The high number of deaths and increased injury rates in the war in Afghanistan has focused the minds of the British public recently. British forces suffered their highest injury rate this month since the mission began in 2001, new Ministry of Defence figures show. A total of 57 UK troops were wounded in action in the first two weeks of July alone, compared with 46 in the whole of June and 24 in May. Of the injuries in the 
first 15 days of July, 16 service personnel were seriously or very seriously wounded. July has also seen the most deaths - some 22 - since operations began.The rise in injuries and deaths came as coalition forces completed the first phase of their heaviest offensive yet - Operation Panther's Claw - against the Taliban ahead of elections on 20 A
ugust.Along with 38 UK personnel who were admitted to field hospitals suffering from disease or a non-battle injury in the first two weeks in July, there have now been some 2,650 casualties in Afghanistan since the start of MoD records in 2006.
A military surgeon told the BBC that treating the dying and wounded resulting from Operation Panther's Claw had proved a "very challenging" time for army medical teams. Lt Col Nigel Tai said: "We have certainly seen a surge in casualties. It is difficult to see young, fit guys who may have to have multiple
amputations. "We try to salvage limbs, but at the same time we have to preserve life."
A spokesman for the Stop the War campaign said government assertions about the success of anti-Taliban operations were rendered "absurd" by the rising casualty figures. "The British military under-estimated the strength of the Taliban forces opposing them when they launched this offensive," he said. "These figures show just how unwinnable this war is."
A military surgeon told the BBC that treating the dying and wounded resulting from Operation Panther's Claw had proved a "very challenging" time for army medical teams. Lt Col Nigel Tai said: "We have certainly seen a surge in casualties. It is difficult to see young, fit guys who may have to have multiple
amputations. "We try to salvage limbs, but at the same time we have to preserve life."A spokesman for the Stop the War campaign said government assertions about the success of anti-Taliban operations were rendered "absurd" by the rising casualty figures. "The British military under-estimated the strength of the Taliban forces opposing them when they launched this offensive," he said. "These figures show just how unwinnable this war is."
The war in Afghanistan is one piece of the million pieces of puzzles that form the end-time picture.
The Bible predicts that ‘You will hear of wars and rumours of wars…..Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. ……."Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come’ [Matt. 24:6-14 NIV]. It is not a time to get worried. It is a time to stand firm. It is a time to preach the gospel of the kingdom in the whole world.
We may not understand a lot of things that are happening around us. Everything seems uncertain. But one thing is certain. God has promised a coming King in the line of David (Jesus Christ) and a coming Kingdom under Him that will endure forever. “…….I have found David my servant; with my sacred oil I have anointed him……I will establish his line forever, his throne as long as the heavens endure....... I will not take my love from him, nor will I ever betray my faithfulness. I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered. Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness-- and I will not lie to David--that his line will continue forever and his throne endure before me like the sun; it will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky." [Ps 89:19-37 NIV]
I am always fascinated by the anointing of God. It empowers us to do great things for God. All God’s servants who are successful are anointed. Elisha was given a double portion of anointing. Even touching the bones of his dead body caused a dead person to come back to life. “…...... Now Elisha was suffering from the illness from which he died……..Elisha died and was buried. Now Moabite raiders used to enter the country every spring. Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man's body into Elisha's tomb. When the body touched Elisha's bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet. [II Ki 13:14-21 NIV]. Wow, that was amazing anointing and power!
We also see God’s anointing in the 1st Century Church apostles. “In Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, "Stand up on your feet!" At that, the man jumped up and began to walk. When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in human form!" Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: "Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them……..” [Acts 14:8-18 NIV]. The key to note is they did not claim the glory to themselves but gave it all to God for their success.
The LORD is the source of our success, wisdom, prosperity and blessings. He alone is to be worshipped and adored and revered. “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed…..The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished. Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil. When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him……In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps……Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD. [Prov 16:1,3,5-7,9,11,20 NIV]
Amen!
We may not understand a lot of things that are happening around us. Everything seems uncertain. But one thing is certain. God has promised a coming King in the line of David (Jesus Christ) and a coming Kingdom under Him that will endure forever. “…….I have found David my servant; with my sacred oil I have anointed him……I will establish his line forever, his throne as long as the heavens endure....... I will not take my love from him, nor will I ever betray my faithfulness. I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered. Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness-- and I will not lie to David--that his line will continue forever and his throne endure before me like the sun; it will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky." [Ps 89:19-37 NIV]
I am always fascinated by the anointing of God. It empowers us to do great things for God. All God’s servants who are successful are anointed. Elisha was given a double portion of anointing. Even touching the bones of his dead body caused a dead person to come back to life. “…...... Now Elisha was suffering from the illness from which he died……..Elisha died and was buried. Now Moabite raiders used to enter the country every spring. Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man's body into Elisha's tomb. When the body touched Elisha's bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet. [II Ki 13:14-21 NIV]. Wow, that was amazing anointing and power!
We also see God’s anointing in the 1st Century Church apostles. “In Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, "Stand up on your feet!" At that, the man jumped up and began to walk. When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in human form!" Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: "Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them……..” [Acts 14:8-18 NIV]. The key to note is they did not claim the glory to themselves but gave it all to God for their success.
The LORD is the source of our success, wisdom, prosperity and blessings. He alone is to be worshipped and adored and revered. “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed…..The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished. Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil. When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him……In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps……Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD. [Prov 16:1,3,5-7,9,11,20 NIV]
Amen!
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