Polygamy and Islam

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyID=2006-12-07T161451Z_01_JAK17807_RTRUKOC_0_US-INDONESIA-POLYGAMY.xml&pageNumber=0&imageid=&cap=&sz=13&WTModLoc=NewsArt-C1-ArticlePage2

Yet another reason why God never intended for Adam and Eve to be Adam and Eve and Jill and Betty and Suzy and Debbie...

I think Jesus says it pretty clearly in Matthew--God didn't intend for divorce or polygamous relationships. Our poor relationships in this life reflect the poor relationship we have with our Creator.

When we try to do it "our way" it almost always winds up a shambles. Perhaps this outcry against polygamy will be the undoing of Fundamentalist Islam?

You can't have Christmas without Christ...

The latest incident in a long series over the years that proves the ridiculousness of celebrating Christmas without Christ:


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061128/ap_on_re_us/christmas_movie_snub

All I want to know is, what would you think a crafts market called "Christkindl Market" would be about? The city of Chicago definitely has some problems.

Most Believe in God--But not in Forgiveness

Is it surprising? Most Americans believe in God according to this survey:

http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/cwn/091506survey.aspx

But why do so many think God is "authoratarian" but not "forgiving"? Obviously there are more out there who believe in the God of the Old Testament who sets down Law, yet do not believe God's promise of sending a Messiah (Jesus) to free us from the heavy burden of keeping the Law perfectly (Gospel--New Testament).

We can't have one without the other... Without the Gospel, all you have is an authoratarian God you fear about crossing the wrong way. That's essentially Islamic philosophy for you. You'd better watch your step or do something really spectacular (crash a plane into a building and take out lots of "infidels") or else you don't have certainty that you'll get into heaven.

But without the Law, you find yourself mixed up in all kinds of things that aren't good for you--stealing, lying, cheating, killing. God forgives, but He loves us too much to simply "walk away from His Creation" (which a good percentage of Americans believe he did) and leave us to rot in our own sorry sinful condition.

God loves us enough to give us the Law for guidance, and He loves us enough to give the Gospel of Jesus declaring His forgiveness when we can't quite keep the Law as we should. It's a win-win situation all around!

The Pope can't quote others on the topic of Islam?

Muslims express fury over Pope's remarks:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060915/ap_on_re_mi_ea/pope_muslims

Freedom of speech is obviously not a guarantee in the Muslim world. Pope Benedict simply quoted a Byzantine emperor who held a discussion with a Persian scholar during the 14th century over the differences between Christianity and Islam.

The quote essentially says that Islam spread primarily through the use of the sword more than anything else. And who can really argue with that? Show me that the same isn't true today--in predominately Muslim countries if you convert to Christianity (or any other religion or no religion at all) you are threatened with severe ostracism and even death. Why should 21st century Muslims get all bent over shape that these same actions were observed in the 14th century as well?

Perhaps Pope Benedict should have erred on the side of caution and simply said, "By their fruit ye shall know them..."

Stem Cell Research doesn't have to Destroy Embryos

http://health.msn.com/healthnews/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100143549>1=8404

I've heard about this line of research before... Between this method of harvesting only one cell from the frozen embryo without harming it and the stem cells scientists can harvest from umbilical cords and placentas, why have so many pushed to destroy IVF embryos in order to harvest stem cells?

It just doesn't make sense. Stem cells can be obtained from other sources, yet the current political culture seems convinced that it's not possible. Those who are "pro-stem cell research" try to paint those who are not as being "unreasonable" because they wish to preserve an unborn child in the embryonic stage.

But here you go--genetically viable stem cells can be obtained without destroying the frozen child. Who's being unreasonable now?

It does make one wonder whether these "pro-stem cell research" politicians aren't just your run-of-the-mill abortion rights activists in sheep's clothing. You can almost hear their thought processes:

Hey, if we can kill a baby that's eighth months old in his/her mother's womb, why don't we slaughter thousands of frozen kids in a laboratory?

It's a puzzle to me. We'll see which politicians applaud this newly released research and which ones will continue to sing the same ol' tune... that babies must die in order to raise the quality of life for those rich enough to afford stem cell research treatments.

A Chocolate Virgin Mary?

Workers discover chocolate Virgin Mary

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/14400252/?GT1=8404

Would a lump of chocolate in the shape of Mary strengthen your faith? What does this say about the "shape" of the church today when people find comfort in confection over the cross?

A witness to the faith

Be sure to read this excellent article about Billy Graham. Truly he is a strong witness to the faith Christians profess in Christ.

"Pilgrim's Progress"
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/14204483/from/ET/

When will the bombing stop?

http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=16954495&BRD=2185&PAG=

When a news story is about a family member of a writing friend, it really hits home. Bombs falling on Lebanon--again.

Twenty years since its civil war and some semblance of tourism and prosperity had returned to Lebanon and now this happens. Innocents are hurt and scared because a bunch of terrorists have taken up camp in parts of the countryside.

My question is why do people tolerate these thugs? In the end, terrorist groups only bring death and destruction to all who have contact with them. Even if you agree with their political objectives, do you want to be associated with their campaign of senseless bloodshed?

Only one person's blood needed to be shed for the forgiveness of all. If only more people in the Middle East would call upon His name and confess their sins of aggression against their neighbors and ask and accept forgiveness. Only then will they be able to live in peace with each other.

But without Jesus on either side? There's no "winner" in sight for this centuries old conflict. The bombs will continue to fall.

When the Holy Spirit Says Act—Act!

I was recently asked if I would be willing to serve on a church “action team” to help chart our church’s path for the future. After mulling it over a while, I decided it wasn’t for me.

Is it because I’ve never served on a church board or committee before? No, it isn’t. I’ve served on several and have even held an office.

Is it because I have something against accepting a “paper pusher” type of position? The answer to that is an unequivocal “yes”.

Is it because I’m not an “office-type” with no experience in paper pushing? No, unfortunately I have worked in an office or two in my time. Actually I worked in the epitome of paper pushing quagmires, a state government agency which handled federal funds and human services programs. If you have ever wanted to know what it’s like to drown in paperwork and constantly wonder what, if anything, you have accomplished to help your fellow man during the course of a stressful day, then may I suggest you obtain a government job in the human services field? You won’t be disappointed.

But the main reason I’m not all that excited about jumping onto another church board, committee or “action team” (the latest term that means pretty much the same thing) is that I don’t feel the Holy Spirit is telling me to park my hips in a chair at church for several times a month discussing for hours what “actions” the congregation should take.

Am I against our church growing and planning and taking action? No, not at all. But I’ve got this gut feeling that when the Holy Spirit says “Act,” he means “Act!” The Holy Spirit doesn’t mean we have to sit down and write up long, detailed business plans with timelines and quantifiable outcomes. Call me insane, but I don’t believe God wrote out an “action plan” when he created the world. He skipped the paperwork, took action and created it. And it was good.

Here’s a true story to further explain my viewpoint on this subject:

I sat for several years on a church board/committee where we discussed how our small but growing church needed a new sign proclaiming to the community that we were here and that we wanted to share the Good News. The reason we were considering a new sign was that over the years the state highway going through our small town had expanded. Our church’s back parking lot now faced this very busy road. People could access our church via the back parking lot instead of driving around the block to an off street to enter it from the front. The amount of traffic that daily passed by our back parking lot on this active thoroughfare was enormous... What a great way to witness to these folks!

But the back of our church didn’t look much like a “church”. The backside contained no stained glass windows or a steeple. It simply was a flat brick wall—perfect for a lighted cross or other sign announcing that this parking lot and building was a church and that we welcomed visitors.

So I sat down with my fellow church board members and discussed and researched and telephoned and wrote up “action plans” about how great it would be to have a new sign… We discussed its cost, where the money would come from, how much electricity would be needed to light it, etcetera. We received estimates from local sign makers and discussed what if any city regulations we might need to clear before erecting the sign on our property. We put this issue before the elders, the church council and the voters assembly and got their approval. We wrote up new detailed “action plans” when the old ones had become outdated since we hadn’t taken any action yet. We did all these things for a period of two to three years.

Then my husband got transferred and we moved out of state. Sadly enough, the sign had yet to appear on the backside of the church.

About two years later, I returned for a short visit to our former hometown. To my happy surprise a beautifully lighted cross and sign with our church’s name graced the brick wall in the back parking lot.

“Wonderful,” I said to my former church board members. “How long has the sign been there?”

“Richard put it up just this past year,” I was told.

“Richard?” I knew who they were talking about, but I was confused. Richard had not been on our committee to put up a sign. Richard didn’t “do committees” really, but he was a very active church member. I asked him about how he came to put up the sign.

“It’s like this,” he said. “I was driving down Gregg Street (the highway) one day and realized just how many people pass by the back of our church—and they don’t even know it is a church. They don’t know how much we’d like for them to stop by and visit with us. I felt that the Holy Spirit wanted us to put up a sign in the back parking lot along the brick wall.”

“I went to a friend who makes signs for a living and asked how much it would cost and how long it would take him to make one for us. He gave me a discount and finished it within a week. I paid for it out of my pocket—the least I could do—and got my son and some other members to help me erect it.”

He smiled and continued, “And you want to know the best thing about our new sign is? We’ve had quite a few visitors tell us that they never knew this building was a church. They never knew our church family existed until they saw our new sign. A few of them are our newest members, too. Isn’t it wonderful reaching out to the community this way? Why on earth didn’t we put a sign up earlier?”

Why indeed.

What I learned from this incident is when the Holy Spirit says “Act,” he means “Act!”

For me it means I don’t sit and discuss things until I’m blue in the face. I simply get to down to work. When the ESL ministry needs tutors to help new Americans learn English, I don’t sit down and construct an “action plan”—I show up on Thursday nights and help tutor new Americans. When “Rebuilding St. Louis” needs volunteers to help fix up elderly and disabled individual’s homes, I don’t write up a report on the value of being a good neighbor—I show up with my paint brush in hand. When a sister church needs people to help with their outreach ministry to inner city children, I don’t sit down and write long essays about what a great thing it is to reach out to those less fortunate and share the love of Jesus with them—I show up at their street Vacation Bible School events and help share the love of Jesus with the children who gather there.

Because when the Holy Spirit says “Act,” he means “Act!” I’m more than willing to let those who demonstrate the gift of paper pushing handle the write ups for me. I’ll be too busy out in the field helping to spread the Good News.

United 93: A Film that Defines Our Generation

I just got back from a sneak preview of the film “United 93”. It opens in the US this Friday, April 28.

You need to see this film. Take your family members, friends and co-workers to see it with you. Take your high school age and older children to see it with you. Take your neighbors along if they can’t get a ride to the movie theatre. Just go and see it.

There are very few films that I would say define a generation. This one is it. If you only see one film this year, see “United 93”. If you attend only one film per decade, attend “United 93”. You won’t be sorry.

I don’t know when the film opens overseas, but as soon as it hits your shores go and see it. You don’t have to understand “American” to understand it. In fact, you don’t have understand any of the dialogue to read the surprise, shock, fear, horror and awe on the faces of the actors­-and some of the actual people who manned the air traffic control centers on that fateful day. If they gave an Academy Award for ensemble casts, this one would win big time.

This is a movie that everyone will be discussing around the water cooler. Forget “The DaVinci Code”. It’s Mickey Mouse stuff. If you read the book, who needs to see the movie? “United 93” ranks miles above such a silly thriller. "United 93" is based on a real-life drama. It will provoke real-life and real, meaningful discussions. Perhaps positive, life-altering discussions.

I won’t get into it here. You have to see the film­--then we can talk about it. Yeah, people will definitely be discussing “United 93” for a long time after they’ve forgotten the brouhaha over Dan Brown’s infantile piece.

And skip the popcorn. You’ll be riveted to your seat. It’ll be cold and you won’t want to eat it by the time you leave the theatre anyway.

Christians Can Persecute Christians, Too

A Serbian Orthodox priest jailed for practicing his faith:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/opriest;_ylt=AqeDNvylr.
W6Grr0_fCEzwNbbBAF;_ylu=X3oDMTA3b3JuZGZhBHNlYwM3MjE-

It's stories like these that give all Christians a bad name. The bad blood between the Serbian and Macedonian Orthodox Churches is nothing more than nationalism thinly disguised as religion. Macedonians simply do not have it in their hearts in the 21st Century to forgive Serbians for past persecutions.

Let's pray these two churches can come together in the Spirit of Christ and forgive their ancient hurts. Let's pray that all denominations can agree that the most important thing is to share the Good News, not to address old political and culturual scores. Let's pray that 1 John is taken to heart: "God is love." That leaves no room for hatred of our fellow man--including fellow Christians.

P.S. My Easter blog is posted at my Every Day *Is* Mother's Day blog site: http://momsday.blogspot.com or http://www.cynthianna.com/momsday_index.html

A Blessed Easter to you and yours. He has risen! :)

"Abdul Rahman must be killed. Islam demands it."

From the Associated Press:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060328/ap_on_re_as/afghan_christian_convert

Rahman, 41, was released from the high-security Policharki prison on the outskirts of Kabul late Monday, Afghan Justice Minister Mohammed Sarwar Danish told The Associated Press.

"We released him last night because the prosecutors told us to," he said. "His family was there when he was freed, but I don't know where he was taken."

Deputy Attorney-General Mohammed Eshak Aloko said prosecutors had issued a letter calling for Rahman's release because "he was mentally unfit to stand trial." He also said he did not know where Rahman had gone after being released.

He said Rahman may be sent overseas for medical treatment.

On Monday, hundreds of clerics, students and others chanting "Death to Christians!" marched through the northern Afghan city of Mazar-e-Sharif to protest the court decision Sunday to dismiss the case. Several Muslim clerics threatened to incite Afghans to kill Rahman if he is freed, saying that he is clearly guilty of apostasy and deserves to die.

"Abdul Rahman must be killed. Islam demands it," said senior Cleric Faiez Mohammed, from the nearby northern city of Kunduz. "The Christian foreigners occupying Afghanistan are attacking our religion."

Rahman was arrested last month after police discovered him with a Bible during a custody dispute over his two daughters. He was put on trial last week for converting 16 years ago while he was a medical aid worker for an international Christian group helping Afghan refugees in Pakistan. He faced the death penalty under Afghanistan's Islamic laws.

I don't know. I used to be open-minded when it came to Islam being described as a "religion of peace". But then you hear its leaders crying:

"Abdul Rahman must be killed. Islam demands it."

Islam demands those who don't agree with its basic beliefs to be killed? I'm really confused. If these Afghani clerics are mistaken in what Islam really stands for, why doesn't anyone else in a position of leadership in the Islamic tradition step up and quickly correct these bloodthirsty clerics or simply tell them to hush up?

I'm afraid the real reason no one ever steps up to deny these claims is because these outraged Afghani clerics are speaking the truth about Islam... That it does demand death for anyone who doesn't stay within its folds.

Many modern day Muslims bring up the past by saying the Christian Crusaders were just as bloodthirsty. Probably. But most in the church didn't agree with the Crusaders' tactics of "convert or die" and Christianity has moved on from those disgraceful practices.

After all, Jesus said, "Love your enemy--do good to those who persecute you." Christians have asked for forgiveness from those they've wronged and from God. And they have moved on, confident that they have received it because of Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross.

If Islam is such a "peaceful" religion, then why hasn't it moved on from utilizing these medieval or "Dark Ages" tactics? It seems to be a religion that is evolving backward...becoming darker rather than enlightened. It's transforming out of a "peaceful" religion into a violent, hate-filled, xenophobic religion.

So why doesn't anyone in the Islamic world point out this paradox and stop this madness? Could it be because, deep down, this is reality of the Koran? Kill all non-believers, scare your own believers into toeing the line or else...

The more these clerics yell for an innocent's man blood, the more I'm reminded of the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Abdul Rahman has been freed, but let's continue to pray for his safety. Let's continue to keep our brothers and sisters in Christ in that turbulent area of the world in our prayers.

Ready to die--freed on a technicality

Abdul is free--for now. But for how long? And will his fellow countrymen kill him for leaving Islam?

From the latest news on Abdul Rahman:

In an interview published Sunday by an Italian newspaper, Rahman said his family, including his former wife and two teenage daughters, reported him to authorities.

He stressed that he was fully aware of his choice to convert.

"If I must die, I will die," Rahman told the Rome daily La Repubblica, which did not interview him directly but channeled questions through a human rights worker who visited him in prison.

Rahman said he chose to become a Christian "in small steps" after leaving Afghanistan around 1990. He moved to Peshawar, Pakistan, then Germany and tried to get a visa in Belgium.

"In Peshawar, I worked for a humanitarian organization. They were Catholics," Rahman said. "I started talking to them about religion, I read the Bible, it opened my heart and my mind."

After saying he was ready to die, he told La Repubblica: "Somebody, a long time ago, did it for all of us," in a clear reference to Jesus Christ.

___

Associated Press correspondent Rahim Faiez in Kabul contributed to this report.

How many Americans Christians would be strong enough to say the same thing? God bless and keep Abdul safe. His battle to believe as his conscience tells him is far from over.

Facing the Lions in Afghanistan...

From WorldNetDaily.com
http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=49345

Man faces death penalty for becoming Christian
Despite ouster of Taliban by U.S., court still prosecutes ex-Muslim

© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com


Despite the fact the hardline Taliban regime is no longer in power, an Afghan man faces possible execution for allegedly abandoning his Islamic roots and becoming a Christian.

"Yes that's true, a man has converted to Christianity. He's being tried in one of our courts," Supreme Court judge Ansarullah Mawlavizada told the Middle East Times.


The case centers on Abdul Rahman, believed to be 41, who converted from Islam to Christianity some 16 years ago. His relatives reportedly notified authorities about the conversion.

The constitution in Afghanistan is based on Shariah law, which states any Muslim who rejects his or her religion should be sentenced to death.

"We are not against any particular religion in the world. But in Afghanistan, this sort of thing is against the law," the judge told the Associated Press. "It is an attack on Islam. ... The prosecutor is asking for the death penalty."

If he indeed is sentenced, Rahman would be the first person punished for leaving Islam since the Taliban was ousted by American-led forces in late 2001, in the wake of the Sept. 11 terror attacks on the U.S.

Prosecutor Abdul Wasi says he offered to drop the charges if Rahman made the switch back to Islam, but the defendant is maintaining his Christian beliefs. The judge is expected to rule within two months.

You hate to admit it but the death penalty is one very effective means of preventing your population from switching religions.

This story is yet another illustration how "Allah" is not the God of the Bible, no matter what the universalists believe. The apostle John tells us "God is love," and "We love because God first loved us." How can Allah be God if he decrees death sentences on those who refuse to worship him?

But isn't it awe-inspiring to know that Abdul Rahman is willing to die for his belief in Christ as the Son of the one and only true living God? Pray that Abdul will receive justice and be set free. Pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who face death and other punishments for their belief. Pray that they will remain firm in their faith in a loving God who cares enough about sinful mankind that he sent his son Jesus into the world for the forgiveness of our sins.

Pray that more people's eyes will be opened to the true horrors that non-belief in Christ wreaks upon the world...

The Guilt of the Already Born?

Anne Lamott, essayist and novelist, speaks out on the LA Times opinion page in a piece called “The Rights of the Born”. Read her thoughts here:
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-lamott10feb10,0,6836804.story?coll=la-news-comment-opinions

To quote Ms. Lamott:

"Most women like me would much rather use our time and energy fighting to make the world safe and just and fair for the children we do have, and do love — and for the children of New Orleans and the children of Darfur. I am old and tired and menopausal and would mostly like to be left alone: I have had my abortions, and I have had a child.

"But as a Christian and a feminist, the most important message I can carry and fight for is the sacredness of each human life, and reproductive rights for all women is a crucial part of that: It is a moral necessity that we not be forced to bring children into the world for whom we cannot be responsible and adoring and present. We must not inflict life on children who will be resented; we must not inflict unwanted children on society."

I can see now why Anne Lamott felt like she gave a “spewy” emotional answer to the panel question of how a caring society can allow so many abortions to occur each and every day… Her own words convict her:

“We must not inflict life on children who will be resented; we must not inflict unwanted children on society.”

Anne—are you saying you resent your own mother bringing you into the world? Was society “inflicted” with you? (Did not want you?) Or are you saying that your life possesses more "sacredness" than other human beings' lives because your tiny body didn’t wind up in a waste can?

So, what I really want to know is who makes the judgment that one child is “inflicted” and another child isn’t "inflicted on society"? The pregnant woman? The child's father? A politician in Washington?

Do any of these individuals really understand what it means to be inflicted on society? Who has the wisdom to determine a child's "wantedness"?

What does a woman who has experienced several abortions tell her living child each and every night at bedtime? Does she tell her living child that she did not “adore” his/her siblings enough so they had to be aborted instead of carried to term and given to adoptive parents who could "adore" and care for them instead?

And what does a child--when he/she comes to realize that by sheer happenstance he/she is still breathing--really believe about a mother who callously ends her other children’s existence? Will this child grow up fearful, concerned that if he/she does something bad Mommy will terminate him/her just as easily?

Who says one day we can’t legalize abortions up to the 200 months after conception? Let's get rid of all those whiny pre-teens and teenagers who “inflict” themselves upon our society. I resent their awful loud music and their tacky dyed hair and tatoos. I don't see why we couldn't abort "unwanted" teens.

Have I lost my mind completely? I'm saying I want to kill teenagers... Hey, if their little bodies once resided inside of mine they belong to me. It's for me to decide their "wantedness", right?

I understand now why so many people are fleeing from liberal political parties and organizations. They say they are fighting for world peace and the end of the death penalty around the world—good. But at the same time, these groups don’t grasp that cutting a defenseless baby out of a mother’s womb is also an act of killing.

Let's skip the euphemisms here and call abortion what it is: The death penalty for the unwanted--without benefit of a trial.

An individual kills dozens of innocent bystanders in a terrorist bombing—that person shouldn’t receive the death penalty for his crimes you say. Fine. A woman routinely ends the lives of fetuses she didn’t plan for in the first place—that woman shouldn’t get the death penalty, either. Okay, I see your logic. But, still, in both cases unique human beings our Creator deemed fit to bring into this realm of existence have died at the hands of others.

I remember reading something against taking such actions in the Bible somewhere… Oh yeah. “Thou shalt not kill,” and "Thou shalt not bear false witness." (Hey, a fetus is innocent until proven guilty of being an unwanted, infliction upon society, right?)

A moral, caring individual should feel remorse over sanctioning millions upon millions of abortions. She should give a “spewy” emotional answer to a hot question on a liberal panel. Anne, let me spell it out to you in easy to understand terms that even a novelist can comprehend: What you’re feeling is called “guilt”.

Thank God Almighty that He sent our Savior Jesus into the world. Jesus came to grant forgiveness of even our most deepest and darkest guilty feelings. We can cut the “spewy” answers and confess our grief and guilt to him and receive forgiveness.

And then we can share the Good News with others that God never “inflicts” human beings upon society. God has a special purpose for each and everyone of us. And it doesn’t go against any political agenda to want to support the rights of precious, unborn human beings.

Bring on the Lions: Will an Italian judge have to rule on the existence of Christ?

From Yahoo News:

The Associated Press

VITERBO, Italy - An Italian judge heard arguments Friday on whether a small-town parish priest should stand trial for asserting that Jesus Christ existed.

The priest's atheist accuser, Luigi Cascioli, says the Roman Catholic Church has been deceiving people for 2,000 years with a fable that Christ existed, and that the Rev. Enrico Righi violated two Italian laws by reasserting the claim.

Lawyers for Righi and Cascioli, old schoolmates, made their arguments in a brief, closed-door hearing before Judge Gaetano Mautone in Viterbo, north of Rome. They said they expected the judge to decide quickly.

Cascioli filed a criminal complaint in 2002 after Righi wrote in a parish bulletin that Jesus did indeed exist, and that he was born of a couple named Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem and lived in Nazareth.

Cascioli claims that Righi's assertion constituted two crimes under Italian law: so-called "abuse of popular belief," in which someone fraudulently deceives people; and "impersonation," in which someone gains by attributing a false name to a person.

"The point is not to establish whether Jesus existed or not, but if there is a question of possible fraud," Cascioli's attorney, Mauro Fonzo, told reporters before the hearing.

Cascioli says the church has been gaining financially by "impersonating" as Christ someone by the name of John of Gamala, the son of Judas from Gamala.

He has said he has little hope of the case succeeding in overwhelmingly Roman Catholic Italy, but that he is merely going through the necessary legal steps to reach the European Court of Human Rights, where he intends to accuse the church of what he calls "religious racism."

Righi, 76, has stressed substantial historical evidence — both Christian and non-Christian — of Jesus' existence.

"Don Righi is innocent because he said and wrote what he has the duty to say and write," Righi's attorney, Severo Bruno, told reporters.

He said he told Mautone during the hearing that Righi was not asserting a historical fact when he wrote of Jesus' existence, but rather "an expression of theological principles."

"When Don Righi spoke about Christ's humanity ... he was affirming that he needs to be considered as a man. What his name is, where he comes from or who his parents are is secondary," he said.

Fonza said he countered that there have long been questions of Christ's existence and that the matter warranted discussion in the court.

"When somebody states a wrong fact, abusing the ignorance of people, and gains from that, that is one of the gravest crimes," Cascioli told reporters.

Righi's brother, Luigi Righi, attended the hearing and said his brother was "serene but bitter."

**************************************************************

Doesn't this case sound like something out of the Twilight Zone? Unfortunately, it's for real... The EU Human Rights Commission will probably knock out 2000 years of Christianity in one fell swoop by declaring it to be "religious racism."

It's a sad world we live in. Christians can't afford to stay put in their "comfort zones" any longer. It's time to speak out and share the Gospel more boldly than ever before.

I find it somewhat ironic that this court case is to be tried in Italy, the modern country that came from the remnants of the Roman Empire.

Bring on the lions.

THE TOP TEN PREDICTIONS FOR 2006/Did God Create Everything?

THE TOP TEN PREDICTIONS FOR 2006

1. The Bible will still have the answers.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost.

--Author Unknown

(Thanks to Karen S. for sharing these "predictions" with us. Amazing how the more things change, the more the stay the same... And here's another email story that may or may not be true, but makes a good point either way.)


Did God Create Everything?

This is a really great answer to a question you may be asked or have asked. Did God create everything that exists? Does evil exist? Did God create evil?

A University professor at a well known institution of higher learning challenged his students with this question. "Did God create everything that exists?"

A student bravely replied "Yes He did".

"God created everything?" the professor asked.

"Yessir, He certainly did." the student replied.

The professor answered, "If God created everything, then God created evil. And since evil exists, and according to the principal that our works define who we are, then we can assume God is evil."

The student became quiet and did not answer the professor's
hypothetical definition. The professor, quite pleased with himself, boasted to the students that he had proven once more that the Christian faith was a myth.

Another student raised his hand and said, "May I ask you a question, professor?"

"Of course", replied the professor.

The student stood up and asked, "Professor, does cold exist?"

"What kind of a question is this? Of course it exists."

"Have you never been cold?" The other student snickered at the young man's question.

The young man replied, "In fact sir, cold does not exist. According
to the laws of physics, what we consider cold is in reality the absence of heat. Every body, or object, is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body, or matter, have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-460 F) is the total absence of heat; and all matter becomes inert and incapable of reaction at that temperature. Cold does not exist. We have created this word to describe how we feel if we have no heat."

The student continued, "Professor, does darkness exist?"

The professor responded, "Of course it does."

The student replied, "Once again you are wrong sir, darkness does notexist either. Darkness is in reality the absence of light. Light we can study, but not darkness. In fact we can use Newton's prism to break white light into many colors and study the various wavelengths of each color. You cannot measure darkness. A simple ray of light can break into a world of darkness and illuminate it. How can you know how dark a certain space is? You measure the amount of light present. Isn't this correct? Darkness is a term used by man to describe what happens when there is no light present."

Finally the young man asked the professor, "Sir, does evil exist?"

Now uncertain, the professor responded, "Of course, as I have already said, we see it everyday. It is in the daily examples of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil.

To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist, sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat, or the darkness that comes when there is no light."

The professor sat down.

The young man's name was Albert Einstein...

(Not sure if this is a true story, but it's still a good analogy for God's love.)

A Top Twenty Not to Be Proud Of...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10823343/

St. Louis makes the top 20 list of "the meanest places in America for Homeless people". (Not exactly a top 20 list you'd like to see your town listed on.)

Gee, you'd think with all the churches and church schools around here we'd treat the homeless (most of whom are mentally ill) with a bit more Christian charity, wouldn't you?

Something to think about...

Valentines Carols

Some of my fellow church members and I decided to make "Christmas caroling" to our shut-ins a year round activity. And what better way to kick off the New Year than by going "Valentines Caroling"?

Here are some of my attempts at re-writing carols to fit the day that honors that great and loving saint, Valentine.:

Valentines, Valentines (Sung to the tune of Jingle Bells)

CHORUS:
Valentines, Valentines
And we'll tell you, too
Jesus came to give us life
And this good news to you! (repeat)

Dashing through the snow (cold), we came here today
To sing a silly song with laughter all the way! Ho, ho, ho…
Our glad voices ring, lifting hands, we sigh--
What fun it is to praise our Lord
The love of God most high!

On Valentines Day (Sung to the tune of Away in the Manger)

On Valentines Day we sing you this song
To tell you we love you and wish you life long--
The knowledge our Savior will be by your side
Forgiveness of sins is why he did die

On Valentines Day we know this is true
Jesus rose from the grave for me and for you
Together in heaven with Him we will share
The love of the Father and His tender care

God Bless Ye Merry Gentlemen (Sung to the tune of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen)

God bless ye merry gentlemen
And ladies of this place
Remember Jesus loves you so
I'll show it on my face
My smile and hug are tokens of God's peace and loving grace.
Oh-oh, tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, oh-oh, tidings of comfort and joy!

God's Love's All About! ( Sung to the tune of Silver Bells)

CHORUS:
Red and pink! Red and pink!
Valentines cards by the plenty
Hear us shout-His love's all about!
We share it this Valentines!

Pretty windows, busy mall stores
Dressed in hearts and love scenes
In the air there's the feeling of cupid
People hugging, people smiling
But what does this all mean?
It means Jesus' love reigns supreme!
(Repeat CHORUS)

Everyone is God's child! (sung to the tune of Silent Night)

Valentines hug, Valentines smile-
Everyone is God's child!
We share the gospel by singing to you
Telling of Jesus who loves us all true
Jesus' love covers the earth!
Jesus' love covers the earth!

Valentine's hug, Valentine's smile-
Every heart is worthwhile
God made us all to be his children
Together forever in heaven we'll spend
Jesus saves all of mankind!
Jesus saves all of mankind!

O Little Day of Valentines (sung to the tune of O Little Town of Bethlehem)

O Little Day of Valentines
How beautiful you shine!
Today we share good news with you
Of Jesus' love divine
Our hearts and happy voices
Tell of our joy and mirth
Of this we sing, our Lord and King
Who came to bless the earth.

O Little Day of Valentines
Why is it on this day?
That people think of candies pink
Instead to Whom we pray?
Valentine shared the gospel story
With those he called most dear
So we will too, share this with you
Our good Lord's always near!

Valentines is Here (sung to Joy to the World)

Valentines is here, the day of love
God tells us from above
How to love each other
Be sisters and brothers
Travel Christ's pathway true
Travel Christ's pathway true
Travel Christ's pathway for me and you!

Valentines is here, this day of hearts
Let loving thoughts impart
To every son and daughter
Mother, child and father
Share the gospel news
Share the gospel news
Share the gospel news from me to you!

Feel free to "Valentines Carol" your loved ones with these songs… If you decide to print the lyrics out, don't forget to put "all lyrics copyright 2005 by Cindy Appel, all rights reserved" somewhere on the page. And don't forget to tell folks where you saw these songs first. Thanks!

P.S. Drop me an email and tell me how folks reacted to your "Valentines Caroling". Email me with "Valentines Caroling" in the subject header to cynthianna @ hotmail.com (no spaces)
Thanks.