Posted on 08/13/2005 1:43:17 AM PDT by American in Israel
I have found this search capacity to be a great help in finding exactly where in the Bible are the wonderful Scriptures that roll around in my head.
Click here to go to the site...
If you find it helpful, you might want to share it with friends.
Thanks, I tend to use the http://www.blueletterbible.org/ I have never heard of the one you listed. Blessings from Jerusalem
Blessing to Jerusalem from here in the South.
THANKS.
I hate BIBLE GATEWAY's search functions since they revised the site.
American in Israel said **Vanity, vanity, all is vanity. Lamentations...**
You said **lol. isn't that from Ecclesiastes?**
Hey, he's obviously well educated, but nobody down here is perfect. :)
You got that right. Blessings on ya.
To Quix and All: Maybe a bit off topic, but received this in email and found it to be moving and edifying.
This is from a pastor in Kitwe Zambia.
The Importance of Relationships
Stephen Mwakibinga
August 5, 2005
Many things that we call relationships are nothing more than convenience. We have hirelings, employees, running mates, partners but few become real relationships. Relationships are the bonds which grow as we walk together, talk together, and also dwell together.
What holds people together in ministry? There are at least three things.
1. It takes agreement
Amos asks, "Can two walk together unless they are in agreement?" (Amos 3:3). It takes agreement, it takes a common vision. They must agree to walk together. What do they agree on? They must agree on the destination, they must agree on the issues that bring them together.
2. It takes peace
It is not just a common vision, and agreement. David shows us this. "The men of Benjamin and Judah came to David at the stronghold. And David went out to meet them and answered them and said to them, "If you have come peaceably to me to help me." " (1 Chr. 12:16).
It takes peace. Shalom is blessing given by God when two dwell in unity. (Psalm 133:1-3).
3. It takes honour
The third element is honour. To walk together and stay together, there needs to be an honouring of one another. Abishai was honoured more than all the others, and as a result he became the leader of the Three, and the head of the army (1 Chr. 11:21).
Every relationship will be tried and tested.
David had many people around his life. He had counselors, advisors, captains and chiefs. His family came with him to Adullam, his mighty men followed him through to Ziklag. But in Psalm 38:11 he laments, "My loved ones and my friends stand aloof from my plague, and my relatives stand afar off". There are times when we are down, when things have turned against us and are not going our way. Do we have "fair weather" friends? People who only abide when it goes well with us - then they are not real friends.
Does your plague, do your wounds drive them away? True friends stand by you through thick and thin, and if you are wounded, they will bring the balm of healing to you. How troublesome it is when all flee us in our time of trouble.
"Many good things are found in bad places"
You can find many treasures behind enemy lines. When David was thirsty and hungry he had some very faithful friends. They heard him cry for water, they broke through enemy lines and pursued water for David (1 Chr. 11:17). They risked their lives for him. These are true friends, who will risk something for you, who will endure pain on your behalf. There is no reward for them, except to see you happy.
"All good things will be tested by fire"
Every good thing that you find, every good relationship will be tested by circumstances and fire. Jesus is a wise master builder, and He tells us we are going to see testing (1 Cor. 3:11). Not every relationship is going to stand the test of time. Some will be burned away, and you will need to let them go.
God builds in three ways.
Rick Godwin has made this statement, "God will build revelationally, God will build relationally, and God will build generationally".
It takes a revelation to bring people together,especially if they meet when you are down, or "plagued". It took a revelation to call Nathaniel to Jesus. Jonathan had a revelation that David would be the next king and he would not. Even two people courting will be "struck" by one another and fall in love. They will have their eyes opened, and see the beauty and cherish each other.
God will build relationally. The only things that are going to last are built on love, not convenience; on commitment not on want or need. Love expresses itself through relationships. These cannot last except with love
(1 Cor. 13).
God will build generationally. Anything that has lasting value is carried forward through generations. Sonship is central to the way things will carry on. God is called the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
God builds in three kinds of relationships
There are three kinds of relationship that last.
1. Covenant
Covenant is central to the way God relates to His people. He is a covenant keeping God. These are expressed in marriage, in friendship, and in business.
2. Sonship
Sonship positions you to receive inheritance, as long as you remain submitted to the will of your father. Sons are not like hirelings, they will not run away when hard times come.
3. Kingdom
God sends kingdom relationships. The issue of being sent is central to kingdom relationships. Apostles are sent ones, prophets are sent ones. God is going to send you divinely appointed men and women. He may also send you strategically into other people's lives. Be watching for kingdom connections!
Conclusion
Relationships are key to survival in ministry. But not everyone who calls themselves "friend" will stay when the going gets tough. It takes three things to come together, and to stay together: Agreement, peace, and respect.
Every relationship will be tested by fire. Trial, sickness, and stress will test people's faithfulness.
God builds revelationally, relationally and generationally. He builds into three kinds of relationships: Covenant, sonship, and kingdom relationships.
###
Stephen Mwakibinga is the senior pastor at All Nations Harvest Ministries in Kitwe, Zambia. He oversees 8 churches. This article was transcribed from his recent message at the leadership conference run by Storm Harvest in Kitwe.
Next one is the Book of Revelations...
I am not sure who had the ping list, I am interested in what you have to say, please ping me.
Hi Quix good to see you around you have been missed. I pray you are doing well, Rest in the Lord.
You are forgetting the Crusades of the 11th century, and the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem. It was most definitely a Kingdom, and it included Gaza, where the remains of Crusader churches can still be found.
When the Crusaders arrived in the Holy Land, they found a sizable Jewish population, and wiped them out. The Islamic conquests had not eliminated the Jewish presence, and it returned after the Latin Kingdom was brought down by Saladin.
The Crusaders, in their time, believed that most of these Prophecies applied to them, and could of course point out several striking passages. But they could not foresee the end.
"2, 4, 6, 8, we support the Jewish state. 3, 5, 7, 9, terrorists out of Palestine (sic)!"
I did not forget the Crusades, they did not claim to be the Palestia, nor did they set up a government that evolved through three generations.
I just felt that the prophecy did not pertain to them. They may have felt that they ruled as the Knights Templars from the Temple Mount but history does not include them as a Government, but as a temporary occupying army. Israel remained a backwater during their occupation, just as it did under Salidin. At least that is the way it reads from what I have read.
Thanks for your input.
Al Omari Great Mosque Located in downtown Gaza at the end of Omar Mukhtar Street, al-Umari mosque with its beautiful minaret used to be a Norman church built by the Crusaders in the 12th century. It is said to occupy the site of the first ancient temple of Marnas.
Still, that's history.
But I do think that they were very historically significant, and they were 100 years with Jerusalem as the capital of the Latin Kingdom (as you say, they never used the word Palestine, nor even seem to have known it.) Their contribution was tremedous, can still be seen, and they also brought a lot of Eastern culture back to the West, (including according to tradition, a secret learning acquired by the Knights Templar.)
So I do think that they have to be included in accounts of the line up to the history of Palestine. As to where they fit in with Scripture, I am not sure.
Templar flag.
Interior of the mosque in Gaza.
Used to be the vaults of a Church. They knew how to build in those days!
Gaza, as part of Palestine, has a long history at the cross roads of the faith.
Excellent. Sent to my email list.
And, I think, fitting in terms of considering our relationship with Israel.
THANKS THANKS.
Davey, I don't think you've had much of a choice [tee hee] being on my
END TIMES DREAMS VISIONS ping list for a long time.
But I'll check.
Thanks.
Bump
Let me throw this scenario your way to think about. Do you think it may be possible that Bush knows that once the palestinians have thier complete foothold on Gaza, with the Jews GONE, that it could be more easily targeted without fear of collateral damages now that they know that terrorism pays and works and thier intifada kicks it up a notch or two?
We can all agree that Bush and his advisors are NOT idiots. They have been very good at maintaining pleasant surprise for the skeptical. Whether it's Bush supporting Sharons plan, or, Sharon being pressured by the white house to start this plan, this move certainly had to have been well discussed and thought over.
To me, as it seems to you, we can't see why this has to and is happening to the Jewish people of Israel. Like it or not the bible clearly proclaims the Jewish people as "His own". It is also written that in the later days that the Israelites that were scattered among the nations, would be returned to the land that was promised to thier forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
In case you weren't paying attention, Jews have been leaving whereever in the world they had been living, and returning to Israel in droves. The bible also says that Israel would NEVER be divided.
As a Christian, such as Bush professes with no reservations about it, he HAS to know this. Absolutely has to. If he did not, then certainly an advisor somewhere would've clued him in.
From the Bushes standpoint then, knowing this, the question is why?
Obviously, Iran is a growing threat. Probably more of a threat than what we would feel if we got to have access to the same privy information the President gets EVERYDAY.
Bush has proven himself to deal with threats and use pre-emption. He also knows he has to help keep the republicans in control of the house and senate next year.
There is NO WAY, at this particular point that he can come to the American people, or congress to authorize another premptive action against Iran, on the heels of Iraq, not to mention that are troops are spread thin enough as is. He would be laughed out of the U.N.
The only way would be to allow the Israelis to do it, then back them up. The world will definately NOT be able to hide from the fact that the Jews are the victims, and NOT the palestinians as they claim they are. The world could not deny that Israel has taken the painful step of the pullout yet it did not bring peace, only more violence.
All this would give all the justification Israel needs. At this point it may SEEM that I'm mixing 2 seperate issues. One being a threat from Iran, secondly, the Israelis internal palestinian threat. Please follow along while I connect the two.
The whole of the muslim world has a well known and unhidden agenda, the complete elimination of the Jews. Just this last week there have been articles everywhere, including FR, that the newly elected leader of Iran has pledged his support to the palestinians during and after the pullout. Freshly crowned King Abdullah has also said basically the same thing.
Iran has been threatening to restart its uranium enrichment program. Enriched uranium has but one purpose. WEAPONS. And again, they continue to proudly say that they wish the destruction of Israel. They already have the missiles capable of delivering. History has proven that the first time Iran built a nuclear plant, they flattened it. They're ready to do it again. They, as does Bush, have a problem with the premption part again.
We know Iran has been, and is, a sponser of terrorists. We also know that Iran has been sending in insurgents to kill our troops in Iraq.
Is it not conceivable that once the pullout is completed, and the terrorists kick it up that notch or two, with help coming in from Iran, that we step in to back up Israel and take care of Iran once and for all?
It wouldn't hurt my feelings none, it IS a growing menace that needs to be dealt with before it's too late and they hit first. They're not called "Mad Mullahs" for nothing.
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