Israel, Turkey and Iran

Those interested in Bible prophecy might be intrigued by an article in the Jerusalem Post from Thursday, February 19, 2009.   It points out a noticeable shift in political focus in Turkey, which has in the past been very western-leaning, but now has an Islamist-led government.

The connection with Bible prophecy is found in Ezekiel 38, where a coalition is formed to attack Israel led by “Rosh” (Russia), but including Persia (Iran) and Gomer (Turkey).  This coalition is destined to fail. 

For anyone wanting additional information or explanation about Ezekiel 38-39, I’m including a link to my own notes.  These were written in July of 2005, when we were studying Ezekiel at Horizon Central. 

Finally, there is also a link to a 2005 article from the Middle East Forum, expressing doubt as to whether Turkey can maintain its pro-western tilt.

Jerusalem Post Article

Ezekiel38-39.pdf

Article from Middle East Forum

Thanks to John Colón for pointing out the article in JPost.

Broken Britain?

An excerpt from Yahoo! News:

LONDON – Ahhh, Britain. The land of Shakespeare and the Beatles, Churchill and the Queen. Rolling green hills, groovy London shops, hip plaids splashed over raincoats and umbrellas.

Cut to the reality of 2009: the highest teen pregnancy rate in western Europe, a binge drinking culture that leaves drunk teens splayed out in the streets and rising knife crime that has turned some pub fights into deadly affairs.

Ahhh, Britain.

In the latest symbol of what some are calling “broken Britain,” 13-year-old Alfie and his 15-year-old girlfriend Chantelle became parents last week. The news sparked a flurry of handwringing from the media – and even ordinary folk admitted it didn’t help that Alfie barely looked 10, let alone 13, as he cradled his newborn daughter.

Alfie’s father, who reportedly has nine or 10 children of his own, gamely promised to have a “birds and the bees” chat with his son to prevent him from producing a second child before he grows facial hair.

Somehow that was not reassuring.

Read full article

I agree that this article describes a sad situation.  What I’m wondering is why everyone else agrees.  After all, if values are based on individual choice and survival of the fittest is what’s best for the race, then maybe we should just accept as normal and fine all that is taking place. 

“If Alfie is able to pass on his genes early on in life, good for him.”

“If binge drinkers die early from liver disease or knife fights, they are only confirming their own inadequacy for survival. ”

Again, I don’t agree with the opinions I just expressed.  It could be that good and evil, or right and wrong, exist in reality and not just in our minds or opinions.  Perhaps all can and should agree that what is happening in British society (and some other places too, of course) is bad, wrong, and ought to be somehow changed.

Killed in a Stampede at Wal-Mart? You’ve Got To Be Kidding.

No doubt there is a lot that could be said about the following event, but at the moment I don’t even know how to begin.  Check out the links to view the article at a local news website.

Worker dies at Long Island Wal-Mart after being trampled in Black Friday stampede

BY JOE GOULD, CLARE TRAPASSO and RICH SCHAPIRO
DAILY NEWS WRITERS
Updated Friday, November 28th 2008, 10:46 PM

A Wal-Mart worker died early Friday after an “out-of-control” mob of frenzied shoppers smashed through the Long Island store’s front doors and trampled him, police said.
The Black Friday stampede plunged the Valley Stream outlet into chaos, knocking several employees to the ground and sending others scurrying atop vending machines to avoid the horde.
When the madness ended, 34-year-old Jdimytai Damour was dead and four shoppers, including a woman eight months pregnant, were injured. …

To view the complete article at the NY Daily News Click Here
For the live pics of the event on their website Click Here