These are times to keep our eyes on the p-r-i-z-e, Christ Jesus and His final return. Remember how out attention was focused on the O.J.Simpson trials while a war was brewing up in eastern Europe? And then again how all eyes were on Monica when another began in SE Asia. Now the old one's going again between Israel and Palestine, but we've been glued to a trial in Houston of the "killer mom," whose husband has become an instant celebraty. After being under a gag order, Russell Yates is really talking everywhere on TV. But two others sent to talk in the Middle East, General Zinnie and Vice President Cheney, are hardly being noticed by the American public. Maybe we just have to take a break from that region of endless conflict. At the moment, the Israelis are pulling back again under American pressure. They have all the planes and tanks, but the Palestinians now have suicide bombers (quite a shift from those rock throwing children of days past who now want to be martyrs). It seems that the heavy use of force by Ariel Sharon, who suceeded Ehud Barak as prime minister, has failed to impose order as the Israelie voters had hoped. So now the U.S. has told the world that we want a Palestinian state. We said so by pushing a resolution through the U.N. which will lead to it's creation. And Dick Cheney is going to Arab nations seeking support for our coming attack on Saddam Hussien in Iraq, while Anthoney Zinnie is there talking to Israelis. We can get so concerned about Arab good will and support that we neglect our own "kids," the Israelis. GOD forbid that in trying to save them, we should end up drowning them in the bath tub of other negotiations. To implement the recent Saudi proposal of going back to borders set back in '67 in exchange for acceptance of Israel's right to exist, would shrink Israel to only a few miles wide at one point. And it would end those settlements on the Palestinian side which are based on Biblical claims to that territory also. I heard Geraldo Rivera, now on Fox News, refer to such settlers as using the Bible falsely. Though he's a Jew himself, I doubt that he ever reads it. His secular view is that they are only some fifty thousand deluded trouble makers. I see them as far more heroic than the Palestinian martyrs, who seek to destroy instead of build. Yet only the return of our Lord and Savior, KING YESHUA, can remedy the ever increasing turmoil that is sending ripples all around the globe each day. Our constant prayer ( last in Scripture), must be "Come Lord Jesus." In the meantime take note that Israel is following the pattern locally that we have sent internationally for dealing with terrorism, namely declaring war on it. Christians know that we are not contending with flesh and blood, but principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places (Ep.6:12). So we must wear the whole armour of GOD and use the sword of His spirit, holy scripture, against satan (just as Jesus did in the wilderness temptations). Read the Bible daily.
Sunday night I asked the inmates in chapel services at LARC what was the first thing Irish meant to them (it was St.Patrick's). I heard mention of fighting, Noter Dame, beautiful songs, shamrocks, and even whiskey. But no one considered the peace that's been holding there for a few years now. As I recall, it was signed on Good Friday to end the terrorism that had resulted from centuries of Irish hate for the English (though their patron saint was from Britian). The English tried to end it in 1800 with an Act of Settlement which divided off Ullster, as a small northern part of the Emerald Isle, with Belfast as it's capitol. Scottish and British settlers had been brought in to colonize that area. But the Irish Free State out of Dublin (later Irish Republic) would not give up. And IRA (Irish Republican Army) became synomyous with trouble for the Brits. Finally the IRA and Northern Ireland both gave up on terrorism and America's George Mitchell negotiated a peace that's been holding. Mitchell also worked out a plan for Israel/Palestine, but it never got off the ground. Yet he now has the reputation that Jimmy Carter had a couple of decades ago, the peace negotiator. Is Mitchell an Irish name? If so it shows they can shake hands as well as fight. Today's also my grandson Mitchell's fifth birthday in Claremore OK. His mother Kathy was sent home from the hospital on a "false alarm" and then he was born on their bathroom floor with daddy Mark assisting in delivery. Their family name is McCollough, which sounds Scotch rather than Irish. Mitch was son # two and now they have two more: Aaron and Grant. Brayden was the first, but still no girls. Yet Mitch has a great name. May he too be a peace maker.
It's the beginning of Holy Week and will also be the celebration of Passover in Israel. What a powerful connection between the two festivals that is as strong as Old Testament and New. But the stress on the Israeli's has come to an all time climax here in 2002. Today decides whether that meeting in Beirut will make any difference because if Arafat doesn't go, there won't be any agenda and if Sharon goes the agenda may be loaded too heavy. It looks like the Arab League has a big role to play in the turn of events for the Mideast. But America's going to be watching the Oscars instead. What a distraction from this awesome moment. I read the book of Malachi this morning and it seems to end right on this hour when the "messenger" will turn the hearts of the fathers toward their children and of the children to their rathers." That seems to me applicable to the claim of Israel to that promised land that is up for grabs internationally. Malichi says "lest I come and strike the land with a curse" which could mean punishment for letting it go unclaimed. Just as the NT and Jesus said that John the Baptist was the messenger Malachi meant (or Eliah returned), so Billy Graham could be another Elijah for today. Just cally him "Billy the Baptist" this time. He has held up the Jewish people in their struggle because Revelation says that 144,000 of them will finally become such powerful evangelists in this final time. "Jews for Jesus" and other messianic movements there are laying the foundation. Just think, that many apostle Pauls to claim the world for Christ! So let's not igonor those settlers on the west bank that will get removed in the Arabs has the say so in going back to '67 borders. I was pastor at Sayre Ok back then, and what joy there was over the Jews finally having Jerusalem back in their control after two millennia. Now the joy can only be completed with the return of our Lord Jesus to take His throne and usher in the thousand year reign, before time ends as He turns everyting over to His Father, King of the Universe, in a new heaven and earth. Halleluhah