The effort is being driven by British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who sees American support for the swift implementation of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Arab conflict as the best means to heal rifts created in Europe by the war in Iraq. Blair wants Bush to make the Middle East “peace” process the focus of his second term.

Palestinians Prepare Arafat Resting Place
AP via Yahoo! News Wed, 10 Nov 2004 5:20 PM PST
Bulldozers and dump trucks cleared rubble Wednesday for Yasser Arafat's burial at his battered headquarters — a symbol of Palestinian resistance where he spent his last years in virtual imprisonment.

Blair Discusses Mideast Peace With Bush
WASHINGTON - Prime Minister Tony Blair (news - web sites) sought consensus with President Bush (news - web sites) on Thursday to make peace in the Middle East an urgent priority, exploring whether the death of Yasser Arafat (news - web sites) offers new avenues for restarting Israeli-Palestinian talks.

Palestinians' New Leadership Must Fight Terrorism, Powell Says
Bloomberg.com Wed, 10 Nov 2004 5:27 PM PST
Nov. 11 (Bloomberg) -- The new Palestinian leadership that takes over after the death of Yasser Arafat must renounce terrorism and work to unite the Palestinian people, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said.

Five New Member States In 'Big Bang' Approach To Join Euro
Five new member states are keen to get euro notes and coins into the pockets of their citizens as soon as possible. They are set to take a "big bang" approach to joining the single currency, introducing notes and coins at the same time as entering the euro zone without a transition period.

Iran Produces Engines For Shihab-3
LONDON [MENL] -- Iran has succeeded in developing and producing liquid-fuel engines for the Shihab-3 intermediate-range missiles.

Western intelligence sources said Iran achieved missile engine production capability in 2003. The sources said the capability has paved the way for Iran to begin serial production of the Shihab-3, with a range of up to 1,700 kilometers.

Comments
As I emailed you, Yasser Arafat has finally been declared dead.  Even though he was an evil terrorist, the Lord still died for him, and unless he had a change of heart, he's burning  in hell tonight.  It's unfortunate that most of us  don't see things in that light.  

The whole world is now looking toward peace in the Middle East. With new leadership in Palestine, I think this is the first time I have actually felt that peace may actually be attainable. Of course, it's up to the Lord, but I'm beginning to believe the Lord used Yasser Arafat as a stumbling block to peace as part of His timeline.  

It should be said that satan may have brought in his peace plan long before now if not for the continued interference of Yasser Arafat and his terrorist network.  When we get to heaven we may find out that God used Arafat as a tool to hinder peace until its correct time.

Many of you may not know this but our calendar is about four years off.   I have to confess, I have been secretly looking at 2004 as a possible year the Lord could come back and rapture the church.  I have no proof just looking at the possibility, but I've always viewed II Peter 3:8 as a prophetic.

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (2 Peter 3:8 )

As 2004 comes to a close, could this actually be the year of His return?   Just something to think about.

Pastor Malone