Asia may face crisis

Asia’s regional economy could see a period of contraction next year with a currency crisis, a widening wealth gap, rising protectionism and bird flu posing longer-term threats, a study by a regional policy study group warned yesterday.

Based on a survey of opinion leaders and the views of a panel of experts, the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC) forcasts regional growth of 5% this year slowing to 4.3% next year.

The bulk of the decline is expected to be linked to the contraction of the United States’ mighty economy, where demand for Asia –produced products is due to weaken.

“A slowdown in 2007 has been widely anticipated and is largely due to faltering demand in the United States and the effect of monetary tightening around the world,” the survey report, entitled The State of the Region, released yesterday said.

While the report says Japan’s once-faltering economy was back on track and looking likely to stay that way, China was becoming a concern as its booming economy threatened to overheat and a decline in American demand for its goods posed the possibility for a hard landing.

What this is saying is that even as the world is rushing in its endless chase of economic wealth and power, many in the different regions are also caught up in this web of avarice.

What is the price of this endless dream?

Man by his own nature of greed will never be satisfied or contented no matter what amount of wealth and power he has accrued. Looking at the situation around the world, the wealthy are the power brokers and these would go to any extent to get what they want without any qualms of dignity and honesty.

The freedom of expression brought about through the advent of the internet has now made it possible for the free expression of thoughts and opinions. Through this avenue, there has been obvious revelation of the blatant crimes and corruption that is going on in the corridors of power world-wide that is practiced in the pursuit of wealth.

Political icons are exposed in their selfish and unscrupulous antics in milking the wealth of their own countries. Heinous crimes are committed without any conscience or even a blink of the eye. Murders and plundering are instruments that these would use to meet their aims. The means are justifiable as long as it meet its end.

Further down the chain, entrepreneurs and industrialists are also involved in this chase and web of avarice. Their whole lifestyle is geared only towards accruing worldly wealth and power. Money brings position and power in the world. To this end, nothing matters more to them than to attain their worldly desires.
But where are all these leading to? Does life just mean having all the wealth and power on earth in our hands? After that, what else is there?

When the economic crash comes, many industrialist and entrepreneurs who have overstretched will have a hard landing and many will lose their wealth and fortune. This will bring the reality of life to them and many would lose their dreams and their dreams will transfer into a nightmare.

The words of God say; “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

The Diseases Of Egypt

The diseases of Egypt.

Over the weekend, we had our good friend Bro Leong P L come over and share his ministry with us.

His forte is in the healing ministry with good testimonies of miraculous healings being wrought through his hands. A godly man who has been favored by God to touch lives of men and women in high places of society, Bro Leong came to pray for the sick. His testimony comprises of many miraculous healings of terminal cancers of people from all walk of life and also in different countries.

Women who have not been able to conceive after long years of marriage were prayed for and they have conceived beautiful children as a result of the prayers of our brother. A particular case was a woman who had been diagnosed as having a deformed uterus and being unable to conceive was prayed for and she conceived immediately after.

All manners of sicknesses and diseases were also healed not only through prayers but also through the placing of tissue papers prayed over by Bro Leong. Businesses were also restored through prayers.

Why is it that many people suffer from sicknesses and poverty? The answer is there are natural causes as well as human causes. Natural causes can be in the form of contact with viruses and bacteria due to our carelessness in our lifestyle.

However, we also understand that there can be another cause due to our transgressions against God’s laws which say “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes. I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you."
In this verse, Egypt refers to the then known world. In the world there will be many diseases and sufferings that are brought about through our transgressions against the law of God and thereby exposing one to the curse of the law. How then do one protects oneself from this curse?

The first line of defense is to heed the Almighty and to listen to His voice, to have a hearing ear so we will hear Him. He speaks in many ways; through His word, through His anointed servants, and through direct revelation in your inner man.

Second, the Almighty asks us to do what is right in His sight. When we do this, we enter into a covenant with the Almighty and his promise is He will keep His people free from diseases, and conditions the promise upon their diligent obedience.

Many people suffer from the affliction of diseases because of their slack lifestyle and disregard to God’s standards. Barrenness can be brought about through indulges of premarital relationship which transgress the law. Other diseases like cancer and arthritis can be brought about through bitterness and unforgiveness.

Unforgiveness causes the person to be pent up with bitterness and stress which would cause the body to react and causes malfunction to organs and cells. The Almighty knows this and therefore has put a caveat for us in order to enjoy his original plan for man to enjoy divine health. We need to follow His laws and precept so that we can escape and circumvent the judgment of the law.

This lifestyle would therefore save us from much pains and sufferings, only if we keep to his will and keep to His path.

Healing Explosion 2006

Healing Explosion 2006

The week of 16-22nd Oct was yet another milestone for our people.

Papa A.L.Gill flew in from the States to take us on a 5 day teaching seminar on the truth of healing being a part of the atonement of Jesus Christ.

Starting from day one, Papa Gill laid the foundation on the truth of healing that God had intended for all his people. He went through all the promises of God for healing to his people and by the third session, he began to move into the actual practice of releasing healing through the hands of the believers.

He taught on how to release healing for different kinds of ailments and diseases that are common, starting from the healing of back aches explaining that these are normally caused by the misalignment of the vertebrae, discs and nerves. He demonstrated how healing could be administered to the patients.

He went on to explain and teach on the healing of lower back aches, problems with abdominal organs and also how to pray for healing of terminal diseases. His teaching was systematic and clear. Everyone who sat in on the seminar learned on the effective ways of praying. By the fifth session, he had completed most of the teaching and it was time for the impartation of the anointing.

Every one lined up to receive prayers for the impartation. There was such a strong and tangible presence of God in the seminar room.

The next day was ‘D’ day.

We went over to the Katerina Hotel Ballroom where we had our public outreach. From the publicity that we have put out, many people from the town came for healing. Some came in wheelchairs, others came with crutches. Some came with hopes for healing of terminal diseases.

An 85 yr old Malay lady was brought in by her children for healing. She had lost her sight and hearing and she was also haunch. After prayer, she received her sight and she could see clearly. Her ears were also opened and she could hear even a soft whisper. She also could stand straight after receiving prayers.

Others were also healed. Many neck problems, back problems, abdominal problems were healed. One cancer patient also testified how she felt the power of God going through her body and she expects to receive her total healing. A woman who had a stroke came in with a walking stick and left without her walking stick. The next night she came again to give her testimony to the complete healing that she had received.

There are so many other testimonies given during the two nights of healing outreach. We can only get them after we hear from the members. All in all it was a great journey of faith for all.

We will look forward to the days ahead when everyone who has received this training to be a living testimony to the living God who heals us of all our diseases.

The World must not 'bury its head in teh sand

Olmert: The world must not 'bury its head in the sand' on Iran

By The Associated Press

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert appealed to the international community on Monday to ostracize Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, saying the world must not "bury its head in the sand" while he calls for Israel's destruction.

"It is inconceivable that ... a member of the United Nations continues to be received throughout the world as a legitimate leader while he stands up and says that another UN member state should be wiped off the map," Olmert told a business conference.

"We shall never repeat the mistakes of 60 years ago of burying our heads in the sand, ignoring what was being heard then when it was still possible to save lives," he added, in an allusion to the Nazis who killed 6 million Jews in Europe

Descendants of King David Planning Reunion in Israel

"WorldNetDaily" reports that the Eshet Chayil Foundation is seeking to gather Jewish descendants of King David for a reunion next year in Jerusalem aimed at fostering Jewish unity.

Aaron Klein/TN (Oct 18th, 2006)

"King David was the first and essentially the only king of Israel to unite all of the Jewish people under one kingdom," said Susan Roth, CEO and founder of the foundation. "In these times of conflict and divisiveness it is very fitting to make a public expression of unity, a demonstration to show it is time for the Jewish people to be joined together while common enemies from around the world once again seek our destruction."

Roth also reportedly founded the Davidic Dynasty, which seeks to promote awareness about Jewish history and Jewish ties to the land of Israel through the life and leadership of King David. According to the report, The Dynasty is holding a launch dinner in New York this week ahead of a larger conference and a first-ever reunion of Davidic descendants in Israel in May 2007.

Jewish descent from David can be traced through oral tradition, rabbinic sources, historical data and extensive research, Chaim Freedman is quoted as saying. Freedman is "a renowned Israeli genealogist" who says that after the cessation of the Jewish monarchy following the destructions of the Jewish Temples, the line of David was carefully preserved and guarded.

The North Korean Threat

By: Perry Stone
http://www.voiceofevangelism.org/prophecy_update.cfm


According to the Korea Times, a South Korea newspaper (October 16, 2006), a report to the South Korean legislature revealed for the first time that the last piece of missile warhead fired by North Korea was found in the U.S. state of Alaska.

The report came from the Japanese foreign minister, Taro Nakayama. “Washington, as well as Tokyo, has so far underrated Pyongyang’s missile capabilities,” Nakayama is quoted as saying in the report to the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea. His source for the information about the missile falling in Alaska came from some American documents furnished to the Japanese government, he said.

This revelation came on the heels of a startling announcement. On October 9, 2006, North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency announced that the Communist country had successfully conducted an underground nuclear test. They had been warned by the entire world community, including China and Russia, not to do nuclear testing. Their announcement shocked the world and prompted the United Nations Security Council to pass a resolution condemning North Korea’s action

This means that this country, thumbing its nose at world opinion and often challenging other nations with a belligerent pose and hostile words, has not only the ability to explode a nuclear device but also the capability to deliver it to the shores of the United States.

As threatening as this sounds, however, there is something even more frightening about North Korea’s nuclear capabilities: this is that the Communist regime will sell weapons and technology to the world’s evil terrorists. North Korea manufactured and sold the Scud missile that were used by Saddam Hussein in the Gulf War.

An Ominous Warning from IsraelIsrael Today reported that on October 15, 2006, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told his cabinet that taking the North Korean nuclear problem lightly will result in nuclear weapons in Iran and, ultimately, in the hands of Al Qaeda., according to.

There is nobody who thinks that if Iran gets a nuclear weapon it will not get into the hands of other elements.

He specifically mentions Hezbollah and al-Qaeda. Both groups actively recruits and gives orientation to suicide bombers. Al-Qaeda has no country of its own, and practices ongoing attempts to de-stabilize the governments of nations it does not like. It takes no responsibility in the community of civilized and peace-loving nations.

Consequently, the international community is worried about what will happen if nuclear devices fall into the hands of rogue and lunatic organizations. “This is a very dangerous situation,” Olmert added.

Be Wise As A Serpent

This is a new one.

People sure stay busy trying to cheat us, don't they?

A friend went to the local gym and placed his belongings in the locker. After the workout and a shower, he came out, saw the locker open, and thought to himself, "Funny, I thought I locked the locker. Hmmm."

He dressed and just flipped the wallet to make sure all was in order. Everything looked okay - all cards were in place. A few weeks later his credit card bill came - a whooping bill of $14,000! He called the credit card company and started yelling at them, saying that he did not make the transactions.

Customer care personnel verified that there was no Mistake in the system and asked if his card had been stolen. "No," he said, but then took out his wallet, pulled out the credit card, and yep - you guessed it - a switch had been made.

An expired similar credit card from the same bank was in the wallet. The thief broke into his locker at the gym and switched cards.

Verdict:

The credit card issuer said since he did not report the card missing earlier, he would have to pay the amount owed to them. How much did he have to pay for items he did not buy? $9,000!

Why were there no calls made to verify the amount swiped? Small amounts rarely trigger a "warning bell" with some credit card companies. It just so happens that all the small amounts added up to big one!

SCENE 2.

A man at a local restaurant paid for his meal with his credit card. The bill for the meal came, he signed it, and the waitress folded the receipt and passed the credit card along. Usually, he would just take it and place it in his wallet or pocket.

Funny enough, though, he actually took a look at the card and, lo and behold, it was the expired card of another person. He called the waitress and she looked perplexed. She took it back, apologized, and hurried back to the counter under the watchful eye of the man.

All the waitress did while walking to the counter was wave the wrong expired card to the counter cashier, and the counter cashier immediately looked down and took out the real card.

No exchange of words --- nothing! She took it and came back to the man with an apology.

Verdict:

Make sure the credit cards in your wallet are yours. Check the name on the card every time you sign for something and/or the card is taken away for even a short period of time.

Many people just take back the credit card without even looking at it, "assuming" that it has to be theirs.

FOR YOUR OWN SAKE, DEVELOP THE HABIT OF CHECKING YOUR CREDIT CARD EACH TIME IT IS RETURNED TO YOU AFTER A TRANSACTION!

SCENE 3:

Yesterday I went into a pizza restaurant to pick up an order that I had called in. I paid by using my Visa Check Card which, of course, is linked directly to my checking account. The young man behind the counter took my card, swiped it, then laid it on the counter as he waited for the approval, which is pretty standard procedure.

While he waited, he picked up his cell phone and started dialing. I noticed the phone because it is the same model I have, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Then I heard a click that sounded like my phone sounds when I take a picture.

He then gave me back my card but kept the phone in his hand as if he was still pressing buttons. Meanwhile, I'm thinking: I wonder what he is taking a picture of, oblivious to what was really going on. It then dawned on me: the only thing there was my credit card, so now I'm paying close attention to what he is doing. He set his phone on the counter, leaving it open.

About five seconds later, I heard the chime that tells you that the picture has been saved. Now I'm standing there struggling with the fact that this boy just took a picture of my credit card. Yes, he played it off well, because had we not had the same kind of phone, I probably would never have known what happened.

Needless to say, I immediatelly canceled that card as I was walking out of the pizza parlor. All I am saying is, be aware of your surroundings at all times.

Whenever you are using your credit cards, take caution and don't be careless. Notice who is standing near you and what they are doing when you use your card.

Be aware of phones because many have a camera phone these days. When you are in a restaurant and the waiter/waitress brings your card and receipt for you to sign, make sure you scratch the number off.

Some restaurants are using only the last four digits, but a lot of them are still putting the whole thing on there. I have already been a victim of credit card fraud and, believe me, it is not fun. The truth is that they can get you even when you are careful, but don't make it easy for them.

Lost Tribe returning to Israel

Hundreds from "Lost Tribe" Granted Permission to Immigrate from India to Israel
"Whoever heard of an ancient lost tribe returning to its ancestral homeland 2,700 years after their deportation? Without exaggerating, it seems fair to say that this is a miracle of Biblical proportions."

Aaron Klein/TN (Oct. 7th, 2006)

WorldNetDaily reports that hundreds of Jews from a group of thousands in India that believes it is one of the 10 "lost tribes" of Israel has been granted permission to immigrate here next month, fulfilling for many of them a life-long dream of returning to what they consider their homeland.

"The significance of this should be readily apparent, even to the most hardened of cynics," Michael Freund, chairman of Shavei Israel, the organization leading the charge for the return of the tribe, told WorldNetDaily. "After all, whoever heard of an ancient lost tribe returning to its ancestral homeland 2,700 years after their deportation? Without exaggerating, it seems fair to say that this is a miracle of Biblical proportions."

The Bnei Menashe are a group of about 7,000 Indian citizens, who believe they are the descendants of Manasseh, claiming they have been in exile from Israel for over 2,700 years. The group has reportedly preserved ancient Jewish customs and rituals, has been trying the past 50 years to return to Israel.

Rabbis were sent to meet with tribal members. "The rabbis were incredibly impressed with the Bnei Menashe," said Freund. "They saw for themselves that the group is very serious and should be integrated into the Jewish nation. That they are a blessing to the state of Israel."

The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, an American-based grassroots coalition of Jews and Christians will aid in their absorption into Israel. "The return of the Bnei Menashe is a historic event," said Freund. "It is the literal fulfillment of the vision of our prophets that our people will return to Israel from the four corners of the earth. It is a timely and welcome example of just what Israel, and its wondrous rebirth, is truly all about."