Fox affiliate and Dearborn Imam try to trash Florida Pastor Terry Jones

(Video midpage)

It made me so, so angry to hear this Imam try to tell us who Jesus was and what Jesus stood for.  He said that Jesus was a 'great messenger' who only spoke of peace and love - and even told Pastor Jones that burning the Koran was an insult to Jesus!  This Imam doesn't have a clue!  He doesn't acknowledge that Jesus is both Messiah and God - so how is it he thinks he can define Jesus to a Christian pastor?

He asks Jones if he ever read the Koran.  Has the Imam ever read the Bible?

And then this other so-called pastor - Rev. Rowe - claims that the Bible is all about peace and doesn't have anything in it supports the burning of the Koran.  He said the "Bible" - (not "New Testament") - doesn't attack other religions.  But of COURSE IT DOES!  As Pastor Jones points out, the Bible has many, many instances of God - (Yahweh, Jehovah...also referred to as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) destroying the icons, books and artifacts of the false religions. Even destroying towns and killing citizens who worshiped false Gods. (I am not saying lets go do that - just saying what the Bible recorded of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob)

(Why does the Bible refer to God as being the God of these three?  It points out that while Ishmael started life worshiping the God of his father, Abraham, he and his descendents strayed and went a different direction)

The New Testament - as Jones points out - reports the Jesus overturned the money changing tables in the synagogue, as well as called disingenuous spiritual leaders 'vipers' and 'dogs.' Were these examples of peace?

So to try to say that the Bible doesn't come strongly against other, false religions is a lie.  And then this wolf in sheep's clothing - Rev. Rowe, claims there is a "Christian Taliban."  How can he even compare the two?  He says he doesn't defend violence anywhere, but by claiming conservative Christians are akin to the "Taliban" is very much a defense of the violent, cruel, cold, murdering Taliban.

Rev. Rowe, read the Book of James.  It is very clear that we LOVE others by telling the truth - and saving others from the real death - the permanent death and separation from the one true God, Jehovah.

Jones made a very good point that all he did was burn a book - and 7000 miles away, people killed each other over it.  He is correct that the responsibility for those deaths is with the rioters and their government.

I was actually very impressed that Pastor Jones was able to stand up against this "panel" of people on this interview, a panel clearly stacked against him, and be able to calmly refute their lies. Personally, I would have blown a gasket. He did quite well in bringing the discussion back to the point every time they attempted to blow it up in a different direction. He didn't bother to get into angrily confronting their lies - which I would have been led to do. Awesome. I applaud him.

Controversial Florida Pastor Terry Jones Goes Face-to-Face with Dearborn Imam: MyFoxDETROIT.com

One person commented about the video and implied that Christians don't love their Holy Book and that is why they don't get upset by the burning of it as Muslims do.  Excuse me?  This is another complete misunderstanding of God and his divinity!  We don't worship paper or books. We worship Jehovah - Yahweh - the God of Israel - and His Word and Truth will live on no matter what anyone does to the Bible.

The rocks cry out God's Truth, even if people don't listen. You can't destroy it. So do whatever you want to the Bible - it makes no difference.

See - what must be recognized is that Jesus spoke more than just 'wise words!" He spoke God's Truth - in fact, Jesus WAS the Word...

- John 1 " 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made."

And you couldn't destroy Jesus - no matter what was tried. He lives today.   You can not destroy the Word!   So go ahead - do whatever to the Bible. It makes no difference.  Our God is greater than a book.

Another person commented that because Jones leads an independent church, it isn't a "real" church, like a main stream church.  How foolish!

The True Christian Church is not a building or any specific congregation. The True Christian Church is the People who truly Believe, Honor, Worship, Respect, Love, Trust and Obey the Lord God Jehovah, in the person of the Trinity; Father, Son (Jesus) and Holy Ghost.

Those people can be found in many different church buildings and denominations, including independent Christian churches. Most churches are a mixture of true believers and non-believers - the non-believers being there for reasons other than sincere faith (which can be one or more of many varied reasons). Some churches have no real believers. Others have only a few. Some churches are Blessed with many true Believers. It is a wonderful, wonderful experience when one can attend such a church. This can happen in an independent church just as well as a mainline churches. But unfortunately, not all mainline churches are Blessed with a majority of True Believers.

Not all True Believers have the exact same understanding of every point in the Bible. They might differ slightly on doctrinal issues. However, what they share is a True Love for the Lord, and they are open to correction and continuous learning as the strive to grow more and more in the Lord.

Then to have this so-called Rev. Rowe say that he doesn't believe in the same God as Pastor Jones - that is probably very true...

Only God can judge a heart, but personally, I do believe Terry Jones might be a True Believer. His quest for truth has a sincerity to it.  Further, he didn't respond in anger to the clear attack by this "panel."

However, I question the heart of the other pastor, who said that no where in the Bible does God come against other religions. That is simply not true. God came against other religions very strongly.

The other pastor surprised me by saying that his God is not the same as Jones' God.  Wow.  We are to be discerning and watch the fruit of our leaders to tell if they are wolves or not.  But if we are questioning a brother's motives, especially one in leadership, Matthew 18:15-17 and James 5:19 are clear as to how proceed wit Love.  Is this Rowe truly concerned with Love and Peace between brothers, or only between Christianity and Islam?

I would have hoped Rev. Rowe would see Pastor Jones as a Brother in the Lord, and if Pastor Jones is missing some Truth, I would have hoped he would have been led by love - and an understanding of the full family of God - to help Jones and give right teaching with respect.

But that didn't appear to be the stand he was taking. That leads me to mistrust and question his sincerity in Jesus Christ.

Video from FoxDetroit.com - 
Updated: Friday, 22 Apr 2011, 6:17 AM EDT Published : Thursday, 21 Apr 2011, 10:06 PM EDT

A reflection on Osama bin Laden’s “Letter to America” - Main Tenets of Islamic Belief

In November of 2002, a letter purported to have been written by Osama bin Laden, famous leader of  the  Islamic terrorist group Al Qaeda, was posted in the UK's Observer. The letter first appeared on the internet in Arabic on websites that support Osama bin Laden and his Al Qaeda network and then was translated and circulated by Islamists in Britain.

The purpose of this letter, according to the author, was to respond “as an explanation and warning” to a question many in the west have been asking for over a year: that being, “On what basis are we fighting?”

Part 1 of this Series covered the Geographical and Historical Development of Islam.

Part II:  The Main tenets of belief -

The author of the letter described Islam:

“The religion of the Unification of God; of freedom from associating partners with Him, and rejection of this; of complete love of Him, the Exalted; of complete submission to His Laws; and of the discarding of all the opinions, orders, theories and religions which contradict with the religion He sent down to His Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Islam is the religion of all the prophets, and makes no distinction between them - peace be upon them all.

“It is to this religion that we call you; the seal of all the previous religions. It is the religion of Unification of God, sincerity, the best of manners, righteousness, mercy, honor, purity, and piety. It is the religion of showing kindness to others, establishing justice between them, granting them their rights, and defending the oppressed and the persecuted. It is the religion of enjoining the good and forbidding the evil with the hand, tongue and heart. It is the religion of Jihad in the way of Allah so that Allah's Word and religion reign Supreme. And it is the religion of unity and agreement on the obedience to Allah, and total equality between all people, without regarding their color, sex, or language.

“It is the religion whose book - the Quran - will remained preserved and unchanged, after the other Divine books and messages have been changed. The Quran is the miracle until the Day of Judgment. Allah has challenged anyone to bring a book like the Quran or even ten verses like it.”

Islamic tradition says that Abraham’s wife, Sarah, wanted to insure that her own son, Isaac, be Abraham’s sole heir and that Abraham’s son, Ishmael, by the slave, Hagar, be sent away. Hagar and her son wandered off to the area near the Red Sea and Hagar sat on a rock and wept, afraid that she and her son would die of thirst in the desert. As she wept, her son kicked the sand in anger. At the spot where he kicked, a spring of fresh water erupted.

When Abraham heard of this miracle, he came and built a temple near the spring and called it Ka’bah. He set in the east corner a black cornerstone that he had inherited from his forefathers, which tradition says Adam brought from the Garden of Eden. Near the temple, close to the Spring of Ishmael (Zemzem), Ishmael grew up, and eventually his children and grandchildren surrounded the temple with a new city called Mecca.

Another tradition says that the Ka’bah was built in heaven and when Adam was driven out of Eden, he built a Ka’bah just like it as a memorial. It was not far from Adam’s Ka’bah that Ishmael kicked the sand and caused the Zemzem, the Sacred Well, to open up. The children of Ishmael multiplied, and the Sacred City of Mecca then grew there. Ishmael’s children eventually grew into a race called “Arabs” and spread out east north and south. The children of Israel, son of Isaac, multiplied into a race called “Jews”.


Islam can be divided into “iman” (beliefs) and “deen” (obligations).


THE MAJOR BELIEFS INCLUDE:

1. God – monotheism is the central doctrine of Islam. To associate a partner with him is commit the unforgivable sin of ishrak (shirk). Islam incorporates all the monotheists and sees itself as the fulfillment of all religions.

2. Angels – Gabriel is the highest, followed by the other angels. Each person has an angel assigned to him to record his good deeds and another to record the bad. At the bottom are jinn, who, created from fire, are usually evil and can possess people.

3. The Prophets of God – God has sent 124,000 prophets to every nation on earth to preach monotheism. This includes Adam, Noah, Moses, Abraham, David, and Jesus. Muhammad is considered the “seal” of the prophets, and is the prophet for all time.

4. The Holy Books – Four high ranking prophets were given books with divine revelation. Moses was given the Torah (Tawrat), David the Psalms (Zabur), Jesus the Gospel (Injil), and Mohammad the Qur’an. Muslims believe that only the Qur’an as been kept from corruption. This book, containing 114 surahs, or chapters, is to be read only in Arabic. It is believed that if translated, it is no longer the Qur’an, as any translations have the potential of being corrupted. Devout Muslims, therefore, must learn Arabic. An Islamic doctrine called “tahrif” teaches that the Jews and the Christians corrupted the early texts of the Bible. Example verses from the Qur’an include:

“A party of them heard the Word of Allah, and perverted it knowingly after they understood it.”(Surah 2:75, ‘Ali)

“And there are among them (the Jews) illiterates, who know not the Book but (see therein their own) desires, and they do nothing but conjecture. Then woe to those who write the Book with their own hands, and then say: “This is from Allah,” to traffic with it for a miserable price! (Surah 2:78-79, ‘Ali).

While these passages speak of misinterpreting the Scripture and passing writing off as Scripture when they are not, it doesn’t speak of altering the actual manuscripts.

5. The Day of Judgment – Only God knows whether one’s good deeds will outweigh one’s bad deeds, so a Muslim has no real assurance he will go to heaven.


THE MAJOR OBLIGATIONS INCLUDE:

1. To Recite the Shahadah –Shahadah means, “To bear witness”. The Shahadah statement is, “I bear witness that there is no God but Allah and that Mohammad is His messenger.” Making this statement with sincerity is all it takes to be a Muslim.

2. To Pray (Salat) – seventeen cycles (rak’a) a day, split into five time periods: Dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, dusk, and two hours after sunset. The call to prayer is a summons to the whole life. The call is an invitation to participate in community, offering nourishment for the soul. Devotees must wash themselves (ablution, “wudu”) in a certain way prior to prayer, and then face toward Mecca. In order to face toward Mecca during prayer, a directional niche (mihrab) marks the Mosque. The only time they are required to pray as a group is during the Friday noon prayer.

3. To Fast (Sawm) – Ramadhan, a commemoration of Muhammad’s receiving the Qur’an, is the ninth lunar month. Muslims can not eat, drink, smoke, or have sex from sunrise to sunset.

4. To Give Alms (Zakat) – one fortieth of one’s income, 2.5%, goes to the poor and needy.

5. To Make a Pilgrimage (Hajj) – Every Muslim must make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime, unless prevented by health or finances. They must wear white garments called ihram in order to eliminate class distinctions. The process of visiting the holy sites: worshipping at Kaaba, kissing the black stone from Adam, and drinking the holy water at the Sacred Well of Ishmael, can take a week. Once finished, the devotee can be called a “Hajj”.

6. Jihad. The author of the letter stated, “It is commanded by our religion and intellect that the oppressed have a right to return the aggression. Do not await anything from us but Jihad, resistance and revenge. Is it in any way rational to expect that after America has attacked us for more than half a century, that we will then leave her to live in security and peace?!!”

The Jihad, or “Holy War”, is sometimes known as the “sixth” pillar of Islam. Jihad is can be described as a fighting against unbelievers, but can also be thought of more gently as a “struggle for the faith”. The last declared Jihad was in 1914, when Sheik-ul-Islam of Turkey, ordered by the Sultan, called upon Muslims everywhere to fight against the enemies of Turkey. However, because the orders originated with Germany, the order fell primarily on deaf ears. The basic requisites for Jihad outlined in the Surah II are:

“On behalf of God fight whoever fights you, but do not be the aggressor: indeed, God does not like aggressors. Kill them when they advance on you and force them out of the places from which they force you…fight them until there is no persecution and religion belongs to God, and if they abandon their ways, there is to be no hostility – except against evildoers.”

However, “Elsewhere two kinds of people are cited as being particular objects of such activity – those who do not believe in God at all and pay no regard to what He has prohibited (IX:29) and Christians, who ascribe partners to God.”


OTHER POINTS:

1. Muslim’s believe that man is good by nature, and that sin is a rejection of good guidance. Repentance will bring forgiveness and no atonement is necessary, but salvation is based on whether good deeds outweigh the bad.

2. Muslim’s recognize the virgin birth and miracles of Jesus, but saying Jesus is God would be blasphemy. Also, according to Islamic tradition, Jesus did not die on the cross. He ascended to heaven and Judas died on the cross in his place. Muslims believe that God would never allow a great prophet like Jesus to die on the cross. They believe the Bible is corrupted, and therefore can not be held in authority.

3. The world is divided into two spheres: Dar es Islam (House of Peace) and Dar al Harb (House of War and chaos). Islam believes that history is moving in the direction of the entire world becoming Islam. Dar es Islam is the more peaceable, daily living Islam that occurs once a country has settled into being an Islamic Nation. Dar al Harb, on the other hand, is a war machine, set to fight any nation until it becomes Islam. Islam has a missionary arm, just as Christianity does; they just go about their evangelism a little differently. Islam’s missionary arm is called “Dar al Harb.”

According to a former missionary to Ramallah, Israel; “because it is a fundamental concept in Islam, the average Muslim understands and agrees with the concept of Dar al Harb.” He further explained that certain Islamic governments, although they are currying favor with the US and claim there is nothing in Islam that desires war, are denying the truth. These leaders, when denying Dar al Harb, are not favored by their own people. It’s a good thing those governments are totalitarian, because true democracy would vote the weak leaders out and put orthodox people in.

The Nov. 2002 ‘Letter to America’seems to confirm this, stating,

“These governments prevent our people from establishing the Islamic Shariah, using violence and lies to do so…These governments give us a taste of humiliation, and places us in a large prison of fear and subdual…These governments steal our Ummah's wealth and sell them to you at a paltry price…These governments have surrendered to the Jews, and handed them most of Palestine, acknowledging the existence of their state over the dismembered limbs of their own people…The removal of these governments is an obligation upon us, and a necessary step to free the Ummah, to make the Shariah the supreme law and to regain Palestine. And our fight against these governments is not separate from our fight against you.”

"Do you fear them? Allah has more right that you should fear Him if you are believers. Fight against them so that Allah will punish them by your hands and disgrace them and give you victory over them and heal the breasts of believing people. And remove the anger of their (believers') hearts. Allah accepts the repentance of whom He wills. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise." [Quran 9:13-1]

"Permission to fight (against disbelievers) is given to those (believers) who are fought against, because they have been wronged and surely, Allah is Able to give them (believers) victory" [Quran 22:39]

"So do not become weak (against your enemy), nor be sad, and you will be* superior ( in victory )if you are indeed (true) believers" [Quran 3:139]

"Those who believe, fight in the Cause of Allah, and those who disbelieve, fight in the cause of Taghut (anything worshipped other than Allah e.g. Satan). So fight you against the friends of Satan; ever feeble is indeed the plot of Satan."[Quran 4:76]  

"It is He Who has sent His Messenger (Muhammad peace be upon him) with guidance and the religion of truth (Islam), to make it victorious over all other religions even though the Polytheists hate it." [Quran 61:9]

CORRUPTION OF THE JEWISH TORAH AND CHRISTIAN BIBLE:

Several Islamic verses claim the Judeo-Christian Scriptures are corrupt.

“A party of them heard the Word of Allah, and perverted it knowingly after they understood it.”(Surah 2:75, ‘Ali)

“And there are among them (the Jews) illiterates, who know not the Book but (see therein their own) desires, and they do nothing but conjecture. Then woe to those who write the Book with their own hands, and then say: “This is from Allah,” to traffic with it for a miserable price! (Surah 2:78-79, ‘Ali).

While these passages speak of misinterpreting the Scripture and passing writing off as Scripture when they are not, it doesn’t speak of altering the actual manuscripts. In addition, the Qur’an has conflicting verses related to the purity of Bible Scripture and states that God is powerful enough to protect His Word.
Surah 2:136; 4:163 states that the previous revelations in “the Book” are authentic, and Surah 5:68 encourages Jews and Christians to “stand fast by the Law, the Gospel, and all the revelation that has come to you from your Lord”.

It also uses the Torah and the Gospel to authenticate Muhammad as the prophet and encourages those who doubt Muhammad’s teachings to “ask those who have been reading the “Book” from before thee” (Surah 10:94), and tells people to believe in the previous scriptures. (Surah 4:136). It also states, “none can change His Word” (Surah 6:115, 6:34, and 10:64).

It is contradictory for the Qur’an to claim that the Torah and Gospel are corrupted on one hand, but authentic and authoritative on the other.

In addition, to accomplish the deed (altering and corrupting both the Old and New Testament of the Bible), the worldwide Jewish and Christian communities would have had to agree together to the textual changes.

If a corruption of the text did happen, the consistency of ancient unearthed Biblical documents is truly miraculous. The Dead Sea Scrolls, c. 100B.C, are amazing parallel to the Masoretic manuscripts, c. 900 A.D., meaning the Old Testament manuscripts that were copied well after the birth of Islam are identical to the ones produced well before.

In addition, Bible scholars have found 3157 Greek documents dating from the 2nd century that contain either portions of or all of the New Testament. Of the textual differences, 95% have to do with trivialities such as a dropped letter during transcribing. There is no Christian doctrine affected by a debatable text.

Next: Historical interaction with the non-believers
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A reflection on Osama bin Laden’s “Letter to America”

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OSAMA BIN LADEN AND ISLAM
Part I - Geographical and historical development of Islam:   

In November of 2002, a letter purported to have been written by Osama bin Laden, famous leader of the Islamic terrorist group Al Qaeda, was posted in the UK's Observer. The letter first appeared on the internet in Arabic on websites that support Osama bin Laden and his Al Qaeda network and then was translated and circulated by Islamists in Britain.

The purpose of this letter, according to the author, was to respond “as an explanation and warning” to a question many in the west have been asking for over a year: that being, “On what basis are we fighting?”

Beginning the letter with a benediction to Allah, “the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful”, the author clarifies,

”While seeking Allah's help we form our reply based on two questions directed at the Americans, “Why are we fighting and opposing you?” (and) “What are we calling you to, and what do we want from you?”

To the first question, the author explains,

“The answer is very simple: First, because you attacked us and continue to attack us… You attacked us in Palestine, …You attacked us in Somalia; you supported the Russian atrocities against us in Chechnya, the Indian oppression against us in Kashmir, and the Jewish aggression against us in Lebanon.” Second, “Under your supervision, consent and orders, the governments of our countries which act as your agents, attack us on a daily basis.”

In answer to the second question, he states:

“The first thing that we are calling you to is Islam.” “The second thing we call you to, is to stop your oppression, lies, immorality and debauchery that has spread among you.” Third, “take an honest stance with yourselves … to discover that you are a nation without principles or manners, and that the values and principles to you are something which you merely demand from others, not that which you yourself must adhere to. We also advise you to stop supporting Israel, and to end your support of the Indians in Kashmir, the Russians against the Chechens and to also cease supporting the Manila Government against the Muslims in Southern Philippines. We also advise you to pack your luggage and get out of our lands. We desire for your goodness, guidance, and righteousness, so do not force us to send you back as cargo in coffins. Sixthly, we call upon you to end your support of the corrupt leaders in our countries. Do not interfere in our politics and method of education. Leave us alone, or else expect us in New York and Washington. We also call you to deal with us and interact with us on the basis of mutual interests and benefits, rather than the policies of sub dual, theft and occupation, and not to continue your policy of supporting the Jews because this will result in more disasters for you.”
This is our message to the Americans, as an answer to theirs. Do they now know why we fight them and over which form of ignorance, by the permission of Allah, we shall be victorious?”

 He ends the letter with the statement, “we wanted to outline the truth - - hoping for Allah's reward, seeking success and support from Him.”

In order to understand this mandate, it’s important we explore the history and beliefs of the Muslim world.

Geographical and historical development of this religion:

The ancient Patriarch, Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth. The “sons” of Shem are called “Semites” and are thought to include the Elamites, Assyrians, Lydians of Asia Minor, the Armaeans, the Chaldeans (the ruling caste in Babylon), and the children of Eber. The children of Eber are said to be the tribes of Arabia and the children of Abraham (Israelites, Ishmaelites, Midianites, and Edomites). The original home of these people was Arabia.

Semitic society was originally nomadic. Arabia retains that trait even to the present day. The Arabian people were divided into small tribes and lived a very simple life. Due to their long history of activity in a wide but monotonous and secluded peninsula, they have been described as eager and impulsive, but with a narrow focus. Men were good or bad, Blessed or cursed.

Religious, enduring and brave: they existed in tribalism with the clan as the main social unit. There were as many gods as there were clans, and a man’s allegiance was sworn to that god just as it was sworn to his clan. The god took his name from human relationships - “master, lord and king” - and held this relationship to no other people but his own. The gods were territorial, and if one clan conquered another, the god of the winning clan became the god of the conquered. In this way, some territories accumulated more than one god.

All religious acts were clan acts, and a god was worshipped in the area in which he was thought to have manifested power. People would walk long distances to visit a newly discovered spot where they have heard a new sacred act had occurred. A marker was made of the event, frequently a stone, and blood was brought to it in order to renew the blood bond between the god and his people. Religion was very simple and happy. There was no idea of sin. The afterlife wasn’t an issue. Joy came in having many children with which to continue the existence of the clan.

The word Islam is based on the three letter Arabic root “s-l-m,” the fundamental meaning of which is “safe, sound, unimpaired, intact.” Islam also means, “blameless, faultless, established, proven, and it takes on a number of other more subtle meanings as well. The three letter root is also seen in the word, “salaam ‘aleik” (peace be with you), a phrase tied linguistically to the Hebrew word “shalom”. When all these meanings interact, we derive the term meaning of “a surrender to the will of God by which personal well-being is achieved” or more simply, “Submission” (to the will of God).

Islam began in Saudi Arabia in the early 7th century. Its founder, Muhammad ibn Abdullah, was born into the powerful Quraysh (Koraish) tribe in about 570 A.D. His father, Abd-Allah died before he was born. As a very young child he had been sent to a Bedouin woman in the desert to be nursed. This was not an uncommon practice, as the city his family lived in, Mecca, a prosperous trading hub, was not one which children thrived in. But his mother died soon after he was returned to her, and he was sent to live first with his grandfather, then with his uncle Abu Talit (Talib). By the age of six, he was an orphan. His mother’s death had a profound affect on him; throughout the rest of his life he encouraged the giving of alms to widows and orphan’s. As he matured, he was likely involved in shepherding his uncle’s sheep and may have also joined trading caravans as a camel-driver and saw a little of the country. It’s also likely that he never learned to read.

When he was twenty-five, a wealthy widow relative took an interest in him and asked him to transport some goods for her to trade. He did this, and she was so impressed that, although her family was opposed, she offered him her hand in marriage. He accepted, and he and Khadijah, a woman fifteen years his senior, were married. Although raised poor, he was now wealthy and had a life of leisure. Together they had two sons and four daughters, the best known being Fatima.

It is unknown whether he had come into contact with Christianity or Judaism, but it is likely Jewish refugees had run to Arabia following the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem by the Romans, and Christian missionaries had by this time made visits o the area. Furthermore, Mecca was active with traders and travelers from near and far. One story says that a cousin of Khadijah was Jewish and read the Hebrew Bible to him.

The Quraysh were an influential tribe that controlled Mecca. Not only was Mecca an economically important city, but it was also religiously important due to the Ka’bah (Kaaba), a cubical structure containing all 360 Arabian tribal deities, located there. Each tribe chose its deity, placed it in the Ka’bah, and then traveled to Mecca each year to honor it. These yearly pilgrimages also benefited Mecca economically. At one point, the merchants of Mecca decided to combine economics with religion and claimed the well as their own, then began to sell the water to the visiting worshippers. However, this had a dampening effect on the devotees, who lost faith in the idols of Mecca and turned to fortune telling and gambling.

Once a year, devotees with spiritual yearnings also retreated to a place of solitude. Muhammad did this for several years, spending a lot of time meditating in a cave in Mount Hira. In the year 610, Muhammad is said to have received his first visitation from the angel Gabriel. This, along with several later revelations, has been compiled into a book known as the Qur’an or “Koran”, meaning “recitations”.

Muhammad’s ideas weren’t totally new though. Pilgrimages to Mecca, prayer, and fasting were already basic practices in Arabia. The god “Allah” had a prominent past in the pre-existing polytheistic religions of Arabia. There were many deities, but Allah Taala was the most prominent. Muhammad clarified the concept of Allah and rid God of “partners”.

Tradition says that Muhammad initially doubted these revelations were from God. He thought that perhaps they were from a jinn, or demons. But his wife, Khadijah, encouraged him that the visions were divine, and that he should teach their message of monotheism to others.

Muhammad began to preach strict monotheism. Initially, his tribe tried to stop him; his message threatened polytheism and therefore their economic livelihood, which depended on the pilgrimages. However, it wasn’t long before he had a following of believers.

As he continued to preach against polytheism, his devotees, now known as “Muslims” (True Believers), began to experience persecution. Some had garbage dumped on their front steps. Others lost business. Eventually, one hundred families were forced to flee Mecca. Shortly after, in the year 622 A.D., after his uncle, his protector, died, Muhammad learned of a plot on his life and he too was forced to flee. He and his followers settled in a city that had opened their arms to him, Yathrib. So welcoming were the people of Yathrib, that they renamed their city Medina al Nabi, meaning, “City of the Prophet”). Their flight is known to Muslims today as the Hijrah (Higira) or “a series of migrations”, and is the first year on their calendar.

In Medina, he and his followers grew in strength. Muhammad was no longer known as just the Prophet and founder of Islam, but as the people’s ruler and judge. Taking control and beginning the task of converting the city to Islam, Muhammad expelled the Jewish citizens. Another group, whom he referred to as “The Hypocrites” (Medinese who resented his influence in the city), was “silenced.”

Next, rituals developed. Initially, he attempted to win the Jewish community over by adopting certain Hebrew practices, such as Saturday worship and facing Jerusalem for prayers. However, the Jewish community wasn’t about to convert, so he dropped the Hebrew practices, turned prayer toward Mecca, and instituted Friday as the Holy Day (Mecca’s market day).

Needing to financially support his supporters and fund their mission of conversion and control of the neighboring areas, he organized an army and they began plundering the passing caravan’s, in particular those from Mecca. In 624, The Islamic army had a minor battle with Mecca traders, and although they were outnumbered three to one, they were victorious. Had they lost this battle, Islam might have died out at the time. But in their victory, more tribesmen rallied to their cause. After several skirmishes, they made a treaty with the Quraysh tribe and in the year 630, he and his army took control of the city. Upon entering, Muhammad personally destroyed to Ka’bah idols.

This was the first time the Muslims converted an area by force, and the expansionist pattern would continue as a part of their mandate. Within a year, Muhammad brought all the tribes in Saudi Arabia under the religion of Islam. To those who were ready to accept Islam peacefully, he sent blessings. To those who wouldn’t, he said, “I, last of the prophets, am sent with a sword! The sword is the key to heaven or hell; all who draw it in the name of the Faith will be rewarded!” He died one year later, on June 8, 632, without having appointed a successor.

After his death, Muhammad’s followers divided over whom would be his successor (caliph). It was at this time that two major sects developed. The Sunni Muslims believed the successor should be elected. The Shi’ite (or Shia’h) Muslims believed the caliph should come from Muhammad’s bloodline. Had this been done, Ali, Muhammad’s cousin and husband of Fatima, would have succeeded him. However, the Sunni’s won the disagreement and Muhammad’s assistant, Abu-Bakr, took control.

The Sufi’s are a third Muslim Sect of good size. Islam has given birth to several other minor sects, including the Wahhabis in Saudi Arabia, the Druze in Lebanon, Syria, and Northern Israel, the Alawites in Syria, and the Ahmadiyas in Pakistan, and contributed to two other religions: Sikhism and Baha’i.

Islam grew and spread through the use of force. Loosely organized tribes were brought together and driven by the desire to do battle with Allah’s enemies. This had strong appeal in the Arabian world. A man became a soldier for Islam and was supported by both tributes (dhimmi) from the conquered people and the plunder received. The dhimmi was a type of “tax price” for not being slaughtered. Women were also imported from conquered countries to serve as slaves and concubines. Arabia became a training ground for army that went out to conquer the world. Conquered countries were felled by the sword, but were peaceful afterward.

Nations were forced to convert, but individuals themselves didn’t always have to. However, the sexual freedom under Islam was a strong inducement for nominal Christian men to convert. Many times if a person wanted to continue practicing Christianity or Judaism, he was allowed to as long as he paid dhimmi, although he might still suffer persecution from those living around him.

The first real defeat for the Muslims was at The Battle of Tours in 732 A.D. Had they not been turned back by King Charles that day, Europe might very well become Islamic.

The Turks made Asia Minor completely Muslim and then turned toward East, capturing one area after another until 1453, when Constantinople fell and the Turkish Eastern Empire came to an end.

The Islamic advance, led by others, then continued through the late 17th century when they were temporarily turned back at Vienna. It began again with the final end of the Muslim advance coming early in the 19th century. The advances had made it all the way into Africa, where the Sahara fell rapidly to Islam, and to the east into the plains of India, and down into central Asia.

Next: The Main Tenets of Muslim Belief

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Osama bin Laden's "Letter to America"

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The following is the full text of Osama bin Laden's 'letter to America,'  published on November 24,   2002 in the London Observer. It had first appeared in Arabic on various Muslim Jihad sites that were supportive of bin Laden, and was translated and circulated by British Islamists.
Highlights have been added by me -

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,

"Permission to fight (against disbelievers) is given to those (believers) who are fought against, because they have been wronged and surely, Allah is Able to give them (believers) victory" [Quran 22:39]

"Those who believe, fight in the Cause of Allah, and those who disbelieve, fight in the cause of Taghut (anything worshipped other than Allah e.g. Satan). So fight you against the friends of Satan; ever feeble is indeed the plot of Satan."[Quran 4:76]

Some American writers have published articles under the title 'On what basis are we fighting?' These articles have generated a number of responses, some of which adhered to the truth and were based on Islamic Law, and others which have not. Here we wanted to outline the truth - as an explanation and warning - hoping for Allah's reward, seeking success and support from Him.

While seeking Allah's help, we form our reply based on two questions directed at the Americans:

(Q1) Why are we fighting and opposing you?
(Q2)What are we calling you to, and what do we want from you?

As for the first question: Why are we fighting and opposing you? The answer is very simple:

(1) Because you attacked us and continue to attack us.

   a) You attacked us in Palestine:

        (i) Palestine, which has sunk under military occupation for more than 80 years. The British handed over Palestine, with your help and your support, to the Jews, who have occupied it for more than 50 years; years overflowing with oppression, tyranny, crimes, killing, expulsion, destruction and devastation. The creation and continuation of Israel is one of the greatest crimes, and you are the leaders of its criminals. And of course there is no need to explain and prove the degree of American support for Israel. The creation of Israel is a crime which must be erased. Each and every person whose hands have become polluted in the contribution towards this crime must pay its*price, and pay for it heavily.

        (ii) It brings us both laughter and tears to see that you have not yet tired of repeating your fabricated lies that the Jews have a historical right to Palestine, as it was promised to them in the Torah. Anyone who disputes with them on this alleged fact is accused of anti-semitism. This is one of the most fallacious, widely-circulated fabrications in history. The people of Palestine are pure Arabs and original Semites. It is the Muslims who are the inheritors of Moses (peace be upon him) and the inheritors of the real Torah that has not been changed. Muslims believe in all of the Prophets, including Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon them all. If the followers of Moses have been promised a right to Palestine in the Torah, then the Muslims are the most worthy nation of this.

When the Muslims conquered Palestine and drove out the Romans, Palestine and Jerusalem returned to Islaam, the religion of all the Prophets peace be upon them. Therefore, the call to a historical right to Palestine cannot be raised against the Islamic Ummah that believes in all the Prophets of Allah (peace and blessings be upon them) - and we make no distinction between them.

        (iii) The blood pouring out of Palestine must be equally revenged. You must know that the Palestinians do not cry alone; their women are not widowed alone; their sons are not orphaned alone.

   (b) You attacked us in Somalia; you supported the Russian atrocities against us in Chechnya, the Indian oppression against us in Kashmir, and the Jewish aggression against us in Lebanon.

   (c) Under your supervision, consent and orders, the governments of our countries which act as your agents, attack us on a daily basis;

        (i) These governments prevent our people from establishing the Islamic Shariah, using violence and lies to do so.

        (ii) These governments give us a taste of humiliation, and places us in a large prison of fear and subdual.

        (iii) These governments steal our Ummah's wealth and sell them to you at a paltry price.

        (iv) These governments have surrendered to the Jews, and handed them most of Palestine, acknowledging the existence of their state over the dismembered limbs of their own people.

        (v) The removal of these governments is an obligation upon us, and a necessary step to free the Ummah, to make the Shariah the supreme law and to regain Palestine. And our fight against these governments is not separate from out fight against you.

   (d) You steal our wealth and oil at paltry prices because of you international influence and military threats. This theft is indeed the biggest theft ever witnessed by mankind in the history of the world.

   (e) Your forces occupy our countries; you spread your military bases throughout them; you corrupt our lands, and you besiege our sanctities, to protect the security of the Jews and to ensure the continuity of your pillage of our treasures.

   (f) You have starved the Muslims of Iraq, where children die every day. It is a wonder that more than 1.5 million Iraqi children have died as a result of your sanctions, and you did not show concern. Yet when 3000 of your people died, the entire world rises and has not yet sat down.

   (g) You have supported the Jews in their idea that Jerusalem is their eternal capital, and agreed to move your embassy there. With your help and under your protection, the Israelis are planning to destroy the Al-Aqsa mosque. Under the protection of your weapons, Sharon entered the Al-Aqsa mosque, to pollute it as a preparation to capture and destroy it.

(2) These tragedies and calamities are only a few examples of your oppression and aggression against us. It is commanded by our religion and intellect that the oppressed have a right to return the aggression. Do not await anything from us but Jihad, resistance and revenge. Is it in any way rational to expect that after America has attacked us for more than half a century, that we will then leave her to live in security and peace?!!

(3) You may then dispute that all the above does not justify aggression against civilians, for crimes they did not commit and offenses in which they did not partake:

   (a) This argument contradicts your continuous repetition that America is the land of freedom, and its leaders in this world. Therefore, the American people are the ones who choose their government by way of their own free will; a choice which stems from their agreement to its policies. Thus the American people have chosen, consented to, and affirmed their support for the Israeli oppression of the Palestinians, the occupation and usurpation of their land, and its continuous killing, torture, punishment and expulsion of the Palestinians. The American people have the ability and choice to refuse the policies of their Government and even to change it if they want.

   (b) The American people are the ones who pay the taxes which fund the planes that bomb us in Afghanistan, the tanks that strike and destroy our homes in Palestine, the armies which occupy our lands in the Arabian Gulf, and the fleets which ensure the blockade of Iraq. These tax dollars are given to Israel for it to continue to attack us and penetrate our lands. So the American people are the ones who fund the attacks against us, and they are the ones who oversee the expenditure of these monies in the way they wish, through their elected candidates.

   (c) Also the American army is part of the American people. It is this very same people who are shamelessly helping the Jews fight against us.

   (d) The American people are the ones who employ both their men and their women in the American Forces which attack us.

   (e) This is why the American people cannot be not innocent of all the crimes committed by the Americans and Jews against us.

   (f) Allah, the Almighty, legislated the permission and the option to take revenge. Thus, if we are attacked, then we have the right to attack back. Whoever has destroyed our villages and towns, then we have the right to destroy their villages and towns. Whoever has stolen our wealth, then we have the right to destroy their economy. And whoever has killed our civilians, then we have the right to kill theirs.

The American Government and press still refuses to answer the question: Why did they attack us in New York and Washington?

If Sharon is a man of peace in the eyes of Bush, then we are also men of peace!!! America does not understand the language of manners and principles, so we are addressing it using the language it understands.

(Q2) As for the second question that we want to answer: What are we calling you to, and what do we want from you?

(1) The first thing that we are calling you to is Islam.

   (a) The religion of the Unification of God; of freedom from associating partners with Him, and rejection of this; of complete love of Him, the Exalted; of complete submission to His Laws; and of the discarding of all the opinions, orders, theories and religions which contradict with the religion He sent down to His Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Islam is the religion of all the prophets, and makes no distinction between them - peace be upon them all.

It is to this religion that we call you; the seal of all the previous religions. It is the religion of Unification of God, sincerity, the best of manners, righteousness, mercy, honour, purity, and piety. It is the religion of showing kindness to others, establishing justice between them, granting them their rights, and defending the oppressed and the persecuted. It is the religion of enjoining the good and forbidding the evil with the hand, tongue and heart. It is the religion of Jihad in the way of Allah so that Allah's Word and religion reign Supreme. And it is the religion of unity and agreement on the obedience to Allah, and total equality between all people, without regarding their colour, sex, or language.

   (b) It is the religion whose book - the Quran - will remained preserved and unchanged, after the other Divine books and messages have been changed. The Quran is the miracle until the Day of Judgment. Allah has challenged anyone to bring a book like the Quran or even ten verses like it.

(2) The second thing we call you to, is to stop your oppression, lies, immorality and debauchery that has spread among you.

   (a) We call you to be a people of manners, principles, honour, and purity; to reject the immoral acts of fornication, homosexuality, intoxicants, gambling's, and trading with interest.

We call you to all of this that you may be freed from that which you have become caught up in; that you may be freed from the deceptive lies that you are a great nation, that your leaders spread amongst you to conceal from you the despicable state to which you have reached.

   (b) It is saddening to tell you that you are the worst civilization witnessed by the history of mankind:

        (i) You are the nation who, rather than ruling by the Shariah of Allah in its Constitution and Laws, choose to invent your own laws as you will and desire. You separate religion from your policies, contradicting the pure nature which affirms Absolute Authority to the Lord and your Creator. You flee from the embarrassing question posed to you: How is it possible for Allah the Almighty to create His creation, grant them power over all the creatures and land, grant them all the amenities of life, and then deny them that which they are most in need of: knowledge of the laws which govern their lives?

        (ii) You are the nation that permits Usury, which has been forbidden by all the religions. Yet you build your economy and investments on Usury. As a result of this, in all its different forms and guises, the Jews have taken control of your economy, through which they have then taken control of your media, and now control all aspects of your life making you their servants and achieving their aims at your expense; precisely what Benjamin Franklin warned you against.

        (iii) You are a nation that permits the production, trading and usage of intoxicants. You also permit drugs, and only forbid the trade of them, even though your nation is the largest consumer of them.

        (iv) You are a nation that permits acts of immorality, and you consider them to be pillars of personal freedom. You have continued to sink down this abyss from level to level until incest has spread amongst you, in the face of which neither your sense of honour nor your laws object.

Who can forget your President Clinton's immoral acts committed in the official Oval office? After that you did not even bring him to account, other than that he 'made a mistake', after which everything passed with no punishment. Is there a worse kind of event for which your name will go down in history and remembered by nations?

        (v) You are a nation that permits gambling in its all forms. The companies practice this as well, resulting in the investments becoming active and the criminals becoming rich.

        (vi) You are a nation that exploits women like consumer products or advertising tools calling upon customers to purchase them. You use women to serve passengers, visitors, and strangers to increase your profit margins. You then rant that you support the liberation of women.

        (vii) You are a nation that practices the trade of sex in all its forms, directly and indirectly. Giant corporations and establishments are established on this, under the name of art, entertainment, tourism and freedom, and other deceptive names you attribute to it.

        (viii) And because of all this, you have been described in history as a nation that spreads diseases that were unknown to man in the past. Go ahead and boast to the nations of man, that you brought them AIDS as a Satanic American Invention.

        (xi) You have destroyed nature with your industrial waste and gases more than any other nation in history. Despite this, you refuse to sign the Kyoto agreement so that you can secure the profit of your greedy companies and*industries.

        (x) Your law is the law of the rich and wealthy people, who hold sway in their political parties, and fund their election campaigns with their gifts. Behind them stand the Jews, who control your policies, media and economy.

        (xi) That which you are singled out for in the history of mankind, is that you have used your force to destroy mankind more than any other nation in history; not to defend principles and values, but to hasten to secure your interests and profits. You who dropped a nuclear bomb on Japan, even though Japan was ready to negotiate an end to the war. How many acts of oppression, tyranny and injustice have you carried out, O callers to freedom?

        (xii) Let us not forget one of your major characteristics: your duality in both manners and values; your hypocrisy in manners and principles. All*manners, principles and values have two scales: one for you and one for the others.

   (a)The freedom and democracy that you call to is for yourselves and for white race only; as for the rest of the world, you impose upon them your monstrous, destructive policies and Governments, which you call the 'American friends'. Yet you prevent them from establishing democracies. When the Islamic party in Algeria wanted to practice democracy and they won the election, you unleashed your agents in the Algerian army onto them, and to attack them with tanks and guns, to imprison them and torture them - a new lesson from the 'American book of democracy'!!!

   (b)Your policy on prohibiting and forcibly removing weapons of mass destruction to ensure world peace: it only applies to those countries which you do not permit to possess such weapons. As for the countries you consent to, such as Israel, then they are allowed to keep and use such weapons to defend their security. Anyone else who you suspect might be manufacturing or keeping these kinds of weapons, you call them criminals and you take military action against them.

   (c)You are the last ones to respect the resolutions and policies of International Law, yet you claim to want to selectively punish anyone else who does the same. Israel has for more than 50 years been pushing UN resolutions and rules against the wall with the full support of America.

   (d) As for the war criminals which you censure and form criminal courts for - you shamelessly ask that your own are granted immunity!! However, history will not forget the war crimes that you committed against the Muslims and the rest of the world; those you have killed in Japan, Afghanistan, Somalia, Lebanon and Iraq will remain a shame that you will never be able to escape. It will suffice to remind you of your latest war crimes in Afghanistan, in which densely populated innocent civilian villages were destroyed, bombs were dropped on mosques causing the roof of the mosque to come crashing down on the heads of the Muslims praying inside. You are the ones who broke the agreement with the Mujahideen when they left Qunduz, bombing them in Jangi fort, and killing more than 1,000 of your prisoners through suffocation and thirst. Allah alone knows how many people have died by torture at the hands of you and your agents. Your planes remain in the Afghan skies, looking for anyone remotely suspicious.

   (e)You have claimed to be the vanguards of Human Rights, and your Ministry of Foreign affairs issues annual reports containing statistics of those countries that violate any Human Rights. However, all these things vanished when the Mujahideen hit you, and you then implemented the methods of the same documented governments that you used to curse. In America, you captured thousands the Muslims and Arabs, took them into custody with neither reason, court trial, nor even disclosing their names. You issued newer, harsher laws.

What happens in Guatanamo is a historical embarrassment to America and its values, and it screams into your faces - you hypocrites, "What is the value of your signature on any agreement or treaty?"

(3) What we call you to thirdly is to take an honest stance with yourselves - and I doubt you will do so - to discover that you are a nation without principles or manners, and that the values and principles to you are something which you merely demand from others, not that which you yourself must adhere to.

(4) We also advise you to stop supporting Israel, and to end your support of the Indians in Kashmir, the Russians against the Chechens and to also cease supporting the Manila Government against the Muslims in Southern Philippines.

(5) We also advise you to pack your luggage and get out of our lands. We desire for your goodness, guidance, and righteousness, so do not force us to send you back as cargo in coffins.

(6) Sixthly, we call upon you to end your support of the corrupt leaders in our countries. Do not interfere in our politics and method of education. Leave us alone, or else expect us in New York and Washington.

(7) We also call you to deal with us and interact with us on the basis of mutual interests and benefits, rather than the policies of sub dual, theft and occupation, and not to continue your policy of supporting the Jews because this will result in more disasters for you.

If you fail to respond to all these conditions, then prepare for fight with the Islamic Nation. The Nation of Monotheism, that puts complete trust on Allah and fears none other than Him. The Nation which is addressed by its Quran with the words:

"Do you fear them? Allah has more right that you should fear Him if you are believers. Fight against them so that Allah will punish them by your hands and disgrace them and give you victory over them and heal the breasts of believing people. And remove the anger of their (believers') hearts. Allah accepts the repentance of whom He wills. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise." [Quran9:13-1]

The Nation of honour and respect:

"But honour, power and glory belong to Allah, and to His Messenger (Muhammad- peace be upon him) and to the believers." [Quran 63:8]

"So do not become weak (against your enemy), nor be sad, and you will be*superior ( in victory )if you are indeed (true) believers" [Quran 3:139]

The Nation of Martyrdom; the Nation that desires death more than you desire life:

"Think not of those who are killed in the way of Allah as dead. Nay, they are alive with their Lord, and they are being provided for. They rejoice in what Allah has bestowed upon them from His bounty and rejoice for the sake of those who have not yet joined them, but are left behind (not yet martyred) that on them no fear shall come, nor shall they grieve. They rejoice in a grace and a bounty from Allah, and that Allah will not waste the reward of the believers." [Quran 3:169-171]

The Nation of victory and success that Allah has promised:

"It is He Who has sent His Messenger (Muhammad peace be upon him) with guidance and the religion of truth (Islam), to make it victorious over all other religions even though the Polytheists hate it." [Quran 61:9]

"Allah has decreed that 'Verily it is I and My Messengers who shall be victorious.' Verily Allah is All-Powerful, All-Mighty." [Quran 58:21]

The Islamic Nation that was able to dismiss and destroy the previous evil Empires like yourself; the Nation that rejects your attacks, wishes to remove your evils, and is prepared to fight you. You are well aware that the Islamic Nation, from the very core of its soul, despises your haughtiness and arrogance.

If the Americans refuse to listen to our advice and the goodness, guidance and righteousness that we call them to, then be aware that you will lose this Crusade Bush began, just like the other previous Crusades in which you were humiliated by the hands of the Mujahideen, fleeing to your home in great silence and disgrace. If the Americans do not respond, then their fate will be that of the Soviets who fled from Afghanistan to deal with their military defeat, political breakup, ideological downfall, and economic bankruptcy.

This is our message to the Americans, as an answer to theirs. Do they now know why we fight them and over which form of ignorance, by the permission of Allah, we shall be victorious?

Next: A reflection on Osama bin Laden’s “Letter to America”

• Early Geographical and historical development of Islam
• Main tenets of belief
• Historical interaction with the non-believers
• Whose land is it?
• Impact on the world today

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Rifqa Bary - Honor Your Parents; the 1st Commandment with a Promise

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It is reported that the "agreement between Rifqa Bary and her parents to settle their conflict through counseling has ended without a single meeting between the parents and their daughter" and that the parents are “withdrawing their consent to resolve the case.”

On Jan. 19, the parents had agreed that Rifqa should stay in foster care and that they would all go to counseling together rather than go through a dependency trial.

However, the motion filed Friday in Franklin County Juvenile Court states; "The parents now believe the entire deal should be thrown out because of misrepresentation and fraudulent inducement." Apparently, despite their request, Rifqa, with the help of her attorney, had contacted the Pastor that had helped her run away.

Ok. I know how most everyone feels. But can I say just a couple things?

We can all make assumptions about the motivations of the Bary’s until the cows come home. But I don’t know them, and neither do most of you. Yes, it’s true that they are Muslims. Yes, it’s true that Sharia law is a very real danger. Yes, it’s true that the Bary’s have accepted help from CAIR and CAIR is a radical org tied to terrorism. But does that mean the Bary's would be willing to murder their daughter? None of us really know.

I am a conservative, evangelical Christian. I can understand Rifqa, but I can also commiserate with the Bary's. I have raised nine kids, and I, too, once had a 17-year-old runaway. She has since returned, lives nearby, and comes over almost every day, but I too, had to deal with other “Christian” families interfering - at a time when what I really needed was their support. They honestly thought they were helping her, but truthfully, they had no idea what was going on. They knew only the surface of my daughter – who had gone through four years with her father dying of cancer. We lost him when she was 16. Suffice it to say, these “well-meaning” people, in taking their ill-thought stance against the only parent she had left, did not help matters at all.

So, you say, “err on the side of safety for Rifqa.” Fine. But there are a couple of points I would like to make. They have to do with being Christian - meaning, Rifqa, being who she says she is. Those who aren’t Christian might not understand what I am trying to say. But those who are Christians know the following to be true. Being a Christian involves a heart for the lost and a desire to pursue God's purposes. It's not all about us.

Even if Rifqa never goes back to live with her parents, she, as a Christian, needs to honor them. She needs to treat them with love and respect. That's just a fact. By not communicating with them, but instead, communicating with the people in Florida, even calling the man down there “Dad,” she is tremendously hurting her father and she knows it. That’s not Christ-like, and I am appalled that the family in Florida is allowing it. (Although their church now seems be trying to honor the parents and court.)

But even further – and here is where it gets tricky – Rifqa has the potential to be the "Esther" in her family. Up until now, she has not fulfilled the opportunity God has given her to be a light to her parents - showing them the way out of Islam. I pray that the members of her Ohio church are counseling her Christian walk, acutely aware of her need to be a Godly witness to her family. Being a Christian isn’t all about getting what we want. In fact, it can be quite the opposite. Remember Jonah? We are to lay aside our own wants and take up the cross for others. There are verses I could quote, such as John 15:13 – but non-Christians might get their knickers all in a knot if I do.

As Christians, we are all called to bigger things. I pray we can all be brave enough to step up to the plate when God's call becomes clear.

I’m not saying that I know what God is calling Rifqa to. Although David honored Saul, and Daniel braved the Lion's Den, maybe God has called Rifqa to something else, shaking the dust from her sandal. God only knows what He has called Rifqa to. I don't know - I am just afraid that in all the cacophony of voices, and apparently not-so-good Christian counsel, she might not know, either. I pray that whatever He is asking of her, it becomes clear and she is willing.

And I’m not saying that taking up one’s cross is easy, if that is what is called for. I’m not saying that I wouldn’t want to run and hide if I were faced with what Rifqa is facing. All I am saying is; too often, we here in America forget what our faith is really all about.

I pray that God reveals to me exactly what He would have ME do, and I have the temerity and Grace to do it. Have you ever read “Safely Home” by Randy Alcorn? Wow. That’s a book that turns everything around. I highly recommend it.
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"They try to Kill us."

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Christian Father and Daughter in Egypt: "They try to Kill us."
Muslim Violence and Persecutaion against Christians in Egypt is getting worse every month. They aren't allowed to hold Government office, women are being forced to marry and convert to Islam, and last month, 100 Christian teenagers were arrested for no other reason than being Christian. Please pray for the Coptic Christians in Egypt.

Follow Christian news at Christ's Internet.com
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Rick Warren Speaks at Muslim Conference???

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On July 5, 2009, the AP reported that "Evangelical megachurch pastor Rick Warren," founder of Saddleback Community Church in Orange County, California, spoke at an Islamic convention in Washington DC and stated, "America's largest Islamic organization showed courage when it invited him to speak at its annual convention."

The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), of whom Warren was speaking, is a group that has been named co-conspirator by the Justice Department in the largest terrorism financing trial in U.S history. The trial involves a Hamas charity called the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF). Its leaders were found guilty on all counts..

ISNA was established in 1981 by alumni from the Muslim Students Association (MSA). The MSA is a group founded by members of Muslim Brotherhood, a violent organization, as well as Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader Sami Al-Arian. The MSA also has a history of promoting radical speakers at annual anti-Semitic forums across the country, including pro-Hamas Abdul Malik Ali. The MSA-UCLA’s newspaper, Al-Talib, also referred to Osama bin Laden in its July 1999 issue as a “freedom fighter,” “philanthropist” and a “great Mujahid.”

According to the AP. "Warren told the crowd that the two largest faiths on the planet — Muslims and Christians — must work together to combat stereotypes, promote peace and freedom and solve global problems." He also said they should partner in working to end "the five global giants" of war, poverty, corruption, disease and illiteracy. "Some problems are so big you have to team tackle them."

Are you for real, Warren? Ask most of them how they would react if their daughter came to them to say that she's fallen in love with a Christian and has given her heart to Jesus. Do you seriously think that there can be a working relationship? How many of the people in the crowd came from countries that persecute Christians? Will part of the plan to cooperatively promote peace and fight poverty include discouraging the sawing of heads off of relief workers?

Okay, Okay, that all sounds like me just spouting off stereotypes. How about this question, then. We all know that wishful thinking won't end war or poverty. Even team tackling isn't going to end these two things. They've been around from the beginning of time. Wishful thinking certainly isn't going to effect the seed of war and poverty; which is greed, essentially.

Any Christian knows that to truly effect war and poverty, we need God's power and love. And the only way to the Father is through... (remember the verse Warren?)...his son, Jesus Christ. Will part of your program to end the "five global giants" include getting together with our new partners and praying? Seems to me to be the logical thing for a Christian to do....
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Is President Obama a Christian?

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I'm not ready to say, as some do, that President Obama is a Muslim. But I certainly question his commitment to Jesus Christ.

The Apostle John, who walked with Jesus Christ, quotes Jesus; "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6 ISV. John also wrote, “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”1 John 5:11-12 NKJV

President Obama stated, “I am a Christian, but my father came from a Kenyan family that includes generations of Muslims.” He said, “As a boy, I spent several years in Indonesia and heard the call of the azaan at the break of dawn and the fall of dusk. As a young man, I worked in Chicago communities where many found dignity and peace in their Muslim faith.”

But a Christian - a disciple of Jesus Christ - who truly believes Jesus when he says he is the only way, truth and life, and that there is no way to the Father other than through Him, knows there is no other way to peace other than following Jesus Christ. To say that there is, with complete rest in one's heart, would mean that the person doesn't believe what the Holy Scripture states for fact.

President Obama went on in his speech, saying, "As the Holy Quran tells us, 'Be conscious of God and speak always the truth."

But a Christian would never call the Quran Holy. A Christian knows that the Bible alone is God's Word, and therefore, the only Holy Scripture.

President Obama stated, "And I consider it part of my responsibility as president of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear."

When did it become the responsibility of the President to "fight against negative stereotypes of Islam"? He has never promised to defend Christianity in the same way, and in fact, appears to go out of his way to distance himself from Jesus Christ as much as possible, from refusing to acknowledge the day of prayer to asking Georgetown University, a Catholic Institution, to cover up and hide its inscription "IHS" during his speech there on April 14. Apparently, he and his staff didn't want Jesus' name to show up on TV.

How come he has never offered to fight against negative stereotypes of Christianity? Well, that would involve a daily rebuke of CNN, the ACLU, Wahington Post, the AP, the New York Times, MSNBC, ABC, and too many liberal organizations to mention. Much too time consuming.

Obama's grasp of and respect for the Holy Bible - the Scriptures from which he told us last year that he was seeking God's truth - also seems non-existent.

Instead, during his mid-east tour he quotes a Muslim story that the Bible does not support at all.

President Obama said, "...when Jerusalem is a secure and lasting home for Jews and Christians and Muslims and a place for all of the children of Abraham to mingle peacefully together as in the story of Isra — as in the story of Isra, when Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed — peace be upon them — joined in prayer."

The Bible holds no record of such an event. Interestingly, neither does the Quran. There is even disagreement within the Muslim community whether the event happened at all.

Barack Obama's Muslim background was taboo to talk about during the campaign. All evidence of his anti-Israel position was hidden. Obama's friendship with PLO member Rashid Khalidi was important to his world view, but the LA Times refused to release the video proving that this relationship helped mold Obama's views regarding Israel.

I can't tell what's really in President Obama's heart. I can only discern from the outside fruit. I don't believe that attending a Christian church necessarily makes one a Christian anymore than sitting in a garage makes one a car. From what I see, it appears that his years at Rev. Wright’s church were more about networking with potential constituents and furthering his political career than it was about giving one's heart over to Jesus Christ and becoming His disciple. That's why it was so easy for him to walk away when it appeared that the church was threatening his political career. Outside of South Chicago, it was no longer an asset. It was now a liability.
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