Israeli Borders

To All it Does Concern:

The conflict between Israel and Palestine extends past 1967. Not because Israel bullies its Palestinian neighbors, but because Israel has been standing up to the bully. Israel learned that in order to survive she must fight.

Remember that Israel can trace her roots to at least 1200 B.C and occupied her land until being driven out by Rome in 64 B.C. During World War II, the Jewish people were hunted by Hitler and when the war ended in 1945 most Jews were refugees without home and country. Three years later, only three years, Israel was declared a state and a people displaced for far too finally returned home, some of whom still bore the tattooed numbers that had replaced their names in the death camps. Their battle for freedom, however, had only just started.

Israel now faces an enemy equal to, or perhaps even more virulent, than in World War II. Consider the charter by Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic political party governing the Gaza strip. Article Thirteen regarding peaceful solutions to disagreements between Israel and Palestine states: “[Peace] initiatives, the so-called peaceful solutions, and the international conferences to resolve the Palestinian problem, are all contrary to the beliefs of the Islamic Resistance Movement. For renouncing any part of Palestine means renouncing part of the religion.” Article 15 explains that the only solution is Jihad: “When our enemies usurp some Islamic lands, Jihad becomes a duty binding on all Muslims. In order to face the usurpation of Palestine by the Jews, we have no escape from raising the banner of Jihad.”

Palestinians claim that all of Israel belongs to them. The charter goes so far as to urge teachers, youth, and elderly to propagate the message of stealing Israeli land through Jihad. It is no wonder that Israel refuses to attempt to soothe their “neighbors” by surrendering anything. Modern Israel has lived her entire life under the shadow of such insanity.

President Obama desires to accomplish “peace” by placating a beast. One that is hungry to gorge on innocent blood, a beast that scorns the President’s very involvement. Obama’s call to revert to Israel’s 1967 borders is tantamount to silver-plattering historical and holy sites for those who align themselves with Hamas’ hate-mongering . The remaining wall of Solomon’s Temple, also called the Wailing Wall, the Temple Mount, the Via Dolorosa, Golgotha (the hill where Jesus was crucified), and others would fall from safety into the clutches of those who despise the significance of these places. This in spite of Obama’s claim, soon after accepting the Democratic nomination for president in 2008, that Israel must remain undivided.

When a bully has, for over a century, backed you into a corner, slandered your mama, and feasted on the flesh of your innocents, what do you do? Ball up both fists and come out swinging. Israel has no other choice.

Sincerely,
One Who Pulls for the Underdog

Don’t believe me? Research it for yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWrvPvo8yXc
http://middleeast.about.com/od/palestinepalestinians/a/me080106b_4.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Israel#Armistice
http://womenofgrace.com/breaking_news/?p=8097

Intolerance

I like words. I suppose that's not a surpise. Words like wrought and indicative and melee just really float my boat. Here's a word I don't loathe: intolerant. Why? Because it can't mean anything.

Here are the specifics of my least favorite word:

in·tol·er·ant 
[in-tol-er-uhnt]

–adjective
1. not tolerating or respecting beliefs, opinions, usages, manners, etc., different from one's own, as in political or religious matters; bigoted.

Intolerant labels people when their views don't line up with popular ideals. (As a Christian, intolerant frequently labels me when my beliefs don't line up with others'.) You'll notice intolerant is a "nicer" way of calling someone a bigot.

Here's where my problem presents itself. When someone accuses another person of being intolerant, the former is actually being intolerant. (Ever gone through a revolving door? Me neither. Hm... oh, I know. Ever seen a hamster on a wheel?) The sickness of going around and around and around in circles is the feeling intolerant evokes.

If you call me intolerant then you are being intolerant because you aren't tolerating my opinions.

Let me try to simplify that. If I'm a bigot then you're a bigot for saying that I am one. That's not just my opinion. That's by definition of the word.

I think I'll get off this hamster wheel, now. I'm feeling queasy from going around in circles.

Royal Wedding

Who doesn’t love the idea of a normal girl meeting Prince Charming (or Prince William)? If we aren’t watching royal weddings, we’re attending the weddings of friends and family or dreaming of our own. It’s just in our DNA.

Ever wondered why?

Isaiah 54:5a: “For your Maker is your husband—the LORD Almighty is his name!”

Hosea 2:19: “I will make you my wife forever, showing you righteousness and justice, unfailing love and compassion.”

2 Corinthians 11:2: “I am jealous over you with God's own jealousy. For I have betrothed you to Christ to present you to Him like a faithful bride to her one husband.”

Ezekiel 16:8: “‘Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness (sin). I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant with you,’ declares the Sovereign LORD,’ and you became mine.”

We were created to be the Bride of Christ! Woven into the fabric of our being is the desire to be loved and to be claimed.

It is fun to imagine the process Kate underwent in order to be ready for her big day. Dress fittings, rehearsal, hair, make-up, manicure, and on and on…! How does one prepare herself to become a princess?

Similarly, we have a big responsibility! How should we prepare to become Christ’s bride? First, of course, we must have our sins covered with His “garment”—the blood of Jesus. (Not even Princess Kate’s dress can compete with that!) Still, what other things should we do to get ready? Romans 12:2 challenges us to step away from the pattern of this world—we are preparing to be royalty after all—and be transformed by washing our mind with God’s Word.

Why? So that we can rejoice and be glad and give Him glory. (Revelation 19:7a)

“For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.”
(Revelation 19:7b)

The Inheritance of Beauty

The Inheritance of Beauty by Nicole Seitz is a little like walking in ankle deep water at the beach. You can find interesting seashells and enjoy splashing around, but you may find yourself longing for deeper water. Similarly, The Inheritance of Beauty offers enough surprises to keep the reader hanging on and splashes around in the shallow end of Christianity, but barely toys with the idea of diving into matters of faith.

Francine Rivers giveaway! Visit this link to see more. http://http://www.tyndale.com/blog/?p=1042

Pirate Tharsday

We've been holding Pirate Th-ar-sday in homeschool the last few weeks. (We were inspired by the book we've been reading: Treasure Island.) It gives us something to look forward to and a chance to sneak in learning while the boys think we're just having fun. We've been covering famous pirates (like Blackbeard) and their routes. We've studied the Jolly Roger and the various symbols. We've even incorporated math into Pirate Tharsday with some fun worksheets and activities.

I planned to have a pirate treasure hunt at the end of our unit on pirates (sometime next month), since we live near the beach and... well, who really needs another reason to dig up treasure? Then, I realized next month our beach will be invaded by the spring breakers who are great for our local economy and bad for everything else. (Especially bad for sanity when you're attempting to drive in spring break traffic and even worse for trying to teach your young boys that modesty is important.) Anyway, due to the spring break situation, our treasure hunt got moved forward significantly! Here's how it went.

This is said treasure. Complete with gold-covered chocolate coins, stickers, and chocolate crabs, of course.


The boys discover that the rolled up paper I've been carrying around is actually a treasure map.

Find that treasure!

Ahoy matey! It be pirate treasure.

Think you might like to hold your own Pirate Tharsday? Here are the resources we've been enjoying.
1. Free Lapbooking templates: http://www.homeschoolshare.com/pirates.php

2. Dividing into equal sets:
http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/PirateDivideByTwo.htm

3. Blackbeard information: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/pirates/bbeard.html

4. Juice box pirate ships:
http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/transportation/mmilk_carton_pirate_ship.htm

5. The Pirate's Handbook by Margarette Lincoln (This was very helpful and informative!)

6. Treasure Island by Angela Wilkes (A retelling of Treasure Island for grade 3)

7. How I Became a Pirate by Melinda Long

8. Backbeard: Pirate for Hire by Matthew McElligot (This book was funny!)

9. Cute and easy pirate craft: http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/pirates/mpirate.html

10. Pirate treasure map: http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/pirates/mmap.html

11. Don't forget your own treasure hunt. We painted a shoe box black and filled it with little treats. Don't live near the beach? Distract your kids and have someone bury the booty on your next trip to the neighborhood park. Don't forget a treasure map! (If you have multiple children, this is a good way to practice math skills since they'll have to divide their treasure!)

A Heavy Load

Several years ago I was startled by television coverage of the scene following a suicide bombing in Israel. The camera panned over a group of people who were wailing out their hurt as tears plowed down their faces. It echoed scenes from Biblical times where those who were mourning ripped their over-clothes and covered themselves with ashes.

Although such behaviors seem strange, the pain behind the actions still resonate with those who have experienced the searing knife of grief. Perhaps the odd behavior is actually in smiling when one does not feel happy. In masking sorrow behind easily exchanged platitudes. In asking how someone is and hoping they will not answer honestly.

The Bible offers hope to those laboring under a mound of grief, regardless of how they choose to demonstrate it. Matthew 11:28 addresses the soul-weariness that accompanies sorrow. Jesus says, in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

Have some grief, sadness, or burdens you're carrying? Be reassured—you aren’t alone. Join with me in allowing Jesus to fulfill the promise He made. I could use some heavenly rest. How about you?


Just for fun, here's a song by John Schlitt (who was the lead singer for Petra). This is an oldie (my kids would consider the '90's ancient) but it speaks to this topic and it makes me smile, so here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4820Jn015A