Politics, Politics, Politics

So this article, linked to below, shares of how the Iranian leaders are calling the Islmaic world to "wipe Israel off the map." The President of Iran said "Anybody who recognizes Israel will burn in the fire of the Islamic nation's fury, (while) any (Islamic leader) who recognizes the Zionist regime means he is acknowledging the surrender and defeat of the Islamic world."

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2005-10-26-iran-israel_x.htm?csp=24

Now, look what happened in Israel on the same day:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2005-10-26-mideast-bombing_x.htm?csp=24

According to the Israeli Foreign Ministry Spokesperson the problem is: "It appears the problem with these extremists is that they followed through on their violent declarations with violent actions." The bombing article continues to speak of how Iran has been trying to thwart the peace process. The President had stated the Gaza Strip pullout was simply a trick, and should basically be disregared; while the rest of the Muslim world has been rejoicing at this action, and seeing it as moving towards peace. "Iran has long supplied Islamic Jihad with support and training through proxies among Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas, and Israel has accused that country of trying to scuttle the current truce." And guess which country has a Nuclear program: Iran. The United States and many others in the West say this program is aimed at acquiring weapons of mass destruction. Iran says the program is for generating electricity. Members of Iran's board have recently been at meetings whose purpose is to recuit suicide bombers to "target U.S. troops and Israelis." Iran has alos announced that they have fully developed solid fuel technolgoy for their missiles (making them much more accurate) combined with the ability for it travel up to 1200 miles; they are fully capable of delivering a nuclear war head to Israel and U.S. forces all throughout the Middle East.

Iv'e talked with a lot of people (both non-bible-reading and bible-reading ) lately, and many have voiced the same opinion: the end is near (because of the mass of natural disasters recently). And when you look at what's going with the struggle in Israel right now, it's easy to come to this conclusion. I just want to throw something out there, hasn't there always been natural disasters, and hasn't the nation of Israel always faced oppisition from it's very beginning. So I'm not claiming that the end of days are upon us; I would say that they are absolutely coming, and we defintily need to be prepared for them - and that should result in motivation, in a sense almost in that old teen favorite saying "carpe diem" - seize the day!

I jumped online tonight to find an article about Church Leadership for one of my classes. I was checking out Christianity Today's site, and this popped out at me: Purpose-Drive in Rwanda. I haven't read the whole thing yet, the Library closes in 15 minutes, but if you get a chance, READ IT! With the little I have read already, my jaw has been dropping...and my soul has been utterly motivated!

earthquakes

real quick..I just saw this on a news site, and couldn't take. there were 3 earthquakes today... 1 in California, none dead that iv'e heard of yet; 1 in Guatamala, between 1,400 - 3,000 dead; and in South Asia, 18,000 in Pakistan alone. click here for full story and pictures (as of 10/9/05 - 12:45 A.M.) Call it stupid, but for this moment, I feel like I can hear all those souls crying out as they died...almost wondering "is this it? this is the end? there had to have been so much more." And then my thoughts went to me (and probably you), and the state of blessing that we are have in America. I'm sitting here in a fully furnished kitchen, experiencing this through the screen on my laptop; with my cell phone sitting next to me, my car sitting outside the house, a latte in my hand, and a full stomach. And in the midst fo this; I keep getting this thought hammered through my head: "where would Jesus be right now?" or better yet, where is Jesus right now? I am convinced that He is right there in the midst of the utter agony and turmoil and sorrow; just trying to give His love to people. And here we sit, in our American prosperity (not dissing America, I am incredibly thankful to be here), whining and complaining about the stupidest, most miniscule things. And trust me, I'm at the front of this line. How much longer will it take for us to get over ourselves and our petty problems that pale in comparison to the rest of the world. Lord Jesus, help us to see as you see...