UPDATES:
Gantz Declares Win, Rejects Netanyahu's Call for Negotiations

9-19-19, WallStreetJourn -- Former Lt General and military chief Benny Gantz declared victory today in Israel’s election and rebuffed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s calls for power sharing, as the country braced for weeks of political uncertainty at a time of rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Mr. Gantz has yet to receive a mandate to form a government from Israel’s president. [Israel’s Channel 12 projected Blue and White leading Likud 33 to 31 seats with 98% of the vote counted.]Mr. Gantz vowed to lead a broad coalition from across Israel’s political spectrum, known as a unity government, ending several years of right-wing and religious majorities led by Mr. Netanyahu.

Prime minister Netanyahu conceded Thursday that he would be unable to form the government; but insisted he would lead a unity government with Mr. Gantz’s Blue and White Party ... that Gantz rebuffed. Mr. Netanyahu said in a statement that he was disappointed by Mr. Gantz’s remarks. More here
***
An Unlikely Winner in Israel's Election
9-18-19, 11:00 PM, TEL AVIV, Israel: ForeignPolicy.com—A day after voting in the second parliamentary election in half a year, Israelis woke up on Wednesday to an uncertain picture of who would be their leader. For the first time in the Jewish state of Israel, the country’s Arab Muslim minority could wield some leverage in the political process. An alliance of four small Arab political parties, is part of a left-center bloc that drew enough votes in yesterday’s election to prevent Netanyahu's Likud party from forming a governing coalition. Arab Israelis make up about 20 percent of the country’s population. Now, the coming weeks of coalition haggling, the Blue & White party may become a key bulwark for Former Army Lt Gen Benny Gantz if he becomes prime minister... more here
***

9-18-19, Business Insider -- Apparently the Blue White Party of Benny Gantz has more votes [one] than Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud Party. The governing apparatus in Israel will now go into huge compromises to form a government. The two largest parties will now make deals with the smaller parties in order to form a government; just like they did in April and failed causing the second election.

Israel election: exit polls suggest result too close to call – live ...
9-17-19, 6 mins ago - Guardian -- According to the TIMES OF ISRAEL, Yuli Edelstein, the Knesset speaker and a senior member of Likud, says that the party will stick by Netanyahu. However, current polls suggest that neither Benjamin Netanyahu [Likud] nor Benny Gantz [Blue & White] will likely have enough seats and allies to form a 61-seat majority. A national unity government is possible but unlikely as long as Netanyahu is Likud leader because Gantz has ruled out joining a government with Netanyahu. More here

Psalm 1:5, 5:4-6
​
9-3-19, * -- I Am Unashamedly Politically a Bible Believing Conservative Christian. While I Strongly Disagree with Liberals Progressives and Conservatives on Most Political Issues, I Believe Liberals/Progressives and Most Politicians Are Terribly Misguided. However, I do Find Myself in Agreement with some Conservative Politicians on Some Issues, I Do Not Believe Electing Republicans Is the Answer to Everything. [..snip] 

 We learn from the Parable of the Weeds in Matthew 13:24–30 that Satan works to deceive the church by mingling his children with God’s children, often making it difficult for true born again  believers [John 3:3, 7] to discern the true from the false. The more we are familiar with Scripture, the easier it will be for us to detect the true Christians from the false converts.

True Christians are controlled by and have the Spirit of Christ indwelling their hearts (Galatians 4:6); they are no longer controlled by their sinful nature (Romans 8:9). When a person receives Christ, tremendous spiritual changes take place in them; true converts will indeed display the characteristics of genuine Christians. "The old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

For example, true Christians will understand the importance of abiding daily in God’s Word, which shows, not only how we can be saved from our sins, but how to behave and speak. (2 Timothy 3:17; James 1:25) True Christians will walk in the Light [Jesus is the Light] and obey God’s commands: "Whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him." (1 John 2:5). [And when we accidentally slip; the Lord Jesus will forgive our heartfelt repentance.]

Once again the Democrat National Committee (DNC) has made it clear they prefer Godless voters or as they dub these individuals, the “Religiously Unaffiliated Demographic,”  calling them their “largest religious group within the Democratic Party.” [2 Timothy 3:1-2, 3-5; Psalm 1:5, 5:4-6]

“Come Lord Jesus!” Revelation 22:20

​*Excerpted and adapted full original report from Stevie Ray Hansen here and here www.HNewsWire.com

1 Peter 2:21; Isaiah 53:1-8; Matthew 26:57-68; Mark 14:53-65; John 18:19-24

9-9-19, Henry Morris, PhD -- Some have tried to pattern their lives after that of Jesus simply by asking in every situation, “What would Jesus do?”  [WWJD] However, in the context of our text [1 Peter 2:21], the primary “example” that He left us was nothing less than His own sacrificial death.

Note the context: “For this is thankworthy [same word as ‘grace’], if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully . . . if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, yet take it patiently, this is acceptable [also the same word as ‘grace’] with God.” (1 Peter 2:19-20)

Therefore, to follow Christ’s example is to be willing to endure unjustified suffering—even defamation and persecution—with grace and patience. But that's not all; we must also do it in silence! “Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not” (1 Peter 2:23). “As a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7; Luke 23:9)

It's a natural reaction to want to strike back at one who has slandered or injured us and defend ourselves, especially if such an act was an insulting response to kindness. But such a “natural” reaction was not Christ’s reaction. He could have called “twelve legions of angels” (Matthew 26:53) to His defense, but He chose to suffer in silence. (Isaiah 53:7; Luke 23:9)

And why would He do such a thing? First, if He had not done so, we would have been lost in our sins forever. He “bare our sins in His own body on the tree.” (1 Peter 2:24) Second, He left us an example, that we “should follow His steps.”

 Forbes -- Everyone knows Donald Trump is rich; but how about the other people jockeying to replace him as president? Forbes dug into the details—examining financial disclosure statements, scouring local real estate records and calculating pension benefits—to figure out the finances of the 2020 candidates. More here

​​Revelation 16:12
​
​Drought, dams and dry rivers: Iraqi farmers are giving up hope
9-18-18, Alain Gachet -- Around 70 percent of Iraq’s water resources flow mainly from the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers, which both flow through Turkey. Once a water-rich country, Iraq is facing drought, a significant drop in annual rainfall, salinity, a decline in the level of water flowing into the country, following the construction of major dams in Turkey and Iran since the 1970s.

​​ The Tigris-Euphrates Basin comprising Turkey, Syria, Iraq and western Iran — is losing water just like God said they would:

"The Lord will dry up the gulf of the Egyptian sea; with a scorching wind he will sweep His handover the Euphrates River. He will break it up into seven streams so that anyone can cross over in sandals. There will be a highway for the remnant of His people that is left from Assyria, as there was for Israel when they came up from Egypt." Isaiah 11:15-16

"The waters of the river will dry up, and the riverbed will be parched and dry. The canals will stink; the streams of Egypt will dwindle and dry up. The reeds and rushes will wither, also the plants along the Nile, at the mouth of the river. Every sown field along the Nile will become parched, will blow away and be no more."  Isaiah 19:5-7

"None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will  understand." Daniel 12:10

Come to Jesus While Ye May!
John 14:6

Excerpted and adapted full original message here
Yale University 4/2017 about the "Disappearing Nile" here

9-16-19, * -- The constitution of ‘Palestine’, a terror state funded by the rest of the world, declares that "Islam is the official religion in Palestine" and that "Islamic Sharia shall be a principal source of legislation." Sharia, or Islamic law, imposes the death penalty on homosexuality. That’s the way it is from Islamic Qatar to Iran, and Saudi Arabia to Afghanistan. So it shouldn’t have been much of a surprise when a gathering by a gay right group operating under Palestinian Authority rule, Al-Qaws, was met with severe threats.
 
The Palestinian Authority Org [PLO] police, a paramilitary terror organization that draws its personnel from supporters of Fatah, the core group of the PLO, warned that gay activists would be arrested and tried. A spokesman for the PA police said that gay rights were “harmful to the higher values and ideals of Palestinian society” and “unrelated to religions and Palestinian traditions and customs.”
 
Somehow, the Muslim terrorists targeting gay people decided their prosecution of homosexuals is the fault of the Jews. The modern state of Israel has as much to do with the Islamic position on homosexuality, as it does with the Islamic support for wife-beating or beheading infidels.

While the PA urged locals to turn in members of Al-Qaws and ‘Palestinians’ denounced them and called for their deaths, the Soros-funded gay rights organization jumped into action and blamed Israel. Claiming that singling out incidents of homophobia in Palestinian society ignores the complexities of Israel's colonization and military occupation being a contributing factor to Palestinian LGBTQ oppression within the larger context of Israeli occupation. [Apparently ignoring the annual gay pride parade in Tel Aviv that’s lauded to be the best worldwide!]
 
Al-Qaws is just coming off a $100,000 grant from George Soros’ Open Society Foundation. A decade of cash has poured in from the Astraea Lesbian Foundation For Justice and other charities. The real business of Al-Qaws was attacking Israel. In 2018 when Eurovision came to Israel, it claimed that gay rights was part of “Israel’s propaganda campaign”, and insisted that gay people should boycott Israel because the “struggles for queer and Palestinian liberation are inseparable.” [..snip]
 
Many politicians claim that gay rights cannot be allowed to distract from supporting an Islamic terrorist state against Israel. Likewise, anti-Semitism is a legitimate accusation when directed at Republicans, but not Democrats.
 
The ‘Queers for Killing Jews in Palestine’ can rename themselves, ‘Queers for Killing Queers in Palestine’.
 
*Excerpted and adapted full original report from Daniel Greenfield here
http://sultanknish.blogspot.com/2019/09/when-muslims-oppress-gays-its-fault-of.html

How Many Gun Laws Are There in the USA?
CNSNews -- Reportedly, there are between 300 and 20,000 gun control laws on the books in the USA. Why do we need more laws? So far, the wicked haters still kill ignoring the current laws. A study from the Brookings Institution Center claims that the number of laws per state range from one to 13 and the 20,000 number is incorrect.

​Washington Navy Yard Shooting - 13 dead
9-17-13, FoxNews -- Thirty-four year old Navy veteran Aaron Alexis, killed 12 people at a Navy building in Washington DC. -- a gun free zone.

1 John 2:19; 1 Corinthians 11:19; James 3:15; 2 Peter 2:1; 1 John 2:18; Jude 1:18

​9-15-19, Today in John Haller's weekly update he discusses the peace deal being promoted in the Middle East and
what the Bible teaches about apostasy. 

He details how in this scripture:
"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, "
2 Thessalonians 2:3

"Falling away" or 'departure' as in some versions of the Bible ... it does not mean a physical "departure" [rapture] - it means a change in position of thought understanding or belief. 

Apostasy does not refer to true believers who have eternal life and then fall away, which is a contradiction in terms.  Instead, it refers to those who profess to be believers who eventually reveal that they never truly believed by later renouncing the faith. [Hebrews 6:4-6]

Deal video: 54 minutes here

​Apostasy video: 58 min here

The Bible warns us in 1 Timothy 4:1, “but the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.”
​
[See also Daniel 11:35-38; 12:8-10]

Lyrics:
Hillsong Worship

Thank you for the cross, Lord
Thank you for the price You paid
Bearing all my sin and shame
In love You came
And gave amazing grace.

Thank you for this love, Lord
Thank you for the nail pierced hands
Washed me in Your cleansing flow
Now all I know
Your forgiveness and embrace.

Chorus:
Worthy is the Lamb
Seated on the throne
Crown You now with many crowns
You reign victorious
High and lifted up
Jesus Son of God
The Darling of Heaven crucified
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb.

Thank you for the cross, Lord (thank you)
Thank you for the price You paid
Bearing all my sin and shame
In love You came
And gave amazing grace.

Thank you for this love, Lord
Thank you for the nail pierced hands
Washed me in Your cleansing flow
Now all I know
Your forgiveness and embrace.

Chorus x 2

​Playlist here

Deuteronomy 10:17; Daniel 2:47; 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 1:5, 6:2, 19:11, 16

Leviticus 26:27-29; Deuteronomy 28:53-57; Jeremiah 19:9; Lamentations 2:20, 4:10; Ezekiel 5:10; 2 Kings 6:28-29​

9-14-19, While Scripture gives no explicit command against cannibalism, we see from the beginning (Genesis 1:26-27) God made it clear that mankind is unique and distinct from the animal kingdom. Mankind, created in God’s image, has a value and honor above that of animals. The Old Testament closely associates cannibalism with the final stages of judgment from God, thus marking it as a loathsome and evil practice.

​Well, it's currently on the horizon of wicked mankind's apostasy and enmity with almighty God as follows:
***
Swedish Professor suggests cannibalism could help fight ...
9-6-19, MSN.com -- Mr. Magnus Söderlund of  Stockholm School in Sweden suggests a way to fight climage change - cannibalism. At a summit for food of the future (the climate-ravaged future) called Gastro Summit on Sept. 3-4, 2019, Professor Soderlund asserted that in the future we must “awaken the idea” of eating human flesh as a way of combating the effects of climate change. 

When asked if he personally would eat human flesh, Soderlund said, "I feel somewhat hesitant, but to not appear overly conservative…I’d have to say….I’d be open to at least tasting it.” He said that since food sources will be scarce in the future, people must be introduced to eating things they have thus far considered disgusting—among them, human flesh. He also includes pets and insects, but human flesh was the central topic.

In Swedish articles describing this new debate, the term “the human flesh industry.” In his bio, Soderlund states that his research focus includes  “consumer behavior,” “marketing stimuli,” “loyalty, emotions, justice perceptions,” “psychological reactions,” and “in a society increasingly obsessed with consumption.” People can be “tricked” into “making the right decisions.” More here from Epoch Times

Swedish scientist floats eating human flesh as solution to climate disaster ...
9-9-19, FoxNews -- Reportedly a Swedish economics professor, Mr. Magnus Soderlund from the University of Stockholm claims cannibalism as a solution to climate change. Soderlund’s argument for human cannibalism was front and center during a panel talk called “Can you Imagine Eating Human Flesh?” at the Gastro Summit. “Conservative” taboos against cannibalism can change over time if peoples simply tried eating human flesh. 

History of Cannibalism: A tribe in Papua New Guinea practiced eating their dead as an alternative to allowing them to be consumed by worms, according to the Standard. The cultural practice led to an epidemic of a disease called Kuru, also known as laughing death. According to the US National Library of Medicine, the disease is caused by an infectious protein found in contaminated human brain tissue. The practice of cannibalism among the people of New Guinea came to an end in 1960.

NASA IS WORRIED ABOUT SPACE JUNK AKA ORBITAL DEBRIS
9-28-18, Currently, there are about 4,000 intact spacecraft living in orbit around Earth, only 1,800 of which are operational. Yet, many companies want to dramatically increase that number. Satellite operators are eager to launch thousands of probes that can beam internet connectivity down to Earth, providing global coverage. SpaceX has filed applications with the FCC to launch nearly 12,000 internet-beaming satellites — first, an initial constellation of 4,425 probes, followed by a constellation of 7,518. Meanwhile, the European company OneWeb received approval to launch up to 720 satellites from the FCC, and it recently requested permission to launch an additional 1,260.

Board games don't just bring us together
11-24-14, Guardian -- With so much concern about screen time, board games are a sociable reminder of the real dynamics of family life but sadly many of today's children have never enjoyed them. Board games teach useful lessons about taking turns and handling defeat. They provide an outlet for tension and rivalry. They require family members to sit down and interact with each other – increasingly important in a world where we spend much of our time in separate rooms, triple-screening and arguing over Skype about whose turn it is to change the toilet roll. But perhaps best of all, they remind us how to play.

War Hawk John Bolton is Fired [finally]
9-13-19, Fox News -- The departure of National Security Adviser John Bolton this week was the culmination of months of conflicts between Bolton and officials at all levels of Pres Trump's administration who were lobbying for his ouster. ... Sec State Mike Pompeo is poised to exert even more influence on foreign policy now that Bolton is gone with the possibility of him assuming the role of national security adviser on top of his current position. This would follow what's called the "Kissinger model" [in reference to when Henry Kissinger served in both roles under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford].

Mark 4:39-41; Matthew 14:22–33
 
12-14-18, BRAD BURTON -- In one of the most frequently repeated scenes in Looney Tunes, a character, often Wile E. Coyote, runs headlong off a cliff and continues running through thin air—until he looks down. Once he realizes the potential danger he is in, he falls with a stupendous crash.

Lord, save me!
 
For Looney Tunes watchers, Peter’s experience of walking on water may seem faintly familiar. As Jesus' disciples were on a boat in the Sea of Galilee, they saw a figure walking toward them. Although they suspected it was a ghost, Jesus assured them it was in fact Him (Matthew 14:26–27). Peter then appeared to have sought proof, saying to Jesus, “Tell me to come to you on the water” (Matthew 14:28). When Jesus did, Peter with boldness climbed over the side and walked toward Him. Unlike Wiley Coyote silly stupidity, Peter’s defiance of physics began not by accident but with an expression of faith. Peter believed in the power of Jesus, who had shown that faith could heal (Matthew 14:9) and would promise that it could even move mountains (Matthew 14:17-20).
 
Yet Peter, like the Coyote, soon realized the potential danger he was in and began to plummet. When a strong wind blew, Peter went from faith to fear and began to sink. Still, his faith did not disappear entirely, for he had enough to cry out to Jesus for help: “Lord, save me!”  and Jesus did not hesitate to save. He reached out “immediately” (Matthew 14:30-31).
 
At times born again Christians will find themselves in situations of danger or distress. However, we can enter into them with the faith that enables us to walk through the seemingly impossible with boldness and faith - whether good or bad the Lord Jesus will sustain us.
 
The classic hymn “How Firm a Foundation” depicts God promising: “When through deep waters I call thee to go, the rivers of sorrow shall not overflow; for I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless, and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.”

We need to pray for the faith that all distresses will serve God’s purposes and trust in His power to bolster our courage and give us His peace.
 
Source Today in the Word here

9-12-19, Canada Free Press -- Democrat presidential hopefuls, formerly described as the ‘Bus Full of Crazies’ in this third primary debate, went all-out for the jugular—each other’s. Their mantra is all about President Trump being a racist, 'free stuff for the masses' they basically want a complete government takeover of:

• health care
• open borders for illegal migrants
• open borders for child traffickers, rapists and murderers
• radical gun control measures leaving guns available only to criminals
• government becoming wholly liberal socialist [..snip] 

We won’t bore you with the he-said-she-said routine while Drudge is already doing that, other than to ask why sleepy Joe Biden’s failing memory should be of such concern when mental health as a factor in recent shooting sprees is all but totally ignored by mainstream and social media as they scream to take weapons away from law abiding sane citizens.

The Race Card was once again the big star of the debate with Julian Castro, Beto O’Rourke and Kamala Harris each linking Trump to last month’s mass shooting in El Paso even though the shooter specifically said he wasn’t inspired by Trump. (Daily Caller, Sept. 12, 2019)

Vaping: What You Need to Know (for Teens) 
9-10-19, KidsHealth.org -- Vaping is the inhaling of a vapor created by an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) or other vaping device. E-cigarettes are battery-powered smoking devices. They have cartridges filled with a liquid that usually contains nicotine, flavorings, and chemicals. The liquid is heated into a vapor, which the person inhales. E-cigarettes also:

• irritate the lungs
• may cause serious lung damage and even death
• can lead to smoking cigarettes and other forms of tobacco use

Some people use e-cigarettes to vape marijuana, THC oil, and other dangerous chemicals. Besides irritating the lungs, these drugs also affect how someone thinks, acts, and feels. 

1. ​Jerusalem and its temple will be destroyed and the Temple Mount laid bare (Matthew 24:1-2)
2. The Jewish people will be scattered all over the world for a long period of time and will face hardships and persecution everywhere they go (Deuteronomy 4:27, 28:64; Ezekiel 36:24).
3. While the Jews are away from their homeland it will be a desolate wasteland, but once they are back it will spring to life (Ezekiel 36:34-35).
4. The Jewish homeland would be controlled by Gentile nations during Israel's dispersion (Luke 21:24).
5. Centuries later the Jewish homeland will be reborn [in a single day] as a unified nation (Ezekiel 37:15-22) called Israel (Isaiah 66:8) and at a time when they have lost all hope (Ezekiel 37:11-12).
6. The ancient Hebrew language would be revived (Zephaniah 3:9, Jeremiah 31:23).
7. A remnant of Jews will accept Jesus as their Messiah, but most will be blind (Romans 11:25) that their Messiah Jesus Christ already came.
8. Israel would face hostility from neighbors, being greatly outnumbered and attacked from all sides by Egypt, Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon, but will miraculously survive as victor regaining capitol city of Jerusalem and develop a very strong military (Zechariah 12:1-6).

 
ISRAEL CURRENTLY HAPPENING:

1. Israel would become so wealthy that several large powerful nations will want what she has (Ezekiel 38:10-12).
2. Pending war will not involve Israel's previous border enemies, but will also involve an outer ring of nations (Ezekiel 38:1-5).
3. Iran and Turkey (Ezekiel 38:7) will lead an alliance of countries including Sudan and Libya that will come against Israel from the north; Lebanon & Syria. [Some end time believers think Russia will be involved.]
4. There will be a great increase in worldwide anti-Semitism and anti-Israel positions and actions (Zechariah 12:1-9). The nations of the world will be obsessed with the tiny nation of Israel--wanting to move her borders and condemn her at every turn (Zechariah 12:3).
5. There will be some sort of a broad peace agreement between Israel and many Islamic nations (Daniel 9:27) [possibly the US Pres Trump's Mideast Peace Deal, Sept 2019].
6. Nations who protest the attack on Israel are England and areas that came out of England: America, Canada & Australia (Ezekiel 38:13). And for the first time ever, Israel’s former enemy, Saudi Arabia protest attacking Israel and is working together.

 
WORLD EVENTS AND BIRTHPAINS:

1. Earthquakes, natural disasters, tsunamis, wild climate extremes and perplexing conflicts will increase in frequency, scale and intensity with no solution (Matthew 24:7-8, Luke 21:25).
2. Mankind has grown noticeably course, vile, immodest, unloving, lawless, violent, legal murder of newborn babies in abortion and increased insanity (2 Timothy 3:1-5).
3. Rise in cults and the occult (1 Timothy 4:1, Matthew 24:5).
4. People confused about morality, sexual/gender norms as created and designed by God: man and woman marriage & homosexuality (Romans 1:18-32).
5. Much of the church will lose its effectiveness, watered down message (2 Timothy 4:3-4, Revelation 3:14-18), and a great number will fall away in a mass exodus (2 Thessalonians 2:3).
6. The Gospel will increase around the globe (Matthew 24:14).
7. The persecution of Christians will increase (Matthew 24:9-10).
8. Unusual signs in the sun, moon and stars (Luke 21:25).
9. The push toward globalism and a one-world religion (Revelation 17:1-18).
10. People will scoff and scorn the beliefs of: God the Creator, the flood of Noah's day and in Christ's return although there is tangible evidence for all three (2 Peter 3:3-13). 

Putin, Macron Say Ukraine-Russia Prisoner Swap Positive Step
8-8-19, RadioFreeEurope -- Russian Pres Putin and French Pres Macron met to discuss the Russia and Ukraine prisoner exchange and peace with Ukraine. On Sept 7, 2019 a total of 70 prisoners were exchanged; a move praised by the West as an opportunity to improve tense relations between Kyiv and Moscow. After being elected in April 2019, Ukraine’s new President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called for a four-way meeting in a Normandy format: Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France to revive peace talks with Putin. Macron and Putin also discussed Iran and keeping in place a 2015 deal that gave Iran access to world trade, including the sale of oil, in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program. [USA pulled out]

Volodymyr Wants to Meed Vladimir
7-8-19, Reuters -- Ukraine's Pres Elect Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said, “And now I want to turn to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Need to talk? It is necessary. Let’s discuss to whom Crimea belongs and who is not there in the Donbass.” 

Vladimir Shows Carrot and Stick to Volodymyr
4-25-19, WallStreetJourn -- Apparently Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended an olive branch to Ukraine’s president-elect Volodymry Zelenskiy in his first public comments since Sunday’s vote. He said, “We want and are prepared to fully normalize our relations, but we cannot do that unilaterally.” According to Gazeta.ru (Russian news site based in Moscow) Russia does not need to return to the G8. Russia, regardless of its presence or absence in the G8, is becoming the most important negotiating party for the West ... Russia has already returned to the club of leading world powers.

Amy Klobuchar, Julian Castro, Cory Booker, Beto O'Rourke, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Andrew Yang
===
2020 Candidate Andrew Yang Wants to Give You $1,000 a ...
2-13-19, Time.com -- Democrat Andrew Yang's idea called "The “Freedom Dividend” would allocate $1000.00 to every single adult American.

Andrew Yang will give a Twitter user $1,000 a month for a year!
6-25-19, Vox.com -- Andrew Yang, an entrepreneur and millionaire announced via Twitter: he’ll give $1,000 per month, for 12 months, to twenty people who retweets and follows him by July 4, 2019.  The winner, Yang’s website explains, will be “chosen by July 18, 2019 by a random drawing from all eligible entries.” Yang wants to bring attention to his universal basic income proposal to create a “trickle-up” economy. Universal basic income (UBI) is a modern welfare scheme that giving every American age 18 and over $1,000 per month, regardless of income or employment status without condition. And as of 3 pm Tuesday, July 2, 2019 Yang’s tweet had about 42,000 retweets ... More from Fox News here

Galatians 5:13; John 8:44 ; See also Acts 13:10; 2 Peter 2:15
 
9-11-19, God created mankind to have a free will. We human beings are pretty much free to do as we choose; Jesus said:
 
“Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for My sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Mark 8:34-36
 
We might wish that God established a set of boundaries, beyond which people would be punished. Ok, what should God do with, say, people who are verbally abusive? Words can wound deeply, what about adultery, stealing, murder - salvation? The potential for mankind's wickedness is far reaching; where would we want God to draw the line? Should He force people to believe in Him?
 
God has revealed to us how to best live our lives to honor and glorify Him; and as a teaching tool He gave us His TEN Commandments [Exodus 34:28], but because of our free will – many would rather live for Satan. What??!! We may say – I don’t believe in God or trust Jesus, but I don’t live for Satan! The Bible says we do. “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” John 8:44
 
John 3:18 “Whoever believes in Jesus is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the only begotten Son of God." [Also see John 5:24; Mark 16:16]
 
The good news is we can be born again; Jesus invites us to repent of our sin and receive Him into our hearts, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in…” [Revelation 3:20, John 14:6]
 
Jesus laid down His life for us on the cross; He did so because He loves us.
 “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” [John 15:13]
 
​Excerpted and adapted full original message here

Summary of the 9/11 Attacks on America

​A series of four coordinated terrorist attacks by the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda against the United States on the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001 killing 2,996 people, injured over 6,000 others and caused at least $10 billion in infrastructure and property damage. Additional people died of 9/11-related cancer and respiratory diseases in the months and years following the attacks.
 
Four passenger airliners operated by two major U.S. passenger air lines were hijacked by 19 Muslim terrorists all of which departed from airports in northeastern United States bound for San Francisco and Los Angeles.

• Two of the planes, American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, were crashed into the North and South towers, respectively, of the World Trade Center complex in Lower Manhattan. Within an hour and 42 minutes, both 110-story towers collapsed. Debris and the resulting fires caused a partial or complete collapse of all other buildings in the World Trade Center complex, including the 47-story 7 World Trade Center tower, as well as significant damage to ten other large surrounding structures.
• A third plane, American Airlines Flight 77, was crashed into the Pentagon (the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense) in Arlington County, Virginia, which led to a partial collapse of the building's west side.
• The fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, was initially flown toward Washington, D.C., but crashed into a field in Stonycreek Township near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after its heroic passengers thwarted the hijackers. 

 
Although not confirmed, there is evidence of Saudi Arabian involvement in the attacks. More here

John 15:11; 1 Peter 1:8

What was the joy that Jesus had?
Joy should not be confused with happiness.

It's an insult to Jesus Christ to use the word happiness in connection with Him. The joy of Jesus was His absolute self-surrender and self-sacrifice to His Father— the joy of doing that which the Father sent Him to do.

“…who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross…” (Hebrews 12:2)
“I delight to do Your will, O My God…” Psalm 40:8

Jesus prayed that our joy might continue fulfilling itself until it becomes the same joy as His. 1 Peter 1:8 Living a full and overflowing life does not rest in bodily health, wealth, circumstances, nor even in seeing God’s work succeed, but in the perfect understanding of God and in the same fellowship and oneness with Him that Jesus Himself enjoyed. However, the first thing that will hinder this joy is the subtle irritability caused by giving too much thought to our circumstances. Jesus said, “…the cares of this world,…choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.” (Mark 4:19) And before we even realize what has happened, we are caught up in our cares. All that God has done for us is merely the threshold— He wants us to come to the place where we will be His witnesses and proclaim who Jesus is as we are surrounded in His 'JOY!'

Archives of Oswald Chambers here