"The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax." - Albert Einstein

Jim Wallis: “There Wouldn’t Be A Tea Party If There Wasn’t A Black Man In The White House”

November 27, 2010 By

You know, right after Obama was elected, I was one of those people that thought we were moving towards a “post-racial” America. It looked as though we could finally judge politicians based on policies, not skin color. However, we seem to have spun off in another direction; instead of condemnation for skin color, we get accusations of racism for disagreement.

Don’t get me wrong, there are racists at Tea Party rallies that want Obama out simply because he’s black. There will always be people out there that hate others for stupid reasons. However, as a whole, the Tea Party movement came about because people didn’t like the way this country was going (in other words, opposition to big government), and that’s the driving force behind the group to this day.

Jim Wallis is crying racism because it’s a conversation ender. He’s trying to shut up his opponents.

Filed Under: Religion, tcot, U.S. Politics Tagged With: ,

Christian Persecution in Sudan

August 20, 2008 By

Hard question: Could this be a glimpse of America’s future?

HT: Bare Naked Islam

Filed Under: Christian Persecution

Focus on the Family Pulls "Pray for Rain" Video

August 12, 2008 By
widget icon Focus on the Family Pulls "Pray for Rain" Video

Focus pulls video urging prayers for rain on Obama
By Mark Barna

Focus on the Family Action pulled a video from its Web site today that asked people to pray for “rain of biblical proportions” during Barack Obama’s Aug. 28 appearance at Invesco Field in Denver to accept the Democratic nomination for president.

Article Continues… (Colorado Springs Gazette)

Honestly, my problem with Focus comes down to this statement in the article:

The video’s point, Shepard said, is that in his view Obama has not clearly stated his stances on abortion and gay marriage, important themes within the Christian right.

I strongly oppose abortion, and while I’m not a fan of gay marriage, I honestly feel it’s none of my business who is sleeping with who. However, my concern is that Focus is teaching the Evangelical sheep* out there that these two issues are the biggest, and that’s simply not the case.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad wants nukes.

Our “friends” the Saudis have been given the green lights to move forward with a nuclear plan of their own.

Czar Vladimir Putin has nukes, and is starting something evil over in his part of the world; nobody has the guts to stop him.

But please, let’s keep arguing over gay marriage.

*While it may sound insulting on my part, the blunt truth is that most Americans don’t research the candidates themselves; they look to someone else to tell them how to vote. In a perfect world, pro-Obama media bias wouldn’t matter, as everyone would actually know what each candidate stood for behind the facade.

Filed Under: Evangelical Christians

Student to be deported from Israel for alleged missionary activity

May 30, 2008 By

German Christian student at Hebrew U. deported for ‘missionary work’
By ICEJ News

Israel’s Interior Ministry has scheduled for Barbara Ludwig, a 32-year old German Christian enrolled for studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, to be deported on Friday after being arrested in late April by immigration police for alleged missionizing.

Article Continues… (ICEJ)

I’m still not entirely sure how I feel about missionizing, as:

1) Christianity is a missionary religion.

2) It seems the primary way most Christians spread their faith is through deception and shallow relationships; almost caring more about adding another number to the flock than about the actual person.

However, and this article may be a little slanted based on the source, it doesn’t look like this woman is guilty of missionary work. It seems she’s being targeted for the circles she runs in, with an alternate reason for deportation being tacked on after the fact. In addition, if I understand correctly, missionary work isn’t illegal in Israel.

At the end of the day Israel is allowed to keep and deport whomever they want, but it still looks like this lady is getting unfair treatment due to her religion.

Filed Under: Christian Persecution

Did Divine Intervention Fell Ariel Sharon?

December 29, 2007 By

n January 2006, when Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon had a stroke, permanently incapacitating him, the American evangelical leader Pat Robertson attributed Sharon’s medical condition to divine intervention resulting from Sharon’s withdrawal from Gaza a few months earlier.

Full Article (DanielPipes.org)

I have no idea if Robertson is right, as I’m no prophet and definitely not qualified to speak for God. Nonetheless, it’s an interesting topic.

Filed Under: Evangelical Christians

Evangelical groups face visa hurdles

December 17, 2007 By

Prominent evangelical Christian organizations based in Israel are facing legal hurdles in obtaining long-term visas for their permanent staff to remain in the country, hampering their day-to-day activity, Israeli and organization officials said Monday.

The sticky legal issue, which comes at a time of burgeoning support for Israel in the evangelical Christian world, is under negotiation with the Interior Ministry.

Full Article (Jerusalem Post)

I hope this can be sorted out. I have enough knowledge of at least two of these organizations to be able to say proselytizing isn’t even a minor focus of either group. It’s an unfounded claim.

Filed Under: Evangelical Christians

Christian Persecution in the Middle East

December 10, 2007 By

So, I’ve thought on it a little, and decided to devote a separate blog to the topic of Christian persecution in the Muslim world. It can be found here: http://www.mideastpersecution.com/

Now can one be a Zionist and tackle this topic? I guess I’ll find out!

Filed Under: Christian Persecution

A MySpace note

December 8, 2007 By

So, I got this on MySpace the other day:

I am curious, why don’t you mention the persecution of Christian arabs at the hands of the PA? Further, why don’t you advocate measures to help these Christians–a struggling people in the Land of Israel?

I happen to be a christian Arab (lebanese) and I believe it is our destiny not to levae this region–we are an ancient community from biblical times. Why isn’t there a single peep from you on your page about us? We feel abandoned by our brothers and sisters in the US and Europe, no one speaks for us. You are busy speaking for Israel, but why arent evangelicals also getting the message out as loudly about us?

Pray for us. I don’t want us to become a museum of a former and lost civilization.

We are from the land of Jesus, and we will never be eradicated by Islam.

My response pointed out that, while I don’t mention it as a focus, I do cover those stories when I come across them. This does get me thinking…

1) Are Palestinian Christians (or any Christians in that pert of the world) ignored by American Evangelicals in favor of supporting Israel?

2) If so, why must one be chosen over the other?

I’m considering a third blog project focusing on Christians in the Middle East. However, since I know very little about them, I’d probably need a few contributors before moving forward.

Filed Under: Christian Persecution

Muslims Against Sharia

November 13, 2007 By

I’m naturally a skeptic (about pretty much everything, not just this), but this group intrigues me, and a rep posted a comment here that was pretty good the other day, so I figure I can give a link back and let you all check ‘em out.

Muslims Against Sharia

Filed Under: Moderate Islam

Olmert Gov't to Free 90 More Terrorist Prisoners

September 23, 2007 By

(IsraelNN.com) The Olmert government voted to release 90 PA terrorist prisoners Sunday morning as a Ramadan gesture to PA/Fatah chief Mahmoud Abbas. The precise list of the terrorists to be set free will be set this afternoon (Sunday) by a special ministerial committee.

The decision was immediately attacked, even from within the government. Transportation Minister Sha’ul Mofaz – a former Defense Minister and IDF Chief of Staff – said, “We are working against terrorism and paying a price for the existence of terrorism – and despite this we make [these] gestures… This is the mark of a weak government. We received nothing in return for freeing 256 prisoners [two months ago], and we will receive nothing in return this time as well.”

Full Article (Arutz Sheva)

I often wonder if Olmert has been paying attention to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict over the years, as anyone who has could tell you this is a bad idea.

see also: Exclusive interview – Fatah Officials Respond To Planned Prisoner Release (infolive.tv)

Filed Under: Fatah, Ramadan

'Convert-or-Die' Minister to Lead Visit to IDF Army Base

September 20, 2007 By

(IsraelNN.com) A Christian group led by a minister who teaches that ten million Jews are destined to be killed plans to visit an IDF base next week. A Jerusalem City Council member is trying to stop the visit.

The group leader is Richard Booker, a Christian minister and the Founder/Director of the Institute for Hebraic-Christian Studies who will be participating in the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) Feast of Tabernacles extravaganza this coming Sukkot holiday. First, however, he will lead a tour of devoted followers on a tour of northern Israel – including a visit to an Israeli army base.

The tour’s promotional literature states that during the visit, “we will have the opportunity to get acquainted with IDF soldiers and give gifts of encouragement.” The visitors also plan to have lunch with the soldiers, and will proceed from there to “our adopted Children’s Center for the underprivileged. We will distribute warm winter outfits to the kids and help them build their sukkah.”

Full Article (Arutz Sheva)

Okay, I know Evangelical views on what will become of the Jews vary, so I ask my readers: What do you make of this guy’s stance? Agree? Disagree? Why?

Filed Under: Evangelical Christians

Soldiers Banish Missionaries From Army Base

August 1, 2007 By

(IsraelNN.com) The soldiers of the dusty Nachal Oz army base in southern Israel were happy to see a group of orange-clad Israeli-flag-waving youths with musical instruments appear at their gates one day last month. Religious and not religious soldiers gathered around them, singing and dancing – and only when the music quieted down did the visitors begin to spread their real message.

“We believe in him, we call him Jesus,” they said. “He was Jewish, not Christian. We are here to say thank you and we are sorry, and may the Lord protect you.”

Full Article (Arutz Sheva)

If you’ve noticed the title of this web log, then you’re probably wondering my take on this (if not, just humor me).

Christianity is, by nature, a missionary religion. However, I’m not a supporter of handing out tracts or “targeting” a specific group (you only target one group for one of two reasons: 1) you have some sort of love for that group, or 2) you sense weakness and know you’ll have an impact). Personally, I prefer to just live my life by the teachings of the Bible. If someone wants to know about my faith, they’ll come to me. My goal should never be to convert anyone, but to be a friend. Any other motive is, well, dishonest.

Filed Under: Theology and Morality

'Jesus' deflowers virgin sexpot in new comedy

July 30, 2007 By

theroux mol1 'Jesus' deflowers virgin sexpot in new comedy

A new comedy spoof on the Ten Commandments portrays Jesus Christ deflowering a sexy virgin, and is raising some eyebrows in the Christian community.

“The Ten,” rated R for pervasive strong, crude sexual content, language and some drug material, stars Jessica Alba, Winona Ryder, Gretchen Mol and Liev Schreiber among others.

The movie which opens Friday features ten separate stories, each inspired by one of the Ten Commandments from the Holy Bible

Full Article (WND)

You know, I try not to be overly-sensitive about stuff like this, but this is a bit much. However, I also realize there’s no such thing as bad publicity, so openly protesting isn’t a good idea. The best approach is to just not see or rent it. The movie bombing sends a stronger message than any protest ever could!

Filed Under: Theology and Morality