party has consistently said it will leave the coalition and presumably topple the government if senior negotiators, meaning Foreign Minister Livni, were to discuss the possibility of dividing the capital so that the PA can control part of it and claim it is as the capital of a new Arab country. She has repeatedly denied that she has spoken with PA negotiators on the matter, but Abbas has insisted the issue has been discussed.The Israeli position on Jerusalem has continually softened in the past year, especially since American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice declared several months ago that the Har Homa neighborhood, near Gilo in southern Jerusalem, is a settlement, putting it on par with all Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. By definition, all of the neighborhoods added to Jerusalem after the Six-Day War in 1967 have the same status as Har Homa. These areas include French Hill, Gilo, Ramot, Pisgat Zev and East Talpiot, among others.

According to Channel Two, Olmert has now expressed willingness to surrender over 98.1percent of Judea and Samaria to Arab control, even more than the 94-96 percent he had previously offered. On top of other land concessions, Abbas has asked Olmert for the large Jerusalem suburb of Ma'aleh Adumim which is located on the edge of the Judean desert and is home to approximately 36,000 Jews, as well as Givat Ze'ev, named after Zionist leader Ze'ev Jabotinsky, located north of Jerusalem and home to approximately 11,000 Jews, including Karlin-Stoliner Rebbe Boruch Yaakov Meir Shochet. Abbas still wants to discuss the possibility of commandeering the large Jerusalem neighborhoods of Gilo and French Hill.Israel also has softened its stance on the issue of refugees, the common term that refers to approximately five million Arabs in foreign countries who claim to be descended from Arabs who fled Israel during the wars in 1948 and 1967.The issue once was a red line that no political leader was willing to cross, but Prime Minister Olmert, several months ago, quietly agreed to make several hundred exceptions for Arabs from outside of Israel to move to Judea and Samaria. The number later increased to several thousand, during subsequent meetings with Abbas, and now stands at 5,000, with Israel willing to absorb a thousand Arabs per year for 5 years. Abbas has rejected this number, telling Olmert that Israel should accept even more.One driving force behind Prime Minister's determination to reach an outline of an agreement with Abbas is to satisfy the determination by American President George W. Bush that a deal will be made before the next president takes office next January.An Olmert-Abbas pact will not have any legal standing without Cabinet or Knesset approval but will be able to be used by the American government and the European Union (EU) as a tool to force the next Israeli government to use it as a base for further Israeli concessions.

Abbas also wants an agreement in order to bolster his claim that his mandate can be extended for another year. He has arranged to meet with President Bush in Washington next week, possibly with an agreement in hand.Both Israel and the PA have said there is no chance of concluding a pact this year on the final status of a new Arab state within Israel's current border.

U.S. to Sell Israel Bunker-Busters, May Be Used in Strike on Iran
Monday, September 15, 2008 FOXNEWS

JERUSALEM — The U.S. has agreed to sell 1,000 buster-bunker bombs to Israel — a deal that could significantly improve Israel's ability to strike at Iran's nuclear facilities.Military experts say an Israeli strike would require bombs that could blast through underground bunkers where some of the Iranian nuclear facilities are located. Last week, the U.S. Defense Department notified Congress that it has agreed to sell Israel small diameter bombs that are capable of doing that.It wasn't clear from the defense department's announcement when the bombs would be delivered.Israel and the United States do no believe Iran's assertion that its nuclear program is to produce energy, not weapons. Israel hopes Iran can be induced through sanctions and diplomacy to scale back its nuclear ambitions, but has not ruled out a military strike.

Rumors and Games ARLENE SEPT 14,08

Changes are rapidly approaching: There is the Kadima primary, scheduled for this Wednesday, and then, three months hence, the end of Bush's administration -- by which time parameters of a peace agreement were supposed to have been nailed down.

Reporting on objective facts with regard to what's happening in the run-up to these events is sometimes close to impossible, as the rumors are flying fast.

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Last week, US Consul Jacob Walles, in an interview in the Palestinian paper Al-Ayyam, stated that Israel had started negotiations with the PA on Jerusalem -- something Olmert promised not to do until all other issues were resolved.The response from the Olmert government was two-fold: First, official fury at Walles for talking when it had been agreed that the content of negotiations was not supposed to be discussed publicly. And then, a denial by Olmert that Jerusalem was on the table, as this caused something of an uproar inside of Kadima. But it seems that a bit of mental dissonance has been generated. Says Olmert: We are angry that Walles spoke about something he was pledged not to talk about, but we're not doing what he says we are. Tzipi Livni, Kadima frontrunner and chief negotiator, also issued a denial.

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Meanwhile, Al Shariq, a newspaper in Qatar, has described on agreement that is allegedly taking shape between Israel and the PA; it was carried by YNet yesterday. Reportedly there are 12 clauses, due to be released by the end of this year. Two are of particular note.First, the Palestinian capital will include several neighborhoods of Jerusalem.And then, 20,000 refugees will be permitted into Israel within ten years -- refugees, aged 60-80, who had been uprooted in 1948, not their families, who would be permitted to live out their lives in Israel.As to the first: One would have to be an incredibly trusting person to believe Olmert's and Livni's denials that Jerusalem has not been discussed. Of course it has! But is the PA going to accept several neighborhoods rather than all of eastern Jerusalem (which includes the Jewish holy sites and substantial Jewish neighborhoods)? And the second: In spite of the cry about right of return, are we to believe that the Palestinians will settle for a small number of elderly people, without family support, coming to live in Israel? As the Arabs are claiming 4.6 million refugees, this is a token .043%.

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And here we are: On Friday, Abbas gave an interview with Haaretz in which he said that We presented our ideas and demands regarding the six issues, but have not received any answer from the Israeli side.Abbas, in this interview as elsewhere, is adamant about Israel accepting responsibility for the refugee problem and a practical right of return -- which he would base on the Arab initiative of 2002.That Arab -- read Saudi -- initiative was a horror for Israel. With regard to the refugees, it called for a just solution based on UN Resolution 194. (For over 60 years, the Arabs have been basing their claims to right of return on this document, which in point of fact guarantees nothing with regard to return.) What is more, which is a tip-off, it Assures the rejection of all forms of Palestinian patriation which conflict with the special circumstances of the Arab host countries. This means that Syria and Lebanon, and other Arab states that currently host Palestinian refugees in an on-going limbo status are being reassured that they are under no obligation to absorb them permanently.

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This morning, an aide to Abbas said that reaching a peace deal this year was becoming more difficult, but that the Palestinians were interested in continuing talks after Olmert left office. What's clear is that they are counting on Livni replacing Olmert. See following...

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A Kuwaiti paper, Al-Jarida, also cited by YNet, says that Ahmed Qurei, the chief PA negotiator, supports Livni for head of Kadima because she is willing to give them what others have not. Understand, Qurei and Livni have established a solid working relationship already in the course of negotiations. Qurei, according to this report, is structuring things so that she appears tough, in order to win votes. A bit of unintended humor: What was actually said was that he is helping her establish a radical right-wing aura. Livni cannot convey a radical right-wing aura any more than I can project an aura of being an avid supporter of Peace Now. This is a window on PA thinking: Concern about protecting Israeli security -- which is what Livni is expressing --is in their eyes the mark of a radical right-winger. In spite of this, Qurei said he would not sign the current agreement that was taking shape on Jerusalem (uh huh...) because it would allow the city to be an Israeli military camp, which is his version of Israel retaining some areas with security measures. In fact, he said that the negotiations, in his expectation, would amount to nothing. My expectation as well, but I ponder why it matters to him whether Livni wins the primary if nothing will come of it anyway.

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Possible scenarios to watch for, coming down the road when the negotiations run their course: Another Intifada -- greatly increased violence (terrorism) against Israel. This is hinted at in some quarters, but others suggest that either there is not the resolve for this within the populace or that politically this is not the way to go.Push for a one state solution. In this scenario PA leaders declare that they've given up on a two-state solution and want Israel to incorporate all Palestinians in Judea and Samaria and Gaza so that there is one bi-national state. A dangerous concept.

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But perhaps the negotiations will be dragged out for longer than expected (and perhaps this is what Qurei is thinking about): According to PA Basic Law -- you may read reports to the contrary, but there is no PA constitution -- the presidential term is four years, which means Mahmoud Abbas's term as president runs out in January 2009. Reports are circulating about unease here that after Abbas leaves chaos in the PA will follow. In fact, the Post has indicated that the IDF has held special exercises in preparation for a potential increase in violence. The Basic Law says that until new elections are held (and this would require 60 days), the Speaker of the Legislative Council takes over once the president has left office. Hamas is pushing hard for this, for the speaker is Hamas-affiliated Abdel Aziz Duwaik. Abdel Aziz Duwaik, it happens, is sitting in an Israeli prison right now. (Acting speaker is Sheikh Ahmed Bahar, who in a Friday sermon a year ago called upon Jews and Americans to be killed to the very last one.) Undoubtedly, it is the prospect of Duwaik receiving the title of PA president while in prison here that is unsettling the IDF, with good reason.Of course, Abbas could still schedule those elections. But he has made no mention of this to date, no move to set things in motion. Abbas, it seems, has a different interpretation of Basic Law. The election for president, he says, is supposed to coincide with elections for the Legislative Council, which are scheduled for January 2010 -- four years after the Hamas electoral victory of 2006. (My assumption is that Abbas is claiming the presidential elections are out of synch because of Arafat's death in November 2004, and the need to elect his successor in early 2005, one year before presidential elections would otherwise have been held.)Anything can happen, and the political in-fighting is likely to be substantial, but there is solid betting that Abbas is about to extend his presidential term to January 2010.

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Israel is suffering from drought. But this is apparently nothing compared to the drought being endured right now in Iran. From the Jordan Times, carried by IMRA, comes a report of extreme suffering in the southern Iranian province of Fars, where rainfall is down 68% and 10 of its 11 rivers have dried up. Not only are people without drinking water, but this agricultural region, where 85% of the population relies on farming, is in dire straits. This is of significance with regard to Iran's strength. The Iranian government has allocated $5 billion to fight the drought, and will have to import 5 million tons of wheat for domestic consumption. Hard times, it would surely seem, make Iran more vulnerable to the impact of serious economic sanctions. What is more, it's a good guess that the population must have grievous dissatisfaction with the focus of its government in this time of hardship.

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This is good news:

Just days ago news reports were saying that the US has been declining in recent months to respond favorably to Israeli requests for military equipment that would make an Israeli attack on Iran more effective. But now in the wake of this comes a different sort of report from Haaretz. The U.S. Department of Defense announced on Friday that it will sell the Israel Air Force 1,000 new bunker buster smart bombs. What we're talking about is the Guided Bomb Unit-39 (GBU-39), which was developed for penetration of deep fortified facilities.This Boeing-developed bomb is able to successfully penetrate more than 1.8 meters of thick reinforced concrete, and has a 50% probability of hitting its target within 5-8 meters. Because of its small size -- 113 kilograms, four can replace a single conventional one-ton bomb on an aircraft.

This, needless to say, will considerably enhance our ability to mount a successful strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, should such a strike be decided upon. It also gives some credence to the theories I've encountered maintaining that public US disapproval of our intention to hit Iran, if necessary, is at least in part smoke screen.

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You might want to take a look at Charles Krauthammer's perceptive piece, Obama's Altitude Sickness, in which he takes a clear-eyed look at the reason why Obama is now losing steam in the campaign....Obama was the ultimate celebrity candidate. For no presidential nominee in living memory had the gap between adulation and achievement been so great. ...The unease at the Denver convention, the feeling of buyer's remorse, was the Democrats' realization that the arc of Obama's celebrity had peaked -- and had now entered a period of its steepest decline. That Palin could so instantly steal the celebrity spotlight is a reflection of that decline. It was inevitable. Obama had managed to stay aloft for four full years. But no one can levitate forever. ...With every primary and every repetition of the high-flown, self-referential rhetoric, the campaign's insubstantiality became clear. By the time...of the last primary [it was] tired and flat. To top himself, Obama had to reach. Hence his triumphal declaration that history would note that night, his victory, his ascension, as the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal.The moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal?? Clang....That grandiloquent proclamation of universalist puffery popped the bubble. The grandiosity had become bizarre....One star fades, another is born. The very next morning McCain picks Sarah Palin and a new celebrity is launched....her job is easier. She only has to remain airborne for seven more weeks. Obama maintained altitude for an astonishing four years. In politics, as in all games, however, it's the finish that counts.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/11/AR2008091102840.html

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Jeff Jacoby, writing in the Boston Globe, has another take on the current Obama slide: People, he says, are being to see through the Obama economic proposals.

http://www.boston.com:80/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2008/09/14/seeing_through_obamanomics/

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see my website www.ArlenefromIsrael.info

CHRIST RETURNS THIS GENERATION SEPT 14,08
https://ww2.micahtek.com/nexolive/nJVISelector.cfm?rDATA1=SHOPPING&rDATA3=DRCV

Beloved in Christ Jesus Our Lord,

When will Christ come again? God woke me up at 5 a.m. and gave me this incredible message for you, as a follower of Christ, and for every preacher of the Gospel across North America: the amazing connection between 2 Timothy 4:2-4 and 2 Timothy 4:8....I’ll explain it to you in condensed form here, for lack of space. When Paul says to Timothy, Preach the word and warns that the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, the doctrine he wants preached is expressed in verse 8 -- Christ’s return.Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.Pastors need to be preaching the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christians need to be looking for His appearing! And the rampant deception and error about this subject must end. The Bible is clear! You can know the truth.This is why Rexella and I have created a new video -- the single most important study we have ever produced: Christ Returns: This Generation? In this video, you will discover astonishing answers to these intriguing questions:

How do we know that the Bible is talking about this generation when it talks about Christ’s return?
What is the crown of righteousness to be received by all those who love His appearing?
Why do some fear Christ’s return?
What are many of the 500 fulfilled prophecies that show us Christ’s return is near?
Did Jesus lose His deity when He came to earth as a baby?
Did Jesus exist at the time of Creation?
What are Lutherans, Presbyterians, Christian Reformers, Catholics, Baptists, Methodists, Pentecostals, and others teaching about the Rapture and Christ’s return to earth to set up His Kingdom?
What will happen prior to the Rapture? What will the Rapture be like? What will happen after the Rapture?
What will happen to the deceased and living believers at the Rapture?
What’s the difference between the Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ?
What’s the truth about the 1,000-year millennial reign of Christ? What will happen after the ten glorious centuries are fulfilled?
What’s the relationship between Israel and the Church?
What did Jesus mean when He talked about coming back as "King"?
Will the Kingdom last eternally upon the earth?
Will the world come to an end?
Beloved, it is urgently important that you have this extraordinary new video, Christ Returns: This Generation? There are 500 signs pointing to this hour in history. However, seven major signs which only our generation has witnessed means His coming is near. This eternal Kingdom on earth fulfilling Matthew 6:10 is loaded with new teaching that God has shown to me in recent days. And it is exciting. Request your copy of this teaching on DVD or VHS cassette.

Let me hear from you soon. We need your support today, as the financial challenges in launching our fall broadcast ministry to the entire world are great. Thank you! God bless you!

Yours in world evangelism,Jack Van Impe
https://ww2.micahtek.com/nexolive/nJVISelector.cfm?rDATA1=SHOPPING&rDATA3=DRCV

P.S. Christ Returns: This Generation? is one of the highest-potential evangelism tools you could ever give to an unsaved loved one, friend, neighbor, or business acquaintance. It is also perfect to share with your Sunday school class or Bible study group!

MUSLIM NATIONS

EZEKIEL 38:1-12
1 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
2 Son of man, set thy face against Gog,(RULER) the land of Magog,(RUSSIA) the chief prince of Meshech(MOSCOW)and Tubal,(TOBOLSK) and prophesy against him,
3 And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech(MOSCOW) and Tubal:
4 And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws,(GOD FORCES THE MUSLIMS TO MARCH) and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords:
5 Persia,(IRAN,IRAQ) Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet:
6 Gomer,(GERMANY) and all his bands; the house of Togarmah (TURKEY)of the north quarters, and all his bands:(SUDAN,AFRICA) and many people with thee.
7 Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them.
8 After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.
9 Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.(RUSSIA-EGYPT AND MUSLIMS)
10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:
11 And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,
12 To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.

ISAIAH 17:1
1 The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.

PSALMS 83:3-7
3 They (ARABS,MUSLIMS) have taken crafty counsel against thy people,(ISRAEL) and consulted against thy hidden ones.
4 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.
5 For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:(TREATIES)
6 The tabernacles of Edom,and the Ishmaelites;(ARABS) of Moab, and the Hagarenes;
7 Gebal, and Ammon,(JORDAN) and Amalek;(SYRIA) the Philistines (PALESTINIANS) with the inhabitants of Tyre;(LEBANON)

EZEKIEL 39:1-8
1 Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog,(LEADER OF RUSSIA) and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech (MOSCOW) and Tubal: (TUBOLSK)
2 And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts,(RUSSIA) and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel:
3 And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand.
4 Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands,( ARABS) and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured.
5 Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.
6 And I will send a fire on Magog,(NUCLEAR BOMB) and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD.
7 So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.
8 Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord GOD; this is the day whereof I have spoken.

JOEL 2:3,20,30-31
3 A fire(NUCLEAR BOMB) devoureth before them;(RUSSIA-ARABS) and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.
20 But I will remove far off from you the northern army,(RUSSIA,MUSLIMS) and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.(SIBERIAN DESERT)
30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.(NUCLEAR BOMB)
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.

Iran blocks probe of alleged atom bomb work: IAEA
By Mark Heinrich SEPT 15,08

VIENNA (Reuters) - Iran has stymied a U.N. inquiry into whether it researched ways to make a nuclear bomb, the International Atomic Energy Agency said on Monday, and Britain said it would push hard for tougher sanctions on Iran.A confidential IAEA report said Iran had raised the number of centrifuges enriching uranium by 500 to 3,820 since May and was testing an advanced model able to refine nuclear fuel 2-3 times faster, in continuing defiance of U.N. resolutions.But a senior U.N. official familiar with IAEA findings said Iran seemed at least two years away from enriching enough uranium for an atomic weapon, if it eventually chose to do so.On the issue of possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear program, we have arrived at a gridlock. Without Iran's assistance and cooperation, we cannot move forward, said a second senior U.N. official.Iran blamed the IAEA for the impasse. A senior Iranian official, who declined to be named, called on the IAEA to change its approach and work in a legal and logical manner.The United States called on Iran to shelve enrichment or face the possibility of more U.N. sanctions, adding to relatively modest punitive measures Tehran has shrugged off.Britain went further, accusing Iran of showing contempt for the IAEA by continuing to refuse to respond to IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei's serious concerns about research with possible military nuclear dimensions.We will therefore push hard for further U.N. sanctions in the coming weeks, a British Foreign Office statement said.The report will be debated by the IAEA's 35-nation board of governors at a meeting starting on Sept 22, with the possibility that Western powers might seek a resolution against Iran.

Iran had stockpiled 480 kg (1,050 pounds) of low-enriched uranium so far, the report by the Vienna-based IAEA said.It would need 1,700 kg (3,740 pounds) to convert into high-enriched uranium (HEU) for fuelling an atom bomb, said U.N. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.That would be a significant quantity, one unit of HEU, and would take on the order of two years, said one official.The report coincided with the announcement by Iran that it was staging air defence exercises in half of its 30 provinces.Air defence commander Brigadier General Ahmad Mighani emphasized that the enemies would receive a serious response for any aggression and we would surprise them and make them regretful, the ISNA agency in Tehran reported.The Bush administration says it wants a diplomatic solution to the nuclear standoff, but has not ruled out military action if that fails. Iran, the world's No. 4 oil exporter, says its nuclear program is a peaceful drive to generate electricity.

FULL DISCLOSURE

In its last report in May, the IAEA said Iran appeared to be withholding information needed to explain intelligence that it had linked projects to process uranium, test high explosives and modify a missile cone in a way suitable for a nuclear warhead.

ElBaradei called on Iran then for full disclosure -- namely, going beyond flat denials without providing access to sites, documentation or relevant officials for interviews to substantiate their stance.The report said nothing to that end had been done by Iran, which has acknowledged some of the activity cited but said it was for conventional military purposes only.Regrettably the agency has not been able to make any substantial progress on the alleged (weaponization) studies and other associated key remaining issues which remain of serious concern, the report said.It said IAEA investigators had stressed to Iran that the intelligence documentation was detailed and consistent enough that it needs to be taken seriously (by Iran), particularly in light of the fact that, as acknowledged by Iran, some of the information contained in it was factually accurate, it said.But, in a nod to Iranian objections, U.N. officials said Iran was understandably worried about divulging information it felt could compromise its security as tensions fester between Iran and the United States and Israel.They said another obstacle was the refusal of Western powers to let the IAEA provide Iran hard copies of the intelligence for perusal. Iran has said it has seen only electronic versions that could easily have been doctored.We have to recognize the legitimate security concerns of Iran especially with their situation in the world, one official said. We have taken note of Iran's concern that we are touching on their sensitive military environment, another official said.The report said the IAEA was trying to break this deadlock by urging Iran to specify what information was wrong and what was right in its view, but Tehran had not responded so far.Such a gesture was becoming more urgent particularly since the IAEA had obtained information since May suggesting Iran had done tests related to high-altitude explosions typical of a nuclear payload with the assistance of foreign expertise.(additional reporting by Adrian Croft in London, Parisa Hafezi in Tehran and Jeremy Pelofsky in Washington)(Editing by Caroline Drees)

Putin fails to dispel doubts over Medvedev
By Stefan Wagstyl in Moscow September 15 2008 07:59

Vladimir Putin relishes an earthy turn of phrase. When talking of Russia’s response to Georgia’s attack on South Ossetia, the Russian prime minister asks: Should we have wiped the bloody snot off and bowed our heads again this time? Dmitry Medvedev, an ex-lawyer, is more refined. The Russian president is happy to be called a liberal and says that he enjoyed his time last year at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Few world leaders put themselves up for three hours of cross-examination by foreign visitors. But last week, the two men did just that.Taking time off from the Georgian crisis, they hosted elegant lunches for the Valdai Club, a group of journalists and academics, and provided glimpses of how they see Russia, the world and each other.Mr Putin went first, holding court in a luxury spa in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. Looking tanned and younger than his 55 years, he seemed more relaxed than at last year’s Valdai meeting when the succession question was still open.He cracked jokes, remarking, for example, how much he respected George W. Bush, before adding: I treat him even better than many Americans would.Otherwise, it was a combative performance, peppered with robust language that he perhaps learnt during his impoverished St Petersburg upbringing. He allowed emotions to show, not least his injured sense that the west had taken advantage of Russia in the 1990s.

Touches of sarcasm abounded, including oblique references to the US behaving like the Roman empire. But he could also be generous – ending the proceedings with a minute’s silence to mark the anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Mr Medvedev invited the group to a banqueting hall in the Central Department Store, overlooking Red Square. Convenient, he said, for shopping and for the Kremlin. After just four months in office, he was less at ease than Mr Putin. But he was fluent and convincing and as tough on Georgia as Mr Putin. He was perhaps a bit too earnest, with the robe of office resting heavily on his shoulders, as one visitor remarked.

But it could hardly be otherwise, given the momentous decision to go to war so soon after taking office. Mr Medvedev had been holidaying on a boat on the River Volga when the fateful news of the Georgian attack had come. Taking this decision was not easy, especially on day 95 in office, he said. But we did it right and I have no qualms about it.Mr Medvedev insisted he wanted to focus on Russia’s economic and social development at the same time as bolstering Russia’s influence in the world. I don’t want a militarised country sheltering behind an iron curtain. I lived in such a country and it was uninteresting and tedious. . . Russia has quite different values from the Soviet Union.The key question for many Valdai guests was who really runs Russia. Mr Medvedev emphasised that, as commander-in-chief, he had called the shots in the Georgian crisis and Mr Putin said the same, commenting that the buck stops with him. However, the visitors were left with the same impression as most Russians, that Mr Putin takes the big decisions. In a telling remark, Mr Putin referred to Mr Medvedev as a good guy, using a Russian phrase that sounded more like a condescending term of endearment rather than a fitting label for the country’s president. In contrast, Mr Medvedev hardly mentioned Mr Putin, perhaps to avoid detracting from himself.On Georgia’s pro-west president, Mr Medvedev was even harsher, describing Mikheil Saakashvili as somebody utterly unpredictable, a person totally burdened by pathological traits, a totally unbalanced person who takes narcotics. Mr Putin, who contented himself with calling the Georgian leader criminal, would have been proud.The Financial Times Limited 2008.

NATO's Georgia hesitation emboldened Russia-Canada

OTTAWA, Sep 13 (Reuters) NATO's hesitation at its April summit to integrate Georgia and Ukraine into the alliance only emboldened Russia to invade Georgia last month, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in an interview published today.I think if we had taken a stronger position on the membership of these countries, we would not have had the Russian aggression, he told the National Post newspaper.I think that showing weakness or hesitation encourages this type of behavior on the part of Russia. Harper expressed respect for Russia but said whether or not countries join NATO was a decision between the alliance and that country.Russia does not have a right to dictate decisions outside its own borders, the Conservative prime minister said.Canada and the United States had been among those at the Bucharest summit in April advocating offering a membership action plan to Ukraine and Georgia, but they met opposition led by Germany and France.In the end the NATO summit promised the two countries they could join in the future but the timing was left indefinite. Russia sent forces into Georgia in August after repelling an attempt by Tbilisi to retake the breakaway, pro-Russian South Ossetia region.

A MESSAGE OF HOPE FROM DR. JACK VAN IMPE SEPT 15,08 Beginning this week we want to do a four-week study on the cost of discipleship and revival.

There Is a Price to Pay

Salvation does not cost any person anything, because salvation is freely bestowed upon those who believe. Don't let anyone rob you of this blessed truth. Ephesians 2:8, 9 states, For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Romans 6:23 says, For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Our Saviour shed His precious blood upon the cross over 2,000 years ago to redeem sinners. To be saved, one must receive this precious gift, the Lord Jesus Christ, for the remission of sin. When the transaction occurs God immediately gives eternal life to the receiver of His gift.

Friend, it is free. Because of it one can exuberantly say with Paul, Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift (2 Corinthians 9:15).

The Price Paid by Christ

A. His home

God's gift cost the Saviour everything. This included the relinquishing of His heavenly home for a period of 33 years. Philippians 2:5-8 beautifully pictures the sacrifice: Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Yes, He loved you and left the beauty of the Holy City to die an agonizing death upon Calvary. He said, I came down from heaven (John 6:38). Again, I am the living bread which came down from heaven (John 6:51). He loved you and gave himself for you (see Galatians 2:20).

B. His reputation

God's gift also cost the Lord Jesus Christ His reputation. Philippians 2:7: [He] made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. His enemies tried to drag His holy name into the depths of degradation. Listen to them: He casteth out devils through the prince of devils (Matthew 9:34). He hath an unclean spirit (Mark 3:30). He hath a devil and is mad (John 10:20). He is an illegitimate child. They said even that? Absolutely. His sermon so convicted the sinners of His day that they, in retaliation, shouted, We be not born of fornication (John 8:41). Christ bore all of this abusive language because of His great love for the lost including you.

C. His happiness

God's gift also cost Christ great sorrow. He could say in Matthew 26:28, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death. He beheld the city, and wept over it (Luke 19:41). Again in Luke 22:44: And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Medical men state that blood is held in one's body by capillaries. When they burst, blood seeps through the skin. Jesus prayed so agonizingly over the souls of men that His capillaries shattered, His blood seeped through His skin, and beads of blood and water ran from His brow to the ground. Oh, how Jesus loved the lost.

Hebrews 12:2 looks ahead to the joy anticipated because of the sorrow endured: Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him [seeing the redeemed in His presence] endured the cross.

D. His life

God's gift also cost Christ His life. Psalm 22 prophetically depicts the event. Listen to the Saviour as He hangs, fastened by spikes, to the cross: My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? Verse 6: But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. Verses 13-16: They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. Do you hear the agonizing groans of the Lord as he pays the price of salvation for you?

Isaiah, the prophet, also portrays the ignominious scene in chapter 53:1-5: Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Paul says, Christ died for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3). John adds, He loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood (Revelation).

Multitudes more of the saved by grace without cost crowd never win lost souls to Christ. Million slip into hell forever and forever and forever while believers fill their daily schedules with temporal earthly pursuits. They fail to witness because their exalted image could become tarnished by the taunts of those Christ-haters who belittle them. They might be called fanatics, fools, idiots, imbeciles, or Jesus freaks. Are we better than Christ who was called demented and mad in John 10:20? Are we better than Paul who said in 1 Corinthians 4:10, We are fools for Christ? God forgive us for not paying the cost of discipleship.

Let's investigate the price some of God's people paid as they followed Jesus.

Stephen, the first deacon, paid all he had by giving his life. In Acts 7:51 we find him preaching a strong, bombastic message naming sin. This kind of preaching is never popular. And [they] ran upon him with one accord, and cast him out of the city, and stoned him (Acts 7:57,58).

The New Testament writers, with the exception of John, laid down their lives for the Saviour. Matthew died from the wounds of a halberd. Mark was dragged through the streets by a team of wild horses until death ensued. Luke was hanged. John was thrown into boiling oil. Though he lived, he was disfigured for life. Peter and Jude were crucified, and James was smashed to death by a club. Paul, last but not least, suffered more than the others combined.

He could say in 1 Corinthians 4:10-13, We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted [beaten], and have no certain dwelling place; And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the off- of all things unto this day. In 1 Corinthians 15:31, he says, I die daily.

In 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 he continues, We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed: Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus.

Again, 2 Corinthians 11:23-28: In labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeying often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, and fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

Think of it. Five times they scourged Paul with the forerunner of the Roman cat-o-nine-tails. Three times they used clubs on his body and once they crushed his head with rocks. Thinking he was dead, they discarded his body at the garbage dump of Lystra (see Acts 14:19).

Salvation is free, but it is not cheap. Discipleship that brings crowns and rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ is costly. Those who do not sacrifice here will have nothing in that day. They shall stand in Christ's presence ashamed (see 1 John 2:28). They shall suffer loss of all rewards (see 1 Corinthians 3:15).

One who is a disciple, a follower of Christ throughout this earthly, pilgrimage, has no regrets as eternity approaches. Listen to Paul again in 2 Timothy 4:6-8. He is about to have his life ended by decapitation beheading. His head will soon roll from his body as the sword severs it. Is he remorseful, regretful, and sorry? Would he like to relive life without all of the sorrow experienced as Christ's follower? You be the judge. He says, For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight; I have finished my course. I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. There are no regrets-he is going home to be with Jesus forever.

Christian, get a copy of Fox's Book of Martyrs. It will revolutionize your life as you see the price Christians have paid throughout history. They were grateful for free salvation and gave their all out of gratitude. Let me share two illustrations from this volume:

In the year 258 AD, three hundred Christians jumped into fires at Utica rather than renounce the Lord Jesus Christ.

In 304 AD, Timothy and Mara heard a knock at the door. A voice said, Give us your Scripture portions that we may burn them.

They replied, Never. We would rather have you burn us.

They took Timothy, removed his eyes, threw him in front of his wife, and said, Now let him read his Bible.

Six weeks later, the agents returned saying, Will you renounce Jesus today?

Never!

They then took this godly couple, and hanged them in trees in view of their little children. All this because they loved Jesus.

Salvation is free, but it is not cheap. Some of you have been treating it cheaply. Why not dedicate your life anew today. Get rid of habits, coldness, lukewarmness, and the spirit of unconcern that has hindered your growth in the Lord.
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FROM THE HEART OF DR. REXELLA VAN IMPE

Are You in Contact With Your Spirit Guide?
He will guide you into all truth!

We're hearing so much in this day about the New Age Movement and how we should be in contact with our other self through our spirit guide. These concepts are being taught in our public schools, even at the lower grade levels. Misguided, deceived individuals are teaching our innocent children about transcendental meditation, yoga, and the spirit world.

Numerous celebrities have publicized their involvement with such fearsome ancient spirit guides as Ramtha, Spectra, and Lazirus, who supposedly possess supernatural knowledge and can assist them in making important decisions and choices.

The truth is that most of the spirits out there are not holy. It is vitally important to recognize this fact. Sadly, too many people do not realize that when they participate in activities like channeling, trances, séances, etc., they are opening themselves up to all kinds of demonic spirits. Often, people actually give themselves over to evil spirits, with tragic results.

Our Guide

As Christians, our Spirit Guide lives within us. Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you (1 Corinthians 6:19). Therefore, if our Spirit Guide is within us, we have no need to go outside ourselves for guidance as others suggest. He is all we need.

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come (John 16:13).

Imagine, you have access to the greatest Spirit of all -- the precious Holy Spirit. You can possess, and be possessed by, the most powerful force in all the universe, the omniscient, omnipresent Spirit of the eternal God. Shirley MacLaine and others talk about their spirit guides being so special because they are ancient. But our Spirit Guide -- the Holy Spirit -- helped create the world, even man.

Genesis 1:1,2 says, In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. So the Holy Spirit was there at the dawn of creation -- as a part of the Trinity. He is from the beginning and predates all other spirit guides.

We can have contact with this Holy Spirit and be guided by Him, but first we must possess Him. The only way that can happen is by the illumination of His Word. He must convince us of the truth. John 16:8 says, And when he is come, he will reprove [convince] the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. He convinces us that we need Him and guides us to the born-again experience.

Thank God, the Spirit does strive with us and illuminates the truth to us.

Our Intercessor

Not only does the Spirit convince us of our need of Christ, He also creates intercessory thoughts in us. There are times when we don't even know what we need -- what is good for us. So many times we may not even know how we should pray or what we should ask for. So we have to join our spirit with the Holy Spirit to seek out God's best plan for our lives. Romans 8:26 says, Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

There are times when we come to God, praying only for what we want -- asking for His approval -- instead of seeking His will for our lives. I'm convinced that on those occasions when we come to God, asking selfishly, the Holy Spirit is saying, No, Father, no. When we do not ask within the will of God, then the Holy Spirit, in His mercy, intercedes for what is best.

As a young bride, I had an experience like this. I wanted a baby so much that I begged God to let me have one. I refused to consider how much a child would have hampered and burdened my calling and ministry, which at that time required me to live on the road for months at a time. I avoided thinking about how cruel and unfair my work load and life-style would be to a helpless, wholly-dependent little one.

Even after I knew that motherhood was not God's will for me, I asked anyway. But the Holy Spirit, in His goodness, interceded for me -- for my own good. And now, when I can see things clearly and in perspective, that knowledge brings me great comfort.

There may also be times when we experience a yearning for something that is undefined and inexpressible. It's a hunger or yearning we simply can't understand. At times like these, we can join our spirits with the Holy Spirit and let Him create intercessory thoughts within us. Then we can have peace that what is being sought in our behalf is for our good... and will be done. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him (1 John 5:14,15).

Allowing the Holy Spirit to create intercessory thoughts and prayers brings such satisfaction and fulfillment. It goes beyond our understanding or ability to put it into words. It is so beautiful and powerful.

Our Comforter

Then, the Holy Spirit comforts us. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you (John 14:18).

I love the story about a very sad unbeliever who was seated next to a Christian man on a train. During the trip, the unsaved man began to cry and weep. The believer said to him, I see you are troubled and sad. Is there some way I can help you?

The sorrowful man replied, I've just lost my wife. Our home seems so empty. All I have left to keep me company is her parakeet.

The believer replied, Well, as a Christian I have the Paraclete -- the Holy Spirit. He never leaves me. And He will meet your need if you'll allow Him to.

Paraclete, in the Greek, means comforter and is the name given for the Holy Spirit. As Christians, we have the constant, unfailing presence of the Holy Spirit to guide and comfort us.

Our Spiritual Gift-giver

The Holy Spirit also controls the spiritual gifts bestowed upon the body of Christ, the Church. The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge...to another faith...to another the gifts of healing... to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will (1 Corinthians 12:7-11).

God gives these gifts to each believer, as He wills. Each of us has been given a very special gift -- and the Holy Spirit will guide us into a place of service using the particular gift He has chosen for us. He will also give us power when using that gift.

Peter had the gift of communication -- the ability to preach. But after he was filled with the Holy Spirit (see Acts 1:8; 2:4), he not only had the gift but also the fruit... boldness (see Acts 4:13). So the Holy Spirit not only gives us spiritual gifts, He also gives us the ability (fruit) and strength to use them.

Spiritual gifts are not given to hoard for our own benefit or enjoyment. They are given to enable us to minister to others. And the Spirit will provide the opportunity -- He will definitely show us our place of service.

I believe there are times, depending on the circumstances, when more than one gift of the Spirit may be exercised through you. A situation may arise where there is no one else to depend on and the Holy Spirit manifests (or works) a particular gift through you to meet a particular need at a particular time. It may be a gift that has never operated in your life before, but when the Spirit puts you in a situation, He will illuminate your mind to meet the need. You will discover that where God guides, He provides.

The Holy Spirit is our Keeper

Not only is our Spirit Guide with us in life, but He remains with us even after death.

Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman relates a beautiful story about how he personally discovered this thrilling truth. He was sitting in his home, reading an address delivered by Dr. Moorhead at a Bible Conference. Dr. Moorhead declared that when one becomes a child of God, the Spirit of God comes in to dwell in that person and will continue in that body until the Resurrection. Even after the human spirit has departed to be with the Lord, the third member of the godhead remains with that body until the Resurrection.

Dr. Chapman said that as he thought about this, he started to cry. He said, We hitched the horse to the carriage, and my wife and I rode out to a little graveyard where we had buried our firstborn son. As we stood there beside that little grave, we said, Thank You, Lord, for keeping watch. Immediately the peace of God flooded our souls. He went on, Later, when I stood by the grave of my mother, again I said, Thank You, Holy Spirit, for staying with Your temple and keeping watch.

What a comfort! On the day of Resurrection the Spirit will touch the body with new life, reunite it with the soul, and sweep our triuned body, soul, and spirit to be with God. How amazing and beautiful!

I encourage you today to get in contact with your Spirit Guide. But don't be fooled by the false teachers of the so-called New Age Movement. Satan always has a counterfeit for the real and profitable things in life. He would like to deceive you into listening to his emissaries of evil and guide you into darkness. But he is no match for the real Spirit Guide -- the Holy Spirit, who will always guide you into all truth. Remember, Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4).
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