An interesting article from Virtual Christian Magazine analyzing America's founding fathers. This follows this post about the Gulf Spill. For more interesting stories like this click here to follow this blog.
Morality is the Secret
By Walter Hawk
Many of America’s Founding Fathers were inspired by Christian principles. Is there anything we can learn from them?
he founding of the United States of America was an amazing revolution for the establishment of personal freedom based on a written constitution, which in turn was largely based on the principles taught in the Bible. Let’s take a look at the dedication of those founders and learn some lessons that we can apply in our Christian lives.
If you looked at what is written at the close of the American Declaration of Independence, you would see this sentence: “And for the support of this Declaration with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.”
Freedom of religion was as important to our forefathers then as it is to us today.
Now let’s change this statement and make it read this way: “For the support of God’s work, for which I am called, with a firm reliance on the protection of His divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other and to God our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.” You should also ask yourself, “Do I have the dedication, commitment and resolve necessary to pledge to God my life, my fortune and my sacred honor?”
During the writing of the Declaration of Independence, a total of 86 alterations were made to the proposed draft. After three days the vote was taken by the colonies. On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted and was signed in Philadelphia on August 2.
The full title of the Declaration of Independence is “The Unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America,” and it starts with this:
“When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect theirs and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which thy are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.”
The Bill of Rights
From this declaration came the United States Constitution, which contains the Bill of Rights. Let us take a look at the first two Amendments, as these are the two that we hear a lot about. As you hear these words, think about where the Founding Fathers got the inspiration for these “laws.” (You may also want to read Deuteronomy chapters 4 through 31.)
Amendment 1: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
Freedom of religion was as important to our forefathers then as it is to us today. They did not want the government to tell them who, what or how to worship. Therefore, we have the First Amendment, which was intended to allow worship without establishing any particular religion as the only one acceptable.
Amendment 2: “A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”
We should examine the commitment to this country by these men, and compare it to our commitment to God.
You must understand the reason for the Second Amendment is to make sure that the people of this country never find themselves in a situation where they are unarmed against a government prone to tyranny. Patrick Henry is remembered for these words: “An appeal to arms and the God of hosts is all that is left us. But we shall not fight our battle alone. There is a just God that presides over the destinies of nations. The battle sir, is not to the strong alone. Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it almighty God. I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death.”
Christian leaders
Was Patrick Henry a Christian? In 1776, he wrote, “It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great Nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians: Not on religious, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For that reason alone, people of other faiths have been afforded freedom of worship here.” But what of other American leaders?
“I am a real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus. I have little doubt that our whole country will soon be rallied to the unity of our Creator and, I hope, to the pure doctrine of Jesus also.”(Thomas Jefferson, from the front of his Bible)
“The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: It connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity.”(John Quincy Adams, sixth U.S. President)
And it has not been just single leaders espousing this view. In 1782, the United States Congress voted this resolution: “The Congress of the United States recommends and approves the Holy Bible for use in all schools.”
Changes
However, 1947 saw a radical change of direction for the Supreme Court. It required ignoring every previous precedent set by the Supreme Court in the past 160 years. For the last 60+ years, there have been multiple court challenges opposing the influence of religion, and especially anything Bible-based. The opposition is usually characterized as upholding “separation of church and state,” an ambiguous and misleading phrase. In the ways intended by the founding fathers, the United States has always practiced separation of church and state. Some of the legal changes that have taken place have been beneficial, but it is tragic that acknowledgment of God, the Bible, etc. have been completely pushed out of the classroom in the name of “separation of church and state.”
It has been said that our founding fathers created the constitution as a living and adaptable document, which would allow the changes that came about in 1947. But total prohibition of all things religious would seem to contradict what we know of those early patriots. What kind of men were the 56 signers who adopted the Declaration of Independence and who, by their signing, committed an act of treason against the Crown? Most of us know little of the signers. Who were they? What happened to them?
Ben Franklin, at 70, was the only truly old man there. Eighteen were under forty and forty were in their twenties. Of the fifty-six, twenty-four were judges and lawyers, eleven were merchants, nine were landowners and farmers, and the remaining twelve were doctors, ministers and politicians. With only a few exceptions, these were men of substantial property. All but two had families. The vast majority were men of education and standing in their communities. They had economic security as few men had in the 18th century. It was Ben Franklin who noted, “Indeed we must all hang together; otherwise we shall most assuredly hang separately.”
Setting an example
We should examine the commitment to this country by these men, and compare it to our commitment to God. The penalty for treason was death by hanging. These men wanted equality with the mother country, beginning with the principle of taxation with representation. As Christians, we too want to be a part of something better, ever committed to following the path of our savior Jesus Christ at any cost.
Of those 56 who signed the Declaration of Independence, nine died of hardships during the war. Five were captured and imprisoned, and each case dealt with brutal treatment. Several lost wives, sons or entire families. One lost his thirteen children. Two had wives that were brutally treated. All were, at one time or another, the victims of manhunts and driven from their homes. Twelve signers had their homes completely burned. Seventeen lost everything they owned, yet not one defected or went back on his pledged word.
When you were baptized, what kind of a commitment did you make to God? Because of what we know from the Bible prophecy about end-time persecution, all these things could happen to each one of us—and maybe will in the not too distant future. When you were baptized, you really pledged to the service of God your life, finances and your sacred honor.
The 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence proved by their every deed that they made no idle boast when they composed the most magnificent curtain line in history. “And for the support of this Declaration with a firm reliance of the protection of divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.” Why would these men do that willingly? Why did you willingly become baptized and make a commitment to God for His work?
America’s responsibility
In this Satan-blinded world, we as God’s people are responsible to be examples of God’s law in action.
Some look to the United States, seeking answers to painful and bitter questions. Americans have rarely been so confused about right and wrong, about what is acceptable and what is to be forcefully condemned. We are learning the hard way that a self-governing nation must consist of self-governing individuals. Violence, crime, drug abuse, sexual promiscuity, and out-of-wedlock births all undermine the blessings of liberty and prosperity. Galatians 6:7 tells us we reap what we sow.
If America makes the economic, political, and moral changes necessary to move forward in the years ahead, then the rest of the world has a much better chance of getting it right. America got a great start because of God’s blessings. Therefore, we carry a special responsibility to honor and obey God and to be a light to the rest of the world. God will hold us as a nation and individuals accountable for our failure.
Freedom is the presence of justice tempered with mercy (Micah 6:8). Freedom is following God’s laws, which insure the success of these things. That’s why James called God’s law the “law of liberty” (James 1:25; 2:12). Freedom is a priceless treasure that the state is supposed to safeguard, because human beings have an intrinsic right to be free that comes not from the state but from God. To the Founding Fathers, this was a “self-evident” truth.
The Founders believed that man’s place in the universe was no accident; that man himself and the world in which he lives were created and sustained by a just and loving God. George Washington wrote, “It is impossible to account for the creation of the universe without the agency of a Supreme Being and it is impossible to govern the universe without the aid of a Supreme Being.” James Madison put it this way: “The belief in a God All Powerful, wise and good, is so essential to the moral order of the world and to the happiness of man, that arguments which enforce it cannot be drawn from many sources.”
Statements from the Founding Fathers
Our forefathers and leaders made various statements which when put together, give a message. These are great thoughts from great Americans and they have a lot of meaning for us today.
“We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us! It behooves us, then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.” (Abraham Lincoln)
“The choices you make in moral and religious questions determine the way America will go. The choice before us is plain: Christ or chaos, conviction or compromise, discipline or disintegration. I am rather tired hearing about our rights and privileges as American citizens. The time has come; it now is, when we ought to hear about the duties and responsibilities of our citizenship. America’s future depends upon her accepting and demonstrating God’s government. It is just as plain and clear as that.” (Peter Marshall)
“History fails to record a single precedent in which nations subject to moral decay have not passed into political and economic decline. There has been either a spiritual awakening to overcome the moral lapse or a progressive deterioration leading to ultimate national disaster.”(General Douglas MacArthur)
“We have staked the whole future of American civilization not upon the power of government, far from it. We have staked the future of all our political institutions upon the capacity of mankind for self government; ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God.” (James Madison)
Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; the order of these rights, first life, then freedom, and then the equal opportunity to pursue ones own happiness, was written with great care and precision. The founders understood the need to balance man’s right to be free with man’s responsibility to be honest, just and fair. Switch the order of these fundamental human rights putting the pursuit of happiness before liberty, or liberty before life and you end up with moral chaos and social anarchy. Deny the God-given nature of these rights and you open the door to tyranny.
“Can the liberties of a nation be sure when we remove their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people, that these liberties are the gift of God?”(Thomas Jefferson)
“We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”(John Adams)
Modern liberalism rejects absolute moral standards and has abandoned the proper ordering of man’s fundamental rights. As a result, modern liberalism has undermined a long-held American principle: that the law should protect the weakest among us, not just the strong, the healthy, and the rich. Liberalism wrongly insists on parents’ freedom to choose an abortion while simultaneously denying parents’ freedom to choose the schools their children may attend. Its moral confusion over the sanctity of human life and the vital importance of the traditional family has consequently reshaped American law and society.
In this Satan-blinded world, we as God’s people are responsible to be examples of God’s law in action. We are to let God’s light shine through us to a dark world, showing the world that Satan will not win. Are we willing to accept the responsibility God has put on us—to demonstrate to America as well as to the world, that God’s way to live brings happiness, freedom, and productive life?
Each one of us needs to affirm, “For the support of God’s work, for which I am called, with a firm reliance on the protection of His divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other and to God our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.”
Further reading
Ask to receive the following free booklets for more information: The United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy, Who is God? and The Ten Commandments.
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Wednesday, June 30, 2010
House Committee Defeats Rep. Culberson's Amendment that Would Prohibit Funding for Lawsuit Against Arizona
A timely post from www.NumbersUSA.com about an attempt to defund the lawsuit against Arizona. This follows this post about Elena Kagan's open borders stanceand this post about the MURDER of ROBERT KRENTZ, who the protestors and boycotters won't give a solution for, but will call Americans racist for trying to prevent another MURDER, and this post which shows that there are 30,000 openly illegal immigrants in the border town of El Paso across from the recent Juarez shooting. For more interesting stories like this click here to follow this blog.
House Committee Defeats Rep. Culberson's Amendment that Would Prohibit Funding for Lawsuit Against Arizona
Wednesday, June 30, 2010, 12:45 PM EDT - posted on NumbersUSA
Rep. John Culberson
Rep. John Culberson (R-Texas) offered an amendment on Tuesday to the Commerce, Justice and Science Subcommittee's markup of a spending bill that would fund the Department of Justice in fiscal year 2011, but the amendment was defeated 8-to-5 on a mostly party-line vote. Rep. Culberson's amendment would prohibit money from the bill from funding a lawsuit against Arizona's immigration enforcement law.
The amendment stated...
None of the funds made available in this Act to the Department of Justice may be used to participate in any lawsuit that seeks to invalidate those provisions of the Arizona Revised Statutes amended by Arizona Senate Bill 1070. . .
Rep. Patrick Murphy
Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.) was the lone Democrat to cross party lines and vote for the amendment. Subcommittee Ranking Member Wolf (R-Va.), Rep. Culberson (R-Texas), Rep. Aderholt (R-Ala.), and Rep. Bonner (R-Ala.) also voted in favor of the amendment.
Opposing the amendment were Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Mollohan (D-W.Va.), Rep. Kennedy (D-R.I.), Rep. Fattah (D-Pa.), Rep. Schiff (D-Calif.), Rep. Honda (D-Calif.), Rep. Ruppersberger (D-Md.), Rep. Serrano (D-N.Y.), and Chairman Obey (D-Wis.).
For more information, see the Minorty House Appropriations Committee's website.
House Committee Defeats Rep. Culberson's Amendment that Would Prohibit Funding for Lawsuit Against Arizona
Wednesday, June 30, 2010, 12:45 PM EDT - posted on NumbersUSA
Rep. John Culberson
Rep. John Culberson (R-Texas) offered an amendment on Tuesday to the Commerce, Justice and Science Subcommittee's markup of a spending bill that would fund the Department of Justice in fiscal year 2011, but the amendment was defeated 8-to-5 on a mostly party-line vote. Rep. Culberson's amendment would prohibit money from the bill from funding a lawsuit against Arizona's immigration enforcement law.
The amendment stated...
None of the funds made available in this Act to the Department of Justice may be used to participate in any lawsuit that seeks to invalidate those provisions of the Arizona Revised Statutes amended by Arizona Senate Bill 1070. . .
Rep. Patrick Murphy
Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.) was the lone Democrat to cross party lines and vote for the amendment. Subcommittee Ranking Member Wolf (R-Va.), Rep. Culberson (R-Texas), Rep. Aderholt (R-Ala.), and Rep. Bonner (R-Ala.) also voted in favor of the amendment.
Opposing the amendment were Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Mollohan (D-W.Va.), Rep. Kennedy (D-R.I.), Rep. Fattah (D-Pa.), Rep. Schiff (D-Calif.), Rep. Honda (D-Calif.), Rep. Ruppersberger (D-Md.), Rep. Serrano (D-N.Y.), and Chairman Obey (D-Wis.).
For more information, see the Minorty House Appropriations Committee's website.
Some Conservatives Slam, others Downplay SCOTUS Ruling against Christian Group
An interesting story from www.lifesitenews.com about the June 28,2010 Supreme Court ruling on Christian organizations. This follows this post about Elena Kagan's abortion and gay issues positions. For more interesting stories like this click here to follow this blog.
Some Conservatives Slam, others Downplay SCOTUS Ruling against Christian Group
By Kathleen Gilbert
WASHINGTON, D.C., June 29, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The U.S. Supreme Court's ruling against a campus Christian group that had been denied legal status by a California university for failing to include non-Christian members, has provoked a disparate response from conservative groups. While several leaders decried the decision as a massive blow to religious freedom, others asserted that the decision is not as far-reaching or damaging as it may first appear.
At the same time, the dissenting Supreme Court justices say that the ruling, though narrow, nonetheless sets bad precedent.
The case, Christian Legal Society v. Martinez, was brought before the court after the University of California's Hastings School of Law revoked official status from a Christian group. The group had refused to allow non-Christians or those engaging in a "sexually immoral lifestyle" to become voting members or leaders. In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the university was within its rights to enforce a policy that required all groups on campus to admit members even if they did not agree with the group's viewpoints.
Several conservative groups say they consider the decision a major threat. These include the Family Research Council (FRC), which called the outcome "a massive defeat for religious freedom."
FRC President Tony Perkins said the decision "throws student organizational mission statements out the door, as everyone at a state school with an 'all-comers' policy, regardless of belief, can now join any organization, even if they oppose that organization's purpose and mission."
Perkins noted that the decision bodes ill for cases that pit religious freedom against claims of discrimination by homosexuals.
"The Court majority essentially held that it is acceptable to discriminate against private religious organizations that disagree with them on whether homosexuality is a constitutional right, and against religious groups that want to organize in universities according to the dictates of their faith," he said.
The ruling is being widely interpreted by media and liberal commentators as a victory against Christian groups in favor of homosexual "rights."
Yet other organizations appeared to disagree that the case would do much damage: the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), which helped defend the Christian group, said that the decision effectively upheld "an unusual university policy that forces student groups to allow outsiders who disagree with their beliefs to become leaders and voting members."
Kim Colby, senior counsel at the CLS Center for Law & Religious Freedom, also said that the ruling would “have limited impact" due to the uniqueness of Hastings' policy. ADF Senior Legal Counsel Gregory S. Baylor added that the decision "doesn’t settle the core constitutional issue of whether nondiscrimination policies in general can force religious student groups to allow non-believers to lead their groups."
Yet the opinion of the dissenting judges argues that the ruling, while narrow, nonetheless represents a turn for the worse by ignoring the true nature of Hastings' policy.
"Brushing aside inconvenient precedent, the Court arms public educational institutions with a handy weapon for suppressing the speech of unpopular groups—groups to which, as Hastings candidly puts it, these institutions ‘do not wish to … lend their name[s],’” wrote Justice Samuel Alito, who was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Antonin Scalia and Justice Clarence Thomas.
Alito pointed out that the court ignored the policy most pertinent to the case: the Nondiscrimination Policy that was invoked to deny the group official status for discriminating against "sexual orientation." Instead, the majority opinion focused on the "accept-all-comers" policy that was only belatedly introduced to the case, and which no evidence indicates even existed before the dean's deposition in the case.
In any case, said Alito, the school's policy was not fundamentally reasonable. "There are religious groups that cannot in good conscience agree in their bylaws that they will admit persons who do not share their faith, and for these groups, the consequence of an accept-all-comers policy is marginalization," stated the opinion.
"I do not think it is an exaggeration to say that today’s decision is a serious setback for freedom of expression in this country," he wrote. "I can only hope that this decision will turn out to be an aberration."
Some Conservatives Slam, others Downplay SCOTUS Ruling against Christian Group
By Kathleen Gilbert
WASHINGTON, D.C., June 29, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The U.S. Supreme Court's ruling against a campus Christian group that had been denied legal status by a California university for failing to include non-Christian members, has provoked a disparate response from conservative groups. While several leaders decried the decision as a massive blow to religious freedom, others asserted that the decision is not as far-reaching or damaging as it may first appear.
At the same time, the dissenting Supreme Court justices say that the ruling, though narrow, nonetheless sets bad precedent.
The case, Christian Legal Society v. Martinez, was brought before the court after the University of California's Hastings School of Law revoked official status from a Christian group. The group had refused to allow non-Christians or those engaging in a "sexually immoral lifestyle" to become voting members or leaders. In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the university was within its rights to enforce a policy that required all groups on campus to admit members even if they did not agree with the group's viewpoints.
Several conservative groups say they consider the decision a major threat. These include the Family Research Council (FRC), which called the outcome "a massive defeat for religious freedom."
FRC President Tony Perkins said the decision "throws student organizational mission statements out the door, as everyone at a state school with an 'all-comers' policy, regardless of belief, can now join any organization, even if they oppose that organization's purpose and mission."
Perkins noted that the decision bodes ill for cases that pit religious freedom against claims of discrimination by homosexuals.
"The Court majority essentially held that it is acceptable to discriminate against private religious organizations that disagree with them on whether homosexuality is a constitutional right, and against religious groups that want to organize in universities according to the dictates of their faith," he said.
The ruling is being widely interpreted by media and liberal commentators as a victory against Christian groups in favor of homosexual "rights."
Yet other organizations appeared to disagree that the case would do much damage: the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), which helped defend the Christian group, said that the decision effectively upheld "an unusual university policy that forces student groups to allow outsiders who disagree with their beliefs to become leaders and voting members."
Kim Colby, senior counsel at the CLS Center for Law & Religious Freedom, also said that the ruling would “have limited impact" due to the uniqueness of Hastings' policy. ADF Senior Legal Counsel Gregory S. Baylor added that the decision "doesn’t settle the core constitutional issue of whether nondiscrimination policies in general can force religious student groups to allow non-believers to lead their groups."
Yet the opinion of the dissenting judges argues that the ruling, while narrow, nonetheless represents a turn for the worse by ignoring the true nature of Hastings' policy.
"Brushing aside inconvenient precedent, the Court arms public educational institutions with a handy weapon for suppressing the speech of unpopular groups—groups to which, as Hastings candidly puts it, these institutions ‘do not wish to … lend their name[s],’” wrote Justice Samuel Alito, who was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Antonin Scalia and Justice Clarence Thomas.
Alito pointed out that the court ignored the policy most pertinent to the case: the Nondiscrimination Policy that was invoked to deny the group official status for discriminating against "sexual orientation." Instead, the majority opinion focused on the "accept-all-comers" policy that was only belatedly introduced to the case, and which no evidence indicates even existed before the dean's deposition in the case.
In any case, said Alito, the school's policy was not fundamentally reasonable. "There are religious groups that cannot in good conscience agree in their bylaws that they will admit persons who do not share their faith, and for these groups, the consequence of an accept-all-comers policy is marginalization," stated the opinion.
"I do not think it is an exaggeration to say that today’s decision is a serious setback for freedom of expression in this country," he wrote. "I can only hope that this decision will turn out to be an aberration."
Chavez To Nationalize Eleven US Oil Rigs
A very interesting post from http://sweetness-light.com about Venezuela taking U.S. property This follows this post about Turkey claiming anger against Israel. This follows this post about Genocide in South Africa and this article about the recent news about offshore drilling to encourage American energy independence This is a key issue to prevent money from going to hostile countries such as Iran and Venezuela. For more posts like this click here.
Chavez To Nationalize Eleven US Oil Rigs
From a cheering Agence France-Presse (AFP):
Venezuela govt to nationalize 11 US-owned oil rigs
Wed Jun 30, 2010
CARACAS (AFP) – Venezuela’s legislature has voted to nationalize 11 oil rigs owned by the US firm Helmerich & Payne.
The rigs, located in Monagas, Anzoategui and Zulia states, will be taken over by state oil giant Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), the official news agency AVN said.
PDVSA had asked the legislature controlled by supporters of leftist [sic] President Hugo Chavez to take over the rigs after the US firm declined to negotiate a new service contract, unlike 32 other foreign firms…
We suspect it’s more likely that Mr. Chavez is more worried Mr. Obama’s moratorium will apply to these rigs, and he wants to keep them from being taken out of production.
Still how many people will recall that President Eisenhower originally imposed the United States embargo against Cuba in October 1960, after Cuba nationalized about $850 million dollars worth of US citizens and corporations properties?
Mr. Obama, on the other hand, will probably give Mr. Chavez a commendation.
This article was posted by Steve Gilbert on Wednesday, June 30th, 2010 at 2:29 am. You can leave a response.
Chavez To Nationalize Eleven US Oil Rigs
From a cheering Agence France-Presse (AFP):
Venezuela govt to nationalize 11 US-owned oil rigs
Wed Jun 30, 2010
CARACAS (AFP) – Venezuela’s legislature has voted to nationalize 11 oil rigs owned by the US firm Helmerich & Payne.
The rigs, located in Monagas, Anzoategui and Zulia states, will be taken over by state oil giant Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), the official news agency AVN said.
PDVSA had asked the legislature controlled by supporters of leftist [sic] President Hugo Chavez to take over the rigs after the US firm declined to negotiate a new service contract, unlike 32 other foreign firms…
We suspect it’s more likely that Mr. Chavez is more worried Mr. Obama’s moratorium will apply to these rigs, and he wants to keep them from being taken out of production.
Still how many people will recall that President Eisenhower originally imposed the United States embargo against Cuba in October 1960, after Cuba nationalized about $850 million dollars worth of US citizens and corporations properties?
Mr. Obama, on the other hand, will probably give Mr. Chavez a commendation.
This article was posted by Steve Gilbert on Wednesday, June 30th, 2010 at 2:29 am. You can leave a response.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
BP Oil Spill Evidence of Need for Competent, Caring Leadership
An interesting article from www.ucg.org/commentary about the Gulf Spill. This follows this post about fear. For more interesting stories like this click here to follow this blog.
BP Oil Spill Evidence of Need for Competent, Caring Leadership
A commentary by Larry J. Walker
The BP oil spill, which threatens to become the world's worst such disaster, continues to spread its sticky mess to an ever-expanding area of the Gulf of Mexico, leaving a wake of pollution and disaster at a cost projected to soar to multiple billions of dollars.
Crisis of incompetent leadership
It now appears that attempts to deal with the problem are in just as big of a mess, as government and industry leaders in affected areas charge the oil company and federal officials with organizational incompetence, red tape, chaos and disorder.
Billy Nungesser, president of Louisiana's Plaquemines Parish, recently lamented to a Senate subcommittee, "I still don't know who's in charge. Is it BP? Is it the Coast Guard?... I have spent more time fighting the officials of BP and the Coast Guard than fighting the oil." What is needed, he said, is someone "with the guts and the will to make decisions."
Similar problems and complaints were voiced regarding the handling of relief efforts following Hurricane Katrina. Some compare federal response to the BP crisis to its handling of Katrina: too little, too late—implying disengagement and incompetence.
Crisis of caring and concern
Yet another area of controversy has been the image created by comments made by BP executives. The reference to the citizens of affected areas as "little people" and BP Chief Executive Tony Hayward's remark, "I'd like my life back," have come across as cavalier, self-serving and uncaring—thus adding insult to injury.
Crisis of compounding problems
Experts continue to ratchet up estimates of the volume of oil gushing from the leak and the astronomical monetary cost of damages resulting from this ongoing crisis that is now projected to continue at least until fall. We can expect to be reading news reports about ongoing developments for weeks or months to come.
Newspapers and other news media are dominated by the bad news of mankind's ongoing problems of war, crime and pollution. The BP oil spill is one of many items of bad news that we are bombarded with daily and only one of the many challenging problems facing the United States and other nations around the world.
Many of these problems are frightening and overwhelming—how much more so the staggering combined weight of all of mankind's problems? Where are we headed? Are there any solutions? Who knows and cares enough to be able to tackle them? Or are we hopelessly rushing uncontrollably toward universal chaos and disaster on a scale that threatens the very survival of the human race?
Good news for the future
Is there any good news, anything to look forward to on the horizon? Or are we all doomed to perish in a dramatic collapse of civilization as we know it? Is there anything you can do to assure a positive future for you and your loved ones?
Some 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ addressed the threat of human survival. In the famous Olivet Prophecy, He warned that mankind's problems would escalate to the point of the potential destruction of all mankind: "In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, the entire human race will be destroyed." The good news is that Jesus went on to promise, "It will be shortened for the sake of God's chosen ones" (Matthew 24:22, New Living Translation).
Who are "God's chosen ones," and how can you become one of them? Where can you find out more about the encouraging details of God's plan to save mankind? For more information, be sure to download or request our free booklets The Gospel of the Kingdom and What Is Your Destiny?
BP Oil Spill Evidence of Need for Competent, Caring Leadership
A commentary by Larry J. Walker
The BP oil spill, which threatens to become the world's worst such disaster, continues to spread its sticky mess to an ever-expanding area of the Gulf of Mexico, leaving a wake of pollution and disaster at a cost projected to soar to multiple billions of dollars.
Crisis of incompetent leadership
It now appears that attempts to deal with the problem are in just as big of a mess, as government and industry leaders in affected areas charge the oil company and federal officials with organizational incompetence, red tape, chaos and disorder.
Billy Nungesser, president of Louisiana's Plaquemines Parish, recently lamented to a Senate subcommittee, "I still don't know who's in charge. Is it BP? Is it the Coast Guard?... I have spent more time fighting the officials of BP and the Coast Guard than fighting the oil." What is needed, he said, is someone "with the guts and the will to make decisions."
Similar problems and complaints were voiced regarding the handling of relief efforts following Hurricane Katrina. Some compare federal response to the BP crisis to its handling of Katrina: too little, too late—implying disengagement and incompetence.
Crisis of caring and concern
Yet another area of controversy has been the image created by comments made by BP executives. The reference to the citizens of affected areas as "little people" and BP Chief Executive Tony Hayward's remark, "I'd like my life back," have come across as cavalier, self-serving and uncaring—thus adding insult to injury.
Crisis of compounding problems
Experts continue to ratchet up estimates of the volume of oil gushing from the leak and the astronomical monetary cost of damages resulting from this ongoing crisis that is now projected to continue at least until fall. We can expect to be reading news reports about ongoing developments for weeks or months to come.
Newspapers and other news media are dominated by the bad news of mankind's ongoing problems of war, crime and pollution. The BP oil spill is one of many items of bad news that we are bombarded with daily and only one of the many challenging problems facing the United States and other nations around the world.
Many of these problems are frightening and overwhelming—how much more so the staggering combined weight of all of mankind's problems? Where are we headed? Are there any solutions? Who knows and cares enough to be able to tackle them? Or are we hopelessly rushing uncontrollably toward universal chaos and disaster on a scale that threatens the very survival of the human race?
Good news for the future
Is there any good news, anything to look forward to on the horizon? Or are we all doomed to perish in a dramatic collapse of civilization as we know it? Is there anything you can do to assure a positive future for you and your loved ones?
Some 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ addressed the threat of human survival. In the famous Olivet Prophecy, He warned that mankind's problems would escalate to the point of the potential destruction of all mankind: "In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, the entire human race will be destroyed." The good news is that Jesus went on to promise, "It will be shortened for the sake of God's chosen ones" (Matthew 24:22, New Living Translation).
Who are "God's chosen ones," and how can you become one of them? Where can you find out more about the encouraging details of God's plan to save mankind? For more information, be sure to download or request our free booklets The Gospel of the Kingdom and What Is Your Destiny?
GOPers Flag Kagan's Abortion, Gay Advocacy in Confirmation Opening Remarks
An interesting story from www.lifesitenews.com about Elena Kagan's abortion and gay issues positions. This follows this previous analysis about the Elena Kagan hearings. For more interesting stories like this click here to follow this blog.
GOPers Flag Kagan's Abortion, Gay Advocacy in Confirmation Opening Remarks
By Kathleen Gilbert
WASHINGTON, D.C.(LifeSiteNews.com) - Some Republican senators on the Senate Judiciary Committee indicated their opposition to Supreme Court hopeful Elena Kagan's pro-abortion and homosexualist agenda, as well as her activist leanings, amid opening remarks at the first in a series of Senate confirmation hearings today.
The committee began with a series of opening statements Monday. Questioning of the nominee will begin Tuesday.
Democratic senators lauded Kagan's credentials as a legal scholar, while Republicans expressed concern over her apparent penchant for political maneuvering and judicial activism.
Ranking GOP member Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) noted in his opening remarks that as an advisor to the Clinton White House, Kagan may have been the "key person who convinced President Clinton" to endorse a "compromise" measure that gave him political cover to veto a partial-birth abortion ban.
Sessions also expressed concern over Kagan's controversial move as Harvard Law dean to ban military recruiters from campus in protest against the ban on open homosexuals serving in the military. "I can't take this issue lightly," said the senator.
In addition, Sessions took issue with Kagan’s having called Israeli Judge Aharon Barak - whom Sessions called the "most activist judge in the world" - her "hero." "Few could dispute this tells us much about the nominee," he said.
"It's easy to pledge fidelity to law if you feel you can change its meaning later as a judge."
Sen. John Kyl (R-AZ) decried Kagan's "naked political judgment" when she worried in a memo that a decision against allowing taxpayer money to pay for a prisoner's abortion would "create some very bad law on abortion."
Sen. Orrin Hatch warned that both the Senate and the American people will want to know whether Kagan will impose her personal views on the law. "Will the Constitution control her, or will she control the Constitution?" he asked.
A Rasmussen Reports survey released last Wednesday found 42% of U.S. voters opposed Kagan's confirmation. Thirty-five percent supported Kagan, whereas 23% were unsure.
GOPers Flag Kagan's Abortion, Gay Advocacy in Confirmation Opening Remarks
By Kathleen Gilbert
WASHINGTON, D.C.(LifeSiteNews.com) - Some Republican senators on the Senate Judiciary Committee indicated their opposition to Supreme Court hopeful Elena Kagan's pro-abortion and homosexualist agenda, as well as her activist leanings, amid opening remarks at the first in a series of Senate confirmation hearings today.
The committee began with a series of opening statements Monday. Questioning of the nominee will begin Tuesday.
Democratic senators lauded Kagan's credentials as a legal scholar, while Republicans expressed concern over her apparent penchant for political maneuvering and judicial activism.
Ranking GOP member Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) noted in his opening remarks that as an advisor to the Clinton White House, Kagan may have been the "key person who convinced President Clinton" to endorse a "compromise" measure that gave him political cover to veto a partial-birth abortion ban.
Sessions also expressed concern over Kagan's controversial move as Harvard Law dean to ban military recruiters from campus in protest against the ban on open homosexuals serving in the military. "I can't take this issue lightly," said the senator.
In addition, Sessions took issue with Kagan’s having called Israeli Judge Aharon Barak - whom Sessions called the "most activist judge in the world" - her "hero." "Few could dispute this tells us much about the nominee," he said.
"It's easy to pledge fidelity to law if you feel you can change its meaning later as a judge."
Sen. John Kyl (R-AZ) decried Kagan's "naked political judgment" when she worried in a memo that a decision against allowing taxpayer money to pay for a prisoner's abortion would "create some very bad law on abortion."
Sen. Orrin Hatch warned that both the Senate and the American people will want to know whether Kagan will impose her personal views on the law. "Will the Constitution control her, or will she control the Constitution?" he asked.
A Rasmussen Reports survey released last Wednesday found 42% of U.S. voters opposed Kagan's confirmation. Thirty-five percent supported Kagan, whereas 23% were unsure.
Supreme Court Nominee Elena Kagan Led Charge on Challenge of Arizona's E-Verify Law
A timely post from www.NumbersUSA.com about Elena Kagan's open borders stance.This follows this post about the Border Patrol's self defense in El Paso. This follows this post about Maywood, California and this post about the MURDER of ROBERT KRENTZ, who the protestors and boycotters won't give a solution for, but will call Americans racist for trying to prevent another MURDER, and this post which shows that there are 30,000 openly illegal immigrants in the border town of El Paso across from the recent Juarez shooting. For more interesting stories like this click here to follow this blog.
Supreme Court Nominee Elena Kagan Led Charge on Challenge of Arizona's E-Verify Law
- posted on NumbersUSA
The Supreme Court is considering a review of Arizona's E-Verify law that passed in 2007 and requires all Arizona businesses to use the online workplace verification tool on new hires. According to a new op-ed from Reps. Lamar Smith and Todd Tiahrt, Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan was the driving force behind the Administration's decision to challenge the law.
Arizona's E-Verify law has already won court challenge after court challenge, including the law being upheld by the liberal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The challenge by the Obama Administration and originated by Kagan questions the law's revocation of a business license if it knowingly hires illegal aliens.
Reps. Smith and Tiahrt are critical of the Obama Administration's lax immigration enforcement efforts and expressed their concern over whether Kagan would be objectionable and evaluate cases on Constitutional merit or be a "rubber stamp for President Obama’s radical agenda."
With the Supreme Court likely to be asked to rule on these issues soon—the American people deserve to know the answers to these questions. Even more so, the American people deserve to have Supreme Court decisions rendered by justices who adhere to the Constitution, not politics.
Read the full article at the Daily Caller.
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Supreme Court Nominee Elena Kagan Led Charge on Challenge of Arizona's E-Verify Law
- posted on NumbersUSA
The Supreme Court is considering a review of Arizona's E-Verify law that passed in 2007 and requires all Arizona businesses to use the online workplace verification tool on new hires. According to a new op-ed from Reps. Lamar Smith and Todd Tiahrt, Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan was the driving force behind the Administration's decision to challenge the law.
Arizona's E-Verify law has already won court challenge after court challenge, including the law being upheld by the liberal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The challenge by the Obama Administration and originated by Kagan questions the law's revocation of a business license if it knowingly hires illegal aliens.
Reps. Smith and Tiahrt are critical of the Obama Administration's lax immigration enforcement efforts and expressed their concern over whether Kagan would be objectionable and evaluate cases on Constitutional merit or be a "rubber stamp for President Obama’s radical agenda."
With the Supreme Court likely to be asked to rule on these issues soon—the American people deserve to know the answers to these questions. Even more so, the American people deserve to have Supreme Court decisions rendered by justices who adhere to the Constitution, not politics.
Read the full article at the Daily Caller.
Subscribe to our News Feed
Irked Turks close airspace to some Israeli flights
A very interesting post from www.jihadwatch.org about Turkey claiming anger against Israel. This follows this post about the World Cup. This follows this post about Genocide in South Africa and this article about the recent news about offshore drilling to encourage American energy independence This is a key issue to prevent money from going to hostile countries such as Iran and Venezuela. For more posts like this click here.
Irked Turks close airspace to some Israeli flights
Still summoning faux outrage and fanning the flames of war, trying to isolate Israel for defending itself from the Jihad Flotilla: "Turkey closes airspace to some Israeli flights," by Suzan Fraser for Associated Press, June 28 (thanks to JCB):
ANKARA, Turkey - Turkey has closed its airspace to some Israeli military flights following a deadly raid on a Gaza-bound aid ship, the Turkish prime minister and officials said Monday. An official said civilian commercial flights were not affected.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters in Toronto that Turkey imposed a ban on Israeli flights after the May 31 raid on a Turkish ship that was part of a six-vessel international aid flotilla, according to the state-run Anatolia news agency. The prime minister, who is in Canada to attend a summit of the Group of 20 major industrial and developing nations, did not elaborate.
A Turkish government official said, however, that the ban was for Israeli military flights and that commercial flights were not affected. It was not a blanket ban and each flight request would be assessed case-by-case, the official added. The official spoke on condition of anonymity, in line with government rules that bar officials from speaking to journalists without prior authorization....
Posted by Robert
Irked Turks close airspace to some Israeli flights
Still summoning faux outrage and fanning the flames of war, trying to isolate Israel for defending itself from the Jihad Flotilla: "Turkey closes airspace to some Israeli flights," by Suzan Fraser for Associated Press, June 28 (thanks to JCB):
ANKARA, Turkey - Turkey has closed its airspace to some Israeli military flights following a deadly raid on a Gaza-bound aid ship, the Turkish prime minister and officials said Monday. An official said civilian commercial flights were not affected.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters in Toronto that Turkey imposed a ban on Israeli flights after the May 31 raid on a Turkish ship that was part of a six-vessel international aid flotilla, according to the state-run Anatolia news agency. The prime minister, who is in Canada to attend a summit of the Group of 20 major industrial and developing nations, did not elaborate.
A Turkish government official said, however, that the ban was for Israeli military flights and that commercial flights were not affected. It was not a blanket ban and each flight request would be assessed case-by-case, the official added. The official spoke on condition of anonymity, in line with government rules that bar officials from speaking to journalists without prior authorization....
Posted by Robert
HOW OBAMA BUNGLED THE OIL SPILL: AN INSIDE STORY
An interesting post from www.dickmorris.com about the Gulf Spill. This follows this post about offshore drilling. This follows this post about a creative solution to Gulf drilling and this previous article about the recent news about offshore drilling to encourage American energy independence This is a key issue to prevent money from going to hostile countries such as Iran and Venezuela. For more posts like this click here.
HOW OBAMA BUNGLED THE OIL SPILL: AN INSIDE STORY
By Dick Morris And Eileen McGann
It’s one thing to say that Obama’s Administration showed its ineptitude and mismanagement in its handling of the Gulf oil spill. It is quite another to grasp the situation up close as I did during a recent visit to Alabama.
According to state disaster relief officials, Alabama conceived a plan – early on – to erect huge booms off shore to shield the approximately 200 miles of their state’s coastline from oil. Rather than install the relatively light and shallow booms in use elsewhere, the state (with assistance from the Coast Guard) canvassed the world and located enough huge, heavy booms – some weighing tons and seven meters high – to guard their coast.
So, Alabama decided on a backup plan. It would buy snare booms to catch the oil as it began to wash up on the beaches.
But…the Fish and Wildlife Administration vetoed the plan saying it would endanger sea turtles that nest on the beaches.
So, Alabama – ever resourceful – decided to hire 400 workers to patrol the beaches in person scooping up oil that had washed ashore.
But…OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Agency) refused to allow them to work more than twenty minutes out of every hour and required an hour long break after forty minutes of work so the cleanup proceeded at a very slow pace.
The short answer is that every agency – each with its own particular bureaucratic agenda – was able to veto each aspect of any plan to fight the spill with the unintended consequence that nothing stopped the oil from destroying hundreds of miles of wetlands, habitats, beaches, fisheries, and recreational facilities.
Where was the president? Why did he not intervene in these and countless other bureaucratic controversies to force a focus on the oil, not on the turtles and other incidental concerns?
According to Alabama Governor Bob Riley, the Administration’s “lack of ability has become transparent” in its handling of the oil spill. He notes that one stellar exception has been Obama aide Valerie Jarrett without whom, he says, nothing whatever would have gotten done.
Eventually, the state stopped listening to federal agencies and just has gone ahead and given funds directly to the local folks fighting the spill rather than paying attention to the directives of the Unified Command. Apparently, there is a world of difference between the competence of the Coast Guard and the superb and efficient regular Navy and military.
Now, the greatest crisis of all looms on the horizon as hurricanes sweep into the Gulf. Should one hit off shore, it will destroy all the booms that have been placed to stop the oil from reaching shore. And there are no more booms anywhere in the world according to Alabama disaster relief officials. “There is no more inventory of booms anywhere in Earth,” one told me in despair.
The political impact of this incompetence has only just begun to be felt. While Administration operatives are flying high after a week in which the president’s ratings rebounded to 49% in Rasmussen after his firing of General McChrystal, the oil is still gushing and the situation is about to worsen.
The obvious fact is that Obama has no executive experience nor do any of his top advisors. Without a clear mandate from the top, needed efforts to salvage the situation are repeatedly stymied by well meaning bureaucrats strictly following the letter of their agency policy and federal law. The result, ironically, of their determined efforts to protect the environment has been the greatest environmental disaster in history. But some turtles are OK!
HOW OBAMA BUNGLED THE OIL SPILL: AN INSIDE STORY
By Dick Morris And Eileen McGann
It’s one thing to say that Obama’s Administration showed its ineptitude and mismanagement in its handling of the Gulf oil spill. It is quite another to grasp the situation up close as I did during a recent visit to Alabama.
According to state disaster relief officials, Alabama conceived a plan – early on – to erect huge booms off shore to shield the approximately 200 miles of their state’s coastline from oil. Rather than install the relatively light and shallow booms in use elsewhere, the state (with assistance from the Coast Guard) canvassed the world and located enough huge, heavy booms – some weighing tons and seven meters high – to guard their coast.
So, Alabama decided on a backup plan. It would buy snare booms to catch the oil as it began to wash up on the beaches.
But…the Fish and Wildlife Administration vetoed the plan saying it would endanger sea turtles that nest on the beaches.
So, Alabama – ever resourceful – decided to hire 400 workers to patrol the beaches in person scooping up oil that had washed ashore.
But…OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Agency) refused to allow them to work more than twenty minutes out of every hour and required an hour long break after forty minutes of work so the cleanup proceeded at a very slow pace.
The short answer is that every agency – each with its own particular bureaucratic agenda – was able to veto each aspect of any plan to fight the spill with the unintended consequence that nothing stopped the oil from destroying hundreds of miles of wetlands, habitats, beaches, fisheries, and recreational facilities.
Where was the president? Why did he not intervene in these and countless other bureaucratic controversies to force a focus on the oil, not on the turtles and other incidental concerns?
According to Alabama Governor Bob Riley, the Administration’s “lack of ability has become transparent” in its handling of the oil spill. He notes that one stellar exception has been Obama aide Valerie Jarrett without whom, he says, nothing whatever would have gotten done.
Eventually, the state stopped listening to federal agencies and just has gone ahead and given funds directly to the local folks fighting the spill rather than paying attention to the directives of the Unified Command. Apparently, there is a world of difference between the competence of the Coast Guard and the superb and efficient regular Navy and military.
Now, the greatest crisis of all looms on the horizon as hurricanes sweep into the Gulf. Should one hit off shore, it will destroy all the booms that have been placed to stop the oil from reaching shore. And there are no more booms anywhere in the world according to Alabama disaster relief officials. “There is no more inventory of booms anywhere in Earth,” one told me in despair.
The political impact of this incompetence has only just begun to be felt. While Administration operatives are flying high after a week in which the president’s ratings rebounded to 49% in Rasmussen after his firing of General McChrystal, the oil is still gushing and the situation is about to worsen.
The obvious fact is that Obama has no executive experience nor do any of his top advisors. Without a clear mandate from the top, needed efforts to salvage the situation are repeatedly stymied by well meaning bureaucrats strictly following the letter of their agency policy and federal law. The result, ironically, of their determined efforts to protect the environment has been the greatest environmental disaster in history. But some turtles are OK!
Monday, June 28, 2010
Blame Israel, World Cup Vuvuzela Edition: Palis Must Watch Soccer on Israeli TV After Al-Jazeera Fails
A very interesting post from www.debbieschlussel.com about the World Cup. This follows this post about Oliver Stone and Venezuela.This follows this post about the Senators' support of Israel. This follows this post about Genocide in South Africa and this article about the recent news about offshore drilling to encourage American energy independence This is a key issue to prevent money from going to hostile countries such as Iran and Venezuela. For more posts like this click here.
Blame Israel, World Cup Vuvuzela Edition: Palis Must Watch Soccer on Israeli TV After Al-Jazeera Fails
By Debbie Schlussel
The tinfoil hat conspiracy theorists in the Islamic world (and that’s 99% of ‘em) are working overtime. When they can’t see their soccer, you know whose fault it is . . . the JOOOS. Yup, when in doubt, blame the Jews. Especially if you’re a fan of the game that unites our enemies. Soccer–the game which (along with Michael Jackson) unites Islamic terrorists, Third World republics, and other America haters. And, of course, it’s the game whose televised reception is “blocked out” by the Jews, according to Jew-haters.One of the times I was on Al-Jazeera, the network was so backward, they were literally using MCI phone cards for the satellite feed. The cards kept running out and the satellite feed kept ending. Methinks it’s that kind of backward, al-cheapo behavior by the network funded by emirs and sheiks that led to World Cup interruptions. But that’s not who they blame (thanks to longtime friend David Hazony of Shalem):
The network’s troubles began on the first day of the World Cup, when viewers were unable to watch the opening match between South Africa and Mexico. The network claimed that a “third party” disrupted the broadcast and even convinced FIFA to investigate the matter.
Qatari elements in private blamed the disruptions on the Egyptian Nilesat – the leading satellite provider in the Arab world.
Meanwhile, disruptions have occurred in almost every match since Friday. Clients who have paid between $80 to $160 for a subscription to watch the matches have complained of broadcasts freezing during games and several other hitches.
The Qatari network charged coffee shops and restaurants interested in broadcasting the matches between $800 and $1,400, and many in the Arab Gulf countries are considering suing. . . .
The network has been placing the blame on cable companies and satellite providers throughout the Arab world, but now, it is also point the finger at Israel.
Raed Abed, head of the Al-Jazeera’s broadcasting department, told Emarat Alyoum, “I do not rule out Israeli involvement in the disruptions.”
Meanwhile, the al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper said Egyptian parliament members have adopted Al-Jazeera’s claims. Egyptian MP Mohsin Radi was quoted as saying that Israel has a clear interest in disrupting the broadcasts to increase inter-Arab tensions.
Puh-leeze. They just stink at broadcasting, as my MCI experience proved.
Meanwhile, the ultimate justice is that the Palestinians have to rely on Israeli TV to watch World Cup soccer.
A Palestinian technician told AFP that since the World Cup kicked off on June 11 he had been inundated with requests to install Israeli receivers – already popular with poorer West Bank residents but until now eschewed by richer Palestinians who can afford subscriptions to Arab networks.
An official at the Palestinian Authority’s Palestine TV network said that he was unconcerned by the popularity of Israeli stations.
Uh-huh. Riiiight.
Once again, the Jews show their superiority above and beyond the oil rich ineptitude of the Arab Muslim world. Clearly, allah is not with ‘em, not even for stinky, boring soccer broadcasts.
Oh, and by the way, our shofar (ram’s horn) is better than that stupid vuvuzela.
Blame Israel, World Cup Vuvuzela Edition: Palis Must Watch Soccer on Israeli TV After Al-Jazeera Fails
By Debbie Schlussel
The tinfoil hat conspiracy theorists in the Islamic world (and that’s 99% of ‘em) are working overtime. When they can’t see their soccer, you know whose fault it is . . . the JOOOS. Yup, when in doubt, blame the Jews. Especially if you’re a fan of the game that unites our enemies. Soccer–the game which (along with Michael Jackson) unites Islamic terrorists, Third World republics, and other America haters. And, of course, it’s the game whose televised reception is “blocked out” by the Jews, according to Jew-haters.One of the times I was on Al-Jazeera, the network was so backward, they were literally using MCI phone cards for the satellite feed. The cards kept running out and the satellite feed kept ending. Methinks it’s that kind of backward, al-cheapo behavior by the network funded by emirs and sheiks that led to World Cup interruptions. But that’s not who they blame (thanks to longtime friend David Hazony of Shalem):
The network’s troubles began on the first day of the World Cup, when viewers were unable to watch the opening match between South Africa and Mexico. The network claimed that a “third party” disrupted the broadcast and even convinced FIFA to investigate the matter.
Qatari elements in private blamed the disruptions on the Egyptian Nilesat – the leading satellite provider in the Arab world.
Meanwhile, disruptions have occurred in almost every match since Friday. Clients who have paid between $80 to $160 for a subscription to watch the matches have complained of broadcasts freezing during games and several other hitches.
The Qatari network charged coffee shops and restaurants interested in broadcasting the matches between $800 and $1,400, and many in the Arab Gulf countries are considering suing. . . .
The network has been placing the blame on cable companies and satellite providers throughout the Arab world, but now, it is also point the finger at Israel.
Raed Abed, head of the Al-Jazeera’s broadcasting department, told Emarat Alyoum, “I do not rule out Israeli involvement in the disruptions.”
Meanwhile, the al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper said Egyptian parliament members have adopted Al-Jazeera’s claims. Egyptian MP Mohsin Radi was quoted as saying that Israel has a clear interest in disrupting the broadcasts to increase inter-Arab tensions.
Puh-leeze. They just stink at broadcasting, as my MCI experience proved.
Meanwhile, the ultimate justice is that the Palestinians have to rely on Israeli TV to watch World Cup soccer.
A Palestinian technician told AFP that since the World Cup kicked off on June 11 he had been inundated with requests to install Israeli receivers – already popular with poorer West Bank residents but until now eschewed by richer Palestinians who can afford subscriptions to Arab networks.
An official at the Palestinian Authority’s Palestine TV network said that he was unconcerned by the popularity of Israeli stations.
Uh-huh. Riiiight.
Once again, the Jews show their superiority above and beyond the oil rich ineptitude of the Arab Muslim world. Clearly, allah is not with ‘em, not even for stinky, boring soccer broadcasts.
Oh, and by the way, our shofar (ram’s horn) is better than that stupid vuvuzela.
Throwing Rocks
An interesting post from www.americanthinker.com about the Border Patrol's self defense in El Paso. This follows this post about Maywood, California and this post about the MURDER of ROBERT KRENTZ, who the protestors and boycotters won't give a solution for, but will call Americans racist for trying to prevent another MURDER, and this post which shows that there are 30,000 openly illegal immigrants in the border town of El Paso across from the recent Juarez shooting. For more interesting stories like this click here to follow this blog.
Throwing Rocks
By Russ Allen
On Monday, June 7, 2010, at 6:30pm, a U.S. Border Patrol agent shot and killed fifteen-year-old Sergio Adrian Hernandez Huereka in a concrete channel alongside the Rio Grande. The channel marks the border between Mexico and the U.S. and lies between the cities of Ciudad Juarez and El Paso, Texas. The agent was attempting to detain members of a group of Mexicans who had run across the channel to the U.S. side of the border. He successfully subdued one of the group, but the others retreated to the Mexican side and began hurling rocks at him. The agent responded by firing his weapon -- a .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol -- three times, shooting one-handed across the border at his assailants while holding the Mexican he had detained with his other hand. Two of his shots hit Sergio Huereka, once in the shoulder and once in the head.
There has since been a massive response in the Mexican media, showing images of Sergio's family and friends crying uncontrollably while hugging his casket. U.S. mainstream media have obligingly followed suit, displaying the same footage to the American public while repeatedly pointing out that Sergio was "only 15."
Sergio's mother insists that he was a "good boy" and that he and his friends were only "playing a game," wherein they would run across the channel to the U.S. side, touch the concrete wall, then rush back. It is impossible to verify whether this is true...but even supposing it is, the boys were breaking the law. American youth consider it a kind of "game" to tag buildings with graffiti, or to street race. Yet if a group of "urban artists" were caught red-handed (pun intended) by a police officer and chose to back off and throw rocks at him...they would get shot.
Border Patrol records show that Sergio was a "known juvenile smuggler," charged with alien smuggling in 2009 -- a detail the mainstream American media has failed to mention and that sheds doubt on Sergio's status as a "good boy"...not surprising, as the mother can hardly be expected to be an unbiased witness.
Much has been made over the fact that the boys were "only throwing rocks," and therefore the Border Patrol agent had no cause to shoot and kill one of them. This is an outrageous statement, revealing a number of assumptions equally exaggerated and improbable.
Only throwing rocks? The U.S. Border Patrol has reported 604 rock-throwing incidents in the last year. "There's a misperception people have that we're having pebbles thrown at us," says Mark Qualia, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman in Washington. "They are stones the size of baseballs in some cases or half a brick. You can't take this lightly."
Okay, so they are big rocks. Big deal, right? There's still a big difference between a big rock and a big gun, right?
Wrong. According to geological information obtained from the University of Texas at El Paso website, the most common surface rocks in the El Paso area are granite and limestone. A baseball made of either of those stones would weigh over a pound. Assuming a random asymmetrical shape and imperfect density, you still end up with a weighty missile; half a pound at the lightest. It doesn't require knowledge of ballistics and physiology to imagine the effect of being hit in the head with such a rock.
A well-thrown rock is just as deadly as a well-aimed bullet, a fact that becomes obvious through the lens of history, wherein rocks of one size or another were commonly employed as deadly weapons and were wielded or hurled in various manners and with great success. In fact, to hurl a rock with intent to kill or damage across a border between nations was often considered an act of war. Did the advent of the nuclear bomb cause the .50 caliber machine gun to lose its status as a deadly weapon? Hardly. Thus, the presence of a .40 caliber pistol does not relegate a hurled rock to a harmless bit of fluff.
Back to the outrageous statement. "[T]he Border Patrol Agent had no cause to shoot[.]" Really? Law enforcement officers in the U.S. are taught that if they determine that their life or that of another is in danger, they are authorized by law to use deadly force. They are taught to aim their weapon at the center of the target and fire until there is no longer a threat. With an accurate perspective on the matter of throwing rocks, it is clear that the Border Patrol agent did what was necessary to protect his own life as well as that of the young Mexican he had detained.
So much attention has been given to the fallacious notion that the men and women charged with protecting and upholding public safety should treat criminals gently and with kid gloves -- even in the face of life-threatening violence -- that these Mexican teenagers felt safe enough to throw rocks at an armed man. It could be argued that the death of Sergio can be lain directly at the feet of those who propagate such nonsense.
In closing, I would like to make two outrageous statements of my own. One, I am proud of the U.S. Border Patrol for striving mightily at an almost impossible and endless job... and two, don't bring a rock to a gun fight
Throwing Rocks
By Russ Allen
On Monday, June 7, 2010, at 6:30pm, a U.S. Border Patrol agent shot and killed fifteen-year-old Sergio Adrian Hernandez Huereka in a concrete channel alongside the Rio Grande. The channel marks the border between Mexico and the U.S. and lies between the cities of Ciudad Juarez and El Paso, Texas. The agent was attempting to detain members of a group of Mexicans who had run across the channel to the U.S. side of the border. He successfully subdued one of the group, but the others retreated to the Mexican side and began hurling rocks at him. The agent responded by firing his weapon -- a .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol -- three times, shooting one-handed across the border at his assailants while holding the Mexican he had detained with his other hand. Two of his shots hit Sergio Huereka, once in the shoulder and once in the head.
There has since been a massive response in the Mexican media, showing images of Sergio's family and friends crying uncontrollably while hugging his casket. U.S. mainstream media have obligingly followed suit, displaying the same footage to the American public while repeatedly pointing out that Sergio was "only 15."
Sergio's mother insists that he was a "good boy" and that he and his friends were only "playing a game," wherein they would run across the channel to the U.S. side, touch the concrete wall, then rush back. It is impossible to verify whether this is true...but even supposing it is, the boys were breaking the law. American youth consider it a kind of "game" to tag buildings with graffiti, or to street race. Yet if a group of "urban artists" were caught red-handed (pun intended) by a police officer and chose to back off and throw rocks at him...they would get shot.
Border Patrol records show that Sergio was a "known juvenile smuggler," charged with alien smuggling in 2009 -- a detail the mainstream American media has failed to mention and that sheds doubt on Sergio's status as a "good boy"...not surprising, as the mother can hardly be expected to be an unbiased witness.
Much has been made over the fact that the boys were "only throwing rocks," and therefore the Border Patrol agent had no cause to shoot and kill one of them. This is an outrageous statement, revealing a number of assumptions equally exaggerated and improbable.
Only throwing rocks? The U.S. Border Patrol has reported 604 rock-throwing incidents in the last year. "There's a misperception people have that we're having pebbles thrown at us," says Mark Qualia, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman in Washington. "They are stones the size of baseballs in some cases or half a brick. You can't take this lightly."
Okay, so they are big rocks. Big deal, right? There's still a big difference between a big rock and a big gun, right?
Wrong. According to geological information obtained from the University of Texas at El Paso website, the most common surface rocks in the El Paso area are granite and limestone. A baseball made of either of those stones would weigh over a pound. Assuming a random asymmetrical shape and imperfect density, you still end up with a weighty missile; half a pound at the lightest. It doesn't require knowledge of ballistics and physiology to imagine the effect of being hit in the head with such a rock.
A well-thrown rock is just as deadly as a well-aimed bullet, a fact that becomes obvious through the lens of history, wherein rocks of one size or another were commonly employed as deadly weapons and were wielded or hurled in various manners and with great success. In fact, to hurl a rock with intent to kill or damage across a border between nations was often considered an act of war. Did the advent of the nuclear bomb cause the .50 caliber machine gun to lose its status as a deadly weapon? Hardly. Thus, the presence of a .40 caliber pistol does not relegate a hurled rock to a harmless bit of fluff.
Back to the outrageous statement. "[T]he Border Patrol Agent had no cause to shoot[.]" Really? Law enforcement officers in the U.S. are taught that if they determine that their life or that of another is in danger, they are authorized by law to use deadly force. They are taught to aim their weapon at the center of the target and fire until there is no longer a threat. With an accurate perspective on the matter of throwing rocks, it is clear that the Border Patrol agent did what was necessary to protect his own life as well as that of the young Mexican he had detained.
So much attention has been given to the fallacious notion that the men and women charged with protecting and upholding public safety should treat criminals gently and with kid gloves -- even in the face of life-threatening violence -- that these Mexican teenagers felt safe enough to throw rocks at an armed man. It could be argued that the death of Sergio can be lain directly at the feet of those who propagate such nonsense.
In closing, I would like to make two outrageous statements of my own. One, I am proud of the U.S. Border Patrol for striving mightily at an almost impossible and endless job... and two, don't bring a rock to a gun fight
The Illegal Alien Destruction of Maywood CA
An interesting post from www.Alipac.us about Maywood, California. This follows this post about Fox news and this post about the MURDER of ROBERT KRENTZ, who the protestors and boycotters won't give a solution for, but will call Americans racist for trying to prevent another MURDER, and this post which shows that there are 30,000 openly illegal immigrants in the border town of El Paso across from the recent Juarez shooting. For more interesting stories like this click here to follow this blog.
The Illegal Alien Destruction of Maywood CA
Some of you may have heard the news stories about Maywood, California. The small town is on the verge of becoming unincorporated and has fired all police and staff. Maywood has fallen to illegal immigration. Is your town next?
National radio show host Roger Hedgecock has written a very important piece about Maywood, Ca. to help our supporters understand how illegal immigration swept Maywood into destruction. In fact, Maywood may just be one of many dominoes falling in California. The evidence is strong that what happened there is coming to your town eventually unless we can stop Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch, NY Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and the CEO's of Hewlett Packard, Boeing, and Disney from passing Comprehensive Amnesty with President Obama.
ALIPAC remains the largest archive of information in existance on these topics, and sometimes articles and videos we preserve help us to bring new supporters up to speed.
So please read Roger Hedgecock's article about Maywood and then review ALIPAC's videos showing ILLEGAL ALIENS TAKING DOWN THE AMERICAN FLAG AND RAISING THE MEXICAN FLAG OVER MAYWOOD A FEW YEARS AGO.
Since much of the American media is being silent about this story, this information is being sent out nationally to ALIPAC's 30,000+ supporters and our national media contact list of tens of thousands of press contacts.
Article Welcome to Maywood, Mexico by Roger Hedgecock http://www.alipac.us/article-5396-thread-1-0.html
Video 1Lou Dobbs Show Covers Maywood, Ca. Flag Incident http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VdSVNVX6Uk&feature=related
Video 2Mexicans and Illegals Take Over Maywood, Ca. Post Office and Raise Mexican Flag (RAW FOOTAGE) Aug. 26, 2006 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r518cKBt8b0
We hope this background information and these shocking videos will help many new ALIPAC supporters better understand the seriousness and importance of our work. The ALIPAC Team www.alipac.us (Please report, post, and circulate this information widely)
The Illegal Alien Destruction of Maywood CA
Some of you may have heard the news stories about Maywood, California. The small town is on the verge of becoming unincorporated and has fired all police and staff. Maywood has fallen to illegal immigration. Is your town next?
National radio show host Roger Hedgecock has written a very important piece about Maywood, Ca. to help our supporters understand how illegal immigration swept Maywood into destruction. In fact, Maywood may just be one of many dominoes falling in California. The evidence is strong that what happened there is coming to your town eventually unless we can stop Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch, NY Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and the CEO's of Hewlett Packard, Boeing, and Disney from passing Comprehensive Amnesty with President Obama.
ALIPAC remains the largest archive of information in existance on these topics, and sometimes articles and videos we preserve help us to bring new supporters up to speed.
So please read Roger Hedgecock's article about Maywood and then review ALIPAC's videos showing ILLEGAL ALIENS TAKING DOWN THE AMERICAN FLAG AND RAISING THE MEXICAN FLAG OVER MAYWOOD A FEW YEARS AGO.
Since much of the American media is being silent about this story, this information is being sent out nationally to ALIPAC's 30,000+ supporters and our national media contact list of tens of thousands of press contacts.
Article Welcome to Maywood, Mexico by Roger Hedgecock http://www.alipac.us/article-5396-thread-1-0.html
Video 1Lou Dobbs Show Covers Maywood, Ca. Flag Incident http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VdSVNVX6Uk&feature=related
Video 2Mexicans and Illegals Take Over Maywood, Ca. Post Office and Raise Mexican Flag (RAW FOOTAGE) Aug. 26, 2006 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r518cKBt8b0
We hope this background information and these shocking videos will help many new ALIPAC supporters better understand the seriousness and importance of our work. The ALIPAC Team www.alipac.us (Please report, post, and circulate this information widely)
The Kagan Hearings
An interesting story from www.hughhewitt.com about the Elena Kagan hearings. This follows this previous post about Elena Kagan's confirmation hearings(filibuster?). For more interesting stories like this click here to follow this blog.
The Kagan Hearings
Posted by: Hugh Hewitt
George Will's suggested questions provide excellent starting points for the actual inquiries posed by GOP senators. (No one should expect any Democrat to pose such interesting inquiries.)
But Will left out the necessary tutorial for the GOP senators themselves --they have to limit their stage time if they are going to make this a valuable exercise. Ask short, specific question. Do not ask open ended questions or multiple questions. Above all, don't use your time orating about your opinions. The public doesn't much care. In fact, the public doesn't care at all.
To Will's questions I would add some about the appropriateness of key documents being withheld by the White House from her time in the Clinton White House:
"Can we really know your record, General Kagan," without reading those documents?"
"Would you rule on a case where crucial parts of the record was both available but being withheld under a claim of privilege you could not consider on its merits because you didn't have the documents to review?"
"Isn't the Senate being asked to 'advise and consent' without the full record before it?"
At this moment there is nothing in the record that even remotely disqualifies General Kagan from confirmation except the stonewalling on her White House documents. Were I a member of the Senate I would not vote to confirm her or even proceed to consideration of her nomination without the full record before me, or at least a process by which ranking Republicans and key staff have a chance to review the documents in question and provide assurance that they do not raise troubling issues of judicial philosophy.
To be clear: The withheld documents would conceal no character issue. The SG has been through the full field process now twice within two years, and there is no doubt that she has passed that test as to personal probity and character.
The question is what do these withheld documents tell us about her legal philosophy and qualification to serve on SCOTUS? Probably nothing, but the Senate should not be obliged to trust the Executive Branch on such a crucial separation of powers issue.
The Kagan Hearings
Posted by: Hugh Hewitt
George Will's suggested questions provide excellent starting points for the actual inquiries posed by GOP senators. (No one should expect any Democrat to pose such interesting inquiries.)
But Will left out the necessary tutorial for the GOP senators themselves --they have to limit their stage time if they are going to make this a valuable exercise. Ask short, specific question. Do not ask open ended questions or multiple questions. Above all, don't use your time orating about your opinions. The public doesn't much care. In fact, the public doesn't care at all.
To Will's questions I would add some about the appropriateness of key documents being withheld by the White House from her time in the Clinton White House:
"Can we really know your record, General Kagan," without reading those documents?"
"Would you rule on a case where crucial parts of the record was both available but being withheld under a claim of privilege you could not consider on its merits because you didn't have the documents to review?"
"Isn't the Senate being asked to 'advise and consent' without the full record before it?"
At this moment there is nothing in the record that even remotely disqualifies General Kagan from confirmation except the stonewalling on her White House documents. Were I a member of the Senate I would not vote to confirm her or even proceed to consideration of her nomination without the full record before me, or at least a process by which ranking Republicans and key staff have a chance to review the documents in question and provide assurance that they do not raise troubling issues of judicial philosophy.
To be clear: The withheld documents would conceal no character issue. The SG has been through the full field process now twice within two years, and there is no doubt that she has passed that test as to personal probity and character.
The question is what do these withheld documents tell us about her legal philosophy and qualification to serve on SCOTUS? Probably nothing, but the Senate should not be obliged to trust the Executive Branch on such a crucial separation of powers issue.
Friday, June 25, 2010
They Are Gone
An interesting article from www.verticalthought.org about fear. This follows this post about America's destiny. For more interesting stories like this click here to follow this blog.
They Are Gone
A commentary by Hannah Baker
They are gone, burnt to the ground.
Only last October I walked the teeming streets of Bangkok, Thailand, with my father, stepping over garbage and around street vendors and holding my breath as we turned certain corners where especially offensive smells lurked. Ironically, we then dined in some of the most beautiful buildings and upscale spots in Bangkok or all of Asia.
However, when my father visited Bangkok in early June 2010 on business, he saw the smoking ruins of those buildings, some of which had been the nicest of their kind. The protesters called the red shirts had torched them.
Fears of the many
What sparked the protesters' indignation? Why, exactly, did this mob wreak havoc in the once-peaceful city streets? There is a one-word answer: fear.
The Thai protesters fear that their government is taking advantage of them. The Thai people fear more violence between the protesters and the police.
Fear lurks nearly everywhere. Filipinos in the southern Philippine islands fear the militant Muslim groups. Many people in developing nations such as India, Zambia, Tanzania and Kenya, fear the ever-present hunger and thirst that threaten to ravage the masses of poor.
European leaders fear that their hard-won European Union will splinter. Americans fear a prolonged recession and the effects of the oil spill in the Gulf.
Fears of the one
What are our individual fears? Whether logical or not, we all have them.
Will there be jobs available when I am out of college? Will the oil spill reach my state or the town I live in? What if I am caught in the next violent outbreak at my school or college? Is it possible that I could be abducted if I traveled to Spain or France as an exchange student? Could it actually rain tomorrow and spoil my water-skiing?
Does fear really do any good, though? Some say that it's impossible to live without it. It's an unavoidable aspect of life, isn't it?
Fears of none
As several million unarmed former slaves were being run down by Egyptian forces, God told the fearful children of Israel through Moses, "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again" (Exodus 14:13, English Standard Version throughout).
Forty years later, while training Joshua how to effectively lead the troublesome Israelites, an elderly Moses instructed, "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you" (Deuteronomy 31:6).
So, God would have us not be afraid. He wants us to entrust all of our problems and worries, large or small, to Him and fear—respect—Him. "The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear [respect, stand in awe of] him, in those who hope in his steadfast love" (Psalm 147:11).
Let your fears be gone
Fear is like a rebel blockade. Fear only hurts us. It doesn't remedy any problems we face. In fact, fear blocks our minds from reasoning clearly and well, making it harder to come up with feasible solutions.
Wouldn't it be wonderful to live without being afraid? Well, it's worth trying! You can start by checking out this great story, "Fear and Faith." VT
About the Author Hannah Baker lives in the mountains of North Carolina and is working on her bachelor's degree in English. She attends the United Church of God in Hickory, North Carolina.
Comments or QuestionsIf you have any comments about this article or vertical-thinking questions we can help you answer please send them to info@verticalthought.org.
They Are Gone
A commentary by Hannah Baker
They are gone, burnt to the ground.
Only last October I walked the teeming streets of Bangkok, Thailand, with my father, stepping over garbage and around street vendors and holding my breath as we turned certain corners where especially offensive smells lurked. Ironically, we then dined in some of the most beautiful buildings and upscale spots in Bangkok or all of Asia.
However, when my father visited Bangkok in early June 2010 on business, he saw the smoking ruins of those buildings, some of which had been the nicest of their kind. The protesters called the red shirts had torched them.
Fears of the many
What sparked the protesters' indignation? Why, exactly, did this mob wreak havoc in the once-peaceful city streets? There is a one-word answer: fear.
The Thai protesters fear that their government is taking advantage of them. The Thai people fear more violence between the protesters and the police.
Fear lurks nearly everywhere. Filipinos in the southern Philippine islands fear the militant Muslim groups. Many people in developing nations such as India, Zambia, Tanzania and Kenya, fear the ever-present hunger and thirst that threaten to ravage the masses of poor.
European leaders fear that their hard-won European Union will splinter. Americans fear a prolonged recession and the effects of the oil spill in the Gulf.
Fears of the one
What are our individual fears? Whether logical or not, we all have them.
Will there be jobs available when I am out of college? Will the oil spill reach my state or the town I live in? What if I am caught in the next violent outbreak at my school or college? Is it possible that I could be abducted if I traveled to Spain or France as an exchange student? Could it actually rain tomorrow and spoil my water-skiing?
Does fear really do any good, though? Some say that it's impossible to live without it. It's an unavoidable aspect of life, isn't it?
Fears of none
As several million unarmed former slaves were being run down by Egyptian forces, God told the fearful children of Israel through Moses, "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again" (Exodus 14:13, English Standard Version throughout).
Forty years later, while training Joshua how to effectively lead the troublesome Israelites, an elderly Moses instructed, "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you" (Deuteronomy 31:6).
So, God would have us not be afraid. He wants us to entrust all of our problems and worries, large or small, to Him and fear—respect—Him. "The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear [respect, stand in awe of] him, in those who hope in his steadfast love" (Psalm 147:11).
Let your fears be gone
Fear is like a rebel blockade. Fear only hurts us. It doesn't remedy any problems we face. In fact, fear blocks our minds from reasoning clearly and well, making it harder to come up with feasible solutions.
Wouldn't it be wonderful to live without being afraid? Well, it's worth trying! You can start by checking out this great story, "Fear and Faith." VT
About the Author Hannah Baker lives in the mountains of North Carolina and is working on her bachelor's degree in English. She attends the United Church of God in Hickory, North Carolina.
Comments or QuestionsIf you have any comments about this article or vertical-thinking questions we can help you answer please send them to info@verticalthought.org.
Oliver Stone Defends Hugo Chavez, Trashes America as ‘Empire’
A very interesting post from http://bighollywood.breitbart.com about Oliver Stone and Venezuela.This follows this post about the Senators' support of Israel. This follows this post about Genocide in South Africa and this article about the recent news about offshore drilling to encourage American energy independence This is a key issue to prevent money from going to hostile countries such as Iran and Venezuela. For more posts like this click here.
Oliver Stone Defends Hugo Chavez, Trashes America as ‘Empire’
by Big Hollywood
—–
I thought Obama put an end to all this ugly America’s empiring? Or is Oliver Stone the last remaining critic of this country yet to receive a Presidential bow?
Anyway, here’s a glimpse of Oliver Stone’s pal:
Venezuela has asked Interpol to arrest the owner of the only TV station still openly critical of leftist President Hugo Chavez, the government announced Friday. ….
Zuloaga was previously detained in March, when he was accused of criticizing the government during a public forum outside the country.
International human rights groups have criticized the legal action against Zuloaga and other Chavez critics, calling such actions an attempt to silence them.
And here’s a glimpse of how much affection Chavez’s own people hold for him:
Despite a PR and marketing blitz that had Oliver Stone on a whirlwind tour of Latin America, his latest documentary “South of the Border” has sunk like a rock at the Venezuelan box office.
Local observers in Venezuela have reported empty cinemas, indicating a stunning indifference to Stone’s pic, a documentary about South American leaders that devotes a hefty amount of screen time to the country’s President Hugo Chavez. In the 12 days after its June 4 debut, it grossed only $18,601 on 20 screens, according to Global Rentrak. Showings on mobile screens in rural areas (where Chavez has more popular support) have attracted crowds, but these screenings are free.
“South of the Border” opens in New York this weekend and is scheduled to set the box office on fire elsewhere around the Empire starting in July.
Oliver Stone Defends Hugo Chavez, Trashes America as ‘Empire’
by Big Hollywood
—–
I thought Obama put an end to all this ugly America’s empiring? Or is Oliver Stone the last remaining critic of this country yet to receive a Presidential bow?
Anyway, here’s a glimpse of Oliver Stone’s pal:
Venezuela has asked Interpol to arrest the owner of the only TV station still openly critical of leftist President Hugo Chavez, the government announced Friday. ….
Zuloaga was previously detained in March, when he was accused of criticizing the government during a public forum outside the country.
International human rights groups have criticized the legal action against Zuloaga and other Chavez critics, calling such actions an attempt to silence them.
And here’s a glimpse of how much affection Chavez’s own people hold for him:
Despite a PR and marketing blitz that had Oliver Stone on a whirlwind tour of Latin America, his latest documentary “South of the Border” has sunk like a rock at the Venezuelan box office.
Local observers in Venezuela have reported empty cinemas, indicating a stunning indifference to Stone’s pic, a documentary about South American leaders that devotes a hefty amount of screen time to the country’s President Hugo Chavez. In the 12 days after its June 4 debut, it grossed only $18,601 on 20 screens, according to Global Rentrak. Showings on mobile screens in rural areas (where Chavez has more popular support) have attracted crowds, but these screenings are free.
“South of the Border” opens in New York this weekend and is scheduled to set the box office on fire elsewhere around the Empire starting in July.
Fox News Owner Rupert Murdoch Pushes for Amnesty for Illegal Aliens
An interesting post from www.Alipac.us about Fox news. (Say it ain't so, but it is). This follows this post about an Executive Order Amnesty and this post about the MURDER of ROBERT KRENTZ, who the protestors and boycotters won't give a solution for, but will call Americans racist for trying to prevent another MURDER, and this post which shows that there are 30,000 openly illegal immigrants in the border town of El Paso across from the recent Juarez shooting. For more interesting stories like this click here to follow this blog.
Fox News Owner Rupert Murdoch Pushes for Amnesty for Illegal Aliens Contact Fox here
Topic: Americans for Legal Immigration PAC
by William Gheen President of Americans for Legal Immigration PAC ALIPAC www.alipac.us
A big question has been answered for those of us wondering why very few of the leaders of organizations fighting against illegal immigration are on Fox News anymore. The last time I was on FOX was on Sunday morning at 8am. Before that, a little over a year ago I criticized John McCain's support for Amnesty and pointed out that the man countering my statements in support of immigration enforcement, Francisco Hernandez, was the brother of the open borders amnesty zealot Juan Hernandez who was serving as McCain's Hispanic Outreach Coordinator on McCain's Presidential campaign. I was only invited back once after that and the weekend staff that invited me probably got grilled out for having me on.
William Gheen Vs. Francisco Hernandez (Last prime-time appearance on Fox) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kz-nVW3Zitk
Nope, you will rarely if ever see me, Roy Beck of NumbersUSA, Dan Stein of FAIR, or any of the significant immigration enforcement and border security groups on Fox anymore. You do see Carl Rove, Mike Huckabee, and US Senators Lindsey Graham and John McCain on Fox all the time and each of them supports Comprehensive Immigration Reform Amnesty for illegal immigrants that would turn illegal aliens into voters and thus destroy any peaceful political hope for future border or immigration enforcement in America. So why have the Amnesty sellouts been given free reign at FOX NEWS with almost no significant representation for the organization leaders and elected officials that represent the 80% of Americans who want immigration and border enforcement instead of Amnesty?
It appears we have our answer as the Associated Press is reporting today (June 24, 2010) in their article titled 'NYC mayor, major CEOs lobby for immigration reform' that FOX NEWS and News Corp owner Rupert Murdoch has appeared with the billionaire liberal mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, to ask lawmakers in Washington to pass Amnesty. Article NYC mayor, major CEOs (Fox News) lobby for immigration reform Amnesty http://www.alipac.us/article5390.html
The article reports Murdoch saying "We're just going to keep the pressure on the congressmen/ I think we can show to the public the benefits of having migrants and the jobs that go with them." Bloomberg added, "Somebody has to lead and explain to the country why this is in our interest." Well, at least we now have a fairly clear explanation to help us understand how turncoat Lou Dobbs was able to betray us all by supporting Amnesty for illegal aliens after wrongfully convincing us he stood with Americans against such things and then walk into Bill Oreilly's 'No Spin Zone' without being questioned about his conversion. In fact, Oreilly and Dobbs both sat there and agreed that Comprehensive Immigration Reform Amnesty was going to have to be done. I guess we won't get to see Glenn Beck crying in front of a blackboard about America's future inability to stop illegal immigration or corporations from treating this whole nation like a private playground. Of course this is the 'Secure The Borders First' crowd which is a clear giveaway code for those that are pretending to be Conservatives or Republicans while serving the financial interests that are responsible for this plan to flood America with illegal aliens. It translates into 'Secure The Borders long enough to pacify Americans enough to get them to swallow Comprehensive Amnesty' After America drinks that poison, there will be no future need to appease Americans because a new block of over 15 million illegal aliens turned into voters will be in position.
So we get Bill Oreilly and Lou Dobbs telling us that we must legalize millions of illegal aliens in America, architects of the plan that opened our borders wide open during the Bush administration like Carl Rove, and agents of the Globalists pushing this continental economic union plan like Francisco Hernandez and Mike Huckabee but no opposition from our camp allowed on FOX.
Fox News now joins MSNBC, CNN, CBS, and ABC in their censorship and bias pushing for Amnesty for illegal aliens. The American public is now completely cut off from any national media avenues to represent their interests over the billionaires on the left and the right pushing to destroy our borders and sovereignty. These Amnesty pushing traitors like Michael Bloomberg and Rupert Murdoch are not alone in their push for Congress to turn millions of illegals into voters. They were joined this past week by Walt Disney Co. Chairman and CEO Robert Iger. Bloomberg, Murdoch, and Iger plan to form some kind of group or organization to see out their plan of securing the borders, creating stronger work ID's, and legalizing millions of illegal aliens in America. So there you have it folks, we have robber baron tycoons on a political rampage to use their power and wealth to overthrow the existing immigration laws of the US and thus overthrow the American Republic! Unless we Americans rise up to stop them, they will have us all living like the slaves, serfs, and peasants found in Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and China soon while they continue to dine in elite comfort. Rupert Murdoch's sympathies are obviously not with the 25 million unemployed and underemployed Americans, nor the grieving families of the thousands of Americans killed by illegals each year. We are asking ALIPAC activists to seek out the names and industries involved so the American public can be warned about who is working hard to destroy America by passing a form of Comprehensive Amnesty for millions of illegal aliens instead of enforcing our existing immigration laws which would send the illegals home slowly and humanely over a period of many years. So much for Fox News being "Fair and Balanced", their coverage has been focused on border security problems and not on comprehensive immigration enforcement and now the owner is out pushing Congress to pass Amnesty.
Everyone reading this needs to get on the phones to Congress immediately to ask "please rebuke Michael Bloomberg and Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch for using their big business influence to ask you to pass Comprehensive Amnesty for illegal aliens. Please stand with the American public against these billionaire traitors."
All Americans must be warned that all major networks are under the control of the Amnesty supporting Globalists and our citizens must turn to talk radio and the Internet for their news and we must all start talking to each other more for the revolution to proceed.
And when the revolution is complete and America is back in the hands of the American public, let us all remember the names of the traitors like Murdoch, Bloomberg, and Iger along side the names of the Democrat amnesty pushers like Reid, Pelosi, Kennedy, Obama, and Napolitano. Americans need to realize that we will not find the real leaders we need, that are loyal to the American public, on our televisions. ----
William Gheen is President of Americans for Legal Immigration PAC (ALIPAC), which is the nation's third larges immigration enforcement organization. Gheen was previously a frequent guest on CNN and FOX News prior to Lou Dobbs's shocking support for Amnesty for illegal aliens. His experience as a prior campaign consultant, legislative assistant, lobbyist, and Senate Sgt At Arms staff member in NC, has helped him to build one of the largest Internet communications network fighting against illegal immigration and Amnesty. Mr. Gheen is a frequent guest on talk radio shows across America. For more information about Mr. Gheen or ALIPAC please visit alipac.us or williamgheen.com
DISCUSS THIS ARTICLE RELEASE WITH OUR ONLINE ACTIVISTS AT...http://www.alipac.us/ftopicp-1080325.html#1080325
Fox News Owner Rupert Murdoch Pushes for Amnesty for Illegal Aliens Contact Fox here
Topic: Americans for Legal Immigration PAC
by William Gheen President of Americans for Legal Immigration PAC ALIPAC www.alipac.us
A big question has been answered for those of us wondering why very few of the leaders of organizations fighting against illegal immigration are on Fox News anymore. The last time I was on FOX was on Sunday morning at 8am. Before that, a little over a year ago I criticized John McCain's support for Amnesty and pointed out that the man countering my statements in support of immigration enforcement, Francisco Hernandez, was the brother of the open borders amnesty zealot Juan Hernandez who was serving as McCain's Hispanic Outreach Coordinator on McCain's Presidential campaign. I was only invited back once after that and the weekend staff that invited me probably got grilled out for having me on.
William Gheen Vs. Francisco Hernandez (Last prime-time appearance on Fox) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kz-nVW3Zitk
Nope, you will rarely if ever see me, Roy Beck of NumbersUSA, Dan Stein of FAIR, or any of the significant immigration enforcement and border security groups on Fox anymore. You do see Carl Rove, Mike Huckabee, and US Senators Lindsey Graham and John McCain on Fox all the time and each of them supports Comprehensive Immigration Reform Amnesty for illegal immigrants that would turn illegal aliens into voters and thus destroy any peaceful political hope for future border or immigration enforcement in America. So why have the Amnesty sellouts been given free reign at FOX NEWS with almost no significant representation for the organization leaders and elected officials that represent the 80% of Americans who want immigration and border enforcement instead of Amnesty?
It appears we have our answer as the Associated Press is reporting today (June 24, 2010) in their article titled 'NYC mayor, major CEOs lobby for immigration reform' that FOX NEWS and News Corp owner Rupert Murdoch has appeared with the billionaire liberal mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, to ask lawmakers in Washington to pass Amnesty. Article NYC mayor, major CEOs (Fox News) lobby for immigration reform Amnesty http://www.alipac.us/article5390.html
The article reports Murdoch saying "We're just going to keep the pressure on the congressmen/ I think we can show to the public the benefits of having migrants and the jobs that go with them." Bloomberg added, "Somebody has to lead and explain to the country why this is in our interest." Well, at least we now have a fairly clear explanation to help us understand how turncoat Lou Dobbs was able to betray us all by supporting Amnesty for illegal aliens after wrongfully convincing us he stood with Americans against such things and then walk into Bill Oreilly's 'No Spin Zone' without being questioned about his conversion. In fact, Oreilly and Dobbs both sat there and agreed that Comprehensive Immigration Reform Amnesty was going to have to be done. I guess we won't get to see Glenn Beck crying in front of a blackboard about America's future inability to stop illegal immigration or corporations from treating this whole nation like a private playground. Of course this is the 'Secure The Borders First' crowd which is a clear giveaway code for those that are pretending to be Conservatives or Republicans while serving the financial interests that are responsible for this plan to flood America with illegal aliens. It translates into 'Secure The Borders long enough to pacify Americans enough to get them to swallow Comprehensive Amnesty' After America drinks that poison, there will be no future need to appease Americans because a new block of over 15 million illegal aliens turned into voters will be in position.
So we get Bill Oreilly and Lou Dobbs telling us that we must legalize millions of illegal aliens in America, architects of the plan that opened our borders wide open during the Bush administration like Carl Rove, and agents of the Globalists pushing this continental economic union plan like Francisco Hernandez and Mike Huckabee but no opposition from our camp allowed on FOX.
Fox News now joins MSNBC, CNN, CBS, and ABC in their censorship and bias pushing for Amnesty for illegal aliens. The American public is now completely cut off from any national media avenues to represent their interests over the billionaires on the left and the right pushing to destroy our borders and sovereignty. These Amnesty pushing traitors like Michael Bloomberg and Rupert Murdoch are not alone in their push for Congress to turn millions of illegals into voters. They were joined this past week by Walt Disney Co. Chairman and CEO Robert Iger. Bloomberg, Murdoch, and Iger plan to form some kind of group or organization to see out their plan of securing the borders, creating stronger work ID's, and legalizing millions of illegal aliens in America. So there you have it folks, we have robber baron tycoons on a political rampage to use their power and wealth to overthrow the existing immigration laws of the US and thus overthrow the American Republic! Unless we Americans rise up to stop them, they will have us all living like the slaves, serfs, and peasants found in Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and China soon while they continue to dine in elite comfort. Rupert Murdoch's sympathies are obviously not with the 25 million unemployed and underemployed Americans, nor the grieving families of the thousands of Americans killed by illegals each year. We are asking ALIPAC activists to seek out the names and industries involved so the American public can be warned about who is working hard to destroy America by passing a form of Comprehensive Amnesty for millions of illegal aliens instead of enforcing our existing immigration laws which would send the illegals home slowly and humanely over a period of many years. So much for Fox News being "Fair and Balanced", their coverage has been focused on border security problems and not on comprehensive immigration enforcement and now the owner is out pushing Congress to pass Amnesty.
Everyone reading this needs to get on the phones to Congress immediately to ask "please rebuke Michael Bloomberg and Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch for using their big business influence to ask you to pass Comprehensive Amnesty for illegal aliens. Please stand with the American public against these billionaire traitors."
All Americans must be warned that all major networks are under the control of the Amnesty supporting Globalists and our citizens must turn to talk radio and the Internet for their news and we must all start talking to each other more for the revolution to proceed.
And when the revolution is complete and America is back in the hands of the American public, let us all remember the names of the traitors like Murdoch, Bloomberg, and Iger along side the names of the Democrat amnesty pushers like Reid, Pelosi, Kennedy, Obama, and Napolitano. Americans need to realize that we will not find the real leaders we need, that are loyal to the American public, on our televisions. ----
William Gheen is President of Americans for Legal Immigration PAC (ALIPAC), which is the nation's third larges immigration enforcement organization. Gheen was previously a frequent guest on CNN and FOX News prior to Lou Dobbs's shocking support for Amnesty for illegal aliens. His experience as a prior campaign consultant, legislative assistant, lobbyist, and Senate Sgt At Arms staff member in NC, has helped him to build one of the largest Internet communications network fighting against illegal immigration and Amnesty. Mr. Gheen is a frequent guest on talk radio shows across America. For more information about Mr. Gheen or ALIPAC please visit alipac.us or williamgheen.com
DISCUSS THIS ARTICLE RELEASE WITH OUR ONLINE ACTIVISTS AT...http://www.alipac.us/ftopicp-1080325.html#1080325
$20 to give NOW
With the June primaries behind us, the general election is next on the horizon. In order to get this done, begin to commit $5 a month to each of the following to repeal OBAMACARE, but also for immigration, abortion, and foreign policy.For more interesting stories like this click here to follow this blog.
First the RNC to have a general coordiation of the total efforts of the Republican party.
Next, the NRCC to make sure that the HOUSE goes Republican by picking up the necessary seats.
After this, the NRSC to help in the close race to make the SENATE go Republican. This is a tight, but winnable race.
Finally, in one key primary left, give to J.D. Hayworth to put a true conservative in this key seat.
First the RNC to have a general coordiation of the total efforts of the Republican party.
Next, the NRCC to make sure that the HOUSE goes Republican by picking up the necessary seats.
After this, the NRSC to help in the close race to make the SENATE go Republican. This is a tight, but winnable race.
Finally, in one key primary left, give to J.D. Hayworth to put a true conservative in this key seat.
Top Senate Republican Leaves Door Open to Potential Elena Kagan Filibuster
An interesting story from www.lifenews.com about Elena Kagan's confirmation hearings. This follows this post about homosexuals in the Boy Scouts. For more interesting stories like this click here to follow this blog.
Top Senate Republican Leaves Door Open to Potential Elena Kagan FilibusterWashington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The leading Republican in the Senate left the door open for a potential filibuster of pro-abortion Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan. In a weekend interview with "Fox News Sunday" Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said the initial information on Kagan has been "quite troubling."
In April, McConnell, a pro-life senator from Kentucky, said a filibuster of the then-unknown nominee would be "highly unlikely, however, unless the nominee is an extraordinary individual outside the mainstream with really bizarre views."
Kagan's views must be outside the mainstream enough to him and other Republicans because he admitted there is a possibility they could mount a filibuster.
"I think some of her views are quite troubling, at least to me, in the area of political speech and the First Amendment," he said. "She has basically argued before the Supreme Court that the government could ban pamphlets. I find that very troubling."
However, McConnell stressed that it is premature to say what the strategy on the Senate floor will be since committee hearings have yet to start on President Barack Obama's second pro-abortion selection for the nation's highest and most influential court.
"We know that the president has filibustered Supreme Court nominees. We know the vice president has filibustered Supreme Court nominees. We know Senator Reid has and we know Judiciary Committee Chairman Leahy has," he said, in mounting a potential filibuster defense.
"I have never filibustered a Supreme Court nominee. But it is possible, but entirely too early to know whether that would be appropriate," McConnell said, adding it is "entirely premature" to ascertain what Republicans will do. Full story at LifeNews.com
Top Senate Republican Leaves Door Open to Potential Elena Kagan FilibusterWashington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The leading Republican in the Senate left the door open for a potential filibuster of pro-abortion Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan. In a weekend interview with "Fox News Sunday" Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said the initial information on Kagan has been "quite troubling."
In April, McConnell, a pro-life senator from Kentucky, said a filibuster of the then-unknown nominee would be "highly unlikely, however, unless the nominee is an extraordinary individual outside the mainstream with really bizarre views."
Kagan's views must be outside the mainstream enough to him and other Republicans because he admitted there is a possibility they could mount a filibuster.
"I think some of her views are quite troubling, at least to me, in the area of political speech and the First Amendment," he said. "She has basically argued before the Supreme Court that the government could ban pamphlets. I find that very troubling."
However, McConnell stressed that it is premature to say what the strategy on the Senate floor will be since committee hearings have yet to start on President Barack Obama's second pro-abortion selection for the nation's highest and most influential court.
"We know that the president has filibustered Supreme Court nominees. We know the vice president has filibustered Supreme Court nominees. We know Senator Reid has and we know Judiciary Committee Chairman Leahy has," he said, in mounting a potential filibuster defense.
"I have never filibustered a Supreme Court nominee. But it is possible, but entirely too early to know whether that would be appropriate," McConnell said, adding it is "entirely premature" to ascertain what Republicans will do. Full story at LifeNews.com
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Time to phone on sneak amnesty plot
An interesting post from www.NumbersUSA.com about an Executive Order Amnesty! This follows this post about even More immigrants coming to America, this time from Iraq and this post about the MURDER of ROBERT KRENTZ, who the protestors and boycotters won't give a solution for, but will call Americans racist for trying to prevent another MURDER, and this post which shows that there are 30,000 openly illegal immigrants in the border town of El Paso across from the recent Juarez shooting. For more interesting stories like this click here to follow this blog.
WE NEED YOUR PHONE HELP NOW TO STOP DE FACTO AMNESTY THAT BY-PASSES CONGRESS
Thanks to all of you who have sent more than 200,000 faxes into Congress and the White House about this threat since Tuesday! If you haven't sent all of your faxes yet, please go to your customized Action Board now.
TAKE ACTION: Congressional offices and the White House need to start having their phones ring off the hooks. Click here for your PHONE ACTION NOTE that includes the phone numbers and names of your 3 Members of Congress -- and it has your easy talking points. If you have never phoned before, take it from thousands who have gone before you and made their first NumbersUSA call that it really is pretty easy and non-threatening. Look at the talking points and then call. You should get off the phone quickly. You just want the staffers to mark you down as another citizen concerned about a de facto amnesty given by the Administration without a congressional vote.
UPDATE & BACKGROUND Be sure to read the Fox News story that has a lot of quotes from Rosemary Jenks, Director of Government Relations for NumbersUSA. And don't wait for emails from me to stay up to date on this developing story. Please come back to the NumbersUSA home page each day for our latest information on the battle to stop a backdoor bureaucratic de facto amnesty. In my alert that broke the news of the de facto amnesty plot on Tuesday, I erred in implying that this amnesty might happen by an executive order by the President. This amnesty could go in place just by federal bureaucrats taking an action that the President just lets happen. He would merely have to give his quiet consent to DHS Sec. Napolitano massively abusing one or both of two powers she already has:
1) parole authority
2) prosecutorial discretion to grant "deferred action".
These are intended to be used in individual cases, not as a blanket amnesty to cover millions. But we have received information from both Democratic and Republican offices that they have been told from people inside the Department of Homeland Security that "parole" and "deferred action" are being looked at as a way to get around the fact that Congress is not going to vote for an amnesty this year. Below is what our staff tells me:
Parole The Immigration and Nationality Act (section Section 212(d)(5)) says that the Secretary may "in his discretion parole into the United States temporarily under such conditions as he may prescribe only on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit any alien applying for admission to the United States, but such parole of such alien shall not be regarded as an admission of the alien and when the purposes of such parole shall, in the opinion of the [Secretary>, have been served the alien shall forthwith return or be returned to the custody from wh ich he was paroled and thereafter his case shall continue to be dealt with in the same manner as that of any other applicant for admission to the United States." Those granted parole--parolees--are entitled to work authorization by regulation (8 CFR 274a.12(c)(11)). Deferred Action This is a phrase that was made up as part of the Homeland Security Secretary's prosecutorial discretion (a standard law enforcement tool, so not laid out in law). It is described as follows by USCIS: "Deferred action is an exercise of prosecutorial discretion not to pursue removal from the United States of a particular foreigner for a specific period. "Deferred action is not intended to be a permanent remedy for this situation; rather it is a temporary discretionary solution. The grant of deferred action by USCIS does not confer or alter any immigration status. It does not affect any period of prior unlawful presence. The grant of deferred action does not convey or imply any waivers of inadmissibility that may exist, regardless of whether or not that inadmissibility is known to DHS at the time of the request for deferred action. "Likewise, deferred action cannot be used to establish eligibility for any immigration benefit that requires maintenance of lawful status. Periods of time in deferred action do, however, qualify as periods of stay authorized by the Secretary for purposes of sections 212(a)(9)(B) and (C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act [INA>. Aliens with deferred action may apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) if they can establish an economic necessity for employment. "Aliens granted deferred action are permitted to apply for work authorization by regulation, as well (8 CFR 274a.12(c)(14))." Bottom Line We should be petitioning both Obama and Napolitano to abandon any plans to usurp Congress' Constitutional authority over immigration by abusing the Secretary's restricted parole and prosecutorial discretion authority to accomplish an amnesty for illegal aliens. As the President and the Democratic Leadership of Congress well know, they do not have sufficient votes in Congress to pass an amnesty because there is overwhelming opposition to amnesty among the American people--the voters. Rather than abusing their authority to bypass Congressional (and public) opposition, the President and Secretary Napolitano should be doing the jobs they swore to do when they took office: faithfully execute the laws that have been duly passed by Congress. Even though Parole or Deferred Action don't give permanent residency and permanent work permits, they create temporary situations that can mimic a full amnesty and make it much more unlikely that the government will ever expect these illegal aliens to leave in the future. And even though there may be strong opportunity to overturn in federal court the massive use of Parole and Deferred Action, millions of illegal aliens very well might have free run of the country for the years it could take to get the court decision. Much better to persuade Members of Congress now to tell the White House it doesn't want to see any of this come to pass.
THANKS FOR MAKING THE PHONE CALLS,
This may be a good time for you to make sure that you've let us know all of the areas you are interested in. In order to further customize the type of alerts you receive click here http://www.numbersusa.com/survey?action=longlist
As a NumbersUSA subscriber, you will receive occasional emails about immigration-related opportunities. If you want to increase or reduce the frequency of these emails, click here and choose from Total Activism, Moderate Activism, or Limited Activism at the bottom of your registration form: http://www.numbersusa.com/user
WE NEED YOUR PHONE HELP NOW TO STOP DE FACTO AMNESTY THAT BY-PASSES CONGRESS
Thanks to all of you who have sent more than 200,000 faxes into Congress and the White House about this threat since Tuesday! If you haven't sent all of your faxes yet, please go to your customized Action Board now.
TAKE ACTION: Congressional offices and the White House need to start having their phones ring off the hooks. Click here for your PHONE ACTION NOTE that includes the phone numbers and names of your 3 Members of Congress -- and it has your easy talking points. If you have never phoned before, take it from thousands who have gone before you and made their first NumbersUSA call that it really is pretty easy and non-threatening. Look at the talking points and then call. You should get off the phone quickly. You just want the staffers to mark you down as another citizen concerned about a de facto amnesty given by the Administration without a congressional vote.
UPDATE & BACKGROUND Be sure to read the Fox News story that has a lot of quotes from Rosemary Jenks, Director of Government Relations for NumbersUSA. And don't wait for emails from me to stay up to date on this developing story. Please come back to the NumbersUSA home page each day for our latest information on the battle to stop a backdoor bureaucratic de facto amnesty. In my alert that broke the news of the de facto amnesty plot on Tuesday, I erred in implying that this amnesty might happen by an executive order by the President. This amnesty could go in place just by federal bureaucrats taking an action that the President just lets happen. He would merely have to give his quiet consent to DHS Sec. Napolitano massively abusing one or both of two powers she already has:
1) parole authority
2) prosecutorial discretion to grant "deferred action".
These are intended to be used in individual cases, not as a blanket amnesty to cover millions. But we have received information from both Democratic and Republican offices that they have been told from people inside the Department of Homeland Security that "parole" and "deferred action" are being looked at as a way to get around the fact that Congress is not going to vote for an amnesty this year. Below is what our staff tells me:
Parole The Immigration and Nationality Act (section Section 212(d)(5)) says that the Secretary may "in his discretion parole into the United States temporarily under such conditions as he may prescribe only on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit any alien applying for admission to the United States, but such parole of such alien shall not be regarded as an admission of the alien and when the purposes of such parole shall, in the opinion of the [Secretary>, have been served the alien shall forthwith return or be returned to the custody from wh ich he was paroled and thereafter his case shall continue to be dealt with in the same manner as that of any other applicant for admission to the United States." Those granted parole--parolees--are entitled to work authorization by regulation (8 CFR 274a.12(c)(11)). Deferred Action This is a phrase that was made up as part of the Homeland Security Secretary's prosecutorial discretion (a standard law enforcement tool, so not laid out in law). It is described as follows by USCIS: "Deferred action is an exercise of prosecutorial discretion not to pursue removal from the United States of a particular foreigner for a specific period. "Deferred action is not intended to be a permanent remedy for this situation; rather it is a temporary discretionary solution. The grant of deferred action by USCIS does not confer or alter any immigration status. It does not affect any period of prior unlawful presence. The grant of deferred action does not convey or imply any waivers of inadmissibility that may exist, regardless of whether or not that inadmissibility is known to DHS at the time of the request for deferred action. "Likewise, deferred action cannot be used to establish eligibility for any immigration benefit that requires maintenance of lawful status. Periods of time in deferred action do, however, qualify as periods of stay authorized by the Secretary for purposes of sections 212(a)(9)(B) and (C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act [INA>. Aliens with deferred action may apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) if they can establish an economic necessity for employment. "Aliens granted deferred action are permitted to apply for work authorization by regulation, as well (8 CFR 274a.12(c)(14))." Bottom Line We should be petitioning both Obama and Napolitano to abandon any plans to usurp Congress' Constitutional authority over immigration by abusing the Secretary's restricted parole and prosecutorial discretion authority to accomplish an amnesty for illegal aliens. As the President and the Democratic Leadership of Congress well know, they do not have sufficient votes in Congress to pass an amnesty because there is overwhelming opposition to amnesty among the American people--the voters. Rather than abusing their authority to bypass Congressional (and public) opposition, the President and Secretary Napolitano should be doing the jobs they swore to do when they took office: faithfully execute the laws that have been duly passed by Congress. Even though Parole or Deferred Action don't give permanent residency and permanent work permits, they create temporary situations that can mimic a full amnesty and make it much more unlikely that the government will ever expect these illegal aliens to leave in the future. And even though there may be strong opportunity to overturn in federal court the massive use of Parole and Deferred Action, millions of illegal aliens very well might have free run of the country for the years it could take to get the court decision. Much better to persuade Members of Congress now to tell the White House it doesn't want to see any of this come to pass.
THANKS FOR MAKING THE PHONE CALLS,
This may be a good time for you to make sure that you've let us know all of the areas you are interested in. In order to further customize the type of alerts you receive click here http://www.numbersusa.com/survey?action=longlist
As a NumbersUSA subscriber, you will receive occasional emails about immigration-related opportunities. If you want to increase or reduce the frequency of these emails, click here and choose from Total Activism, Moderate Activism, or Limited Activism at the bottom of your registration form: http://www.numbersusa.com/user
America: From Punishment to Destiny
An interesting article from www.ucg.org about America's destinyThis follows this post about the Law of God For more interesting stories like this click here to follow this blog.
America: From Punishment to Destiny
"How awful that day will be! None will be like it. It will be a time of trouble for Jacob, but he will be saved out of it” (Jeremiah 30:7, NIV).
Though the United States and Britain do not appear in the Bible's prophecies of the end time under their present names, God hasn't ignored these nations. He identifies them in prophecy according to their ancestry. Most people simply haven't known where to look for them.
Throughout the long history of the lost 10 tribes of Israel, God has always known who and where they were. Just as He promised to their ancient forefathers, He has given the modern descendants of Joseph—primarily Britain and the United States—the family birthright and many of the earth's choicest blessings. These nations have received a singular opportunity to provide leadership in the world at large. But what does the Bible say about their future? The answer is sobering.
Many Bible prophecies portray a repentant Israel at the return of Christ. Its descendants will turn to God and begin obeying His laws—but only after they have gone through crises worse in many ways than the catastrophes that befell the ancient kingdoms of Israel and Judah.
The descendants of Israel who repent and turn to God—described in prophecies as only a "remnant" of their previous population (Isaiah 11:11, 16; Jeremiah 23:3; Ezekiel 6:8)—will suffer enormously during the biblically prophesied time of "great tribulation" (Matthew 24:21).
Only when they are humbled to the point of repenting of their sins will they be able to fulfill their God-ordained destiny of serving as a blessing to the nations. This wonderful future, however, will be preceded by the severest of trials. As Moses delivered the ancient Israelites from Egyptian slavery, Jesus Christ is coming to deliver modern Britain and America and the other Israelite-descended nations from an end-of-the-age subjugation by a modern religious and political system called "Babylon the great" (Revelation 17), centered in Europe.
This latter-day deliverance entails the fulfillment of some of the most astounding prophecies of the Bible: "'Therefore behold, the days are coming,' says the LORD, 'that it shall no more be said, "The LORD lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt," but, "The LORD lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north and from all the lands where He had driven them." For I will bring them back into their land which I gave to their fathers'" (Jeremiah 16:14-15).
But why will these calamities come on the United States and Britain?
God's expectations of Israel
In fulfillment of His promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, God established Israel as a nation for the purpose of bringing blessings to other nations (Deuteronomy 9:5; Genesis 12:3). From their earliest days God expected the Israelites to be an example to the other nations around them of the divine blessings that would be poured out on all who worship and obey Him (Deuteronomy 4:6; 14:2).
If the Israelites would fulfill their part of their covenant agreement with God, God said He would make Israel the premier nation of the world (Deuteronomy 26:19; 28:1, 12-13). But if the Israelites disobeyed they would suffer the consequences (Deuteronomy 28:15-68). God told them other nations would take them captive (verses 25, 32-33, 36). Even their punishment was to be a lesson to other nations: "You shall become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword among all nations where the LORD will drive you" (verse 37).
The Israelites were supposed to be a model to other nations of the blessings of obedience and the penalties of disobedience to God's instruction. Regardless of the choices they have made, both anciently and today, this is still the role God has given them. And He holds them responsible for the way they respond to that role.
Nearly 3,500 years ago God told Israel: "Take heed to yourselves, lest you forget the covenant of the LORD your God which He made with you, and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of anything which the LORD your God has forbidden you. For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
"When you beget children and grandchildren and have grown old in the land, act corruptly and make a carved image in the form of anything, and do evil in the sight of the LORD your God to provoke Him to anger, I call heaven and earth to witness against you...And the LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the LORD will drive you" (Deuteronomy 4:23-27).
Israel's descendants fail in their responsibilities
With the restoration of Joseph's birthright promises to his descendants, Britain and the United States, the people of these nations have enjoyed unprecedented prosperity. Once again, like their forefathers, they have had the opportunity to be a "holy" people, an example of righteousness to other nations.
Britain had the opportunity to spread ethical, godly civilization to much of the world. At the height of their empire, the British people took the Bible into far-flung corners of the earth. Yet today religion is routinely ridiculed in Britain's national news and entertainment media, and Christianity is foundering. Many church buildings have been shuttered and locked because people no longer attend. A large majority of the British people shows little or no interest in the teachings of the Bible.
Similarly, the United States was founded through leaders who for the most part held great respect for the Bible. Although officially favoring no single religion, the country soon became recognized as the leading Christian nation in the world. But in recent times a large portion of the nation has likewise ignored the teachings of the Bible. Paradoxically, the United States is one of the most prosperous nations of the world and one of the most immoral. It has one of the worst rates of crime and violence of all nations.
As in ancient Israel (Jeremiah 5:7-9), immorality runs rampant in the United States and the nations that once formed the British Empire. The number of broken homes and fatherless households has continued to skyrocket even as national prosperity has increased. Illegitimacy, the abortions of millions of innocent babies and epidemics of sexually transmitted diseases are the hallmarks of a sleazy, if-it-feels-good-do-it morality.
Millions seek escape in alcohol and illegal drugs. Crude and violent entertainment dominates the airwaves. Filth passes for culture. Millions of people live in fear of becoming victims of crime or random violence. Many cities are cesspools of crime, gang violence, poverty, illiteracy and illegitimacy. Greed and materialism have become the national religion in countries that have long prided themselves on being "Christian" nations. As a result of these and other sins, many now view the United States and Britain, once respected throughout much of the world, with ill-disguised contempt.
Among the most serious sins of the ancient house of Israel were idolatry and Sabbath breaking, by which Israel abandoned any regular pattern of hearing and learning more about God's Word.
Notice what God said through the prophet Ezekiel after Israel fell into captivity: "Moreover I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them. Yet the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness; they did not walk in My statutes; they despised My judgments, which, if a man does, he shall live by them; and they greatly defiled My Sabbaths...They despised My judgments and did not walk in My statutes, but profaned My Sabbaths; for their heart went after their idols" (Ezekiel 20:12-13, 16).
As a result they began to believe that one religious belief or practice was no better than another—that they could change the rules of life as they pleased. Because of these beliefs and their sins, God allowed them to go into captivity.
The same is true today. Although many people observe religious holidays, these holidays generally have nothing to do with the worship of the true God but are rooted in ancient idolatry. In many ways the sins of people today are identical to those of ancient Israel. (To better understand the true origins of many of today's most popular holidays, be sure to request your free copy of the booklet Holidays or Holy Days: Does It Matter Which Days We Keep?)
The words of the prophet Hosea are a chillingly accurate description of the United States and Britain: "Hear the word of the LORD, you children of Israel, for the LORD brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: 'There is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land. By swearing and lying, killing and stealing and committing adultery, they break all restraint, with bloodshed upon bloodshed. Therefore the land will mourn...
"'My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge...The more they increased, the more they sinned against Me...They set their heart on their iniquity...So I will punish them for their ways, and reward them for their deeds'" (Hosea 4:1-3, 6-9). Just as God punished ancient Israel for its sins, He plans to punish its modern descendants for their persistent disobedience.
God remains the same
God does not change (Malachi 3:6). He responds consistently and impartially to human behavior. He blesses for obedience and punishes for disobedience. The modern descendants of Israel should not ignore His timeless warnings.
At the beginning of Israel's history as a nation, God inspired Moses to write: "Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you today; and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you today, to go after other gods which you have not known" (Deuteronomy 11:26-28).
Likewise He explained His purpose and plan for Israel as a nation: "Also today the LORD has proclaimed you to be His special people...He will set you high above all nations which He has made, in praise, in name, and in honor, and that you may be a holy people to the LORD your God, just as He has spoken" (Deuteronomy 26:18-19). These are exactly the blessings and opportunities He has given to Britain and America, the modern descendants of Joseph.
So what lies ahead for these nations? What punishment will they have to suffer for choosing the ways of sin while turning their backs on the opportunities that God has given them?
The time of Jacob's trouble
The prophet Jeremiah spoke to the house of Judah in his day, the sixth century B.C., when Judah faced God's chastening at the hands of the Babylonian Empire. But Jeremiah also prophesied to the house of Israel—which God had punished and sent into captivity more than a century before he was born. Jeremiah wrote of a time of national trouble that is yet ahead for the modern descendants of the lost 10 tribes of Israel.
Notice their condition when Christ returns: "'For behold, the days are coming,' says the LORD, 'that I will bring back from captivity My people Israel and Judah...And I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it'" (Jeremiah 30:3).
Then Jeremiah describes why God will have to intervene and save modern Israelites. "'Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it; and it is the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it. For it shall come to pass in that day,' says the LORD of hosts, 'that I will break his yoke from your neck, and will burst your bonds; foreigners shall no more enslave them'" (verses 7-8). Notice that the "yoke" and "bonds" that enslave the descendants of Jacob are placed on them by "foreigners"—enemy nations.
It is out of this foreign domination and enslavement that Christ will deliver them at His second coming. This will be the time when King David and Christ's 12 apostles—along with all the rest of God's saints—will be resurrected to begin ruling with Christ over a restored Israel in the Kingdom of God (Ezekiel 37:24; Matthew 19:28).
Jeremiah, still speaking of the end time, continues: "'But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up for them. Therefore do not fear, O My servant Jacob,' says the LORD, 'nor be dismayed, O Israel; for behold, I will save you from afar, and your seed from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return, have rest and be quiet, and no one shall make him afraid. For I am with you,' says the LORD, 'to save you; though I make a full end of all nations where I have scattered you, yet I will not make a complete end of you'" (Jeremiah 30:9-11).
The Bible gives most of the prophecies relating to this time of trouble in the context of how God plans to deliver the Israelites after He again punishes them. When Christ returns to begin the "restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began" (Acts 3:21), the modern descendants of Jacob will again be in a state of captivity. This means that Jacob's "time of trouble" in the last days, as Jeremiah predicted, will indeed be severe.
Unparalleled trouble—and deliverance
Daniel says: "At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered..." (Daniel 12:1).
Why will God allow this time of trouble? Through the prophet Zephaniah God speaks of His anger at the hardness of heart of the nations in the last days. He says: "I have decided to assemble the nations, to gather the kingdoms and to pour out my wrath on them—all my fierce anger. The whole world will be consumed by the fire of my jealous anger" (Zephaniah 3:8, NIV). He will spare no nation, no people.
Though all nations are to suffer His wrath, God explains explicitly why He will punish the Israelites at that time. During their time of national catastrophe those who refuse to listen to God's warning and repent will perish. Only those who hear and heed God's warning before and during this time of global vengeance will find mercy.
Notice Zephaniah's words: "In that day...I will take away from your midst those who rejoice in your pride, and you shall no longer be haughty in My holy mountain. I will leave in your midst a meek and humble people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD.
"The remnant of Israel shall do no unrighteousness and speak no lies, nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth; for they shall feed their flocks and lie down, and no one shall make them afraid. Sing, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away your judgments, He has cast out your enemy. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall see disaster no more" (verses 11-15).
The modern descendants of Israel will have to endure this terrible period of punishment and captivity for not repenting of their sins and taking seriously the role God has given them. Even the Jewish people in Jerusalem and the modern state of Israel will not escape this captivity and punishment that is to occur shortly before Christ returns:
"Behold, the day of the LORD is coming...For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem...Half of the city shall go into captivity, but the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle" (Zechariah 14:1-3). The next few verses then describe the return of Christ, establishing that this captivity occurs at the time of the end.
Ezekiel's warnings for us
Like Jeremiah, the priest Ezekiel prophesied long after the ancient kingdom of Israel had been crushed and its people taken away in the Assyrian captivity. King Nebuchadnezzar's conquering Babylonian armies had forcibly removed from the land of Judah this young Jewish exile, Ezekiel, and thousands of his countrymen some 130 years after the destruction of the northern kingdom of Israel.
Ezekiel's mission and message could not have been for the ancient kingdom of Israel. That kingdom had long since vanished. God had already banished its people into a foreign land in the far reaches of the Assyrian Empire hundreds of miles from Ezekiel's place of exile in Babylon. If God were using Ezekiel to warn the ancient kingdom of Israel, He was more than a century too late!
No doubt Ezekiel directed some of his message toward the nation of Judah, which at that time was going into captivity. But parts of His message were unmistakably directed to the "whole house of Israel"—all 12 tribes—and are applicable to the time of the end (Ezekiel 39:25; 45:6).
What was God's message for the "whole house of Israel" through the prophet Ezekiel? "Son of man, this is what the Sovereign LORD says to the land of Israel: The end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land. The end is now upon you and I will unleash my anger against you. I will judge you according to your conduct and repay you for all your detestable practices. I will not look on you with pity or spare you; I will surely repay you for your conduct and the detestable practices among you. Then you will know that I am the LORD...
"When terror comes, they will seek peace, but there will be none...I will deal with them according to their conduct, and by their own standards I will judge them. Then they will know that I am the LORD" (Ezekiel 7:2-4, 25, 27, NIV).
The book of Ezekiel contains many similar warnings that apply to the modern descendants of all Israelites—both from the house of Israel and the house of Judah. God condemns the rampant immorality, corruption, greed, violence and oppression of the defenseless by the modern descendants of the 12 tribes of Israel. He abhors the fact that they have defiled themselves with false gods, despised His holy things and profaned His Sabbaths (Ezekiel 22:7-13).
Because of this moral degeneracy God also says: "I will scatter you among the nations, disperse you throughout the countries, and remove your filthiness completely from you. You shall defile yourself in the sight of the nations; then you shall know that I am the LORD" (verses 15-16).
God promises that He will punish or spare each individual human being according to his attitude and conduct. He explains: "When the righteous turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he shall die because of it. But when the wicked turns from his wickedness and does what is lawful and right, he shall live because of it...I will judge every one of youaccording to his own ways" (Ezekiel 33:18-20).
National downfall and captivity
This devastating punishment will involve, as we see in these prophecies, the national downfall and captivity of the modern Israelites. Now let's examine some other crises the United States and other British-descended peoples will face during that time.
Notice the national curses God included in His covenant with ancient Israel: "But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God...that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: Cursed shall you be ..." (Deuteronomy 28:15-16).
These timeless curses for disobedience include crippling diseases and epidemics (verses 21-22, 27, 35, 59-62); mental illnesses (verse 28); upset weather patterns leading to devastating droughts (verses 23-24) and insect infestations that destroy crops (verses 38-40, 42) and bring starvation (verses 53-57); and, finally, invasion and captivity (verses 32-33, 36, 41, 47-52, 64-68).
Leviticus 26:14-39 describes similar consequences, while also noting that God will "break the pride of your power" such that "you will flee when no one pursues you" (verses 17, 19).
We seem already to be witnessing the fulfillment of this prophecy in our time. Perhaps even more remarkable than the British Empire's rise to greatness was its rapid dismantling. From an empire on which the sun never set, Britain has lost possession after possession. Most of the nations that once formed the British Empire are now independent, no longer subject to British rule.
The United States, which emerged from World War II as the world's preeminent military power, soon was fighting to a bloody stalemate in Korea and a humiliating defeat in Vietnam. Even in recent wars, such as those in Iraq, Kuwait, Bosnia and Serbia, in which America achieved its initial military aims, U.S. forces remained bogged down with costly peacekeeping obligations and no easy escape. Only in such overwhelmingly one-sided conflicts as in Grenada and Panama has the United States emerged as the clear-cut victor since its stalemate in the Korean War.
Even though the United States remains the world's most powerful military power by a large margin, its advantage is greatly undermined by lack of political will and the commitment to decisively win its wars.
In another sign of their decline, Britain and the United States have lost many of the strategic sea gates they gained and maintained at great cost. In recent years they have surrendered such crucial strategic possessions as the Panama Canal and Hong Kong. No doubt this trend will continue.
"A time of great distress"
Other prophecies indicate that the turmoil prophesied to engulf the United States, Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the democracies of Northwest Europe will be only a prelude to a time of tumult and chaos unlike anything the world has seen.
Describing the terrible time just before His return, Jesus said: "It will be a time of great distress, such as there has never been before since the beginning of the world, and will never be again. If that time of troubles were not cut short, no living thing could survive; but for the sake of God's chosen it will be cut short" (Matthew 24:21-22, Revised English Bible).
Only in recent decades has humanity faced the terrifying prospect of human annihilation. We have enough nuclear weapons stockpiled to kill every man, woman and child many times over. Some nations—including terrorist states—have the means to lay waste entire countries with chemical or biological weapons. Many Bible prophecies serve as eerie reminders of the kind of carnage such weapons can cause.
How devastating will this time be? The book of Revelation describes a combination of supernatural and man-made catastrophes that will ravage the earth at the time of the end. In one great disaster alone fully one third of earth's population—billions of people—will die (Revelation 9:15, 18). Conditions will be so grim that "men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them" (verse 6).
God does not enjoy punishing people. Through Ezekiel He says: "Say to them: 'As I live,' says the Lord GOD, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?'" (Ezekiel 33:11).
Regrettably, this is the only way many people will ever be brought to repentance.
Israel restored to greatness
In spite of these great calamities, prophecy tells us that, after Jesus Christ's return to earth to establish the Kingdom of God, the survivors of the tribes of Israel will experience even greater honor than they've previously known. God promises an unprecedented regathering of Israel.
"It shall come to pass in that day that the LORD shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people who are left...He will set up a banner for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth"(Isaiah 11:11-12).
Those who return will be a transformed and humbled people. Speaking of when Israel would go into captivity, God said: "And there you will serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell. But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.
"When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the LORD your God and obey His voice (for the LORD your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them" (Deuteronomy 4:28-31).
Notice that the time setting for this passage is "the latter days" (verse 30). God knows that when people turn from obedience to Him they usually must learn their lesson the hard way. Yet He is always willing to bless those who turn from their wicked ways.
Through the prophet Ezekiel, God says of this time: "... When the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own ways and deeds...So I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed throughout the countries; I judged them according to their ways and their deeds.
"... I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God" (Ezekiel 36:17-28).
God never fulfilled this prophecy in ancient Israel or Judah, since He made His Spirit available only to a select few before He began the New Testament Church in A.D. 31, as recorded in Acts 2. These events are yet to take place. God promises that, when these people humble themselves and repent, He will make His Spirit available to them. No longer will they be rebellious and disobedient to their Maker. Led by that Spirit, they will willingly follow God, obeying His laws.
An Israel reunited
As end-time prophecies about Israel unfold, these people will come to understand God and His expectations of them in a way they have never known. The descendants of the lost 10 tribes of the northern kingdom will discover they are not gentiles, as so many mistakenly believe. As humbled people, they will turn from their evil ways and seek the true knowledge of God. The house of Israel and the house of Judah will unite again as one nation under Christ.
The prophecies of Ezekiel point to the dramatic reunion of those of "lost Israel" with their brothers from Judah. "As for you, son of man, take a stick for yourself and write on it: 'For Judah and for the children of Israel, his companions.' Then take another stick and write on it, 'For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel, his companions.' Then join them one to another for yourself into one stick, and they will become one in your hand...
"Then say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; and I will make them one nation in the land...They shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again"'" (Ezekiel 37:16-17, 21-22).
This unified nation will be comprised of both the Jewish people—the descendants of the ancient kingdom of Judah—and the descendants of the other 10 tribes.
After the end-time period of "Jacob's trouble," which will be God's just and necessary correction of modern Israel, a repentant remnant will survive. Those of the so-called lost tribes of the northern kingdom, including the British and American people, will have repented of breaking the laws of the covenant, including God's Sabbath and Holy Days. The Jews of the southern kingdom will have acknowledged Jesus as the true Messiah.
Finally, modern descendants of both kingdoms, for the first time in almost 3,000 years, will reunite as one nation.
God makes another astounding promise: "David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them. Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children's children, forever; and My servant David shall be their prince forever. Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore" (verses 24-26).
At Jesus' return, God will resurrect King David, whom He called "a man after My own heart" (Acts 13:22), to reign over the reunited kingdom. Along with many other faithful servants of God, he will be resurrected to eternal life (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 1 Corinthians 15:52). Also, as Jesus promised, the 12 apostles will rule over the individual tribes (Matthew 19:28; Luke 22:30).
Now let's consider the international role the restored, reunited Israel of the future will fulfill in God's plan. Let's see how the descendants of Jacob will be a godly example for all nations in the future Kingdom of God.
Israel's future glory
Of the formation of this reunited nation God says: "... I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all countries where I have driven them, and bring them back to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor shall they be lacking.
"Behold, the days are coming that I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Jeremiah 23:3-6). This supreme ruler is Jesus Christ.
Under Jesus the resurrected saints—those former human beings who were part of the body of believers comprising His true Church—will faithfully serve as teachers of the citizens of restored Israel (compare Isaiah 30:19-21 with Revelation 1:6; 5:10; 20:4, 6).
When the Israelites turn to God in repentance and obedience, God will again shower physical blessings on them. Their land will become abundantly productive.
Describing this future prosperity Amos wrote: "'Behold, the days are coming,' says the LORD, 'When the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows seed; the mountains shall drip with sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it. I will bring back the captives of My people Israel; they shall build the waste cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them; they shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them. I will plant them in their land, and no longer shall they be pulled up from the land I have given them,' says the LORD your God" (Amos 9:13-15).
This time will also herald unprecedented peace. "He [Jesus the Messiah] shall judge between many peoples, and rebuke strong nations afar off; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken" (Micah 4:3-4).
The prophets also reveal this will be a time of healing. Those who are lame will walk. Those with disease will be healed (Isaiah 35:5-6).
As other nations see Israel's prosperity and relationship with God, they will inquire how they, too, can be blessed. They will soon learn that Israel's prosperity comes because of its obedience to God. Then the gentile nations will seek to learn about the God of Israel. "... 'In those days 10 men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, "Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you"'" (Zechariah 8:23).
The nations will begin to learn God's ways with the help of a restored and obedient Israel. Jerusalem will become the world's center for religious education. As the prophet Micah explained:
"Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it. Many nations shall come and say, 'Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.' For out of Zion the law shall go forth, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem" (Micah 4:1-2).
Finally, Israel will at last really be the world's model nation, exemplifying the blessings and way of life other nations will strive to emulate. God will teach the truth of His Sabbath—the sacred time to draw close to God on a weekly basis—to all people (Isaiah 66:23).
God's Holy Days—which outline His plan of salvation—will also be an important part of the worship of God in this future age. God even tells us that representatives of surrounding nations will come each year to Jerusalem to worship Him during the great fall feast.
"And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, on them there will be no rain" (Zechariah 14:16-17).
The glory of the restored Israel will shine far greater than Israel's golden age under Solomon or that of any other nation or kingdom the world has ever seen. It will all come about because Christ will be the Head of the nation. Through its Creator Israel will gain "fame and praise among all the peoples of the earth" (Zephaniah 3:20). Israel will finally become the example God intended her to be.
God has not forgotten—nor will He ever forget—His promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The pages of history and prophecies yet to be fulfilled show God remaining true to every detail of His word.
Your part in God's plan
Now we come to the most important question you will ponder: What will happen to you as these prophecies unfold?
We have covered much of the history of Israel in this book. We have seen how these people were divided into two nations, turned away from God and went into captivity. We have examined prophecies and historical evidence that point to Britain, the United States and the other British-descended peoples as the modern descendants of Joseph, the father of the Israelite tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. We have reviewed prophecies that reveal what will happen to these peoples before and after Jesus' return. Every nation on earth will be affected by their fall and restoration.
You have a choice. You can dismiss this knowledge if you want. No one can force you to accept it. The story is so incredible that many people simply refuse to believe it. They choose to reason their way around it. But the stakes are high. Either God is true to His promises, or He isn't. If He is, every promise and prediction He has made will come to pass—good and bad alike.
In deciding which course you will take, remember what God told the ancient Israelites after He explained the terms of the relationship they would have with Him: "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life..." (Deuteronomy 30:19-20).
God also tells us He "now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world ..." (Acts 17:30-31). His warning applies equally to Israelites and non-Israelites alike. Yet, He promises protection from the coming storm to a group of those who do turn to Him in true repentance (Revelation 3:10; 12:13-17).
Jesus similarly tells us: "Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man" (Luke 21:36, NIV).
God does not leave us in the dark. He reveals to us what lies ahead for the United States, Britain and the British-descended peoples and for the rest of the world. As the Scriptures say: "Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7).
The authors and publishers of this book, in service to the Creator of all races and peoples, have shown what the future holds for many nations and people unless they repent (Jeremiah 18:7-8). Like the prophet Ezekiel, who was given the task of being a "watchman for the house of Israel" (Ezekiel 3:17-19; 33:1-7), we likewise urge you to accept and follow God's instructions so you may also be blessed and protected by Him.
Your future depends upon your decision. May you have the wisdom and character to choose wisely!
America: From Punishment to Destiny
"How awful that day will be! None will be like it. It will be a time of trouble for Jacob, but he will be saved out of it” (Jeremiah 30:7, NIV).
Though the United States and Britain do not appear in the Bible's prophecies of the end time under their present names, God hasn't ignored these nations. He identifies them in prophecy according to their ancestry. Most people simply haven't known where to look for them.
Throughout the long history of the lost 10 tribes of Israel, God has always known who and where they were. Just as He promised to their ancient forefathers, He has given the modern descendants of Joseph—primarily Britain and the United States—the family birthright and many of the earth's choicest blessings. These nations have received a singular opportunity to provide leadership in the world at large. But what does the Bible say about their future? The answer is sobering.
Many Bible prophecies portray a repentant Israel at the return of Christ. Its descendants will turn to God and begin obeying His laws—but only after they have gone through crises worse in many ways than the catastrophes that befell the ancient kingdoms of Israel and Judah.
The descendants of Israel who repent and turn to God—described in prophecies as only a "remnant" of their previous population (Isaiah 11:11, 16; Jeremiah 23:3; Ezekiel 6:8)—will suffer enormously during the biblically prophesied time of "great tribulation" (Matthew 24:21).
Only when they are humbled to the point of repenting of their sins will they be able to fulfill their God-ordained destiny of serving as a blessing to the nations. This wonderful future, however, will be preceded by the severest of trials. As Moses delivered the ancient Israelites from Egyptian slavery, Jesus Christ is coming to deliver modern Britain and America and the other Israelite-descended nations from an end-of-the-age subjugation by a modern religious and political system called "Babylon the great" (Revelation 17), centered in Europe.
This latter-day deliverance entails the fulfillment of some of the most astounding prophecies of the Bible: "'Therefore behold, the days are coming,' says the LORD, 'that it shall no more be said, "The LORD lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt," but, "The LORD lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north and from all the lands where He had driven them." For I will bring them back into their land which I gave to their fathers'" (Jeremiah 16:14-15).
But why will these calamities come on the United States and Britain?
God's expectations of Israel
In fulfillment of His promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, God established Israel as a nation for the purpose of bringing blessings to other nations (Deuteronomy 9:5; Genesis 12:3). From their earliest days God expected the Israelites to be an example to the other nations around them of the divine blessings that would be poured out on all who worship and obey Him (Deuteronomy 4:6; 14:2).
If the Israelites would fulfill their part of their covenant agreement with God, God said He would make Israel the premier nation of the world (Deuteronomy 26:19; 28:1, 12-13). But if the Israelites disobeyed they would suffer the consequences (Deuteronomy 28:15-68). God told them other nations would take them captive (verses 25, 32-33, 36). Even their punishment was to be a lesson to other nations: "You shall become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword among all nations where the LORD will drive you" (verse 37).
The Israelites were supposed to be a model to other nations of the blessings of obedience and the penalties of disobedience to God's instruction. Regardless of the choices they have made, both anciently and today, this is still the role God has given them. And He holds them responsible for the way they respond to that role.
Nearly 3,500 years ago God told Israel: "Take heed to yourselves, lest you forget the covenant of the LORD your God which He made with you, and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of anything which the LORD your God has forbidden you. For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
"When you beget children and grandchildren and have grown old in the land, act corruptly and make a carved image in the form of anything, and do evil in the sight of the LORD your God to provoke Him to anger, I call heaven and earth to witness against you...And the LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the LORD will drive you" (Deuteronomy 4:23-27).
Israel's descendants fail in their responsibilities
With the restoration of Joseph's birthright promises to his descendants, Britain and the United States, the people of these nations have enjoyed unprecedented prosperity. Once again, like their forefathers, they have had the opportunity to be a "holy" people, an example of righteousness to other nations.
Britain had the opportunity to spread ethical, godly civilization to much of the world. At the height of their empire, the British people took the Bible into far-flung corners of the earth. Yet today religion is routinely ridiculed in Britain's national news and entertainment media, and Christianity is foundering. Many church buildings have been shuttered and locked because people no longer attend. A large majority of the British people shows little or no interest in the teachings of the Bible.
Similarly, the United States was founded through leaders who for the most part held great respect for the Bible. Although officially favoring no single religion, the country soon became recognized as the leading Christian nation in the world. But in recent times a large portion of the nation has likewise ignored the teachings of the Bible. Paradoxically, the United States is one of the most prosperous nations of the world and one of the most immoral. It has one of the worst rates of crime and violence of all nations.
As in ancient Israel (Jeremiah 5:7-9), immorality runs rampant in the United States and the nations that once formed the British Empire. The number of broken homes and fatherless households has continued to skyrocket even as national prosperity has increased. Illegitimacy, the abortions of millions of innocent babies and epidemics of sexually transmitted diseases are the hallmarks of a sleazy, if-it-feels-good-do-it morality.
Millions seek escape in alcohol and illegal drugs. Crude and violent entertainment dominates the airwaves. Filth passes for culture. Millions of people live in fear of becoming victims of crime or random violence. Many cities are cesspools of crime, gang violence, poverty, illiteracy and illegitimacy. Greed and materialism have become the national religion in countries that have long prided themselves on being "Christian" nations. As a result of these and other sins, many now view the United States and Britain, once respected throughout much of the world, with ill-disguised contempt.
Among the most serious sins of the ancient house of Israel were idolatry and Sabbath breaking, by which Israel abandoned any regular pattern of hearing and learning more about God's Word.
Notice what God said through the prophet Ezekiel after Israel fell into captivity: "Moreover I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them. Yet the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness; they did not walk in My statutes; they despised My judgments, which, if a man does, he shall live by them; and they greatly defiled My Sabbaths...They despised My judgments and did not walk in My statutes, but profaned My Sabbaths; for their heart went after their idols" (Ezekiel 20:12-13, 16).
As a result they began to believe that one religious belief or practice was no better than another—that they could change the rules of life as they pleased. Because of these beliefs and their sins, God allowed them to go into captivity.
The same is true today. Although many people observe religious holidays, these holidays generally have nothing to do with the worship of the true God but are rooted in ancient idolatry. In many ways the sins of people today are identical to those of ancient Israel. (To better understand the true origins of many of today's most popular holidays, be sure to request your free copy of the booklet Holidays or Holy Days: Does It Matter Which Days We Keep?)
The words of the prophet Hosea are a chillingly accurate description of the United States and Britain: "Hear the word of the LORD, you children of Israel, for the LORD brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: 'There is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land. By swearing and lying, killing and stealing and committing adultery, they break all restraint, with bloodshed upon bloodshed. Therefore the land will mourn...
"'My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge...The more they increased, the more they sinned against Me...They set their heart on their iniquity...So I will punish them for their ways, and reward them for their deeds'" (Hosea 4:1-3, 6-9). Just as God punished ancient Israel for its sins, He plans to punish its modern descendants for their persistent disobedience.
God remains the same
God does not change (Malachi 3:6). He responds consistently and impartially to human behavior. He blesses for obedience and punishes for disobedience. The modern descendants of Israel should not ignore His timeless warnings.
At the beginning of Israel's history as a nation, God inspired Moses to write: "Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you today; and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you today, to go after other gods which you have not known" (Deuteronomy 11:26-28).
Likewise He explained His purpose and plan for Israel as a nation: "Also today the LORD has proclaimed you to be His special people...He will set you high above all nations which He has made, in praise, in name, and in honor, and that you may be a holy people to the LORD your God, just as He has spoken" (Deuteronomy 26:18-19). These are exactly the blessings and opportunities He has given to Britain and America, the modern descendants of Joseph.
So what lies ahead for these nations? What punishment will they have to suffer for choosing the ways of sin while turning their backs on the opportunities that God has given them?
The time of Jacob's trouble
The prophet Jeremiah spoke to the house of Judah in his day, the sixth century B.C., when Judah faced God's chastening at the hands of the Babylonian Empire. But Jeremiah also prophesied to the house of Israel—which God had punished and sent into captivity more than a century before he was born. Jeremiah wrote of a time of national trouble that is yet ahead for the modern descendants of the lost 10 tribes of Israel.
Notice their condition when Christ returns: "'For behold, the days are coming,' says the LORD, 'that I will bring back from captivity My people Israel and Judah...And I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it'" (Jeremiah 30:3).
Then Jeremiah describes why God will have to intervene and save modern Israelites. "'Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it; and it is the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it. For it shall come to pass in that day,' says the LORD of hosts, 'that I will break his yoke from your neck, and will burst your bonds; foreigners shall no more enslave them'" (verses 7-8). Notice that the "yoke" and "bonds" that enslave the descendants of Jacob are placed on them by "foreigners"—enemy nations.
It is out of this foreign domination and enslavement that Christ will deliver them at His second coming. This will be the time when King David and Christ's 12 apostles—along with all the rest of God's saints—will be resurrected to begin ruling with Christ over a restored Israel in the Kingdom of God (Ezekiel 37:24; Matthew 19:28).
Jeremiah, still speaking of the end time, continues: "'But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up for them. Therefore do not fear, O My servant Jacob,' says the LORD, 'nor be dismayed, O Israel; for behold, I will save you from afar, and your seed from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return, have rest and be quiet, and no one shall make him afraid. For I am with you,' says the LORD, 'to save you; though I make a full end of all nations where I have scattered you, yet I will not make a complete end of you'" (Jeremiah 30:9-11).
The Bible gives most of the prophecies relating to this time of trouble in the context of how God plans to deliver the Israelites after He again punishes them. When Christ returns to begin the "restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began" (Acts 3:21), the modern descendants of Jacob will again be in a state of captivity. This means that Jacob's "time of trouble" in the last days, as Jeremiah predicted, will indeed be severe.
Unparalleled trouble—and deliverance
Daniel says: "At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered..." (Daniel 12:1).
Why will God allow this time of trouble? Through the prophet Zephaniah God speaks of His anger at the hardness of heart of the nations in the last days. He says: "I have decided to assemble the nations, to gather the kingdoms and to pour out my wrath on them—all my fierce anger. The whole world will be consumed by the fire of my jealous anger" (Zephaniah 3:8, NIV). He will spare no nation, no people.
Though all nations are to suffer His wrath, God explains explicitly why He will punish the Israelites at that time. During their time of national catastrophe those who refuse to listen to God's warning and repent will perish. Only those who hear and heed God's warning before and during this time of global vengeance will find mercy.
Notice Zephaniah's words: "In that day...I will take away from your midst those who rejoice in your pride, and you shall no longer be haughty in My holy mountain. I will leave in your midst a meek and humble people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD.
"The remnant of Israel shall do no unrighteousness and speak no lies, nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth; for they shall feed their flocks and lie down, and no one shall make them afraid. Sing, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away your judgments, He has cast out your enemy. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall see disaster no more" (verses 11-15).
The modern descendants of Israel will have to endure this terrible period of punishment and captivity for not repenting of their sins and taking seriously the role God has given them. Even the Jewish people in Jerusalem and the modern state of Israel will not escape this captivity and punishment that is to occur shortly before Christ returns:
"Behold, the day of the LORD is coming...For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem...Half of the city shall go into captivity, but the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle" (Zechariah 14:1-3). The next few verses then describe the return of Christ, establishing that this captivity occurs at the time of the end.
Ezekiel's warnings for us
Like Jeremiah, the priest Ezekiel prophesied long after the ancient kingdom of Israel had been crushed and its people taken away in the Assyrian captivity. King Nebuchadnezzar's conquering Babylonian armies had forcibly removed from the land of Judah this young Jewish exile, Ezekiel, and thousands of his countrymen some 130 years after the destruction of the northern kingdom of Israel.
Ezekiel's mission and message could not have been for the ancient kingdom of Israel. That kingdom had long since vanished. God had already banished its people into a foreign land in the far reaches of the Assyrian Empire hundreds of miles from Ezekiel's place of exile in Babylon. If God were using Ezekiel to warn the ancient kingdom of Israel, He was more than a century too late!
No doubt Ezekiel directed some of his message toward the nation of Judah, which at that time was going into captivity. But parts of His message were unmistakably directed to the "whole house of Israel"—all 12 tribes—and are applicable to the time of the end (Ezekiel 39:25; 45:6).
What was God's message for the "whole house of Israel" through the prophet Ezekiel? "Son of man, this is what the Sovereign LORD says to the land of Israel: The end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land. The end is now upon you and I will unleash my anger against you. I will judge you according to your conduct and repay you for all your detestable practices. I will not look on you with pity or spare you; I will surely repay you for your conduct and the detestable practices among you. Then you will know that I am the LORD...
"When terror comes, they will seek peace, but there will be none...I will deal with them according to their conduct, and by their own standards I will judge them. Then they will know that I am the LORD" (Ezekiel 7:2-4, 25, 27, NIV).
The book of Ezekiel contains many similar warnings that apply to the modern descendants of all Israelites—both from the house of Israel and the house of Judah. God condemns the rampant immorality, corruption, greed, violence and oppression of the defenseless by the modern descendants of the 12 tribes of Israel. He abhors the fact that they have defiled themselves with false gods, despised His holy things and profaned His Sabbaths (Ezekiel 22:7-13).
Because of this moral degeneracy God also says: "I will scatter you among the nations, disperse you throughout the countries, and remove your filthiness completely from you. You shall defile yourself in the sight of the nations; then you shall know that I am the LORD" (verses 15-16).
God promises that He will punish or spare each individual human being according to his attitude and conduct. He explains: "When the righteous turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he shall die because of it. But when the wicked turns from his wickedness and does what is lawful and right, he shall live because of it...I will judge every one of youaccording to his own ways" (Ezekiel 33:18-20).
National downfall and captivity
This devastating punishment will involve, as we see in these prophecies, the national downfall and captivity of the modern Israelites. Now let's examine some other crises the United States and other British-descended peoples will face during that time.
Notice the national curses God included in His covenant with ancient Israel: "But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God...that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: Cursed shall you be ..." (Deuteronomy 28:15-16).
These timeless curses for disobedience include crippling diseases and epidemics (verses 21-22, 27, 35, 59-62); mental illnesses (verse 28); upset weather patterns leading to devastating droughts (verses 23-24) and insect infestations that destroy crops (verses 38-40, 42) and bring starvation (verses 53-57); and, finally, invasion and captivity (verses 32-33, 36, 41, 47-52, 64-68).
Leviticus 26:14-39 describes similar consequences, while also noting that God will "break the pride of your power" such that "you will flee when no one pursues you" (verses 17, 19).
We seem already to be witnessing the fulfillment of this prophecy in our time. Perhaps even more remarkable than the British Empire's rise to greatness was its rapid dismantling. From an empire on which the sun never set, Britain has lost possession after possession. Most of the nations that once formed the British Empire are now independent, no longer subject to British rule.
The United States, which emerged from World War II as the world's preeminent military power, soon was fighting to a bloody stalemate in Korea and a humiliating defeat in Vietnam. Even in recent wars, such as those in Iraq, Kuwait, Bosnia and Serbia, in which America achieved its initial military aims, U.S. forces remained bogged down with costly peacekeeping obligations and no easy escape. Only in such overwhelmingly one-sided conflicts as in Grenada and Panama has the United States emerged as the clear-cut victor since its stalemate in the Korean War.
Even though the United States remains the world's most powerful military power by a large margin, its advantage is greatly undermined by lack of political will and the commitment to decisively win its wars.
In another sign of their decline, Britain and the United States have lost many of the strategic sea gates they gained and maintained at great cost. In recent years they have surrendered such crucial strategic possessions as the Panama Canal and Hong Kong. No doubt this trend will continue.
"A time of great distress"
Other prophecies indicate that the turmoil prophesied to engulf the United States, Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the democracies of Northwest Europe will be only a prelude to a time of tumult and chaos unlike anything the world has seen.
Describing the terrible time just before His return, Jesus said: "It will be a time of great distress, such as there has never been before since the beginning of the world, and will never be again. If that time of troubles were not cut short, no living thing could survive; but for the sake of God's chosen it will be cut short" (Matthew 24:21-22, Revised English Bible).
Only in recent decades has humanity faced the terrifying prospect of human annihilation. We have enough nuclear weapons stockpiled to kill every man, woman and child many times over. Some nations—including terrorist states—have the means to lay waste entire countries with chemical or biological weapons. Many Bible prophecies serve as eerie reminders of the kind of carnage such weapons can cause.
How devastating will this time be? The book of Revelation describes a combination of supernatural and man-made catastrophes that will ravage the earth at the time of the end. In one great disaster alone fully one third of earth's population—billions of people—will die (Revelation 9:15, 18). Conditions will be so grim that "men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them" (verse 6).
God does not enjoy punishing people. Through Ezekiel He says: "Say to them: 'As I live,' says the Lord GOD, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?'" (Ezekiel 33:11).
Regrettably, this is the only way many people will ever be brought to repentance.
Israel restored to greatness
In spite of these great calamities, prophecy tells us that, after Jesus Christ's return to earth to establish the Kingdom of God, the survivors of the tribes of Israel will experience even greater honor than they've previously known. God promises an unprecedented regathering of Israel.
"It shall come to pass in that day that the LORD shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people who are left...He will set up a banner for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth"(Isaiah 11:11-12).
Those who return will be a transformed and humbled people. Speaking of when Israel would go into captivity, God said: "And there you will serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell. But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.
"When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the LORD your God and obey His voice (for the LORD your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them" (Deuteronomy 4:28-31).
Notice that the time setting for this passage is "the latter days" (verse 30). God knows that when people turn from obedience to Him they usually must learn their lesson the hard way. Yet He is always willing to bless those who turn from their wicked ways.
Through the prophet Ezekiel, God says of this time: "... When the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own ways and deeds...So I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed throughout the countries; I judged them according to their ways and their deeds.
"... I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God" (Ezekiel 36:17-28).
God never fulfilled this prophecy in ancient Israel or Judah, since He made His Spirit available only to a select few before He began the New Testament Church in A.D. 31, as recorded in Acts 2. These events are yet to take place. God promises that, when these people humble themselves and repent, He will make His Spirit available to them. No longer will they be rebellious and disobedient to their Maker. Led by that Spirit, they will willingly follow God, obeying His laws.
An Israel reunited
As end-time prophecies about Israel unfold, these people will come to understand God and His expectations of them in a way they have never known. The descendants of the lost 10 tribes of the northern kingdom will discover they are not gentiles, as so many mistakenly believe. As humbled people, they will turn from their evil ways and seek the true knowledge of God. The house of Israel and the house of Judah will unite again as one nation under Christ.
The prophecies of Ezekiel point to the dramatic reunion of those of "lost Israel" with their brothers from Judah. "As for you, son of man, take a stick for yourself and write on it: 'For Judah and for the children of Israel, his companions.' Then take another stick and write on it, 'For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel, his companions.' Then join them one to another for yourself into one stick, and they will become one in your hand...
"Then say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; and I will make them one nation in the land...They shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again"'" (Ezekiel 37:16-17, 21-22).
This unified nation will be comprised of both the Jewish people—the descendants of the ancient kingdom of Judah—and the descendants of the other 10 tribes.
After the end-time period of "Jacob's trouble," which will be God's just and necessary correction of modern Israel, a repentant remnant will survive. Those of the so-called lost tribes of the northern kingdom, including the British and American people, will have repented of breaking the laws of the covenant, including God's Sabbath and Holy Days. The Jews of the southern kingdom will have acknowledged Jesus as the true Messiah.
Finally, modern descendants of both kingdoms, for the first time in almost 3,000 years, will reunite as one nation.
God makes another astounding promise: "David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them. Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children's children, forever; and My servant David shall be their prince forever. Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore" (verses 24-26).
At Jesus' return, God will resurrect King David, whom He called "a man after My own heart" (Acts 13:22), to reign over the reunited kingdom. Along with many other faithful servants of God, he will be resurrected to eternal life (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 1 Corinthians 15:52). Also, as Jesus promised, the 12 apostles will rule over the individual tribes (Matthew 19:28; Luke 22:30).
Now let's consider the international role the restored, reunited Israel of the future will fulfill in God's plan. Let's see how the descendants of Jacob will be a godly example for all nations in the future Kingdom of God.
Israel's future glory
Of the formation of this reunited nation God says: "... I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all countries where I have driven them, and bring them back to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor shall they be lacking.
"Behold, the days are coming that I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Jeremiah 23:3-6). This supreme ruler is Jesus Christ.
Under Jesus the resurrected saints—those former human beings who were part of the body of believers comprising His true Church—will faithfully serve as teachers of the citizens of restored Israel (compare Isaiah 30:19-21 with Revelation 1:6; 5:10; 20:4, 6).
When the Israelites turn to God in repentance and obedience, God will again shower physical blessings on them. Their land will become abundantly productive.
Describing this future prosperity Amos wrote: "'Behold, the days are coming,' says the LORD, 'When the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows seed; the mountains shall drip with sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it. I will bring back the captives of My people Israel; they shall build the waste cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them; they shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them. I will plant them in their land, and no longer shall they be pulled up from the land I have given them,' says the LORD your God" (Amos 9:13-15).
This time will also herald unprecedented peace. "He [Jesus the Messiah] shall judge between many peoples, and rebuke strong nations afar off; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken" (Micah 4:3-4).
The prophets also reveal this will be a time of healing. Those who are lame will walk. Those with disease will be healed (Isaiah 35:5-6).
As other nations see Israel's prosperity and relationship with God, they will inquire how they, too, can be blessed. They will soon learn that Israel's prosperity comes because of its obedience to God. Then the gentile nations will seek to learn about the God of Israel. "... 'In those days 10 men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, "Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you"'" (Zechariah 8:23).
The nations will begin to learn God's ways with the help of a restored and obedient Israel. Jerusalem will become the world's center for religious education. As the prophet Micah explained:
"Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it. Many nations shall come and say, 'Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.' For out of Zion the law shall go forth, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem" (Micah 4:1-2).
Finally, Israel will at last really be the world's model nation, exemplifying the blessings and way of life other nations will strive to emulate. God will teach the truth of His Sabbath—the sacred time to draw close to God on a weekly basis—to all people (Isaiah 66:23).
God's Holy Days—which outline His plan of salvation—will also be an important part of the worship of God in this future age. God even tells us that representatives of surrounding nations will come each year to Jerusalem to worship Him during the great fall feast.
"And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, on them there will be no rain" (Zechariah 14:16-17).
The glory of the restored Israel will shine far greater than Israel's golden age under Solomon or that of any other nation or kingdom the world has ever seen. It will all come about because Christ will be the Head of the nation. Through its Creator Israel will gain "fame and praise among all the peoples of the earth" (Zephaniah 3:20). Israel will finally become the example God intended her to be.
God has not forgotten—nor will He ever forget—His promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The pages of history and prophecies yet to be fulfilled show God remaining true to every detail of His word.
Your part in God's plan
Now we come to the most important question you will ponder: What will happen to you as these prophecies unfold?
We have covered much of the history of Israel in this book. We have seen how these people were divided into two nations, turned away from God and went into captivity. We have examined prophecies and historical evidence that point to Britain, the United States and the other British-descended peoples as the modern descendants of Joseph, the father of the Israelite tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. We have reviewed prophecies that reveal what will happen to these peoples before and after Jesus' return. Every nation on earth will be affected by their fall and restoration.
You have a choice. You can dismiss this knowledge if you want. No one can force you to accept it. The story is so incredible that many people simply refuse to believe it. They choose to reason their way around it. But the stakes are high. Either God is true to His promises, or He isn't. If He is, every promise and prediction He has made will come to pass—good and bad alike.
In deciding which course you will take, remember what God told the ancient Israelites after He explained the terms of the relationship they would have with Him: "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life..." (Deuteronomy 30:19-20).
God also tells us He "now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world ..." (Acts 17:30-31). His warning applies equally to Israelites and non-Israelites alike. Yet, He promises protection from the coming storm to a group of those who do turn to Him in true repentance (Revelation 3:10; 12:13-17).
Jesus similarly tells us: "Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man" (Luke 21:36, NIV).
God does not leave us in the dark. He reveals to us what lies ahead for the United States, Britain and the British-descended peoples and for the rest of the world. As the Scriptures say: "Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7).
The authors and publishers of this book, in service to the Creator of all races and peoples, have shown what the future holds for many nations and people unless they repent (Jeremiah 18:7-8). Like the prophet Ezekiel, who was given the task of being a "watchman for the house of Israel" (Ezekiel 3:17-19; 33:1-7), we likewise urge you to accept and follow God's instructions so you may also be blessed and protected by Him.
Your future depends upon your decision. May you have the wisdom and character to choose wisely!
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