Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Tue Dec 31st Todays News

I was about 15 years old when my father said I could achieve a more balanced political view if I were to watch what the politicians and parties said, and looked to see if they kept their promises. I had said to him that I thought Greiner was a 'Wide Mouthed Frog' which he had been labelled by papers in '83. I was a lefty as my mother wanted me to be. about 31 years later .. here is what I have seen.
On budgets, ALP have never balanced a budget. They had a surplus a few times, long ago, but they have spent big on things that are useless, and have promised to spend bigger when they were desperate. Unsworth promised a birthday cake for Darlinghurst if he were elected over Greiner.
On corruption, ALP have had all the running. There were a few Liberal ministers who shipped on military vessels some colour tv sets for themselves and lost their positions under Fraser, but compare that with involvement in drug trade, pedophilia, theft, extortion, murder, organised crime and a press that won't investigate when the ALP are involved, and the ALP win the category.
On increased wages for fair work, ALP have cut pay on average, while the Libs have increased pay on average, about 2% each way, so that voting conservative has meant a 4% wage boost each year.
On work conditions, ALP tend to kill workers, soldiers, casual employees, railway fatalities. Natural disasters tend to be badly managed under ALP, or inflamed. cf floods, fires, cyclones.
On police, ALP promise more police on the streets, but they blow their budgets and so there are fewer where they are needed. The producers have worked hard to obscure it, but note the lack of will in police when the ALP are in government as seen in Underbelly productions, or the will that police have to support individuals under conservatives.
Teachers and schools are promised much by the ALP, but it is always resulting in them being taken for granted. Large classrooms are not the problem, but dysfunctional schools are. ALP spend big on education, but rarely is it well directed. Meanwhile conservatives have worked to keep the systems from falling apart. Australian schools aren't bad, when the office ladies aren't too busy making gender neutral pupil records. Blowing billions on bad computers or school halls that are overpriced is not a kept promise to anyone.
Health is a boom industry with an ageing population and improved but expensive care, and medicare would not work had Howard not made important decisions in everyone's interest, or had Greiner not saved the state from falling into the black holes ALP led the others to in the late 80's.
Roads, railways infrastructure, NBN, the promises the ALP make are broad, but fail. NBN is not as effective as wireless. It is very expensive. Roads under ALP are poor .. compare the sound of travelling NSW roads and their bumps with Victorian ones .. the big difference is NSW usually has an ALP government while Victoria is usually Liberal. The last time NSW and Australian governments were Liberal the Opera House and Snowy Mountain scheme were completed. Last time NSW and Australian governments were both ALP and both disavowed responsibility for education, hospitals etc etc.
Environment and dams are built by conservative governments and Australia is a wet continent in the north, and dry in the south. With a significant body of fresh water in central Australia summer heat waves emanating from a heated central Australia would not happen. The population could increase safely. ALP build desalination plants.
Migration under conservatives is high, as it should be, and far safer
Welfare is better directed under Liberals to poor people. ALP point to what they call middle class welfare but the figures show the ALP spend more .. on more people. Aboriginal welfare under Howard was effective with the intervention. But the white activists benefit under ALP.
Happy New Year, folks. And Australians should be pleased with their shiny new federal government

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Hatches
Happy birthday and many happy returns Sher Maine LeongRick Mills and Daravone. Ee Born on the same day, across the years .. the anniversary of Christ circumcised. Remember, birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.
Matches
Despatches
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The Lefts’ crystal balls-ups

Miranda Devine – Tuesday, December 31, 2013 (6:52pm)

NOW the Year of the Selfie is over, and a conservative government is in charge, we can look forward to the following dispatches from Gnashville over the next 12 months.

Icon Arrow Continue reading 'The Lefts’ crystal balls-ups'
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WARMIES WORRIED

Tim Blair – Tuesday, December 31, 2013 (1:19pm)

The ABC’s Wendy Harmer chats with Antarctica’s frozen warmies
Told Prof Chris Turney on radio this a.m. his trapped ship being touted as evidence of no global warming. Oh how he laughed at the “loonies”! 
We’re not the ones becoming an international joke due to ice comedy. And not everybody on board shares Turney’s sunny outlook: 
Andrew Peacock, a photographer aboard the ship, said via email to National Geographic that “the mood is getting more frustrated by the day.”
He added, “There are so many variables—every briefing is different—and people are getting a little worried now while the weather stays poor. Lack of control and missing loved ones are starting to put some emotion into our conversations!” 
UPDATE. John Hayward
You’d need a heart of stone not to laugh at the spectacle of global warming fanatics trapped in the ice on their way to Antarctica, where they planned to make a big deal about the relative shortage of ice. It’s even funnier because the highly sympathetic mainstream media so clearly understands how utterly embarrassing this is. 
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A change in the climate

Andrew Bolt December 31 2013 (12:05pm)


Former ABC chairman Maurice Newman, now head of the Prime Minister’s business advisory council:
From the UN down, the climate change delusion is a gigantic money tree. It is a tyranny that, despite its pretensions, favours the rich and politically powerful at the expense of the poor and powerless. But the madness of the crowds is waning and, as Mackay writes of the perpetrators: “Punishment is sure to overtake them sooner or later.” We can only hope it comes before most of us descend into serfdom.
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How many more failed court cases before we accept there were no “stolen generations”?

Andrew Bolt December 31 2013 (10:32am)

The "stolen generations"

When will politicians, journalists and academics have the courage - and honesty - to concede there were no “stolen generations” as usually defined?
Tony Thomas on yet another claim that’s collapsed in court against the evidence:
Justice Janine Pritchard in the WA Supreme Court on December 20 rejected claims that from 1958-79 there was any official program in WA to implement the so-called Stolen Generation policy. Her judgment dismissed damages claims by the Aboriginal Don and Sylvia Collard and seven of their 14 children removed or made state wards.
She specifically dealt with a claim that the children were removed “pursuant to a policy of assimilation of aboriginal children.” She found the children were instead removed, mainly to Sister Kate’s in Perth, to safeguard their physical welfare.
This is the twentieth case in State, Federal and High Courts involving significant Stolen Generations claims, and the nineteenth to see the claims thrown out. Justice Pritchard found:
“The references to ‘assimilation’ in the evidence I have set out above are not sufficient to support a finding on the balance of probabilities that at the time of the wardships there was, within the Department of Native Welfare or the Child Welfare Department, the pursuit of a policy of assimilation of aboriginal people into white Australian society through the wardship of aboriginal children...”

The one successful claim in fact proves there was indeed no sanctioned policy (in South Australia, in this case) to remove Aboriginal children just for being Aboriginal:


In SA, the Trevorrow case involved an unlawful removal of Bruce Trevorrow as an ailing one-year-old from his parents in early 1958. The removal was done by a well-meaning but inexperienced Aboriginal welfare worker, contrary to official policy. Trevorrow was adopted by a caring white couple but his life became dysfunctional. He won $775,000 damages in 2007-08. This remains the only successful “Stolen Generation” case, although it in fact demonstrated that SA government policy was against any racial removals of half-castes, rogue welfare workers notwithstanding.
The “stolen generations” is a giant intellectual fraud with unforgivable consequences - Aboriginal children being left in dangers from which they would have been rescued had they been white. Some children have paid for this with their lives.
To this judgement in Western Australia add the following.
In Victoria:

Victoria’s Aboriginal-led Stolen Generations Taskforce ... could find no Victorian Aboriginal who had been truly stolen, and concluded that in Victoria “there was no formal policy for removing children”.
In the Northern Territory (the Federal Court’s finding in the Gunner and Cubillo case):

I am limited to making findings on the evidence that was presented to this Court in these proceedings; that evidence does not support a finding that there was any policy of removal of part-Aboriginal children such as that alleged by the applicants...
In South Australia:

It was Christmas 50 years ago when Joe Trevorrow left his hut of scrap iron and sacks on the Coorong to ask his neighbours - relatives of his partner, Thora - to drive his sick baby to Adelaide’s children’s hospital…
Who knows what Thora’s relatives told the doctors, but the hospital’s notes say the baby, Bruce Trevorrow, was a “neglected child - without parents”, suffering from “malnutrition” and “infective diarrhoea"‘.
The notes add: “The other two children are neglected. Mother has cleared out and father is boozing.”
This is the baby that just two weeks later was given to an Adelaide family.. Unforgiveably, Joe and Thora were never asked for permission to give away their baby. ..
As [Justice] Gray ruled: “Mrs Angas [the welfare worker who gave away the baby] may have been well-intentioned ... but was well aware, or ought to have been aware, that the removal of the plaintiff from his family, and his placement with the Davies family, was undertaken in circumstances that were understood to be without legal authority, beyond power and contrary to authoritative legal advice."…
The picture the judge paints over many pages is compelling: South Australia never had any laws—or policies - authorising anyone to steal Aboriginal children for racist reasons.
Gray noted, for instance, that in 1923, as South Australia passed a law to help neglected Aboriginal children, the then treasurer assured Parliament: “The dictates of humanity forbid the state to deprive mothers of their infant children in cases where their mothers desire to keep them.”
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Media cover-up:  warmist scientists trapped by ice are just “tourists”

Andrew Bolt December 31 2013 (9:12am)

Global warming - dud predictions, Global warming - propaganda

The farce: warmist scientists and reporters sail to Antarctica to find signs of the global warming they claim has changed that continent since Douglas Mawson explored it a century ago. Instead, they find sea ice when Mawson didn’t and their ship is locked in.
Be clear about the joke here. This Australasian Antarctica Expedition was meant to scare us about global warming changing Antarctica, causing melting instead of all this damn ice. As the expedition leaders said on their website:
… there is an increasing body of evidence, including by the AAE members, that have identified parts of the East Antarctic which are highly susceptible to melting and collapse from ocean warming… We are going south to ...  determine the extent to which human activity and pollution has directly impacted on this remote region of Antarctica.
Now to the media cover-up.
Note the Sydney Morning Herald’s coverage this morning. It has a reporter on the third ice-breaker to go to the expedition’s help, only to be driven back by thick ice. There is no mention in her stories of global warming, the trapped mission’s quixotic quest or how stupid those warmists now look. There is no mention that sea ice around Antarctica has steadily increased over the past three decades, contrary to what the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change admits its climate models predicted.
Instead, the SMH republishes a tweet from the trapped expedition’s leader, Professor Chris Turney, still insisting he’s unnaturally warm despite being packed in by ice:

image
Turney is now the Black Knight of global warming:

In fact, it does indeed rain in Antarctica in summer, as the Mawson’s Huts Foundation demonstrates.
Then there’s this:

image
Jo Nova is astonished by a media cover-up that has changed what was a ship of climate scientists into a ship of mere “tourists”:

A month ago the mission of the $1.5m expedition was “to answer questions about climate change”. Now the ABC describes the Australasian expedition as “a Russian ship stuck in sea ice in Antarctica.” ...
Let there be no doubt, the mission was to document and record scientific changes in Antarctica and to broadcast that to the world. Most scientific missions don’t have a dedicated media team, but this one named a staff of five journalists. There is a journalist and a documentary maker from the Guardian as well as a senior producer from the Science Unit at the BBC world service. (See the media list.) If they’d discovered less sea ice, fewer penguins, or big cracks, we know the images would be all over the mass media and it would be evidence for “climate change”.
But with the MV Akademik Shokalskiy trapped by thick sea ice, the mission apparently is to call it a tourist boat. The BBC now tell us the mission was “to follow the route explorer Douglas Mawson travelled a century ago”. Don’t mention the climate…
The spin is that team has “met heavy ice”. Not “been trapped by unprecedentedly thick sea ice, unlike anything Mawson ever saw, and in record levels”. If they had met thin sea ice, would it have been described as a dangerously thin layer, a risk for penguins, and a stark reminder of how much the climate is changing? Would it have been an undeniable factoid?
It’s not what the ABC says, it’s what they don’t say (a.k.a. “lying by omission"). The headlines could read “Global warming scientists trapped in Antarctica by record sea ice they didn’t predict”. As if. That would be against the religion.
Instead, there are reports from the ABC like this, with no mention of climate change or what the “passengers” on the “cruise ship” were actually up to:
TONY EASTLEY: The Australian operation to rescue passengers from a Russian cruise ship stuck in thick Antarctic sea ice, is continuing this morning, but it’s slow going.
The Aurora Australis ice-breaker is the third vessel to try to help the stricken expedition ship, which has been trapped since Christmas Eve.
Authorities say the scientists and tourist on board the Russian vessel are packed and ready to go.
But deteriorating conditions mean any rescue is unlikely any time soon.
Another ABC report that fails to mention the scientists and journalists were actually trying to prove global warming was changing Antarctica:

An Australian icebreaker has abandoned its attempt to rescue a Russian-flagged ship stuck in sea ice in Antarctica due to adverse weather conditions…
The Akademik Shokalskiy had been retracing Sir Douglas Mawson’s Antarctic expedition and conducting scientific research when sea ice closed in about 1,500 nautical miles south of Hobart.
The 74 people on board, including scientists, crew members and paying passengers, have been stranded since Christmas Eve.
More from Watts Up With That.
By the way, how much is the rescue of these warmists costing - in money and emissions?
UPDATE
Reader Katherine in the Bush:
Remember the sea captain who hated his first mate? Every few days he wrote in the log, “first mate was sober today.” This resulted in the first mate being dismissed for drunkenness when they returned to port. The whole truth was that the first mate had been sober every day. Journalists have taken a leaf out of the sea captain’s book to the detriment of our country. 
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Mines are too ugly for rich men buying their horses

Andrew Bolt December 31 2013 (8:45am)


The NSW Planning and Assessment Commission has just defined our times for us.
It has ruled that a coal mine is simply too ugly for rich people to have anywhere near where they shop for that most exclusive of toys - the thoroughbred horse - and thus must be banned.
Moreover, the mine it has rejected would have kept 500 Australian workers in their jobs. The two horse studs it wants protected are owned by Irish investors and a Middle Eastern Sheik.
The story: 
Anglo American owners of the Drayton open cut mine had proposed to continue their operations into the southern part of their existing mine lease once current production ceased in 2015.
Their development known as the Drayton South project would have utilised existing Drayton infrastructure and equipment as well as their 500 employees and over the life of the mine deliver $950million in royalties to the state government.
Add to that company tax and the income tax of employees and contractors, plus spin offs for local business.

But the expansion of the mine brought it close to two of the country’s biggest thoroughbred horse studs Coolmore and Darley (Woodlands) near Jerrys Plains… In the review the two studs are described as being the core operations that support the entire Upper Hunter Critical Industry Cluster – Equine (CIC) and therefore they need protection from the mine and this would require a buffer of at least several kilometres not the proposed 500metres…

The two studs produce almost half of the country’s stallion fees…
Anglo American’s Coal business, chief executive officer, Seamus French, said this decision was a severe blow to the 500 people who work at Drayton mine and the families they support.
“We have followed all the rules, consulted extensively and made $6 billion worth of compromises to reduce project impacts through revised mine designs,” Mr French said.
“Significantly, we have forgone 53 million tonnes of coal, worth more than $5 billion, to move the mine behind the ridgeline to negate the visual impacts on our neighbours...”
Here, from the PAC report, is the critical issue, dressed up with fashionable buzz words such as “brandscape”. Note that security gates to lock out the hoi polloi are cited as a point in favor of the horse studs:

image
The rich must have their horses. The poor won’t have the wages to even watch.  
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Last sunset for 2013
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Stephen Zeg Gunnell
I just couldn't sign off this year without a dig and the usual suspects and fools. 
I suggest you all have a read of this and please try to subscribe to this brilliant publication. Roger Fletcher does it again...tells the truth.
God bless all.

http://quadrant.org.au/opinion/doomed-planet/2013/12/cold-comfort-antarctic-warmists/
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Happy New Year! It is about time. - ed
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Christmas Joke

Three men died on Christmas Eve and were met by Saint Peter at the pearly gates.

'In honour of this holy season' Saint Peter said, 'You must each possess something that symbolizes Christmas to get into heaven.'

The Englishman fumbled through his pockets and pulled out a lighter. He flicked it on. 'It's a candle', he said.

'You may pass through the pearly gates' Saint Peter said.

The Scotsman reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys. He shook them and said, 'They're bells.'

Saint Peter said 'You may pass through the pearly gates'.

The Irishman started searching desperately through his pockets and finally pulled out a pair of women's panties.

St. Peter looked at the man with a raised eyebrow and asked, 'And just what do those symbolize?'

The paddy replied, 'These are Carols.'

And that's how Christmas Season began In Ireland.

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Andy Trieu
Happy New Year 
Sylvia Lee Don’t get confused between my personality and attitude. My personality is who I am, and my attitude depends on who you are! Anon...
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One Year and One Day Ago.... at this very time...
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Photobombing, surfing, hunting .. what ever .. ed
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A simple explanation. Had his son killed the agents, he could have claimed they weren't people he was expecting and they were armed and he was frightened. Instead, he resisted deadly force and failed. - ed
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www.theaustralian.com.au
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#TheHobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is the #1 movie in the world for the third straight week!

How many times have you seen the film in theaters so far?
 
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eating there won't get you a life sentence .. I guess .. ed
Jason FoNg Char kway teow and a dissertation on Cambodian war crimes. One can be easily mistaken.
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CHICK CHAT

A man is alone in an airport lounge.

Two beautiful women walk in and sit down at the table next to him.

He decides because they are wearing a uniform, they are probably off-duty flight attendants.

He decides to have a go at picking them up by identifying the airline they fly for.

He leans across and says the British Airways motto : ' To Fly. To Serve '?

The women look at him blankly.

He sits back and thinks again.

Leans forward and delivers the Air France motto ' Winning the hearts of the world '?

Again they just stare at him.

Undeterred, he tries again, this time saying the Malaysian Airlines motto ' Going beyond expectations '?

The women gives him a cutting look and say " What the fuck do you want ? "

" Aha! " he says, " QANTAS ! "

Wow, I now appreciate the pilot more .. ed===

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The maximum choppage fight team! ‪#‎stuntpeople‬ ‪#‎stuntdog‬
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Sarah Palin
Holy unbelievable. The hypocritical leftist lamestream media should be shamed by every caring, child-loving American. It has once again reached a new low. See the article linked below. One just can't win in their petty little games. Good thing most Americans don't play those little games! It's a beautiful thing the Romney family has done by embracing “the spirit of adoption.” What on earth is more beautiful? Shame on MSNBC for mocking this.

The LSM's pursuit of “shock ratings” is unreal. Governor Mitt Romney ran for higher office with what I believe is a servant's heart. He was saddled with some sup-par campaign tactics. That does not make him a bad person nor does it open his children or grandchildren to attacks over a year after the fact. This latest attack from the Left is despicable.

Leftist media hounds are not expressing an opinion with this attack; they are expressing a prejudice that would never be accepted if it came from anyone else but the lib media.

You really need a conscience, yellow journalists. May your 2014 New Year's Resolution be to find one.

Thank you, Romney family, for giving a child a family full of love.

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Journalism/2013/12/30/menbc-harri-sperry-panel-mocks-romneys-black-grandson

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Michelle Malkin
Racism is hilarious! MSNBC panel mocks, belittles Romneys’ adopted grandson == http://twitchy.com/2013/12/30/racism-is-hilarious-msnbc-panel-mocks-belittles-romneys-adopted-grandson/
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<The Perkal Brothers were an institution and part of Sydney's establishment.

I saw Morris Perkal (left) only two weeks ago mourning his late brother Adam.

Artisans like these are a rarity.

They made shoes just recently for my sister, a client of their's for forty years.

Baruch Dayan Emet.>
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A Golden Classic
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Andy Trieu
Woo! Counted down the fireworks for#CityofSydney tick that off the bucketlist#spacepanda
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'….due to US pressure on Israel….due to US pressure on Israel….due to US pressure on Israel…..due to US pressure on Israel…..

….In 1992, the two men firebombed a civilian bus, murdering Rachel Weiss, who was nine months pregnant, and three of her pre-school aged children, as well as IDF soldier David Delarosa, who tried to save them.

They were released on Monday, due to US pressure on Israel and received back home to heroes’ welcomes. Their freedom empowers Palestinians who reject Israel’s right to exist and seek its destruction through acts of genocide against its Jewish citizens.

…..due to US pressure on Israel……" - Caroline Glick
www.jpost.com
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www.israelnationalnews.com
I question the assertion that this is a trend. trendy lefty types do all sorts of things .. this isn't new. You don't want to lose quality people, and I doubt you are. They'll not enjoy their choices as they get older .. ed
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blogs.timesofisrael.com
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You will arise and have compassion upon Zion; for it is time to be gracious unto her, for the appointed time has come.
PSALMS (102:14)

אַתָּה תָקוּם תְּרַחֵם צִיּוֹן כִּי עֵת לְחֶנְנָהּ כִּי בָא מוֹעֵד
תהילים קב:יד
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<Once again Caroline Glick is spot on in her assessment of the prisoner release as well as the plan to declare sovereignty over the Jordan Valley. The release of the mass murderers is most unfortunately a done deal and nets Israel zero in terms of support from a US president who is laughing at our stupidity. I would like to believe that sovereignty will be declared, but my feeling is that we shouldn't hold our breath. Between the Leftists like Tzipi Livni standing in the wings just waiting to sell us out for the proverbial "mess of pottage," and the US waiting to admonish us for our intransigence Netanyahu will once again offer apologies for his bad manners and take his lashes.>

http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Columnists/Our-World-Empowering-Palestinians-who-reject-Israels-right-to-exist-336600
www.jpost.com
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"There's no place like home…"
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www.israelhayom.com
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blogs.timesofisrael.com
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Arab MK claims "We were here before you, and we will be here after you" Watch Prime Minister Netanyahu's quick response here.
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We Were in a Movie Festival!!!

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Our new production, Joy of Israel, was screened at the Jewish Film Festival in Jerusalem on Dec. 5th, the last night of Chanukah!!!
We at 12Tribe Films are excited to introduce to you the 3rd episode of our newest production - the Joy of Israel with Jamie Geller Episode #3 - Holy Hebron and Sweet Hebron Hills! Never before has the beauty of Israel been showcased for the world to see in reality TV format with the mission of educating, exciting and connecting people to Israel. This new series will reshape the entire image of living in Israel into one that is exciting, inspiring, and beautiful.
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December 30, 2013 / 27 Tevet 5774
 

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We thank you so much for your love and support of the People of Israel!

As 2013 comes to a close, 'United with Israel' is asking for your help to:
- Broadcast the TRUTH about Israel to over 100 countries around the world
- Support vital projects such as bomb shelters and emergency aid for the needy
- Show the uninformed majority how Israel is a beacon of democracy and blessing
- Translate our pro-Israel websites and newsletters into multiple languages
- Share blessing and joy with Israeli soldiers and victims of terror

Click below to Support Israel with a 2013 Tax Deductible Donation
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While the brave young men and women of the IDF defend Israeli citizens on the battlefield, 'United with Israel' is fighting the war of public opinion in homes, cafes, universities, synagogues and churches all over the world.

Funds are needed to expand our professional staff and pay for language translation, content development, video production, graphics, programming, advertising, SEO, new media technology, local branch building and much more.

In addition, we support emergency relief projects such as building bomb shelters to protect Israelis who are living under fire.

MAKE AN END-OF-YEAR TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION 
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Thanks to you, our 'extended reach' has grown to nearly 500 million people around the world. With your continued support, we can empower more than ONE BILLION people to become global advocates for Israel. It may sound like a dream, but it's no more of a dream than the incredible miracle of Israel itself!

THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO HELP IN 2013. The power of your gift can be exponential as it enables us to connect with millions more. Please donate generously and help make a real difference for the People of Israel. 

Thank you for your kindness and generosity. We look forward to a fabulous 2014! 

With Blessings from Israel,

The 'United with Israel' Family


Support Israel with a 2013 Tax Deductible Donation
CLICK HERE --> http://unitedwithisrael.org/donate
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You can send a check to the USA:
Americans United with Israel
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United States

You can send a check directly to Israel:
United with Israel
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ISRAEL 99623
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Last chance for a 2013 tax-deductible donation to Israel. Click here if images do not display.
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YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL
 
David,
Thanks to your help, 2013 was a truly remarkable year of support for the People of Israel. Your overwhelming kindness and generosity has
made a world of difference!
United with Israel has grown to become the largest, pro-Israel grassroots movement in the entire world, reaching millions of people every day, in every corner of the globe.
Together, we have been successful in fighting anti-Israel media bias and advocating for Israel in over 100 countries. Thanks to your support, we spread positive messages about Israel - not only across the western world - but throughout the Far East, Asia and Africa, including many Arab and Muslim countries. You are truly making a world of difference for Israel!
The enemies of Israel spend billions to spread lies and demonize the State of Israel. We cannot fight this battle alone. We need your support so that Israel can win this war.
United with Israel needs substantial funds to maintain its professional staff and pay for language translation, website development, content creation, video production, graphics, programming, advertising, SEO, social technology, branch development and much more.
Please open your hearts to help Israel - a meaningful way to mark the end of 2013.
We wish you a wonderful 2014, full of happiness, blessing and peace. And we thank you for making a real difference for the People, Country and Land of Israel.

 
With Blessings from Israel,
The 'United with Israel' Family
 

 
PS - We greatly appreciate your kindness and generosity. Please share this wonderful giving opportunity with your family and friends!

Send your check to Israel:
 
United with Israel
8/19 Maor St.
Box 71530
Bet Shemesh
ISRAEL 99623
Send your check to the USA:
 
Americans United
with Israel

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11559
United States
To donate by phone:
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Counting Down The Top Ten Israel Videos of The Year!

Screen-Shot-2013-09-30-at-9.49.40-AM
The Jewish Wedding Video that has spread Joy through the world!! Over 1 million views and counting!!
Click here to watch: The Jewish Wedding Video
***
Screen-Shot-2013-10-31-at-4.05.37-PM
Video #4!
1223hkhj
Video #5!
Screen-Shot-2013-11-04-at-2.51.42-PM1
Video #6!
Screen-Shot-2013-10-17-at-2.17.56-PM
Video #8!
Click here to watch:The Breakthrough To Jerusalem
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Video #9!
***
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Michelle Malkin 3
Hi everyone! Here's the MichelleMalkin.com newsletter for December 30th. Enjoy!

From the Blog

Antarctic global warming expeditionists trapped in ice may have to be rescued by helicopter

Australian climate change professor Chris Turney, passengers and media hoping to get pictures penguins windsurfing where ice should be set out on an expedition to demonstrate the effects of global warming on Antarctica. The ship and all on board have now been trapped in ice for almost a week and counting...

NYT report: Benghazi attack was ‘fueled in large part’ by YouTube video

The Times’ report says assertions that the YouTube video played no role in the attack were “claims by some members of Congress.” However, those claims were not isolated to U.S. Republicans. Last September, Libyan President Mohammed Magarief also said the YouTube video had nothing to do with the Benghazi attack...

Debbie Wasserman Schultz New Year’s resolution: Convincing Republicans to stop disagreeing with Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Odd as it may seem, my New Year’s resolution is to break the New Year’s resolution of Debbie Wasserman Schultz...

Bloomberg-the-Humble: ‘Literally saved 9,200 lives’ during mayoral tenure

My theory is that Michael Bloomberg is bragging about the number of lives saved during his mayoral tenure because he thinks they serve as offsets to all the people killed by his enormous carbon footprint...

Heh: Obamacare advocate Richard Blumenthal says UPS should refund customers for late deliveries

There’s nobody more qualified to point the finger of shame at a private company for failing to live up to service expectations than a U.S. Senator helping daily to add to a $17 trillion national debt who is also a staunch supporter of the Obamacare train wreck...

Climate change causes record low number of tornadoes in 2013

According to Climate Depot, 2013 shattered the record for the fewest U.S. tornadoes. 2012′s tally was well below normal as well...

More From the Right Side of the Web

Michelle's Top Tweets

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Michelle Malkin Tweet 123013 04

And ... Our Hate Tweet of the Day

Malkin Hate Tweet 123013 01
The delusion. It never ceases to amaze.
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December 31New Year's Eve (Gregorian calendar)
Parliament Hill, Ottawa
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Events[edit]

Births[edit]

Deaths[edit]

Holidays and observances[edit]

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““I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”” John 16:33 NIV
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Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon

Morning

"Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof."
Ecclesiastes 7:8
Look at David's Lord and Master; see his beginning. He was despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Would you see the end? He sits at his Father's right hand, expecting until his enemies be made his footstool. "As he is, so are we also in this world." You must bear the cross, or you shall never wear the crown; you must wade through the mire, or you shall never walk the golden pavement. Cheer up, then, poor Christian. "Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof." See that creeping worm, how contemptible its appearance! It is the beginning of a thing. Mark that insect with gorgeous wings, playing in the sunbeams, sipping at the flower bells, full of happiness and life; that is the end thereof. That caterpillar is yourself, until you are wrapped up in the chrysalis of death; but when Christ shall appear you shall be like him, for you shall see him as he is. Be content to be like him, a worm and no man, that like him you may be satisfied when you wake up in his likeness. That rough-looking diamond is put upon the wheel of the lapidary. He cuts it on all sides. It loses much--much that seemed costly to itself. The king is crowned; the diadem is put upon the monarch's head with trumpet's joyful sound. A glittering ray flashes from that coronet, and it beams from that very diamond which was just now so sorely vexed by the lapidary. You may venture to compare yourself to such a diamond, for you are one of God's people; and this is the time of the cutting process. Let faith and patience have their perfect work, for in the day when the crown shall be set upon the head of the King, Eternal, Immortal, Invisible, one ray of glory shall stream from you. "They shall be mine," saith the Lord, "in the day when I make up my jewels." "Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof."

Evening

"Knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end?"
2 Samuel 2:26
If, O my reader! thou art merely a professor, and not a possessor of the faith that is in Christ Jesus, the following lines are a true ketch of thine end.
You are a respectable attendant at a place of worship; you go because others go, not because your heart is right with God. This is your beginning. I will suppose that for the next twenty or thirty years you will be spared to go on as you do now, professing religion by an outward attendance upon the means of grace, but having no heart in the matter. Tread softly, for I must show you the deathbed of such a one as yourself. Let us gaze upon him gently. A clammy sweat is on his brow, and he wakes up crying, "O God, it is hard to die. Did you send for my minister?" "Yes, he is coming." The minister comes. "Sir, I fear that I am dying!" "Have you any hope?" "I cannot say that I have. I fear to stand before my God; oh! pray for me." The prayer is offered for him with sincere earnestness, and the way of salvation is for the ten-thousandth time put before him, but before he has grasped the rope, I see him sink. I may put my finger upon those cold eyelids, for they will never see anything here again. But where is the man, and where are the man's true eyes? It is written, "In hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torment." Ah! why did he not lift up his eyes before? Because he was so accustomed to hear the gospel that his soul slept under it. Alas! if you should lift up your eyes there, how bitter will be your wailings. Let the Saviour's own words reveal the woe: "Father Abraham, send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame." There is a frightful meaning in those words. May you never have to spell it out by the red light of Jehovah's wrath!
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Today's reading: Zechariah 13-14, Revelation 21 (NIV)

View today's reading on Bible Gateway

Today's Old Testament reading: Zechariah 9-12

Cleansing From Sin
1 “On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.
2 “On that day, I will banish the names of the idols from the land, and they will be remembered no more,” declares the LORD Almighty. “I will remove both the prophets and the spirit of impurity from the land. 3 And if anyone still prophesies, their father and mother, to whom they were born, will say to them, ‘You must die, because you have told lies in the LORD’s name.’ Then their own parents will stab the one who prophesies.
4 “On that day every prophet will be ashamed of their prophetic vision. They will not put on a prophet’s garment of hair in order to deceive. 5Each will say, ‘I am not a prophet. I am a farmer; the land has been my livelihood since my youth.’6 If someone asks, ‘What are these wounds on your body?’ they will answer, ‘The wounds I was given at the house of my friends....’

Today's New Testament reading: Revelation 20

A New Heaven and a New Earth
1 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true....”
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Simeon, Symeon [Sĭm'eon]—hearing, hears and obeys orhearing with acceptance.
1. The second son of Jacob by Leah(Gen. 29:33).

The Man Who Was Self-Willed

It is not easy to deal with Simeon alone, since he is always associated with his brother, Levi. “Simeon and Levi are brethren” (Gen. 49:5 ). Of Simeon’s personal history we know little. His name implies hearing with obedience, but Simeon was deaf in the day he should have heard, and disobedient and irresponsive when his lot hung in balance.
The first thing recorded about Simeon is that with Levi his brother, he drew the sword in treachery against the Shechemites and slew all the males. When rebuked by their father, they upheld indignantly their right to act as they did. Both acted “in their selfwill” (Gen. 49:6), which means they took malicious delight in their gross crime.
Simeon next appears in the story of Joseph, who felt it would be better to retain Simeon until Benjamin had been brought to the palace. Joseph felt with his father Jacob that Simeon and Levi would be best apart. In fact, Simeon had no blessing while joined with Levi and no prosperity while he was with Reuben. When separated, Simeon, at first, did not multiply (1 Chron. 4:24-27). During the forty years in the wilderness the decrease of Simeon was remarkable. Because of the idolatry of the tribe, thousands were slain.
In the land of Canaan, Simeon joined with Judah, and this association marked a turning point in the history of the tribe. Judah and Simeon went up together to Canaan (Judg. 1:1-3). Simeon means “obedient hearing,” and Judah, “praise.” The absorption of Simeon into the inheritance of Judah gave Simeon a place and work in Israel. In the final division of the land, foretold by Ezekiel, between Benjamin and Issachar, there is a portion for Simeon.
Over the gate to the Golden City, Simeon’s name is inscribed—“Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed 12,000”—a way for even Simeon to enter the city of God above. From the time the Simeonites became aware of what God had done for them there was no more curse and no more captivity for them. Hitherto instruments of cruelty, they became instruments of warfare against the enemies of the Lord, ultimately earning the right to be included among the number eternally sealed (Rev. 7:7).
Self-will fittingly describes Simeon’s career until he was separated from Levi. God hates self-will for He knows how it accounts for uncontrolled passions, and the failure to respond to higher appeals. Because of their self-will God, in His governmental dealings, scattered and impoverished the Simeonites. May we not come nigh their dwelling but ever seek to learn, prove and obey “that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
2. A just and devout man in Jerusalem who awaited the coming of Jesus, the Messiah (Luke 2:25-34).

The Man Who Died Satisfied

The adoration and prophecy of Simeon, who waited for the consolation of Israel and blessed the Consoler when He appeared, is rich in spiritual suggestion. This spectator of the most significant birth of all history, endued with a prophetic spirit, kept the lamp of prophecy burning when religion was at a low ebb in Israel. Simeon means “one who hears and obeys” and this saintly Simeon knew the voice speaking in the prophets of old, and obeyed the light he saw. Coming into the Temple, he took the Babe in his arms and blessed God. What a wonderful benediction his was!
At last faith had been justified and Simeon could die without fear. Have our eyes seen the salvation of the Lord? Can we die in peace? In his swan song, Simeon was not ashamed to declare that the One born in the city of David was the Saviour of the world. This was more than the letter-learned scribes of his times had discerned. These were the men who looked upon Christ as a sign to be spoken against and to whom He would become a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.
With godly Simeon it was different, for he was Spirit-taught and knew that Mary’s Child was the One through whom the world was to be blessed. As he eagerly anticipated Christ’s first advent, are we found patiently awaiting His second advent? When He does appear and we see Him as He is, ours will be the thrill Simeon experienced as He gazed upon the Lord’s Christ.
3. An ancestor of Jesus (Luke 3:30).
4. A disciple and prophet at Antioch, surnamed Niger (Acts 13:1 ).
5. The original name of a son of Jonas, or John, and brother of Andrew an apostle of Christ. See SIMON (Acts 15:14).
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P31Header
Amy Carroll
December 30, 2011
A Place of True Belonging
Amy Carroll
"Do not forsake your friend and the friend of your father, and do not go to your brother's house when disaster strikes you—better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away." Proverbs 27:10 (NIV 1984)
As we sat around the table with the sun setting behind us, I breathed a deep sigh of contentment. The faces of my dear friends glowed in the fading light, and our voices were low and intimate. The conversation had turned to matters buried deep in our hearts; laughter pealed, tears were shed and our faces reflected concern and caring as the conversation ebbed and flowed. With darkness deepening around us, we reluctantly stood, said our good-byes and returned to our waiting families and beds.
Pulling the quilt up to my chin that night, I thought, "There's nothing on Facebook as good as that."
Please don't get me wrong. I love social networking as much as anyone. I've enjoyed reconnecting with old friends, staying connected to new friends I meet as I travel and connecting to my children in creative and fun ways. It's entertaining and enjoyable. It's fascinating and engaging. It's educational and inspiring. It's not a place I intend to abandon, but it's a place I need to recognize for what it is and what it isn't.
Since Facebook is my favorite site for social networking, I decided to do a little investigating. From its inception in 2004, Facebook has grown from 1 million users to an astounding 500 million users by the middle of 2011. And it's not just for kids any more. The 35-54 years old demographic is now the largest population of users with women leading the pack!
I've been wondering about the cause of the overwhelming growth in social networking. I'm no expert, but I have some ideas of my own. Our culture has become increasingly insulating over time. Everything from industrialization when families began to move away from family farms, to air conditioning which drives us off our front porches and inside our cool homes, has made it more challenging to find a place of true belonging.
Instead of joining churches for a lifetime, we're either moving to another town or another church. Instead of walking next door to ask our grandmothers for parenting advice, we're using search engines and reading blogs. Instead of meals around tables in our home, we're driving thru and eating on the way.
If this sounds scathing, please excuse me. I'm writing with a broken heart out of my own experience. I am that woman. I'm a woman who has turned inward. I've turned on my computer instead of turning outward with open arms and an open life. I'm a woman who has settled for "friending" online instead of knocking on a friend's door because of some past hurts. It's easier "out there" instead of close by, isn't it?
I was reflecting one day about the time and space into which Jesus was born. God could have sent Jesus into any time of His choosing. Why didn't He send Jesus during our day? Surely using television and internet would have been a more effective way to get the Word out.
Maybe, just maybe, His choice of time sends us a message. Jesus chose deep relationships as the way to transmit His message forward in time until He comes again.
He was the one who created us in His own image with an inescapable need for face-to-face, heart-to-heart relationship. Maybe a place of true belonging with God and others is the only way to satisfy the longings of our souls.
Dear Lord, I know that in You I will find a place of true belonging. Help me to build that relationship with others too. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Do You Know Him?
Visit Amy's blog for more encouragement.
Order P31 Woman magazine to read together with a friend!
Application Steps:
Examine how you spend your time. Is the majority of your time being invested in face-to-face relationship with friends and family?
Pay attention to your true feelings after interactions on the computer or in person. In the end, is the interaction fulfilling or hollow?
Reflections:
Where do I find my place of belonging?
Is the belonging that I feel true or artificial?
Power Verses:
Proverbs 17:17, "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." (NIV 1984)
Romans 12:5, "...so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." (NIV 1984)
© 2011 by Amy Carroll. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org
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December 30, 2011
I Need Rest!
Today's Truth
"The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place" (Mark 6:30-32, NIV).
Friend to Friend
I spin plates. Not real plates. Metaphorical plates. I spin lots of plates at the same time and I multi-task. This is both a blessing and a curse in my life. Sometimes my attention is divided in too many directions, leaving me harried ... while at other times, I'm energized by the amount of things I can get done in a small window of time. Regardless, there just never seems to be enough hours in the day to get things done or enough hours in the night to give me complete rest.
Being a plate-spinning mom is a challenge. When my kids want me, they don't like to wait for me to spin three more plates before I answer them or give them my attention. When my daughter Kennedy was a toddler, she figured out a way to stop me mid-task, no matter what I was doing. She would place her chubby little hands on my cheeks, look me in the eye, and demand my full attention. Then she would deliver her message or question to me. I became her captive audience.
Just like Kennedy used to seek my attention, the Spirit of the Lord often speaks a similar message to my heart: "Don't forget about me, Gwen! I know you have a lot going on, but your attention should be mine. I love you. Come sit with me a while."
Life is busy. Each day we have activities, tasks and distractions that vie for our time and attention. If we aren't careful and deliberate, our relationship with God can suffer as a result. The Lord doesn't want to be an after-thought and He doesn't want to be penciled in to our schedules. He wants us to prioritize Him. Focus our hearts on Him. Worship Him. Be with Him. Rest in Him.
What are your priorities? Where does God fit into your schedule? How vital is it to you that you spend one-on-one time with God each day? Are you experiencing the supernatural rest that's found in His presence?
In Mark 6:30-32, we learn that Jesus and His apostles had been busy working for their heavenly Father. In fact, they had worked with such vigor that they hadn't even gotten a decent meal in their belly. (Boy, do I know what that's like!) In response, Jesus invited them to get away with Him so they could find some rest and rejuvenation in His presence. He said,"Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest" (Mark 6:31, NIV). That same invitation is extended to you and me.
God wants you to pause the plate spinning and be His captive audience in this very moment. He wants you to go with Him to a quiet place: to be still, to gaze into His eyes, to worship Him in Spirit and in truth, to be lost in His glory, and found by His grace - to find rest.
I'd like you to imagine His strong yet gentle hands reaching for your cheeks, lifting your chin, and drawing your eyes to His. Fix your gaze on His beautiful, blazing, mercy-filled eyes. Give the Lord your full attention. He will be your rest.
Let's Pray
Heavenly Father, please forgive me for all of the times I fail to give You my attention. I shake my head at the very thought that You want to lock gazes with someone like me, yet Scripture clearly tells me that You desire to be sought after and found by me. I'm here. You have my full attention, please speak to my heart and help me to be Your captive audience throughout today and every day.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.
Now It's Your Turn
  • I co-wrote a song called "Sacred Place" that is purposed to lead you to His presence. Please take a moment to listen to "Sacred Place" and personally respond to Him. CLICK HERE to listen to the song on my Facebook page.
  • Find a solitary place, grab your Bible and read Psalm 103.
  • Write down your favorite verses from that chapter and journal about what they teach you.
More from the Girlfriends
Do you know that rest, the rest that comes from the heart of God and permeates every fiber of who you are...no matter what you are facing? God desires for you to know His rest, for you to experience the fullness of His love and His peace. If your soul is in turmoil, lift your gaze to the Father. Seek His heart. He will meet you at your need and sustain you one day at a time. Spend some sacred quiet time with Him today.
Gwen's song "Sacred Place" is featured on her live worship CD, Unsearchable, which is available on iTunesAmazonand on Gwen's website.
Portions of today's devotion are found in Gwen's book, Broken Into Beautiful. God delights to transform lives...even yours! Experience how the unconditional love of Jesus can change your life and then stand back and watch the wonder of grace at work.
Seeking God?
Click here to find out more about
how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Girlfriends in God
P.O. Box 725
Matthews, NC 28106
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From Abraham to Exile

Not every ancestor of Jesus trusted in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Still, the Lord's grace overcame what could be called "impossible" odds in working through the sinful sons of David to bring about our salvation. This grace seeks out even the most wicked person and calls God's chosen to repentance, even if they are as vile as Manasseh or as lost as Rahab. Our status as Christ's brothers and sisters (Heb. 2:11) comes only by such almighty grace.
For further study:
The Bible in a year:
Coram Deo from TableTalk Magazine, Matthew Studies. Copyright © 2008 by Ligonier Ministries.
Subscribe to Tabletalk magazine and receive daily Bible studies & in depth articles from world class scholars for only $23 per per year! That's only $1.92 per month. And you can try it out for three months absolutely free! Bringing the best in biblical scholarship together with down-to-earth writing, Tabletalk helps you understand the Bible and apply it to daily living. 
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From Abraham to Exile

Matthew 1:2-11 "Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king" ( vv. 5-6).
It is not difficult to understand the reasons why Matthew and John were the most widely quoted gospels among the early church fathers. John, for example, writes some of the boldest words about Jesus' divinity in the New Testament. Matthew emphasizes Jesus' teaching ministry, and sections like the Sermon on the Mount (chap. 5-7 ) were widely memorized early on in the life of the church. In fact, Matthew was read aloud more often than even the gospel of John in the years immediately following the death of the last apostle.
Matthew's gospel is placed first in the New Testament canon largely because of its clear connection to the Old Testament. Certainly, the apostles all wanted to show how Christ and His church fulfill God's promises to Israel. However, the first evangelist (another title for a gospel writer) alone begins with Jesus' genealogy, putting Him in the context of God's plan of redemption and tying Him, through His forefathers, to the Old Testament promises.
Notably, Matthew shows in 1:1-17 that Jesus is a direct descendant of David and therefore the Messiah. Yet Matthew makes other important theological points in his presentation of the historical data. For example, genealogies in the ancient world did not normally include women, but Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Uriah's wife (Bathsheba) are found in Matthew's ancestry of Jesus (vv. 35-6 ). All of these women were Gentiles or married to a Gentile: Tamar and Rahab were Canaanites (Gen. 38Josh. 2), Ruth was a Moabitess (Ruth 1:4), and Bathsheba's first husband was a Hittite (2 Sam. 11 ). These names could have been omitted, but Matthew includes them to show us that God's family in Christ is comprised of faithful Jews and Gentiles.
Moreover, Rahab's inclusion in Jesus' lineage despite her past in harlotry reminds us of God's grace. Indeed, the Savior has relatives with a more wicked past than Rahab (Manasseh, for instance; 2 Chron. 33:1-20Matt. 1:10 ), but these sinners, because they turned from their evil, were not cut off from God's covenant blessings. Jesus, Matthew Henry comments, "takes even great sinners, at their repentance, into the nearest relation to himself."

Coram deo: Living before the face of God

Not every ancestor of Jesus trusted in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Still, the Lord's grace overcame what could be called "impossible" odds in working through the sinful sons of David to bring about our salvation. This grace seeks out even the most wicked person and calls God's chosen to repentance, even if they are as vile as Manasseh or as lost as Rahab. Our status as Christ's brothers and sisters ( Heb. 2:11) comes only by such almighty grace.
For further study:
The Bible in a year:
INTO the WORD daily Bible studies from TableTalk Magazine, Matthew Studies. Copyright © 2008 by Ligonier Ministries.
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The Cappadocians: Molded by a Woman's Touch

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The Cappadocian Fathers, as they later came to be known, were brothers Basil and Gregory and Gregory Nazianzen, all from Cappadocia, a region in central Turkey. Recognized for their monastic leadership, they were also astute theologians. The term Cappadocians , however, is more fitting than Cappadocian Fathers because it captures three generations of a family, both women and men. The grandmother of Basil and Gregory was Macrina the Elder, who fled persecution only to be left widowed and impoverished. Yet she ministered to those who were even more needy and was canonized as the patron saint of widows.
One of Macrina's sons was Basil (the elder), who had nine children, five of whom were designated as saints. Macrina (the younger) (324 - 379), named for her grandmother, was the older sister who had a profound influence on her siblings as well as on her mother.
Macrina the Younger had chosen a life of asceticism after her fiancé died, and she treated her servants as sisters and equals. She later joined with Basil to form a convent in conjunction with his monastery. The most celebrated of the Cappadocians, he is recognized as Basil the Great (329 - 379), Father of Eastern Monasticism. Setting aside worldly aspirations and touring monasteries in Egypt, Basil returned to Cappadocia, where he established a monastery. His "Longer Rules" and "Shorter Rules" are still used today, and all monks in the Eastern church are Basilian monks. Basil viewed monastic life as one of service to those in need, setting the example by selling his family's estate for famine relief and calling on other wealthy landholders to do likewise. He worked in the kitchen and dispersed provisions alongside ordinary monks, distributing food freely to any in need, regardless of ethnicity.
Basil had a flare for words and is remembered particularly for "The Six Days," his series of nine sermons on creation that display the beauty of God's natural wonders. In 370 he was named bishop of Caesarea, pitting him against Emperor Valens, an Arian. When he died in 379, the entire population of Caesarea - Christians, Jews, and pagans - is said to have followed his funeral cortege with weeping.
Basil's younger brother Gregory of Nyssa (335 - 394) did not enter the monastery and may have been married to Theosebia, a much-heralded deaconess in the church at Nyssa, where Gregory served as bishop. His writing set the stage for the Eastern church's focus on apophatic theology, which emphasizes that God is ultimately unknowable. While strongly defending the doctrine of the Trinity, he insisted that God is infinite and transcendent and thus beyond our understanding. The true way to God is through darkness.
Gregory Nazianzen (c. 325 - 389), the third of the Cappadocian Fathers, was a close associate and friend of Basil and Gregory of Nyssa. His mother was instrumental in converting her husband, Gregory, who subsequently became bishop of Nazianzus. Young Gregory accused his father of tyranny and left home, only to later return and work with his father in the church.
Gregory later gave away his wealth and entered a monastery. On his own deathbed, Basil, not a man to hold grudges, recommended his friend Gregory to a post as the leading theologian in Constantinople with the hope that he would defeat Arianism. As such, Gregory's tenure in Constantinople was anything but peaceful. The city was deeply divided, but he began drawing crowds with his powerful preaching. His "Five Theological Orations," defending the Trinity and the deity of Christ, were aimed at Arians.
Arian opponents stormed his church in 379 during the Easter vigil, killing one bishop and wounding Gregory. Matters improved when Theodosius ascended the throne and vowed to rid the East of Arians once and for all. Gregory was elected bishop of Constantinople to replace the Arian bishop dismissed by the emperor, but his problems were far from over. Accused of attaining his position illegally, he resigned: "Let me be as the Prophet Jonah! I was responsible for the storm. . . . Seize me and throw me." The emperor accepted his resignation, and Gregory returned to Cappadocia where his ministry began.

If you enjoyed the above article, please take a minute to read about the book that it was adapted from:
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Parade of Faith: A Biographical History of the Christian Church

by Ruth A. Tucker
Buy the book!
The story of Christianity centers on people whose lives have been transformed by the resurrected Lord. Tucker puts this front and center in a lively overview peppered with sidebars; historical "what if?" questions; sections on everyday life; drawings and illustrations; bibliographies for further reading.


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He Is - Fire

Fire symbolizes God's presence and power. God spoke to Moses out of a burning bush and guided the Israelites with a pillar of fire. In this verse he promises to go before them like a devouring fire, judging the nations that defy him.
Fire can be either helpful or harmful. Contained, it provides light, warmth and fuel. Uncontained, it devours everything in its path. One way or another, God will be a fire in your life. If you defy him, he will burn with justice. If you serve him, he will illuminate the path before you.
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True Identity: The Bible for Women
by Zondervan


The Bible that helps you see yourself as God sees you! Find your true identity in Christ through your relationship with him.
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