Readers, beware of the following types of email:
FROM:THE LOTTERY CO-ORDINATOR,
GOVERNMENT ACCREDITED LICENSED LOTTERY PROMOTERS.
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT
CONCORD INTERNATIONAL LOTTO.
56/70 KORKUSTRAAT
1196 KL.
AMSTERDAM,
THE NETHERLANDS.
TEL:+31-619-042-532
FAX:+31-847-300-360
NEW YEAR BONANZA ! BONANZA !! BONANZA !!!
Hurray! You have been selected as one of the five
lucky winners in the second
edition of the CONCORD LOTTO promotional draw. You
have therefore been approved
for a huge payout of 860.000 USD (Eight hundred and
sixty thousand USD)
How was the selction process done?
Winners were randomly selected from an initial
database of 100.000 emails
which was eventually downsized to 5.000 from which we
eventually selected
the final and lucky five. The process was done through
the computerized
email balloting system selecting emails from The
Middle East,Asia,USA,Africa,Canada,Europe,and
South America.
The process of collecting your winnings is to be
handled by our Prize
Transfer Agents.To ensure a smooth collection of your
grand prize, You are
to contact our agents by email or fax within a week of
receiving this notice.Please
find full contact details below:
MR.VINCENT ROWE
CLAIM AGENT/VERIFYING HOUSE
CONCORD INTER.LOTTO NETHERLANDS
HOT LINE TEL:+31-619-042-532
FAX:+31-847-300-360
E-mail:concordlotto@netscape.net
When you contact your claims agent please provide him
with your full
name,country of residence and address along with the
following information
below:
Ref No: UNL/31251311-47
Grand Draw No: 12099
Secret pin code: 7769847
Furthermore you are seriously advised to keep all
winning lottery
information and numbers from the public in line with
our company security
protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted
abuse of this program
by unscrupulous individuals.Please do reply to this
mail,and contact your
claim agent asinstructed above.
On behalf of all our staff in CONCORD INTER.LOTTO
program,accept our
Congratulations!!!!!
Mr. Ruth Bums
The Marketting Manager,
CONCORD INTER.LOTTO
Note: Always reply to this e-mail add....
concordlotto@netscape.net
The biggest clue that this was a scam? I never sent emails to anyone from the address it was sent to. People who scam will use your email address from sites you post information to - such as comments you make in a blog. It's not a good sign when your Marketting Manager can't spell. Or has the last name of "Bums".
For more on lottery scams on the Internet, visit the following sites:
Fraudwatch International
Dutch Lottery Scams
Lottery Scams
Thursday, December 30, 2004
Bloggers: "People of the Year"
Bloggers are named "People of the Year" in an ABC News Original Report.
Merriam-Webster named "blog" the word of the year.
Merriam-Webster named "blog" the word of the year.
There are millions of blogs on the Internet — a new one is created every seven-and-a-half seconds. More than 10,000 new additions are added to the "blogosphere" each day.
United To Help Tsunami-stricken Countries
ABC News states that the death toll from the tsunami is past 117,000 and over 5 million people lack food, sanitary water, and shelter.
The tragically encouraging news I found in this entire story was reading the different countries (United States, India, Germany, Finland, Australia, Japan, Israel, New Zealand, Pakistan, Singapore) that have pitched in to help the devastated regions (India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indian islands, Malaysia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, the Maldives, Somalia, Tanzania, Kenya, & Sumatra).
It is good to see people in the governments and militaries, from different nations and races, coming together to show care in the form of providing food & medicine, building water plants & mobile clinics, finding & rescuing survivors, identifying & bagging dead bodies, and distributing supplies to survivors.
It is just unfortunate that it takes circumstances like these to unite international efforts from governments and their militaries.
Note: Countries in this post were listed in the order in which they were named in the article.
The tragically encouraging news I found in this entire story was reading the different countries (United States, India, Germany, Finland, Australia, Japan, Israel, New Zealand, Pakistan, Singapore) that have pitched in to help the devastated regions (India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indian islands, Malaysia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, the Maldives, Somalia, Tanzania, Kenya, & Sumatra).
It is good to see people in the governments and militaries, from different nations and races, coming together to show care in the form of providing food & medicine, building water plants & mobile clinics, finding & rescuing survivors, identifying & bagging dead bodies, and distributing supplies to survivors.
It is just unfortunate that it takes circumstances like these to unite international efforts from governments and their militaries.
Note: Countries in this post were listed in the order in which they were named in the article.
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
New President in Ukraine
I meant to post this yesterday:
KIEV, Ukraine - Opposition leader Victor Yushchenko declared victory today in Ukraine's fiercely contested presidential election, telling thousands of supporters that they had taken their country to a new political era after a bitterly fought campaign that required an unprecedented three ballots and Supreme Court intervention against fraud.Now, I'm not Ukrainian, but I was really happy to read the news on Monday and see that Yushchenko had won this election. I guess I was rooting for the underdog since he wasn't the favored guy by Vladimir Putin...
Yanukovych, 54, backed by Kuchma and Russian President Vladimir Putin, is strongest in industrialized, Russian-speaking eastern Ukraine. He has said he would strengthen ties with Moscow, and his constituencies include miners, factory workers and ethnic Russians....and since apparently there had been some forces at work trying to kill him off...
Yushchenko, whose face remains badly scarred from dioxin poisoning he blamed on Ukrainian authorities, has recovered enough that he should be able to serve as Ukraine's president, but he will continue to need treatment for months if not years, his doctors and foreign specialists said....I brought this up in a Dec 5 posting. Then noticed in a Dec 17 newspaper article that Yanukovych stated he would not give in easily if Yushchenko won on the 26th. Glad to see the "good guy" win. It's possible you won't be able to view the web-article (link). I tried to view it again today, got blocked by some login thing, and had to ...uh... *cough* ...get around it. That's all I'll say.
Sunday, December 26, 2004
A prayer
Father God,
You are the revealer. You are light.
Right now, Father, I just lift up to You the men and women in the United States military who are overseas fighting in the war on terror. I also lift up the men and women who are here in the homeland defending this nation's borders. You reveal and you are light. Light up your vessels, Lord. The men and women whose hearts belong to You, light them with your light. Give them insight. Give them wisdom. Reveal that which is done in darkness; that which is done in secret. Reveal. Reveal with Your light. Reveal it to Your people. Father, in past wars you have revealed the plans of the enemy to Your people, thus giving them victory over the enemy. Confuse and confound the enemy, Lord. That land is thrown into a darkness. There are principalities fighting for power. Confound them, Lord, and cause them not to prosper. Break through with Your light. Give strength to Your people. Draw Your people to You in prayer. The men and women whose hearts are Yours, draw them to Your heart. Cause them to remember to pray, intercede, and make supplications in all things. Cause them to wait upon You so that their strength will be renewed. For you said that those that wait upon You shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not be faint. Bring to their rememberance Your Words. Let Your vessels of light bring hope to those around them. Let Your Words flow forth from Your vessels like springs of living water to refresh them, to bring hope, to bring strength, and to renew their minds.
And Lord, raise up Your standard. For Your Word claims that when the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. Fight for us, Lord. Show us the way. And turn our hearts toward You. For those who do not understand, remove the blinders from their eyes. Allow them, if You would, to understand so that we may stand together against evil. You have appointed instruments for various purposes. Calm the hearts of those who worry and help them to understand the purpose of a military. And let this war end quickly, Lord. End it quickly and bring our troops back home. Father, you reveal. Bring Your light into the dark places of that area - into every nook and cranny, every alleyway, every tunnel, every mountain pass - reveal the plans of the enemy and confound them. Let the evil aggressors be cut off swiftly at the root. Reveal their plans and their hideouts and bring them to justice swiftly so that there will be no more bloodshed. For there are good people on both sides of this war. There are innocent people caught in the midst of this. I plead Your divine intervention into this war to bring it to a swift end, Lord, for the sake of those who are innocent and good. Heal that land. Bring peace and restoration, if You will. Let it no longer be consumed and devoured by war. End it quickly and bring those who are evil swiftly to justice.
I pray for the President of the United States of America and for all the leaders of this nation who oversee the affairs of governing the people and the war. I pray that they would seek You in their decisions, Lord. If there be any that do not know You to seek counsel from You, then draw them with Your cords of love. Minister to their hearts that they may receive sound instruction from You and not abuse the power give to them. Thank You for protecting Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld when he visited the military troops Fallujah, Mosul, Tikrit, and Baghdad this past Thursday. Some troops expressed their thanks for simply seeing him. His words to them were very kind when he said, "I'm very grateful and am privileged for the opportunity to look you in the eye and thank you." Give strength to him, the President, and others in charge of this war. Let them not grow weary from negative words and controversy. Lead them, Lord. Guide and direct them. Show them how to be strong leaders and guide them in the way of discipline. Give them courage to do the right things at all times. Remove temptation from their paths so that they would not abuse power or stray from sound judgment. Protect them from all harm and destruction.
And now I pray for the Churches, for Your people, and for those who have been appointed to watch and minister to Your people. Lord, I pray that You would set Your house in order. Where certain men have crept in unawares, Father, stir up and shake out the chaff. Set Your house in order, Mighty God. Restore order from the Head all the way down to the Body. Restore order. Let Your Holy Spirit be loosed into Your house and let Your people worship You in Spirit and in Truth. I pray that Your people would turn their hearts toward You and return to their first Love. I pray that Your Word would pierce their hearts and cause them to discern the Truth. Raise up men and women of Truth -- who have fed on Your Word night and day; who have set themselves apart for You; who abide in Your love -- to minister to Your people. Give them a shepherd's heart to protect what is Yours and to even go after the one that would stray. Let them teach Your people the difference between the holy and the profane and cause them to discern between what is clean and unclean. Let them judge controversial issues according to Your judgments. Let them minister in love, not fearing to rebuke those of Your sheep who walk in error. For we know that You chastise us because You love us and if we learn now from our errors, then we will be saved from an eternal mistake. Thank You, Lord, that You love us to do this.
Thank You, Father, for Your Word that gives us life and wisdom. Thank You for the blessings You have poured out upon this nation, keeping us safe on all sides from harm and destruction from evil aggressors. Thank You that You are our provider in times of need. You are Mighty and awesome and there is none like You. Thank You that You provide us with a Comforter when our hearts are filled with sorrow. You lift us up when we are faint. When we stumble, You give us light and You forgive us. Thank You that when we seek You, we will find You, when we search for You with our whole heart. Thank You that You encourage us to do good and not evil. Thank You for this love: Your love. Thank you for these things and more. All praise and glory to You forever and ever.
19 So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.(Is 59)
You are the revealer. You are light.
Right now, Father, I just lift up to You the men and women in the United States military who are overseas fighting in the war on terror. I also lift up the men and women who are here in the homeland defending this nation's borders. You reveal and you are light. Light up your vessels, Lord. The men and women whose hearts belong to You, light them with your light. Give them insight. Give them wisdom. Reveal that which is done in darkness; that which is done in secret. Reveal. Reveal with Your light. Reveal it to Your people. Father, in past wars you have revealed the plans of the enemy to Your people, thus giving them victory over the enemy. Confuse and confound the enemy, Lord. That land is thrown into a darkness. There are principalities fighting for power. Confound them, Lord, and cause them not to prosper. Break through with Your light. Give strength to Your people. Draw Your people to You in prayer. The men and women whose hearts are Yours, draw them to Your heart. Cause them to remember to pray, intercede, and make supplications in all things. Cause them to wait upon You so that their strength will be renewed. For you said that those that wait upon You shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not be faint. Bring to their rememberance Your Words. Let Your vessels of light bring hope to those around them. Let Your Words flow forth from Your vessels like springs of living water to refresh them, to bring hope, to bring strength, and to renew their minds.
And Lord, raise up Your standard. For Your Word claims that when the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. Fight for us, Lord. Show us the way. And turn our hearts toward You. For those who do not understand, remove the blinders from their eyes. Allow them, if You would, to understand so that we may stand together against evil. You have appointed instruments for various purposes. Calm the hearts of those who worry and help them to understand the purpose of a military. And let this war end quickly, Lord. End it quickly and bring our troops back home. Father, you reveal. Bring Your light into the dark places of that area - into every nook and cranny, every alleyway, every tunnel, every mountain pass - reveal the plans of the enemy and confound them. Let the evil aggressors be cut off swiftly at the root. Reveal their plans and their hideouts and bring them to justice swiftly so that there will be no more bloodshed. For there are good people on both sides of this war. There are innocent people caught in the midst of this. I plead Your divine intervention into this war to bring it to a swift end, Lord, for the sake of those who are innocent and good. Heal that land. Bring peace and restoration, if You will. Let it no longer be consumed and devoured by war. End it quickly and bring those who are evil swiftly to justice.
I pray for the President of the United States of America and for all the leaders of this nation who oversee the affairs of governing the people and the war. I pray that they would seek You in their decisions, Lord. If there be any that do not know You to seek counsel from You, then draw them with Your cords of love. Minister to their hearts that they may receive sound instruction from You and not abuse the power give to them. Thank You for protecting Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld when he visited the military troops Fallujah, Mosul, Tikrit, and Baghdad this past Thursday. Some troops expressed their thanks for simply seeing him. His words to them were very kind when he said, "I'm very grateful and am privileged for the opportunity to look you in the eye and thank you." Give strength to him, the President, and others in charge of this war. Let them not grow weary from negative words and controversy. Lead them, Lord. Guide and direct them. Show them how to be strong leaders and guide them in the way of discipline. Give them courage to do the right things at all times. Remove temptation from their paths so that they would not abuse power or stray from sound judgment. Protect them from all harm and destruction.
And now I pray for the Churches, for Your people, and for those who have been appointed to watch and minister to Your people. Lord, I pray that You would set Your house in order. Where certain men have crept in unawares, Father, stir up and shake out the chaff. Set Your house in order, Mighty God. Restore order from the Head all the way down to the Body. Restore order. Let Your Holy Spirit be loosed into Your house and let Your people worship You in Spirit and in Truth. I pray that Your people would turn their hearts toward You and return to their first Love. I pray that Your Word would pierce their hearts and cause them to discern the Truth. Raise up men and women of Truth -- who have fed on Your Word night and day; who have set themselves apart for You; who abide in Your love -- to minister to Your people. Give them a shepherd's heart to protect what is Yours and to even go after the one that would stray. Let them teach Your people the difference between the holy and the profane and cause them to discern between what is clean and unclean. Let them judge controversial issues according to Your judgments. Let them minister in love, not fearing to rebuke those of Your sheep who walk in error. For we know that You chastise us because You love us and if we learn now from our errors, then we will be saved from an eternal mistake. Thank You, Lord, that You love us to do this.
Thank You, Father, for Your Word that gives us life and wisdom. Thank You for the blessings You have poured out upon this nation, keeping us safe on all sides from harm and destruction from evil aggressors. Thank You that You are our provider in times of need. You are Mighty and awesome and there is none like You. Thank You that You provide us with a Comforter when our hearts are filled with sorrow. You lift us up when we are faint. When we stumble, You give us light and You forgive us. Thank You that when we seek You, we will find You, when we search for You with our whole heart. Thank You that You encourage us to do good and not evil. Thank You for this love: Your love. Thank you for these things and more. All praise and glory to You forever and ever.
19 So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.(Is 59)
12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. 13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. (Ps 27)
4 Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.
11 Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. 12 Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies. (Ps 60)
1 I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. 2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. 3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. 4 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. 5 The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. 6 In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.
...
17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.
...
28 For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness. 29 For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall. 30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. 31 For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God? 32 It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. 33 He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places. 34 He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. 35 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great. 36 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip. 37 I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed. 38 I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet. 39 For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me. 40 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me. 41 They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not. 42 Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.
...
46 The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted. 47 It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me. 48 He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man. 49 Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.(Ps 18)
4 Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.(Ps 35)
23 And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. 24 And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to my judgments: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all mine assemblies; and they shall hallow my sabbaths. (Ez 44)
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.(1 Ti 2)
1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. 6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. (Ro 13)
Friday, December 24, 2004
Allah Akbar War
War
War
What the hell are we fighting for?
These people we fight don’t care
They don’t care who we are
They commit atrocities and
All the while chant “Allah Akbar”.
Allah Akbar, what are we fighting for?
Allah Akbar, what is this war?
Allah Akbar means “God is Great”
Well I know God too and I’m sure
He doesn’t condone this hate
So Allah Akbar – well Jesus Christ!
They’ve got guns, mortars, and rocket grenades!
And Allah Akbar? Well Jesus Christ!
They don’t care if I live or die, they’re full of hate!
And now you punish me for this war I fight
You punish me because you say I have no right
What the hell are these conventions?
Do you think they live by them too?
My buddies die left and right
In this hellhole milieu
And I’m supposed to be above this
Cuz I represent our country
Yet I’ve been sent back to this wasteland
On a second tour of duty
And I’ve seen what they do to others
I’ve seen what they do to us
But cuz I killed a man near a gun
I am being brought to justice?
What justice is this bullshit?
What crap do I have to pay?
For a man who wanted to take my life
But I took his instead that day.
This is a war
People will die
These so-called conventions
Is something we all decry.
Come take our place
And hold a gun in your hand
Sit on top of a hummer
While people shoot at your head
We’re given very little
But we’re expected to do a lot
We’re armoring our vehicles
In our make shift chop-shops
Scavenging for metal
Because our forces are on a budget
While our country gives more money
To other countries on this planet.
Allah Akbar, what are we fighting for?
Jesus Christ, why am I here?
These people kill in your name oh God
And this war is very unclear.
It’s nothing like we’ve fought before
These people are not organized
But we’re being punished left and right
While these people don’t even get chastised.
They don’t want their country healed
They want to tear it all to pieces
I say let them have at each other
And let us return back to our beaches
As long as they stay off our land
They won’t face us as a problem
If they attack us one more time
Then this war will be about freedom
Freedom from the tyranny of their attacks
Freedom from this guise of religion
Freedom and there will be no-holds barred
Because my life and my land they won’t ruin.
Allah Akbar is an unknown tongue
But I know a God who is great
And I am more than quite sure
He doesn’t condone their hate.
Originally I picked up my guitar and strummed three or four chords and something on my heart about this Middle East war came spewing out in poetlyre fashion... something like above. I took the gist of it - it was more detailed in the improv. Uncaptured. This is a tamer ("lamer") version. Poetlyre is a word I came up with in the 80s and it means to me the
War
What the hell are we fighting for?
These people we fight don’t care
They don’t care who we are
They commit atrocities and
All the while chant “Allah Akbar”.
Allah Akbar, what are we fighting for?
Allah Akbar, what is this war?
Allah Akbar means “God is Great”
Well I know God too and I’m sure
He doesn’t condone this hate
So Allah Akbar – well Jesus Christ!
They’ve got guns, mortars, and rocket grenades!
And Allah Akbar? Well Jesus Christ!
They don’t care if I live or die, they’re full of hate!
And now you punish me for this war I fight
You punish me because you say I have no right
What the hell are these conventions?
Do you think they live by them too?
My buddies die left and right
In this hellhole milieu
And I’m supposed to be above this
Cuz I represent our country
Yet I’ve been sent back to this wasteland
On a second tour of duty
And I’ve seen what they do to others
I’ve seen what they do to us
But cuz I killed a man near a gun
I am being brought to justice?
What justice is this bullshit?
What crap do I have to pay?
For a man who wanted to take my life
But I took his instead that day.
This is a war
People will die
These so-called conventions
Is something we all decry.
Come take our place
And hold a gun in your hand
Sit on top of a hummer
While people shoot at your head
We’re given very little
But we’re expected to do a lot
We’re armoring our vehicles
In our make shift chop-shops
Scavenging for metal
Because our forces are on a budget
While our country gives more money
To other countries on this planet.
Allah Akbar, what are we fighting for?
Jesus Christ, why am I here?
These people kill in your name oh God
And this war is very unclear.
It’s nothing like we’ve fought before
These people are not organized
But we’re being punished left and right
While these people don’t even get chastised.
They don’t want their country healed
They want to tear it all to pieces
I say let them have at each other
And let us return back to our beaches
As long as they stay off our land
They won’t face us as a problem
If they attack us one more time
Then this war will be about freedom
Freedom from the tyranny of their attacks
Freedom from this guise of religion
Freedom and there will be no-holds barred
Because my life and my land they won’t ruin.
Allah Akbar is an unknown tongue
But I know a God who is great
And I am more than quite sure
He doesn’t condone their hate.
Originally I picked up my guitar and strummed three or four chords and something on my heart about this Middle East war came spewing out in poetlyre fashion... something like above. I took the gist of it - it was more detailed in the improv. Uncaptured. This is a tamer ("lamer") version. Poetlyre is a word I came up with in the 80s and it means to me the
ability to speak prose in the form of lyrics. I was into both back then. Still am. So...I'll say it's a "Poem", but it's both Poem & Song... But not a singable song... more like... poetlyre.
This is written from the point-of-view of a soldier.
Thursday, December 23, 2004
Religious Freedom and Happy Holidays
I am really annoyed with our Country’s state of decline. I wonder if the Roman Empire experienced times like these right before it collapsed?
When I went to high school, I had friends who were from different religious backgrounds. I had Mormon friends – they were incredibly nice people. We played basketball at their church on some nights. They had a haunted Halloween house in their gymnasium one Halloween as a fundraiser. They just seemed generally kind in nature. They always had a lot of kids in their families. And I learned some aspects about their religion from them. We participated in activities together. I was on the volleyball and soccer team that some of them were on.
I had Presbyterian friends and their church always held ski trips each winter. I went on these trips with them. Some of them were on the basketball team with me. I asked them questions about their religion and found out some aspects of it. I had never heard of a Presbyterian before I met them. But that never prevented us from participating in sports and activities together.
My parents were Catholic and I had friends who were. I participated in some Catholic masses. I sometimes prayed with them and I often played with them. Again, we were involved in some of the same sports and joined in some of the same festivities.
I had one very dear friend who was Jehovah Witness. I talked to her about her religion and even attended one Bible Study with her. I noticed during high school events, when we placed our hand on our heart and recited the pledge, she would not do either of those things. When I asked her about it, she explained what she was taught in her beliefs. I, of course, had never been exposed to that explanation before and since I had been taught all my life that everyone did this, I raised more questions and basically argued with her. But she didn’t argue back. And I respected that she was different. Then there were more differences: she never attended any high school dances or celebrated holidays. She didn’t read horoscopes or try to guess people’s signs based on their behaviors. The more I learned from her about all these things and the teachings of her religion, the more I respected that she was different. I stopped goading her to come to dances or events. I just knew who she was and I even supported her when others questioned her beliefs. You could say I defended her right to be different and practice her beliefs. She was a very polite, courteous, happy young woman with very different ideas on the things I took to be normal everyday life.
I had friends who were Gothic and dressed in all black. I wasn’t really good friends with them (until after they became Christian!) because they kept to themselves like recluses. Once in awhile they will chat with me and I ask about why they dress in black and paint their face white and wear oils (one of which I adopted myself – for the scent of it). They practiced Wiccan arts and were into herbal remedies and potions. And honestly, I wasn’t interested in becoming a part of their beliefs, but I liked them as people so I talked to them and hung out with them when I could.
And this is my point:
Everyone is different. And we can accept all those differences. Or we can be prejudiced and judgmental and impose our own beliefs on others. We can choose to participate in their events or we can choose to sit out. We can choose to attend their festivals, charities, events, dinners, Bible Studies, masses, games, car washes, fund raisers… or we can choose to sit out. It doesn’t matter whether it is religion or nationality. We have different backgrounds. And as long as these people were not sacrificing goats or dogs or cats… or human beings; as long as they weren’t tricking me into joining their Church; as long as I had a choice in all things that I did when I was with them and those choices were not stripped from me; as long as I was able to clearly understand my environment, the words that were spoken, the things that were done, and was in a right frame of mind to make sound decisions… then there was absolutely no harm involved in my hanging out with them and doing things with them.
My God – and I say “my” because he’s mine just as much as He could be yours if you so choose to be His…just as much as my mom is mine and my dad is mine and could be yours through adoption – My God is the God I’ve read about in the Bible. When I read the King James version, that is Him. When I read the Amplified version, that is Him. When I read the New American Standard version, that is Him. When I read the Catholic Bible, that is Him.
And here is a dilemma I faced when I was in high school: Who am I?
Don’t we all go through that? Don’t we all wonder, “Is there a God?” And then we have a million questions to ask?
Here was the question I asked about all these Religions: “Why are there so many religions? If you are God and we all believe in you, then why do we all have to go to different churches and have different religions? Why can’t we all just love and worship you the same?”
I was serious about my question. I was crying because I was so upset about it. I was upset because my Jehovah Witness friend couldn’t do the things the rest of us did and I wondered why. But you know – back then I didn’t realize that it wasn’t that she couldn’t do the things the rest of us did. It was that she chose not to do the things the rest of us did. Because of her respect and love for God. The way she was taught and the way she knew. And as I grow older, I find that a lot of her beliefs are not off base. They are very Biblical. But I won’t be a Jehovah Witness. Because like her, I have my own belief: I’m a Christian. I have no denomination. (James 1:27 - Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.) I don’t believe in denominations. I have never read about them in the Bible. The only denominations I believe in are the green bills I use to purchase goods with. *grin* I believe in Church and the importance of attending one. (Colossians 1:18 - And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.) God established the Church through Jesus Christ. So I will attend Church wherever the Holy Spirit leads me. When I pray to God to give me pure, deep waters to drink from, I trust He will lead me to those wellsprings. He has before, that is how I know. I am a disciple of Christ. Does that mean I should refer to myself as “Disciple of Christ” and start a religion on that name? Start a group of people called “DOC”? (Doc. Hmmm. How fitting.) No. But it’s a nice ring for a Church name. And if the Lord should choose that to happen to me – to build a church and name it Disciples of Christ, which I’m quite sure someone has done that already – then we’ll simply be Christians. We will have established relationships with God through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Let’s take nationality and look at the comparison here.
I am not German. But I do enjoy Oktoberfest. I like to eat bratwurst and sauerkraut and drink a tasty lager. (I don’t drink to get drunk.) I choose to participate when I can. Does this mean I’m suddenly nationalized as a German? Not even close. I am an American mutt. I know that I have the blood of French, Cherokee, Spanish, & Filipino descendants. I participate in many Filipino events. So – just because I choose to participate in a German event, does that make my Filipino status diminish? No. I also do not think Filipinos are better than Germans and vice versa. There are differences in the nationalities: foods, festivities, clothes, language, and appearances. If I am not sure of Germans or their celebrations, then I can simply choose to stay away... not participate. Eh? I can ask questions if I want to understand them. I can pick up books and read about them. Or I can meet a German and talk to him or her. Find out from the source.
Same with Religion. Just because I choose to go to a Catholic Mass does not make me anymore Catholic or any less Christian. Or because I play basketball with Mormons at a Mormon Church – I am no more Mormon or less Christian as a result.
In each of the instances above with my friends, never did any of them impose their beliefs on me. And I never imposed my Christian beliefs on them. We shared our beliefs. Our conversations usually went something like this,
We don’t realize the power we have in words. We can hurt someone’s feelings and not even realize it because we are so obtuse to how we carry ourselves sometimes.
Don’t censor our holiday festivities.
Rather than banning holiday festivities from schools – why not just continue them as usual and allow people to make a choice whether or not they wish to participate?
It blew me away when I read that King County banned Halloween from the schools because the witches (Wiccans) were offended. For one, this is a Pagan holiday to begin with and it originally was celebrated by Wiccans as a sabbat (“religious holiday”) called Samhain (October 31), the Witches’ New Year. Granted the witches were all offended because of how the form of the witch was being portrayed in some instances: as green ugly hags with long noses and facial warts.
Personally, I thought, “YAY, SCORE ONE FOR GOD!” And to think it was the witches themselves who got this festivity banned from schools. Right on. What an oxymoron if I ever saw one, but I like it.
But one thing Christians everywhere need to know is that the Roman Catholic Church made it a practice to take Pagan holidays and ordain Christian holidays in their stead so that Christians could celebrate on these same days.
Shorter version: The Roman Catholic Church “converted” Pagan holidays to Christian holidays.
I think I read in a Catholic Bible – and I’m going to paraphrase – that the original intention of this conversion practice was to give Christians a Holy reason to celebrate on those same days. I read in another place that Christians used to practice the Pagan rituals before they became Christian…so the Roman Catholic Church decided to establish All Saints’ Day (Allhallowmas) on November 1st. The day before (October 31st) was then referred to as All Hallows’ Eve, or All Hallow e’en. Then the Roman Catholic Church established November 2nd as All Souls’ Day to honor the dead. This is also a Pagan origin because the Druids taught that Samhain allowed the dead to return to their homes…and Wiccans believe that the dead journey from this world to the next.
But aside from that story, not only is Halloween being banned but so is Christmas and God knows what else.
Personally, knowing the history of each of these festivities, I probably could do without them. As it is, I don’t prefer the retail hell that bombards the masses beginning November 26 at 1:00am and ends December 24 at 11:00pm. “Buy this! Buy that! Buy, Buy, Buy!” Sounds like the moneychangers and vendors in the Temple during Passover. Christmas has evolved for me, as I’ve grown closer to God. It’s not about buying the best gifts and as many as possible – or getting them for that matter. It is a celebration of the birth of my Savior. The gift of Love that was given in only a way that God can reveal Himself: a miracle birth. He who walked where Angels trod and who had seen the face of God was now about to face a short-lived earthly life in His flesh form to perform one task of Love to tear away the Veil that prevented man from entering into God’s Holy place. No longer would people have to rely on a high priest of this world who was made of corruptible flesh, but rather they have a High Priest of incorruptible nature who sits at the right hand of God.
Sure, I speak words like many of the Christians that the non-Christians like to hate. I happen to know what I’m speaking about. And whether I talk like above or I break it down into simple non-Bible-reading user-friendly words, my point is still the same: God made it easy for us to build a relationship with Him through His son, who is known as Jesus Christ.
So where am I going with all this? Good question.
Let me recant: Don’t censor our holiday festivities.
Rather than banning holiday festivities from schools – why not just continue them as usual and allow people to make a choice whether or not they wish to participate?
I read an article about some of the things that are happening in schools because of Christmas and its various religious references. Upon reading it, my mind replayed the South Park episode where the kids were having a play at school for Christmas. The play was going to show Mary & Joseph with the baby Jesus. Then Kyle-the-Jew’s mom got involved and said they were offended because of the Nativity scene (which totally did not make sense). Then she added that they don’t celebrate Christmas at their home. To which Mr. Garrison (who was directing the play) made a comment about “that Hannukah crap” and she got offended even more. So then the Mayor of South Park has to deal with the townspeople getting all offended by the Nativity scene in front of the capitol. They make an argument about the separation of church and state. (Which I’ll discuss in a moment.) Then some priest offered that if Christ is removed, then the Mayor better remove Frosty and Santa too. Then treehuggers suggested a ban on cutting down Christmas trees. Then Jimbo adds a funny line: “And I'm sick and tired of those little flaps on coffee lids, if you don't want to spill your coffee then you shouldn't be driving with it.” So the Mayor decides the town needs a new icon for Christmas. And then adds, “Anyway, I'll put together a crack team of my best workers to make sure this will be the most non-offensive ever, to any religious or minority group of any kind. Are there any other suggestions?” So the Christmas tree is taken away from the stage, they can’t sing songs about Jesus or Santa, and Christmas lights offend people with epilepsy so they were removed.
So the big day arrived, “And now, South Park Elementary presents The Happy Non-Offensive, Non-Denominational Christmas Play, with music and lyrics by New York minimalist composer Philip Glass.” All the parents took their seats, the lights went off, and the kids were all dressed in green leotards and dancing all strange like. Philip Glass was singing some weird stuff about the sun looking like a turtle. There was crappy electronic keyboard music playing in this haunting sound. It was supposed to be some kind of new age get up I think. It was awful and had nothing about Christmas in it. And that is exactly what all the parents in the audience began complaining about afterward. “What the hell is this?!” exclaims the Jewish mom. So the school administrator (Mr. Garrison) explains to the audience/parents that it was their complaining that made the play that way. Then the priest says, “This is the most godawful piece of crap I’ve ever seen.” Then everyone starts blaming each other for their complaints, “Yeah, it’s because the Jew said it couldn’t be Christian.” The Jewish husband pipes up for his wife, “It wasn’t our idea to take out Santa Claus.” The tree hugger yells, “All you bastards ruined Christmas!” In the end, Mr. Hankey the Christmas poo says these wise words:
At any rate, this whole Separation of Church and State deal has nothing to do with keeping the Ten Commandments out of Courtrooms or the Nativity Scene off Capitol steps. Crimeny. It has to do with the State forcing everyone to practice the same religion. The State will not interfere with the creation of religions or the practices thereof. That’s basically all that entails to. And Churches are non-profit organizations. They rely upon the offerings of their parishioners to keep certain programs going and to pay the bills. Offerings are given based upon the parishioners’ generosity most of the time. But the Bible does teach about Tithing and it’s a powerful teaching when it is put into practice.
If we did not have the separation of Church and State, then it might be that our Country could impose one religion upon everyone – as the Middle East does. Some Middle Eastern countries’ constitutions state within it that Islam is the National Religion.
So anyway, AMERICA WAKE UP! Stop being so stupid. And lawsuit happy. This is beginning to be incredibly... je ne sais quois. Stupid. The pursuit of happiness is becoming a prison. And we are creating that prison. Get over your differences. You're allowed to have opinions, that’s the freedom of speech for ya. But let your opinions be just that when it comes to these differences in religions and nationalities. Opinions are free. Lawsuits aren't. And happiness shouldn't be charged on a credit card or a court document.
And I'll end it with:
Don’t censor our holiday festivities.
Rather than banning holiday festivities from schools – why not just continue them as usual and allow people to make a choice whether or not they wish to participate?
References:
Pagan Holidays
Annie’s Halloween History Page
Pagan/Wiccan Religion
Truth About Halloween
Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo
Episode 110, South Park
A Merry Faith-Based Christmas to All
My teacher told me that if he wrote something three times on the chalkboard, then it was something I needed to remember because it would be on the test.
I'll quiz you all soon. *grin* (Not!)
When I went to high school, I had friends who were from different religious backgrounds. I had Mormon friends – they were incredibly nice people. We played basketball at their church on some nights. They had a haunted Halloween house in their gymnasium one Halloween as a fundraiser. They just seemed generally kind in nature. They always had a lot of kids in their families. And I learned some aspects about their religion from them. We participated in activities together. I was on the volleyball and soccer team that some of them were on.
I had Presbyterian friends and their church always held ski trips each winter. I went on these trips with them. Some of them were on the basketball team with me. I asked them questions about their religion and found out some aspects of it. I had never heard of a Presbyterian before I met them. But that never prevented us from participating in sports and activities together.
My parents were Catholic and I had friends who were. I participated in some Catholic masses. I sometimes prayed with them and I often played with them. Again, we were involved in some of the same sports and joined in some of the same festivities.
I had one very dear friend who was Jehovah Witness. I talked to her about her religion and even attended one Bible Study with her. I noticed during high school events, when we placed our hand on our heart and recited the pledge, she would not do either of those things. When I asked her about it, she explained what she was taught in her beliefs. I, of course, had never been exposed to that explanation before and since I had been taught all my life that everyone did this, I raised more questions and basically argued with her. But she didn’t argue back. And I respected that she was different. Then there were more differences: she never attended any high school dances or celebrated holidays. She didn’t read horoscopes or try to guess people’s signs based on their behaviors. The more I learned from her about all these things and the teachings of her religion, the more I respected that she was different. I stopped goading her to come to dances or events. I just knew who she was and I even supported her when others questioned her beliefs. You could say I defended her right to be different and practice her beliefs. She was a very polite, courteous, happy young woman with very different ideas on the things I took to be normal everyday life.
I had friends who were Gothic and dressed in all black. I wasn’t really good friends with them (until after they became Christian!) because they kept to themselves like recluses. Once in awhile they will chat with me and I ask about why they dress in black and paint their face white and wear oils (one of which I adopted myself – for the scent of it). They practiced Wiccan arts and were into herbal remedies and potions. And honestly, I wasn’t interested in becoming a part of their beliefs, but I liked them as people so I talked to them and hung out with them when I could.
And this is my point:
Everyone is different. And we can accept all those differences. Or we can be prejudiced and judgmental and impose our own beliefs on others. We can choose to participate in their events or we can choose to sit out. We can choose to attend their festivals, charities, events, dinners, Bible Studies, masses, games, car washes, fund raisers… or we can choose to sit out. It doesn’t matter whether it is religion or nationality. We have different backgrounds. And as long as these people were not sacrificing goats or dogs or cats… or human beings; as long as they weren’t tricking me into joining their Church; as long as I had a choice in all things that I did when I was with them and those choices were not stripped from me; as long as I was able to clearly understand my environment, the words that were spoken, the things that were done, and was in a right frame of mind to make sound decisions… then there was absolutely no harm involved in my hanging out with them and doing things with them.
My God – and I say “my” because he’s mine just as much as He could be yours if you so choose to be His…just as much as my mom is mine and my dad is mine and could be yours through adoption – My God is the God I’ve read about in the Bible. When I read the King James version, that is Him. When I read the Amplified version, that is Him. When I read the New American Standard version, that is Him. When I read the Catholic Bible, that is Him.
And here is a dilemma I faced when I was in high school: Who am I?
Don’t we all go through that? Don’t we all wonder, “Is there a God?” And then we have a million questions to ask?
Here was the question I asked about all these Religions: “Why are there so many religions? If you are God and we all believe in you, then why do we all have to go to different churches and have different religions? Why can’t we all just love and worship you the same?”
I was serious about my question. I was crying because I was so upset about it. I was upset because my Jehovah Witness friend couldn’t do the things the rest of us did and I wondered why. But you know – back then I didn’t realize that it wasn’t that she couldn’t do the things the rest of us did. It was that she chose not to do the things the rest of us did. Because of her respect and love for God. The way she was taught and the way she knew. And as I grow older, I find that a lot of her beliefs are not off base. They are very Biblical. But I won’t be a Jehovah Witness. Because like her, I have my own belief: I’m a Christian. I have no denomination. (James 1:27 - Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.) I don’t believe in denominations. I have never read about them in the Bible. The only denominations I believe in are the green bills I use to purchase goods with. *grin* I believe in Church and the importance of attending one. (Colossians 1:18 - And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.) God established the Church through Jesus Christ. So I will attend Church wherever the Holy Spirit leads me. When I pray to God to give me pure, deep waters to drink from, I trust He will lead me to those wellsprings. He has before, that is how I know. I am a disciple of Christ. Does that mean I should refer to myself as “Disciple of Christ” and start a religion on that name? Start a group of people called “DOC”? (Doc. Hmmm. How fitting.) No. But it’s a nice ring for a Church name. And if the Lord should choose that to happen to me – to build a church and name it Disciples of Christ, which I’m quite sure someone has done that already – then we’ll simply be Christians. We will have established relationships with God through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Let’s take nationality and look at the comparison here.
I am not German. But I do enjoy Oktoberfest. I like to eat bratwurst and sauerkraut and drink a tasty lager. (I don’t drink to get drunk.) I choose to participate when I can. Does this mean I’m suddenly nationalized as a German? Not even close. I am an American mutt. I know that I have the blood of French, Cherokee, Spanish, & Filipino descendants. I participate in many Filipino events. So – just because I choose to participate in a German event, does that make my Filipino status diminish? No. I also do not think Filipinos are better than Germans and vice versa. There are differences in the nationalities: foods, festivities, clothes, language, and appearances. If I am not sure of Germans or their celebrations, then I can simply choose to stay away... not participate. Eh? I can ask questions if I want to understand them. I can pick up books and read about them. Or I can meet a German and talk to him or her. Find out from the source.
Same with Religion. Just because I choose to go to a Catholic Mass does not make me anymore Catholic or any less Christian. Or because I play basketball with Mormons at a Mormon Church – I am no more Mormon or less Christian as a result.
In each of the instances above with my friends, never did any of them impose their beliefs on me. And I never imposed my Christian beliefs on them. We shared our beliefs. Our conversations usually went something like this,
Or more detailed version:
- “What do you believe?”
- “This.”
- “Why?”
- “Because of this. What do you believe?”
- “This.”
- “Why?”
- “Because of this.”
- “Well that’s kind of like this.”
- “Yeah, except for this.”
- “Yeah. What did you bring for lunch?”
- “I’m gonna buy something today. How about you?”
- “I brought a sandwich and some carrot sticks.”
- “Okay. Want to share your sandwich and then I’ll buy cheese fries and we can split it?”
- “Okay!”
In each instance, I learned something I had not known about before. And instead of looking down on them, I respected that they had their way of living and believing. I wasn’t taught to be this way – I just chose to be this way. People around me in my life were judgmental and talked bad about others. I started off that way when I was much younger because I was no wiser. But as soon as someone I cared about pointed out to me that I was being prejudiced, I took a hard look at “why” I was prejudiced. It was not because I hated other people, it was because it was what I learned to do. I learned to call certain names to groups of people and label them, even if I liked them. It was pointed out to me, I figured out why I was like that, and I changed the way I talked about others. It was a process.
- “I have another Mormon friend and they have lots of kids in their family too. Is there a reason why you guys have so many kids?”
- “Yes, because God said to ‘Be fruitful and multiply’. So we believe it is important to have as many children as possible.”
- “Why don’t you ever recite the pledge?”
- “Because God has called us to pledge ourselves to Him, not to a symbol.”
- “But that symbol represents our Country and we’re all Americans.”
- “In this world, people choose to identify themselves by a nation or a flag. But God calls us to be His chosen. We are God’s people. I pledge my heart to Him.”
- “What’s a Presbyterian?”
- “It’s just another denomination of Christians.”
- “Oh. What do you believe in?”
- “We believe the same as you.”
- “How come I can’t take Communion?”
- “Because you have to take Catechism.”
- “What is Catechism?”
- “It’s a class and they teach you about the Communion and go through the Bible with you.”
- “What if I already know about Communion? I take it when I go to other Churches.”
- “I don’t think they will let you here.”
- “How will they know?”
- “Well you can do what you want, but I’m suggesting to you this.”
We don’t realize the power we have in words. We can hurt someone’s feelings and not even realize it because we are so obtuse to how we carry ourselves sometimes.
Don’t censor our holiday festivities.
Rather than banning holiday festivities from schools – why not just continue them as usual and allow people to make a choice whether or not they wish to participate?
It blew me away when I read that King County banned Halloween from the schools because the witches (Wiccans) were offended. For one, this is a Pagan holiday to begin with and it originally was celebrated by Wiccans as a sabbat (“religious holiday”) called Samhain (October 31), the Witches’ New Year. Granted the witches were all offended because of how the form of the witch was being portrayed in some instances: as green ugly hags with long noses and facial warts.
Personally, I thought, “YAY, SCORE ONE FOR GOD!” And to think it was the witches themselves who got this festivity banned from schools. Right on. What an oxymoron if I ever saw one, but I like it.
But one thing Christians everywhere need to know is that the Roman Catholic Church made it a practice to take Pagan holidays and ordain Christian holidays in their stead so that Christians could celebrate on these same days.
Shorter version: The Roman Catholic Church “converted” Pagan holidays to Christian holidays.
I think I read in a Catholic Bible – and I’m going to paraphrase – that the original intention of this conversion practice was to give Christians a Holy reason to celebrate on those same days. I read in another place that Christians used to practice the Pagan rituals before they became Christian…so the Roman Catholic Church decided to establish All Saints’ Day (Allhallowmas) on November 1st. The day before (October 31st) was then referred to as All Hallows’ Eve, or All Hallow e’en. Then the Roman Catholic Church established November 2nd as All Souls’ Day to honor the dead. This is also a Pagan origin because the Druids taught that Samhain allowed the dead to return to their homes…and Wiccans believe that the dead journey from this world to the next.
But aside from that story, not only is Halloween being banned but so is Christmas and God knows what else.
Personally, knowing the history of each of these festivities, I probably could do without them. As it is, I don’t prefer the retail hell that bombards the masses beginning November 26 at 1:00am and ends December 24 at 11:00pm. “Buy this! Buy that! Buy, Buy, Buy!” Sounds like the moneychangers and vendors in the Temple during Passover. Christmas has evolved for me, as I’ve grown closer to God. It’s not about buying the best gifts and as many as possible – or getting them for that matter. It is a celebration of the birth of my Savior. The gift of Love that was given in only a way that God can reveal Himself: a miracle birth. He who walked where Angels trod and who had seen the face of God was now about to face a short-lived earthly life in His flesh form to perform one task of Love to tear away the Veil that prevented man from entering into God’s Holy place. No longer would people have to rely on a high priest of this world who was made of corruptible flesh, but rather they have a High Priest of incorruptible nature who sits at the right hand of God.
Sure, I speak words like many of the Christians that the non-Christians like to hate. I happen to know what I’m speaking about. And whether I talk like above or I break it down into simple non-Bible-reading user-friendly words, my point is still the same: God made it easy for us to build a relationship with Him through His son, who is known as Jesus Christ.
So where am I going with all this? Good question.
Let me recant: Don’t censor our holiday festivities.
Rather than banning holiday festivities from schools – why not just continue them as usual and allow people to make a choice whether or not they wish to participate?
I read an article about some of the things that are happening in schools because of Christmas and its various religious references. Upon reading it, my mind replayed the South Park episode where the kids were having a play at school for Christmas. The play was going to show Mary & Joseph with the baby Jesus. Then Kyle-the-Jew’s mom got involved and said they were offended because of the Nativity scene (which totally did not make sense). Then she added that they don’t celebrate Christmas at their home. To which Mr. Garrison (who was directing the play) made a comment about “that Hannukah crap” and she got offended even more. So then the Mayor of South Park has to deal with the townspeople getting all offended by the Nativity scene in front of the capitol. They make an argument about the separation of church and state. (Which I’ll discuss in a moment.) Then some priest offered that if Christ is removed, then the Mayor better remove Frosty and Santa too. Then treehuggers suggested a ban on cutting down Christmas trees. Then Jimbo adds a funny line: “And I'm sick and tired of those little flaps on coffee lids, if you don't want to spill your coffee then you shouldn't be driving with it.” So the Mayor decides the town needs a new icon for Christmas. And then adds, “Anyway, I'll put together a crack team of my best workers to make sure this will be the most non-offensive ever, to any religious or minority group of any kind. Are there any other suggestions?” So the Christmas tree is taken away from the stage, they can’t sing songs about Jesus or Santa, and Christmas lights offend people with epilepsy so they were removed.
So the big day arrived, “And now, South Park Elementary presents The Happy Non-Offensive, Non-Denominational Christmas Play, with music and lyrics by New York minimalist composer Philip Glass.” All the parents took their seats, the lights went off, and the kids were all dressed in green leotards and dancing all strange like. Philip Glass was singing some weird stuff about the sun looking like a turtle. There was crappy electronic keyboard music playing in this haunting sound. It was supposed to be some kind of new age get up I think. It was awful and had nothing about Christmas in it. And that is exactly what all the parents in the audience began complaining about afterward. “What the hell is this?!” exclaims the Jewish mom. So the school administrator (Mr. Garrison) explains to the audience/parents that it was their complaining that made the play that way. Then the priest says, “This is the most godawful piece of crap I’ve ever seen.” Then everyone starts blaming each other for their complaints, “Yeah, it’s because the Jew said it couldn’t be Christian.” The Jewish husband pipes up for his wife, “It wasn’t our idea to take out Santa Claus.” The tree hugger yells, “All you bastards ruined Christmas!” In the end, Mr. Hankey the Christmas poo says these wise words:
“Come on gang, don't fight. You people focus so hard on the things wrong with Christmas that you've forgotten what's so right about it. Don't you see, this is the one time of year we're supposed to forget all the bad stuff. Stop worryin' and being sad the state of the world, and for just one day say "ahh, the heck with it, let's sing and dance, and bake cookies.”Crazy. And that episode was aired December 17, 1997. I had no idea it would prove true seven years later!
At any rate, this whole Separation of Church and State deal has nothing to do with keeping the Ten Commandments out of Courtrooms or the Nativity Scene off Capitol steps. Crimeny. It has to do with the State forcing everyone to practice the same religion. The State will not interfere with the creation of religions or the practices thereof. That’s basically all that entails to. And Churches are non-profit organizations. They rely upon the offerings of their parishioners to keep certain programs going and to pay the bills. Offerings are given based upon the parishioners’ generosity most of the time. But the Bible does teach about Tithing and it’s a powerful teaching when it is put into practice.
If we did not have the separation of Church and State, then it might be that our Country could impose one religion upon everyone – as the Middle East does. Some Middle Eastern countries’ constitutions state within it that Islam is the National Religion.
So anyway, AMERICA WAKE UP! Stop being so stupid. And lawsuit happy. This is beginning to be incredibly... je ne sais quois. Stupid. The pursuit of happiness is becoming a prison. And we are creating that prison. Get over your differences. You're allowed to have opinions, that’s the freedom of speech for ya. But let your opinions be just that when it comes to these differences in religions and nationalities. Opinions are free. Lawsuits aren't. And happiness shouldn't be charged on a credit card or a court document.
And I'll end it with:
Don’t censor our holiday festivities.
Rather than banning holiday festivities from schools – why not just continue them as usual and allow people to make a choice whether or not they wish to participate?
References:
Pagan Holidays
Annie’s Halloween History Page
Pagan/Wiccan Religion
Truth About Halloween
Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo
Episode 110, South Park
A Merry Faith-Based Christmas to All
My teacher told me that if he wrote something three times on the chalkboard, then it was something I needed to remember because it would be on the test.
I'll quiz you all soon. *grin* (Not!)
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
Salute! Hail! Thank you.
To the brave men and women overseas in the Middle East and abroad, serving our Country and fighting for Freedom, I want to Thank You. I salute you and am reminded that you are unable to be with your families this Holiday Season. Thank you for sacrificing your lives in doing without and being so far away to fight when you are called upon... to serve when you are called upon... and for volunteering to be called upon. May God bless all of you and protect you and your loved ones.
And to the men and women of the forces that serve our Country locally: Thank You. For police, fire, search & rescue, medical... all these branches and some I didn't mention. Thank you for being on-call 24/7 even during the Holiday Seasons.
God Bless you and your families. And all of us.
And to the men and women of the forces that serve our Country locally: Thank You. For police, fire, search & rescue, medical... all these branches and some I didn't mention. Thank you for being on-call 24/7 even during the Holiday Seasons.
God Bless you and your families. And all of us.
Monday, December 20, 2004
Fetal Kidnapper Faces Charges
This is just sick. Not only did Montgomery kill a mother and slice her womb for her fetus, but she fooled her husband... and pastor.
Lisa Montgomery, 36, is accused of scheming her way into Stinnett's home, strangling her from behind and then slicing out her 8-month-old fetus. She is being charged with kidnapping resulting in death.The Washington Post has the story here.
Montgomery fled to her home in eastern Kansas, where she pretended she had just given birth to the infant -- fooling her husband and her pastor, investigators said.
The King of Rock & Roll Is Still Sexy
The following are the Top 10 Sexiest Men In Europe.
- Robbie Williams
- Cliff Richard
- Jonny Wilkinson
- Elvis Presley
- David Beckham
- Will Young
- Eminem
- Michael Owen
- Colin Farrell
- Justin Timberlake
Kylie Sells
Kylie Minogue – she’s not just a singer and a dancer… she’s a calendar girl.
Nah.
The next three top female calendars are the Hollyoaks actresses, Britney Spears, and Christina Aguilara.
China View has the story here.
Kylie Minogue is Britain’s official calendar babe--outselling Robbie Williams, Manchester United and David Beckham.Promoting sexy underwear at a fashion show in London on November 3rd probably had nothing to do with it.
The petite pop star has managed to sell more calendars for next year than anyone else.
The next three top female calendars are the Hollyoaks actresses, Britney Spears, and Christina Aguilara.
China View has the story here.
Sunday, December 19, 2004
A $700 Burger King drink
Imagine you make minimum wage and work at Burger King in a town where you can say, “All I saw was Wasilla.” Perhaps you have no clue what the day will bring. Or maybe you do have a sense that the stars are not in alignment: Uranus is not in conjunction with the full Moon today.
Then the following occurs on your work shift:
The Frontiersman has the story here.
Then the following occurs on your work shift:
Joelle Brown, 20, reportedly came into the store and began screaming at employees and threatening to fight them, troopers said. After allegedly spitting on three of the staff, Brown tried to throw a receipt printer at them and then struck the on-duty manager.You don’t get paid enough to take this kind of abuse. Time to get a new job.
The Frontiersman has the story here.
An Italian Cries “Wolf”
This is something I believe is wisdom not to do:
ABC news has the story here.
An Italian tourist aboard a flight from Sydney to Vienna caused an international security alert after he sent a joke text message from his cell phone to his wife claiming his plane had been hijacked by terrorists, the Australian government confirmed Sunday.The really sad ending to this?
The man, Antonio Casale, 35, sent the message to his wife from Kuala Lumpur during a refueling stop on a Lauda Air flight from Sydney last Sunday night, Sydney's Sunday Telegraph newspaper reported.
…
His distressed wife contacted Italian police, who immediately contacted the Italian embassy in Canberra, who in turn contacted Australian Federal Police.
He was questioned by police and later released without charge.This was indeed a stupid move to play a hoax like that. I think he was very lucky to walk away with a slap on the wrist. He could have been fined or served jail time for the problem he caused to everyone involved.
ABC news has the story here.
Friday, December 17, 2004
Comments & Trackbacks
Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog.
Now anyone can comment here - not just registered users. With HaloScan, I can take care of anyone who abuses this system by spamming or advertising in a disrespectful manner. Healthy debates are fine as long as they do not become personal attacks. Food for thought is always welcomed. Corrections are welcomed. Stimulating intellectual conversation is always welcomed.
You are welcomed.
Now anyone can comment here - not just registered users. With HaloScan, I can take care of anyone who abuses this system by spamming or advertising in a disrespectful manner. Healthy debates are fine as long as they do not become personal attacks. Food for thought is always welcomed. Corrections are welcomed. Stimulating intellectual conversation is always welcomed.
You are welcomed.
Thursday, December 16, 2004
You Know What's Grosser Than Gross?
This story will gross you out. It did me.
Schools could use this story to really instill into youngsters the bad consequences of using alcohol and drugs!
Which is the lesser of the two evils? Being the cannibal? Or being eaten?
Blech.
Schools could use this story to really instill into youngsters the bad consequences of using alcohol and drugs!
Which is the lesser of the two evils? Being the cannibal? Or being eaten?
Blech.
President Bush's Remarks On Our Economy
President Bush brought up some of the problems he personally witnessed in America, as well as some he heard about, that he intends to work on addressing during these next four years with Congress’ help.
He talked about how lawsuit-happy our society has become and as a result, small businesses are hurting from the financial burdens a tort can bring. Internationally, this puts our country at a disadvantage when competing with other industrialized nations because excess litigation “creates fear and uncertainty for people in the business community.” He then gave an example about how one woman’s American dream turned into “an American legal nightmare” as a result of a lawsuit.
- Update the tax code so it’s user-friendly.
- Make the health care system more consumer-friendly.
- Reform our legal systems.
- Democrats & Republicans working together to strengthen America in her national issues rather than working against each other and blaming the other when things go wrong.
He talked about how lawsuit-happy our society has become and as a result, small businesses are hurting from the financial burdens a tort can bring. Internationally, this puts our country at a disadvantage when competing with other industrialized nations because excess litigation “creates fear and uncertainty for people in the business community.” He then gave an example about how one woman’s American dream turned into “an American legal nightmare” as a result of a lawsuit.
All Hilda asked for is a fair system. And the system right now isn’t fair in this case and we’ve got to do something about it. We’ve got to do something about it to make sure we’re competitive, we’ve got to do something about it to make sure that there’s not excessive costs, and we’ve got to do something about it to make sure people like Hilda don’t get hurt by a system that was designed to protect people, not hurt people.”He then touched on how medical liability reform would “help control the rising costs of health care.” Most uninsured Americans are working for small businesses that cannot afford to provide insurance for their employees.
I believe small businesses should be allowed to join together to pool risk so they can negotiate for health care contracts just like big companies are able to.Regarding medical costs, he said we need to do the following things together:
One is expand health savings accounts. Two, promote association health care plans. Congress needs to allow small businesses to pool risk. Three, pass medical liability reform. Four, continue to expand information technology throughout the health care system. Five, move – move generic drugs faster to the market. In all we do – in all we do to reform health care, we’ve got to make sure the decisions are made by doctors and patients, not by bureaucrats in our nation’s capital. (Applause.)He talked about:
- getting rid of the death tax forever;
- being tough when it comes to federal spending;
- making sure the paperwork that is never read is eliminated so businesses can focus on job creation;
- appointing a citizens panel to study the tax code & recommend ways to simplify it;
- working on the education system to prepare our citizens for the jobs of the future;
- reforming the No Child Left Behind act by holding a standard of accountability through a system of measuring to determine how well the schools are doing locally, nationally, and internationally;
- allowing access to our community college system for every young person;
- ownership of Social Security retirement accounts.
These challenges I’ve just discussed are important challenges. They are big agenda items, but they should be. I mean, why think little when it comes to making sure America is still the center of excellence in the world? (Applause.)The Los Angeles Times has the story: Bush’s Closing Remarks at Economy Summit.
…
There’s always got to be a proper role between government and the economy. The role of government is not to create wealth; the role of government is to create an environment in which the entrepreneurial spirit is strong and vibrant. (Applause.)
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
“This Is Going To Be Difficult”
These were words used by Indiana Senator Evan Bayh who is also a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee to describe the United States’ success in the war in Iraq. He believes the elections can take place and need to take place by the end of January. The election is crucial as it is instrumental to the initial stages of handing control of Iraq back to the government of Iraq. The insurgency has increased their attacks as the time draws nearer to the elections. The insurgents believe that the Iraqi government is a “puppet” to the U.S. and that their own people, Iraqis, who have signed up to be policemen are also part of this puppeteer idea. The problem is that, instead of embracing the possibility of having their land back, their jobs back, their freedom to choose a person to run their own government… they’re killing their own people in these jobs and killing their ability to get control of everything sooner. By acting like a child throwing a tantrum because he was told to clean his room, they’re only heaping more trouble onto their own heads. The irony of assumptions.
Hindsight is 20/20 “they” say (whoever “they” is) and here are Senator Bayh’s hindsights:
New Zealand has the news on the insurgents attacking a police convoy here.
Hindsight is 20/20 “they” say (whoever “they” is) and here are Senator Bayh’s hindsights:
[Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Indiana Senator Evan] Bayh said the United States made "tragic" mistakes -- insufficient troop levels, dismissing Iraqis with ties to Saddam Hussein's Baath Party and disbanding the Iraqi army -- that fueled the insurgency and continue to make security unstable weeks before the Jan. 30 elections.The Indy Star has the story from the Star Washington Bureau here.
…
"One assessment we received is things would be 100 percent better today if we had not sent home all the leaders of the Iraqi armed forces," said Bayh, who earlier this year was forced to cancel a trip to Iraq because of security concerns.
New Zealand has the news on the insurgents attacking a police convoy here.
Saddam Will Not Be Tried...
until later. When?
That's to be determined.
Under pressure and with a lack of training, the Iraqi Special Tribunal intends to begin holding trials for war crimes committed by Saddam’s staff next week. However, they will not bring Saddam to trial first.
I think they should just call this an Iraqi International Criminal Trial: For crimes he committed against the people of Iraq both during times of war and during peace times. He committed crimes such as murders, rapes, tortures, videotapes, beheadings, starvation, misappropriated funds, bribery,... and I’m certain there are plenty more crimes to list. It was obvious he did not care much for these people, but then again, Iraq seemed to be the only place he could have any rule because Jordan was taken, Iran was taken, Syria and Palestine were taken... he got Iraq. He assassinated someone in order to have the rule in Iraq. If he had cared for the people, he would not have treated them the way he did.
Apparently Saddam still has family fighting for his cause:
Under pressure and with a lack of training, the Iraqi Special Tribunal intends to begin holding trials for war crimes committed by Saddam’s staff next week. However, they will not bring Saddam to trial first.
"There is a court process that involves investigative judges and a hearing for some of the former regime officials that is under preparation that we would expect to be held next week," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said. "At that point, the accused and their attorneys do go to court, although that's not the actual trial."Saddam’s lawyers from Jordan have cried “illegal” in regards to holding trials so soon. They’re still upset that they haven’t been able to have contact with their despotic defendant since he was “arrested a year ago Monday”.
A lawyer for former Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz said they were protesting the legality of their trials and their detention.The questions I had about this trial were: Why are they calling it a war crimes trial? Was Iraq in a state-of-war the entire time that Saddam was in power? Or are they only trying him for the criminal activities he performed during times of war? Well, my answer is that they are only trying him for the criminal activities he performed during times of war:
Saddam was presented with seven charges that included gassing thousands of Kurds in 1988, the 1990 invasion of Kuwait, the suppression of 1991 revolts by Kurds and Shiites, the murders of religious and political leaders and the mass displacement of Kurds in the 1980s.
I think they should just call this an Iraqi International Criminal Trial: For crimes he committed against the people of Iraq both during times of war and during peace times. He committed crimes such as murders, rapes, tortures, videotapes, beheadings, starvation, misappropriated funds, bribery,... and I’m certain there are plenty more crimes to list. It was obvious he did not care much for these people, but then again, Iraq seemed to be the only place he could have any rule because Jordan was taken, Iran was taken, Syria and Palestine were taken... he got Iraq. He assassinated someone in order to have the rule in Iraq. If he had cared for the people, he would not have treated them the way he did.
Apparently Saddam still has family fighting for his cause:
Allawi also announced the arrest of a cousin of Saddam's, Izzi-Din Mohammed Hassan al-Majid. Al-Majid, who fled Iraq in 1995 and was granted indefinite leave to remain in Britain in 2000, was arrested in Fallujah and will be put on trial as soon as possible, Allawi said.The Kansas City Star has the story from the Associated Press here.
Score One For Google
In a decision made today, it was determined that Google's policies did not infringe on Geico's trademark.
Forbes has the above story from the Associated Press here.
Google Inc. won a major legal victory Wednesday when a federal judge said the search engine could continue to sell ads triggered by searches using trademarked company names.However, one issue remains to be decided:
But [U.S. District Judge Leonie] Brinkema said the case would continue to move forward on one remaining issue, whether ads that pop up and actually use Geico in their text violate trademark law. Google contends that its policies expressly forbid advertisers from using trademark names in the text of their ads. The search engine says it does its best to prevent ads that violate the policy from sneaking in, and that the advertisers would liable for any trademark violation, not Google.
Brinkema said she would halt the trial at this point to put a decision in writing and she encouraged both parties to try and settle the remaining issues.
Forbes has the above story from the Associated Press here.
Sunday, December 12, 2004
Stepping Down: Nominee for U.S. Secretary of DHS
Just a few days ago, I read a commentary about Bernard Kerik that I did not like. I thought to myself, “Why the heck would the President appoint this man to be in charge of the entire Homeland defense?”
I will find that story – or stuff related to it and show you why. But to give you what I remember from it off the top of my head… I read that Kerik had five homicide detectives canvass the neighborhoods of NYC in search of some stolen items. What I could remember was there was a cell phone, necklace, and credit cards involved. There were about five items total I believe. Hence the five homicide detectives. But the sad thing is – here he sent these HOMICIDE detectives to go looking for allegedly stolen goods (I thought Homicide meant someone died…not someone stole something) and they knocked on the doors of like five people who worked at the Publishing company that was to publish Kerik’s biography. These people felt very upset by what happened. Come to find out, the items were all recovered because they were all misplaced or in the obvious places to look: trashcan, bottom of purse, drawer, etc. Kerik sent his homicide buddies out to go take care of a lady’s missing items all because that lady was gonna publish his book. Hmmm.
The story was meant to point out how Kerik abuses his power of authority. And that was only one example.
So I was getting all upset over this new nominee choice when suddenly, I read the news and …HOORAY! He’s stepping down! And…OH…what’s this? There’s some malarkey going on, eh? Hmmm. Well by golly, I guess that’s been going on for some time. But see, he was put in the lime light and investigations into his personal life had to be made before he could be trusted with the most prestigious position of protecting the people of this country. How can he protect the people of this country from others when he can’t even protect himself from himself?
The President had this to say about him:
And former NYC Mayor Rudolph Giuliani said this about him:
Well these are all good traits indeed. These are things we need demonstrated in important security positions. However, someone in such a trusted position needs to maintain an untainted off-duty life as well.
Giuliani had this to say also:
Hmmm… psychology brain working: Is it possible his troubled childhood had an effect on his poor personal decisions?
Same article says:
And so the U.S. Senate did. It took a hard look at Bernard Kerik’s everything. If he demands high standards in everything he does, he should have met those standards as well. A little dirt can hurt for someone appointed to the responsibility of managing Homeland Security.
Kerik had this to say as part of his reason for stepping down:
Well the good news is that he plans to make restitution for avoiding the IRS way back when he had this housekeeper/nanny. But it makes a person wonder, “If he’s in the position of security, would he not consider the legalities involved in a personal affair such as hiring a nanny/housekeeper?” I mean, come on: evading taxes, illegal alien, paying under the table. Dude, Wake Up. We’re not buying this whole, “Well it came to my attention…and leads me to question.” You knew it. You just blew it.
Another possible reason he may have stepped down is:
It’s bad enough the illegal alien, tax evasion, and paying under the table deal was all brought out in the open. Let’s not get into his life as former corporate director of a company that does business with the DHS, eh? He dropped out of the nomination. Let him rectify these loose ends and call it good. Any other loose ends, he should take care of now while he’s free of scrutiny.
He seemed to be the kind of guy that people wanted in the role… so hopefully this is a humbling experience to him to realize that your private life isn’t so private once you enter the field of politics.
I must say of Kerik that he’s a good man to step down willingly than to be forced out of office and create more scandal for Bush. Bush already admitted in his debates that he made some bad choices in people he appointed on his cabinet the last go around. This is a saving grace for him this go around.
About DHS:
I will find that story – or stuff related to it and show you why. But to give you what I remember from it off the top of my head… I read that Kerik had five homicide detectives canvass the neighborhoods of NYC in search of some stolen items. What I could remember was there was a cell phone, necklace, and credit cards involved. There were about five items total I believe. Hence the five homicide detectives. But the sad thing is – here he sent these HOMICIDE detectives to go looking for allegedly stolen goods (I thought Homicide meant someone died…not someone stole something) and they knocked on the doors of like five people who worked at the Publishing company that was to publish Kerik’s biography. These people felt very upset by what happened. Come to find out, the items were all recovered because they were all misplaced or in the obvious places to look: trashcan, bottom of purse, drawer, etc. Kerik sent his homicide buddies out to go take care of a lady’s missing items all because that lady was gonna publish his book. Hmmm.
The story was meant to point out how Kerik abuses his power of authority. And that was only one example.
So I was getting all upset over this new nominee choice when suddenly, I read the news and …HOORAY! He’s stepping down! And…OH…what’s this? There’s some malarkey going on, eh? Hmmm. Well by golly, I guess that’s been going on for some time. But see, he was put in the lime light and investigations into his personal life had to be made before he could be trusted with the most prestigious position of protecting the people of this country. How can he protect the people of this country from others when he can’t even protect himself from himself?
The President had this to say about him:
"Bernie Kerik is one of the most accomplished and effective leaders of law enforcement in America," Bush said in nominating Kerik to be the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. "In every position he has demonstrated a deep commitment to justice, a heart for the innocent and a record of great success."
And former NYC Mayor Rudolph Giuliani said this about him:
"When you see him, he's a big strong guy and a black belt," said Giuliani. "What you get to know when you work with him is how smart he is ... how effective and sophisticated a manager he is."
Well these are all good traits indeed. These are things we need demonstrated in important security positions. However, someone in such a trusted position needs to maintain an untainted off-duty life as well.
Giuliani had this to say also:
Kerik, according to Giuliani, is a manager who inspires by example and by his life story, coming from a troubled childhood to serve as New York's top cop and now the likely leader of the nation's terrorism-prevention agency.
Hmmm… psychology brain working: Is it possible his troubled childhood had an effect on his poor personal decisions?
Same article says:
"I call upon the U.S. Senate to take a hard look at Bernard Kerik's past management," said Norman Siegel. "This was a Department of Correction where political loyalty trumped merit."
Kerik's supporters say if he rubs people the wrong way, it's only because he demands high standards in everything he does.
And so the U.S. Senate did. It took a hard look at Bernard Kerik’s everything. If he demands high standards in everything he does, he should have met those standards as well. A little dirt can hurt for someone appointed to the responsibility of managing Homeland Security.
Kerik had this to say as part of his reason for stepping down:
``In the course of completing documents required for Senate confirmation, I uncovered information that now leads me to question the immigration status of a person who had been in my employ as a housekeeper and nanny,'' he wrote.
``It has also been brought to my attention that for a period of time during such employment, required tax payments and related filings had not been made,'' Kerik wrote.
Well the good news is that he plans to make restitution for avoiding the IRS way back when he had this housekeeper/nanny. But it makes a person wonder, “If he’s in the position of security, would he not consider the legalities involved in a personal affair such as hiring a nanny/housekeeper?” I mean, come on: evading taxes, illegal alien, paying under the table. Dude, Wake Up. We’re not buying this whole, “Well it came to my attention…and leads me to question.” You knew it. You just blew it.
Another possible reason he may have stepped down is:
The withdrawal letter followed a New York Times report that Kerik, 49, became rich working for companies that do business with the department he will oversee. The Wall Street Journal said Kerik would face questions in the U.S. Senate about his role as former corporate director at Taser International Inc., a maker of stun guns for law enforcement agencies.
It’s bad enough the illegal alien, tax evasion, and paying under the table deal was all brought out in the open. Let’s not get into his life as former corporate director of a company that does business with the DHS, eh? He dropped out of the nomination. Let him rectify these loose ends and call it good. Any other loose ends, he should take care of now while he’s free of scrutiny.
"He has a strategy of listening to what his managers have to say, giving them clear direction and holding them accountable for getting it done," said Rising, who served as Kerik's special adviser and counsel at the NYPD. "He sets a clear focus for people that work for him and he gives people the tools to see it through."
He seemed to be the kind of guy that people wanted in the role… so hopefully this is a humbling experience to him to realize that your private life isn’t so private once you enter the field of politics.
“I am convinced that for personal reasons, moving forward would not be in the best interests of your administration, the Department of Homeland Security, or the American people,” Kerik wrote to Bush in a letter that was released by the White House.
I must say of Kerik that he’s a good man to step down willingly than to be forced out of office and create more scandal for Bush. Bush already admitted in his debates that he made some bad choices in people he appointed on his cabinet the last go around. This is a saving grace for him this go around.
About DHS:
The creation of the department in 2003 combined 22 disparate federal agencies with more than 180,000 employees and a combined budget of $36 billion. The organization is still learning to work together and faces criticism over aspects from the coordination of finances to computer systems.
One Christian’s Fear
Gena Caponi Tabery, before I wrote this, I prayed for you.
When I hear a Christian speak these words, my heart grieves:
I AM AFRAID.
As a Christian, I have never been taught anything along the lines of the following:
BE AFRAID – BE VERY, VERY AFRAID. Because if people find out you are a Christian, then they will exploit you for their use. Just like Satan does. Because God cannot protect you. You might be a Christian but that does not mean you have an automatic saving grace. When the enemy comes in like a flood to use and abuse, God won’t be anywhere around to save you – so be afraid. He won’t be there lifting a standard against it, so be afraid. When others call you names and hate you – remember they hated Jesus first, so be afraid. There’s good reason to hate you. Just like Peter – who denied Christ three times… be afraid. The crowd will consume you. The opposition will gather around you. Where will you go? Whom will you call upon? Your God cannot save you. So be afraid.
I have been taught otherwise. I have never seen the dead brought back to life nor have I seen someone wounded or sick become healed. But that does not mean I will not. I just have not. And it does not take away from my faith. I believe very strongly that these things happen. But I must admit when I read your story, the thought came to me:
Who hired you to write this story? Are you really a Christian as your story claims? Or were you paid to write this article and to make it convincing enough to lead other Christians astray who are young, not fully matured? I was very disappointed to read the point of it.
I thought, “Score one for the enemy because of this garbage”:
You contradicted yourself. You just got done telling the readers this:
How much more can the enemy render the people of God ineffective against his ways? Strike them with fear. Silence them. Shut them up. Hide them away. (Make them think he does not exist.) But let them think that it was their own brilliant idea. That they came up with it. Make them own the idea so that they are proud of it. So they embrace it strongly and will fight before they give it up.
Praying together before a meal in a restaurant is nothing to be ashamed of. When I was introduced to doing that, I admit I was not comfortable with it the first time around. But I prayed about it later and got over it. I realized there was absolutely nothing wrong with doing it. I don’t care what other people think. They’re going to think what they want to think anyway. It’s not like we can control them. So don’t trouble yourself over something you cannot change. Just work on your own heart and be true to God.
As far as politics and religion - so what? People always try to look good by claiming to be this, that or the other. Using religion is just another way. If they could use last names, they would. The intelligent people know better: Just because someone claims to be anything does not automatically make them what they've claimed. The proof is in their actions. Faith without works is dead, my friend. So - shrug it off. These kinds of media journalists are hardly educated in Christ if they can spew out this kind of garbage. Name-calling and labels are the lowest common denominator to indicating that the attacker has nothing of intelligence to truly debate about. They're rendered helpless in their fury of emotions and resort to these base attacks.
The only time I do not want to display Christian traits is when I am in sin. When I am in sin, I do not want people to believe that God advocates what I am doing. Because He doesn’t. I know better. So that is the only time that I find myself shunning Christian-like behavior. But when I am not in sin, then I am not ashamed. (Funny how that works.) And when I am not ashamed, I give thanks and praise to God for His love and mercy. And it makes me realize all the more what a great God He is – patient with me, forgiving of me and the garbage I do and say… and I realize how much more awesome it is to be a Christian.
But knowing that you feel this way, I want to share some truths with you that perhaps you were a little naïve about. It is better to know and be empowered than to not know and make uninformed mistakes.
For one: I give you Job 5 in response to your letter. Please read that entire chapter as my response. Highlight 17 through 27. And then highlight Psalm 34:19.
Being a Christian is not a VIP pass to easy street. Christians are going to face many challenges. The enemy will take on many forms and will attack from many fronts. The Word is what you use against those attacks. For in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. Don’t forget that. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. You have to read the Word to know the Word…to effectively use the Word. And if you have not already, then I recommend you get filled with the Holy Spirit soon. If you already are, then I recommend that you begin seeking God to remove the spirit of fear that has seized you.
For two: Your words have power in them. Your tongue has the power of life and death in it. To curse or to bless. To speak of good or to speak of evil. And as we see, to speak of fear and embrace that fear. Or to speak of courage and embrace that courage. Be careful what you speak and end up giving the enemy advantage over. David says in Psalm 39:1 “I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.” The Word often compares the tongue to a sword and words to arrows.
For three: God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a Spirit of power, love and a sound mind. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear hath torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love. As Jesus said to the disciples when they saw the storm rising up on the sea, “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?” (Mt 8:26). Don’t talk about fear anymore. The more you embrace fear, the more power you give it. “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” (Ro 8:15) We live in a tumultuous world and in trying times… but fear is not in our vocabulary and is not found in our God so remove it from your speech and person. “So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (He 13:6) Do not be afraid to be a Christian. Be thankful and express your thanks openly – not in arrogance for all to see. But you can hold hands at the restaurant and quietly pray together…out loud for the occupants of your table to hear. If you acknowledge Christ openly, then He will acknowledge you openly. If you are ashamed of Him, He will be ashamed of you. You hear the phrase “What Would Jesus Do”. That’s something to think about. He was never secretive or ashamed of His Father. When He was brought before the Sanhedrin to respond to their accusations – he flat out told them, “ I spoke openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, where the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.” (Jn 18:20) Think about it.
For four: Fear God. That’s the only fear you should have. And it’s not a “be afraid” kind of a fear. It’s a reverent, acknowledgement of the holiness, might and power He represents. Only He can kill both the body and the soul. (Mt 10:28)
When I hear a Christian speak these words, my heart grieves:
I AM AFRAID.
As a Christian, I have never been taught anything along the lines of the following:
BE AFRAID – BE VERY, VERY AFRAID. Because if people find out you are a Christian, then they will exploit you for their use. Just like Satan does. Because God cannot protect you. You might be a Christian but that does not mean you have an automatic saving grace. When the enemy comes in like a flood to use and abuse, God won’t be anywhere around to save you – so be afraid. He won’t be there lifting a standard against it, so be afraid. When others call you names and hate you – remember they hated Jesus first, so be afraid. There’s good reason to hate you. Just like Peter – who denied Christ three times… be afraid. The crowd will consume you. The opposition will gather around you. Where will you go? Whom will you call upon? Your God cannot save you. So be afraid.
I have been taught otherwise. I have never seen the dead brought back to life nor have I seen someone wounded or sick become healed. But that does not mean I will not. I just have not. And it does not take away from my faith. I believe very strongly that these things happen. But I must admit when I read your story, the thought came to me:
Who hired you to write this story? Are you really a Christian as your story claims? Or were you paid to write this article and to make it convincing enough to lead other Christians astray who are young, not fully matured? I was very disappointed to read the point of it.
I thought, “Score one for the enemy because of this garbage”:
My 14-year-old son has attended two bar mitzvahs this year, and I'm thrilled for him to witness the serious commitment hit you didn't talk about for fear of causing offense: politics and religion. Today the two are so intertwined, you can't talk of one without the other. And when you do, them's fightin' words, pardner. Nowadays, so many people are looking for a fight.
I'm not. Neither am I afraid to pray in public. But I am afraid of my faith being hijacked to promote someone else's political agenda. I am afraid of my faith being used as a weapon in a crusade against anyone who dares to think or believe differently.
You contradicted yourself. You just got done telling the readers this:
When the food came, my husband held his hands out to say our usual family grace: "God is great, God is good ..."
I shrank back.
"I don't want to do this," I said.
He was startled.
So was I, but I said, "I don't want to be a Public Christian."
How much more can the enemy render the people of God ineffective against his ways? Strike them with fear. Silence them. Shut them up. Hide them away. (Make them think he does not exist.) But let them think that it was their own brilliant idea. That they came up with it. Make them own the idea so that they are proud of it. So they embrace it strongly and will fight before they give it up.
Praying together before a meal in a restaurant is nothing to be ashamed of. When I was introduced to doing that, I admit I was not comfortable with it the first time around. But I prayed about it later and got over it. I realized there was absolutely nothing wrong with doing it. I don’t care what other people think. They’re going to think what they want to think anyway. It’s not like we can control them. So don’t trouble yourself over something you cannot change. Just work on your own heart and be true to God.
As far as politics and religion - so what? People always try to look good by claiming to be this, that or the other. Using religion is just another way. If they could use last names, they would. The intelligent people know better: Just because someone claims to be anything does not automatically make them what they've claimed. The proof is in their actions. Faith without works is dead, my friend. So - shrug it off. These kinds of media journalists are hardly educated in Christ if they can spew out this kind of garbage. Name-calling and labels are the lowest common denominator to indicating that the attacker has nothing of intelligence to truly debate about. They're rendered helpless in their fury of emotions and resort to these base attacks.
The only time I do not want to display Christian traits is when I am in sin. When I am in sin, I do not want people to believe that God advocates what I am doing. Because He doesn’t. I know better. So that is the only time that I find myself shunning Christian-like behavior. But when I am not in sin, then I am not ashamed. (Funny how that works.) And when I am not ashamed, I give thanks and praise to God for His love and mercy. And it makes me realize all the more what a great God He is – patient with me, forgiving of me and the garbage I do and say… and I realize how much more awesome it is to be a Christian.
But knowing that you feel this way, I want to share some truths with you that perhaps you were a little naïve about. It is better to know and be empowered than to not know and make uninformed mistakes.
For one: I give you Job 5 in response to your letter. Please read that entire chapter as my response. Highlight 17 through 27. And then highlight Psalm 34:19.
Being a Christian is not a VIP pass to easy street. Christians are going to face many challenges. The enemy will take on many forms and will attack from many fronts. The Word is what you use against those attacks. For in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. Don’t forget that. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. You have to read the Word to know the Word…to effectively use the Word. And if you have not already, then I recommend you get filled with the Holy Spirit soon. If you already are, then I recommend that you begin seeking God to remove the spirit of fear that has seized you.
For two: Your words have power in them. Your tongue has the power of life and death in it. To curse or to bless. To speak of good or to speak of evil. And as we see, to speak of fear and embrace that fear. Or to speak of courage and embrace that courage. Be careful what you speak and end up giving the enemy advantage over. David says in Psalm 39:1 “I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.” The Word often compares the tongue to a sword and words to arrows.
For three: God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a Spirit of power, love and a sound mind. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear hath torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love. As Jesus said to the disciples when they saw the storm rising up on the sea, “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?” (Mt 8:26). Don’t talk about fear anymore. The more you embrace fear, the more power you give it. “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” (Ro 8:15) We live in a tumultuous world and in trying times… but fear is not in our vocabulary and is not found in our God so remove it from your speech and person. “So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (He 13:6) Do not be afraid to be a Christian. Be thankful and express your thanks openly – not in arrogance for all to see. But you can hold hands at the restaurant and quietly pray together…out loud for the occupants of your table to hear. If you acknowledge Christ openly, then He will acknowledge you openly. If you are ashamed of Him, He will be ashamed of you. You hear the phrase “What Would Jesus Do”. That’s something to think about. He was never secretive or ashamed of His Father. When He was brought before the Sanhedrin to respond to their accusations – he flat out told them, “ I spoke openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, where the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.” (Jn 18:20) Think about it.
For four: Fear God. That’s the only fear you should have. And it’s not a “be afraid” kind of a fear. It’s a reverent, acknowledgement of the holiness, might and power He represents. Only He can kill both the body and the soul. (Mt 10:28)
Saturday, December 11, 2004
Exposure
It’s a sad thing when the people of a religion – that supposedly worships, honors, and adores a great and magnificent, almighty God – has to resort to defending their faith by killing others.
Again, over and over, I must ask the same question when reading about something like this: What kind of a God is this? Is it an act of forgiveness and love to Him to execute judgment on His behalf by killing a person (or group of people) and rendering them unable from that point on – as a result of their death – to receive in their spirit the opportunity to be redeemed from their sins (if that be the reason the person or group killed them) by such a great and mighty God, if they so choose to acknowledge such sin and acknowledge Him, in this lifetime?
If the person (or group) started off serving the one true God – well they’ve certainly strayed “from the straight line on this short run” (~SM). They’re definitely not serving Him now, but rather using His name as an excuse to do what they’re doing.
If revealing the hypocrisies and the shames, oppressions, and the scandalous, barbaric customs of a religion – that is practiced in some part of the world – causes the people in that religion to resort to this kind of hatred and violence in its defense, then I ask… Who is this God?
Where is this God? Is He sleeping? Can He not defend Himself?
Is there not someone in the Islam religion who can stand up and say, “Yes, this exposure must be acknowledged and I wish to say that I am aware of these practices. They happen in insert place here. Please do not get the idea that this is how all Islamic believers behave. We condemn this sort of practice for it is a shame and a scandal… a smear… to our belief. May Allah forgive these people, who practice such things, for their presumptuous ways and deliver them from whatever torment they have gone through that causes them to behave this way. So that no more people will be robbed, injured, or die by their hands.”
Are people of God (Allah) in the Middle East afraid of men who claim to be servants of Allah and who bring terror to the hearts of the people by threatening their lives, the lives of their families, and loved ones?
Do you think Allah approves of this terror by these men? Then call on Him for deliverance! Has anyone in the Islam religion prayed for deliverance?
If anyone dared to rise up in the name of Christianity/Catholicism/whatever religion and in the name of God or Jesus to kill masses of people or target certain individuals for death, then I would personally rebuke them and would hope the people of God, as a whole, would rebuke them. I would hope as a whole, the people of God would recognize that it is not the spirit of God that encouraged this behavior.
For an individual – or group of people – to start a war and kill others in the name of God is completely presumptuous. The fruits of this kind of action are suspicion, contention and division. Last I read, these are not the fruits of the Spirit.
The following story is a sad thing to read because the moral of the story here is that if the truth is brought to light, then someone who does not want the world to hear, know, or witness that truth will seek to kill the one who brought the truth to light.
Nov 2, 2004
This movie was the first of what was to be three installments showing the different aspects of Islam. This first movie focused on the woman’s role. The second movie was to focus on the man’s role. However, it was never finished. Van Gogh was shot dead by a 26 year old Islamic man of both Dutch and Moroccan nationality.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a liberal Dutch politician who had been a former Somalia refugee, originally wrote the movies. In 1992, she fled an arranged marriage, renounced the Islamic faith of her birth, and studied political science in the Netherlands. She was raised as an upper class Muslim and made it her plight to expose the practice of oppressing the Muslim women.
Both Van Gogh & Ali received death threats after the first movie was shown. Ali has been under police protection since this occurrence, but Van Gogh was unfortunate enough to ride past the 26 year old Islamic boy dressed in a Moroccan jallaba who slit his throat and shot him.
What I wish to point out right now is that I do not believe that Islam is a religion that is oppressive by nature.
And I want to make it clear that I do not believe that everyone who practices the Islamic faith wants to kill anyone who does not believe as they do.
However, I do believe that a small portion of those who practice Islam wants to kill anyone who does not believe as they do.
I believe it because I witnessed it on TV, September 11, 2001.
Yes, it is true that the United States – the Western culture – permits broadcasts over the TV and radio that may be taboo in some parts of the world. We show nudity, we speak profanity, we practice what we want. We allow basic freedoms and some advanced ones. We are blessed in many ways. Our dollar is stronger than many countries’ currencies. We trade goods with many nations around the world. And people seek refuge and sanctuary within the borders of our nation. Maybe all of these are reasons to envy the United States of America… and to hate us enough to want to bring us down wherever we are on this God-given Earth (“Kill all Americans”). Perhaps this land is full of things that can lead a person astray. But the simple fact is: a person is led astray by their own doing. THEY HAVE CHOICES.
THIS IS THE BEAUTY OF DEMOCRACY:
- I can CHOOSE, by my own free will – not by force – to watch or not watch certain television programs and movies.
- I can CHOOSE, by my own free will – not by force – to listen to whatever music I want to.
- I can CHOOSE, by my own free will – not by force – to listen to or read someone’s garbage (i.e. a story, a speech, a teaching, a sermon, a review, an interview, a political debate).
- I can CHOOSE, by my own free will – not by force – to wear whatever clothing I want to.
- I can CHOOSE, by my own free will – not by force – to not gamble when I am in a casino.
- I can CHOOSE, by my own free will – not by force – to not hang out at a strip club.
And more importantly,
- I can CHOOSE, by my own free will – not by force – to serve God and choose a religion (if I want) that may closely follow Him as I believe.
- I can CHOOSE, by my own free will – not by force – to marry, when to have the marriage, and who it is I will marry.
- I can CHOOSE, by my own free will – not by force – to vote for whomever I want to serve in the offices of the Government to run this country.
The beauty of Democracy, Freedom, and Liberation is that people are not forced. They are not oppressed. They are given the freedom to choose. They are liberated from oppression. They practice a form of choice: Democracy. And because they get to choose, there are so many choices made available to them. There is good and bad – however one wishes to classify the choices. They are there, set before you, and you can choose to get involved or to stay away.
And isn’t that just like God? He gives a choice… ALWAYS:
The world was not fortunate enough to see the next two installments of the three films that Ali wrote. We were only given the first one – an incomplete look at an entire picture of a life she wished to share with the rest of the world. What a shame. She dared to speak up about a life she existed in and escaped from only to have it literally shot down by an individual who represented that very life. What irony.
If a man, who was molested by a priest of the Catholic church, wrote his story and had someone like Van Gogh – a bold and outspoken proponent of free speech – to film the story for the world to witness… I truly do not think that anyone would threaten death on both the formerly molested man and the filmmaker. The movie is an unkind truth of something occurring in the religion that needs to be exposed. It does not mean that the Catholic people are all wicked and perverse. It means that the “heads”… the officials… of that Church need to get on their faces before God and seek Him to expel this wickedness from among their midst. Seek Him and His truth.
For those who serve God and pray – it is a truth that is exposed that should cause all the people of God to fall to their faces and seek Him. To see this kind of behavior going on “in the name of God” – whether it is molestation by church officials or physical, verbal, emotional, or spiritual abuse in the form of religious rituals – is a slap in the face to the people of God and should show them how much more He is needed.
It is not right. And the point is: The people of the faith of Islam need to stand together and expose the abuses that are done in the name of their religion. If you adore your God, then you would expel the filth from His midst. Whatever is done in secret will be exposed. It is better that the House of God exposes the secret than for the world to find out by accident or by force. In the process, it is not right for the world to condemn the whole for a handful.
God exposes. He does not cover up. He will expose things He does not like in whatever fashion He chooses. That is why it is said of God, “He reveals the deep and secret things: he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.” (DA 2:22)
Exposure brings shock and after the initial shock, the feelings start to form. Usually it is anger that comes next for having been "found out" or having something shameful brought out into the light. That is natural. But rather than get angry about it and start killing people, how about pray about and let that exposure do some benefit... especially if its initial purpose was to do harm. God can turn anything around to His glory.
But because God teaches us through His word about "making things manifest" and "bringing things to light" and "revealing things"... that He is a revealer and wants things in the open... Because of all these things, I find it hard to accept the hijab (the veil on a Muslim woman's face). Purity should not be hidden. And if you examine this ritual behavior, it should tell you some things about how things are dealt with in the Islam faith by those who practice wearing the hijab. It says, "If something is to become pure, then the first thing that should be done to it is to hide it away from the things that would cause it to be influenced into impurity...or that would cause impurity in others." If one of the purposes of the hijab is to prevent another man from becoming aroused at the sight of the woman's face, then it removes the blame of the sin from off of the sinner and places it onto the one who is attempting to become pure. She was not the one who became aroused - he was. So why should she be ashamed? She did not force him to be aroused. He saw her face and it caused him to think things he should not.
Same with her clothes. If her clothes cling to her curvacious form and are brightly colored in hues of the morning sunrise, then why should she be ashamed because God made her body so deliciously curved? Is it not His design? He was upset she covered up with fig leaves - how much more she's wearing some dreary black straight robe? How boring. God is not boring. He's alive with life. And there are things in this world that are designed by man outside of God's design. One of them is that darn hijab and the other is that boring black straight dress.
Women are built to be appealing to men. That is a natural course of life. But with everything there should be moderation and temperance. There are boundaries. If a man and woman step outside of those boundaries, then yes, they should be rebuked. But they should also be given the opportunity to repent if they truly are sorry. People can change and God knows this - that is why He designed the ultimate gift of love: the sacrifice of His Son on the Cross. The Perfect Sin Offering. The Lamb of God.
Why do you think He forgave the thief on the cross who simply wanted Him to remember his name? He honored the thief with more than just remembering his name - such a small request. He honored the thief by giving him entrance to the Kingdom at His side and letting him know this would happen while they were yet waiting for their physical bodies to die.
Again, over and over, I must ask the same question when reading about something like this: What kind of a God is this? Is it an act of forgiveness and love to Him to execute judgment on His behalf by killing a person (or group of people) and rendering them unable from that point on – as a result of their death – to receive in their spirit the opportunity to be redeemed from their sins (if that be the reason the person or group killed them) by such a great and mighty God, if they so choose to acknowledge such sin and acknowledge Him, in this lifetime?
If the person (or group) started off serving the one true God – well they’ve certainly strayed “from the straight line on this short run” (~SM). They’re definitely not serving Him now, but rather using His name as an excuse to do what they’re doing.
If revealing the hypocrisies and the shames, oppressions, and the scandalous, barbaric customs of a religion – that is practiced in some part of the world – causes the people in that religion to resort to this kind of hatred and violence in its defense, then I ask… Who is this God?
Where is this God? Is He sleeping? Can He not defend Himself?
Is there not someone in the Islam religion who can stand up and say, “Yes, this exposure must be acknowledged and I wish to say that I am aware of these practices. They happen in insert place here. Please do not get the idea that this is how all Islamic believers behave. We condemn this sort of practice for it is a shame and a scandal… a smear… to our belief. May Allah forgive these people, who practice such things, for their presumptuous ways and deliver them from whatever torment they have gone through that causes them to behave this way. So that no more people will be robbed, injured, or die by their hands.”
Are people of God (Allah) in the Middle East afraid of men who claim to be servants of Allah and who bring terror to the hearts of the people by threatening their lives, the lives of their families, and loved ones?
Do you think Allah approves of this terror by these men? Then call on Him for deliverance! Has anyone in the Islam religion prayed for deliverance?
If anyone dared to rise up in the name of Christianity/Catholicism/whatever religion and in the name of God or Jesus to kill masses of people or target certain individuals for death, then I would personally rebuke them and would hope the people of God, as a whole, would rebuke them. I would hope as a whole, the people of God would recognize that it is not the spirit of God that encouraged this behavior.
For an individual – or group of people – to start a war and kill others in the name of God is completely presumptuous. The fruits of this kind of action are suspicion, contention and division. Last I read, these are not the fruits of the Spirit.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (GA 5)
13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descends not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. (JA 3)
The following story is a sad thing to read because the moral of the story here is that if the truth is brought to light, then someone who does not want the world to hear, know, or witness that truth will seek to kill the one who brought the truth to light.
Nov 2, 2004
The film Submission told the story of a Muslim woman forced into an arranged marriage who is abused by her husband and raped by her uncle. It triggered an outcry from Dutch Muslims.Submission was the name of a movie that was filmed by a 47 year old Dutch man, Theo Van Gogh, who was the great-great-great-grandson of the brother (also named Theo) of Vincent Van Gogh.
This movie was the first of what was to be three installments showing the different aspects of Islam. This first movie focused on the woman’s role. The second movie was to focus on the man’s role. However, it was never finished. Van Gogh was shot dead by a 26 year old Islamic man of both Dutch and Moroccan nationality.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a liberal Dutch politician who had been a former Somalia refugee, originally wrote the movies. In 1992, she fled an arranged marriage, renounced the Islamic faith of her birth, and studied political science in the Netherlands. She was raised as an upper class Muslim and made it her plight to expose the practice of oppressing the Muslim women.
Both Van Gogh & Ali received death threats after the first movie was shown. Ali has been under police protection since this occurrence, but Van Gogh was unfortunate enough to ride past the 26 year old Islamic boy dressed in a Moroccan jallaba who slit his throat and shot him.
What I wish to point out right now is that I do not believe that Islam is a religion that is oppressive by nature.
And I want to make it clear that I do not believe that everyone who practices the Islamic faith wants to kill anyone who does not believe as they do.
However, I do believe that a small portion of those who practice Islam wants to kill anyone who does not believe as they do.
I believe it because I witnessed it on TV, September 11, 2001.
Yes, it is true that the United States – the Western culture – permits broadcasts over the TV and radio that may be taboo in some parts of the world. We show nudity, we speak profanity, we practice what we want. We allow basic freedoms and some advanced ones. We are blessed in many ways. Our dollar is stronger than many countries’ currencies. We trade goods with many nations around the world. And people seek refuge and sanctuary within the borders of our nation. Maybe all of these are reasons to envy the United States of America… and to hate us enough to want to bring us down wherever we are on this God-given Earth (“Kill all Americans”). Perhaps this land is full of things that can lead a person astray. But the simple fact is: a person is led astray by their own doing. THEY HAVE CHOICES.
THIS IS THE BEAUTY OF DEMOCRACY:
- I can CHOOSE, by my own free will – not by force – to watch or not watch certain television programs and movies.
- I can CHOOSE, by my own free will – not by force – to listen to whatever music I want to.
- I can CHOOSE, by my own free will – not by force – to listen to or read someone’s garbage (i.e. a story, a speech, a teaching, a sermon, a review, an interview, a political debate).
- I can CHOOSE, by my own free will – not by force – to wear whatever clothing I want to.
- I can CHOOSE, by my own free will – not by force – to not gamble when I am in a casino.
- I can CHOOSE, by my own free will – not by force – to not hang out at a strip club.
And more importantly,
- I can CHOOSE, by my own free will – not by force – to serve God and choose a religion (if I want) that may closely follow Him as I believe.
- I can CHOOSE, by my own free will – not by force – to marry, when to have the marriage, and who it is I will marry.
- I can CHOOSE, by my own free will – not by force – to vote for whomever I want to serve in the offices of the Government to run this country.
The beauty of Democracy, Freedom, and Liberation is that people are not forced. They are not oppressed. They are given the freedom to choose. They are liberated from oppression. They practice a form of choice: Democracy. And because they get to choose, there are so many choices made available to them. There is good and bad – however one wishes to classify the choices. They are there, set before you, and you can choose to get involved or to stay away.
And isn’t that just like God? He gives a choice… ALWAYS:
26 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; 27 A blessing, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: 28 And a curse, if you will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which you have not known. (Deu 11)
19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both you and your seed may live: 20 That you may love the LORD your God, and that you may obey his voice, and that you may cleave unto him: for he is your life, and the length of your days: that you may dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them. (Deu 30)
8 And unto this people you shall say, Thus says the LORD; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death. (JE 21)
12 There is a way which seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (PR 14:12 & 16:25)
The world was not fortunate enough to see the next two installments of the three films that Ali wrote. We were only given the first one – an incomplete look at an entire picture of a life she wished to share with the rest of the world. What a shame. She dared to speak up about a life she existed in and escaped from only to have it literally shot down by an individual who represented that very life. What irony.
If a man, who was molested by a priest of the Catholic church, wrote his story and had someone like Van Gogh – a bold and outspoken proponent of free speech – to film the story for the world to witness… I truly do not think that anyone would threaten death on both the formerly molested man and the filmmaker. The movie is an unkind truth of something occurring in the religion that needs to be exposed. It does not mean that the Catholic people are all wicked and perverse. It means that the “heads”… the officials… of that Church need to get on their faces before God and seek Him to expel this wickedness from among their midst. Seek Him and His truth.
For those who serve God and pray – it is a truth that is exposed that should cause all the people of God to fall to their faces and seek Him. To see this kind of behavior going on “in the name of God” – whether it is molestation by church officials or physical, verbal, emotional, or spiritual abuse in the form of religious rituals – is a slap in the face to the people of God and should show them how much more He is needed.
So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him. (IS 59:19)
It is not right. And the point is: The people of the faith of Islam need to stand together and expose the abuses that are done in the name of their religion. If you adore your God, then you would expel the filth from His midst. Whatever is done in secret will be exposed. It is better that the House of God exposes the secret than for the world to find out by accident or by force. In the process, it is not right for the world to condemn the whole for a handful.
God exposes. He does not cover up. He will expose things He does not like in whatever fashion He chooses. That is why it is said of God, “He reveals the deep and secret things: he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.” (DA 2:22)
8 For you were sometimes darkness, but now are you light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever does make manifest is light. 14 Wherefore he says, Awake you that sleeps, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light. (EP 5)
Exposure brings shock and after the initial shock, the feelings start to form. Usually it is anger that comes next for having been "found out" or having something shameful brought out into the light. That is natural. But rather than get angry about it and start killing people, how about pray about and let that exposure do some benefit... especially if its initial purpose was to do harm. God can turn anything around to His glory.
But because God teaches us through His word about "making things manifest" and "bringing things to light" and "revealing things"... that He is a revealer and wants things in the open... Because of all these things, I find it hard to accept the hijab (the veil on a Muslim woman's face). Purity should not be hidden. And if you examine this ritual behavior, it should tell you some things about how things are dealt with in the Islam faith by those who practice wearing the hijab. It says, "If something is to become pure, then the first thing that should be done to it is to hide it away from the things that would cause it to be influenced into impurity...or that would cause impurity in others." If one of the purposes of the hijab is to prevent another man from becoming aroused at the sight of the woman's face, then it removes the blame of the sin from off of the sinner and places it onto the one who is attempting to become pure. She was not the one who became aroused - he was. So why should she be ashamed? She did not force him to be aroused. He saw her face and it caused him to think things he should not.
Same with her clothes. If her clothes cling to her curvacious form and are brightly colored in hues of the morning sunrise, then why should she be ashamed because God made her body so deliciously curved? Is it not His design? He was upset she covered up with fig leaves - how much more she's wearing some dreary black straight robe? How boring. God is not boring. He's alive with life. And there are things in this world that are designed by man outside of God's design. One of them is that darn hijab and the other is that boring black straight dress.
Women are built to be appealing to men. That is a natural course of life. But with everything there should be moderation and temperance. There are boundaries. If a man and woman step outside of those boundaries, then yes, they should be rebuked. But they should also be given the opportunity to repent if they truly are sorry. People can change and God knows this - that is why He designed the ultimate gift of love: the sacrifice of His Son on the Cross. The Perfect Sin Offering. The Lamb of God.
Why do you think He forgave the thief on the cross who simply wanted Him to remember his name? He honored the thief with more than just remembering his name - such a small request. He honored the thief by giving him entrance to the Kingdom at His side and letting him know this would happen while they were yet waiting for their physical bodies to die.
Thursday, December 09, 2004
In The Name Of...
Another day, same article.
I am pleased to see a Muslim say this with such dismay:
“[They] felt they had a right to behave that way in the name of what they thought was freedom and liberation”
I am pleased because we non-Muslims ask a similar question when we
1. look at how this war started and
2. what the masked men (read: veiled faces) would chant when beheading yet another victim (“Allah Akbar”; translation: “God is Great”) and
3. what was said about us Americans in a hasty generalization (“all atheists”) and
4. what was used as the reason for why these Muslims chose to rob us of our flights which carried hundreds of people from all over the world out of our cities to their destinations, maim some of the passengers in the process of robbing the planes, and then kill everyone on those airplanes (including themselves) as they crashed into buildings and other locations on 09/11/01.
We non-Muslims ask: “Why? [They] feel they have a right to (behave that way) commit all these atrocities in the name of Allah (their God)?”
What kind of God is this? His followers are to rob, maim, and kill? Only one kind of thing do I know will steal, kill, and destroy and that is a thief.
The God I know is about love and He gives life…and He gives it abundantly.
As I read this article, I acknowledge this truth:
Salma Yaqoob’s only threat at that conference was the crowd’s hooting and jeering. The most she will ever have to fear is being spit on. She will never have to fear a mob-mentality. She will never find herself surrounded by non-Muslim men, women, & children throwing rocks at her, picking up guns to threaten her, grabbing her and throwing her to the ground to tear her clothes from her body, dragged away to some dark room by five men (white or Arab, doesn’t matter) dressed in all black with their faces covered and heads wrapped in turbans, videotaping her pleas to her family and country prior to being made to bend over on her knees while one man begins sawing at her neck, other men holding her still with her hands chained at her back as she screams in protest and pain, while all five guys chant “Freedom and Liberation” through the process until her body lies limp with a pool of blood at her severed neck and her head sitting on top of her back clothed in an orange jumpsuit.
This will never happen to her.
I saw Nick Berg beheaded in this manner. I had to witness for myself what lengths these murderers would do “in the name of Allah”.
Perverse.
Who, in a sound mind, would ever attribute such a perverted act to God?
Who, in a sound mind, would ever be able to explain to the masses that God would want this to happen?
Where, in this perverse act, is there goodness and love and mercy – all fruits of the Spirit.
Let me just say that Salma Yaqoob never had to fear when she was up on that stage addressing a bunch of French people in her hijab. She wasn’t going to die. And she most likely knew that. Because French people are not uncivilized to the point that they felt it necessary to bum rush someone they do not like and do exactly as I described above. Perhaps, to them, it was a basic etiquette to show one’s face when addressing them. But yes, it must have been very horrible to be the object of jeering and hooting. Nobody likes to be booed off stage. Nobody likes not being liked. It feels good when people like you. But to have an entire crowd stare at you on stage and mock you has to be unbearable. “Take your mask off!” they probably shouted. “Yeah! Take it off!” another probably returned. And then the ruckus began. And basic etiquette on both sides was disregarded.
Inner purification comes not from a veiled face. Rather, suspicion comes from a veiled face.
Inner purification comes from a pure heart.
Inner purification is simple really – don’t make it so difficult. I know as imperfect human beings we enjoy making things so complex even in our own naïveté. But it really is simple: Bring your heart to God and ask Him to show you what lusts linger in there. Nobody knows the heart like God knows it. We think we know it, then we ask Him to show us what’s in there and...hoo-boy! We don’t like what we see. “That was there?! Oh man.” Get rid of it! You want inner purification? Ask for the Refiner’s Fire. Like the process of refining gold, God the Refiner will turn the fire up seven times to burn up the dross in your heart. If you let Him. Problem is, it’s an uncomfortable process and people get kind of nervous when it gets to that point so they don’t want go through with it. Every one is tempted when they are drawn away of his or her own lust and enticed. So it's better to get rid of that lust. Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin. And sin, when it is finished, brings forth death.
Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.
It seems to me that veiling the face is some way of avoiding actually dealing with the spiritual aspect of inner purification. Tadkiyah - It means to cleanse something of evil and to groom it with good attributes. How about cleansing your heart of the evil lusts and then start filling it with God’s attributes. God is good. Get rid of the lust and start reading the word of God (Qur’an if you like), pray to Him, and fellowship with people who fellowship with God.
The purpose of inner hijab and outer hijab is simple: If your heart is pure, then you will manifest openly a purity. You will not need a veil to hide. The purity will be seen - in your eyes, in your behavior, in the way you conduct yourself. Your eyes are the windows of your soul. If in your eyes God’s love can be seen... in HIS love there is no perversion, there is no lust, there is no changing or variance... God’s love IS PURE... so if God is seen in the windows of your soul... then it is not YOU who is arousing the opposite sex. If the opposite sex is aroused... then THEY have a problem with lust and such. Not you.
You cannot control the actions of another person. You can only control how you behave.
Examine your self. If your self is behaving wrong, then something is wrong in your heart. From the issues of the heart the mouth speaks. Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
If I am walking along, minding my own business and then someone comes along and yells verbally abusive words at me because they did not like who I was, what I wore, what I believe in... That’s not my problem. That’s their problem. And it is painfully obvious that they are having a problem with it, you see? Because they are the one who is making a big fuss about it. Not me. Think about it.
If I walk by and some guy starts hooting and making sexual comments - he's drawing attention to me and that could be embarrassing if I allow it to be for me. But if I look at him with a look of "that is enough", then I have quietly made my point: "I do not accept your behavior." I cannot control how he continues to behave from that point on. I can only control my self.
Here is a strong example, this attack that these Muslims brought onto the United States at the Twin Towers on September 11 showed us that they – and more particularly, radical Islamic extremists as they are being called – have some kind of envy or jealousy or hatred or animosity or whatever mental/emotional disorder that urged them to do something about it.
I mean, it is one thing to be envious, jealous, hateful... or to have some kind of mental or emotional disorder... but to do something as a result of those things is - as we witnessed – tragic!
My thoughts on that:
If you don’t like us – stay the heck off our land, eh?
If you don’t like us – stay on your side of the waters, right?
If you don’t like us – don’t go killing everyone in the world about it, see?
You get the point.
But see – we may not like the suspicious looking hijab: how it covers the face like a mask, causing those in its view to wonder, “what the heck are they hiding? Are they so hideous they need to hide away behind a veil? Or are they up to something and they don’t want us to see their face to recognize them?”… We may not like it, but we will never go over to their country and blow up their buildings to make a statement about it. (Instead, we’ll go over to their country and blow up their buildings for coming to our country and blowing up our buildings. Right?)
So the most this Salma Yaqoob had to fear was the hooting, jeering, and spitting... maybe some name-calling. Ok and a ban that was enforced in France. Well, fortunately for her she lives in England.
If you teach the people about a God who wraps people up in bondage rituals, then you are not teaching a God of love. When I use the word love, I speak of His pure love. It is one that is not tainted with perversion and it is not involving sex.
Wearing a veil does not necessarily prevent desire and attraction and agitation. You are very misled if you believe that. In fact, for some, the desire begins because there is something being “covered up” and they want to peek and see. That is why we have stores and catalogs like Frederick’s of Hollywood and Victoria’s Secret – where clothes are sold to “cover” a woman’s nakedness in revealing ways… but sometimes being somewhat covered is what makes another aroused to begin with!
So you’re telling me that you cannot be a woman of God and walk around without a veil?
I’ll tell you something – men come to me and tell me all manners of compliments: “It’s about time they got someone good-looking to work here.” Or “Has anyone ever told you that you are beautiful?” Or “You’re a nice looking young lady.”
Now – when I first encountered these compliments, they embarrassed me and I did not know how to take them. First, I didn’t believe what they said. It’s hard to take a compliment. Then, in certain people, I noticed that they wanted more from the compliment so it made me feel creeped out. I’d kinda smile at them, but turn my back and think, “ewww”. But then one day I was taught, “Just say ‘Thank you’.” So, I tried it. Someone paid me a compliment, I felt embarrassed, but I answered, “Thank you.” It was painless. I walked away with no injury. So did they. No injury to their ego. So I started doing that from then on whenever someone paid me a compliment.
I am not afraid of someone paying me uninvited attention or ogling me or of what they may say to me. They are not physically touching me and I can move out of their line of site if I wish. I can disarm them if I wish also. See, I do not know what it is like with Arab men (I hear they are pretty dominant over there in the Middle East), but here in the United States if you tell a man in a kind way that he is uninvited in whatever way, then he gets the point and stops (unless he is a stalker or a maniac, then you’ve got to do more). Let’s say he is a little deranged and continues to ogle you – the best way to get rid of a problem is to be aware of it, but pay it no special attentions. Be aware of it, but that is it. Nothing more. Don’t go whispering to your girlfriend that some creepy guy is staring at you even after you asked him to quit. Or maybe even told him to quit. He’s challenging you. What are you going to do about it? You’re not dealing with flesh and blood, but with principalities, powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
When someone pays a compliment, it’s a gift. You know what I do with that? I say in my heart, “Thank you, God, that You made me beautiful and it caused another to admire Your work.” I am not conceited by their compliment or proud or puffed up. At anytime some tragedy could befall me and I may never look “beautiful” again. I could wind up in an awful fire that scars my face for life and I’d have to succumb to skin graft surgery. I am aware of how temporal this world can be and how quickly things can change. But I serve a God who is greater than all of that and He taught me only to “fear the One who could take away both life and the spirit.” That is Him alone. God has not given me a spirit of fear, but a spirit of love, power, and a sound mind. And my sound mind certainly does not require that I wear some kind of veil over my face to prevent another from being aroused. Nor to attack someone who does not believe as I do. So if you believe that I’m attacking – you are certainly wrong. I am presenting some things to think about here. Things that need to be turned over in the mind and weighed with soundness.
I do not fear being exploited because I make that choice for myself. If I wish to be exploited, I will place myself in a position to be exploited. But by the grace of God I have strength to stop something I do not like. If a man or woman chooses to go beyond the bounds of courtesy and respect and says something more than a compliment, then I am not afraid to let them know that I do not appreciate what they said. I can be kind when I let them know. But my kindness should never be mistaken for a weakness. Because if necessary, I can be “hard” – showing no kindness, but only a stoic matter-of-fact expression. Again, I choose to be kind. I have that choice. I am free to make that choice.
I am free to make the choice to purify my heart without clothing restrictions. Automatically, as God deals with my heart, I make decisions on what to wear and not to wear. Not because a church told me. Not because a religion told me. Not because a set of rules were drawn up for Christians everywhere. No – because my heart has changed and decided those certain things are not what I desire to wear anymore. Certain attitudes are not what I wish to display. Why? Because they do not please my God. How do I know? Because I take the time to know Him through prayer, reading His word, listening to men and women of God preach and testing the spirit (discernment) whether it is of God or not. When you spend enough time with God, you begin to know what is from Him and what is not. It can appear to be of God, but your spirit knows it is not. Something is not right and makes you sick – maybe physically, maybe just spiritually.
And please do not compare the hijab and all that to a nun’s style of dress. I assure you I have some complaints with the ritualistic religion called Catholicism as well and all it’s bondages, fears, intimidations, and incorrect teachings. Yet they read the SAME Bible I do – believe it or not! (I’ll let you in on a little secret: When the leaders of a church become perverse and are found out – such as molesting little boys or turning gay and lesbian – then the fruit of that church has been corrupted at the root. Perversion. The vine is all gray. No life in the branches anymore. The fruit is sour or bitter and thorns are growing around it.) Teaching people to pray to the Virgin Mary and all the Saints rather than to God is incorrect teaching and leading them astray. But I’ll dig into that sore another day to make people think. THINK OUT OF THE BOX. I am aware that some Muslims teach their people to pray to other people who have passed on rather than directly to Allah too – so you know where I’m coming from there.
I’ll continue more on this tomorrow.
“I was genuinely shocked how people reacted just because I happened to be wearing a hijab," Yaqoob recalled in a phone interview. "It was actually a very upsetting experience. It was shocking to see people so passionate and, in my view, so ignorant of basic things, basic things like etiquette. [They] felt they had a right to behave that way in the name of what they thought was freedom and liberation.”
I am pleased to see a Muslim say this with such dismay:
“[They] felt they had a right to behave that way in the name of what they thought was freedom and liberation”
I am pleased because we non-Muslims ask a similar question when we
1. look at how this war started and
2. what the masked men (read: veiled faces) would chant when beheading yet another victim (“Allah Akbar”; translation: “God is Great”) and
3. what was said about us Americans in a hasty generalization (“all atheists”) and
4. what was used as the reason for why these Muslims chose to rob us of our flights which carried hundreds of people from all over the world out of our cities to their destinations, maim some of the passengers in the process of robbing the planes, and then kill everyone on those airplanes (including themselves) as they crashed into buildings and other locations on 09/11/01.
We non-Muslims ask: “Why? [They] feel they have a right to (behave that way) commit all these atrocities in the name of Allah (their God)?”
What kind of God is this? His followers are to rob, maim, and kill? Only one kind of thing do I know will steal, kill, and destroy and that is a thief.
The God I know is about love and He gives life…and He gives it abundantly.
As I read this article, I acknowledge this truth:
Salma Yaqoob’s only threat at that conference was the crowd’s hooting and jeering. The most she will ever have to fear is being spit on. She will never have to fear a mob-mentality. She will never find herself surrounded by non-Muslim men, women, & children throwing rocks at her, picking up guns to threaten her, grabbing her and throwing her to the ground to tear her clothes from her body, dragged away to some dark room by five men (white or Arab, doesn’t matter) dressed in all black with their faces covered and heads wrapped in turbans, videotaping her pleas to her family and country prior to being made to bend over on her knees while one man begins sawing at her neck, other men holding her still with her hands chained at her back as she screams in protest and pain, while all five guys chant “Freedom and Liberation” through the process until her body lies limp with a pool of blood at her severed neck and her head sitting on top of her back clothed in an orange jumpsuit.
This will never happen to her.
I saw Nick Berg beheaded in this manner. I had to witness for myself what lengths these murderers would do “in the name of Allah”.
Perverse.
Who, in a sound mind, would ever attribute such a perverted act to God?
Who, in a sound mind, would ever be able to explain to the masses that God would want this to happen?
Where, in this perverse act, is there goodness and love and mercy – all fruits of the Spirit.
Let me just say that Salma Yaqoob never had to fear when she was up on that stage addressing a bunch of French people in her hijab. She wasn’t going to die. And she most likely knew that. Because French people are not uncivilized to the point that they felt it necessary to bum rush someone they do not like and do exactly as I described above. Perhaps, to them, it was a basic etiquette to show one’s face when addressing them. But yes, it must have been very horrible to be the object of jeering and hooting. Nobody likes to be booed off stage. Nobody likes not being liked. It feels good when people like you. But to have an entire crowd stare at you on stage and mock you has to be unbearable. “Take your mask off!” they probably shouted. “Yeah! Take it off!” another probably returned. And then the ruckus began. And basic etiquette on both sides was disregarded.
Inner purification comes not from a veiled face. Rather, suspicion comes from a veiled face.
Inner purification comes from a pure heart.
Inner purification is simple really – don’t make it so difficult. I know as imperfect human beings we enjoy making things so complex even in our own naïveté. But it really is simple: Bring your heart to God and ask Him to show you what lusts linger in there. Nobody knows the heart like God knows it. We think we know it, then we ask Him to show us what’s in there and...hoo-boy! We don’t like what we see. “That was there?! Oh man.” Get rid of it! You want inner purification? Ask for the Refiner’s Fire. Like the process of refining gold, God the Refiner will turn the fire up seven times to burn up the dross in your heart. If you let Him. Problem is, it’s an uncomfortable process and people get kind of nervous when it gets to that point so they don’t want go through with it. Every one is tempted when they are drawn away of his or her own lust and enticed. So it's better to get rid of that lust. Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin. And sin, when it is finished, brings forth death.
Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.
It seems to me that veiling the face is some way of avoiding actually dealing with the spiritual aspect of inner purification. Tadkiyah - It means to cleanse something of evil and to groom it with good attributes. How about cleansing your heart of the evil lusts and then start filling it with God’s attributes. God is good. Get rid of the lust and start reading the word of God (Qur’an if you like), pray to Him, and fellowship with people who fellowship with God.
The purpose of inner hijab and outer hijab is simple: If your heart is pure, then you will manifest openly a purity. You will not need a veil to hide. The purity will be seen - in your eyes, in your behavior, in the way you conduct yourself. Your eyes are the windows of your soul. If in your eyes God’s love can be seen... in HIS love there is no perversion, there is no lust, there is no changing or variance... God’s love IS PURE... so if God is seen in the windows of your soul... then it is not YOU who is arousing the opposite sex. If the opposite sex is aroused... then THEY have a problem with lust and such. Not you.
You cannot control the actions of another person. You can only control how you behave.
Examine your self. If your self is behaving wrong, then something is wrong in your heart. From the issues of the heart the mouth speaks. Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
If I am walking along, minding my own business and then someone comes along and yells verbally abusive words at me because they did not like who I was, what I wore, what I believe in... That’s not my problem. That’s their problem. And it is painfully obvious that they are having a problem with it, you see? Because they are the one who is making a big fuss about it. Not me. Think about it.
If I walk by and some guy starts hooting and making sexual comments - he's drawing attention to me and that could be embarrassing if I allow it to be for me. But if I look at him with a look of "that is enough", then I have quietly made my point: "I do not accept your behavior." I cannot control how he continues to behave from that point on. I can only control my self.
Here is a strong example, this attack that these Muslims brought onto the United States at the Twin Towers on September 11 showed us that they – and more particularly, radical Islamic extremists as they are being called – have some kind of envy or jealousy or hatred or animosity or whatever mental/emotional disorder that urged them to do something about it.
I mean, it is one thing to be envious, jealous, hateful... or to have some kind of mental or emotional disorder... but to do something as a result of those things is - as we witnessed – tragic!
My thoughts on that:
If you don’t like us – stay the heck off our land, eh?
If you don’t like us – stay on your side of the waters, right?
If you don’t like us – don’t go killing everyone in the world about it, see?
You get the point.
But see – we may not like the suspicious looking hijab: how it covers the face like a mask, causing those in its view to wonder, “what the heck are they hiding? Are they so hideous they need to hide away behind a veil? Or are they up to something and they don’t want us to see their face to recognize them?”… We may not like it, but we will never go over to their country and blow up their buildings to make a statement about it. (Instead, we’ll go over to their country and blow up their buildings for coming to our country and blowing up our buildings. Right?)
So the most this Salma Yaqoob had to fear was the hooting, jeering, and spitting... maybe some name-calling. Ok and a ban that was enforced in France. Well, fortunately for her she lives in England.
If you teach the people about a God who wraps people up in bondage rituals, then you are not teaching a God of love. When I use the word love, I speak of His pure love. It is one that is not tainted with perversion and it is not involving sex.
Wearing a veil does not necessarily prevent desire and attraction and agitation. You are very misled if you believe that. In fact, for some, the desire begins because there is something being “covered up” and they want to peek and see. That is why we have stores and catalogs like Frederick’s of Hollywood and Victoria’s Secret – where clothes are sold to “cover” a woman’s nakedness in revealing ways… but sometimes being somewhat covered is what makes another aroused to begin with!
So you’re telling me that you cannot be a woman of God and walk around without a veil?
I’ll tell you something – men come to me and tell me all manners of compliments: “It’s about time they got someone good-looking to work here.” Or “Has anyone ever told you that you are beautiful?” Or “You’re a nice looking young lady.”
Now – when I first encountered these compliments, they embarrassed me and I did not know how to take them. First, I didn’t believe what they said. It’s hard to take a compliment. Then, in certain people, I noticed that they wanted more from the compliment so it made me feel creeped out. I’d kinda smile at them, but turn my back and think, “ewww”. But then one day I was taught, “Just say ‘Thank you’.” So, I tried it. Someone paid me a compliment, I felt embarrassed, but I answered, “Thank you.” It was painless. I walked away with no injury. So did they. No injury to their ego. So I started doing that from then on whenever someone paid me a compliment.
I am not afraid of someone paying me uninvited attention or ogling me or of what they may say to me. They are not physically touching me and I can move out of their line of site if I wish. I can disarm them if I wish also. See, I do not know what it is like with Arab men (I hear they are pretty dominant over there in the Middle East), but here in the United States if you tell a man in a kind way that he is uninvited in whatever way, then he gets the point and stops (unless he is a stalker or a maniac, then you’ve got to do more). Let’s say he is a little deranged and continues to ogle you – the best way to get rid of a problem is to be aware of it, but pay it no special attentions. Be aware of it, but that is it. Nothing more. Don’t go whispering to your girlfriend that some creepy guy is staring at you even after you asked him to quit. Or maybe even told him to quit. He’s challenging you. What are you going to do about it? You’re not dealing with flesh and blood, but with principalities, powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
When someone pays a compliment, it’s a gift. You know what I do with that? I say in my heart, “Thank you, God, that You made me beautiful and it caused another to admire Your work.” I am not conceited by their compliment or proud or puffed up. At anytime some tragedy could befall me and I may never look “beautiful” again. I could wind up in an awful fire that scars my face for life and I’d have to succumb to skin graft surgery. I am aware of how temporal this world can be and how quickly things can change. But I serve a God who is greater than all of that and He taught me only to “fear the One who could take away both life and the spirit.” That is Him alone. God has not given me a spirit of fear, but a spirit of love, power, and a sound mind. And my sound mind certainly does not require that I wear some kind of veil over my face to prevent another from being aroused. Nor to attack someone who does not believe as I do. So if you believe that I’m attacking – you are certainly wrong. I am presenting some things to think about here. Things that need to be turned over in the mind and weighed with soundness.
I do not fear being exploited because I make that choice for myself. If I wish to be exploited, I will place myself in a position to be exploited. But by the grace of God I have strength to stop something I do not like. If a man or woman chooses to go beyond the bounds of courtesy and respect and says something more than a compliment, then I am not afraid to let them know that I do not appreciate what they said. I can be kind when I let them know. But my kindness should never be mistaken for a weakness. Because if necessary, I can be “hard” – showing no kindness, but only a stoic matter-of-fact expression. Again, I choose to be kind. I have that choice. I am free to make that choice.
I am free to make the choice to purify my heart without clothing restrictions. Automatically, as God deals with my heart, I make decisions on what to wear and not to wear. Not because a church told me. Not because a religion told me. Not because a set of rules were drawn up for Christians everywhere. No – because my heart has changed and decided those certain things are not what I desire to wear anymore. Certain attitudes are not what I wish to display. Why? Because they do not please my God. How do I know? Because I take the time to know Him through prayer, reading His word, listening to men and women of God preach and testing the spirit (discernment) whether it is of God or not. When you spend enough time with God, you begin to know what is from Him and what is not. It can appear to be of God, but your spirit knows it is not. Something is not right and makes you sick – maybe physically, maybe just spiritually.
And please do not compare the hijab and all that to a nun’s style of dress. I assure you I have some complaints with the ritualistic religion called Catholicism as well and all it’s bondages, fears, intimidations, and incorrect teachings. Yet they read the SAME Bible I do – believe it or not! (I’ll let you in on a little secret: When the leaders of a church become perverse and are found out – such as molesting little boys or turning gay and lesbian – then the fruit of that church has been corrupted at the root. Perversion. The vine is all gray. No life in the branches anymore. The fruit is sour or bitter and thorns are growing around it.) Teaching people to pray to the Virgin Mary and all the Saints rather than to God is incorrect teaching and leading them astray. But I’ll dig into that sore another day to make people think. THINK OUT OF THE BOX. I am aware that some Muslims teach their people to pray to other people who have passed on rather than directly to Allah too – so you know where I’m coming from there.
I’ll continue more on this tomorrow.
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