RyaninZion

What is also forgotten in these arms deals with Egypt, Saudi Arabia, et al, is that even if you could claim the current regimes are "moderate" you have to keep in mind that this is the Middle East. The current regimes could be overthrown 2, 5 or 10 years down the road and be replaced by open Islamofascists like Hamas and Ahmadinejad. There is just no guarantee that Hosni Mubarak when he dies will not be replaced by the Muslim Brotherhood.

Yeah - my initial reaction was to think of Gen. 3:19, upon which the burial rite "ashes to ashes, dust to dust" is based. If we are formed from the dust and will return to the dust as a natural process, I fail to see the "sin" in speeding up the process through cremation. But, again, I have never really studied the issue, so wanted to get the views of those who may be more knowledgeable than myself on this topic.

There was an incident in Israel this week where religious Jews allegedly burned down Israel's first and only crematorium. While he likely had nothing to do with the fire, the religious director of a major rescue and recovery service here praised those who set the fire. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3440873,00.html Cremation is a violation of Jewish law because of the future promised resurrection, and because the Jews attribute great importance to respecting the bodies of their dead. I have never really looked into the issue from a biblical point of view, so was curious what are the traditional Christian views of cremation?

Further to the news this week that Ron and Carol Cantrell are being evicted from Israel after 20 years of service in the Land, I just want to give my thoughts on why this happened and why it does not surprise me. To me, the Cantrells are a perfect example of those spoken of in Isaiah 14:1: The Cantrells bound themselves to Israel as Ruth did. They are among the foreign allies God promised He Himself would provide Israel with. And that is why the enemy wants them gone. It is no coincidence that a whole range of New Age groups are allowed to brainwash Israeli children with messages contrary to the Bible, while people like the Cantrells are booted for alleged missionary activity. Satan wants Israel to be brainwashed with these humanist messages, while sidelining the very people God has put in place to prevent such a disaster by their witness to faithfulness of the Lord God of Israel. Pray that God will uphold the Cantrells as He prepares them for whatever mission He has for them next, and pray that the Lord will put His shield around those of us Gentiles He has planted in this Land. For more on this, you can read my full commentary here: http://www.zionist.com/2007/08/21/why-some...ted-from-israel

A report in the Hebrew-language Omedia news site last week quoted a senior Hamas leader telling a Lebanese newspaper that the group plans to declare independence in Gaza. The threat was seen by most analysts as an effort to pressure PLO chief Mahmoud Abbas, who rumors have it will soon hold early parliamentary elections in the so-called "West Bank" in an attempt to reverse Hamas' landslide electoral victory last year. Hoewever, if indeed Abbas goes ahead with early elections, there is a very real possibility Hamas will go through with declaring independence. Most likely, the world would squawk and squirm, but do nothing. The Hebrew reports can be found here (for anyone who reads Hebrew): http://www.omedia.co.il/Show_Article.asp?D...hreadID=1014010 An English summary of the report is at Israel Today: http://www.israeltoday.co.il/default.aspx?...8&nid=13808

The anti-Semitic conspiracy theorists that are convinced the Jews are trying to clandestinely take over the world are going to have a field day with today's news that Israeli scientists have found a way to erase long-term memory! You can read more about it here: http://www.zionist.com/2007/08/19/the-jews-have-mind-control

Olmert seems to be intent on setting the stage for Israel's demise. Why? Here is my take: http://www.zionist.com/2007/07/31/olmert-o...-israels-demise

Originally posted at Zionist.com The indoctrination of Palestinian Arab children to hate and seek to destroy the Jews living in this area is, again, nothing new. It is an ongoing violation of Israel

Posted at Zionist.com Israel

Finally someone with some position had the guts to point it out - the Left is using Rabin's murder to whitewash the debacle that was/is "Oslo": http://www.jnewswire.com/library/article.php?articleid=861

Rice said a Palestinian state will bring increased security to Israel. I for one would really love to hear what evidence she bases that assessment on: http://www.jnewswire.com/library/article.php?articleid=857