December 10, 2017 -- Comfort My People

One of the readings from the second week of advent.

    Comfort, O comfort my people,
    says your God.
    Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
    and cry to her
    that she has served her term,
    that her penalty is paid,
    that she has received from the LORD’s hand
    double for all her sins.

NRSV: Is 40:1–2

December 9, 2017 -- North Korea condemns President Trump over Jerusalem

MSN: North Korea has lambasted US President Donald Trump for recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital, renewing its description of him as a "dotard" in a statement released Saturday on state media.

Trump and North Korea's leader Kim Jong-Un have traded threats of war and personal insults in recent months as tensions remain high over the North's missile and nuclear threats.
Now the hermit state has joined near-universal condemnation of the US president's decision on Jerusalem, calling it a "reckless, wicked act".

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/n-korea-condemns-dotard-trump-over-jerusalem/ar-BBGq7BU?ocid=spartanntp

December 9, 2017 -- Palestian President Abbas refused to meet VP Mike Pence

ABS - CBN NEWS: Ramallah, Palestinian Territories - Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas will refuse to meet US Vice President Mike Pence later this month following Washington's controversial policy shift on Jerusalem, an Abbas aide said on Saturday, as protests gripped the Palestinian territories for a third straight day.


http://news.abs-cbn.com/life/03/03/17/palestinian-israeli-covers-the-world-in-viral-one-minute-videoshttp://news.abs-cbn.com/life/03/03/17/palestinian-israeli-covers-the-world-in-viral-one-minute-videos

December 9, 2017 -- Coptic Pope cancels meeting with VP Mike Pence

THE TIMES OF ISRAEL: Egypt’s Coptic Church head Pope Tawadros II canceled a meeting with US Vice President Mike Pence in Cairo set for later this month in protest at Washington’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the church said Saturday.

US President Donald Trump’s decision “did not take into account the feelings of millions of Arab people,” the church said in a statement, adding it decided not to receive Pence when he visits Egypt.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/egypts-coptic-pope-rejects-pence-meeting-over-jerusalem/

December 8, 2017 -- Ghana President Akuffo Addo on President Trump

Ghana President Akuffo Addo of Ghana discusses President Trump, the moving of the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem.  A video was posted by Alex Citizen on Facebook.  However, the date and location of the video were not provided at the time I watched the video.  Addo seems to be speaking to a crowd of people before the moving of the embassy to Jerusalem.  When the move happens, according to Addo, the next important event will be the rebuilding of the temple.  At present it is difficult for me to verify the video and its contents.  However, if it is authentic, it happens to express the point of view in the minds of some that the temple needs to be rebuilt.

https://www.facebook.com/alex.citizen/videos/163457814402302/?hc_ref=ARTX1tnk725pld_CV2yGIy5kIXy6oma7Ugcq1nGAApqNArpitXUvEMxCQs5FXYpQDAA&fref=nf

Video of President Akuffo Addo

December 6, 2017 -- Pope Francis Defends the "Status Quo"

Pope Francis defended the "Status Quo" of Jerusalem shortly before President Donald Trump made his official statement concerning the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/pope-francis-defends-jerusalem-status-quo/ar-BBGi2S1

December 6, 2017 -- Trump recognizes Jerusalem

President Trump officially recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and orders the moving be the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/06/world/middleeast/trump-jerusalem-israel-capital.html?_r=1