Exloring Life Eternal

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

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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

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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
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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.

Islam will fall for these simple reasons:

1. It is false.
2. Muhammed died & sinned.
3. The Qur'an does not satisfy.
4. It does not make anyone holy.
5. There is no certainty of eternal life.
6. It is a political-military system that pretends to have God's favor.
7. It denies the only hope anyone has: Jesus' death on the cross & resurrection 3 days later.
8. It is ignorant of God's character: God desires to redeem & reconcile peoples to Himself through face-to-face encounter.
9. The qibla (direction of worship/prostration) is towards an empty black stone building.
10. It results in death environmentally, socially, and personally.
11. It's laws are a moral step down from the life & teachings of Jesus Christ.

If any of the above can be shown to be entirely false (from Islamic sources & with solid historical evidence), please email me @
mertaka@everybody.org

Ultimate reason Islam will fall:

Jesus is alive! Christ is Victor!! God is Holy Love!!!

Please pray for my families salvation. Their names are Gary, Rich, Angel, Christa, Amanda, Alicia, Nicholas, Chase, Madyson, Wanda, Donna who has inoperable lung cancer, Laura, Louanne, Jackie and Bobby. Thank you so very much.

-- F.C.

RE: August 31, 2005

Someone who does not know me & only recently met my wife urged me to quit the ministry of sharing the need to pray because of my lack of insurance & benefits. I have insurance, thank you very much. My Boss has my life insured for centuries, even eternity. As far as benefits, let's just say that my retirement plan is beyond imagination!! The friend also urged me to seek deliverance ... from the very thing [a need for sleep] which God has used repeatedly to keep me dependant upon & resting in His grace.

It was not an easy moment, but God has provided a means for strength in times of immense opposition & discouragement. As the dishes were washed, our Father & i had a heart to heart. While our hosts were away, the house was cleaned up, cleaner than when we had come. A tree was freed of some pests. During our time there, the driveway was freed of weeds. The yard/garden was cleaned of some thistles. The old oven was out & a new oven was in & working, in answer to prayer!! The fridge was also taken out & a new one brought in. The frige had been a puzzle for the moving team to bring in, but the Lord gave us wisdom how to bring it in.

That evening I took my wife to a hotel since we had to leave to make room for the family & their plans. At the hotel, we asked for the lowest priced room: 1 bed, 1 night, non-smoking. They couldn't meet the request with non-smoking (a must for a good night's sleep), so they took $20-30 off of a hotel-room that had a hot-tub that was $20 more than a regular room.

Apparently, there were few hotel rooms available: 100,000 people were going to be crowded into a stadium this coming weekend. The desk clerk told me that they could take in few comforts with them: no food, water, umbrellas, etc. Instead they would have to pay top dollar for basic things we usually take for granted in the outside world. The fellow at the desk said that it was all because of 9/11, "But, if we have to have these things for security, it is worth it." He grinned, "But they are gonna feel they like they are in hell."

Why, what is the reason for all this, I had asked, "What is the game?"

"No mercy."

I have a better game: Happy are those who are merciful, for they will receive mercy!! So when he said that that was how those folks were going to feel, I burst out, "I am so glad I'm going to heaven instead!!" The odd thing about all this is that the people are choosing to go there. They are not being persecuted & forced to suffer. They are not going to hear good news, but to watch a bunch of guys beat up on each other.

This weekend is a time called, "Escapade." My wife "Lydia" has noted as I took her too & from work each day & evening: The girls hardly wear any clothes & they all dress "like a bunch of cheap girls." The streets are lined with folks until late at night. For many, it is a time when they can break free from parents, from restraint, from authority, and rebel. Some 130+ years ago, the University of Michigan was founded on a basis of free-thinking (i.e. not tethered by any authority, most especially not the Bible.)

Now, there are lots of thistles in the area, literally. There are witch gatherings regularly. There are security hastles. There are morality problems. There are wealth problems in this state. There are wars & rumors of wars. etc. Hmmm ... Is there a connection between these things?

In the midst of all this, as I visited my wife at work, a fellow offered me a candy in exchange for $ on the way into get a bite to eat with my wife. I cheerfully said, "I don't have any cash," because I don't carry any as a general rule. He looked at me, as though he wanted what I have, and gave me some candy anyways. I tried to refuse, but he would not let me. So I took it, gave the treat to my wife & used the restroom while she waited on other customers. There, I found 2 small copper coins, picked them up & knew just who to give them to. I washed my hands, went out, & my "Lydia" had a snack ready for me. Off I headed. The Lord provided another gift to return to the man, exactly the same kind as he had given me. I reached in my pocket & was able to return to the man not only a candy stick, but also $0.12. (Surely, the apostle's are worth more than a penny each! But if you asked them for their 2 cents worth, I'm sure they would have overflowed with words about Jesus & His goodness to us.)

That evening, I was able to get 2 Azaleas for us for around $1.50 total + some for others!! But God's grace, my "Lydia" had the money for this month's food, we had $ for rent, & a pleasant evening. As I walked with the Lord in the cool of the evening, I saw 3 little stinkers leaving the area.

What a blessing!

It was indeed a refreshing day!! Today is the day of the Lord's salvation.

Will we look up, look around, & see the goodness of our God?

Please pray that K. will turn her life over to Jesus!

Joe C. / E.C.