EPIC - 2005 Privacy Year in Review
Here is a year-end review from the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC). In their report they note, "It's been an eventful year in privacy, right up to the end, with revelations of government surveillance of activists, warrantless wiretaps by the National Security Agency, and a Congressional staring contest over the renewal of the Patriot Act. And the months preceding this one were no less impressive, with data security laws, RFID, and voter privacy making headlines." [Mark of the Beast, Rev 13:16-18]

WND - Lebanese leader claims Syria blackmailing U.S.
World Net Daily reports, "Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is supporting the insurgency against civilians and U.S. troops in Iraq and using the violence he aids to blackmail the U.S. and international community into easing the push for United Nations sanctions against his country..." [Rumors of War, Matthew 24:6; Doomed Damascus, Isaiah 17:1]

MyWay News - Gaza-Egypt Border Open After Being Overrun
AP reports, "Palestinian policemen angry over the killing of a fellow officer stormed the Gaza-Egypt border crossing Friday, firing in the air and forcing European monitors to flee and close the terminal for several hours, Palestinian and European officials said."

Commentary: As the Palestinian civil war escalates, we now face the danger that they will use their Iranian, Syrian and Russian supplied weapons against each other as well as against Israel. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

MLive.com - Drought Strikes Three E. African Nations
AP reports, "Drought has triggered extreme food shortages in three East African countries, putting millions of people at risk of famine as the lean dry season approaches, a humanitarian group said." [Famine, Matthew 24:7]

Crosswalk - A Year of Violence Against India's Catholics
This is a report from Compass Direct, it details incidents of religious persecution in India over the past year. According to the report, "Many incidents of violence against both Catholics and Protestants went unreported, since the police often refused to record the victims' complaints, but by last June the number of violent attacks recorded by Christian organizations had reached over 200. This number was expected to double by year's end." [Believers Persecuted, Matthew 24:8]

Jerusalem Post - Syria bought Russian-made rockets fired at Israel
AP reports, "Projectiles that were fired by Lebanese guerrillas into northern Israel in recent weeks were made in Russia and sold to Syria, the Yediot Ahronot newspaper reported Thursday." [Rumors of War, Matthew 24:6; Doomed Damascus, Isaiah 17:1]

ABC News - Palestinian Bomber Kills Israeli Soldier
AP reports, "A Palestinian suicide bomber trying to enter Israel blew himself up Thursday at a military checkpoint set up to foil attackers, killing an Israeli soldier and two other Palestinians."

Israel: Orthodox Jews Disrupt Messianic Worship Service

I've never seen anything like this. Orthodox Jews in the USA don't do this kind of thing; they do their best to avoid trouble. This incident in the Israeli town of Beer-sheba reminds me forcefully of the riotous greeting of Paul in Ephesus, and especially of the mob that dragged Paul out of the Temple of Jerusalem and beat him about his body before Claudius Lysias, Roman tribune, arrived in force to quell the disturbance and take Paul into custody. Notice also an incident involving someone telling something not to do something because it was a Sabbath break. Jesus heard that kind of talk several times.

Eventually, those Orthodox Jews will wake up and find that all the Messianics have disappeared. What happens to them next--well, it's all foretold, but it doesn't make it any more pleasant.

Reuters AlertNet - Israel immigration marks first jump since uprising
Reuters reports, "Immigration to Israel rose in 2005 for the first time since the start of a five-year-old Palestinian uprising, the Jewish Agency that encourages new immigrants said on Wednesday."

ABC News - Galileo Navigation Satellite Launched
AP reports, "The European Union launched the first satellite in its Galileo navigation program on Wednesday, which European officials expect one day will end the continent's reliance on the U.S. Global Positioning System."

LA Times - Israel Strikes Palestinian Base in Lebanon After Rocket Fire
AP reports, "Israeli jets attacked a Palestinian militant group's training base in southern Lebanon early today, hours after an Israeli border town was hit by rocket fire, the military said."

INN - Terrorists in Lebanon Bombard Northern Israel
Israel National News reports, "Arab-fired katyusha rockets at northern Israel scored direct hits on two civilian homes. IDF Northern Commander: 'Merely the same rockets that we know well.' IDF retaliation wounds 2 terrorists."

Chicago Sun-Times - Pope: Christians persecuted even today
AP reports, "Pope Benedict XVI Monday marked the feast of Christianity's first martyr, noting that Christians still are persecuted for their faith in some parts of the world." [Persecution, Matthew 24:8]

MyWayNews - Mayor: Terrorists Tried to Attack London
AP reports, "Terrorists tried to attack London eight times between the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States and last July 7, when suicide bombers killed dozens on the city's transport system, London's mayor said Monday." [Rumors of War, Matthew 24:6]

WorldNetDaily: Muslim grinches steal Bethlehem Christmas

So much for "religions of peace." File this in your wild man in the desert [Genesis 25] files. Add to it that Muslims claim that Bethlehem is sacred to them, because Muhammad stopped there, and an angel led him to Jerusalem.

Washington Times - Majority in U.S. believes in God
According to this report, "Traditional religion is still the bedrock of America, with 'very large majorities' of the public steadfast in their belief in God and the birth and Resurrection of Jesus Christ -- with belief in astrology, ghosts and other New Age hallmarks lagging behind." [Gospel Preached to All Nations, Matthew 24:14]

MyWayNews - Bethlehem, Vatican Pilgrims Mark Christmas
AP reports, "Christian pilgrims packed Bethlehem's Manger Square and the Vatican on Christmas Day to pray for a tranquil 2006 and remember those killed in the terrorist attacks and natural disasters that marked the waning year."

Merry Christmas everyone!

MyWayNews - Earthquake Rattles Ecuador's Amazon Jungle
AP reports, "A strong earthquake shook parts of Ecuador's Amazon jungle Friday but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries, the country's Geophysics Institute said." [Quakes, Matthew 24:7]

Science@NASA - An Explosion on the Moon
NASA reports, "NASA scientists have observed an explosion on the moon. The blast, equal in energy to about 70 kg of TNT, occurred near the edge of Mare Imbrium (the Sea of Rains) on Nov. 7, 2005, when a 12-centimeter-wide meteoroid slammed into the ground traveling 27 km/s." [Signs in the Moon, Luke 21:25]

MyWayNews - Indonesia Deploys Troops After Warnings
AP reports, "Indonesia deployed thousands of troops to guard churches and places where foreigners gather Friday amid warnings that al-Qaida-linked militants were planning Christmas terror attacks in the world's most populous Muslim nation." [Believers Persecuted, Matthew 24:8]

MyWayNews - Israel Threatens Response for Rocket Fire
AP reports, "Israel threatened a harsh response to Palestinian rocket fire from Gaza after five soldiers were hurt and did not rule out a ground attack. Israeli security officials said Thursday that Palestinians will be banned from areas near the border, especially from the ruins of the Jewish settlements."