Keep about your work

"Keep about your work -- Share the Word, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. Do not flinch because the lion roars; do not stop to stone or bark back at the devil’s dogs; do not fool away your time chasing the devil’s rabbits. Do your work. Let liars lie, let sectarians quarrel, let critics malign, let enemies accuse, let the devil do his worst; but see to it nothing hinders you from fulfilling, with joy, the work God has given you. He has not commanded you to be admired or esteemed. He has not commanded you to get rich. He has never bidden you defend your character. He has not set you at work to contradict falsehood (about yourself) which Satan’s or God’s servants may start to peddle, or to track down every rumor that threatens your reputation. If you do these things, you will do nothing else; you will be at work for yourself and not for the Lord. Be grateful that every true thing known about you is not being told. Keep at your work. Let your aim be as steady as a star. You may be assaulted, wronged, insulted, slandered, wounded and rejected, misunderstood, or assigned impure motives; you may be abused by foes, forsaken by friends, and despised and rejected of men. But see to it with steadfast determination, with unfaltering zeal, that you pursue the great purpose of your life and object of your being until at last you can say, ‘My Lord Jesus, I have finished the work which you gave me to do’."………Ed Anthony Missionary/Evangelist

I AM THE PROBLEM, I AM THE ENEMY

Got into to a tiff with a liberal on facebook the other day...it started when he was trying to paint all people who want to be back under the US Constitution as "extremist." I butted in and here are the last three exchanges...I'm not replying to him again...(he has enough truth to melt both polar ice caps) There is a copy of how the exchange went below...

Ed Anthony...@Doug…according to you, I am part of the problem...and you're right, I am...I didn't fight communist on 3 continents, around the world to come home and discuss the "pros and cons" of a socialist, Marxist state, and I sure as h**l am not going to try to find common ground with people who condone beating of their women and having sex with children and animals. (Islam) You need to take your "academic posing," for a long walk on a short pier. That dog don't hunt no more. In an effort to appear well informed and even handed with all people and lifestyles, you end up giving credibility to the absurd. You’re just like all the other liberals who live in a “theoretical world” where you never have to deal with the realities brought on people by the variations of communism and Islam. There is no “up” side to either of the two systems being offered by the left today.
If you ever come out of your “made-up-in-your-mind-only” reality and deal with the messy real life issues you will be able to see why I’m part of the problem for the anti-American “LEFT!”
The Obamassiah is right, I am not only his enemy, I am his worst nightmare. The nightmare that “control freak” despots all over the world used to tremble to think of my kind. I’ve ranted enough, now I’ll show you the difference between “Right” and “Left.”
#1.) The left wants all people to have the same social remuneration and rights that someone else has without have to earn them. (Equal misery of scarcity)
#2.) The right wants all people to be endowed with benefits of freedom, so they can become all they have the personal capacity to accomplish.
One way says, come kneel here and I’ll give you what you need…
The other says, there it is, help yourself…have all you want…

Doug Chandler…@Ed Anthony: You're not only part of the problem, but you sound like a real, live crackpot. Guess what? England, Sweden, France, Germany and Israel, not to mention scores of other countries, have all tinkered with socialism or... social programs to a much greater degree than the United States has -- and none of them has become anything close to a communist tyranny. Neither has the United States, which has had a mixed economy since FDR.
Or perhaps you want to call Eisenhower and Nixon, all of whom proposed government programs of their own, communists as well? No liberal that I know is discussing the "pros" and "cons" of a Marxist state, but I do know of one person unable to make rational distinctions -- and I'm writing to him now.
Muslims? Guess what, Ed? I know dozens of American Muslims, some of whom I consider friends, and not one has sex with children and animals. You should be ashamed of yourself.

Ed Anthony…@Doug...SEE!...you're proving my point about “liberals and academic posing," you are NOT thinking in terms of the real world…you’re trying to explain to me how and why a little bit of sewage in my drinking water has been there all along and that a little bit of sewage in the drinking water will, some how be more fair to others and be good for all of us, and look at how all the other people have done so well with sewage in their drinking water, etc…Doug, just how large do the “solids in the drinking water” have to be before you’ll wake up and “smell the water?”

I AM FLYING MY FLAG AT HALF MAST OUT OF RESPECT FOR A FALLEN GENERAL

The last time America had a crisis about a General having a different idea about how to prosecute a war and was fired by the President, was when Truman fired General Douglas MacArthur over the conduct of the Korean war. We all see how well that turned out because a politician sitting in the White House, nose open to the UN directives, knew what to do better than a combat tested General. That is a war that has never declared a truce. That’s right Louise, we have had ONLY a cease fire agreement with North Korea in place all these years.
These remarks, while in appropriate, had to be expected. It’s nothing new. The people who are upset over the General’s remarks would wet their pants over what went on in the Vietnam war. One other note here, The Vice-President is NOT in the chain of command.
The Obamassiah called this man in and blew smoke all up his six. He made him believe he was behind him all they way, then dropped a rock on him when he asked for what was needed to end this thing. The Obamassiah was threatened by the puppet-master behind him, because he had called in a guy who could do the job of ending this war with honor. The puppet-master does NOT want this war to end; he does NOT want the Gulf spill stopped or cleaned up; he does NOT want the border control issue settled; he does NOT want the global financial crisis to end; and the coming “pandemic” will be to MAKE America submit to the gub’ment health-care plan. With all of this in place, the puppet-master will be in the driver’s seat for introduction of his One-World system for One Financial system, One Global Government and One World Religion. Welcome to the New-World Order .. So the destruction of the Gulf of Mexico, the State of Arizona, the American Healthcare and financial systems and one General, in the order of things, is no big thing. That’s how the puppet-master sees the world.

Have You Truly Come To Christ

By the way of introduction let me bring before you the following Scriptures:
1. “Ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life” (John 5:40).
2. “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
3. “No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him” (John 6:44).
4. “All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me: and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37).
5. “If any man come to Me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after Me, cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:26,27).
6. “To whom coming, as unto a living Stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious” (1 Peter 2:4).
7. “Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Heb 7:25).
The first of these passages applies to every unregenerate man and woman on this earth. While he is in a state of nature, no man can come to Christ. Though all excellencies both Divine and human, are found in the Lord Jesus, though “He is altogether lovely” (Song 5:16), yet the fallen sons of Adam see in Him no beauty that they should desire Him. They may be well instructed in “the doctrine of Christ,” they may believe unhesitatingly all that Scripture affirms concerning Him, they may frequently take His name upon their lips, profess to be resting on His finished work, sing His praises, yet their hearts are far from Him. The things of this world have the first place in their affections. The gratifying of self is their dominant concern. They surrender not their lives to Him. He is too holy to suit their love of sin; His claims are too exacting to suit their selfish hearts; His terms of discipleship are too severe to suit their fleshly ways. They will not yield to His Lordship - true alike with each one of us till God performs a miracle of grace upon our hearts.
The second of these passages contains a gracious invitation, made by the compassionate Savior to a particular class of sinners. The “all” is at once qualified, clearly and definitely, by the words which immediately follow it. The character of those to whom this loving word belongs is clearly defined: It is those who “labor” and are “heavy laden.” Most clearly then it applies not to the vast majority of our light-headed, gay-hearted, pleasure-seeking fellows who have no regard for God’s glory and no concern about their eternal welfare. No, the word for such poor creatures is rather, “Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes; but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee to judgment” (Eccl. 11:9). But to those who have “labored” hard to keep the law and please God, who are “heavy laden” with a felt sense of their utter inability to meet His requirements, and who long to be delivered from the power and pollution of sin, Christ says: “Come unto Me, and I will give you rest.”
The third passage quoted above at once tells us that “coming to Christ” is not the easy matter so many imagine it, nor so simple a thing as most preachers represent it to be. Instead of its so being, the incarnate Son of God positively declares that such an act is utterly impossible to a fallen and depraved creature unless and until Divine power is brought to bear upon him. A most pride-humbling, flesh-withering, man-abasing word is this. “Coming to Christ” is a far, far different thing from raising your hand to be prayed for by some Protestant “priest,” coming forward and taking some cheap-jack evangelist’s hand, signing some “decision” card, uniting with some “church,” or any other of the “many inventions” of man (Eccl 7:29). Before any one can or will “come to Christ” the understanding must be supernaturally enlightened, the heart must be supernaturally changed, the stubborn will must be supernaturally broken.
The fourth passage is also one that is unpalatable to the carnal mind, yet is it a precious portion unto the Spirit-taught children of God. It sets forth the blessed truth of unconditional election, or the discriminating grace of God. It speaks of a favored people whom the Father giveth to His Son. It declares that every one of that blessed company shall come to Christ. Neither the effects of their fall in Adam, the power of indwelling sin, the hatred and untiring efforts of Satan, nor the deceptive delusions of blind preachers, will be able to finally hinder them - when God’s appointed hour arrives, each of His elect is delivered from the power of darkness and is translated into the kingdom of His dear Son. It announces no matter how unworthy and vile he be in himself, no matter how black and long the awful catalogue of his sins, He will by no means despise or fail to welcome him, and under no circumstances will He ever cast him off.
The fifth passage is one that makes known the terms on which alone Christ is willing to receive sinners. Here the uncompromising claims of His holiness are set out. He must be crowned Lord of all, or He will not be Lord at all. There must be the complete heart-renunciation of all that stands in competition with Him. He will brook no rival. All that pertains to “the flesh,” whether found in a loved one or in self, has to be hated. The “cross” is the badge of Christian discipleship: not a golden one worn on the body, but the principle of self-denial and self-sacrifice ruling the heart. How evident is it, then, that a mighty, supernatural, Divine work of grace must be wrought in the human heart, if any man will even desire to meet such terms!
The sixth passage tells us the Christian is to continue as he began. We are to “come to Christ” not once and for all, but frequently, daily. He is the only One who can minister unto our needs, and to Him we must constantly turn for the supply of them. In our felt emptiness, we must draw from His “fullness” (John 1:16). In our weakness, we must turn to him for strength. In our ignorance we must apply to Him for wisdom. In our falls into sin, we must seek afresh His cleansing. All that we need for time and eternity is stored up in Him: refreshment when we are weary (Isa 40:31), healing of body when we are sick (Ex. 15:26), comfort when we are sad (1 Pet 5:7), deliverance when we are tempted (Heb 2:18). If we have wandered away from Him, left our first love, then the remedy is to “repent and do the first works” (Rev 2:5), that is, cast ourselves upon Him anew, come just as we did the first time we came to Him—as unworthy, self-confessed sinners, seeking His mercy and forgiveness.
The seventh passage assures us of the eternal security of those who do come. Christ saves “unto the uttermost” or “for ever more” those who come unto God by Him. He is not of one mind today and of another tomorrow. No, He is “the same yesterday, and today, and for ever (Heb 13:8). “Having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end” (John 13:1), and blessedly does He give proof of this, for “He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Inasmuch as His prayers are effectual, for He declares that the Father hears Him “always” (John 11:42), none whose name is indelibly stamped on the heart of our great High Priest can ever perish. Hallelujah!
Ain't Jesus good?
Be blessed by being a blessing...

Nothing is Neutral

Christians are NOT allowed the luxury of neutrality.

“He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.” Matt. 12:30... “For he that is not against us is on our part.” MK. 9:40... “And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.” LK. 9:50... “He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.” LK. 11:23

NARRATION: It was 6:45am. She hates unloading the dishwasher anytime of day but she was doing it. Loudly. After a particularly rowdy session of removing bowls I said something to her about the noise. Her point was she wasn't being loud on purpose...my point was that she wasn't trying to be quiet either. We take virtuous refuge in the things that we didn't intend as if to say, “Since I didn‘t intend that to happen, it must have been God‘s will.” We think we are not accountable for those consequences which we did not intend to happen. But here's the thing...
"Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need."
Paul is saying that it isn't enough to just not steal anymore...now you must labor honestly...for the purpose of having something to share.

It isn't enough to not intend harm...for every action or thought that we don't intend we must be clear that we are seeking the opposite. We are NOT allowed to just do as we please and then say, “Well since “that” was not my intent, I’m not guilty of causing it to happen.” The whole world operates on this premise. You in all probability did not intend to cause the auto accident, but you may still be charged with causing it. As disciples of Jesus Christ, our “intent” is always on trial. Our motivation for doing something is just as important as our actions. Another good example of this principal is found in “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: (meaning that “we had no relationship, therefore, these works are not motivated by the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, ie., John 16:8-10) depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matt. 7:22-23. He calls those works of iniquity, what we would call good works.

I didn't intend to be rude. But was I seeking kindness?
“Old brother so-in-so is just plain spoken like that“…No he’s not, he is self-centered and just unloads his mouth regardless of who it may hurt, he just don’t care enough to try to be kind by being careful how he speaks to people. To him, “If he didn’t mean to be rude, and someone has their feelings hurt, it’s their problem.” “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” Eph. 4:32. This is a call to be intentional about being kind.


I didn't intend to be disrespectful. But was I seeking to show respect?
This is always an easy fix; The rule of thumb is always, “Would you want to be treated, spoken to, or “respected” the same way you are treating, speaking to or showing respect for this person?” Whatever you are doing, would you want that done to you? Remember, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.” I Pet. 2:13-17.

I didn't intend to tear down. But was I seeking to build up? I didn't intend to hurt you. But was I really seeking the best for you even at a cost to me?
People will say, “Well, what I said was the truth.” That may be, but the question is “Was it also necessary to say that out loud?” Is this what will truly be best for edifying this person at this time? “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.” Rom. 14:19... “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. I Thess. 5:9-11... “… Let all things be done unto edifying.” I Corin. 14:26.

I didn't intend to be hurt by you. But was I seeking to be longsuffering?
Again, this is making sure we not only KNOW the difference between “patience” and “long-suffering” but practice the difference. “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.” II Pet. 1:4-9... “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” I Tim. 6:11... These all have to do with condition or circumstances. We are working to grow in our condition of “divine nature.” We are to add to our circumstances of “following after these things.”
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Gal. 5:19-25... “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Eph. 4:1-6. These scriptures deal with people.

It isn't enough to NOT intend the wrong thing. We have to purposely pursue to do the right thing. We must be so aware of what we don't want to happen as a consequence of something we do, that we become very intentional in what we do want to happen.
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Eph. 5:1.


We are to be an intentional body of believers, because He was intentional.

Gideon - Mighty Man Of Valor

Judges 6

The Conditions: Israel had forsaken God and His commandments. Much like America today, one sub-group pitted against another sub-group, every man was doing what was right for his sub-group in his own eyes. No absolute right or wrong, what I say is right for me, is what is right. “In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” Judges 17:6

We encounter Gideon (an un-likely hero) in verse 11, when an angel from the Lord comes to him as he is hiding the wheat from Israel’s enemies. He is threshing the wheat in a winepress. Some have regarded this as Gideon being a coward and hiding from the enemy. He is hiding the wheat. A mark of an honest men is, he will not place at risk that which is not his. We see even clearer, later on, that this is the actions of a prudent man. He had not heard from the Lord so he did not presume to attempt to change the circumstances the Lord had the nation of Israel in at this time. Valor does not presume, it does not run where it has not been called.

In the greeting in verse 12, the angel greets him with the description the Lord has for him, “thou mighty man of valor.” The Lord often sees others so differently from how we see them or how they see themselves. And he greets him by telling him that the Lord is with him. When the Lord calls on someone, it is usually someone who is busy, and usually busy doing something for someone else. (The indication from scripture is he was threshing wheat for the community) God tends to call that which is closest, cleanest and caring enough to make the effort.

In verse 13 we hear a beautiful confession of God’s power, a confession of God’s past blessings on the nation and a confession of the national guilt for turning away from God and His commandments. This was a man who saw very clearly that God had indeed turned away from Israel and her wickedness. And notice, there is no hint that he is complaining and charging God with being un-fair. He as much as admits that the nation is receiving just as they deserve.

The beauty of humility is seen here in verses 14 & 15, when Gideon is charged with going and being the one to deliver Israel, (in his own strength) pleads his own weakness and in-ability. Anyone called of God who does not rehearse his shortcomings, is doomed by his presumption. It is not a sign of trying to evade God’s call, it is a sign of wisdom to confess one’s inability to be successful without the hand and help of the Lord. It is preparation for a heart that is humble before God. God does NOT call extraordinary men to do ordinary things, He calls ordinary men to do extraordinary things.

The reassurance of the help and presents of God Himself in the undertaking and success of task is again given to strengthen the warrior in verse 16. This is much like our commission to “Go and make disciples’ in Matthew 28:19-20. We are told in the closing statement that the Lord Himself will be there with us.

In verses 17-21 we see the wisdom of caution and obedience. The giving of a sacrifice of food was a heavy thing. He was hiding food from the Midianites when the Lord came to him. He understood that the Lord expected him to trust and obey His commands. He is not doubting God, he is proving to himself that he will trust and obey, even when it’s not easy. Valor that is brave enough to trust and obey the Lord, can over come ALL the man-made obstacles it faces.

In verse 24 we see the spirituality that always comes with true valor. This is part of the “servant” idea that Jesus spoke of when He walked the earth. True Valor does not have to seek it’s own glory. Men of valor do not great things to advance themselves, but for the good of others and the glory of God. Gideon builds an alter to the Lord as a statement that as he does this it is being done for the glory of the Lord. Selfishness is a repugnant character trait in all cultures. The Bible tells us, “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” Col. 3:17

In verses 34-40 we are treated to the truth that “Divine Inspiration and Divine Fellowship” are the marks of True Valor. Gideon was inspired by God to send an invitation to all the people listed. God fearing, authority respecting people will always be drawn to assemble with and fellowship with a courageous man. People in rebellion, will always be repelled by valorous leadership from the Lord. This is what makes them rebels. Some have said that Gideon putting out the fleece was a sign of un-belief. Please note that when alone, he offered sacrifices and was obedient. It was only AFTER the others were gathered that he asked for this sign to reveal the will of God as he knew it to be, might be revealed to those gathered. It was for their sake, not his own that he asked for the sign. Again, true valor was concerned with the faith of the weaker brothers. In the New Testament we are admonished, “Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.” Romans 14:1 -- “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” Romans 15:1 -- “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.” I Thessalonians 5:14 Concern for others, especially the weak is always the mark of true Valor.

The Big Lie (Told Again by President Obama @ UN)

I HATE A LIE! It led me to produce the quote, “When a person, who is honestly mistaken, is confronted with the truth, he ceases to be mistaken or he ceases to be honest.”
One lie in particular is continuing to be propagated by the “one world government” folks here and at the UN. NOW our President has just stood at the speakers desk at the UN (09/23/09) and repeated the lie and spoke of the USA being committed to putting a homeland in the “Occupied Territories” for the Palestinian people. Unfortunately, the Big Lie of Israel's "occupation" has been repeated so long and so often that even people of good faith have come to believe it and to accept it. Now Mr. Obama has stated that this is his worldview and is basing his foreign policies on that lie! In the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel was attacked by the Arab states. They fought for and recovered the "West Bank, Jerusalem and other lands.” Now Mr. Obama says they have to give it back. With this kind of thinking, “Do we have to give back Texas?”
Are the "occupied territories" really occupied territories?As Adolf Hitler discovered, the Big Lie will eventually be accepted as the truth. The Big Lie, the monster whopper of our time, is that the provinces of Judea/Samaria, often called the "Bank," are "occupied territories."
What are the facts?>A Brief History: Most of the area now called the Middle East was part of the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire before World War I. Germany lost the war and so did its ally Turkey. The Ottoman Empire ceased to exist and the League of Nations assigned Britain and France as the mandatory powers. France assumed mandatory control over what is now Syria and Lebanon. Britain assumed mandatory control over all the rest, including "Palestine," which comprised all that is now Jordan and Israel, including the "West Bank." The Golan Heights, which Syria now claims as its age-old patrimony, was originally part of Palestine.
>In 1917, the British issued the Balfour Declaration,(Google this) under which Palestine was to be the homeland for the Jewish people. In 1921,Winston Churchill, who was then Colonial Secretary of Great Britain, separated all the land east of the Jordan River from the territory designated to be the Jewish homeland, and awarded it to the Hashemites, who established the kingdom of Transjordan.
>The Arabs, whipped up by their fanatic clergy, fiercely opposed the presence of the Jews on what they considered "sacred Moslem territory." There was constant warfare between the two groups, which the British tried to arbitrate, always favoring the Arabs, whom they considered more important to their imperial interests. (Spelled OIL)
>In 1947, the British decided that they had enough and resigned the Mandate. They left the Arab-Jewish antagonists to their own devices and turned it over to the United Nations. Their solution was to partition Palestine into a Jewish and an Arab state. The area west of the Jordan River (the ''West Bank") and the Gaza Strip were allotted to the Arabs. Jerusalem was to be an "international" zone. After much soul searching, the Jews accepted the partition and, in April 1948, declared their independence in the area allotted to them by the partition. The Arabs rejected the partition out of hand. On the very day of Israel's birth, five Arab armies invaded the nascent Jewish State. In what must be considered an almost Biblical miracle, the rag-tag Jewish forces decisively defeated the combined Arab might. But Israel had suffered enormous casualties - 6,000 dead, about one percent of its population. Israel not an "occupier:" Israel stayed in control of most of the area east of the Jordan River, except for the Gaza Strip, which stayed under Egyptian control. The "West Bank" and the eastern part of Jerusalem stayed under the control of Trans-Jordan, which promptly renamed itself Jordan and proceeded to ruthlessly expel all Jews and to obliterate all vestiges of over 2,000 years of Jewish presence in that land.
>In the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel recovered the "West Bank," the eastern part of Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, conquered Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, and conquered and annexed the Golan Heights. During the 19 years that Jordan and Egypt were in possession of the ''West Bank" and the Gaza Strip, it didn't occur to them or to anybody else that the Palestinians should have a state or even that they were a distinct nationality. That claim did not arise until after the Six-Day War.
Jews have been living in Judea/Samaria since Biblical times. The area was made judenrein (free of Jews), following the Nazi model, by Jordan, when it was in possession of the territory. After 1967, Jews moved back into the territory and a great hullabaloo was raised and is still being raised about the not more than 200,000 "settlers," who do not occupy more than 2 percent of the area. But there is no concern about the hundreds of thousands of Arabs, who, lured by the prosperity of Israel, have flooded into the area, nor of the more than one million Arabs who live in Israel proper and who enjoy full rights of citizenship.
>Israel acquired the territories (the "West Bank" and Gaza) in defense of an aggressive war waged against it. No country in history has ever been asked to return such territories. Do the Poles return the huge chunk of Germany that they acquired in the wake of World War II? Do the Czechs return the Sudetenland, do the French return Alsace-Lorraine? Of course not! Only Israel is being asked to return such territories. The last sovereign of the "West Bank" and of Gaza were the Ottomans. The "West Bank" and Gaza are unallocated territories. To speak of Israel as "occupier" is preposterous; to speak of it, as all of the Secretary Generals of the UN do, and now the President of the United States of America does, as "illegal occupiers," is poisonous slander. He knows better. But unfortunately, the Big Lie of Israel's "occupation" has been repeated so long and so often that even people of good faith have come to believe it and to accept it.

FLAMEFacts and Logic About the Middle East P.O. Box 590359. San Francisco, CA 94159