The Lion of Judah
(Volume VIII, Issue 12)
July - August 2004
Undoubtedly this is the day of the questionnaire. Quiz programs were never so prevalent and popular as today. For several years one of the best known programs on the radio was called “Information Please.” It consisted of all sorts of questions being put to a team of experts, and their knowledge tested on a wide variety of subjects, at the expense of the company who sponsored the program. At other quiz programs, huge sums of money and valuable prizes are given away to those who are fortunate enough to be able to answer the questions put to them.
The question and answer method of teaching is recognized as being one of the most successful means of imparting knowledge, and consequently is widely used in our schools today. This was the system adopted by Socrates, the great Grecian philosopher of the third century B.C. He used it with great skill, not only to impart knowledge to his pupils, but also to impress them with the consciousness of their own ignorance. In fact, he once remarked: “I have spent all my life bringing people from a state of unconscious ignorance into a condition of conscious ignorance,” and surely this was time well spent. The first step into the Hall of Knowledge is the admission of one’s own ignorance. God Himself will only undertake the education of those who are prepared to admit their need of His instruction, for we read: “If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool for [or own his ignorance] that he may be wise.” (1 Cor. 3:18).
The Bible is full of questions and answers, some asked by men and answered by God, and some asked by God and answered by men. Our Lord Jesus Christ, the greatest of all teachers, during the brief recorded period of His public ministry, as found in the four Gospels, is described as asking over one hundred questions. Let us briefly examine three questions, each of which relates to the most important matter of salvation.
The first question is found in the Gospel of Luke, chapter thirteen and verse twenty-three, where it is recorded that person asked the Savior: “Are there few that be saved?” We shall call this:
The questioner’s motive may be inferred from the answer the Lord gave him, for He replied: “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the Master of the house is risen up, and hath shut the door, then shall ye begin to stand outside and say: ‘Lord, Lord, open unto us!’ But He shall answer and say unto you: ‘I know not whence ye are!’”
In these intensely solemn words, our Lord rebuked the idle curiosity that undoubtedly prompted the question. Apparently there was no seriousness on the part of this inquirer; he was merely indulging his flair for statistics. It mattered nothing to him whether few or many would be saved; but it was a vitally important matter to the Son of God, who had left the glory of heaven to come into a world of sin and shame to seek and save that which was lost, knowing full well it would cost Him untold suffering and His own life.
God is greatly concerned about the salvation of sinners, in proof of which He gave His only Son to be a substitutionary sacrifice on their behalf, for we are told: “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16). God has gone on record as saying: “As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn from his evil ways and live. Turn you, turn you, for why will ye die?” (Ezek. 33:11). Notice, God does not ask: “When will ye die?” or: “Where will ye die?” or “Of what will ye die?” but “Why will ye die?” It is as if He says: “Why die in your sins and be eternally lost when I have made every provision for your eternal salvation, if you will turn to Me?”
Let us look a little further into our Lord’s answer to this frivolous and inquisitive questioner. Notice carefully the four words He used: “Strive to enter in.” The word “strive” is the word from which we get the English word “agonize.” The question of the soul’s eternal destiny is so important that Christ advises people to agonize to enter in at the door of salvation. It should be the supreme object of the reader to make absolutely certain that he is truly saved, that his sins are all forgiven, that he has been born again by the Spirit of God, and that he is consequently ready for eternity.
Why did Christ advise this person to agonize to enter in the door? The answer is simple. Our Lord knew, as none other, the tremendous forces which would combine to hinder the sinner from entering the door to God’s great salvation. Let us name some of these opposing forces which would seek to rob the soul of the salvation God desires him to have, remembering that to be forewarned is to be forearmed.
First, there is Pride, which lifts its haughty head and refuses to admit that man is, by nature, the lost and guilty sinner that God declares him to be; that refuses to bow in contrition and confess: “God be merciful to me the sinner.” We are told: “Though the Lord be high, yet hath He respect unto the lowly, but the proud He knoweth afar off” (Psa. 138:6). So long as a person adopts a superior air, and imagines himself to be quite good enough to merit God’s favor by his own efforts, so long will he remain in his sins and, if he dies in that condition, will be lost forever.
Second, there is Prejudice, which consists of a wrong opinion formed before proper investigation. This has blinded many a person to the truth of the gospel and resulted in untold misery. The sinner forms a wrong impression of God, and of Christ, and of God’s “easy, artless and unencumbered way of salvation.” This prejudice may take many forms. It may be religious prejudice that hinders him from accepting God’s way of being saved. It may be social prejudice that prevents him from taking his place as a sinner, no different from anyone else. It may be racial prejudice that causes him to refuse a salvation that is for ‘whosoever will.’
Third, there is Popularity. Many have been deterred from walking the upward and heavenly pathway because they fear that such a path will cause them to become unpopular with their worldly friends. They dread the ridicule that living a consistent Christian life will bring them, and thus they allow themselves to be laughed into a lost eternity. The Bible speaks sadly of those who “loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (John 12:43). Christ declared that “the truth shall make you free.” Note: not popular, rich, powerful and successful, but Free. It may and will entail the world’s unpopularity, but it is the path of true and eternal satisfaction.
Fourth, there are material Possessions. “The love of money, which is the root of all evil,” has kept many from taking advantage of God’s offer of salvation, and from trusting the One who, “though rich, yet for our sakes became poor, that we through His poverty might be rich.” The lure of the almighty dollar has turned many a person into an “I-dollar-ter,” who has discovered, too late, that his love of temporary wealth has plunged him into eternal bankruptcy!
Fifth, there are worldly Pleasures, which often prove to be an obstacle to the enjoyment of the true and lasting pleasures that only Christ can give. The Bible speaks of “the pleasures of sin,” but goes on to say they are only for “a season.” Robert Burns, the great Scotch poet, wrote of worldly pleasures:
“Pleasures are like poppies spread,
You grasp the flower, the bloom is shed;
Or, like the snowflake on the river,
A moment there, then gone forever!”
In spite of this fact, thousands of men and women are bartering their souls for the fleeting pleasures of a world that crucified its Creator, and still lives in rebellion against the Son of God.
Sixth, there is Procrastination, or delay. There are many who have been brought to realize their lost and guilty state in the sight of a holy God. They have heard of the way of salvation through an acceptance of Christ as their personal Savior, and yet they still linger in their sins and are thus exposed to the wrath of God. What is the reason for this folly? It is procrastination. This has sealed the eternal doom of thousands. They always intended to be saved “some other time,” but death came upon them unawares, and they were just as assuredly lost as though they had flatly refused to accept Christ as their Savior. There is an old proverb which says: “The road of By and By leads to the town of Never.”
Seventh, there is the Prince of this world, the Devil. He is the great hinderer. The Bible speaks, clearly and definitely, of his personality, wisdom and power. We are told: “The god of this world that blinded the minds of them that believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” (2 Cor. 4:4). It is only when a sinner seeks to escape from Satan’s clutches that he is made to realize how great is this power that the enemy wields.
In view of this formidable array of opposition, our Lord’s words need to be laid to heart: “Strive to enter in.” May the reader give himself no rest or peace until he is certain that he has entered through the door of salvation, and knows the blessedness of his sins forgiven, of his peace with God and the possession of eternal life!
The second question is found in Mark 10:26, where the disciples of Christ asked: “Who then can be saved?” We shall call this:
This question can best be appreciated by a consideration of the circumstances which prompted the query. A rich young man, of high morality and intense religiousness, came running to Christ. Kneeling before Him, he earnestly inquired: “Good Master, what shall I do that I might inherit eternal life?” The Savior, who read him like an open book, proceeded to show this young man the utter impossibility for anyone to inherit eternal life on the basis of his own morality or self effort. Christ said: “Thou knowest the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery; do not kill; do not steal; do not bear false witness; defraud not; honor thy father and thy mother.’” At this, the young man replied: “All these have I observed from my youth.” Then Christ proceeded to put His finger on the hidden cancer of the love of wealth which lay deep within his breast. He therefore said to him: “One thing thou lackest. Go thy way, sell what thou hath and give to the poor … and come, take up the cross and follow Me.” We are told that when the young man heard this, he was “sad at that saying, and went away grieved, for he had great possessions.” Thus this man turned his back on the Son of God, and made his fatal choice for earthly riches and worldly prosperity, and we never hear of him again. As the young man went away, the Savior said to His disciples: “How hardly shall they that trust in riches enter into the kingdom of God!” It was these words that provoked the incredulous question: “Who then can be saved?” Notice the answer that Christ gave: “With men, it is impossible, but not with God, for with God all things are possible.”
There are many today who resemble that rich, moral and religious young man. While possessed of many admirable qualities, they lack the one great essential requirement which is necessary to be a truly born again Christian, and this lack is fatal. This man trusted in his riches and turned away from Christ and departed, joyless, nameless, hopeless, lifeless, and Christ-less! He valued his wealth above the far more exceeding value of his soul. Whatever it may be that keeps a person from trusting Christ is the value he places on his soul, and “what shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
There are those today who are trusting to their morality to merit God’s salvation, and falsely imagine that living a fairly decent and respectable life will win them a home in heaven. They have not yet learned that salvation is by grace alone, and is “not of works, lest any man should boast.” See Eph. 2:8-9; Rom 4:4.
Still others think that because they have passed through some religious rite or ceremony they have been thereby fitted for heaven. Many are trusting in their baptism and the fact that they take communion regularly, and thus make an ordinance a substitute for Christ! Baptism and communion are ordinances for those who are already saved and on their way to heaven, but they have no saving virtue whatever.
To all such the words of the Savior: “One thing thou lackest,” should come home with force to their souls. The great need of all men is to have Christ as a living reality in their lives. This can only be brought about by believing the gospel which proclaims that Christ died for their sins. Only through accepting Him as their own personal Savior and confessing Him as the Lord of their lives can salvation be theirs.
The third question we shall entitle:
This is found in Acts 16:30. It was asked by the jailer of a prison in which Paul and Silas were imprisoned for preaching the gospel. God sent an earthquake so that all the doors of the prison were opened. The jailer, thinking his prisoners had escaped, was about to commit suicide when Paul called to him and said: “Do thyself no harm, for we are all here. At this, the man cried: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Back came the answer from the lips of Paul: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved!”
Is this your question, my friend? Has God shown you that you are a lost and guilty sinner, helpless to save yourself by any efforts of your own? If so, thank God, for you are just the kind of person for whom the Son of God suffered, bled and died on the cross of Calvary. He knew your dire need and deadly danger and, in wonderful love, allowed Himself to be crucified in order that He might bear all your sins in His own body on the tree. As He hung there, despised and rejected of men, all God’s righteous wrath against sin fell on Him, in unparalleled force, until every claim of God against sin had been satisfied by His substitutionary sacrifice on behalf of sinners. Mark the loud and triumphant cry of the Saviour ere He bowed His head in death and dismissed His spirit: “It is finished!” What was finished? All the work necessary for the salvation of every sinner who will trust in His finished work of redemption and receive Him as Savior and Lord.
God has signified His absolute and complete satisfaction in the finished work of His beloved Son on your behalf, and is now prepared to receive, pardon and save every sinner who trusts in Christ and rests, simply and entirely, in the virtue and value of the precious blood of the Son of God as the alone foundation of his hope of eternal blessedness.
May God, in His mercy, grant that this imperative question may be yours, and that from the heart you may sincerely say:
“Just as I am, poor, guilty, lost,
I come to Thee, Lord Jesus Christ:
In simple faith I trust in Thee,
Who bore my sins and died for me.
God’s word will then assure you that you are saved and saved eternally; that your sins are all forgiven; that you are the possessor of eternal life; that God is your Father; that the Lord Jesus Christ is your Savior; that the Holy Spirit is your indwelling Comforter; that the word of God is your infallible guide; that Christians are your heaven-born, heaven-bound and heaven-bent companions, and that heaven will be your eternal home. May it be yours to say of the Lord Jesus, right here and now: “He is mine, and I am His, for ever and for ever!
“Come, come, sin laden one.
Just as you are in your sins:
Trust, trust, Christ’s precious blood
That satisfied all God’s claims:
Look, look, to Him who bore
All of your sins on the tree;
Rest, rest, on His own word.
Then saved by His grace you shall be!”
Alfred P Gibbs was born in Birmingham, England in 1890 and was raised in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was led to a saving knowledge of Christ by his twin brother, Edwin. Although an earnest preacher of the gospel, he was best known for his work with children. Gibbs was called home to glory through an automobile accident in 1967.
A brand-new translation of the Bible – praised by Britain’s archbishop of Canterbury, that nation’s senior Christian voice – flatly contradicts traditional core Christian beliefs on sex and morality.
Titled “Good as New,” the new Bible is translated by former Baptist minister John Henson for the “One” organization, to produce what the group calls a “new, fresh and adventurous” translation of the Christian scriptures.
The 104th archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams – leader of the Church of England – describes it [as] a book of “extraordinary power,” but admitted many would be startled by its content.
“Instead of condemning fornicators, adulterers and ‘abusers of themselves with mankind’,” says Ruth Gledhill, the London Times religious affairs correspondent, “the new version of his first letter to Corinth has St. Paul advising Christians not to go without sex for too long in case they get ‘frustrated.’”
“The new version, which Dr. Williams says he hopes will spread ‘in epidemic profusion through religious and irreligious alike’, turns St. Paul’s strictures against fornication on their head,” adds the Times.
The One organization that produced the new Bible translation is dedicated to “establish[ing] peace, justice, dignity and rights for all.” It is also focused on “sustainable use of the earth’s resources,” challenging “oppression, injustice, exclusion and discrimination” as well as accepting “one another, valuing their diversity and experience.”
According to Ekklesia, a London-based “theological think tank” that supports the “One” translation:
The translation is pioneering in its accessibility, and changes the original Greek and Hebrew nomenclature into modern nicknames. St. Peter becomes “Rocky,” Mary Magdalene becomes “Maggie,” Aaron becomes “Ron,” Andronicus” becomes “Andy” and Barabbas becomes “Barry.”
In keeping with the times, translator Henson deftly translates “demon possession” as “mental illness” and “Son of Man,” the expression Jesus frequently used to describe [H]imself, as “the Complete Person.” In addition, parables are rendered as “riddles,” baptize is to “dip” in water, salvation becomes “healing” or “completeness” and Heaven becomes “the world beyond time and space.”
Here’s how Williams, the top Anglican archbishop, describes the new Bible: “Instead of being taken into a specialized religious frame of reference – as happens even with the most conscientious of formal modern translations – and being given a gospel addressed to specialized concerns ... we have here a vehicle for thinking and worshipping that is fully earthed, recognizably about our humanity.”
In addition, notes Ekklesia, the archbishop praises Henson’s translation for eliminating “the stale, the technical, the unconsciously exclusive words and policies” in other translations.
Here, according to the London Times, are a few sample passages:
Mark 1:4
Authorized version: “John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.”
New: “John, nicknamed ‘The Dipper,’ was ‘The Voice.’ He was in the desert, inviting people to be dipped, to show they were determined to change their ways and wanted to be forgiven.”
Mark 1:10-11
Authorized version: “And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him. And there came a voice from heaven saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
New: “As he was climbing up the bank again, the sun shone through a gap in the clouds. At the same time a pigeon flew down and perched on him. Jesus took this as a sign that God’s spirit was with him. A voice from overhead was heard saying, ‘That’s my boy! You’re doing fine!’”
Matthew 23:25
Authorized version: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!”
New version: “Take a running jump, Holy Joes, humbugs!”
Matthew 26:69-70
Authorized version: “Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.”
New: “Meanwhile Rocky was still sitting in the courtyard. A woman came up to him and said: Haven’t I seen you with Jesus, the hero from Galilee?” Rocky shook his head and said: ‘I don’t know what the **** you’re talking about!’”
1 Corinthians 7:1-2
KJV: “Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.”
New: “Some of you think the best way to cope **** *** is for men and women to keep right away from each other. That is more likely to lead to sexual offences. My advice is for everyone to have a regular partner.”
I Corinthians 7:8; 7
KJV: “I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.”
New: “If you know you have strong needs, get yourself a partner. Better than being frustrated.”
--As reported in WorldNetDaily,www.worldnetdaily.com
The Salvation Army is vowing to stand by its Christian principles in a pending battle over the more than $250 million in contracts it has with New York City. The city is on the verge of passing a law which would force entities with city contracts to write same-sex benefits into their hiring policies. Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, says such laws illustrate several implications of legalized homosexual “marriage” – the economic cost, the threat to religious liberty, and the willingness of activists to sacrifice the needy to advance their agenda. “The bottom line,” says Perkins, “is that religious organizations will either be forced to compromise their moral principles, or the neediest people in our nation’s cities will be deprived of the effective services that faith-based organizations can provide.” New York City is the Salvation Army’s largest area of ministry, with soup kitchens, thrift shops and recovery centers ministering to tens of thousands. But Army spokesman Major George Hood [says,]... “Our existing policy is that we will not sign any contracts that require domestic-partner benefits, or contracts that force the Salvation Army to change its spiritual intergrity.” [www.religiontoday]
By Marilyn M. Brannan, Assoc. Editor
Unraveling The New World Order
www.irnnnews.com - www.inforadionet.com
What’s Up with Iran?
It is no secret that Iran’s longtime ambition has been to become the dominant force in the Persian Gulf. After suffering through eight years of war with Iraq under the regime of Saddam Hussein, Iran was determined to insure that it would never again be invaded by Iraq. From the end of Desert Storm to the fall of Baghdad, Iran systematically pursued the goal of seeing Saddam Hussein deposed and his regime destroyed. Iran was not in a position to bring that about by itself, but through the use of “selective intelligence” supplied to the U.S. and the British, it fostered and fed the perception of Saddam as a potential and growing nuclear threat. At the same time, Iran prepared for the period following the eventual fall of Hussein by creating an alternative force in Iraq – the Shiites – whose primary loyalty was to Iran.
It should be mentioned at this point that one of the primary reasons the United States did not press the war to Baghdad in 1991 was the fear than an Iraqi collapse would increase Iran’s power in the region, making it the dominant force in the Persian Gulf. Since the Iranian government understood that, it knew that its success, post-Saddam, depended on reducing the threat the U.S. felt from Iran.
Iranian intelligence deliberately “neglected” to share a couple of key pieces of information with U.S. intelligence gatherers prior to Operation Freedom: (1) Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction programs had been abandoned, and (2) Iran knew about Saddam’s carefully laid plans for a guerrilla war to follow the fall of Baghdad. The Iranians wanted the Americans to win the conventional war, but they did not want the U.S. to have an easy time occupying Iraq. They knew the failure to find WMD would create a political crisis in the U.S., and U.S. failure to anticipate a Baathist guerrilla war would create a crisis in Iraq. Iran wanted both.
The worse things became in Iraq after the fall of Hussein, the more urgently the U.S. needed to accommodate what seemed its only viable ally in the region, the Shiite majority. In the fall of 2003, the U.S. accepted the fact that the new Iraqi government would be dominated by the Shia – with substantial Iranian influence. In quiet diplomacy at that point, the Iranians agreed to put their nuclear plans on the back burner.
The Iranians believed they had the Americans where they wanted them, and began to increase pressure for concessions. At the same time, the U.S. was getting buyer’s remorse over the deal it had made. As the winter of 2003-2004 wore on, the Americans, instead of pursuing the Shiite government plan, began talking to the Sunnis and considering an interim government in which Kurds or Sunnis would have veto power.
This riled the Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani (who is an Iranian) and he began to incite demonstrations and call for direct elections to insure a Shiite-controlled government. The U.S. responded by leaking that they knew the game the Iranians were playing. The “expose” in the U.S. media that Chalabi was an Iranian agent was part of this process.
When the Iranians and al-Sistani saw the situation slipping out of their control, they tried to convince the Americans that they would let Iraq go up in flames. During the Sunni rising in Fallujah, they permitted al-Sadr to rise as well. When the U.S. went to al-Sistani for help, he refused to lift a finger, apparently believing the U.S. would reverse its plans and make concessions to buy Shiite support.
The opposite happened. The U.S. decided that the Shia and the Iranians were unreliable – and no longer necessary. The Americans began negotiating with the Sunni guerrillas in Fallujah and reached an agreement with them. The U.S. then pressed on with plans for the interim government that left the Shia on the margins. That was the point at which U.S.-Iranian relations broke down.
Iran Wants a Crisis
Iran saw more than a decade of patient political machinations going down the tubes and they were furious. They have taken several steps in recent weeks to let the U.S. and her allies know that they face a major crisis with Iran.
First, they created a crisis with the International Atomic Energy Agency over nuclear weapons, certain it would draw U.S. attention. Whereas Iran had formerly taken pains to conceal its development of nuclear weaponry, Iran stunned the IAEA with a report mid-June that it has enriched uranium to 54 percent, far beyond the level required to produce bomb-grade fuel. Further, the Iranians admitted they had attempted to obtain large numbers of components for equipment used to produce weapons-grade nuclear material.
Second, they seized several British patrol boats in the Shatt al-Arab stretch of water between Iraq and Iran on June 21. This appeared to be a hostile response to the British following their agreement with other key UN members on a resolution accusing Iran of failing to cooperate with the IAEA. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) arrested and detained several crew members, claiming the vessels had entered Iranian waters without permission. An IRGC spokesman added in what amounts to a belligerent warning, “Anyone from any nationality entering our waters will face the same response.”
In another highly militant move, seen as Teheran’s near-hysterical response to Western pressure through the IAEA to halt its nuclear weapons program, Iran is establishing an army of suicide bombers. GeoStrategy-Direct.com reported the week of June 22 that more than 10,000 would-be suicide bombers have been drafted over the past few weeks. The young Iranians, including seminary students, have volunteered to commit suicide attacks against targets in Chechnya, Iraq, Israel and Europe.
The campaign to recruit suicide bombers began with a June 2 conference in Teheran to honor the late Ayatollah Khomeini. The conference was sponsored by the Iranian government and its state-financed Center for the Appreciation of the Martyr. The conference was attended by parliamentarians, military commanders and academics, who spoke on such topics as “Martyrdom Operations and Military and Security Strategies” and “Martyrdom Operations – The Last Weapon.” Terrorists groups such as Hamas, Hizbullah and Islamic Jihad were also represented at the conference.
In May of this year, Iran’s media reported that Teheran had established a suicide training camp. The camp is said to be training Islamic volunteers from around the world. A statement from the command center established to recruit suicide bombers said, “We are confident that expelling the British and American occupiers from Iraq is not possible in any way other than martyrdom-seeking operations.”
The suicide recruitment in Iran is being directed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, which reports directly to Khamenei. Officials have said the IRGC wanted their first target to be the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq.
“Peaceful” Nuclear Programs
While the world protests, Teheran moves ahead with its nuclear programs. The confrontation between the IAEA and Iran has dragged on for two years, and time is on Iran’s side. Each day it moves a step closer to achieving its nuclear ambition.
Iran’s nuclear programs include construction of a heavy-water reactor at Arak, which will produce large amounts of plutonium suitable for use in nuclear weapons, and a nuclear-conversion facility at Isfahan for producing uranium hexafluoride, a basic ingredient for developing nuclear weaponry.
Iran insists these facilities are for producing nuclear fuel for its civilian energy sector, which will free oil and gas reserves for export. However, it is known that (1) The costly infrastructure to perform these activities goes well beyond the cost of a “peaceful” nuclear program; and (2) Iran, with the world’s second-largest natural-gas reserves, wastes enough gas each year to generate four 1,000-megawatt nuclear reactors’ worth of electricity. Bottom line: Iran doesn’t need nuclear power.
Britain, France, and Germany have called on Iran to suspend operations at the uranium conversion facility near Isfahan and stop construction of a heavy-water reactor near the central industrial city of Arak. However, official statements from the Iranian government declare that Iran will not give up or alter its nuclear programs.
It is clear the Iranians don’t want negotiations – they want the bomb.
A nuclear Iran would undermine stability in the region, threatening the new Iraqi and Afghan governments and giving Syria and the Saudis incentives to go nuclear as well. Iran has long-range missiles on the drawing board, which puts NATO, Israel and the U.S. at risk.
Whether the international community will be willing to impose sanctions is the big question. Tough sanctions worked with Libya, who knuckled under on weapons of mass destruction. Sanctions even led North Korea back to the nuclear negotiating table in late June.
But in this case, getting sanctions in place will be very tough, given the fact that countries such as France, Germany and Japan have invested heavily in Iran’s centralized economy, and China, with its huge energy appetite would not likely support Security Council sanctions, either.
Peter Brookes, Senior Fellow at the Heritage Foundation, wrote in the New York Post recently, “If other countries don’t take decisive action soon, the world will have the 9th nuclear weapons state – and its first nuclear-armed state that also sponsors terrorism – faster than you can say “atomic ayatollah.”
Conclusion
Stratfor Weekly says military planners are updating plans on Iran even now. “Iran is calculating that it can engage in a crisis more effectively than the United States. The United States does not want a crisis with Iran before the elections – and certainly not over WMD. ...
The Americans cannot let Iran get nuclear weapons, and the Iranians know it. They assume that U.S. intelligence has a clear picture of how far weapons development has gone. But following the U.S.
intelligence failure on WMD in Iraq – ironically aided by Iran – will any policy maker trust the judgment of U.S. intelligence on how far Iran’s development has gone? ...And since Israel is in the game – and it certainly cannot accept an Iranian nuclear capability – and threatens a preemptive strike with its own nuclear weapons, will the United States be forced to act when it does not want to?”
This situation is not really under anyone’s control and can rapidly spin out of control. It is a clash of fundamental national interests that will not be easy to reconcile.v
New York 7/23/04 (LifeSiteNews.com) – International abortion giant, Planned Parenthood has a line of consumer products, coffee mugs, bumper stickers and t-shirts to spread their message and raise funds. The latest in their ‘social fashion’ line is a t-shirt for post-operative women to “assert a powerful message in support of women’s rights.” The shirt says simply, “I had an abortion.” The world’s leading abortion-promoting organization has long striven to undo the stigma attached to women killing their unborn children, but with little result. Despite the enthusiastic support of politicians, rock musicians and movie stars, abortion still has powerful negative associations in the public mind. The shirts can be purchased online for $15.00 along with Planned Parenthood condoms, milk chocolate birth control packs, a calendar showing a young woman’s tongue-piercing and a selection of “Choice on Earth” Christmas cards.
Editor Charles Lawson:This is a continuation that we began in an earlier issue where we reprint articles from the book, Why Do The Heathen Rage? The author of this book is anonymous and yet, beginning in 1962, and continuing through 1981, his articles appeared in newspapers across the nation. His articles and insight remain timely. The book was published by Hillwood Ministries, #6 Rutland Rd, Mt. Juliet TN 37122.
An article in The Atlanta Constitution of Oct. 21st had a headline spread across six columns of the page reading: “Teenage Sex Activity Here is Alarming, Judge Holt Warns.” Some of the activity reported is so vile we would rather avoid mentioning it even by a sort of respectable name by which the devilment has gained entrance into nearly all of society everywhere – sex vileness for which God ordered the utter destruction of the Canaanites, men, women, and children, saying they were so vile “...the land itself vomited out her inhabitants” ; and activity for which there fell a rain of fire and brimstone upon Sodom and Gomorrah that utterly consumed them and left the land cursed!
In the article, there were suggestions for remedies such as a “study committee,” – some things get so vile they don’t deserve study for cleansing but only the consuming fire, and that is one of the reasons The Almighty built hell and the lake of fire, and His Word tells us that those guilty of adultery, fornication, sex abnormalities, and fail to repent and turn from their evil and get forgiveness “shall have their part eternally in the lake that burneth with fire!” Other suggestions for remedy in the paper article were education, more money, etc. However, the Honorable Judge made a suggestion that “savors of the things of God,” rather than man: “Children also need to be answered with a strong no at times, as well as a stiff application of force to the seat of the pants so as to instill in them a healthy understanding of authority!” Amen, and Amen!
We quote from an editorial in the Nov. 5th Atlanta Constitution: “DeKalb Juvenile Judge Curtis Tillman said the snowballing rate of juvenile delinquency will turn the county into an ‘asphalt jungle’ within five years unless –!” The Judge was further quoted as saying: “We will never do the job you expect of us until you give us the tools to work with.” We would call attention to the “tool,” or “tools” God Almighty speaks of in Proverbs 23:13,14: “Withhold not correction from the child: For if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die, thou shalt beat him with the rod, and deliver his soul from hell!” That sounds like “beat the **** out of him!” I thank God that some of the hell in me in the days of my youth was gotten rid of in that manner, “The tools we need!”
Think of the trouble, the crime, murder, violence, not to speak of the money saved, we could be rid of for the small price of a rod or strap, or a switch without price or money, if used in accord with God’s Word!
Again, on the front page of the morning paper, Nov. 10, we read: “Council to Combat Crime Among Youth, Urged Here!” Combat Crime! Much of it can be “batted” out of the heart, out of the community, and out of society with a rod or strap in the hands of those who fear God and believe in obeying His Commandments, which is the whole duty of all men. So says The Lord God Almighty, The Lord God Omnipotent, Everlasting! Surely He must feel bad that so many of the great of the earth disapprove. Verily, they are now having their reward! The greatest power, force and influence in the establishment of this great nation was “Faith in the God of The Bible,” which caused them to “Follow after such strict obedience” to God’s revealed will and ways that they were called Puritans, a name at which many now mock! We now enjoy “walking on the high places of the earth” because God is faithful to His promises to bless men and their children who “obey and keep His Commandments.” Now while we see this inheritance slipping away, we are trying to maintain it without that faith in The God of The Bible that produced it!
“Heathen” are those who do not believe in The God of The Bible. God names them as kings and rulers, or such as governors, judges, and those who have authority over us, and the people who imagine a vain thing and support those over them in their effort to get rid of God’s Commandments, Law and Rule. The reaction of The Almighty to this rebellion is described in the Second Psalm as follows: “He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: The Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall He speak unto them in His wrath, and vex them in His sore displeasure.”
The laughter of God, the derision of God, the voice of God speaking in His wrath and sore displeasure vexes, perplexes, plagues, scourges, and confuses men, deceives and causes men to believe a lie. Here we find the causes of the problems of young and old, of sex, of crime, murder, death and violence, etc. vexing and perplexing the nations. Elijah was the Prophet taken to Heaven, bypassing death and the grave. In his days God withheld the rain for three and a half years and a terrible famine cursed the land. King Ahab blamed Elijah for the trouble. Elijah replied: “I have not troubled Israel: But thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and hast served Balaam.” Or the devil! I Kings 18:18. -November 13, 1965
By Victoria Thacker
www.brokenarrowministries.com
Foolishness: The quality or state of being foolish;
nonsense, a foolish action or thing.
Foolish: Without good sense or wisdom;
silly; imprudent; unwise.
Have you noticed the decline of common sense and the increase of foolish actions and/or distorted judgment taking place in this generation? The ability to reason, think logically, or form good judgments seems to be eluding our populace as a whole. In this day and age, society doesn’t demonstrate much wisdom. Here are a few no-brainers that have gotten my attention.
The Arizona Daily Star newspaper published an article called: “Just What Is Marriage?” The Star gave an entire page to four so-called local experts who discussed matrimony. Only one of these “experts” may have understood the institution of marriage. From the get go this panel was unable to determine whether same-sex couples should be included in the definition of marriage. What “tomfoolery!” The article concluded with one of the newspaper’s alleged experts saying: “I think each religious institution has a right to decide for itself what its position is going to be with respect to same-sex marriage, interfaith marriage, or any type of marriage. My particular religious institution, which is Reform-Judaism, recognizes same-sex marriages. My partner and I were married a number of years ago by a Reform Rabbi, and we are married in the eyes of God, in the eyes of our religious institution, in the eyes of family, in the eyes of our friends. It is only the government that refuses to recognize our marriage. I think it’s an educational process for the majority of Americans to learn about same-sex couples and our families and to be comfortable with our families and with marriage for same-sex couples.” (Yada Yada Yada!) “The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.” (Proverbs 10:8).
Then there’s the incident where the Bluebonnet Council Girl Scouts, comprised of 6,000 girls from 14 counties in the Waco, Texas area, honored the CEO of Planned Parenthood from Central Texas. They bestowed upon this woman the title of “Woman of Distinction.” Needless to say, I gasped out loud, “What were they thinking?” It’s obvious; they weren’t thinking. By Planned Parenthood’s own admission, the clinic that this same CEO operates kills at least 700 to 800 babies annually. Why would anyone, let alone the Girl Scouts of America, give this woman a seal of approval? “Wisdom is to high for a fool…” (Proverbs 24:7).
Two months later, this same Planned Parenthood Organization from central Texas hosted a “sex education” conference called “Nobody’s Fool.” Approximately 700 fifth through ninth graders attended. (Which have approximately 1400 moms and dads that should be looking out for them, right?). At this sex education conference, a free book was being distributed. The book was none other than It’s Perfectly Normal. This is a disgusting book that we have shone light upon in the PFW January/March issue of this year. In the article, “Shady Textbooks,” we informed our readers that the Planned Parenthood League in Cambridge, Massachusetts trumpeted the book’s praises. Why did they praise the book? It’s Perfectly Normal has an entire chapter on abortion, defining it as a medical procedure performed for the purpose of ending a pregnancy. The parents’ response, when their daughters returned home from the conference toting this perverted book, was outrage. Many felt that they had been deceived. Deceived! Bear in mind that this wasn’t a pro-life conference that their daughters attended! What did these parents foresee would come forth from a sex education conference sponsored by Planned Parenthood? Planned Parenthood is pro-abortion, so wouldn’t logic dictate that they would promote their agenda? To believe otherwise is down right naive and gullible. It sounds like, instead of being “Nobody’s Fool,” the parents of those attending turned out to be “Everybody’s Fool.” “O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.” (Proverbs 8:5)
Now, Sunday’s paper alerted me of yet another no-brainer taking place at Tucson Arizona’s Poetry Circle. The circle will discuss the poem “The Celebration of My Uterus” from the book The Complete Poems by Anne Sexton. Yikes! I think I’ll refrain from putting that date on my calendar! Do you suppose the genius Simple Simon from the nursery rhyme could be orchestrating this event?
Wisdom stands ready to direct us. What accounts for the decline of wisdom, understanding, and knowledge in our day and age? I believe the reason is that the majority of our society considers God of no value and His Word irrelevant. “There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.” (Proverbs 30:12) (Also read verses 11, 13, 14)
The further people separate themselves from God, the more foolish they become. The state of Arizona, where I reside, conducted an American Religious Survey in the year 2000 that illustrates how far we have drifted from a Holy and righteous God. The survey showed that Arizonans are less likely to belong to a religious body than people in most states. According to the poll, Arizonans shun organized religion. Interviews with those who were part of the study said, “I believe in myself and have faith in the goodness of mankind... I do not believe in a supreme being, if that is how one defines God...my faith does not involve a god at all...I find that nature is sort of a natural church...I view God as the faith that mankind can and will do better...I believe people can be spiritual and moral without God...God is something I don’t know, it’s an it with a capital I.” Mercy, is the roof still standing! According to the pollsters, this survey has about a 95 percent accuracy rate. Talk about taking the Lord’s name in vain! This vain thinking is common today. There is no fear of God. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom....” (Proverbs 9:10).
This fear is not the type of fear that torments a person. Rather, this fear brings about the complete opposite of distress. Ecclesiastes tells us that it is well with them that fear God. (Ecc. 8:12-13). Having the fear of God brings peace, joy, and satisfaction into life. This fear keeps our minds stayed on Jesus, which in turn helps us reject corrupt, sinful behaviors. It is an awe and reverence of God that keeps a person from doing things that grieve and displease the Lord. When we follow the Lord we have nothing to fear.
“Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding...” (Proverbs 8:14). The personal pronouns used in this verse are referring to none other than God Himself. If people choose to not seek His guidance or look to the Almighty God, the teacher of Godly wisdom, guess what: there are consequences for those decisions. This verse, along with countless others, declares that God is wisdom and understanding. Apart from God there is no hope of true wisdom. No wonder mankind is so wrapped up in its own conceit and wise in its own eyes. Mankind is “fool”-hearted.
“There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.” (Proverbs 21:30). The natural man is deficient. Men think they have wisdom, yet, if their wisdom be against God, it won’t succeed for very long. There is no real success in life apart from God. When people mock and scorn Him, as they did in the American Religious Survey, there is no protection for their minds. Without the helmet of salvation and the shield of faith, their hearts and minds are wide open for Satan’s snares. Satan gets great pleasure out of making mankind look foolish.
“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”
(Proverbs 4:7)
In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream. When Solomon was asked by God what he wanted, he requested an understanding heart with which to judge the people and for discernment between good and evil. In other words, Solomon asked for wisdom! God gave Solomon wisdom like none other before or since. His divine wisdom is preached to us throughout the book of Proverbs. All who adhere to the Words of Wisdom written in this significant book of the Bible will profit beyond measure. Proverbs is a great book to help a person distinguish between truth, falsehood, good, and evil. Proverbs can flood one’s mind with clear and righteous thinking and help one to know both how to speak and act wisely. Proverbs helps us to become rooted in the Word and His ways, where truthful Godly wisdom is found.
“Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:”
(Proverbs 1:20)
Why does wisdom express her voice in the streets? It demonstrates that God is offering His precious wisdom to whosoever will. Wisdom is offered to an ordinary man, a common man, a genius, an average Joe, or, in our case, an average Joanne. All have the opportunity to get wisdom because it has absolutely nothing to do with anything relevant to one’s flesh. It doesn’t matter whether we are book-smart, street-smart, well educated, intelligent, or born a simpleton, the opportunity to get wisdom is given. When one accepts Jesus Christ as personal Saviour, Godly wisdom begins. Don’t be suckered into the vanity of this world’s foolishness. God has a plan to keep us from being “Nobody’s Fool!”
“O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools,be ye of an understanding heart.”
(Proverbs 8:5)
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The FUNDAMENTALIST DIGEST
--Editor Dr. Don Jasmin,
P O Box 489
West Branch, MI 48661
Washington - On July 22, the House approved a bill to strip the federal courts of jurisdiction over same-sex marriage cases, despite warnings by opponents that the measure is unconstitutional and would open the floodgates to efforts to prevent judges from ruling on other issues, from gun control to abortion.
With strong backing from the Bush administration, the Marriage Protection Act: H.R. 3313 was adopted 233-194. However, the bill is likely to face strong opposition in the Senate, where some Republications joined with Democrats to block a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.
GOP sponsors described the bill as a fallback measure that would prevent federal courts from ordering states to recognize gay marriages that are permitted by other states. The bill, drafted by Rep. John Hostettler, R-Ind., would prevent such a ruling by denying all federal courts jurisdiction to rule on the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act, a 1996 federal law that says that no state has to recognize same-sex unions established in any other state.
Some social conservatives contend that it is only a matter of time before a federal court attempts to force the federal government or the other 49 states to recognize the same-sex marriages that Massachusetts began sanctioning in mid-May.
Republican House members argued on the floor that individual states should be allowed to defend their own marriage laws against unbridled judicial power.
“Lifetime appointed federal judges must not be allowed to rewrite marriage policy for the states,” said Rep. Sue Myrick, R-NC. Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., declared that marriage “is under attack,” referring to the Massachusetts state court decision permitting same-sex marriage. Sensenbrenner said the legislation is needed to prevent Massachusetts law from being imposed throughout the country.
“People who objected to the constitutional amendment said the definition of marriage is a matter that should be left up to the states. That’s exactly what this bill does,” said Hostettler’s spokesman, Michael Jahr. [an excerpt from www.chron.com]
What is the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)?
The federal Defense of Marriage Act, enacted in 1996, does two things. First, it defines marriage “for all purposes of federal law” as the union of one man and one woman. Second, it protects states, under the Constitution’s “full faith and credit” clause, from being forced to recognize as a marriage any “union” other than that of one man and one woman. [www.cwfa.org]
“In promoting a new edition of the ecumenical French Bible, the head of the World Council of Churches observed that it is good to have a multiplicity of Bibles. At the presentation ceremony in Geneva, Sam Kobia, WCC General Secretary said: ‘Having a multiplicity of translations available encourages the Bible to be read in a plural and ecumenical way. Having a variety of translations available is a precious tool in the struggle against religious fundamentalism.’ (ENI, 1/23/04)
Thus we see that the liberals and ecumenists understand that the huge variety of Bible versions works against Biblical Fundamentalism by weakening the authority of the Scriptures. Perhaps some who have doubted the importance of the Bible version issue will take the word of a French apostate liberal. He understands that having ‘a variety of translations’ helps to weaken the authority of the Word of God.” [The Baptist Bible Trumpet, SC, March 2004, page 1.]
As reported in
The Fundamentalist Digest
P O Box 489
West Branch, MI 48661
The American Atheists have promised to press on in the attempt to rid the phrase “under God” in the pledge of Allegiance even after the US Supreme Court ruled against such a ban. The Court ruled that the suit against the phrase, brought by California atheist Michael Newdow, was tainted because he lacked the proper standing or right to legal relief. “The court has avoided an important First Amendment case concerning the status of government promoted religion, said Ellen Johnson, president of American Atheists. “We can only guess why the court majority made this unfortunate move, but in doing so they have failed to resolve the basic issue of whether the state can use religion to promote patriotism.” Dave Silverman, communications director for American Atheists, said, “Like it or not, the Supreme Court is probably going to have to take up this question again at some point in the future.” [www.nljonline.com]
[WASHINGTON] -- At least two organizations are monitoring the content of Sunday sermons by U. S. pastors and threatening to report churches to the Internal Revenue Service if they hear political messages they deem inappropriate under federal guidelines on tax-exempt status.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State, headed by Barry Lynn, filed a complaint with the IRS against Ronnie Floyd, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Springdale, Ark., accusing him of preaching a sermon promoting President Bush’s re-election on July 4.
In Kansas, monitors from the Mainstream Coalition are being accused of creating “a chilling effect” on the sermons in that state’s churches. Last month, the Coalition announced it would send volunteers into area churches to see whether pastors were abiding by federal laws governing political activity by non-profit institutions. While the group maintains it is non-partisan and objects across the board to all kinds of politicking in the news, the organization’s website show the Mainstream Coalition has a strong political agenda of its own. Policy statements posted include the following: strong support of Roe v Wade; strong support of late-term abortions; strong support of sex education; strong support of human cloning; strong support of hate-crime laws; strong support of gun control; strong support for teaching of evolution; strong opposition to prayer in schools; strong opposition even to the wearing of religious symbols on government property. Currently Mainstream has about 100 volunteers monitoring churches mostly in the Kansas City suburbs.
Recently a group called the Christian Seniors Association sent a letter to U. S. Attorney General John Ashcroft and the head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division asking to have federal agents sent to the Kansas City area to stop the harassment of churches by Mainstream.
An excerpt from WorldNetDaily, www.worldnetdaily.com
A Swedish court has sentenced Ake Green, a pastor belonging to the Pentecostal movement, to a month in prison, under a law against incitement, after he was found guilty of having offended homosexuals in a sermon, according to Ecumenical News International. Green had described homosexuality as “abnormal, a horrible cancerous tumor in the body of society” in a 2003 sermon. Soren Anderson, the president of the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender rights, said on hearing Green’s jail sentence that religious freedom could never be used as a reason to offend people. [www.worldnetdaily.com]
The Un-Democratic Dozen -- Twelve Members of Congress signed a letter to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan asking the UN to send international observers to the United States to monitor our election this November 2. “We are deeply concerned that the rights of US citizens to vote in free and fair elections is again in jeopardy,” read the letter, which was absurd for another self-evident reason: it in effect asks that agents from undemocratic regimes such as Communist Cuba, China, North Korea, Syria and Iran be given the power to sit in judgment of American democracy. Mr. Annan, mired by a corruption investigation into the UN oil-for-food program in Iraq that he controlled, has already declined this request. “Generally, the United Nations does not intervene in electoral affairs unless the request comes from a national government or an electoral authority – not the legislative branch,” UN spokeswoman Marie Okabe told one reporter. [www.frontpagemag.com]
Anti-Conversion Law Repealed in Tamil Nadu, India [DELHI, India (BP)] -- Barely a week after India’s Congress Party defeated the previous pro-Hindu government in national elections, an official of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu has announced the repeal of the state anti-conversion law, Compass Direct news service reported.... The Tamil Nadu anti-conversion law was enacted on October 5, 2002, despite large-scale protests by the Christian minority and opposition parties. It contained loose definitions and required all conversions to be registered with the state government. Without proper registration, both “converter” and “converted” could be jailed and fined. Christians, who comprise approximately 6 percent of Tamil Nadu’s population, contend the law was passed with the intent to harass religious minorities and restrict missionary work in the state. [www.swordofthelord.com]
Teacher Has Kids Tasting Flavored Condoms -- The New Mexico Health Department is standing behind a sex-education teacher in Santa Fe who encouraged ninth-graders to taste flavored condoms. Lisa Gallegos, said that when her 15-year-old daughter balked at putting the condom in her mouth, instructor Tony Escudero told her, “Come on, sweetie, have a little fun.” “I agree with sex ed 100 percent,” said Gallegos. “I teach it at home, but I think that was inappropriate and wrong 100 percent.” Dorothy Danfelser, deputy director for the public health division of the state Health Department, said she wrote Gallegos last week to say Escudero did nothing wrong. “It had been investigated,” Danfelser said. “There was no wrongdoing. I have no more comment.... (Gallegos) may or may not agree with that, but that’s her prerogative.” “He (Escudero) didn’t really tell them to put (condoms) in their mouth,” Danfelser said. “What he does, basically, in his classes, depending on the age appropriateness of the class, is to try to get them ... used to condoms and kind of destigmatize them.” [www.worldnetdaily.com]
Prayer Cut From Indiana Public School Graduation -- A lawsuit threat from the Indiana Civil Liberties Union has prompted a high school in the Indianapolis area to drop its tradition of prayer at graduation. After receiving a complaint from one student who did not want an invocation at this year’s graduation ceremony, officials at Avon High School decided there would be no public prayer at the program. The decision came under advice from the district’s legal counsel and pressure from the ACLU... However, the ICLU has said it will not sue if student-led prayers occur at the commencement ceremony....Another student was quoted as saying that most of the graduating seniors want prayer included in the commencement ceremony. According to education guidelines released last year, US schools could lose federal funding if they choose to bar students from praying at graduation. [www.swordofthelord.com]
Muslim Regimes Intolerant of Anything Christian -- The Islamic regime in Khartoum recently lashed and fined a Christian woman for not wearing a head scarf in public in the capital city. On April 14, Cecilia John Holland, 27, was traveling by minibus to her home in the Khartoum suburb of Haj Yousif when she was arrested by a group of 10 policemen, Compass Direct reported. She was given 40 lashes on her back and fined the equivalent of $40 by an Islamic court. The police told Holland that no one in Khartoum, “even a non-Muslim,” was exempt from Islamic bans against improper dress. Last month, the Khartoum government refused to compromise on its insistence that Islamic law govern all Sudanese citizens residing in the city, Compass reported. More than 2 million non-Muslim southerners live in and around the capital, displaced by the last 20 years of civil war between African Christian-animist south and the Arab Muslim north. [www.swordofthelord.com]
The beginning of Afghanistan’s constitution states that “Afghanistan is an Islamic Republic”, and that while the constitution supposedly tolerates all faiths, proselyting is forbidden, under the possible sentence of death. [The Fundamentalist Digest, Dr. Don Jasmin, P O Box 489, West Branch, MI 48661]
CAIR-OH Educates Law Enforcement Agencies [Columbus, Ohio] -- The Ohio office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OH) held a joint educational seminar on April 20th with the US Department of Justice Community Relations Service (CRS), the Columbus Community Relations Commission and the Ohio Civil Rights Commission (OCRC). The seminar, designed to foster cooperation between the Ohio Muslim community and law enforcement agencies, was attended by more than 60 central Ohio enforcement officials. “We were greatly pleased with both the large turnout and the great interest demonstrated by the officials in what CAIR had to say,” said Jad Humeidan, executive director of CAIR-OH. Representatives from the FBI, the Transportation Security Administration, the Columbus Police Department, the Westerville Police Department and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office attended the event. Dr. Asma Mobin-Uddin, a pediatrician and vice president of CAIR-OH, led the discussion of Muslim beliefs and cultural practices.... “We would like to help law enforcement officials and Muslims have an appreciation of each other’s needs and concerns,” said Dr. Mobin-Uddin... There are an estimated 150,000 Muslims in Ohio. CAIR, America’s largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has 26 regional offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. [www.swordofthelord.com]