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"And the two angels came to Sodom in the evening and Lot was sitting at the gate of Sodom." (From this week's Torah portion, Vayerah, Genesis 19:1) Hold on a minute! Didn't Lot learn anything from his previous misadventure? Just in last week's Torah portion, Abraham endangered himself and his entire family in a World War to save Lot from captivity after he made his bad decision to move to Sodom. After Abraham redeems him, Lot disregards everything that transpired and goes right back to Sin City as if nothing had happened, at all. In order to understand this psychosis,...

Over a hundred members of the recently banned Millata Abraham Muslim sect on Friday underwent a mass conversion to mainstream faith at the Baiturrahman Raya Mosque in Banda Aceh. The sect’s leader, Zainuddin, said the idea to convert came to him in a dream on April 19 that he had while locked away in a jail cell. He is facing a five-year sentence for blasphemy stemming from his practice of the banned religion. The mass conversion comes in the wake of pronounced relgious hostility in the province. On April 6, Irwandi issued a gubernatorial decree banning the Millata Abraham, along...

"On the night of Barack Obama’s rally in Tucson..." (continued)

2010 Abraham Lincoln Presidential Dollar Launch Ceremony Planned By Coin Update Staff on October 26th, 2010 Categories: US Coins, United States Mint Details of the launch ceremony for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Dollar have been announced by the United States Mint. Launch ceremonies have typically been held on or around the circulation release date for each Presidential Dollar coin, held at a location related to the former President. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential $1 Coin will mark the 16th release of the overall series and the final release for this year. The obverse of the coin features a portrait of Lincoln...

A year ago J Street — the putatively progressive fledgling counter to the Israel lobbying group AIPAC — was riding high. They had just received a write up in the New York Times Magazine that was somewhere between a press release and a love poem and, with a complaisant Obama in the White House, the tiny organization seemed poised to be a significant player in the Middle East discussion. My, as grandma said, have times changed. For starters, J Street’s director, Jeremy Ben-Ami, has shown himself to be a Junior Beltway Pinocchio, serially denying his organization had the financial backing...

CONCLUSION 1. God fulfilled His promise for Israel to receive the land...       a. So says Joshua, the Psalmist, and the Levites       b. At the very least Solomon ruled over the entire land described to Abraham 2. Israel's retention of the land was always conditional...       a. Moses and Joshua warned Israel that it was conditional       b. The Assyrian and Babylonian captivity illustrates how Israel lost the land       c. The Restoration described in Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai and Zechariah illustrates how Israel regained the land

Our former NR colleague, Joe Sobran, passed away today after a long battle with a variety of ailments. He was relatively young, just 64, and while physically beaten at the end, he also departed spiritually triumphant.   Surely, in short order, there will be ample reflection — much of it critical — on the hyper-talented, hyper-controversial writer. There will be a recounting of his history at NR, the break, the following years, and Joe’s soured relationship with WFB (happily, they rekindled their friendship before Bill passed away). Good, let’s discuss all that, and more. But later. Right now, let us,...

(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb:He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong...

(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb:He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong...

For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of...

Which comes first, Faith or works?…Romans 4 by billrandles Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:And the father of circumcision to...

Grace and Works…Romans 4 Posted on September 1, 2010 by billrandles Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.(Romans 4:4-5) How was Abraham, the father of all who believe in the God of the Bible justified before God? Abraham did not work to earn right standing with God, it was given to him freely , by God himself. “Abraham believed God and it was accounted to Him for Righteousness.”(Genesis 15:6) Righteousness from God can...

What Abraham found…Romans 4 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 4:1-5) The Justification of man before the Holy God has never come by works of the...

“Who in time past were no people, but now are the people of God.” (I Peter 2:10) Paul wrote, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ; even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before Him in love: having foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto himself…” (Eph. 1:3–5). The choosing took place before the creation for the obvious purpose of having an unblemished people in...

“Know you therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.” God made a promise to Abraham: “In thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed” (Gen.12:3). Later he repeated the promise, “because you have obeyed my voice” (Gen. 22:18). What of this promise? Was it fulfilled? Or is it yet to be realized in some material sense? Gross confusion prevails. The tragic result is that Christians look for a fulfillment which will not come, because they look for the wrong kind of promise. People keep getting this original promise to Abraham mixed...

Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem ~ Origins A Woman Prays in the "Jewish Side" of the Cave of Machpelah Genesis Chapter 23 1. And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old: these were the years of the life of Sarah. 2. And Sarah died in Kirjatharba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her. 3. And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying, 4. I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give...

Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem ~ Origins Genesis Chapter 22 1. And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. 2. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. 3. And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men...

Pray For The Peace Of Jerusalem~Origins Sarah Laughs at the Thought of Her Impending Pregnancy! The Book of Genesis Chapter 18 1. And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; 2. And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground, 3. And said, My LORD, if now I have found favor in thy sight, pass not away,...

Pray For The Peace Of Jerusalem~Origins The Book of Genesis Chapter 17 1. And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. 2. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. 3. And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, 4. As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. 5. Neither shall thy name any more be...

Pray For The Peace Of Jerusalem~Origins The Book of Genesis Chapter 16 1. Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. 2. And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. 3. And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to...

Pray For The Peace Of Jerusalem~Origins The Book of Genesis Chapter 15 1. After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. 2. And Abram said, LORD God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? 3. And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. 4. And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him,...

Pray For The Peace Of Jerusalem~Origins A Mounted Archer of Persia (Elam) The Book of Genesis Chapter 14 1. And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations; 2. That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar. 3. All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea. 4. Twelve years they served...

Pray For The Peace Of Jerusalem~Origins I will Bless Those Who Bless Thee. The Book of Genesis Chapter 121. Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee: 2. And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3. And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth...

After reading some more Koran tonight, I had an epiphany. I realized that some of the worst parts of the Koran were similar to worst parts of the Christian Bible. I now believe many parts of both were misinterpreted. While I realize that Islam has been violent throughout its history, so has Judeism and Christianity (think Crusades). I'm not sure I believe in the 72 virgin promise, but I am starting to get Mohammed's believe in a better after-life. I need to read more. That said, our world has gone to shit. There can be a better place for those...

An Iraqi doctor encouraged security officers at Brooke Army Medical Center to shoot him earlier this month after telling others that he planned to free accused Fort Hood shooter Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, a federal agent testified Monday. FBI counterterrorism and military intelligence operatives took a hard look at Senan Kahtan Abrahem after he went to Fort Sam Houston on Jan. 6 and approached an information booth at BAMC about seeing Hasan, according to testimony at a bail hearing Monday for Abrahem. Abrahem, an immigrant living in San Antonio, was indicted last week on a federal charge of making a...

AL ASAD AIR BASE — Over the past 4,000 years, the terrain in Iraq has changed drastically. But according to the oral tradition of the Bedouins, one of Abraham’s resting places during his biblical journey from Ur to Canaan is located aboard this base. The oasis at Al Asad, commonly referred to as Abraham's Oasis or Abraham's Well, would have been critical to Abraham's travels through the desert. Capt. Michael T. Lanigan, the chaplain with Task Force Atlas, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team out of Portland, Ore., has studied the Bible and the history of the site. "Abraham's Oasis was...

In a powerful echo of the Biblical story of the patriarch Abraham, a Mumbai doctor smashed his father's idols and eventually decided to become a Jew in the Land of Israel. Dr. Aharon Abraham, left his position as Director of the ICU Medical Center at British Kennedy in Mumbai, India after terrorists murdered his spiritual guide and his wife, Rabbi Gabi and Rivky Holtzberg one year ago. Abraham was born Vagirds Frads to a Hindu cleric who worshipped idols, and a mother who prepared food for them. As did the Biblical Abraham, young Vagirds could not understand how his father...

Although a batch of documents recently released by the Bush Energy Department was supposed to embarrass Republicans, it also revealed an interesting nugget about a powerful Democrat, Debbie Dingell, wife of Rep. John Dingell (Mich.). Mrs. Dingell, who gave HOHholy hell a few years ago for referring to her in print as a "lobbyist" for General Motors, has always insisted that she merely runs the foundation that takes care of the auto giant's philanthropic activities. These days, Dingell says, she's in charge of "worldwide community relations" for the company. So you can imagine HOH's surprise upon noticing that Dingell turned...

<p>First, Judith Elizabeth Williams took her two cats to the shelter. Then she brought the family dog to the veterinarian, had it euthanized, and wrote a suicide note.</p> <p>Then, investigators say, the 51-year-old Walnut Creek woman got in the car with her 16-year-old son, Adam Findley Williams, and drove up Mount Diablo. Near the top of the 3,849-foot peak, at a lookout with panoramic views of the Bay Area, she shot the teenager to death with a .357 handgun and turned the gun on herself, authorities said Wednesday.</p>

May 12, 2009 Note: The following text is a quote: Leader of Liberty City Six Convicted on All Counts, Four Others Convicted on Multiple Counts, and One Defendant Acquitted on Charges of Conspiring to Support Al Qaeda, Attack Targets in the United States After a three-month trial, a Miami jury convicted five men of multiple charges that include conspiring to provide material support to the al Qaeda terrorist organization and conspiracy to levy war against the U.S. by discussing and planning attacks on targets in the U.S., including the Sears Tower in Chicago and the FBI building and other federal...

By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death. Hebrews 11:17-19 When you first read the story of God coming to Abraham and telling to offer up his son as a sacrifice, you're puzzled by it. For one thing, why would God do ask such a thing?...

For he [Abraham] was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. Hebrews 11:10 After my first extended visit overseas, I remember flying into San Francisco, my port of entry. I was 23 and had been on my own in England, and was now on my way back to Alaska. I was giddy as we came in to land. The air hostess said this immediately upon touching down, "If this is your first time in America, Welcome to the United States of America. If you are returning, welcome home!" That's it, Welcome Home! It brought...

By faith he [Abraham] made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. Hebrews 11:9 God clearly told Abraham to go to a foreign land. Everything about this new land was different for Abraham and his family. It took a long time to understand the culture and the ways of the people living there. When he was new to the land, everything was peculiar. Not bad necessarily, but different. Like many of you reading this, I have...

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. Hebrews 11:8 Abraham had no guarantees. Like many of us, he didn't know where he was going, when he'd get there, or what he would experience along the way (Genesis 12). It was certainly a faith journey, especially because he was 75 at the time, and many others also accompanied him (Genesis 12:5). It might have been easy for him to ignore the calling God had on him by making...

Darwinism as Religion in a Holy War Feb 19, 2009 — It might be expected that media attention on Darwin would be exceptionally high this month because of his bicentennial, but some of it seems downright religious. The adulation he has been receiving is almost embarrassing sometimes. It is only exceeded by the righteous indignation frequently expressed against intelligent design. In any other context, the fighting words of the Darwinians would be described as hate speech. Here are some recent examples: 1. Shrine to Darwin:...

Abraham Lincoln's Birthday is this Thursday. I thought it fitting to quote from the first Republican president's debates against Stephen Douglas. Each had an hour to present their case, hardly what the mainstream media would like. I think, and shall try to show, that it is wrong; wrong in its direct effect, letting slavery into Kansas and Nebraska and wrong in its prospective principle, allowing it to spread to every other part of the wide world where men can be found inclined to take it. This declared indifference, but, as I must think, covert real zeal for the spread of...

When the American Civil War began, president Abraham Lincoln was far less prepared for the task of commander in chief than his Southern adversary. Jefferson Davis had graduated from West Point (in the lowest third of his class, to be sure), commanded a regiment that fought intrepidly at Buena Vista in the Mexican War and served as secretary of war in the Franklin Pierce administration from 1853 to 1857.

An art piece that combines the face of President Lincoln with the face of Sen. Barack Obama can remain on the walls of local businesses. The piece, called "Abraham Obama," has been displayed in several places across Colorado Springs but was recently questioned by the city's revocable permits department. After a short investigation, the department decided that "Abraham Obama" is art and not a political endorsement, which would have violated city sign ordinances. "It was decided that it was a mural," said Sue Matz, revocable permits coordinator for Colorado Springs. She said that she discussed the matter with her supervisor...

Abraham didn't exist? The Exodus didn't happen? The Bible's Buried Secrets, a new PBS documentary, is likely to cause a furor. "It challenges the Bible's stories if you want to read them literally, and that will disturb many people," says archaeologist William Dever, who specializes in Israel's history. "But it explains how and why these stories ever came to be told in the first place, and how and why they were written down." The Nova program will premiere Nov. 18. PBS presented a clip and a panel discussion at the summer tour of the Television Critics Association. The program says...

Old Testament Challenge 5 - The Most Famous Story of the Old Testament From a book By John Ortberg with Kevin & Sherry Harney On line links: Northwoods Community Church http://www.nwoods.org/storyWithChart.asp?storyid=393 Willow Creek Church http://www.willowcreek.com/resources/courses/otc/ 10/6/07 Old Testament Challenge -

Old Testament Challenge 3 – Covenants From a book By John Ortberg with Kevin & Sherry Harney On line links: Northwoods Community Church http://www.nwoods.org/storyWithChart.asp?storyid=393 Willow Creek Church http://www.willowcreek.com/resources/courses/otc/ Genesis 12 Abram begins a covenant with God. There are a variety of covenants in the Bible. There is a bilateral covenant; that is one made between equals. An example is between David and Jonathan. There are marriage covenants. There are unilateral covenants. These are made between unequal parties, between a king and his subjects. Covenants occur 285 times in the Old Testament. Genesis 15:18 The Lord cut a covenant. When people...

Nathaniel Abraham left India and moved to the United States in 1997 to pursue science. He studied biology at St. John's University in New York, where he earned his master's degree and doctorate. He developed expertise in toxicology and developmental biology pertaining to zebrafish. His academic rigor and top-notch research skills advanced his career quickly, landing him a job in 2004 at the prestigious Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts. By every indication, Abraham had realized his American dream: a job in the field he loved, an employer eager to sponsor a new visa, a sense of financial security, and...

“The Genealogy of Jesus Christ: From Abraham to David” (Matthew 1:1-6a)Thirty years ago, all of America was watching a television mini-series called, “Roots.” “Roots” was the story of author Alex Haley’s family, his ancestors, the generations that led up to his own life. Basically, it was a genealogy fleshed out. And it made for fascinating viewing. We humans are naturally interested in “roots,” in family histories and genealogies. A person’s family history will tell us a lot about that person--where he came from, who he is. Today we begin a series on the “roots,” the family history, of our Lord...

Foxman and Sharpton Issue Joint Statement on Symbols of Hate New York, NY, November 1, 2007….Abraham H. Foxman, National Director of the Anti-Defamation League, and Rev. Al Sharpton, President of the National Action Network, today issued the following statement regarding the series of recent displays of nooses and swastikas in our community: The recent epidemic of nooses and swastikas appearing in various places in our communities are acts of hate and are intended to intimidate and instill fear. Such acts are despicable, and we call upon all people of good will – of all races, religions and ethnicities – to...

Showing Forth the Power and Knowledge of Zion: The Wisdom of Heaven and Earth Chapter 5, part 2 of The Blessings of Abraham: Becoming a Zion People Ironically, to preserve his own life, the righteous Abraham was now being commanded to violate one of his fundamental principles, that of perfect honesty in his dealings with his fellow men, by asking Sarah to represent herself as his sister. Or was it a violation? If Jubilees is correct, which seems to be vindicated by a later statement in Genesis, Sarah was in fact his sister, the daughter of his father but through...

A lot of people are atwitter over this addition to the Thompson advisory team of former Senator Spencer Abraham. But, it is starting to look to me like a story incorrectly reported by the MSM and rolling off track from there. It just seems that there are too many conflicting reports on Abraham's role with the AP reporting that he is a new "campaign manager" but others saying Randy Enwright is. The website IsraelToday, for instance, has posted a story full of alarm over the addition of Spence to the team. Their reaction is similar to many Israel supporters here...

As a Senator, he took marching orders from James Zogby of the pan-Islamist Arab American Institute, opposing profiling of Arabs, the use of secret evidence against Muslims (at the behest of Muslim groups), attempting to repeal the Clinton counterterrorism package, refusing to fund computer tracking of student and other foreign aliens, giving millions in our tax money right to Hezbollah, and putting CAIR on the map on Capitol Hill (taking the group's officials around to meet other Senators and Members of Congress). He took campaign contributions from the relatives of Hezbollah-backed top Lebanese officials after he got the group millions...

Israeli government authorities are building a ramp to allow non-Muslims to reach the enormous platform atop the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The old access ramp was condemned as unsafe and torn down several years ago. The interim ramp that replaced it was designed for short-term service only. (Muslims control the Temple Mount and therefore have their own private access routes.) The new ramp is controversial. Some ramp must be built or non-Muslims will have no way to reach the Mount; but leading Israeli archaeologists say that the ramp under construction is badly placed and ought to be someplace else. This...

America’s 5th largest city, Philadelphia, ended 2006 with 406 homicides. That was the most for the “city of brotherly love” since 1997. During a December 30, 2006 press conference, District Attorney Lynne Abraham (D) vigorously complained that Mayor John Street (D) wasn’t doing anything to reduce the murder rate. Abraham accused Street of “sadly lacking” the “vision and courage” needed to effectively address Philadelphia’s soaring murder rate. Mayor Street, a few days later, retorted that if Abraham had any good ideas about how to reduce violent crime, she was welcome to advance them. The Mayor’s office opined that Abraham’s attack...

BAY CITY, Mich. -- A man who was 11 years old when he gunned down an 18-year-old man outside a Pontiac store is moving into a Bay City halfway house on Friday. Nathaniel Abraham, now 20 years old, has been in juvenile custody since his arrest nine years ago.