Daryl Hedding

Beware the power vacuum

2012-01-16T20:36:00.019-06:00

There was a glimmer of hope seen in the Arab world last year when the youth rose up to shake themselves loose of the tyrants who had denied them freedom and opportunity. It was believed that they looked to the West for inspiration, and it was understood that Western technology such as smart phones with cameras and social networking tools like Facebook and Twitter empowered the masses with the ability to report and organize in defiance of the ruling dictatorships. A shift in power had taken place, from the ruling elite to the suffering majority, and as the awareness of this phenomenon grew, so did the unrest in more and more Arab nations.

A year later and what we see taking the place of the regimes in Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Lybia and possibly even Syria, are not moderate, western minded rulers as expected, but rather Islamic extremists such as the Muslim Brotherhood. These Islamists are anti-Western, antisemitic, anti-Christian and discriminating against women.

Oddly enough, in Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood was not initially involved in the protests lending weight to the theory that there was hope of moderation in the outcome of the uprisings. However, the Muslim Brotherhood was quick to seize the opportunity as they witnessed a power vacuum appearing in Egypt. They not only joined the protestors but were able to galvanize widespread support for their brand of Islamic rule as the party of choice to replace the previous more secular regime.

Linked to such terrorist organizations as Hamas, we should not be too surprised by the Muslim Brotherhood's ability to turn a protest against rampant corruption into a vote for a purist form of Islamic law. This is what Hamas had achieved in Gaza when the people there voted out Fatah back in 2006.

Take a journey across the Atlantic ocean and you find that the Occupy Wallstreet protests and other such variants across the US have attempted to duplicate the success of the Arab uprisings in protest of the perceived corruption and greed exhibited in the financial markets, especially as regards the controversial bail-outs of the industry.

The "Occupy" movement continues without a great deal of success, but it has exposed a very concerning development. As it gained momentum initially, a large secret group of hackers calling themselves "Anonymous" came out from behind their computers and took to the streets to join the protests. Masked as the hero/villain of the movie "V for Vendetta", suddenly hundreds of real life versions of their frightening video avatar were now in the midst of a populist social uprising.

Anonymous gained infamy when they claimed responsibility for denial of service attacks Paypal's website in protest over the removal of payment processing for the Wikileaks site when Julian Assange was arrested for the wealth of sensitive state information he had made public. This set off a war with the FBI and several Anonymous users were arrested. Anonymous seem to have been able to strike back in the last week, releasing a recording they claim to have tapped wherein the FBI are discussing with Scotland Yard their efforts to track down Anonymous members. Their capabilities are impressive, and also a little frightening, especially to law enforcement who can't seem to secure their computers against these attacks.

Essentially, Anonymous opposes all kinds of censorship and oppression, which certainly echoes elements we respect in terms of freedom of speech and constitutional rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. However, they seem to exhibit a consistent disregard for the rule of law, the very thing designed to protect those freedoms and rights we enjoy. Remove the law and you find that freedom becomes anarchy, while the rights of the weakest can no longer be protected.

Anonymous feel that we are living in a police state, which may bear some truth if we are indeed moving towards a UK style rule of law with your every public action being recorded on a video somewhere. Their response, however, to perceived police brutality has been to publish online the personal information of offending officers, putting their lives and families at risk. In a CNN report covering this phenomenon, the officers in question would not even come forward to be interviewed, presumably for fear of further cyber attacks:

Here's Anonymous's motto:

"We are Anonymous. We are Legion. We do not forgive. We do not forget. Expect us"

Despite the very non-Christian ethos of neither forgiving nor forgetting, Anonymous chose a phrase "We are Legion" which comes straight from the Bible and refers to an exorcism by Jesus where the demon identifies himself as "Legion" since there were in fact many demons which possessed the man. The illustration is at once quite powerful and frightening, depicting a situation where one face, one man, actually represents many hidden forces unknown to those who would try to perceive it.

Except Jesus.

In fact, Jesus gives a warning in Matthew 12: 43-45 which I believe is very applicable for this generation, for these tumultuous days in which we live:

43 “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. 44 Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”

Jesus takes the illustration of one man and applies it to an entire generation. I couldn't think of a more stark warning for us today. As one evil system is overthrown, and things seem to be getting cleaned up, something even more evil steps into the power vacuum created and assumes control, making the last state worse than the first.

2 Thessalonians 2 warns us that the day of the Lord, Jesus' return, "will not come until the rebellion occurs and the son of lawlessness is revealed". I'm not suggesting or predicting that Anonymous or the Occupy Movement are going to usher in the anti-Christ, but I do see here a clear reference to that fact that some kind of rebellion will occur, that the beast who rises out of it will be lawless, and that what occupies the final "state" will be something far more evil and sinister than that which preceded it.

So, what are we to do? 2 Thessalonians 2 says that God will send a strong delusion to those who did not love the truth, so that they are deceived. We must simply strengthen our love for the Lord, for His ways and for His truth, especially in a world that increasingly mocks and derides the Christian world view.

The German church in World War II failed to see the danger that Hitler presented. They had lost their love for the truth, and were deceived into believing that Hitler would save them from the great evil of Communism. The fact is that Hitler did indeed rescue Germany from Communism, but his rebellion paved the way for something far more evil to occupy Germany, and his lawlessness produced the massacre of millions of lives, not the least of which were 6 million Jews in the Holocaust.

We should pray that we are not deceived when the next "son of lawlessness" is revealed. And we must beware the power vacuum.

Stop poking God in the eye

2011-05-31T11:04:00.010-05:00

I Samuel 11 tells the fascinating story of how Israel came to be united under Saul’s kingship. As with all Old Testament stories, God has given them to us so we can learn from them and apply the principles revealed therein. This story is no different, and even gives us invaluable insight into how the Lord views events happening in our own lifetime.

In this chapter, the Ammonites come up against Jabesh. The people of Jabesh seek terms of peace but are presented with a horrible proposition; in return for peace the Ammonites want the right to cut out the right eye of every man and bring a reproach on all Israel.

Apart from the stigma and shame attached with having a whole community’s eyesight disabled, it is also evident that the Ammonites sought to ensure that Jabesh remained immobilized, defenceless against future attacks. If the men of Jabesh could not defend themselves well with both eyes, removing the right eye would certainly ensure that even in the future they would not be able to rise to the challenge and the Ammonites could seek further sacrifices for “peace” whenever they desired.

On May 19th, 2011, the President of the USA announced a change in policy regarding his country’s position as peace broker between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Whereas previously no administration had outlined what it believed was the territorial starting position for negotiations, but had left that for the two parties to work out, President Obama stated that the pre-1967 borders should now be the basis for the renewal of talks. Areas that do not fall within these territories, such as many Israeli towns in Judea and Samaria, along with historic Jerusalem (so-called East Jerusalem), could be resolved, the President said, via land swaps.

The Group of Eight leaders, representing the most economically powerful nations on earth, were swift to endorse Obama’s position in a statement released on May 27th, 2011.

Prime Minister Netanyahu, Israel’s premier, was quick to reject this new approach since it would return Israel to a territorial position that is not defendable. Every American administration up until this one has understood that after all the wars Israel has fought to defend itself against the Arab plans for her annihilation, she requires defendable borders to live in peace and security.

Not only that, but if the pre-1967 borders are the starting point for peace, Israel faces again the shameful prospect of having to send in its own armed forces to forcibly uproot thousands of its citizens from their homes as the world watches on through the lenses of western media companies that have systematically reduced these people to dehumanized illegal settlers, and blamed them for the lack of peace in the entire region, if not the world.

Make no mistake, the Palestinians do not recognize Israel’s right to exist, and they have always sought an agreement with Israel that leaves the door open for further attacks on her sovereignty. Like the Ammonites, they offer peace in return for Israel’s shame. They will only come to an agreement if the Israelis cut out their right eye by removing their so-called settlements, and in so doing, also return to a situation where they are more vulnerable to further attacks. Unfortunately, the US President has led the way in adding considerable weight to their cause and the Israelis, like the people of Jabesh, find themselves isolated and outnumbered in this conflict.

Going back to I Samuel 11, we find that the people of Jabesh seek help and their messengers reach Saul. But, the Saul they find is not sitting in a kingly palace with thousands of troops at his command; he’s out in the field herding flocks. He had been crowned king already, but not all the people accepted his appointment and it seems as if life just went back to normal for Israel and Saul, up until this point that is.

When Saul hears the news, something remarkable happens. The Spirit of God comes upon him and he becomes extremely angry. He hews a yoke of oxen into pieces, sends them throughout the land as warning of what will happen to the oxen of those who don’t come out to fight, and he manages to raise an army of 330,000 which goes on to demolish the Ammonites and save Jabesh. The people rally around Saul after this victory, gathering in Gilgal to renew the kingdom and make Saul king before God.

Saul clearly didn’t have the force of arms to back up his threat, but the fear of Lord fell on the people as Saul followed the Spirit’s leading and this brought forth salvation.

It’s not often that we associate the Holy Spirit with anger, or righteous indignation as some translations use. We are more accustomed to the Holy Spirit bringing peace or joy in the face of adversity. But God is clearly able to experience the emotions we humans know and when the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives, He can even impart on us His very personal feelings regarding a situation.

In Zechariah 2: 8 it says of Zion, “he who touches you touches the apple of His eye”. Your eye is the most sensitive part of your body. When the Ammonites came to Jabesh with the intent of cutting out the men’s right eyes, they didn’t realize that they had poked God in the eye, in His most sensitive area, and aroused His anger. It’s a warning to all nations that would seek to come up against Israel to dispossess her of her God-given inheritance.

In these days when the nations are out repeating the mistake of the Ammonites, the question for us is how in tune are we to the Holy Spirit? How well are we connected with God’s feelings on the issue? Are we outraged? Are we speaking up to ensure that our nations are warned as to the consequence of their actions?

Like Saul, we have been anointed, but haven’t yet received a kingdom. I Peter 2: 9 says we are a “chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation”. We don’t have physical armies under our command, but our power is in the fear of the Lord. He will bring the victory.

Isaiah 41 confirms that the Lord will deliver Israel and will destroy those who come against her. We should speak words of comfort to Zion, to let her know that her God will surely rescue her, while also speaking a word of warning to the nations about how they treat the people of the covenant. Never has there been a time when these messages are more important.

For the sake of our own nations, we must find our voice and tell our leaders to please stop poking God in the eye.

In or out of Jesus this Easter?

2011-04-22T12:35:00.018-05:00

At the ICEJ’s 2010 Feast of Tabernacles celebration in Jerusalem, David Pawson made some comments on being "in Jesus" that really stuck with me. It's not a concept I’ve often heard explored from the pulpit yet it essentially defines for the believer how the world is divided from God's perspective. Our Father in heaven sees us as either being in or out of Jesus. The concept is simple, easily understood, and to a lot of people, totally offensive.

I can fully understand the world not embracing such a seemingly extremist worldview. The Word of God tells us that the message of the cross is foolishness to those that are perishing (I Corinthians 1: 18).

What's disturbing to me is that among those who consider themselves to be in Jesus there is a trend underway to deny either who He is, the completeness of His work on the cross or even the necessity to be found in Him for salvation. And the world loves it.

A recent piece in Time Magazine (April 25, 2011) entitled “Is Hell Dead” celebrates the controversial view mega church pastor Rob Bell has espoused in his new book, “Love Wins” wherein he casts doubt on the central notion that when you pass from this life you must be found in Christ to avoid hell and find entry into heaven. Bell believes that none of us know who will and who won't be in heaven, a point I’m willing to grant him, but you have to achieve some amazing theological acrobatics to get around Jesus’ simple words "No one comes to the Father but through me". In other words, God can reveal Himself to anyone at any time, even in their dying moments, but there’s still only one way to get saved. So, while none of us can truly know definitively who will and who won't be in heaven one day, we do know that no one gets there unless they pass through the correct door, and that door is Jesus.

This controversy has rocked the evangelical world, and rightly so. For those of us who are more closely involved with Christian Zionist work in support of Israel you may be forgiven for doubting if this could have any impact on our corner of the evangelical world. I would have discounted it myself had not the Christian Zionist movement itself had difficulties in sticking to the script (as in Word of God) as far as Jesus is concerned.

The magazine Israel Today was recently embroiled in a heated debate surrounding the reaction of leaders of the Messianic movement in Israel to a pastor who had denied the divinity of Jesus. This wouldn't be of much concern did it not reflect a larger problem in the Messianic movement where agreement on the true identity of Jesus is a major issue. If Rob Bell is denying that Jesus is the door, there are Messianics are trying to redefine what that door looks like.

And if that's not disturbing enough, there's another group, also involved in supporting Israel, who are trying to reinterpret how the Door works. They call themselves Ephraimites and their belief that salvation is reserved only for those who are physically Abraham's seed not only ignores the references in Galatians to Jesus being "the seed", in which we find our identity, but also effectually undermines the complete work of Jesus on the cross. Has John 3:16 become so familiar to us who have memorized it since our first day in children's church that we have ignored its simple yet powerful message?

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life"

The "door" that is Jesus is open for anyone and everyone because God loves the entire world. That door is divine because Jesus is God's only son. Enter through that door and you not suffer an afterlife in hell, but rather heaven in the presence of the Father.

This Easter, let's honour the work of Jesus in its completeness, and ensure that we are found in Him that we may join Him in the resurrection!

From Darwin to Planned Humanity

2009-12-12T10:42:00.034-06:00

One thing the UN's climate conference in Copenhagen has not suffered from is a lack of controversy. Starting from the viral video of Lord Monckton warning of plans for a one-world government to the hacked emails of British and American scientists that uncovered a global-warming cover-up, the conference was always going to struggle to find credibility. The latest revelation from the conference takes the real motives of some of these so-called "green" people to another insidious level altogether.

Yesterday, a Chinese ministry official proudly declared that their one-child policy was a successful way to reduce emissions. The Chinese claim that their restrictive birth policies have resulted in an emissions saving of 1.8 billion tons of carbon dioxide.

I like to call this ideology Planned Humanity and I'll explain why.

Let's start with the Nazis. They relied on the theory of eugenics when implementing a strategy of purifying the German race from what they considered unwanted elements such as Jews and homosexuals. Eugenics has been described as "the self-direction of human evolution" which of course seems like a somewhat natural progression in thinking if you subscribe to Darwin's theory of evolution. If we are just evolved monkeys, then we should act like the rest of the animal kingdom and only allow the strongest to survive.

Although discredited by the actions of the Nazis, eugenics managed to continue its legacy through Planned Parenthood. The founder of the American Birth Control League (which eventually became Planned Parenthood) was a lady by the name of Margaret Sanger, who just also happened to be a racist and a promoter of eugenics. Today, most of Planned Parenthood's locations are in minority areas and even though blacks only make up 13% of the US population, abortions in this minority group are one third of the total performed. Sanger's racist legacy lives on in the most diabolical way.

Okay, so that's how we get from Darwin to Planned Parenthood. How do we get to Planned Humanity?

Just this week the EPA declared carbon dioxide to be of public danger. Yes, that means you and I are polluting the earth every time we breathe out. By that measure, China is suddenly a very responsible, earth friendly country that's limiting its CO2 emissions by birth control.

So, if humans are reduced to a pollutant on the earth, and abortion is morally acceptable, then it's not a stretch to believe that having an abortion will be elevated to more than just a "choice". Now you're taking it to a whole new level of global responsibility: Have an abortion, and save the planet!

In fact, forced abortions for irresponsible CO2 emitters who over-populate would be perfectly feasible. A plan would need to be made to reduce humanity's emissions by controlling the population's growth. We'd need Planned Humanity.

We might like to believe that we have evolved beyond the excesses of the Nazis, and that no one thinks one race of man is more "efficient" than another, but as we've learnt through Planned Parenthood, an ideology based on something as evil as eugenics will never ensure a non-discriminating approach to the annihilation of human life.

Most of us would probably not believe that the shocking Planned Humanity of the Chinese could ever find itself a home here in the West, but my feeling is that the groundwork has already being laid. The evolution and pro-choice movements might just have found in global warming the spark to light their fire.

May God save us from ourselves.

What will be left after the West has gone?

2009-07-19T20:06:00.017-05:00

For the last 70 years, one thing has stood between tyrants and their ability to have their way in this world; American hegemony. Despised from Europe to the Middle East, it nevertheless managed to rid the world of the Third Reich, the USSR and yes, even Saddam Hussein. So, how is it that the land that afforded the West so much of the freedom it has enjoyed is not much appreciated around the globe?

The only way I can explain it is to say that I do not believe the concept of "The West" even exists much in Europe anymore, let alone any other part of the world. I lived in Finland for a few years, and people there hardly knew what I was talking about when I referred to the West. This may be a result of a historical disconnect from the concept, but I think it more attributtable to a conceptual disconnect from history.

Wikipedia explains the West to be:

Western European or Western European-derived nations which enjoy relatively strong economies and stable governments, allow freedom of religion, have chosen democracy as a form of governance, favor capitalism and international trade, are heavily influenced by Judeo-Christian values, and have some form of political and military alliance or cooperation

It doesn't take a genius to look at that description and realize the components missing in Europe and America today that makes titling them "the West" incompatible.

Europe long ago gave up favoring capitalism and Judeo-Christian values, choosing instead socialism and the removal of God from their constitution. The idea of personal responsibility before one's Creator was replaced with a government ensured Utopia where narcissism was propelled to the national level, leaving Europe unable to even defend itself let alone resolve conflicts such as that in Kosovo without American intervention. Even democracy has been eroded as the European Union elitists in Brussels decided what is best for their happy, carefree masses.

It has taken the United States a long time to get to the point where it is ready to follow Europe's example, but now that it has, the pace of the change is startling. In less than a year, banks, automobile manufacturers and possibly now the health care industry would have been socialised. American's willfully chose a President who ran on the platform of big government that would replace personal responsibility. And it wasn't long after he came to power that he declared that this was not a Christian nation. Unless something dramatic happens, it is safe to say that America will soon look a lot more like Europe, and the West just be a relic of those days sometime before the Berlin Wall came down.

The question is what will fill the vacuum? With American power and dominance out of the way, what opportunity does this present for the world? A scary one to say the least, if the suggestions to date are to be taken seriously.

Russia, China and India have called for a new world reserve currency to replace the dollar, with President Medvedev having already minted a new coin which he proudly presented to G8 leaders this month. A picture of that coin is below.

They see a declining US economy that offers a chance for a new global financial system not so controlled by America.

The Pope has even weighed in, calling in his most recent encyclical for a "world political authority" to manage the global economy. He also supports wealth redistribution by governments on so-called moral grounds.

If capitalism, so long championed by Americans, is being targeted for removal by a system of globalised socialism, then what of democracy, a system the US has tirelessly tried to export? Look no further than Islam. Emboldened by the seeming collapse of capitalism, they are now ready to export their own political system to what once was the West. Make no mistake, Islam is much more than a religion. It means submission, and the proof of that is seen clearly in every political system that it produces. Ask Iranians today whether or not they feel any pressure to submit to the Islamic system that governs them. It's also worth mentioning that President Obama in his now famous Cairo speech spoke in clear terms to the Islamic world in ways that compared America's form of governance to those of Islam's.

Just this past weekend, a global Sunni network called Hizb ut-Tahrir openly held a conference in Chicago entitled "The Fall of Capitalism and the Rise of Islam". Their aim is to establish a global Islamic empire, or caliphate, as commanded by Mohammed. Below is the YouTube video they used to advertise the event.

Now, few would believe that this group will achieve world dominance, but one only has to look at the success that Islam has had in countries like the U.K. to understand that the global Islamic agenda of world dominance is not abetting and is now being sought with greater encouragement than ever. And let's be clear, it is not ultimately your death they seek, but rather your submission to Islam, or in technical terms, Sharia law.

Whether the current US administration is willfully guiding America towards a new world order , or if they are simply ignorant to what's going on is yet to be seen. Unfortunately, if you believe anything Kissinger has to say then it's the former, since America's role in the world clearly needs to be changed for a new system to evolve.

So, what will be left after the West has gone is not really a sure thing. What we do know is that one day all of man's vain attempts at world dominance will be laid waste as every knee bows and every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Oh, and by the way, unlike other gods, He doesn't need man to bring in His kingdom through holy war, or jihad.

Laying claim to Jerusalem Part II

2009-07-19T19:49:00.003-05:00

This is a follow up to my previous blog about the mystery that is Jerusalem and the struggle that still rages over its sovereignty. As if to prove the point I made about President Obama laying a foundation upon which Israel's claim to sole sovereignty is denied, his administration has now been found to have asked Israel not to build apartments in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem.

There are numerous problems with this development.

The primary issue goes back to Israel's sovereignty. What's apparent is that Obama, like so many other Presidents before him, lusts after the Holy Grail of world peace; reconciliation between Israel and the Arabs. What's frightening is that he's decided Israel's natural expansion in the land is the greatest impediment to that peace being achieved. On the one hand, it's confirmation of the fact that Israel's contribution to this conflict has little to do with its military endeavors, and a lot more to do with the outrage and violence that is produced on the part of the Arabs as a result of Israel's very existance on the land. On the other hand, it shows a complete lack of impartiality, and even a dangerous tendency to support the notion that Palestinian areas should be Judenrein.

In this particular case, the land in question was in fact purchased by an American Jew in 1985, and is currently abandoned. It was not annexed, stolen, nationalized or assumed control of by any method other than in a legal manner as exercised in most parts of the world where exists the rule of law. Unfortunately, for a President who believes that Israel's right to exist flows from the horror of the Holocaust, it is not surprising that a different standard is applied to the Jew when seeking to operate as any other citizen in the world.

It is my belief that the American administration is working hard to ensure that the final peace deal does not fail. To do that, they have decided that Israel must understand that their claim to sovereignty over Jerusalem is not only under contention, but is ultimately to be denied. To put it another way, the issue of Jerusalem, which was always a final status item, has already been decided upon by Obama, and now Israel only has to submit and the Holy Grail will be securely within his grasp.

Netanyahu must be commended for standing firm under the mounting pressure. There's much at stake. After all, either Jews have a right to exist in the land of their forefathers or they are just refugees displaced after the great and many evils of World War II.

Laying claim to Jerusalem

2009-07-19T19:47:00.002-05:00

There's something mysterious about Jerusalem. I've lived there, on two separate occasions, for a total of almost seven years and I'm always excited to go back. Yet, when I finally get there, after the long climb up the road from Ben Gurion airport, it's always a little anti-climatic. On paper, Jerusalem is really nothing that special. Sure, it has the history, but there are far more beautiful cities in the world. There are certainly cleaner ones, with better planning and nicer drivers.

Yet everyone wants a piece of it. And everyone has a different opinion on who it belongs to and what should be done with it.

Even President Obama.

In his famous speech from Cairo, Obama opined for "all of the children of Abraham to mingle peacefully as in the story of Isra, when Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed (peace be upon them) joined in prayer". This story is traditionally understood by Muslims to have occurred on the Temple Mount. Aside from the obvious problems there are with a professed Christian stating that his God's idea of peace is for the three major (and competing) religions to just "mingle" in His holy city, there is a dangerous thought at work here. Assuming that all three faiths, Christianity, Judaism and Islam have an equal claim on Jerusalem sets a very dangerous precedent.

The issue is one of sovereignty. Or, let me be more specific, denial of Jewish sovereignty over Jerusalem. Obviously, Jerusalem is currently under Jewish control, and in fact all three faiths do already worship there in remarkable freedom. It's worth noting that in 1967 when Israel captured the Old City in the Six-day War, Minister of Defence, Moshe Dayan made an immediate statement affirming Israel's commitment to freedom of religion, and ceded administrative control of the Temple Mount to the Islamic Trust (Waqf). What is it exactly about this situation that doesn't work for everyone now? Why is it that America's President thinks there is something broken here that needs to be fixed?

You have to go back to the story of Isra. If Moses, Jesus and Mohammed all joined in prayer, who did they pray to? Are we to believe that there are three routes to the same god? Am I to understand that my God is so confused that He cannot decide how to "reveal" himself to different people? That's not what this is about. No, this is all about affirming the validity of the three religions, and in turn their respective claim to Jerusalem. It's not really about God at all.

And that's the big glaring point! It's God who has a claim to Jerusalem, not Judaism, or Christianity or Islam. And He's decided to give it to Israel as an inheritance. They are His custodians whether you like it or not. What a cheek, to bring God into an argument and then deny Him right to His own land. Of all the real estate in the world, God chose a thin sliver of dust filled land as His own, and picked a small group of people from the nations to live there and deliver His message of salvation to the world.

When you deny the Jewish people the right to sovereignty over Jerusalem, you might as well tell God to get off His throne because you think you've figured out a better way to run the universe. The audacity.

So, getting back to my opening line, what is it that makes Jerusalem so mysterious? Why is it so exciting and yet so frustrating? For me, there's just something eternal about it. You can't have heaven in your heart, and not be stirred by the Spirit when you enter the city God says He will make new, and then rule and reign from for eternity.

This year in Jerusalem!

Who will speak for the unborn?

2009-05-19T21:05:00.008-05:00

This week, Obama gave another commencement speech, this time at Notre Dame University. Not afraid of a little controversy, he waded into the abortion debate right there in front of a community of Catholics. His "fair-minded" approach was to suggest that since the pro-choice and pro-life views are irreconcilable, we should all focus on reducing unwanted pregnancies and increasing adoption. Sounds good, right?

Maybe in a world where we all accept abortion is not murder. However, less and less of us are buying that, despite our pay grade.

Almost 90% of abortions occur in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Mid-way, at six weeks, the heart is already beating. You don't need special training to work out whether that little fella is alive yet or not. Even if we assume that only 25% of abortions occur after 6 weeks, that amounts to a quarter of a million lives being aborted annually in the US.

None of this resonates with our President, despite his statement that it has "moral and spiritual dimensions". So, who will speak for the unborn? Who will cry out for the millions of lives being sacrificed annually to the god of convenience?

During Obama's speech something quite chilling happened. Watch the video below and turn the volume up between 1.27 and 1.38 seconds. While he babbles on and on with all his "fair-minded" talk about abortion, a baby starts crying in the crowd.

Yes, there's a moral and spiritual dimension to this issue, and yes, sometimes God will even use a baby to make a point, especially when everyone else is silent.

Commencing with the good and the bad

2009-05-14T20:12:00.009-05:00

I decided to tune into last night's broadcast of the President's first commencement speech at Arizona State University. Having recently attended my wife's commencement at Vanderbilt University, I was interested to hear what Obama would have to say to graduates entering work life in the current economic climate.

First off, there's no doubt that the President can deliver a mean speech. He could easily have the reverse career of Reagan and go into acting after politics. Not likely, but anyway, besides great delivery, there was actually some good content in the speech.

I think his main take-home for the graduating class of 2009 can be summed up by the simple phrase, "substance over form". While attacking the culture of greed that has permeated American society, he successfully, I believe, inspired the next generation to take a path more righteous; to forgo the pursuit of wealth and status in favour of a life of meaning and accomplishment. Good stuff. Can't fault the man there.

But, here's where the speech lost its way a bit. Obama insists on invoking the legacy of Abraham Lincoln when he speaks. While it's understandable, since everyone admires Lincoln, there's a huge difference between how the two men understand the role of God in this country. Obama attributes the greatness of America to the outstanding character of certain individuals and generations throughout its history. Lincoln, however, saw a direct relationship between the nation's relationship with God and the blessing it subsequently received. He even went so far as to say that the Civil War may been God's judgement for the nation's falling away. (See this excellent analysis by CNSNews.com comparing two men's National Day of Prayer Proclamations).

Imagine Obama telling the nation to repent because it had turned its back on God and was now suffering an economic collapse as a result. Rather, while recently in Turkey, Obama emphasized that point the America is not a christian nation. See below.

While Obama may actually have a point, in that the nation is in the very quick process of turning away from God, as a professed christian himself, he seems to feel no need, or indeed have any courage, to lead the people back toward the God to whom they owe their freedom, liberty and success.

As most politicians do, he ended his speech with a nice healthy "God bless you, and God bless America". And that's where I get really annoyed. If you're not willing to publicly credit God with any previous blessing, then why call upon Him to rain down His blessing now? If Lincoln is a model leader for this nation, then why not be unashamed as he was to call the nation into repentance before expecting a blessing from God?

The good thing is that the President is an inspirational leader with an excellent work ethic. The bad thing is that he doesn't seem to understand God's sovereignty, and that works need faith, just as faith needs works.

Suggested reading for the President: Hebrews 11, James 2, and Lincoln's National Day of Prayer Proclamation.

And here's his speech in case you missed it:

Part I

Part II

Who says Obama only bows to Saudi kings?

2009-04-21T19:10:00.008-05:00

A friend of mine was very kind to point out, following my blog about Obama bowing to the Saudi King, that it is not uncommon for the President to strike this posture when meeting other heads of state.

To prove this, below is a picture of Obama from his recent trip to Mexico where he met the Mexican President and his family.

See, he even bows to the family dog!

So, what exactly have we proved here? Seems Obama treats the Saudi King just like a dog.

And the English Queen? Well, she'll just have to settle for being pawed by Michelle.

Just where do Obama's loyalties lie?

2009-04-07T19:56:00.005-05:00

Sometimes, actions really do speak louder than words. If Obama's body language during his recent trip to the UK is anything to go by then we should all be very worried as to where his loyalties really lie.

Here he is meeting the Christian Queen of England:

And here he is meeting the Muslim King of Saudi Arabia:

Did you see him bow to the Queen? No. Think about it.

High hypocrisy

2009-03-17T20:02:00.007-05:00

Everyone's outraged by $165 million in bonuses paid out by AIG to its executives after being bailed out by the government to the tune of $180 billion. Congress is moving quickly to slap on a tax to recoup the money. Obama even feigned some anger, telling Geithner to find a way to block the bonuses.

Bunch of hypocrites.

Just last week, Obama called for the earmark process to be reformed while rushing through a $410 billion spending bill that included $8 billion in earmarks. Apparently, there wasn't time to go line by line through that bill, given the urgency, so the American public just has to suck it up again.

Funny how that works, because one might think that had proper thought been given to the AIG bailout, the company may have been forced to first renegotiate its contracts to exclude costly bonuses, before any money would be handed over. Should we really expect irresponsible companies to behave after being rewarded for almost ruining the entire financial system?

No, I guess only the government behaves like that.

And in any event, I seem to remember a certain individual being thrown an inauguration party that cost $170 million before he had even completed a day of his term.

Shouldn't the highest post in the land set the highest standard? Not so far. Welcome to high hypocrisy.

A good week for Islamic extremism

2009-02-16T20:39:00.017-06:00

Four days ago, Dutch MP Geert Wilders was refused entry to the UK on the grounds that he would threaten public security. He was interviewed by the BBC after being detained immediately upon arrival. It should be noted that Wilders represents the 3rd largest political party in the Netherlands and that he has no criminal convictions against him in the EU. Charges of hate speech have been filed against him in the Netherlands, but he is still innocent until proven guilty.

Wilders had actually been in the UK a few weeks before, without inciting any violence, or threatening any public security. The issue here comes down to the fact that he was invited to show his movie Fitna at the House of Lords. Wilders has had numerous death threats made on his life as a result of the critical views of Islam he expresses in the film. As if that is not ironic enough, it would seem that the British government is now willing to muzzle free speech for fear that its Islamic community may live up to the kind of violence Wilders says their religion engenders.

Here's Fitna in case you haven't seen it so you can decide for yourself just how dangerous this kind of free speech can be:

Part I

Part II

Across the pond, Obama did a sharp turnabout in US policy this last weekend by reversing a seven year legacy that the Bush administration upheld when the State Department announced that it would be sending a team to join the negotiations in Geneva ahead of the UN Conference on Racism in April. At face value this may just appear part of the new President's talk-to-anyone approach, but what might be missed is the real reason his predecessor kept the US out of this particular UN event.

The purpose of this conference is to evaluate the goals set by the first conference of this sort held in Durban on the eve of September 11. Then Secretary of State, Colin Powell, pulled the US out of that conference due to the deliberate, and anti-Semitic, way in which Israel was singled out for condemnation.

For President Barack Obama to believe that things will somehow be different this time round is naivete at best, downright dangerous at worst. With Libya holding the Human Rights Council chair and Iran guiding the proceedings, the agenda is focused on criminalising the state of Israel and outlawing any form of so-called Islamaphobia.

This video sums it up:

Call me paranoid, but the West, if there is such a thing anymore, appears to be caving in to the threat of Islamic violence on all fronts. So, watch out what you say about Islam, because the Muslim response may break our sacred peace. And don't dare stand up for Israel, because that might enrage entire Islamic nations.

Inauguration Day

2009-01-20T20:31:00.009-06:00

Just a few random thoughts after Obama's big day.

Gotta admit that our new President is inspiring, no matter what you may think about his policies, beliefs or associations. There's a certain discipline about him, a firm focus on achieving his personal objectives. In this case, those objectives will become a part of our corporate future. Heavy stuff.

As many have said already, let's hope that he's the best President ever. Heaven knows we're going to need a rediculously good one.

Talking of heaven, Pastor Rick Warren served his saviour well today. He gave Jesus honour before millions at the mall and around the world. When he lead the attendees in the Lord's Prayer, he made sure to note who the author was. Obama could not have made a better choice. Good signs.

With all that is going on though, you won't be hearing much about Gaza. Israel very thoughtfully pulled its troops out in time for the new President's swearing in ceremony. Its mission for the most part complete, they have done Obama a huge favour by delivering a new reality on the ground. Hamas came out of this conflict less popular than ever. They thought their fighters would stand up to Israel as Hizbollah did in Lebanon, but instead they cowered behind women and children and have lost credibility throughout the Arab world.

Tomorrow, President Obama won't have to deal with having to make a call between allowing Israel to defend its citizens from Hamas terror or stopping the loss the civilian life in Gaza as Hamas fights a war from behind its own people.

However, as many a President has learned, the Israel-Arab conflict is not one that can be ignored for long. The world will pressure the new President to take a harder line with Israel than Bush did. And Muslims around the world will be looking for Obama to deliver on his promises of reconciliation. The decision Obama will inevitably be faced with is a choice between improving America's "standing in the world" or standing up for Israel in the world.

May God help him, guide him and give him wisdom. He has our prays.

The Bush standard

2009-01-05T22:10:00.004-06:00

It's popular nowadays to bash Bush. Few will rally to his defence. But, today, that didn't stop the President from defending Israel, and laying the blame for the ongoing violence in Gaza squarely at Hamas' door. He said that Israel has the right to defend itself and that a truce must see Hamas unable to launch more rockets into Israel.

Bush has set a standard for dealing with the Israel-Palestinian conflict; no moral equivalence. Try to find another world leader who's ready to call it like it is, who's willing to take a side and admit the obvious that Hamas and the Palestinians who voted them into power have brought this trouble upon their own heads.

Obama has many challenges before him when he takes office this month. Meeting the Bush standard on this issue will certainly be one of them.

How many Kassams does it take to wake a sleeping dog?

2008-12-27T10:20:00.010-06:00

The world is shocked and outraged at the so-called "excessive" show of force by Israel as its airforce struck Gaza city inflicting close to 300 casualties. Hamas is saying that this will lead to all out war.

But wait, let's back up a bit.

Since 2005, over 7,000 Kassam rockets have been fired into Israel, all targeting civilians. This year has seen 3,000 rockets and mortars fired into Israel. Just a week ago, the truce between Hamas and Israel expired. Without provocation, Hamas launched another 200 attacks against the civilian population of Southern Israel. None of this produced any outrage or made front page news around the world. One might be forgiven for thinking that the lack of response to date by either Israel or the world has encouraged Hamas to continue its war against Israel as if it were within its given rights.

Today that changed. Or, did it?

Israel will certainly be villified again, called upon to restrain the use of its superior military force so peace talks can "resume". By now, one would think that the Israelis would have learnt that in a world that openly questions its right to exist, it will seldom find support for even its most limited military responses to Hamas, an organisation committed to Israel's destruction.

The other problem of course is that the Palestinians know how to spin a war. They know that the world will never suffer them to be pounded into submission by the Israelis, and that by taunting Israel into another skirmish the outcome will be an increase in anti-Semitic attacks around the globe. The repeated images shown of bombed buildings burning in Gaza and Palestinian mothers crying over their sons make for high TV news ratings, and low public opinion of Israel. But, when was the last time you saw a picture on the evening news of a building on fire in Sderot after it was hit by a Kassam rocket fired from Gaza? Or a Jewish mother crying for her child whose life has just been lost in the attack? It's a sad commentary on the state of the world in which we live.

I'm reminded of Proverbs 26: 17:

"Like one who seizes a dog by the ears

is a passer-by who meddles in a quarrel not his own"

This may be a quarrel that Hamas has made its own, after the Palestinian Authority fell out of favour, but they only have themselves to thank for the carnage they have invited when they refused to letting a sleeping dog lie.

Kudos to Rick Warren

2008-12-21T22:09:00.010-06:00

By pure chance, I caught most of Ann Curry's Dateline NBC interview with Rick Warren last night. Warren's choice by Obama to give the invocation at his January inauguration has been met by outrage by the gay community. That's because they were already angry with Warren for supporting "Prop 8".

Against this backdrop, Curry clearly decided that the viewer needed her to play some kind of devil's advocate. At one point she actually said this (emphasis added):

Your position has raised the specter that you are homophobic. And that is why people are angry. Gay people are angry. And how is it possible for them to be civil when someone-- maybe deny-- you would say, "I don't like what you are." You understand that.

To me, it seems a lot like she actually condoned the kind of harrasment that the gay community has launched against the likes of Rick Warren and the Mormon church for their opposition to the redefinition of the term marriage.

Warren did a good job answering her heavily biased line of questioning. At one point, she took up the old approach, asking if he would change his position if it was proved that people are born gay. I don't believe she saw his answer coming. See below. And pray for Rick...

Islam brings its peace to Mumbai

2008-12-04T21:34:00.012-06:00

Muslims believe that they can bring peace to the world by making it submit to the rule of shariah law. Islam is much more than a religion; it is a political system, and since the days of its founding father, Mohammed, it has expanded through violence and conquest.

Last week, the world watched on with disbelief as a few Muslims terrorised the large Indian city of Mumbai. A group that is being blamed for masterminding the attack, Lashkar-e-Toiba, aims to place India under Islamic rule. Like Muslims elsewhere, they think that these attacks will intimidate the Indians into acquiescing to Islam. Targeting civilians, who are most easily intimidated, is justified in their minds since, after all, they are bringing them the peace of Islam.

Contrast that with the "peace that passes understanding". Jesus offers peace to every individual that transcends the surrounding situation. It is not about subjugation, but emancipation. It involves no coercion, only willful acceptance. It defies human understanding since a believer can face imminent death and know peace.

The key issue to note is that you cannot offer something you do not have. If you have no peace to offer, you can't hope to ever make peace.

Aside: I also thought this cartoon by Dry Bones was quite apt...

Getting a perspective for Thanksgiving

2008-11-24T20:54:00.004-06:00

In the midst of all the madness out there, it's never a bad thing to get a bit challenged about the state of your own heart, especially with a day like Thanksgiving coming up. I'm not American, but I doubt there is a national holiday anywhere in the world for which non-Americans so easily find appreciation (not just for the food).

In the process of getting prepared to join the locals here in giving thanks to our Lord for all He has done for us, the message at Church on the weekend really spoke to me on two fronts.

Firstly, our good pastor read the entire script of the original Thanksgiving Day proclamation by the Continental Congress in 1777. You can read it all here, or view the original document here. The key excerpt for me was this:

"It is therefore recommended to the legislative or executive powers of these United States, to set apart Thursday, the 18th day of December next, for solemn thanksgiving and praise; that with one heart and one voice the good people may express the grateful feelings of their hearts, and consecrate themselves to the service of their divine benefactor; and that together with their sincere acknowledgments and offerings, they may join the penitent confession of their manifold sins, whereby they had forfeited every favor, and their humble and earnest supplication that it may please God, through the merits of Jesus Christ, mercifully to forgive and blot them out of remembrance..."

Yip, that's right, back then the Congress of the United States wasn't afraid to declare that we should set aside a day to get right with God which means forgiveness of sins through the work of Jesus Christ. Nowadays, you'd be hard pressed to find this kind of solid preaching from the pulpit of many churches where the gospel has been reduced to social platitudes and prosperity cults.

On another front, I really had to get myself a new perspective on some of the crazy stuff going on out there. I've had a fair bit to say about the response to the passing of Prop 8 in California, especially as it regards the persecution of Christians as they have been singled out as the most obvious target for abuse by the Prop 8 opponents.

The challenging bit for me was to read again Acts 5:17-41 where Peter and the apostles counted it a privilege to have suffered for Jesus. They were flogged and told not to speak in the name of Jesus. Two thousand years later and the name of Jesus is still an offence to those who choose not to believe. When the members of Justice House of Prayer gave praise to Jesus on the streets of a gay district in San Francisco they had to be escorted out by the police (see my last blog posting).

I was fairly outraged by this, but after taking stock of Peter's response to persecution, I've decided to change my stance to one of admiration for the courage of those Christians and I wonder why I am not having a similar effect on the world around me?

So, with the words of the Continental Congress and Acts 5 firmly on my mind, I'll try to find myself a new perspective for Thanksgiving to include thanks, repentance and the hope that I too will be "worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name".

Your church or ministry could be next

2008-11-19T20:54:00.005-06:00

About a year ago I allowed my wife to talk me into going to one of those dreaded marriage seminars that churches like to host from time to time. I came in prepared to have my discomfort index sharply appreciated, but the only pain I was forced to endure was in my sides (no, not my wife poking me) from all the laughter.

The couple that presented the seminar, Drs Les & Leslie Parrott, hit home some really insightful points with no shortage of humour. I mean, if you can't laugh about your marriage, who can? Aside from doing seminars and writing books, this couple also helped create the eHarmony Marriage website to help couples build stronger relationships.

Getting to my point, I was shocked to learn today that eHarmony has been forced, as a result of a lawsuit claiming sexual discrimination against homosexuals, to start an online dating service for gays and lesbians. See Foxnews' article by Josh Miller.

There's a very real threat out there from those that seek not purely to advance their own agenda but to make sure that the values the church has given the world are corrupted one law suit at a time.

Watch as the battle over the passing of Prop 8 in California continues.

Watch as Christians are removed from certain neighbourhoods/districts.

Yes, this is really happening in America. And yes, your church or ministry could be next.

Obama's final solution for pro-life

2008-11-18T22:00:00.007-06:00

Three years ago, when I moved from Europe to the United States, one of the aspects of the political scene here that gave me much hope was the ongoing debate that still raged over abortion. It's an issue that has long been laid to rest on the continent where you won't find a party running on a pro-life platform.

That might all be set to change here in America, if we are to believe the promises Obama made to Planned Parenthood before being elected. He said "we're tired of arguing about the same old stuff", and blamed the anti-abortion crowd of inciting a "culture war" that's "so nineties".

His final solution to end this public debate is to promise to sign the Freedom of Choice Act which would eliminate every restriction on abortion nationwide.

It's alarming that someone who believes they have the right as President to finally end the debate on abortion, does not think the person who fills the most powerful position in America is paid enough to make a judgement on when life begins.

But, I guess it's not the first time Obama has ended a debate without all the facts on his side, and yet has managed to prevail. Amazing.

I recommend signing the Fight FOCA petition if you care.

Who's really intolerant?

2008-11-13T22:09:00.006-06:00

Since losing the vote on same-sex marriage, opponents of Prop 8 - ok, gays & lesbians - have turned to vandalism, violence and intolerance as a response. Much of this, of course, has been directed at churches.

The dual irony here is that not only is their quest for an extreme liberal version of "tolerance" played out in a completely intolerant manner, but they refuse to accept the values of the church while demanding that the church accept their lifestyle as a proper Christian choice.

Sadly, I fear that they will be victorious in the end because the world has a higher tolerance for extremism than it does for Christian values.

Oh, and don't forget that the rights of Christians, or the crosses they carry, are always fair game to trample on.

Dry Bones gets Bush

2008-11-12T12:09:00.006-06:00

I love Yaakov Kirschen's cartoons and this one couldn't have been timed any better...

For more Dry Bones cartoons, go to http://drybonesblog.blogspot.com/

Will history judge Bush differently?

2008-11-11T20:49:00.003-06:00

For my part, I'm going to stick my neck out and say that I do believe the outgoing president will be somewhat vindicated in the years to come. He's kept America safe in a very unstable world. He had his failings for sure; not moving early enough on the economy, not doing anything about health care. Does that make him a total failure? Only time will tell.

What's sad is his remark today, "No doubt I'm heading straight home. I miss Texas; I love Texas; I've got a lot of friends in Texas". Unfortunately, he won't be leaving many friends behind in Washington.

The gracious manner in which he has welcomed the Obamas to the White House speaks volumes, especially after Barack virtually won the election on the back of his criticism for the Bush administration.

Guess it's good to heap some coals every so often.

It's easier to be evil if you can't recognise it

2008-11-09T21:02:00.004-06:00

It's really worth noting that some Muslim states will remember Kristallnacht at the EU parliament in Brussels. Check the list here. Noticeably absent from that list, of course, is Iran, a country that has publicly supported the search for evidence to try and disprove the Holocaust ever happened, while similtaneously planning its own nuclear version.

As if we need further proof, the original plans for Auschwitz were released this week.

Holocaust denial plays a special role for the Jew-hater. By trying to fool themselves that such evil never existed, they hope you'll be stupid enough to believe that no one would ever possibly commit such an evil deed.

How can the West hope to outsmart the Iranians?

2008-11-08T11:04:00.004-06:00

According to CNN, the Iranians have "criticized U.S. President-elect Barack Obama for saying that Iran's development of a nuclear weapon is unacceptable". So wait, let me understand this right ... Iran claims its nuclear program is peaceful, but it won't accept criticism of its development of nuclear weapons?

Reminds me of the (paraphrased) Muslim response to the Danish cartoons about Mohammed:
"According to the teachings of Mohammed, we'll kill you for saying our religion is based on the teachings of a terrorist"

Or Ahmadinejad's comments that Israel should be wiped off the map, when the Iranian maps don't even show the State of Israel.

I don't know how we're ever going to outsmart these people ...

If you think Obama might be the anti-christ

2008-11-07T08:39:00.002-06:00

If you're inclined to believe that Obama might be anti-christ, don't read articles like the one posted on FoxNews yesterday entitled "In Some Nations, People Look to Obama as President of the World". You might just get the wrong idea about the guy ...

First day on the blog

2008-11-06T22:06:00.000-06:00

Everyone seems to like a good mix of hope and change these days, but I doubt even "The One" has enough change in his pocket to hope that he can save the day.

Anyway, this is my first day on the blog. I'll keep it short before I write myself into trouble.

And don't get your hopes up about this blog. Expectancy gaps are hard to close (apparently).