Notes

At Auschwitz PM Benjamin Netanyahu warned ''A new Amalek is appearing,” But who is this new Amalek? On investigation this is a powerful hard hitting condemnation. Most reporters implied the new Amalek is Iran. But Netanyahu didn't mention Iran by name (see full text of his speech. Netanyahu said at his previous Yad Vashem, “there is evil in the world”, “there is new Jew hatred in our midst”. Netanyahu didn't mean Iran, so who was he speaking of? ... More

It is 5am and the sun starts to lighten the eastern sky. I’ve been awake since 3am but can’t sleep…it’s just another one of those periods in my life when it is hard to believe that with God all things are possible (Mark 10:27). ... More

Who will be left behind 2012? who will survive 2012?

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What do we think of when we think of Sweden? Modern design? IKEA? Volvo? Saab? Or Aftonbladet's infamous Donald Bostrom (awarded Dishonest Reporter of 2009)? who without evidence accused Israel of illegally harvesting organs from Gaza people during the war. ... More

There has been a fact lost in translation from objective science to politics.

AFP reported Britain blames China over 'farcical' climate talks ... More

Even before the Swiss vote to ban minarets, there was a half formed picture in my mind, which the news story fitted. The recent Swiss vote to ban minarets, has followed a few of what may be seen as anti-Muslim proposals and political actions in Europe, including stringent citizenship restrictions in Denmark. ... More

If we don't know the past, we don't know if we are repeating it. It is possible the current American administration, and now Brazil and Spain's leaders, in applying pressure to stop construction in Jerusalem aren't informed regarding readily available Middle East history. ... More

Here kitty, kitty..oh it's a bear!

In the wilds of the nations, it may be a matter of life and death to know what type of animal a nation is, and the habits of that animal. ... More

There are moments which we experience which become stamped on our minds. The pictures of people on the Berlin Wall pecking away bits of concrete is one of mine. I'm sure the images I have in my mind were impressed there over a few nights' news, but they are all one indelible moment in my mind. ... More

Recent news of the estimated adherents to various religions by an American think tank have led to such articles as at Aletheia College which projects increases in Muslim population as if it should scare Christians. There are now an estimated 1.57 billion Muslims, with up to 5% of the European population being Muslim. ... More

Why did Israel have to buy and then fight for the promised land if it was promised to them? Why were they not just given it? ... More

Just as Jewish families are each building their sukkah, many thousand families in the Asia-Pacific region will be similarly dwelling in temporary shelter, in some cases made of whatever they can find. ... More

When President Obama made his inaugural speech to the United Nations on September 23 to map the direction he felt the world should take, he made the issue of Israel a key part of his 4 'pillars'. His aim is a divided Israel. But the final word on this issue is already written. Obama should know about this. He made his oath as President with his hand on that final word given on Israel. ... More

Yom Kippur is the time of the year set aside by Yahweh for the confession of sins. At this time we can think of the king who during his reign made some grave mistakes. As a result he experiences suffering. This king is David. All these experiences meant that, in addition to being a talented musician, he became a compassionate king who could weep for his people and who could write songs for those who suffered. ... More

How do we know a lying Prophet? Will we be able to make an excuse before Jesus at the Judgement by claiming we were deceived? Are we not asked to recognise false prophets? In any case we have been given an exemplar judgement of the God of Israel regarding our responsibility to recognise a false prophet, in the history of the man of God, the false prophet and the lion. The incident is recorded in 1 Kings 13. ... More

What does the science of clouds, human ideas of climate change, and what the Bible observes regarding climate have to say to us regarding our faith? ... More

There are no more powerful love stories than those in the Bible. Jacob served 14 years for Rachel. Samson gave his strength for Delilah. There is much said in churches about the amazing grace of God and the love of Jesus. ... More

Prayer is only effective if is is to a Being who has power over our lives. Yet how many brush aside what the Bible says about God's power on earth? How many people do not consider that earthquakes are an 'act of God'? Do we have the faith to move mountains? ... More

This day the Ninth of Av (30 July 2009) is not a memorial given by God. It is a Jewish day for mourning the evil of the sudden absence of God that came with the destruction of the Temple (twice, on the same date, the Ninth of Av, 660 years apart), and 65 years later on the same date, in 135AD the destruction of the last Jewish fortress of the Bar Kochba revolt from Rome, after 3 years of Jewish independence in the Holy Land. ... More

The Italian city of L'Aquila has been suddenly brought before the world's attention. Firstly for the devastating earthquake that destroyed the old city while celebrating Easter, and secondly for the decision to locate the G8 summit there. The city of L'Aquila is no small unimportant town but has a proud independent past history as a regional leader, which has, dramatically, now been lost. Do the events here have global significance? ... More

Once again scientific research confirms the science of the Bible. We are not talking about creation, but about everyday observation of the real world. New scientific research concerning persuasion and the right ear advantage confirms the biblical knowledge of the subtleties of how humans are made and the right side's role in how they interact. ... More

Much is said about 'global warming' due to pollution from human activities releasing Carbon Dioxide. But Carbon Dioxide can't be seen, whereas combustion from heating fires always produced smoke. That faint brown pollution haze over a city is as old as civilization. And the apostle Paul tells us about it. ... More

The Hubble Telescope (when working) sends back beautiful optical, ultraviolet and near-infrared pictures, but what else does it do? Is it, perhaps the most expensive digital camera made by mankind? ... More

Today David Horovitz editor of the Jerusalem Post drew our attention to a connection of Christian the lion to Jerusalem. But there is more to it than even David Horovitz has found. The whole incident has deep significance on every level. ... More

In Israel Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day, celebrates when a divided city became one in 1967 on the 28th of Iyar. The Hebrew date varies in the Georgian calendar. In 2009 it's Friday 22 May. The issue of Jerusalem at 42 is one requiring the wisdom of Solomon. ... More

There was much debate about Benedict XVI's visit to Israel. Was it really just a personal visit, as he represents the Vatican state no matter what he does? Then there was the issue of sovereignty over six (6) sites, which sounds very like state business. The issue of sovereignty has profound implications. ... More

Remembering May 14, 1948. Today is an anniversary of the declaration of the state of Israel. A time to remember why it was established. To remember why the call went out for a place where Jews could freely be Jews. A place for the people no nation on earth wanted. ... More

The Bible doesn't contain theoretical analysis such as the Myers-Briggs personality test, rather it shows us people in action, where their character is demonstrated by their decisions. ... More

The Swine Flu outbreak reveals some issues that are worthy for a society to ponder. The events illustrate just how advanced the law of Moses was and also how it could prevent needless death- even today! ... More

There is one myth that has no foundation: it is a total myth that having 13 at the last supper was unlucky. Also the term 'last supper' does not occur at all in any reputable translation of the Bible. It was not the last time Jesus will keep that supper. ... More

Is there more to a name?

Names as a Sign long ago

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Creation, Darwin: variation of the Origin the species

This year 2009 is the year of Darwin, not the place in Australia but the man (John Clements Wickham named "Port Darwin" in honour of his former shipmate Charles Darwin). ... More

Emotion and Intellect

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How news makes a crisis

News is not a merely a neutral report of events. ... More

Does faith have anything to do with the economy? This present crisis shows it does. Business “confidence” is a measure of an economy. Kevin Rudd the Prime minister of Australia describes the answer to Australian loss of confidence as a need 'to move heaven and earth'. ... More

George Bush was not at all concerned about a shoe being thrown at him. To most people in the European or Western world, that is the sort of thing an immature kid might do. If they threw rotten fruit, now that might be an insult, but a shoe? ... More

In the Middle East the shadows of history are cast very long.

Before it was Palestine it was Canaan

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The current world Economic Failure

The credit crisis, stock market falls and government fear have come from fundamental failures in a profit orientated free market economy. The world in placing value on growth on money or in old fashioned terms, usury, has forgotten the meaning of economy.

Definition of economy

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This past year 2007-8 was 5768 in the Hebrew calendar. The 824^th occurrence of the 7^th year, or in Hebrew shmita. ... More

Amongst the leading online world news reports for the week, dominated by the distress in China due to earthquake and the devastating cyclone in Burma, was a tribute to 60 years with Israel. But is there any link between the three countries? ... More

'Armageddon' is English for an Ancient Greek translation of a Hebrew place name, but, due to its use to describe any form of disaster, it is much misunderstood. The Bible is very simple. The Bible says that at this place there will be a battle. A battle in a war between all nations. A world war. ... More

There are many different reasons why people turn to God in Christianity. One of those is the promise of future reward from God. On the surface it seems a somewhat selfish motive, but it does go deeper when the full picture is considered. ... More

One of the challenges of Christian life is that there is a very high and specific standard set for a believer in God. Such a believer is called on to take on the attitudes of God himself. Inevitably people with even the highest of intentions find themselves not managing to achieve what they feel they should be doing. Then they wonder why it is that they always seem to fail. ... More

Psalm 78 is long list of how the people of Israel were given great signs of the presence and care of their God, but still turned away and forgot him. It shows how easy and natural it is for people to ignore all the evidence that God has given, and leave him out of their minds. ... More

For quite some time now, Charles Darwin's theory of the origin of the species through natural selection has been taught as something well understood. However, the preferred model of punctuated equilibrium is often not the one that is taught, leading to a misunderstood evolution. ... More

To God, marriage is a symbol of a unity that is intrinsic to his creation. From the Bible we find that people were designed with marriage in mind, so that it is part of our nature. But reaching further, it is also a relationship that may be abstracted and is echoed in the one we are called to develop with Jesus. ... More

For many years, there has been an emphasis in secular society to value personal freedom. It is contrasted against the oppression that may be seen in countries that are not ``free''. Indeed many people have honourably paid a high physical price for the cause of freedom. However, there is a presumption that when people are free, they will be happy and fulfilled. While there is a truth in this, the Bible shows that there can also be a hidden price and that it can be wise to forgo some opportunities to freedom. ... More

The accounts of the death of Jesus are surprising in just how weak he seems to be. We know from his earlier miracles that he was capable of so many things, and could defeat enemies, but yet here we see him as defeated under the strength of the opposition. Of his crucifixion, it was recorded, ... More

The book of Zechariah starts with an appeal by God at around 500BC for the people of Israel to return to him. For many years God had persisted with those people even though they often failed to obey him. But still, God continued with them, punishing them for their evil and calling them to return to him. Without ever lowering His own expectations, he continually reached out to them and reiterated that they would eventually obey him and be blessed. ... More

The first epistle of John quite strongly emphasises the importance of having love for other people. It is placed as being one of the central attributes that someone must have in order to even be able to accept or to understand God. Modern society has a whole range of understandings of what love is, or how it may be expressed. They may vary among ideas that include lust, and simply making people happy. The views of our society will affect our initial response, so we need to take care to find the real interpretation. ... More