Archive for May, 2014

“Thy Kingdom Come” is a Prayer for the “Peace of Jerusalem!”

Saturday, May 31st, 2014

THY KINGDOM COME IS THE PRAYER FOR PEACE OF JERUSALEM
IT WILL COME FOR 1000 YEARS AFTER ITS KING’S 2ND ADVENT
May 31, 2014
http://www.tribulationperiod.com/
The Coming Middle East War Shall involve the 3 Great World Religions!
Believers in the Son-Nonbelievers In the Son-Islam, Allah HAS NO Son!
The 3 will Remain on this planet until the sounding of the 7th Trumpet!
Muslims and all other non-believers will be Left Behind After Trumpet 7
Believers will be judged in Heaven while 7 Vials of wrath pour on Earth
Zechariah 14:1-9 – Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. [2] For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. [3] Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. [4] And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. [5] And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. [6] And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: [7] But it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light. [8] And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be. [9] And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one.
I have great respect for Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth, and their Royal Line. I was born in 1932. I was a meteorologist in England for more than three years.
I have always admired the compassion displayed by the man’s character, charm, courage, wisdom, and dry sense of humor
I appreciate his heartfelt attempts to bring the three great lovers of Abraham to love each other. And I applaud his effort to do so.
But being a student of the Bible I am certain what Prince Charles desires will not happen until Isaiah’s Prince of Peace returns to bring it at his 2nd Advent
When I pray “Thy Kingdom Come,” I am praying for the Peace of Jerusalem!
Isaiah 9:6,7 – For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. [7] Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Isaiah 11:1-10 – And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: [2] And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; [3] And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: [4] But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. [5] And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. [6] The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. [7] And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. [8] And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. [9] They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. [10] And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

Begin Excerpt from MEMRI
Middle East Media Research Institute
Special Dispatch No.5755
May 26, 2014
Prince Charles Voices Concern About The Plight Of Christians In Middle East
In an article titled “The plight of Christians in the Middle East, the cradle of Christianity,” which was published in the London-based Saudi daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, the Prince of Wales expressed concern about the Christian minorities in the Middle East that are facing increasing intimidation and persecution amid the rising extremism in the region. He pointed out that, though Christianity was born in the Middle East, and though Christians have been part of its social fabric for centuries, their numbers have dropped dramatically and today they constitute only a tiny fraction of its population. Commending the efforts of many Muslim leaders to promote interfaith tolerance, the Prince urged “to redouble our joint efforts to stress what binds the three Abrahamic faiths together and, as Christians, Jews and Muslims, to express outrage at what tears us asunder.”
The article was published on May 26, 2014, in both English and Arabic. The following are excerpts from the English version.
“For more than 20 years, I have tried to build bridges between Islam and Christianity and to dispel ignorance and misunderstanding between them. Islam is the second-largest faith community in the world and the second-largest in Britain, and so bridges between Islam and Christianity are something that must concern every responsible person. That is one of the reasons I have been happy to be involved in many faith bridge-building projects…
“I have for some time felt great concern about those of all faith communities in the Middle East who are suffering so grievously at the present time. The rights of all people of faith in the Middle East should be respected. But it saddens me deeply that the ancient Christian communities are among those facing growing difficulties, despite the fact that part of their long and deeply rooted history in the region is testimony to the tolerance and understanding Muslim leaders have shown in the past. It seems to me that the bridges of understanding which matter to us all are being deliberately destroyed by militant fundamentalists with a vested interest in doing so—and this is achieved through intimidation, false accusation and organized persecution. It is my fervent hope and prayer that this should cease.
“It is essential to remember that Christianity was, literally, born in the Middle East. The church communities there link us straight back to the early Church, as I was reminded by hearing Aramaic, Jesus Christ’s own language, spoken and sung in the Syrian Orthodox Church in London I visited a few months ago. The region has for 2,000 years enjoyed such a rich panoply of church life in the Middle East, including the Antiochian, Greek, Coptic, Syrian and Armenian Orthodox Churches; the Melkite, Maronite, Syrian Catholic, Chaldean and Roman Catholic Churches, as well as the Church of the East and churches established somewhat more recently, including the Anglican Church. Yet, today, the Middle East and North Africa have the lowest concentration of Christians in the world—just four per cent of the population—and it is clear that the Christian population of the Middle East has dropped dramatically over the last century and is falling still further.
“This has an effect on all of us, although, of course, primarily on those Christians who can no longer continue to live in the Middle East; we all lose something immensely and irreplaceably precious when such a rich tradition begins to disappear. It is important to note that Arab Christians—Syrian, Iraqi, Palestinian, Egyptian, as well as those from other Arab countries and from Iran—are not Western Christians living in the Middle East, but native Arabs and Middle Easterners and, as such, are an integral part of the very fabric of society in many Middle-Eastern countries. During my visits to the region I have been fascinated and encouraged to learn about the many links and friendships which cross the boundaries between ethnic and faith groups.
“I am fully aware that the Middle East is not the only part of the world in which Christians are suffering and that it is not only Christians suffering there. But, given the particularly acute circumstances faced by the church communities in the Middle East today, I felt it is essential to draw attention to their current plight. In this regard, I welcome the efforts being made to preserve the traditions of hospitality and moderation in the Middle East, in spite of the current severe strains. As my wife and I saw for ourselves during our visit last year, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has once again fulfilled its enormously hospitable obligations and taken in a huge number of refugees, this time from Syria during the present troubles. Both under the late King Hussein, and under His Majesty King Abdullah II’s leadership, Jordan has proved a most heartening and courageous witness to the fruitful tolerance and respect between faith communities. Others in the region are displaying amazing humanity in receiving huge numbers of refugees, despite putting immense strain on their resources.
“However mixed the picture elsewhere, I salute the efforts made by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, His Majesty King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, and others, to promote interfaith dialogue and understanding. I was also pleased to meet Christians from many backgrounds and congregations during a visit to Qatar in February.
“Now is the time to redouble our joint efforts to stress what binds the three Abrahamic faiths together and, as Christians, Jews and Muslims, to express outrage at what tears us asunder. In doing this, it is important to remind ourselves that an emphasis on love of neighbor and doing to others as we would have them do to us are the ultimate foundations of truth, justice, compassion and human rights—the same way that the Common Word initiative of 2007, now endorsed by so many leading Muslim scholars, sought to point out. Such profound wisdom is at the very heart of all three religions, however obscured the message may have become.
“My special thoughts and prayers, therefore, are for all beleaguered communities, of whatever faith and denomination. Beyond prayer, we must also speak up for such communities, and work to help them, along with all our Muslim friends. Does the Qur’an not say:
For each among you, We have appointed a law and a way. And had God willed, He would have made you one community, but [He willed otherwise], that He might try you in that which He has given you. So vie with one another in good deeds. Unto God shall be your return, all together, and He will inform you of that wherein you differed.”
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The Surest Sign that the 2nd Advent is Drawing Nigh is Now Being Manifested!

Friday, May 30th, 2014

The sure sign that the 2nd Advent is Nigh is being Manifest
Christian Persecution Activity Increased On Obama’a Watch
It’s Increased More Historically Than any recent two Termer
The Moral Silent Majority of The Last Century Has Changed!
It is sinking into a dying Last generation of a Vocal Minority!
Freedom of Speech is slowly being destroyed in this Country
Judgment is coming on this Earth as It did Twice in the Past!
God will Once Again use earth he created to judge Residents
Tectonic Plates shall Produce Worldwide Quakes & Volcanoes
May 30, 2014
http://www.tribulationperiod.com/
Genesis 6:11-13 – The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. [12] And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. [13] And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
Revelation 6:14 – And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
Revelation 16:19,20 – And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. [20] And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
Luke 17:26-30 – And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. [27] They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. [28] Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; [29] But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. [30] Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
Revelation 11:15,18 – And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. [18] And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
The judgment of God for the carnal immorality of men and women is reaching the limit that God will endure.
II Timothy 3:1-5 – This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. [2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, [3] Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, [4] Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; [5] Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Luke 21:26-28 – Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. [27] And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. [28] And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Begin Excerpt from WORLD
Houston tramples religious liberty with new anti-bias policy
Religious Liberty
By Andrew Branch
Posted May 30, 2014, 11:08 a.m.
In what some are calling a sham proceeding, Houston leaders on Wednesday approved an Equal Rights Ordinance that adds the LGBT community to the city’s nondiscrimination laws. Supporters claim it provides necessary protections for the city’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered residents. But religious liberty experts warn it could be used to force churches, colleges, and Christian-owned businesses to act against their biblical beliefs about sexuality.
The ordinance, which takes effect in 30 days, passed the Houston City Council 11-6, and local television news broadcast the LGBT supporters’ jubilation. Reports said fewer than 30 people out of more than 200 in attendance spoke against the measure, but they failed to mention that more than 150 pastors and pro-family advocates felt so disrespected by the proceedings that they staged a walkout early in the meeting.
Mayor Annise Parker, a lesbian, attempted to “stack the deck” against critics, said Jonathan Saenz, director of the conservative group Texas Values. The council moved homosexual activists to the front of the speaking line, denied pro-family African-American pastors the same courtesy, then moved more homosexual activists to the front. The pastors described the move as “flagrantly disrespectful,” Texas Values reported, equating it to being “sent to the back of the bus.” As much as half the room walked out, Saenz said.
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The Great City Ruling Over Prophetic Old World Was Rome!

Thursday, May 29th, 2014

Tribulation Killing Of Old World Believers & Jews Will Be Horrific
Killing Of Believers By Muslim Militants Is Spreading In Old World
Anti-Semitism is Starting all over Again in the Old World of Nazism
But this time it’s Islamic Anti-Semitism that’s taking over all Europe
Islamist Sharia Law & Rituals are digging graves for Europe Infidels
A Future Islamic Mahdi is going to create chaos Across the Old World
Mahdi will eventually form the largest Old World Caliphate ever Known
His Caliphate Kingdom shall Be Destroyed AT Jesus Christ’s 2nd Advent
When Christ Returns with the Saints To Win The Battle of Armageddon!
May 29, 2014
http://www.tribulationperiod.com/
Daniel 11:41 – He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown:
Zechariah 13:8 – And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.
Revelation 17:16-18 – And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. [17] For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. [18] And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
Begin Excerpt 1 from World
Muslim militants storm church, kill 30 in Central African Republic
Africa
By Rob Holmes
Posted May 29, 2014, 10:28 a.m.
Another priest at the scene, Rev. Paul Emile Nzale, confirmed about 30 people were killed in the attack.
An AP reporter counted at least 20 bodies at one city hospital, where they were taken because the morgue was closed. A second hospital confirmed another three bodies.
The church attack is blamed on Muslim fighters whose Seleka coalition was ousted from political power about five months ago. The brutal Muslim rebel regime seized power by force in March 2013.
Such Boko Haram-style violence—storming a house of worship—has been rare in CAR. Catholic churches have made themselves sanctuaries for Christian and Muslim civilians since the latest period of bloodshed erupted in December.
The media have characterized the CAR crisis as ethnic cleansing—a battle fueled by mutually harbored religious animosity. Local church leaders say it is a political armed hijacking of religious sentiments. Now a refugee in Chad, Mahamat Khalil, 25, shares the view taken by many Muslims who have left CAR this year: The conflict flared because Christians were jealous since “90 percent of the economy is run by Muslims,” he said. But that simplistic explanation ignores the context of Islamic violence before, during, and after the Seleka regime. Certainly fear and anger escalated over Seleka tactics: In most Seleka rampages—still occurring—Muslim civilians have been spared as rebels raped and killed Christians and looted their homes.
Khalil, a Chadian and son of a former transporter in Bangui, saw a turning point for Muslims in December: Operation Sangaris soldiers from France and UN-backed, African-led peacekeepers arrived to help stem violence, and the city’s Muslim minority began leaving.
Khalil made it to Chad in January, just after the Seleka were forced from power and Christian militiamen began retaliating in tit-for-tat violence in Bangui. Following this week’s church attack, Christian fighters began putting up blockades on roads around Bangui to prevent the perpetrators from escaping.
Interim President Catherine Samba Panza’s transitional government has been tasked with organizing elections by February 2015. But a viable voting process could prove impossible because of the ongoing violence, and because Seleka rebels destroyed scores of voting lists as they ransacked town after town across the country.
The CAR crisis has displaced nearly 1 million people. Up to 100,000 have sheltered on the grounds of the Bangui airport over the past six months, guarded by French and other European peacekeepers. Since May 11, CAR’s northern border with Chad has been closed to non-Chadians by Chadian presidential order. But the UN estimates nearly 100,000 refugees already live in camps in southern Chad, along with thousands more Chadian returnees airlifted since December to the Chadian capital, N’djamena.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Begin Excerpt 2 from YNet News
May 27, 2014
Rabbis: Europe must take tougher stance against anti-Semitism
General director of European Jewish Association says condemnations against attack at Jewish museum in Brussels are ‘nothing but a way to cleanse one’s conscience.’
Kobi Nachshoni
The chief rabbi of Brussels, Albert Gigi, says local police estimates that Saturday’s attack at the Belgian capital’s Jewish museum could have been criminally motivated were not genuine and were only aimed at calming things down on the eve of the Belgian and European Parliament elections.
Four people were killed in the shooting at the museum’s lobby, including a couple from Tel Aviv: Emanuel and Miriam Riva. A third casualty was a French volunteer at the museum, a woman in her 60s. Belgium’s Interior Minister Joelle Milquet said following the shooting, “It’s still too early to confirm whether it’s a terrorist or an anti-Semitic attack. All lines of investigation are still open.”
“I find it hard to believe that the murder was not an anti-Semitic attack,” said Rabbi Gigi, who also serves as the representative of the Conference of European Rabbis in the European Union institutions in Brussels.
“We are waiting for an official statement from the authorities on what happened there, and whether they have laid their hands on the despicable murderers.”
Rabbi Gigi added, “We are entering a tough period in Europe in general and in Brussels in particular, and we expect the authorities to address anti-Semitic phenomena, even if they are expressed in words, like a terror attack on Jews. There is no room for tolerance and mercy.”
‘Predictable attack’
Rabbi Menachem Margolin, the Brussels-based general director of the European Jewish Association (EJA), said the attack was predictable and that the condemnations were “nothing but a way to cleanse one’s conscience,” as anti-Semitism was raising its head in almost all of Belgium and throughout the EU member states.
“We in the midst of elections for the EU Parliament, and the overwhelming predictions as to the rise of fascist and anti-Semitic forces are staggering,” Rabbi Margolin said Sunday. “It seems that Europe has not yet realized that democracies have to fend against this surge, with much more resolve.
“Those that do not bother to eradicate these anti-Semitic lesions within themselves, those that exercise understanding and forgiveness to such terror attacks because of narrow political interests, will end up being victimized by the same nationalist anti-Semites,” he added.
The EJA general director recently called on all EU member states to establish a pan-European taskforce in order to annihilate anti-Semitism, saying it should act decisively both in the security and enforcement level as well as in education.
The Conference of European Rabbis called the attack “a terrorist act for the purpose of intimidation in the capital of Europe on the day of the election of the European government, and the murderers’ message is clear: There is no room for Jews in Europe.”
The organization said in a statement that the rise in the power of anti-Semitic parties and the tolerance towards any type of anti-Semitism – whether it is expressed in anti-Israel sentiments or in restrictions on the Jewish religion – must stop.
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The Vanity of President Obama’s Conceit will Keep Troops in Afghanistan until the End of 2016!

Wednesday, May 28th, 2014

Our Novice President is an intellectual that never ran a business, and he never defended his country.
America will be led by a novice business man and a novice Commander-In-Chief until 2017
I have no problem with troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, but I have always been opposed to a Time Table for the Enemy.
A Novice Obama Commander-In Chief announces a Time Table which will allow the Taliban to Wait!
They will not launch an all-out assault until Obama eventually leaves Office in February 2017
Neither Iraq nor Afghanistan will have anything that faintly resembles a U.S. democracy within 2 years after he leaves.
The Vanity of President Obama’s Conceit will keep Troops in Afghanistan till 2017
Because he’s desperate to protect his foreign policy legacy of 2 terms of Zero Wars
He has been very careful to justify his receiving the Nobel Peace Price by letting weaker nations bully U.S.
He was successful in not involving the U.S. in any new wars by not helping anyone except Verbally
He is scared to death Afghanistan Will Fall to the Taliban while he is Still In Office
I guarantee Afghanistan will be a Taliban Islamist State within two years after he Departs Office
Is the future loss of American Blood, in a country that absolutely can’t become a lasting Democracy, worth It?
Obama has been used to generate a foreign policy that has paved the way for the Mahdi Antichrist
God does set up both good and bad rulers to accomplish his way in the fulfillment of Prophecy.
May 28, 2012
http://www.tribulationperiod.com/
Daniel 2:20,21 – Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: [21] And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
Daniel 12:4 = But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
Begin 2007 Blog Archive Excerpt 1 from The Chosun Ilbo
url: http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200707/200707270025.html
Afghanistan – Graveyard of Empires
July 27, 2007
On Jan. 1, 1842, the British garrison in Kabul began to withdraw. Just three years earlier Britain had occupied Kabul, a strategic point for the defense of India, but could no longer endure the incessant killing of its senior officials and officers. During the withdrawal, a long procession of 4,000 troops and 10,000 civilians crossing snow-covered valleys and hills was ambushed by Afghan warriors. Fewer than 40 survivors reached the destination of Jalalabad.
Following this humiliating and bloody retreat, Britain again attacked Afghanistan in 1878. This time it was to contain Russia, which had expanded its influence into Afghanistan’s northern areas while Britain withdrew. After several fierce battles, Britain occupied Afghanistan again. And again the occupiers were slaughtered, recalling the nightmare of 40 years previous. Britain withdrew most of its forces from Afghanistan in 1880, but maintained control of its diplomatic rights. After another war in 1919, Britain finally ceded Afghanistan self-determination in foreign affairs.
Located at the heart of Eurasia, Afghanistan has been a crossroads between East-West trade and human exchange since ancient times. The Persian Empire under Alexander the Great invaded the region, followed in succession by the Mongols and Mughal Empire. In the 19th century, Afghanistan was the center stage of a struggle for supremacy between the British and Russian empires. Foreign troops always sustained high casualties on account of the strong resentment of local fighters and the inhospitable geography of rugged mountains and arid deserts.
Afghanistan was dubbed “the graveyard of empires,” and it lived up to that nickname again during the 10-year invasion and occupation by the Soviet Union beginning in 1979. To support the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan which seized power in a 1978 coup, the Soviets stationed 100,000 troops in the country. After long and bloody resistance from U.S.-backed anti-government Mujahideen, or “freedom fighters”, the Soviet Union withdrew. Their sacrifice was 14,453 dead and 53,753 wounded. The disaster precipitated the collapse of the Soviet empire.
The Taliban, a group of Islamic fundamentalists that seized power in 1996, was deprived of power when it offered bases to Al Qaeda, masterminds of the Sept. 11 attacks, and was subsequently attacked by U.S. forces. The Taliban, in an apparent attempt to continue Afghanistan’s long tradition of confounding foreign powers, has ceaselessly attacked foreign troops and kidnapped foreigners. Now the Taliban has kidnapped a large group of Korean volunteers, and executed one of them. They are sacrificing Korean volunteers who went to Afghanistan in order to treat Afghans suffering the ravages of war and teach them so that they may rebuild their country. Even few Afghans would regard such barbarity as a part of their struggle against foreign forces.
Obama Announces Afghanistan Withdrawal Plan
President Barack Obama says 9,800 U.S. troops will remain in Afghanistan after this year, but all could be withdrawn if Afghan leaders do not sign a joint security agreement.
The president laid out his plans Tuesday for withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan and bringing America’s longest war to what he called a “responsible end.” He told reporters in the White House Rose Garden that this is the year the United States will conclude its combat mission in Afghanistan and hand over security responsibility to Afghan forces.
“At the beginning of 2015, we will have approximately 9,800 U.S. service members in different parts of the country, together with our NATO allies and other partners. By the end of 2015, we will have reduced that presence by roughly half.”
Obama said U.S. troops at that point will work only in Kabul and at Bagram air base, near the Afghan capital. By the end of 2016, he said, U.S. forces will be withdrawn with only a normal embassy presence remaining — similar to that left in Iraq, where Obama withdrew troops in 2011.
There are about 32,000 troops left in Afghanistan. Those who remain will continue training Afghan forces and support counter-terrorism operations.
The U.S. sent forces into Afghanistan in 2001 to oust the governing Taliban, which had harbored al-Qaeda — the group responsible for the September 11 attacks in the United States.
“I think Americans have learned that it’s harder to end wars than it is to begin them. Yet this is how wars end in the 21st century. Not through signing ceremonies, but through decisive blows against our adversaries, transitions to elected governments, security forces who are trained to take the lead and ultimately full responsibility,” said Obama.
The drawdown plan has drawn criticism from some members of Congress. The head of the House Armed Services Committee, Buck McKeon, said Obama is putting poll numbers over security, called the timeline arbitrary and suggested the plan leaves Afghanistan vulnerable to the kind of chaos that has plagued Iraq since U.S. troops departed.
The president still may order a full withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan this year, if the new Afghan leadership does not sign the bilateral security agreement.
Senior administration officials say the fact that both run-off candidates in Afghanistan’s presidential elections have pledged to sign the agreement gave Obama confidence to announce the withdrawal plan on Tuesday.
The announcement came a day before the U.S. leader delivers a speech in which he will outline the direction of U.S. foreign policy after the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
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A Believer Series on David in Psalm 23 – Part 1A

Tuesday, May 27th, 2014

A Believer Series on David in Psalm 23 – Part 1A
David the Shepherd presents himself as a Sheep of the Chief Shepherd
Part 1 exposition on verse 1 was issued on May 12, 2014 in our Blog Archives
May 27, 2014
http://www.tribulationperiod.com/
Psalm 23:1,2 – A Psalm of David – The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. [2] He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
HE MAKETH ME TO LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES:
After the sheep has fed itself on the lush green grass, it lies down on it in the satisfaction of it having quenched its hunger for it. A shepherd who leads a sheep to green grass finds joy in making it lay down to rest by what it has eaten,
John 21:15-19 – So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. [16] He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. [17] He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. [18] Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. [19]This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
Jeremiah 17:7,8 – Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. [8] For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
LAST WORDS OF THE CHIEF SHEPHERD’S SHEEP DAVID
II Samuel 23:1-4 – Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, [2] The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue. [3] The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. [4] And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.
HE LEADETH ME BESIDE THE STILL WATERS.
Sheep have very small mouths and it is difficult for them to drink from a rushing stream. They love to drink from a still spring water source that branches off the flowing part of the desert spring into a still eddy pool collected from the main stream.
David, as a sheep of his Chief Shepard, knew he would lead him from fast flowing difficulties into periods of still water pools of communion with God, and the Old Testament teachings of Moses. The sheep of the Chief Shepherd today have prayer, his Word, and reflection on it as the still water pool eddies of satisfaction and rest from the fast water flow of the troubles and trials of life.
Numbers 21:16,17 –And from thence they went to Beer: that is the well whereof the Lord spake unto Moses, Gather the people together, and I will give them water. [17]Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it:
Deuteronomy 8:3-7–And he humbled thee and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live. [4] Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.[5]Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that as a man chasteneth his son so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee. [6] Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him. [7] For the Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills;
John 4:14 – But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life
There is a River that flows from deep Within – Believers, let it flow out from Us!