"Christians in Somalia have to go underground and they don't give away their identities because once al-Shabaab knows someone is a Christian, that is a death sentence for that person. . .”
These are foreign words to those of us living under the protection of the U.S. Constitution. But would such a protection for freedom of worship always be around? From Worldnetdaily.com, here is the rest of the story.
Pastor shot, killed on way home from worship [Excerpts]
Two masked members of the al-Shabaab Muslim militia shot and killed a pastor in Somalia as he drove home from a worship service, according to reports.
Mogadishu pastor Ali Hussein Weheliye was killed in the attack in October, but reports of the incident didn't come out until this week.
Experts at the missions think-tank the Joshua Project estimate Somalia is 99 percent Muslim. International Christian Concern's Jonathan Racho agrees with that statistic and says the overwhelming numbers make it difficult to be a Christian in Somalia.
"A vast majority of Somalis are Muslims, but there are hundreds of Christians in Somalia. This pastor was the pastor of an underground church," Racho said.
"Christians in Somalia have to go underground and they don't give away their identities because once al-Shabaab knows someone is a Christian, that is a death sentence for that person," he said.
Racho makes the death sentence claim because al-Shabaab is a jihadist militia with close ties to Osama bin Laden and the al-Qaida terrorist group.
Intelligence sources say most al-Shabaab fighters receive training at al-Qaida or Taliban training camps in Pakistan before being sent to Somalia for the declared anti-Christian jihad in that eastern African nation.
Racho said these facts are evidence Weheliye's murder is not an isolated incident.
"Al-Shabaab has gone on a campaign of killing Christians. One of its official policies is to eradicate Christians from Somalia," Racho said.
"This year alone, Pastor Ali is the fifteenth Christian to be killed in Somalia. The killing has been going on for the past several years. The church in Somalia is going through a difficult time. If this trend continues many more Christians will be killed and many will be forced to leave Somalia," Racho explained.
Scores of Muslims believe that killing Christians is doing the will of God (Allah). Jesus predicted this in John 16, by saying, “They will make you outcast of the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you think he is offering service to God” (v. 2).
Specifically, Jesus is referring to Jews. The Jewish race will be so hated in the end times that Satan will in some way instill within the minds of those in the world that the Godly thing to do is to kill a Jew. But we can also make this an application to all born-again Christians.
You see, Christians are hated for their convictions. It’s Christians who stand in the way of abortion rights, gay rights, gambling, and their continual insistence that a true definition of a family consist of a man and woman, married and having children. Christians are also the fuel behind the conservative movement. Christians are pro-military, pro-guns, and pro-life. Christians believe in capital punishment, the reality of sin, guilt and condemnation. Christians believe that big government is a big problem, and that capitalism is to always be preferred to than socialism. Christians are for some a big pain-in-the-neck.
Therefore, there is coming an hour when society wishes to push forward with its agenda and those who stand in their way – Christians – will be arrested and killed. And the rallying cry for such a thing to occur is for the clerics of that time to inform people that if they do so, they are doing a great service to God.
Religion has always been a way for evil people to kill others. And it will continue to be the fuel that sparks the fire of future intense persecution of both Christians and Jews.
Here in the U.S. under the Constitution, we enjoy our religious freedom. But don’t think for a moment that the Constitution is somehow impervious to the schemes of evil men. If one day, Christians will be killed because they stand in the way of world progress, then not even the U.S. Constitution will survive without changes, revisions and attacks.
What we see occurring in Somalia, can one day occur right within the boarders of the U.S. It may happen in our life time or in our children’s life time, but Jesus did forewarn us that the “hour is coming.” Thank God Jesus used the word “hour” and not “day.”
Pray for your spiritual family in Somalia.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
The Company of the Entitled
15One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. 17Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" – Luke 17:15-18 NIV
What is so hard about giving thanks? Why are some people good at it and others seem not to care? Personally, I do not enjoy the feelings of indebtedness. I would rather be on the giving end than the receiving end. I love the feeling of helping others, but I do not like it when others help me in my hour of desperation. It is during those times that I feel really humbled and indebted. I have nothing to give back except my sincere gratitude. This is often truly humbling and it goes against my own self-sufficiency.
The story of the ten lepers that Jesus healed in Luke 17 teaches us some great lessons about thankfulness. The first lesson I learn is that thankfulness can be thwarted by an entitlement attitude.
Remember, Jesus healed all ten lepers, but only one returned to give thanks. The one who returned Jesus identified as a “foreigner.” This means that the other nine were “Jews.” Could it be that the other nine, being Jews expected no less than to be healed? They expected no less than for the Jewish Messiah Himself to bless them – after all they are Jews just like He was. Not only this, but they expected to be healed and bless because as Jews, they are the “chosen people of God.”
I believe the nine who were Jewish, had such an entitlement attitude that even after they got healed, no ounce of thankfulness was found in them – at least not enough for them to turn back in humility and say “thanks” to Jesus. They expected no less!
This same kind of entitlement can happen to us as well. We can find ourselves feeling entitled if we hold a key position in a church, such as a leader or a generous giver. We can feel entitled if we sense that our holiness is more pleasing to God than the next person’s. We can have a sense of entitlement if we feel that God loves me more than He does the poor sinner on the street.
Often when I am in my car driving and I stop to let someone into my lane, I notice that some do not even acknowledge me with their thanks or give a wave of their hand. They just pull right on in as if they are entitled. Shamefully my immediate response is, “What a huge mistake I just made in letting that person in!” I know the feeling of this so when someone let’s me into their lane, I go all out in making sure that person sees me by giving a wave of thanks or a smile on my face, or I flash my tail lights.
I have also noticed that entitled feeling people are often joyless. And this does not surprised me because when you expect certain things to happen, then when it does, thankfulness which is tied closely to joy is not something one wishes to give away. You see, being thankful and expressing it, instills in us a sense of vulnerability that some do not want to show. The devil’s tactic is to get us to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to. So what we do is try to elevate ourselves to God’s level (pride), and if that does not work too well, then we try to bring God down to our level (idolatry). Either form of entitlement is devil inspired.
I have also noticed that the entitlement spirit does not want to contribute very well. Did you notice how the nine simply left and never returned? They got what they wanted and now they’re gone. In the church, the entitlement people are the ones who do little to nothing. Service, work, sacrifice and effort is beneath them. They come to church to be blessed or receive – this is their entitlement.
I had one of our youth ask me what I am thankful for. My answer came quickly because I have thought many times about such things. I replied: I am thankful for God’s mercy, because He has not given to me what I do deserve (punishment); and I am also thankful for God’s grace, because He has given to me what I don’t deserve (favor and blessings).
Am I entitled to experience God’s wrath? You bet I am. I have failed God in my sins and have lived a life contrary to His holiness. I deserve His wrath, but I did not get it. Am I entitled to God’s grace? No way. Why would God bless a sinner like me? But in His loving manner He has.
This is the reason why I can go around with a thankful heart and visible expressions of joy is because I am not entitled to anything from God apart from what God grants me through His Son, Jesus! In and of myself, I am entitled to nothing but hell and separation from God.
So when I receive an unexpected blessing from the Lord, through others or directly from God, I am so grateful and joyful because I am so unentitled.
I believe the bible was written exactly the way God intended it to be written. I say this because, it was no mistake that Jesus used the number 10. And it was no mistake that only one of the ten returned to give thanks. This could very well imply that out of every ten people, one will be truly thankful while the other nine have an entitlement mentality.
Which company do you fit in?
What is so hard about giving thanks? Why are some people good at it and others seem not to care? Personally, I do not enjoy the feelings of indebtedness. I would rather be on the giving end than the receiving end. I love the feeling of helping others, but I do not like it when others help me in my hour of desperation. It is during those times that I feel really humbled and indebted. I have nothing to give back except my sincere gratitude. This is often truly humbling and it goes against my own self-sufficiency.
The story of the ten lepers that Jesus healed in Luke 17 teaches us some great lessons about thankfulness. The first lesson I learn is that thankfulness can be thwarted by an entitlement attitude.
Remember, Jesus healed all ten lepers, but only one returned to give thanks. The one who returned Jesus identified as a “foreigner.” This means that the other nine were “Jews.” Could it be that the other nine, being Jews expected no less than to be healed? They expected no less than for the Jewish Messiah Himself to bless them – after all they are Jews just like He was. Not only this, but they expected to be healed and bless because as Jews, they are the “chosen people of God.”
I believe the nine who were Jewish, had such an entitlement attitude that even after they got healed, no ounce of thankfulness was found in them – at least not enough for them to turn back in humility and say “thanks” to Jesus. They expected no less!
This same kind of entitlement can happen to us as well. We can find ourselves feeling entitled if we hold a key position in a church, such as a leader or a generous giver. We can feel entitled if we sense that our holiness is more pleasing to God than the next person’s. We can have a sense of entitlement if we feel that God loves me more than He does the poor sinner on the street.
Often when I am in my car driving and I stop to let someone into my lane, I notice that some do not even acknowledge me with their thanks or give a wave of their hand. They just pull right on in as if they are entitled. Shamefully my immediate response is, “What a huge mistake I just made in letting that person in!” I know the feeling of this so when someone let’s me into their lane, I go all out in making sure that person sees me by giving a wave of thanks or a smile on my face, or I flash my tail lights.
I have also noticed that entitled feeling people are often joyless. And this does not surprised me because when you expect certain things to happen, then when it does, thankfulness which is tied closely to joy is not something one wishes to give away. You see, being thankful and expressing it, instills in us a sense of vulnerability that some do not want to show. The devil’s tactic is to get us to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to. So what we do is try to elevate ourselves to God’s level (pride), and if that does not work too well, then we try to bring God down to our level (idolatry). Either form of entitlement is devil inspired.
I have also noticed that the entitlement spirit does not want to contribute very well. Did you notice how the nine simply left and never returned? They got what they wanted and now they’re gone. In the church, the entitlement people are the ones who do little to nothing. Service, work, sacrifice and effort is beneath them. They come to church to be blessed or receive – this is their entitlement.
I had one of our youth ask me what I am thankful for. My answer came quickly because I have thought many times about such things. I replied: I am thankful for God’s mercy, because He has not given to me what I do deserve (punishment); and I am also thankful for God’s grace, because He has given to me what I don’t deserve (favor and blessings).
Am I entitled to experience God’s wrath? You bet I am. I have failed God in my sins and have lived a life contrary to His holiness. I deserve His wrath, but I did not get it. Am I entitled to God’s grace? No way. Why would God bless a sinner like me? But in His loving manner He has.
This is the reason why I can go around with a thankful heart and visible expressions of joy is because I am not entitled to anything from God apart from what God grants me through His Son, Jesus! In and of myself, I am entitled to nothing but hell and separation from God.
So when I receive an unexpected blessing from the Lord, through others or directly from God, I am so grateful and joyful because I am so unentitled.
I believe the bible was written exactly the way God intended it to be written. I say this because, it was no mistake that Jesus used the number 10. And it was no mistake that only one of the ten returned to give thanks. This could very well imply that out of every ten people, one will be truly thankful while the other nine have an entitlement mentality.
Which company do you fit in?
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
The Price of a Fat Lip
Have you ever been thrown under the bus? – figuratively of course. Perhaps, it happened with an employer you worked for. You worked hard, sacrificed your time and even your health, and then when you were finished being used, you found yourself under the bus.
Perhaps, it was on a sports team. You came to all the practices, invested in learning all you could about the plays, procedures and those whom you played with. Then one day you found yourself under the bus.
By now you have heard the horrific story about three of our most elite men from the navy seals being thrown under the bus. If you haven’t heard by now, this is what happened.
Navy SEALs have secretly captured one of the most wanted terrorists in Iraq — the alleged mastermind of the murder and mutilation of four Blackwater USA security guards in Fallujah in 2004. And three of the SEALs who captured him are now facing criminal charges. . . .
The three, all members of the Navy’s elite commando unit, have refused non-judicial punishment — called an admiral’s mast — and have requested a trial by court-martial.
Ahmed Hashim Abed, whom the military code-named “Objective Amber,” told investigators he was punched by his captors — and he had the bloody lip to prove it.
Now, instead of being lauded for bringing to justice a high-value target, three of the SEAL commandos, all enlisted, face assault charges and have retained lawyers.
The detainee was turned over to Iraqi authorities, to whom he made the abuse complaints. He was then returned to American custody. The SEAL leader reported the charge up the chain of command, and an investigation ensued.
The source said intelligence briefings provided to the SEALs stated that “Objective Amber” planned the 2004 Fallujah ambush, and “they had been tracking this guy for some time.”
The four Blackwater agents were transporting supplies for a catering company when they were ambushed and killed by gunfire and grenades. Insurgents burned the bodies and dragged them through the city. They hanged two of the bodies on a bridge over the Euphrates River for the world press to photograph.
Intelligence sources identified Abed as the ringleader, but he had evaded capture until September. But he complained that he received a bloody lip and with that complaint – all three seals are facing court-martial and jail time.
Let me see if I understand this – because quite frankly I do not. A master mind terrorist who killed four Americans, had their bodies burned, dragged through the streets and finally hung up as a trophy, was finally captured after evading capture. He was captured by the best of the best – Navy Seals. Somewhere along the way, Abed the terrorists got his lip bloodied and now three navy seals are looking at a possible court-martial.
This is another PC (political correct) moment that is literally bringing our nation to its ruin. Over in Florida, a person can receive a one-day suspension for participating in the “kick a Jew Day.” But if our brave men in the military capture a multi-murderer Islamic terrorist and give him a fat lip, their careers are not only finished, but as punishment, they will have to also do jail time.
Oh, I bet this just encourages young men and women to rush to join the military. I cannot imagine having your own government throw you under the bus just because the ENEMY GOT A FAT LIP! The logic and thinking in all this just gives me a headache.
We have two enemies we fighting against. One is internal – those who are Americans and liberal in their thinking, and who use PC as their weapon. Since using PC works so well here in America, our second enemy, those outside of America also have picked up on how cunning and intimidating PC is to Americans. Now they are using it and it seems to be working for our enemies.
Our enemies must look upon us as weak and pathetic. Folks, get ready for more mind-boggling, mental twisting brain aches to come. Because when the trial for the 9/11 terrorists begin in New York City, we are going to see not so much the terrorists on trial, but America will be on trial for the evils that it has done and how she deserved to have the judgment of 9/11.
Liberals hate the military and our president leads the march. He has taken months to fulfill a request to send more troops to Afghanistan. He does not like the word victory because it reminds him how humiliating it was for the Japanese to lose in WW2.
How much longer will we be able to say that America is still the greatest country on this planet? Unless we get a change in leadership, the only direction America will be going is down.
Perhaps, it was on a sports team. You came to all the practices, invested in learning all you could about the plays, procedures and those whom you played with. Then one day you found yourself under the bus.
By now you have heard the horrific story about three of our most elite men from the navy seals being thrown under the bus. If you haven’t heard by now, this is what happened.
Navy SEALs have secretly captured one of the most wanted terrorists in Iraq — the alleged mastermind of the murder and mutilation of four Blackwater USA security guards in Fallujah in 2004. And three of the SEALs who captured him are now facing criminal charges. . . .
The three, all members of the Navy’s elite commando unit, have refused non-judicial punishment — called an admiral’s mast — and have requested a trial by court-martial.
Ahmed Hashim Abed, whom the military code-named “Objective Amber,” told investigators he was punched by his captors — and he had the bloody lip to prove it.
Now, instead of being lauded for bringing to justice a high-value target, three of the SEAL commandos, all enlisted, face assault charges and have retained lawyers.
The detainee was turned over to Iraqi authorities, to whom he made the abuse complaints. He was then returned to American custody. The SEAL leader reported the charge up the chain of command, and an investigation ensued.
The source said intelligence briefings provided to the SEALs stated that “Objective Amber” planned the 2004 Fallujah ambush, and “they had been tracking this guy for some time.”
The four Blackwater agents were transporting supplies for a catering company when they were ambushed and killed by gunfire and grenades. Insurgents burned the bodies and dragged them through the city. They hanged two of the bodies on a bridge over the Euphrates River for the world press to photograph.
Intelligence sources identified Abed as the ringleader, but he had evaded capture until September. But he complained that he received a bloody lip and with that complaint – all three seals are facing court-martial and jail time.
Let me see if I understand this – because quite frankly I do not. A master mind terrorist who killed four Americans, had their bodies burned, dragged through the streets and finally hung up as a trophy, was finally captured after evading capture. He was captured by the best of the best – Navy Seals. Somewhere along the way, Abed the terrorists got his lip bloodied and now three navy seals are looking at a possible court-martial.
This is another PC (political correct) moment that is literally bringing our nation to its ruin. Over in Florida, a person can receive a one-day suspension for participating in the “kick a Jew Day.” But if our brave men in the military capture a multi-murderer Islamic terrorist and give him a fat lip, their careers are not only finished, but as punishment, they will have to also do jail time.
Oh, I bet this just encourages young men and women to rush to join the military. I cannot imagine having your own government throw you under the bus just because the ENEMY GOT A FAT LIP! The logic and thinking in all this just gives me a headache.
We have two enemies we fighting against. One is internal – those who are Americans and liberal in their thinking, and who use PC as their weapon. Since using PC works so well here in America, our second enemy, those outside of America also have picked up on how cunning and intimidating PC is to Americans. Now they are using it and it seems to be working for our enemies.
Our enemies must look upon us as weak and pathetic. Folks, get ready for more mind-boggling, mental twisting brain aches to come. Because when the trial for the 9/11 terrorists begin in New York City, we are going to see not so much the terrorists on trial, but America will be on trial for the evils that it has done and how she deserved to have the judgment of 9/11.
Liberals hate the military and our president leads the march. He has taken months to fulfill a request to send more troops to Afghanistan. He does not like the word victory because it reminds him how humiliating it was for the Japanese to lose in WW2.
How much longer will we be able to say that America is still the greatest country on this planet? Unless we get a change in leadership, the only direction America will be going is down.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
The Danger of Trying To Sound Overly Positive
Does Joel Osteen know what the gospel is?
Joel Osteen
What did he say? Joel Osteen seems to be trying to take the middle of the road. In his attempt not to believe something, he ends up not believing anything.
Joel says that we cannot pass judgment. That is, we cannot inform others that if they do not believe in Jesus, they will go to hell. Joel says only God knows the heart. Yes He does, but the God who knows the heart is also the God who gave us these words:
John 3:18: Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
John 3:36: Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."
John 5:24: I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.
Mark 16:16: Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
John 8:24: I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins."
So you see, Jesus was able to say it, how come Joel cannot? Jesus stated that you either believe in Me or you will be condemned. With Jesus, you know exactly where He stands. With Joel, all you get is confusion! In his attempt in trying to please everyone, he ends up muddying the gospel. If the gospel becomes clouded, how effective is the message?
Joel Osteen
What did he say? Joel Osteen seems to be trying to take the middle of the road. In his attempt not to believe something, he ends up not believing anything.
Joel says that we cannot pass judgment. That is, we cannot inform others that if they do not believe in Jesus, they will go to hell. Joel says only God knows the heart. Yes He does, but the God who knows the heart is also the God who gave us these words:
John 3:18: Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
John 3:36: Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."
John 5:24: I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.
Mark 16:16: Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
John 8:24: I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins."
So you see, Jesus was able to say it, how come Joel cannot? Jesus stated that you either believe in Me or you will be condemned. With Jesus, you know exactly where He stands. With Joel, all you get is confusion! In his attempt in trying to please everyone, he ends up muddying the gospel. If the gospel becomes clouded, how effective is the message?
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Getting To Know Who?
VATICAN CITY — Four hundred years after it locked up Galileo for challenging the view that the Earth was the center of the universe, the Vatican has called in experts to study the possibility of extraterrestrial alien life and its implication for the Catholic Church.
By ARIEL DAVID (AP)
It appears that the Catholic Church has come along way since the time of Galileo. I am not sure if it is necessarily the right way. I just wonder if the so-called experts are biblical scholars. After all, if the Roman Catholic Church wanted to know whether or not there was life on other planets or somewhere out in outer space, wouldn’t the bible indicate so? And if it does, wouldn’t the Pope or Catholic Church have its own scholars?
Here’s a thought: With all the interests in extraterrestrial alien life, why not put the same passion and energy into knowing God? I know that sounds so archaic, bland and off the wall, but that’s my take on finding out whether E.T. is out there. I do know that God is. This I am very sure of. I am not sure, nor do I really care if there is E.T. But since I know for certain that my Creator and Redeemer lives, I ought to spend my dying days getting to know Him better.
By ARIEL DAVID (AP)
It appears that the Catholic Church has come along way since the time of Galileo. I am not sure if it is necessarily the right way. I just wonder if the so-called experts are biblical scholars. After all, if the Roman Catholic Church wanted to know whether or not there was life on other planets or somewhere out in outer space, wouldn’t the bible indicate so? And if it does, wouldn’t the Pope or Catholic Church have its own scholars?
Here’s a thought: With all the interests in extraterrestrial alien life, why not put the same passion and energy into knowing God? I know that sounds so archaic, bland and off the wall, but that’s my take on finding out whether E.T. is out there. I do know that God is. This I am very sure of. I am not sure, nor do I really care if there is E.T. But since I know for certain that my Creator and Redeemer lives, I ought to spend my dying days getting to know Him better.
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