DennisMansfield.com

Sec. of State Jesse Jackson in January 2009?

As an add-on to the National Review Online piece by Gary Bauer, he sent out this piece as well about Obama, Jesse Jackson and Israel.

Obama, Jews And Israel

Jesse Jackson, a Barack Obama friend and neighbor, spoke last week at the “First World Policy Forum” in France and delivered a chilling message for those of us who are pro-Israel and believe we must defeat the Islamofascists who threaten the United States.

Jackson promised “fundamental changes” in U.S. foreign policy and said we must “heal wounds” we have cause to other nations and apologize for our “arrogance.” He then added in an interview: “Zionists, who have controlled American policy for decades,” will lose their clout when Obama wins.

For those who don’t have a Jackson translation dictionary, the word “Zionists” is Jackson speak for saying “Jews.” Don’t forget this is the same man who referred to New York City as “Hymietown.” Jackson, like so many on the radical Left, is an anti-Semite, and he knew exactly what message his foreign listeners would hear when he said “Zionists.”

The Jackson speech and interview comes on the heels of a confession by the Obama campaign that its director of Muslim outreach, Minha Husaini, recently attended a meeting with the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Muslim American Society. Both organizations have been connected to the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas.

Husaini recently replaced Mazen Asbahi, who resigned his position with the Obama campaign in August due to questionable associations. And, of course, Robert Malley, a former Obama Middle East advisor, was forced to resign in May after it was revealed that he had been meeting with Hamas officials.

Best of: Welcome to the Holy City!

This was first posted in March of '07. By request, I'm re-posting it during this month of retrospective blog work. Den

Shalom, and welcome to the beautiful town of Jerusalem! While you’re here, why not pick up a couple of souvenirs? They are, after all, only 1 dollar for you. For most people, the price is 2 dollars, but for you, my friend, I will take half off.

So went much of the bargaining today as we toured around Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Our bus would pull up to a shop or tourist attraction and peddlers would appear from every nook and cranny trying to pry even a penny from our cold American fingers. I find this rather amusing, especially when you get the chance to bargain with a peddler about an item that catches your eye.

Today was a great day. We started out by going to what is believed to have been the upper room (where the last supper took place) and then to the tomb of King David.

After this, we went to an outlook where we could see nearly the whole of
Jerusalem. There, our tour guide (Boaz) pointed out the many different locations that we would be seeing that day. We then proceeded to visit many different churches (I must admit that they all become muddled in my head- even after just a few hours) including the church at the Garden of Gethsemane. While at Gethsemane (across from Temple Mount, on the mount of olives) we talked about the very special thing that happened there.

As lunch time approached, it was time for us to enter into Bethlehem. Although it is under Palestinian control, Bethlehem is still relatively safe (especially for tourists.) We ate at a very nice restaurant (put on by the Nisson bros.) and then headed on over to the Church of the Nativity (birthplace of J.C.) and had a fantastic time there. We finished up with a couple more places in Jerusalem and then headed back on over to our hotel for dinner. Right now we are having a brief meeting about the days to come.

This has been a very special time for me, and I hope that you continue to follow this trip!

Colin

P.S. visit this website to catch a glimpse of some Israeli jewelry. You can probably order some if ya want, but by all means at least check out the website. My dad bought a necklace for my mom from this place (shhh...secret) and man, o man is it beautiful!

What does "it" matter? - 50,000 page views later

Get this, on September 2nd of 2006 we launched this blog with the following text:

What is "it"? There have been a lot of "its" in the past and many quotes like "it's the economy stupid" and many others. For this website the "it" for now is an attempt in fusing politics, culture, business, personality, religion, you and me.

No longer will there be a perceived hidden agenda - you'll get the straight scoop right here. There has never been a hidden agenda in my life; I like to lay myself right out there. Along with some friends there is a plan to bring many thoughts and plans to help businesses succeed, to help people reach their true potential and see a fusion of different perspectives become a stronger entity.

You'll see video, documents to download, links to other sites and people that speak into this dream - hang on & hope you like "it"!

Well....it's been 23 months since that first post (and 50,000 pageviews later as well - we hit that today.)


I'm sure that's not a big deal for some folks, but on this blog, it's fun to see us tip the scales at 50,000. ( I think that's more than the total number of election votes I've ever received - tee hee)


We've had a bunch of posts and we'll have a bunch more....

Keep hangin' on...and thanks for joining us, lo these many , many days/weeks/months and now years.

Den

 PS: Let me know which ones may have been "favorites", ok?
I just may sprinkle this month of August with a few "Best Of's"

Summertime....and the livin's Jewish

Last evening my bride and I participated in a Bat Mitzvah for a beautiful 14 year old young woman named Atalie. It was a transformational event in this woman's life. She eventually stood up and said: "Today I am a woman". It was electrifying to see a youth become an adult, right before our eyes.All the signifficant people in her life came and spoke life into her. It was truly amazing.

In America, we seem to simply not allow our kids to officially become adults, do we? At least not so that we as a whole community, embrace them as such.

Hence some would say we have a lot of American men wondering for years: "Hey, do I really have what it takes to be a man?" Or we have big girls, looking for approval from those same guys by selling out their femininity, hoping some surogate for their dad will say to them: "You are beautiful. You are an adult."

In Judaism it is just not a question. The culture knows when the switch is made...as do the newly-minted adults.

For those who are frequent readers of the blog, you know how much the customs of Israel mean to me. My bride and I a decade ago renewed our marriage vows in Israel via a Jewish 7-Blessings Wedding Service on the Mt. of Olives in the Garden of Gethsemane . Rabbi Daniel Fink helped me in the writing of them, by giving me a wonderful book on the Wedding Feast.

Our youngest son had his Bar Mitzvah three years ago on his 13th birthday. The Jewishness of Jesus made this event so memorable for all the men in attendance, including my son.

Christianity cannot and must not distance itself from the beauty of Judaism. Embracing Jewish traditions helps deepen our faith as believers in Yeshua.

Den

Judah Ben-Hur speaks even today

With the passing of Charleton Heston, an era in Hollywood passes...and possibly in American politics, as well.

Winning his Oscar for Best Actor in 1959 gave Mr. Heston the approval of his peers in Hollywood.

Though he played in many, many films (before and after 1959) it was Ben Hur that provided the Oscar for his fireplace mantle and his career resume/financial billing prospective.

Winning his Presidency of the NRA in 1998 gave Mr. Heston the approval of his conservatives gun-owning peers and the utter disapproval of his former-peers in Hollywood.

The two events seemed like bookends in a semi-Reaganesque career. His NRA leadership is well chronicled by photos of "Moses" with a Revolutionary War flintloock rifle raised over his head and reoccuring quotes that included, but were not limited to the words: "prying - cold - dead - hands-etc" .

Though I saw Charleton Heston in person on two separate events, I never really met him. Both events were in Idaho, both up-close and personal, both poltical in nature. I listened to him and laughed at his jokes and wondered about his toupee ( I really did!) - the truth of the matter was that I most liked the role that nabbed him the Oscar:

I liked Judah Ben-Hur.

As timing would have it, on this very day I am 271 pages into Lew Wallace's masterpiece book, Ben-Hur, upon which the film was based.

In this beautiful book, Ben-Hur received the following commentary regarding Jesus from Egypt's Balthasar: "Do we need to be told that human governments are never for the sake of religion? How many kings have you heard of who were better than their subjects? Oh, no, no! The Redemption cannot be for a political purpose - to pull down rulers and powers, and vacate their places merely that others may take and enjoy them." Saddened, Judah Ben-Hur agreed.

Regarding rulers: I've seen 'em come and I've seen 'em go. Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Clinton, Bush 41, soon Bush 43. Of those listed - in my lifetime, I've seen 8 of them in person. Corresponded with 4 of them. Had dinner with one. And I'm only 52 years old. My resume with local, congressional and Senate campaigns is all on record, as well.

"...merely that others may take" their place.

Putting our full faith in any candidate is fundamentally goofy. Believing that a particualr Presidential candidate will usher in a new-er world order is goofier still... and goes against the wisdom of the good Egyptian to the Israelite Jew in General Wallace's book....and in Charleton Heston's movie. Confidance and support? Sure. Full faith? Nope, not so much.

In a strange and odd way, we are really subjects of the KIng of Kings, cleverly disguised as Democrats or Republicans in a Constitutional Republic. Only what's done for the King will last. Everything elses fades away, like the grass in the fields.Our accomplishments (and theirs) fade even quicker like the flowers of that same grass.

Ask Moses, ask Lew Wallace, ask Charleton Heston. They know.

Den

The mornin' after...... a heavy Friday-night documentary

Saw the Academy Award- winning documentary Taxi to the Dark Side last night at the Flicks (yeah, one of my absolute favorite theaters). Later, spent some time with my bride at a Carl's Jr trying to decipher the greatest good of the film. The theme deals with a presupposition of unethical and immoral public policy positions, stemming from the current US war effort - all presented through a specific life/death story of a taxi driver. Very isogetical in it's examination of truth.

My heart was broken for the individual and  his family  - his homicide happened while in the custody of the US Military. No hiding the shame of it. He was murdered by American servicemen.

Ancient jewish scriptures tell us that "it seems right to a person until another comes and examines it".

So, we started talking and examining.

What I found completely missing in the film was the lack of a balanced investigation (or at least an honest acknowledgement) of the hundreds of fanatic detainees who are ALSO at the same US base(s) & who could possibly kill us (or others), our families and hundreds of others in the name of Allah and in the spirit of jihad, if given a chance - like the WTC. My time in the middle east since 1995 has shown me that Islam is a religion of land acquistion and not of individual salvation. Principalities and powers lay claim on vast areas of land - and the two houses of Islam (House of Peace and House of War) are in constant tension (jihad) until land is acquired and peace is ensured (according to their faith). People of their faith come and go....land remains forever.

My argument against the movie's premise is that even the taxi driver's own religious leaders wouldn't see theological value/significance in the film's theme of one man's death, unles he advanced jihad.

Our interest in his death only resupports the validity of the gap between the two theologies, I think.

For your consideration.

Den

It's already Good Friday...in Israel! Shabbot Shalom.

A great friend of mine, Malcolm Hedding,  who resides in Jeursalem, just sent me this. A year ago at this time, I was in Israel and took a bunch of folks from Idaho to this lovely Embassy. It's my prayer that some of you will wish to join me in October as we again visit Jeursalem. It's Friday in Israel, but Sunday's a-comin.

Den

home  about us donate

Good Friday The Focal Point of History Friday 21 March, 2008 "...the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." Revelation 13:8 Dear Friends, Someone once said that if it were not for the death of Christ, history as we know it and indeed the very world would have been stillborn! Scripture affirms that the events of Good Friday were in the mind and heart of God before time began or before the “foundation of the world”  (Revelation 13:8). The cross is thus the central focus of all of history and its significance has dominated our calendar. It has to do with the life and times of Jesus of Nazareth. Christians from all over the world are thankful for it because it dispels the threat of death and brings immortality into being. No wonder the day of its “work” was called “Good Friday” by the church. Naturally we are not only thankful for the cross but for the people who gave it to us. Paul said that we share in the spiritual blessings of the Jewish people (Romans 15:27). And Jesus said that salvation is of the Jews (John 4:22). A Jewish Messiah gives our lives hope and meaning and has taught us to love and comfort His people. Someone also said, “How can you worship a Jewish Messiah and hate His people?” This too is quite a statement and reminds us of what it means to truly serve the God of the Bible. That is, those who truly know Him will also love His people. This too is the abiding lesson of Good Friday! May God bless you, Rev. Malcolm Hedding ICEJ Executive Director     Essential Truth By Malcolm Hedding "In today's church it's rare to hear powerful preaching on sin, repentance, and the death of Christ creating the impression that Jesus died for our problems and not our sins.." Read More... For more in-depth teaching from the ICEJ, visit our website and download the introduction to Malcolm Hedding's definitive series on the Foundations of Biblical Zionism... The ICEJ stands at the forefront of a mainstream movement of Christians worldwide that support Israel based on biblical principles and promises. Donate ICEJ USA Branch PO Box 332974 - Murfreesboro , TN 37133   Tel: (615) 895-9830  www.icejusa.org

Jesus had a brother?

Heard a message today. It had a great impact on me for a number of reasons. First, the speaker, Mike Freeman, is a friend who I have known for almost 15+ years and from whom I've learned much. Second, the topic of God actually killing two people ( a husband and wife) in the early church is such an alien topic to the Barry-White-LOVE-fest of today's evangelicalism that it HAD to make me stop and listen.

It may not be for you. In fact, I'd skip it if you wish not to be challenged about God and His (to us, at least) very odd behaviors in dealing with people who CON (or try to con) Him. OK, even more specifically, skip it if you think God is only "love". It'll screw with your worldview and most likely you won't be able to handle it. I may be wrong...

At the end of his message, Mike quoted a letter from Jesus' brother Jude (yep, that's right, He had siblings - a couple brothers and at least one sister). I loved the letter. So at least read it and let me know what you think.

~Den

PS: Read this and you'll get the whole Jude message from Jesus's brother.

"Achmet" and Goliath?

Every little school kid knows of the famed "David" picking up his slingshot agsainst the giant, "Goliath"...but it seems like we NOW may have an upside-down and sideways version of it happening in Egypt.

Read on, from the Wall Street Journal:

The Gaza Breakout
January 29, 2008; Page A16

What if Gaza were to conquer Egypt? The possibility is not as remote as it may seem just by glancing at the map.

Egypt has more than 50 times the population of its former colony and 2,800 times the landmass. But Gaza is sovereign Hamas territory, Hamas is the Palestinian branch of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, and Egypt -- not Israel -- is the country that has most to fear from a statelet that is at once the toehold, sanctuary and springboard of an Islamist revolution.

No wonder liberal Egyptians are reacting with near-hysterical alarm to last Wednesday's demolition of the border fence between the Gaza Strip and the Sinai. The Brotherhood organized at least 70 demonstrations throughout Egypt early last week to protest Israel's economic blockade of the Strip, itself a reaction to Hamas's rocket barrages into Israel. "Arm us, train us and send us to Gaza," chanted the demonstrators, along with "O rulers of Muslims, where is your honor, where is your religion?" The independent Egyptian daily Almasry Alyoum also described conversations between Hamas leader Khaled Mashal and Mohammed Mahdi Akef, the Brotherhood's Supreme Guide, to coordinate their activities. "We will take to the streets and defend our brothers in Gaza, even if we are all tried in military courts," Mr. Akef was reported as saying.

G-d bless America? Jews in the News

Will God stop blessing America, if we stop blessing the nation of Israel? An affirmative answer was handcarried to President Bush on Friday. Pretty interesting....

Not quite sure what to make of ALL of this, but I found it fascinating:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3492562,00.html

Here's an excerpt:

"Noting that God’s promise to return the Jewish people to their homeland has been coming to full fruition during the last century, the rabbi then urged President Bush to act as a vessel carrying out the divine plan. “God’s pledge to the Jewish people is carried out through people who were created in God’s image, and it their duty to carry out the divine will.”

And:

“You were granted the privilege of serving as US president. Make the best of the duties given you, and we will fulfill our task of remembering you as good and noble throughout the ages,” said the Rabbi.