Exloring Life Eternal

One man has been a believer for several months now. A few weeks ago he decided it was time to tell his best friend of his decision and to share the Good News he had received with him. Since this time he has not been in contact with other believers. Please lift this man, as it seems likely his friend is trying to persuade him to turn back to his former beliefs. Ask for him to be refreshed and to remain faithful to his Lord.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-524-2189789-524,00.html

OR
http://makeashorterlink.com/?C30225B3D


From the above link:
"Akash woke up in a dark room with a bare brick floor and no windows. The heat was suffocating. As he languished there over the next month, 19 other panic-stricken boys were thrown into the room with him.

The children, all Christians, had fallen into the hands of Gul Khan, a wealthy Islamic militant and leading member of Jamaat-ud Daawa (JUD), a group linked to the Al-Qaeda terrorist network.

Khan lives near Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan, but when in the Punjab he stays at the JUD’s headquarters in Muridke, near Lahore, where young men can be seen practising martial arts with batons on rolling green lawns patrolled by guards with Kalashnikovs. Osama Bin Laden funded the centre in the late 1990s.

The JUD, which claims to help the poor, says that it has created a “pure Islamic environment” at Muridke that is superior to western “depravity”. Khan’s activities explode that myth. He planned to sell his young captives to the highest bidder, whether into domestic servitude or the sex trade. The boys knew only that they were for sale.

This is the story of the misery that Akash and his friends, aged six to 12, endured in captivity; of their rescue by Christian missionaries who bought their freedom and tried to expose the kidnappers; and of the children’s moving reunions with their loved ones who had believed they were dead.

A brother shared this note, after I indicated that all are born sinners & with evil hearts:

"culture of deception" I also would like to reflect on the apostle's words in Titus 1:12-13. [He elaborated on cultures of deceipt.]

<><
That is a good point. Well made & well taken. I agree that lies must be confronted. From experience, it can be painful to confront them. Actually, I believe that the boldness to prayerfully confront sin, though it may cost a friendship is exactly what David called, "I hate them with a perfect hatred" & why Jesus said "You must hate your father & mother" ... even though he clearly taught us to honor them.

I find theories which dismiss the content of the Psalms as "merely expressing the emotion of an OT saint" to be less than useful, though pleasing to a psychologically-oriented society.

Peace in Christ,
Mert Hershberger

There is an old phrase about, from Kalamazoo to Timbuktoo ...
M.Q. said, "Today, we are correcting human history from here, in
Timbuktu." (cf. http://www.memritv.org/# )

Sounds like the Gospel Mission of Kalamazoo needs to send some saints
to Timbuktu in order to help Qadhafi get a few facts straight in the Q.
document. http://www.kzoogospel.org/what_we_believe.php

They clothe the naked, feed the hungry, shelter the cold, comfort the
weary, strengthen the broken hearted ... & give a correct account of
the Life of Jesus by doing the ministry of a bar-nabas: Encouraging!!

I personally never found the Quran or Muhammed's other stuff in line
with Barnabas' gift of encouragement. If you wish to get the Word of God to the folks in Timbuktu & help Qadhafi find the true Word of Encouragement:
http://www.worldshare.org.uk/pages/timbuktu.html


Peace In Christ,
Mert H.
ptap@srginc.org
www.pray-ap.info

MALAYSIA - COURTS FACE CHALLENGE OF CHRISTIAN CONVERSIONS
from: Compass Direct (http://www.compassdirect.org) - April
26, 2006

On April 13 [Malaysia's] Federal Court granted permission to
Lina Joy, a Malaysian Muslim convert to Christianity, to appeal
the government’s refusal to remove her Muslim status from her
identity card.

The ground-breaking decision came after lower courts – the High
Court and the Court of Appeal – repeatedly dismissed her application.
Besides religious rights for Joy, at issue is whether Islamic
courts have the sole right to handle cases of Muslims who leave
their religion.

Joy, previously known as Azlina binti Jailani, became a Christian
in 1990 and was baptized in 1998. The NRD refused to change her
religious status and insisted that Joy obtain an order from the
Islamic law (sharia) court stating that she had become an apostate.

Full story here (http://www.compassdirect.org/en/newslongen.php?idelement=4332).

INJUSTICE!!
Muslims rebel against Quran.
Muslims kidnap - a capital punishment, according to the Law.
Egyptian Muslims must change this way or be called into account by God!
Egyptian Muslims must turn to the Lord Jesus or else they will miss His mercy.

= Mert Hershberger

=======

EGYPT - COPT FINDS MISSING SISTER IN MUSLIM HOME
from: Compass Direct (http://www.compassdirect.org)
March 31,
2006

Following a three-month search, an Egyptian Christian has discovered his missing sister living with a Muslim family near her home town and professing faith in Islam.

Spurred by a brief telephone message from Theresa Ghattass Kamal saying that she was being held against her will and forced to convert to Islam, Sa'eed Ghattass Kamal last week tracked his sister’s suspected captors to the Bedouin desert area of El-Ga'ar, near his home in Wadi El-Natroun, 50 miles northwest of Cairo.

=====
INJUSTICE!!

Full story with pictures:
http://www.compassdirect.org/en/newslongen.php?idelement=4279

A Christian friend wrote:
"Once he dared to think, he was killed.
Islam is against people thinking."

Western Politically-correctness and Islam both love non-thought.
Perhaps it is why they make such ready bedfellows.

Hindo-Buddhism in some lands is the same.

IF (as some political leaders maintained)
the example made of a man named "Servant of Mercy"
& who steadfastly looks to the Lord Jesus for hope,
is to kill him,
then what remains for those would attack compassion & faithfulness
which are the foundations of the throne of God?

"OH, King of Glory, intercede for Your name's sake!"

Christ alone is our redeemer.

Psalm 2


=====
Various Responses to the case of Abdul Rahman in Afghanistan:

http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=19149

Many leaders show much less Political Correctness on this issue than on cartoons. Both Bush and Rice have spoken out quite clearly on the situation in the USA:
http://www.localnewsleader.com/kindred/stories/index.php?action=fullnews&id=162870


Australia, Germany and Italy have also all spoken against the trial.
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18574818-421,00.html).

Even CAIR, has come out against the trial:
http://www.muslimnews.co.uk/news/news.php?article=10811

BUT their web site hasn't spoken against the injustice:
http://www.cair-net.org/

In response to all this, the statements coming out of Afghanistan so
far are a bit defensive
http://tinyurl.com/r3m3d

An accusation of insanity can cover the face for a moment, but can the Muslim world face God by throwing around accusations of insanity?

Murder, riots, execution, etc. are simply not justified on the basis of disagreeing with the importance of a dead Arabian poet who never clearly claimed for himself the divine status which many Muslims seem to accord him.

For example, Bush has said,

"I'm troubled when I hear, deeply troubled when I hear, the fact that a person who converted away from Islam may be held to account."

[What about Saudi Arabia which has had & continues to have the same pattern of killing & imprisoning those who refuse to subject themselves to the irrationality of Islam??

When will they be free??]


From the New York Sun
"Intolerable Trial"
http://www.nysun.com/article/29616


"And now, on the heels of the cartoon controversy and the port deal,
comes perhaps the worst of it all: Afghanistan's trial of Abdul Rahman, who grew up as a Muslim in Afghanistan, but converted about 15 years ago while working with a Christian-run refugee aid group in Pakistan.

If you wanted to write a tale designed to get Americans furious with
the Muslim world as a whole and with the Afghani government in particular, you would be hard-pressed to come up with an outrage more effective than this."

This is a letter to the editor of the "Michigan Daily" the student paper of the University of Michigan - in response to an editorial attempting to justify not publishing the "controversial" cartoons but only publishing blank spaces:

===
You wrote a justification for not publishing some political cartoons satirizing "Muhammed" but only publishing blanks. To my knowledge, none of them portrayed the Arabian poet since he is dead & the Arabian conquistadors did not possess any weapon of mass destruction other than swords & animals.

Please forgive the delay in replying, but after considering the issue of not wanting to offend unnecessarily:

If it is okay to offend other religious groups ...
& If it is okay to offend politicians ...
& If it is Islam has a definite political component (something that any half-honest Muslim in political science would concur with) ...
Then why should a paper that has a page of editorials that are bound to offend, be afraid to offend people by including cartoons of a person named Muhammed, though in some of them there was no direct portrayal of Muhammed the dead poet of Arabia, whom many Muslims praise? (Who died without any certainty of peace with God & thus many are still attempting to wish peace upon him.)

These cartoons are accessible on the internet quite freely & are all rather innocuous. Much worse & more libelous things have been said in your own publication of living people who hold power over militaries & jails.

Or, to put it another way,
If it is okay to search for truth ...
& If we may speak against what is not true ...
& If Islam is not true & rational (unless the presence of weaponry & threat of violence changes your mode of rationality) ...
Then why is it wrong to say that Islam is not an honorable system, but an oppressive system?

For one example of a former Muslim who came to this conclusion: look at Dr. Wafa Sultan from Syria who was featured in March 11, 2006 New York Times.

For an example of a nation affected by the Islamic Sharia Law mentality: look at Afghanistan under the Taliban.

Thanks for your re-consideration of this vital matter.

My conclusion: you are scared for your jobs & don't want your resumes tarnished by honest reporting. Why are you scared of dead people?

Abdul Kalimatullah // Mert Hershberger
M.A. - Theology
M.A. - International Development

March 13, 2006

"But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." - 1 Corinthians 3:18 (NKJV)

PRAISE!
A worker in the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula writes: My good friend “L” has made himself present in my life again after a period of him avoiding me. That’s a direct answer to prayer! God has also acted on some specific things "L" asked me to pray about. Pray that this man will encounter Isa al Messih and come to faith!


PETITION:
Pray for the ministry of the Doulos in the Arabian Gulf. It has visited Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Doha, Bahrain and is on its way to Kuwait and Salalah. Pray for opportunities to bless the Muslims of Bahrain and the Eastern provinces of Saudi Arabia.

Pray for more awesome spiritual encounters for Baraka, Hamad, Salman, and other Muslim background believers we have the privilege to minister among.

A couple that have been bold in sharing their faith have been told they will not be offered another contract of employment after this summer. This couple also has a parent suffering with advanced cancer and is also expecting the birth of their 3rd child in March. Pray that the Lord blesses this family in a special way as the birth approaches. Pray for them as they deal with all these stresses.

A tentmaking couple have a relationship with a local couple who are seeking the Lord. It has been some time since the two couples have been able to meet together. Pray that God would supply an opportunity for these two couples to meet together. Ask God to move in the hearts of the seekers and prepare them to hear the Gospel.

Please pray for the churches in the region. Pray for unity amongst diversity. Pray for a united vision and a sense of pulling together and partnership in bringing the Gospel to the nations in the Arabian Peninsula.


TESTIMONY:
I’ve met up again with the religious sheikh I mentioned last month. He feels a strong connection to me that he cannot explain, and he has welcomed me into his group of friends. Several have expressed that they sense something about me that draws them. “That’s Jesus you’re seeing!” I declare, and see where the conversation goes. I never thought I’d have opportunity to discuss ontology and teleology in English, let alone in Arabic! The sheikh loves these conversations not for the philosophical exercise, but for how it draws him closer to God. Pray that he will find all he is looking for in Isa al Messih!

I was out with them last week at what was for all intents and purposes an Islamic worship session: thirty or so men sitting on the floor, swaying in time to the tak-tak of the drums as the main singer led them in songs about God, Mecca and Medina, and Mohammed. I watched in amazement for a half-hour. Here in front of my eyes was a contextual model for a local church. ... May God redeem these cultural forms to bring himself honor and glory through Isa al Messih!"

<>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Praying Thru the Arabian Peninsula
www.pray-ap.info
USA #: 800-376-5876 (Eastern Time)
Encouraging & equipping believers & churches everywhere to pray through the heart of the Muslim world so that church planting movements will spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula and beyond for the Lord's glory.

====
To learn how you can support this & other work in the Middle East, visit:
http://www.srginc.org

Or write:
ptap@srginc.org

Or:
PTAP
c/o Strategic Resource Group
P.O. Box 1809
Easton, MD 21601
USA

It seems that CAIR is joining in the ranks of many others who survey as a method of changing popular opinion. However, they also are like other political groups in that they spin the feedback to say what they want it to say. I will therefore respond in kind at first to show the foolishness of interpreting results in a loose fashion.
http://www.cair.com/CAIRSurveyReport.pdf

DATA: Only 2% describe themselves as "very knowledgeable" [of Islam].

Hmmm ... this roughly equates to 1/2 of the Muslim population. I suppose the men.
==> Are we to conclude then that Muslim American men are "very knowledgeable" of Islam?

Hmmm ... this also roughly equates to the percentage of the population that is diagnosed with Bipolar &/ Schizophrenia.
==> Are Muslim American men then most likely to be afflicted with serious mental disorders?

Hmmm ... fewer now consider themselves knowledgeable about Islam than before.
==> Are more Muslims turning to Jesus?

I don't rank among those very knowledgeable or even moderately knowledgeable of Islam & I am not a flaming evangelist to Muslims not having directly planted any Muslim congregation, nor have I ever been a follower of Muhammed. I simply write the above three suppositions to indicate that self-regard is a poor measure of reality. It is not how we regard ourselves, but how God regards us. This is the fundamental error of Islam: it is a merely social movement which uses God's name in vain & draws near to God with their lips & with their motions while the heart of the follower of Muhammid remains far from God. Again, it is a social movement, not a movement towards God.

??
How then does one gage being "very knowledgeable about Islam" other than self-regard?
??

====
Some critiques of CAIR's survey.

First, I will note a very clearly biased interpretation that CAIR gives which conceals the actual results of the survey:

On the Palestinian-Israeli Issue more are said to be "even-handed."
- Actually, what the statistics show is that people are now more opinionated: 13% fewer gave "no opinion" as their response; 13% more gave the "both equally right" response ... which would roughly mean the same as "both equally wrong." What CAIR did _not_ note was that _more_ believe that Israel is totally right now than last year. So, I suppose that CAIR now considers it "even-handed" to have an opinion rathat than no opinion ... or to support Israel? I hear an machine SPINning on that one. But, who am I to decide what is propaganda and what is not?

===
- Only 16% expressed a willingness to receive a Quran if offered one for free, even though a mere 6% have a Quran at home.

- Since 91% already have a Bible, and there are 10% who are willing to receive a Bible for free.
... Could it be that those virtually all those who do NOT yet have a Bible would be willing to receive a Bible??

CAIR seems to be gearing up for a "Q" document campaign. Liberal Bible "scholars" have waged a similar campaign for years. The main problem: There is a lack of factual & historical basis for many of the Quranic pronouncements just as there is a lack of basis for the many statements in the "Q" document. Since CAIR has Muslims as their primary constituents, May I recommend that they adapt a simpler approach:

CAIR should distribute Bibles to any interested Muslim for free. Perhaps they would like to purchase Bibles at a discount from the American Bible Society or the International Bible Society. This is one way that CAIR could show that they really do care about the Muslims who pay their bills.

==
This is a list of poorly worded questions/statements that they give, or an expansion on some questions that indicate the inherent bias of the questions:

"Almost all Muslims are Arabs."
- A change is noted in the numbers who believe this. This is simply a matter of increased media coverage & dispersion of information. People are realizing the spread of Islam. The fact that the Tsunami of Aceh happened in the "most populous Muslims nation on earth" and was talked about for a while could account for part of this dissemination of information.

"Contributions to civilization."
- This is difficult to measure: algebra, alchemy / chemistry, & alcohol are all words rooted in times of Islamic dominance in one area. One should note that at those times, there were many more Christians in the areas where governments were run by Muslims. Thus, the actual contributions of those cultures would be hard to gage: who was a Christian & who was a Muslim? (Which scientist, mathemetician, geographer, historian was a follower of the Lord Jesus or a follower of Muhammed in the given historical periods?) Also, one must recall, that one of the main reasons for this contribution was translation of earlier writings & interaction with learning from the Meditteranean Basin & the Indian Subcontinent & various other areas affected by the Islamic Empire which rose around 700 years after the birth of the Lord Jesus and began to decline sometime later due to internal moral decadence. Thus, To say that Islamic cultures contributed is not to say that it was the Islamic faith/ideology or even that Muslims were the primary source of the benefaction, though Muslims & all those under Islamic domination have benefitted by the contributions of those who sought to be a blessing to those around them.

"Deserts"
- This is listed as a neutral comment. Now, for those of us who enjoy the comfort of rain & plant & animal life around us, deserts is NOT a positive comment!! Environmentalists will generally not say that desertification is a good thing. It is a very difficult condition for an environment to recover from. Arabs who live in Arabia in the heat of the sun do _not_ want to spend eternity in a desert. Having been in various deserts, including in Arabia ... I agree: Nobody wants to spend eternity in a dry & dusty land!! People want to enter a land of promise where there is life & life more abundant. The Lord Jesus offers that & fills our hearts with living water as we turn to Him. Jesus satisfies.

"It's OK to lock them up."
- Yes, of course. Anyone who commits crime & does wrong deserves to be put in prison, whether Muslim, Jew, "christian," Hindu, Jain, Buddhist, Atheist, or Scientologist. The question is framed in such a way that people who do not consider the question will not want to "appear" as biased.

"They're just like everyone else."
- This is a meaningless question. All are sinners, yes. Yet each sins in a unique way. However, to say that Muslims are just like "everyone else implies that there is no reason for Muslims to remain followers of Muhammed ... which I do agree with. I.e. they need to become different. They need to be made holy, like Jesus. (Interestingly, fewer believe that Muslims are "just like everyone else." I think that the cartoon incident would increase this differential.

"They oppress women."
- Again, this is a simple thing to answer: Do non-muslims oppress women? Yes. Do women oppress women? Yes. Do abusive husbands oppress women? Yes. If some muslims oppress women all the time out of their convictions, then the answer is yes. If all muslims oppress women sometimes, then the answer is yes. If they are like everyone else and others oppress women, then the answer is yes. Basically, CAIR is setting themselves up for failure & hypocricy: Generalize in your questioning & try to deceive using the same methods that the serpent used when tricking Eve. ... Interestingly, MORE believe that Islam oppresses women now than before. Why? Are the facts getting out? Perhaps the statements of some women who were raised in Islam is one reason for this.

"Their civil rights have been limited since 9/11."
- Again, a no-brainer. All Americans have had their civil liberties restricted since 9/11. At times this has affected Muslims more, at times it has affected others more. But all have indeed been affected by 9/11.

"They worship the same God as Christians and Jews."
- This is a surface question. It approaches things at the level of linguistics. The real question is "do those who honor Muhammed as the 'last & greatest'" _know_ the true & living God. The answer to that question is know. Whether a Muslim worships the same God or not is to some degree very peripheral. One can bow down to the same King, without ever acknowledging that King or ever having peace with the King.

==> Peace only comes in Jesus.

======
MERT's OPINION (Which I believe is biblical & Christian):
Torture is never justifiable:
Execute those deserving of capital punishment if needed.
Redeem those who will receive grace.
======

CAIR seems to have a campaign to improve their image (i.e. their institutional idol):
1. Condemn terror more strongly.
2. Improve the status of women.
3. Improve America's image in the Mid-East.
4. Demonstrate more concern for other Americans.
5. Emphasize shared values. (family, ethics, piety, ??)

MERT's recommendations for how CAIR could have a better & more enduring name:

1. Edit the Hadith & Quran: Burn all copies that include reference to violence & remove all calls to jihad war against infidels, etc. Correct all poor history in the Quran & renounce the historical fiction that has been published as truth in the past.

2. Renounce Muhammed as their last & greatest prophet. Following a man who at one time was married to more than 4 women is not setting a good example.

3. Get beyond America. Look to the King who was born in Bethlehem.

4. Follow Jesus Christ (Isa Al-Masih) by loving your neighbor (American, German, Brazilian, Israeli, Korean, Kurd, Russian, Chinese, tribal) as yourself.

5. Value the crucifixion & resurrection of Jesus as the basis for our forgiveness & reconciliation & hope.

When CAIR adopts the above 5 recommendations, I am convinced that they will be empowered by the grace that He gives. (But they will probably have to change their name & purpose statement then.)

====
Finally, some concerns, that I believe have a bearing on how the church is relating to Muslims:

Notably, fewer Americans believe that immigrants are a not a burden. I.e. more believe that immigrants are a burden.

==> I believe that this reveals a fundamental problem: relying on & offering too many government programs. The result is a decline in fiscal health of the US government while giving excuses for blame-shifting.

Jesus offers a fundamental solution: The Good News!! Therefore, Christians ought to love their neighbors.

The survey showed that FEWER non-muslims indicate having friends / colleagues who are Muslims.
Why?? Here are some possible reasons:

A. Muslims are converting to _?_.
B. Muslims are becoming less friendly or avoiding friendships
C. Muslims are emmigrating elsewhere.
C. Non-Muslims are less interested in befriending Muslims.
D. The definition of friendship is changing.
E. Muslims are starting their own businesses.
F. Muslims are being fired more.
G. Muslims are getting lazy.
H. The definition of colleague is changing.

A Christian worker recently shared or "preached" to a Bible recipient and five on-lookers. Pray that the truth shared during this time would burn in the hearts of those who heard it. Pray that the truth they have heard would cause them to hunger for more.

Norma has recently lost her daughter and is burdened with sadness. Pray that she would find comfort in God's Word and that a Christian worker would have the opportunity to lead her to the Lord.

Praise the Lord that Christian women have had increased opportunities to meet and share with Muslim women. Pray that Lord would prepare the hearts of these Muslim women for all He would have the Christian workers to share with them.

Pray for Viv to be open to the gospel and have a desire to know Jesus. Pray that the Christian worker ministering to her would have an opportunity to lead her to the Lord.

Several Christian workers will leave in the summer. Pray that God would send more workers into His Harvest.

Last year, many local believers suffered heavy brutal persecution. These believers need continual prayer. Please lift them up daily. Pray that God would restore them fully from the trauma they suffered.

Thank you for praying for the Light to shine in this land.

A friend asked about "Alexander/Iskandar" the pagan Grecian conqueror being mentioned in the Quran. A Muslim acquaintance had never heard of such.

===
A. Are Abraham Lincoln, Lenin & Stalin, or Columbus mentioned in the Q
document, in the same conquistadorian vein of reasoning? Ah, but they
are post-Mo folks (though I doubt Islam would have reached the
Americans without Columbus).

B. Are any Chinese leaders mentioned in the Q document?

C. What about Indian leaders / conquerors that spread regional
ideologies before Islam hit the subcontinent?

Rhetorical questions ... but the idea of conquest as Islam / Islam as
conquest seems to keep the problem in focus rather than providing any
solution.

Here are some more sober questions:
1. How does one conquer the human heart & tongue, and their fallen tendencies?

2. What does this reveal of the uniquely Goodness of the News which we share?

When a soul savors the Flavor of forgiveness,
it knows the Father's favor in the Lord.
This is the kind of salt that
removes the rot & makes right.

In Christ Jesus the Victor,
Mert H.

In the Middle East, it is not uncommon for maids to be treated like slaves.

Today I heard about a Sri Lankan woman that seems to have disappeared, being taken by a "maid agency" while her family has suffered a major trauma in the homeland.

Please pray!!

- MJH

After the cartoon thing cooled down, I heard about civil laws established after the war in Europe banning questioning the historical reality of the Holocaust of the Jews during WWII.

Is anyone familiar with any law in force banning the questioning the historicity of the crucifixion & the resurrection of Jesus?

[ I do not believe that is the way to spread the good news or even that such laws should be enacted. ]

The reality that Jesus lived, committed no sin, did wonders & healed the sick, died on a Roman cross under Pontius Pilate & rose again in a way that He could be touched & that He could prepare & eat food on the third day is a true fact that is historically evidenced by prophesy, fulfillment, and an movement (from which numerous heretical movements have daparted) that remembers His past ministry and anticipates His future return in a reliable collection of documents and customs which celebrate the freedom of Jesus' Lordship & the salvation found in His kingdom.

So, if there is no law banning the study of Jesus (& the odd/false ideas that abound), why should an honest / description of Muhammed be exempt? *

If there is no law banning the study of Jesus from the sourced documents (i.e. the Gospels, the Law, the Prophets, and Psalms), then why not study them for yourself? [Keeping in mind that studying the life of Christ is best done by putting into practice what he said to do.]

ON THE OTHER HAND, if there is a law preventing people from following Jesus, who is Life, then why are people permitted to follow Muhammed, Guatamma, and the various other historical and semi-historical figures that abound?

A serious examination of both the Bible & the historical context of the Biblically recorded events and subsequent history will show that prohibitting people from pursuing Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit freely is the surest way to bring about social & moral chaos, typically resulting in genocide and perversion.

On the other hand, when the civil state requires allegiance to Jesus, one does not foster genuine joy.

+ Notice:
A. The Gospels (Injil) give a much better description of Jesus than the Quran does of Muhammed.
B. The Quran & Islamic traditions describe Jesus as having much higher moral character than Muhammed.
==> Because of the inferior moral & theoretical quality of Muhammed's teachings & the fact that he does not qualify as a true biblical prophet, I am referring to Jesus as the Prophet, The Messiah. "The Prophethood of Muhammed" is perhaps a poetic way of stating that he had an impact on Arab cultures, but I do not endorse it as true.

LIGHT FORCE
A Stirring Account of the Church Caught in the Middle East Crossfire
Brother Andrew and Al Janssen
Fleming H. Revell, 2004, 319 pp.
ISBN 0-8007-1872-0

"My call was to strengthen the Church in the Middle East. Could I do it without getting caught in the cross fire of deeply held conviction? Was it possible for believers to rise above their differences and experience unity to stand against the evil darkness?" (25)

"The Church is also supposed to be a light in the darkness, but it’s hard to fulfill your mission when you are fighting for your very survival. ... I want to help Christians escapes their victim mentality. I wanted to see them trained, ready to advance and get on with the job of winning people to Jesus." (27)

From a meeting with Ayatollah Fadlallah, the fundamentalist spiritual leader of Hezbollah in Lebanon: "Brother Andrew, you Christians have a problem ... You Christians are not following the life of Jesus Christ anymore." ...
I asked him, "What do you think we should do about that?"
He said, "You must go back to the Book." (196)

- What kind of people does the Quran produce?
- What kind of people does the Bible produce? (197)

"The Hamas are reachable. Anyone could have gone to see those men at Marj al-Zohour. I did what Jesus did in His ministry—I met them at their point of need." (229)

A Palestinian Pastor: “I wish the Church would understand the struggles Palestinians have. We have to deal with Judaism. We have to deal with Islam. And we have to deal with who we are, with our nationalism. Plus we have to deal with Western Christianity.” (referring to organizations that automatically approve of any actions by Israel over any claims made by Palestinians) (312-13)

See full book notes & more at
www.davidmays.org

Muslims try to refashion their religion at times. But the underlying issues remain. These are the shortcomings that I see, they are needs that cannot be met with Islam:

integrity (beyond one's own capacity)
faith (beyond theory)
holiness (beyond discipline)
hope (beyond terminal illness)
truth (beyond mere tolerance)
love (beyond family ties)

Jesus alone is able to save. He alone died on the cross for Muslims. Mohammed is dead. His kingdom is not eternal. At best, it lasts up to the grave side ... & then there is no hope! If you are a muslim, repent of your false peace. If you are a follower of Jesus, proclaim the peace!

Practical advice cannot always fulfill permanent aspirations.
Pacifism cannot quell the wrath of God.

I have found the following statement to have results when talking to
Muslims locally who ask if I am a muslim:

If you mean that I believe in one God, yes.
If you mean that I am submitted to Him, yes, I lay down my arms before
the name of Lord Jesus, the Messiah.
But I do not recognize Muhammed as a prophet.

.. One man who tried to engage in a battle ended up leaving the
workplace because he could no longer face his hypocrisy. ... Another
had his eyes opened.

EGYPT: MISSING WOMAN CONTACTS FAMILY FOR HELP
Compass Direct - http://www.compassdirect.org
February 23, 2006

Missing for over a month, a young Christian woman has telephoned her relatives and reported being imprisoned in a Cairo apartment while facing pressure to convert to Islam.

Last seen in the village of El-Saff, 30 miles south of Cairo on January 3, Theresa Ghattass Kamal briefly contacted her aunt on January 24. She told her aunt that she had not yet succumbed to her unknown captors’ demands that she become a Muslim, her brother Sa’eed Ghattass Kamal told Compass. Her phone call contradicted earlier police statements that she had converted to Islam voluntarily and did not want to see her family again.

Further investigation by Sa’eed Kamal revealed that no official
records of his sister’s conversion existed at Cairo’s Al-Azhar
Islamic center. [T]he origination point of the 19-year-old woman’s call [was a] house as “a dangerous place, full of fundamentalists.”

Full story with picture:
http://www.compassdirect.org/en/newslongen.php?idelement=4225

(1) The number of churches that were burned, and the number of people that were killed in Saturday's riots in Nigeria has now been upwardly adjusted to 30 churches (from 15), and 17 people (from 15). This article is especially interesting in that it quotes from several Christians about how they plan to respond to the Muslim attacks on their community.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200602210563.html

(2) On Sunday, 2 churches and 1 Christian school building were attacked and burned by cartoon protesters in Sukkur, Pakistan. So far, the Pakistan government, which was accused by Christians of a deliberately slow response to the attacks, has charged 22 people in the incident. This article, which interviews the Catholic Archbishop of Karachi, provides a good summary of both the immediate incident, and its broader context of ongoing problems with the Pakistani blasphemy law and last November's burning of 3 other churches by Pakistani Muslim mobs.

http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level_English.php?cat=Religion&loid=8.0.267541088&par=0

(3) I think this editorial by a Pakistani Muslim has correctly seen who will benefit the most from the way Muslims have reacted to these cartoons (non-Muslim majority nations).

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006%5C02%5C22%5Cstory_22-2-2006_pg3_3

(4) Pakistan has also asked the 57 nations of the Organization of Islamic Conference to convene a special meeting about the cartoon crisis. This meeting would appear to have the goals of getting (1) the "EU to adopt necessary legislative measures against “Islamophobia”" and (2) try to get the UN to pass a "resolution aimed at prohibiting defamation of prophets and faiths".

http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level_English.php?cat=Religion&loid=8.0.267686128&par=

(5) Meanwhile, the Danish Prime Minister has defended, in every detail, how his government has handled the crisis,

http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=a625c3e3-e66d-4c75-bf7f-81b42c25f903&k=23483

The Slovak Foreign minister has stated that the EU should be more "vigorous" in it's defense of the Danes.

http://www.slovakspectator.sk/clanok.asp?cl=22545

(6) In terms of actual protests, yesterday's call by Iran for cartoon protests to stop may be having some effect, as today there were only comparatively small protests in Pakistan (2,000) and Iraq (10,000). This article also discusses the reasons for the continuing unstable situation in Libya, where 11 died in protests last week, why a Saudi paper published some of the cartoons in late January, along with some other interesting new bits of information.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1140562213286&call_pageid=968332188854&col

=====

This is being posted roughly 1 week after the date in the header. Now, the cartoon phenomena has died down, but now division within Islam is being prominently displayed in Iraq.

(What follows is a letter written by a friend in South Africa who cares deeply for Muslims & seeks to convey the truth in a gentle way. -MJH)

The cartoon crisis is another tragic historic milestone – perhaps on a par with 9/11 and the Iraq war. Like these two earlier events, this one has escalated tensions between the Muslim and ‘Christian world’ (better term ‘western civilization’).

In the wake of the cartoon crisis, Muslims feel they are once again victims of western prejudicial attitudes. They believe that the principle of religious sanctity – particularly in relation to Muhammad – should be upheld in western nations. The grounds on which Muslims feel these caricatures of Muhammad are insulting, has a kernel of truth to it, nevertheless, there has been considerable dishonesty and hypocrisy shown by Muslim leaders who’ve been integrally involved in this story.

Let me explain. Two months after the ‘insulting’ cartoons were printed in Denmark, Ahmed Abu Laban, leader of the Islamic Society of Denmark, took the 12 offending caricatures and compiled them into a booklet – along with 3 fabricated cartoons – which were far more insulting than the genuine ones. He and another imam showed this booklet to three highly reputed Muslim leaders in the Middle East; Amr Moussa – Arab league Secretary Sheikh Mohammad Sayyad Tantawi – Grand Immam of Al Azhar, Yusuf al Qaradawi – Sunni Islam’s most influential scholar. By showing these cartoons to these eminent leaders, Laban harnessed their support towards promoting a groundswell of spontaneous(?) Muslim protest against the Danish newspaper.

If Laban was a man of integrity, “Why did he resort to using 3 hoax cartoons to bolster his argument?” The fact is: Abu Laban believes “mockery against Mohamed deserves the death penalty.” 1 Convinced of this, it seems he rationalized it was insignificant to add some fake cartoons to his booklet. And, besides this, Islamists, like Abu Mazen, regard lying as a permissible tactic of war (Jihad).

Unfolding events have shown how effective Abu Laban’s strategy was. It enraged Muslims so much that they attacked American bases in Afghanistan which had no real connection with the Danish newspaper and resulted in the deaths of 11 Muslims – most, if not all of them, killed by Afghani security forces.

Abu Laban and his colleague have been questioned about who gave them these 3 fabricated cartoons, but they have refused to identify the culprits. However, they claimed that the false cartoons were genuinely Danish and had been added to “give an insight in how hateful the atmosphere in Denmark is towards Muslims.”2 Subsequent research has revealed that one of these cartoons was fabricated and it is doubtful the other two are genuine Danish productions. The one allegedly portraying Muhammad with a pigsnout was from a photo of a pig squealing contest in France. 3 Holding this kind of contest at a carnival seems very strange to me, as I’m sure it does to many other readers, nevertheless, that is exactly what it was.

The BBC notes “the ‘pigface’ photocopy was later filmed in Gaza at the end of January when gunmen took over EU offices, and so somehow it had been lifted out and given importance.” 4This BBC report concludes that the ‘pigface’ picture “does seem to have played a role in the raising of the temperature.”

Bear in mind that this glaring example of dishonesty is not alone. The report that was circulated by Abu Laban purported to want “stable relations, and a flourishing Denmark for all that live here.” But it also maligned Danish people saying, “If you say that they are all infidels, then you are not wrong.” (BBC, ibid)

It is inexcusable that Abu Laban has circulated inflammatory lies but there is something else Muslim leaders have also been guilty of. They have been hypocritical in how they responded to two different newspapers which published the same cartoons of Muhammad. They condemned the Danish editor while turning a blind eye to the Muslim editor of El Fagr who published six of the original 12 caricatures (October 17 2005).

Notice how intense has been the condemnation against the ‘offending’ Danish editor and the ripple effects of these protests against the Danish embassies and exports, not to mention other countries. Why was the Muslim newspaper editor not rebuked, charged, shutdown (or whatever) for committing essentially the same wrong? Does this not smack of double standards and hypocrisy?

It is important to note that the editor of El Fagr criticized these 6 cartoons - as printed - “but it did not incite hatred protests” according to the Freedom for Egyptians blog6. No ‘spontaneous’ outrage broke out until 3 months later when Abu Laban’s efforts at stirring up widespread protest had taken effect. Apparently the people organizing the riots did not know of El Fagr’s article or if they did they overlooked it. However, as this hypocritical story is being publicized more widely I fear there may be serious consequences for the editor. As of this writing, the ‘offensive’ issue of El Fagr (#21) has been removed from the website http://www.elfagr.net./index.html but all the other issues up to early February 2006 can be seen.

What is clear from all this is that a double standard has been applied to editors of papers that published the ‘offending’ cartoons. Several editors operating in Middle East or Muslim countries have been shut down and punished, while others seem to have escaped the wrath of Islamists. The dishonest reporting and lobbying of certain Muslim leaders has certainly fanned the flames of these raging protests, precipitating a global crisis that is causing destruction and death.

Speaking to fellow Muslims who are responsible for provoking violent protests, senior cleric Mohammed Usman of the Ulama Council in Kabul, Afghanistan, declared, “these rioters are defaming the name of Islam.” This rebuke from a leading Muslim calls to mind the opening question of this article, and provides a profound answer: violence discredits and defames the reputation of Muslims.

In conclusion, “How should Christians and Muslims behave in this crisis?” “How should we respond when a revered leader is mocked?” Indeed we might do well to ask, “How did Muhammad and Jesus Christ respond to mockery?” The following articles provide valuable background information to help you explore these vital implications www.answering-islam.org/Silas/asma.htm
<http://www.desiringgod.org/library/sermons/06/012206.html>

Footnotes
1 http://counterterror.typepad.com/the_counterterrorism_blog/2006/02/fabricated_cart.html
2 http://www.neandernews.com/?p=54#comment-32
3 http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/775
4 http://counterterror.typepad.com/the_counterterrorism_blog/2006/02/fabricated_cart.html
5 http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=21215
6 http://freedomforegyptians.blogspot.com/2006/02/cartoons-were-published-five-months.html

Another article which provides useful background information to this cartoon crisis is available at;
www.answering-islam.org/NonMuslims/islam_above_criticism.htm

As one who comes from "redneck" territory, though never really a "redneck," I can honestly say that there is actually quite a lot of similarity between radical-tribal Islam & the culture of Rednecks.

1. A high degree of cultural pride:
"We can laugh at ourselves, but don't you mock me!"
2. A deep confusion between nationalism & faith.
"We all know this is God's Country!"
3. Odd marriage customs & arrangements.
"One year my uncle and my cousin met at a family dinner,
the next year they were married."
4. A joy in life that is often forgotten by the more refined.
"Good ole boys have good times."
5. A simple (even simplistic) faith in God.
"God bless ..."
6. Honor as a value.
"Our family has a good name all over this county & the next!"
7. Anger at the "wealthy" who claim to know God but are unwilling to
"git dirty" to express their faith to those in need. "Hypocrit!"
8. Strong family bonds, friendships, and mutual support reaching
beyond more industrialized societies. "We're family."

That said, I have never met a Redneck who was not friendly to Muslims
they knew. That is, when a redneck meets a muslim, they tend to get along spendidly! [Unless matters of faith are mentioned, then ...] Having moved recently from the South to the North in the USA, my wife &
I have observed these differences on the different sides of the Mason-Dixon line:

South:
More suspicious of Asians.
Less fearful of violence.
The Gospel is often socially more embedded.
Dixie (c) cups are used for spitting out tobacco at social gatherings of men.

North:
More tensions between Whites & Blacks.
More willing to trust government power.
The Law is socially more embedded.
Masonic lodges are more common prominent social institutions.

Both:
Muslims & Mexicans are both suspect, though for different reasons.

It seems that a great deal of the current conflict is a result of "stereotypes." In the Bible, the Lord Jesus Himself was not afraid to use "stereotypes" in public when speaking:

Herod = that fox.
Pharisees & lawyers = hypocrites (those under-judgment).
(example: The lawyer who helps people get divorced at work
& helps people get married at church.
- Featured in the Ann Arbor News this past Saturday.)
Sadducees = hopeless (no resurrection).
Jesus also said “Don’t put your pearls before swine.”

Paul called the Cretans, well, cretans! = lazy, brutes, liars, drunk ... about like a modern frat house! (Titus 1:12)

John regarded Rome as “satan” in Revelation. (Which is why I don’t identify deeply with America – today’s imperial power.)

Stereotypes were also spoken of Jesus:

Nazoreans = “what good can come from there” – The hick / red-neck region of Palestine, known to have some revolutionary tendencies. (John 1:46)

Meanwhile the folks in Nazareth figured Jesus had “gotten a big head after all the nice things other folks was sayin’, we best put him back in his place!” Nazareth’s version of a lynching just about followed (see Luke 4).

... I wonder how Abraham felt when he was 100 & finally had the nerve to admit / confess the lie (or 1/2 truth) he had told & had his wife tell that they were not merely 1/2 brother - 1/2 sister, but also husband & wife?

Being “in the world & yet not of it” is the answer to much of the current debate: get beyond how others stereotype you & enter into the realm which God has ordained for you. Walk with Jesus everywhere you go. Talk with Jesus before you ever talk to others.

I think it is the same “Abrahamic” shame over our own sins in the evangelical camp that hinders God from pouring out even greater blessing upon us. Amazingly, humble honesty renders the accuser’s darts useless as we take refuge in our Lord rather than our land.

We have stayed in the camp too long & neglect to put our lives & reputations at risk in order share the good news of returning to righteousness & resting with those who could do serious harm to our own standing: socially, financially, bodily, etc.

A brother spoke of his own variety of Christianity at a denominational meeting I once attended:
"We are like manure:
We do a lot of good if you spread us out,
But we sure raise a stink if you keep us all in a heap."

Stereotypes can thus, have some use, but they can also be VERY dangerous, if you let them govern you:
Example from the BBC:
An Islamic commentator from Pakistan considered the recent burning & destruction of a local franchise of Kentucky Fried Chicken (A USA based company) to be justifed because one (1) publication in Denmark published some months ago 12 cartoons mocking a deceased Arabian poet. For the Pakistani man being interviewed, the firing of the editor of the Danish newspaper & apology by the newspaper was insufficient. He demanded that all "you" [non-muslims or westerners, it was not clear] apologize because "you" are the cause of this.

Honestly, it sounded much like the rantings of religious leaders in Jerusalem who insisted upon the crucifixion of Jesus (Isa Al-Masih) & sought to persecute Saul of Tarsus (the Apostle Paul).

Because it has become so _clear_ that Islam is hostile to all others, it is evident that it will fall. Islam is trying to save itself & defend itself ... & in the process is exposing its divisive nature.

Jesus said that slandering Him as the Son of Man (Fully Human), was forgivable. It is slandering the Holy Spirit which is not forgiveable. May many more find the grace of our Lord in these last days. May God show His mercy to those who rant & rave & riot.

Please pray for me, as I often work where folks are hostile to the Gospel. May the Lord's Honor not diminish in the eyes of those I serve because of my own foolishness.

Born in the North.
Raised in the South.
Traveled to various nations.
Living in the North.

Following the Lord Who was buried in a borrowed tomb, now empty:
Who Is the God of Abraham, whose only land was a grave-plot when he died.

Peace in Christ,
Mert Hershberger
mertaka@everybody.org
www.pray-ap.info