Ingredients:

250 g (1/2 lb) spinach lasagne

Meat sauce:

15 ml (1 tablespoon) oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
125 g (4 oz) mushrooms, sliced
500 g (1 lb) ground beef
2 x 410 g (14 oz) cans tomatoes, chopped
5 ml (1 teaspoon) oreganum
5 ml (1 teaspoon) sugar
salt and black pepper

Cheese sauce:

100 g (3.5 oz) margarine
1 litre (1.6 pints) milk
salt and pepper
45 ml (3 tablespoons)  cornstarch
125 g (4 oz) grated Cheddar cheese

Topping:

100 g (3.5 oz) grated Cheddar cheese
37.5 ml (2 1/2 tablespoons) Parmesan cheese

Method:

Fry onion, garlic and mushrooms in oil for 2 minutes.
Add ground beef and brown.
Add tomatoes and seasonings.
Simmer for about 20 minutes.

Make white sauce by melting margarine in milk.
Mix cornstarch with a little water.
Gradually stir in the cornstarch mixture until the sauce is thick.
Add seasonings and cheese.

Layer an ovenproof dish with half meat sauce, lasagne and cheese sauce.
Repeat. Sprinkle with topping and bake for 30 minutes at 180°C (350°F).

2. Baked Pasta: Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

This is a large recipe. Ingredients can be halved or baked in 2 dishes.
It freezes well.

Ingredients:

500 g (1 lb) macaroni
2 onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
15 ml (1 tablespoon) oil
300 g (10.7 oz) Cheddar cheese, grated
1 x 400 g (14.2 oz) can tomatoes
250 ml (1 cup) cream
Milk
4 large eggs
1 pkt thick white onion soup
250 g (1/2 lb) streaky bacon

Method:

Cook macaroni, drain and rinse under cold water tap.
Fry onion and garlic in the oil until aromatic.
Mix macaroni, onion mixture and cheese.
Turn into one (or two) ovenproof dishes.

Liquidize tomatoes with juice and pour into a measuring jug.
Add cream and enough milk to make 1 litre (1.6 pints) liquid.
Beat eggs, add soup powder and  tomato/milk mixture.
Beat together well and pour over the macaroni.
Cover the whole surface with strips of bacon.
Bake at 180°C (350°F) for about 45 minutes.

3. Baked Pasta: Vegetarian Recipe

Ingredients:

250 g (1/2 lb) egg lasagne or elbow macaroni
2 bunches fresh spinach or 500 g (1 lb) frozen
2 onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
30 ml (2 tablespoons) margarine
200 g (7 oz) fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 x 410 (14.6 oz) can tomatoes, chopped
salt and pepper to taste
5 ml (1 teaspoon) oreganum
5 ml (1 teaspoon) sugar
10 ml (2 teaspoons) cornflour, mixed with a little water

375 ml (1 1/4) cups milk
2.5 tablespoons margarine
1 tablespoon cornflour, mixed with a little water
salt and pepper
500 ml (2 cups) grated Cheddar cheese

Method:

Cook pasta and drain.
Chop fresh spinach and cook in a little salted water. Drain.
Fry onion and garlic in margarine, add mushrooms and continue frying.
Add tomatoes and juice, oreganum, sugar, salt and pepper.
Simmer for 5 minutes.
Add cornflour mixture and stir until thickened.

Heat milk and margarine in a separate pot.
Add cornflour mixture and stir until thickened.
Season to taste and add half the cheese.

Layer in ovenproof dish half pasta, vegetables and cheese sauce.
Repeat, and top with rest of cheese.
Bake for about 30 minutes at 180°C (350°F).

With a serious population and a rapidly increasing gamer subscription, competing in SWTOR can become extremely difficult most especially if you're a new gamer who was not able to play in the game's beta phase. Gamers who were lucky enough to get chosen to play the game in SWTOR’s closed beta have already experienced the feel and aspect of the online game. Because of this, you'll definitely have a hard time going against most of these veteran SWTOR players.

Rumors about people reaching level 50 in SWTOR within 7 days - Is it true?

The impressive thing is, there were hear says spreading just a little over a week after SWTOR was unveiled. The hear says reported that there were already a large group of avid gamers who were able to reach the maximum cap level of 50 in SWTOR within just a week of playing the game. In addition to that, the online players who were able to reach the level 50 max cap limit also involved newbie SWTOR players who did not even play the game during it's closed beta. While the other online players are just starting up with their adventures, these new online players are already dominating the mmo game. Is there some hidden truth in this rumor?

In SWTOR, you are not obliged to "power level". This means that you are not obliged to battle against hundreds, if not thousands, of opponents just to attain decent experience points to level up. Given that SWTOR introduces quests as a way to obtain massive experience points, it distinguishes itself from the traditional MMO style of play. Because of this setup, avid gamers do not need to conquer substantial numbers of opponents or even work to go solo if they want tolevel up quickly in the game. With quests and missions making the most percentage out of the experience points that can be obtained, even newbie gamers can easily obtain highest possible level in the game if they just pick their quests with care.

A Totally Different MMO Game Setup

A number of missions in SWTOR can provide really big experience points to players, while some missions and quests only provide little experience even if they are hard to accomplish. Choosing the wrong missions to take can waste your time and energy if you do not understand how to pick them out with care. Achieving the highest possible max cap limit in SWTOR is possible once you know which missions to ignore and which missions to take. And to achieve that knowledge, a SWTOR Crafting Strategy Guide is definitely needed if you are really serious in reaching the highest possible level in the game.

These days, you can find SWTOR Build Strategies that will enable you to obtain level 50 within just seven days of play. Strategy guides are common for big games like SWTOR because it allows you to compete with the large number of gamers in your server. Having a SWTOR Guide at your disposal can tremendously increase the speed of the process because it will reveal the path, directions and maps that will make your quests easier to accomplish. With intelligent gaming and a handy SWTOR strategy guide at your disposal, reaching the maximum possible level in SWTOR is actually not that difficult to accomplish.

Ingredients:

500 g (l lb) mixed cake fruit
125 g (4.5 oz) dates, chopped
1 small pkt mixed peel
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
125 g (4.5 oz) margarine
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
2 eggs, beaten
2 cups flour, sifted
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons almond essence
1/4 cup brandy
125 g (4.5 oz) Brazil nuts, chopped
75 g (2.25 oz) almond slivers
1 small pkt cherries, chopped

Method:

Heat water, sugar and margarine until sugar is melted.
Add fruit cake mix, dates and mixed peel and boil for 20 minutes.
Stir in the bicarbonate of soda while hot. Leave to cool.
When quite cold, mix in the rest of the ingredients.
Pour mixture into two paper lined bread tins.
Bake at 160°C (325°F) for about 1 hour.
Alternately, microwave at 60% power for 18-20 minutes.

 2. Chocolate Fruit Cake Recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup seedless raisins
1 can peach slices, drained and chopped
2 cups self raising flour
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
pinch salt
3 tablespoons cocoa
125 g (4.5 oz) margarine
1 cup cold water
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla essence

Method:

Sift together the dry ingredients.
Melt margarine, add water and mix into the dry ingredients.
Mix eggs, milk and vanilla. Add to the mixture and beat well.
Stir in the fruit.
Bake at 180°C (350°F)  for 40 minutes.

Icing:

2 tablespoons margarine
250 g (1/2 lb) icing sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
buttermilk

Melt margarine and add icing sugar and cocoa - fairly stiff.
Add enough buttermilk to change to pouring consistency.
Can be spread on cake while still warm or when cold.

3. Fruit Cake made with oil

Ingredients:

2 eggs
1/2 cup oil
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon mixed spice
1/2 cup milk
1 1/2 cups currants
1/2 cup seedless raisins
1/2 cup sultanas
60 g (2 oz) mixed peel or 1/2 cup marmalade

Method:

Beat the eggs, add oil, sugar and sifted dry ingredients.
Add enough milk to make a dropping consistency.
Wash and dry the fruit and mix well with the batter.
Bake in a paper-lined tin at 150°C (300°F) for 1 1/2 hours.

Ingredients:

2 1/2 kilograms (5 lbs) apricots washed and stoned
1 kg (2 lbs) sugar
1 bottle white vinegar (750 ml / 1 1/4 pints)
2 large onions, chopped
1 cup seedless raisins (optional)
1 tablespoon salt
2 tablespoons ginger
2 teaspoons dried garlic flakes
2 teaspoons curry powder
2 teaspoons coriander
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon paprika (optional)

Method:

Heat vinegar and sugar, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved.
Meanwhile prepare apricots and onions.
Add seasonings to the pot and stir through.
Add apricots and onions (and raisins if used) and bring to the boil.
Boil for about 1 hour until the chutney has thickened.

Bottle while still warm. Fills 8 x 400 ml (1 2/3 cups) jars.

To sterilize jars:

Pour 1 cm (1/2 inch) water into the bottom of 8 clean jars.
Arrange jars evenly in the microwave.
Microwave on high for 5-8 minutes, until the water in the jars have boiled for a minute.

Boil the lids separately on the stove for 5 minutes.

Drain on a clean cloth.

2. Peach Chutney Recipe

Ingredients:

2 kg (4 lbs) yellow cling peaches
750 g (1 1/2 lbs) sugar
1 bottle vinegar (750 ml /1 1/4 pints)
2 large onions, chopped
1 tablespoon salt
2 tablespoons ginger
2 teaspoons dried garlic flakes
1 teaspoon mustard
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Method:

Heat vinegar and sugar, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved.
Scald the peaches, rub off the skins and chop.
Stir the peaches into the liquid and add the onions.
Add seasonings and stir through.
Bring to the boil.
Boil for about 1 hour until the chutney has thickened.

Bottle while still warm. Fills 8 x 400 ml (1 2/3 cups) jars.
See apricot chutney for sterilization of jars.

3. Tomato Chutney Recipe

Ingredients:

1 1/2 kg (3 lbs) ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped
1 kg (2 lbs) Granny Smith apples peeled, cored and chopped;
then soaked in salted water to prevent discoloration
2 large onions, chopped
1 cup raisins (optional)
1 bottle vinegar (750 ml / 1 1/4 pints)
800 g (1 1/2 lbs) brown sugar
2 teaspoons dried garlic
2 teaspoons black pepper
2 teaspoons mustard
1 teaspoon ginger

Method:

Heat sugar and vinegar while stirring to dissolve the sugar.
Add tomato, onion and spices.
Bring to the boil.
Drain apples, rinse and add to the pot, stirring.
Boil for 1 hour or until thick.

Bottle while still warm. Fills 8 x 400 ml (1 2/3 cups) jars.
See apricot chutney for sterilization of jars.

Ingredients:

1 chopped onion
1 tablespoon fat/oil
250 g (1/2 lb) ground/minced beef
1 can cream of celery soup
1 tablespoon tomato sauce
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 sliced tomato
few sliced mushrooms
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
little grated cheese

Method:

Fry onion in fat. Add mince to the pan and continue frying.
Add soup and sauces. Cook for 15 minutes.
Pour into casserole and cover with sliced tomatoes and mushrooms.
Sprinkle crumbs and cheese on top.
Brown under grill.

2. Chilli con carne with ground beef recipe

Ingredients:

15 ml (1 tablespoon) oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
750 g (1 1/2 lbs) ground/minced beef
2.5-5ml (half to 1 teaspoon) chilli powder
1 green pepper, chopped
397 g (14 oz) can tomatoes
150 ml (1/4 pint) beef stock
1 teaspoon sugar
30 ml (2 tablespoons) tomato paste
salt and pepper
439 g (15 1/2 oz) can red kidney beans, drained

Method:

Fry onion and garlic in the oil.
Add the mince (ground beef) and chilli powder and brown well.
Stir in the tomatoes, green pepper, stock, sugar and tomato paste.
Season to taste and bring to the boil.
Simmer for 20-30 minutes.
Add the beans and heat through.
Serve on a bed of plain boiled rice.

3. Corn and ground beef recipe

Ingredients:

250 g (8 oz) spaghetti
1 tablespoon fat/oil
1 chopped onion
1 chopped green pepper
250 g (8 oz) ground/minced beef
1 table spoon tomato paste
1 tin sweetcorn
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup grated cheese

Method:

Cook spaghetti and drain.
Fry onion in fat, add meat and then green pepper to pan.
When nicely fried, add tomato paste and sweetcorn.
Adjust seasoning and stir in spaghetti.
Pour into casserole and sprinkle cheese on top.
Bake for 30 minutes at 180°C (350°F)

4. Recipe for ground beef with savoury crumble

Ingredients:
500 g (1 lb) minced/ground beef
1 onion, finely chopped
30 g (1 oz) dripping or oil
salt and pepper
1 small can tomato soup
125 g (4 oz) plain flour
pinch dry mustard
60 g (2 oz) margarine

Method:

Fry onion in dripping and add a pinch of salt and pepper.
Add mince and continue cooking.
Stir in soup and pour into a casserole.
Sieve the flour with seasonings.
Rub in the margarine until mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
Sprinkle over the meat and bake for 30 minutes at 180°C (350°F)

5. Recipe for ground beef meatball savoury pudding

Meatballs:

625 g (1 1/2 lb) ground/minced beef
1/2 pkt white onion soup
60 ml (1/4 cup) Chilli, chutney or tomato sauce
2.5 ml (1/2 teaspoon) mixed herbs

Mix all ingredients together well and form into 24 small meatballs.
Place in well greased 30 cm x 20 cm (12 inch x 8 inch) baking dish.

Savoury pudding:

200 g (1 1/2 cup) flour
7.5 ml (1 1/2 teaspoons) baking powder
5 ml (1 teaspoon) salt
4 eggs
375 ml ( 1 1/2 cups) milk
45 ml ( 3 tablespoons) melted butter

Beat eggs till frothy, blend in milk and butter.
Sift flour, baking powder and salt together.
Add to egg mixture and beat until smooth. Pour over prepared meatballs.
Bake for 50-60 minutes at  180°C (350°F).

Serve with onion gravy made with balance of packet of soup.

Does that sound familiar? Actually these words were written about 3000 years ago by David, king of Israel, calling on God to destroy His enemies who thus conspired against His people.    Ahmadinijad's recent remark,  "....to wipe Israel off the map..." is therefore not very original.
And all the Middle Eastern terrorist organizations, like Hamas, Hezbollah and the PLO, have given vent to the same hatred by declaring their main objective to be the destruction of Israel.

This obsessive hatred of the Muslims for Israel started about 4000 years ago as a family feud. Abraham disinherited his firstborn son, Ishmael, in favour of Isaac. Isaac in turn, did the same to Esau and Jacob. Ishmael and Esau felt cheated and wanted revenge on their brothers. Their descendants, the Arabs, were nurtured on this hatred, and it was later enshrined in their holy book, the Koran. Today all Muslims feel it their 'holy' duty to wage war on the Jews who have been cursed by Allah in the Koran.

With war clouds looming over the Middle East, the West has reluctantly become involved and is now also being threatened by this same fanatical hatred. Unfortunately the West does not understand the strategies of warfare instituted by Mohammad and is constantly being deceived concerning Muslim intentions. To negotiate peace treaties with them is a complete waste of time, because they will follow Mohammad's example and violate the treaty as soon as they are strong enough to attack and conquer. In the words of Mohammad, "war is deceit."   To impose democracy on them is preposterous, as they prefer to subject themselves to Islamic rule and not the rule of the 'infidel' or unbelievers.

Let us return to 4000 years ago and investigate the family feud and the reasons for it.

GOD'S CALL TO ABRAHAM AND THE EVERLASTING COVENANT

Because mankind was so wicked, God chose one man to be the father of a special nation to fulfill a specific purpose, namely, to preserve a true revelation of Himself and ultimately to provide salvation for the world. God called  Abram, whom he later renamed Abraham, from an advanced civilization known as Ur of the Chaldeans, and made a special covenant with him:

"Leave your country, your people and your father's household
and go to the land I will show you.
I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you;
I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth wil be blessed through you." [2]

After Abraham arrived in Canaan God again appeared to him and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." [3]

Before Abraham could be made into a great nation, he had to have a son. Yet he and his wife were childless at their respective ages of 75 and 65. So Abraham asked if a servant of his household would receive the blessing, but God assured him that "a son coming from your own body  will be your heir." [4] After they had been living in Canaan for 10 years and there was still no heir, Sarah gave her Egyptian maidservant to Abraham as wife. When she conceived she began to despise Sarah, and she in turn treated Hagar so harshly that she fled into the desert.

There the angel of the Lord appeared to her and said:
"You are now with child and will have a son. You shall name him Ishmael (meaning 'God hears'), for the Lord has heard of your misery. He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers." [5]

When Abraham was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, "I am God Almighty ... You will be the father of many nations ... I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you. The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you." [6]

The Lord also said to Abraham, "As for Sarah your wife ... I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her." [7] Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, "Will a son be born to a man a 100 years old? Will Sarah bear a child ...?"  Then he spoke aloud and said to God, "If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!" [8]

Then God said, "Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac" (meaning 'he laughs'). "I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants ... And as for Ishmail, I have heard you ... I will surely bless him ... But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year." [9]

As a sign of the covenant, Abraham  had to circumcise every male of his household, and every newborn male baby on his 8th birthday.  So Abraham and Ishmael were circumcised the same day, the latter being about 13 years old. After the birth of Isaac the next year, he was circumcised on the 8th day. On the day Isaac was weaned, Abraham held a great feast. Sarah saw Ishmael mocking, and persuaded Abraham to send him and his mother away. Abraham was reluctant to do that, but God again reassured him that "through Isaac ... your offspring will be reckoned." [10]

JACOB AND ESAU

After the death of Sarah, Abraham married another woman, Keturah, who bore him 6 sons. Ishmael married an Egyptian girl [11] but Abraham provided Isaac with the granddaughter of his brother, Nahor, as wife. [12] While he was alive, he gave gifts to the 7 sons of his concubines, and sent them away from Isaac to the land of the east. When he died at the age of 175, he left everything he owned to Isaac. His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him with his wife Sarah in the cave at Hebron. [13]

When Rebekah, the wife of Isaac, became pregnant the Lord said to her,
"Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated;
one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger." [14]

Rebekah was delivered of twin sons, the firstborn was named Esau (meaning hairy or red) and the second Jacob (meaning he deceives). Jacob bought Esau's birthright from him [15] but then through deceit also obtained Esau's blessing from Isaac:

"May God give you of heaven's dew and of earth's richness -
an abundance of grain and new wine.
May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you.
Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you.
May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed." [16]

When Esau went in to ask his father's blessing, Isaac could only say,

"Your dwelling will be away from the earth's richness, and from the dew of heaven above.
You will live by the sword and you will serve your brother.
But when you grow restless, you will throw his yoke from off your neck." [17]

Esau vowed to kill Jacob after the death of their father. When Rebekah heard of it, she implored Isaac to send Jacob to her family for a wife because Esau had already married some Canaanite women. [18] So Isaac called for Jacob (later renamed Israel) and blessed him and commanded him:
"Do not marry a Canaanite woman. Go at once to Paddan Aram ... Take a wife for yourself there, from among the daughters of Laban, your mother's brother. May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful ... May he give you and your descendants the blessing given to Abraham, so that you may take possession of the land where you now live as an alien, the land God gave to Abraham. [19]

When Esau learned these facts, he realized how displeasing the Canaanite women were to Isaac, and so he went to Ishmael and married his daughter, Mahalath, in addition to the wives he already had. [20] So Esau's descendants became united with Ishmael's. Both felt that they had been robbed of their birthright as firstborn sons, and that therefore God's covenants and blessings belonged to them.

THE FULFILLMENT OF THE PROPHECIES CONCERNING ISHMAEL AND ESAU

God told Hagar that Ishmael would be, "... a wild donkey of a man; ... and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers." [5]

Isaac told Esau, "You will live by the sword and you will serve your brother." [17]

Both Biblical and secular history point to Ishmael as the father of the Arabs of Arabia. However, Esau and the sons of Ketura also settled in the same territory, therefore their descendants became intermingled. They first settled in the northwestern part of the Arabian Peninsula, and then expanded southward and eastward. They began as nomadic tribes or clans in the deserts and were known as Bedouins. Each clan was made up of several families and led by a supreme chief called a sheik, whose rule over his subjects was absolute.

Historical accounts of the violent culture of the Arabs testify to the fulfillment of the prophecies concerning Ishmael and Esau and their descendants. The economic and social conditions of desert life promoted raiding to the rank of a national institution. In the words of an early Arab poet: 'Our business is to make raids on the enemy, on our neighbour and on our own brother, in case we find none to raid but a brother.' Even the pilgrims to Mecca were attacked and robbed.

The knowledge of God that these sons of Abraham must once have had, was soon replaced by polytheism where 'holy' rocks and trees were worshipped. Mecca became the most important religious centre for several reasons: it contained the Ka'aba with its 'sacred' Black Stone and 360 idols; it was a major oasis on the main caravan route, and it had the 'sacred' Zamzam well.

MOHAMMAD, THE KORAN AND ISLAM

Then Mohammad arrived on the scene, proclaiming that there is no god but Allah and Mohammad is his prophet, superior to Jesus. When both the Jews and Christians rejected his claims, he declared them to be 'infidel' or unbelievers. He roused his followers to take up the sword in defense of Islam and to conduct a holy war or 'jihad' against them. This appealed to the Arab mentality which now felt sanctioned to raid, kill, destroy and steal in the name of their religion.

Mohammad was expelled from Mecca for his monotheism and moved to Medina where he assaulted and killed all the Jews. Here he established his first Islamic theocracy, which became the model for all future Islamic rules of law and government. When a large army from Mecca arrived to challenge him, he offered them a 10 year peace treaty. However, within a year, he had built up a strong enough army to defeat the Meccans, and attacked them without warning despite the peace treaty. This deception became known in Muslim history as the 'Quraysh model' strategy, because at that time Mecca was ruled by the Quraysh tribe.

Mohammad rejected the Biblical account of Genesis as given above, claiming that the Jews  had falsified God's revelation in order to usurp the covenants, blessings and promises. According to the Koran, Abraham went to Mecca, where he raised all eight sons together. Because Ishmael was the firstborn, he was God's chosen and not Isaac. Therefore Abraham went to Mt Moriah to sacrifice Ishmael, not Isaac. For this reason Muslims claim Jerusalem and all the land of Israel as theirs.

The original hatred of the Arabs for the Jews is constantly fueled by the denunciations of the Koran, which explains why Muslims all over the world hate the Jews:

"Certainly you will find the most violent of people in enmity for those who believe to be the Jews and those who are polytheists (Christians)." [21]

"So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolators wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush." [22]

"And when there came to them [Jews] a Book from Allah [Koran} verifying that which they have ... they disbelieved in him; so Allah's curse is on the unbelievers." [23]

"Of those who are Jews [they are those who} alter words from their places ..." [24]

CONCLUSION

When, after the first world war, the League of Nations decided that 'Palestine' should become  a  homeland for the world's Jews, the Arabs and Muslims of the Middle East were up in arms. They exerted pressure on Britain, who was given a mandate to establish such a Jewish homeland, to give the largest part of Palestine, i.e. Trans-Jordan, to the Arabs. They also influenced Britian, in defiance of the Mandate, to severely limit Jewish immigration to Palestine, thereby abandoning them to their fate in the Nazi holocaust. As soon as the State of Israel was declared in 1948, the surrounding Muslim armies attacked. These comprised Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Jordan and Egypt. They tried again in 1967 and 1973. After Egypt signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1978, the other countries resorted to diplomatic tactics to get rid of Israel.

Because the West does not inderstand this hatred, it continues to call for useless peace treaties. When Yasser Arafat was criticized by his own people for signing the 1993 Oslo Peace Accord, he reassured them by explaining that his action was in accordance with the Quraysh Model. He correctly assumed that the West would not understand. Prime minister Netanyahu keeps trying to tell America that it is not the size of Israel that the Arabs object to, but the fact of Israel. However, the West does not believe him, and instead is putting pressure on  Israel to give away more and more land.

Iran, an Islamic terrorist state, is secretly developing nuclear weapons. Although the fanatical religious leaders have openly declared Israel to be enemy number one, many see this looming threat of nuclear capability also as a threat to the world's security. After all, the Muslims have characterized Israel as "little Satan" and America as "big Satan". In addition,
Russia signed a treaty with Iran in February 1991, under the code name "the Grand Design." Under the terms of this treaty Iran undertook not to foment Islamist terror against Russia, while Russia promised to help Iran develop nuclear weapons and to defend them against the West.

The radicals ruling Iran believe the annihilation of Israel will trigger the coming of the last Islamic messiah, the imam Mahdi, who will defeat the world and establish universal Islamic rule. However, Israel has a carefully prepared and practised contingency plan known as the "Samson Option."  This plan provides that in the event Israel is hit by biological, chemical, or nuclear weapons, Israel will launch a massive nuclear strike against the cities of every enemy state attacking her.

At present there are warships and aircraft carriers of both Russia and America patrolling the seas around the Middle East. All we know for sure of the outcome of any hostilities is that God will protect Israel and defeat her enemies.

"I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them," says the Lord your God. [25]

References:
1.  Psalm 83:4
2.  Genesis 12:1-3
3.  Genesis 12:7
4.  Genesis 15:2-4
5.  Genesis 16:11-12
6.  Genesis 17:1-8
7.  Genesis 17:15-16
8.  Genesis 17:17-18
9.  Genesis 17:19-21
10. Genesis 21:12
11. Genesis 21:21
12. Genesis chapter 24
13. Genesis 25:1-10
14. Genesis 25:23
15. Genesis 25:27-34
16. Genesis 27:28-29
17. Genesis 27:39-40
18. Genesis 28:9
19. Genesis 28:1-4
20. Genesis 28:8-9
21. Surah 5.82
22. Surah 9.5
23. Surah 2.89
24. Surah 4.46
25. Amos 9:15

Now for the other country mentioned: Who are the Assyrians? No, not the Syrians. The Assyrians conquered and ruled the Middle East centuries B.C. We simply have never heard of them today because the world media has ignored their cause. They are Christians who have not resorted to terrorist activities, but instead have patiently petitioned the League of Nations for the return of their land.

Let us quickly explore the histories of Israel and Assyria.

History of Israel

In 1000 BC King David of the ancient Israelites conquered Jerusalem and made it his capital city. Israeli territory extended from the Mediterranean Sea and through beyond the Jordan river, where two and a half of the twelve tribes settled in what came to be known as Trans-Jordan (present-day Jordan). Northwards the territory extended beyond Damascus (capital of present-day Syria).

After being overrun by the successive empires of the Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks and Romans, Jerusalem was finally reduced to rubble in 135 AD by the Emperor Hadrian of Rome. He hated the Jews of the province of Judea so much that he banished the survivors and changed the name to Palestine, i.e. the land of the Philistines, who in ancient times had lived in present-day Gaza until the Babylonians destroyed them.

History of Assyria

Since the 21st century BC the Assyrians had ruled the area which is today southeastern Turkey, northwestern Iran, northern Iraq and eastern Syria. In 722 BC they conquered the northern half of Israel and extended their rule over most of the present day Middle East, but were in turn defeated by the Babylonians. During the successive empires that ruled in the Middle East, they were able to maintain their Assyrian province with its capital of Nineveh. They became Christians between the 1st and 3rd centuries and formed an important centre of the Church of the East (Byzantine Empire with Constantinople as its capital).

During the first World War, Britain obtained the help of the Assyrians against the Ottomans, promising independence for their province after the war. The British reneged on this promise and today the once-proud and ancient Assyrians are landless and being persecuted by the Turks and other Muslims that surround them.

The Middle East today

The Middle East is dominated by Muslim Arabs, Turks and Iranians. The goal of Islam is world domination and the Muslims of the region cannot tolerate the Jewish Israelis and the Christian Assyrians in what they regard as 'their' land. The president of Iran has on numerous occasions declared his intention to be "to wipe Israel off the face of the earth." Terrorist organisations, such as the Palestine Liberation, Hamas and Hezbollah, refuse to recognize Israel as the national land of the Jews.

At the same time the Turks, Arabs and Kurds have been committing genocide on the Assyrians through massacres, starvation and disease. Just on the opposite bank of the Tigris river from the ruins of ancient Nineveh, the modern city of Mosul has arisen. Since rich deposits of oil have been discovered in the region, both the Turks and the Iraqis have laid claim to it. The Assyrian population of the Middle East has been decimated through forced emigration to the West.

In order to understand the development of this situation, we have to go back and look at the history of the Middle East.

EVENTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST BEFORE WW I

In the 7th century AD the Arabs of Arabia set forth to conquer the world for Islam. After initial successes in northern Africa, they swept through the Middle East. They were the first to unify the entire Middle East as a distinct region, and to create the dominant ethnic identity that persists today.

In the 11th century the Seljuk Turks migrated south and conquered parts of the Middle East. They were followed by the Crusaders and Mongols.

The Ottomans captured Constantinople in the 15th century, and by the next century had conquered the whole of the Arab-held Middle East and northern Africa, as well as parts of Europe. They divided the Middle East into provinces and allowed the local inhabitants to govern themselves. Thus there were the provinces of Palestine (Jews and Arabs) and Assyria (Assyrians and Arabs), amongst others.

In the 19th century the European countries asserted themselves against the Ottomans and regained independence. The Ottomans were fearful of insurrection among the Christians in the eastern part of their domain, and did not interfere in the attempted extermination of the Assyrians and Armenians by the Kurds and Young Turks. In 1908 the Young Turks seized power in the Ottoman empire and tried to modernize the Middle East in order to compete with Europe. The Turkish language and centralized government were imposed, giving rise to Arab nationalism.

WW I

When Germany declared war on Britain and France in 1914, the Ottomans took the fatal step of joining Germany. Britain saw the Ottomans as the weak link and determined to knock them out. They encouraged Arab nationalism and fomented revolt. Sayyid Hussein bin Ali, the Sharif and Emir of Mecca, orchestrated the uprising in exchange for a promise of Arab independence. The Armenians and Assyrians (persecuted Christian minorities) and the Palestinian Jews allied themselves with the British because they also were promised independent states.

However, in 1916 Britain and France signed the Sykes-Picot Agreement to partition the Middle East between them: France to get the northern province of Syria, and Britain to get the southern three provinces of Mesopotamia and two of Palestine (comprising modern Israel, the West Bank, Gaza and Trans-Jordan). In 1917 the Balfour Declaration stated the support of Britain for the international Zionist Organization to create a homeland for the Jews in Palestine. This incensed the Arabs because there was a large Arab population, especially in Trans-Jordan and Mesopotamia, who had ruled themselves during the Ottoman empire.

During the war in 1915-16 the Turks, Kurds and Arabs turned on the Christians of Assyria and Armenia, massacring thousands of them and causing them to flee their ancestral lands.

The Allies occupied Istanbul (Constantinople renamed) and the Ottomans were defeated in 1918. The Treaty of Sevres, designed by the Allies to dismember the remaining Ottoman territories, triggered a nationalist movement and the revolutionaries led by the Young Turks were able to reclaim Istanbul and force the Treaty of Lausanne (1923) on the Allies. This Treaty formally ended all hostilities and created the modern Republic of Turkey. The new League of Nations also gave the Mandate of Syria to the French and the Mandates of Mesopotamia and Palestine to the British.

THE AFTERMATH OF THE WAR AND THE CARVING UP OF THE MIDDLE EAST

When the hostilities ended Prince Abdullah, the second son of Hussein of Mecca, was a ruler of Trans-Jordan. His third son, Prince Faisal, was the ruler of Syria and parts of Mesopotamia. When Abdul Aziz al Saud defeated Hussein of Mecca in 1924, the latter abdicated his Hashemite Kingdom and other titles to his eldest son, Prince Ali. However, both had to flee Arabia.

The British had decided not to help defend the old King of Arabia, but instead helped his two sons to establish their kingdoms in the Middle East. When the French expelled Faisal from Syria, the British welcomed him in Mesopotamia and granted him the provinces of Baghdad and Basra to form Iraq. In 1926 they added the province of Assyria (Mosul) to the territory of Faisal, and he became known as the Hashemite King Faisal 1 of Iraq. Although early in 1922 the British and the League of Nations had determined to give the whole of Palestine as a homeland to the Jews, by the end of the same year Britain had obtained permission to exclude Trans-Jordan from the deal and rather to establish the Hashemite kingdom under Prince Abdullah there.

Under pressure from the Arabs, the British government withdrew from its commitment to the region under its Mandate. The White Papers of 1930 and 1939 severely restricted Jewish immigration to Palestine, but the growing menace of Adolf Hitler in Germany made it more imperative for the Jews of Europe to escape to their homeland. Throughout all the persecution and extermination in the death camps of Hitler, the British refused to allow the Jews into Palestine. When they defied the British and attempted 'illegal' entry from the sea, the British hunted them down like criminals and incarcerated them behind barbed wire on Cyprus.

Another important fact was the discovery of oil, first in Persia (1908) and later in the whole of the Middle East (1920s-1930s). The West was hungry for oil to feed the expansion of their industries. Since the British granted most of the Middle East to the Arabs after the war, they now became the newly rich and could dictate their wishes to the rest of the world.

The Assyrians in 1918 found themselves in a unique position - after fighting for the British and surviving the persecution of the Muslims, they had gained nothing but instead had lost their land. The Treaty of Sevres in 1920 determined safeguards for the protection of the Assyrians, but Mosul (Nineveh, Assyria) was given to Iraq while France was guaranteed 25% of Mosul's oil production.The Treaty of Lausanne in 1923 refused Turkey's demand to have Mosul returned to them, ostensibly because Britain planned to reserve the region for the future settlement of the Assyrians and Kurds. At the same time the USA was awarded 20% of the oil industry profits.

The Assyrians continued to protest about their mistreatment and continued to send letters to the League of Nations, which requested a report from both the governments of Britain and Iraq about the situation. The Permanent Court of International Justice in The Hague (1927) did not accept the reports of Britain and Iraq and demanded that both countries fulfill their obligations towards the Assyrians.

Even though Britain, Turkey and Iraq admitted to the legitimacy of the Assyrian claim over the region, none were prepared to give justice to their cause. Turkey consistently refused to allow any Assyrian onto their soil, and Iraq continued to persecute those on 'their' soil. Moreover, Britain stood by and washed its hands in innocence after causing this gross travesty of justice. Because the Assyrians are Christians and have not resorted to terrorist activities but instead have followed the legal means at their disposal, the world media have ignored their plight and today they are still landless.

WW II AND ITS EFFECT ON THE MIDDLE EAST

When the war started in 1939, Hitler quickly defeated a few European countries and then proceeded to round up the Jews for his 'final solution' of the Jewish problem. When news of the death camps filtered out to the world, no-one believed these 'preposterous' reports. All countries firmly closed their doors to Jewish immigration. Britain became more adamant to placate the Arabs, and land acquisition became very difficult for the Jews after the 1940 Land Transfer Regulations.

During and after WW II, the British and French departed many parts of the Middle East. The following states had independence restored or became independent: Persia (1941), Lebanon (1943), Syria (1944), Jordan (1946) and Iraq (1947).

When the war ended in 1945 and the atrocities of the holocaust could no longer be denied, the United Nations agreed that the Jews must have a homeland in Palestine (1947). After Britain gave away most of Palestine to the Arabs, only the narrow strip of land between the Jordan river and the Mediterranean Sea was left. Most of the 700,000 non-Jews living in that area were Muslim Arabs from the surrounding states. Nevertheless, the Muslims were bitterly opposed to any Jewish presence in the region. The United Nations proposed to partition this piece of land and create independent Arab and Jewish states. This plan was accepted by the Jewish leaders, but rejected by the Arab leaders.

When on 14 May 1948 the British Mandate expired, the Zionist leadership declared the State of Israel. The troops of the surrounding Muslim states were poised in readiness for the attack. They ordered the Arabs out of Palestine, thereby themselves creating the so-called 'Palestinian problem.' They fully expected to annihilate the Jews, but were defeated by Israel to the surprise of the whole world. They tried again in 1967, and this time Israel was so victorious that it conquered additional territory: the 'Golan Heights' of Syria (ancient land of the tribe of Naphtali) from where Syrian snipers had been harassing Israeli farmers on the shores of the Lake of Galilee; the ancient provinces of Samaria and Judea (now referred to as the 'West bank') as well as the whole of the ancient city of Jerusalem, including the sacred Temple Mount; and lastly the 'Gaza Strip' which also used to be part of Judea.

After the third Muslim defeat of 1973, they realized that they could not achieve their ends through the medium of war and had to design another plan. Yasser Arafat of the Palestine Liberation Organization tried political diplomacy: he invented the 'Palestinian people' as an excuse for his terrorist war against Israel. As there is no language known as Palestinian, no distinct Palestinian culture and there has never been a land known as Palestine governed by Palestinians, there are no historic Palestinians. With the help of the world media, Arafat sold his fantasy to the rest of the world so that sympathy lies with the 'poor, downtrodden' Palestinians and Israel is condemned as the aggressor and accused of unlawful 'settlement activity' on 'legal' Palestinian land.

Conclusion

The two most maligned peoples in the Middle east are the Assyrians who have lost all of their land, and the Israelis who have not even received a quarter of what was originally promised. Furthermore, they are expected to give away more land for the sake of a hollow 'peace accord' with their arch enemies who are still intent on "wiping them off the face of the earth". The one group who has profited the most is the Arab nation, who has acquired most of the Middle East on top of their homeland of Arabia. Yet they are the most vociferous in their complaints against injustice.

The God of the Bible has declared the land of Israel to be His land, [1] the people of Israel to be His people, [2] and the city of Jerusalem to be His holy city. [3] He has pronounced condemnation on anyone who divides His land [4] and divine vengeance on any nation that attacks His people. [5] At the battle of Armageddon He will finally defeat His enemies [6] and establish the reign of the Messiah over the whole world, from His throne in Jerusalem. [7] And every knee shall bow before the Messiah, who is Jesus Christ the Lord God. [8]

"In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria.... The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together. In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth. The Lord Almighty will bless them, saying, 'Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance.'" [9]

"So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it." [10]

References:

1. 2 Chronicles 7:20; Ezekiel 36:5
2. Deuteronomy 7:6
3. 2 Chronicles 6:6; Ezra 7:15,19; Nehemiah 11:1,18; Psalm 122:1-4; Matthew 4:5
4. Joel 3:1-2
5. Ezekiel 38:18-23; Zechariah 2:8-9, 12:3
6. Revelation 16:16, 19:11,15,21
7. Isaiah 24:23; Jeremiah 23:5-6; Daniel 2:44; Zechariah 14:8-9; Revelation 11:15
8. Psalm 2:7-9; Psalm 72:11; Isaiah 11:4; John 1:1-3, 14
9. Isaiah 19:23-25
10. Isaiah 55:11

If you find yourself being intimidated by the process, it's important to remind yourself that everyone has to start somewhere. And as with anything else in life, the more you cook, the better you will get. Don't judge yourself on your first new dishes because chances are they won't be that spectacular. Or they might turn out great, but you'll never know if you don't give it a shot. It's important to balance realistic expectations while having faith that you can handle anything that comes your way.

Think about the worst thing that can happen in the kitchen, and you'll realize that there's really nothing to be afraid of. Even if you happen to ruin a meal, you can chalk it up as a valuable learning experience. Even professional chefs make blunders from time to time, and many of them started off with mistakes in the very beginning. Quite simply, without making a few errors here and there, you will never become a better cook. This is why you should embrace challenges that come your way while being as adaptable as possible. Start off slowly with something you can handle and build up your routine to broaden your repertoire even more.

There are many benefits to cooking your own meals and one of the greatest is getting a nice alternative to high cholesterol foods from restaurant sources. The time it takes to learn how to cook can be paid off exponentially with the amount of choice you have in the future. Not only can you enjoy food more, it will add an element of health like never before. If you're in the habit of eating out or ordering takeout food, you can bet you're ingesting way too many calories and fat for your own good. By controlling everything in your own kitchen, you can also keep an eye out for peripheral concerns such as foods high in iron and elements that had more fiber.

If you feel that you need more guidance, don't be afraid to sign up for a class that will show you the basics. You can even team up with a friend to overcome your fear of cooking together. Once you put together basic dishes you'll realize that it's basically a matter of following steps carefully. And when you can master these elements, to be free to use your own creativity to adapt and change recipes as you see fit. It might be scary at first, but it's a fear you should work to overcome because the benefits are incredible.

Losing grip and having a nasty fall is one of the major problems that often worries people when they first consider running in the winter. This is why it is a good idea to have at least two pairs of running shoes: a normal pair for all your road running in the dry, and a separate pair of trail running shoes for use off road or when it is wet or muddy. Snow and ice are an even bigger problem if you get those kinds of conditions where you live. A good option is to invest in a pair of traction devices, for example Yaktrax, which easily attach to the bottoms of your regular running shoes and grip the icy ground as you run.

Once you have your shoes sorted out, the next main concern is keeping warm while out running. The best option is to layer several lightweight garments rather than going out with a single heavy warm coat. A thin base layer or compression shirt is great, in combination with your regular running jersey. This will usually be enough as you'll warm up while exercising. However, if you are out in the snow, then it is also advisable to wear a waterproof third layer, such as a breathable running jacket. It is also important to ensure all your layers are able to wick moisture from the surface of your skin, to keep you dry and warm effectively in the cold weather.

When you are running, your legs will warm up pretty quickly, so it is simply a matter of personal choice whether you stick with a pair of shorts in winter, or whether you go for something which covers the full length of your legs. In snow, it is probably wiser to choose full-length garments, such as tights or tracksters, both of which are very light in weight and allow moisture to escape. A pair of heavy cotton jogging pants might not be such a good idea though because their weight will slow you down and use up valuable energy.

The final consideration is those accessories which you never need in the summer, but which are heavenly in the winter. They include a lightweight pair of gloves and a running beanie to keep your hands and head well protected from the icy winds.

If you make sure you are properly prepared with the correct attire, you will be able to go and run whatever the weather, and be fit and lean for the next racing season in spring. To learn more about what to wear for your winter running, visit Triathonline.com.

The most important thing for making perfect pancakes is to use a good non-stick pan. When you are ready to start frying them, heat a little oil in the pan and then wipe it all around the inside of the pan. You don't have to use any more oil, because the oil in your batter keeps on lubricating the pan. Fry them over a fairly high heat.

Ingredients for 3-4 normal-sized pancakes:

(Double up for 2 hungry people)
1 cup flour
1 cup water
1 egg
30 ml (2T) oil
15 ml (1T) vinegar
2.5 ml ( ½ t) baking powder
pinch of salt

How to prepare pancakes:

Put all the liquids into an electric beater.
Add the solids slowly, while processing, till smooth.
Allow to stand for 30 min.
Pour just enough batter into the pan to cover the bottom when tilted around.
(about half a cup)
Fry until brown underneath.
Flip over and fry the other side.

Savoury pancakes with cheese sauce

Here are 3 very easy savoury fillings for pancakes. Pour over cheese sauce, and it's a feast.

Savoury fillings:

1. Mushrooms

Wash and slice the mushrooms.
Fry them in a little butter. Add a pinch of salt.
Place a portion on each pancake and roll them up.
(If you want to, you can use a drained tin of sliced mushrooms.)
Pour over cheese sauce.

2. Asparagus

Drain the tin. Divide the contents between the pancakes and roll them up.
Warm up in the Microwave.
Pour over cheese sauce.

Cheese sauce for 6-8 pancakes:

Bring 1 cup of milk almost to boiling point.
Slowly add 15 ml of maizena, mixed with a little water, while stirring.
When thickened, add half a cup of grated cheese and mix.

Lazy cheese sauce:

Use a mild- flavoured cup-a-soup and follow the instructions on the packet.
Add grated cheese and stir.

3. Seafood

Ingredients:

1 tin drained tuna
1 tin drained cocktail shrimps
125 ml cream
8 fried pancakes
a double measure of cheese sauce
extra grated cheese

Method:

Reserving 125 ml of the cheese sauce, mix the tuna into the rest of it.
Carefully stir in the shrimps.
Divide the mixture between the pancakes and roll them up.
Place them into a suitable baking dish.
Mix the last 125 ml of cheese sauce with the cream, and pour over the pancakes
Sprinkle the extra grated cheese over.
Bake at 180°C for 10-15min., till the sauce bubbles.