The following articles are compiled by:

Leo Wong

Leo@WatchmenWatching.com

 

 

Ehud Barak to hold press conference Tuesday

Source: ynetnews.com

 

May 8, 2007 -- Former prime minister expected to break his silence, address Winograd Commission report for first time and reveal his stance on sitting in Ehud Olmert's government

 

Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, a Labor Party leadership candidate, is expected to respond to the Winograd Commission report for the first time Tuesday evening and to reveal his stance on sitting in Ehud Olmert's government.

 

Barak will hold a press conference at 5:30 pm at Kibbutz Sdot-Yam, where he is expected to address the Winograd Commission's conclusions, which also found his government which led the withdrawal from Lebanon indirectly responsible for the failures.

 

The press conference will focus on Barak's stance toward the Olmert government. While several of his cronies could swear that they heard him say he would not sit with Olmert in the same government, other associates said they had the impression that he had not yet decided.

 

Comments:  The two Ehuds aren’t doing so well these days.  Both of them have been implicated by the Winograd Commission for their parts in the Lebanonese fiascos.  Ehud Olmert is hanging on by a political thread amidst increasing calls for his resignation while Ehud Barak (Israel’s most decorated soldier) is hesitating about declaring his prime ministerial aspirations.  In Israeli politics today, the name “Ehud” is a liability.  Some say that Israel’s past prime ministers must have coated themselves with Teflon because corruption and incompetence charges haven’t been able to stick to them.  The furor over the Second Lebanon War will subside until Syria and Hezbollah decide to capture another Israeli soldier or two.  For the country’s sake, Mr. Olmert better step down and allow an untainted politician (if there’s such a thing) take over the helm.  Israel is on alert due to her enemies’ impending attacks and she needs credible and decisive leadership.

 

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King Herod's tomb discovered, Israeli university says

Source: ymetnews.com

 

May 8, 2007 -- The Hebrew University of Jerusalem announced on Monday the discovery of the grave and tomb of Herod the Great, the Roman empire's "King of the Jews" in ancient Judea.

 

Professor Ehud Netzer, from the Department of Archeology at the Hebrew University, said at a press conference on Tuesday that researchers have been searching for the grave for over 30 years, and that the discovery provided a solution to one of the most intriguing mysteries of Israeli archeology.

 

In 2006, when it became clear that the grave itself was not inside the burial plot, the archeologists decided to shift their efforts to the slope. "We believe that Herod had planned to be buried at the foot of the mountain, in the burial plot, but as he grew older he changed his mind and decided to be buried on the mountain. Netzer explained. "We are positive that having found the grave, the number of visitors at this national park will increase," he stated.

 

The Roman Senate appointed Herod "King of the Jews" in approximately 40 BCE.  He was also well-known for the magnificent structures built at his behest.  In addition to the Herodium fortress, he was responsible for the building of Masada and the expansion of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.

 

He also created new cities such as Caesaria and Herodion.  According to the ancient Jewish historian Falavius Josephus, Herod died in 4 BCE.

 

Herod is mentioned in Christian tradition, as well as Jewish tradition: The Gospel of Matthew says he ordered the "Massacre of the Innocents", the killing of all young male children in Jesus' birthplace of Bethlehem out of fear he would lose his throne to a new "King of the Jews", whose birth had been related to him by the Magi.

 

According to Matthew, Joseph and Mary fled with baby Jesus to Egypt to escape the slaughter.

 

Shaul Goldstein, head of the Gush Etzion council, where the Herodium is located, said that the discovery would turn the area into a site of global and religious importance.

 

"The discovery is another proof of Gush Etzion's direct link to the history of the Jewish people and Jerusalem and we must prepare for tens of thousands of visitors," he added.

 

Comments:  OK, let’s get this straight.  This King Herod’s tomb (where are the skeletal bones?) relates to the same Herod who wanted the Infant Jesus (less than 2 years old) killed.  It says in this news article that Herod died in 4 BCE.  Jesus was born about 7 or 6 BCE.  This King Herod is not to be confused with another King Herod who had John the Baptist beheaded (see Mark 6) when Jesus was a man in his 30s.

 

I have noticed that things from the Bible are showing up in the news with increasing regularity.  Does this indicate that God is telling to the world to open the Bible and read what He has to say in the last days?  I think so.  God is a patient and merciful God.  He doesn’t desire that any should perish.  Let’s pray that those who were involved in the discovery of King Herod’s tomb would see the part about the Baby Jesus who came into the world to be the Savior for sinners.  King Herod died a murderer and went to Hell.  May those who are involved in his epitaph fare much better.  History yields many lessons to be learned.

 

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Thousands of South Koreans training to 'invade' North Korea with the Gospel

Source: crosswalk,com

 

May 8, 2007 -- Thousands of South Korean Christians are in training to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ into North Korea and also plant churches there when the country finally opens up.

 

I discovered this on a reporting trip to Seoul, South Korea, when I was taken to a training camp in the hills outside of Seoul where these Christians were undergoing vigorous training on how to live and work in North Korea.

 

One Christian, who asked not to be named, told me, “We believe that because of world pressure, North Korea will soon have to open up to get much-needed foreign currency and we have many ready and willing to move in there with the Good News of Jesus Christ. They are aware that the country could be open for just a short time, and then it will close tight again, and they will be trapped inside.

 

Comments:  John 15:[13] Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.  The mission to North Korea is indeed white unto harvest, the harvesting of precious souls.  Faithful believers have spread the Good News to the people in the south and now, those saved want to tell their northern brothers that Jesus saves, Jesus saves.  If they’re captured by the military and put to death, so be it.  They will have died for the Lord’s sake.  Such is the refreshing testimony of real Christian missions work, not the kind you hear these days where so called believers go overseas to assist communities in irrigation techniques, fund desalination projects, establish a music school, get impoverish kids into sports, etc.  The latter is the social gospel that is geared to people’s temporal needs.  The martyrs are those who are killed for preaching Christ for the salvation of souls for an eternity.  It’s the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is not about the missions or missionaries.  It’s all about Christ.  If your church is stressing “help” people feed themselves, raise a pig farm, accumulate and distribute old eye glasses, etc., all noble causes no doubt, but nothing about giving out the Gospel of God that brings salvation, search your heart and ask yourself, what would Jesus have you to do?  Get souls saved first and then tend to their physical needs.

 

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The party's over: Local lakefront community laments the end of Falcon Beach

Source: Winnipeg Free Press Online

 

May 8, 2007 -- Not since Sheriff Brody ordered "Everybody out of the water" at Amity Beach has a shoreside community seen such a mass exodus of boats, bikinis and surfer boys. Falcon Beach has been wiped off the map.

 

No more Paige and Jason. No more buff bods, betrayal, romantic entanglements, dreamers and schemers. No more teen angst. No more "branty" (bra + panty) swimming.

 

The cancellation of the Global TV series Falcon Beach after just two seasons is an endless bummer for the countless Manitobans coming to terms with the fact that their summer fling has flung.

   

The show's demise has taken a chomp out of the pride and prosperity of the Lake Winnipeg shoreside community and surrounding locales that served as the backdrop for the glamorous, youth-oriented melodrama.

 

"It put our town on the map," says Winnipeg Beach Mayor Don Pepe. "It's unfortunate they couldn't get the funding to continue, because for two years we worked together, and economically we've seen the benefit.

 

"We were expecting to go a long way for many years to come."

 

"For everybody who had their door open, there was money dropped by these people. They also rented the rec centre and the curling club, which was $30,000 coming into the town coffers."

 

Pepe points out that, in fact, the production of the series pilot in 2004 -- one of the most miserable summers on record -- "saved a lot of butts" in the town's business community.

 

He points with pride to the hundreds of retro black-light and concert posters that line the walls of the arcade and actually inspired an FB storyline. In the series opener, Playland is saved from financial ruin when Paige (Jennifer Kydd) takes it upon herself to find a buyer for the vintage decor.

 

"We miss them like crazy," says Bridgewater. "Everyone was so friendly. Not to mention that it was so cool to sneak out and watch them filming. We all went down with our coolers to watch (drug dealer) Mook get blown up at 2:30 in the morning."

 

"I absolutely loved having them there," she says, "and I'm very sad they're not coming back. Jason and some of the other guys played football with my little boy in the street between takes. It was such a positive atmosphere."

 

"We're really sorry that it didn't go to a third season because we had a lot of fun and we're really proud of it."

 

She declined to comment on whether Jason and Paige sail off into the sunset or if Lane ends up doing time for his evil ways.

 

Comments:  2 Timothy 3:[2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  Philipians 3:[19] Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.

 

Pride is everywhere these days, especially in small towns.  When Falcon Beach was cancelled, the Devil and his demons left town.  This should have been cause for much celebration.  Liberation at last. Instead, the mayor and town folks are crying in their beers and lamenting about losing a piece of their soul.  Falcon Beach was nothing but a skin exposing excuse for a sleazy TV series.  It flaunted the exploitation of young people.  The story lies were about fornication, cheating on one’s boyfriend or girlfriend, getting drunk, playing pranks, irreverence for the Lord, etc.  There were no redeeming values in the show.  But, still, the people are upset about the loss of this filthy trash.  They’re reflecting about the good old days with intense pride.  Instead of shame and trying to shield themselves from being interviewed, they deride the producers for leaving the town in a state of mourning.  Moral declension is a sign of the last days when people call bad good and good bad.  People have lost their moral compass.

 

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Group of EU states wary of 2008 budget plan

Source: EUObserver.com

 

May 8, 2007 -- Several EU member states have criticised the European Commission's draft spending hikes for the 2008 budget, ahead of the first debate on the budget proposal to be held by finance ministers on Tuesday (7 May).

 

Four countries - Germany, France, the UK and the Netherlands - have expressed uneasiness over Lithuanian commissioner Dalia Grybauskaite's plan to spend €121.6 billion next year (5.3% more than in 2007), according to Dutch press agency ANP.

 

The critics argue that by putting aside more money than is likely to be spent, the EU executive is not motivated to work efficiently, even though the 2008 plan respects broad annual spending limits as agreed by the bloc's leaders for 2007 to 2013.

 

Comments:  The EU is flushed with money and everyone thinks they know how to spend it better than anyone else.  The EU is already 5 months into the new 7‑year budget and it’s considering increasing next year’s budget by a whopping 5.3%.  Due to the Israeli-Arab conflict not being resolved yet (it was hoped that in early 2007, the Middle East situation would have been finally settled), the money earmarked for all peace participants haven’t been dispensed yet.  What will become of this money?  Defer it to 2008, 2009, 2010 or whenever the Middle East region heralds in peace?  Perhaps.  There are so many ways to spend money.  Politicians of all stripes and persuasions have their own agenda to promote.  Trying to please every EU member nation is like trying to tell 500 customers in line that there are only 100‑$150, 42” plasma TVs available to be sold. Money is the grease in any booming economy.

 

 

 

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Keep watching (Matt 24:42)!

 

Until next time,

Shalom!

 

 

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