Abbas Tries To Sell Ceasefire With Israel But Hardliners Non-Committal
AFP via Yahoo! News Wed, 16 Mar 2005 2:49 AM PST
Palestinian faction leaders headed towards extending a cooling down period rather than agreeing on a full-fledged truce, despite pressure from Israel and Egypt.  

Sharon May Face Election As Gaza Controversy Ensnares Budget
Bloomberg.com Wed, 16 Mar 2005 0:22 AM PST
March 16 (Bloomberg) -- Israeli opposition parties joined by lawmakers of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's own Likud party may defeat the government's 2005 budget, triggering an election in June and endangering his planned pullout from the Gaza Strip.  

Report Lists Possibilities For Terrorist Attacks And Likely Toll...
WASHINGTON, March 15 - The Department of Homeland Security, trying to focus antiterrorism spending better nationwide, has identified a dozen possible strikes it views as most plausible or devastating, including detonation of a nuclear device in a major city, release of sarin nerve agent in office buildings and a truck bombing of a sports arena.

The document, known simply as the National Planning Scenarios, reads more like a doomsday plan, offering estimates of the probable deaths and economic damage caused by each type of attack.

They include blowing up a chlorine tank, killing 17,500 people and injuring more than 100,000; spreading pneumonic plague in the bathrooms of an airport, sports arena and train station, killing 2,500 and sickening 8,000 worldwide; and infecting cattle with foot-and-mouth disease at several sites, costing hundreds of millions of dollars in losses. Specific locations are not named because the events could unfold in many major metropolitan or rural areas, the document says.

PAPER: Iran to Offer U.S. Share in Nuclear Program...
LONDON (Reuters) - Iran (news - web sites) is prepared to offer the United States a half share in any future nuclear program to demonstrate it is not pursuing atomic weapons, a senior Iranian official was quoted on Wednesday as saying.

Comments
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas is working very hard to bring peace to the Middle East.  Of course, he has an ulterior motive, but as foretold in the Bible, peace must still be established.  They all have their part to play in God’s ultimate plan.  We must remember that this isn’t a good versus evil scenario.  God knew before the foundation of the world what the future held (Titus 1:2). 

Another question that comes to mind is whether Mahmoud Abbas could be the coming antichrist?  Personally I feel that he’s not.  I have two reasons for believing this.  One, it’s generally believed that the antichrist will rise up out of the New Roman Empire (E.U., Daniel 9:27).  Two, in keeping with the theme of Nebuchadnezzar’s statue (Daniel 2) all mentioned kingdoms ruled the world in their day and were world powers.  The E.U. is a present day world power now, but the antichrist will take it to the next level.   I don’t see Mahmoud Abbas or the Arab world rising to that level anytime in the near future, but that could change if the Lord allows it. 

I think many forget that if left up to satan he would have ruled this world from the beginning.  He longs to rule, to be honored and worshiped by all.  That is his goal, his passion and his only desire, and would not change a thing if given the chance to repent (see Question# 28: Can Satan Repent And Change His Ways?).  

The U.S. government has commissioned a taskforce to come up with likely hotspots, methods and outcomes of possible terror attacks.  This is a very serious matter and frankly I do see another major attack taking place on U.S. soil.  I would be guessing if I said it will be nuclear but I do believe eventually it will happen.  

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon maybe on the chopping block by summer.  Seems his own party who is not happy about the Gaza plan may defeat his 2005 budget in order to force an election in June of this year.  There maybe threats but I really don’t see Sharon getting run out nor do I see the rest of the world letting Israel off the hook.  If the timing is right, and I think it is, look for this plan to push ahead as scheduled.  

On a positive note, according to a current poll Palestinian support for suicide bombings has fallen sharply in favor of a more diplomatic approach.  These are figures even the Arab world can appreciate and may convince them to stop supporting terrorism at least until a Palestinian state is born.  

In conclusion, in the last few years I have seen a tremendous amount of previously faithful believers just up and leave the ministry or their church.  Most did not fall back into sin they just stopped go to church and serving the Lord.  

Of course, anytime you stop serving the Lord it’s due to sin, but today unlike any other time, I am seeing a rash of believers who are just losing heart.  Not really changing their lifestyle just cutting the Lord out of their life. 

I’m sure you can think of a number of people in your own church that have done just that.  In fact, you may be reading this in just that state.  You may be living in regret or remorse over your decision to walk away. 

If this is where you are, I can assure you that today you can come back to the Lord and it’s free!  Yes, Jesus came that we might have eternal life and pay our sin debt, but he also came that we might have an advocate with the Father (I John 2:1 & 2).  

Friend, if you have fallen away from the Lord today the good news is you can come back!  He is waiting for you and longs to rekindle the fellowship that once was. 

Don’t wait any longer…do it today!