News Snippets From All Beats

In 1948 the British were going to pull out of what they called Palestine, planning to turn the area over to the United Nations. Both the U.S. State Department and the Defenses Department supported the British plan. Two months earlier, President Harry Truman secretly promised the Jewish Agency that he would come out in support of their plan of partitioning Palestine into two parts, one Arab and one Jewish, and that he would recognize the new Jewish state.

The surrounding Arab states threatened all out war on the Jews if a partition was made, and Truman was forced to face down anti-Semitism in high-ranking offices in the states that led to intrigue, and skirmishes in the oval office. Further complicating a U.S. recognition of the new Jewish state was the very real possibility of an immediate military entanglement. At one point it was put to Truman’s aide Clark Clifford, who favored the Jewish state, by Defense Secretary Forrestal: “There are thirty million Arabs on one side and about 600,000 Jews on the other. Why don’t you face up to the realities?”¹

²

In spite of all the opposition, Truman and Clifford held firm. As the hour of midnight was approaching for the May 14 British pullout, “Clifford told the Jewish Agency to request immediate recognition of the new state, which still lacked a name.”³ Truman was quick to announce recognition, and the U.S. became the first to recognize the new Jewish state: Israel. (Jer 30:1-3)

Notes:

^1,3. Richard Holbrooke, “Washington’s Battle Over Israel’s Birth,” Washingtonpost.com, May 7, 2008.

http://www.washingtonpost.

com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/06

/AR2008050602447.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

^2. Document: Washingtonpost.com.

In a clear demonstration of what harm can come to a former president who spends the rest of his life chasing that elusive respectable legacy, Jimmy Carter contracts severe, selective hearing disorder. Carter has spent decades meddling, mostly uninvited, in foreign affairs, in an effort to rewrite the history of his failed presidency. He has just concluded a meeting with Hamas, Nazi party of the Arab world, where he negotiated a “peace” agreement for Israel.¹ The only trouble with the deal, and admittedly a small detail for Carter, is that Israel doesn’t exist.

Here’s what Carter heard: “They said they would accept … the right of Israel to live as a neighbor next door in peace.”²

Here’s what Khaled Mashaal, leader of the terrorist group Hamas, said: “We agree to a state … but without recognizing Israel.”³

Here is what Carter is saying to America: “Mr. Carter warned that there would not be peace if Israel and America continue to shut out Hamas and its main backer, Syria.”⁴

Neville Chamberlain would be proud, and throw in Czechoslovakia for good measure.

Notes:

^1-4. Karin, Laub, “Carter, Hamas Take Different Conclusions From Meeting,“  New York Sun, April 21, 2008.

http://www.nysun.com/news/foreign/carter-hamas

-take-different-conclusions-meeting

When caterpillars are stepped on, fewer butterflies result. This simple lesson is one yet to be learned, however, by large tractor manufacturer Caterpillar Inc. The company appears poised to acquiesce to The United Methodist Church’s demands that they curtail sales to Israel. The United Methodist has $5 million of their retirement funds invested in the Caterpillar’s stock and is threatening divestment if the company refuses to go under heel.

The United Methodist has a long history of using church money against God’s chosen. When Israel began building a security fence to prevent homicide bombers from decimating their women and children, the Untied Methodist was there; with more threats of divestment on companies doing business with Israel. As the church’s Rev. Tim Bias likes to put it: “If we are to bring transformation to the world, we will do it by building and gaining trust with persons of differing perspectives.”¹

That the United Methodist method for establishing this trust resembles more the style of one Al Capone is the least of their problems. Stepping on caterpillars only prevents butterflies, but attempting to spoil Israel is a more serious matter. Speaking on this subject the Lord said of Jerusalem: “For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye” (Zec 2:8).

While this information may not be the sort relied on by stock brokers, it’s a sure thing that losing the United Methodist millions would be far better for Caterpillar than for them to poke God in the eye.

Notes:

^1. Aaron Leichman,”United Methodists to Withdraw Caterpillar Divestment Plans,” Christian Post, April 19, 2008.

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080419/32016_United

_Methodists_to_Withdraw_Caterpillar_Divestment_Plans.htm

David Dansker

In determining conferences to skip in the upcoming seminar season, examining the list of Celebrity Christian Globetrotters scheduled to share their wisdom at Crystal Cathedral’s Rethink conference in January 2008 may be helpful. The following are a few Bio-observations for some of these influential icons:

Lee Strobel - is a best selling author and former teaching pastor of Willow Creek Community Church (under Bill Hybels) and Saddleback Church (under Rick Warren). It was Strobel who thought that the case for Christ was yet to be presented and, ignoring the fact that the task had already been completed and complied in the New Testament by Apostles under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, produced an effort that contributed only to distracting from the authorized version; and showed, as does his enlistment with this conference, that he is also unable to fathom the case for discernment.

Jay Sekulow - is the Chief Counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ). Sekulow’s appearance at Rethink is difficult to explain, unless it is the product of too much arguing. One of the identifying characteristics of a good attorney is his ability to argue a case from both sides, and one of the biggest liabilities of an attorney is an inability to remain on the side he has chosen. Is this conference appearance the result of too much ideological plea bargaining?

John Ortberg - is the teaching pastor at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church. His appearance at Rethink is easier to understand. This is the same Presbyterian USA denomination that sided with Palestinian homicide bombers and against Israel when the later began building a wall to protect themselves. PCUSA enacted their own brand of economic sanctions by calling for financial divestment from companies doing business in Israel.

It is also the same PCUSA that allows the local presbytery to ordain homosexuals, and denies “the singular saving lordship of Jesus Christ,”¹ and from which thousands of lesser luminaries have been able to flee, with their congregations. Not so with the Ortberg, under whose leadership, and despite its prestige and wealth, or perhaps due to it, his church remains affiliated with PCUSA to this day. So much for the “teaching” pastor.

Notes:

1. Lillian Kwon, “Dissident Presbyterians Offered New Home in EPC,” Christian Post, Jun 26, 2007. http://www.christianpost.com/article/20070626/28167_Dissident

_Presbyterians_Offered_New_Home_in_EPC.htm.

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