Thursday, December 24, 2009

Mary's Place of Quiet



Our Daily Bread offered a fitting reflection for Christmas Eve today, and gave me a new insight into that special birth as Mary brought Jesus into this harsh world in Bethlehem; it was two millenia ago but it is so fresh to me and countless others today.

Gurth Whitaker
Calgary, AB

God’s Special Place
 [Mary] brought forth her firstborn Son, . . .  and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. —Luke 2:7
As a young girl in the late 1920s, Grace Ditmanson Adams often traveled with her missionary parents through inland China. Later, she wrote about those trips and the crowded places where they stayed overnight—village inns full of people coughing, sneezing, and smoking, while babies cried and children complained. Her family put their bedrolls on board-covered trestles in a large room with everyone else.

One snowy night, they arrived at an inn to find it packed full. The innkeeper expressed his regret, then paused and said, “Follow me.” He led them to a side room used to store straw and farm equipment. There they slept in a quiet place of their own.
 
After that, whenever Grace read that Mary “brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7), she saw the event differently. While some described the innkeeper as an example of uncaring, sinful mankind who rejected the Savior, Grace said, “I truly believe that Almighty God used the innkeeper as the arranger for a healthier place than the crowded inn—a place of privacy.”

Through eyes of faith, we see God’s provision for Mary. Look for the ways He provides for you.  — David C. McCasland


Wait on the Lord from day to day,
Strength He provides in His own way;
There’s no need for worry, no need to fear,
He is our God who is always near. —Fortna


Those who let God provide will be satisfied.





Our Daily Bread God’s Special Place

Israel's Netanyahu's Christmas and Civil New Year Greetings

I am grateful that there is one country in the Middle East where Jews, Christians and Muslims can "act in accordance with their beliefs and according to the dictates of their consciences." So I publish Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Christmas greetings in its entirety below.

Christian's are at best second class citizen's, and frequently face persecution across all Middle East countries except Israel. The examples are numerous and freely available for those who care to look to the truth, here are two that were posted at Lux et Veritas; these happen to be about Egypt but the situation is the same or worse in other Muslim countries (sometimes Sunni against Shia and Shia against Sunni).
Anti-Semitism in Egypt;
and the plight of Coptic Christians: Egypt's Coptic Christians call for general strike on September 11 to protest persecution

Gurth Whitaker
Calgary AB

Prime Minister Netanyahu's 
Christmas and Civil New Year Greetings

"Today Christmas Eve, I would like to wish Israel's Christian citizens a Merry Christmas.

Since its founding, the State of Israel has granted freedom of worship to its citizens – Jews, Christians and Muslims act in accordance with their beliefs and according to the dictates of their consciences. We must preserve the delicate fabric that has been created among the people of the various faiths and continue to develop the religious tolerance that exists between us all.

Ahead of the civil New Year, I would like to wish Christians in Israel, the Middle East and throughout the entire world – a good and prosperous year. May it be that in the coming year that we will take another step toward coexistence in Israel and that together we will advance the economy, education and tourism in our country.

Since its inception, my Government has worked to advance the peace process with our Palestinian neighbors. In the coming year as well, we will continue to advance efforts to achieve a lasting peace in our region."

PM Netanyahu's greetings are from the Prime Minister's Office of Israel.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Taking back freedom from government tyranny


This man speaks sound principles with passion and conviction - and there is no teleprompter - Colonel Allen West speaks from the heart.

Florida Congressional Candidate Allen West calls on all Americans to stand up against an out of control Federal Government.