Update 33

Norbert Link will be giving the Bible study this Friday (9:30pm CT) over the Internet. He will be discussing the need to examine ourselves before Passover, and he will address how we can partake of the Passover symbols in a worthy manner.

Edwin Pope will be giving the Sermon on the following day (March 9th at 2:30pm CT) and he will be discussing important principles to be used in coming out of sin.

To hear both services, go to www.cognetservices.org at the appropriate time and “Connect to Live Stream”.

When sin convicts us, how do we react? Do we acknowledge and hate our transgressions? Are we determined to get rid of them? Or do we try to “justify” or to “explain” them, by perhaps placing blame on others? Proverbs 28:13 tells us, “He who covers [tries to justify and explain away] his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses [admits] and forsakes them will have mercy.”

God is merciful with us if we are honest and if we don’t try to play games. Notice 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

When God gave Adam the opportunity to accept and confess his guilt, he failed miserably. Rather than truly repenting of having disobeyed God by eating from the forbidden fruit, he blamed both God and Eve, saying, “The woman whom YOU GAVE TO BE WITH ME, SHE gave me of the tree, and I ate.” (Genesis 3:12). Eve did not do much better. Here is her “defense”: “The SERPENT deceived me, and I ate.” (v. 13).

Was God impressed? Not at all. He “DROVE OUT the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.” (v. 24).

How different could this world be today, if Adam and Eve had not disobeyed God, or if they had truly repented of their sins. Their “self-defense” and “justifications” did not help them, and they won’t help us today, either.

WORLD NEWS HEADLINES

Gold in Europe
On a radio program originating in Denver, Colorado, it was mentioned that England was selling gold (the final in a series of planned sales). In the report it was stated that Germany is now the number 2 holder of gold reserves in the world! It is staggering to see these behind the scenes events that will eventually prop up the EU as the only remaining world super power.

Frictions Between the US and Europe over Tarifs on Steel Imports
President Bush signed a measure this week that will impose tariffs for three years of up to 30% on imports of foreign steel. This bedrock commodity is most important in the scheme of the WTO–World Trade Organization. The European Union has warned that it will have no choice but to “react”. Britain’s Prime Minister Tony Blair called the U.S. decision “unacceptable and wrong,” stating that the United States “have broken the rules.” Germany’s Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder sent a letter of protest to President Bush. The EU announced that they will launch a formal protest with the WTO. If this results in a veto from the WTO, the EU would be free to issue trade sanctions against the US. European newspapers are asking whether we are beginning to see a new tradewar between the U.S. and Europe. Clearly, there is now an emerging sense of estrangement between the United States and its European allies.

(Reports summarized from Yahoo!News; Bild; and Der Spiegel, all as of March 6,2002).

Middle East
U.S. news coverage of this week’s hostilities in the Middle East have begun describing the situation as “WAR”. One commentator said that officials in Washington had run out of words to respond to these out of control events.

All this comes on the heels of last week’s proposed peace initiative for the region. The “Jerusalem Post” for March 6, 2002, quoted foreign Minister Shimon Peres as saying, “We will pay a heavy price for scorning international opinion.”

That telling observation comes on the heels of Israel’s escalation of reprisals that now involve a full range of their military might.