By Joe McKeever

Just because people look at us when we stand to deliver a homily, we must not automatically think we possess knowledge, authority, or anything not available to the least among us. They could be listening for God.

Just because they fill the pews to worship God and in the process, listen to our sermons and say good things afterwards, does not mean they are there to hear us. They could be there for greater reasons.

If they laugh at our jokes and weep at our stories, we are not to think of ourselves as gifted communicators who have mastered our craft. It could be they are people of grace and graciousness.

We are messengers for Jesus Christ.

Anything more is wrong.

And could be dangerous.

In the early days of radio news networking, the Columbia Broadcasting System established a national hookup which allowed newspeople to speak to one another on the air at the same time from different locations across America. What is standard procedure for us was once revolutionary and radically new. Before they went on the air, news director Edward R. Murrow told his colleagues, “Just because our voice now carries from one end of the country to the other does not mean we possess any more wisdom than when it only carried to the end of the bar.”

When a young preacher is given acclaim for his pulpit work, he may find himself dealing with an onslaught of egotistical forces, powerful voices all telling him how wonderful he is, how brilliant are his teachings, how gifted his delivery, and yes, how superior he is to his colleagues.

The moment he starts believing that rubbish he’s in trouble. From the moment he sips of that kool-aid, he becomes less and less valuable to the Lord’s work, less helpful to the Lord’s people, and more susceptible to the enticements of the flesh.

The successful young preacher may find himself struggling with these temptations:

The temptation to pontificate.  A preacher “pontificates” when he comes across as a little pope dictating behaviour and doctrine to his listeners. Something he said is true because he said it was so. Anyone questioning him risks bringing down the wrath of the Almighty upon himself.

All humility has gone out the window, all gray areas of doctrine have disappeared, and all questions of right and wrong have their solution in his pronouncements. Lord help his congregation. The preacher is on the path of Jim Jones of Jonestown.

The temptation to preen. Privately, he spends a lot of time checking his image in mirrors and goes to extremes to see that his clothing and coiffure are only the best. His public expects nothing less from him, he assures himself. The household budget is sacrificed so that he may dress the part he has chosen for himself. Pity his poor wife, if he has one.

The moment the messenger thinks he himself is the message, everything is downhill from then on.

The tendency to posturing. He expects to be treated differently from others, to be taken to the head of the line at the restaurant, to be recognized by the public, and acclaimed by everyone. Everything he does is determined, not by the question “what does the Lord want?” but “what will enhance my ministry?”

He becomes more and more demanding from those inviting him to preach. He will stay only in certain places, and requires a number of amenities in order to be comfortable. And did we say that the honorarium must either be sizeable or that he himself be allowed to solicit the congregation for the love offering?

The urge to control the publicity. It’s all about him. He either writes the articles or sees that someone does with the intent of puffing his resume, of glorifying his ministry, of selling his services. Do not read such puffery for factual reports because you will not find any. The meeting attended by 200 people by actual count balloons to a thousand by the time his spin machine tells it.

The tendency to use people who can help you and discount all others. If this successfully and acclaimed messenger of God happens to be a local church pastor, do not look for him to show up in your hospital room when you’re having surgery. He has underlings to handle such nitty gritty of pastoring. He’s interested only in the glory work, the television cameras and the crowds and the big numbers.

Such a minister–to use the word loosely–hones in on people with talents he needs and money he can get to.

Any pastor who has been in the Lord’s work for a decade or more has seen the type, and is sickened by it.

My brother was pastoring a church in Alabama and invited a well-known preacher to do a meeting of several days in his church. He arranged for a fine family in his congregation to host the guest preacher. However, the first day he was in town, the guest was introduced to another family in the church with big money. My brother was chagrined to learn hours later the guest preacher had moved out of the home where he had been placed, and moved into the million-dollar home of the family he had just met. He never invited that man to his church again.

Many years ago, when I was a pastor in my late 20s, we were having a good deal of success leading the teenagers of our city and encouraging those in other churches. On one occasion we scheduled a youth rally at the courthouse square and invited a popular young evangelist–really young, he was barely 18 years of age!–to speak to the crowd from the courthouse steps. He accepted, came, did the assignment, and left. The event went off fine. But I have never forgotten one thing the young popular preacher said.

With a grandiose manner, he exclaimed, “As I travel around this great world of ours….”

He’d probably not been out of the Deep South. I said he was 18 years old.

I wonder sometimes what ever happened to him.

Let the preacher say with John the Baptist, “He must increase; I must decrease.”

Read another McKeever column: Do you know what tenacity looks like?

Dr. Joe McKeever is a Preacher, Cartoonist, and retired Director of Missions for the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans. Visit his website.

NEARLY everyone has heard of the powerhouse Israel is in regards to start-up companies, creative ideas and investment. In addition, during the past few years Israel has appeared to weather the recession storm with carefully planned adjustments to minimize the impact on their economy. But, amid the ongoing Arab Palestinian issues and widespread Middle East instability investors are increasingly asking if it is still safe to invest in Israel.

In this column I will concentrate on business operations, investment, tales, misconceptions, divesting and boycotts (I have commented on some of these items in earlier articles).

Some companies, organizations and religious establishments have already taken selective boycott and divesting steps to address what they consider apartheid behavior by Israel against Arab Palestinians. But, this is only a hypocritical, ignorant and convenient cloak utilized by people, organizations and companies with agendas unwilling to accept facts and reality. Moreover, they allegedly have an anti-Jewish or anti-Israel scheme as encyclopedias, historical documents, the Bible, and living historians can confirm there is no such thing as a Palestinian race. (Note: some Bibles, dictionaries and encyclopedias have been updated to accommodate a future ‘State of Palestine’ as if it already existed, and contain material provided by organizations promoting such achievements. This misinformation is flooded on the Internet).

The land commonly known in ancient times as Canaan or Israel was initially renamed ‘Palestine’ by the Romans to insult the Jews living there (Palestine symbolized the Tribe of Philistines, enemies of the Israelites).  The term ‘Palestine’ eventually became well-known during the British Mandate for Palestine era from which the State of Israel was reborn in 1948. During the ‘Palestine Territory’ millennia, the territory had several ethnic groups and religions integrated due to the expulsion of many Jews by the Assyrians and Babylonians, and colonization from eastern settler tribes. Consequently, both Arabs and Jews in the territory were referred to as Palestinians.

In 1923 the League of Nations (replaced in 1945 with the United Nations), confirmed the Mandate for Palestine formalizing the division of British protectorates in the territory, formerly ruled by the Ottoman Empire, for a national home for the Jewish people, under British authority, and Transjordan (country of Jordan) to be ruled by the Hashemite family (currently King Abdullah II ibn Al-Hussein).

So in modern times, Israel, in theory, could be called Jewish Palestine. However, the Jews prefer ‘Israel’ as it was originally called several thousand years ago, named after their forefather Israel, commonly known as Jacob, son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham (rather than naming it after the Philistines as the Arabs want to do). Additionally, neither are the Israelis ‘occupiers.’ This is because the contemporary Israelis and ex-Jewish Palestinians are living in their own ancestral land which has had a continual Jewish presence from ancient days.  In fact, the original land of Israel was significantly more extensive than its current borders therefore the Arabs might be considered ‘the occupiers’.

Furthermore, there is no way a truly sincere person, organization or company could divest or boycott Israel unless they go all the way. This would mean divesting and boycotting (including usage) of anything to do with medical, computers, cell phones, music, gaming and movies as Israelis or Israel has contributed, invented, has the patents, provided the lyrics, music, plots, scripts, or the Research and Development (R & D), or has (application) software and/or the hardware in these categories. And, I encourage people to research for themselves what I have presented.

Now that we’ve established Israel’s vast worldwide technical dominance, I should point out that veteran investors are not intimidated to invest in Israel, and Israel has a very loyal pool of investors (even purportedly secret Arab investment).  Investment in Israel thrives, including western investment, despite socialist business behavior trends, accountability challenges, possible organized crime infiltration, and controlling unions. (Except, this financial description could describe numerous countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and North and South America).

For example, when I first came to Israel there was a popular saying among international Jews and locals. “If you want to make a little money in Israel, bring a lot of money with you”. Then, when making a transaction in the banks, the tellers didn’t use consistency or face the bills in the drawers. There were no financial or business standard operating procedures.  When making a notable purchase, every page of the contract had to be initialed in fear parts of a page would be altered (still in practice). Rumors flourished whether Israel was one big financial bubble or pyramid, based on unsupervised and erratic business practices, the nineteen or so families that controlled the majority of the wealth (and trading among themselves), and the veiled Israeli financial market. Too many institutions were accustomed to massive overseas contributions, companies addicted to overseas investment (no internal watchdog for outside investment), and nearly everyone depended on State of Israel bailouts in case of failure which contributed to a comprehensive severe lack of accountability.

Although, beginning in about 1995 Israel started to change. They realized the population needed western business tactics and education if Israel was to compete in the world market. The government began strict enforcement of International Monetary Fund (IMF) regulations, local banks reorganized, individuals trained in western business, and Israel brought in a talented Bank of Israel Governor to pull the country out of the foreseen socialistic monetary tailspin.

At present, according to western standards there is more progress needed as Israel is still under a massive burden from social institutions and government owned companies. In fact, Israel might witness a further tax increase. The new, untested Israeli Finance Minister really has a challenge ahead dealing with the deficit and balancing a budget along with leadership change at the Bank of Israel. Also, Israel is dependent on trade with several international markets so if the EU market, Euro, US market or Dollar crashes, Israel most likely will suffer.

Nonetheless, despite the world depression Israel is making a monumental effort in strategizing and compensating for future developments. Likewise, if Israel can maintain financial continuity and structure during the global recession, sustain regional security, and achieve the Prime Minister’s dream of an eventual tax refuge, maybe along with their recent discovery of oil and gas, in time Israel will be a coveted financial haven to both foreign investors and the Israeli public.

Read more columns by the writer

Don Davis has over 20 years experience in analytic research particularly regarding Israeli, Middle Eastern culture, behavior and historical patterns. Don is based in Israel, from where he monitors and evaluates worldwide information on finance, technologies, industries, and the military/political environment for a US consulting company.

By Johnson V

1 Corinthians 15 1-10

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

 And that He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

After that, He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

After that, He was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

And last of all He was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

JESUS CHRIST came to earth because there was a need in the world. He died on the cross and on the third day came to life. And was seen in many places for forty days. Romans saw Him and even they believed in Him believed because they themselves crucified Him on the cross and they understood that whatever Jesus said was true.

What did Jesus achieve through resurrection?

We are created in the image of God. We share certain nature of God and culture of God, like God never dies. He was, He will and He is. Similarly even human beings never die. Our body may end but we will continue to live.

When He died and rose again He brought eternal purpose to human life. Death was brought from the devil but Jesus Christ our lord He destroyed it in his body. God said your body might die but I will bring eternal life to you through me.

Everything began but God always was. Our brain can’t understand God.

Everything has expiry date but God has none. Same way body will end but not you. You will continue to live.

God created us to enjoy life. God wants you to prosper, be happy, have victory in everything we do, but devil brought wickedness in human life. Death, old age, sin became part of live. But devil brought curses to the world. Humanity is bound with slavery, diseases, Inequity, death, sin which is brought by devil.

God is not calling us to become very religious.

Every good thing has bad side because of devil. Like medicines have side effects with the healing.

God wanted life to be without stress. Resistance is gift of life. Stress is from devil. But God will help us to manage stress.

Bible says everyone is born a sinner. So when God became man, He didn’t choose to be born by natural birth.

He performed millions of miracles and died for us as a sacrifice. The greatest enemy of human life is death. When He died He was buried for three days. Then his spirit came back to his body, revived it and He went out of the cave, met with people and dealt with them.

When He died and rose again He brought eternal purpose to human life. Death was brought from the devil but Jesus Christ our lord He destroyed it in his body. God said your body might die but I will bring eternal life to you through me.

For all who believed in Him He gave them the power to be called as sons of God and opened a way to eternal life. He didn’t only come to give us eternal life but abundant life on earth too.

Adam and Eve are the ancestors of human generation. Christ is the ancestor of spiritual generation. As soon as you believe in Him, you get filled with the Holy Spirit and you become a child of God. God said all you have to is to believe in Him. He is the only savior. He is only son of God. No one else but Jesus brings freedom from eternal death.

The writer is the pastor in-charge of Bethel AG International Worship Center in Bangalore, India. More columns.

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By Don Davis

A few days before the Israel visit of President Obama, I commented to colleagues that besides the usual demonstrations, rhetoric and theories, the trip may turn out to be really boring. But, despite a couple of rockets fired into Israel from Gaza and a sand storm, the overall trip seemed to be quite an achievement for the US President.

Fortunately, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had signed an agreement with coalition partners and Israel had a government a few days prior to the American entourage arriving. There were no controversial visits to the Temple Mount area, including the Western Wall, and the US President left before the Passover Holiday began.

In addition, the Israeli representatives behaved cordial among themselves and kept the malicious in-fighting and leaks to a minimum. You can read about the Israeli leaks last year that supposedly prompted American anxiety of an Israeli preempt strike on Iran or Syria near the 2013 Passover holiday in my March 12^th, 2013 article.

Meanwhile, from the moment President Obama stepped off Air Force One he was treated as a long lost brother and a rock star. Throughout the visit Obama looked Presidential and behaved down-to-earth. The arrogant demeanor that sometimes plagues his perception was absent. Wisely, the US President returned to his original message of hope and synergy that enthusiastically got him elected the first term as he challenged the Israeli public and youth to help initiate change.  This behavior reversal may be attributed to a more experienced Obama, both Hillary and Bill Clinton, and John Kerry as Obama acted less idealistic, yet diplomatic and flexible.  Good travel preparation, meetings with US Jewish leaders and a candid, personalized pre-travel news interview on Israeli TV may have also been important aspects.

The confrontational atmosphere between President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu was publicly nonexistent. Instead the two leaders appeared as solid partners. They kept their message fairly consistent and coordinated with each other, and honestly seemed to enjoy themselves.

Yes, the US President’s messages were accepted (or not accepted) as usual, divided by party lines. And, a few, maybe many Israelis, are still not convinced a US guarantee for safety is reliable. This is because of the immediate and instantaneous dangers that threaten Israeli daily lives by enemy militias, terrorists and armies that are bio/chemical and (potentially) nuclear armed, and the speed and coordination of attacks by wireless, Internet, social networking, and weapon systems.

In relation to the so-called peace talks, in my opinion the US visit did not address what I believe are vital factors. First, is protecting Israel after Fatah Party Palestinian Arab President Mahmoud Abbas ceases to exist politically. Second, rarely anyone in Gaza would dare demonstrate or try to initiate change against the Hamas (Party). That is unless they want to be brutally tortured and then shot dead.  Those are the stark realities that plague Israel in signing a peace treaty with unstable and inconsistent so-called Palestinian governments that are actually two separate Arab Palestinian entities (and Fatah and Hamas are bitter enemies). The rockets fired into Israel during Obama’s visit are a sober reminder of this ongoing paradox.

Additionally, I want to comment on the realism of starting a company in Israel and the Middle East. It is common practice in the Middle East to pay or provide gifts (some may refer to as payoffs) for necessary company start-up elements that might include agreements, contacts, deals, protection and general essentials. Moreover, a middleman will frequently be paid by the seller and the buyer on the same transaction. Furthermore, anyone or a company that is non-local will usually pay more, sometimes double or triple the rate (but this is practiced nearly worldwide).

Nevertheless, many would say President Obama’s trip was a personal, diplomatic and military success. This coupled with a good PR and photo (video) travel campaign including a charming moment with the US Ambassador to Israel’s family during departure.

Therefore, Obama is credited for restarting the peace talks, the release of funds for the Arab Palestinian Authority, a possible Iranian nuclear freeze, Israel’s apology to Turkey paving the way for allied coordination for strikes against Syria and Iran if necessary, and Israeli/Turkish gas, oil and military contracts. Obama is as well rumored to have received assurances from Israel against preempt strikes, or at the least notification if strikes occur, despite recent intelligence suggesting Iran might have already crossed the ‘red line’. The leaders may have also agreed to a June 2013 date to re-evaluate Middle East security action. That is unless something dramatic happens like fundamental deterioration in the Syrian and Iranian (or Gaza, Egyptian and Jordanian) status-quo.

Although, the entire American Middle East diplomatic coexistence and peace drive may be in jeopardy or sidelined (maybe even before this article is published) due to Israel/Turkey agreement friction, and the direct war threat to US personnel and US interests from North Korea, which is (purportedly) exactly what Iran planned with their North Korean nuclear partner.

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Don Davis has over 20 years experience in analytic research particularly regarding Israeli, Middle Eastern culture, behavior and historical patterns. Don is based in Israel, from where he monitors and evaluates worldwide information on finance, technologies, industries, and the military/political environment for a US consulting company.

By Grace Ida Rajan

IN India, falling at some one’s feet can mean two things: it is either intended as an act of respect or a desperate supplication. When I studied the life of Mary of Bethany in the gospels, I was amazed to find her at the feet of Jesus Christ on three occasions – each time her action signified great truths.

Attitude of Learning – Sitting at His Feet (Luke 10:38-42)

In this incident, Mary sat at the Lord’s feet listening to His teachings. But Martha, Mary’s sister, was concerned and deeply worried about fixing a meal for Jesus and His disciples. She was distracted by all the preparations as she was trying to host a big dinner for them. Martha complained. Jesus adjudicated between the women by favoring Mary’s choice of learning at His feet than feeding Him with delicacies. Jesus was a radical here because He negated the prevalent teaching of Rabbi Eliezer who said that a man who teaches his daughter the Jewish Scriptures is teaching her obscenity.

World over women, whether they are professionals or home-makers, spend more time in ‘kitchen.’ Jesus wants us to understand that women have to spend more time learning the Scriptures than getting confined to the kitchen. Sitting at the feet is typical of a disciple who learns from a master. Jesus wants His followers, especially women, to learn ‘one thing’ for sure – to learn things about God and His words in par with men.

Attitude of Faith – Falling at His Feet (John 11)

In the second incident Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, is dead. When Jesus comes to the town, Martha runs to Him while Mary sits at home. After Martha announced to the village about the arrival of Jesus, Mary quickly ran to Him, fell at His feet and cried. While Jesus proceeded towards the tomb Martha, who had only a few moments ago confessed that Jesus was the Messiah and the Son of God, stumbled in her faith by warning Him about the stench from the fresh grave (v.27). Martha confessed her faith with her mouth but had trouble putting her faith in action. Mary, on the other hand, true to God’s promise in Isaiah 28:16, trusted in God and showed her faith in Him by not acting in haste. Her faith came through hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17).

Mere confession does not account to one’s faith in God. But committing us to His care is accounted as faith. Mary demonstrated this by falling at Jesus’ feet. She remained confident thereafter. In the Old Testament, we read that Hannah was confident and no longer sad after pouring out her heart to God (1 Samuel 1:18).

Attitude of Love – Anointing His Feet (John 12:1-8)

The sisters who received Lazarus back from death honored Jesus by inviting Him home again. As was customary, Martha served Jesus food. Mary noticed Jesus’ feet as He was reclining. Mary, who chose to learn from Jesus by sitting at His feet, knew that His life in earth was coming to a close by death on the cross. Her heart was filled with such love that she poured an expensive perfume, worth a year’s wages on His feet. She wiped His feet with her hair. She knew that these feet would be pierced with nails a few days from then. A true knowledge of God demonstrated by learning at His feet led to demonstration of her faith and love in action. We read how Jesus appreciated Mary’s love and defended her against the accusation of the betrayer, Judas Iscariot.

I draw great strength from Mary’s life. I am motivated to keep learning truths from the Word of God all through my life. It is the enlightenment we derive from His words that gives us faith in God to get through tough situations in life. Learning God’s Word deeply would make us fall in love with Him. We can then look forward to kissing His nail-pierced feet the day we meet Jesus in person!

Read more articles by the same writer.

Grace and her husband Suresh Rajan are part of Charis Seva Mandal which works for the socially and geographically isolated communities.

By Don Davis

I rarely comment on unsubstantiated theories or unconfirmed source reports choosing rather to wait for authentication. But, one such hypothesis has surfaced which may have some merit and at the very least is intriguing.

This came about as analysts and bloggers tried to determine why US President Barack Obama scheduled his long awaited trip to Israel. In particular, why was the president’s visit scheduled for the Jewish holy holiday of Passover? In addition, why come when at the moment the Israeli political parties are trying to form a government?

The second question can easily be explained that the US President’s trip was scheduled well in advance. Although many would argue what is the point coming now without a new government formed? Why not instead cancel and reschedule (unless it is to allegedly annoy the already highly charged political environment).

But, it is the first question that has the most interest of why a high profile visit during Passover was scheduled. This is because over the Passover holiday many devout Jews periodically worship throughout the day and the strict eating restrictions nationwide can cause westerners challenges. Others question if the US President would visit a Muslim country for talks during a religious holiday such as Ramadan.

Consequently, was the planned visit an oversight? I doubt it. Did the president want to combine work with religious observance? Maybe, as in Israel that is a given with the numerous holy sites. But, what kind of religious observance? This specific question has fueled the rumor the president may intend to visit the Temple Mount, and that has already purportedly drawn criticism and warnings from Muslim representations and extremists. It also doesn’t help in suppressing the religious and ‘end times’ buzz that the president may be the king in the Book of Daniel chapter 8 prophecies and in the Book of Matthew 24:15.  The reason is that in the ‘end times’ prophecy, a foreign king or leader will possibly help rebuild the Temple in Israel and then set himself up as a god.

However, if none of the above reasons apply, why then is the president still coming? Many suggest President Obama is coming to demand concessions, intimidate and embarrass Benjamin Netanyahu (as the president believes Netanyahu did to him in Washington DC and on international TV), and supposedly for one more very important objective.  The suspected intent is the president wants to ensure by his personal presence that Israel doesn’t attack Iran in a well planned preempt strike over Passover holiday March 2013.

Some patterns and historical data do give credence to the preempt strike premise. The current government in Israel can order a strike in spite a new government coalition has not been formed, and because of the USA’s current objects may be preferable. Israel attacking on a Jewish holiday may be unexpected (or would have been) and a convenient cover as during Passover many families and individuals are driving all over Israel on visits.

Moreover, it is not an Israeli pattern to wait this long to deal with such a tremendous, severe threat leaving little time for the undetected, follow up or alternative action or strikes.  And, has been rumored for months that the US administration has previously prevented (maybe more than once) an Israeli preempt strike on the Iranian nuclear facilities during 2012.

So, is this theory true or bogus? Is it another attempt to confuse and keep the Iranians (more) paranoid? Or is the US President coming to coordinate a US/Israel strike to take place in the future? We’ll probably not know for sure until more time passes although reports indicate Iran expects Israel to attack soon. Two things will be interesting though. Will President Barack Obama eventually cancel the March trip to Israel if there is no Israeli government coalition agreement, and he gets a no-attack guarantee? Second, if President Obama does come how will he and Prime Minister elect Benjamin Netanyahu interact (since they supposedly strongly dislike each other)?

Furthermore, it will be fascinating to see if Benjamin Netanyahu will form a new government in the next few days or choose new elections. Personal conflict (if it does exist) with the US President may give Netanyahu reason to risk new elections, and with the security threat, may be in his favor to enlarge his party votes.

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Don Davis has over 20 years experience in analytic research particularly regarding Israeli, Middle Eastern culture, behavior and historical patterns. Don is based in Israel, from where he monitors and evaluates worldwide information on finance, technologies, industries, and the military/political environment for a US consulting company.

By Don Davis

SINCE the beginning of 2013 people have been asking what these new times might bring in the Middle East region, specifically with the instability in Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan, and looming Iranian nuclear ambitions.

Secular folk wonder if the reinstated US President will pursue a stronger Middle East strategy. Will Israeli Benjamin Netanyahu PM Select be more flexible to US and EU demands? Or can Benjamin Netanyahu even create and maintain a government?  Will Netanyahu and his cabinet give the order to attack Iran or Syria or will there be instead a civil war in Israel between the religious and the secular?

Many individuals who read and/or believe in the Bible question if we are near the end times, however, this is not exclusive to Christians and Jews as Muslims and some of the public in general, dispute the significance of the occurrences.

As for the direction of the US Middle East ‘peace’ policy and Israel’s new government, we don’t have to wait long to find out. Benjamin Netanyahu is rapidly negotiating partners for his coalition and President Obama is slated to be in the region in March. No one is wasting any time in getting organized for the new year’s challenges.

In the meantime, others pondering Biblical prophetic scriptures wonder if this world is teetering on the brink of total disintegration.  Many question if the current US President is the antichrist (known as the beast in the Book of Revelation), the king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences of the Book of Daniel. Some popular magazines and web sites have already used the term and image of the President as a ‘messiah’ to purportedly cryptically further flame the theories.  While others question if Israel’s paramount security threats along with their inner secular/religious strife is an advanced sign to the attack of Gog and Magog in the Book of Ezekiel, or the gentiles treading the holy city under foot in the Book of Revelation (existence of international forces policing or maintaining order in Israel).

Nowadays though, the statements above may seem like a joke or insanity to many people, but millions of others treat prophecy very seriously, maybe it secretly, and for that reason alone should not be ignored by the unbelieving. Therefore, all these events and potential events dramatically raise alarms to those who watch for the ‘end times’ while they debate whether they should prepare for the worse.

A couple things are for sure. The world is a much more dangerous place. Armies are rapidly modernizing, building and rebuilding in China, Russia, North Korea, and in the Middle East, and Christians and Jews worldwide are definitely being persecuted more often (America is no exemption).

So does this mean anything?

Based on the current conditions, I perceive four things could possibly happen. First, the Israelis will try to settle the secular/religious disputes by negotiation as the modern Israeli does not predominantly display physical-violence tendencies among themselves particularly while in danger from external forces.

Second, there is a chance of a massive, coordinated attack on Israel from joint Arab and Muslim extremist militias and terrorists, reinforced by Russian, North Korean and maybe Chinese weapons and advisors similar to the scenario in the Book of Ezekiel, chapter 38. Although, in order for this to occur, the Arabs would need to stop fighting themselves, and Russia, China and North Korea would have to have a contingency plan for USA intervention and Israeli retaliation that includes a nuclear confrontation on multiple fronts.

Third, there could be a collapse of Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon and/or a surprise Israeli preempt strike on Iran (which is what the US President wants to avoid and rumored why he is coming to Israel). Israelis fighting against either Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon or Iran could hypothetically, immediately plunge the Middle East into a regional war, combined with international forces, in which both Israel and the Arab countries sustain severe and traumatic destruction similar to references in the Book of Ezekiel, chapters 34, 35, parts of 36, and 38:8. That is, if, the Arabs can stop fighting each other long enough to concentrate on Israel.

Four, nothing happens. Or actually to be precise, exactly more of the same despairing state of affairs, attacks and retribution that have plagued Israel ever since they reemerged as a country, and the contentious conditions that have haunted the Middle East region for millennia. And unfortunately till now, circumstances haven’t altered despite who the Caesar, Prefect, Proconsul, King, Sultan, Sheik, Prime Minister, President, General, Diplomat or leadership was.  In fact, if someone does overcome the monumental odds and obstructions between the regional feuds, beliefs, religions, traditions and cultures, and does succeed in creating a peaceful Middle East region, maybe that is when we should be concerned about the ‘end times’.

Now, returning to the Obama and Netanyahu peace initiatives. I haven’t included the Palestinian National Authority (PA) because, it appears for them, not inflicting the Israelis with terrorism is concession enough and no other compromises are needed. In addition, along with world demands the PA has great hopes the US is going to force Israel into more gestures and concessions.

As a result, a lot of pressure is building against the Israelis to do something. Politicians are already spinning concessions in a positive light. Surprisingly, some have changed their view and want to recognize the PA, while others talk of a State of Palestine without the right of return or strong military capabilities. Even so, I do want to point out a couple of things. There is no way, once Palestine becomes a state, to relinquish their right of return or to refuse them to have a comprehensive military.  It isn’t legal and won’t stand up in court indefinitely to refuse a United Nation’s recognized country, their sovereign rights. Besides, once Palestine is a state, Russia and China who are on the Security Council will (allegedly) vote or change their vote so all  Arab Palestinians can return, and might even (allegedly) fully arm the State of Palestine in order to annoy the Israelis and the Americans and try to push them out of the region altogether.

In conclusion, conditions in the region are getting worse and the colossal task of restarting the ‘peace talks’ is a mighty undertaking. I know, for a fact, that the majority of Israelis sincerely do want some kind of arrangement that will ensure their security along with the Palestinian Arabs living nearby. Nevertheless, the chaotic environment, and the lingering historical mutual disdain related to bloodlines, failed talks, promises and bloodshed perpetually complicates the Middle Eastern quagmire.

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Don Davis has over 20 years experience in analytic research particularly regarding Israeli, Middle Eastern culture, behavior and historical patterns. Don is based in Israel, from where he monitors and evaluates worldwide information on finance, technologies, industries, and the military/political environment for a US consulting company.

ON Nov 3 in 2008 when my mother passed away, she was 65. She was unwell for a night. We rushed her to a hospital near our home and got her admitted in the emergency ward sometime before daybreak. The doctors who examined her did not find anything unusual – they said it could be a case of food poisoning.

They put her on regular IV fluids and said she could go home after the chief doctor saw her in the morning. An alert lady doctor who came in the morning shift examined her again, looked into her medical history and prescribed some more tests since she was a diabetic. The ECG report did not look good and so they paged a consultant heart specialist to hurry. But before he could arrive and before my mother’s treatment could begin, she breathed her last. She had multiple blocks in her heart and had suffered a silent but massive attack the previous night, the doctors said.

We knew she was diabetic. However, never once did she complain about chest pain. We did not suspect that anything was amiss with her heart condition. About 30 minutes before she passed away, I went into the ICU ward to see if she was doing OK. I asked her if she wanted to have some milk. She asked me to go out to the cafe and have some tea myself. She took one sip of the warm milk and returned the glass back to me. She asked me to speak to the nurse to help her in changing her overnight saree. I told the nurse and moved out of the ward. Minutes later, the nurse ran out of the ward towards me saying my mother was sinking. She was gone before I scurried to her bed.

A few days after her burial service, my father told me perhaps mother would have still been alive if only we had taken her to a ‘better hospital’. A few days later, he said: “If only we had asked for a second opinion from another specialist…’ The refrain haunted me along with the void in the house that looked bereft of color without her. My father’s grief and my own personal loss added to the pall around. Slowly, I started believing it too: ‘If only I had taken to her a better hospital…’ Several days after her death, I tossed around in my bed sleepless. I woke up in the night and walked around the house aimlessly. I wept when no one was around and if my wife or daughter walked by, I wiped the tears and turned my face away. ‘If only I had…’

These scenes from the past played out in my mind recently when I was reading John 11 during my daily devotion. I read it again and again to come to terms with what God was ministering to me. A balm for an old but still sore wound. Let me share it with you if it would help some of you reading this now.

Mary, Martha and their brother Lazarus lived in a small town called Bethany. When the brother became sick and died, Mary and Martha told a visiting Jesus Christ: “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:20).

Sure enough, that statement revealed their faith in the Lord. However, their faith was still poor and weak. What they did not realize at that time was that our Lord could heal with a word and from a distance. He did just that in healing the centurion’s servant (Matthew 8:5-13). Like Martha and Mary, we often fail to understand that in His beloved’s life and death, God has a plan. Just as Jesus used Lazarus’ death for the glory of God, He can use any event in our life for His purpose. If we think that something that happened in our life occurred without His knowledge and will, then we are totally and terribly wrong.

Most of us have sometime or the other thought on these lines: ‘If only that money that I expected came my way…’, ‘If only that person whom I counted on, helped me then…’, ‘If only that promotion came two years ago…’, ‘If only I had married that person…’, ‘If only I had secured that job.’ The lives that accumulate and nurture such ‘ifs…’ are miserable ones. If we believe those terrible ‘ifs’, then we are living in a fool’s paradise. These miserable thoughts are never from God but from the father of lies (John 8:44) and ‘the thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy’ (John 10:10).

So, what is the truth? The truth is none of us have any influence over some of the things that happen in our lives. David knew this and so he said: ‘My times are in Your hand’ (Psalm 31:15). When did he say this? Look at verse 11 to see the background. He said this when he became a reproach among his enemies, especially his neighbors and became repulsive to his acquaintances. But did he ever lose his faith on the Lord? No, in Psalm 56:3-4 he said: ‘Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?’ When our God led the Israelites in the wilderness it didn’t matter to Him whether it was day or night, He led them just the same (Psalm 78:14).

This Jesus is able to lead us even in our old age and gray hairs (Isaiah 46:4). Our Lord is good, all the time! Jesus is a good God (Mark 10:18).

The Lord will do a mighty thing, a new thing for those who live in the past and bemoan seemingly lost opportunities. He is ready to give rest to all those who labor and are heavy laden (Matthew 11:28). But trust in Him precedes the rest that He gives.

Robin Sam is the editor of The Christian Messenger magazine. He can be reached at editor [at] christianmessenger [dot] in

THERE is a battle raging for the minds and souls of men, even though most believers are unaware of it. The language of the text comes from an athletic competition. In 1:18 Paul alluded to a military term to “wage the good warfare,” to communicate the life and death struggle for the salvation of the lost.

This is not to suggest that one has to work extra hard to be saved; rather, the saved have to compete against all sorts of evil and falsehood to win the lost to eternal life.

The word “compete” (agonizomai) means to “contend for victory in the public games, fighting or wrestling.” Paul said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim 4:7). It means to “take pains, straining every nerve to the uttermost towards the goal” as in Luke 13:24, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate…”

The word “well” in our translation, or “good” in others, is the word kalos, meaning “beautiful, excellent, or noble,” to describe the nature of the conflict. The author of Hebrews wrote, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Heb 12:1). The honor and thrill of being able to compete on that level, and in that arena on earth, would be an honor few can experience, but we are to consider it the same honor to be able to serve the Lord to win the lost to Christ.

The first verb in our text is in the present tense meaning to “be continually competing for the faith,” but the second verb is an aorist imperative meaning to once-and-for-all-time “lay hold of that eternal life you were called for.” This does not mean that Timothy needed salvation, but he was to “get a grip” on the reality of eternal life and hell, to live his life from the perspective of eternity. The same idea is in Colossians 3:2, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” Likewise, the eternal concept is seen in our adopted country: “for our citizenship is in heaven, from which we eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil 3:20). We are to lay hold of these ideas and never let go.

In fact, the verbs are all aorist except the first one, thus once and for all the reader is to “lay hold on eternal life,” once and for all “you were also called” and once and for all “made your good confession.”  These are not repeated experiences but a one-time event that puts every believer into the competition.

Every believer is “called” to this competition, because He “has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began” (2 Tim 1:6). Knowing He has planned a purpose for our lives, we enter the public competition knowing He is with us always. Are you in the battle for the souls of men?

Psalm 144:1, “Blessed be the Lord my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, and my finger for battle.”

Read another devotional by Don Fanning

The writer is a professor at Liberty University, the world’s largest Christian university.

For a year’s daily devotional of these Bible studies, order a copy of the book Truths to Live By at Branches Publications for your copy.