Update: Egyptian Army issues ultimatum- “Get off the streets! “

Peanut Gallery: I’m still betting on Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood to prevail in Egypt. The Army’s entrance on the scene just reinforces my position.

In a deft political maneuver, Morsi reversed his earlier position opposing the military and has now left the power and privileges of the Egyptian military pretty much in tact in the new constitution. So… you can see where this is going. The Egyptian military is going with the Morsi flow – forget “power to the people.“ It’s not going to happen.

Take notes folks… you’re watching “Islamic Democracy“ in action.
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Egyptian army clears protesters from presidential palace after deadly clashes Published December 05, 2012 – Associated Press

Egyptian Army deploy near the presidential palace to secure the site of overnight clashes between supporters and opponents of President Mohammed Morsi in Cairo, Egypt, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012. The Egyptian army has deployed tanks outside the presidential palace in Cairo following clashes between supporters and opponents of Mohammed Morsi that left several people dead and hundreds wounded. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

CAIRO – The Egyptian army deployed tanks and gave both supporters and opponents of Mohammed Morsi a deadline to leave the area outside the presidential palace Thursday following fierce street battles that left five people dead and more than 600 injured in the worst outbreak of violence between the two sides since the Islamist leader’s election.

The intensity of the overnight violence, with Morsi’s Islamist backers and largely secular protesters lobbing firebombs and rocks at each other, signaled a possible turning point in the 2-week-old crisis over the president’s assumption of near-absolute powers and the hurried adoption of a draft constitution.

Morsi, meanwhile, seemed determined to press forward with plans for a Dec. 15 constitutional referendum to pass the new charter.

Opposition activists defiantly called for another protest outside the palace later Thursday, raising the specter of more bloodshed as neither side showed willingness to back down.
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Watch Fox News video on Morsi Power Grab.
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But the army’s Republican Guard, an elite unit assigned to protect the president and his palaces, gave protesters on both sides until 3 p.m. to clear the vicinity, according to an official statement. The statement also announced a ban on protests outside any of the nation’s presidential palaces.

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Christmas Carol: “As with Gladness, Men of Old” – from English Cathedrals (YouTube)

As with Gladness, Men of Old

Detail of Rubens 'The Adoration of the Magi' in St Janskerk in Mechelen. — Detail of Rubens ‘The Adoration of the Magi’ in St Janskerk in Mechelen.

As with gladness men of old
did the guiding star behold;
as with joy they hailed its light,
leading onward, beaming bright,
so, most gracious Lord, may we
evermore your splendor see.

As with joyful steps they sped
to that lowly manger bed,
there to bend the knee before
him whom heaven and earth adore,
so, may we with willing feet
ever seek the mercy seat.

As they offered gifts most rare
at that manger rude and bare,
so may we with holy joy,
pure and free from sin’s alloy,
all our costliest treasures bring,
Christ, to you, our heavenly King.

Holy Jesus, every day
keep us in the narrow way;
and when earthly things are past,
bring our ransomed lives at last
where they need no star to guide,
where no clouds thy glory hide.

Morning Reading: Matthew 7.21, 24-27 NLT – hear and do

Matthew 7.21, 24-27 NLT

“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.

GTP6527 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”