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When Do I Get a Break?

article by Les McCullough

Are you working more and relaxing less? Doing more but never getting everything done? Running here and there but only running yourself down? Maybe it's time you took a break!

In today's world of rush here, hurry there, a haggard lament often arises with a weary sigh: "When do I get a break? I never have any time for myself. I'm up before dawn getting ready for work, commute an hour or more, work at least eight hours, commute home arriving after dark—and I'm beat."
Family responsibilities add to the load. Many a mom tells the same story:
"I was up at 3 a.m. to comfort a child with an upset stomach, then got out of bed at 5 a.m. to make lunches for everyone, put a load of clothes in the washer, fix breakfast, get the children dressed and off to school, and get ready for work. I leave from work to pick up the children after school and go home. Then I take the clothes out of the washer, put them in the dryer and prepare dinner. After dinner, I do the dishes and get the children ready for bed.
"That doesn't include doing the ironing and cleaning the house. I don't have time to be exhausted, but I am. Just after midnight one of the children is having a nightmare and needs comforting. Finally I get back to bed and start the whole thing over again at 5 a.m."

Working more, relaxing less

It seems there's never time to sit back and relax—and if we do, we feel guilty. What's the answer? Life is much more than the 40 hours a week on the job. How in this complicated 21st century (filled with time-saving devices!) can a person find time to take a deep breath and just sit down? Is it possible?
The calendar has Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and others. It seems there is a day for everything—but where is your day? Many people don't even have time for a vacation!
Sound familiar? One of the major complaints people have is about finding time for themselves or their family. Historically, after World War II, Americans had the shortest working week in the world. Now, according to Boston College professor Juliet Schor, they have the longest. Her comment is that the average American worker now puts in 200 hours per year more than in 1973.
Astonishing, isn't it? People are so desperate for some free time that, states the Center for a New American Dream, half of the work force would trade a day off for a day less pay.
All these things are complicated by the fact that as soon as a tiny break presents itself, a compulsion to fill it takes over. We immediately rush to surf the net, talk on the cell phone, play a computer game, take one of the kids to soccer and another one to tennis or something. We find it nearly impossible to sit still.
That is a part of the problem. Most people aren't comfortable unless something is going on. Society has convinced us that we should never just sit without something happening.
Sitting quietly and contemplating a beautiful sunset is almost a lost art, as is staring deeply into a crackling fire. It's sometimes joked that those who practice yoga sit and contemplate their navel. I'm not recommending that, but we do need to learn how to rest or enjoy free time without something being scheduled to fill every minute of every day.

What's the answer?

Do you need a break enough to take advantage of such a time? Do you want to hear about it? How badly do you want that break? Is it enough to trade a day of pay for a day off? Are you sure?
Oddly enough, there is a time expressly made for just that. It's a time for a person to take a break—designed for all men and women, regardless of how busy their week may be.
You may be thinking, "I'm always behind and can't get everything done as it is." If that's the case, making some time for yourself isn't going to make that much difference. You'll still be behind, but you will have had a break—and maybe now you can get more done in the remaining time than you would have otherwise.
Every one of us has 24 hours in our day. We all have seven days in the week, totaling 168 hours. You might say, "And I still don't have any free time!"
Yet 24 of those 168 hours are intended specifically to give you the break for which you long. They are designed to be a special time for the whole family. Parents think of their working week, but children need a break as well. Many of them won't slow down long enough to take time for an appropriate meal. If they do, it's usually to gulp it down and rush off to something else.

Starting at the beginning

Could you handle a time to relax? What would it be worth to you?
Let's start at the beginning. A supreme Creator exists who made all things, including you and me. He fully understood the mind of man and knew men and women would crowd the week with their own activities. He also knew the tendency of humanity to ignore personal health and welfare in favor of keeping busy.
So He created a day and set it apart as a rest day. He actually commanded that man take a break each week. You can read it for yourself in His instruction book for us, the Bible.
After six days of creating a wonderful world for man to dwell in (as well as creating man himself), we find that God rested from all His work. "Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made" (Genesis:2:1-3 [1] Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
[2] And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
[3] And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.).
Did He bless it and sanctify it for His own use? The answer is a resounding no . God doesn't need to rest. This is simply telling us He ceased the work of the physical creation. Why, then, did He set apart the seventh day? He was setting us an example that we need a break from physical activity.
Jesus Christ spelled this out in Mark:2:27-28 [27] And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:
[28] Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.: "And He said to them, 'The Sabbath was made for man , and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.'" He plainly says that the seventh day, also called the Sabbath, was made for man as a time to take a break from our everyday routine as well as a time to worship God.
There is your break. There is a 24-hour period every seven days in which you can renew your energies, both mentally and physically. Stress and overwork is a major health problem today. Hypertension results from never making the time to relax. These 24 hours were made to relieve that problem, among many others. It gives us a specific "break time" every week.
When God gave Moses the Ten Commandments , one of those commandments dealt directly with the Sabbath: "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work . . ." (Exodus:20:8-10 [8] Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
[9] Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
[10] But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:).
This is not an idle comment. The day God made for man—the Sabbath, the seventh day of the week—is intended to be acknowledged by man by using the time differently from the normal workday. Most of humanity has ignored this particular commandment down through the ages.

God concerned for His creation

God the Father is a patient and loving individual. He is concerned about the welfare of His creation. He has given humanity time to accept His commands, but eventually He does run out of patience.
Reread Exodus:20:9-10 [9] Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
[10] But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:. His instruction is very specific: "Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work . . ."
The question is why? Why is it so important to take a day off from all work, regular and otherwise? If this is a day made for man, why not just do as you please? It is made for man, but it is a special time that has been set aside—hallowed—by God not only to rest but to be reminded of the Creator of all things.
Here is what He told the ancient nation of Israel: "Speak also to the children of Israel, saying, 'Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you. You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you'" (Exodus:31:13-14 [13] Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you.
[14] Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.).
Then in verse 17 He adds: "It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed."

A blessing waiting for you

This statement was made to the nation God had chosen to be His special people, but it applies to all humanity. Jesus isn't just the God of the Israelites. He is the Savior of all humanity. That is clearly shown by His comment that "the Sabbath was made for man." We see it is more than only a day of rest. It also identifies the one keeping it with the Creator God who made it.
In society today, people wear all manner of identifying signs or symbols. Each nation has its own flag. Some wear a jacket, shirt or hat displaying the name of their favorite team, player or political party.
This verse says that keeping the Sabbath is an identifying sign, too. The Sabbath day identifies those who wish to truly honor the Creator. It also says to all who see, "I belong to and worship the God who made all things. My loyalty is to Him above all else." It also gives a much-needed break every week.
Someone might say, "I'm just not interested in religion." He or she still needs a break, so why not use the day that was created for that purpose? It is important. The Sabbath is a break for you, and it's also a time to learn about the Father of mankind.
The truth is there are great blessings in learning to "take a break." It helps to fight stress and gives the body a chance to recuperate from the toils of the week. The pressure is off.
It gives you an opportunity to sit back and relax, and even to have the chance to watch a beautiful sunset without feeling guilty. It is an opportunity to read to the children or to simply sit and talk with them, tightening the bond of love and respect between a parent and child and their God.
You need a break. You need a time when the pressures of work are set aside. Whether you're a man, woman or child, you need a chance to take a deep breath and just relax. Now the question is, do you really want a break ? Are you willing to accept the time God made for you to have a break? It is important to you. It is important to identify yourself with the Creator of the universe.
Will you do it? Will you finally learn to "take a break"? It's in your hands. Do it! GN

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Honesty, the Church and the power of the Gospel

by Victor Kubik 

Source: Splitcast/iStockphoto

"Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching" (2 Timothy:4:2Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.). These are strong words.
In today's society, many equate growth with success. That goes for churches, too. Many want more members and the finances to have bigger buildings, more programs and more staff.
But let's be honest. Before dedicating resources to anything, some critical questions should be asked. Questions like:

"What is the desired outcome?" "What is the motivation?" "Does it match up with God's will?"

Why ask these questions? In this world, it is easy to get off track.
Human organizations set goals and objectives all the time. It keeps them focused. They carefully define their products and services.
However, consider this: A church's "product" transcends any human products. The desired biblical outcome reflects changed behavior in each of us. Paul wrote:

"I pray that out of his glorious riches  he [God] may strengthen you with power  through his Spirit in your inner being" (Ephesians:3:16That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;, New International Version, emphasis added throughout).

Through the teachings of morality and revelation of the Bible, following the Head of the Church—Jesus Christ Himself—we look for renewal and transformation in that "inner man."
This is not easy. So what can happen? Here's a somber truth: Sometimes people will rationalize, allow themselves to be deluded, to achieve physical growth.
George Barna is the respected founder of The Barna Group, a market research firm that studies the religious beliefs and behavior. He recently asked pastors about their beliefs and preaching regarding the relevancy of Scripture to major issues of society. What did he find?
Here are his sad conclusions:

"What we're finding is that when we ask them about all the key issues of the day, [90 percent of them are] telling us, 'Yes, the Bible speaks to every one of these issues,'" he explained. "Then we ask them: 'Well, are you teaching your people what the Bible says about those issues?' and the numbers drop … to less than 10 percent of pastors who say they will speak to it" (emphasis added).

How terrible!
Now, allow me to ask some tough questions: Do some ministers fall silent concerning sinful behavior so as not to offend potential members and limit growth plans? If so, does conflict exist between knowing what's right and not wanting to say it?
Certainly Jesus does not want harsh "spiritual sheriffs" mashing innocent sheep. God hates sin and cannot have anything to do with it, but at the same time, "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John:3:16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.).
So certainly there is a balance in caring for people and presenting the truth with respectful loving honesty and understanding, but there is no quarter, no excuse for softening the Word of God and making it powerless simply for the sake of physical growth!
Is this not a modern 21st century replication of what the prophet Isaiah wrote about the clergy of his time? Here are his words. See if they apply today:

"His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yes, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and  they are shepherds that cannot understand : they all look to their own way,  every one for his gain , from his quarter" (Isaiah:56:10-11 [10] His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.
[11] Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.).

In John:8:32And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Jesus Christ stated, " The truth shall make you free ." Free of what? Understood and rightly applied, biblical truth frees us of the natural penalties of living a life otherwise doomed to emptiness, despair and death! Jesus Christ came to lead us to repentance. What does that mean? It means to honestly compare yourself against biblical standards and make a conscious and action-directed decision to change to match those standards.
The United Church of God fearlessly teaches the spiritual and moral values of the Bible. The Bible enthusiastically declares that with God's help we are to be victorious, to overcome the world, not have the world overcome and muzzle us! (Revelation:2:26And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:).
We will never compromise with sin. In all of our public proclamations we will fulfill the admonishment of Isaiah:58:1Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.: "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up your voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression."
We stand with Paul: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes" (Romans:1:16For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek., NIV).
Where do you stand?

PS - To learn more about the United Church of God read online or request this informative booklet This is The United Church of God .

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Pray for the Future of Jerusalem

2 comments

by Milan Bizic

Submitted November 21, 2012

The Temple Mount of Jerusalem, as seen from the Mount of Olives

Source: Mitchell Moss

The news reports of the Israel-Gaza conflict aren't pretty. Step back from geopolitics for a moment and think about the human element at play. People on both sides of the line are living in fear day to day. A mortar or missile could land on their home at any time.
Reading the reports of the violence immediately made me think of Psalm:122:6Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.. "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem." David's simple statement holds even more meaning now than when he wrote it. Take some time out of your day and follow David's example. Get on your knees and pray to God for the peace of Jerusalem.
You won't just be praying for a city. You'll be praying for every Israeli and Palestinian man, woman and child who has to face another day of fear. You'll be praying for their safety and for their emotional wellbeing. For those people at risk right now, a prayer for Jerusalem equals a prayer for a normal life today and into the future.
Even more important than peace today is that you'll be praying for the ultimate peace to come. It can be hard to see past today's suffering, but Jerusalem has a bright future that starts when Jesus Christ returns. "I will return to Zion, and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be called the City of Truth, the Mountain of the Lord of hosts, the Holy Mountain" (Zechariah:8:3Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.). Even Israel's current enemies will share in this peace. "In that day Egypt and Assyria will be connected by a highway. The Egyptians and Assyrians will move freely between their lands, and they will both worship God. And Israel will be their ally. The three will be together, and Israel will be a blessing to them. For the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will say, 'Blessed be Egypt, my people. Blessed be Assyria, the land I have made. Blessed be Israel, my special possession!'" (Isaiah:19:23-25 [23] In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians.
[24] In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land:
[25] Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance., New Living Translation).
Praying for peace in Jerusalem is a lot more important than just stopping today's fighting. A prayer for Jerusalem's peace equals a prayer for world peace and God's Kingdom of Peace on earth.

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No Justice, No Peace or Know Justice, Know Peace

by Sherrie G 

Know Justice, Know Peace

Source: Sherrie Giddens

It is a difficult time for those living in and around the St. Louis Metro area. The shooting death of Mike Brown, at the hands of a police officer, has left the streets of Ferguson, MO in a state of turmoil. By day, protestors march along the streets carrying signs displaying the words, "No Justice, No Peace." When the sun goes down and night falls the protests often become riots, which result in the burning of businesses, looting, brawls, and shootings. This in turn is met by the police with smoke bombs, tear gas, and arrests.
Peace and justice is nowhere to be found on the streets of Ferguson.
I have asked myself what would bring about real change in this situation. Is there anything that would make a difference in the lives of those who are suffering and in pain?
The answer, although simple, is not one that most people want to hear.
Know Justice. Know Peace.
Only when we know God and His Son along with their righteousness and justice, can we know true peace.

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John:14:27Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.).

Jesus Christ offers true peace to anyone who is willing to seek Him and trust in Him. He and His Father promise to walk by our side, to fight our battles, and to never leave us.
When our lives seem to be in turmoil and crisis, it can be difficult to put our trust and faith in God and accept that He knows what is best for us. However, doing so is the only way to true peace. Taking our problems to God in prayer and asking for Him to be involved every step of the way, allows us to place our out of control lives in the hands of our Creator and know that justice will prevail in His time and in His way. Only then can we know true peace.
Let us change our mindsets from "No Justice, No Peace," to "Know Justice, Know Peace." Doing so will bring about a change that is lasting and true.

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The Image of Daniel 2

Prophecy points to a fulfillment of Daniel's pivotal prophecy and the soon coming of the Kingdom of God.

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[Gary Petty] We just finished recording a Beyond Today program on the image of Daniel 2. And this is one of the charts that we use – we're using a number of different charts, but this one really shows and gives us an understanding of what the image of Daniel 2 is all about. We see that the image that was given to Nebuchadnezzar in his dream – and Daniel of course came along and gave him an explanation of the head, the chest and arms, the belly and thighs, and these legs of iron and feet of iron and clay.
And we show through the program – we invite you to be sure and see this program when it's on – that what he was talking about is the Babylonian Empire, the Persian Empire, the Greek Empire, and the Roman Empire. And of course we can see that these empires have actually happened during the course of history, which inspires us, because we can look back and see, wow, these prophecies took place. But this prophecy also reaches out into the future and it's going to predict some of the headlines in the news that you and I are going to see in the near future. And that involves the rise of ten toes that are ten kings that are part of the Roman Empire.
So what we know from this is that there's going to be an attempt to restore the Roman Empire. And this is very important because when this happens, this is when Jesus Christ returns, which is the stone cut out to become a mountain and sets up God's kingdom on this earth. So we invite you to be sure and watch this program when it comes out in a little bit. It's on the image of Daniel 2.
That's today's BT Daily . Join us next time.

• Beyond Today Daily
• Biblical Personalities
• Conflicts and War
• Fulfilled Prophecy
• Proofs of the Bible
• News and Prophecy

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World News and Trends: U.S. crime peril ahead?

article by Good News Editor

According to a recent report from Washington, D.C., "America is bracing itself for a storm of criminal violence that, if some experts are to be believed, will sweep the country on a scale unprecedented in the nation's history."

Right now crime rates are decreasing in most American cities. Washington, D.C., is a major exception. "But gloomy demographers warn the fall in crime will soon end. Over the next decade, they say, some 52 million sub-teens will expand the base of 15- to 19-year-olds—the prime source of armed thuggery—by 15 per cent."
"Make a chain," wrote the prophet Ezekiel, "for the land is filled with crimes of blood, and the city is full of violence" (Ezekiel:7:23Make a chain: for the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence.). One crime would follow another just like links on a chain. No prophecy of your Bible is any more up to date than this one. (Source: The Sunday Times .)

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The Perplexing Absence of Self-control in Sports

A commentary by Rex Sexton

Around the world in recent months sporting events have received considerable media attention over the lack of self-control displayed by players, coaches, and fans. One has to wonder, what is going on in the sports world?

Recently my wife and I watched a basketball game in a high school gymnasium. One of the players also participates in our church youth group. We wanted to see him play. We expected to enjoy a well contested game between rival high school teams. But sadly, our anticipated joy was overshadowed by the disappointing behavior of one of the coaches.
Soccer games have turned into riots, baseball players have been attacked by 'fans,' and a melee of fisticuffs and throwing chairs marred a NBA game. Even parents are now being banned from Little League baseball games in some areas for their lack of self-control.
One has to wonder, what is going on in the sports world? The answer might be: We now put up with a lack of self-control at games that we once took for granted as obviously unacceptable.
While the disappointing high school coach was not physically violent, he spent much of the game running up and down the sideline yelling at his players. Instead of letting them play their game and build confidence, he belittled them in front of everyone in the gym for any mistakes they made. The players on his team dropped their eyes to the floor and pretended to concentrate on the game, but their embarrassment was obvious. Their level of play declined as his yelling and criticism increased. Needless to say, his team lost the game.
An important rule of managing people is: Always praise in public; criticize, if you must, only in private. This advice reflects the Bible principle "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Romans:13:9For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.). None of us wants to be corrected or humiliated in front of others, especially in front of family members or classmates.
If the basketball coach had understood this one rule his entire approach to coaching would have been different and his chances of winning games greatly improved. But despite having talented players, his team ended up the season with only one win.
If we want to be our best and bring out the best in others we need to follow the rules of treating others with the same respect that we would like to receive from them. Where do you find those rules? The simple answer: in the Word of God. The Bible is full of wisdom and sage admonitions concerning what we ought to say and how we ought to treat other people.
Increasingly, most of Western society now openly rejects advice from the Bible. The obvious result is an increase in violence and uncontrolled outbursts of anger at all levels. Also, many professional athletes no longer become positive role models for the youth who admire them.
Consider what would happen if the following principles were followed in the sports world:

• "He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his own spirit than he who takes a city" (Proverbs:6:32But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.).
• "Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools" (Ecclesiastes:7:9Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.).
• "Let no corrupt words proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification" (Ephesians:4:29Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.).
• "Do not provoke your children to wrath …" (Ephesians:6:4And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.).

These are just samples of the solid principles of courteous, respectful conduct taught in the pages of your Bible. Perhaps this is why President Theodore Roosevelt said that a thorough knowledge of the Bible was more valuable than any other education.
During this coming week, take a few moments each day to reflect upon this cardinal rule of good management relationships: Always praise in public; criticize, if you must, only in private. If you let this rule guide you in your workplace, in your family, and in your social life much more rewarding relationships will be the natural result.
Following the outstanding example of Jesus Christ is always rewarding. To do that successfully we need the foundational knowledge of good relationships revealed throughout God's word, the Bible. Most of us also need assistance in putting the various pieces of that knowledge together in our own minds in a truly meaningful way (Romans:10:14How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?).

• Character
• Education
• Fruit of the Spirit
• Badminton
• Baseball
• Basketball
• Christian Living
• Follow Jesus Christ's example
• Football
• love your neighbor as yourself
• Kindness
• Patience
• Athletetics
• Self-Control

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Turkey, a U.S. Ally, Threatens to Widen War in Iraq

article by Melvin Rhodes

Kurdish rebels, seeking an autonomous Kurdistan, have been attacking Turkish troops from the sanctuary of northern Iraq. Turkey now threatens to send troops into the most peaceful region of Iraq. Complicating the problem was an attempt in the U.S. Congress to condemn Turkey for a massacre that took place almost a century ago.

The world seems unable to get away from the Ottoman Empire, almost a century after its demise.
Throughout the 19th century, the Ottoman Empire was "the sick man of Europe." Its decline brought independence to a number of nations in the Balkans and North Africa. One of the consequences of its dismemberment was World War I, triggered by a Serbian nationalist's assassination of an Austrian archduke. Serbia was one of those countries that came into existence as the Ottomans gradually fell back to their Turkish homeland.
In 1914 they allied themselves with Germany and Austria against Britain, France and Russia. After the war, the empire was carved up at the Treaty of Sèvres and a number of new nations entered the world scene, with complications and frictions that continue to this day:
• Saddam Hussein's claim on Kuwait, which led to the first Persian Gulf War, went back to the Ottoman Empire's regional divisions.
• Syria's incessant interference in Lebanon similarly goes back to that time.
• The pre-2003 Sunni domination of majority Shiite Iraq similarly went back to the Ottomans.
• The 30-year-old division of Cyprus owes its origin to the Ottomans, who settled on the island centuries ago.
• The demise of the Ottoman Empire set the stage for the current never-ending conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians.
• And now the Kurds are the center of attention as they push for a unified autonomous state of their own.
Even the U.S. Congress seems unable to get away from the Ottoman Empire, which was finally replaced by the Republic of Turkey in 1923. After almost a century, Congress seemed set to condemn Turkey for the 1915 massacre of Armenians, until it realized that Turkey is the main supply route for American troops in Iraq. Additionally, the United States is trying to restrain the Turks from attacking the Kurds in northern Iraq, hitherto the only peaceful area of the country. Congressmen are now hesitant about upsetting Turkey, an old U.S. ally, any further.
The Ottoman Empire had many faults, but it did bring peace to the Middle East for four centuries. One hundred years ago, nobody alive could have foreseen the volatility that is today's Middle East.
However, two millennia ago, somebody did.
What Christ foretold
In a major prophetic section of the Bible, Jesus Christ tells His followers to "watch" what is happening in the world (Mark:13:33Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.). In Luke's parallel account, in Luke:21:20And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh., Jesus showed that the Middle East would be the center of tension in the end time, immediately prior to His second coming.
In the other parallel chapter, Matthew 24, Jesus said: "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom" (verse 7). A kingdom is a political entity that may contain many ethnic groups. B ut the word nation here is from the Greek word ethnos, which refers to ethnic groups or tribes. One of the signs of the end time is a marked increase in conflict between ethnic groups.
The assassination that ultimately led to the fall of the Ottoman Empire was rooted in ethnicity. The Serbs had been under the rule of the Ottoman Turks for centuries when they finally achieved independence in 1817. Some Serbs, however, remained under Austrian rule. The desire for a greater Serbia inspired a Serbian nationalist to fire the shots that triggered World War I.
Since that pivotal turning point in world history on June 28, 1914, a trend throughout the world has been the desire of different ethnic groups or tribes for their own independent homeland. Ethnic conflict has increased as tribes want to break away from the dominant political entity.
The Kurds are one of these ethnic groups.
The struggle for Kurdistan
Numbering about 20 million people, the Kurds are a non-Arab tribe of predominantly Sunni Muslims, roughly half of whom live in Turkey. The other half are mainly in the Kurdish province of northern Iraq, the most peaceful area of that war-torn country. Others are scattered throughout neighboring countries, and there is a significant Kurdish diaspora in Europe and North America.
The dream of many throughout the last century was of a unitary Kurdistan, which would have meant both Turkey and Iraq losing territory.
Today the Kurdish nationalist movement, the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), has said it will settle for a Kurdish autonomous region. Now that this has effectively been achieved in Iraq, the PKK's primary efforts are directed against the Turkish government, with regular terrorist attacks in Turkey conducted from neighboring Iraq.
Turkey is threatening to send troops into Iraq, further exacerbating the conflict there. The United States and Britain are trying to restrain the Turks from taking this action.
A Turkish military invasion of northern Iraq with the intent of suppressing the Kurdish nationalist movement could provide Iran with the pretext to do the same in the south, annexing the Shiite area of Iraq, thereby dismembering the country.
It is important for people in the West to realize that many of the Middle Eastern borders are arbitrary. The boundaries often go back to old regional borders within the Ottoman Empire and have little to do with tribal loyalties. This means that many countries are unstable and there is little to hold them together, which is one reason why brute force is the norm in this region.
The majority of the people in Turkey, however, are ethnic Turks. The Kurds number about 20 percent of Turkey's population and are concentrated mostly in the east near the borders with Iran, Iraq and Armenia.
"Having been decimated by the Turks in the years between 1915 and 1918 and having struggled bitterly to free themselves from Ottoman rule, the Kurds were encouraged by the Turkish defeat in World War I and by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson's plea for self-determination for non-Turkish nationalities in the empire. The Kurds brought their claims for independence to the Paris Peace Conference in 1919.
"The Treaty of Sèvres (1920), which liquidated the Ottoman Empire, provided for the creation of an autonomous Kurdish state. Because of Turkey's military revival under Kemal Atatürk, however, the Treaty of Lausanne (1923), which superseded Sèvres, failed to mention the creation of a Kurdish nation" (The Columbia Encyclopedia, sixth edition, 2001-05, "Kurds," www.bartleby.com/65/ku/Kurds.html ).
Frustrated, the Kurds rebelled in 1925 and 1930, rebellions that were crushed by Turkish troops. "Later (1937-38) aerial bombardment, poison gas, and artillery shelling of Kurdish strongholds by the government resulted in the slaughter of many thousands of Turkey's Kurds. The Kurds in Iran also rebelled during the 1920s, and at the end of World War II a Soviet-backed Kurdish 'republic' existed briefly" (ibid.).
The overthrow of the Iraqi monarchy in 1958 gave the Kurds hope in Iraq, but it didn't last. It wasn't until the first Persian Gulf War in 1991 that they had any realistic hope of autonomy. This came briefly with the coalition victory that year over Saddam Hussein. But the Kurds were badly let down by the United States and its allies and were soon crushed again by Saddam.
The second Gulf war, which began in 2003, changed things. The Kurds were quite happy to be liberated by coalition forces and have enjoyed autonomy since that time. They have been the most peaceful, stable and prosperous region of Iraq. All of this would be lost if Turkey chooses to send troops into the region to track down Kurdish rebels from Turkey who take refuge among fellow Kurds in Iraq.
"As Turkey moves troops toward the Iraqi border and officials scramble to prevent an invasion, the Kurdish separatists at the center of the storm are again proving their ability to use a well-oiled international support network to confound decades-old Turkish efforts to defeat them," writes Philip Shishkin and Yochi J. Dreazen in the Wall Street Journal ("Turkey's Rebel Kurds Still Elusive," Oct. 23, 2007).
Under international pressure, Turkey is going to try diplomacy first. The article quotes the Turkish foreign minister: "We will continue these diplomatic efforts with all good intentions to solve this problem caused by a terrorist organization…But in the end, if we do not reach any results, there are other means we might have to use" (ibid.).
While America and Britain try to restrain the Turks from attacking Iraq, a resolution in the U.S. Congress condemning the Turkish massacre of Armenians in 1915 could provoke them into immediate military action.
"The Turks are a proud, prickly people, easily offended by criticism. That much is clear from the row over a resolution, passed by a Committee of the United States House of Representatives on October 10th, calling the slaughter of Armenians by Ottoman Turks in 1915 genocide. [The full House backed off from supporting the resolution.]
"But Turkey has reacted angrily, recalling its ambassador. It is talking of cutting military ties and even denying the Americans use of the Incirlik airbase that is vital for the supply of their troops in Iraq" ("A Resolution Too Far," The Economist, Oct. 20, 2007, p. 16).
It would be short-sighted to say that this problem must be resolved in the next few months. Whatever the outcome of these immediate concerns, the Kurdish issue is not going to go away at any time in the foreseeable future. The Turks are not likely to grant autonomy to the Kurds, so future conflict is certain.
The position the United States and its European allies take, however, could change things dramatically. Turkey, a modern secular Islamic country with democratic credentials, has long sought membership in the EU and remains the second biggest military force in NATO. It is these ties that are at stake every bit as much as the future of the Kurdish people. WNP

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God Condemns Idolatry and Greed

article by William (Skip) Miller

Many people do not realize that popular holidays are negative influences in their lives

Source: Clipart.com

Out of all of the prophets, Jeremiah is the one who most leads me to believe that God condemns idolatry and greed. Idolatry can be seen in Christmas, Easter Sunday and Halloween, all of which work against God and God’s way of life.
First, Christmas is about getting not giving. Many say it is a holiday for children, and it is! It teaches a child to want to get, and then later we wonder why many children are so materialistic (Jeremiah:8:10Therefore will I give their wives unto others, and their fields to them that shall inherit them: for every one from the least even unto the greatest is given to covetousness, from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.). And its pagan origins are apparent by doing a little research within and outside the Bible. It is clear how God feels about mixing pagan practices with His truth (Jeremiah:10:2-5 [2] Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.
[3] For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.
[4] They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
[5] They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.).
Next, Easter Sunday, originating in worship for the ancient Babylonian goddess Astarte's family, is confusing (Jeremiah:7:18The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.…Jeremiah here uses another of Astarte’s names; “queen of heaven”).Instead of recognizing that Jesus died to save us, the world unwittingly rejoices in the resurrection of Astarte's mythical son Tammuz. God wants us to recognize the sacrifice of His Son the most (Jeremiah:2:11-13 [11] Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.
[12] Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD.
[13] For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.). People watch the sunrise on Easter Sunday and rejoice, not realizing they are diminishing Christ's sacrifice and perpetuating sun worship.
Finally, Halloween (or as I choose to call it -- “Hollow Evening”) is a night to masquerade as anything but truth. Again, we say it is a holiday for children, but it is a night to teach the very young the most abominable tactic: trick or treat! Again, it's about get, and this time it is get or else there may be negative consequences. Why don’t we admit what we have embraced by observing these days? These three major holidays of the Western world all teach children to grasp, grab, and want more. Is it any wonder that many grow up with greed and a sense of entitlement as their principal attitudes?
Jeremiah hated idolatry, but he also hated how his people had become so forgetful of the Eternal, the Provider of the benefits they enjoyed. They ceased to be concerned for the poor, the maimed and the widows. The social network had been so unraveled that those slipping through it were abandoned and unnoticed (Jeremiah:5:26-29 [26] For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men.
[27] As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich.
[28] They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.
[29] Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?).
God showed Jeremiah that idolatry and selfishness go together. When we fail to acknowledge God as the giver of every good gift, we tend to think of ourselves as the originator and sustainer of all the benefits we enjoy, and our attitudes proclaim, “Look what my hands have made!” (Jeremiah:17:5Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD., 9; 9:23-24; 23:17). God told Jeremiah to cry out without ceasing and to show the people these two detestable sins. Should we do anything less?
To understand many of the truths behind the world’s most popular holidays, please request our free Bible study aid booklet Holidays or Holy Days: Does It Matter Which Days We Observe?