Archive for the 'World Affairs' Category

October 15th 2009
2012 Nonsense

Posted under Life & World Affairs

On Sunday, I mentioned the hoopla leading up to 2012. Will the world really end then?


(ABC News Photo Illustration)

The movie is coming out, there are websites warning about it, and it’s been a topic in the news (here’s an example).

Regarding the end of the world, let’s listen to Jesus instead.“But no one knows the date and hour when the end will be—not even the angels. No, nor even God’s Son. Only the Father knows.” (Matthew 24:36) Whoever is deluded by those who think they know, please tell them the truth!

What’s sad is that it’s not only people outside of Christianity that get sucked into this delusion. Many Christians give inordinate amounts of time and attention to connecting “Bible prophecies” and current events, and think they have it figured out. Often their major focus becomes looking for and interpreting “signs” rather than abiding in Christ (John 15:1-5) and telling people the gospel.

Here’s what we are clearly told to do because of the end of this present world that will one day occur. “Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.” (2 Peter 3:11-13)

1) Live a Christlike life (“what holy and godly lives you should live”).
2) Let our future joy spill into this present life (“looking forward to the day of God” — we don’t look forward to something we are afraid of or indifferent about).
3) Hurry that day along. How, you ask? By telling people the good news of Jesus — “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14)

So replace the end times hype, hoopla, and fear with the joy and mission of Jesus.

2 Comments »

February 13th 2009
India Vignettes

Posted under World Affairs

Click the blue headline for the full story

It’s Like Rain For The Mind
There is a saying among Westerners here that is so well known it is an abbreviation — T-i-i — “This is India.” It is the brief answer to every mystery that defies what you have always taken for granted and for what you have always understood to be the base line of reason and logic. Everything in India is an illusion to the Western mind…

They call it Mellow Yellow?
A hardline Hindu organization, known for its opposition to “corrupting” Western food imports, is planning to launch a new soft drink made from cow’s urine, often seen as sacred in parts of India…

No kissing please, we are Indians
Even marriage doesn’t give you the licence to smooch. A young, married couple were picked up by police allegedly for kissing near a railway station. An Israeli couple was fined $22 by a court for kissing after getting married in a Hindu ceremony in Rajasthan…

Corrupt India Court 466 Years Behind Schedule
The High Court in New Delhi is so behind in its work that it could take up to 466 years to clear the enormous backlog, the court’s chief justice said…

India: Divorce by text messaging and e-mail on the rise among Muslim men
Most of the SMS’ and e-mails had husbands complaining along predictable lines. They did not find the wife “beautiful enough”, “compatible enough” or of having brought “adequate dowry”…

India’s case of Obama envy
Its newspapers ask why India can’t have its own Barack Obama, why a land so diverse can’t elect a Muslim or untouchable-caste prime minister. Many Indians watched Obama’s Inaugural Address, fully rapt, even though a good number have never watched an Indian leader’s speech in entirety…

India Remains Among Fastest Growing Economies In World
India will remain one of the fastest growing economies in the world over 2008-09 to 2010-11…

India most attractive stock market for asset allocation
“In terms of countries, our top pick is India. In our view, the risk and reward trade-off for India is now much improved. Besides, recent events have significantly eased concerns such as high valuations, bullish earnings forecasts, among others,” Macquarie Research said in a report…

India’s ‘informal’ workers help it defy global crisis
DEEP inside one of Delhi’s packed slums Kalimuddin runs a jeans factory the size of a bedroom. Despite the space constraints his 10 employees work 12 to 16 hours a day and churn out 6000 pairs of jeans a month…

India asks Pakistan to unveil full conspiracy
A day after Pakistan admitted to the role of its citizens in the Mumbai atrocity, India Friday asked Islamabad to unveil the full conspiracy and take ‘credible action’ against the perpetrators and the infrastructure of terrorism in its territory…

Comments Off

January 28th 2009
How’s This For Differing Perspectives?

Posted under World Affairs

© Bryan JohnsonFormer President and Nobel Laureate, Jimmy Carter, has written a new book entitled, “We Can Have Peace in the Holy Land: A Plan That Will Work.” He begins his introduction by saying, “I am writing another book about the Middle East because the new president of the United States is facing a major opportunity — and responsibility — to lead in ending conflict between Israel and its neighbors. The time is now. Peace is possible.”

william_gladstone
William Gladstone (1809-1898) was Prime Minister of Great Britain four times:
1868-74, 1880-85, 1886 and 1892-94. He called the Qur’an an “accursed book” and once held it up during a session of Parliament, declaring: “So long as there is this book there will be no peace in the world.”

So who’s correct?

I’ve prepared this study guide if you’d like to do a quick review before you answer:
Fight them until resistance is no more, and religion is all for Allah (Qur’an, Sura 8:39)
Muslims Drive Christian Grandparents From Home
Muslims Gang-Rape Pastor’s Wife
Muslims Force Conversion By Kidnapping and Raping Two Teenage Christians
Top Saudi Threatens U.S. Over Israel
If They Don’t Leave, I Will Kill Them
www.thereligionofpeace.com

What is the proper Christian response to Muslims? “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven” (Matt 5:44,45). “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation” (Mark 16:15).

2 Comments »

December 5th 2008
Put Out The Welcome Mat

Posted under Culture & Church & World Affairs

united_states_final.jpg

“In 2005, more people from Muslim countries became legal permanent U.S. residents — nearly 96,000 — than in any year in the previous two decades. More than 40,000 of them were admitted last year, the highest annual number since the terrorist attacks, according to data on 22 countries provided by the Department of Homeland Security.” (The New York Times, 9/10/06)

We can respond to this reality in one of three ways: first, we can be worried or frightened; two, we can ignore it because we view it as of no consequence; three, we can see it as the work of our sovereign God who is bringing the world to us so they can hear the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Daniel Pipes, director of the Middle East Forum, says that although there are many reasons Muslims immigrate to the U.S., three are especially significant. The first and most important is refuge. There are many troubles in the Muslim world. There is ethnic and religious persecution. There are wars. There’s tyranny. There are lots of reasons to leave the Muslim world. Secondly, there’s educational and economic opportunity here. And thirdly, there is what he calls Islamist ambition — militant Islamic ambition. Militant Muslims come to the United States to change the United States.

We should not welcome creeping Sharia. I do not think allowing militant Islamists to change the U.S. is a good thing. (But maybe I’m wrong! Keep reading.)

For those Muslims who come here for non-violent reasons, I believe we should see it as the sovereign hand of God at work. We should view it with a Great Commission mindset, and be intentional in our hospitality and our friendship.

In chapter 16 of his book Perspectives On The World Christian Movement, Dr. Ralph Winter discusses redemptive history. When I first read it, it was as if scales fell from my eyes and I could see, in a way I never had before, God’s amazing work throughout history to gather in those who are far from him. Dr. Winter argues quite persuasively that God will do whatever it takes to save lost people, and that the salvation of those who are lost is much more important to God than the comfort of his children. Whenever the Church becomes evangelistically complacent, God jars her out of her complacency. One of the ways he has done that across the ages is by bringing desperately lost people into the places where Christianity has been established, but those Christians are not missionally zealous.

I believe we Christians in America have an opportunity to make a zealous gospel response to the immigrants among us before God takes it to the next level. What is the next level? Dr. Winter describes it quite vividly:

Once more, when Christians did not reach out to them, pagan peoples came where they were. And once more, the phenomenal power of Christianity manifested itself: the conquerors became conquered by the faith of their captives. Usually it was the monks sold as slaves or the Christian girls forced to be their wives and mistresses which eventually won these savages … In God’s eyes, their redemption must have been more important than the harrowing tragedy of this new invasion of barbarian violence and evil which fell upon God’s own people whom He loved. (After all, he had not even spared His own Son in order to redeem us!)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

related posts:
Creeping Sharia: What Islamists Are After
The Islamization of America?
No, Henny Penny, The Sky Isn’t Falling

1 Comment »

December 4th 2008
No, Henny Penny, The Sky Isn’t Falling

Posted under Christian Living & World Affairs

As someone who truly wants to obey the Great Commission, I am surprised by how many people think they are “safe” and immune to tragedy here in the United States. We are not “safe” here, and there is no “safe” place on this earth. As Christians, we should find our peace and security in Jesus, not a geographical location. In terms of the Great Commission, we cannot assume that we are safer staying in the U.S. than we are if we go outside of the U.S.

Are you aware that we have people training for jihad here in the U.S.? Do you know that terrorists planning to attack India trained here in the U.S. in jihadist camps? I could post hundreds of such news reports. Here are but a few quotes. As usual on this blog, clickable links are in blue.

This investigation arose as part of the investigation of individuals attending the Dar al Arqam Islamic Center in Falls Church, Va.  In June 2003, Benkahla and ten others were indicted by a grand jury in Alexandria for conspiring to commit various offenses including mounting expeditions to attack India in Kashmir and Russia in Chechnya in the course of training for jihad in Virginia and Pakistan. (If you happen to click this link, be sure to scroll to the end where you will find the crimes for which the individuals involved in this case were convicted … and you might want to thank the next FBI agent you happen to see.)

Mumbai in the U.S.? Fort Dix suspects were training for “jihad” (alternative links here and here)

Behind a stretch of barbed wire in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, a small community of Muslims is drawing the attention of federal investigators who suspect the group may have ties to an extremist group believed responsible for a string of firebombings and assassinations across the United States.

Terrorists Training in Rural America?

The United States can expect a terrorist attack using nuclear or more likely biological weapons before 2013, reports a bipartisan commission in a study being briefed Tuesday to Vice President-elect Joe Biden.

Two of the more predominant mosques in the United States that have received funding from the Saudi government, and that adhere to the Wahhabist [i.e., terrorist] ideology, are the al Farooq mosque in Brooklyn, New York, and the King Fahd mosque in Los Angeles, California. Both mosques welcomed a number of the hijackers who piloted the planes into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania on September 11th, 2001.

“Traditionalist Catholics” continue their campaign of jailings, threats, fines, deprivation of water and electricity against evangelical Christians in southern Mexico. (more info here) [The inclusion here of Catholics persecuting evangelicals is in no way intended to compare or associate Catholicism with Islam. It simply illustrates danger from what some people would consider an unexpected source.]

Beyond these examples, we must be honest about the danger of traffic accidents and violent crime in our communities every day. Just as hard hat warning signs do not imply the sky is falling, these “warning signs” I’ve posted are not intended to cause fear or panic. They are simply intended to shatter the illusion that there are safe places on this earth.

When will we obey Jesus? “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28) “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.” (Mark 8:35)

When will we live in the supernatural joy experienced by the first Christians that is not dependent on comfortable circumstances? “They called the apostles in and had them whipped. The leaders ordered them not to speak in Jesus’ name. Then they let the apostles go. The apostles were full of joy as they left the Sanhedrin. They considered it an honor to suffer shame for the name of Jesus.” (Acts 5:40-41)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

related posts: Creeping Sharia: What Islamists Are After and The Islamization of America?

Comments Off

November 29th 2008
Creeping Sharia: What Islamists Are After

Posted under World Affairs

After the attacks in Mumbai, Islamic terrorism is on the front page yet again. I found this eye-opening article, and decided to post it here. Notice the tactics used based on the percentage of Muslims. Remember, Muslims (the people) are not the enemy — radical Islam (the system) is. Sharia is the Muslim law governing all aspects of life. In Islam, there is no separation between the secular and the sacred. Worldwide Sharia is the goal of Jihad.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

What Islam Isn’t
By Dr. Peter Hammond
FrontPageMagazine.com | 4/21/2008
The following is adapted from Dr. Peter Hammond’s book,
Slavery, Terrorism and Islam: The Historical Roots and Contemporary Threat

Islam is not a religion nor is it a cult. It is a complete system.

Islam has religious, legal, political, economic and military components. The religious component is a beard for all the other components.

Islamization occurs when there are sufficient Muslims in a country to agitate for their so-called ‘religious rights.’

When politically correct and culturally diverse societies agree to ‘the reasonable’ Muslim demands for their ‘religious rights,’ they also get the other components under the table. Here’s how it works (percentages source CIA: The World Fact Book (2007)).

As long as the Muslim population remains around 1% of any given country they will be regarded as a peace-loving minority and not as a threat to anyone. In fact, they may be featured in articles and films, stereotyped for their colorful uniqueness:

United States — Muslim 1.0%
Australia — Muslim 1.5%
Canada — Muslim 1.9%
China — Muslim 1%-2%
Italy — Muslim 1.5%
Norway — Muslim 1.8%

At 2% and 3% they begin to proselytize from other ethnic minorities and disaffected groups with major recruiting from the jails and among street gangs:

Denmark — Muslim 2%
Germany — Muslim 3.7%
United Kingdom — Muslim 2.7%
Spain — Muslim 4%
Thailand — Muslim 4.6%

From 5% on they exercise an inordinate influence in proportion to their percentage of the population.

They will push for the introduction of halal (clean by Islamic standards) food, thereby securing food preparation jobs for Muslims. They will increase pressure on supermarket chains to feature it on their shelves — along with threats for failure to comply. (United States).

France — Muslim 8%
Philippines — Muslim 5%
Sweden — Muslim 5%
Switzerland — Muslim 4.3%
The Netherlands — Muslim 5.5%
Trinidad &Tobago — Muslim 5.8%

At this point, they will work to get the ruling government to allow them to rule themselves under Sharia, the Islamic Law. The ultimate goal of Islam is not to convert the world but to establish Sharia law over the entire world.

When Muslims reach 10% of the population, they will increase lawlessness as a means of complaint about their conditions ( Paris — car-burnings). Any non-Muslim action that offends Islam will result in uprisings and threats ( Amsterdam - Mohammed cartoons).

Guyana — Muslim 10%
India — Muslim 13.4%
Israel — Muslim 16%
Kenya — Muslim 10%
Russia — Muslim 10-15%

After reaching 20% expect hair-trigger rioting, jihad militia formations, sporadic killings and church and synagogue burning:

Ethiopia — Muslim 32.8%

At 40% you will find widespread massacres, chronic terror attacks and ongoing militia warfare:

Bosnia — Muslim 40%
Chad — Muslim 53.1%
Lebanon — Muslim 59.7%

From 60% you may expect unfettered persecution of non-believers and other religions, sporadic ethnic cleansing (genocide), use of Sharia Law as a weapon and Jizya, the tax placed on infidels:

Albania — Muslim 70%
Malaysia — Muslim 60.4%
Qatar — Muslim 77.5%
Sudan — Muslim 70%

After 80% expect State run ethnic cleansing and genocide:

Bangladesh — Muslim 83%
Egypt — Muslim 90%
Gaza — Muslim 98.7%
Indonesia — Muslim 86.1%
Iran — Muslim 98%
Iraq — Muslim 97%
Jordan — Muslim 92%
Morocco — Muslim 98.7%
Pakistan — Muslim 97%
Palestine — Muslim 99%
Syria — Muslim 90%
Tajikistan — Muslim 90%
Turkey — Muslim 99.8%
United Arab Emirates — Muslim 96%

100% will usher in the peace of ‘Dar-es-Salaam’ — the Islamic House of Peace — there’s supposed to be peace because everybody is a Muslim:

Afghanistan — Muslim 100%
Saudi Arabia — Muslim 100%
Somalia — Muslim 100%
Yemen — Muslim 99.9%

Of course, that’s not the case. To satisfy their blood lust, Muslims then start killing each other for a variety of reasons.

“Before I was nine I had learned the basic canon of Arab life. It was me against my brother; me and my brother against our father; my family against my cousins and the clan; the clan against the tribe; and the tribe against the world and all of us against the infidel.” – Leon Uris, The Haj

It is good to remember that in many, many countries, such as France, the Muslim populations are centered around ghettos based on their ethnicity. Muslims do not integrate into the community at large. Therefore, they exercise more power than their national average would indicate.

Comments Off

November 26th 2008
Evangelism, Iranian Style

Posted under Church & World Affairs

map_of_persecution.jpg

On Sunday, Nov. 16, I talked about praying for the persecuted church. Of course one of the places I drew attention to was Iran, ranked third in terms of places Christians are persecuted most. But God is moving there powerfully in spite of the persecution.

Last week, I was listening to Hormoz Shariat, of International Antioch Ministries, talk about evangelism in Iran. He has trained many believers there how to do evangelism, especially how to deal with objections and difficult questions. But he said one of these believers told him recently that they don’t use his methods any more. When he asked why, this Iranian believer said, “We don’t need to. All we do is stand up where there is a crowd of people and announce ‘I am a Christian,’ and sit down, and a number of people will come and ask how they can be a Christian.”

What would happen in the United States if you stood up at a Starbucks® and said, “I am a Christian,” and then sat down?

Comments Off

November 5th 2008
The Day After The Election

Posted under Christian Living & World Affairs

The sun came up! My Father was waiting for me, and his Great Commission mandate is still in effect.

Enough said?

3 Comments »

November 4th 2008
Election Day

Posted under World Affairs

On this election day, remember…

Comments Off

November 3rd 2008
things i’m thinking about for nov. 4

Posted under Culture & World Affairs

these are the top 6 questions lurking around in my head.  they should give you hours minutes seconds of deep thought.

  1. how come an 18 year old can wield a 50 cal in combat, but not a miller high life?  and in turn, how come we can force a 16 year old to go to school but some people want to allow her to have an abortion without consulting anyone?  (ok, that’s 2 questions, but you get the idea)
  2. if a potential president’s stance on genocide and oppression around the world is on the top of the new christian voter guide checklist, should we start to remind people that abortion is our darfur?
  3. i’m asked to vote no on prop 8 because it infringes on fundamental rights for people.  who defines fundamental rights and where does that end?
  4. was the early church the first socialist/communist movement?  maybe spreading the wealth isn’t such a bad idea.
  5. if your candidate loses, does this mean that you were wrong, or just that you lost?  if obama wins, do conservative christians need to admit that he was God’s choice, or vice versa for liberal christians and mccain?
  6. who would jesus vote for if he was me?

 

pray.  vote.  duck for cover.  :)

5 Comments »

- Next »