Exloring Life Eternal

NDT from South Africa asked about the recent PTAP news:
- Is it wise to have Koreans / Chinese / Westerners going into the Arabian Peninsula?
- What is the best langauge to learn? Egyptian (Modern Standard Arabic is fairly Egyptian). How easy is this? For example, would a Egyptian dialect course work?

=====
[edited slightly]

To answer your questions:
When it speaks of partnering: this can include sending workers,
helping with finances, building Korean / Chinese prayer networks /
prayer walking teams, and other types of things. Probably there were
well seasoned workers on the field who helped in connecting the people
at the right time & right place ... without compromising the position
of those unready to meet Korean saints.

Fear of death & suffering is a potent reality only prior to when a
person has a clear view of the risen Christ.

Actually, my Korean friends indicate that Hebrew is easier to learn
than English. Since Arabic is also a Semitic language, I would guess
that Arabic would be easier for them than an English speaker. However,
to my knowledge, it was not Koreans who were in language school.
Typically, each paragraph in the news is a separate prayer item.
Throughout the region, Christian workers are coming to see that it is
better to have a multitude of proclaimers rather than a few.

Did you have a country of particular interest?

So, for you, I would not suggest using the Egyptian (Modern Standard
Arabic - MSA) language in Yemen. In the Gulf (which includes the UAE &
really most all countries except Yemen) MSA should work fine initially.
Due to historic differences & conflict, the dialect is very offensive
to ordinary Yemeni people since Egypt was a former oppressor. There are language schools or universities offering language courses which you could attend if interested in studying in various Yemeni or Gulf Arabic dialects. However, I would suggest that you first take some serious steps praying & recruiting the support of a church / churches who will pray with you about which you are called to. Dishonoring a person's language will tend to lose their hearing.

They may not do actual harm to you, but you will be able to do much
less good.

Where do you worship with other saints? Actually, if you are sensing a call to the Arabian Peninsula, I suggest that you raise up 100+ prayer partners, as the Lord enables. If you need some verses describing God's promises concerning the region or resources to learn more about it, I would be glad to refer you to works. Pray. Share your vision with the leadership of your church. Pray with them. If you still are called to move ahead, pray & share the vision & raise up as many others who will join with you (& many others in PTAP) who will praise the name of the Lord as the work is accomplished.

In the mercy of Jesus,
Mert

=====
Thank you very much for your insight.
- NDT

God bless you and give to you all blessing. And my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Please pray for sister T.J. who is very sick, she is in hospital.

Please take us in your prayers. We need more from the Lord Jesus Christ in his work for people. We need money for God's work. Please don’t forget to pray for our economy and family.

Sincerely,
Rev.P.E. & A.-K.J.
Miracle and healing ministery
Norway
======

The Lord is able & He will see to it.

Peace,
Mert.
======

Thank you for your prayers for the couple whose baby was due on the 18th. He came early! All is well, however, and mother and son are happy at home. Please pray with them that the Lord will provide a good babysitter to care for the baby when the mother needs to return to work. Putting our children in the care of others is not an easy matter, and we want to pray with confidence that the Lord will meet this important need.

To introduce the topic:
IT IS OKAY FOR A MUSLIM TO PRAY IN A CHURCH IF THERE ARE NO STATUES OR PICTURES.
Bukhari vol.1 chapter 54 p.254

=====
In recent weeks, there has been a controversy:
http://michellemalkin.com/archives/004446.htm

This article views the "spontaneous outrage" as an attempt to grab power & attention of hte media by having huge rallies & rages. In otherwords, more hype than holiness. More about style than substance.
http://www.answering-slam.org/NonMuslims/islam_above_criticism.htm

Another person's opinion on the significance of all this:
http://www.danielpipes.org/article/3360

It is not about images of Mohammed. In late 1994 _THE SUN_ in Muslim Malaysia published an image on the cover which portrayed Mr. Mo:
http://www.al-qiyamah.org/images/prophet_muhammad_3_S.jpg
What people object to is ridiculing or being sarcastic about Muhammed.

Cartoons about a cartoon (mostly from the USA):
http://www.cagle.com/news/Muhammad/9.asp

Cartoons about a cartoon (mostly from Europe ... the original 12 controversy stirrers.):
http://blog.newspaperindex.com/2005/12/10/un-to-investigate-jyllands-posten-racism/

A purely rational call to not fear Islamic imperialism & terrorism:
http://www.townhall.com/opinion/columns/wfbuckley/2006/02/03/185252.html

The Bible advises us in 1 Corinthians 9:19-24 about living with consideration for your neighbors.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%209:19-24;&version=31;

It is also good to remember: 2 Timothy 2:24-26.

An excellent reminder about the Cross in all of this:
http://www.desiringgod.org/library/fresh_words/2006/020806.html

As to caricatures of Jesus & Christians, there are plenty out there. I often see one or two in the Sunday paper.

Christian cartoons at this link often depict Jesus, apostles, & saints. About 4 new ones are available weekly for use in bulletins & literature:
http://www.reverendfun.com/

However, there is an excellent Bible that is done for kids using cartoons:

The Picture Bible, Deluxe Edition. By: Iva Hoth
ISBN: 0781430577
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=30588&event=CF#curr

Sadly, too often our lives are merely charicatures of real Christianity. May the Lord's mercy daily draw us closer.

I'm not a big fan of the Veggie Tales (mashing together of Bible stories with American fiction & food groups). When Aaron & the Israelites bowed to a bull rather than the Only Begotten, they committed idolatry (even though they used the right name.) But God can use this, if He so chooses, perhaps. Some people in the middle east watch similar programs that are for that region. Jews for Jesus has long used cartoons in their broadsides & seen some fruit in terms of changed lives.

God really does love Muslims. God loves those who do not love Him. God loves Christians. But there is no peace for the wicked, hence the reason why so many must resort to violence just because of some silly little cartoons. Let us rather look to Jesus! He is our help & our hope!!

After all, if it is wrong (shirk) to "associate" what is not God with God, then why should any consistent monotheist associate Mohammed with God? If the Arabian poet is not God, but a sinner like the people you meet on the street (I am the worst sinner I know), then is it not clear that he needed a savior?

Jesus can save. He is in fact "the Lord who Saves." He will save His people from their sins. Christians are simply the people of Jesus, regardless of nationality or background: Jewish, Gentile, Muslim, Mongolian, rich or poor. But to be saved, you need to be part of the people of Jesus.

In view of God's mercy then, REPENT & follow Jesus! Be baptized & turn from the love of this world. There is one God & one Lord. Apart from Him there is no hope, but only death.

This calls for wisdom.

Mert H.
mertaka@everybody.org

====
A friend wrote:
The hadiths do not single out Mohammed's picture. Rather, they go farther and prohibit all pictures, which would include pictures from a camera.

"Are you criticiziing what non-Muslims do based on the hadiths, when you as a Muslim break the same hadiths?"
...
Following is what the hadiths say about pictures.

Regards,
Steve Morrison
www.MuslimHope.com
=====================

No pictures allowed. Sahih Muslim vol.3 book 22 no.5245-5252 p.1157-1158

No pictures includes those from a camera. Sahih Muslim 3 footnote 2519 p.1160 (What about TV?)

Angels do not enter a house with a dog or a picture. Sahih Muslim vol.3 book 22 no.5246-5252 p.1157

Photographs are prohibited pictures too. 'Allama Muhammad Munir (or Damascus) Sahih Muslim 3 footnote 2520 p.1161

No pictures, even of animals. "Narrated 'Aisha: The Prophet entered upon me while there was a curtain having pictures (of animals) in the house. His face got red with anger, and then he got hold of the curtain and tore it into pieces. The Prophet said, 'Such people as paint these pictures will receive the severest punishment on the Day of Resurrection.'" Bukhari vol.8 book 73 no.130 p.82-83

Narrated 'Aisha, the mother of the faithful believers: I bought a cushion with pictures on it. When Allah's Apostle saw it, he kept standing at the door and did not enter the house. I noticed the sign of disgust on his face, so I said, "O Allah's Apostle (Please let me know)
what sin I have done." Allah's Apostle said, "What about this cushion?" I replied, "I bought it for you to sit and recline on." Allah's Apostle said, "The painters (i.e. owners) of these pictures will be punished on the Day of Resurrection. It will be said to them, 'Put life in what you have created (.i.e. painted).'" The Prophet added, "The angels do not enter a house where there are pictures." Bukhari vol.3 book 34 no.318 p.180

Bukhari vol.7 book 63 no.133 p.101 says that women are not to have wigs of artificial hair. No pictures of people or animals according to Bukhari vol.4 book 54 no.447-450 p.297-299.

"Narrated 'Aisha : Allah's Apostle said, 'The painter of these pictures will be punished on the Day of Resurrection, and it will be said to them, Make alive what you have created.'" Bukhari vol.9 book 93 no.646 p.487

Narrated Ibn 'Umar : The Prophet said, 'The painters of these pictures will be punished on the Day of Resurrection, and it will be said to them, 'Make alive what you have created.''" Bukhari vol.9 book 93 no.647 p.487

Angels do not enter a house with a picture, a dog, or a person who is sexually defiled. (Sexually defiled here does not mean immoral; rather it is a person who has not yet bathed after intercourse.) Abu Dawud vol.1 book 1 no.227 p.55-56

Angels do not enter a house where there is a picture or a dog or a junubi (Someone who is unclean because of sex). Sunan Nasa'i vol.1 no.264 p.240

A'isha had a curtain with pictures. Mohammed prayed in that direction and asked her to remove it. She cut it up and made pillows out of it. Sunan Nasa'i vol.1 no.764 p.471

No pictures allowed in a house. Ibn-i-Majah vol.4 book 29 no.3359 p.489

Angels do not enter a house with a dog or picture. Ibn-i-Majah vol.5 book 32 no.3649-3652 p.108-109

On the other hand, children playing with dolls is OK; they do not fall under the category of prohibited pictures of animate objects. Abu Dawud vol.3 no.4913-1914 footnote 4288 p.1373.